vivian - in stitches

Eye Candy ... the Road to California 2012

2012-01-28T23:47:00.000-08:00

Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy ...
http://www.road2ca.com/2012winners/road/winners.html
you can click on each quilt and enlarge the photos.

winter 2012

2012-01-19T22:10:00.000-08:00

Winter has come to the lower mainland of British Columbia! We generally get a 3 day winter. This year it seems that we will have at least a week.

This was taken at dusk with a flash. The flash reflects off the snow flakes. You have to love the speed of these digital cameras!

??? I've googled for the name of this bird ... can anyone help ??? Normally a spring bird, we seem to have some wintering over here.

Larks?

Thoughts of spring

Stitched, a movie about three art quilters

2012-01-17T21:44:00.000-08:00

Watch for it!
Below is information from Hollis Chatelaine:
'STITCHED' has how been accepted into seven film festivals and has won prizes at two festivals. It is a fun quirky movie about quilting that follows three art quilters for one year as they create their quilts for the biggest annual quilt show in the world. The quilt show takes place in Houson, TX and hosts between 55,000 - 60,000 visitors. It is the largest conference held in Houston every year.
You can listen to an interview from Jan 17on the internet: http://wunc.org/programs/tsot/
Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/stitchedfilm and http://www.stitchedfilm.com/home.html
Buy the DVD: http://www.stitchedfilm.com/buy-stiched-film-dvd.html

Randall Cook: http://www.randallcookstudios.com/
Hollis Chatelaine: http://hollisart.com/
Caryl Bryer Fallert : http://www.bryerpatch.com/

La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum 2012 Thom Atkins and Susan Stanton

2012-01-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

This is a 'must see' show!

La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum: http://www.laconnerquilts.com/

It is wise to check for days open and times.

Thom is an artist who has worked in Bronze in the past, took up beading more recently ... and uses quilts as his 'backdrop'!

His quilts are beautiful in themselves and
the beading adds an integrated design element.

Some of his work is pure fun ... 'Even Frogs Dream'

A little detail - note butterfly is completely beaded.

Much of the work is for sale, including these beautiful journal quilts. See more at http://thomatkins.com/

Susanne in front of two of her 'cats' - they are painted, the expressions are very well done!

Susanne's vests are very well designed and beautifully hand stitched.

The show that just finished is the 'Together show' and can be seen with photos and artist statements:

http://together-laconner.blogspot.com/

Abstract Challenge 2011 December

2011-12-30T19:31:00.000-08:00

The Abstract Challenge for December was 'party'.

Wishing you all the best for the New Year!

We gather with family and friends in this season to review 2011. It is also time to think about the coming year! Life is complicated ... we can make many small changes that will affect our lives. One change we can work on is to spend more time with art ... whatever form it takes.

I made this collage for 'Cloth Paper Scissors.
It is all about taking time daily to make art a part of your lifestyle.
When I spend time with my art, I am a happier person!

So ... I wish you time to spend in creative pursuits ...

Gail Harker Creative Studies Center

2011-12-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

We visited Gail's new location, just outside of La Conner. It is spacious and well lit ... a beautiful place to create!

Gail Harker in her new studio.

My friend Rose Jurisich and her husband Dan. Rose was in Gail's first class.

You can peruse the courses offered:
http://www.gailcreativestudies.com/exhibitions.htm
Be sure to check out the gallery for the work of the graduates from the program.
You an see lots of photos of student work here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gail-Harker-Creative-Studies-Center/399755679337

Abstract Challenge 2011 October & November

2011-12-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

October Theme: Food
Title 'Playing with your Food'

This is an example of 'playing with your food'. The source was my photo of a Swan Gourd.

By natural selection we can change the appearance, keeping quality and nutritional value of food.

What really worries me is the Gene-splitting that is being done. The intention is to improve the food source in some way ... but ... what of the future? What unintentional changes are also happening? We are losing many of the foods that have been grown for centuries. Are the seed banks any safer than the $ banks?

November Theme: Water

Title: 'Run-off'

Water ... essential for life, water has made life possible on our planet.
Water ... in danger, becoming polluted.
I chose a hand dye with brown (hills) and cream (sandy shore). Then, I used metallic paint in the valleys to represent the water run-off. That was followed by stitching to represent contour lines (altitude) on a map.

You can tell that I've done a lot of plane travel in the past year ... the images hang around in my mind!

A touch of winter ...

2011-12-02T22:38:00.000-08:00

Leaving Vancouver ... where the snow stays in the mountains and the grass stays green.

Above Hope ... frosted trees.

Ice forming in the river.

This raven was looking for a handout.

Manning lodge - the roof looked like an art quilt.

Coyote keeps watch.

-20 C

Bromley Rock.

Natures designs.

As we neared the Okanagan, the mountains level out to hills and the snow is just a dusting.

We were in Pentiction for a few chilly days.

Bark on a tree by Okanagan Lake.

Bronze children play by the lake.

Bark pattern on a tree.

Looking north on Okanagan Lake

Interesting geometry.

Skeezer and Tony go for a walk ... or play in the leaves?

Meeting new friends!

Check out the 'Dream Cafe' it is unique in decor and brings in some great musicians.

More of nature's artistry.

The road home had snow, but was sanded.

Once, there was a huge lake ... now there are sandstone cliffs.

Many ranches had cattle grazing along the Similkimeen River.

The sun was dropping. In the shadows the ice reflects the trees.

As we near the Fraser Valley, the spring has turned to ice.

Near the river, frost builds on the bushes.

The snow level moves further up the mountain.

