THE TREETOPS STUDIOS - SAANICHTON

NEWS FROM THE TREETOPS STUDIOS - AUTUMN, 2003

21 December, 2003

The End of Another Studio Season We finally have all the orders finished. There are a few local deliveries yet, but they will be all done in time for Christmas. Success is not being up Christmas Eve wrapping gifts for each other.

Christmas Bagging And on the subject of wrapping gifts. Elaine had some small pieces of nicely patterned upholstery and drapery fabric left over and needed a few bags for a client's orders. That led to a series of decorative bags with cord ties: some sized for a book, others for a bottle of wine and a few big enough for a large stuffee. Two dozen were gone in a week. Now, for next year ....

Project Linus The end of the season was also a great time for baby things. The infant set, a baby bonnet and crib blanket combination, was a 'best seller', often to new or expectant grandparents of course. Typical combinations might be:

But you don't have to be a parent or other relative to share the joy. There are lots of little ones who could use an 'extra something' - and not just at Christmas. The Treetops Studios' favourite charity is Project Linus. Contact your local chapter. Be a blanketeer.

"Merry Christmas to all ...." Well, there we are. 2003. The very best wishes from all of us to all of you. Take care of the those you love and help someone who needs you. Top

21 November, 2003

'Eyelash' Yarn Scarf & Cloche Combinations Who would have thought it? Even after three years of production, accessories knitted in 'eyelash' yarns were the best sellers for the Treetops Studios at the early shows. The novelty of the textures and the silky feel of the knitted fabric are irresistible. So ..., why not a scarf and toque combination.

Not a toque actually. The wide band and loose fit of the classic toque does not come off well in an eyelash yarn. But in the close-fitting knit or crochet cloche that is popular this year, with its narrow turned up edge band, 'eyelash' works. All sorts of eyelash yarns make a nice effect: plain colours, variegated colours and wrap around stripes in different shades.

Purse Puppy Here's something for the "What can I do with these little pieces of cotton?" column. This lightweight bag, it's about eight inches high, shows salvage denim and a sewn on puppy patch from the material used in the lining. We can make them up to go with almost any adult casual or young person's outfit.

1 November, 2003

Giving Thanks After a summer of wildfires, the rains came, and came, and came.... Twenty inches in October, most of it in three days at mid-month. But the firewood is stacked and dry, the curing basket is full of lavender and there are a hundred pounds of fruit and roma tomatoes in the freezer waiting to be made into jams and chutneys on the cold days.

The Studio joined in three Thanksgiving projects for this year. John cut 24 stencils for the residents in the extended care units at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital to use to paint two large hangings, one each on a 'Traditional' and a 'Contemporary' Christmas theme. Our own hanging, 'Lightning', was auctioned off to a private collector during a benefit for Brentwood House hosted by the Victoria Estate Winery. Elaine's Knit Knuts machine knitters club produced a set of trauma doll 'stuffees' to help the paramedics in the Victoria Ambulance Service with their youngest riders. Here is the whole gang, knitters and stuffees, and George Hammond from the Ambulance Service at the presentation. Top

The Early Shows The "Exclusively Yours" Show in the University Club at the University of Victoria and the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula's "Studio Tour" http://www.cacsp.com/ gave us the chance to show off some new items in the "Island Look" series. Elaine is modeling the long line vest, 'Layered Gold', with a golden silk brocade top and a shimmering cotton/polyester over cotton knit-weave skirting. Top

----- "Exclusively Yours" Show in the University Club -----

Top

Meanwhile, Back in the Studio John was busy filling up the few square feet of unoccupied floor and wall space. In the course of a year Elaine 'ends up' with lots of little bits of very high quality yarn leftovers and John with a dozen or more good decorative drawings from larger projects. Why not set up a tapestry loom? One thing led to another and by end month John had been given a papa-bear sized 1970's Edinburgh Tapestry Company frame, built a wall rack to mount it (below left), purchased a mama-bear sized, almost new, Mirrix upright loom and tripod (below right), been given a baby-bear sized lap frame and, when everything was unpacked, found that a used Ashford 'Traditional' spinning wheel had just followed him home.

John's knowledge of spinning is zero and his memories of weaving consist entirely of crawling around under his mother's loom as young boy, tying harness. However, the Deep Cove Weavers and Spinners Guild has taken him in. Now, where is the Studio copy of Nancy Harvey's Tapestry Weaving: A Comprehensive Study Guide? (Those of you with good eyes will have discovered that the cartoon the previous owner left on the Mirrix is, in fact, Nancy Harvey's Pattern Two.)

3 October, 2003

John's teacher, Andy Shutse Lou, had a one man show from September 25th to October 1st at the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria's gallery space at 1001 Douglas St. There were lots of new images and new ideas but the highlight of the show was the release of Andy's studio book. The show travels to Seattle later this fall. Watch this space. Top

Summer lingered until this week in Saanichton, and then went out in a blaze of glory. Please excuse the cliché, especially after the forest fires this year. But for the last few days before the morning and evening mists really set in the colours have been wonderful. The picture on the left was shot into the treetops behind the studio just as the sun came up on the first of October. (Yes folks, that's why we are 'The Treetops Studios'.) You can just see the mist lingering in the Hagan Creek valley at the right of the image. Top

And just in case you needed a demonstration that digital cameras can be tricky little devils, here are two images shot inside our dining room just as the sun set through those trees later that evening. They were taken only a few seconds and yards apart. In the image on the left below the sun is shining across the image plane from the left of the observer and the camera. The image on the right was taken with the sun shining over my shoulder almost directly onto the image plane. To my eye both images had the warm oranges and browns of the image on the left. The camera evaluated the reflected colours completely differently for the image on the right. But they will both make a interesting still life and a good illustration for the 'yet to be written' primer on using a digital camera in a decorative art studio. Top

19 September, 2003

Thursday night was the Show Opener for the First Annual Sidney Fine Art Show. The show is well presented despite its size and the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney was packed for the opener. Jurying had been a challenge, with over 800 entries for about 300 places. We were particularly delighted by their presentation of a large group of figure studies. A bouquet must go to all the organizers and volunteers. And, once again, the wisdom, generousity and hard work of the community on the Saanich Peninsula in refounding Sanscha Hall as the Mary Winspear Centre is vindicated.

