Getting Ready

Like a squirrel gathering nuts here for a long, cold winter, I have been gathering art and craft supplies for future creative endeavours. Moving here to Northeastern Ontario from Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia last June meant leaving much behind again but I did manage to transport what I thought were essentials in my old car. My son relocated his office to another part of the house so now my daughter and I share this Arts and Crafts Room while she is visiting. (I’ve only photographed ‘my stuff’ and even then there are several yarn bins for weaving projects and shelves of tools and supplies tucked away elsewhere.) The photos are the room ‘as is’ for now, neat and organized. When it becomes creatively messy with use, I’ll call it a ‘Studio’:)

Like a squirrel…
I bought and assembled a cabinet with much struggle to understand instructions, a humbling experience, then filled it in all of a few minutes.
I wonder how long this cabinet will stay organized and tidy.
I’ve temporarily tacked my painting over the new desk I assembled as I had to dispense with the frame of this mixed media to roll it for a space in my car, otherwise it would be among ‘those things left behind’. Some might consider it ‘tacky’ but it makes me happy to look at this and recall how the rain contributed to my art.
A wider claimed corner for supplies to remember it’s pristine state in the future:)

I managed to save a few of my weavings and paintings for myself, having gifted such (as well as sculptures) and donated others to charities. Like my poetry, I think of these as simply my hobbies.

Something Old Something New

Something Old, Something New

Creating something New from something Old

is an art, a skill, a pragmatic passion that fills my heart and mind with joy.

Here, I employ cuts to rearrange change

so nothing is lost and there’s gain in transforming what I still value

from what others may toss as loss-

an acrylic painting becomes a mosaic in process.

Each piece is different, not the same, like snowflakes and people, even ‘look alikes’,

so when I really look, examine, I realize what (like who) looks the same, isn’t.

Life is full of differences and similarities

even in global commonalities and ambitions,

even in local structures and systems,

even in neighbouring nations and cultures.

My humble mosaic inspires my thoughts as I playfully create my art.

Love of Life guides me, inspires me with more Love

to bring out the best in me and so, I Do,

by creating and recreating myself anew.

(February 14, 2025- Shelley A. Wilson)