It's
finally here! I have been waiting for 2014 since 1987. For some
reason 1987 felt like a pretty special sequence of numbers and
therefore had to mean something important... right? Well my 9 year
old self thought so... so as I was mulling over when the next really
interesting sequence of numbers would occur I came to 2014 (probably
because my birthday is on the 14th) and I decided that my
36th year of life was going to be pretty damn special
because it was going to take place in 2014.
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| Artisan in Action! |
I'm
constantly impressed by the dreams of my childhood self and how many
of them have come through to fruition. I guess that's what happens
when you put yourself in the hands of fate and just go with the
flow.... it takes you exactly where you need to be!
The
past year has been absolutely serendipitous! In January I really had
no idea what I was going to do with myself. After the 2012 craft
season (and the lack of occurrence of the Apocalypse) I decided that
Flying Cloud was going into permanent hibernation and I was going to
have to find some other form of supplemental income... so I dusted
off my hard drive and dug up my resume and after over 4 years of
updates I began my search.
It
didn't take me long to remember just how awful it is trying to find
decent work in a place as small as Nova Scotia. We only have one
city.... and chances are that the positions you're most suited to are
already filled by equally skilled folks. After months of desperation
I settled on a potion as a traveling home care worker. I tried to be
optimistic about the new change... but then I started to think about
the people I would meet... I knew I'd no doubt form bonds with them,
and then eventually, due to the fact that they were elderly, they
would pass on. The thought of this unfortunate side effect of the
job brought me to tears.
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Silver Cove; my submission
to "Winterscene" at Swoon |
Luckily
the Universe brought Bryan and I together several years ago; someone
who seems to know me better than I know myself. Knowing how important
it is to find happiness in your employment, Bryan told me not to worry,
he'd make sure we were okay and I should keep on looking until the
right thing came along.
I
was also keeping myself busy volunteering with the arts council to
produce their 2013 Arts Digest; a list of members, studios, galleries
and art associations in the area. While compiling local events I had
a very saddening conversation with Heather Desveaux, the secretary
for the ARHS, and she informed me that due to a lack of volunteers
their board was considering cancelling the 2013 Great Little Art
Show.
Well
Heather and I were not going to let that happen! First things first I
called painter Kelly Mitchelmore, the force behind Paint Windsor, and
after some brain storming we vowed that between us all we were going
to make sure this event took place – especially since we had both
been creating work specifically for the show! After a few more phone
calls, emails and meetings the HCAC board and the ARHS board joined
forces to pull off our first of what surprisingly would be many events
in 2013!
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| 15th Annual Great Little Art Show |
While
gallery sitting at the GLAS I decided to work on some critters for
the Halifax Crafters Show... which would be taking place the
following weekend! While working a reporter from the Hants Journal
stopped by, quickly interviewing me and snapping my photo. Later that
week I received a phone call from my father who, while shopping at
the grocery store, looked down surprised to see my face plastered on
the front of the paper! He quickly purchased a copy and then made his
way around Windsor showing it off to everyone announcing “this is
my beautiful daughter!” The following week turned into one of the
proudest weeks off my life so far!
As
if appearing in the paper wasn't enough to make a girl feel special,
the next Saturday, as I was adding the finishing touches to my booth
at the Crafters show, Ted from Ravenview Art and Craft came up and announced
“I hope you brought more sloths than that – everyone is going to
want one after the video!”
I
had no idea what he was talking about, and it wasn't until after my
single most successful day at a craft show ever, that I finally got
to sit down and watch the Global news clip Ted and everyone else had
been talking about. I couldn't believe it! After Leslie Ann, one of
the board members for Halifax Crafters, did her little spiel of who
we are and what we do, they started a slide show of some of the images
we the crafters had submitted... the very first image in the sequence
was of my sloths, which received squeals from the news anchors –
then – the second image is the one which graces the top of my blog,
my in progress shot of a fox rug hooking!
Gosh, I REALLY felt like something special
after seeing that!
On
day two of the show things just seemed to get better, the lovely gals
from Woozles sang my praise and asked to carry my sloths and then
Andrea from Inkwell Modern Handmade Boutique came by looking to carry my cats,
owls and foxes!