The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, gave a short address on our art and the spirit of the West Coast and then distributed the prizes to the winners. The Treetops Studio claimed no prizes. Elaine and Heather entered 'Lightning'. John didn't show but at least seven members of the Island Illustrators Society, of which he is the Secretary, did. Among them, Clement Kwan took the third place award for Works on Canvas or Board with his oil 'Among the Reflections'. Top

----- 'Lightning' At The Sidney Fine Art Show -----

The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (right), at the 18 September, 2003 opening of the Sidney Fine Art Show with fabric artists Heather Corbitt (left) and Elaine Dendy and their wall hanging 'Lightning'. Top

New Semi-Formal Designs Heather and Elaine wore two examples of the semi-formal evening attire designed and produced in their studios. Heather is wearing a black synthetic and silk full-length sheath and a black silk vest with an embroidered dragonfly motif. Elaine is wearing an all-synthetic black full-length dress. The fabric in the sleeves, shawl and evening purse was machine knit at the Treetops Studios.

Between times at the Studio, Elaine has been filling orders for leg-warmers, hand knitted hat and scarf sets, baby blanket-baby bonnet ensembles, and wool blend boot socks. Top

8 September, 2003

Well, the first big show of the season has come and gone. The Saanich Fair is sponsored by the North and South Saanich Agricultural Society. Started in 1868, it must be one of the oldest real agricultural fairs in North America. This year was a great show. Judging by the traffic and the crowds, visitors outnumbered the residents of our District for much of the time during the Labour Day Weekend.

The quantity and the quality of the needlework displays this year was impressive. The quilters put on quite a display, bigger and brighter than either of us can remember. Elaine and her friends from the Knit Knut Machine Knitting Club manned a machine knitting demonstration site in the needlework exhibition room for the three days. It was hot work but getting the word out to the next generation is necessary if machine knitting is to make its comeback as a craft. The traveling Brother 840 got to meet some nice people too. Top

Among our Studio Associates, Heather Corbitt won a First for her hand quilted 'Flying Geese' cape, a Second for the 'Thirsty Bird' quilted wall hanging and another Second for her 'Agriculture' hanging quilt. Yvonne Rouleau, Elaine's mother, showed a large crochet table runner with us and won a First for her pineapple swirl pattern centrepiece crochet. Elaine won Firsts for her machine and hand knit wool/silk blend 'Lacy Shawl ', for her own design for a lady's three piece bag ensemble, 'Le Sac-a -Go' in cotton, and for her machine knit 'Opal' wool blend lady's vest. Elaine took Seconds for a hand knit lady's FairIsle sweater, for a machine knit woven dress purse in Lurex and cotton, and for a patterned and machine knit baby blanket. Top

As a 'team', Heather and Elaine won Seconds for 'Lightning', a wall hanging in silk fabric hand quilted onto a knit woven cotton base with hand applied accents, and for 'Blue Flocks', an all-synthetic reversible lady's vest in machine knit lace and whole cloth quilted stippling. An 'Island Look' lady's vest in studio pieced cotton batik and a wool on wool knit weave received a Special Mention

John did not show this year. But in the dull moments he scouted the flower and produce shows to add to the Studio collection of stock images. The chrysanthemum and dahlia blossoms were the best in years.

If you missed us at the Fair, there will be lots of chances to see The Treetops Studios' product through the autumn. Join us at any of the shows listed below. Top

16 August, 2003

WEARABLE ART by Dendy and Corbitt - Autumn, 2003 - Show Schedule

October 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Exclusively Yours Fashion Show & Sale, The University Club of Victoria, Light Lunch will be served
Ticket information, Andrea Western 592-7879, aseweasy@shaw.ca or, Monica Rogers 472-1203, ker.mon@shaw.ca

October 25th & 26th
Fall Studio Tour & Sale, Sponsored by Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula, http://www.cacsp.com/
Our studio will be open at 2296 Grove Crescent, Sidney.

November 15th & 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Victorian Christmas, Commonwealth Pool, 4636 Elk Lake Rd.

November 29th & 30th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Christmas in the Manger, Sponsored by the North & South Saanich Agricultural Society,
Saanich Fair Grounds, 1528 Stelly's Cross Road, Central Saanich.

December 6th from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Studio Show & Sale, at our Studio
2296 Grove Crescent, Sidney (off Amelia). 656-1324

December 13th & 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Last Chance at Mary Winspear Centre (Sanscha Hall), Sidney

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US.
Elaine Dendy, 652-9862, e-laine@shaw.ca or
Heather Corbitt, 656-1324, corbitt@shaw.ca . Top

Contact Us

Elaine Dendy e-laine@shaw.ca
John Oliver Dendy dendy@islandnet.com
URL: http://www.treetops-studios.com/index.htm

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Revised 9 June, 2007