Glorious landscapes

Who doesn't love Mother Nature? She has long been a beloved subject of artists of all genres. Of late, it seems there has been a passionate interest among textile artists to create landscape art and there are numerous blogs and tutorials available to pursue the technical aspects of same. However, we are always seeking inspiration to kick start our creative bent. The photo heading up my blog today is of an iris bog not far from my home. After what seems like a " forever" winter, one is greeted by a sea of yellow and rich greens which lifts the spirits and warms the heart. I hope to incorporate part of this glorious scene in my ongoing Earth, Sea, Sky tryptich which I will be blogging about in the future.

For breath taking photos that will hopefully give you some inspiration, clink the link below. Thanks to Smashing Magazine for their always insightful and informative blog articles:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/11/50-remarkable-nature-wallpapers/

Do you tend to explain your art?

"Explanations are the traitor of art
Serious art defies easy interpretation, and artists should resist the call to explain themselves"
......Jonathan Jones

This quote from the Art & Architecture blog in the British Guardian newspaper http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/art/2008/07/explanations_are_the_traitor_o.html
gave me food for thought this morning. As textile artists, do we explain too much or does the need for explanation go hand in glove with the medium?
There are a myriad of blogs out there in cyberspace written by textile practitioners, many of whom are professional teachers or by those who naturally teach as they write to their readership. Everywhere you look tutorials abound. BUT I notice that aside from the " tutes" and blogging, many textile artists seem to have a need to explain their work and why they did it etc. Even at Gallery Openings where texile art is prominent, I hear artists explaining their process to viewers or prospective clients. I personally don't see this done as much in other mediums in these type of venues. More often than not, you see the viewer immersed in deep thought over a painting or sculpture and you can almost see the wheels going around while they try to discern in their own mind what the artist is trying to say.
What are your thoughts on this? Does our medium demand explanation or is it the fact that there is a largely female population immersed in this art and verbal communication comes more readily to women? As females and nurturers, does teaching or explaining come naturally? Do women artists in other mediums feel a need to explain their work?
Hmmmm.....????????

For my CQ Friends

Many of my good buddies are Crazy Quilters and I personally LOVE the medium. My ever vigilant son , the DA, put me on to the Apartment Therapy site recently. Goodness knows how he came across it!
I've often thought about crazy quilting the old wing back chair in my studio and this patchwork link has certainly got me re-thinking this again!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/fabric-textiles/patchwork-upholstery-from-squint-limited-055717

OK ladie and gents- start the wheels going around!

July 4th - Happy Independence Day to my American Friends!

Textile of the Day

On July 4, 1776, the United States claimed their independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Today Independence Day is celebrated all over the nation and by Americans stationed around the world.

Greetings to my American friends and have a safe and enjoyable day!

To follow up on our Textile for the Day here's an interesting site to learn more....

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/index.html

I've been tagged

.......by my good bud Betty Pillsbury over at http://www.greenspiralherbs.blogspot.com/

This is not something I often do but I will humour my dear friend as she knows my secrets and if I don't follow through she might threaten me with 100 lashes of chenille, for she also knows my foibles ( and I have rather a dodgy relationship with chenille!). So here goes.....




Ten years ago.......

I was living in a small rural village fish bowl, albeit an idyllic setting but one where privacy was a foreign word!


Five things on today's t0-do list........

Read ,my new Image to Stitch book by Maggie Grey
Continue the reshuffling of the studio to find more room to move around!
Prepare vegetable vindaloo in the crockpot
Finish some gardening projects
Sit with my family on our back deck, sipping a drinkie and watching the Canada Day fireworks!


Snacks I enjoy.....

Cheese and crackers
Berries and yogurt
Fennel ( anise)
Savouries of any kind..
a good cup of tea, esp. blueberry tea and mint green tea

Things I would do if I was a millionaire.....

Set things in place for my family that would always ensure their financial security
so they could enjoy life more and for some, to take risks to follow their dreams
Take that long desired trip to Morocco
Set up a foundation that would do quiet meaningful deeds for others
Hold an ultimate stitching retreat with a huge gifting suite and swag for my true blue loyal friends who loved me when I was not a millionaire
Find that elusive beachfront home with a huge studio and uber garage


Places I have lived.....

London, England
Worthing, England
Toronto
Montreal
Mt. Brydges


Other Bloggers:

Introducing new blogger Vickie Brown - http://www.itsonlyribbon.blogspot.com/

Happy Canada Day! July 1st

Textile of the Day !

Today we celebrate Canada's 141st birthday and most everyone has time off work to enjoy the day in whatever way they please. There is much to be thankful about and to be grateful for living in this wonderful country where we enjoy so many freedoms and opportunities.

On Canada Day, I'd like to salute our peacekeepers and men and women of our armed forces who are stationed around the world proudly representing our country and helping to make the world a safer place for all.

I am both fortunate and proud to be a Canadian.

I'd like to share with you some pictures of my beautiful home land accompanied by the music of one of our national treasures, Gordon Lightfoot. The song " Beautiful" also has great sentimental meaning for me so I hope you enjoy both the music and the scenery as much as I do.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gVM7hrQsghA&feature=related

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Mum

My Beautiful Birthday Girl Joanie



After a long absence, I am finally returning to blogging. I have been spending more time with my Mum this past couple of months and today we celebrated her birthday. She was in fine form, matching wits with my fellas and holding court as the grand dame of the family. She thoroughly enjoyed her day and we are lucky to still have her to spoil.


On a textile note, paisley prints seem to be coming back into fashion and they are one of Joan's all time favourites! So, one of her birthday gifts was three yards of paisley fabric in her favourite colours. I am going to make her a quilted jacket with it to keep her cozy and warm for those cool summer nights and early fall days. She was delighted and we spent the afternoon pouring over ideas and pattern designs. We will keep it fairly simple and functional as the fabric is jazzy enough! If I play my cards right, she just might let me use the bit extra left over to tart up some denims for my upcoming Denim Duds Redone class at http://www.joggles.com/

Birthday Fabric for Jazzy Girl