Leaf Peepers and Inverness

Another activity we have been occupied with during our tour of the Maritimes has a name - Leaf Peeping. Each evening we check the internet for the Fall Foliage Report before we plan our next day's route.

We had a memorable stay in Inverness Harbour on Cape Breton Island. The fishermen traditionally name their boats after their daughters because they will always have their daughters but their wives may change.

The coastline has a wild beauty. The days were cloudy, rainy and foggy so I focused on gathering interesting close-up shots with my camera.

Highest Tides in the World

We have spent many hours this week driving around the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to find front row seats from which to view the rising and falling of the largest tides in the world.

The flowing water sculpts grasses growing in the mud flats.

This shot was taken from the same place as the first one just 6 hours later.

Wolfville, Nova Scotia

One of our stops, while travelling through Nova Scotia, was Wolfville, which has just applied to Italy to become the second 'slow' city in North America (the first was Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island). And what an impressive place it is with its mix of a long history of European settlement, unique marine geography, a magnet for world music, significant centre for biological research...and the list goes on. One of Canada's oldest universities, Acadia University, is located in the small city. Students double the size of the city during the academic year.

Harriet Irving donated lots of money to build a spectacular research greenhouse and gardens. The milder climate (by Canadian standards) has meant they could put in plantings to represent many different bio ecosystems, which can all be accessed by paths and trails.

'Face In Nature`by Judith Leidell

Throughout the walks art has been placed as part of the Uncommon Common Art community project put together by the Alliance of Kings Artists http://www.uncommoncommonart.com/

`The face, decomposing in nature, can be given renewed life if visitors place found natural objects at the base of the tree.``

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

We spent the morning exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lunenburg, a town that is the best example in the world of an 18th century town planned in England then built in the New World. The straight streets arranged in a grid pattern ignore the hilly terrain so some streets are very steep.

I opted for a self guided walking tour to view the range of architecture that has been preserved in the town.

In the historic area most of the buildings have been lovingly restored.

And there were lots of pleasant details waiting to be found.

Bluenose II in Lunenburg

After exploring wooden boats moored on the west coast of Canada a couple of weekends ago, I spent today on a famous wooden boat off the east coast. The Bluenose II is a replica of her sister, a fast fishing schooner built in 1921. The replica is in Lunenburg's harbour in Nova Scotia.

I captured another series of images that focus on line and circles on boats.

But I also found some interesting lines of stitching.

Celebration Time

Today I posted to the UK the module I have been working on all summer, a semester of work towards a BA(Hons) Embroidered Textiles with the JC School of Textile Arts, which is why I am celebrating by cleaning up my studio. (I know how to have a good time).

From a study of images of The Suit...


I examined the inside of a suit jacket. I took out the lining....

and flayed it on a tree....

...and I worked with all of the interesting interfacing pieces.

Assessment day is next month in the UK where my work will be marked then returned to me.
In the meantime, I am working on the next module. This semester it is a research one and I have decided to study the Art Deco Movement.

More Sailing Pics

One of my favourite spots to stop for the night in the Gulf Islands is Clam Bay. The shoreline catches the early morning light so beautifully it is compulsory to eat breakfast sitting outside (I usually get breakfast in bed and have a good read before pulling up the anchor).

As beautiful as this reflection of the clouds looks, it was an early warning of a rain-filled, cold day.

On Saturna Island I found a decaying tree in the forest. At this scale it looks architectural.

Underwater Inspiration

While out sailing this summer I captured some under water inspiration.

I have a small point n shoot camera but sometimes the light is right to get those thru the water shots.

They are just asking to be interpreted in textiles.

Technical Difficulties

Thank you to all of the people who let me know my blog was posts were not coming up with the images. It's nice to know you are all interested in what I am doing.

Here is the 2nd attempt with these images - reflections & circles from the Victoria Classic Boat show.

Boats & Korea

Speaking of boats, my work 'Walls Talk', is, at this moment, in the hold of a boat bound for Korea...

...along with all of the other works that will fill the 10,000 sq ft pavilion built for the guest country at the Cheongju Craft Biennale.

On September 23rd the exhibition, 'Unity & Diversity', will open. There will be a catalogue in 3 languages, artist talks, artist demos, receptions, & thousands of people curious to find out what goes on in the fine craft world in Canada. www.cheongjubiennale.or.kr/eng/
What an exciting place to be.

Victoria Classic Boat Show Inspiration

Here are more reflections & circles I found at the Victoria Classic Boat Show.

Classic Boat Show

Over the weekend, I had a most enjoyable time at the Classic Boat Show in Victoria. It was a bit hazardous because I was wearing shoes with a kitten heel that kept getting caught in the gaps between the boards on the docks (dumb choice of footwear) plus I had my camera in front of my face most of the time. However, I fell only once, avoided falling in the water and was rewarded with an inspiring collection of nautical images.
I looked for interesting reflections because the cloudy day produced the right conditions to photograph water.

I also looked for interesting lines....

and shapes. I wouldn't have thought I would find so many interesting circular shapes.

I am starting to think about a nautical/sea series of work because Articulation's next study retreat is to the Canadian Maritimes on the east coast where we will focus on the shoreline. I was born on a Pacific island and I am familiar with that ocean so I am looking forward to getting to know the Atlantic Ocean.