Things I Love Thursday

Yes - the moon.  She was lovely as always.  Like most others with a camera, I snapped my own images of her from the deck of my home.  The night was clear and the timing was great.  My kids were out in the backyard enjoying with me.

I love that the days are still warm.  We've had a few warm nights still and were able to sleep with the windows open, though the colours continue to change with the season.

That is the tree over my back deck.  I do love the yellow so very much, especially when it's illuminated in the light!  Many trees are still green.  A few are bare since the last big wind.  This next one from Sutherland Beach is so great - look how much space it takes up!  It's my son's favourite.  He stopped in his tracks to say, 'WOAH.  LOOK at that tree!'

The paths at that off leash park are so gorgeous and a tad spooky.  I love being able to look past the gnarly dark branches to see sunlit areas.  It's like mini tree forts for little ones.

It's not just the trees... but the grasses change colour too.  I love when I find orange and red grasses in the natural parks.  They are so beautiful and they glow when the sun hits them.  This batch looked pretty at the top of a retaining wall along a path.

Okay, one more photo!  This bush is great - the leaves look like coins from a way back: red and gold and burgundy and yellow spots of colour.

Isn't that lovely!?  What a great September it has been.  Happy October, and Happy Thursday to you!  : )

Sunday Snapshots

Happy August Long!  : )  It's a beautiful summer!  There are no mosquitoes - have I mentioned that too much?  It's amazing to sit outside at night and not be covered in chemicals to avoid being eaten alive.  And so we are out a lot this year, at all times of the day.  I headed to Jackfish Lake to pick up my youngest boy.  He's stayed a whole week there alone with my mom.  Let me tell you, he did not want to leave.  He chopped a tree down, he learned to light fires in the wood stove, he gardened, he cooked, he baked, he bbqd - all on his own.  It totally wasn't babysitting for her.  He worked and worked and worked because he loves to.  Then we came out with a birthday gift from the other grandparents - the boat he's wanted forever.  (Next on his list is a motorbike of course...)

Isn't that sweet?  I love the way the my camera caught this - he looks like a little black ink drawing from a storybook.

We packed up after a couple hours at the beach and drove home.  Of course, I took a few detours.  : )

THIS is right beside the farmhouse I grew up in.  We stood by the ditch and just watched.  There was a beautiful breeze that swirled and came in little bursts.  My daughter and I took videos of it moving.  I put one on my instagram account (Monika-Kinner) and I could watch it over and over.  It's so mesmerizing.  It's like the land is alive and breathing.

I didn't get as many photos as I had hoped because we had some melt downs in the van (whyyyy can't everyone just be happy????).  lol  But that photo above was a good reason to pull over - it was SO purple.  Everything glowed purple.  The sun was going down behind us as I headed back to Saskatoon.  We got to enjoy the moon rise.  It was so big!  So big!  It's amazing how fast it shrinks as it rises.

Facing the opposite way, we saw the last light of the sun before it turned dark.  It's always such a lovely ride.  The kids don't watch videos - they just stare out the window and watch the scenery as it transforms.  It's a beautiful show!  : )

Have a great long weekend / Saskatchewan day.  Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers.

Happy Sunday,

Productivity

Productivity...

I've been having a lot of creative fun in my studio - probably in retaliation to having a deadline for a new batch of threapaintings for the exhibit in Melfort.  The good news is that some of my creations are working out great.  The other good news is that I still managed to create a good sized batch of new threadpaintings anyhow!  They also turned out great.  : )  I'll have some of my Crewel prairie embroidery in the show as well as several surprises.

I am not sure if this will make it into the Melfort show, but I sure like it!  I did some paint - stamp - stitch with opaque metallic paint and gold thread on batiks.  I really like stitching with this gold thread.  I have a lot of it but haven't really used it much.  It's the metallic line from Wonderfil.  So far, so awesome!

I've also prepared a new stack of 2015 Wish You Were Here prairie postcards.  These are ready for stitching, though I might not get to completing them until May.

There are still a good amount for sale at the SK Craft Council (Saskatoon) and a new batch at the Mackenzie Art Gallery Shop (Regina).  Both locations have new threadpaintings as well for a total of 3 each.

I'm about to add the finishing touches so that they will be ready for framing and available in Melfort at my show with ceramic artist Ken Wilkinson.

I'm excited about that show, as I said.  I'm off to his studio this week to see what he's done regarding collaborated pieces.  I made him some cloth, and he used it when making pieces for me to be able to add fibre to once more.  Aaaah... mmore creativity.

