It’s been warm here the last few days, well warm is a relative thing! I should say it’s been warmer than normal and there are some early (very early) signs of spring showing up!

On our morning walk Bart and I came across these snowdrops in the forest, they aren’t brave enough to open fully yet but they are so lovely poking their way out of last falls leaves.

I must have been a sight clambering up the steep slope to take this picture… actually I was probably more of a sight coming down! I traveled most of the way back to the footpath on my behind. Bart did much better, he didn’t slip on the wet leaves once, he is much more sure-footed ( or is it sure pawed?) than I am.

Another sure sign of spring in my life is the arrival of the Call for Entry, Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation and I am at work on my entry. It doesn’t look like much yet, but I have great plans!

The quilt is about 37 inches wide by 45 inches long so those blossoms are big! I know they look a bit weird right now but they only have their “base coat” of paint on.  Once it’s all appliqued in place I can  paint and draw back into the flowers leaves and stems the details will make it come alive… I can hardly wait.

Check back and I’ll show you how it’s coming along!

Hope there are signs of spring where you are…

Bye for now, Catherine

That might not be the right spelling, there seems to be many versions of  the greeting “May you become prosperous”, but it’s the spelling you see most around here. Vancouver and the rest of the world have been celebrating the Lunar New Year this past week. Parts of the city have bright red lanterns hanging inside the markets, shopping malls and restaurants. There have been parades with dancing lions and dragons as well.

I’ve already started work on some pieces for the Orientation exhibition with Six and Friends coming up this year but thought the Lunar New Year celebrations would be a perfect time to pick up some new sources of inspiration. So with camera in hand I headed out for some creative stimulation and to find a lion….and here he is!

Apparently the lion is meant to bring good luck, it’s an ancient tradition and meant to chase away mythological monsters. Lunar New Year is the only time the lions get out to dance and this one certainly made the most of it.

This shop in the market is ready and waiting for the lion to come by. See the lettuce hanging to the right of the red sign?  the lion reaches up and “tastes” the lettuce then pulls it down.

Attached to each lettuce is a lucky red envelope with money, candy or chocolate coins inside. The lion chews up the lettuce and then spits it out, scattering lettuce and spreading good luck. I was told by one of the merchants that the “chewed up” lettuce represents prosperity and money returning to the shop.

It’s tricky to see but there is lettuce flying in this image! It’s the green blur at the bottom left corner of the white sign. This is the famous BeaverTails pastry stand at the Lonsdale Quay market, just in case you have never heard of them BeaverTails have been referred to as a Canadian culinary icon. These deliciously addictive, whole-wheat pastries are stretched by hand to resemble the tail of a beaver.

Judging from the shower of lettuce 2012 will be a good year for BeaverTails!

The lion is a two-man dance team, with the senior dancer taking the head. The dance is hugely energetic and very loud! as the lion has his own team of drummers and a dancer with the cymbals following along behind.

The lion dance is a very colorful and inspiring thing to see and I took loads of images , a lot of them blurry, but very colorful.

There are some wonderful designs and colours in the lions costume and the head is truly spectacular! I’ve got a few designs started in my sketchbook.

Bye for now, Catherine

And another week goes winging by! is it my imagination or do they go faster and faster every year. This past week has been filed with all sorts of different things. I know I promised to tell you about things before they happened but I haven’t come to grips with that “intention” yet…must try harder.

I am still entranced with my new kitchen and it has nothing to do with cooking, here’s another reason why.

This is sunrise ( yes, you heard me right – sunrise!) out my kitchen window. Almost worth getting up in time to see it, isn’t it?

This past week I gave a talk to the members of the Vancouver Guild of Fibre Artists. I told them how I develop my work in sketchbooks and shared with them both the sketchbooks and a few of the resulting pieces.

It was a fun evening with lots of questions  after my presentation. I like to think that’s a good sign, that they were paying attention. I got to join in on their regular meeting and the members show and tell which was all about sketchbooks! I really enjoyed seeing how they worked in their books and being able to share mine with them.

I got to spend a little extra time with some of the VGFA members on Saturday, at the Paper and Stitch workshop I gave. Everyone had a good time and despite starting the day with a snowstorm everyone made it safe and sound and on time to the workshop!

Things are slowly returning to a regular schedule after the holidays- life drawing sessions start-up again this week, yahoo! I did get a little drawing time in though with a small group who hired a private model. I plucked up my courage and  tried something I have been dreaming about/pondering on for a while. I have been wanting to draw directly to fabric during a drawing session in an attempt to capture the spontaneous nature of life drawing in a media I love to work with. I knew this would involve a long pose and a clear mind, one easier to arrange than the other. Last Wednesday night gave me the chance to give it a try…meet Steve.

I know this bit of fabric has a long way to go before it becomes anything – if it ever does, but I really enjoyed the process. The drawing is about 48 inches tall and drawn with Lithocoal direct to the fabric. The pose was about an hour and Steve patiently added a few more minutes for me to finish up. I know a section of his back is missing but I have great plans, actually I have a few scattered ideas circling my brain, if truth be known.

