C is for many things in my life. Cats and cows, Christmas and Christine (my sister), colour and coffee to name just a few. But for me, right now, C is for Charlotte. She is my friend who died back in October last year. Her memorial service was just a couple of weeks ago and it was a beautiful service in which many of her friends and family stood and told stories and anecdotes from her life.
And hanging at the edge of the stage, bearing silent witness to all that people had to say, was a tapestry that Charlotte had created a number of years ago.
She was an avid outdoor enthuasist. Her garden was a thing of beauty and she spent many happy hours there in the summer. Her and her husband John would go for long canoe trips and spent a lot of time at their summer cottage. More than once I heard her joke about going to the cottage for Canada Day so that they could enjoy "scotch on the rocks". Apparently there were quite a few rocks in their lake and canoeing out to one with a bottle of scotch was a tradition that they enjoyed upholding.
John told us the the tapestry was based on a photograph that she took on one of those canoe trips. She was intrigued byt he way that the sunset was reflecting off of the water. Her use of colour and texture was amazing.
She taught a tapestry course at the Craft College a number of years ago that I wish that I could have taken, but at the time I was fully immersed in three small children and Bill was working more than full time hours. I though that I was going to have another chance. Sometime you never get a second chance.
9 comments:
Oh, Jackie. I'm sorry that you never got to take her class, to learn from her as she'd have wanted for you to.
...... wow.
What a lovely tribute. I know you miss Charlotte very much. She was obviously a special person as well as a special friend.
A very touching tribute. Hugs.
With goosebumps running over me and a lump in my throat I read your last sentence... you're so right about second chances. Someone very near and dear to me has been diagnosed with lung cancer and I just cannot yet tell the world. There won't be any second chances, thanks for pointing that out to me Jackie.
Such an amazing work of art.
thank you for sharing her with us. The art we create keeps us alive to all who come after.
cyber hugs to you.
Thank you for sharing your Charlotte and this tapestry with us. I've heard so many great things about her and am amazed by this creation!
What a lovely tapestry! And a wonderful tribute to Charlotte! Scotch on the rocks....I'll have to remember that.
It sounds like she was a lovely, talented woman. Thank you for this post. It really reminds us not to take anyone or anything for granted.
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