Getting Ready for our Next Art Show

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…both Kevin and I are hosting our first art show together

I know that I have enough art to put on another show but I always like to create some new pieces. A while back I took a photo of a random group of buttons and I had it enlarged. In my head I envisioned stitching the buttons over the photograph and then add some more stitches around the buttons. Here is the finished piece.

For my last show I painted a mixed media meadow scene that was very popular and sold at the show. I decided to try another piece using similar techniques but this time I made it larger. It features sumacs in the foreground and spring flowers throughout the rest of this country landscape.

The show starts July 29 and runs till August 24 at Montgomery’s Inn.

A Day Filled with Art

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…May 5, 2026

Today Kevin and I decided to revisit an art gallery not to far from our flat, The Estorick Collection. Kevin went on line and checked the hours. We walked to the bus stop to catch bus 73. We got off at Essex Station and after a short walk we arrived at the gallery.

When we got to the gates a very official and beautifully dressed woman informed us the that the gallery was closed to the public because it was hosting a private function. We were very disappointed and I informed her that we had come a long way to see the Alessandro Mendini exhibition. When she asked us where we had come from I promptly told her “Canada”. She asked us a few more questions about where in Canada and we told her that we live in Toronto. Turns out that she’s been there and so had her sons.

I guess she took pity on us and she invited us to join the crowd and help ourselves to food and drink so we looked like we belonged there. It turned out that she was the organizer of the event. For the next 15 minutes we kept hearing her mention the couple from Canada and she even brought over her sons to introduce us to them.

We joined a group for a tour of the gallery. We learned about the history of the place and how the original owners were looking for Italian art from the early 20th century in the futuristic genre.

After this part of the tour, Kevin and I made our way to the Alessandro Mendini exhibition. He is one of Kevin’s favourite designers from Italy. It is a very playful and colourful exhibit. He is very well known for this chair.

Here are several more pieces fr the exhibit.

When we got back to Highbury Islington we did the school pick up for Sevin and took her home. At the flat Sevin and I made more art.

Happiness is….

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…checking out MaryLou’s show and the art produced by the studio artists at WAAC

…and in the main gallery

Another Look at Judy’s Numbers Game – #243

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to Judy Dykstra-Brown for hosting the Numbers Game https://judydykstrabrown.com/2026/04/20/the-numbers-game-121-come-play-along/

I’m always surprised what pops up when I type the number in the search box. This week the surprise was an old photo of my sister’s wedding. My youngest sister and I were the matrons of honour and our parents were standing behind us.

It’s Time for Judy’s Photo Challenge

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…this week we’re looking for photos with the number 242 in the search box

Thanks to Judy Dykstra-Brown for hosting the Numbers Game Photo Challenge https://judydykstrabrown.com/2026/04/13/the-numbers-game-120-come-play-along/#like-179672

This week 242 pulled up photos of flowers, an evening at the rugby game in Guelph, outside our flat in London, the V & A in Scotland, road trip to the east coast, Kevin’s art, our granddaughter in London, the CNE and old photos of my parents.

Thursday Throwback – Three Weddings

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Mama Cormier

This year two of my three children have and will be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversaries and one celebrates 15 years of marriage. All three were very happy days and full of wonderful memories.

9/10/11

Our youngest daughter was married first and her anniversary date is always easy to remember. She and her now husband were married on September (9th month) on the 10th day in 2011. It was a beautiful late summer day and the outdoor wedding took place in a vineyard.

In 2016, our remaining two children decided to tie the knot. Andrea and Josie were married on their 10th anniversary of their first date, February 10th. It was a small wedding with family and close friends. They were married at City Hall and had the reception in a lovely Italian restaurant.

Five months later our son, Brendan and his beautiful wife, Azadeh were married in Assisi, Italy. The destination was chosen because it was the one place that all the families could attend without any visa restrictions. Also Brendan and Azadeh had a connection with the owner of the resort and they were able to book the entire place just for their guests. It was a magical place and a wedding that we won’t soon forget.

Thursday Trios – January 29, 2026

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…looking through the archives

All these trios came from my 2016 archives but one photo is clearly over 40 years old. Can you pick out which one it is?

Play Along With Judy

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to Judy Dykstra-Brown for hosting the Numbers Game https://judydykstrabrown.com/2026/01/12/https-judydykstrabrown-com-2026-01-05-the-numbers-game-107-please-play-along-jan-12-2026/

Today’s number is 229. Just type it into your photo search box and see what comes up. Here is what I found.

One Jigsaw Puzzle Done

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…surprised at how much joy this process gave me

This puzzle took me only two days to complete but then there were only 550 pieces. I probably spent 2 to 3 hours each day with a few breaks in between. I think the coffee and sweets theme energized me. Now I should go back to a bigger one that I had started last year and never finished.

Happy New Year

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…no New Year’s resolutions

Just making the best of every day. In the past I’ve tried making resolutions that were too ambitious. For example, I used to set a goal of making art every day. As soon as I missed two or three days in a row I felt like I had failed and instead of getting joy out of making art it became a chore. So this year I’m hoping to do one thing a day that brings me joy.

Yesterday I read my first book of the year. It’s a children’s book but I highly recommend it to anyone from 8 to 88.

Charlie Mackesy is both author and illustrator. The book is full of inspirational quotes and I know that I will be going back throughout the year to lift up my mood and stir my creative juices. I like Mackesy’s loose style of drawing so I picked up my fountain pen and opened my new journal. I wrote down my first quote and copied one of the illustrations.

Other things that bring me joy are walking, taking photos, baking, crafting, spending time with friends and family, travelling, going to the cottage and making art.

My one goal this year is to share my joy with you!