Fran Caldwell at Home......Original Art

Newest Paintings and Why I will Never Be Rich

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:44:00 +0000

I've been busy painting and, finally, selling on a regular basis. Of course, I price my pictures "competitively", as they say - another term for saying I do it mostly for love. A lot of people aren't even able to do that. Doing what you love is meant to be priceless, yes? And I would do it (almost) for nothing anyway, but I can still dream. And so I begin a new painting, believing this is the one that will prove I'm worth just a little bit more.

Below are some of my favorites done over the last few weeks. Funny how the ones I love the most turn out to be the hardest to sell. I paint for myself (as I write my fiction for myself) and what makes me smile or giggle I assume will do the same for others. Not so. But when someone does get me, it fills me with satisfaction.

The Captain's Family

Love Adrift

Window Seat 2

Le Bistro d'Art

Pretty Filly

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I also sold a couple of paintings finished ages ago. This was a delightful surprise because the buyer found me by surfing online. I love that kind of sale.

I apologize for waiting so long to blog, but I really have been busy.

Hope you all had a delightful New Year. By now it's all a distant memory. Back to work.

Mary Sue the Beekeeper Doll

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:30:00 +0000

As this is the last week of 2011, I thought I'd wish you all a wonderful holiday season with a picture of my latest acquisition. I should say, adoption, although I think this little lady adopted me. The moment I saw her, I knew I wanted her living in my house.

Rachel, of My Country Kind on eBay.com, is the doll maker. Exceptional dolls. The link to her site is here for you to save for the future, as she has no dolls for sale right now, but wait until after the holidays.

Her black dolls are wonderful, too, very large and beautifully dressed. As Rachel is in the States, ordering one that size would have been a bit prohibitive postage-wise for me. In any case, I love my more diminutive Mary Sue, and she likes being in Australia.

Here's a few others I found on her site. Hope she doesn't mind.

Oh, and don't be afraid to contact Rachel. Along with being so talented, she's super friendly. She might even consider a custom order or two.

Enjoy your holidays. I'll talk to you in the New Year.

New Art - My Take On Equiano

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:54:00 +0000

This is my latest Colonial portrait. Change of pace for me because I've based it loosely on a real man - Equiano, who was enslaved as a child in Virginia (or was it South Carolina? - some dispute over that) in the 18th Century. He went on to travel the world with a later master, educated himself, finally purchased his own freedom, and took up residence in England, where he became a member of the abolitionist movement. He made his fortune by writing his autobiography, which had considerable influence on public thinking in 1789 England, and remains for sale today.

I've seen only two pictures of Equiano and they don't appear to be of the same man, but this is how I imagine him. Artistic licence. He would have been a magnetic and imposing figure, I'm sure. Certainly he would have turned heads when he delivered his anti-slavery petition at the British Parliament.

Toronto Maple Leafs Vs Montreal Canadiens

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:59:00 +0000

I know it's an odd title for an art blog, but I just watched a great hockey game. (I am a dedicated Leafs supporter.) It reminded me of three paintings I did as an homage to these two teams a couple of years back. Those paintings were sold, but prints are available. Click on the titles for more information.

The Buds Were Winning

but Malcolm suppressed his joy.

regretting his decision to attend an away-game alone.

Brother Alfonso was New to the Order

and having some difficulty adjusting.

Brother Alfonso was Perturbed

to discover that Brother Domenic, a sturdy fellow,

was from Montreal

Okay, so this is blatant self-promotion, but if I don't do it, who will? And I so love my Leafs...

More of my Work - a little bit of Americana...or is it Australiana?

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:36:00 +0000

I'm on something of a roll. I decided to paint something a little different. Although I've done Colonial pictures before, these are my first in many years, and I thoroughly enjoyed doing them. The fashions were such fun researching!

And, just as I was getting a little frustrated (what else is new?), I sold my "Private Pool" painting, which delights me. When I finished it, I considered keeping it for myself, but I have a number of pictures I've never offered for sale and it's just silly to keep adding to the collection. I will never have enough wall space for all of them, let alone other artists' work that I've collected over the years. So she's sold. Perhaps I'll do a similar one some time.

