I am so excited to post photos of my latest work.
I have continued my emerging style of blending acrylic colours on handmade canvas. I know that mellow blues and greens are more popular with my customers, but I am often drawn toward bright orange and neon colours.
I will likely have fewer opportunities to experiment with various mediums- so my work will focus on expanding this emerging style.
Thank you for stopping by, and be sure to check out more of my Fall 2018 artwork this season.
Do you want to create personal fashion that is cutting edge? Do you fancy the idea of people stopping to compliment your unique style so much that it gets mistaken for something from a runway fashion show? Here are some helpful tips to have your personal fashion designs noticed and featured on trend blogs.
Many times what sets the fashion of Alexander Wang vs another label like Joe Fresh is the willingness to be daring and approach a conventional garment with fresh eyes.
Admirers will say “Wow, I had never thought about that before!”, and you may have trend watchers considering your design as a novel concept all together.
Tip: Be creative with garment closures and embellishments. Approach them in an unconventional way.
Even if the folkways dictate that your colour scheme clashes- continue on. Softer hues can often take the edge off, and don’t forget to consult the almighty colour wheel to see if a “bluer” tinge to your steely grey could give the effect you are looking for.
One trend we are watching this year in 2018 in home decor is eclecticism. Eclectic trends allow you to mix a contemporary lamp with a mid-century modern side table- or floral pink and yellow peonies against a dark navy backdrop.
Tip: Have fun with colour, and when in doubt, go back to the first tip!
Ever notice how much Crocodile and snake skin bags can go for? Somehow, the manufacturers use small amount of this material and price their items very high. The underlying idea here is that as a luxury material, there is not enough crocodile and snake skin to go around. But really, the numbers of these animals in the wild is astonishing. Not an unending resource by any means, but more than enough for the cost of my wallet to be 75% cheaper.
When making your runway style fashion design, another strategy is to use a material that is super to begin with, and that exudes the feel of luxury. Then use a small amount of it to emphasize the delicate nature of the material, and to covertly express the exclusive nature of having access to it. Think about most of the clothing you have ever seen made with raw silk. Mostly lingerie, scarves or other small items are made from raw silk- and you will rarely ever see a large garment. The idea here is to think exclusive, original, and not cheap.
Tip: Skimp on the quantity of materials, but use high end quality and make it finely.
Part 9: Madeira at night
The island of Madeira in the evening is truly a sight to see; especially in the southern cities of Machico and Funchal.
The city is beautifully lit at night. There aren’t many tall structures that break up the landscape, and the winding mountain roads make for interesting patterns when lit.
The water’s edge of Machico is always a romantic spot…
…the camera is a little out of focus for night shots.
But it makes the view seem even more warm and enchanting.
Thanks for reading and please subscribe.
East of the condominium in Funchal was a gem of a restaurant called O Lagar Restaurant.
In Canada the day after Christmas is known as Boxing day. In Madiera, it is considered part of the Christmas Holiday. Everyone is still relaxing and visiting their family; and the streets are calm.
We were invited by cousins of my husband to enjoy espetada in a family style dinner. The atmosphere was happy and the decor was festive.
The entrance of the restaurant was styled as a traditional Portuguese Santana house.
This portion of the restaurant served as a museum.
A view into the Santana from the entrance. This traditional style of home is often known as “grandma’s house”.
Notice the very small furniture pieces. A bed, night table, and baby crib. Notice the roof is made from grass like material.
Two mannequins posing in traditional Portuguese dress.
A Beautiful Madeira Wood Table.
The main entrance was decorated to the nines with lively poinsettia plants for the holiday.
A wonderful evening at O Lagar.
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 7
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 6
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 5
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 4
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 3
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 2
Home to a beautiful set of botanical gardens, Nossa Senhora do Monte is found North West of Funchal in Madeira, Portugal.
My last post on Madeira featured some of the sights around the park that is found at the foot of the main church. You can take a look by clicking {here}.
