Traditional Romanian embroidery class (part 2 of 3)

~ A multifaceted event: an educational activity of our Circle, with an ART emphasis ~

ART oriented activity – MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members); part  2 of 3

Dear friends of our Circle,

With much delight I’m sharing that on Thursday (August 20’26) I organized the second part of our hands-on workshop, dedicated to the ancient art of the traditional Romanian embroidery (especially customized for the traditional Romanian blouse), craft being taught by artisan Lucreția Cioată. 
This time we all were pleased to be invited at Ms. Cioată’s private residence, where surrounded by nature and warm Romanian hospitality we could continue with much passion our work. Discussing patterns, analysing traditional symbols, exploring complex ancient motifs, comparing stiches techniques and thread types (from a practical perspective), brought even more breath and depth to our seminar.

While at this point, I would like to emphasize that this very specific Romanian embroidery (perceived as “manual art”) it is far more than a simple decorative art; it is a vivid testament of our homeland history, cultural identity and social narrative because it is deeply rooted in our folklore and rural traditions. The beauty of this old craft is that each stitch, each motif and each color choice convey a symbolic meaning by narrating special stories of life, nature and spirituality.

Regarding our time together during this session: it goes without saying that we all truly cherished the pleasing ambiance, being captivated by special moments of creativity and artistry in a such cozy and inspiring setting.
With much joy, both Ms. Lucreția and I will be looking forward to the next part of this series (which is also the last session)!

Until next time, dear ones, from me, only the best

Alice

In essence, this type of Romanian traditional embroidery (especially customized for the traditional Romanian blouse) reminds society that value is not solely measured by efficiency or mass appeal, but also by skill and intentionality; threads of memory woven across generations, contained within each simple stitch!

This is was a MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members).

NOTES:

● For your convenience, here is the related social media posting.

● To facilitate additional reference, here is the previous review – part 1 of 3 of our series. 

Traditional Romanian embroidery class (part 1 of 3)

~ A multifaceted event: an educational activity of our Circle, with an ART emphasis ~

ART oriented activity – MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members); part 1 of 3

Dear friends of our Circle,

Following up on the artisanal Romanian mini-workshop I initiated during “Ziua Iei 2026” celebration (aka: “The Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse 2026”) and responding to the interest expressed directly to me by several friends of our socio-cultural community, I am delighted to share that on Thursday (August 13’26), on a very beautiful and peaceful summer day around here, I organized for the friends of our Circle the first part (part 1 of 3) of a hands-on workshop, dedicated to the ancient art of the traditional Romanian embroidery (especially customized for the traditional Romanian blouse), craft being taught by artisan Lucreția Cioată. 
This class was offered exclusively to the friends of our literary and socio-cultural Circle (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members), and each participant was offered a starter kit, as a base to commence the learning process.

This traditional Romanian embroidery of a recognizable value, perceived as a distinct “manual art”, it is a centuries-old hand-made artistry, 
gracefully encompassing our ancient cultural heritage and a skillful handcraft. Truly beautiful! 

Needless to say that we all enjoyed wonderful moments of art and creativity in a warm atmosphere, where every thread came to life, telling us timeless stories. 
Both, Ms. Lucreția and I had a blast weaving beautiful memories together with our friends, and with much anticipation we are looking forward to the next session (part 2 of 3) of this workshop, which belongs to the educational serries of events of our Circle. 

Until then, from me, only the best!

Alice

Hand-sewing traditional Romanian embroideries promote cultural literacy, informed sustainable practices, intergenerational memory and reflective engagement – all embedded in a simple and humble stitch!

This is was a MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members).

● NOTE: For your convenience, here is the related social media posting.

● A nice acknowledgement...

Summer vibes of 2026

This year, the ongoing summer in our part of the world brought along a large variety of experiences, nicely harmonized with an interesting mix of sights, sounds and emotions. The beautiful weather and the long sunny days are allowing to deeply enjoy the amazing beaches of our beautiful city, Vancouver – a place which feels, at times, like a huge canvas painted with warmth, hints of the ocean breeze and vibrant energy. At large, the surrounding nature generously keeps spoiling us with its splendid abundance of greenery, rejuvenating fragrances of the countless flours, grace, elegance and above all, with a profound sense of peace!

Without any doubt, each summer day is worth savoring!

Socializing: Picnic 2026 & Our Chamber Choir Launch

With much delight I’m sharing here that on Friday (July 24’26) I organized the annual summer picnic of my Circle, event which brought together a nice group of dear friends (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members) for an engaging evening of music, dance, shared memories, enjoyment and community spirit.

The highlight of this social event was the launching of VOCAL ART – The Chamber Choir of ALICE & Friends Circle™.

On this occasion, it was profoundly significant for each of us to have our chamber choir’s inaugural performance taking place at an event I organized for my Circle.

Bringing together emerging talents, amateur artists and music professionals, our choir aims to present inspirational choral music across the realm, to create a cultural experience that resonates with audiences of all ages, and to explore a wide repertoire, ranging from timeless classical masterpieces, Byzantine and Baroque florilegia to contemporary choral works.

Our first mini-concert was featuring pieces by Romanian composers. In the foreseeable future, we will deliver both public concerts and bespoke performances to special events, while featuring the beauty and the extensive versatility of choral music. Beyond artistic performance, our choir’s launch signals a clear emphasis on musical art and cultural dialogue. 

Over the last 8 years of existence of our socio-cultural Circle, amongst other events of our Circle, the annual summer picnic of ALICE & Friends Circle™ has become a truly cherished tradition, each time providing excellent opportunities to strengthen community ties, while enjoying the fantastic scenic outdoors of our beautiful Vancouver – this time featuring, the one and the only, Granville Island.

Additionally, invited by Alice to offer a dancing demonstration as part of the event, our old friend Sandu Oprea presented several (dancing) styles for everybody to join. Needless to say how much fun the engaging experience it was for all guests! 

This complimentary event was open to the public, expressing interest proactively – enthusiasts were asked to RSVP via email before the specified due date.

The purpose of this gathering was to create an inclusivist ambiance, meant to strengthen culture, diversity and shared experiences.

Overall, this summer picnic of our Circle was a successful combination of cultural appreciation, leisure and fine gastronomy, leaving all participants with lasting memories of a nice sunny day well spent!

Until our paths will meet again on the same wavelength, from me only the best!

Alice

● For your convenience here is the Press Release  for the launching of  VOCAL ART – The Chamber Choir of ALICE & Friends Circle™

● For your convenience here is the Press Release  for this event – the annual summer picnic of ALICE & Friends Circle™