Re:Play - A Show Opening on October 6th

Re:Play

Is a Connections Fibre Artists group show

Opening on Sunday October 6, 2024, 1-3 pm

At Wellington County Museum, Fergus Ontario 

 

Each of us had to choose a toy from the museum’s collection

I chose this lovely rag doll

It seemed to suit my plant dyed fabrics

And

I imagined that the mother who made this doll for her child had used 

fabrics she had on hand…with no trips to the shops!

And finally I thought that any self respecting rag doll deserved a few blankets for her hope chest.

Thread Story - One

I chose to use scraps from my stash

Scraps inherited from my mother’s stash

Lace from my own wedding dress

Bits and pieces of explorations in stitch that had been rejected for past projects.

Thread Story - Two

Bits and pieces that had been gifted to me

Like the piece of whitish bark cloth laid on top of the brown fabric

This was a gift From Al during the 2023

Connections retreat at Crieff.

A place where lots of sharing goes on.

Thread Story - Three

But as is usual with me….

the thread and stitching became the most important part of the story.

I just can’t resist…..so there is no point in holding back!

It is not just the rhythmic act of stitching

It is also the texture of tiny ripples as layers of cloth become one through many, many stitches.

There is hardly an inch without stitch!

They became known as Thread Stories in my mind.

A favourite corner with a tiny shot of colour from my mother’s stash.

A precious piece of my wedding dress lace.

It was a bolt of lace given to my grandfather during WWII

He was a doctor before the National Health existed

And so this lace had been in payment for some kind of treatment.

My grandfather passed away before I was three….but I remember him.

My grandmother, Robin, kept the bolt of lace all those years until my wedding in 1969.

Then she and my mother made it into a hooded coat to go over my wedding dress.

So special to have that link between the generations.

There were several scraps with holes

And I felt the need to add bright patches as reverse appliqué to peak through.

My foundation fabric for this piece was an old linen serviette

As I stitched the rolled edge of the serviette began to tear away.

I didn’t have the heart to remove it and so just let it drape down and kept in place with more stitches.

The memories we are leaving behind with our stitches

Will soon be hidden from those who do not know!

Enjoy your memories!

And all are welcome for the opening on Sunday of course.

Rusty Pups at Play

 

It has been quite a year for one of these girls

Rusty Pup Brandy started the year with a torn ligament operation

Followed by allergies and scratchings and hair loss

Then Thyroid diagnosis

It is only now that she walks freely and happily.

Her fur has grown back.

She is happy again

One day about a year our friend Michael knocked on the back Door with stuffed toys 

For the Rusty Pups.

I was a bit sceptical because our previous rusties would have chewed them to bits

In seconds.

However these two gentle souls are happy just carrying their toys around

And love to be chased as I try to get the toys back.

Not wanting furry stuffies 

destroyed outside in the mud and the rain

I trained the pups to drop their toy before going through the back door.

They caught on very quickly and I was pretty impressed.

But this summer I decided they had earned the right to take furry toys outside.

Trouble is they are so well trained……I have to carry the toys outside and

they won’t bring them back through the door when it is time to come in!

 

And….when I pick up a toy to bring it inside they think it is time for a

game of grab the toy from Mom!

Brilliant training

Now how to un train!

Oh to be a spoilt pooch!

Dealing with Mother Nature

Three ladders required

Two to hold up a fallen tree leaning on wires

One for a crazy Handy Hubby to be an arborist

Phew….Finally sawed through after two afternoons of work

The top of the tree is stuck in the branches of its neighbour now!

But with the skill of an engineer’s brain

It is down

And the telephone still works!

No more climbing in ladders…please!

Way too old for this kind of caper.

Don’t try this at home!

More Little Vignettes from In the Middle of the World in Annapolis Royal

 

.

I think this was the only photo taken of the three of us

We were all so focused on the work

But it was grand being together for a few days

Miranda Bouchard, Judy Martin and me

Reaching for the light

Thank you to so many who managed to come out on such a rainy day

We were kept busy at the opening

I never even had time for a glass of wine!

Handy Hubby great photo of Judy’s 

Prayer to the Sky

Eternity

Future

I can see every French knot

Every stitch

Made me wonder how many stitches are in this gallery!

November Song

Dancing in the Wind

Winter’s Edge

Follow the Moon

One of my favourite photos

Just a casual little corner

Taken by Handy Hubby.

Have a great day

Happy Birthday Steven on this Day of Memory

 

Happy Birthday Steven

This would have been your 52nd birthday

My goodness me, son, that’s old!

