Father's day cards

For the outgoing dad.....

For the trendy dad.....

For the traditional dad.....

For the coffee drinking dad.....

For the hockey lovin' dad....

Our Father's day cards are here!! Tell dad just how much you appreciate him with a one of kind card. Designs are by one of our very popular card designers Jim Paterson of Nonstopdesigns. Come pick up your father's day card today before they are all gone!! Father's day gift guide coming soon...we have some great gifts ideas that your pop's is sure to love, stay tuned!!

SAVE THE DATE!!

Save the date for Village Square's Block party, it's going to be a great event!!! We hope to see you there- bring your family, friends, and your little dog too!

Any vendors interested in taking part in this event please contact our operations manager at artistswalk@gmail.com

Re-stocked!

Illustration printed on brass locket $48 

Goldfish Locket $48 (fox, barn owl, red poppies & white rabbit also available)

Fabric covered button earrings $20 assorted fabrics available 

Blue Floral Fabric Earrings $20

Red Poppy Post Earrings $28 -Illustration set behind glass set in an antique brass bezel

Blue Scales $28 (other great designs available)

New arrivals from artist Kailey Lang. We have re stocked her very popular locket necklaces.... come pick up yours today, you don't want to miss out on this great accessory...again! We also brought in some of her earrings, a great way to add a bit of art to your ears!! Come in and check them out....they make the perfect little gift!!

Friday Favourites

Grand Larousse (2010)

Great Wave. Altered book, inks. (2012)

Grand Larousse (2010)

Longmen (2010)

Historia das americas (2009)

These magnificent pieces are done by Canadian artist Guy Laramee. Laramee takes old books and carves out 3D landcapes from the books pages. Sometimes the 'sculptures' are done using one book other times the entire book series is used. Once these carvings have been made, Laramee paints on some parts of the 'sculpture' to add a more realistic touch.

For the past 25 years Laramee's art has been influenced by the erosion of cultures- and of culture as a whole. Laramee is interested in how cultures emerge, become obsolete, and are replaced by new ones. With the vanishing of cultures, some people are displaced and destroyed. Much like the paper bound book.

  "Mountains of disused knowledge return to what they really are: mountains. They erode a bit more and they become hills. Then they flatten and become fields where apparently nothing is happening. Piles of obsolete encyclopedias return to that which does not need to say anything, that which simply IS. Fogs and clouds erase everything we know, everything we think we are. After 30 years of practice, the only thing I still wish my art to do is this: to project us into this thick “cloud of unknowing.” "From the artist statement of Guy Laramee 

There is something so magical about Laramee's carved books. Something about them makes you want to jump right in and explore the created landscape. The detail in these pieces is truly impeccable, and we are quite certain if you didn't get a glimpse of the book spine you would have no idea that these were not the real thing.

We hope you have a lovely weekend....time to sit back and relax and perhaps read a book before a creative artist gets their hands on it. And of course for lots more wonderful art pieces stop by the shop and see what some of our local artists have been up to. 

If your in Quebec this June be sure to check our these pieces at Ste-Hyacinte, Qc.  

*Images & information from  Guy Laramee

A simple streamer DIY

Our new backdrop for our new window display!

A little DIY craft for your Thursday afternoon! This simple DIY adds a fun little touch to your basic party streamers. Although simple, it is a bit time consuming, depending on how many streamers you need- so it's the perfect DIY to do in front of your favourite TV show or while your outside soaking up the beautiful sunshine (just make sure the streamers aren't laying across your legs, that will make for some very awkward tan lines).

To start you are going to need your basic crepe paper streamers- that's it that's all, oh and your going to need to use both hands at the same time (sorry folks, this DIY is not 'margarita-in-one-hand-craft -in-the-other' friendly).

Step one: Roll out your party streamer, not fully but enough to give you some slack as you go along.

Step two: Grab the end of the streamer. Hold the paper with your thumb & index finger of one hand
while gently twisting the paper two times with the other. The paper will fold around your fingers. Give a quick pinch to the fold to flatten each little section.

Step 3: Repeat with as even 'circles' as possible. This can be achieved by pinching the paper closely to the previous twist. The closer the sections are to each other the better the over all garland looks.

*For an even more dramatic look you could place two different colours over the other and then twist, for a two toned look!

Step 4: Hang up and enjoy the celebration!! (now you can enjoy that margarita!)

These little garlands are the perfect little touch for any celebration, birthdays, backyard BBQ's, baby/bridal showers....whatever the occassion this simple little streamer trick will add a delicate yet fun touch to your party.  String them across a room, hang them in front of a door way for a fun entrance, or hang them from ceiling to floor for a fun backdrop for photo's! The possibilities are endless...if you give it a try, we'd love to see your final result, email us your images: artistswalk@gmail.com

Happy Crafting friends!!

New arrivals!!

A great little pop can camera replica.....

a little hook is located at the back of each camera, for the 'photographer' to turn, turn, turn.....

and surprise....a little bouncing  face comes popping out!!!

 

Folk Art Cameras are now available at Artists Walk!! For the photo fan in your life this is a collectible for sure. Each camera is a unique object created from soda and beer cans but are so intricate in construction you won't believe it. But if you think these are just static one of a kind handmade creations - guess again. There is a surprise "birdy" that pops out of the lens to surprise your subject. Both Charming and funny, come scoop up your very own 'Can-era' today!!
We only have a dozen and when they are gone, they are gone! Assorted cans & styles available $20

New arrivals in the shop!!

This past week some of our artisans brought in some wonderful new things and we think they will be big hits this summer. Below are some of the great new products were now carrying in the shop....

Shoulder Bags - By mabel&gwen $46 -Made from reclaimed fabrics, the inside is made from a man's dress shirt....buttons & pocket and all!! Available in sea foam green (*this season's hottest colour trend), light blue & red floral. 

Shoulder Bags by Brenda Zawlick of Ruby Cat Originals $80 -Varying sizes & colours also available....messenger bags, handbags, and fabulous clutches- styles that suit all occasions! 

The perfect statement bags- no two are the same!

Children's sunhats by mabel&gwen $16 - made from reclaimed cotton fabrics! Lots of other colours & designs available. Protect those wee ones from the sun's rays with these adorable little hats!

Lampwork bead necklace by Wendy Perley $100 Earrings $29 - The perfect look for summer!

(a variation of this piece in yellow is also available)

Blue Majestic Necklace by Wendy Perley $56 Earrings $16- This picture doesn't do the colour justice, it's quite beautiful in person! Strands of Swarvoski pearls are woven together to create a delicate yet bold piece! The perfect piece t wear with your LBD (little black dress)

Crescent Necklaces by Lauren Hanham- painted copper pendant on long sterling silver chain $115- A great necklace for everyday wear and in great summer colours too! Oh and did we mention that the one on the right is florescent & fluoresces under a black light!!! You totally want it now don't you?

'I Don't Want To Grow Up Dress' by mabel&gwen- made from reclaimed t-shirts $ 15

These adorable little numbers can be worn as a dress when their little and as a top as they grow up! The perfect baby shower gift: cute, comfy, lightweight & environmentally friendly- what mama-to-be wouldn't be thrilled to put her sweetheart in one of these?! Other colours combination's available

Interior/Exterior Siberian Elm Wood & Copper Clock by Aubrey Denomy $1,300 - This clock now hangs beutifully in one of our front windows (but looks fabulous outside too-as the photo shows) If you love it...it can be yours- with the help of our installment plan! But don't delay, pieces this fabulous don't stay around long (we sold one of her other fabulous clocks this past weekend!!)

Friday Favourites!

 

 

 'Sunflower seeds 2010' by Ai Weiwei

 

Your probably wondering what the big deal is, it's just an excessive amount of sunflower seeds inside a gallery. Well let us tell you something you might find fascinating, these aren't just any old 'Spitz', every single one of these - 100 million to be exact- are made out of porcelain and delicately painted by hand. The master mind behind the whole production is Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei. The entire project took over two years to complete with 1,600 artisans helping out with the manufacturing.

The idea behind 'Sunflower Seeds' was created to parallel the growth of materialism, globalization and mass-production in China, and the increasing impotence of the modern worker, creating meaningless products for distant, demanding markets. The 'seeds' were manufactured by traditional methods in the city of Jingdezhen, China, the major center for the production of Imperial porcelain for over a thousand years. Weiwei has always been "fascinated by the cultural traditions of materials and objects, and of porcelain in particular—the survival of its artisan production, its supreme quality, its early traditions of mass production and global export and the value still invested in it as a cultural artifact in China today"(John Jervis). The seeds were also symbols of the Cultural Revolution.

The installation was meant to be walked over, however after it's first few days in the gallery, it became a health concern due to possible inhalation of the porcelain dust and visitors were only able to look. This increased the sense of sorrow and stillness. "It reinforced allusions both to ash, with its connotations of cremation, and to the fundamental tensions between the individual and the collective in Chinese society, as the field of seeds, seemingly identical yet each unique, laid dormant." (John Jervis)

The original installation, which was installed at The Tate Modern Turbine Hall in London, UK., covered 1,000 square meters to a depth of ten centimeters, but has since then been sold off in quantities. It's most recent sale this past week was for one ton, from the original 150, which was auctioned off and sold for $782,500! 

 

Above is a close up of one of the 100 million handcrafted sunflower seeds. Pretty remarkable don't you think? Let's just hope that one of these doesn't accidentally end up in your next bag of 'Spitz'!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

*John Jervis from mar/april 2011 Tate Modern

Mother's Day Gift Guide: For the home

Assorted Recycled Steel Wall Mounts by Karen Chapelle $55-70

Copper Wire  & Paper Flower (outdoor designs available) By Aubrey Denomy $80

Love Is Blind Vase (Love letters in Braille) Earthenware Vase by Jessica Lertvilai $90 

Polka Dot Ceramics by Helen Cloney $20-45

Metal Table Top Flowers by Karen Chapelle $250

Assorted Wood Cutting Boards by Masterpiece WoodCraft $74

Assorted Candle lanterns by Tansy & Co. $25

'Hills of Canola' Felt & Silk Roving By Sheila Thompson Triptych $350 Individually $125

Cutlery Wind chime by Spoonman $32

Assorted Mosaic Mirrors by Irene Lizama $100-180

Assorted Photograph Coasters by Tansy & Co. $34.50 (for set of 4)

Assorted Large Metal Wall Clocks by Tansy & Co. $75

Another gift guide to help you find that perfect gift for mom. We have quite a collection of decor options, for both indoor and outdoor living space. Something a little different with a bit of added whimsy. Many of the above options come in other designs, patterns and colours so make sure you come into the shop the see what we have to offer. If you missed our first Mother's day gift guide go here for lots more ideas.

Show mom just how much she means to you with a one of a kind gift- for a one of kind mom!

Don't forget we also have a great selection of Mother's day cards cards too!!