Heather White's Wonderful Seal Skin Delights

I couldn't resist the temptation of buying a pair of seal skin slippers made by the talented Heather White of Change Islands, Newfoundland. I took the short ferry ride from Fogo Island to visit her in her studio whilst she was making my made-to-measure pair....here's how she did it:

a lovely selection of seal skin pelts waiting to be turned into something

Heather cuts the slipper pieces by hand and sews them together

trimming the edges to ensure a snug fit

Sadie, Heather's mother who is also an excellent seamstress, checks the quality control of the fleece lining

the finished product - a lovely pair of hand crafted seal skin slippers which will last me a lifetime. Thank you Heather!

Wood-Horse, Fogo Island - Seldom

Continuing with the theme of wood, this is the the most beautiful object I think i've ever seen. It's a long, thick log with steel poles for 'legs' and 'arms' which hold the tree stumps in place whilst they are cut into firewood. There two pictures show the wood-horse in use in both the summer and winter months and as you can see has a certain animal quality to it. When ever I go past I look out for it....

How to Chop Wood Without Messing Around

Continuing with my obsession with all things 'wood' here's a great little video on how to do it well.....

Woodpiles: Fogo Island

I have developed a bit of an obsession with the woodpiles found on this windswept island off the Newfoundland coast. The locals are very particular about how they are put together; taking their time to build this carefully constructed monuments.

I think they differ from community to community; using slightly different methods and techniques to build them. I think they are beautiful; stopping in my tracks when ever I happen to come across one. I hope I can make a woodpile as good as these one day....

Old Photographs of Bernheim

Dr Varley Wieldman - the Librarian the runs the wonderful library and archive at Bernheim showed my these amazing photographs on my last day. I think they would make some nice paintings; there is something very cinematic about them....see what you think