Birds of a Feather......

I woke up early this morning and made an amusement park for birds in our backyard pine in hopes that it would give the Wee Italian something to look at while we tried to work. Homemade bird feeders, seed bells, you name it! A cornucopia of birdly treats for every bird in Conception Bay. Thank their little feathery hearts they came....BUT, little did I know that SHE would be FAR more amused by the birds than any of the cats and would herself be glued to the window, birdwatching for hours at a time. I thought I was so very clever. Foiled. Again.

P.S. Last night we drove St. John's for our Bay-Townie Dinner-Bookclub and it was fabulous! All of us darlings created a fabulous pot-luck that was, perhaps, the best meal since time began! Hooray for everyone!

Image: Detail "Uncle Jack Went Jigging, While Mary Baked a Pie. TomCat Watched the World go by and Ida Hung the Line" Cara Kansala acrylic on Canvas

Birdwatching...just before the re-make scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (see tomorrows blog for proof of scary bird invasion!!)

Congratulations to CapeRace!

Congratulations to CAPERACE CULTURAL ADVENTURES www.caperace.com of Newfoundland and Labrador! See below!

CapeRace Cultural Adventures entered the National Geographic/Changemakers International Geotourism Challenge 2010: Places on the Edge competition in December of last year.
We're thrilled to announce we are among 12 finalists of 250 international entires. The shortlisted organizations can be seen below and if interested you can review all twelve submissions here. These organizations are leaders in the relatively new Geotourism concept created by Jonathan Tourtellot, a senior Fellow with National Geographic, and for those interested in understanding the new trends in sustainable/responsible travel you may find it all interesting reading.The competition is now open for public vote. Your support would be greatly appreciated!
You can view our submission and vote by following the hotlink "Eco-Culture Experience" Canada link below.
Thanks!

VOTE HERE... www.changemakers.com/node/96490

I Would Run Away and Join the Circus, But I Don't Know Any Good Tricks...

SHE has taught the Wee Italian to jump off her shoulders and dive-bomb anything moving. SHE is 6'2", so if I happen to be the moving thing being dive-bombed, it can be quite uncomfortable as His claws sink into my shoulder blades during His landing. He jumps off Her shoulder to chase His rabbit, to tackle the curtains and even tries jumping onto the ceiling fan blades. We have a few huge projects on the go right now and it is VERY hard to get any painting done while the Wee Italian is practicing for The Cirque Du Soleil. It would have been easier if we'd found a bear that could ride a bicycle.....at least he could have made deliveries.

Image: "Back in the Day" Detail Cara Kansala

I Am Changing My Name to Fluffy

Just before lunch, I was scolding the Wee Italian for stealing a paint brush right off my table and running through the house with it. Yellow paint everywhere.

Five minutes later, SHE came into my studio and started scolding ME for getting paint on my new chair (ummmm....it IS a studio chair, so in all fairness, it is going to get painty...RIGHT?) As she was scolding ME, just minutes after I had scolded W.I., I realized that really, I am just the 6th cat.

I am the 6th cat but with a slightly better litter box. No, I am not as furry (yet!) No, I don't cough up hairballs (yet!), but I DO get in an awful lot of trouble and I DO come running when she yells "Treats" and shakes the bag...(cookies silly, not Temptations).

I might as well change my name to Fluffy and start taking 7 hour naps with the other five. I don't think SHE would notice at all!

Really?

I have only one rule. One. No cats, dogs or birds in my work studio. This rule is all I have. I cling to it like a chubby kid clings to his last Halloween candy. The Wee Italian figured out how to unhook the latch that opens the door. All five cats on my desk. Playing scrabble. Making crafts.

FINGER PAINTING.

They thought it was a funny game when we were trying to herd them out. Played pick up sticks with open paint bottles.

SHE said I should not leave my paint bottles open. REALLY?

I will stop at the travel agent on my way to the hardware store to buy a "Wee Italian proof" door latch.

A new door latch and a one way ticket to The Outer Hebrides.

That is all I need.

I'm Leavin', On a Jet Plane...Don't Know When I'll be Back Again....

Above: "Jig Your Way Out To Sea, My Love" oil on canvas by Cara Kansala

A lovely dory boat, the wide open ocean, a lunch box and solitude....sounds good to ME!

