Openings #1

This piece relates to an episode in my life that was dark and depressing.
I was driving to work on a very grey day with heavy cloud cover,
feeling really glum and despondent, but suddenly noticed a small break in the clouds above me.
I remembered that when I fly, the sun is always shining above the clouds, and realised my dark and depressing episode could also have sunshine if I let it in. It was a huge revelation, AND it allowed me to finally deal with the problems that were dragging me down.
There are layers of black netting which were cut away to show the blue hand dyed fabric, with different shades of grey wool rovings sandwiched in between the layers to create the dark sky. Lots of hand stitching emphasize the cloud formations. Shirley

Frustrating is the name of the game!!

Yesterday I was part of the Women's Art Festival in Kingston. Wonderful show with 200 VERY talented women artists, in the beautiful City Park setting. The show is very well attended, and is a lot of fun due to the fact that ya get to see all your women friends, either as participants or as attendees, and also meet some new artists. The only problem was that it was REALLY hot and humid. I did spend an hour in the new water garden with Isadora, my friend's 3 year old daughter, and I got totally drenched,and cooler,and developed a few more larf lines!!
I was having a great time, but said to Isadora, I really gotta go back to work, and she didn't even look up. She just waved her hand goodbye and carried on playing with the water...... so demoralising when you feel you are essential to the game at hand and a 3 year old puts you into a reality mode!!
However, when my clothes started to dry out I'm afraid I added somewhat to the steamyness of the day - and apparently I looked somewhat like a drowned rat!! Fun day.

and this morning I spent hours trying to upload some of my art into a slide show and didn't think I was very successful. However, this last try seems to have worked by golly. Hope ya like it.

I recently joined Creative Every Day, (link in the right hand column) and am managing to do exactly that: be creative in some way, every day.
I am a fanatical book purchaser, and this month's books and study CD's are so interesting. #1 is the latest thr3fold, #4, from Linda and Laura Kemshall in the UK, #2 is a DVD by Pamela Allen of Kingston, Ontario (Pam's almost a neighbour!!). I found a used hardback edition of Colour via Abebooks, for a buck from the Seattle Goodwill plus a Building Websites for Dummies for a buck, again thru Abebooks, from a New York used bookstore. Gotta LUV IT!!
Another passion is listening to the local library's stock of talking books. I have the CS Lewis series at present, recently " read" the first five Harry Potter books, and am waiting for the final two. I tend to listen to them when I am handsewing or doing chores around the house. And I have listened to all kinds of spy and adventure books, Clive Cussler, Robert Ludlum amonst many. Now I am re-learning how to draw and paint, so have drawing books, "Creative" painting books, and on and on.
Small wonder I don't get much "art" made!!! Have a great week. Shirley

My other "job" is more like a mini vacation.

I've just come back to my lopsided little house from dog sitting for the weekend in a wonderfully spacious, level floored home. The dogs and cats were fun, the location was green and beautiful, and the library was full of art books. What more could a dog sitter ask for!! Next weekend I am dog sitting in a huge Victorian house which is located in a small town with a great downtown main street. FUN!! As both these homes are owned by artists and the place is full of creative energy, I sometimes even manage to get some stitching done, but not this weekend. I sat there like a lump on a log for pretty much the whole time, vegging out after a hectic week.
However, now it's Monday and I gotta get back to my studio...

I'm having a sewing retreat!!

I am in Toronto at my sister's home for a couple of weeks, ostensibly to catch up on some sewing and to help her at two upcoming shows. The first was last weekend at the Momiji Centre, and I ended up having a table there myself so I wasn't much help to Diane!! The Centre is just beautiful, Japanese decor throughout, with incredible gardens and wonderful people. I didn't sell much but it was such a treat to be in a place like that for two whole days. I told them I would be moving into their retirement apartments when I'm old and decrepit, as it is a perfect spot as far as I'm concerned.

June is here already!!

What happened to spring? Does time really fly when you are having fun!! Everyone I talk to is saying that this year is moving along faster than normal, but I don't understand how that happens. Time is not elastic. A 24 hour day is just that, so how can time seem to zip by so quickly ? There never seems to be enuf hours in the day, days in the week to get everything done. Does anyone have any ideas on this phenomenon???
We still don't have all the plants in but the bugs are atrocious at present, as are my allergies so the plants sit, waiting patiently.
Just so ya know, on the 15th I will have lived here in my wacky old house for 19 years, longest I've ever stayed in one place!!!

I am mailing in my 12 X 12 art quilt donation to SAQA this afternoon for the auction. Watch for it when you check out what is being offered. SAQA and it's staff and volunteers have helped me in many ways so I'm really happy to give back a little. If you are not a member you should really check out their website (see my links list )and see all the goodies they offer to members. Quite the organization for sure.

Artemisia Gallery in Westport

I am really excited to be represented again this year by the increasingly interesting Artemisia Gallery in Westport. They are carrying a great variety of beautiful art and eclectica in their second year of showing local art. I am having a couple of fibre art pieces framed by Georgia, one of the owners, ready for the coming years display in the gallery and I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement of the look of my work.
The Land o' Lakes Artisan Guild is having a group show at the gallery this month, so if you get a chance to be in Westport, make sure you stop by Artemisia Gallery, you won't regret it for sure!!