Waterfalls

Ahh ... green grass again!

A touch of fall ...

2011-12-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

A misty morning on the Fraser.

Pitt Lake on a quiet evening.

A cool day at Kanaka Park on the Fraser River.

Golden Pathway ...

Chilliwack Barn

Not your average farm animal.
Lamas are related to camels - intelligent and curious.

A walk on the Alouette dykes.

Blueberry bushes in their best scarlet.

The Blue Heron fishes along the shore.

Nature makes interesting designs!

The Alouette River snakes through, providing irrigation.

and ... Vancouver says 'goodnight' from the 22 floor on Burrard.

Penticton, BC Okanagan

2011-11-28T00:09:00.000-08:00

We made two trips to the Okanagan: September colours in the fall and the first chill of winter in November.

The Channel joins Skaha Lake with the Okanagan Lake. Landlocked, Kohee salmon are swimming upstream to spawn.

Mushrooms growing in the grass remind us of the dampness of fall.

We visited OSOYOOS and the NK'MIP DESSERT CULTURAL CENTRE ... with a great restaurant, wine tasting, golf course and resort.

http://www.nkmipdesert.com/

http://www.spiritridge.ca/nkmip.html

Impressive sculptures.

This area is designated as desert, but with irrigation, it grows orchards, fantastic tomatoes and grapes.

Interesting plant ... Sumac ... the name provided by Linnea, a reader of the blog.

Research shows that it is the same family as Poison Ivy and some variations can cause a rash.

You can spend a few days touring the wine tasting rooms of the local wineries throughout the valley.

There are lots of farm markets.

We also hiked the KETTLE VALLEY RAILROAD trail. Much of the railbed has been linked for the trail.

The old railroad linked towns in the valley. We look across Okanagan Lake.

The pine trees grow in the grasslands.

On the hill, a cabin, with an incredible view.

Sometimes the interest is in the small details ...

We were accomapnied by two welsh terriers and our hosts.

A pine tree grows from a cone!

wild figs

Sandstone cliffs with 'the guardians' - eroded over hundreds of years.
This area has the lowest amount of rain in BC.

ANOTHER INTERESTING DAY ... A VISIT TO THE OLD GRIST MILL OUTSIDE OF OSOYOOS:

1872 Price and Nicholson arrived in the Similikameen Valley. In 1875, he purchased a farm and built a grist mill and store. The store was made from hand hewn lumber and parts of it still remain.

Rock walls and homemade doors finished the house.

There is a museum with many interesting items from the early days. This fanning mill cleans seeds with screens to separate grains for size and a fan that blows through the falling wheat to clean out dust and chaff.

Chores took time: indoor heating required chopping the wood, cooking meals required growing the food and washing clothes was in a tub with a 'wrangle' for wringing out the water!

The Apple House, built into the hill to keep temperatures constant for storage. 1906, the Kettle Railroad was finished, allowing for the selling of apples to other areas of the province.

Interesting machinery is around the property. The historic site is a project in process.

The Grist Mill is being rebuilt. A creek is diverted into a trough to fall onto a water wheel. As the wheel rotates, it turns long belts to move the grinding stones.

The water is collected into a pool and becomes a stream again.

Fences ... able to be built quickly and taken apart and moved.

Many plants have been planted that are either indigenous to the area or a food source.

Some perennial flowers and more practical herbs ... used for food and medicines.

Heritage corn.

We were there for the apple festival, entertained with a chorus and an apple pie contest.

THE TRIP HOME ...

Yellow Lake ... a moment of beauty!

The farm stores have fresh and colourful food and decorative gourds.

Near Keremos the hills are pure rock and eroded gravel and yet, trees find a place to grow.

The river valleys glow in gold.

This rock is an example of the metals that were mined in the area. The black area is the metal, the red looks like lava flow.

I take these photos while my husband is driving. Sometimes we hit a bump or suddenly the road curves. I find these 'errors' to be beautiful.

We knew we were nearing home when we hit the Fraser River and misty skies.

Near Hope, the rain runs off in cascades from the mountainside.

MOV - Neon Vancouver / Ugly Vancouver

2011-11-07T22:22:00.000-08:00

19,000 neon signs decorated Vancouver City in the 1950s and 60's.
The Museum of Vancouver has a show running until August 12, 2012. http://museumofvancouver.ca/

Today, Vancouver is called the 'Glass City' with soaring high rises. The view is from the MOV.

A stainless steel fountain in front of the museum.

As well as the main display of neon signs, the museum has displays of life through the decades.

Saturday night dates were a walk down 'theatre row'.

Mobile cameras snapped photos
and handed you a ticket to claim your photo at the shop.

'Cafe' meant everything from a pork chops to a banana split.

The conflict was between those who loved the signs that reflected in the puddles (remember, this is Vancouver) and those who thought they were 'garish and ugly'. The movement was to get rid of neon and replace the signs with back-lit panels that were limited in size and position on the building.

Cunningham drugs promised to deliver.

Signs hung over the sidewalk, selling the wares of the times.

This was a well known night spot in Vancouver's Hastings St.

The neon gas emits red and argon (with murcury) emits blue. The glass tubes were clear or with colour on the inside of the tube ... creating a multitude of colours. The museum display discusses the process.

I've just shown a few of the signs ... you need to see them glowing in the dark!

Abstract Challenge 2011 May - Memories

2011-10-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

The Purple People Eater's Grand-Daughter

The theme was: Memory

This was fun to make!

