Are you dreaming?

So I've just finished Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver and I am happily knackered! It went for three days this past weekend and four days the weekend before. I hadn't spent a lot of time in West Van but if I may make a sweeping generalization: what a pleasant bunch of lovely, sweetly aromatic, art lovin' people living over there! 

Some new additions to my display were some oversized postcards promoting my photo jewelry on one side and the other, my fine art and travel photos. My wicked amazing and crazy photogenic bestie Amanda, modeled the jewelry down by the beach for me. She is officially the spokesmodel for Hugger of Seas Photo Jewelry...she really didn't have a say in the matter:) I also found some branches to put in a vase and make a jewelry tree! It was an art in itself arranging the necklaces so it wouldn't tip over and poke out an eye, but I think I managed to avoid any lawsuits. 

I haven't officially unveiled my logo, so voila! It is here!

I named it this obviously for my affinity with the sea and many of my images are oceanic in nature. Since I didn't pursue my OTHER dreams of becoming a Marine Biologist or a pro surfer (ha ha), then making sea-themed jewelry is perhaps the next best thing! I am also all about conservation and contribute monthly to Greenpeace and also support Paul Watson and all of Sea Shepherd's endeavours. Yes, I hug seas. 

The weeks leading up to the festival were maniacal as always. Designing and ordering new promo cards, business cards, hang tags, banners, stickers, labels, signage etc. And then of course figuring out how many prints to have and how much jewelry to make!

I arrived at 10 AM on Friday morning (Aug. 3rd) and had 4 hours to set up...and as per usual, I put out the last piece of jewelry just in time, as the clock struck 2! The weather could not have been more perfect and I had a moment of, am I really living this? I remember when I was about 27 visiting my friend Kelli on the island and saw artists selling their wares by the water. I thought to myself, I want to do that someday! And well, there I was with an ocean breeze, the sun shinin' and live music too even?!

Yes that elephant bum has sparkles on it...living in the West End has rubbed off on me! It was also Pride weekend:)

Morning commute.

Live music by the sea all day and all night!

Shadow Love.

Closed up shop by 930 most nights to have just enough time to catch the final light of the day.

View of West Van driving home across the Lion's Gate Bridge.

Snuck out of my booth to watch one of my fave local bands, The Matinee, playing 'The Road'! Such good stuff...one of those tunes you never get sick of and makes you want to roll down the windows and belt out 'this old rooooooad, this dirty rooooooad'! My apologies to anyone who has had to bare witness to this.

Find them on FB and Twitter. 

My friend Kris Brownlee, aka A Cagey Bee! One of the most talented artists in the city in my opinion. You can find her at all the major markets with her original fanciful paintings, prints, lockets, wood blocks and other splendid things! 

My paintings of big-eyed girls and soft, furry animals have a sweet quality, the muted palette evoking the feeling of a vintage storybook, but there’s often a touch of sadness there too. Like all of us, they struggle to fit in, to find their place in the world, to grow up. As they stare out from the canvas, there is a sense of longing in their curious expressions, as if they are asking to be remembered.

Find her on FB and Twitter. 

Amanda Parker, also a fave artiste living in the area was there with her glass art and jewelry line, Mariane + Hazel. Her art and display were breathtaking. Clean. Fresh. Good. But she describes it better below: 

All of these images transcend the turmoil that is happening in the world reminding us of the importance of familial history and to cherish it. In archeological terms, textiles and paper have a limited life span degrading over time and often disappearing altogether. Rendering these works in glass gives them an archival quality while also using the inherent properties of glass to highlight characteristics such as fragility and transparency. Putting these images and items in a new context gives them a layered meaning that surpasses the actual memories themselves.

Find her on FB and Twitter. 

I walked by Jacob Rolfe's booth, an amazing illustrator and screen printer from Toronto, several times on my daily coffee run and couldn't stop thinking about a certain print...see bottom of blog to SEE! 

Check out his work at The Floating World.