We took the cable car up to this beautiful vista on this occasion. Earlier in our trip, we walked the streets on Christmas Day in Madeira. This made for a quieter, secluded, and much more romantic tour of the area as very few people were around.
The main purpose of our second trip was to explore the gorgeous 19th century white limestone church located at the top of the mountain. This church has significance because it is the resting place of the exiled Hapsburg King Charles I (nephew of Franz Ferdinand) and his wife Zita.
The flight of stairs leading up to the church was exhilarating!
We did not stay for the church service that was about to begin. I was happy to have climbed my way to the top of the mountain to enter the church vestibule, but I would have fallen asleep if I tried to sit through a church service at 8 months pregnant.
So we enjoyed the views from the courtyard, and just admired the beauty of creation from afar.
It is easy to see why I left my heart here in Madeira.
Read more stories and photos from Madeira, Portugal by Stephanie by clicking the following links!
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 7
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 6
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 5
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 4
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 3
Madeira and its Landmarks Part 2
Spring is here!
They were made at a time when I was just starting out. Self expression on canvas (that I had made from scratch).
The primary goal was not to create art per se. The primary goal of making art was to see how many variations of colour experimentation I could do; the trick was that by making the canvas from scratch I would save oodles of cash!
“The average cost of buying canvas from retailers like Curry’s, DeSerres, or Michael’s Craft Store is anywhere from $20-$70 per canvas depending on the size. I was able to make sizes as large as 96 inches x 48 inches for less than $30.”
In earlier posts I have sung the praises of making art canvas.
I have even done tutorial videos on Youtube that you can find {here} and {here}.
The Bananas 2015 (c)- (Photo taken 14 April 2018)
Gold Leaf Untitled 2015 (c)
Part 7: Structures of Our Lady of the Mountain (Nossa Senhora do Monte)
A few kilometres East of Funchal is a small area called Monte.
PART SIX: FAVOURITE VIEWS OF MACHICO, MADEIRA
Away from the busy capital city of Funchal Madeira is the third most populated city of Machico. In this smaller town, the population of about 20,000 residents are mostly older and so the streets are much quieter.
Lovely and secluded alley ways show glimpses of the mountainside.
In these side street views, it is easier to imagine the day to day lives of the people who live here.
Standing on Rua Banda D’Alem I came upon picturesque views of island life.
Next: Part 7 Structures of Our Lady of the Mountain (Nossa Senhora do Monte)
PART FIVE A VISIT TO MACHICO
Machico was the original capital of the island in the early days of its settlement. It was first settled in 1491. As I understand it, Machico was only favoured until they discovered Funchal, which is about 20 minutes or 17 kilometres further West.
In the town square, you can see an old public water fountain circa 1929. The architecture shows evidence of Machico being a very old city, and much of the streets are cobble stone, and feature a rustic look.
The large mountains act as a protector of the small town.
A small feline Machiquenise resident of the town of Machico.
A bridge crossing a creek in the town. The creek leads to the ocean and beach area.
An East facing view of the town. As you can see, there are mountains in the East and West of the town, with the beach at the southern tip.
The southern tip of Machico- the beach with imported sand. During the winter months, the locals are rarely at any beach as they describe 20 degree Celsius weather as “too cold”. Most of the people here are all tourists from colder regions. Regardless of the temperature, the view is lovely.
Part Four: Final Shots of Ponta Da Sao Lourenco
Another land form that inspired awe and mystery during our visit were the Deserted Islands or Ilhas Desertas on the south end of the Island of Madeira. There is no fresh water here, no human inhabitants, and probably very little weather on these deserted islands. As far as we know, only Monk Seals, birds and insect life live here year round. There is a research station, but nothing to support day to day modern life. While gazing at these mysterious islands, I wondered if anyone tried to live here at any point in history, and whether they are buried there, or not. Either way, the sight and mention of Ilhas Desertas stirs eerie feelings within.
A few parting shots…
Lillybochic 