Inspiration found at the Harbor of Grand Marais, Minnesota

Grand Marais Harbor

Many are attracted to the natural beauty of the Grand Marais, Minnesota area, making it a regional arts, music, and crafts hub, as well as he home of nonprofit educational institutions, such as the Grand Marais Art Colony and the North House Folk School, and art galleries featuring the work of local and regional artists.

Grand Marais Harbor

It is a northern village located on the shores of Lake Superior, and a vibrant, bustling town. The population was 1,351. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes of North America. We drove here from Duluth, MN and I was amazed by how large Lake Superior is. It seems to go on forever. It is actually the size of South Carolina!

I went there with my husband and son.  We were in the area to celebrate my son's 29th birthday with a long weekend in the "wilderness".  Our first day took us on a walk along the shores of the harbor to the lighthouse.

The water is so clear you can see through to the bottom. I spotted this pretty leaf floating in the lake. The leaves are starting to turn here. The color reminded me of a pair of ceramics that I purchased from the Marsha Neal Studio.

Reddish Brown Ceramic Earrings by BayMoonDesign

They are reddish brown textured ceramics. I added a copper accent bead and used copper wire to wrap around the ceramics and add the copper beads.  Copper ear wires were a natural choice.  I love how the reddish brown color of the ceramics looks with the copper. The reddish brown ceramic earrings are available for purchase at my BayMoonDesign shop.

I think this poems reflects the season to the earrings and photo of the leaf. 

Maple by Daniel Human

red
orange
glowing trees
the last hurrah
falls

Inspiration from Quebec City

Château Frontenac Hotel

I had the opportunity to visit Quebec City, Canada's oldest city. It was established as a French colonial outpost and founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. I found lots of inspiration for those who appreciate the arts and history. Quebec City is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. The city has a population of about 500,000. Quebec City is located in the Saint Lawrence River valley, on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River near its meeting with the St. Charles River. The surrounding area is low-lying and flat. As you look around at the river valley you can't help but notice the rich, arable soil, which makes this region the most fertile in the province. Quebec City's skyline is dominated by the massive Château Frontenac Hotel, perched on top of Cap-Diamant. Alongside the Château Frontenac is the Dufferin Terrace, a walkway along the edge of the cliff, offering beautiful views of the Saint Lawrence River. The Dufferin Terrace leads toward the nearby Plains of Abraham, site of the battle in which the British took Quebec from France.

Me, my camera, and new found friend

I set off on my visit to old Quebec City with the intention of absorbing all of the history that I could. Armed with my camera and guidebook, I began in the historic Quebec area which is built on a plateau. Because of this topographic feature, the central and oldest area of the city is sometimes divided into upper and lower town. 

Photo Shoot in lower town Quebec City

I was struck by how beautiful and quaint the city is.  Apparently others feel the same way.  It was long before I spotted a professional photo shoot underway.  I was stunned by the beauty of the female model and the way the pleats in her skirt just flowed perfectly.  Then, I realized that the man behind her was part of the photo shoot.  I don't know where the photo will appear but I am thinking it is for Christmas time since they are in red and green.  

Everywhere you look, the streets are lined with colorful buildings.

Space Elephant by Salvador Dali

Sculptures are found throughout the city.  I noticed this brass elephant on spindly, bone-like legs in front of the Château Frontenac. This Salvador Dali sculpture is part of the Galerie d’Art du Château Frontenac’s summer exhibit which ends in October 2017.  Known as the Space Elephant, the work also has an elongated pyramid sitting on its back. 

Samuel de Champlain

This monument which honors Samuel Champlain, who founded the city is one of Quebec City's most spectacular landmarks.  The enormous monument was built in 1898, and consists of a stone base that is topped by a statue of Champlain. The four-sided base contains an elaborate sculpture of angels and religious icons, plus plaques in both English and French describing the origin of the statue and Champlain's accomplishments.  It is located on Dufferin Terrace - a central location near the Chateau Frontenac. It's a busy gathering space where thousands of locals and tourists converge to see the sights and enjoy the street performers and entertainers. 

This mural on the side of a building is incredibly detailed and lifelike.

Old Town Quebec City

When it comes to innovation I had to smile.  What fun to see these colorful balls strung across this old street!

Street Performer

Later in the day, I paused to listen to this street performer playing his harp and singing.  He has a great life.  He spends half of the year in Chile where he from and the other half here.  I am guessing he is in Chile in Canada's winter!

Everywhere you look in the city you will spot lovely flowers.

old doors and windows

Even the old doors and windows are appealing and interesting.  They are part of the charm of this old city.

Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral

Churches dominate the city and contain wonderful works of art, many of which help to tell the history of Quebec,  Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral is the first church in the New World to be raised to a basilica.  It is a must see.

The connection between the first settlers to the New World and the New Nations is portrayed in this stained glass found in a local church.

Modern city of Quebec

The modern part of the city is enriched by art also.  This mural really livens up this gray building.

