Carnival of the Creators

Welcome to the very first edition of the Carnival of the Creators, a weekly round-up of blog posts with a creative theme. Each week the carnival is hosted at a different blog and will feature blog posts by or about people who create things - artists, writers, craftspeople......

Lets start by visiting another blog carnival, Storyblogging Carnival XXXVIII, hosted this week at Tales by Sheya. Storyblogging consists of storytelling in blog format. It may be as simple as posting short stories on a blog, serialising a book, or as intricate as blogging as a fictional persona.

Next, the carnival stops at two jewelry maker's blogs. Cyndi Lavin of Mazel Tov! Jewelry gives instructions for making a freeform neckpiece on a sterling silver armature. Meanwhile, over on Indigoskye Bead Fashions, Wendy Van Camp explains the beauty and benefits of Argentium Sterling Silver.

Luann Udell gets down to business and talks about the artist's fear of having their designs copied. Her answer is to Get Ahead and Stay There.

On an equally business-like theme, Edward Winkleman blogs about the current state of collecting art. He discusses one collector who thinks that collecting is an art in it's own right. Edward believes that collectors need to spend more time getting to know artists, and that they should find new ways to open a dialog with artists. He suggests that starting a blog is one option.

For those who like to dress well, this article about the crafting of bespoke shirts is an interesting read. It is by Thomas Mahon, bespoke Savile Row tailor who writes in his blog, English Cut.

It is always interesting to read about how people find their paths in life. Xanthe has posted an article about her experiences with art as a child. Laughed at by her peers, her teacher had some words of encouragement and now Xanthe declares "I Am an Artist". She now makes books and says she has her own special way of looking at things. Elsewhere, Leslie Shelor tells us how her grandmother's spinning wheel and three rabbits helped her start her business, Greenberry House.

It's always nice to see someone using their art in aid of a good cause, especially an environmental one, so over on Acres Wild I talk about Sarah Harmer's song, Escarpment Blues.

And that is a fitting place to end, because next weeks Carnival of the Creators will be hosted at Acres Wild. If you have written or read a blog post you would like to see included, you can do so with this nomination form. I also desperately need volunteers to host forthcoming editions of the carnival on their blog. It's a great way to get links, new readers and make new friends.

Technorati tags: art, craft, blogs, carnival, Carnival of the Creators, environment, jewelry, Sarah Harmer, bespoke, artist.

All about Derek

Many of the visitors to my studio or craft-show booth want to know what I did before I started woodturning. Now my blog readers can learn a little about me by taking a look at the lens I made about myself at Squidoo.com:

Squidoo : Derek Andrews, woodturner

Show Time

My first craft show of the season was two weeks ago in New Glasgow. It was a very good show and I was really pleased with sales. There was a good selection of artists and craftspeople at the show, but very few have websites, the exceptions being Jamie Brown, watercolor artist, and Victor Whitewood who makes some quite unique chainmail jewelry.

Later that week I attended the Pictou County Trade Show organised by PRDC as part of Small Business Week. The theme of my display was 'How can a woodturner help your business?'

I showed products that can be used as gifts for customers, employees and conference speakers, or put in a goody bag for promotional purposes. I also showed some of my one-of-a-kind art which might be displayed in reception areas and board rooms, or given as a corporate gift.

Next weekend I am off to the Agridome in Truro, Nova Scotia, for a show put on by the local Zonta Club. I see from their website that my near neighbours Harold and Valarie Langille of Yardbirds will be there. They make some absolutely wonderful steel and glass scupltures for your lawn, garden or pool. Take a look at their Peacock design.

Finally I would just like to give a mention to another artist/blogger, Hannah Shapero, who has just opened a show of her work in the "Bakery on the Common" coffee-house art gallery in Natick, Massachusetts. The show runs until the end of December.


Technorati tags: woodturning, nova scotia, truro, Natick, craft show.

Craftshow season

My first craft show of the fall season is this weekend!

Hogmanay Craft Fair
North Nova Education Centre, Park Street, New Glasgow
Saturday Oct 15, 10am-5pm
Sunday Oct 16, 10am-4pm

If you miss this event, you can also catch me in November at these shows:

Zonta Craft, Antiques and Collectables Fair
Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Grounds, Truro
Saturday Nov 5, 10am-5pm
Sunday Nov 6, 11am-4pm

Christmas at the deCoste
deCoste Entertainment Centre, Pictou
Saturday Nov 12, 10am-5pm
Sunday Nov 13, 11am-5pm

Festive Craft Market
NS Agricultural College, Truro
Saturday Nov 19, 10am-7pm
Sunday Nov 20, 11:30am-5pm


Tags: craft shows, nova scotia

The beauty of wood

Today I was rummaging through a stack of papers in my office and came across a scribbled draft that I wrote sometime in the past. I don't recall what I intended to do with it, so I guess this blog is as good a place as any.

It is the structure of wood that makes it such an intriguing material. Each species has its own characteristics of grain and color. Each twist of grain, each knot and each bark inclusion says something of the life of the tree. These features make wood a challenging material to work with, but with care and skill these natural features enhance the crafted form.

Technorati Tags: wood, beauty