New Work for the December Halifax Crafters Show

My hands are busy whenever I'm not reading academic papers, writing papers, or in group meetings. I just had some more frames mailed from Toronto and the work I'm doing in Halifax is forming a nice little pile. I'm excited to show it off at the December Halifax Crafters show. Halifax has an amazing community of crafters that take pride in making beautiful and high quality one-of-a-kind art and goods.

December 5 / 6, 2009

11 am - 5 pm

Olympic Community Centre, 2304 Hunter Street (at the corner of Hunter and Cunard)

For more information about Halifax Crafters, visit the blog:

http://halifaxcrafters.blogspot.com/

New Christmas ornaments, featuring vintage buttons and naturally dyed wool felt.

Experimenting with all the colours I brought with me from Toronto. I've had to go to The Loop to pick up more colours. I forgot pink!

On Hiatus from Toronto

For the next two years I will be attending a Masters of Information and Library Studies at Dalhousie University. I have high hopes to continue stitching away and eventually find some lovely shops in Halifax that would like to carry my work.

In the mean time, there is still a collection of work on display at Arts on Queen in the Toronto Beach area (2198 Queen St. E.). I will continue to provide Arts on Queen with new work while I'm in Halifax.

Here is a preview of some of the work I will be framing over my winter break in December. This is a collection of work that I completed while driving across Canada this past July.

Creating an Heirloom: Exploring Monograms

Wednesday March 18th: 6:30 - 9 pm

Wednesday March 25th: 6:30 - 9 pm

Wednesday April 1st: 6:30 - 9 pm

Wednesday April 8th: 6:30 - 9 pm

401 Richmond, Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op, Studio 109

$200 (including a material kit)

This four week long course for beginners explores both historical and contemporary applications of monograms and walks you through the steps to create a completely unique and precious heirloom that will be treasured for generations. 

You will learn basic embroidery and ribbon embroidery stitches and use your new skills to design and embellish a monogram. 

Embroidery For Kids Workshop

Thursday March 19th: 1 - 4 pm

Friday March 20th: 1 - 4 pm

401 Richmond, Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op, Studio 109

$100 (including a material kit)

This course over March Break is for children (ages 7 - 11) who are interested in learning basic embroidery stitches. We will be working on embellishing four different illustrations based on First Nations legends, including "Why the Owl Has Big Eyes." There will be lots of opportunity to embellish the designs with beads and buttons. Participants will take home both indispensable needlework skills, and completely unique works of art, worthy of framing.

Quail and Gnat-Catcher

Embellished Quail and Gnat-catcher in 8 in. x 10 in. shadow boxes. 

Heat transfer onto bees-waxed cotton.

French Knots, seed stitch and glass beads. 

Framing the pieces by sewing them onto acid-free foam core. 

Chuck Will's Widow in a flurry of pink and orange silk thread and ribbon.

Dahlia and onion skin dyed cotton. 

It's a cold January day and I'm heading to the studio to frame nine completed pieces for Arts on Queen. I sure hope that the studio is warmer than my apartment. Frigid fingers make for sore stitching. Look for these art Arts on Queen in the next week.  

Bringing in the New year

After getting such a great response at Arts on Queen in December, I am making some new pieces to bring to the store as soon as I can. On New Year's Eve I spent the day at the Contemporary Textile Studio drawing and picking embroidery colours for 9 new pieces - three that will be framed in 8 in x 10 in shadow boxes and six that will be 6 in x 6 in shadow boxes. I am particularly excited about the series of three Canadian Owls. 

I will also be embroidering a series of tree portraits since they do so well in the store. I found a fabulous variegated embroidery thread at The Workroom that I love working with and used it to fill in the tree trunks. I love the cream to brown variegation!

Stay tuned for progress on these pieces! I am hoping to have them delivered to Arts on Queen in the next couple of weeks, unless you snag one first!