I started thinking about songs that played when I was a teenager - happy memories. They were full of melody and ‘the beat’. Some were fun and funny. I thought about ‘The Purple People Eater’ and thought, hmm… there must be a grand-daughter by now!

So, I made my impression of who she would be. She would be cute and fashionable, still loving Rock & Role music. But, this time, there is a quilt fairy who tells her that it is not nice to eat prople … because, she might accidentally eat a quilter! That would not be good. So the Purple People Eater’s Grand-Daughter decided to become vegetarian!

Purple People Eater The original song:

Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky

It had the one long horn, one big eye.

I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"

It looks like a purple eater to me!

Chorus 1: It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater

(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)

A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater

Sure looks strange to me !

Well he came down to earth and he lit in a tree

I said Mr. Purple People Eater, don't eat me

I heard him say in a voice so gruff

I wouldn't eat you cuz you're so tough!

Repeat chorus

I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line

He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine.

But that's not the reason that I came to land

I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band!

Chorus 2: Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater,

Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater

(We wear short shorts)

Flyin' purple people eater

Sure looks strange to me!

And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground

He started to rock, really rockin' around,

It was a crazy ditty with a swingin' tune

Sing a boop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom!

Repeat chorus 2

And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know

I saw him last night on a TV show
He was blowing it out, a'really knockin' em dead
Playin' rock and roll music through the horn in his head!

You can hear the song by Sheb Wooley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE

Abstract Challenge 2011 August: Rose and September: Eyes

2011-10-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

Abstract Challenge for August: Rose is a close up of the center of the Alberta Wild Rose ... untouched by human manipulation ... living wild and free.

Abstract Challenge for September: Eye.
The eye is said to be a mirror to the soul. In a more practical way, the colour of the iris is used for personal identification on Government documents.
So ... I decided to go abstract. I repeated the basic shape, but varied the size. Below the circles represent the iris of the eye in its basic colours and many variations.

Beaty Biodiversity Museum

2011-10-28T23:23:00.000-07:00

A gem ... good family trip on a rainy day!
At the University of British Columbia in the Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory Building.
We had heard about a Blue Whale skeleton ... and it didn't disappoint!
The whale had washed ashore in 1987 at Prince Edward Island on the east coast of Canada. 20 years later, Andrew Trites led a team to bring the skeleton to the west.

We entered the building for a 'end view'.
The skeleton is 25 metres long ... 2 city buses, end to end.
Weight: up to 180 tons ... the same as 33 full grown elephants.

The enormous tail flukes are dense connective tissue and not preserved as part of the skeleton.

Neck bones.

Side view: upper skull and mouth with the two jaw bones below.

The lower jawbones are the largest single bones of any living animal ... 8 metres long and 550 kilograms.

view from below: Blue whales have baleen to strain the water for small seafoods, they do not have teeth.

The rib cage holds a car size heart.

The flippers show hand-like bones.

Blue Whale: Balaenoptera musculus, North Atlantic.
Two small bones remain from the whale's land dwelling ancestors.

This was one display, there is a theatre and more displays downstairs ... for another day!

Tacoma & Association of Pacific West Quilters

2011-10-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

The Association of Pacific West Quilters (APWQ) is a rebuild of the Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters (APNQ). A new group has taken on the job of showcasing quilting in Western Canada and the USA.

We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott ... an excellent hotel with a wonderful chef who made fresh omlettes every morning! Lots of great restaurants in the area.

Right across the street was the Tacoma Convention Center ... a bright venue with lots of space.The stairways are supported in mid air.

When you looked closely at the windows, they are geophysical map lines of the area.

The show was well hung and lit with lots of room to stand back and admire.

It was great to see so many Canadian enties and winners! Congratulations to friends!

Emilie Belek First in Abstract.

Karen Jurek, Honorable Mention Large Traditional.

FAN friends Donna Bray Zerelski - 'Where is the Ice' and Pippa Moore - 'There is an Elephant in my Garden' were great entries.

Ruffled Feathers by Roxanne Nelson earned another award!
Jane Willoby Scott took home an second in abstract.
Judy Leslie's 'Winds of Time' won many admiring looks. these ladies wanted me to tell her that this was their favorite!

I met and chatted with Faith McLeod about her wonderful quilt of her son with parrots.

Lots of great US quilts as well: Kathy'McNeil's 'Natural Wonders' was a beautiful scene from the San Juan Islands.Barbara Shapell's heron was superb!

You can probably guess that my heart's interest is the art quilts I keep saying 'That's my favorite ... no, that one'

There were many amazing traditional quilts in the show, especially some of those that were hand quilted.

Special Exhibit 'Collective Threads' Excellent quality of work 8 panels cut from one photo and executed by 8 different attists.

Of the judges/teachers quilts, I really liked this: Branching Out by Andi Perejda

This quilt is an excellent example of the long arm quilting done with trupunto: Remembrance by Linda McCuean - source Bertha Stenge

You can see the Best of Show, Viewer's choice awards: http://apwq.org/

Link to list of award winner's names: http://apwq.org/pwqs/2011%20AWARD%20WINNERS%20To%20Sue.pdf
Unfortunately, they have not posted the winning quilts.

Link to review of show by sandra leichner:
http://sandraleichner.com/wordpress/2011/08/30/review-of-the-apwq-quilt-show-very-long/

Travelling shows:
Living Colour: http://apwq.org/exhibits-lc.html and Spirit of the West

Upcoming Shows: 2012 - August 24-26 August 23 - 25

Having worked on planning for the Canadian Quilt Association National Juried Shows, I appreciate the work that goes into a large juried and judged show ... congratulations and thanks to all the volunteers ... you did a great job!

