ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html lang="EN" dir="ltr" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-16"/> <title>News from the Treetops Studios - 2009</title> <meta name="description" content="Elaine Dendy and John Dendy live and work in their home studio north of Victoria, near Sidney, Brentwood Bay and the Butchart Gardens. We design and produce unique, exhibition quality, outerwear for women."/> <meta name="keywords" content="XHTML, CSS, hummingbirds, Sitka spruce, zelkova, Oregon Iris, mahogany, carved bowl, Haida knife, Adobe Resort, Arts Council, volunteers, Tulista Park, wool, cotton, silk, vest, sweater, wrap, Colchicum autumnale, Autumn Crocus"/> <link rel = "stylesheet" type = "text/css" href = "../home.css"/> </head> <body> <div id = "pagebox"><a name="pagetop"></a> <h2>THE TREETOPS STUDIOS - SAANICHTON</h2> <p id = "navbarup"> &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../index.html">Enter</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../home.html">Home</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../tour/tour.html">Tour the Studios</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../fabart/fabart.html">Fabric Arts</a> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../visart/visart.html">Visual Arts</a>--> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../workshop/workshop.html">The Workshop</a>--> <br /> <a href="../study/study.html">The Study</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../gallery/gallery.html">The Gallery</a> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../commune/commune.html">Our Community</a>--> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../links/links.html">Links</a>--> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../gglsrch.html">Search</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Contact">Contact Us</a> </p> <div><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- explicit vspacer --> <h1>WELCOME TO THE TREETOPS STUDIOS</h1> <div id = "textimgbox"> <div><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- explicit vspacer --> <a name="maintable"></a> <div id = "roombox"> <div id = "roomtable"> <table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"> <colgroup align="left"> <col width="125"/> <col align="center"/> </colgroup> <tr><th>Back Issues</th> <td><a href="newsfa03.html">2003</a> - <a href="newsfa04.html">2004</a> - <a href="news05.html">2005</a> - <a href="news06.html">2006</a> - <a href="news07.html">2007</a> - <a href="news08.html">2008</a></td></tr> <tr><th><a href="#2009-1">A Busy Two Years!</a></th> <td><a href="#2009-1-1">The Whole 2009 Update in One Posting</a> - <a href="#2009-1-2">Starting on a Beach in Oregon</a> - <a href="#2009-1-3">Hummingbirds!</a></td></tr> <tr><th><a href="#2009-2">A Carver's Year</a></th> <td><a href="#2009-2-1">Sitka Spruce Bowl</a> - <a href="#2009-2-2">Mahogany Clips</a> - <a href="#2009-2-3">Zelkova Bowl</a></td></tr> <tr><th><a href="#2009-3">A Fabric Artist's Year</a></th> <td><a href="#2009-3-1">The Wraps &amp; Shawls of 2009 </a> - <a href="#2009-3-2">The Sweaters &amp; Vests of 2009</a> - <a href="#2009-3-3">The Baby Clothes of 2009</a></td></tr> <tr><th><a href="#2009-4">Showing Off!</a></th> <td><a href="#2009-4-1">'Frisco'</a> - <a href="#2009-4-2">Sisters</a> - <a href="#2009-4-3">The Artisans @ Christmas Show</a> - <a href="#2009-4-4">Happy New Year!</a></td></tr> </table> <a name="2009-1"></a><h4>A Busy Two Years!</h4> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p>Well folks, welcome - back - to the beginning of 2009. Quite the change from our usual blog-like presentation. It has been another of those busy years on "The Island". We're still running months behind on these updates. But, hang in there. All sorts of interesting things are going on, including us trying to get the whole 2009 update off in one go - before the end of 2009 too.</p> <p><a name="2009-1-1"></a><strong>The Whole 2009 Update in One Read</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; In 2007 Elaine spent much of the year back east getting her parents downsized and moved into a care facility. John took advantage of the unlimited computer time to convert the code for this site from HTML 3.2 to XHTML 1.0 Strict. (I'm still tinkering.) Elaine came back with a limp and by the summer of 2008 she was in serious pain from an injured knee. It is not a surgical issue but she is going to be hobbling about in an articulated brace for another six months or so.</p> <p>Did that slow her down? Of course not! With the Treetops Studios now a major presence in the women's craft knitwear scene south of the Malahat, Elaine joined the Board of the local <a href="http://www.cacsp.com/">community arts council</a>. It all takes a lot of time for the two us. So, it's mid-December as I start this update. But the tree is up, the Christmas lights are out, the cards and packages are in the mail and the shows are winding down.