This week also brought the first proper snow to Vancouver! A bit late for a white Christmas but oh well… it hasn’t been too disruptive so far. Driving and getting around where I live is fine and it only takes about 30 minutes to shovel the walkways and stairs. It is so pretty when you don’t have to go anywhere!

So that was my week …how was yours?

Bye for now, Catherine

 

 

The renovations are finished, well….. almost finished. I spent the holiday break “moving” into my new kitchen and pantry, finding just the right place for everything.  There are 3 light fixtures yet to come, but I do have light. Right now there are light bulbs hanging from something the electrician called a “pigtail”, brings all sorts of things to mind doesn’t it!?  The fireplace mantle is being stained and finished and will probably take a few more weeks.  I still haven’t found towel bars and toilet roll holder for the bathroom ( it’s on the list) but that’s it!

So, here it is. I’m hoping you will hum sort of celebratory tune while you look at the images….

If you look in the top left corner of the image you can see the “pigtail” over the kitchen sink. It was a beautiful bright sunny minute (that’s all we have been getting lately) when I took this , please excuse the glare!

I love the tiles! The equally brilliant Mario and Danny were so patient installing these fiddly little things. They even let me play a bit with the loose tiles and the “goop” to get the line along the top edge just the way I wanted it.

Here they are up close, gorgeous aren’t they!?

And looking the other way, the long bookshelf is perfect for my cookbook collection. You can peek into the pantry to the right of the fridge. It all looks so clean and tidy right now with everything put away (which won’t last)  I am almost afraid to start cooking in it. It’s even a pleasure to do the dishes, wow,I never thought I would say that.  This is the view when you are standing at the sink, the shimmery brightest area right above the mysterious blue light is reflections on the water of Burrard Inlet.  It’s hard to imagine I looked right at a wall while doing the dishes in the old kitchen!

I have managed a bit of stitching this past week, but not much. I completed all the machine quilting on my Nests quilt which is going to take the award for the slowest quilt ever made. I have chosen the threads for the hand work  and decided on a plan.

So after I make dinner in my shiny new kitchen I’ll start on the hand quilting, a perfect evening.

Hoping 2012 is off to a great start for you.

Bye for now, Catherine

 

 

 

Have you made resolutions?

I have the same resolutions I’ve had for the last few years, so are they resolutions if you make them every year? More time for creative pursuits, eat better, get more sleep, take time to stop and smell the flowers- those are the sort of things on my list. All the usual ones, but definitely worth reminding myself of again. For me the word “reminders” comes with allot less pressure, resolutions sound far too official and unattainable.  I think I’ll  add being more organized to the reminders list this year – once I find the darned thing!

Wishing you a happy, healthy and creative 2012!

Catherine

With all best wishes for a peaceful Christmas and a creative New year,

Catherine

I have come to the conclusion that blogging and renovating your house just don’t mix well, unless of course there is absolutely nothing else going on other than renovating or you were blogging about renovating only. Maybe it would work then or maybe it’s just me! I have been dancing as fast as I can (to borrow a phrase from someone I can’t remember) but haven’t done a very good job keeping up with things.

Even though  I have been a lousy blogger the last little while, I have been a hard-working renovator and I can let you know the renovation is almost complete (there should be a short fanfare of trumpets that plays as you read that) There are a few things left to do, the tile back-splash in the kitchen, which has been promised for this week coming and the fireplace mantle are still being finished  but that’s all.

Don’t let the step-ladder fool you, the bathroom is done. Just a bit of cleaning ( OK allot of cleaning) and  finding a better place to keep the loo roll!  and I can hang towels and put out the pretty soap.

Thank heavens it was a nice day when the counter-tops arrived. These gentlemen drilled the holes in the counter for the taps outside in the front garden. It was a bit cold but the yellow ear protectors were for the noise not the cold, the drill was deafening.

The counters are installed and I have appliances!

So… more cleaning and a few evenings spent reading the  manuals ( I’m one of those people who read manuals and operating instructions, a bit sad isn’t it)  and we will be up and running and maybe even cooking.

My studio has been taken over for the finishing of the mantle piece so I haven’t gotten much done in there , the smell is so strong it has driven me out and it’s too cold to have the door open for long. But I have been doing a bit of prep work for a Paper and Stitch workshop I am giving in January for the Vancouver Guild of Fibre Arts.

I’ve been having  a great time adding a bit of pen and ink to these copies of pages from my sketchbook. It’s my renovation therapy to have something to stitch and draw on!

There’s not much happening in the way of Christmas around here, there’s just nowhere safe to put it. I did manage some lights in the garden and the outside of the house so the neighbors won’t think the Grinch lives here but short of a beautiful poinsettia that it for this year. With the exception of Bart’s Santa hat, which much to his chagrin I manged to find and he “agreed” to wear for a quick photo.

Happy almost Christmas, hope all your preparations are going to plan!

Bye for now, Catherine

 

another wild and wonderful week has flown by, actually it’s been nearly 2 weeks since I caught up with this blog and there is so much to share.

