Rain, rain go away - we really want to come out and play!

Hi Folks, sorry I’ve been a little lax keeping you updated on the goings on here at the Cloud. September really did blow right through!

The rain has keep our doors closed a bit more often than usual these day - but not today! It looks like things might actually dry out a bit and we are open and ready to share some of the lovely new creations that have made it into the shop.

We were happy to invite a few new members into the Flying Cloud family this past month.


First we welcomed Brendon Purdy Smith, a young entrepreneur living with an intellectual disability.

Together with his team Brendon strives to make socially responsible and quality products and hopes that creating his line of hand dyed clothing Mr B's Tees will become a self-sustaining part of his lifestyle.

Most recently we’ve welcomed Sarah Phelps to the fold. Sarah's beautifully hand printed note cards and bookmarks make a bit of a statement and they are the perfect addition to our collection of contemporary cards and prints.

Originally hailing from the North-East of England, Sarah now call the East coast of Nova Scotia home. As owner, designer and printer at Sarah Phelps Creative, she is on a mission to make the world a prettier place – one design at a time.

In other new news Flying Cloud Boutique has been accepted into the Acadia Christmas Craft Expo taking place November 16^th - 18^th in Wolfville. This is our first year participating and we are really looking forward to representing all of our artists and artisans at such a reputable show. We feel honoured to be showing along side so many other talented creators and entrepreneurs.  Now we just need to figure out how to create a mini Cloud within a tiny booth. A challenge I happily accept!   


　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Only a few weeks of staycation left...

Just like that July has flown by and August is already half over! This means that there are less than two weeks left to catch our Flying Cloud group show at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia.

Featuring a variety of paintings, prints, photographs, wood carvings and hooked rugs, this eclectic show is well worth the visit!

In case you were thinking of going and would like to know a bit more about the participating artists, well here is an introduction...





Blythe Church, a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a degree in textiles, has a passion for dyeing, weaving and sewing that has always driven her. In 2007 she began a series of soft sculptures inspired by everyday objects. Made using hand dyed wool industrial felt with hand-embroidered details, each piece is a labour of love taking between a week and a month to complete. Blythe's largest project to date took 8 months and consisted of an entirely felt 6 foot Christmas tree complete with ornaments and toys underneath.

Blythe loves the humour in seeing an industrially made disposable, hard object as something precious, soft and with an obvious human touch. She questions today’s throwaway society and is nostalgic for a time when things were beautifully designed, treasured by their owners, who fixed them when they failed and used them for generations. She is constantly collecting new objects to be recreated in felt and welcomes commissions. Her soft sculptures have been exhibited and are owned by collectors worldwide, her boom box sculpture can be seen in the head offices of Etsy.

Inspired by her daughter Wren, Blythe has recently started a new line of works for babies and small children called Sewn by Blythe. Using recycled and repurposed wool materials that are dyed, stitched and felted she has been making heirloom gifts to be treasured by babies and their parents alike.



Soft sculpture by Blythe Church, prints by
Geordan Moore, Paintings by Kelly Mitchelmore
and Mary Garoutte, folk art by Jim Tracey

Mary Garoutte of Swallow and Twig 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.

She never thought while studying Fine Art and Painting that she would ever venture into the world of miniatures and jewelry.

She considers her work to be mostly miniature, wearable art, rather than jewelry, so to speak. No matter what other media she ventures into, she considers herself primarily and always a painter.

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 & skills into hand-painted jewelry. It 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.

John McCarthy lives on the South Shore of Nova Scotia and has been capturing views of the east coast for the last six years. Being perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean absolutely inspires a lot of his work. As a self-taught photographer, John dodges and plays with the traditional conventions of photography and brings a fresh interesting look at one of the most picturesque regions of Canada.

John's work can be seen at Viewpoint Gallery in Halifax year-round where he is an exhibiting member. His work is also being served fresh daily on his own photographic stream of consciousness mostlythecoast.com where you can find a vast archive of images taken while on “staycation” here in the Maritimes.

Kat Frick Miller, a Brampton, Ontario native, started her BFA at York University in 2003 and graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2009.  After a yearlong residency at the NSCAD Lunenburg Community Studios, Kat made Lunenburg County her permanent home. 

She is a practicing painter and screen-printer, often combining the two techniques in her artwork and her line of home decor Fox Acre Row.  

Kat teaches and exhibits regularly around Nova Scotia and is an active board member of the Halifax Crafters Society.



Silk screened linen by Kat Frick Miller,
prints and hooked rug by Tacha Reed

Kelly Mitchelmore works mostly with knives, creating bold and luminescent works in both oil and acrylic. Her large knife paintings
reflect her approach to life and art, creating movement and texture through saturated hues and thick layers. Known for her vibrant pallet she enjoys painting flowers and nature trying to capture the moment of discovery. Determined to bridge the gap between artisans and community and support the local economy and charities all at the same time, Kelly is continuously promoting a more holistic approach to art and getting recognized for it.



Geordan Moore is the owner and operator of The Quarrelsome Yeti Press, a company he started in 2010. Geordan creates very detailed surreal and kind of silly narrative images, which he then reproduces as prints and t-shirts. Often he will use themes of the “Great White” Canadian landscape, or poke fun at supposed Canadian stereotypes as a starting point for his compositions. Saturday morning cartoons, 80’s professional wrestling, comics, and heavy metal album artwork influence his style. The detailed line work, and reductive woodcut style rendering characterizes his work.

Tacha Reed has been decorating the fine province of Nova Scotia with her images since 2003. While completing her degree at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design she developed a technique of carving photographs to reveal a graphic image. These humorous and sometimes thought provoking images later became known as “cut-ups”.

