Saturday market

There is a lovely antique shop at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. (North building, west corner)

The owner, Barbara, has many lovely quilts for great prices. Over the years, I have purchased several.

Today I picked up an applique quilt.

vintage quilt, hand appliqued and quilted

I love the birds!

I am giving it someone I love very much.

there are hearts quilted along the border

I know there was a lot of love put into making it!

learning

I have had trouble putting together this last piece. Not sure why...the deadline, my trip to Europe coming up, things on my mind...

I decided it was time to re energize with some classes.

I have enrolled myself in a summer course in Mixed Media at the Toronto School of Art.

Never stop learning.

getting back to work

I got back to printing. I made my paint colour. I made a pattern with paper and used my silk screen frame to print.

I love the design I made.

The panels are dried...

 and on the design wall for now.

I like to see my work first thing in the morning. Then I can really tell if I like it or not. If there is anything that bugs me I can see it right away with fresh eyes.

Tomorrow I will sew.

procrastinating

This past week, instead of going ahead with my art work, I did everything else but!

I added the flowered binding on the quilt I am giving away

I finished two zippered pouches that I started
for the class I taught while in Italy

I made a pastiera di grano,
a Napoletano dolce made during Easter 

I took our Ukranian Easter eggs out of the box
and put them in a crystal bowl.

My best friend from our neighbourhood when I was 6 was Ukranian.
Her big sister taught me how to make them.

I taught my kids how to make them.

I love looking at all of them and remembering our time making them.

Tomorrow I promise to get serious and do my art work!

starting over

It is so difficult starting my art work after I have been away from my studio for long periods of time.

It should be easier but I feel lost!

Why is that?

I feel more relaxed. I have had time to think about things and I have had time to react and respond to my thoughts and things that I have seen around me.

Yet I cannot create.

paper in art work

While in Montreal, I stopped by Empire, Paper and Paint, on Avenue du Parc, to pick up some of their amazing wallpaper. The pieces I cut out from their give-away pile are gorgeous. Can you imagine a room done up with these?

wallpaper samples from Empire

I have been using different kinds of paper in my textile art since 2005.

I am starting a new series. After working things out in my head for the past few weeks, I am ready and excited to get going!!

In May, I will be in Parma teaching the use of paper in textile art, www.italiainvita.it/node/122
The students will be making a book wrap as they explore different ways to integrate paper into a fabric piece.

book wrap -detail

book wrap- detail

I am very pleased that the organizers invited me to be part of the event. It has been very well publicized in Europe as well as in American magazines.

recovery time

Unpacking suitcases, doing laundry, stocking up the fridge, watering plants, returning phone calls and spending time with my family...that is all I have done since I have returned from my 5 weeks in Italy. No art work.

I did sew a little...

I put on a border on a scrap quilt - the only kind of quilts I ever make. 

I used 5 inch squares, already cut and stored in a shoe box... waiting to be used. 

I made it last year for a friend who will be visiting me next week from out west. I would like to give it to her then.

On the weekend, I also designed a new quilt using scraps, of course!

still on the design wall

forgot to tell you!

I was looking through photographs of my trip to Italy and discovered a bunch from before the Canadians arrived in Verona.

I was asked by Quilt Italia, www.quiltitalia.it, to be part of the "Top Ten". That was for Abilmente in Vicenza, www.abilmente.org, as part of the top ten italian textile artists. Among them were Mariana Fruehauf www.fruehauf.it, Giovanna Usai www.giovannausai.it, Teresa Gai and Pia Puonti.

entrance
my piece 'reflect and repair' is visible in the poster,
second from the bottom

work by teresa gai

work by teresa gai

work by mariana fruehauf

3 works by pia puonti

work by giovanna usai entitled 'come e profondo il mare'

2 works by giovanna usai, 'africa' and 'non escludo il ritorno'

The art was displayed in the center isle amongst the booths.

my section

The funny thing was when I asked a friend to take a picture of me in front of my section there was another lady near by trying to take a picture of my work and was annoyed we were taking too long! She did not want this stranger in her photo!