These are the first pillows made from my hooked villages. Each one has a fabric frame around it, a fabric back and closes with an invisible zipper. The hooking is inspired by the work of Ton Schulten. I love how he uses values and geometric blocks to build his landscapes. You can read the story and the evolution of the work here.
It’s a couple of months since I came home my trip. I’ve talked about the time in Glasgow, London and Avignon. But I haven’t documented the best part–6 days sketching in Provence with Shari Blaukopf. We were based in Fontaine de Vaucluse and sketched each day in the surrounding villages and countryside. It was a wonderful week. Here are a few of my sketches.
The following sketches were done at the monastery in St. Remy where Van Gogh spent his last years. We all loved sitting in the lavender field behind the monastery and sketching inside the ancient building. Both inside and out it was a deeply moving place.
Among many highlights, the sketch below is the most meaningful one for me from the whole trip. Late in the afternoon, four of the class members along with Shari hiked up to the Source, the beginning of the many rivers and streams which flow through Fontaine de Vaucluse. I was expecting a waterfall, not the deep, dark and somewhat spooky pool and surrounding caves. We climbed over the barrier and sat at the edge of the water to paint. For an hour we were silent, caught by the spell of the place–the mystery, antiquity and great beauty. When I look back at the sketch I can reenter that world–the intense and almost meditative quality of the sketching experience. 
I’m travelling to Glasgow, London and Avignon this month. The trip involves lots of train travel, some of it solo, so I decided I needed a new travel bag to accompany my backpack and rolling suitcase. There was no question that I wanted a cross-body bag with a wide adjustable strap, large enough to carry all travel essentials, including a sketchbook and paints. I also wanted an outside zipper pocket and lots of pocket options inside.
It is 14.5″ wide, 14″ tall with a 4.5″ base. Inside there is a zipper pocket and two slip pockets. It’s lined with the last piece of the fabric from last year’s sale at the TMC and the pockets are from another TMC remnant. I love to make each bag different inside and durable upholstery fabric works very well. Low profile metal hardware. I’ll let you know how it performs on its first test run and then I’ll make a few for sale.
I’ve mentioned before that I try to wear second hand clothing or clothing designed and made by local designers. Since I have an amazing store, City Revival, in my neighbourhood, finding the right gently-used clothing is pretty easy. Shopping this way is definitely better for the environment and it’s far more economical…and as I don’t much enjoy shopping anymore, it means I can find what I need in one stop: shoes, coats, dresses etc.
And sometimes there is a bonus. I was delighted to find a very large pair of men’s leather pants on a recent visit to CR. These are made in Canada out of fabulous leather. You can see one leg laid out flat and the other rolled in two pieces. Definitely a bag or two here! Check back in a month or so. There should be a new bag out of my Doc’s leather pants. 🙂
This fabulous piece of leather is a remnant which I found in Savannah at Measure. It turned out to be wonderful– colour, texture and quality–and there was enough for a cross-body bag and a wrist pouch, each with outside pockets. The shoulder bag has a zipper pocket inside as well as a slip pocket; the pouch has a small pocket inside for credit cards, subway tokens etc. Both are the colour that welcomes spring! Check in the online store. today There is just one of each.
I was uploading the last two pieces to the Rug Hooking Gallery (on the menu bar at the top of the page) and I realized that I had not added this piece done about a year ago called Houses on the Canal, based on my memories of Amsterdam. I decided to post it here as well, because it is interesting to see the evolution from this piece to the most recent two pieces. While I was at it, I thought I’d post a pouch I made using a piece of denim from my 20 year old NAF NAF coat and some coloured remnants. This vintage black denim is great. This was a chance to explore colour and shape — and just plain fun. 
The highlight of January was a trip to a fibre retreat in Georgia and a visit to Savannah. I especially loved the historic district and the fabric shops. Below are some of the gems of the neighbourhood where we stayed. Laneway houses are a particular favourite of mine, especially old ones. (Alas no time to sketch.)
There was lots of textile and leather inspiration at the Savannah School of Art and Design store.
And even more inspiration on the coast…
Thank you to everyone who made yesterday’s show such a success. I hope you love your purchases! (Special thanks to my wonderful family!)
This one joins the other Ottawa bags lined up for the upcoming show. It has all the features of the Ottawa including generous back zippered pocket, adjustable cross-body strap, double leather bottom and drawstring and magnetic closure. The flap is lined in butterscotch leather and the bag is lined in a durable rust check which you can see in the third photo. Inside there are four pockets to keep all you essentials organized. A handsome and functional bag made to last for years.
Here is another durable tote for travel and everyday use. This is the same waxed canvas as the tobacco totes but this time in black. Like the others, it has a leather bottom for extra strength and stability, a metal zipper closure with leather tab and hand finished leather straps with a 10 .5″ drop. There are two large waxed canvas pockets on the outside for easy access and two more on the inside for more security. As well, as you can see from the last photo, there is a flash of a red pocket inside. This is a section of a beautiful red blazer I once bought in Florence. It has a luxurious feel and the bound pocket–can’t beat that Italian craftsmanship!– is perfect for your phone.
Like many of my pieces this tote has a story. The waxed canvas comes from Biashara Street in Nairobi. I was there buying burlap backing for the rug hookers in Matangwe. The leather pocket is from a shop around the corner from the Duomo in Florence. And the gray heavy cotton lining is from the market in Limoux, France. 17″ wide, 15″ tall and 5.5″ deep.
