Halifax Crafters Yuletide Cheer



Every year the Halifax Crafters host one of the best craft shows in Nova Scotia! 

                    

The Halifax Crafters are a group of several dozen artists who enjoy making things by hand and who have a unique vision to share. Volunteers have been putting on seasonal handmade markets since 2005 as part of Halifax Crafters' mandate to encourage new artists and local artmaking. Shows are juried every time creating a unique place for established artists and university instructors to gather with emerging artists and students to show inspiring new projects.               halifaxcrafters.blogspot.com                                                 

With over 70 artists and artisans participating, the annual holiday showcase features a variety of unique and one of a kind products made right here in Nova Scotia! From linens to soap, clothing to pottery, prints to stuffed animals, jewellery to cupcakes - there really is something for everyone! 

Myself and many of the artists here at Flying Cloud are all very proud to call ourselves members of this wonderful collective of crafty creators.

This season's show was truly the best to date!

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped to make this truly a spectacular event! Until the next show, here is a variety of products by some of the Flying Cloud Boutique artists who took part in this year's Halifax Crafters Society Yuletide Cheer Winter Market.

Enjoy!



Ornaments by An Oddity or Two

Ornaments by An Oddity or Two

Designer Rita Van Tassel checks out
photographs by John McCarthy 

Lion by Woodland Wool

Scarves by Poison Pear

Tartan belts by Veronica MacIsaac

Pendants by Angie Arsenault which we hope
to have here when we reopen in the spring!

I'm just in LOVE with Angie's fox ring!

Rita Van Tassel's banner flags!

Rita's Gem & Big Bang ornaments
for all us geeks & nerds out there!

Faux feathers anyone?

Rita's latest look which we will
have in stock next spring!

Feather fascinators by Pretty Things Merch

Another new product  arriving this
spring, hooked brooches by Posies

Anna Stowe's latest cards!

Leather journals by Steadybrook Saddelry

Lunenburg themed pillows by Fox Acre Row

New designs by Bread and Butter Pottery!

Pendant by Ophelia

Another exciting newcomer in the spring,
graphic T-shirts by Quarrelsome Yeti

Recycled wood earrings by Robert Scott



Holiday bags by Big Day!



Prints and cards by Jane Rovers

The artist I'm probably most excited about 
joining us next spring is Blythe Church!

Blythe and her felted cameras were what
inspired me to start felting, so I'm just
over the moon that we will be carrying
her line of recycled wool baby clothes
 and toys  Sewn by Blythe - yay!!! 

For more photos from the Halifax Crafters Show check out our album on Facebook

The snow has finally arrived in Nova Scotia!

I got up & out early this morning to finish dressing
the bows - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Soon enough we will have our ice rink back!



Snow Angel?



Mister Fluff now has the best kitty fort in town!

In the Spotlight: Jaki Durocher



Back Shift - a portrait of Jaki's father

I first met Jaki Durocher a few years ago through the Hants County Arts Council; I quickly recognized that Jaki was an active member of the local arts community and knew she would be a great ally and advisor when it came to starting my own arts based business.

As one of the founding members of the Hants County Arts Council and Director of the Utata Arts Centre, Jaki has played an important part in nurturing the local arts community here in Hants County.

Known mostly for her portraiture and landscape paintings, Jaki is a bit of a Jack of all trades.

Her work, which has been sold nationally and internationally, reflects her love of the things important to her: nature, the Nova Scotian landscape and as a proud grandmother of 10, her family.

In this day and age when life is getting faster, busier and more complex, it is the simpler things in life that keep us grounded and lend perspective on what really matters. My work is about connections. These associations impel a spiritual effigy.         Jaki Durocher

This past year saw Jaki opening Windsor’s first Art School, Inspire! Here Jaki and her husband Philippe teach a variety of workshops ranging from painting and drawing to cement and clay sculpture.

Jaki is always experimenting and growing as an artist, never afraid to accept a challenge! Here at Flying Cloud we are proud to showcase a selection of her art prints as well as her beautiful nature inspired ceramic bowls.

Currently we are showcasing Jaki’s Wave and Whales ceramic bowl series in our online shop; perhaps the perfect complement to a hearty Nova Scotian fish chowder!

For more information on Jaki and the workshops available at Inspire Art School please visit www.jakidurocheer.com or if you'd like to experience Jaki's work first hand come and visit us here at the shop!

In the Spotlight: Mary Garoutte of Swallow & Twig

When I first decided I wanted to open my own shop selling Nova Scotian handmade products I came up with a wish list of artists I wanted to approach – at the top of my list of must have products was a line of hand-painted  jewellery by Mary Garoutte.