Tacoma Glass Museum

2011-10-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Museum of Glass is in Tacoma, Dale Chihuly's home town. It operates a full glass blowing facility and when we were there a visiting artist, Therman Statum, and his apprentices were making a piece.

They begin with a little blob of glass on a blowing tube

It goes into the furnace, comes out to be shaped and goes back into the furnace. This is repeated many times. Therman is making a wire cage to be used for shaping later in the process.

At times, the blower would stand on a table and move the glass like a pendulum to cause it to fall into a longer shape. Then they would torch again and work on the shape a little at a time.

At one point, they used a mold to sit it in to ensure it was round.

Wood paddles and calipers helped with the shaping.

Here the wire cage is added.

It is alternately blown, torched and heated in the kiln to make it expand.

Finally the wire is removed and the piece is removed from the tube and transported to the oven ... very carefully. It needs to cool slowly and then the next process/decoration will happen.

Glass blowing is centuries old and uses much of the original method. The technology has improved to enable control.

Tacoma, WA

2011-10-24T23:05:00.001-07:00

The Association of Pacific West Quilters was held in Tacoma in 2011. So, we headed south!

A little bit about the city ...

I had been to Tacoma years ago - it was an old town that was used as a commercial port. Since then it has had a face lift and is a bedroom community to Seattle. Towers are appearing and the old buildings are being renovated.

Mt Rainier is in the background, a new bridge and the cone of the Glass Museum in the foreground.

The Pantages Theater is a beautiful building.

A native welcoming figure overlooks the port.

Many old buildings are up-gaded for shops and are also used by the university.

A free trolley runs 10 blocks through the downtown area.

A jolly pirate was on his way to the Marine Festival.

Union Station is a beautifully designed building.

Details have a beauty of their own.

There is a Theater District being developed.

The Glass Bridge is a must see! it spans the old railroad yards close to Union Station.

The ceiling of the bridge contains Chihuly glassware.

One wall of the bridge has showcases of glass pieces.

This was an interesting fountain, the water came out of the top of the tube, traveled on the outside and into the drains at the bottom.

The Glass Museum is a very modern structure with public walkways.

What was once warehouses and commercial docking now has pleasure boats and apartment buildings.

More of Chihulys art ... a fountain made of glass.

The night view was amazing!

An interesting public area was shaped like a small arena with seating in a crescent for people to gather. The collaborate project consisted of piles of words written of boards. You could pick out your message and place it on the rows of seats. Below is my contribution - clean water is a necessity of life!

Chihuly Glass Art

2011-10-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest artists who works in Glass is Dale Chihuly. He was born in Tacoma and has not forgotten his roots. Tacoma boasts a glass museum and the public schools have an introduction to glass art. The Glass museum had a show of children's art that had been transformed into glass art by artists. The children watched the process and explained their drawings and how they would like their creatures to look.

Take a walk across the Glass Bridge

At the far end, columns rise like gigantic ice pieces.

Look up and you will see a multitude of glass art pieces that glow in the sunlight.

Along one wall, glass art is back lit. Chihuli and his apprentices worked on these beautiful pieces.

Let's walk across that same bridge at night. The ice glows.

The wall is lit from above ... note that this is only part of the wall!

Remember to look up again ... more brilliant colours shine from above.

On the other side of the bridge ... the Glass Museum is lit from within. The design mimics a kiln for glass making.

In front, the glass pieces in the fountain have turned to gold.

Chihuly's website: http://www.chihuly.com/home.aspx
A current installation: http://www.longhouse.org/exhibitions.ihtml?id=39
Glass series: http://www.chihuly.com/glass-series.aspx
Instillations: http://www.chihuly.com/installations.aspx

2011 trip to Alberta & Saskatchewan

2011-10-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

In July, we made a road trip to Alberta and Saskatchewan.

As we headed north, after a rainy night it was misty. The Fraser and Columbia Rivers were close to flooding in some areas.

We stopped at Blue River and were amazed to see these huge grizzlies wrestling outside a Chevron gas station. We drove straight through from the coast and arrived in Edmonton at twilight.

We spent a pleasant day with Tony's cousin Donald. We visited the largest garden shop, Hole's Greenhouse', I've ever seen. It also had a restaurant, home equipment shops and specialty foods.

We visited my brother and enjoyed a Beaumont sunset.

After a few days, we continued on our way. The spring in Alberta and Saskatchewan was cool and wet, rivers and ponds were still flooded. Even fences were underwater.

Grain elevators stand like sentinels to a past life.

We arrived in Wishart at sunset.

The next morning, we visited the little town and met Ron - the butcher. His is one of the last remaining shops. Wishart is a small farming town near where my husband's grandfather homesteaded. Grain was taken out by railroad - until the rails were removed. The little town built between 1910-30 has changed little since then.

This lonely little building once faced the tracks.

Another cousin, Gail, had an impressive collection of cookie jars ... as well as beautiful holly-hocks.

We attended the Wynyard 100 year celebration ... and they had made a quilt to honour the occasion.

This 'drop in band' plays for the joy of playing. In some cases there were three generations.

Another cousin: Brian with Doreen and his daughter Sharon. Below is Brian's son Larry

Below, front row: Mary, a brother to Brian, her daughter Rosemary

Back Row: Mary's daughter Sheryl with her husband Greg; son Ambrose and Peirette (sp?).

It poured on their parade!

The parade was lively and colourful: marching bands, floats, old cars, cute kids and charming clowns.

However, the rain didn't seem to bother the Clydesdales.

A newer technology for the farm.

