Helia is one of our newest Makers, located in western Canada. She is an artist, with a passion for creating beautiful mandalas. For those of you that don’t know, mandalas are a geometric symbol and are often associated with spiritual guidance. Found within Buddhist and Hindu circles, Mandalas can be used to establish a sacred space and as a visual aid for meditation.
Helia found her passion for mandala art at the age of fifteen when her auntie registered her into an introductory workshop. From there, she began practicing and drawing pieces by hand, beginning with simple patterns, and later creating very intrinsic pieces.
Helia is originally from a small village in the Côte D’azur southeast side of France, called St. Paul de Vence. As a child, she attended an alternative education elementary school which incorporates more open learning into the education system, allowing children to have the freedom to follow a variety of different interests. This type of school system focuses on showing children the outdoors, experiences within other communities, and provides children with the freedom to follow creative pursuits.
Helia spent her childhood drawing abstract pieces and curiously delving into the arts. Before going to high school (age 16-18), children in France must choose a field of focus during their college years (age 12-15). With the support of her family, Helia decided to apply for the field of art and design during these years. Realizing her growing passion for the arts, she prepared for entrance into fine arts school after finishing high school. Successfully gaining entrance, Helia had the opportunity to study textile design for two years. She studied hard and learned a variety of new skills within this artistic field. After this time focusing solely on education, she was feeling drawn to the idea of travel and new experiences. After two years, Helia decided that she wanted to keep art as a passion rather than pushing it to be work. So, she began travelling and gave herself time to explore and connect with herself.
Helia couldn’t shake the feeling to travel and booked decided to book a flight to Hawaii. She began travelling three years ago, first living in Maui before making her way to Canada. Living with a relative in Maui gave her a unique perspective to a new country as a local which allowed her to slow down and fully embrace life and new experiences. She loved living under the sun in Hawaii but eventually wanted to continue her travels and experience a new country.
After holidaying with her uncle in Big White, she fell in love with British Columbia and knew she wanted to spend some time living in a ski resort town. When she came to Canada almost two years ago, she decided to live in Whistler. She was drawn to Whistler for the beautiful natural landscape, welcoming community, and endless year-round activities. She spends her winters skiing in the snowy mountains and summers by the lake, hiking, camping, and sitting around campfires with friends. She is inspired by her life in the mountains and was able to rekindle her passion for the arts. She began drawing mandalas as a hobby and is now taking her art to new levels.
During the Covid lockdown last year, Helia began focusing on drawing every single day. She found the best way for her to deal with this time alone was through art, focusing on creating beautifully intrinsic mandala pieces. Becoming more and more passionate about creating art, she realized she wanted to do something more with her artistic side. Although it is a hobby, she hopes to also have this as a small business pursuit, sharing her art with the world.
Helia began an Instagram account, where she is able to scan photos of her hard-drawn pieces to share them on her page. She hopes to also begin an Etsy store in the near future where she can sell her pieces. Her mandalas make great framed art pieces, but she hopes to also have cards available and perhaps printed onto textiles as well!
Recently, Helia had the opportunity to partner with a local company in Whistler that printed her art onto skis! A creative way to get her work out there while holding up to her hobby and lifestyle in Whistler! These limited-edition skis were released in October and will be available all winter.
If you want to see more of Helias work, check out her Instagram here!
Before the digital world of smart phones, film photography was the best way to capture candid moments, travels, or gain expertise for the creative art. Having a physical copy of photos rather than just swiping through your phone can be a nice change. There are also a variety of projects you can use your photos for such as collages, framed wall decorations, and scrapbooks! Photos can be very sentimental and can also make great gifts for family and friends. Whether the photos are set up or candid, the memories are sure to last!
Gaining popularity in recent years, film photography is no longer viewed as old-school art and has become quite the trend again. It is all thanks to an Austrian man named Florian Kaps who fought to keep film photography alive. He bought the last Polaroid production plant with the mission to show the importance of film photos – calling this ‘The Impossible Project’. His vision succeeded and many people across the globe see the value of capturing a moment for how it was rather than capturing a staged moment that can be retaken 1000 times on a smartphone. Film also makes the photographer more selective about the photos they take rather than trigger happy, shooting to fill the SD card. With one roll of film taking between 12-36 photos, each photo is taken with a lot of thought to capture the most special, memorable, or artistic moments.
