Enchantment Emporium

So- I came across a booklist called: Calgary Reads - Fiction Set in Calgary that someone had kindly put together and there was one fantasy/science fiction title on it; “The Enchantment Emporium” by Canadian author Tanya Huff.

I thought ‘Nice! My patriotic book duty will soon be fulfilled.’ I tend (for no good reason) not to read Canadian books by Canadian authors, unless they have fantasy or faery content, for example: I can’t get enough of Charles de Lint and his urban faery tales. In his books it’s so easy to step between worlds and something about that really catches my interest. I have to know more! They make me want to make travel plans to walk down the same streets as the characters and see if the café that they ate at has the same feeling as was emoted in the book.

Yep, bit of a nerd that way. :D

Anyways, I’ve read Tanya Huffs’ “Blood” novels and really enjoyed them, (what a thrill to see colourful Canadian money in her “Blood Ties” TV series!) and I thought it would be interesting to try out this recommendation. A fantasy book set in Calgary! I picked up the MP3 audio version so I could listen to it in my car and by the time the main character had reached Calgary and was on a whirlwind taxi ride through the downtown core headed towards the antique/junk shop in Inglewood that she had inherited from her grandmother, I was hooked. I haven’t finished the MP3 yet but I’m really enjoying its quirkiness - also, today while unpacking brand new paperbacks – I noticed that its sequel “The Wild Ways” has just been published! More magic in Calgary!

So - time to plan a trip to the antique shops in Inglewood, a walk down Atlantic Ave S.E. in search of a good cup of coffee from a fellow named Kenny and check in at Fort Calgary, just to make sure there aren't any stray portals into the faery realms... You never know :)

On a hunt for magic!

Check out "Mighty Uke" a Canadian documentary“Shhhhh! - Don’t you know this is a library?” - aren’t really words you have to worry about anymore. Especially when you know that the librarians have a secret ukulele club.

Whoops.

People keep telling me that the first rule of ukulele club should be “don’t talk about ukulele club,” and the second rule should be, “why are you talking about ukulele club?!” I totally don’t agree! Ukuleles are too awesome to not talk about. They are small simple unassuming instruments that you can take anywhere. Children are fascinated with them because they are ‘just the right size’ and they make adults giggle, grin and sometimes groan – but it’s usually in good humour!

We’re all still pretty new at this and getting to know our ukes, but – we’ve pretty much mastered ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’ (new achievement unlocked!) which coincidentally has the exact same chords as two other songs (Woo! Three with one blow! We’re doing awesome!) Now we’re working on ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ and there’s a few more chords in it (five instead of two) and singing, strumming and counting is sure tough to do at the same time, but what a lot of fun!

So now some nights, after dark, when the library should be quiet and calm, if you hear the odd strumming and buzzing of strings and a few stray stanzas being caterwauled… don’t be alarmed, it’s just your local librarians ‘rocking out’ on their ukes. AWESOME.

We still need a little encouragement though; we’d love to know,

Who else is out there in a secret ukulele club?

What was the first song that you learned and

What do you think we should we tackle next?

Why horses?

In 2005 on a trail ride into Calgary for the Stampede, 9 out of 200 horses were killed in a freak accident on the bridge. As horse's being the sensitive creatures they are, this tragedy shocked and saddened me greatly. In my grief I created a series of horse drawings and paintings in commemoration of this unfortunate event. Happy to say the Stampede in there infinite wisdom have now stopped these trail rides into the city during Stampede.

What's your favourite medium to work in?

I enjoy painting on canvas, and I also do pen and ink works on paper, I also love hard board and the rough side of masonite board with acrylics and multi-media.

How can we find you online?

moveovermountain@yahoo.ca

Which artists do you find inspiring?

Otto Rogers, Alfred Pellan, Michael Snow, Jock MacDonald, all Canadian artists and Cezanne (if he's seen Canadian Light he probably would have relocated here to Canada and painted our land)

What's your favourite section of the library?

New & Notable. The library staff always seem to select the latest and best authors for my reading pleasure. Sometimes I take advantage of the magazine section and stop for a flip through the art magazines.

What's your favourite colour right now?

I love all colours, and as an artist the colours choose me when painting...

Do you have any personal stories about horses?

Well this aforementioned 2005 experience and the piece I submitted for this show lead to a story I wrote on the legend of this particular horse representing all nine of these wonderful creatures.

Thank you!

Your welcome and thank you for your efforts in making this event possible to bring artists and the library experience as a co-creation for the library clients.

Why horses?

I'm not sure. They were the first things I ever drew and the only ones for many years.

What's your favourite medium to work in?

Pastel, Coloured Pencil, and Paint.

How can we find you online?

www.theflemishmonkey.com or www.flemishmonkey.deviantart.com

Which artists do you find inspiring?