Below: Signore Spaghetti Sings the Blues

Last Friday, the Wee Italian went from being a Tenor to a Castrato. He has not stopped "SINGING" since he woke up from the operation. I am not sure if he is pleased with his new voice or is in complete shock and horror at the bits he found missing while giving himself his morning bath. I am beyond. I have never had a vocal cat before. He sits on my shoulder while I am painting and "sings". SHE says he is happy. SHE thinks it is sweet. Earplugs? Earmuffs? Earphones. I have convinced Her that, clearly, I will need new earphones. And a new ipod. And an extended vacation to the Outer Hebrides. SHE can stay here and listen to the Wee Italian sing his operas, dig up the plants and chew up my paint brush handles.
I am heading for the hills!

Wave Over Wave

This afternoon, She kidnapped me away from my easel and we poodled over to Brigus to see the sites and take in some fresh air. Gorgeous! When we got back home, the waves in front of the house were perfection....colours changing from one second to another....aqua,turquoise, teal and indigo blues. I was so excited by the size and the colours, I nearly ended up getting swept away...I forget how powerful and unpredictable the waves here can be. Needless to say, She took away my camera and I am not allowed to go down to the beach unless supervised. Ahh, yet another rule to add to The List. Good thing though, The List doesn't get bigger, it just changes. I am happy to announce that until I have a Very Bad Accident, I am now allowed to use both the power drill AND the staple gun (if supervised).

Image: "Brigus Moon" by Cara Kansala

Framed, original, acrylic on canvas 12 x 16

And this is your Uncle Fred and His New Wife Dorothy......

Holiday gifts have all been given, so I can finally post some of the custom client work we did. This seemed to be the year for all things cats. We did cat mats, floor cloths, portraits and a chair. I am pleasantly relieved to know that WE are not the only crazy cat people around. It's hard to believe how much people love their pets though I don't have to wonder where I get my craziness from...why I love to dress up my friends, have parties for them and read them stories. No, I don't have to wonder at all.

Today my mother came to visit. She was in the living room looking at photos. We were in the kitchen, but we could hear her talking. We went in to find her showing Gretel Der Frankenfurter the 3rd (dog) family photos and explaining who the people were. SHE looked at me, eyebrows raised as if to say "Can you BELIEVE your mother is showing the dog photos?"

"Gretel hasn't met that part of the family yet," I said......"this way, she'll know who everyone is when they come next summer........"

7 hours later and her eyebrows still haven't come down.

I guess that's what she'll look like if she ever decides to have a face lift.

Image: "Miami Beach Vacation 2011" Custom Floor cloth by Cara Kansala

"Sitting on the Daisy Placemat" by Cara Kansala

You Are My Sunshine!

What on earth was that big, orange ball in the sky today? SHE said it was "THE SUN". Shirley, she must be joking. It was SO beautiful, I took a break away from commissions and worked on some springy-time sunshiney pieces! Tomorrow I will check and see if my tulips are up!
We've had so many inquiries and requests this past summer/fall for photos of available works and from people wanting to know if the work on the blog is for sale, that I decided to make 3 gallery pages (on the right sidebar) of works for sale and how to contact us. I am still working on it...it is very difficult for me to do computerishy things like posting pictures, installing, uploading, re-sizing and cropping.....I am much better at making messes, mixing paint colours, cooking crepes and opening and shutting the blinds (though SHE has forbidden me from this action after tangling my hair in the cord....)
I hope that if you click on the links they will LINK! Let me know if they are NOT linking and I will do my best to re-link my links!
Image - "Aunt Bert's Daisy Garden"
Acrylic on Canvas 12" x 24" by Cara Kansala
P.S. Though I often call HER "Shirley", her name is, in fact, Pam.

JOY TO THE WORLD !

Tonight we hosted the Grumpy Goat Gallery New Year's Eve dinner party and all of my darlings were here in fine form! Thank you everyone for your wonderful friendship, laughter, love and for wearing your nose cups with such terrific style! D.S. deserves extra thanks for risking life and limb and possibly causing himself great harm by setting up the fireworks. They were a miracle! Stars!!
It's been a fabulous holiday and I am looking forward to getting back to work and tackling the ever growing list of commissions for the new year. We are blessed to be able to do the work we love and to have such supportive friends. clients and family.

Happy New to YOU from all of us at The Grumpy Goat Gallery!