</p> <p>So hold on. The sun is just coming up, there is fresh coffee in hand and <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/listen/index.html#"> CBC Radio2</a> is playing Bach's Cantata 147. Here we go! &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p><a name="2009-1-2"></a><strong>Starting on a Beach in Oregon</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; Not that the 'busy' part had us confined to the Studio. As usual, Studio 'busy-ness' took us south into Washington and Oregon in the spring. Rebuilding the yarn and fabric stocks after the 2008 Christmas rush, getting parts for machines and checking out new reference and pattern materials are the usual justifications. But, once again, we took the three nights and meals package at the <a href="http://www.adoberesort.com/">Adobe Resort</a> in Yachats, Oregon. Elaine confined herself to safe walks and pool time. John got away with his cameras to catch a few more of those <a href="news08.html#31Dec3">paintables</a>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p>The 'paintables' file already has several photos of <a href="http://www.denverplants.com/perennials/html/armer_spl.htm">Sea Pinks</a>, the pinkish flowers hugging the ground to the left of the tall grass in the image at the left below. A good day, a good camera, a careful eye and occasionally a good bit of contortion on the part of the photographer can all combine to get a little story about calm on a rugged coast into the composition. There is even a <a href="../study/studyda.html#MH2">haiku</a> about the life of the flower. Sorry, I don't know the name of the grass.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="../images/n09013.jpg" class="elmfltleft" width="218" height="302" alt="Beach grass and sea pinks"/></td> <td><img src="../images/n09023.jpg" class="elmfltright" width="395" height="302" alt="Oregon Iris - iris tenax"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p>John has been searching for the Oregon iris, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_tenax">iris tenax</a>, for a few years. It isn't rare, or even hard to find. We have just not been there at the right time. This year he was rewarded with five sightings along a quarter mile of the cliffside trail north of the resort. One was a beauty. Near the end of its blooming and partly overshadowed, but a great addition to the photograph collection. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p><a name="2009-1-3"></a><strong>Hummingbirds!</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; If you have a moment, skip back to the <a href="news08.html#31Dec5">hummingbird</a> story at the end of last year's news. This spring we were rewarded with a large crop of young hummers - easily a dozen or more in view on the two feeders. The first sign of the bounty was the crowd of 'flying fuzzballs': not much larger than a thumb, mostly pinfeathers and fluff. 'Awkward' is too polite. After a few yards of flight they would make a ledge or else just crash, upside down or sideways, into the flower gardens or the grass on the lawns. Within a week they had shed their fluff and matured (?) into the 'baby bullet' stage. Almost as fast as adults but a trifle inaccurate: missing a flower or the feeder entirely, or worse, crashing into them. A bit like a playground full of human toddlers. All good fun and a fit recompense for the neighbourhood rescue operation last winter.</p> <p>As the summer progressed we were finally able to make a list of the hummingbirds in our area. It is difficult to be sure of the species of juvenile and female hummingbirds. Nevertheless, the Rufus and the Calliope are common and the now the Anna's and Black-Chinned are confirmed. Next year maybe we will see an Allen's or a Costa's. Both have been reported within a few miles of the Studio, well beyond their regular ranges. (And as I write, 23 December - +4 Celsius and calm outside, a female Anna's is harvesting bugs out of bare Rowan tree on my neighbour's lawn.) &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="2009-2"></a><h4>A Carver's Year</h4> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p><a name="2009-2-1"></a><strong>Sitka Spruce Bowl</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; Towards the end of the winter, such as it is here on 'The Island', John had time to get a project on to the carving table. He had salvaged a block of Sitka spruce from a plank that had gone off to a local boat builder. Only about eleven inches square and two inches thick, it still had over 150 growth rings - straight and vertical, almost luthier's grade. The block became the fifth in a series of three-legged bowls that owe a lot to the oriental influences we allow in a lot of our studio output. The image on the left below shows it carved into a rounded shape - not turned - and part way through the hollowing out stage.</p> <p>OK, I'll admit to composing this scene. It had been gloomy for several days. That's not a real problem. The shop has lots of artificial light and I can make local colour/intensity corrections if need be. The sudden flood of golden sunshine was too good to miss. I prefer to mount the Haida knives into a long handle. These ones are salvage yellow cedar. The curved, thin and almost surgically sharp blades of these knives are ideal for working the fine softwoods we get here on the West Coast.