Quote for Every Day!

I have been doing lots of painting lately, mostly of flowers and thinking of spring! 

My other favourite subject is trees and I am now on a tree kick!  Here we are some of my new creations. Both these quotes really speak to me- one about being mindful and one about how you look at things.

Karen

Here are some new stones that were just put up in my Etsy shop! As a maker of things, I think that there is nothing more thrilling than to have your work seen all over the world. To get a comment from someone your work has touched, or send a stone to a place you have never been, and to know that your work is connecting with people really inspires one to keep making!!!

I want to thank everyone, near and far, who have let me know, through comments or sales, that they enjoy my work. It means the world to me!

Karen

Well, that was fun! 

I was Artisan of the Day at the Forks Trading Company on Friday. What a beautiful place to be at this time of the year! The spirit of the place, the lights, music, food and the shopping!

I will be set up again on 

Saturday December 17th, 11-4

and Friday December 22nd, 11-4

Yay! Hope to see you there!

Thanks to all who came out to the Signatures Craft Show and Sale to support Canadian handmade!!

Kitchen Rock!

I have stones all over my home!

They are strategically placed in different locations about the house!

I think that reading positive words can change your mood or attitude, or at least  get you thinking in a different way.

Besides, with all the bad news blaring at us these days, we all need some light and inspiration and maybe some motivation (see above!) to make us smile.

Do you use words and images to brighten your day?

xo Karen

Explore, Dream, Do!

Quote for Your Day!

Go Slowly!

Here is a quote for your day! 

With tons of things going on around me, I have really needed to heed these words lately!

I think all of us are surrounded by so much noise, busy-ness and choices, that sometimes it seems impossible to slow down and take care of ourselves. I have promised myself that every day for the next 30 days (hopefully longer) I will take 15 minutes a day to be quiet...it is very hard!!!! Wish me luck!

I hope that you find some stillness this weekend! xoxo

"...so the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing"

T.S. Eliot

Art Date: William Morris

Detail of The Strawberry Thief by William Morris

"Any design is futile...when it does not remind you of something beyond itself"

William Morris is best known for his textile art. During his design career in the mid to late 1800's , he emphasized a return to hand made values learning tapestry and hand block printing. William loved naturalism and ornamentation  and was inspired by the greenery and flowers of his own garden. He also studied the illuminated pages of old manuscripts and late medieval tapestries. His company designed curtains, tiles, wall hangings, upholstery, wall paper and rugs and even designed stained glass windows!

Detail- William Morris

Morris devoted most of his later life to the Kelmscott Press. Here he designed the books, the typefaces, made his own paper and printed his books by hand. Wow! I love this guy! ( Oh and he had time to be a poet, novelist and social activist too)

For as long as my memory serves, I have been intrigued by his floral designs and vivid, lush patterns and colours. So lately, I have been saturating myself with pictures of his work. The photos show a few of the results. I hope that my drawings reflect but a bit of the beauty and love of nature and devotion that Morris had for his craft.

xo Karen

Hats off to the Stores!

The Forks Trading Company

I am dedicating a blog post to the great Winnipeg stores that carry my stones and cards! I am so lucky to work with stores that support artists and makers with respect and care. These retailers make an extra effort in local curation and in the end it benefits creators and customers alike with beautiful, unique handmade goods.

The Forks Trading Company

Located on the 2nd floor of the Forks Market, this store specializes in art by Manitoba and Canadian artists. Filled with hand made arts and crafts, you could spend many a pleasant hours shopping in this interesting and delightful store. Just in time for the holidays, the store did a renovation to move their cash desk
(a beautiful copper one) and make room for even more makers.
I am proud to have my painted stones, stone magnets and press letterpress cards (including holiday ones) in the store!

Radiance Treasures and Gifts

I have been providing my ArtRocks inspired Stones to this store for 10 years. It has many unique gifts including journals, jewelry, healing stones, and crystals. Radiance also carries my whole line of letterpress cards! Go for a walk on the Corydon strip and stop in the warmth of this lovely store.

Radiance Treasures and Gifts

Wolseley Wool

Winnipeg's best wool shop has created a gift corner of which I am thrilled to be a part! They have included Manitoba makers as well as their fantastic selection of knitting wools and accessories. They carry my letterpress cards and some knitting-inspired ArtRocks magnets as well a small selection of Inspired Stones.
Check out this gorgeous store while you are walking in Wolseley!

Wolseley Wool

Martha Street Print Studio

The Print Shop at Martha Street Studio is full of treasures from the printers and artists who work at the studio. I took an etching class 3 years ago and it rekindled my love of printmaking. All my letter press and screen prints are made in their space with guidance and support from the wonderful people who work and make art there.

I have a selection of holiday and all-occasion cards in the shop.

Love this place!!!