And last but not least, there was Dawn Walnoha-MacKechnie, my market neighbour and fellow creative master minder! When there was the rare lull, we brainstormed about things we were going to make post market, told stories, threw our heads back in fits of laughter and just had an all around great time hangin'. Dawn makes felted dog leashes...made out of pure wool, super strong, washable, stretch and hang to dry. Ask me anything...I know the whole schpiel! She also makes beautiful shawls, scarves, purses and laptop cases.

This is her website: The Leash Lady!

And then..it was over. 

This is the Subaru on Sunday night, jam packed with all the stuff. This car is da bomb! YAY SUBARU (and thanks again Papi for making my life so much easier with this generous gift!).

Thanks to all my friends who came to visit and support. And to all who purchased my jewelry or a print...it just fills my heart with joy that people are drawn to and resonate with my work.

And so here it is...my one and only purchase from the market. Obviously I love that there is a cat in it but most importantly that big 'Dream Drop' going into the 'Creation Box' reminds me TO dream. I had one 10 years ago...me living by the ocean and selling my art:)

Are YOU dreaming?

I Schlepped and I Schlepped and then I...Schlept.

Greetings from the most expensive city in North America that has not see the sun in WEEKS! Ya better pull up your socks Vangroovy or I'm hightailing it the hellz outta here to a cheaper, SUNNIER locale, ya hear?! 

GRRR...I mean, Ommmmm:)

First things first! I will be at the Car Free Main Street Festival this Sunday..and until then I will be sun dancing my tookus off to ensure it WILL be a SUN-tastical day!

RSVP on Facebook. 

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So here is a little update of my last month on the market circuit...

Elephant, Pai, Thailand and Sky, Ohope Beach, NZ Necklaces

I sold the above necklaces to two dudes at Artworld Expo. I had to take a pic as most of my jewelry appeals to woman mainly. Since the Buddha rings have been drawing in a male crowd as well, I am now pondering a men's line..cuff links, rings and short necklaces like the above! 

Viewer and Security Guard, Top of the Rock, NY

The absolute highlight of my night (and month) was selling 'Viewer' and 'Security Guard', taken from the top of Rockefeller Ctr in New York, to a lovely couple. I so dig that they were both purchased  by the same people..they belong together:) 

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These were the images selected for the show!

Next was the group exhibit at Photohaus Gallery. It was a collection of images taken with camera phones, hence the name Mobileography 2.0! Unfortunately my name was spelled wrong underneath each of my prints...'Tracey Toment'. To add insult to injury, one of my friends heard an observer who was looking at one of my pics say, 'sounds like a stripper name'. FABULOUS!

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Imagine, Indian Ocean Locket in a Rock Scallop Seashell

Large white and bamboo frame beneath it by Jaxon Howell

I purchased a display rack from Wonderbucks for my photo jewelry (left). My table just didn't have enough room for the postcards, prints AND jewelry so this was a perfect solution AND I can add it to my living room decor...which is actually more like a work/storage space these days but a nice addition nonetheless! It made its first appearance at Portobello Market. It ended up being a BEAUTIFUL weekend (who knew it would be our last?) which actually did not work well being an indoor market and all of Vancouver wanting to be outdoors. So much work goes into preparing for these markets so when peeps don't show up it can be quite disappointing. The upside was that I had time to get to know my fellow vendors a little better AND...I had a good hair day;)

Portobello Fashion + Art Market

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Made 25 of these bad boys for the Crafty Affaire Swag Bags 

A Crafty Affaire was the last market I attended in South Surrey. It was a coolish day and not a Starbucks in sight. Luckily my friend Reagan paid me a little visit with an Americano in hand just pour moi! Love that girl! It wasn't as busy as I had hoped and perhaps not the perfect audience for my wares but hey, I learn something new every time I participate in a market...I also increase my ninja arm strength by schlepping all my paraphernalia down 3 flights of stairs into my car, into wherever I am exhibiting, out of wherever I am exhibiting back into my car and up 3 flights of stairs again:) Gym schmym. 

