85 Feather Watercolors backstage at the CMA Awards

My official Sponsor Ad in The Artisan Group's Talent Gift Lounge Event Guide

Well, the big day finally arrived! The CMA Awards!!
I haven't been keeping up here on my blog - - being a Mom/Wife/Artist/*awake* is a bit of a juggling act. I'm trying to keep my balance with Family, Work and regular "life" LOL. Social media is kicking my butt. How do you do it?! Sleep? Who needs sleep?!

The CMA's - - sorry. Off on a tangent, there.
Yes, through the amazing The Artisan Group, I was able to participate in Country Music's Biggest Night! The 46th Annual CMA Awards! Backstage in the official gift lounge.

This summer I worked on painting and packaging 85 of my original watercolor feather studies to be included in The Artisan Group swag bags for some of Country Music's most talented musicians and entertainers. Leading up to the event, I was so excited. The 3.5 days of the gift lounge, I was beyond elated. Those feathers that I had been working on for so long were now in the hands of some of Country Music's biggest stars - - and I think it's a perfect fit. :) Who better to send my art to -- people whom, like the rest of my customer base - - are wonderful, down-to-the-earth, country-loving folk!

Jody Edwards / jodyvanb Artist of Original Feather Watercolors
Photo credit: Katie Mueller

So, thought I'd pop in here and say, the event was amazing. We had live updates from Valerie Guerrero, the Founder of The Artisan Group and Ashley Berthelot a fellow TAG member, who were manning The Artisan Group table at the event. I will have more info to share this week (and possibly some photos from the event backstage - - and some of your fave Country stars with The Artisan Group gifts! ) I can't wait to share! Stay Tuned!! :)

For now - - Here's a print, made from 4 of the 85 original feather studies that were sent to be gifted at the CMA's. You can purchase it in the shop for 20% OFF in celebration of the Country Music Awards. Just use the coupon code : COUNTRYMUSIC

Mallard, Great Horned Owl, Cardinal and Crow Feather
Archival print on Museum quality Hahnemuhle paper. Will look beautiful matted as an 8x10
www.jodyvanb.etsy.com 

First Sunday Stroll

First Show of the Season - Tent...not too full

I participated in the "First Sunday Stroll" today - - my first outdoor show of the season. A great Art Show partly sponsored by Etsy, it included a great selection of local artisans and some who came from great distances to take part in the event.

My back wall

As far as one-day shows go, and considering this was the "first annual" First Sunday Stroll in the area, I wasn't expecting huge crowds. In my mind, no crowds mean, no sales. Rain = no crowds. The whole prospect didn't seem too promising.

When my wonderful Hubby woke me, just before 6am and I could hear the rain outside, well, let me just say, I wasn't enthusiastic about packing up the work van and getting a tent up in the cold rain. I'm always excited to participate in a show, but I tried not to think about the fact we would have to take it all down within the same day. Mike made me a coffee, a little breakfast and was very enthusiastic that it was going to be a good day. I smiled and believed him. :)

Clouds, Wind, Rain, Blue Sky, Sunshine, Repeat.

Cloudy and brooding as it was, the sky did not open up in a great deluge while we set up the tent. Things were looking up!

View of my table - people loved my MOO business cards 

Blue Jay feathers always sell well
https://www.etsy.com/listing/97311973/four-blue-jay-feathers-archival-print

I had this original watercolour for sale, framed, as well as small prints and cards of the same.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/97804186/butterfly-nest-robins-nest-nature-study

To my surprise, there was quite a turnout! The selection and variety of artisans was wonderful and there were many people, despite the weather, who turned out to support Handmade! 

I would like to share a few of the great artisans with you. Unfortunately, I couldn't get around to each booth without abandoning my own, so this is a small sampling of some of my own faves which were a short distance from my own tent! LOL! 

Harwin Pottery - "The Accidental Potter"

Great colours and an eclectic selection of shapes and sizes 

The delightful and engaging, Mike, amidst his handiwork

http://harwinenterprises.blogspot.ca/

Mike with his Sisters, who both did an excellent job.

The mug I purchased. Small enough to fit the One Cup coffee maker. 

Stitch & Spoke

Fabric art by Linda VareKamp

 Linda, very charming, in her lovely tent.

