Preparation for 'Featured Artist'

Every month one member becomes the 'featured artist' at the Blakberry Gift Shop, located inside the Port Moody Arts Centre.  Del will be featured for the month of June, 2014.

In preparation he is creating at least 10 new items.  These pieces are new to him, and so will be new to all who shop at the store.  Make sure you stop by to see them!

Here's a sneak preview

Eagle with a feather - and a painted beak

Lighthouse 

Sunflower in a pot

Comfort Birds - something new

After reading an article about Frank Foust's creation of Comfort Birds, I have started creating these wonderful little birds.

Comfort Birds are given as a token of support and an act of kindness.  When gently rubbed, the smooth birds bring comfort to those needing a tangible reminder that someone loves and cares for them.

Each bird is carved and sanded smooth from different species of wood.  These little tokens can be found at the Blackberry Gift Shop.

Top - Poplar - Oak - Plywood - Yellow Cedar - Aromatic Cedar

Bottom - Poplar - Spalted Birch - Walnut

Busy, busy, busy ......

New things are popping out of the workshop daily.  Since Christmas I have produced many Christmas Ornaments for next year's Blackberry Artists Christmas Marketplace, including the 12 days of Christmas series.  You'll have to wait to see these beauties.

Among the pieces I am working on or have finished is a trio of Penguins, a Bear in a tree, a Martini Glass, a Biker Teddy, Tulips in a Frame, Valentine Tokens and a Robin.  You can see these beautiful pieces on my website. 

Cribbage boards and critters are taking up the workbench right now, more when they are finished.

Santa's workshop!

Del has been a very busy 'elf' this season creating loads of toys for sale at the Delbrook Craft Fair and also the Blackberry Gift Shop in the Port Moody Arts Centre.

On the 'Meet your Maker' afternoon, December 2nd, we had a number of inquiries and one commission to make a Blue Heron, here it is in the preliminary stages.

The original Heron flew off  to Ontario about 6 years ago, then another went just last year.  This new one will be unique as it will have Denim Pine incorporated as the water.

The website has been updated to portray some of the Christmas Intarsia pieces which have been made over the past couple of years, and which still are very popular.

Don't forget to visit the Blackberry Gift Shop this Christmas season, along with Del's wonderful work, there are numerous lovely art pieces from our 25 members.  Buy locally created, unique gifts this season.

Inspiring Each Other

"Beyond Dreams" is my contribution to the exhibit at Port Moody Arts Centre, entitled "Inspiring Each Other".  This piece was inspired by the writing of Hailey Counsell from Port Moody Middle School.  Her words were "Don't be afraid to try, if you don't you will never find out what is coming next".

I used western red Cedar, mahogany, birch plywood, zircote, rosewood, denim pine, yellow cedar, pedauk, Spanish cedar, walnut, zebrawood, pine, alder and ebony to show that our dreams can become reality.  Drop by the Arts Centre to have a look at my piece as well as the rest of the exhibit.  
The exhibit is on until May 27.

Well, where have I been for so long!!

It's been a long time since I've created anything new!  That's only because my workshop was underwater .... In August we had a major flood at the house and it took 3 months to clean up and get back to normal.  I have just returned to the workshop to put things back together and sort out how much wood was left undamaged.

My first two intarsia items are small - just 9"x8" - hope you like them!
The first is a little kitten made of western red cedar, yellowheart and pine on a birch plywood background.  The kitten's eyes are made of ebony.
The second is a boy's best friend.  This little puppy is crafted from western red cedar, walnut, and yellow cedar on a birch plywood background.  Again, this little guy's eyes are ebony.

Heading Home

sailing home, a photo by cruisin couple on Flickr.

Heading Home is one of the pieces featured this month at the Blackberry Gift Shop.

I especially liked the way the water turned out.   I carved Denim Pine and Spalted Birch to make the water look like it is moving the sailboat along. The four colours of the sails are Spalted Alder, Poplar (white and green) and Yellow Cedar. You can almost feel the wind as it billows out the sails.

Come into the Gift Shop to see the other 12 pieces on my Featured Wall!