</p> <p>With two hands on the knife the bowl blank has to be securely mounted in a carving vice. Look closely at the plywood surface below the bowl and you can see that it is pierced by a grid of evenly spaced drilled holes. I seldom clamp any softwood surface that will show in the final bowl directly into a vice. Instead, the 'order of work' calculations that one makes before starting to carve include leaving clamping spaces on the block that will ultimately be carved away. Out of view here, stock has been left behind the three legs for wood screws coming up through the mounting surface. Similarly, the inside of the bowl took the wood screws while I shaped the underside. After this scene, a bit more carving, sanding and dusting to a fine surface, an image of a Sitka cone and twig engraved and coloured into the bowl, another engraving of a studio seal in the centre of the underside, four coats of light shellac and six coats of carnuba wax and off the bowl went to the Arts and Crafts Society show. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="../images/n09033.jpg" width="315" height="302" alt="Sitka Spruce Bowl"/></td> <td><img src="../images/n09043.jpg" width="384" height="302" alt="Mahogany Wrap Clips"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p><a name="2009-2-2"></a><strong>Mahogany Clips</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; By comparison, the little carving project shown in the right hand image above is a bit of a doodle. As we mentioned <a href="news08.html#1Jul1">last year</a>, Elaine has been experimenting with some very adaptable and light weight shawls and wraps. In our Studio coffee breaks the conversation has turned several times to the fabrication of a simple clip or broach that could hold her gossamer like fabrics in any position the wearer wished. It would have to be put into the wrapping and removed easily and yet not be liable to fall away. Then it would also have to weigh so little that it would not affect the drape of the garment and be so smooth that it would not catch in the fine fibres of the yarns Elaine uses. Finally, it would have to be simple, decorative and made from natural materials.</p> <p>No problem! John had some pieces of pattern grade mahogany, left over from a furniture project his father had completed in the late 1980's. The image shows one of the pieces marked off for a batch of twelve of the clips. A little seashell fragment motif worked very well with the mahogany. Compare the two images above and you get the idea of using the correct tool for the job. The Japanese block cutting knives - this set is from the new <a href="http://www.leevalley.com">Lee Valley</a> store on the Island - are the choice here. When the carving was finished the twelve pieces were separated with a series very fine saw cuts and the edges rounded and smoothed. Then a coat of Danish oil, to even out the colour, and two coats of carnuba wax finished the project. There are two examples of the clips in use, in <a href="news09.html#2009-3-1">Elaine's wraps and sweaters</a> a bit farther down the page. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="2009-2-3"></a><p><strong>Zelkova Bowl</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; The big carving project of the year was a sculptural bowl in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelkova_serrata">zelkova</a>, a tree used for cabinetry and furniture in Asia but mostly planted as a large ornamental in the western world. The image on the left below shows 'work in progress' on one of about a dozen large blocks salvaged from a tree being removed in Victoria. No, it is not going to be a propeller. The block was about 18" square and 9" thick when I began to work it into a large sculptural bowl. The extra material in the base and the plug in the throat of the four petals will go when I don't need it for fixing the block in place on the bench.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="../images/n09053.jpg" width="418" height="302" alt="Zelkova Bowl in Progress"/></td> <td><img src="../images/n09063.jpg" width="285" height="304" alt="Autumn Crocus in Zelkova Chip Mulch"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p>The bowl is still 'in progress' as I write. Mostly it stays tucked away out of harm's reach. But some weeks it sits on the end of the bench, showing off in the daylight, while I try to figure out what it is that is not quite right about the way the petals are developing. In the meantime, I have learned that the bushel of chips and raspings that have come off the block so far made a great mulch in the gardens, This patch of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchicum_autumnale"><i>Colchicum autumnale</i></a>, Autumn Crocus, Naked Lady or Meadow Saffron appeared several weeks earlier than usual. Perhaps it, and its succulent ground cover neighbour, appreciated being mulched in twice during the summer and fall. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="2009-3"></a><h4>A Fabric Artist's Year</h4> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="2009-3-1"></a><p><strong>The Wraps &amp; Shawls of 2009</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; Now we get down to the part where we show what really makes the Studio go. It's Elaine's knitting of course. But, if you have been following this News series, you knew that already. Right on the cone, Elaine thought that the yarn used in the left image below, a wool-synthetic blend, had great possibilities. The yarn would fit into her <a href="news08.html#1Jul1">ongoing project</a> for versatile and easy to wear wraps and shawls. What you see, draped on the manikin below left, is a one-piece, rectangular, wrap. Elaine has knitted it across the full width of the knitting machine bed at a loose tension - the equivalent of hand knitting with those thick wooden needles. It is very light - only a few ounces - and has no real shape or structure. It takes those elements and much of its visual appearance from what it is worn over. The reddish-brown tone in the yarns spreads out into a nutmeg and cinnamon mist - with nubbles.</p> <p>"Wrap" is the correct word here. Let us imagine that you are trying it on. Hold the rectangle, shoulder high, in both hands with the long axis running left to right. Gather up the material in both hands. Work the gathered material left or right through your hands until you can, with one hand - the drape hand - adjust one side to drape down to the level you want: hem, knee, mid-calf, .... Then, with both hands still holding the gathered material, lift the whole rectangle backwards over your head and let it settle comfortably across the shoulders behind your neck. Check that the drape hand side is still hanging down to the level where you want it. Then, open the drape hand slowly and let the drape side material slide out and down as you move the draped end left or right across your front to position it horizontally. Now, with one of those nonchalant sweeps you have been practising all day, open the other hand and flip the undraped side across the front of the body and backward over your shoulder on the draped side. There should be enough material to go right over your shoulder and part way down the back. The material that you flipped over your shoulder with the undraped hand settles onto the drape side material to hold the whole wrap in place. Finally, adjust the material from the undraped side down to cover as much of your front and the arm on the undraped side as you wish. If necessary, use a pin or clip to hold the material across your front in place. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="../images/n09073.jpg" class="imgtblctr" width="189" height="302" alt="All Wrapped Up"/></td> <td><img src="../images/n09083.jpg" class="imgtblctr" width="162" height="302" alt="A Fitted Shawl"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p>Or, we can keep it a bit simpler for you. How about a smaller wrap, tailored to a specific shape and purpose? With a crocheted band around the edge to make sure that the material sticks to the script? Perhaps with a contrasting colour or texture in the band? One of John's mahogany pins to add just a bit more stability and an accent? No problem! The image on the right above shows how it all works together. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="2009-3-2"></a><p><strong>The Sweaters &amp; Vests of 2009</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; Wraps and shawls have been the Studio's best selling garments for the past couple of years. Nevertheless, there has been a steady demand for the Studio's sweaters and vests. We group these two together. Often the only difference between two items is a zipper or a decorative button in the front. Vests are a strong seller but we have noticed that over the past few years the demand has fallen for the conventional sweater: close-knit, patterned or cabled and ribbed at the base, cuffs and neck. We have never competed with the commercial products. But even in our niche: the unique, studio designed and produced quality item, the market shift is obvious. There is still a demand for infants' and toddlers' sweaters, more for little girls than little boys as you would expect. Has the current rage for hand knit sweaters in excellent yarns and 'innovative' patterns taken up some of the market?</p> <p>Fortunately for us the demand for sweaters and vests in our studio-produced, knit-woven, fabrics continues. For the 'over the hip' petite vest on the left below Elaine wove very showy cotton and synthetic yarns into the surface of light weight synthetic knit. The white banding is a silk and bamboo blend, crocheted on after the piece was assembled, partly to stabilize the fabric edges and partly to create a strong visual frame for the delicately shaped garment. Pretty in fuchsia-pink. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="../images/n09093.jpg" class="imgtblctr" width="214" height="302" alt="Fuchsia Brocade Vest"/></td> <td><img src="../images/n09103.jpg" class="imgtblctr" width="235" height="302" alt="Knit Vest with a Mahogany Clip"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p>The hip length vest on the right above is machine knit in a very open pattern from a medium weight alpaca blend. As with its neighbour on the left, the banding is then crocheted around the edges by hand. The design is suited to full-figured client and a less formal occasion but you can see the similarities in the basic structure of the two pieces. The short brown flash at the throat is one of John's carved mahogany clips. These sorts of open work fabrics, which Elaine uses most creatively for the wraps and shawls, are their natural home. The long pin of the clip slides into position through the loops in the pattern and the carved head on the pin holds the clip in place.