IMPRESSIONS OF CANADA - and Quilts

 I arrived in Toronto at eight in the evening, but my body thought it was one in the morning the next day, so my first impressions were absorbed through a fog of fatigue. Large airport, grim-faced staff at Immigration, then a welcoming hug from the son and daughter-in-law I last saw eighteen months ago.  An hour later we were consuming a hearty soup and homemade bread in their home in Ingersoll, and I managed to stay awake long enough to avoid jet-lag.
The next day we went to the supermarket, looked round Ingersoll, and visited a quilt exhibition.

 

 QUILTS!  At the Victoria Park Creative Arts Centre in Ingersoll there were hundreds of them - hanging on walls, draped over frames, suspended from the ceiling.
I was reminded forcibly of the tapestries women used to make to keep the draughts at bay in castles, because many of these quilts were far too ornate and delicate to sling over a bed - and you definitely couldn't put any of them in a washing machine!

I was stunned - my own efforts at patchwork cushions years ago faded into insignificance in the face of this splendour.
The were quilts for babies, quilts that told a story, special quilts for weddings or birthdays or Christmas.

 The labels on some told me that they had been sewn by one person and quilted by another - a complete industry revolves around this craft, of which the little stalls selling fabric scraps and strips and threads were only the tip of the iceberg. There were even some landscapes made from fabric.

I was too dazed by the variety - and by tiredness - to ask sensible questions of the women - and men - who had laboured for so many hours to produce them, so I will simply let the photos speak for themselves.

                                                                            WOW!
That was only my first day in Canada - watch this space for more impressions.

A-Z AFTERTHOUGHTS

A-Z AFTERTHOUGHTS.

The A-Z Challenge was just that – a challenge – and I was drawn into it for three reasons. Firstly, I hoped it would take my mind off the fact that I was waiting to hear if an agent would take my book. Secondly, I was new to blogging and enthusiastic enough to blog every day. And thirdly I was tempted by the promise of more followers.

It was almost too successful - the challenge took so much of my time that my other writing went by the board. I made an alphabetical list of topics in March, but I was still caught out occasionally with nothing written on that day’s letter. Sticking to my theme of living abroad - specifically in Tenerife - became a challenge in itself, but it was only in the last week that I wondered if I would last the course.

Trawling through the list of entrants was the hardest part. The sheer number was daunting, but although I didn’t find a like-minded blogger living near Toronto (my youngest moved there last year) I did find others I enjoyed. And my own list of followers increased from 10 to 34, which pleased me inordinately. Two have dropped out this week, which I am trying not to take personally.

So, in the best traditions of the English essay, I end with my conclusions. The challenge was addictive, partly a chore but mostly enjoyable, and I have already thought of how to approach it next year.