Anyway, here are my Colonial pictures. I love the woman, but men back then tended to have rather foppish (old, old word, but fitting) hair-dos. It was the era of the male peacock. How times change.

I think I'll do a couple more of these. Stay close by.

More Personal Offerings

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:46:00 +0000

Here are two more of my paintings. Nothing has sold on eBay, which is a pity. It's either because the pictures are complete rubbish or because of the economic climate. This is how I feel about my novels too. It's a sad indictment on my claim to creative confidence when I think this way. But the truth is, all of us who produce art - in whatever form - require positive feedback, preferably in the form of sales.

"Window Seat"

"Gran in New Orleans"

I don't need to sell, but I need the love. Sally Field would understand this.

Latest Painting - A Little Naive Australiana

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:18:00 +0000

Had a problem finding the right light to photograph this one. So many different greens, and not one of them emerald! I've added enlargements so you can see the detail.

I have always loved this kind of folk art. There are one or two famous artists out there that make me drool with their detail. Alas, my work is not as refined, but the essence of a simpler time comes through, I think.

"Village Life"

And guess what took the longest time to paint? Those darn chooks! (Forget the ducks. From here they could be geese.) Those chickens were a challenge. And no, they weren't just a blob of white paint, and a touch of orange for the beaks. I really thought it out as I applied the paint in the direction of the feathers. Not that you'll believe me. Only I know how long they took.

See you soon. I'm on a roll now.

My Latest Paintings. Mostly a Little Funky-Looking.

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:18:00 +0000

I've finished another five paintings since last week. Two of them were almost done anyway, but needed tweaking and varnishing. You have to acknowledge I have rather weird taste in subject matter. From city life to beach reveries, from sketchy, folky people to pretty, more realistic city girls, from Great-grandma's kitchen, to cappuccinos al fresco. And I've done another of my Gran, but haven't quite finished her yet. Is the world really ready for yet another Gran?

"Downtown"

"Reunion"

"Sunday Morning"

"Nostalgia"

"Private Pool"

Guess I'll keep these coming, as long as my canvas supply holds out. I have no idea what else I'll do, but it's just like writing. It always comes out of the blue, and is usually a delightful surprise.

My New Artwork - It's Been Three Years!

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:29:00 +0000

Three years since I last painted, and it took almost three months of fussing around to finally produce something. I've now finished five pictures, with another in progress. The subject matter is varied because I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to paint, and I had so many favorites from the past that I wanted to play with again. Two are now listed on eBay Australia, and I'll put just a couple up each week to see what the reaction is.

This first one is based on my little girl character, Becky, who has now grown up, but still loves the sea:

"Dawn Watch"

(Above is a painting of the young Becky.)

The second is another folk-style quilt sale painting. You know I enjoy doing these, even if they are very fussy to work on.

"Country Quilt Sale"

Of course, no work on the new novel. I'd love to say I can manage both, but the painting urge is quite different from the need to pour out words on a page.

Hope you enjoy these. It's certainly been refreshing for me, not being hunched over the laptop all the time. (Although setting up the eBay page, using an EBSQ template, took me hours. I'd quite forgotten how to do it.)

See you soon. Comments, please, if you have time.

Preparing to Paint Again. Thanks, Squeakie.

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:11:00 +0000

I'm thinking of getting back to my painting. It's been a long, long time, as I've been writing almost nonstop for the last few years. In fact, I've completed three more novels since that last picture in 2008. But it's time to get back to it. The new novel (my fifth) is resisting me, and my agent has yet to find a publisher for the first book, so I'll take this down time to do something more immediate.

I have yet to buy canvases, and I doubt my paint supply is still viable, but I've started sketching out some ideas, and hope to have something to show you soon.

Just for interest's sake, I thought I would post pictures of my work as I go. Perhaps not with every painting, but with the first couple, at least. Perhaps my regeneration will spur you on, too. We should use all the gifts we have, I know. I must try to remember this in future.

My old friend, Squeakie Stone, has produced dozens and dozens of paintings during the time I've been writing. He's constantly adding to the list of galleries who lovingly display his work. Each time he emails, he asks if I'm painting yet. He's responsible, in part, for my decision to get back to my brushes.

