Nose Hill

Skeleton Bushes (background story to Ladybird Fly)

  • November 2, 2017
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  • storytelling, Writing
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This story is about a Prairie Princess who is enamoured with Ladybirds. Some might call them Ladybugs but she is a princess and remembers the childhood rhyme “Ladybird ladybird, fly away home! Your house is on fire, your children all gone. All but one and her name is Anne. She has crept under the pudding…

Ladybird Fly

  At last I have launched a wee story that has been lingering in the form of text, drawings and paintings in my drawers and folders. Thanks to the creative talents of Igpy Kin and Lisa Murphy Lamb at Loft 112 in Calgary’s East Village, I have a chap book to show you! This is…

Apples from Heaven

  • March 21, 2017
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  • storytelling
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Composer Cheryl Cooney and I first met by chance on the tennis court when we were both on vacation in Hawaii.  Discovering that we both came from Canada and that her husband knew some of my cousins, I felt an immediate bond.  I had the chance to see Cheryl play an afternoon piano concert at…

Sea Creatures

Drip and splash and drip and splash and drip and splash!  Landlocked Sea Creatures can be found in the folklore of many cultures.  The Seal Woman or Selkie shows up on the shores of Scotland and Iceland.  The Merman is remembered as is the Man Whale in Iceland.  All have aspects in common.  Likely they represent the fact that we humans are made…

Following footsteps

Following Footsteps: Quotes and Comments

  • October 7, 2015
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My evening performance called Uncovering Icelandic Footsteps in Grundarfjordur brought the following reflection: “The program was brilliantly structured and beautifully presented. What made it so unique was how Karen wove together, stories of ancestors and the story of her own gathering of those stories, stories and songs and artwork.  It all turned into a very…

Karen Gummo string stories

A Journey to Iceland

  • October 6, 2015
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Following the footsteps of my children, my parents, my sister, and my great grandparents, I made a trip to Iceland in May of 2015.  It was made possible by the wonderful family pictured above.  They are Audur Magnusdottir, Johannes Dagsson, Flosi and Jakob.  How great was my joy in setting foot on the homeland of…

Orunamamu

Orunamamu – Story Bag Ladee!!

  • October 7, 2014
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“They’re gonna look at ya.  Might as well give them something to look at!” These were wise words of advice offered by Mary Washington’s Father.  Oh my, our friend gave us so much to look at and remember. Mary Washington was born in Alabama on or near the Washington Plantation.  She travelled about the U.S….

Wise and Willful Women

A Trio of Storytellers: Wise and Wilful Women

  • October 7, 2014
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I have been working as a storyteller for more than 25 years now.  Mostly the preparation work is solitary as we search for or create the tale that wants to be shared. In 2012 I teamed up with 13 storytellers to share a day – long performance of the Saga of Grettir the Strong. How…

Dreaming of Belle

  • September 19, 2014
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Lady Isabella Lougheed or Belle as she was fondly known, was a remarkable woman.  Lately I have had the good fortune to come to know her as I have been invited to come to her beloved Beaulieu Mansion (also called Lougheed House) to share stories of her family life for Alberta Culture Days 2014. It is…