</p> <p>As it turns out, the mahogany clips have struck out on a life of their own. Elaine originally included them as part of a knit and clip package - so to speak - with several of the garments produced this year. However, when the combo appeared at the pre-Christmas shows Elaine had separate requests for the clip alone. We had not set a price for that. But Elaine guessed a good number and by the end of the shows as many had been sold solo as went out with garments. Maybe a new series in 2010? There is more of that mahogany. What about teak, or fruitwoods, or even ebony? Hmmmm, the price for an ebony clip? &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="2009-3-3"></a><p><strong> The Baby Clothes of 2009</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; Baby and toddler clothes came back in 2009. Most 'ordinary' hand made baby clothes have gone the way of the flannel diaper. Nevertheless, there is still a market there. Much of the demand is for child-sized copies of the current adult styles in gloves, mittens, scarves and toques. Still, some of the traditional forms are doing quite well. The two piece set on the left below is definitely part of the 'pretty in pink' tradition of dressing up baby girls: little frills in the knitting pattern and lots of crocheted picot lace in the edge bands. Perhaps the outfit was purchased by a grandmother, mother in law, or even the oldest auntie. The aim is the same, to keep the little bundle warm - and to show her off to the admiring multitude. Grandparents know these things - eh.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="../images/n09122.jpg" class="imgtblctr" width="299" height="252" alt="Cap and Sweater for a Baby Girl"/></td> <td><img src="../images/n09132.jpg" class="imgtblctr" width="326" height="252" alt="Swing Jacket - Infant Size"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><p>And now something for next season perhaps. The young lady above may turn out be quite mature in her taste for clothing. I'm sure that she murmured something about the need to start building <a href="../fabart/fabartb.html#KWA">her personal wardrobe</a>. The one button top on the right above is just the thing. Easy to wear, goes with anything, and available in many sizes and yarns. Again, Elaine has crocheted all the edges and for a bit of decoration, the panels are also joined with crocheted bands. Cute button too! Firmly sewn on, just in case. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="2009-4"></a><h4>Showing Off!</h4> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td><a name="2009-4-1"></a><p><img src="../images/n09113.jpg" width="220" height="302" alt="A Swing Jacket of 2009"/></p></td> <td><p><strong>'Frisco'</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; 'Frisco' was a very showy yarn, a shiny, coarse, synthetic blend. We say 'was' as it and the English company distributing it appear to have dropped off the radar. Even Google found little current information on it. But, a small package with a dozen or so balls in three different shades walked into the Studio a few years ago. Elaine decided to temper its flair by knit-weaving it over a much quieter woolen ground. The knit-woven fabric has a nice hand and the 'Frisco' shows off as a random sparkle effect. The <a href="news09.html#2009-3-2">fuchsia-pink vest</a> above shows a similar display with a less showy yarn.</p> <p>The clients were impressed. A chocolate brown fabric, like the fabric in the garment at the left, but made up into a simple short-sleeved vest, won a Jurors' Award at the spring Arts &amp; Crafts Society Show - and sold too. A vest in a sky blue blend sold and a re-order sent us off to an eBay site in England to get some of the last of the yarn we could find - in a teal blue shade. Finally, a client ordered a garment, the one shown on the left, in the chocolate brown shade but shaped as one of Elaine's <a href="../gallery/galfaa.html">'Swing Jackets'</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="2009-4-2"></a><p><strong>Sisters</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; Elaine's sister, Jacqueline Gagn&eacute;, came out for a month this autumn to help Elaine with the pre-Christmas shows. Jackie and Elaine had planned the visit for months so they had also brought a lot of their mother, Yvonne Rouleau's, work from Ottawa as well. If you have read these updates since their beginning you will remember that their mother is a fine needlewoman. And still producing into her 80's. Elaine's parents had lived out here in the mid-90's. Her mother won the Best of Show rosette for Needlework at the fall fair put on by our North and South Saanich Agricultural Society.</p> <p>You can see by the image on the left below that the girls had no difficulty mounting a good show. The venue is literally a barn. For a late autumn show it is always cold and damp inside - even with a set of large propane-fired heaters going full blast. The show has been snowed out - yes, even on the Island - and storms have cut the off the power. But when the show goes on it is a great event: good company, lots of children, big and little, with their displays of animals, and a good crowd. The weather was cold again this year. So sales of winter accessories, like the neck warmer Elaine is wearing in the photo, were good too.