If you look at the colours and motifs in his work, you can probably see why I thought our art would make a good pair.  I took this photo at his studio.  It's a cropped portion of a HUGE wall full of pottery.  When I was on the lookout for a pottery partner last summer, and I spied these grasses and landscape colours, I knew this was what I was looking for!

creations of Ken Wilkinson, Saskatoon

There's my little update, and a very minimal sneak peak of the 'Ceramics & Stitchery' show.  I'm so excited that this will be up for May.  Embroidery and Teapots sound just fitting for a show that will be on display for Mother's Day.  : )

Have a good week and enjoy the sun and the pops of green out there!

Things I Love Thursday

I love the moon.  I always have.  Since as far back as I can remember, I would watch her.  I would catch her light and play in her shadows.  I would see how she changed and notice that sometimes she would be up in the day, and sometimes not at all.  THIS might seem bittersweet, but it's the truth.  When I was little, and it was the middle of the night, and I needed talk - I would go to the window and she would be there, waiting.  She was never rushed; very patient.  I would tell the moon all my troubles, fears, and in her find calm and reassurance.  There's no drama with the moon.  She's steady, quiet, and when she changes, she does so slowly.  She's very solid and reliable.

As an adult, I thought it was the coolest thing ever to learn that moons and phases had names:  blue moon, harvest moon, dark moon, snow moon, honey moon...  And so these round hoops and eyelet stitches are such a perfect way to explore her beauty.

Luna #1 (detail)

I love how the eyelets remind me of moon craters.  I'm making moons in all different sizes.  This next one is the 'honey moon'.

Luna #2

Now I'm nearly finished the third one.  I just had to re-dye some silk to add a bit of orange to them to get closer to the colour of the blood moon.

I just have to add the glowing edge of this one, and then I think I'm on to something subtle again.

cell phone photo from my bedroom window

Happy Thursday,

Things I Love Thursdays

Oh...
                  ...the Moon in June is a big balloon.  : )

I LOVE the moon.  I took this photo from my deck in the city with a point & click camera.  No kidding!  : )  She was BEEEAUTIFUL.  One gigantic honey colored moon.  Swoon.

I love this next shot too.  Here is Luna, cradled atop of an evergreen tree.  

Happy Thursday everyone!  : )

Housekeeping Ooohs and Aaahs

My life feels so crazy-full.  I have too many ideas.  So for today, I relocated.  I spent the morning learning to focus and organize by working in a clear, fresh, fabric-free space.  I went to a newer library with my middle child - the homeschooler for this year.  What lovely windows!  And THE BEST, most comfortable chairs EVER.  They are at the Alice Turner Library, and I must find out where they ordered them from!  So as my son organized his thoughts, I organized mine.

little library on the prairie - BEST windows, BEST seats

You've heard of the Blogger's Quilt Festival?  Lots of eye candy!  Look here, courtesy of Amy.  I think all the entries are in by the time you read this. The link is here in this post...  My entry - "Quilt Bloggers Festival"

But wait, there's more!  There is a major event being planned for 2011.  It's the The Sewing Summit!  OMG we all get to meet each other and sew together.  Can you imagine!?  ***Unfortunately, the date is all set for our country's Thanksgiving weekend (Americans celebrate later in the year).  So, Canadians are out of luck.  I notified the organizer.  She had no idea and assured me the next one (and there will be more!) will be on different weekend.  Whew.  Thank you Amy! We don't want to miss it.

We'll be busy enough here in Saskatoon.  The 2011 Biennial Quilt Show our guild puts on is in October of 2011.  It's always a BIG SHOW.  The theme is WAVES.  I'm doing my best to think up something!  It's not easy.  I really like my horizontal lines.  : )  This is a serious challenge.  I need cheerleaders.  I chickened out last quilt show!!

MKW/2009

Wednesday November 10th was to be my second Postcard Workshop at Sew & Home.  There's lots of room if you want to sign up (hint hint).  I may have to cancel it if we don't get a couple more registrations.  And that's okay.

Pippa Moore is coming to Saskatoon to do a Trunk Show and some workshops for our Guild.  She's speaking on "Travels with my Treadle" later this month, and I personally can't wait!  What beautiful empowering stories of women sewing around the world - bring a tissue!

Friday, November 12th, I plan to be at Judy's new studio space for the "Quilt 'Till You Wilt" night.  I'll probably be appliqueing the St. Nikolas Quilt for my daughter's school fundraiser.  $5 drop in.  Other quilters are teaching classes there as well throughout the month:  Quilt as you go, Braided Runners, Leaves & Butterflies, Bag Ladies, Color & Texture, Bindings and Finishing, Wonky Houses, just to name a few.  Check out Quilting at the Studio on Ninth.  What a great idea.

And the Owl Boxes quilt is now sold (THANK YOU!!).  That was quick.  Please do let me know how the little one likes it.  Off to Calgary you go! 

In come 2 fabulous fibre art commissions.  oooh I can't wait to share!!  One is taken from an old photo for a Grandmother's upcoming birthday, and one is a wall hanging made from mama's baby carriers.  I am thrilled and over the moon.  Here look!  It's the moon I am thrilled over.  : )

Luna, rising just before the sun.  MKW/2010

Enjoy your weekend!  

