What I used to do, as seen on TV

I was just surfing the web, and I found a link to Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts.  My Lowell Fiber Arts Studio friends/studio mates were among the very first tenants in Western Avenue Studios, on the fifth floor (the first finished) in 2005.  We were Maxine Farkas, Linda Branch Dunn, Karen Bettencourt, Gwen Stith, Margot Stage, Laura Gawlinski, Gay Tracey and I.  We first met at Friends Fabric Arts to learn journal quilting on Tuesday mornings, beginning in 2003.  When Western Avenue Studios opened, we got together and christened the Lowell Fiber Studios.  As the months passed into years, Western Avenue Studios grew from a creepy, old mill building with an old freight elevator into a beautiful, colorful, creative space filled with a community of hundreds of artists of every kind.  Watch the video.  I love Prince Edward Island and everything I have come to know here, but sometimes, I really, really miss my fine arts community!  Here's the link.  Enjoy! http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/23154870/detail.html

Kindred Spirits

I recently was the guest speaker at the Kindred Spirits Quilt Guild in Charlottetown.  I talked about my process in making Pangur Ban, the Cat, my newest art quilt.  I bought my sketchbook, and the head, hands and feet I sculpted from polymer clay.  I also brought my needle-felted white cat, which I will add to the piece as Pangur Ban.  Most everyone liked my work.  Of course, there is always the traditional quilter, perfectionist who points out what she would have done "the right way."  Undaunted, I will keep working on my art, just as the monk and his kitty Pangur Ban worked on theirs, turning darkness into light.

Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day, a very solemn holiday in Canada.  This is the day that Canadians remember their war dead, especially from World War I, but also World War II and Korea.  The culture around Remembrance Day is somewhat different than our Veterans' Day.  For Americans, Veterans' Day remembers the sacrifices of all veterans, living and dead.  We mark the day with parades, flags and patriotism.  The Canadians, on the other hand, have quiet ceremonies at cenotaphs where they lay wreaths.  A cenotaph is a war memorial. It is usually a statute or a small monument dedicated to the war dead.  I had never heard this word before I moved here. At Remembrance Day ceremonies, people leave the poppies they had been wearing all week at the cenotaph following the ceremony.

November Already!

It is the first week in November, and it has snowed already.  Winter starts early and lasts a long time.  Even so, this is still the most beautiful place on Earth.  Halloween passed with no trick or treaters.  I never realized that I would miss Halloween so much.  I always enjoyed seeing the kids dressed up in their costumes and giving out candy, so next year I may have to visit a friend in the city to get my Halloween happiness.  Abby has been spending a lot of time with her new little horse. He is a very cute little foal, all black with white socks on his rear legs.
 
American Thanksgiving is coming up soon, and I am determined to have the feast here, though I can't do it on Thanksgiving because it is just another work day.  And so, I will have to move dinner to Saturday or Sunday.  Not quite the same, but pretty close.  A week later, Kathryn will be coming home.  I guess we won't get to see Aaron until Christmas.

Tomorrow is October

Tomorrow is the first day of October.  In two weeks, Abby's dream will come true and she will be getting a miniature horse, a little colt named BraveHeart whose barn name will be Willy.  Harvey, Abby, Daniel and I will be travelling down to New Hampshire to pick him up. I am taking three days off to make the trip.

Today I got to go to Victoria Park in Charlottetown and sit by the ocean.  As I sat there, I watched the cruise ship pull out of the harbor.  There were hundreds of people standing on the deck to get a last look at Charlottetown before they left for another port.  I felt very lucky to be left behind.

Back to School Ads and Old Home Week

Summer is fast coming to a close.  I saw my first Back to School ads last night on television.  The nights are getting cooler, and Old Home Week is coming up fast.  Old Home Week is the biggest annual event on PEI.  It is a week of horse racing, ending with the Gold Cup and Saucer race and parade.  There are also agricultural and craft demonstrations, food, games, and a carnival midway with lots of rides.  I am going to do an Artist Trading Card demonstration for the PEI Women's Institute, and Abby is going to be showing Harvey's mini horses at the fair.  After it is all over, I will go to Montreal to get Kathryn and all her stuff before she goes to Europe.

Besides all of this, I am having a solo fiber show in September, and I have to complete some more work for it.  I have been working very hard on St. Michael #2, and I am nearly finished.  I would like to complete St. George and the Dragon and Joan of Arc before the show.  It is an ambitious plan, but I think I am up for it.  Meanwhile, I have moved all my supplies to the cottage, where I can work undisturbed.

My ESL students are doing well.  We can finally communicate on a very basic level.  They can tell time and follow directions.  They have learned a lot of words and basic communication skills. They are a challenge, but I know that what I am teaching them will be useful every day for the rest of their lives.  I really enjoy watching their progress as they struggle with English.  I admire their persistence.

Aaron Is Here for a Visit

This has been a busy week.  Last Friday, Aaron and his friend Mike drove up to see us.  He and Mike are staying here in the house at Clyde River with us.  The cottage is being occupied by Steffy's family and Abby for the week.  Summer weather just arrived this past week.  Before then, it was pleasantly warm with cool evenings suitable for a bonfire.  Now, it is summer, but not too hot!  Just enough to let you know it's time for the beach.

Aaron's and my 25th wedding anniversary was yesterday.  We went to the PEI Preserve Co. for dinner up in New Glasgow.  It was quite a beautiful evening after nearly a full day of gray sky and rain.  I have been spending Friday through Monday every week at the cottage, relaxing on the beach and working on my Teaching English as a Second Language distance course.  Of course, I am still teaching my UMassLowell law course online, which is always enjoyable. 

The PEI Women's Institute has asked me to demonstrate art quilting techniques at Old Home Week in Charlottetown this summer.  Abby will be showing her horses there, too, this year.  She has a show on Saturday and will be showing Monty, Cheyenne and Buttercup.  They are all looking very good.  I think she may bring home some prizes for all the work she has done with Harvey's horses this year.