Throughout
May I worked away on a few pieces for a show at Tan Coffee in
Windsor, “A Piece of the Scenery” along with painter Liz
Robinson.
Before I even had a chance to start thinking “what am I
going to do for summer employment” I received a call from Heather –
would I like to take on managing the Planters Sea Chest Gift Shop at
the ARHS Museum?
Would I???
I couldn't have asked for a better job - YES, YES, YES!
I
hadn't yet officially announced to my vendors that Flying Cloud would
not be re-opening for the season, so the news of my new employment was a
great way to both soften the blow while creating an opportunity for
the museum to absorb some fantastic Nova Scotain handmade products –
win/win!
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| Feeling at home in the cafe! | | | | | | |
It
didn't take me long to settle in at the museum and several friends
commented that it seemed like I had always been there. Since I was
already “holding the fort” I encouraged the ARHS board to
collaborate with the HCAC and extend their one day “Heritage
Artisans in Action” event to take place most every Sunday
throughout the season.
In
addition to the gift shop, the museum also houses the Sally and Lydia cafe,
which in the past had been run by various volunteers in the
community. Much like the GLAS, these volunteers had served their
time and were no longer interested in taking on the daily operations
of the quaint little restaurant with the best view in town. So, not
already having enough on my plate, I did up a menu and a budget and
offered to take on the challenge myself; serving up my Grammy's
famous haddock chowder and my step-mom's equally famous salsa!
This
past summer at the museum was one of the best I've had in a while.
Though the HAiA events I was introduced to many new Nova Scotian
artists, in turn building wonderful friendships. Through the cafe and
gift shop I learned a great deal about the history of the Avon Valley
area and I now have an increased sense of pride for the place I have
chosen to call home.
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| My table at Pop Expo! |
After
a whirlwind of a summer I jumped feet first into craft season with
back to back shows. I started with Paint Windsor one weekend followed
by a Halifax Crafters pop-up show at the Two if by Sea cafe in
Dartmouth the following. A few weeks later I participated in the
Craft Expo at Halifax Pop Explosion and before I knew it it was once again
time for the HCAC's annual Harvest Festival of Art. Next came the
Acadia Christmas Craft Expo, where I was lucky enough to win a free
booth for 2014, and then after a few weeks break, and solid days of
production, I finished off the season participating in the Small Works Group Show at the Bread Gallery, the Halifax Crafters Winter Show,
the Last Minute Craft Show and I completed a handful of custom
orders.
Thank
goodness for the Christmas holidays and New Years or I might not have
taken off any time from production!
So,
there you have it, that was 2013.... and 2014 is shaping up to be
even better! So far this year I have already hooked one rug to submit
to Swoon's winter group show and created 6 mini feltscapes, some off
which will hopefully appear in Argyle Fine Art's annual Pre-shrunk
show. Speaking of Argyle Art, they have also asked me to participate
in their Cat Show next month! My wheels are just a tunrnin' for that
one!
The
shows are already lining up with both Halifax Crafters and the HCAC
Bread Gallery show taking place next month and the GLAS returning in
May! We also have plans to extend the museum season from May through
October with 5 Artisans in Action Events! Oh, did I mention the HCAC
is moving into the museum in March? Thanks to new funding being made
available for collaborations between Arts Councils and Museums
through the department of Communities, Culture and Heritage the HCAC
plans to not only take on the production of the ARHS' regular events
but we want to make the most of our new permanent home and we are
currently brainstorming ways to make the best use of our new space;
organizing open studio days, hooking and knitting circles and other
other opportunities for our members to get together and share ideas
and create!
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| The Avon River Heritage Society Museum in Avondale |
I'm
so excited about this year – and I'm a little scared.My to-do list is already quite lengthy!
Just
yesterday I typed out the calendar for the arts council for the entire year and now I need to
start my own, I already have so many dates to add! You know, it's
kinda great to have a schedule again – especially when it's of my
own creation.
Thank you Universe for letting me be me - and here's to 2014!
