Where There's A Will...

I was at the 'Consider the Lilies' fibre art show on the weekend - set in this lovely church with its lily-flooded grounds. These lilies found a way to grow in spite of adverse conditions. That is always a source of wonder, for me - and of inspiration.

These arbutus were also determinedly continuing to grow while clinging to the cliff edge and reaching for the water.

And here is another type of growth I saw - hanging onto it's tree host and defying gravity.

I have been feeling my way towards growth - I decided to line a jacket I had sewn last fall, taking apart a shirt to do it with. The conditions weren't ideal, because I don't have much experience with this, the shirt was smaller and the outer jacket pieces were already put together, so after much figuring, cutting and sewing, I decided it wasn't going to work satisfactorily, and I took the lining all apart again. I tend to just jump in with an idea and it doesn't always work out. But even so, I learn and grow through the doing - even if it's as simple a lesson as 'I won't do this again'! I will still salvage the jacket by finishing the edges with fabric cut on the bias and the inside seams are sealed with a serging type of stitch from my machine, so that will have to do!

Rolling Up My Sleeves

Signs of spring are blossoming everywhere. Including on the grounds outside the old church where the 'Consider the Lilies' show is put on annually by eleven local fibre artists.

I found a lovely painted silk charmeuse jacket there, made by Irm Houle. It has other butterflies, too, and a huge one spanning the entire back.

I have also been to the BC Museum to see 'The Other Emily: Redefining Emily Carr', an exhibit where artist Manon Elder collaborated with curator Kathryn Bridge, to show Emily in her youth, before she became widely recognized. Manon's paintings of Carr are her novel interpretations based on historical photographs and these were interspersed with Carr's paintings, journals and sketchbooks. I came away feeling uplifted for having entered Carr's interesting and fruitful world. I have always been drawn to her paintings and once did a pastel rendition of one of them as a teenager. I was also intrigued that in a few of Manon's paintings of Carr, she used liquid indigo on the canvas. This close up was part of a sleeve in one of the paintings: And another sleeve - this one from a Victorian style child's dress from around the same time period as Emily's childhood. I like the triangles, which also lined the hem of the skirt.

And - I have cleared my studio area so I have space to work again.

Heads or Tails?

My weekend started with a rare opportunity to see a dead grey whale that had washed up on the beach at East Sooke Park and unexpectedly, I also later saw the bones of another grey whale, near the end of the weekend, at Pearson College, while I was out that way to see the 'Consider the Lilies VIII' fibre art show, when I also stopped in at the campus. I felt awed by the size and magnificence of the whales, but I have to say I much prefer when I have encountered them live, rising from the deep to stare at me. It was the second day of the Lilies show and I noticed there seemed to be fewer pieces then other years, but heard that quite a few had sold the first day. There was still plenty to see and be inspired by - art quilts, fibre pieces, journals, calendars, cards, clothing, dolls, bags and jewlery. Ten local artists pooled their talents to produce the beautiful show, which I attend every year and wouldn't miss! I also happened upon a dream garage sale with tables and boxes of every imaginable kind of bead - the photo above shows some cultured pearls and crystals I bought for a pittance, but I found other types, as well, including some hand carved bone horse heads and natural coloured stone geometric shapes that I especially like. Today I reorganized my studio, managing to find space to put away the leftover fabrics from the Nancy Crow workshop by a series of moves - almost like a giant chess board with a win being the resulting clean counter space!

Consider the Lilies Show

I went to see the 'Fibres and Beyond' group show today in this lovely old church set on grounds with Garry Oak trees and awash in lilies. This is the third year I've been out to see the show and each time is quite different, with varying guest artists, as well. I appreciate the opportunity to see how others are working and to notice what I most resonate with and why.