Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Leather Works and Celtic Jewellery!
As the time is flying closer to the Upper Canada Village Medieval Festival I am keeping busy making leather goods and also wire Celtic-inspired jewellery to have for sale at my booth. I will be merchanting there again this summer.
My jewellery will be made of Copper, Leather or Aluminum (for the wire work I create the designs and hammer the pieces and will be oxidising several pieces to give them an "Antiqued Age-Patina").
I won't be bringing my "Whimsical Animal Bags" to this event as they don't fit the theme (though I may bring one for the fun of it). Instead I will have a good selection of Medieval/Renaissance style leather belt pouches and purses, leather water bottle holders (they hold beer and wine coolers as well...these holders have Celtic-themed designs burned or painted on them), leather roses, coin pouches and other various items.
If you are attending the festival please feel free to drop by my booth to say "hello" !! (my booth is likely going to be near if not beside the archery demo area, plus I will be performing on stage with my Middle Eastern Dance Troupe "The Alika Farasha Dancers" throughout each day of the event as well as performing during the Kings Banquet on Saturday night!
Please check out the link for the festival!
http://www.medievalfestival.ca/index.php
Cheers!
My jewellery will be made of Copper, Leather or Aluminum (for the wire work I create the designs and hammer the pieces and will be oxidising several pieces to give them an "Antiqued Age-Patina").
I won't be bringing my "Whimsical Animal Bags" to this event as they don't fit the theme (though I may bring one for the fun of it). Instead I will have a good selection of Medieval/Renaissance style leather belt pouches and purses, leather water bottle holders (they hold beer and wine coolers as well...these holders have Celtic-themed designs burned or painted on them), leather roses, coin pouches and other various items.
If you are attending the festival please feel free to drop by my booth to say "hello" !! (my booth is likely going to be near if not beside the archery demo area, plus I will be performing on stage with my Middle Eastern Dance Troupe "The Alika Farasha Dancers" throughout each day of the event as well as performing during the Kings Banquet on Saturday night!
Please check out the link for the festival!
http://www.medievalfestival.ca/index.php
Cheers!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Commissioned Work
Although I have thought that I wouldn't take on any commissioned work at this point, I have since changed my mind on two recent occasions.
After the two TV shows appeared showcasing my animal bags I had received beautiful emails and phone calls from viewers of the show, people I had never met called or emailed me to congratulate me on my show and my business! Words of praise that humbles me to the core :)
One of the viewers is interested in purchasing one of my bags and wants to commission another bag of a bird. I love birds (they are my passion) and thought "yes" I would very much like to make that particular bird bag for her.
I do not however want to make bags of certain animals (ie cats or dogs) or some other creatures that I've been asked to do in the past. Those animals simply did not interest me enough to want to spend the huge amount of hours I pour into designing and making them. I have seen various cat and dog bags etc made of fabric mass-produced in other countries...my work is not of this type.
Therefore I feel I have to take each idea given to me with much thought and if I feel inspired by it then I will do so. I do not want to get into the rut of making something just for the money...this is not my goal. I have to have the passion and the desire to do a specific creature.
My goal is remain as "the artist" and have the freedom to show my artistic "flair" in my creations :)
After the two TV shows appeared showcasing my animal bags I had received beautiful emails and phone calls from viewers of the show, people I had never met called or emailed me to congratulate me on my show and my business! Words of praise that humbles me to the core :)
One of the viewers is interested in purchasing one of my bags and wants to commission another bag of a bird. I love birds (they are my passion) and thought "yes" I would very much like to make that particular bird bag for her.
I do not however want to make bags of certain animals (ie cats or dogs) or some other creatures that I've been asked to do in the past. Those animals simply did not interest me enough to want to spend the huge amount of hours I pour into designing and making them. I have seen various cat and dog bags etc made of fabric mass-produced in other countries...my work is not of this type.
Therefore I feel I have to take each idea given to me with much thought and if I feel inspired by it then I will do so. I do not want to get into the rut of making something just for the money...this is not my goal. I have to have the passion and the desire to do a specific creature.
My goal is remain as "the artist" and have the freedom to show my artistic "flair" in my creations :)
TV show "Regional Contact"
here is the link to see the episode of Regional Contact that I was on. Click on the link for "Willowbird Designs" (Oct 31, 2009) under the caricature drawing of Kathie Donovan and Joel Hasslam.
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080213/ott_regionalcontact_bio_080213/20080213/?hub=OttawaHome
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080213/ott_regionalcontact_bio_080213/20080213/?hub=OttawaHome
Friday, October 30, 2009
Regional Contact!
Tomorrow night I will be on the Ottawa T.V. show "Regional Contact" (CTV). This is a half hour show broken into two parts showcasing 2 different local businesses or artists etc. I'm rather excited as I have been watching this show for over 20 years....hard to believe I'm going to be on there myself! :)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Willowbird Designs featured on a T.V. show!
On Saturday Oct 17th I was one of the people featured on the new CBC TV show the "Creative Block" (show on the "Bold" Channel). I feel honoured to have been asked to do this interview. It is a bit surreal to see oneself as a highlight on a show..... :) (scary even lol). Lucy van Oldenbarneveld introduced me and talked about my work, the rest of this spotlight showed me doing all the talking (oh boy) and showing my leather "Whimsical Animal Bags" :)
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