The Blue Heron

I have loved the Blue Heron since I was a kid. (see the blog post I wrote a few years ago here)

The store is just like I remember even though it has gone through a huge transition and renovation: keeping the uniqueness of this iconic store and updating with new displays and handmade goods! I am so happy to have my stones and magnets in Kenora at The Blue Heron!

I also want to mention Poor Michael's Emporium in Onanole, Manitoba! This store is open from April until October and also carries work by Manitoba artists. They carry books (new and used), and art and crafts from Asia. They have a restaurant and host concerts in a beautiful log house store. Plan a trip there next summer!

photo credit: Poor Michael's Emporium

Holiday Artisan Market!

This is coming on the weekend- The First Annual MANITOBA MUSEUM Holiday Artisan Market!
Open 11-5 Saturday and 11-5 Sunday, 190 Rupert Street. Hope to see you there!

Regina:Thank you!

Thank you Regina!

I always have so much fun in your town. I am treated so well.

Please know that all your kind words are kept close to me through out the year!

Stay tuned for my upcoming contest...talk to you soon,

Karen

2016 Fall Show Schedule!

Hi Everyone,

I am pleased to announce my 2016 fall schedule. Please click on the " Upcoming Shows" icon on the left hand side to get further details!

I will be announcing a contest and some  more dates in the very near future so keep tuned.

xo

Getting Ready for Fall!

Getting ready for the fall show season is always a little hairy! I have been gearing up all summer: picking stones, washing stones, painting stones!  But there are also letters to write, cards to fold and get in sleeves, contests to plan, (more information coming out soon!) orders to complete and stores to fill with stock.
This summer I also opened a Etsy store with my cards which added a bunch of paper and ink to the mayhem! 
I love this time of year because it is full of excitement and deadlines. I look so forward to participating in all the beautiful shows and meeting and seeing lots of exuberant people.

Above are a batch of stones with positive sayings that were just sent to the Blue Heron in Kenora. 

Enjoy the fall colors and talk to you soon!

Karen

P.S. Please stay tuned for my fall show updates and contest announcement! 
Yay!

Working = Learning

Hi Everyone,

I have been working on many projects throughout this winter and spring.

I've made lots of letterpress cards at the print studio, set up my ArtRocks Press Etsy shop

and completed lots of custom orders.

Special orders are always a treat for many reasons. I get to challenge myself by going out of my comfort zone on certain projects. These types of orders have me working closely with a customer of which the collaboration inevitably inspires  me in other projects!

Above is one of the hundreds of pet portraits that I have done over 17 years. I do not do very many of these any more because of time constraints, but I always love creating a portrait for a gift or for an owner of a beautiful animal. Our companimals are such a huge part of our lives! 

I have made rock "favours" for wedding guests, specialized birthday stones and memorial stones. Teacher gifts and graduation gifts with beautiful sentiments inscribed on the back are a favourite. Another very unique project was working on a "bowl of stones" for a customer who wanted her favourite quotes on stones to inspire her daily.

Thank you to all my wonderful customers for thinking of me when they want a gift for someone special in their lives or for themselves. It really is a remarkable part of what I get to do 😀

Karen

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who came out to all my fall sales! I enjoy being out with my fellow artisans to show off our stuff. And, as always, it was great to meet so many new enthusiastic people and to see my wonderful customers, friends, and family who always show so much support. Thank you. Thank you. A thousand thanks! :)

Lists, Lists, Lists

 Lists run my life! I couldn't live without them. I make lists for my business and my home continuously! Lists in notebooks, lists on the fridge, lists on the iPad. Lists for the month  get put into lists for the week and then for the day.

Are you a list maker?

Why I love lists-

1. They free up my head from the many things swirling in it (a good load off my mind) 

2. To remind me of things I need to remember (duh) 

3. So I can cross things off the list when the task is completed (so satisfying...don't you ever finish a busy day and wonder what you did? The "done" list is a great cheerleader!)

I have learned over the years that the list must be flexible (in most cases). It really defeats the good part of making lists if you are anxiety ridden by the thought of the list. 
(prioritizing is very helpful)

So, because I am going away for a month long trip next week, I have been working on many lists besides the regular grocery lists and house/work tasks—what to take, what the house sitter needs to do, how to keep the kitty cats happy while we're gone, places to see on the trip, and, a very important one,  the list of stones to make before I leave!

My summers are not normally this list filled, but it will stop when I am on vacation. 
Well, not quite—I guess I have the pages of things to do while on vacation that I'll be excitedly crossing off!

Please follow me at Instagram.com/ArtrocksByKaren if you want to see pictures of the Italian adventure as I will not be posting on my blog until October! 

Enjoy the rest of the summer and see you in the fall!

xo

Karen

Second Last Show of the Year!

 Springs Church Christmas Craft Sale is on Saturday! Only two more shows left for this season! Wow, that went fast! Hope you can join me :)

Quote Love