Where The Stones Are

Stones come in every shape and size don't they.

Every day for a year I have picked up a stone

Carried it home in a pocket

Felt it's weight and texture in the palm of my hand and....

....I have wondered what each stone has seen in it's lifetime

for it has lived thousands of years longer than I ever will.

I have wondered who, through the centuries, could have walked upon each stone.

 Did any small boy, or man for that matter,

Use my chosen rock as a weapon?

I have wondered why some of my stones

have bits and pieces missing....

....and have they travelled to this place for afar?

This past week I needled the last stitches into the twelfth pathway.

I will miss the daily ritual of hunting for a new stone.

However, as I stitched around each stone,

I was inspired once again by their markings

so

perhaps another piece will come out of just the marks.

One thing leads to another.

May you be led down a new stone path of creativity on this day.

Been Away - At Maggie's

Photograph by Maggie Vanderweit

Maggie generously invited Judy and I to stay with her and Fred after retreating.

That evening some dear friends came to dinner.

Elizabeth Duggan Litch

Sharron Deacon Begg

Ann Sanders

Ralph Beney

That night I started reading Maggie's book

"Stone Threads"

A beautiful book where Maggie 

shares her work and her love of life, family and travel.

Maggie and Fred are collectors of Mark's art.

My particular favourite.

 And I was really drawn to her brother's beautiful carvings.

 A special treat was spending time with Maggie in her studio

and getting a personal showing of her work.

Thank you Maggie

Been Away - SAQA Central Canada Retreat

My trip started with Brett meeting me at Toronto airport

and driving me all the way to Crieff.

Precious time in the car with my boy.

Thank you, Brett for spoiling me!

Photograph by Maggie Vanderweit

What a joy it was to be included in the retreat.

I was an interloper, being from the Maritimes chapter of SAQA,

but a last minute cancellation

allowed me to go and spend some precious time with Judy

and other Ontario stitchers.

My goodness me, Judy and I have been friends

for years and years and years.

We are sisters in many ways.

Judy and I were able to catch up and talk about our upcoming show

"cloth of Time"

at the Mary E Black gallery in Halifax.

(Thank you to Rose for photographing our hands over Judy's stitching)

Thank you to the energetic and talented Maggie Vanderweit

who organized everything brilliantly.

I love that her mantra is "growing community".

Maggie and I have been friends for many a year too.

Ever since she too joined Connections.

Another great talent and dear friend, Bethany Garner, 

was there (in the background).

Bethany is a member of Kingston Fibrearts and 

a fellow member of Connections.

I met Lisa Courtnage (foreground) who impressed me with her dedication
 and focus on colour mixing for the whole retreat!

What a friendly and talented group it was.

Couldn't include them all but

asked the hand stitchers if I could include them here.

Rose Klein was hand stitching a large beautiful piece.

I loved her red and black....

 and choice of stitches....

and designs.

From left to right

June Robertson, Harriet Rynberk and Hildegarde Sausik.

Hildie on the right was hand stitching....

....her lovely natural dyed and printed cloths.

Loved them.

Well I never....

....As I worked on this post

the mail lady delivered this card from another retreater,

Linda A. Campbell who had promised to send this maritimer

a whale.

Thank you Linda!

Photograph by Maggie Vanderweit

I did manage to get one "Stone Pathway" out

but didn't really get much stitching done.

Connecting with as many fellow retreaters and 

like-minded spirits was my priority.

This was their first retreat

and I wish them many more!

Been Away - Family Visit

Took four Stone Pathways with me expecting to get all four finished

Not a single one came home completed!

 Stevie Ray's first birthday.

Very important to everyone but Stevie was quite unimpressed!

Three year old Ashley goes to ballet class.

Ashley is the youngest in the class

Ashley is a free spirit

Ashley does her own thing and loves every moment.

I gave her a book of scratching boards.

In Daddy's studio Ashley has her own painting.

Every now and then she is allowed to add three

more colours.

Oh, yes, and she now stitches too!

 I got very few snapshots of Stevie Ray

That wee one is in constant motion

focussed on walking and exploring every little thing.

She is so tactile

feeling everything with her hands and head too!

Drumming "We Are The Champions"

on Ashley while keeping an eye on Stevie.

Ironically wearing a Maple Leafs sweatshirt.

Oh, well, the Maple Leafs are champions in the eyes

of fans like Mark!

Home again with Handy Hubby and the Rusty Pups.

Eager to get back to work in the studio.

Wishing you a day of tactile play with needle and thread.