F is for Frick

I think I need to get into embroidery in a big way. Nothing says classy like a monogram hanky. This is from the Frick side of the family.

Grey days of February.

While giving the studio a thorough tidy I came across a stash of old hankies I've been carrying around for years. They were given to me years ago by my mother and if I'm remembering correctly some of them were once my grandmother's. The delicate stitches on the thin white cotton captures my attention every time I pull them out. I started a few studies in watercolour attempting to mimic the fine embroidered patterns.


I'm still new to the world of watercolours and have much to learn. My grandmother prided herself on using watercolours as a medium, saying that pastels were 'just too easy, if you make a mistake all you have to do is erase it!' After binning a few pieces already I'm thinking it might be time to switch to pastels.

a new year

I started 2012 sadly taking down my show Tales from the valley, through the forest to the shore. at the Black Duck Gallery. Well, to be honest I left it up for an extra week, so it wasn't quite my 'start' to 2012. It was a treat to have my work out of my crowded little studio and displayed in such a beautiful space you can't really blame me for wanting to leave it up longer.

Here are a few shots from the show.


Apple Blossom Festival
Queen Annapolisa on Patrol
Screen-print on cotton/linen, 40 x 40"




Discover Keji
Shenanigans in the Woods
Screen-print on cotton/linen, 40 x 40"




Christmas trees start here.
Limited Edition Print
1 of 15
Screen-print on cotton/linen, 12 x 16"


Welcome to Lunenburg County
Limited Edition Print
1 of 12
Screen-print on cotton/linen, 12 x 16"

Missing is Blueberry Social the first piece in the tablecloth series I created. Hoping to have better documentation of that piece soon.
My thanks go to the lovely folks at the gallery for being so lovely. The Christmas trees and Lunenburg County prints are still available at the Black Duck.

Upcoming shows.

I'm getting ready for a busy couple of weeks! First up is Halifax Crafters Yule Tide Cheer Winter Market at the Olympic Centre in Halifax. I'm super excited to have a fun crafty weekend with all my crafty friends and to show off all this fun new stuff I've been working on! Check out the Halifax Crafters blog for updates and sneak peaks at new things our crafters are getting ready!

The following weekend is the opening of my show at the Black Duck Gallery here in Lunenburg County! 'Tales from the valley, through the forest to the shore' is a collection of new printed works inspired by my life and travels through Nova Scotia. The show runs from December 10th - 31st, with the opening reception on December 11th from 2 - 4 pm. Hope to see you there!

Lunenburg Fire Engine

A New plushie design on the print table. I got so excited about seeing it printed for the first time that I took a photo before the ink dried!

This is the old Lunenburg fire engine that I worked next door to during my time in the Lunenburg Residency. It's a beautiful machine.

Shooting Screens with Sunlight

I'm back in the studio big time these days. With Halifax Crafters winter market and a solo show at The Black Duck in Lunenburg, both coming up in December I have a lot to get done. Lucky me, I have four brand new big screens to do it with!

I might be gaining access to a light table to shoot my screens with soon which is a huge relief. Right now the sun is my primary exposure unit and it can be cloudy for days here in Lunenburg County leaving my studio work at a stand still. However, when there is a spot of sunshine it is incredibly satisfying to shoot a screen in the sun.


This is my set up: I use a pane of glass to hold the designs tight to the screen and stuff a piece of foam covered in black fabric behind the screen to stop any light reflecting. I carry the screen out in a garbage bag and when the sun looks right I pull it off and start exposing. My exposure time is around 30 to 40 seconds, depending on the strength of the sun.


After 40 seconds I then frantically run and hide in the shade behind my favorite forsythia bush, remove the design (I've learned how crucial it is to fold over my tape ends for quick removal) and rinse the screen out with my garden hose.

However, once the snow flies I lose my garden hose and this system gets a lot more complicated. Bring on the exposure table!

I am fortunate enough to have a day off after a long weekend at the wonderful halifax crafters market. It was a pretty fantastic weekend. Getting out to see all of the marvelous creations by my fellow crafters makes it worth it every time. Today I'm just unpacking, organizing and let's be honest, catching up on a world of housework I neglected leading up to the market!



Not the best pic, but here is a little shot of my mountain of pillows and other goodies available at the market.

I stayed overnight in Halifax Saturday and had a chance to spend some quality time with a few friends I don't see often enough these days. Though my birthday was in March they surprised me with a mini birthday celebration. Lots of sugar, a vegan birthday cupcake from Susie Shortbreads and jelly belly beans which hastened my post-market crash. I was asleep on the couch by 10pm.



I also left with this beauty of a gift! It is a waving Queen, powered by a solar panel in her purse! I think she looks pretty spectacular next to my african violet granny plant. This is also the best use of a doily I've found.