I'm Back!

VanGogh project daisies, WIP

5x7, coloured pencil on Colourfix

Copyright Rita Woodburne

Wow, have I been on hiatus or what?

So this Sunday, from 1- 4 pm the Lilac Tea takes place at the Tyendinaga Twp. Public Library. I’m very excited to see what kind of turn out we have and what responses we get from the artists who are participating in the show. Over the past week I’ve been toodling away with finalizing the artist brochure and getting some signage ready as well as making sure I’m not scrambling at the last minute to get my art show “stuff” together.

Taking part in and helping to plan an event like this is very exciting for me because 1- I’m anal about planning things and love to see things go off with very few hitches and 2- anything to do with promoting fine art and literacy is always worthwhile in my books regardless of where it takes place. If you happen to be in the area, or are looking for an excuse to go on a country drive, be sure to stop by and see the fantastic art that's going to be on display and meet the artists!

Cynthia, if you’re reading this, I’d love to help out next year because now all the surprises are gone and I’ll know what to expect! ;)


Next week I'll resume with regular posts and more updates on art and gardening. Until then though the remainder of today and tomorrow is going to be spent getting everything together that I need for the show on Sunday. Oh, and in case you're wondering how the above piece is coming along for my VG project...

"Catching Some Rays"
5x7, coloured pencil on Colourfix
Copyright Rita Woodburne

... it's done!!

Overall I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out and the Colourfix gave me a lot of flexibility for layering that I didn't have with the Mi-Teintes. Any comments? Crits? Can't get better without them.

So until next week have a fantastic week-end!

Untitled
8x10, coloured pencil on pastelbord

Copyright Rita Woodburne

Hidy-ho there, dear reader.

My apologies for my absence this week but first Blogger decided it didn't like the idea of me posting and then I was swamped with art related tasks such as getting some artist promo material ready for the Lilac Tea, which is only 2 weeks away I might add, and picking out pieces to head up north to be displayed at Bon Echo on top of my growing pile of works-in-progress that are screaming at me to be completed. I'm doing this on top of all the regular day-to-day tasks involved with living on a farm and tending my veggie garden.

Sound hectic? You bet, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. ;)

On a lighter and more exciting note I'm pleased as punch to share that not just one but both of the pieces I entered in the Quinte Arts Council "Expressions" show, you can find out which pieces I entered here, both garnered Honourable Mentions from the jurors. Oh yes, I'm just grinning from ear to ear.


So I do beg your pardon but I need to get back to work. I'll be posting this week and next but it will be sporadic... just thought I'd let you know so you don't think I've dropped off the face of the earth.

You know, because that sort of thing happens so often to artists. ;)

Can't wait to plant?

This past week here in Ontario we experienced a bit of a cold snap so it really wasn’t ideal for any type of outdoor gardening. The past few days have hinted at warmer weather and we’re getting oodles of showers so things have really started taking off. Me, I’ve been tending to my seedlings and now that the weather is turning favourable again I’m getting ready to plant a few things outdoors. Although the veggies I’ll be planting are quite tolerant of cold weather (peas, parsnips, carrots and lettuce) today I want to touch on caring for plants that aren’t so hardy when colder weather strikes unexpectedly.

Even veggies, such as eggplant and tomatoes, need TLC.

For gardeners in Southern climes this isn’t so much of an issue, although it could be with very sensitive plants such as tomatoes or melons, but for us folks farther North we tend to get a little... *ahem*... anxious when there’s even a hint of warm weather and all planting sense goes out the window. “It’s May 3rd and mild,” we cry “surely it’s time to plant everything outdoors!!”


Um...no.


For those of us in zone 5b and surrounding areas the real marker for planting is the second last or last week-end in May, a time when the majority of risk for frost has past. That said, there’s still the possibility of an odd night-time frost and in true Canadian weather form there’s always the risk of unseasonably chilly temps both day and night. Sure, you may have planted your veggies out in the garden but you’ll still need to protect them for a few more weeks until they become hardy and really establish themselves in the garden.


One way to do this is to invest in a Wall-O-Water or construct some type of covering for your plants to protect them at night. A Wall-O-Water is made from plastic and consists of several tubes that you fill with lemonade...kidding, you fill them with water (just checking to see if you’re paying attention). They stand a little over 1 ft tall and when each of the tubes is filled up it closes in around the top of your plant. This traps in the heat and protects the plant from cold air and wind. They’re handy and re-useable from year to year.

A Wall-O-Water.
Re-useable and great for folks that are just itching to plant
something outdoors when it's still to early to do so. ;)

Since Wall-O-Water aren’t exactly cheap and easy to come by you can also use a large plastic pop-bottle, milk jugs with the bottoms cut off or even cardboard milk cartons, all of which would be placed over the plant and pushed into the earth slightly to stabilize them. It’s the frugal gardener’s way of doing things and a great way to recycle. :)


In this gardening post I’ve kind of gotten ahead of myself and so next week I’m going to talk about the steps you’d take before planting outdoors to prep your plants for the potential "big chill". So until next week have fun art-ing and playing in the dirt (but not at the same time unless you’re into that sort of thing).