I stitched a silk swaddling blanket from silk dyed with avocado stones, coleus leaves, onion skins and saffron. Our third grandchild is due next week, the same day we fly to South Africa for most of April. I wanted something … Continue reading →
It is Solstice, our darkest day and yet my soul still lingers in November light. It was a month of renewed creative energy for me. The darkening monochromatic landscape … Continue reading →
I’ve always been certain that needlework holds stories while nurturing the soul. This belief was happily affirmed while I was curating Grace McKnight’s crochet exhibition over the past 3 years. Grace took doilies made by her grandmother, found vintage doilies, … Continue reading →
Visiting Annapolis Royal is always a treat, especially to visit Penny and Diane. I’d asked if I could come to one of their regular dye days to learn more about my new fascination with the alchemy of the dye pot. … Continue reading →
The indigo cotton is soft, like faded blue jeans with the same comfortable worn-in feeling. I’m patching this baby quilt I made for Leitha when I was 28. The quilt is now used by Scarlett and is showing it’s wear. … Continue reading →
It is Sunday and everything is moist and soft in the drizzle and rain of the past few days. I wake early and sit in the stillness to stitch. Simple stitching is restful, contemplative. Later, I’m keen to walk in … Continue reading →
It’s been a while since I posted, so I thought I’d catch up by showing you Scarlett’s baby quilt which I finished last fall. I began the quilt about a year ago and stitched on it slowly. My favourite stitching … Continue reading →
This morning as I watched the group of 5 crows who inhabit my garden every day, I thought of Susan Tilsley Manley. Susan was talented quilt artist who made fine art quilts about her country life in Nova Scotia. Susan … Continue reading →
We’ve had a most glorious, golden autumn weather here that’s gone on and on. These photographs are of our daily walk along wooded paths and the Maggie-Maggie Brook. They were taken about a month ago, so there’s still quite a … Continue reading →
I’ve been digging into my old treasure trove of indigo cotton prints from South Africa. Many of the prints were bought in the late 60’s and early 1970’s when I still lived in South Africa. The local blue print cotton, … Continue reading →
Detail of a stone wall built by Andy Goldsworthy at Storm King, New York.
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via www.yankeemagazine.com A wonderful interview and tribute to the work of Jo Diggs. The video shows Jo and her wonderful landscapes. I met Jo in the early 1980's and we became friends as we were both had a love of … Continue reading →
Ever wondered exactly how a sewing machine works to create a smooth line of loped stitches? The perfect video that somehow I can watch for ages.
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Foraging and berry picking are things I love to do. I don’t have far to go. My own garden and nearby woods provide so much for our table.
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Step aside Jimmy Choo, these are Zulu power shoes! If it stands still, Zulu women will bead it! I’ve seen everything from beaded teapots to cars and suits.
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via andsewitgoes.blogspot.ca Terry Grant recently blogged about an interesting technique she’s figured out. Using Liquid Thread, Terry creates dark outlines behind the applique shapes. It give a dramatic look and great effect. You can see her step by step instructions … Continue reading →
I love my Newfoundland thrummed socks. I feel the cold terribly and am always looking for the best way to keep my feet warm. Our old farmhouse, while snug, has old wooden floors that can be a bit cold. Thrummed socks are just about the warmest thing I own.
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Here is my Valentine’s Day heart. I’m very taken with wool these days. It’s a dream to stitch and the hand dyed colours are lovely. I’m lucky to have two rug hooking stores in my town. The wool they supply … Continue reading →
This just in from patti Carey of Nortcott Fabrics in Canada: Northcott has been contacted by several interested and concerned quilters asking if we would be able to assist in getting quilts to the earthquake/tsunami victims in Japan. The answer … Continue reading →
Quilters around the world are shipping quilts to easy the burden of the earthquake disaster in Japan. Here is information directly from Japan regarding the quilts.
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There are few things more nurturing and soul soothing than stitching with dear freinds. This past week I met with five dear fabric freinds to stitch and talk and eat and stitch some more. Bliss
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A fabulous box of Sulky goodies arrived at my door recenlty. Joyce Drexler of Sulky America asked me to submit a project for her latest techniques book. I sent in this landscape.
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A Textile Diaspora. I am drawn to stories expressed in cloth and was delighted by this slide show and article about African textile artist, Yves Appolinaire Kpede and his fascinating appliqué collage quilts and hangings. The quilts and hangings talk … Continue reading →
Join me on a tour of South Africa for 15 culture and adventure filled days!
April 2011
Inspired by the beyond vibrant colors of Mexico’s architecture and cemeteries.