I don't know the background of this sculpture suspended over water but I love it!

by BayMoonDesign

Tree Necklace by BayMoonDesign

I try to take a trip in the Fall to gather inspiration for my new line of jewelry.  This tree necklace was inspired by my trip to Glacier National Park in Montana last year.  The glaciers inspired the blue, black and white color palette.  The single leaf speaks to the leaves falling from the trees as winter approaches and the bare trees dominate the landscape.  It is available for purchase in my BayMoonDesign store.  I don't know what this trip will inspire yet because it isn't over.  I have lots of ideas floating in my mind.  What are your thoughts about what you have seen of Quebec?

Some Inspiration from Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Photo of Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, Nova Scotia by KLindemer

Nova Scotia is home to over 160 historic lighthouses, but no beacon is as photographed as the one in the fishing village of Peggy’s Cove. Peggy's Cove is a small rural community located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality. It is 26 miles southwest of Downtown Halifax and comprises one of the numerous small fishing communities.

 Working fishing boats at Peggy's Cove
Photo Credit:: KLindemer

Built in 1915, Peggy’s Point Lighthouse still keeps watch over the ocean waves and working lobster boats.

Peggy's Cove
Photo credit::KLindemer

Today Peggy's Cove remains an active fishing village and a favorite tourist destination. From its beginning, the community's economy revolved around fishery. However, tourism began to overtake fishing in economic importance following the Second World War. Even though Peggy's Cove is a major tourist attraction, its inhabitants still fish for lobster, and the community maintains a rustic undeveloped appearance.

Fishing Village
photo credit::KLindemer

I wondered where the name came from and I found that there are two versions of the Peggy's Cove name story. The first version is that it is named after Saint Margaret's Bay (Peggy being the nickname for Margaret). It is likely that the village is named after Saint Margaret's Bay. Discoverer Samuel de Champlain named after the bay after his mother Marguerite.
There is another more romantic story that has more behind the name than because of its location. The second account of how Peggy’s Cove was named comes from a book "This is Peggy’s Cove," by local artist and sculptor William deGarthe. He writes about a Schooner that was shipwrecked on Halibut Rock, off the Lighthouse Point in a terrible storm of sleet and fog on a very dark October night in the 1800’s. He tells that the ship ran hard aground and with high waves washing her decks. Everyone on board was lost except for a young woman, who managed to survive the turbulent seas, swam ashore and was finally rescued by the people on shore.

Her name was Margaret. After the tragedy she stayed in the area and married one of the local men People from near-by places used to say, “Let’s go see Peggy of the Cove,” and before long they began to call the place Peggy’s Cove.

Statue of Fisherman of Peggy's Cove

photo credit::KLindemer

I like both versions of the name. Having a son, I have to admit that I also thought that Samuel de Champlain naming the bay after his mother Marguerite was wonderful. What mother wouldn't!  This is such a picturesque place with two romantic stories.

rustic old boat
photo credit::KLindemer

There are plenty of opportunities here to create tales in your mind here.  I wonder what adventures this boat had.  What happened to it?  I love the faded turquoise and orange on the boat. These are favorite color combinations that I like to use in my BayMoonDesign jewelry.

Lobster traps
photo credit::KLindemer

I wonder who used these lobster traps and when.  Where did they live?  Did they sell the lobsters to support a family?  

anchors for lobster traps
photo credit::KLindemer

I loved everything on this special place.  The memories will stay with me and inspire me.

The Making of a Fall Bracelet

Leather Bracelet by BayMoonDesign

I was gifted a maroon leather strap for a bracelet and asked to make something with it.  For once, I had everything I needed and the bracelet came together quickly.

The leather strap had a snap so I didn't have to worry about a closure.  I gave more thought to what I would do to decorate it than I did making it.

Vintaj Natural Brass

I found 3 Vintaj pieces in my stash that I thought would work.

Vintaj Natural Brass  

I selected the rectangular one because I thought the shape and size would work well.

Ranger Patina and Sealant

Since fall is right around the corner I wanted to create an orange color with the patinas that I had on hand.  I always associate orange with fall.  I mixed a little quartz, rust, and clay Ranger patinas to get my color to apply on the natural brass.

I let the patina dry and then sanded it to bring out the texture and gold color on the design.  I then applied a sealant to the rectangle.

Micro Screws and Nuts

I have a stash of micro screws and nuts that I have been using on other designs so I picked the brass colored ones to blend in with the focal.  I only needed to use 2.

Leather punch

The srcews and nuts were the perfect size for the rectangular brass focal.  I put 2 holes in the leather with my leather punch and put screws on the back.  I then used a snipping tool to cut the screws down to a comfortable length.

snap closure on back of leather

I  hammered and filed the screws to make them shorter and smoother.

Leather Bracelet for sale at BayMoonDesign

I am happy with the completed bracelet and I am anxious to make a few more with the Vintaj filagree that I have left.  Pretty easy!  What do you think?