My house is coming along , seems like I’ve been saying that for weeks now, but really it is starting to come together. Allot of the “stuff” has been cleared out and found a home. The vanity is actually in the bathroom, not hooked up or in the right place but still… in the right room is a good start! The toilet continues to reside in the living room… sigh….

 

The vanity will swing around and line up under the hole in the center of the wall that will be the light fixture! The kitchen cabinets are installed, no counter tops yet ( next week -fingers crossed)

The broom and garbage bag are the first clue of how I spent Saturday, all day, trying to lower the dust level, not wholly successful but a whole lot better!

Almost looks livable, doesn’t it?

One of the most exciting things to happen this past week is the creation of a new and exciting  blog called SiX and Friends. The blog is designed for all 9 of the artists to chat    and share with each other as we create work for the upcoming Orientation exhibition, but it’s so much more! For me being the far-flung Canadian it’s a wonderful chance to stay connected to the rest of the group and chat about the ideas and work that is developing.

members of the group are introducing themselves and talking a bit about where they are going ( or think they are!) The blog will be a great way to follow along the creative journey as work gets made for this touring exhibition.

I’m planning on creating my first post right after I get this one done so make sure to check out Six and Friends, the post will hopefully explain this collection of  bits, not sure quite where I am going with it all yet but the ideas are starting to circle!

Back to cleaning…

Bye for now, Catherine

 

OK!  my latest resolution (and I am making a resolution to make them as required rather than at the end or beginning  of the year) will be to post things before they happen rather than after! Last weekend WAS ( sorry about that!) the Extraordinary Art Exhibition and was amazing fun.

It’s great to be one of the FarmWurx crew and there will be more coming from this exciting group of artists, watch this space!

We had a wonderful day on Saturday lots of visitors and a chance to meet and mingle with the other artists as well. Elizabeth turned her home into the beautiful gallery  and a good time was had by all!

I have been doing smaller pieces using up some screen prints from a loooong time ago, giving them a new life. The fruit bowls are screen printed by me, painted by Elizabeth, quilted and then turned into cushions by me! a very collaborative process. I love the colours . They are the debut pieces for Pillow Talk! something we plan to do more of in the future.

It was nice to see my work mixed in with potters and painters, a change from the usual quilt shows!

Meanwhile back at the ranch, the renovations continue….

This is the wonderful Jeff ( not his best side!) removing the last of the old fireplace and getting ready for the new. I know it doesn’t look great but progress is being made.Even though the toilet is still in the living room- just to the left of the fireplace ( doesn’t everyone keep it there?)

An exciting feature is the “new” bathroom- all ready and waiting for tiles, they are coming later this week.

One of the things about renovating is finding a place for all the “stuff” to go and I am running out of places! There are piles all over the un-renovated part of the house. Piles of faucets, taps, tiles and all sorts and of course the furniture has to go somewhere. Finding a place to sit at the end of the day has become a challenge!

Sigh…. oh well, it will be wonderful when it’s all done and everything finds it place.

It’s been cold here the last few days but the reward for surviving the cold day is often a gorgeous sunset, this taken from my bedroom window….where I have been hiding when the dust  threatens to take over.

Bye for now, Catherine

I know it’s been a while since I updated this blog!  No excuses.. the renovations are continuing …. I have walls. But the real reason for the delay in posting is that  I have been at Art Quilt Tahoe for the past week recharging my creative batteries. Tahoe is the most lovely place …once you get there!

This picture was taken as we passed over the Siskiyou Summit just a few miles before the California/Oregon border. The mountain passes on the way through the Sierra Nevada mountains can be snowy this time of the year. Nope I didn’t take the picture, I had both hands firmly on the wheel.

The weather was very dramatic all that day. We were met by this amazing sky when we arrived at the lake.

I spent 4 days in a wonderful workshop with Valerie Goodwin. The workshop was called Favorite Places and we used maps as a source of inspiration for our work. Valerie had us do some “warm up” activities  the first day and then set us to work on our own designs.

My design is created from an image taken from a float plane flight between Vancouver and  Victoria. I created a drawing from the original image and then Valerie had us create a thumbnail collage in the fabrics we might use. The thumbnail is just the size of an index card and great fun to make … not to mention a really valuable step in working out the fabrics and colours I might use.

The quilt itself has a long way to go but I am off to a great start with it.

There is always something happening at this conference! each faculty member gives a presentation at meal time to talk about what they have been up to. They show new work, chat about inspiration and their process it’s like a mini workshop with everyone.

Velda Newman brought her amazing quilt “Zinnia”, winner of the Quilts Japan prize at 2010 Quilt Visions.

Here it is being opened out in the dining hall during Velda’s presentation to the group.  I didn’t make a note of the actual size of the piece but it is stunning!  here’s another image with Velda in front to give you an idea of just how large this quilt is.

Valerie Goodwin talked about her career as an architecture professor and how that work has inspired and informed her quilt making.

Judging from the sign below we weren’t the only ones enjoying the dining hall! this was posted on the outside door.

There was even a little time to relax and enjoy the scenery… which was gorgeous.

Now back to work… Bye for now, Catherine