I disappeared for a few days… to my sewing machine!  Every September, after a summer of this’s and that’s, I have a mind that dances all over and has trouble settling on art priorities and letting me get down to business. I’ve discovered a bit of a pattern developing. I turn to my Someday pile.     In 2013 I spent the summer making quilts – I think it was seven quilts to be exact that I completed...

I’m looking forward to the opening of a new Alberta travelling exhibition(TREX), The Tie That Binds. This year north central Alberta will be treated to the work of f0ur Alberta fibre artists….. and I was invited to be one of the four! I share this exhibition with Judy Weiss, Edmonton, Margie Davidson, Edmonton, and Matt Gould, Red Deer. Opportunity! I was first approached in early 2015 and I almost couldn’t believe it when it...

Spring and summer 2014 have been a time of extremes. Emotions have run the gambit – from high to low. Happy times mingled with sad, joy with sadness. It was a time of renewal and of letting go. Since April I have said goodbye to a much loved younger brother who left us suddenly without warning. A warm and caring man, highly regarded by family, friends and neighbours; his death has left a hole in many lives. The shock and sadness left me...

Tonight I delivered my contribution to the Calgary Flood Quilt project – Holly Hobbie Goes Scrappy! Remember Holly Hobbie?  Late 1970’s early 1980’s?  There’s a story here. A couple of weeks ago I invited a quilting friend in for coffee and chat as she is one of the flood evacuees.  Even now she is not back into her third floor condo.  Although her unit was not damaged all the building support systems were destroyed and...

  I’ve carried on a tradition that my Mother began with her first grandchild, my oldest son.  Each year at Christmas she would search for or make a Christmas tree ornament for each grandchild. If I remember correctly, McKenzie’s first ornament was an ‘Arizona Cactus’ purchased while preparing for Christmas in Phoenix AZ that year.  In 2011, while in Osoyoos, BC prior to Christmas 2011, I spotted this tiny bear who...

  Somewhere on my art journey, I acquired a large plastic bin of tartan and wool skirts.  A few were added from my personal collection over the years and I was/am challenged to figure out what to do with them – all that beautiful woolen fabric! I think that the bin probably dates back to my rug hooking days – they make beautiful variegated fabric when over dyed!  Although I still have one mat/rug in the UFO bin, designed to...

This was a series of machine embroidery picture mats that I used along with a collection of small  recycled picture frames for quick family Christmas exchange items. Many, but not all, have Christmas themes and therefore, I’m sure, get packed away each year.  It gave me a great opportunity to use my sewing machine’s embroidery capacity – a feature that I don’t use enough!   A quick check through family photos provided me...

  This was a really fun project!  I’ve always thought I would do some more of these 3-D fabric sculptures – but make my own patterns. This one was based on a pattern in a Quilting Arts magazine, possibly their Christmas special I think.  I have a friend who is very fond of her cuppa tea and so it was made especially for her.  The funny thing is, after giving it to her, I never saw it again!  In spite of many shared afternoon...

  This coat has provided me with many cozy hours during our RV travel years!  It started it’s life as an ankle-length boiled-wool coat that I purchase to brave Ottawa winters while traveling to and from work.  It was purchased at a time when my weight had skyrocketed and by the next winter, after some time with Weight Watchers, it no longer fit and was relegated to the back of a closet. One of my fibre art...

For valentines day I created a handmade mini-book photo journal for my husband.   I decided that, as it would be an ongoing project, I would not use ‘valentine’ colours but went for a classy black and gold combo inspired by some leftover wrapping paper.  The concept for the book was something I found on the Scrap Girls blog and I’ve included the link for the tutorial for my inspiration. I modified the instructions for my own...