This coming week is filled with special events in Annapolis Royal for the Arts Unleashed! festival.

For the full programme, please check: <www.artsunleashed.wordpress.com>

Here at Mrs. Nicholson Home, we are hosting three demos:

On Wednesday, August 20th from 2 to 3 pm, there will be a needlepoint demonstration. I will be talking abut needlepoint, which I love to do, and you will have a chance to try some stitches!

“Snowdrops” needlepoint canvas.
Design by Raymond Honeyman for Ehrman kits.

On Thursday morning from 11:30 to 12:30, Lorraine Beswick, who brings us our wonderful flowers every week, will do a flower arranging demo.

This week’s bouquet of flowers by Lorraine Beswick.

And on Friday, August 22nd, my friend and beader extraordinaire, Sam Norgard, will do a demonstration of beading techniques which she uses to create her one of a kind pieces.

Some of Sam’s beaded jewelry available in our store.

We hope to see you here this coming week !

No registration necessary, just pop on in.

Although our First Friday on July 4th was a great success, Arthur tore into town on Saturday afternoon closing everything down and sending everyone home!

Many of us were without electricity for three days – and some are still without power to-day on day 4.

There are many trees down around town but people are well and the weather has been gorgeous since the storm.

The store is safe and full of goodies and we are open for business. Jane was even here with the store open on Sunday with no power!

A big thanks goes out to everyone in Annapolis Royal who worked to clear off roads and sidewalks, look after neighbours, keep the pharmacy and the hardware store open and generously give of their time.

How lucky we are!

tree down in the cemetery

Trees down across from Christine’s house.

Great concert coming up at King’s Theatre this Sunday, June 1st at 7 pm.

The Annapolis Basin Community Band and the 14 Wing Greenwood Band will play a joint concert to welcome spring.

A great community event I have to promote as I play the flute in the band and know how good it is going to be!

If you are in Mrs. Nicholson Home to-day, I have tickets for sale.

Hope to see you there.

Amazing Grace of Spring

I will be giving a short talk about needlepoint technique and design on Friday August 23rd at 2pm as part of the Arts Unleashed festival in Annapolis Royal this week.

Come out and try your hand at a few stitches !

Cottage needlepoint from 1943 ($95).

A vintage needlepoint of a Japanese lady ($95).

An appreciative group of people turned out on this sunny Thursday morning to watch and learn from Lorraine Beswick as she made our weekly bouquet for the store.

Attentive listeners learned about form, movement, colour and use of unexpected plant materials (among other things) to make an outstanding bouquet.

Lorraine giving her talk on flower arranging.

The finished bouquet

Jane gave her talk on vintage fabric this afternoon to a small but interested group of people.

Tomorrow, our wonderful florist, Lorraine Beswick, will be here at 11:30 to give a demonstration on flower arranging.

And on Friday the 23rd, I will give a demonstration on needlepoint techniques at 2 pm and you can come down and try some stitches.

Below is Jane during her talk this afternoon.

Hope to see you down at MNH here in Annapolis Royal.

Jane talking about 1950s atomic barkcloth.

Tomorrow, Wednesday August 21st at 2pm at Mrs. Nicholson Home, I will be giving a free talk about vintage fabric, discussing how architecture, technology, isolationism and the movies influenced North American fabric design.

The emphasis will be on barkcloth – my favourite fabric!

Here I am holding a piece of 1930s “columnar” barkcloth (the mauve fabric) and a piece of 1950s “Oriental” barkcloth (the green). In between, on the screen, is a  1940s “tropical” pattern in vibrant yellow and red on a grey background.

Hope to see you!

Holding up some vintage barkcloth pieces in front of a three-panelled screen with vintage barkcloth as well.