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...a glimpse into life on Vancouver Island, needle felting, photography, food, gardening, etcetera...etcetera
"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Showing posts with label East Sooke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label East Sooke. Show all posts

Thursday, May 3, 2012

boars bristles by the beach...

Last summer I took a little walk down this road with Griffin and Norene...
Sadly, the pictures and story I was going to tell were filed away into the
abyss of my computer.
Gladly,  I am able to resurrect these in connection with an art
show and sale this weekend!
At the end of a quiet little road by the ocean is
the most wonderful little studio where Bonnie Coulter lives and works and CREATES!
Come on in...
Have a peek inside...
Look at these lovely works of art...
Inspired by the ocean right outside her door...
Magic transformed onto canvas from the woods surrounding her house...
Loved ones become things of beauty by the inspiring brush hand of Bonnie...
Not only is Bonnie creative in the studio, but her property has you 'oooing'
and 'aahhing' all the way down to the seashore...
You might guess that she's a Master Gardener as well!
Or you may think that Dr Seuss had a hand in here somehow!
 
Whatever the inspiration is, be sure to drop on by for a truly wonderful show.
She has partnered with fellow East Sookeite, Val, who I've
introduced to you before at The Wren House , along with
several other artists displaying and selling their beautiful work.
If you'd like to find out more you can check out The East Sooke Fine Arts website.
...and now, back down to the beach...



Friday, November 4, 2011

The little shop in the woods...

In the tiny community of East Sooke, down a little driveway...
...just below the 'big house'...
...is the tiny little studio / shop called 'The Wren House'...
It's run by a most talented mom and daughter team of Val and Leslie Speed.
Leslie is an incredible lino-cut artist and makes these charming pieces of 
scenes depicting birds, trees, houses and rural life...
Her mom Val, uses vintage wool blankets and sweaters, recycling them into
pillows and framed artwork featuring the sweetest birds and other images...
Val also has quite a green thumb and cultivates many boxwood and rosemary plants...
A small group of other artists have joined in the festivities of Val and 
Leslie in celebrating the 1st anniversary of the studio / shop opening...
Bonnie Coulter, Angela Menzies, Barb Ferguson and Norene Schmuck...

I've brought a few of my creations as well... 
So if you're in the neighbourhood of East Sooke, drop by for a look
and some scones and brownies and hot apple cider...
...and as Stuart McLean says...
"we may be small, but we're big."
5701 East Sooke Road...down Gillespie, turn right at Bill's store and it's just down the road.


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Beach day...

Today, I went to visit Norene.
I live in Sooke and she lives in East Sooke. 
From the sea shore, we could probably yell across to each other, 
but to drive to one another's house it takes about half and hour.
It's because there lies a big basin of water between the two areas
and no one has been successful in providing a water taxi/ferry service.
 Anyway, on Norene's 'side' there's a great little beach on the wild east coast
 We were lucky to have a half decent day, feeling a bit of spring in the air...
But mostly we went down to look for treasure...
...the beach glass kind!
This little cove is full of tiny, well worn pieces of glass...
It's the kind of place where you can sit for ages, running your hands through the smooth pebbles,
turning the soft gravel, uncovering the jewels brought by the waves...
People all around the world collect such glass and turn it into all kinds of lovely works of art, including Norene's mosaic work...
...and in the meantime we gab and gab and Griffin swims and swims...
It's the kind of day that breeds ideas and projects for the future.
It's good for the soul.