Some equipment was bigger than the homestead houses of the past!

The original community was Polish and Ukrainian ... many dancers have kept the art alive!

Fields of flax give the illusion of being a lake of blue.

Grain elevators are sometimes dismantled and moved, this one was too well built ... it was moved intact!

An historic Stone Church , built 1881, is near Wishart. It was an English Church in a land of Catholic Churches. The church has serious cracks and is needing funds for restoration.

We stayed with Stella ... a lovely lady and great hostess! We also were able to get to know Lana, one of Stella's four daughters ... all as nice as their mom! Stella and her husband Tom were the first to open doors to the past for my husband's family. Sadly, Tom passed away in 2009 - he is missed by all.

This trip was a large circle with only a few days in each area. However, in the tiny town of Foam Lake ... I found a great little quilt shop!

An amazing amount of dragonflies were throughout Saskatchewan. It seems that swarms of mosquitoes had enabled the dragonflies to multiply exponentially..

Ukrainian Orthodox Churches still stand in many small towns. They need to have a few services a year to maintain their tax exemption. Many are in need of restoration, but some are still operating.

We continued on our way to Yorktown to visit Brian and Doreen. On my husband's wish list was to see the Veregin Heritage Site.

The great great house is in the center of the compound, surrounded by old residences that are now each a specialized museum.

There is a museum museum office with historical displays. This quilt celebrates the Doukhobor faith and society.

Many of the rooms were set up to reflect life in the community.

I was fascinated with this poster. In Russia, during a time when it was illegal for certain authors to distribute their work, they made portraits using tiny script. You need to look with a magnifying glass to see that the drawn lines are actually Russian words. They used these posters to move information around the country. Tolstoy supported the Doukhobors and their was a building devoted to him.

A reminder that household chores were different then!

My grandparents had a cream separator very similar to this.

The tourists enjoying a picnic!

Another breathtaking sunset as we headed down to Lethbridge.

We visited the town of Raymond where an aunt had been hospitalized and found a photo of her working on a quilt!

Still more elevators! They are quickly disappearing ... unused and at risk of decay. One had children playing, even though the sign indicated danger. The towns closely identify with them ... like a signpost on the endless prairie.

Stormy skies!

My friend Rose makes beautiful jackets of nano felting. She sells at the Christmas Circle Craft Fair in Vancouver and two others: Calgary and Toronto.

We left Lethbridge and travelled north to Canmore. Below you see the foothills in the distance.

Johnsone Lace is always a favorite hike.

Indian Paintbrush and daisies spotted the grass around the lake.

Delicate blue drangonflies were emerging on the grass by the water.

Late shadows laced across the pathways.

The Three Sisters.

We once again visited my brother Ralph. Also visiting, my brother Wayne's wife Jennifer and their kids: Russ and Shannon.

Another few days and we headed west, through the rockies.

A snow shed creates interesting perspective.

The sand cliffs near Kamloops.

As we headed home via the Cochohalla Hwy and stopped at Merritt for dinner. The town is known for its Country Music Festival. The town had many murals on their buildings.

The low hills of the Kariboo lead to the coastal mountains and home!

All in all, a great trip to see family and enjoy the fabulous scenery ... always changing!

Leaf Printing

2011-10-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

In the summer, I took a very enjoyable workshop with Hattie Hunter.

We printed fresh leaves onto fabric. I used Jaquard fabric paints.

Cedar bush gave a delicate design and was firm to handle.

Wild fern - printed from the back where there is more texture.

Japanese maple - full prints and 'ghost' prints.

Cedar bush - purple iridescent paint on hand-dyed cotton.

A large dragonfly was found on the floor and printed.

Paint should be thick enough that it doesn't run. The green had water added to the paint.

A paintbrush is used to drag across the high spots on the leaf and will produce the veins and edges.

Abstract Challenge 2011 June - Zero and July - Slow

2011-10-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

I am playing 'catch up' with my Abstract Challenges.

JUNE THEME: ZERO

My design was inspired by an airplane window. It was dark outside and raining as we climbed from rain, through the clouds to the clear sky above. As the temperature outside became ZERO, the rain turned to tracings of ice and moisture became frost. Within a brief moment, the air currents wiped the window clean. Techniques: paint and free motion quilting.

JULY THEME: SLOW

In the past year, there has been a popular trend to 'slow down and smell the roses'.

Examples: delicious meals cooked at home, long slow walks, handmade art & crafts.

During this same year, I learned Japanese Sashiko embroidery. When I needed to relax, I worked on the samples. The stitch is a simple running stitch - with countless variations.

Not wanting to have these little pieces resting in a drawer, I made a table runner ... something I could enjoy.

FAN retreat 2011 - Naramada

2011-10-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

The FibreArtNetwork Retreat is held annually. Our group has about 90 members and includes all provinces & territories west of Manitoba. This year the retreat was held at the end of September in Naramada BC.

Naramada is a United Church Camp on Okanagan lake.

Initially, it was a campground with small cottages for families.

Later residences and large meeting areas were added.

This is looking to the lake, what you see from the beach.

Naramada Camp is a tranquil setting.

Thanks to Janet Armstrong and her committee for a great retreat!

Here is the whole gang ... a great time was had by all.
Those who are at the retreat use the time to manage the affairs of the association.

This is what the camp is all about!

A labyrinth allows for meditation.

Margie organized a candlelight walk around the labyrinth.

The grounds have lots of green space.

A beautiful little chapel is located among the trees.

Ginko - an ancient tree that must be reproduced under the hand of men.