It’s not about capturing the perfect moment; it’s about capturing the memory the way it was
There are a few different options when it comes to film cameras. The two types are the traditional analog cameras and the instant film cameras. There are many options for film cameras that are beginner friendly with brands such as Nikon, Canon, and Olympus. The most popular instant film camera is the Fujifilm Instax. The difference between the two is that analog cameras shoot onto a roll of film which then needs to be developed whereas instant film cameras create immediate, self-developing film. If you’re thinking about getting a film camera, go for a point-and-shoot with about 35mm film which is the most common for starters. Great places to find film cameras are on the Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, or Amazon.
There is quite a lot to learn with film photography which can make things a bit intimidating or overwhelming. The best thing to do is to take it slow and learn step by step. When you purchase your first film camera, you will also need to get a few rolls of film. The most affordable film is made by Kodak Ultramax. You will have the option between colour and black & white, but colour is probably the best option if you are just starting out.
Unlike digital cameras, with a film camera you will need to understand how to set the proper exposure. Once you understand this, you can get creative and shoot the ‘mood’ you want for each specific shot. It can be a bit tricky to get the right light in the beginning. You will need to balance the highlights and shadows without overexposing or underexposing. A light meter helps with balance and can be purchased or downloaded as an app onto your phone. One tip is the ‘Sunny 16’ rule which is a go-to method for settings on a typical day. On a sunny day, you can expect to set your aperture to f/16, ISO 100, and shutter speed at 1/100.
When you are taking shots on your first roll of film, try to keep a notebook handy and jot down the aperture, shutter speed, and film speed. You can also record stuff like, sunshine, cloudiness, and time of day. This way, when you get your film developed, you can go through each shot and compare to your notes which can help you figure out where you went right or wrong.
Once you capture enough photos to fill your roll of film, you will need to take the film in to be developed. It generally costs under $20 and there are many photo lab processing stores around the city or at shops such as Walmart and Shoppers. You will have the option to develop the film on print paper or to scan them for digital copies.
From beginning to end, film photography is a process, each step takes time, patience, and understanding. Film can be a way of disconnecting from the digital world while traveling or in a social situation rather than having your phone out. Since there are no screens or displays, you must trust your creative eye to capture the moment!
Nowadays, everything is accessible at the click of a button. Although this offers convenience, there is still something to be said about holding a physical copy of something in your hands – including photo albums. Imagine sitting to show someone memorable moments from your life, but rather than having them swipe through a series of photos with the backlight of your mobile phone, having them instead of looking down at these candid moments in a beautifully made photo album. The once-popular art of scrapbooking has been lost to the mobile world. It is a form of art that can be very precious and something that can be passed down through generations, linking family and moments together. When you are first getting started, scrapbooking can seem a bit intimidating and perhaps a long process. If you’re interested in getting creative and making your first scrapbook, check the tips below to help get you started!
The first thing you should do before getting started on your scrapbook is to brainstorm ideas and organize your thoughts as to how you would like your scrapbook to look. Planning out colours, themes, and design will help you when you’re starting out so that you are happy with the final product. There are countless craft stores both in-person and online to purchase materials. Michaels has a huge selection in-store and online to choose from, and you can get it delivered right to your door. Once you’ve done this, you’re ready to create!
First, you will need to print the photos and then organize them in the timeline you want. From there, you can create the layout you want to display on each page of the album. Once you glue the photos in place, you can add your own creative flair and design to each page! Other than photos, you can also add things like ribbons, newspaper clippings, or any other sentimental pieces.
To begin scrapbooking, you’ll need a variety of craft supplies. Listed below are some of the basics to get you started:
Making a scrapbook may be just the thing to get you back into a creative flow and motivate you to get out and take more photos! If you’re been distant from family and friends throughout the pandemic, it can be a great way to feel more connected to your loved ones. It is a great hobby to keep busy and feel nostalgic as you look back on past memories. People use scrapbooking as a way to tell the story of their lives and cherish important moments. As with other creative projects, you may find scrapbooking to be a source of relaxation and stress relief. From beginning to end, making a scrapbook can be a very fulfilling creative project.
If you are not able to get to a place to print your own photos, there are many online platforms that let you design and purchase your own scrapbook online! Photobook is a great website that allows you to submit your photos, choose a photobook design, and have it printed and shipped to you! There are many other websites that allow you to get your photos printed onto mugs, magnets, keychains, calendars, and more! Not only is it a great idea to create a lasting physical copy of cherished memories but can also be a great gift idea for your loved ones!
Candles are a great accent to your home décor and keep your home smelling heavenly! In stores, candles can be quite pricey though so why not try your hand at this simple tutorial! This is a great afternoon project that gives you the chance to get creative with your designs. There are endless ways to customize your candles and candle holders to fit any season! Candles also make great gifts for family and friends.
To begin, make sure you clean your workspace and wipe down all surfaces. To figure out how much wax you need, fill the mason jar with the solid wax and transfer it into a measuring cup. You will need to double the amount of wax in the measuring cup so that the melted amount can fill the mason jar. The next step is to melt the wax, waiting about 10 – 15 minutes and stirring constantly. Once the wax is fully melted, you can add the fragrance oils of your choosing!
Next, you will need to fasten the wick to the bottom of the mason jar before pouring the wax in. This can be done by dipping the bottom wick into the melted wax and quickly attaching it to the bottom of the container, holding it in place while it hardens. Once the wax has cooled a bit and the thermometer reads 140 degrees, you can pour it into the mason jar. Keep a little extra wax if you need a top up in the end.
Hold the wick while you pour the wax and afterwards secure the wick in place with two chopsticks, one on either side. If the wax hardened with cracks on the top, you may then reheat the extra bit of wax to top up the container for a smooth finish. The last step is to cut the wick shorter and voila, enjoy your final product!
There are endless ways to get creative with your candle making designs. Whether you decide to decorate the mason jar or to add something extra to the candle mix, you can be free to get creative! One simple way to add a unique touch to your candles is to add fresh flower petals or pieces of shrub, like rosemary. If you want to add some colour the mix, try melting a wax crayon with the wax! Mason jars aren’t the only option for containers either, you can try upcycling something unused in your home, such as an old teacup!
Photography is an artform that anyone can learn more about and begin creating beautiful shots! If you only want to capture candid moments of life, you can stick with your smartphone but if you are planning on taking photography more seriously, you’ll want to invest in a DSLR or mirrorless camera. A DSLR or mirrorless camera will give you the opportunity to grow as a photographer and learn all there is to know about the art! There are a few things you can think of when setting up your shots, whether you are using your smartphone or a professional camera, such as composure, lighting, and focus.
Hold the square on the middle of the screen to lock your focus. Try to always keep the landscape line horizontal. Try to take photos without direct sunlight, otherwise the photo will be over exposed. There are plenty of apps, such as mobile Lightroom, to adjust the colours, contrast, and exposure of your photos in post-processing.
You can get a lot more playful and creative with a professional camera. Although in the beginning, you may shoot in ‘Automatic Mode’ while you get comfortable with your camera, eventually you’ll want to switch to ‘Manual Mode’. At first, it can be a bit overwhelming to learn all the buttons, switches, and lingo within shooting manual, but the picture will be a lot better once you get the hang of it. Professional photographers always shoot in manual mode because it gives them the creative freedom to set up the exact photo they are after. You will also want to shoot in ‘raw’ as it will give you the highest quality of photo which is better for post-processing.
There are many tutorials, workshops, and manuals that you can find online to help you figure out the workings of a camera. If you want to take your hobby to the next level, there are also full photography courses you can take online or in-person. The courses will not only teach you the functions of your camera but will also teach you how to set up and compose beautiful and creative shots! Taking the perfect shot is only one step, the next step is loading the photos to your laptop and begin the post-processing. Post-processing is an important step and will allow you to adjust the colour, exposure, highlights, and contrast. This can be done through many platforms such as Lightroom and Photoshop.
Spring is in full bloom! The weather is warming up, birds are singing, grass is getting greener, and the winter cold has washed away. Spring is a fresh start and a perfect time to get busy with some fun crafts! The following crafts are great for adults but can be adjusted to a simpler version for kids as well!
Painting is always a fun project, but have you ever tried painting a mason jar or flower vase? This can be as simple or as detailed as you would like and is also very kid friendly! Grab some mason jars or flower vases, a range of paint colours, brushes, and get busy! A nice design is to first paint the jar white as a base, let it fully dry, and then add a design on top! Try playing around with spring colours such as yellow, pink, and green. When you are all finished, take a walk to go pick a bouquet of wildflowers to put in your new vases!