As they say, I'll keep you posted.

Thanks, Squeakie.

The Art of Shoe-String Interiors

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:48:00 +0000

Since I've been so distracted with organizing my trip overseas this year, I haven't posted as regularly as I once did. I hope all of you can forgive this. I promise things will improve once I'm settled.

But packing up all of my possessions - those that I can't bear to be without - had me imagining them in my new place. I don't even know what my new place will be, but I know what I'd like. I have always been crazy for interior design, since I was a child. It would have been a fine career path for me, but there were other things that called.

Designing the perfect interior is obviously art. The final product - we see them on the covers of all the glossy home magazines - is as beautiful as any painting. The people who create such loveliness are artists. I think it must be a wonderful job, especially if price is no object, and it's someone else's money.

But the interiors I love best are the ones done on a shoe string. There's an added excitement of seeing the wonderful vintage things that are used, some of them literally scooped up from the sidewalk, where they'd been left for the garbage truck, taken home and revamped into some charming piece. I've always been prone to discards and my own home contains many such things. In fact, they mean more to me than the items I paid for.

Of the furniture I'm shipping (and it's not much, because I'll only have to ship them back again at some point - I am a butterfly, after all), there are four items that were either on the street, being tossed out by a friend, or left behind in a house I'd bought because no one wanted them. They've become my most precious possessions. It took lots of elbow grease to bring them back to their true glory. A couple of them have considerable value as antiques - a Nineteenth Century English lady's desk, for instance. When I found it, it was covered with Gestetner ink. It had been used for decades as a place to copy documents on that noisy machine from the past. It had only one drawer pull, and a piece of veneer was lifting dramatically from the side. When I'd finished with it, it revealed its incredible color and patina, although I'm still not sure what the wood is...cherry, I think.

It still has its original green leather top. Don't you love it?

Originally intended for a grander city house than I'll ever have (or want), it still suits my style, eclectically mixed with all my other bits. And so I present to you with what I think is the most charming of all. True, homespun, rough-around-the-edges, shabby, well-loved, vintage-feel interiors. A Beach Cottage. Even my lady's desk would look pretty here.

I found this link, and fell in love. Young Sarah and her family moved from England to Australia some years ago, could afford only the most modest house, wanted to be near the beach, and ended up with a fixer-upper cottage north of Sydney.

Her blog about how she transformed their home into a wonderful, magical place has become hugely popular. It seems all of us long for this experience and this house. Read as many of her postings as you can. You won't be sorry. In fact, you'll be hooked, as I am.

Which leads me to my other artist site for the day, Hooked on Houses. I was particularly intrigued by the section Julie had on houses featured in top movies, and excitedly found my favorite - the house - particularly the kitchen - in Practical Magic. You must have a favorite of your own. Go check it out, and have a good look at her other postings, which include homes of the famous. This is a wonderful site, better than chocolate. Really.

Is Julie an artist? You betcha!

I won't say "see you next week" because I'm never sure where my head is these days. It could be next month...but I do think about you in the meantime.

Sunday in the Park - Original Acrylic Painting 13 x 11 inches

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:30:00 +0000

This is one of my own paintings, one of the last pictures that remains unpacked before my move, so I decided to offer it for sale at my store, Hafandeg's at Etsy.

It's my favorite kind of painting, naive and child-like. It makes you forget what you hear on the nightly news. I should do some more like this. When I'm settled, I promise.

See you next week.

Cat-alogue of Cats with Attitude at Etsy - Watercolor Illustrations by Maria van Bruggen

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:10:00 +0000

Maria van Bruggen probably thinks her shop title at Etsy is quaint, but I think the name is positively generic. ALL cats have attitude. My cats have been so very uppermost in my life this past few weeks, what with me planning our trip, the vet checkups, surprise dentistry (for Jeeves and Baby, not me), etc., that I simply assume all cats are basically demanding, quirky, and in your face, just like hers.

Maria's watercolor illustrations are certainly perfect representations of how my cats have been lately (I won't go into what they've been up to), with those huge eyes and "what, me?" faces. Because I've been somewhat stressed (if you've seen my writing blog), I tend to stare vacantly at times, and one or the other of them will peer at me, head on one side, as if asking where I am, and will I please get back immediately as it's supper time.

