Though I'm not prepared to give you chapter and verse just yet, here are a few sneak peeks at mine...
Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canadians! :-)
Monday, May 20, 2013
Just a Hint
With iffy sunshine and threatened showers most of today, I've been working on my SAQA Western Canada piece for our next travelling exhibit, The Burgess Shale Project, in which participants render in textiles, fossils from the Burgess Shale excavation.
Though I'm not prepared to give you chapter and verse just yet, here are a few sneak peeks at mine...
Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canadians! :-)
Though I'm not prepared to give you chapter and verse just yet, here are a few sneak peeks at mine...
Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canadians! :-)
Friday, May 17, 2013
What's My Name and Where Do I Live?
That's sort of how my week has been...steady and full...and a bit hard on my brain. The simple reason? Lots to do, lots to learn, lots to work on, lots to finish...
After cleaning out my studio, I cleaned the "Messy Work" counter in my back room. It's the place where I store my geraniums over the winter, and my seeds, and work on dye baths etc. With the geraniums back out in their outdoor homes for the summer, it needed a good wipe-down and re-organization. Pookie had been digging at the plants so the counter needed a good scrub, and my aging philodendron needed dealing with. In the end, I cut it back, put 3 cuttings in water, and composted the rest. I repotted another plant, put it in a hanger so the Pook-ster wouldn't dig it, et voila! Isn't this nicer to look at and work with?
Once the counter top was spic and span, I covered it with a section from a retired plastic shower curtain. Front and centre right now is my old cutting mat, back-side up, which is useful there if I'm using sharp implements. On the left is my small collection of gardening books, brought out for the season, plus left-over seeds, and not-yet-planted seeds. On the right (out of vision) is my container of clothespins, which I use in the summer when I get to dry clothes and fabric outside on my drying rack. (Still trying to figure out where and how to mount a proper clothesline.)
Monday afternoon on the way back from my Usual Monday in Lacombe, I succumbed to the lure of P.J.'s Plantation (my local nursery) and bought my bedding-outs and a few new perennials for my flower beds:
With no frost in the forecast for the foreseeable future, I planted all but 3 perennials and 3 tomatoes. These will be planted this weekend -- the "May Long" (aka Victoria Day Holiday Weekend), Canada's first official weekend of "summer".
In the studio I've been going back and forth between my two current projects: "Back to the Garden" for 15 x 15 , and a 24" square piece for SAQA Western Canada's next travelling show, The Burgess Shale Project. Both are due by month-end or shortly thereafter. The 'garden' theme has suited both in different ways. I'm not sharing about the BSP right now...but will do so when it's been turned in for exhibit. Then 'All Shall Be Revealed'! :-)
However, "Back to the Garden" is taking shape, with stars and stardust being applied, thus:
I'm still playing around with photo programs on my new laptop, so I apologize for the quality of this one. Here's a bit of detail from that upper left corner:
There are star sequins beaded on, and very tiny gold beads scattered throughout for the star-dust. I have in mind to use hand-dyed silk to stitch tiny seed stitch on the lower portion, the "Garden" part. And maybe some butterflies...we shall see if they pass the audition. :-) Not too sure how I'll edge it, but I think it's calling for a facing, don't you?
Wednesday and Thursday have been knitting days. On the former, I had several hours to occupy while I waited for a friend at her ophthalmologist's office -- and managed to get half-way to the heel of the second sock in a Plain Vanilla pair for my elderly cousin D, whom I'll be visiting in June. I'm using a 'manly' colour-way in navy, blue, and tan self-striping yarn -- 4 fadig Strato Color by Regia -- which has lived in my stash for some time now. Yesterday I got the rest of the leg done, plus the first row of the heel...in the long quiet gap between mad flurries of customers in my first day on the job at The Crafty Lady.
I also learned how to enter new inventory (a new shipment of jewel-toned 'ruffle' yarn -- Red Heart's Metallic Sashay. It's so delicious I might have to make one of these scarves after all.), to run the cash register, and to create price labels (for a shipment of wood and horn buttons and shawl pins, also yummy!).
My skills in making change while conversing with a customer have been refreshed (I worked in a bookshop in Calgary between 2005 and 2008)...as well as how to serve multiple customers on a tag-team basis.
And...I wound 4 of seven skeins of yarn on a ball-winder that needs to be mounted on a higher counter! Lori, the manager, spelled me off for the other 3 skeins, plus 2 more for another customer later in the afternoon.
By 5:30 p.m. I was definitely ready for home! It was fun, though, and I came away with a list of projects/techniques to work on:
The blessing of today is that it's rainy (at last) so I can curl up with my beading and knitting...sifting and sorting new experiences, new information, new ideas...again remembering...
Why don't you 'set a spell' and listen along while you catch up with some other artists? I'm linking this -- for the first time in a few weeks -- to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday. :-)
After cleaning out my studio, I cleaned the "Messy Work" counter in my back room. It's the place where I store my geraniums over the winter, and my seeds, and work on dye baths etc. With the geraniums back out in their outdoor homes for the summer, it needed a good wipe-down and re-organization. Pookie had been digging at the plants so the counter needed a good scrub, and my aging philodendron needed dealing with. In the end, I cut it back, put 3 cuttings in water, and composted the rest. I repotted another plant, put it in a hanger so the Pook-ster wouldn't dig it, et voila! Isn't this nicer to look at and work with?
Once the counter top was spic and span, I covered it with a section from a retired plastic shower curtain. Front and centre right now is my old cutting mat, back-side up, which is useful there if I'm using sharp implements. On the left is my small collection of gardening books, brought out for the season, plus left-over seeds, and not-yet-planted seeds. On the right (out of vision) is my container of clothespins, which I use in the summer when I get to dry clothes and fabric outside on my drying rack. (Still trying to figure out where and how to mount a proper clothesline.)
Monday afternoon on the way back from my Usual Monday in Lacombe, I succumbed to the lure of P.J.'s Plantation (my local nursery) and bought my bedding-outs and a few new perennials for my flower beds:
With no frost in the forecast for the foreseeable future, I planted all but 3 perennials and 3 tomatoes. These will be planted this weekend -- the "May Long" (aka Victoria Day Holiday Weekend), Canada's first official weekend of "summer".
In the studio I've been going back and forth between my two current projects: "Back to the Garden" for 15 x 15 , and a 24" square piece for SAQA Western Canada's next travelling show, The Burgess Shale Project. Both are due by month-end or shortly thereafter. The 'garden' theme has suited both in different ways. I'm not sharing about the BSP right now...but will do so when it's been turned in for exhibit. Then 'All Shall Be Revealed'! :-)
However, "Back to the Garden" is taking shape, with stars and stardust being applied, thus:
I'm still playing around with photo programs on my new laptop, so I apologize for the quality of this one. Here's a bit of detail from that upper left corner:
There are star sequins beaded on, and very tiny gold beads scattered throughout for the star-dust. I have in mind to use hand-dyed silk to stitch tiny seed stitch on the lower portion, the "Garden" part. And maybe some butterflies...we shall see if they pass the audition. :-) Not too sure how I'll edge it, but I think it's calling for a facing, don't you?
Wednesday and Thursday have been knitting days. On the former, I had several hours to occupy while I waited for a friend at her ophthalmologist's office -- and managed to get half-way to the heel of the second sock in a Plain Vanilla pair for my elderly cousin D, whom I'll be visiting in June. I'm using a 'manly' colour-way in navy, blue, and tan self-striping yarn -- 4 fadig Strato Color by Regia -- which has lived in my stash for some time now. Yesterday I got the rest of the leg done, plus the first row of the heel...in the long quiet gap between mad flurries of customers in my first day on the job at The Crafty Lady.
I also learned how to enter new inventory (a new shipment of jewel-toned 'ruffle' yarn -- Red Heart's Metallic Sashay. It's so delicious I might have to make one of these scarves after all.), to run the cash register, and to create price labels (for a shipment of wood and horn buttons and shawl pins, also yummy!).
My skills in making change while conversing with a customer have been refreshed (I worked in a bookshop in Calgary between 2005 and 2008)...as well as how to serve multiple customers on a tag-team basis.
And...I wound 4 of seven skeins of yarn on a ball-winder that needs to be mounted on a higher counter! Lori, the manager, spelled me off for the other 3 skeins, plus 2 more for another customer later in the afternoon.
By 5:30 p.m. I was definitely ready for home! It was fun, though, and I came away with a list of projects/techniques to work on:
- An entrelac scarf that has languished since the class I took a couple of years ago;
- A worsted weight shawl in Berroco "Comfort" (worsted weight) from the 'on sale' yarns at the front of the shop; and
- An embroidery sampler from "Just Nan", barely begun...Heaven knows when, having been inspired by the fellow (yes fellow) who came in to get supplies for not one but two projects he wants to do from Just Cross-stitch Magazine (which issue, I'm not sure; I saw only the inside of it, not the cover!)
The blessing of today is that it's rainy (at last) so I can curl up with my beading and knitting...sifting and sorting new experiences, new information, new ideas...again remembering...
We are stardust;
we are golden --
and we've got to get ourselves
back to the Garden.
- Joni MItchell, "Woodstock"
Why don't you 'set a spell' and listen along while you catch up with some other artists? I'm linking this -- for the first time in a few weeks -- to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday. :-)
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Bloom Where You're Planted
Years ago, in my parish church in Calgary, there was a hanging that illustrated this phrase. It stuck with me...and over 20 years from the first time I read it, I am still learning what it's all about.
Today I planted my wee veggie patch. As I re-edged it to get rid of extraneous grass and weeds (read: dandelions), and turned over the soil, created rows, sowed basil and spinach and lettuce, transplanted wild poppies to other garden corners...
I realized I was both Gardener's Apprentice and Garden.
The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth;
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Important for Textile Arts and Artists in British Columbia!
There's a meeting TODAY at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts in North Vancouver, B.C. about funding cuts that could impact textile arts and the education thereof at the post-secondary level.
If you are in the area and are able, you may wish to attend. I received this by e-mail from MAIWA; you can check out the details HERE.
Other sources for information are listed HERE.
Thank you!
If you are in the area and are able, you may wish to attend. I received this by e-mail from MAIWA; you can check out the details HERE.
Other sources for information are listed HERE.
Thank you!
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
I've Never Had the Privilege
She is creative, talented and a great deal of fun -- and now, as many of you may already know, critically ill, having experienced a brain aneurysm and (apparently) a stroke. Both of these things can be fatal, but she has made it through surgery and is apparently doing well...but recovery will be a long, slow process. All of us in the quilting community (traditional, artistic and everything in between) need to support her with our prayers.
I have no clue how old Libby is, but at 60...from a family with blood pressure issues...I am feeling particularly close to her situation right now.
The Quilt Show community is keeping up with Libby's condition...but I thought THIS LINK from Bonnie Hunter would also be helpful.
Watch and pray.
Back to Work
...in more ways than one!
Got back into my studio today. I'd spent a good part of last week cleaning it -- what a delight to see the floor again!
On the left -- what you see right in front of the door -- my cutting and ironing surfaces, a bookshelf (far left) and storage. On the right -- Pookie in the Cat Basket by the south-facing window, my sewing area, and the edge of my 'rack' which doubles as both fabric and thread storage and -- sans baskets and hooks -- the stand on which I display my wares at the Lacombe Art Show and Sale.
Although I was bursting with ideas, and have two pieces to complete within the next 4 weeks, it was tougher than I thought to get going.
I eased myself in by auditioning some hand-dyed fabric for the background of a 'whole-cloth' piece I'm doing for 15 x 15. This is a new-to-me group I was invited to join last month, and this is my first piece. There are 15 artists and each piece is to be 15" square. There's a different theme each month; for May it's "Garden".
At first I thought I might use the theme to work out what I want to do for the second piece -- a 24" square piece for SAQA Western Canada' next travelling exhibit, based on the Burgess Shale Project -- but in the end, I went with something different.
I grew up in the sixties, and was 16 in the summer of 1969, the summer of Woodstock. I have always loved Joni Mitchell's song celebrating that festival, and have been thinking of these words:
Yesterday I popped in to The Crafty Lady (my LYS in Lacombe) to get a new gizmo for managing my DPNs (double-pointed needles)...having lost my original one on a plane somewhere in recent travels. There I found the star-shaped beads I'm going to use on BTTG (above), and bought 10 to audition.
Got back into my studio today. I'd spent a good part of last week cleaning it -- what a delight to see the floor again!
On the left -- what you see right in front of the door -- my cutting and ironing surfaces, a bookshelf (far left) and storage. On the right -- Pookie in the Cat Basket by the south-facing window, my sewing area, and the edge of my 'rack' which doubles as both fabric and thread storage and -- sans baskets and hooks -- the stand on which I display my wares at the Lacombe Art Show and Sale.
Although I was bursting with ideas, and have two pieces to complete within the next 4 weeks, it was tougher than I thought to get going.
I eased myself in by auditioning some hand-dyed fabric for the background of a 'whole-cloth' piece I'm doing for 15 x 15. This is a new-to-me group I was invited to join last month, and this is my first piece. There are 15 artists and each piece is to be 15" square. There's a different theme each month; for May it's "Garden".
At first I thought I might use the theme to work out what I want to do for the second piece -- a 24" square piece for SAQA Western Canada' next travelling exhibit, based on the Burgess Shale Project -- but in the end, I went with something different.
I grew up in the sixties, and was 16 in the summer of 1969, the summer of Woodstock. I have always loved Joni Mitchell's song celebrating that festival, and have been thinking of these words:
We are stardust;
we are golden --
and we've got to get ourselves
back to the Garden.
I've titled my piece 'Back to the Garden'. Having selected a section of the hand-dyed fabric -- a parfait-dyed piece I made several years ago -- I took the plunge and cut an 18" square. I sandwiched it and spray-basted it -- and hung it on my design wall while I contemplated the quilting of it.
Currently my 'regular' machine -- the Husquvarna Lily 555 -- is at the "sewing spa" (Homespun Seasons in Stettler) for her annual tune-up. I'm due to pick her up next week. Meanwhile, I'm using The Work Horse -- a manual Husquvarna 225 -- just to give her a bit of exercise.
I had her tuned up almost a year ago and haven't used her since, so I began with simple piecing and put together the May Block of the Month for my "Cinnamon" quilt (remember...those kits I have that I've vowed to assemble -- one per year (at least) till all three are finished and given away?)
Here's the May block -- my least favourite pattern, a flower basket:
Assured that I still knew how to sew (grin) I moved on to quilting "Back to the Garden". I tried FMQ...with top and bottom thread the same weight...and had Tension Issues big time. The only way I could get the top and bottom thread to meet in the middle was to lower the tension almost to zero!! Not fun. I frogged it all and decided to go with 'regular' stitching (i.e. feed dogs UP)...and created radiating lines -- reminiscent of the sun's rays -- with golden polyester thread (Sulky 40 wt, colour #942) in the top and blue cotton (same weight) in the bottom (the back is a blue 'tree' print and I wanted it to blend.
Here's what it looks like on my design wall*:
*Please bear with me if the photos aren't my usual style. I'm just learning the new photo capabilities of this lap-top and haven't found all the bells and whistles yet!
So...you can see from the photo that the sun's rays are coming down from above...the garden is the purple-green-brown area at the bottom.
There will be star-shaped and seed beads spangled across the sky (top half)...and hand embroidery in the bottom. I'll probably envelope/face it rather than bind it.
It's now been trimmed to 17" square...only a bit more to trim, before I bead and bind/face.
And yes...there is work of a different kind.
Yesterday I popped in to The Crafty Lady (my LYS in Lacombe) to get a new gizmo for managing my DPNs (double-pointed needles)...having lost my original one on a plane somewhere in recent travels. There I found the star-shaped beads I'm going to use on BTTG (above), and bought 10 to audition.
Then...Lori, the owner/manager, asked me if I would be willing and able to work for her in the shop one day a week. Thursdays, to be exact. Reasonable wage, 8 hours' work, staff discount...and I can knit or hand-stitch when it's quiet.
I came home, prayed, checked the fine print in my pension file, checked my calendar, checked my heart...and said "Yes!"
I start May 16. If you're in the area, do drop by and say 'hi'.
Monday, May 06, 2013
Another Busy Day
...away from the studio. The good news is, when I get back into it tomorrow morning, I'll be able to see the floor!! I even washed the cover of my ironing pad and the wee hot pad on which I sit my iron (made for me by my son in Junior High textiles class).
Because I'm short of time today, I thought you might like to see the work of a recently-found Australian cousin of mine, Marian Rennie (several of my father's family went to Australia decades ago and stayed to raise families). She quite rightly pointed out to me in her e-mail this morning that the Rennies seem to have a very strong creative streak. Being of sturdy Scots stock, most of the ones with whom I'm connected here in Canada seem to have used that streak for utilitarian purposes (garments, bed quilts and the like) but there are also painters and photographers and writers...
Marian is a talented painter and you can see her work HERE.
For those of us who took the session with Leni Wiener in Santa Fe...see what a clear voice Marian has? It travels across all her series! I have promised myself to go back for a closer look...again...and again...
Thanks for re-connecting, Marian!
Because I'm short of time today, I thought you might like to see the work of a recently-found Australian cousin of mine, Marian Rennie (several of my father's family went to Australia decades ago and stayed to raise families). She quite rightly pointed out to me in her e-mail this morning that the Rennies seem to have a very strong creative streak. Being of sturdy Scots stock, most of the ones with whom I'm connected here in Canada seem to have used that streak for utilitarian purposes (garments, bed quilts and the like) but there are also painters and photographers and writers...