Of course I would not be able to do any of this if it was not for my most excellent Papi who graciously purchased a Subaru Forester so I could have wheels when I was in AB with Mom back in the fall. It has proved to be VERY useful as an ATU (Art Transportation Unit) in BC! And with that I would like to wish him and all you other kick ass Dads out there a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! 

For My Papa - Happy Father's Day! from Tracey Tomtene on Vimeo.
Namaste!

Vancouver is Awesome!

Greetings from a very sunny OMG I wish I was outside kinda day in Vancouver. I've been gearing up to exhibit at Portobello West Art + Fashion Market running this Sat and Sun! Vancouver is Awesome wrote up a little ditty on it and featured my travel photos and jewelry yesterday....AWESOME! 

Click here to read article. 

Meanwhile, I've been making more jewelry pieces, framing new prints, finalizing a logo (big thanks to Alex Kuzyuberdin for his design skills and being fantastic to work with) and creating new marketing collateral. This is the front of the hang tag (the back has an explanation of how the jewelry is made and also pricing). It still needs some tweaking but this will be better than the handwritten tags I got by on the last 2 markets. I am anxiously waiting for them to finish printing so I can go and pick 'em up and start appending them to their rightful owners already!

More on 'Hugger of Seas' later - I gotta get bk to work! All the info re: the market is below. If you're in the Vangroovy area..come and check it out! 

50 local designers and artists, a dj spinning tunes and delicious food carts to choose from. The Market is held at the Creekside Community Centre in Olympic Village and costs $2 to get in or you can get 2 for 1 admission by printing off a flyer here.

RSVP to event on Facebook. 

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Happy Mother's Day!

In honour and memory of my Mama (a super special and giving gal!) and Moms everywhere, I am giving away 3 pieces of jewelry (her fave #) for Mother's Day! 

What makes/made your Mom so darn special? Tell me a story or leave me an adjective describing her at this link here.

On Sunday, I'll pick three lucky winners to send a ring or necklace (of their choosing) to! It can be for your Mom, yourself, your best friend or just that someone in your life that makes YOU feel cared for and special (what Moms are best at)! ♥

Market Maniac!

Well hello there! I am writing you from the beautiful, oceanic, mountainous goodness that is Vancouver...FINALLY! And I must say it is fantastic to be home.

Immediately upon arriving back from Edmonton I resumed prepping for Make It! The Handmade Revolution. There was not a minute of rest from whence I landed up to the day of the market. Just making photo jewelry in itself is quite a time consuming endeavour, but on top of that, there's the postcards, business cards, printing, price tags, framing, print sleeves, inventory, jewelry displays and so on....I was a serious busy bee!

When I finally got to the show, I breathed a sigh of relief and felt like I could actually relax! OK...I'm here now and there is nothing more I can do but SELL! It's on! Over 4000 people attended over the 3 days...so many amazing artisans there - I was overwhelmed by all the splendid stuff on display, not to mention the live music, groovy atmosphere and peeps! I learn something new from each show that I do and I know each one will just get better and easier to prepare for:) 

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Artworld Expo...

As soon as I was done with Make It, it was time to prep for Artworld Expo! It's this Friday evening at the Telus World of Science...there will be over 80 artisans, a fashion show, live painting and music! Ya can't go wrong with that combo.

I made up some greeting postcards for this one and adding matted and signed prints to the mix. One thing I am super amped about is a 16x24 metallic print of a shot I took in Rockaway Beach, NY in 2010. Jaxon Howell, a talented and awesome framer/photographer in Vancouver is building a snazzy frame for it. He specializes in custom frames using bamboo and locally sourced driftwood. Look him up (604.369.6249)!

Artworld Expo on Facebook. 

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Mobileography 2.0 at Photohaus Gallery...

I will have 9 images taken with my iPhone in the upcoming Mobileography 2.0 Exhibition at Photohaus Gallery! Opening night is May 11th at 7PM.

Mobileography 2.0 on Facebook.

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Portobello West...

