boars bristles by the beach...

Last summer I took a little walk down this road with Griffin and Norene...

Sadly, the pictures and story I was going to tell were filed away into the

abyss of my computer.

Gladly,  I am able to resurrect these in connection with an art

show and sale this weekend!

At the end of a quiet little road by the ocean is

the most wonderful little studio where Bonnie Coulter lives and works and CREATES!

Come on in...

Have a peek inside...

Look at these lovely works of art...

Inspired by the ocean right outside her door...

Magic transformed onto canvas from the woods surrounding her house...

Loved ones become things of beauty by the inspiring brush hand of Bonnie...

Not only is Bonnie creative in the studio, but her property has you 'oooing'

and 'aahhing' all the way down to the seashore...

You might guess that she's a Master Gardener as well!

Or you may think that Dr Seuss had a hand in here somehow!

 

Whatever the inspiration is, be sure to drop on by for a truly wonderful show.

She has partnered with fellow East Sookeite, Val, who I've

introduced to you before at The Wren House , along with

several other artists displaying and selling their beautiful work.

If you'd like to find out more you can check out The East Sooke Fine Arts website.

...and now, back down to the beach...

vintage love...

Modern technology has made many advances in the way of textiles.

Some downright scary (like the thick polyester of the '50s - '70's!),

and some incredibly amazing (like Gortex and polar fleece) but there's 

nothing out there that beats a lovely old wool blanket...

Once in a while I come across these beauties in the thrift shop and if the price is right, I scoop them up.

This one I found the other day for $5.49 and I love the pastel tones of the stripes...

I love to see the weave of a wool blanket ...

 This other one I found a few years ago is an unusual combo of mint and pink...

I keep this over my duvet and Ruben thinks that's just grand!...

(sorry for the disturbance your Highness)

Another pale cream one I keep in the studio for those chilly morns until it warms up in there...

One of the things I adore about these blankets is sometimes they still have the label attached...

This red plaid one I bought years ago became so worn that it became a dog blanket

but it still carries a nice vintage label...

Don't you just love the name of the town of Moose Jaw?

Only in Canada ey?

I have a friend who uses these blankets in her craft.

I've posted about her little studio called the Wren House
here

 She makes these beautiful images with vintage sweaters, embroidery thread and blankets and applies them to pillows or puts them in frames..

I love the history of a thing.
I always wonder who owned it, who cuddled under that blanket, where it was made.
Wool is a textile from the past.
Has been here forever and will certainly be with me forever.
Maybe it's the Irish blood in me...connecting me to sheep and green hills of Eire.
There are still some places that  make woolen blankets the old fashioned way which
gives me comfort to know it's a craft being kept alive and well.