So thanks for your crazy cats, Maria. With my own wild couple of weeks with mine, I was beginning to think I was the crazy one.

See the rest of Maria's original art, prints, and other collectables at Cat-alogue of Cats with Attitude at Etsy. You must read the little blurbs for each. I particularly like the one for "Zen".

This artist is climbing the popularity ladder fast, so make your move if you want to own an affordable original of hers.

The Fine Art of Janice Trane Jones at Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:37:00 +0000

If you love the confidence of fine art, you'll love Janice Trane Jones's offerings. Every subject - you name it - is covered. Her flowers are so welcome at this tentative, almost-spring season, but her still-lifes, her rural idylls, her figures - even slumbering kittens - are all equally captivating.

There are many, many paintings at Janice Trane Jones at Etsy, from watercolors to oils. Spend some time there. It promises to be a slow, lazy and warm weekend. Raspberries and wine, anyone?

Rex Benson - Sculptor and Freelance Loafer

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Naturally, I found Rex Benson at Etsy. That loafer reference is his. (I would never be so rude, even if it was true.) The crazy fired clay images below need no explanation (as if I could give one, anyway).

From his own profile: "For more than thirty years, ceramic artist, Rex Benson, has been creating three dimensional clay cartoons. Each sculpture is handcrafted individually with colored clays and fired in an electric kiln to temperatures that would melt your face.

From Dragons on swings to Rastafarian Ducks, this endangered American artist combines handbuilding skills with a chronically twisted wit."

Each of these pieces is one of a kind. He'll repeat an image, but no two are ever the same.

I'm fond of dragons. My background is Welsh, and the dragon is the country's national symbol. I'm not sure about Rex's dragons, though. They seem a little frivolous - even mischievous. I can't imagine them embellishing a flag. I'm somewhat concerned about those wall faces, too. He calls them "Morning Faces". Hmm, has he been spying on me before I've put makeup on?

Joann Loftus and Whimsies Folksies Mixed Media at Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Mixed Media is the most fun of all art, I think. Since we were kids, we've treasured tiny bits and pieces of things, and find ourselves looking at a minute collectible, an old but beautiful button, a vintage birthday card, a snippet of fabric, wondering how we can display it somewhere. Too tiny to frame, yes? It ends up in a scrapbook or a knickknack box. But mixed media artists don't hide anything away. Everything has a chance to shine. Give this artist an old newspaper, tissue, a tiny swatch of fabric, a feather, paint, glue, anything, really, and they'll turn it into art.

Joann Loftus does just that. She's not stuck in a rut with her style, either, producing both vintage and modern pieces, and dolls! In looking at these wonderful images, don't overlook the fact that she's a brilliant painter in her own right, and the clever embellishment is incidental to that, in fact.

Go to Whimsies Folksies at Etsy to see a nice collection of her work, which includes the magical pendant pictured above. Joann also makes her work available as archival quality prints.

There's something for everyone here. I'm glad I found her this morning. Thanks, Joann.

Ginette Callaway at Etsy - Breathtaking...

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:50:00 +0000

Ginette Callaway's impressionist art is so breathtaking, I am almost lost for words. She works in most media - I especially love her water colors - but the last painting at the bottom is in oils, just to give you an indication of her scope. I'm so impressed by her use of color, the delicate imagery, that I simply had to feature her here today. Ginette is inspiring. What else can I say?

She has dozens of paintings to consider at her store, Ginette Creations at Etsy. Allow some time there. Grab a coffee first. Perhaps bring lunch as well. It could take a while.

And how about that owl?

Jackie Dives Collage at Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:34:00 +0000

Jackie Dives is multi-talented, dipping her toes into everything from acting to running art galleries in glorious Vancouver. She is highly creative and diverse in her interests - hence her current involvement with collage work. Recognizing her restlessness when it comes to her passions, one can only wonder what she'll be working on in a couple of years.

These collages, not too complicated, but carefully considered, are mounted on solid wood bases or canvas panels, and are a tiny indication of her mind set. Mind set? Hang on. She really doesn't have one. She hops from subject to subject, oddly marrying the most unlikely images to produce quirky and collectable pieces. You have to take a look at her store because there are so many items, and I couldn't make up my mind which pieces to feature today.