50 local designers and artists, a dj spinning tunes and delicious food carts to choose from. The Market is held at the Creekside Community Centre in Olympic Village and costs $2 to get in or you can get 2 for 1 admission by printing off a flyer here.

Portobello West on Facebook. 

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A Crafty Affaire...

Crafty Affaire on Facebook. 

Crafty Affaire is the newest handmade market in White Rock/South Surrey, BC. The market will showcase one of a kind items you wouldn't find at most traditional craft shows. It's one day only - June 2nd - from 10AM to 4PM at Elgin Hall!

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Blim Markets....

Vendors of food, fashion, accessories, fine art, vintage items and records, Blim Markets focus on nurturing and promoting creative production in our community. 

June 17th - Car Free Day - Main Street
October 21 - Heritage Hall

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Harmony Arts Festival

Harmony Arts Festival is inspired and built by community, where locals and guests from across the Lower Mainland come to enjoy art and music along West Vancouver's waterfront. The festival runs from August 3rd to the 12th. I shall be there in a tent full of photies and shiny things at the following times: 

Friday, August 3 - 2PM to 9PM
Saturday, August 4 - 11AM to 9PM
Sunday, August 5 - 11AM to 9PM
Monday, August 6 - 11AM to 9PM
Friday, August 10 - 2PM to 9PM
Saturday, August 11 - 11AM to 9PM
Sunday, August 12 - 11AM to 9PM

Harmony Arts Festival on Facebook. 

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And finally Interior Design Show West...

One of a Kind, another awesome art market is teaming up with IDS West this year. One of a Kind will have its own district at the conference. This will be a great opportunity for me to hobnob with interior decorators and consumers interested in fine art prints.

IDS West on Facebook. 

One of a Kind on Facebook.

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After Artworld this weekend, I am looking forward to things like cleaning out my fridge and UNPACKING! I have some ridiculous catching up on every day life stuff to do! I had a hard drive failure about a month ago and have yet to reinstall all my software and download all the files that were lost (which were backed up online - thank goodness!), catch up on a tonne of photo editing, photo shoots of new jewels etc! I am moving all of my photo jewelry from my photography site to their new home on Etsy, where I think they will be quite cozy and happy!

I've also been working on a new logo which I will share next time! So much to do but so grateful, appreciative and happy to have the energy to do it all...BRING IT UNIVERSE!  

It's been a bit of an adjustment getting back to life here in Van without Mom on speed dial.  I MISS HER! Everywhere reminds me of her as I was always giving her the play by play of my life via cell phone and Skype - she was always with me no matter where I was giving emotional support, advice AND therapy! Prepping for these art markets has been a bit tough as she always had huge involvement and say in all of my creative projects. Whether meeting a challenge or a victory - she was the first person I'd call...stuff only a Mom wants to hear all about! It's still sinking in and feels unreal at times that she is physically not here anymore...but taking it one day at a time. She is certainly always with me in spirit!

xo!

TT  

Not Goodbye Mama, Just Farewell!

A Photo Tribute..click thru to Vimeo site to read more about her life.

It is with a heavy heart, that I announce the passing of my Mom, 'Mama', 'Mommala', 'Mommy', 'Barbie', the one and only, Barbara Lee (East) Tower on Friday, December 2nd at approximately 6:30 PM. My brother and I were honoured to be able to be there for her last breath.

She was brought into Palliative Care 5 days prior to that after suffering a stroke. Her speech was impaired and she couldn't feel her right arm and leg. It was not hard to see that the cancer in her lungs was starting to take its toll. The following days and nights were completely sleepless, restless and...breathless. It didn't make sense for me to see her like this...such a vivacious, energetic spirit. She found temporary comfort with nebulizers and morphine but it never lasted long enough for her to get more than 15 minutes of solid rest. She kept telling me to go to sleep. My Mom...the most low maintenance person in the world. I knew it must have been frustrating to have me care for her because she never made anything about her. She was always taking care of everyone else.

