Posting From the Cottage

 I now have WiFi at the cottage thanks to our neighbours! Above is a sample art quilt from my Art Quilt class I just finished teaching at the Milton Centre for the Arts. The background is mixed media patchwork, phototransfer, tissue paper fabric and painted peltex plus size inchies.

This is a tiny finished collage called 'A Bird in Hand' displayed at the CEGG Open house in April. (Canadian Embroiderers' Guild Guelph) On canvas with DIY fabric background and tiny pieces of fabric collage.

My last unfinished watercolour painting from Sandra's Open Studio taught by Patricia Beader in May.
Sandra is looking for a new home for her Studio. I am anxious to start lessons again!

This is the front of our beloved cottage, very 1950's. Below is the back deck where I do most of my hand work and chilling! We are one block from the lake and today is a lovely day of nearly 30 degrees C and a nice little breeze! Must get outside and enjoy! Until next time......

Happy New Year!

 It has been a very busy year and I have neglected my blog since September! So sorry ! My New Year's intention will be to keep up my blog. It really started with a new computer. I am still trying to navigate around my picture files. And then I got very busy teaching classes, entering shows and so on. I do a lot of volunteering which takes some time. I am the editor of my embroidery group's newsletter, membership coordinator for my fine arts group and I will be a communication person for another fibre group. I did give up some groups but I still have little time for house cleaning! :>)
Above and below is a highlight for me for 2011. My little house was published in Cloth Paper Scissors! There it is with the little green roof and orange door. This kind of collage and embroidery is really my style!

 Here I am at a Mixed media workshop I helped run for the Fine Arts Society of Milton.

 This my collage piece that is being critiqued by my instructor, Jill Segal.

I also taught an adult class at the new art centre in October called Art Quilt.

Below are three of my students, Sharon, Shelia and Annie.

 Mary was the also in my class and I enjoyed introducing her to fibre art.

 My other class was at the Canadian Embroiderers' Guild Guelph. I was teaching The Book of Stitches from the Jan Messent book on Celtic, Viking and Anglo Saxon Embroidery. This is 92 year old Dorothy who put the rest of us to shame with her creativity and work ethic. Her book of stitches was completed at the end of six weeks. Ellen, a retired teacher enjoyed the class as well.

 Barbara Lee, below, created a very beautiful accordion book!

I taught a children's art class at the Milton Centre for the Arts for 10 weeks. ( once a week ) We had a delightful art show of all student's art work at the Holcim Gallery in December.

Whew, it was a chaotic season! Did I mention I taught at my friend's Open Studio, did Studio Tour with the best sales ever and fitted in a few supply teaching days? I did make a bit of art in the evenings watching television to sell at the AM Gallery. I continued to do the Sketchbook challenge each month, even if it was only one sketch or collage.

Its two hours into the New Year and I will not be making New Year's Resolutions. I will work at addressing my intentions for 2012 which will include my passion for all things fibre and stitch and mixed media.





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!

Canadian Embroiderers' Guild, Guelph Open House

Fresno, a guide dog in training at the Open House

My CD Challenge Block, "Leaf" for the Ontario Network of Needleworkers
Woven rug canvas stitched, thread sandwich leaf, beaded

A mini landscape
stitched by Allison

Beautiful Embroidery

Embroidered Garden

A Brooch

Bayeau Embroidery

by Margaret

My Darned Landscape
This was very addictive to stitch.

Quilt by Ellen

Goddess by Cynthia

who trains guide dogs

These were just some of the marvelous artworks at our Open House last Tuesday. Many people dropped by to see the finished artworks from the year. This is a great teaching guild that offers two classes a year with extra workshops and afternoon programs. I had a wonderful time this year meeting new people and sharing stitching projects. Thanks to Ruth who taught the Mini Landscapes and Renata who taught the Knotted Gardens. My Autumn Trees is finished (see last post) and my Parterre Garden is still In Progress!