by Marja-Leena 
What a busy week with appointments and intense work in the studio including one rough day when things were not working for me.
Aah, Saturday morning. Sleeping in a little. Dawdling over breakfast. Time to smell the roses or play with the camera again. A handy subject in the kitchen for deep study.
by Marja-Leena 
It’s been quite some time since I’ve shown any of my printmaking projects. I still haven’t uploaded the series I finished in the fall and in January…. soon, I hope. So readers might be interested in these little test pieces that I did a while ago.
Wanting to try out a special technique called chine-collé, as well as have a little fun, I chose a small collagraph plate I had from earlier tests and some sections from older inkjet proofs to print onto. I tore small pieces of very thin inkjet printed papers, applied special glue on these and placed them on the inked collagraph plate just before it was run through the press.
I learned that the inkjet colours of these particular chine-colléd papers were not waterfast but they were still fun little pieces to do while learning a few new things. Later I experimented with prints from another printer with waterproof inks that worked better though I didn’t like the images as much.
These are shown here about life size.
by Marja-Leena 
While hunting for a certain image in my older digital photo albums, I came upon these in a folder called ‘patterns’ which I don’t think I’ve posted before. They mirror my current feeling of going around in circles, repeating myself without resolution.
by Marja-Leena 
What does an insomniac artist do at 3 am instead of sleeping?
Scanning and blogging. Might as well be creative, eh.
by Marja-Leena 
Some days my body feels old from pain and insomnia though in my mind I’m still young and beautiful.
Some days melancholia may touch me like softly fluttering wings as I remember many loved ones no longer here.
On this day and still holding true are these birthday meditations from a couple of years ago,
while a certain song from my youth has been going round and round in my head:
When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?
If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four?
When I’m Sixty-Four, lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Such mixed feelings….
by Marja-Leena 
like an explorer of new lands
with a new eye, a new lens
finding exciting textures
to inspire her inner printmaker
by Marja-Leena 
Bewitched by a bank of golden witch hazels
Captivated by the scent of viburnum bodnantense
Delighted by the humble English lawn daisy
by Marja-Leena 
I almost forgot! Today is the sixth anniversary of this blog! Thinking back to when I began, I would not have believed this would become such an important part of my life, and how many wonderful connections and friendships would grow from it. Last year I felt excited and blessed to personally meet several blog friends in the UK and here at home in the Vancouver region. Perhaps this year I’ll meet a few more of you – welcome!
Though I don’t write quite as much as in those early days, I seem to be posting more photographs as that has grown into a serious hobby in addition to being part of my art practice. I miss some of my favourite bloggers who have quit or have been leaving for Facebook, Twitter and other media. Meanwhile I continue to resist joining them, fearing spreading myself too thin. Thank you, those of you who are still here and still reading and commenting with such warmth.
Here are a few photos from our Sunday afternoon walk not far from home. How I love where we live, rain or shine!
From the archives, if you are interested:
the first anniversary, second, third, fourth and the fifth.
by Marja-Leena 
Go here to see this fabulous award-winning short animation film with a stunning surprise ending. You will enjoy it!
Found at Chris Tyrell’s Blog.
This gives me the opportunity to mention that Chris Tyrell is a well-known arts advocate in Vancouver. I’ve long enjoyed and admired his editorials for the Opus Art Supplies monthly newsletter. He’s also author of Artist Survival Skills: How to Make a Living as a Canadian Visual Artist. I was pleased to discover that he has a blog.
by Marja-Leena Yesterday afternoon was one of sad goodbyes as we saw our daughter and granddaughters to the airport for their flight back home to London. Husband took the afternoon off work too, so we could do a little exploring of another region new to us, as we often do if we’re farther from home with the car.
So, after leaving the airport in Richmond, we headed to that city’s south arm of the great Fraser River and estuary. We parked next to the West Dyke Trail looking over the broad salt marsh. Taking umbrella and camera, we strolled south towards Garry Point Park located next to the old village of Steveston.
The weather was very overcast, drizzly, calm and warm. Have I mentioned that we’ve had the warmest January on record, after one of the coldest a year ago? It was too misty to clearly see the mountains north of Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. Even the photos of the extensive salt marsh along the dyke trail look colourless and lacking detail. However, here are a few of our favourite shots. I love the bullrushes and the dark silhouetted trees while husband captured some of the plentiful bird life in this protected region. A couple of freighters, a few tugboats and fishing boats passed by along the river.
We warmed up even more with delicious spicy Indian food in a modest little place in Steveston before returning home to an oddly quiet house.