Enjoy the post.

~Monika K.

Jack Frost & Mourning Joy

I love mornings.  Today I rolled out of bed waaaay too tired from blogging late into the night.  I opened the blinds and look!

I considered taking an early morning paper route for extra fabric-cash, but you know me.  I'd get distracted and take photos instead.  Maybe something in the gallery will sell soon.

The ice fog was gorgeous.  I could smell coffee brewing and sausages sizzling from the kitchen, but I couldn't leave the upstairs windows!  The morning air was so mesmerizing.  It's interesting that I have recently added all this muslin, greys, and soft yellows.  Those colors are all here in the photos.  And it's the first time I noticed that most of my neighbors have yellow chimneys.  Look how that color stands out in the fog!

This next one has the contrast tweaked a bit.  It's all so droopy isn't it!?  It's the neighbor's tree.   They are moving today.  The big truck is parked out front.  We'll miss them. 

It's truly magical to watch one season transition into the next.  People get all down when summer ends, but winter brings many joys.  Endings always make way for new, don't they?  Maybe I'll drive out to the country today and get some good icy prairie photos. 

And then I went to check my email with morning coffee in hand.  And can you believe it!?  One of my higher priced fibre art pieces have sold!  I priced it higher, assuming no one would touch it.  I secretly wanted to keep it.   I'm not done loving it.  Now it's gone.  I cried!  I was in shock and tears were streaming down my face.  I hardly had time to be with it and enjoy it.  I really loved that piece.  

The Moon One Morning (Flickr link)

Has that ever happened to you?

I told myself to smarten up.  I mean really.  I made it to sell to make money to buy more supplies to make more stuff to sell... and on and on.  So with joyful tears in my eyes, I wrote a note of gratitude to the couple purchasing it, and then clicked 'send'.  It means so much to me that they admire the piece too.  : )  It's all so good.

~Monika

beginning and ending and beginning again

Sunday Snapshops #9 and CBC Ramblings...

We went moon hunting the other day.  I always take my kids to see the harvest moon rise, and the winter solstice sun rise as well.  At dusk on Friday, I drove out east of the city for about 30 seconds.  It turns into a gravel farm road right away.  Unfortunately, it was thick with clouds at the horizon so we were unable to see her come up.  But when we looked to the west, this was magnificent enough!  Sun down.

I haven't been nervous about any deadlines lately, so I haven't been out running in the mornings.  All I have to share are these quiet evening photos of the prairie. 

I particularly like that one.  It's so quiet.  I really really like quiet.  My kids are asleep right now, and my husband has been out of town for a few days.  After the kids are in bed, there's no TV on  (hubby loves movies and video games until the wee hours).  This alone time is rejuvenating for me.   I create and create and create into the night.

The rare moments I am alone on weekends, I love to put on CBC radio and listen to Randy Bachman's Vinyl Tap show while I work.  He has this relaxing voice and he and his partner Denise have story after story to tell about people he's met and the stories behind these old old songs.  The music is such an mix.  Listening to all this is pretty dreamy and nostalgic for me (was an aspiring electric guitar player in highschool).  Now I'm a mom who sews.

Here you can listen to past shows by these.  He has funny themes sometimes.

CBC Radio Vinyl Tap

 Anyhow - I wrote this thank you letter & sent it in to their show:

Hi!  I moved back to Saskatoon four years ago and started quilting!  The problem is, I have three young children.  The only time I can really get to my craft is at night after they all fall asleep.  So I stay up late designing and sewing quilts - with you to keep me company!  (Take a look if you like.)  You always get me in a good mood with such an energetic and creative atmosphere.  And your voice and stories are so great to listen to.  I really enjoy your company.  Thank you for such a colorful, eclectic show!

And his partner Denise wrote back:

Wow, wow, wow, Monika! We are so honoured to be some small part in helping you create such beauty!! Those are really astonishingly beautiful, such care and detail and such an artist's eye you have! Bravo!!! Thank you for writing and sending us the link to your beautiful quilts!

~ Denise McCann Bachman for Randy’s Vinyl Tap CBC Radio One.  Saturdays 7 – 9 pm, (8-10 pm in Atlantic Canada), Friday repeat 11 pm – 1 am, and on CBC Radio Two Sundays at 6 pm [all times ½ hour later in Newfoundland] 

Isn't that S W E E T ! ?   Boy, did that ever put a spring into my step all weekend!  PS - Giveaway winner will be announced tomorrow!  Blog contest ends at midnight.  ; )

I caught this one lastnight!

 ~Monika (what do you listen to when you sew?)

Listen to the shows live in any Canadian time zone at http://www.cbc.ca/listen