Shodo

During the three years I was in Japan, I studied shodo at the high school I taught at (Tottori Higashi koko) in Japan. During the first month of school, I was "urged" to attend classes once a week with Shubayama sensei. I was later told that I could probably never afford to take classes with Shubayama sensei and I was lucky to be getting the lessons for free. This did not mean much to me as I spent the majority of my time that first year in frustration and really not enjoying the free lessons very much at all.

Then something clicked and I can't really put my finer on it, but blam: suddenly the squiggly abstract lines made sense to me and I began to enjoy it. Shubayama sensei didn't speak a word of English and I barely spoke Japanese, but it was a friendship that surpassed language and culture. Oddly enough, the fact that we could barely communicate did not impede us becoming great friends at all.

The print on the left means "Success" and it was the last drawing I did in 1999. To give you an idea of the size, the photos below it are in 5x7 frames. It is probably the best shodo I have done, but it is not my favorite. The drawing on the right means "Ocean" I did this my first semester in Japan, in the Fall of 1996 and it is still my favorite. I grew up on an Island, have always swam in and loved the ocean and I am also a water sign. Shybayama sensei did not know any of this but still picked the perfect character for me to draw during my first few months in Japan.

When I left Tottori in 1999, the high school asked me what I wanted as a good-bye present (Yes, can you imagine?). I asked for one of Shubayama's prints, thinking this was a respectable and practical gift. You can imagine my surprise when, expecting an 8x10 print, I was presented with a MASSIVE, beautifully framed print, in a beautiful silver frame at my good-bye party. It is gorgeous and I will treasure it always. Sadly though, it is carefully wrapped and stowed away at my parent's home on PEI.

Tottori Higashi High school, Tottori, Japan

Grammie's mat

This is the first mat I hooked by myself, which was completed in 2004. I bought the stamped mat on PEI, used wool from MacAusland's woolen mill in Bloomfield, PEI., and hooked it with my great-grandmother's (Sarah Lewis) hook. I had recently returned from a trip to the Magdalene Islands and had been inspired by the colorful houses I saw there. The white car represents my very first car (1995 olds achieva) and the blue car is my second car (2000 buick century). Upon completion, I gave the mat to my grandmother. 

Roddie Steele's fiddle

This is one of my most treasured possessions - my great grandfather, Roddie Steele's fiddle. I have taken lessons, but nearly enough....let's just say it is hard to "pick up" an instrument at my age. I will always be indebted to Mel MacPhee for giving me this fiddle and returning it to our family, and to Timothy Chaisson for trying to teach someone to play who does not have "an ear."

Namibian needlework

I still have not got pillows made for these pillowcases, my favorite purchase from my summer '06 travels. Bought in Windhoek, Namibia, these pillowcases represent the needle work for which Namibian women are well know. I purchased these items at Penduka, located in the township just outside Windhoek. There were many beautiful items for sale - curtains, oven mitts, you name it.

There were two aspects of these pillow cases that attracted me. First was the use of color. I love the combination and presence of orange, red and yellow. I also liked the folksy feeling the images provoked.

More about Penduka:

Penduka is a community-focused women’s project in Katutura district of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Women with disabilities and women living in the Katutura, Windhoek district, plagued by poverty work for Penduka. In addition to this women from the agricultural region around Windhoek are involved in embroidery projects in Penduka.

The project runs a handicraft shop, cloth printing workshop, embroidery and sewing activities, a restaurant and a cottage hostel for backpack travellers. About 400 women are working for Penduka. Some of the women are full-time workers while others participate in projects.

Almost all the woman in the embroidery projects is a single mother, making the earnings from the projects critical for the survival of the families. Together with other income sources and the food supplies from farming it is enough to make a living.

Besides income Penduka is offering other prospects for the women. It is considered positive to work together with other women and learn new skills. Sharing their skills with the women of the community is important.

Women can take care of the children while working at home. There is a gathering in Penduka once a week where the products are collected. In each three embroidery groups there is a quality controller and a leader.

Some African souvenirs

I love my souvenirs and now have quite the assorted mix of "stuff" from the various places I have visited. Below are some things I purchased while in South and southern Africa this summer. The art I purchased in Johannesburg. I had a nice long chat with the artist and I liked the pinks in the painting. The ladies in the picture are "Anna" and "Sarah." I also bought a mask in each country I visited with the exception of Lesotho. From left to right, the masks were bought in South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana.