Pass the fork, please...

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

Jantje is known for her ability to create art from found objects. One of her favorite things to do is to bend and mold figures out of discarded silverware. She then attaches these "dancers, musicians and athletes" to driftwood she finds at the beach.

Lately, she has been working hard on a big and exciting commission for the Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews - using silverware from the hotel that is being recycled. Her hands are getting mighty sore (and strong)!

Here's a peek...

Beach walk: collecting driftwood

by Andrea Mulder-Slater


Jantje's sculptures require a LOT of driftwood and her stockpile has been getting kind of low. So... she, the littlest one and I went for a walk to the beach to see what the waves had carried in. Once we filled our bags, we took the opportunity to wander towards the water's edge to see what treasures were lurking in the tidal pools. It's always a great day when we can walk at the beach.

Negative ions and the magic rock

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

Living and working by the sea has many benefits,  not the least of which is the absolute abundance of negative ions.

These lovely little molecules are invisible, but pack quite a punch -- and they are found in abundance near large bodies of water. 

Negative ions are thought to create a biochemical reaction that increases levels of serotonin in the body. This mood chemical helps to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost energy.

Pretty cool, right? This is why beach walks make folks feel so refreshed.

Thanks to the rain we've been experiencing, its been a while (too long!) since we've been able to get outside and enjoy a seaside walk. So, I thought I'd post some photos from a recent "magic rock" adventure.

The magic rock is located just up the coast from our studio. It makes appearances in our art from time to time and visiting it always helps to recharge the batteries.

 

Want to know more about negative ions? Read this: http://pranaviewaustralia.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/the-power-of-negative-ions-the-ocean-and-bodies-of-water/

The buoy tree

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

This past winter, Geoff found a terrific driftwood post washed up on the shores of our beach. Meanwhile, a Mother's Day basement clean-up unearthed a large collection of buoys  - some  found on beach walks, others scored by Jan some years ago at a Kiwanis Club auction.

While working on the outside of our new studio property, Geoff had the idea to place the pole next to our door and attach as many buoys to it as he could fit.

Ladies and gentlemen... behold, the buoy tree. Now this place is really starting to feel like home. :)