Kinuko Craft, Franz Marc, Emily Carr

What's your favourite colour right now?

Yellow!

What's your favourite section of the library?

I discover a new one every week!

Here's a special sneak peek for you of the works of two artists currently showing in our Horse Art Exhibition running July 5 to Oct 30 2012. We hope you'll be enticed to come and see them up close, the details are phenomenal!

"Cavalia"

Find more art by Carole Bondaroff here: https://sites.google.com/site/cbondaroff/

"Urania-Night Sky"

Find more art by Stan Phelps here: https://sites.google.com/site/stanphelpsart/home

I was lucky enough to meet the lovely Susan, one of the wonderful artists that is currently showing in our Horse Art Exhibition at Louise Riley Library July 5 to Oct 30 2012. Her passion and enthusiasm for art is pleasantly contagious! Stop by and see her art in person - look for her cleverly detailed work in the children's picture book area!

Why horses?

Horses are so kind to humans, why not paint or draw them!

What's your favourite medium to work in?

My favourite medium is oil paint and canvas.

Which artists do you find inspiring?

Claude Monet inspires me.

What's your favourite section of the library?

The DVD section, I find so many good flicks there!

What's your favourite colour right now?

Purple, yip can't get enought of it.

Do you have any personal stories about horses?

I love to ride with friends, well it is more like a stroll in the woods. They are powerful creatures, I love to watch them run and I find it entertaining to watch them socialize with one another.

How can we find you online?

Please find me at www.thearttree.biz or my personal gallery http://dreamers.marthastewart.com/profile/TheArtTree_SusanFaeHaglund

Leah Johnston is one of the talented and fun artists that is currently showing in our Horse Art Exhibition at Louise Riley Library running July 5 to Oct 30 2012. Stop by to see her colourful work up close!

Why horses?

Because it's Stampede time!

What's your favourite medium to work in?

Acrylic

Which artists do you find inspiring?

Angie Rees

What's your favourite section of the library?

Crafts!

What's your favourite colour right now?

Blue!

Christine Bennett is one of the wonderfully talented artists currently showing in our Horst Art Exhibition at Louise Riley library running July 5 to Oct 30 2012. Stop by to see her detailed work up close!

Why horses?

I don't really have a great answer to this. I simply love horses, and everything about them. I think that it must have something to do with their spirit, grace and fine tradition in art.

What's your favourite medium to work in?

Coloured pencil. Many people think that coloured pencils are for children, but they are a rich medium that can achieve great effect through texture and layering colours. Next to that are pastels, and sometimes I combine the two.

Which artists do you find inspiring?

My two favourite artists are Frederic Remington and Franz Marc. They have such an emotional way of portraying horses, particularly Marc. Outside those two, there are often too many to name - El Greco, Tom Thomson, Emily Carr, David Hockney and Chris Cran are a few more. Usually any artist can offer inspiration in techniques, materials or subject matter. Of course, i have a number of favourite model horse artists, such as Sarah Rose.

What's your favourite section of the library?

Definitely 636.1! And the 740s for crafts.

What's your favourite colour right now?

My favourite colour will always be purple, now and forever!

Do you have any personal stories about horses?

It's unfortunate to say that I have mostly been and observer of horses my whole life, so personal stories are rather lacking!

How can we find you online?

My website is http://www.purple-pony.com and my blog is at http://purple-pony-art.blogspot.com I'm always online somewhere!

We know you're out there.

Yes you. You paint. You draw. You knit. You crochet. You cast jewellery and blow glass. You decorate fantastic cakes and build majestic gazebos. How do we know? We see the books that are brought back by the dozens (somebody has to put them back on the shelf!), so we know you're feeding your creative urges and we just don't always get to see the final products.

So, when we can catch one of you this is what happens:

What are you reading right now?

From Eroica with Love and The encyclopedia of crochet techniques.

How long have you been crocheting?

Oh, about seven years. My momma taught me.

What's the cutest thing you've ever crocheted?

A really cute little amigurumi alarm clock from Crochet Today! magazine.

The strangest?

A beard.

Seriously?

Yep. It was part of a ski-toque. Oh I've also crocheted really hairy caterpillars from 75 birds, butterflies & little beasties to knit and crochet and I needed the encyclopedia of crochet techniques to figure out which stitch would make the best beard.

What's your next project?

Leg warmers, or spats... I'm not sure yet.

Why do you like to crochet?

I like to do something when I'm travelling (bus or car.) It's a portable medium and there's a large variety of things you can create with it. Every time I crochet something I strive to make it not look like it's from the 70's (laughs)

Do you listen to music while you work?

I really like Jill Barber, Michael Buble, Michael Kaeshammer and DAFT Punk.

Come to the library and check out the music Leah's into: