Monday 30 July 2018

Summertime Drive Through Eastern Canada


We relaxed on the ferry....


to cross a fogbound Bay of Fundy


We shared the ferry trip with Judy and Ned
Judy and I stitched and debriefed
on our Cloth of Time show
and planned our next.
Precious time with a dear friend who lives way too far away!
Then we parted ways until the next time.


Everywhere you go in this part
of the country....


....you know there are lakes at every turn.
Even travelling on forest edged road
you know a lake is out of sight hiding behind the trees.



Once you hit the flat St Laurence valley
you pass farm after farm
and clusters of silos waiting for this year's harvest.


I Stitched


We shared the road 

with trucks and trucks and more trucks
With bikes and campers
With boats and kayaks
 With canoes and paddle boards

Driving through Algonquin
a tall imposing
totem pole
appeared on our right.




Summertime in Canada
means plenty of this.





We drove under bridges and under rivers.


And I stitched.


 Finally after two days of driving
we reached our destination.
 Aaaaaah!




Thursday 19 July 2018

Day of Memory


The tide recedes but leaves behind
Bright seashells in the sand
The sun goes down but gentle warmth
Still lingers on the land

The music stops and yet lingers on
In sweet refrain.
For every joy that passes
Something beautiful remains.

Something Beautiful Remains
by Martha Vashti Pearson

So, my dearest boy
On this 23rd day of memory
we are surprisingly close to Camp Huronda
where you created many a memory in your childhood.
We are with your brothers and nieces
remembering
and
holding you close in our hearts.


Wednesday 18 July 2018

Cloth of Time Opening


Cloth of Time Opening
Judy looks beautiful
I am shocked at how I look like my mother!


We each talked....


....about our work and how we approach it.


Oh, boy did we have fun picking a stone and trying to find it.


Thank you to everyone who came out.


A Penny talking to a Penny!


Margi and Jamie


And then the gallery started emptying out


We could walk through and under
Not to Know But To Carry On




So many thanks to Diane and to Valerie too
who took many photographs of the evening for us.


And now onto new work for new shows!
I hope Summer hangs around now that I can relax.



Monday 16 July 2018

Cloth of Time Before the Opening


Judy's Ned and the gallery's Nick had oh, so much fun
climbing up ladders and stretching up to ceilings!


Handy Hubby made an easy job of hanging my work
and then drove the 2 1/2 hours back to the Rusty Pups.
Me, I stayed in Halifax to spend time with
Judy
Diane
Valerie
Margi
All such dear friends.


I know there is not much to see in this picture
I just like the drama of it!


It took 12 strong bags to bring the rocks here.
I have to say Handy Hubby did not approve!
He thought I was crazy!
but me....I think it was worth it.


I did enjoy having the opportunity again to really
look at Daily Scratchings


Once the show was hung Judy and I
had the opportunity to spend some time alone
in the gallery.
A special time for us to celebrate and enjoy
bringing our journals together.


Criss Cross had to be arranged differently this time.


Not To Know But To Go On
Hangs in wonderful loops
through the centre of the Mary E Black gallery


I did enjoy looking through those loops....


.....and seeing the rest of our beautiful show!
Congratulations Judy!

Monday 9 July 2018

Circling The Mind


This piece is in my hands again after a long break.
An important break.
In the beginning it was simply a big circle of a rock
resting at sunrise or sunset
but
if life is a circle
perhaps it is more.
Perhaps it is a life
split into the person we are in public
and the one we keep for when we are home alone in familiar surroundings.


There again if a story is a circle
Perhaps it is a life circle
filling up with a thousand small stories....


....Small stories that make up all our lives.
Stories that rest on the foundation of our life experiences.


I have been told several times in my life
that my fascination with rocks
is from a need for a solid foundation
which I picture could be both physical and mental and emotional.


And then a circle, or a rock, or a life, or a stitching
always has a hidden side
a side that to me is less perfect
more spontaneous
and therefore more beautiful.


Talking of life circles
I do hope we have filled the Rusty Pup lives with rich stories.
Rusty Pup Shandy still jumps into the car
but Rusty Pup Kayla waits patiently for a helping hand.
Just after taking this photo I stumbled
trying to lift her into the car and we both nearly ended up
head over tail in the dust.
Made me realize how trusting she is.

I hope your life is full of many stories.


Sunday 8 July 2018

When One Thing Leads To Another


Daily Scratchings 2012-2015


Community Conversations 2017


It was a while back now that I heard from an old friend
Fay is a Registered Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator
and
a marvellous storyteller and artist.
She wanted me to know that my 'Daily Scratchings' had inspired a community project hosted by Visible Voices Open Arts Studio in Halliburton, Ontario
and
called Community Conversations.


Participants learnt various techniques


even weaving.

With their new skills at hand everyone was invited to create a small piece of fibre art based the following conversation openers:
My 5 word life story ....
My grandmother used to say ....
When I was 7 I wanted to ....
My best friends would describe me as ....
The three most challenging parts of growing older are ....
The one thing I've learned is ....
What is important to me now is ....

The finished pieces were assembled into long panels
that now hang in a beautiful wooden display unit.

How amazing is that!