Quilt Canada, FFAA and Fibre Fling 3

I managed to avoid getting sick for most of this long long winter but it caught up with me a few weeks ago and I succumbed to a nasty virus which turned into sinusitis.   Finally I am returning to the land of the living.

Throughout all of that I have been preparing for our third annual Fibre Fling 3 show and sale on April 4 and 5 at Kitchissippi United Church, 630 Island Park Drive in Ottawa (see my Exhibitions page for details).   I will have several pieces in the main exhibition - both embroideries and art quilts.  I have just finished a second mushroom piece (the first was part of last year's colour challenge - tomato red - and was a mixture of applique, machine and hand embroidery).   This one is from a photo of two groups of mushrooms which I photo transferred to fabric and embroidered by hand.   I am also submitting a piece for this year's colour challenge - turquoise.

I call this one 'The Conversation'

This view of Trout River Pond and Elephant Head is called Local Colour in celebration of the colourful place names in Newfoundland

 In the sales area we will have smaller items that people can purchase and take away with them.  I plan to bring some of my fibre jewelry, journals, art cards, bookmarks, postcards and mini embroideries.   Here are a few samples of items I may have for sale there. 

Please note the snowstorm outside the window on March 22!

two postcards in a double frame

another framed postcard

3 piece set of fabric landscape jewelry

I found these 1 x 2"horizontal trays that work so well with tiny landscapes

The array of art to be exhibited is amazing!  We have art quilters, mixed media artists, felters, embroiderers, clothing and costume makers, doll makers and much more.  

I am saving the best news for last!!  This year I submitted items for Quilt Canada and my quilt "Kitchen Party" has been juried into the show.  This piece has special meaning for me. The photo inspiration for this work was taken by Neville Hamilton who passed away last summer.  Last week, his widow and my friend, presented me with a framed copy of that photo which now hangs on my wall.  

Kitchen Party

I also submitted three pieces for jurying for the Focus on Fibre Arts Association show 'Prairie' in January.   I was thrilled to find out that all three pieces made it into the show!!  I was drawn to this theme because it meant lots of embroidery, skies, fields, grasses.......and I channelled the love of prairie that I have seen so often in people who live or hail from the prairie provinces.

Prairie Dawn - machine stitched, painted satin sky - based on W.O. Mitchell's book 'Who has seen the Wind'

A River Runs Through it - hand stitched

'Prairie: Where Earth Meets Sky' - hand stitched with painted satin sky

The show begins on May 4  in Edmonton and runs into the fall  Prairies

Well I wouldn't be Canadian if I didn't talk about the weather.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.  So here are three thousand.....

march 20 - first day of spring

march 22 -third day of spring

march 22 - view from my front window

When will it end?   Today the sun is shining but bitterly cold!

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday    Click on the link to see what fibre artists are doing this week.