She communicated mainly through facial expressions, hand gestures and the odd time she could throw out a short phrase quite easily. But when she couldn't, she got really good at saying the word 'shit' in all her frustration. So funny coming from a woman whose harshest phrases were 'Uff Da' or 'Piffle'!

On Thursday, when nothing was working anymore, I told her that sedation was an option. Before I even finished the sentence she said, "YES"! This was a mortifying moment. I knew that this meant the beginning of the end but was also grateful that she wouldn't have to suffer through trying to catch her breath anymore. That evening was particularly tough as the sedation set in much slower than any of us could have imagined. There were a lot of tears, goodbyes and I love yous.

When she did finally sleep, I snuggled in with her. I thought, 'well this is no fun.' As hard as it was to go through the previous nights the way she was,  I was sad that she was not going to be awake with me. Although it was a serious time, we still managed to get the giggles...like when I would trip on my way over to the sink and ram my hip into a table (what a surprise!). Or my eyes would be closed and I'd open them to find her staring right at me...we'd both jump and then burst into laughter! When I kissed her on the cheek, I could feel her face light up as she squinted her eyes and smiled brightly.

I had received an email from my friend David in Australia, wishing me comfort in what he called, 'a strangely special' time. I thought it was the perfect description of what we were going through.

I am a child of earth and the starry skies, but my race is of heaven alone. 

- Greek Proverb

Hand Twinsies!

Ever since Tronn and I were kids, in quiet times, she would squeeze our hands three times to say, 'I-Love-You'. Needless to say this little gesture came in very handy in her final days. When the chaplain came in the next day, I was lying with my head on her shoulder holding her hand. Of all the songs he could have sung, he chose to sing Christmas carols. UGH. It was  both terribly sad and beautiful at the same time. Not what I had hoped 'Christmas' would be for us this year but just kept squeezing her hand and savouring each moment.

I studied every part of her face...and her hands. We have exactly the same hands (photo left is of our thumbs side by side). When I would look in the mirror of the hospital bathroom, I could already see her so easily looking back at me. It comforted me knowing that she would live on in my brother and I.  That night, Tronn announced that he might head back to his motel when suddenly she skipped a breath. And then another. We smothered her in kisses and hugs and loving and comforting words until she took her last breath only seconds later. I didn't want to leave her. She was so warm. I kissed her forehead, breathed in deeply and said, "I'll see you soon."

The last book that my Mom read (and loved) was that of my friend Tash's, The Story of Q. It is a  novel based on the elusive Q-document (what the original writings of the Bible were drawn from) told through the fictional stories of four characters. Riveting and controversial, it will change the way you view humanity, God, the universe and yourself.

I was feeling particularly lonely for Mama the other night and decided to pick the book back up to read knowing the words contained within were some of the last she had read. I noticed that I had dog-eared some of the pages so went back to them curiously to see what I had noted:

"In ancient times," Master Lael said, "the descent of the soul into the human body was described as a type of 'death' through which the soul lives. Sunset symbolized the start of human life for this reason--because in setting, the sun sinking below the horizon imaged a containment of divine light, the soul immersed in earthly matter. Sunrise, on the other hand, was the freeing of the soul from matter."

What a lovely way to view oneself..divine light contained in earthly matter.  And to consider death not as an end but rather a rebirth...a rising sun. These words obviously resonated with me much more reading them this time around.

Hypermone means 'tough endurance'..it means to 'stay with or under heavy task or demanding situation', to apply oneself with courage, steadiness, and fortitude to the tasks ahead'....For while life and our choices inevitably bring us to facing difficult emotional and psychological times, the reality of these times is that they are impermanent, temporary, always changing toward something better. Hypermone is the time from which we will always emerge in glory. 

Despite everything that has gone on the last few months, I have come to know a certain  comfort in my heart. Just after Mom's pulmonary embolism at the end of August, we were cozied up in her hospital bed...I looked at her and wondered if she was to leave, how could I possibly go on without her? I could barely consider the thought when this phrase echoed loudly in my head, 'but we will still be together.'