In addition to her visual arts, Tacha also has a never-ending desire to be crafting and creating beautiful, colourful decorations for our bodies and homes. Her materials of choice being found objects, recycled and natural materials. Other passions include knitting, rug hooking and stitching. Several years ago Tacha began experimenting with various felting techniques, which eventually resulted in a whimsical line of recycled critters and accessories called Woodland Wool, which she sells at various shops throughout the Maritimes.

In 2011 Tacha opened a mobile shop in a renovated vintage travel trailer
that features the work of 30 Nova Scotia Artists and Artisans. Flying Cloud Boutique, located in Ellershouse Nova Scotia, is open seasonally May - December. 

Tacha is also the current president of the Hants County Arts Council.             www.hantscountyartscouncil.ca


Jane Rovers grew up on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia and spent a lot of time with her grandmother, also an artist who always encouraged Jane’s creativity. These days Jane calls the Annapolis Valley her home. A Graphic Designer by trade, Jane currently finds herself experimenting with photography and digital art. Jane "paints" with photographs. She takes photos of people, places and things and layers them with texture, light and colour. She is always snapping new photos and creating new images. She takes her camera everywhere she goes.

During the day Jane can be found playing with her son Jude and making art while he naps. When she’s not creating she likes to go swimming in lakes, enjoys cooking (and eating!) and she loves hanging out with her husband, son and dog.



Kristie Sheehy grew up in a large family in rural Nova Scotia, surrounded by hills, streams and woods. As kids they explored caves and played in the meadows. Today she finds herself lucky to live on a beautiful farm in Avondale. A self trained sculptor, Kristie’s interests are Native and Acadian culture. Her sculptures often depict the interaction between people and animals - man and his world.



Jim Tracey has been carving his figures since boyhood.  Now near retirement, he has decided to offer his work to a larger audience and has found himself being asked to exhibit in more and more venues. From his front yard to markets, from commissions to exhibits, Jim is finding greater demand for his works. The subtle humour and political correctness of his work gives Jim an unending supply of fodder for his creations.  Some works are functional - like the birdhouses and feeders, others are satirical and entertaining, while still others are a beautiful addition to a garden or home.


The Flying Cloud group show runs until August 31st, be sure to catch it before it is gone!

Staycation Destination!

We were happy to reopen our door again for the 2012 season on May 19th, a full month ahead of last year!


We had contemplated moving the shop’s location, but seeing as I’m a maker myself and need to be in close proximity of my studio, we decided to instead renovate our garage and finally create that dream studio space I’ve been longing for. No more crowded mudroom for me! Now I have space to work on many projects at once… and the ability to close the door at the end of the day and head home and relax in a project free house! 

This past Sunday I opened up the garage for our first open studio day - going forward every Sunday and Monday my studio is open to the public to come and sit a while as I create... and perhaps bring along your own project to work on should you feel inspired?

The last few months have certainly been full of exciting projects, my own creations have been picked up by several shops throughout the Maritimes including Put Me On in Halifax, Window on the Sea in Lunenburg and Johnny Ruth – Integrity in Style in Saint John’s Newfoundland. In addition to being a bit of a production line these last few months creating new Woodland Wool critters and Flock Together feather accessories, I’ve also created a few new cut-up portraits for folk rocker Christina Martin’s new album, set to hit stores on July 10th.

Over the last few years I have been collaborating with the songstress combining quotes from her album with my graphic images to create an illustrated lyric book which she then provides to her fans as a thank you for their on going support. 

Larger limited editions of these prints are currently available exclusively at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn as a part of our Flying Cloud group show “Staycation, all I ever wanted” which runs until August 31st.

Staycation features the work of ten of our Flying Cloud artists including paintings by Mary Garoutte & Kelly Mitchelmore, photographs by John McCarthy & Jane Rovers, screen prints by Geordan Moore & Kat Frick Miller, folk art carvings by Jim Tracey, sculptures by Kristie Sheehy and fibre art by Tacha Reed & Blythe Church.

Now that my heavy production load is out of the way, and we‘ve squeezed in our own little staycation exploring rural Nova Scotia, Flying Cloud is now ready to settle into our new summer hours – hopefully making us a destination on your next Nova Scotian staycation!

For the fist six weeks of this season we have only been open on Saturdays and Sundays, but that all changes today – with us now keeping somewhat regular hours throughout the week as well!

You will now find us open most weekdays 10-4, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with all the happenings here in Ellershouse!

Spring Up! A look back at the Halifax Crafters Spring Show May 5th & 6th 2012

This past weekend I attended the Halifax Crafters SPRING UP! show, both as a vendor, selling my Woodland Wool critters and showing off my latest rug hookings... but also as shop owner, checking out what some of my fellow Flying Cloud artists were up to this past winter and too see what goodies they would be bringing to the shop this spring. Here is a selection of images that will give you an idea of what to expect in the shop when we re-open on May 19th!



Some of my own new rug hookings and buttons

New panoramic prints by John McCarthy

New scarves by Poison Pear

New prints by Anna Stowe

Jewelry by Rita

Kitty mugs by Bread and Butter Pottery

New prints by Fox Acre Rowe

Bob Ross pins by An Oddity or Two

Cowboy boot key chains by Steadybrook Saddlery

New Jewelry by Jane Rovers

Baby tomatoes complete with card, by Joanna Close

Wooden spoons by Terron Dodd

Gift cards by Amanda Fullerton

Posies brooches by Heart and Hook

Unique prints by Vish

Baby onesies by Ella Mental

Monsters by Sewn by Blythe

Rings by Cranky



Paintings by April Baird

T-shirts by the Quarrelsome Yeti

 

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