New Items by Charlene McConnell

Cedar Utensil Holder by Charlene McConnell, Canadian Potter

Cedar Utensil Holder by Charlene McConnell, Canadian Potter

Charlene McConnell has had a busy winter in her studio creating new and exciting items. I am particularly taken with her Maple Leaf Milk Pitcher, Maple Leaf soap dispenser, and Cedar Utensil Holder. The earthy feel given by the use of real Maple Leaves and Cedar Boughs is particularly appealing.

The Earth Tone series of bowls, serving dishes, soap dispenser, etc are beautiful, functional pieces of pottery to add to any collection. The tricolour glaze creates an array of colours that will match a variety of dinnerware colours and provide just the right accent for any buffet.

Pottery is really art that you can carry in your hand … Charlene takes that seriously but, also ensures that the item will be functionally relevant. Charlene has an ability to think of everything when she is designing. For example, her paté dish is made to also fit a 250 gm container of cream cheese or Kraft dips. Just pop the container into the paté dish and you have a decorative addition to your table .. and you won’t even have to wash the container as the plastic one will just lift back out.

Lotion/Hand/Sanitizer Dispenser by Canadian Potter, Charlene McConnell

Lotion/Hand/Sanitizer Dispenser by Canadian Potter, Charlene McConnell

Pine Bough Mugs to Match Pine Bough Dishes by Susanne James, Canadian Potter

Cream Pine Bough Mugs by Susanne James Canadian Potter

Cream Pine Bough Mugs by Susanne James Canadian Potter

These lovely Pine Bough Mugs are a new item, created by Susanne James, to match the rectangular, round and square Pine Bough Platters that have been such popular items. So, if you love the platters it is likely that you will also love the mugs. The rounded contour of the mug fits nicely into the hand. Buy Now

Blue Pine Bough Mugs by Susanne James Canadian Potter

Blue Pine Bough Mugs by Susanne James Canadian Potter

Birdhouses Just in Time for Spring by Susanne James Canadian Potter

Tall Birdhouse by Susanne James Canadian Potter

Tall Birdhouse by Susanne James Canadian Potter

If you want an attractive addition to your home that will attract some feathered friends to your neighbourhood then why not purchase one of Susanne James’ new birdhouses? They come in different sizes to attract different birds and can be hung on the wall or from a hook.Click here to buy now

Small Birdhouse by Susanne James Canadian Potter

Small Birdhouse by Susanne James Canadian Potter

Free Screensaver when you SignUp For the MadeInHaliburton.ca Newsletter From Facebook Page

Greg Pichnej, a Canadian Photographer, has just joined forces with MadeInHaliburton.ca to market his wonderful images. He has generously provided us with a selection of 5 images of the Haliburton region that can be used as a screensaver on your computer. Simply register on our facebook page by clicking the “Sign Up Form” button on the right side just under the header image.

“Greg” Pichnej was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Following a fine arts curriculum at Montreal’s renowned Ecole des Beaux-Arts, he started his profession in photography in 1968. In 1970 economic realities encouraged a career realignment into the emerging environments of computer operations and telecommunications. Photography remained a priority passion that was never tarnished by the mere reality of earning a living.

Greg enjoys his life on this planet in “cottage” country, originally in the Quebec Laurentians and now, Ontario’s beautiful Haliburton Highlands. Retired from the corporate rat race since 2000, he was finally able to refocus his creativity on capturing unique images of nature. His mission is to convey a feeling of that “special moment” in his photographs and bring that feeling to you the viewer.

His work has only just been uploaded to MadeInHaliburton.ca and he already has reviews on two of his products that sing his praises as a photographer:

One reviewer says of the photograph titled “Man In Canoe”:  ”Love this photo, it looks like me on my canoe, great lighting, love the rising sun in the background, another one of Greg’s fine pictures.”

A reviewer of the picture titled “Majestic Tree Morning Sun #3″ states, “this framed picture shows exactly what a cottage scene looks like when you are just paddling around your lake. I really enjoy Greg’s photos and I have been a big fan of his photography over many years. I have a collection of Greg’s photo cards and in fact this image is one of my favorites. Whenever I send it out to friends or family they always make very positive comments, so peaceful so cottagey.”

Greg is a member of the Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands and lives in the Haliburton Highlands during the warm months of the year.

LIVE ART HERE FUNDRAISER at the Haliburton School of the Arts

Spend a day participating, celebrating and supporting the Haliburton School of The Arts through the Live Art Here fundraiser on Saturday, April 27th at the Haliburton Campus of Fleming College.

It’s a full day of immersion in the arts – your day includes breakfast, lunch, wine reception, art demonstrations, an auction, and participation in an arts workshop.

Workshops are taught by expert artists and cover a wide variety of media: Digital Photography with Rob Stimpson; Intermediate/Advanced Painting with Rod Prouse; Glassblowing Paperweight with Terry Craig; Felted Scarf with Susan MacDonald; Adobe Photo Shop with Michael Bainbridge; Sculpted Silver Jewellery with Sophia Tink; Sterling Silver Bracelet with Susan Watson Ellis; Rustic Planter with Maggie Longsworth; Wire Song Bird with Charles O’Neil; and Fascinator Workshop with Cheryl Ellis. Download theLive Art Here PDF for workshop descriptions.

The cost is $150 (it’s a $250 value) and space is limited. For more information or to reserve a space, please contact Arla Whalen at awhalen@flemingc.on.ca or Marcia Steeves at msteeves@flemingc.on.ca, or call
1-866-353-6464 x 1664.

