Orchids! 

Another post-gardenscape post to show you a couple of photos of my latest "acquisitions".  Gardenscape this year was the site for the annual meeting of the Canadian Orchid Congress. As as result, there was a separate art show that was all about orchids, and several orchid vendors.  For sale was a huge number of orchids that we don't often see for sale here in Saskatoon - and the best part was that they were available in small pots for anywhere from around the $10.00 mark and up. So it was possible, if you're an orchid enthusiast, to pick up a few small plants to try without breaking the bank. It was quite overwhelming actually.  There were soooooo many kinds to choose from that making a choice was extremely difficult.  Now, as someone who doesn't spend heaps of cash on clothes and "stuff" like that, I managed to talk myself into giving several of these little pots a new home.  Seen below are three of these poor, homeless orphans that I had to take home.

This is (are you ready?) Brassolaeliocattleya Ports of Paradise-Green.  (The system of naming orchids is very confusing at times, but it all means that it is a cattleya relative, and most people know what a cattleya looks like). It's basically green and yellow and at night fills the whole level of our house with a delicious vanilla type scent. Yum!

This guy is an Epicattyla, again a cattleya "relative" and is called Kyoguchi Happy Field. A field full of these little guys would be happy indeed. It has a cinnamon-y fragrance and is quite tiny.

 Finally, this is Dendrobium Lucky Girl and right now, the main stalk is covered with blooms - maybe 20 to 30 in total. No scent though, unfortunately, but still gorgeous.

All in all, I picked up a great many of these small plants. A couple of others have flower spikes, so I'm really looking forward to them producing. One in particular is one of the "spider" orchids and should have, with luck, a long, curved spike of several flowers that look very much like exotic spiders.


This all must sound pretty extravagant, but like I said, you just can't find these small plants here very often, so when you do find them....well......what can I say......

The rest of April will find me teaching a large class at Davidson and preparing a dog portrait for a friend. Will post more about these when they've happened.

So - the snow's gone (hopefully for several months!!) and the weather is a bit warmer every day, so it's definitely time to get outside. I'm fortunate in having a screened-in porch and am planning on spending every available minute working out there this summer. CAN'T WAIT!!!! Talk again soon.................donna

Back to Work!!

First things first.  Thank you to those of you who purchased my work at Gardenscape.  I always appreciate the fact that you have c chosen one of my pieces, especially in an environment were so much really excellent artwork was exhibited.  I understand too that one of these pieces is headed for England.  I have a few pieces "living" over there now. 

And so now it's back to work.  The next few months will see me preparing for a large class in Davidson, getting pieces ready to submit to a couple of upcoming shows/exhibits, stitching enough work for two exhibits of my work, not to mention all of the usual shows/sales that I take part in on a yearly basis.  Getting ready for September will be the big challenge.   Both of my exhibits overlap and also, Art at Solar Gardens enter into the mix too.  My exhibits run from mid-August to September 24 at Handwave Gallery in Meacham and the other takes up the months of September and October.  As well, I have a commission to thread paint a friend's dog.  This is a very special dog who will be challenging to stitch, with a blonde wavy coat and lovely face. I'm looking forward to doing this piece very much.

My exhibit at Handwave Gallery is entitled "Leaf-Shoot-Tree-Root" and will concentrate on all things from the earth. If it grows, it's fair game!  I have lots of ideas for this exhibit and want to include a few materials that I haven't used in many years.  The name for the show, by the way, came from my pal Judy Wood and seemed perfect for what I had in mind to stitch.

I have a few pieces left from Gardenscape that are still for sale.  These are:

  Dotted Blazingstar. It's a SK Wildflower that          grows freely in many locations.

  This piece is 6x4 and is in a frame measuring   9x10.

This Lily is Salmon Star. It measures 7x5 and is framed.  The little knobs are done in French knots by hand. It is also framed.











  This Lily is an oriental that is also 7x5" and framed.











Anyone interested in purchasing any of these could contact me by email at acdc@sasktel.net or call me at 306-665-9182.  I can deliver in the Saskatoon and neighbouring communities.