29th Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me!

My birthday was last sunday, I´ve been so busy with Christmas sales that I had not had the time to blog about but it I am finally here. I turned 29!! :S Next year is the big one!! oh dear...! I should start acting like a grown up! I am still pretty immature... haha! But what is time anyway? I have been confused about my age for a few years now, I really don´t pay attention to it and when I am asked how old I am I sometimes have to really do the math lol!
Anyway, on Sunday Jesse and I got on a ferry early in the morning and spent the day at Salt Spring Island. And even though it is pretty much the worst time of the year to go there... it was very interesting to go because it is so quiet and most of the people that live there are artist, writers and crafters so pretty much every house you see has a sign that says  ¨Gallery¨or ¨Studio¨.

We had breakfast in the little town and drove around the island. Found some very cute cows and sheep and drove to the top of the island for a gorgeous lookout to the Gulf Islands. We are definitely going back there in the summer on a Saturday to visit it´s huge and famous market.

Happy holidays to everyone!
I hope 2011 has been good for you and I wish you all a fantastic 2012!!

Print Sets

Since the beginning of fall I had this project on my mind and I am happy it is finally completed. 

The original idea was to make a modern set of prints with tree branches suitable for the living room, bedroom or office. So as soon as all the leaves started falling I could not wait to go outside with my camera, it was cold and windy for a little mexican like me but loved photographing the trees, branches, leaves and I even a cute group of small black birds. 

After editing and doing lots of digital work to some of the best photos, I put them together in these three sets. 

Jesse´s favorite is the first set, mine is the third one. They are all color customizable and are now available on my Etsy shop. 

Hope you like them :)

Modern Branches Set

Botanical Set

Birds And Branches Set

Secret Santa!

My Secret Santa (from Dream Team on Etsy) came in the mail today!! 


Cristina from Freena sent me all these lovely handmade gifts:
A pair of lovely crochet earrings, an awesome 3D cube necklace and my favorite... a fabulous bow necklace!!
I've had my eye on all her bow necklaces for months using them in treasuries and admiring them and now I have one of my own :D so happy! Thanks so much Cristina I looove all my gifts!!


You can see more awesome jewelry and accessories on her Etsy shop Fr33na.

Enjoy!

me wearing my gifts!

Etsy Christmas Decor

Some lovely Etsy finds for Christmas decoration.

1. 2. 3. 4.

November Movember

The first time I heard about Movember was in 2008 when I was studding a diploma in New Zealand. Most guys grew a mustache and I thought it was hilarious. I've always thought mustaches are funny. My dad has had one since he was in his 20's and I am so curious of how he would look without it. I have asked him to shave it many times, but I don't think that will ever happen! It is part of him now. He has had a full beard for over 10 years now and loves trimming it every week.  I beg Jesse to never ever grow one lol!

Anyway...here are some awesome Movember Etsy finds!

1.2.3.4.

November Mushrooms

Went to the park today to enjoy a beautiful autumn day and took photos of mushrooms.

Then back home to get ready for my second Christmas Craft Show tomorrow evening. I still have to pick up some photos and frame a few prints in the morning. 

Hope you had a beautiful day!

Christmas Craft show No. 1

Last weekend we had our very first Christmas Craft Show "West Shore Christmas Wonderland" at the Eagle Ridge community centre in Langford, BC.  It was in a Hockey arena, so you can imagine the size of it, and the set up was lovely.

Here are some photos of our booth for this show. We had two tables; one with all the embroidered cotton products, another large table with all the jewelry, ornaments, calendars, photos and prints, and a big wall that we packed full of framed artwork on both sides.

Jesse, my hubby, and I.

Some ornaments and cushions.

Earrings, lockets and pendants made with my photography and mandalas.

One side of the wall and the embroidered bags and cushions.

My friend Campbell from Labyrinth Leather and Kristy from Soak Essentials.

Happy Day Of The Dead!

from Flickr

Today is the Day of the Dead, a national Mexican Holiday, and I am missing my Mexico so much. All the color, the celebration, and the food!

The Day of the Dead is such a beautiful tradition. People build and decorate altars for their loved ones that have passed away. They fill the altars up with the deceased's favorite things, foods and drinks. During this day relatives and friends stop by their house and visit the altar bringing more items to the collection. I remember in school every class had to make their own altar and work as a team, and at the end of the day, the best altar would win a prize. We would get creative and choose some famous Mexican person to dedicate the altar to and remember funny anecdotes about that person. My favorite parts were writing the "Calaberitas", which are funny poems that sometimes made no sense, and making a path with marigold petals to welcome visitors. My hands would be so yellow and smell terrible even after washing them several times lol! And, of course, after the winner was chosen we would eat all the delicious food :)
I love this tradition of building altars on the Day of the Dead because it brings out the artist and crafter in everyone!

Here are some cute Etsy finds to commemorate this day.

1. 2. 3. 4.

And my favorite find are these mexican skulls rings aren't the awesome?!

Feliz Día de Muertos!

