Helping Keen Celebrate One Year

This weekend I helped my favourite shoe store celebrate their one year anniversary…  how lucky to have them right around the corner from our house!  Congratulations Keen Shoes… here are a few pictures from the day and some of the faces I used as a canvas to paint on (some of them were wiggly, but I forgave them because they were so cute!)

Spring Beach Studio Tour

Please Join us

for the charming treasure hunt that is the beach studio tour…  Grab a friend, grab a map,  grab a latte and wander through the Beach neighbourhood to view, collect and be inspired by the beautiful artwork of local Beach Artists…  let us welcome you into our heARTS!

Toronto Storytelling Festival – Katari Japanese Storytelling

Saturday, March 24
3:00 – 5:00 pm

Katari will explore the traditional and contemporary Japanese stories that were brought to Canada by the Black Current…  I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event yet again this year!  Join us, you won’t be disappointed!

Location: The Japan Foundation, Toronto
131 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor

Audience: General

Admission: Free. Please RSVP at www.jftor.org/whatson/rsvp.php or Tel: 416-966-1600 ex.103
For more info on the Toronto Storytelling Festival:
www.torontostorytellingfestival.ca/site/

Holiday Open Studio

Ho, Ho, Ho!

You are most warmly invited my 5th annual Holiday Open studio…come on by for a little holiday cheer and to kick-start the season!

Holiday Open Studio!
395 Scarborough Road
Saturday December 3rd
11am – 3pm

With lots of creative gift ideas and stocking stuffers… there will be paintings, prints, cards, magnets, a cd of stories
(including Emma May’s Christmas Day) and the new Cadence Holiday Album, Cool Yule (hot off the press!)
Stop in for a little eggnog and some treats to get your holiday shopping off to a good start…
Hope to see you then!

warm wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season,
Nathalie

World on a Maple Leaf

I am so happy to announce the inclusion of Mischief and the Moon (the original Japanese Folktale I wrote inspired by my year and a half in Japan) in the recent publication of World on a Maple Leaf a collection of 25 folktales written by people from different cultural backgrounds who call Canada home.  Rooted in cultures from around the world, the stories offer an imaginative world to students while promoting the true spirit of multiculturalism and educating students in the principles of diversity, equality and respect.

Health, Food, Creativity Weekend at Luc’s Sculpture

Saturday, Oct. 29 & Sunday, Oct. 30th
10am-7pm

Health, Food, Creativity focuses on health and wellness through our unique expression, creativity. It is a space you can experience and explore who you are through doing good to the self, earth, and everyone else! There are places for purchasing healthy products & art works, playing with cay, participating workshops run by health practitioners, healers and artists.  I will be offering a workshop in Creative Writing on Saturday at 3pm.

The Beach Studio Tour – Fall 2011

It’s just around the corner…

Take a little stroll through the Beaches, listen to the leaves crunch, wander into an artist’s studio, have a cup of tea and take in the beautiful work of local painters, potters, jewelers, photographers, textile artists, sculptors and metal workers… Yes, it is time for the Fall Beach Studio Tour!
* Friday October 21st (6pm -9pm)
* Saturday October 22nd (10am-6pm)
* Sunday October 23rd (11am-6pm)

Camp Imagine!

Our first Camp Imagine! was a huge success with a week of painting, storytelling, percussion, music, movement & more… The week ended with a show called the Emperor’s Decree (about an Emperor who passed a law saying that “there shall be no more fun allowed”) which included songs, choreography, drumming, acting, storytelling & much entertainment for friends & family.  A big thank you to all the wonderful kids, helpers, parents & Kingston Rd. United for a fabulous creative adventure!

Here are some pictures from the week:

The Ultimate Block Party

Join us on Sunday June 5th from 11am – 5pm at Old Fort York for stories, music, and more!

Thousands of families and children are expected to participate in The Ultimate Block Party – a mass event to demonstrate the value of play-based learning for children –  at Toronto’s Fort York. Presented by ETFO, the event is modeled after the very successful Ultimate Block Party held in New York’s Central Park last October.

Nathalie will be telling stories from 12:30 to 1:10pm at the Story Corner!

ps. please note parking is limited and people are advised to bring their own snacks and drinks

Stories and Songs from Japan and Beyond

Join us in celebration of Asian Heritage Month

Saturday May 28th…

East Asian Homeland Festival: Stories and Songs from Japan and Beyond with Yusuke Tanaka and Nathalie Vachon
PLACE: Lilian H. Smith library – 239 College Street 416-393-7746
DATE: Sat. May 28, 2011
TIME: 12pm NOON (40 minutes)