I had first discovered Mary’s whimsical line Swallow and Twig while Christmas shopping last year. Her miniature paintings on recycled silver spoons were right up my free-cycle loving alley! With delicate images inspired by nature and Victorian life, Mary creates wearable art that any fashionable lady would be proud to wear.




Mary is an artist-painter-turned-jeweler, who graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. It was while studying there, that hard work, challenge, and creative media were instilled into her.

Mary’s post-graduation years have been spent painting through freelance and commission work, and it was only in recent years that she decided to incorporate her painting background and skills into hand-painted jewelry. Mary says this new direction into jewelry has stretched and challenged her in ways that have improved her overall painting practice as a whole, and she enjoys the wearable art component to her hand-painted jewelry, as she believes fine art should be a part of the everyday.

Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Many influences have shaped the aesthetic of Mary’s work, which range from vintage printed and illustrated imagery in children's books, such as Beatrix Potter, tales from the Brothers Grimm and nursery rhymes. She also loves the bold and powerful forms of early to mid 20th Century design.

Art Nouveau and Art Deco are to her the most impressionable design forms from that time period, and are probably the most evident in her jewelry designs. She is also inspired by the light-hearted and playful art forms of kitsch and folk art, and she loves to contrast with more dark and sinister influences such as the wonderful illustrations of Edward Gorey.

While investigating the background of miniature work, Mary became very fond of art and graphics from the Victorian era, as miniature work played a great role in art-making, souvenirs and other minutia from that time period. Another popular past-time for the Victorians was the art of Shadow-boxing. Christopher Cornell 's work is a lovely example of this and a source of inspiration. Like him, Mary shares a love of birds, a predominate subject in her work.

Currently we have a selection of Mary’s earrings, rings and belt buckles in stock in the shop. If you are trying to come up with a little special something for you loved one this season, then I invite you to check out our online shop and get your hands on your own miniature masterpiece!

A Look Back to the Festival of Art

On October 1st & 2nd Flying Cloud Boutique hit the road to attend the 5th Annual Festival of Art, hosted by the Hants County Arts Council at the Vaughan Shand Centre in Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Revealing for the first time our folky "mini cloud" kiosk, we were able to show off a small selection of items from the shop while also providing free artist demonstration for visitors who came out to view the showcase of 20 Hants County Arts Council members.

Instructor at Inspire Art School, Jaki Durocher created a sculpture from clay while Tacha Reed demonstrated needle felting techniques.

For more information and pictures from the event please visit the Hants County Art Council's Member's Gallery Blog: http://hcacmembersgallery.blogspot.com/

Believe

Thank you stranger for the sweet little poem you threw away on our lawn... thankfully I can't help but read lost notes when I see them on the ground. This was a pleasant surprise, normally I find grocery lists and crumpled failed tests. This little rhyming message of hope and faith was a perfect summary of how I try to live my life.

Apparently "Believe" is a very popular piece by poet Emily Matthews, so I can't give credit to my anonymous litterbug for it's creation, but still it was a nice cherry on the top of a very awesome day! A day that was spent in meetings with vibrant folks like painter Kelly Mitchelmore and April Griffin from the new Vaughn Shand Wellness Centre, as we prepare to celebrate our local arts community with this year's Festival of Art. An easy flowing day spent following my dreams and listening to my intuition, letting it lead me to where I am meant to go.

Bryan sometimes walks around singing a little tune and ever ever since I first had my "Flying Cloud" dream (which I promise I will share with you all one day) it has become my motto. When ever things start to stray from my "plan" I repeat these words and remind myself that this is my path and that "everything works if you let it, if you let it all work out!"

5th Annual Festival of Art

The Hants County Arts Council is currently planning it's 5th Annual Festival of Art in Windsor, and here at Flying Cloud we are thrilled to be one of the event sponsors.


This year's festival will occur between September 30th - October 2nd as a part of Culture Days and is open to all Nova Scotian artists. 




This year sees the event moving to the Vaughn Shand center (former Hawboldt's building), a gorgeous open space that allows for even more artists to be represented. 


For more information please visit www.hantscountyartscouncil.ca or visit their blog at http://hcacmembersgallery.blogspot.com/

Grand Opening and First Summer Party!

On July 23^rd we had our Grand Opening and our first of hopefully many summer parties here at Flying Cloud Boutique!

Artists Jaki Durocher of Inspire Arts School, along with other Hants County Arts Council members Carlos Da Rosa and Dora Davis, worked some magic with their paint brushes creating a beautiful mural of the Blomidon cliffs on our garage doors (on what turned out to be the hottest day yet this season - bless their hearts for sticking it out) 

Local artist (and I mean local – she lives just down the road!) Patricia Dillon was set-up in the shade with an assortment of supplies teaching our visitors how to create their own beaded mosaics. As a surprise she presented me with a beaded portrait of Sylvia! Just amazing – I love it!