Proceeds from this event will provide bursaries and enhance the studio experience of students attending the Haliburton School of The Arts.

We look forward to seeing you on April 27th!

 

Canadian Fibre Artist Joins Online Art Gallery — The Meaning of Nests

The Call of the Loon by Canadian Fibre Artist Dianne Mathes

The Call of the Loon by Canadian Fibre Artist Dianne Mathes

Canadian Fibre Artist, Dianne Mathes, joins forces with Online Art Gallery, MadeInHaliburton.ca to market her felted and knitted nests.  Each nest is a symbol of  a precious moment or time in our lives: our first home, places that nestle us, or times that celebrate life.   They are soft, warm places of growth and development that are symbolic of milestones in our lives and make thoughtful gifts for a milestone in the life of a loved one. The nests are adorned with found objects and “critters” that show up in her life. These objects and animals represent her playful connection to nature and the world we live in. Each nest comes with a story that connects the piece to the symbolism.

Dianne is a native of Newfoundland whose love of colour and beauty are inspired by the water, rocks and wild expansiveness of her original home.  Her current home on Mountain Lake in Haliburton inspires her in the same way and she is proud to live here.

"Natural" a Fibre Art Creation by Dianne Mathes, Canadian Fibre Artist

"Natural" a Fibre Art Creation by Dianne Mathes, Canadian Fibre Artist

Dianne is a therapist and healer who works with children, adults and families and an artist who quilts and felts.  Her work as a therapist and her art explore the moments and circles of life in all of their colours and depths.

Passionate about life, individuals and relationships, Dianne uses colour and texture in her art work to share her love of nature and all of the life and wondrous moments that exist within it.

The felted and knitted nests add a warm and gentle texture to the decor of the home. They can be a focal point of discussion or a reservoir for a memory.

Colours of the Forest by Dianne Mathes Canadian Fibre Artist

Colours of the Forest by Dianne Mathes Canadian Fibre Artist

Dianne also creates tapestries using her skills as a fibre artist to bring a scene to life. This scene is of a vibrant forest that symbolizes the lifeforms within.

 

Decorating with Art Ideas

Birches by Canadian Painter Brian Wilson

In surfing the net today I found a couple of quotes that add some substance to the earlier post about redecorating for spring. I thought I would share them with my readers as fodder for the coming spring season which often acts as impetus for redecorating a room or rooms in your home:

1. Albert Hadley: ”The one thing I never get involved with is selecting art or pictures for a client. This is a very personal thing. If the clients have pictures, I will hang them. When they do not own pictures I leave the walls blank. ”

This quote sends a very strong message about the individuality of art. Never ever let your designer choose your art. You have to spend a great deal of time looking at it and being surrounded by it — make sure you really love it.

2.  ’No, your art should not coordinate with your home. Your home should coordinate with your art.’ Answer to a blog post from anonymous.

Personal experience causes this quote to resonate in my mind. Having redecorated a room and then realized I needed some additional art I ended up settling for art I did not love and was reminded of this on a daily basis when I entered the room and was not “wowed” by the art.

This is not to say that you have to redecorate every time you find a piece of art that you love. You will most certainly stumble upon art that fits with your current decor and can replace existing artwork with it. When you are not looking for something it will often just appear — on the other hand when pressured to find suitable art, by needing to feel your decorating is finished, you will likely settle for less than the perfect match.

Marie Gage — http://www.MadeInHaliburton.ca

Ontario Arts Council Grant Supports Artists in the Schools in Haliburton Highlands, Ontario Canada

The Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands is Celebrating!

The Artists in the Schools Program Is Celebrating!

The Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands is very pleased to announce that their most recent grant application to the Ontario Arts Council has been successful and as a result they have received a grant of $9000. for their Artists in the Schools project: Pendants and Pottery – Grades 4 & 7

The Pendants and Pottery Project will provide all grade 4 and grade 7 students in Haliburton County elementary schools with four 100-minute in-class arts education experiences with four Artists in the School: stone carving with Elise Muller; jewellery making with Erin Lynch; pottery with Lisa Barry; and, pottery with April Gates. This exciting project will take place between April and December 2013. It will enable students to learn from talented professional artists and experience visual arts materials that are not normally provided in the classroom: stone, clay and wire and beads. In addition, the grant will provide funds for the development of 4 study guides and will address the administration costs for the project.

The Education Committee of the Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands, led by chair Stella Voisin, in collaboration with Artists in the Schools Education Coordinator, Gail Stelter will review and administer the grant and the project will be managed by Gail.

Congratulations to the Arts Council, involved artists and all the lucky students who will be exposed to this amazing educational activity.

Haliburton School of the Arts — Registration Open for 2013

This year’s program is an exciting blend of perennial favourites and fresh new offerings. The schedule can be viewed online at hsta.ca and calendars are in the mail.

Paint, carve, dance, play, sew, make, sculpt, throw, fence, or sing. At the Haliburton School of The Arts landscapes, shoes, guitars, quilts, bronze, arrows, and hot iron combine with voice, wire, harps, beads, belts, pottery wheels and the written word in an incredibly diverse program of choices.

We’re pleased to be returning to Huntsville this summer. We will be offering weeklong courses at the University of Waterloo Summit Centre for three weeks in July. This program is still being developed but will be ready for registration by March 25th. Watch the website for course details.

There are also opportunities at Fleming College’s Peterborough Campus, OCAD University in Toronto and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg.

Visit hsta.ca for the full listing of courses, workshops and instructors.

Questions? Email createit@hsta.ca or call 1.866.353.6464.

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