Okay, I suspect Jackie is a bit of a nut-case. I, and - I'm guessing - those of you who enjoy visiting my little blog, wouldn't have her any other way. The world could use a lot more Jackies.

See the rest of her collage work (for now, at least) and certainly read her profile at Jackie Dive's shop at Etsy, Divesin. She certainly does.

Walking Quail at Etsy - Fairy Tale Art

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:53:00 +0000

I'm feeling a bit skittish today. I'm preparing for a big move, away from country isolation and the sweet sound of late-night Canadian trains, to warmer climes, where my cats can chase lizards. And so these paintings of artist, Walking Quail at Etsy (don't you just love it?), aka Terry Blair, are suitably light, frivolous, and essentially child-like. She'd be a perfect children's book illustrator. You know I have a weakness for this kind of work.

Because the state where she lives has a different kind of light, the colors in Terry's paintings are different, too. My own work from Australia was equally different from the ones I did here in Ontario. It's the position of that old sun.

I like all of these, but that goat would look particularly fine in a posh frame over the fireplace, if you have one, and especially if you're a Capricorn. Interesting use of color and impressionist strokes here, cheekily punctuated by those tiny daisies.

Check out more of Terry's work at Walking Quail's Trail at Etsy. I have no other gossip about the artist, other than she loves animals and fairies. Well, as if we needed telling. Anyone can see that.

Laura Carter's Modern Abstract Art at Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:48:00 +0000

Ottawa artist, Laura Carter, appealed to my mood this week. Complex and dramatic, mysterious and lyrical, these abstract acrylics, some large, 2-panel or triptychs, often heavily textured, make a huge statement. I doubt anyone could pass by without comment if you had one on your wall. You need time with these, to really look at them.

There are many, many examples of Laura's work at Laura Carter at Etsy and it's a challenge to choose a favorite, but, for me, I think it's the little white dresses hanging on the laundry line. They're textured with plaster mixed into the acrylic, and they seem almost to flutter as you study them.

I'm so pleased to feature talent like this. Thank you, Laura.

Selene's Painting a Day at Etsy - Dreamlike, beautiful images.

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:39:00 +0000

Selene is a magical and romantic painter who is accomplished in both oils and acrylics. With such variety in her work, it must be a constant novelty for her when she reaches for a fresh canvas. What will emerge today? From dramatic mystical scenes, to fairy-like creatures, she captures the imagination, and has me thinking gentle, other-world thoughts as I study them. Dream a while with Selene, with these beautiful images.

You must read her profile at Selene's Daily Paint studio at Etsy. She'll lift you up and leave you smiling. Here's another painter who can write! She's probably musical, too...

Alan Moore Folk Art at Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:45:00 +0000

Well, here we are again, at the start of a brand New Year and Decade. Time to dust off earlier resolves and approach everything we do with enthusiastic optimism.

Alan Moore is an optimist. I know this just by looking at his art. Bright, joyfully colored, his paintings on recycled materials are cheerful and innocent. Who else would think of multi-hued alligators as subject matter?

Alan makes these comments at his shop:

"99% of what I create on is from recycled and salvaged stuff. Reused salvaged fence art from my older collections. I didn't sell the some of my fence art pieces so I chopped them up and reused them. Original art on sheet metal from the ole farm on Serenity Lane. I finish all my art with a fairly shiny coat of polycrylic stuff so it’s brighter-also for protection and durability.

Call it earth friendly if you want. Some of the paint I use is recycled too. I sign all the work on the back because I think names on the front of art are sometimes obnoxious. I choose to let my art tell who created it, not my signature. Also my handwriting is horrible."

Take a look at Alan Moore's shop at Etsy. Read his profile and his descriptions of the images. He sounds like a thoughtful and interesting guy.

Oh, and Alan - have a happy birthday on Sunday! My timing with this feature was excellent, I think.

Happy, happy New Year, everyone! Don't make too many demands on yourself. Take it easy. Slip into this new decade with realistic goals, and just chip away at them, like a sculptor at a new block of stone that hides wonder within. Who knows what might emerge?

