I haven't shared anything on YouTube for awhile so when I finally picked up a pack of Liquitex Acrylic Gouache for altering books, I thought I'd share a bit about them. While I was at it, I also shared a little peak into my small studio and a third video sharing how I learned to stretch a canvas in art college many years ago. These (and others) are all now up on my YouTube channel here.

"One of the lessons that I grew up with
was to always stay true to yourself
and never let what somebody else says
distract you from your goals."

~ Michelle Obama

​I have been trying to find a good photo of my grandmother. Her name was Josephine Hamdon. She was the most amazing woman. She was born in northern Alberta, one of 13 kids. Her mother passed when she was 6 years old. She was the only girl at home so had to do all of the cooking and cleaning, baking, school and help on the farm. Her father was a severe alcoholic so times were very hard. She moved to St. Paul, Alberta to live with her sister at age 16. Her sister was married to a Lebanese boy from a small town named Laila in the Beqaa Valley. His friend came to visit him and met my grandmother and they got married.  My grandparents moved to Lac La Biche where they had a mink farm. Eventually they ended up moving to Frog Lake Alberta where they opened a general store/post office. My mom was born and raised there along with her three siblings. They retired in their early 50's and they traveled the world! She was treated like a princess but was the hardest worker you ever met. My brother and I lived with them for two years while we were in Elementary school. Then I lived with them again as an adult when my grandfather started to fail. She was the most amazing cook and the best baker around. Ukrainian food and Lebanese food, can you imagine how delicious. 

​~ Nadine Johnson

"I like the wine, not the label."

​~ David Rose, Schitt's Creek

"In Schitt's Creek we are writing a world that examines the transformational affects of love when the threat of hate and intolerance are removed from the equation. Although not a reality for many, our goal is to shine a light that asks the question, what if it was?"
​
~ Dan Levy

Last week I was in Calgary helping move the offices of the Alberta Society of Artists. It's still located at the Crossroads Market but are now in a larger gallery space on the 2nd floor. I was excited to learn that my work will be part of the first exhibit in the new space especially since my first exhibit ever was held in the grand opening of ArtSpace which was a beautiful large gallery, something very new in the old warehouse almost 20 years ago. So, at the present time there is a soft opening planned for early September, but I'll share more once we all know more. Very excited about this.

Kate “Louise” Pigott was born in Sheffield on Nov 23, 1907. My grandmother’s story starts in Sheffield, England.  She came to Canada at age 3, to join her aunts and uncles who had come to Canada seeking a new beginning.  They settled in Elnora, Alberta where she went to school and completed grade 8.   She would eventually make her way to Saskatoon in the late 20’s where she met my grandfather. 

Grandma was active in Saskatoon’s branch of St John’s Ambulance group, providing nursing and support to families in need.  She was actively involved in bringing blood typing to Saskatoon as part of St John’s ambulance.  Many springs, the Red River in Manitoba flooded its banks causing extensive damage and loss of life.  As part of the St. John’s Ambulance team, my grandmother travelled each year from Saskatoon to Manitoba spending a week or more to provide nursing assistance to those devastated by the damage.  She enjoyed this work as she always wanted to be a doctor.

My grandmother worked for the Saskatoon Star Phoenix in the advertising department where she met my grandfather. They were married 18 years before grandma became a widow with two young boys ages 12 and 14.  

~ Janet Henderson

It's been quite a week...I wrote my final exam for Astronomy and received my tile for the latest Mural Mosaic project. I struggle with test anxiety so I had been dreading the exam, but I ended up with an 'A' in the course so I'm very, very happy. Only one more science class to complete to finish those learning requirements, then more Art History (yay!). And the mosaics are always fun to contribute to...and I love being able to collaborate like this with so many others artists. My favourite mural to date is the 100th Anniversary of the one at Mount Royal University...just because my daughter attends that school. It's such a lovely campus. Anyway, back to work! :)

It's been awhile since I've written something for an art magazine, and though this is my first article for Art Journaling, it is my third with Stampington & Company publications. Last year my 'Nasty Women' project was featured several times in 'In Her Studio' (Spring in My Studio), I've also written for 'Artful Blogging' (Connecting with Like-Minded Souls),and 'Somerset Studio Gallery' (heART Blox). This publisher is absolutely lovely to work with and their issues are always so beautiful. It is such an honour and I am extremely grateful for these opportunities. This issue will be available in stores on July 1.

My Abuela was the matriarch of our family. She put her children on a flight alone to the US so they could escape communist Cuba. Her relentless life amazes me to this day. My grandmother, Elena, was more of a second mother to me than a grandmother. She was highly educated in Cuba, she held a doctorate in music. After sending her children ahead of her and fleeing Cuba with her husband and his parents, she began a life all over again; Commuting a long distance to get a degree that was seen as valid in the US, raising teenagers, and caring for ailing parents. She opened the first kindergarten in the Florida Keys and presided as the matriarch of our wild family. She was incredibly kind and smart, and more regal than a queen. She liked the finest things in life, yet made do with the least to provide for everyone else.

​~ Sasha French