The Canadian Maple in all its glory!

Ancient trees tell of the years and the past groups who enjoyed this site! I first came in the 50's.

Roses remind us that even rain is beautiful!

An interesting tree: Basswood - in England, known as Linden.

We take time to 'show and shine'. Terry attended her first retreat.

Sara, also new to the group, showed us amazing hooked rugs ... another form of fibre art.

These pieces represent a project by Martha Cole. These large hangings were installed for a choir presentation.
The project continues ... I'm not sure of future plans.

A quiet creek edges the camp and salmon work their way upsteam. Most are inland Kokanee and a few are Pacific Coho.

Peacocks and hens wander the roads that run through the camp.

Children's Art decorates the poles.

A nearby park has a huge granite rock with an Indian symbol reminding us that this was once a Native village.

Interestingly, I didn't notice the large hand engraved on the huge rock until I looked at my photos.

And often, it is the small things that cause us to pause and enjoy a moment.

We have a challenge for each person attending to make an art piece relating to a theme. This year, it was 'Grape Expectations' - in honour of the Wine Festival .
I was a little 'time challenged' ... so I took one of my photographs, played in photoshop, printed, painted and embellished with stitching!

We also exchange Artist Trading Cards. Above you see mine ... I work in a large piece and cut apart. These are on fabric done in a leaf printing workshop. A real dragnonfly we found on the floor was also printed.

fibre Art Show: Together in La Conner

2011-09-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm organizing a show in La Conner, Washington, USA

Together at La Conner
Opening: Wed September 28
on display until December 31, 2011
Together ... is a collaborative project between pairs of Canadian artists – one working in fibre and the other in their chosen media. This exhibition has brought together a group of textile, quilt, and fibre artists working in a wide range of styles and paired them with painters, woodworkers, mixed media artists, potters, and glass artists. Each pairing of artists chose their own theme and their themes are as diverse as their media.

Some of the artists began with a word or words as inspiration: “Orchid”, “Stone Threads”, or “Runes, Wings, & Keys.” Other artists were working from an inspirational photo or painting. Many artists sought inspiration from the world around them: organic and abstract patterns found in nature and landscapes. The issues facing nature also appears in some of the work: “What’s happening in the oceans”, “Pine beetle devastating the forests”, and “Clear cutting of forests.” While many of the artists are working in their own media, some of the pairs have decided to work on one project using their combined talents to interpret a theme.
All in all, a well-rounded grouping of artistic works made by an eclectic group of artists working in their respective media to bring you a brilliant collage of works. Vivian Kapusta, guest curator.

Museum Hours Wed-Sun: 11am-5pm
Website: http://www.laconnerquilts.com/
1 360 466 4288
Address:
703 Second Street, La Conner, WA
Directions:
South on US #5, turn west onto # 20 (exit to Anacortes)
Drive about 10 minutes, look for sign 'to La Conner
turn left (south) on La Conner Whitbey Rd and drive ~ 5 minutes.

Below is my piece: it was a challenge!

Rather than being mounted on a quilt, it is mounted on 6 layers of sheer. The intent is to imitate glass. The sheer layers are beaded on the sides and bottom. Two of the layers have little silver spots that look like misty rain.

The butterfly is thread on Solvey with beads for the antennae and legs.

The flower is layered silk and silk fusion with heavy stitching and shaped to be 3D.

I'm working with my cousin and her partner. They work in glass: http://www.madaboutglass.com/main.php
The show runs Sept.28 (opening) to the end of December.
You can see the progress of the pieces:
http://together-laconner.blogspot.com/

Fibre Art Shows

2011-09-11T23:52:00.000-07:00

Not to be missed Pat Crucil, Retrospective
Leigh Center, Port Coquitlam
Running until Sept. 18th

Pat is a talented artist with an amazing use of colour value.

Another interesting show by:

FibreEssence/Vancouver Guild of Fibre Artists

Quilts, weavings, felt items.
Deep Cove Cultural Centre
4360 Gallant Avenue
Tel: 604.924.1378

Little creatures ...

2011-09-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

This was a summer of dragonflies. Wet weather in the spring brought hoards of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes provided food for dragonflies to flourish.

Alberta: dragonflies hatching by the dozens!

Saskatchewan: walking through the grass brought swarms of dragonflies.

Swallowtail dining on minuscule bugs.

The leaf gives an idea of the size of the frog.

And ... the frog dines on insects!

Summer is here ... a little late

2011-09-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

On the way to a workshop, a friend and I were a little early and dropped by the Park & Tilford gardens ... they were not yet open ...

A few late summer flowers ...

The best part ... a friend who also thinks spider webs and old trees are interesting!

Pathways Show in Didsbury, Alberta

2011-09-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

On the road again ... my quilts seem to travel more than I do!

Mother Stump by Vivian Kapusta

Pathways Exhibition

Pathways is a new exhibition by the Fibre Art Network (FAN), a group of professional fibre artists and teachers from Western Canada. The exhibition features 30 artworks by 22 artists who responded to the theme ‘Seeing the Forest and the Trees: the Fibre Art Network interprets the journey.’ The exhibition is a feature event of the Mountain Arts Festival in Didsbury, a 2011 host celebration site for Culture Days in Alberta.

www.fibreartnetwork.com/exhibitions

For more information, contact Sharon Rubuliak
Fibre Art Network, Pathways Exhibition Organizer
tel & fax (780) 464-2690 email sharonru@telus.net

Ontario 2011: Ontario SW

2011-09-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

Off we go again - to London, Ontario for the CQA/ACC National Juried Show in London Ontario.
You can see the award winning quilts here:
http://www.canadianquilter.com/photo-gallery/national-jury-show-2011.php
I was just completing 3 years as Secretary/Publicist on the Board ... and then, travelling in Ontario for two weeks.