We lost you when you were 21

But I still feel you around

In the sea breezes that touch my face on morning walks

But mainly whenever an eagle visits….. I imagine it is you

Telling me you are just fine.

Happy birthday son

I remember birthdays with Baskin Robins Ice cream cakes

I remember gifts of Star Wars Lego

Everything Star Wars!

And of course goalie hockey equipment

You certainly loved your hockey!

I remember sketchbooks full to the brim of your art.

I am grateful to all your friends

Who gathered and kept you alive with their stories of you!

God bless

XoxoX

In the Middle of the World at ArtsPlace Ready for Visitors

I want to talk about line of sight.

All three gallery locations where In the Middle of the World was hung

created interesting lines of sight showing layers of work

And interesting half hidden teasers of what might be coming into sight around the corner.

 Miranda Bouchard, Judith Martin me and our helping husbands

created this intimate and enticing layout!

And as Judy said…just like a walk in the woods.

Love it!

Eternity by Judy Martin

Beaver Moon Dreaming by Penny Berens

Medicine Earth by Judy

 luckily we could hang Judy’s pieces away from the wall 

Allowing viewers to peak behind it. For as you must know Judy’s work is always two-sided.

Then we have another of my pieces…November Song

Prayer to the Sky by Judy Martin

 Chasing the Moon by Penny Berens

Thoughts and Memories and Dreams by Judy

Eternity Judy’s

Stoney Island Memories mine

Whispering Cairn mine

Prayer to the Sky Judy’s

Textiles add warmth and intimacy to every space.

Some thought it was like entering a cathedral

When I looked down that long wall I thought of old English manors

Where tapestries were hung on the walls for warmth.

The folk at ArtsPlace noticed it had reduced the echoes in the gallery.

The wonders of textile arts!

I became fascinated by the shadows forming under my wall hangings.

Love that!

….and the shadows behind and beneath Judy’s work too.

So many thanks to Sophie and Geoff at ArtsPlace

Thank you for reading my meanderings!

Have a wonderful day!

Installing ‘In the Middle of the World’ at ArtsPlace in Annapolis Royal

 Before we even began this beautiful vase of flowers arrived from Margi and Kathryn

Our fabulous friends

Thank you both so very much

A lovely beginning for two days of installing.

Boy that task is exhausting!

To get started we wanted to get an easy wall done

We chose

Underfoot the Earth Divine and Resting at Low Tide

Perfect pairing n’est ce pas!

Off to a great start!

Then our precious work lounged about on the floor as we considered what next.

Judy began preparing Eternity for hanging from the ceiling.

And, Handy Hubby, Richard fiddled with straightening.

Judy’s Ned and I discussing something or other

Boy there were a lot of decisions to make!

Miranda Bouchard our brilliant curator and companion from the start of our In the Middle of the World project was in charge of installation of course.

She and Handy Hubby must have been fixing something.

I forget!

She was up and down those ladders like a mountain goat.

Nearly ready to hang Eternity.

Then it was up

And Handy Hubby could get to work on placing my works 

According to Miranda’s plan.

We were ready for coffee and a snack!

Miranda and Ned 

Where to hang Judy’s bundles.

Surely we are done!

Sorry to bore you

But had to have a record for myself

And thank these wonderful people for such a long two days

With a magnificent end result…..

Next time I will show you the show!

An Invitation to the Opening of In the Middle of the World at ARCAC in Annapolis Royal

 I am very happy to announce that In the Middle of the World is coming to my local art centre in Annapolis Royal. We will have an opening reception at ARTSPLACE on September 7th 12-2pm. The reception will be followed with a talk between Judy Martin, Miranda Bouchard and myself.

I am excited to see this wonderful tactile show again. And it will be extra special to have a few days to spend with Judy and Miranda again. They will both be flying in from Northern Ontario and I will be driving down the road!

It is hard to believe our show was first hung so beautifully at The Mississippi Textile Museum in Almonte, Ontario back in 2021 during Covid when I was not able to attend…..so disappointed was I.

Since then it has travelled to The Muse, in Kenora, Ontario where all three of us could attend and meet so many wonderful people who came from all over.

And now I am thrilled it is coming to my little town and our wonderfully active and supportive ARTSPLACE.

Steven’s Day of Memory

Remembering you on this your day of memory

Thinking of you and wishing you were here in Huntsville as I spend time

With your brothers and nieces

Miss you son