No good party is without music, and Christina Martin with her usual charm and wit delighted us with some new stories and tunes, creating an entertaining atmosphere for all in attendance.

One of Flying Cloud's own, photographer John McCarthy, got a few great shots of Christina serenading us - one of which you can see on his website

We had many local visitors and Nova Scotian artists stop by throughout the day helping us to celebrate the coming together of so many talented people.  It was a festive event overall and I look forward to planning an even bigger and better anniversary party next summer!

The journey of Silver Sue: As told by Nicole Trask of Halifax Magazine

Trouble reading the article? You can also read it online here!

Sometimes you just need to ask for help...

You know, owning and running your own business may seem like a fairy tale dream come true, but I have to admit I'm absolutely exhausted! Not only do I run Flying Cloud, but I'm also a maker, selling my wares at a few local shops and online, I  work part-time on an animated television series and I volunteer as President of the Hants County Arts Council. So when I woke up with a cold the other other day, I finally took a much needed break (only my 3rd day off since March!) and started to think "maybe I should ask for some help?"


Going into the Self Employment Benefits program I was confident that thanks to my extensive background in various forms of production, I had a good handle on everything that needed to be done to open and run my business. Perhaps I was a little cocky, but for the most part I was able to identify everything that I needed and wanted to do and was pretty sure I was capable of doing it all myself... but the reality is I only have two hands and there are only 24hrs in a day... and my to-do lists could keep 3 of me busy!


The key to the success of every business I've worked for in the past has been the strength of their teams. Here at Flying Cloud our team is pretty small, other than the help from a few of my loyal friends (I'm not sure I can actually count the cats - although their companionship and undying love does help float me along), overall I do most of the work myself. 


That being said, I have a pretty long list of things I'd like to accomplish each day. I'm quickly finding out that what ever is currently a priority will always bump the best of my intentions to the bottom of the list - one of those being blogging on a regular basis and keeping you all up to date with the on-goings here. I just have to say that lately I've felt like an old friend that meant to write you that letter but just kept putting it off... so I apologize for not keeping in touch and I promise I will remedy that!


My ideal would be to update you daily about each and every one of the fabulous artists currently represented in the shop and the creative products they have come up with... and I'm sure that soon enough I'll get into a routine where I can find the time to sit down daily and share a bit of the Flying Cloud world with you all... but in the meanwhile I'll ask that you all bear with me while we work through our growing pains and I finally ask for some much needed help!


The top item on my to-do list as of late has been the planning of our grand opening and  our first summer party. One longstanding task on my wish list has been to convert our garage doors into a fantabulous mural of Blomidon with Sylvia flying through the sky. Seeing as I'm not much of a painter myself I have asked a few of the talented members of the Hants County Arts Council to join me and show off some of their mad skills. 

Jaki Durocher from Inspire Art School will be on hand providing some tips for working on larger scale images and bringing out the subtle details in nature. Accompanying Jaki will be the fiery Kelly Mitchelmore, who I'm hoping will bring out her knives and work a little of her magic. Also on hand will be Carlos Da Rosa, who is known for his vivid landscapes, as well as water colourists June Brown and Dora Davis - who I'm sure will bring their own sense of tranquility to the project.


Throughout the afternoon Patricia Dillon will be holding workshops for children demonstrating her beaded mosaics and at 2pm we are lucky enough to have Christina Martin providing some musical entertainment.


So far the 23rd is shaping up to be a fantastic afternoon - and all I had to do to make it happen was ask for a little help from my friends :)


So next time I find my aspirations seem a bit larger than me, I'm just going to remind myself it's okay to ask for help. 

Hallelujah the Postal Strike is Over!

At long last the postal strike is over, and now I can finally get on with my printed marketing plan! My flyers and rack cards have arrived and now I just need to spread the word!


Phew! It was difficult enough arranging to get product in throughout the strike, but to have to try and advertise too - I'm just thankful things are back to normal :)


Now maybe my birthday cards and box of birthday Barbies will arrive!


It's always exciting to get a box of toys in the mail, no matter what age you are! Come on, admit it - it's true! 


Moments ago a big box arrived from Rock Maple Toys full of wonderful wooden cars, puzzles, even baby rattles. Toy maker Dan Campbell finishes his wooden creations with organic, environmentally friendly products. Looking through this box takes me right back to when I used to play with my own wooden trucks.  


Milk paint and hemp oil are used to seal the wood with a child safe tough finish.  The toys are then topped off with a hand rubbed beeswax finish for a truly green toy! 


I can't wait to put these beauties away in the shop :)