Saturday, June 02, 2007

WHEN TORONTO CALLS…

I say 'Hold on, let me do that 'R' word...'

An urban garden tucked between Toronto skyscrapers

Here's the thing: I love to travel (noticed that, didn't you?), so much so that when friends began cheering me on to the '3 R's' of Retirement, which I think means 'Rest, Relaxation and Recreation', my husband claimed all those R's rolled into one big one for me: R for RESERVATION, preferably on a plane or at a hotel. Guilty as charged. Nothing excites me more than the wind on my face and knitting in my bags. I couldn't let a month go by without going somewhere so, when the Marie Josette Wearable Art Gallery in Toronto invited me to display a few pieces in their gallery, I just had to go up and meet them personally, didn't ? Well, didn't I??

Lettuce Knit...

I also did two knitting workshops at Lettuce Knit, a little yarn store tucked into the arty alternative neighbourhood of Kensingston Market and a frequent yarn-bingeing haunt of that star knitter/writer, Stephanie McPhee. In fact, on Friday night my workshop went back-to-back with the Yarn Harlot's book signing extravaganza on Bloor Street.

On Friday night, I lead 'Color Confidential' and on the next, 'Free Range Knitting' with each workshop filled with enthusiastic knitting adventurers. The color workshop features hunting and gathering among the well-laden shelves, questing after the most delicious color combinations for free range knitting projects and, of course, we all bought plenty of yarn (note how I never way 'too much yarn'—no oxymorons for me).  Free Range knitting encapsulates the basic tenets of my knitting beliefs --knit free and prosper--while creating a shrug from the cuff up. Beautiful things were born that evening. Thanks everyone—you were great!

Lettuce Knit...on the steps on a hot spring evening

A wayside pause in the color-gathering journey

When I finally visited Marie Josette's http://www.mariejosette.com/index.html in Toronto's Distillery district on Saturday morning, I was amazed and impressed by the weaving and creative design behind this imaginative duo, Marie Payne and Joisette Luyckx. Marie weaves the most intricate,  lushious fabrics which Josette then fashions into unique, beautifully-finished, one-of-a-kind garments. This is true art to wear. Everywhere you look, some new beauty catches the eye. Proudly resided over by Marie's loom, the gallery is alive with intriquing wraps, shawls, scarves, jackets and more. Now that the design duo are encouraging other Canadian artists to display their works as well, purses, felted pieces, intricate thread work are also being added. Oh, and my knitwear, too.

The Gallery poses..

 Josette models my Seashell Capelet

Marie experiments with weaving unique fibers and Joisette interprets them into fresh designs.

Glorious detailing of gorgeous weaving...

From the entry 'Wild, Mysterious Australia'. Jane, it's lovely to hear my everyday world described through the eyes of a newcomer....it makes me look at things afresh. Looking forward to meeting you in Sydney shortly.

By Christine Jones on 2008 12 28