Fibers Galore

Before crossing the bridge to the Island we visited Deanne Fitzpatrick's rug hooking studio in Amherst, Nova Scotia. If you want to give your creative muses a jolt this is the place to go! Fibers abound in saturated hues of all kinds. There are piles of fun yarn and fleece to incorporate in your rugs to give it some interesting texture. What intrigued me were the packages of fibers that were wrapped up in pretty yarn to whet your hooking appetite. I could not resist and fell upon this rose/pink bundle. I have a specific design in mind - a traditional island scene.

 Also picked up a Fall bundle ( my favourite season) and an ocean bundle to use in the design I bought at the studio.

You can't see it here but this is a lady mermaid with Deanne's trademark Wonky Houses. These houses will be hooked up in Maritime colours - a little out of my comfort zone as they are bright colours. She has also drawn up paisleys for the sky which is a new touch of hers in her designs. Certainly adds some whimsy to the piece. Can't wait to get started on this one but I do have a couple of others that have to be completed. You would think being a stay at home person would give me more time to hook but time just seems to fly right by. My goal is to hook more and do at least half an hour a day if not more! I've come to the realization that I love it too much not to.

Island Jaunts

Old Church down a country road in Breadalbane,PEI

Some pictures of our drives around the Island....

We headed into the hills one day - PEI is very hilly as opposed to the seacoast drives which can be along cliffs, dunes or very gentle shores. There is such a variety of landscape on this small province. A little bit of heaven for everyone.

I love this house! not far from the church and for sale too!!!

Sherman's Shore on Malpeque Bay outside of Summerside, PEI

Red Sands, Blue Waters and Fluffy Clouds



New Glasgow, PEI



Downtown Charlottetown with a small town feel where to be greeted with a hello on the street is not uncommon.

Our lunch spot - sole with hand cut PEI fries...heavenly and yummy...

Confederation House - where Kate and Will paid a visit earlier this summer.. the birth of Canada 1867

PS I am still tackling the steam and seam applique and not happy with it at all. This is just too tense an activity for me. I think I have sworn off using any adhesives! It is way too friggy! My one and only project using this method. Next week I will be able to hook again. Next vacation I am bringing my frame even if I have to have a roof rack installed on the car. I feel so much more relaxed with hook in hand and a rug on the frame. Rug Hooking here we come....

My Island View

This is my view as I work on my wool applique project. Dunes and the Atlantic ocean to one side and the bay to the other. A great panoramic view. How inspired can you be! It has certainly led to a number of sketches which I hope to put to canvas. The Island that holds my heart is where I find my peace and creativity.

The boats were already on the water harvesting the bounty from the sea on the bay this morning. We are located on a peninsula just jutting out to the ocean with the Atlantic on one side and Malpeque Bay on the other. It can make for some windy days. When the wind blows you can hear the ocean waves pounding on the shore. Yesterday we spent exploring parts of the Island and there is no place on PEI that is not beautiful.

So this is my latest project and I am using the interface method and not sure if I am liking it. This is a pattern called Prairie Rose available on my website and the designer uses an applique method of applying Steam a Seam to the wool. I am a traditionalist and I usually use a pin and baste method of appliqueing. I am not comfortable with the feel of the wool and the addition of the adhesive on the back. I'll persevere with it but I think that after this it will be back to the old method of pin and baste. I guess I don't like anything between me and my wool :) The last wool applique I did was my way and I loved doing it and it worked just fine. I guess the best thing is to use what works for you!

Off to explore more of the Island today. After coming here for so many years you would think I have seen it all but there is always your favourites you go back to and new places tucked away waiting to be discovered.

The Gentle Island

Seashore Scene Cousins Shore PEI

After a very stressful summer - September has proven to be a quiet relaxing time. A month for me to gather my strength and put my priorities in place and simply veg out. This summer was one that I never wish to repeat and a valuable lesson was learned. listen to your body - go with your instincts and don't be afraid to ask questions if something does not feel right. I learnt that I can't afford to be an ostrich with its head in the sand but need to raise my head. 10 days in Cardiac ICU will give you that! After 2 months of just not knowing what was going on - I feel better than ever and ready to wallow in the beauty of my favourite season  - Fall.

So that is the reason I have been lying low and there have been no postings to my blog or website. I am enjoying my days by the sea and loving every minute of  it. This is a gentle Island cradled by the sea and a place where I leave my heart every year. It is a place where I find a renewal of my creativity in the people I meet. It is their passion for their art which spurs mine whether it be in their rug hooking, quilting, painting or metalwork. The Island abounds with artists all so individual in their interpretation of their Island life. 

This year I met some lovely ladies who personify Island life in their rug hooking. If you are on Prince Edward Island have a drive by their studio - Pastimes PEI. I had a lovely chat and of course picked up one of their patterns all drawn up called the "Cavendish Mat". It is a geometric which I have never hooked before and there are traditional colours to be used to tie it back to the Island but essentially is a scrap rug. I can't wait to dive into my stash of scrap wool and dig out some treasures to hook this one.

This was Roby's first time by the seashore and I am not sure he knew what to make of it :) Working on a wool applique piece right now but I am itching to put hook in hand and start hooking some of them rugs! Have a new Deanne Fitzgerald rug to do  - gosh have to finish my other one too. Seems like I have to make up for lost time.

This will be my first Fall not working outside the home and I am going to love every minute of it! I have a new lease on life and for me Fall is a rebirth - always has been. Some people might say it is spring but for me it is Fall - the start of school - learning new things and cracking open those new copy books and putting the first word on a clean white page. It is trying new soup recipes and opening the window on a cool aftenoon to capture those special fall fragrances. Just love it!