Vita mutatur, non tollitur: Life is changed, not taken away.

Challenging times are referred to as 'spiritual teachers' in 'The Story of Q'. It's all a part of the soul's journey...gleaning knowledge and strength through tribulations to find triumph waiting just around the corner.  Hypermone. I got to have the greatest Mom imaginable for 36 years. Who can scoff at that? Not I! I know she is with me. That she still wraps love around me. That she is OK now. I will miss speaking 'whale' with her on the phone. Dancing. Brainstorming. Photo expeditions. Being crafty together. Her strength, support and guidance. My biggest cheerleader. Goofiness. Giggles. Her wit and sarcasm...and of course her HUGS (that could make your day).  She threw them out like candy and didn't discriminate. I intend to continue with that legacy.

We used to end each of our correspondences with 'I love you more than all the...' and some crazy amount of something, i.e.: all the fur on cats,  all the traffic in L.A., all the stitches that have been knitted, all the waves that have crossed the ocean, all the loops in carpets, all the hairs that have turned gray etc. etc. (always trying to one up the other!).

This was one of her last to me...'I love you more than all the light that has shone on earth'.

Like any other challenge my Mom endured in life (and there were many!), she accepted her illness with courage, dignity and grace. She was not the type to dwell or feel bad for herself. She accepted the circumstances, made the most of them and kept on going...with a sparkly grin, twinkly eyes and a springy step! 

Mama...I love you more than all the starlight, sunlight, butterfly wings, sea things, moon rocks and tick tocks in all the universe to INFINITY...and BEYOND!

xo,
Tootsie

My Mom...A Beauty in Ugly Days

It's up to you to find beauty in the ugliest days.

Well hello there. It's been quite awhile...again! The last few months have been rather uncertain and unruly; hence, why I have not been blogging about too much. 

I came back to Edmonton mid-August to shoot a wedding and do some visiting with family and friends. My mom was up in the Yukon on her annual canoe trip with her husband and I was going to be seeing her when she got back around the 31st. 

Long story short, she had a pulmonary embolism when she was there. She survived thank goodness but when they did a CT scan they found spots on her lungs. She got to go home with blood thinners and oxygen after being in hospital for a week. We then had to wait another SIX WEEKS to get a bronchoscopy to find out whether the spots were malignant or benign. A week later we learned that she indeed had lung cancer. She saw an Oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute soon after where they told her that the cancer was in Stage 4 and incurable.

She has now had a week of radiation on her neck as the cancer had travelled there and it was hard for her to turn her head to the right. We saw the doc again this past Wednesday and the cancer, as he put it, is 'spreading like wildfire'. 

There have been many phases of emotions the last few months: shock, anger, sadness, optimism, denial, hope. Throughout it all, the rock has been who else but, my Mom. Many of you who know her will not be surprised by this. She has taken this all with so much grace. I passed a semi-truck on the highway on my way to see her in the hospital (after first learning of her pulmonary embolism) that had the word  'Grace' written on the side and back of it. It made me think of her Mom (Grandma) my Aunt Grace and the many other relatives who fell ill before her but managed to still be so jovial, strong and even tranquil despite feeling so awful physically. Whether inherited or emulated, my Mom is no exception to these admired family traits.

 I have temporarily moved to Sherwood Park, Alberta. It is close to both Camrose (where Mom lives) and the Cross Cancer Institute (where she has her appointments). She stayed with me the past week and we had a lovely time...she was her usual goofball self, despite having just had 5 hits of radiation in a row! She is my best friend, closest confidante, inspiration, partner in crime and sister I never had. She doesn't have a tonne of energy but is in great spirits and that twinkle in her eye has never been brighter. She is in fact, a beauty in ugly days.

I have been reading a lot lately about angels and prayer and positive thinking. It's been proven time and time again that all the aforementioned have helped to heal especially when done in great numbers. I know one must be realistic but I also believe in miracles. So I was just wondering if you could include her in your prayers, your meditation and/or your thoughts:)