Tosya at Etsy - A Brilliant Illustrator with a Child-like View

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:40:00 +0000

Illustrator Tosya is a gifted and funny girl. She works in pen, or pencil and crayon, to create these magical pictures. She seems to capture the child-artist that was once deep in us but that sadly got left by the wayside as we grew up. I'm happy to report that Tosya has a firm hold on that innocent view of life. These are an absolute joy.

I have a cousin who looks just like this...

And I've been to a few art gallery openings where the folks looked like this...

Rush hour crowd and a cat...

When was the last time you REALLY danced?

Or really talked?

Ah, love is in the air...

Ain't love grand?

Party Time!

I've never met a blue cat, but Tosya has, and it's just lovely.

Please see all of her wonderful illustrations at Tosya at Etsy where there are 75 items for sale.

What better way to enjoy the holiday season than with these great images? I hope they leave you smiling. Everything Tosya does is so happy! Even those rush hour pedestrians seem okay with things.

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.” — Shirley Temple

Well, of course, it wasn't the real Santa, was it? Poor Shirley, not realizing she had the wrong one...

Do check out this silly video of me and my cats. You can download one with your own photographs, and it's fun.

Have a wonderful holiday, my dear blogger friends. If you're traveling, may you all arrive safe, sound and on time, and not too stressed out. If you're staying home, pull that snuggly throw over yourself and relax on the sofa for a bit. Go ahead. You still have time before Santa arrives.

Gourds R Us at Etsy - Hilarious Critters

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:51:00 +0000

This crafty artist uses gourds and clay, painted and stained, to come up with some really original critters. Although I've seen painted images on gourds, I didn't know much about the gourd as an art material used with clay, so I'm thankful that Gourds R Us has conquered the technique to show us. Aren't these just the funniest-looking images you've seen in a while? The artist must be very entertaining, personally, to come up with the expressions. I'd be giggling the whole time I was working. If you can call it work. More like playtime, I think.

Check out Gourds R Us at Etsy to see more.

Have a good weekend, art lovers. I was going to suggest that you don't let Copenhagen get you down too much, but perhaps you should. I guess it's up to us now.

The First Gran Sculpture

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:45:00 +0000

Gran Takes BoBo for a Walk

Gran Celebrates
the Full Moon

Gran's Napping Again

I'm the featured artist today. After kicking the idea around for a while, I finally did a sculpture of Gran, the character I've painted so many times. Now three-dimensional (and what dimensions!), she is just 6.5 inch (16 cm) high. She was sculpted from polymer clay over an armature of aluminum and wire, finished with acrylic paints and then sealed.

She isn't beautiful, never was, going by my paintings of her, but she is real looking, I think.

She is looking a bit rough around the edges these days. Her first painting was done some years ago, and time is creeping up on her, although she does try. I think a few varicose veins, some more wrinkles, and a thickening body, are only to be expected, but she does have a really good lap for sitting on, like all good Grans should.

I'll make some more of these, get my sculpting hand back in shape - I haven't sculpted in years. Who knows? - Perhaps, if Gran ever looks ready for prime time, I'll offer her for sale at Etsy. What do you think? Would someone want her gracing their desk?

I enjoyed making her very much. Perhaps you'll say if you enjoyed seeing her.

Terrible weather here, although it's sunny today, but that doesn't clear the footpaths of ice and halt the winds. I have to shop tomorrow, as the cat food is getting low. I could go without, but not my babies. So tomorrow I will bundle myself up and make that small trek to the supermarket. It's a ten minute walk, nothing really, but when you take each step prepared for ice, you use far more muscles, and it's amazingly tiring.

I'm informed that a lot of you guys south of the Canadian border are naive about Toronto (and Canada, in general), and are probably wondering why I don't use a dog sled... Well - how can I put this? Do they have dog sleds in Chicago? Or Boston? We're on much the same latitude, and we also get very hot in the summer.

I chose to live in Canada. No one made me. Sometimes at this time of year I wonder where my head was - it must have been frazzled by the Australian heat. And, of course, there's always the spring to look forward to, even if it's not even winter here yet.

Have a good one, and stay warm.