Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Montreal, Quebec


I attended the Canadian Oasis Bead Show in Montreal, Canada over the weekend.  I think that was a good excuse to return to one of our favorite summer cities.  I took a class with Manon of La Perlerie Atelier-Boutique Inc.  It was call Inuit Chic.  You can see a sample of the necklace on the the white display.   She was a great teacher--very friendly and charming as well.  It was fun to be in an environment of French speaking people.  Although she always translated for me. 

I was especially taken with the necklace she was wearing.  She tells me it is made from circular brick stitch.  Each circle took about 2 hours to make.  She tells that it is not for sale.  She likes to wear it to start conversations.  She was happy to agree to me taking her picture and writing about her class on my blog.
You can visit her shop via the web here.  She is located near Montreal in St. Eustache, Quebec. 
Circular Brick Stitch Necklace by my teacher Manon

Montreal is especially fun in the summer since there are so many delightful outdoor restaurants, cafes and bistros.  We spent a lovely evening eating outside in a bistro just a few steps from our hotel.  The evening was warm and the food delicious. 


This peaceful and beautiful bovine model is in the garden of the Museum of Fine Arts.  We had a wonderful visit there.  I filled up on Canadian Group of 7  paintings and an artist I had not heard of before, Marc-Aurele Fortin  1888-1970.  He does wonderful landscapes with clouds pushed into the foreground.


Marc-Aurele Fortin


Front of the Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal

It was a wonderful trip.  We hope to return in early fall to see the Otto Dix show at the Museum of Fine Arts.

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment Nancy. You are so right about it being fun.

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  2. Sounds like a lot of fun:-)

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  3. I have always wanted to visit Montreal… On my list of places I must get to! Do a lot of people speak English up there as well as French Canadian (I forget what I have heard - it's been a while)?

    I see why you were inspired by the art! Beautiful… Ahhh… creativity!

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  4. Hi Stefanie, a fun city especially in summer when the garden and sidewalk cafes and bistros are open. Lots of great food and art. Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. Hi Marsha,
    Montreal is truly bi-lingual both by law and in practice. Most folks can get by in English and all the institutions are no problem at all. The French influence is wonderful and gives the city a flair and excitement not seen in Ottawa, a more English type city--beautiful and wonderful in its own way. But if you visit make sure it is in summer since it is the outside, the street festivals and open air markets that make it so fun.
    Yes Fortin is something else.

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Raku Bead Video Part III