These pearls were my grandmother’s, then my mother’s and now mine. I don’t know if I ever heard how gramma came to them — a gift to her from her second husband perhaps, or something she treated herself to on her grand European tour? I do...
Winter weather has come early this year and staying cosy inside with my paints, plenty of fresh flowers, and a hot cup of tea is my solution. Fortunately this city is rich with a tradition of corner Asian grocery stores carrying fresh flowers — tulips, mums,...
I bought this knife when I was 20 or so, living with a group of women friends. My mother had a similar knife in her kitchen — of carbon steel (not stainless) with a wooden handle — so I felt deeply it was just one of those things every girl should have in...
This old jar used to sit on my dad’s desk as his pencil jar, and now it sits on my desk. He used an old Dundee marmalade jar for his pencils when we lived in England, but this jar states that, while the marmalade is a product of Great Britain, it was packed in...
This was gifted to me several decades ago now, and it’s one of the objects in my home whose artistry always entrances. Handmade in Japan, exquisite. Handmade of copper with handwoven copper wire and lined with stainless steel mesh — its perfect for all...
A dozen years ago (or so) I went with a dear friend to her re-vamped, old school house in Fox River, Nova Scotia. On the edge of town was a typical grocery store cum postal station cum antique shop and upstairs there I found this lovely, old British milk jug. On the...
The days are really short now which, for me, means the number of hours available to paint in natural light are greatly diminished. This makes me reach for the Gibigiana lamp for its spotlight power which gives me great lighting contrast to paint. The lamp was passed...
I joined the International Watercolour Society-Canada this summer and am thus included in their Fall exhibit at the Etobicoke Civic Centre gallery September 26 to October 24. Lots of terrific work, great to see lots of watercolour paintings all together, inspiring and...
In my neighborhood we’re lucky enough to have an independent art supply store which carries all the really useful stuff as well as including some interesting small production, more artisinal makers, like the UK-based Rosemary Brushes and locally-based here in...
It was a pretty grey few days in late May at my friend’s cottage, so painting time was inspired by things inside rather than the landscape. In addition it was chilly, the coldest post Victoria Day weekend since 1967 according to the records. Had a delightful...
