Location Location Location

The location for the Minerals exhibit in Verona is Loggia Barbaro.

The exhibit Minerals will be in this building where you see
the arched windows.

It is in the historical centre of the city near Piazza dei Signori.

one entrance to the piazza

Our exhibit will be part of the textile event, Verona Tessile, from April 16 to 21, 2013.
(you can follow the preparation for the festival on their Facebook page)

BACK IN TORONTO...
I have received many emails of disappointment that the works will only be seen at the PDAC by the 30,000 people registered for the conference and that the exhibit is not open to the public. I agree, it is a shame.

The Sodalite Prospector, detail,
by Susan Strachan Johnson

I am open to ideas...anyone know of a place in Toronto where we can have the 16 works exhibited after they get back from Europe? (we are looking at September 2013)

More on Minerals

The 16 works for the MINERALS exhibit are stunning!

Fundy Flame Agate, detail
Kate Madeloso

The 16 Canadian artists are:

Gordana Brelih

Patricia Caffrey

Joan Freeman- see more of her work on Instagram: @gorgonjone

Anna Hergert

Joan Hug-Valeriote

Wilma Kenny- member of Kingston Fibre Artists
Clare Kirby

Kate Madeloso

Suzanne Neilson

Sandra Reford

Lorraine Roy

Helena Scheffer

Susan Strachan- Johnson

Catherine Timm

Alice Vander Vennen

Sofia Verna

I am so pleased with the works from Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Her Love of Rocks, detail
Gordana Brelih

Potash=Potassium Carbonate, detail
Anna Hergert

Peas or Iron, detail
Clare Kirby

Salt of the Earth, detail
Sofia Verna

The stands have been designed and made. (Thanks Gordana!)

The labels are done.

It all looks very professional.

Next step: Bringing them down to the Toronto Convention Centre for the PDAC (Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada) from March 3 to 6, 2013.

(note: This is a private conference and the exhibit will not be open to the public...you could come to Verona and see the exhibit there...just a thought.)

Making Things

I had my twin teenage nieces visiting this weekend. It was their first time in Toronto.

We did some touristy things.

The downtown core
seen from the St Lawrence Market

We went to see some creative stuff!

They love making things. As all good crafters do, they travel with their supplies!

Look at this artistry!

Bracelet made with embroidery floss

We cooked together.

Home made pasta.

We sewed.

This is what they made.
(pattern from The Workroom)

We had fun!

The Younger Generation

I was at a Toronto high school 2 weeks ago giving a talk about quilting. The grade 8's heard some quilt history and saw some images of textile work from different countries and from different time periods.

Last week I was back imparting my knowledge of this craft to this younger generation. We made quilt blocks.

The students were enthusiastic and marvelled at the complicated designs one could create with a simple square or half square triangle.

tile floor in a train station, France.

I am glad I was invited to share this passion of mine. The universities in Italy are also teaching crafts to their students in order to ensure those skills continue and are not lost forever.

I Love

I recently attended a celebration of a friend's life well lived.

She was an artist. She loved dance. She loved children.

She had started a diary of things she loved. Some of those things were read at her memorial.

I have decided to start one of those books myself. I have bought it already and I will start filling it out when I am in Europe next month.

I love.

Happy Valentine's Day

Magnetic Maps

I have had MINERALS on the brain lately.

I am planning a Minerals exhibit for the beginning of March. The works from the selected artists have been coming in and they are beautiful.

Naturally, today's postcard looked like a magnetic map used for mineral exploration.

Snow Day

What a beautiful white scene to wake up to.

I love walking in the snow. I had a good workout this morning as I got off to an early start and not many sidewalks had been shovelled.

I like hearing the crunch of the snow under by boots. The air is quiet. Once in a while you hear a shovel or a big truck.

It's a snow day for some schools. That means schools are closed and children get to stay home and PLAY all day!

Notice the hockey net on the frozen pond.

It's a snow day for me too. I am all cosy in my studio ready to sew all afternoon. Isn't it great to pursue a career you love. It's like play time all the time.

Saving Time

The thing with quilting (I guess the word I should be using is PIECING) is the time it takes.

One of the stages that takes time is cutting! Imagine if that part was done already. Sure you can buy pre-cut strips and squares (be mindful as they are not always measured accurately) but how about adopting my method?

tip: when you are cutting fabric for a project and you have a small piece left over, cut that piece as well instead of folding it and putting it away. You are ready with a clean surface for cutting and your rotary cutter is in your hand...why not cut it then and there?

Know which sizes are practical for you. Personally, I use lots of strips in my scrap quilts (sizes 1.5, 2, 2.5 inches). I also use 5 inch squares so if the fabric is wide enough I cut some of those. 
(segment from my soon-to-be-published book)

I made these blocks in 4 days, just little bits at a time.

It sparkles! I love scrap quilts.

Most of the half-square triangles were left over from another project and the squares were already cut and stored in a labelled shoe box, also left over from a previous project. I had to add to that, of course. It came together so fast! I still have a few more blocks to make and one of these quiet days between big projects I will.

Several blocks up on my vertical design wall.

My scrap class at the Mississauga Guild is coming up on February 9. It's a full day workshop. Sign up!! It's open to everyone who has too much fabric!!

A Different Kind of Patchwork

 Klimt’s “The Kiss” has been reproduced on a devastated building in #Syria
  artist: Tammam Azzam