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Sharon Pederson was our guest for Mahone Bay Quilter’s Guild 10th Extraordinary Quilter Dessert Party on April 8th. Quilters and great food are a match made in heaven! We filled 2 banquet tables with sweet bounty. Invited guest Johanna Alford, Pres. … Continue reading →
My friend Bonnie Samuel asked me to write a guest blog for http://bonniesamueldesigns.com/blog/ /on my 6 weeks with women’s sewing groups in South Africa. I’ve talked about it here but I thought you’d like to read about some of the powerful … Continue reading →
Many quilters are concerned that cotton cultivation uses the greatest amounts of chemicals of almost any crop. So I was relieved when I saw new environmentally sensitive batt products appearing: Pale green batting from Quilter’s Dream which is made from shredded 7-up bottles, and also bamboo batting. But, I decided to investigate bamboo a little more.
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I squished this enormous pile of embroidery threads into a large suitcase and carried them to South Africa; gifting them to the women I met. About 2 years ago packages of threads started arriving in the mail when word got … Continue reading →
> Mapula Cloth by Elizabeth Mogan Originally uploaded by African Threads I’ve just returned from 6 weeks in South Africa. It was a truly rich and fascinating time. Veryan and I visited 9 women’s groups in various parts of S.Africa including … Continue reading →
I received a shipment of wall hangings from KwaZulu Natal just before Christmas. This one is made by Sheila Msimbi and depicts a Grandmother with many grandchildren to look after: they're jumping, climbing and hiding from her. This small tapestry … Continue reading →
Well … it's not really trusty! I found this treasure washed up on the beach in La Have, Nova Scotia and simply had to bring it home. I photographed it with luscious organic silk squares from Thailand that I bought … Continue reading →
What cakes would "Piece O'Cake" quilt designers make? What does Darlene Christopherson bake to win her son-in-law's heart? Do you want to make Rum Balls like Lorraine Torrence or Pavlova like CBC radio's Shelagh Rogers? Find out in this exceptional … Continue reading →
Ami Simms wrote the other day to say there is a special bid on a group of 4 mini landscape quilts all made by quilters Rosemary Garza and Noel Ann McCord of Beaumont, Texas. This is their Seasons Of Life … Continue reading →
I had a call this afternoon from my textile friends who collected the found quilts from the police. The police wanted to photograph all the quilts before they released them. It’s not a complete retrieval. None of my teaching materials, … Continue reading →
Billy Jordan found the quilts while walking in the woods. Apparently nature called……. read about it in the Chronicle Herald: (hmmmm, I can't get this link to work, but if you're interested, cut and paste this linkhttp://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Search/1063500.htmlinto your browser or, … Continue reading →
Friday 20 June: This afternoon a journalist from a t.v. station in St. John’s phoned to say that a young man had called the station to say he’d found my quilts. The journalist interviewed the fellow, and saw my quilts … Continue reading →
Yes, sadly, it's true.2 suitcases were taken from the locked trunk of my car just after the Quilt Canada conference here in St. John's Newfoundland. I've lost a significant body of work.FlamboyantTropic of CapricornFertility Several small wall hangings and collagesAlmost … Continue reading →
Warmest congratulations to Lynne Edwards, English quilter who has been awarded the highest citizen award in the Commonwealth: M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) for her contribution to the Arts through her quilting. The award will be present by H.R.H. … Continue reading →
Yup, that’s me, at Quilt Festival in Houston, handcuffed by Lieutenant J.R. Johnson of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. I met the Lt. in Janet Rice-Bredin’s booth where we were chatting with Sharon Pederson during Quilt Market. We offered him … Continue reading →
Points of View:My second book on small landscapes is hot off the press and in quilt stores as of mid-September. I’m delighted to have worked with Martingale Publishing to produce this book. Points of View: Landscape quilts to Stitch and … Continue reading →
Sketchbooks and journals are a dynamic part of the creative process. And judging by the new crop of books and web sites on journaling and creative sketchbooks, it’s obviously something that appeals to almost all of us in the creative … Continue reading →
So, we’re in the groove of 2007 and like many, I’ve started some new routines… well, not really “new”. I’ve re-awoken old routines that slipped by the way. I started yoga again and found a lovely teacher close by. It … Continue reading →
People I meet: My nose has been glued to the laptop for most of the past 9 months while completing my new book, yet I’ve connected to some fascinating people and resources. In September had the great pleasure to spend … Continue reading →
Pencil Crayons on Fabric. Have you thought about using pencil crayons in your landscapes and quilts? I first used watercolour pencils in this quilt called East/West http://www.valeriehearder.com/variousquilts.htm. Click on the detail of East/West. After all, it’s a wall hanging so … Continue reading →
The latest edition of Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine is on the stands and it has an article that I wrote about the evocative landscapes of Karen Colbourne Martin of St John’s Newfoundland. I became friends with Karen when I lived in … Continue reading →
New book in the works!! I’m delighted to let you know that I’m working on a new book on embellished landscapes for Martingale, due out next summer 2007. I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going, but I’m so enjoying … Continue reading →
Greetings from Nova Scotia. How to settle down to work after an exciting 6 week trip to Japan and Bali!? Well, as I write, Nova Scotia’s softly falling snow certainly brings me back to reality! No more warm Indian ocean … Continue reading →