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="../images/n09163.jpg" width="294" height="302" alt="Jacqueline &amp; Elaine in a Barn" /></td> <td><img src="../images/n09153.jpg" class="elmfltright" width="378" height="302" alt="Elaine Demonstrating @ Artisans"/> <!-- Original image copyright Anneke Vogelaar. Modified and used with permission --></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="2009-4-3"></a><p><strong>The Artisans @ Christmas Show</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; At the same time as all of that was going on. Elaine was running a group show, the <a href="http://www.cacsp.com/">Community Arts Council's</a> third annual 'Artisans @ Christmas'. That show ran for seven weeks on the Tulista Park site, closing a few days before Christmas. The show is getting bigger and lasting longer with each passing year. Forty local artists were invited to display. A few, like Elaine in the image on the right above, also demonstrated their work. Running the show took a few hundred hours out of Elaine's busy Christmas period schedule. But you can see that it had its smile moments. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="2009-4-4"></a><p><strong>Happy New Year!</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="../images/n09143.jpg" class="elmfltright" width="230" height="302" alt="Nicholas and Geology"/> <!-- Original image copyright Charles Dendy. Modified and used with permission --></p> <p>Well, here we are at the end of another year and the beginning of the next. Except for the problems with Elaine's knee and, sadly, the death of a very good friend, it has been another great year at the Studios. Lots of visitors, bumper crops of hummingbirds and black-tailed deer, lots of berries - shared with the deer as usual - and three complete flowerings of the wisteria.</p> <p>As always, there are already plans for the New Year. No long vacations but a couple of trips to sewing and knitting events within a few days of home. We have gathered up quite a sheaf of drawings for new fabric arts projects and there is talk of a second series of carved wooden clips for Elaine's garments. And maybe it's time to bring out a series of hand-pulled prints for a Studio Christmas card and that distinctive 'Thank You' card. John has already decided on 'Perpetua' as the font - a deep bow to Eric Gill and the whole British arts and crafts tradition. As usual, events will dictate much of that. That is part of the fun of a live and work studio.</p> <p>So here is young grandson Nicholas, who has developed an interest in rocks and fossils, to wish you all the best in the New Year. The same from us. And, as always, take care of the those you love and help someone who needs you. &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="#pagetop">Top</a></p></td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <div><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- explicit vspacer --> <div><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- explicit vspacer --> <h4><a name="Contact">Contact Us</a></h4> <p>Elaine Dendy <a href="mailto:e-laine@shaw.ca">e-laine@shaw.ca</a><br /> John Oliver Dendy <a href="mailto:dendy@islandnet.com">dendy@islandnet.com</a><br /> URL: <a href="http://www.treetops-studios.com/index.html">http://www.treetops-studios.com/index.html</a></p> <!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/copyright.lbi" --> <p>Copyrights for the entire site, unless otherwise stated :<br /> Text and Photography - &copy; 2001-11 John Oliver Dendy<br /> Design and Art - &copy; 2001-11 John &amp; Elaine Dendy<br /> Web Layout - &copy; 2001-11 John Oliver Dendy</p><!-- #EndLibraryItem --> <p>Revised 23 March, 2011</p> <p id = "navbardown"> &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../index.html">Enter</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../home.html">Home</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../tour/tour.html">Tour the Studios</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../fabart/fabart.html">Fabric Arts</a> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../visart/visart.html">Visual Arts</a>--> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../workshop/workshop.html">The Workshop</a>--> <br /> <a href="../study/study.html">The Study</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../gallery/gallery.html">The Gallery</a> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../commune/commune.html">Our Community</a>--> <!--&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../links/links.html">Links</a>--> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="../gglsrch.html">Search</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Contact">Contact Us</a> </p> <p> <a href="http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=referer"><img src="http://www.w3.org/Icons/valid-xhtml10" alt="Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict" height="31" width="88" /></a> <a href="http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/"> <img style="border:2px blue ;width:88px;height:31px" src="http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/images/vcss" alt="Valid CSS!" /></a> </p> </div></div> </body> </html>