Marian is a talented painter and you can see her work HERE.
For those of us who took the session with Leni Wiener in Santa Fe...see what a clear voice Marian has? It travels across all her series! I have promised myself to go back for a closer look...again...and again...
Thanks for re-connecting, Marian!
Friday, May 03, 2013
Don't Get No Respect
 |
| Check her out on Amazon.ca |
Just think: we could be knitters doing that. Like Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
Only when leaving Canada, you say? Pity. ;-)
The Hurrierder I Go...
The behinder I get!
I am still wading through unread blog posts, SAQA memorabilia and my studio. As Jenny wrote this morning, it's "Santa Fe Overload"!
However, I have managed to download the over 225 photos I took on my trip. As my children will attest, this is an exceptional amount of photography for their point-and-click mom, who's just learning how to "manage" photos (import, categorize, rotate, rename and otherwise manipulate) on this new PC/laptop.
As Jenny also said, Santa Fe was all about the people. With the exception of a few stony-faced security guards at the airport in LA, my entire trip was filled with people who smiled, welcomed, gave directions, toted luggage, served food, taught, inspired, hugged, admired, thanked and in all ways filled my heart, mind and soul. That said, most of my photos were of my surroundings and lots and lots and lots of art. But here are a few of the people:
There's Nancy, who I swear never stopped beaming! She glowed the entire time. :-) We met in Denver in 2011 and it was such fun to see her again.
I have to thank Jenny for this clear and clean photo of the three of us at the Santa Fe Spotlight silent auction fund-raiser on Friday evening. She and I have been cyber-acquaintances for 3 or 4 years; meeting at the conference has made us friends. Joining Jenny and me in that photo is my long-time friend Judy Warner, whom I met in Denver in 2011. Don't we make a great trio? Our smiles say it all!
Another new friend is Sherry Kleinman, a very talented artist from Pacific Palisades, California. Here she is with Judy and I in front of a sculpture at the Folk Art Museum, which we visited Saturday afternoon. Another great trio!
And I would be remiss if I didn't include the Canadians who travelled to the conference. Alas, operating without the flash (by request), Judy apologized for the blurry photo. Apparently this was the best of several she took at the time!
Although there were 9 Canadians at the opening ice-breaker on Thursday evening, we seemed to have lost one along the way. Here are the 8 who gathered Saturday evening after the banquet. Perhaps more than the lighting transpired to make us look blurry: after a jam-packed 2 1/2 days, plus long journeys to get there, plus adjusting to 7,200 feet above sea level, we were all undoubtedly feeling a wee bit fuzzy around the edges!
I know there are other photos out there of me with other friends -- Kathie Briggs and Teri Springer, I think -- and perhaps even with new friends such as Holly Altman -- but they're not on my camera. Perhaps they'll pop up over the next little while on the SAQA blogs, member blogs and/or Facebook.
Just give us time to recover!
I am still wading through unread blog posts, SAQA memorabilia and my studio. As Jenny wrote this morning, it's "Santa Fe Overload"!
However, I have managed to download the over 225 photos I took on my trip. As my children will attest, this is an exceptional amount of photography for their point-and-click mom, who's just learning how to "manage" photos (import, categorize, rotate, rename and otherwise manipulate) on this new PC/laptop.
As Jenny also said, Santa Fe was all about the people. With the exception of a few stony-faced security guards at the airport in LA, my entire trip was filled with people who smiled, welcomed, gave directions, toted luggage, served food, taught, inspired, hugged, admired, thanked and in all ways filled my heart, mind and soul. That said, most of my photos were of my surroundings and lots and lots and lots of art. But here are a few of the people:
 |
| Nancy Turbitt |
 |
| Jenny Lyon, me, Judy Warner |
 |
| Sherry Kleinman, Judy Warner, me |
And I would be remiss if I didn't include the Canadians who travelled to the conference. Alas, operating without the flash (by request), Judy apologized for the blurry photo. Apparently this was the best of several she took at the time!
 |
| Rear (L) to (R): Mary Pal, me, Anna Hergert, Elaine Quehl, Hilary Scanlon, Donna Hamilton Front (kneeling): (L) to (R): Maggie Vanderweit, Heather Dubreuil Absent: Rebekah Crown |
I know there are other photos out there of me with other friends -- Kathie Briggs and Teri Springer, I think -- and perhaps even with new friends such as Holly Altman -- but they're not on my camera. Perhaps they'll pop up over the next little while on the SAQA blogs, member blogs and/or Facebook.
Just give us time to recover!
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