Earlier in the day, I had been telling my "neighbor" that my eldest son is really, really into recycling. So much so in fact that, he wanted recycling bins for his birthday. I mentioned that you find boys' clothes with fire trucks and dump trucks and race cars, but very rarely do you find a recycling truck. 'Lo and behold, I pass by this great looking tent and I spy some green t-shirts with the recycling symbol. Made, with recycled materials!! How awesome! I had to buy one.

I purchased one just like the one above. You can purchase them here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90380448/eco-friendly-kids-boys-i-recycle-t-shirt

I also highly recommend this shirt, because, who can resist a Narwhal or two?!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95344255/navy-blue-dueling-narwhals-mens-t-shirt

Malcolm designs 

by Melissa Baguley

Melissa in her tent. The sweetest "neighboring tent" I've ever had.
Her appliqued designs were beyond cute!

How can you resist that little alligator?
http://www.etsy.com/listing/99450301/baby-boy-alligator-applique-onesie

Baaa! Just the cutest for summertime fun!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80541765/baby-lamb-applique-frilled-onesie-size

Styles changed throughout the day, much like the weather.
Short sleeves? Long sleeves? Vest? Coat? :) Very versatile.

I enjoyed the day, despite the weather and hope this show becomes an annual event!

Inspired by Nature

A nest, woven onto the branch 

I'm going to share with you some of the wonderful found treasures that have found their way to me. I am so grateful to everyone who has put aside feathers for me, and other wonderful finds!  This beautiful little nest is from up North. Mike's Aunt and Uncle own a property with a lot of bush. Uncle Tref was out cutting firewood this winter and found this abandoned nest for me. I'm so amazed how it's constructed. Birds are incredible!

This nest includes birch bark, pine needles, wasp nest and possibly spider webs?!

Another little nest,  found Robin's eggshells, dead bee, hummingbird nest with sparrow eggshells

A dead Bee I found in my grass, three Robin's egg shells, found this Spring

Beauty!

A painting I did, inspired by the speckled eggs and sparrow feathers

The tiny nest above was found late summer, last year on my parents' property. It is made mostly of dried grass and dog hair, which is kind of gross, but kind of marvelous. I'm thinking it belongs to a hummingbird - - but, I'm not certain.

I found the three speckled eggshells last year, after a big Spring storm. These were blown out of a nest somewhere in a large Bridal Veil vine that has enveloped my neighbor's fence. I believe they belonged to a small sparrow.

The above abandoned nest was found by my Dad in Cottage Country. It seems to be made similarly to the one found by Uncle Tref. Mainly pine needles, it also has birch bark and pieces of cedar woven into it.

One of my old Robin nests, full of acorns, their caps, seed pods and pinecones

The partial woodpecker wing I found on the street

My woodpecker feathers print

Lake rocks

Small sticks made smooth by the waves

We've been on a few trips to the beach this Spring. There has never been a trip to the beach when I haven't brought back a smooth stone or piece of "sea glass". The last two trips, I have remembered to bring two bags. One for myself, one for the boys. I'm thinking of trying my hand at painting a few of the smooth stones. I haven't painted rocks since I was a kid, so I'm thinking I'll do it with the boys one day, as a fun little "art project".

The smooth sticks, or driftwood, I just find compelling. They feel so lovely in the palm of your hand. I like to imagine they've been floating on the lake for years. I wonder what kind of trees they came from, how big the branch was when it first found itself cast off from the land. 

A real beauty of an Owl feather, found and sent by Wally. :)

One of my Owl Feather studies

I have a few owl feathers in my collection now. They always remind me of my Great Grandmother. We grew up calling her "Daddy's Nana". I actually never really thought about her real name until I was older. It became one word, Daddiesnana.  Auntieshirl and Daddiesnana lived in a great apartment in Toronto. I loved wandering around, looking at all of the little treasures on their shelves, in the different rooms. There were little owl figurines in the one room, and my Dad had carved an owl on a box for her when he was younger, before us kids were around. She kept that box by her bedside. I always wondered what amazing, cherished things were inside. 

Something I'm playing with 

Not Working

A couple of months ago I purchased a bunch of little vases that I thought would be interesting to paint with some of my feather studies. After I prepped some, I painted this blue jay feather. I soon realized I did not like it! I much preferred the contrast of the stark white against the coral colour. They're in my mud room at the moment. I still have a few more to paint. What do you think?