Although our spring had been cool in BC, as we left, we had a sunny day !

Mount Baker in Washington was clear.

The nearby coastal mountains showed a patchwork of logging.

Most of the trip was cloudy.

These photos are taken on a little Fugifilm 'point and shoot ' camera. As we lifted out of Calgary, ice crystals formed on the window.

The Great Lakes emerged from the clouds.

After the CQA/ACC conference was over, we headed east to Simcoe.
This is a railroad center that is being repaired as a historic site.

The towns have interesting houses, generally clean and well kept.

The country is dotted with small towns, many with closed factories. These little towns are struggling. This was the center for canning and packaging of many familiar brands.

Many of the barns are over 100 years old and still functioning.

We stopped in Tillsonburg for ice cream at an apple farm. - M and R Orchards.

Someone had a sense of humour ... the old stumps in the yard were given personality.

We enjoyed a visit with cousins on my mom's side.

Port Dover is one of many little towns on Lake Erie. We spent a day at a great little museum. There were displays of shipping, disasters, black workers who came from the states in the civil war and a very knowledgeable museum staff.

This is the front of a ship that worked the Great Lakes. It came complete with a steam whistle.

The channel is now used by mostly leisure boats.

Wild flox was everywhere.

Ontario had a wet and cool spring.
From the Simcoe area, we headed north to Sauble Beach.

We drove along Lake Huron ... the water was like glass. It is a huge lake and the west winds can generate wild storms.

Great pottery ... in historic buildings.

My cousin's cabin. The community is great ... large lots with walking access to the beach.

Lovely falls - running into Lake Huron.

Foundation of a historic church.

Sauble Beach has a 'visitor pay' system. However, well worth it ... lots of beach access.

Miles of good walking beach!

Indian Paintbrush

The cutest little ball of energy!

by day ... contemplate by the water.

Beautiful patterns ... different from ocean beaches.

This photo was not at the beach, however I was amazed at the similar pattern of the lines of the tree when compared to the previous photo of the erosion lines in the sand.

And ... closer observation: a mom raccoon nursing her young.

by nightfall ... beauty in motion ... a great end to the day!

Ontario 2011: Small Towns & Memories

2011-09-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

Our next itinerary was to the Bruce Peninsula ... where my mom and dad grew up. I spent my childhood summers here. It is rich farm country - rolling hills with an escarpment lacing through. There are lots of good memories of place and people!

Buildings are solid and stately ... mostly brick with a few of field stone.

This is a must for any train enthusiast.

This was my grandfather's place to go for all the hardware items he needed ... still operating!

There is something special about old doors ... and the stories they could tell.

Water levels were high ... on a hot day, the horses knew where to cool off!

This is the Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.

When I was a child, this was a gravel road and the cars travelled at 30 miles/hour.

Churches were the center of the community and the White Church was the family church - later to become a United Church.

As with many of the old churches, they are now recycled to become houses. The gravestones are gathered and set into concrete.

Another memory was of 'camp meeting' ... held at the 'campground' ... a meeting of many churches with each one doing a service. Rev. Goff was the minister. The property has been sold and will become the location for Black History. Slaves leaving the States were sheltered in the area.

The view from the top of the escarpment.
In distant times ... the earth moved here ... shifting and dropping.

When I was 17, I visited my Aunt and Uncle and played with a cute little cousin, Elwood. Shortly after, my cousin Lynn was born.

... and here she is ... with her husband, Brian

The farm belonged to Brian's family ... built before 1900.

They took this little house back to the rafters and rebuilt it to create a lovely home. Some of the hand hewn rafters were left exposed to keep the connection to the house's history.

We watched thunder storms from the balcony at night and enjoyed the scene below by day.

Close to Clarksburg is Thornbury. While admiring the stately old brick homes, we noticed a quilt 'airing' on the top balcony. After introductions and a discussion about quilting, Gudrun and her husband invited us in for a cup of tea and a tour of the studio. Quilters ar the nicest people!

Blue mountain is the ski mountain in Ontario. Surprisingly, the 'village' is designed by the same group that did Whistler Mt. in BC. The mountains vary considerably in height!

We were there in liliac season.

Collingwood Harbour has a pleasant park with some vocal inland seagulls.

Liesure crafts moore where there used to be fish boats.

The old tractors were of simple design ... the 'work horse' of the farms.

The Beaver River was my dad's swimming hole and favorite fishing spot.

When we headed south, it was uncharacteristically misty for a June day!

Revanna was a little store we visited for ice cream cones. The inside cupboards are vintage and the bakery products very good!

This was the farm my Uncle Mannie had. It was mainly for cattle. It has been purchased and will have a country estate built on the property. The little 'town' near the farm is 'Redwing'. At the present, it consists of 4 buildings ... one is the little cabin below. The old Post Office has been rebuilt into a snug little house. The owners of the house came out to see what the 'tourists' were doing and I explained that my family had come to the Post Office in years gone by. We were surprised to find that the couple had known my uncle. We were invited in for an egg sandwich (delicious) and a chat (interesting).

Our next stop was Flesherton.

We had a lovely dinner with my cousin Garnett and his wife Inez.

These fungi grew on a piece of wood outside the restaurant.

This was a garage converted to the cutest little house!

And the, we had a very pleasant visit to a beautiful garden!

From here ... we headed south to Toronto for a few days before flying home.

