Bridging Waters: Inspiration

The inspiration for the forms I am making came from the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a United Nations World Heritage Site.

William was our guide down to the site. He passionately explained how the huge surging tides of the Bay of Fundy were actively eroding the Joggins Cliffs to reveal more and more fossils. It must be so exciting to be a scientist going down to the beach under the cliffs when the tide is out, particularly after the high spring tides, to see what new fossils had been revealed.

William explained how the ancient trees were preserved when sediments were laid down.

The tree trunks can be seen preserved in the cliffs today.

William showed us fossil remnants of different trees and named them.

I was intrigued by the patterns made by the leaf scars on the tree trunks.

Samples of different tree trunks are displayed in the interpretative centre. 

I decided to interpret these patterns in fabric.

This is the Calamite's distinctive pattern. It is the gigantic ancient ancestor of the Horse Tail or Scouring Rush found in forests today.

Inspiration for Fundy Post Cards

The inspiration for Post Cards # 4 and #5 came from the Age of Sail Museum http://www.ageofsailmuseum.ca/, the sailor's costume for Post Card #4 and these woolen quilts for Post Card #5.

The quilts appear to be made from woolen clothing, particularly men's suits.

One of my favourite textile researchers is Anne Hollander. She has written extensively on the role the suit has played in society. Her books read like novels as she reveals the story. 

In the Post Card I incorporated 3 different horse hair textiles traditionally used to interface suit jackets. I collected these fabrics last November while exploring Toronto's textile district with other Articulation members.

Another important source of information for this series of work has been Allen Penney's book Houses of Nova Scotia.

Rain Forest

Some close-up shots of the rainforest
Inside a hollow living cedar

The fungus growing on tree trunks is more colourful and interesting close-up

Sailing North

My husband, Ron and I went sailing again this summer. For 2 weeks we headed north ending up in the Broughtons. It was wet.

Most days it was wet. 

But is was to be expected because we were in rain forest country

There were enough breaks in the heavy rain for us to go ashore to walk through wet undergrowth.

Findings

The other day I came across a magnificent growth of fungus on a row of tree stumps.
They appear to me to have so much potential to be interpreted in fibre - short row knitting, couching, applique, . . . .

More Architecture in Yarmouth

Here are some more images of the outstanding, well preserved architecture to be found in Yarmouth.

It is unusual to find in a relatively small place such a wide range of styles within a few blocks of each other.

One of the explanations is many of the houses were built by wealthy sea captains who were inspired by what they saw in their ports of call.

The quality of construction and the size of the houses reflects the powerful position of Yarmouth on the sea trade routes in the hey day of sail.

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.

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.