Sadness and the Oil Spill

Crystal Beach, in the Panhandle of Florida

Beautiful Beach in February

Lovely white sands



Wildlife

More beach

My sadness will be overwhelming if the beaches of the Florida Panhandle are deluged with oil from the reckless oil spill. Was there a plan for impending disaster? It looks like NOT! I feel for the people that live in this area for their loss of livelihood, loss of wildlife, loss of precious protected marshlands and the loss of the sandy white beaches. Such a senseless crime.

Stream of Dreams

The Computer lab

The last three weeks I have been teaching at Chris Hadfield Public School. I've been teaching computers to grades 1-3 and the occasional art lesson. It has been great fun! During my time there, the whole school was involved in the Stream of Dreams project with Halton Conservation. It started with the Eco Tote Bag Project at the Milton Mall. One of the Hadfield students, Sana won an Eco drawing contest and was awarded $1000 for the school. The Stream of Dreams was the chosen project and over a 1000 wooden fish were cut, sanded and painted by volunteers and students. The students learned about clean water and conservation of fresh water. I was fortunate to be able to paint a fish as well.

Outside the kindergarten doors at the front of the school


My Stream of Dreams fish!

Thank you!

Parking lot fence

This is truly an inspiring project. Thanks goes to Sana, her art teacher, Miss Walsh and the Conservation girls. The big reveal was accompanied by student poetry and art work. The whole school assembled outside to celebrate. A project like this is sure to make a lasting impression on these students!

Lilacs and another Birthday

When we arrived at the cottage this past long weekend we were thrilled to see our small lilac tree with an abundance of lilacs. They were beautiful!

The rain had lower the branches and created a cascade of blooms.

I celebrated my latest birthday with a dinner out with my hubby, my mom and my aunt. Mom is on the right.

This is the view of Lake Erie from the restaurant in Port Dover.


This is the back of David's a very fine restaurant with the best Key Lime Pie!

A very nice Victoria Day weekend!

Oakville Fibre Arts Debut

The Love of the Arts

Oakville Town Hall

Our newly formed Fibre Arts group debuted at the Love of the Arts Festival on May 16th. We are 12 members strong and by invitation at this time. We displayed our art work at the Town Hall.

You may recognize some of my art work amongst the lovely work of my friends!

Here is Marda, who was struck with an idea for a new group! I will have more news as our group evolves and grows!

Ontario Network of Needleworkers AGM

A Lovely Embroidered Piece from the London Embroidery Guild

May 2nd, the Annual General Meeting for the ONN was held in Guelph, Ontario hosted by The Connections Group. Each guild brought fibre art and embroidery for their displays. A general meeting was held for the reps, followed by a Whistle Stop demonstrations. The general public and members were invited to see the displays and the CD Challenge in the afternoon. The Vendors' mall was the best yet with many books, threads, yarns,and paints. The next AGM will be held in London next May. The theme will be A Gathering of Threads. This promises to be a very exciting event with 3 days of workshops, meetings, dinners and a fashion show.

Oakville Stitchery Guild Display


Oakville Stitchery Guild
( my nest pincushion, landscape, covered journal and framed bird)

Canadian Embroiderers' Guild Guelph
( my book marks )

CEG Guelph

Susan Strachan Johnson demonstrating pabric

Marion Spanderjt demonstrating gold leaf on fabric

Gordana Brelih demonstrating the use of tyvek

All in all, it was a great day! Oakville's, Sherry DelRizzo won the CD Challenge with a lovely Stumpwork Embroidery. I am lucky to belong to two wonderful embroidery guilds. I am looking forward to a great time next year!

Teaching at Sewfest

CD Challenge Art for the Ontario Network of Needleworkers

made with woven fabric strips through rug canvas, machine stitched, thread leaf also beaded

Teaching at Sewfest West

I was asked to submit a proposal to teach at the new sewing show last January. I sent in my proposal and photos for teaching Fabric Collage Postcards and I was invited to teach! I was nervous and very excited. April 31st came quickly but I was prepared. The venue at Bingeman's Park Conference Center was fabulous and everything was there for my teaching. I had 9 students that were eager and enthusiastic! The morning went quickly and I was humbled by their positive comments about my class. Thank you everyone, you have spurred me on to do more teaching! Below are some of my students with their postcards. I am very proud of Bianca who tried free motion stitching for the first time on her beautiful postcard!

Inspired by Eco Postcards


Beautiful postcards

Bravo Michelle!

Bianca

Thank you Alma Laidlaw of Sew Fancy who organized this new Festival. I loved the shopping!