Textile Museum of Canada

2011-09-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in textiles, this is a 'must see'. The museum is located in downtown Toronto.

http://www.textilemuseum.ca/

Teacher? check out the Teacher's open house in October.

The museum has an educational area set up.

The show we saw was focused on outer garments from many areas of the world. Blouses, jackets and coats were presented with the time period and cultural practices linked to the garment.
You will need to go to the museum to see the actual garments, however, I couldn't resist showing some of the ways the garments were decorated - including dying, weaving and embroidery.

There is a second museum I wanted to see ... but we ran out of time
Bata Shoe Museum
http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/

2011 Ontario: Toronto and home

2011-08-31T22:24:00.000-07:00

We headed to Toronto and our favorite restaurant for breakfast ... Cora's.

The streetcars I knew as a child still operate.

Traffic was slow, skyscrapers and the CN tower leads us downtown.We headed to Toronto and had breakfast at our favorite restaurant ... Cora's

The architecture is unique and beautiful with an inner courtyard.

On the roof: plants natural to Ontario.

From the roof, you can see the Historic Court House.

These buildings have incredible crafted details.

We also visited the Parliament Buildings.

You can imagine the carriages driving on the old brick road.

Looking back to the city.

Skyscraper and more buildings to come.

Suddenly an old tunnel.

The Chinatown is old with some excellent restaurants.

Next to the shiny new buildings ... beautiful old houses.

Henry Moore sculpture ... art you can touch.

The Art Gallery is a must!

Photos are not allowed of fine art work ... but, the stairs were a work of art.

The view wraps around.

In some cases, the old facades are kept and new glass buildings rise from within.

We drove down St. Claire ... I was born near here.

Spidina is a main route downtown.

In the middle of the city, an exercise group.

We visited Casa Loma, a castle built by Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. The building costs were estimated at $200,000 and ended in the Millions. The economics of the time were volatile and the family lost their fortune and castle. It now belongs to the city of Toronto and is run by the Kiwanis.

You enter into a high medival central hall.

Much restoration has been done, including a
pipe organ.

The detail in the work is amazing.

The Master bedroom.

A unique lamp from the original furnishing.

Lady Pellatt worked to develop the Girl Guides.

Although the maid's quarters are small, it was said that they were well treated.

Stairways ...

and more stairways ... up into a turret.

There is an interesting military collection.

You can have your photo taken in period costumes.

A huge library!

The garden room is my favorite.

Even the stables were magnificent. A tunnel leads from the castle.

We spent a pleasant evening with my husband's father's cousin and his wife Margaret.

The trip home was cloudy until we reached Calgary - with the foothills and Rocky Mts.

As we came into the Vancouver area, it was cool and cloudy.

My garden was glowing with spring flowers ... I had been away a month.

community quilt

2011-08-31T20:43:00.000-07:00

I'm way behind in posting. I'm going to be posting our Ontario Trip over the next few days.

This happy little quilt is one that my friend Leslie and I did for 'community quilts' for our guild.

interesting ...

2011-08-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

Funny how you can notice something beautiful in a moment.

I was making salad dressing ... oil and vinegar with garlic, basil and a pinch of spices.

This year's twins

2011-08-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Mom brought her new twins by ... she beds them down for their afternoon nap in our back yard.

Abstract Challenge 2011 April - Branch

2011-07-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

I started with the Abstract Challenge group in 2004 and did a few of the themes. I now have 6 years of completed challenges!
We have one theme per month in an 8"x8" little quilt. The group has lost active members and may cease to exist. I find that a sad thought ... the group is a great place to learn and grow. Although we have a large number of members, they are not participating. The group can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/abstract-challenge /
If you like experimenting and pushing your own creativity, think about joining and making these little gems!

I find these small quilts to be useful as a springboard back into creative thought. It is very freeing to do a little quilt ... it is only a little fabric and a great place to try new techniques and products. Practicing on a small item gives confidence to try new ideas and approaches. Many of my small quilts have been a prototype for a larger piece!

One branch lives!

The theme for April was 'BRANCH'. On a walk at the beach, this ancient tree was leaning over a rocky cliff. It has weathered years of wind and rain, been scorched by the sun and starved for nutrients in a weak soil. And, yet ... one branch has survived and still produces leaves and seeds ... the hope for tomorrow.

If you would like to see more of my little art quilts, use the left column and click on 'art quilts' to filter out the other posts.

CQA/ACC National Juried Show 2011 in London

2011-06-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Quilt Canada Conference in London Ontario was a huge success! The Local Organizing Committee did a fabulous job of organizing all the details of running the show and conference!

You can see the National Juried Show Winners at:
http://www.canadianquilter.com/photo-gallery/national-jury-show-2011.php
Note that you can click on the photo and go to 'next' for close ups.

The Trend-Tex Challenge winners are at:
http://www.canadianquilter.com/photo-gallery/trend-tex-quilters-challenge-2011.php

My Piece: Golden Shadows

The challenge fabric is donated by Trend-Tex Fabrics, kits with 5 fat quarters are sold by CQA/ACC. The challenge is to make a small quilt from the 5 fabrics. The quilt is then donated to CQA/ACC for silent auction at the Conference. This is a major fundraiser and CQA/ACC thanks Trend-Tex Fabrics for it's continued sponsorship!

Enjoy~
PS ... I have completed 3 years as secretary/publicist and turned over my job to Laine Canivet! I enjoyed the experience, meeting quilters from 'shore to shore'! I've always believed that when you belong to an organization and enjoy the benefits, you should volunteer!