Last month, one of my Folk School friends hosted her first-ever solo art exhibition titled Crafting Connections: A Serial Dabbler’s Journey. Tammy Elwell calls herself a “serial dabbler” to reflect her “unique approach to art — rather than restricting herself to a single signature style, she actively explores, masters, and bridges a vast array of traditional Appalachian and historic crafts”. Congratulations Tammy! I wish I could have attended in person to see your show!
Diehard fibre arts fans are justifiably counting sheep — or at least counting down the days — until their next favourite fibre festival.
Churches have long used magnificent art like stained glass and carvings to honour and signify their sacred purpose. But the relationship between churches and art runs deeper. In the 6th century, when books and literacy were restricted to the clergy and ruling elite, everyday churchgoers couldn’t read scripture. Instead, they “read” the holy stories through glasswork, statues and paintings.
Dried flowers emerged as a standout trend during my Montréal style scouting excursion earlier this summer. Preserved blooms, seed heads and leaves were showcased in nearly every high-end home décor shop we visited. Most were left in their natural state allowing their understated colours, organic shapes, and subtle textures to take centre stage.
Farmers and gardeners have been busy gathering the autumn harvest. From picking apples to gathering pumpkins to baling hay, they are working tirelessly to stock up for the long winter ahead. It is a season of peak ripeness, marked by a countryside shifting from green to gold.
The unseen bond between horse and handler truly comes alive when you see a team of draft horses in motion. I was lucky enough to witness it firsthand at Nova Scotia’s recent exhibitions.