Autumn Colors

Autumn is such a magical season! My eyes cannot believe the burst of color everywhere I look. The air is so crisp and chilly, it breaths of change. The squirrels are hyper burying nuts for the winter. The rain causes decay of the fallen leaves and mushrooms grow where it is dark and moist. I love it! I love all seasons and all changes in life and nature, but autumn' s colors and feel is so special to me. It screams of change, it is an explosion before it all shuts down to sleep in white silence for the winter months.
Canada is so beautiful! I am so fortunate to live here in British Columbia and connect so deeply with nature during the seasonal changes.

Here are some photos I have taken this year I hope you enjoy them :)

The first ones are around my wonderful neighborhood and down at the beach.

These photos are at Beacon Hill Park. This very cute squirrel posed for a photo!

And these ones are around the city, the Empress Hotel and at the Governor's Gardens.

Birds and Numbers

It has been over a year since I last saw my little niece. That is her in in the photo with my sister Anna last summer in Old Quebec City. That crazy little ball of happy colors is Isabella. 

They used to live in Montreal, but moved to Bangalore, India, earlier this year. She is over two years old now and has a little sister on the way! and I am so excited about it!! I don't plan on having kids any time soon but with this two little girls in my life I have been inspired to design more prints for babies and toddlers. So I have been working with numbers. With birds and numbers to be more specific.

What do you think?

Birds and Numbers

 Hope you like them and I home you are having a beautiful Tuesday :).

Enjoying The Fall But Preparing For Winter

That's right. Fall is so beautiful! I am a Mexican and I cannot be more impressed with the Canadian fall. Every time I go outside my jaw drops, specially before the sunset when the light is yellow, all the golden and red colors feed my eyes and soul. I will soon be showing you some photos I have been taking around the city.

I am really enjoying  this autumn, I have a wonderful tree changing colors just outside my window. But today I stayed inside, it's been raining and it is cold. So I prepared some winter photos.

Winter Tree

Round Rock

Winter Rocks

They are now in the shop. Larger sizes available.
Thanks for visiting and hope you are having a great weekend :)

2012 Desk Calendars

Photo Calendar

Mandala Calendar

The calendars consists of 13 4x6 inches pages, printed on a beautiful matte photographic paper. The pages are unbound. Each photo measures approximately 3.5x3.5 and is suitable for framing after you are done with the calendar.

Each page features a beautiful photo or mandala according to the month and season. 

This calendar can be used in many ways: 
- in a 4x6 little frame, or acrylic frame 
- on a little photo stand or easel 
- with a magnet on your fridge 
- pinned to a cork
- or simply propped on your desk. 

Move

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Wearable Art

New handmade glass tile pendants. I make them with my photography and mandalas that I create digitally form paintings or photos. They are fun and colorful :) The back side is sealed and hand painted with silver acrylic paint, signed and coated with resin. The bail is sterling silver plated.

New Photos

Magical Hearts

Lovely flower hearts :)

Sunset Watch 

Seagulls watching the sunset :)

Neutrals

Oh neutrals I love you so by

thebeadgirl

Skeleton Key

I am so happy so finally have a skeleton key in my shop. I had been looking for the perfect one and I came across this one a couple week ago on the door of a building downtown. I tinted it blue but it is also available in my shop it original brass color.

Looks amazing framed 8x10 or 5x7!

You can see it in my shop here (blue) or here.

it's 2:21 p.m.

My newest photo 2:21 p.m. available in different sizes :)

2:21 p.m.

Urban Photos

I have two new urban photos in my shop, both in a pink-coral shade. Cute and vintage. 

The first one is a Street Lamp from the Harbor in Downtown Victoria, BC. 

The second one is from The Janion building also in downtown Vicotria. This building was built in 1891 and was originally a hotel, but it has been abandoned for the last 34 years. 

 Hope you like them :)

Street Lamp

The Janion

Aldari TV Segment on Studio 5!

Dear followers, 

I am thrilled to share this news with you. I am on TV, Studio 5 !! My first TV appearance ever! 
And all thanks to the wonderful Kristen from 6thstreetdesignschool, she featured some lovely artwork from Etsy shops and included my Pink Cherry Blossoms photo.

Watch it here (minute 5:27 - 5:55)

New Locket in the shop!

This lovely locket I made it with my Singing Bird on Branch  photo.

You can see it in my shop here.

Green Summer

Summer is finally here!! (Not officially but it finally got warm)
Our street looks so beautiful with lush big bright green trees. I love spring for all the colorful flowers and the change in the light but summer is definitely happy weather! Blue sky and green everywhere! :) I am celebrating summer with these new colors for this print in my shop.

Colors

More fun prints in my shop :) aldari.etsy.com

At The Markets

Hi dear followers, hope you are all well :)

I have been very busy with the markets, this is my first year doing it and it has been a lot of hard work but also lots of fun!

You can find me in Victoria BC,
Thursdays and Fridays at Bastion Square Market form 11 to 4 pm.
Saturdays at James Bay Market form 9 to 3pm.
Sundays at Centennial Square Sunday Market in the Square from 11 to 4:30 pm.

I want to share with you some photos of my stand :)

James Bay Market

Sunday Market in the Square