If you didn’t get a chance to find some fresh wildflowers for your new vases, why not try to make some cute tissue paper flowers that will last much longer? Tissue paper flowers are simple to make and are a nice touch to add a pop of colour to your home for spring! All you will need are pipe cleaners and tissue paper! Simple how-to below:
Clay impressions are a fun and simple little project but make for beautiful decorations and memories. Before you get started, go for a hike or walk through the outdoors and pick some leaves or plant materials that catch your eye. Be mindful and do research before you pick something – you want to make sure you are not picking a protected flower or plant.
To make the clay, you will need the following:
Mix together equal parts flour and salt – add teaspoons of water and continue mixing until a soft, smooth dough is formed. Grab a piece of the mixture and roll in your hands to form a ball. Put the ball down on a sheet of baking paper with flour sprinkled over. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to at least ¼ inch thickness. At this point, you can create any shape you’d like using a cooking cutter.
Once you have prepped your clay to the thickness and shape you want, take your flower or leaf and press it into the clay mould. After, lift the flower or leaf to reveal a nice pattern on the clay. Allow the clay to set by leaving it out for approximately two days in a well-ventilated room. Alternatively, you can bake the clay at 100 degrees for approximately 3 hours. Once the clay impression is dry, you can leave as is or add some paint!
Stained glass is beautiful but can be fairly expensive so why not try your hand at a faux stained-glass project? There are a variety of ways to make faux stained glass, but using acrylic paint allows for the most intense colour results.
Supplies:
Before you get started, you will need to find a template that you want to use. If it is your first time, try going for a simpler design. Put the printed template underneath the glass and outline the picture with the black painter’s marker straight onto the glass. Once you’ve finished outlining, let the paint dry overnight. The next day, your design will be ready for paint. Mix one colour at a time – with 3 tablespoons of clear glue and a few drops of acrylic paint. Make sure the paint is thick so that the colours show up vibrantly.
With the cancellation of this years Maker Faire, we have decided to go virtual! If you’re new to the website and want to learn more about what the Maker Faire is, check out our previous blog here!
We have many talented Makers this year with a wide variety of skills and creations. Over the coming weeks, we will be going in more depth on each individual’s creations to give them the spotlight to show off their talent. Today’s blog is a sort of appetizer that will briefly touch on the Makers we will be interviewing. We will be showcasing our Makers in two ways, through video or through article and photo, depending on their trade and preference.
Summary of Makers:
We have Makers who create art, apparel, home décor, robots, props, as well as a variety of other things! Beginning with hand-made personal care products, we have Scott Walde who makes soap from scratch! He uses a variety of scents and moisturizing components such as olive oil and coconut oil. Amanda Bosiak is also a soap maker and creates hot process soaps using a slow cooker with oils and lye!
Moving on to textiles and fabrics, we have Ryan Linklater who creates apparel and costumes! He uses a hand cranking sewing machine, mainly creating pieces for cosplay and background sets. Next, we have Amanda Brown who is a textile artist focusing on handweaving to create accessories and home goods. Kara Perpelitz uses a spinning machine to spin yarn and later weaves onto it. We will be releasing a video demonstration the techniques she uses to create the materials and final product.
In the category of music, we have John Demchenko who composes electronic music! He uses his computer and software programs, all from his at-home music den. (Listen to “String Theory” he created for the Saskatoon Maker Faire string art video below.)
In the realm of arts, crafts and design, we have Laura Henderson Shylo who creates children’s books, at-home crafts, and photo restoration. Jordan Yaworski uses his vast experience and education to create props, sculptures, molding, and a variety of unique pieces for hire. Ferne Hebig crafts hand-painted miniatures and RPG themed dioramas. The Saskatoon Kilobots is a fun group that creates radio-controlled fighting robots. The robots are in tournaments and are some of the most destructive sub-lightweight robots in the world!
With this brief summary, we can see just how many talented individuals we have in Saskatchewan! There are many interesting products, arts, and crafts that the people in your community are ready to share with you! Again, if you are interested in becoming a Maker for the Saskatoon Online Maker Faire, feel free to submit here!