Oh, Canada--Part 2

Courtepointe Quebec Quilts Salon 2012 was held at College Andre Grasset in Montreal, Quebec.  This beautiful stained glass window graces the entrance.  We had sunny weather almost every day so it was breathtaking.

It was so exciting to be called "Professeur" on the nametag!  So that I wouldn't get the big-head, students called me Sharon.  

It was an all-star cast of teachers from both Canada and the United States.  On the left side, front to back:  Elaine Quehl, Joan Shay, our hostess Sharon G., Bonnie McCaffery, Vikki Pignatelli.  On the right side, front to back:  Yours truly, our other hostess Randi, Pamela Allen, Dominique Ehrmann (partially hidden), and Wendy Butler Berns.

And Elaine took this picture from the other end of the table and now you can see Dominique, between Wendy and Pamela.  We were a pretty somber group!  NOT.  

I've known some of these ladies for years and others were met for the first time in Quebec.  It's so fun to have time to sit and chat and catch up.  Here is a list of websites where you can learn more about each of these very talented, wonderful ladies:


Pamela Allen:  http://pamelar2.homestead.com/quiltythings.html  Pamela is the 2012 Quilt Teacher of the Year through The Professional Quilter magazine!


Wendy Butler Berns:  www.wendybutlerberns.com.  Art quilter extraordinaire.  And a great sense of humor.


Dominique Ehrmann:  www.quilteusequebec.com.  Check out her 3D quilt!  I saw it in person and there are no words to adequately describe it.


Bonnie McCaffery:  www.bonniemccaffery.com.  Bonnie is known for her painted faces and her Fantasy Fabrics techniques.


Vikki Pignatelli:  www.vikkipignatelli.com.  Author of two books, founder of Sacred Threads Quilt Exhibit, maker of breathtaking quilts.


Elaine Quehl:  www.equarelle.ca.  Elaine is a quilt artist, teacher and dyer.  Check out her site!


Joan Shay:  www.petalplay.com.  3D flowers and more are yours with Joan's Appli-bond technique.


Sheila Wintle:  www.wintlequilts.tripod.com. Sheila focuses on creativity and color in her work and classes.


Ladies:  It was my pleasure to meet and/or reunite with each of you.  Quilt on!




And Nicole sent this picture of me showing what happens to your fabric when you cut LOTS of Dresden Plates!

It was a wonderful trip--where we decided that I am now up to 40 words of French!  Merci beaucoup!


Blissful hugs,
Sharon

What I Did Last Weekend

Last weekend was spent at Wild Ridge Farm in Oxford, NY, learning the Masterson Method of horse bodywork (www.mastersonmethod.com).  I bought the book and DVD in November of last year and had started doing a few of the simpler techniques on my own.  The horses loved it and I wanted to learn even more.  It was very exciting to find a location closer than Connecticut or Kentucky.

Here is our happy group on the porch of the barn!  This farm is unbelievable--great facilities, indoor ring, stalls to dream about.  Marie Riley was our instructor and Doris was her assistant.  Tons of fun and information.

Most of our time was spent working on the horses.  Several people were able to bring their own horses and were generous enough to allow others to work on them.  Each of us worked on five or more horses over the two days.  Here's Phil working on one of Shelley's horses.  Yes, we really do get them to put their heads on our shoulders as we massage the poll.  With the Masterson Method, the horses tell us where they have tension and we can help them release it.  Sound weird?  It's truly magic, especially when you see the results of your work almost immediately.

Here's Valerie (on left) with Jack and Marie (right).  You can learn more about Valerie and her farm on her Facebook account; look for Valerie Turner with the picture of her riding a horse. Wild Ridge Farm is a center for Natural Horsemanship Learning and Training.  Having seen her working her horses under saddle and at liberty, I can say she does an amazing job.  Check her out!

Here I am with Piper, owned by Phil and Sandy from Canada!  I worked on Piper quite a bit and we developed a rapport.

And this is Sylvia, Piper's herd mate.  I learned to do legs forward and legs back on her!

And here we are doing the wave.  I learned so much over those two days--and I have been using those techniques at the barn.  Can we just say that the horses are verrrrrryyyyyy mellow?

Tomorrow I'll finish the tale of the Canada trip.


Blissful hugs,
Sharon


P.S.  I am listening to Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen.

House Finches, Part 2

There must have been at least four babies in the nest, but only one had not flown the coop when I took this picture.  Imagine this:  You are standing on the seat of a rocking chair in your Crocs with the camera extended as far above your head as you can get it.  Aiming is dicey to say the least.  So all the pics with more babies were blurry.  Drat....

And here's proud papa.

I had intended to post last night, but the power went out at 9:02 pm and was off for several hours.  I haven't forgotten about finishing the Canada trip story, plus I have several student show and tells to share.  And the story of what I am doing this weekend!


Blissful hugs,
Sharon