Friends

John Taylor from the band Duran Duran said "Music is a great way to meet people".

John De Simini playing saxophone at The Pilot
 in Toronto a few summers ago.
Check him out. He is an amazing musician
whom I worked with for the SMC musicals

I say textile art and quilting is a great way to meet people! As you know, this art form has brought me to Europe on many occasions and introduced me to international makers who are now life-time friends.

sculpture at University of Toronto,
St Michael's College campus

Last night, I was invited to speak at the Mississauga Quilter's Guild again. I met some great people who are passionate about this medium and had some good conversations about the craft.

Some of the works I brought

I brought 17+ pieces of my work, including some quilts and some textile art work as well as one antique quilt. I integrated those in the talk, Beyond the Hobby Quilter.

My goal was to inspire the members to go out and self promote! I hope I did that.

Weekend Course

I spent this weekend at an Ontario Craft Council sponsored class, Maker to Making a Living with Jacqueline Sava.

They never teach you the business side of things in art school.

Jacqueline had the perfect perspective with her "maker" experience and her MBA.

I did this because I want to make more money doing something I love.

I have lots to think about and calculate after this intense weekend. Before I make a judgement on any idea I will make a spread sheet and figure it out properly and not how I usually do it, which is with my heart and intuition!

I did manage to fit in some ART in between all the business stuff - a performance of a musical at St Michael's College School on Saturday night where I use to be choreographer.

And for my readers who love my pictures, here is what downtown Toronto looked like last week.