lizzie's yarns

BAMF Art Blog Bunch Spring Show

2010-06-07T09:48:00.000-03:00

You know I am a member of the BAMF ART BLOG BUNCH, and aside from being a group of friends and artists supporting each other's creative growth (and spreading trashy gossip about YOU), we have organized our first ever group show. We have each submitted a carefully chosen piece, and we are each posting this on our blogs and facebook and anywhere else we can.

Have a look. This is AWESOME work and you don't even have to go anywhere to see it.

Becky Jo, AKA: The Beckster

(toe plate by Becky Jo)

Why toes? It started with the BNA project between me, Gary, and Kasey. My idea was to use a plate like a canvas to carve on and then color in the lines (just like coloring books). I realized that bunny/noodle/argyle concept is fun, but I thought most people wouldn't understand those three things together, so I started to put different things on my plates... random lines, spacey flying things, and now hands and feet. These are smaller plates, mostly decorative, but they are food safe. You can find this toe plate, plus more of my work on my blog and my Etsy Shop. :)

Kasey, AKA: Reverend Awesome

My thoughts: This symbolizes man's struggle to get to the moon and dealing with the sorrow one feels after their favorite team loses the Super Bowl. Okay. It doesn't. At least not intentionally. Since this show is Spring themed I thought I could do a little painting for every season. Nothing deep. Just fun. Something that I would want to have on my walls. I'll do the rest of the seasons as they arrive.

I don't have an etsy gallery or anything. So I guess if you want to buy things from me you'll have to contact me by email or facebook. I have a blog! My blog is about nothing of any importance really. It's about whatever I want it to be about. (You could be reading this on my blog. If so, my blog is VERY important. You guys know that.)

Here's some other things I've done in a facebook photo album.

India's Submission for the BABB show (India is Lizzie's daughter, and we absolutely HAD to invite her and her artwork, just so cool)

When given the topic Spring India struggled a bit with how her punk rock/abstract style would translate to all the typical images of spring. Her aesthetic is not all roses and sunshine. After tossing around ideas involving actual springs, and thinking she may do a pretty spring picture. The idea for this painting came to her while eating Nachos at the Pumphouse Brewery in Moncton New Brunswick. The booths at Pumphouse are amazing works of graffiti art left by decades of customers. India took this idea for a walk, and came up with this 12x16 mixed media painting on canvas. Materials used include oil and acrylic paint, sharpie, silver paint marker, chalk pastel, charcoal, gel pens and nail polish.

This painting and other examples of India's work Can be found at her Mom's Blog and at her Zibbet store.

Stevo's entry for the BABB show

In this area of the country Spring is often a large contrast to Winter. There is a shift from the cold weather to warm, and with it the plants once again begin to open up. As a photographer these contrasts help me to see things new again. Contrasts can also be interesting to photograph. I walk by this tree stump often, and this spring I noticed new life in the decay of an old tree stump. I like the difference in the flatness of the old stump, and the three dimensions of the new life. Somehow the death of the tree makes the new life even more interesting, as does Winter making Spring much more appreciated. I hope you enjoy the photos that I have selected for the BABB Spring Show. The are available from my Smugmug web site. I'd love to hear your thoughts about them. Also check out the incredible works of the others artists of BABB here on this blog.

Lizzies Pot For BABB show

As a textile artist I have long been inspired by the beautiful and intricate designs of block printed fabrics from Japan, and the intricate patterns of the woven art of Saganishiki. In recent years I have returned to working in clay, the influences of my previous life as a textile artist are becoming more and more prevalent in my current work. This yunomi was made using traditional japanese woodblock patterns depicting wind and grass. The designs were transferred onto bone dry porcelain, painted with shellac, and then the surrounding negative space clay was removed by a water erosion technique.

Each of the yunomi in this series is one of a kind, the shape of the thrown bowl dictating the subject matter for the images applied. I see this particular peice as a statement of Spring, The cloudy skies, the wind swirling around through the grass. This peice, and more from this series can be seen at my blog , and are available for purchase at my Zibbet store

Christi's etching for the spring show

Alright, so it really has nothing to do with spring, but it's one of my favorite etchings and I just printed a few more this week. I love my little etching press. I'm also thinking a lot about tattoos these days after last week's adventures in that realm.

This piece is called "Perch," which is a little pun between the fishbone and the bird perching on his arm. I could think of it as spring-like with the feathers and feeling of strength and mystery...spring is a mysterious season of crazy new life and wings.

It's listed on Etsy here.

Gary's piece

(pitcher by Gary Rith)

Artist thoughts: I have been working on a series of experiments lately, and for this spring group show imagined a pitcher like this with a deep groove in the side, glazed JADE and blue, springy colors, with a turtle on it. But for the first time in 13 years, I did not think it needed something like a turtle..or frog...etc. The groove reminds me of a river going through a landscape, not to sound like there is anything profound here.

But anyway, I like to push the piece nearly to collapse when I make the groove, and then add the accented blue bits, and a handle that looks a little more fun than the usual.

My blog details my everyday nonsense and pots, and this item and others like available at my etsy gallery.

Yet More Unfired Pots

2010-05-17T06:51:00.001-03:00

Well this weekend was semi productive, I managed to spend way too much money at the grocery store, which led to a rousing game of Refridgerator Tetris. India and I shopped successfully for fabric and pattern to make her dress for year end formal, final decision was made to do an interprovincial mother daughter road trip on the long weekend, and I managed to get a few mugs done.

I live in an area that is steeped in Celtic culture. The music, the language and the art are preserved here as vehemently as they are in the British Isles. Our road signs denote place names in English and Gaelic, we boast a lovely Gaelic college, where you can study the language, piping, fiddling and weaving. Cape Breton even produces the only scotch distilled outside of Scotland. Not surprisingly, pots with knots and triskels are very popular round these parts, plus, I like making em! Last summer, some of my knotwork pots went home to Ireland with some tourists. That kind of made me giggle a bit

Home Again

2010-02-11T12:46:00.000-04:00

Sorry its been so long, I have missed you all. I am back from Halifax, Arrived on Monday after being snowed in in Antigonish. Then got Caught up in Mason's birthday celebration. We suited up! a la Barney Stinson, and had a grand adventure to Wentworth Perk for Hot Chocolate. It was really fun, he loved it.
Then it took most of Tuesday to find my kitchen under the mess of a mama free weekend. Before I knew it, it was time to prep for my Wednesday classes. Hence the no Blogging til now.
The scarfa week project moved along, I got the fringes done while in Halifax drinking ~~beer~~, er tea but did not wet finish it. New scarf a week will be done this weekend, just needs to be tied on and we are ready to roll. I have a terrible feeling that it is not as long as it should be, but we shall see, no need to stress, it is purple, and I know a six year old. She may be the only kid on the playgroundwearing silk, but hey, she does claim that she would like to be a princess. The scarf will be worn, no matter how short it is.
Next week's warp is wound and ready to be put on the loom, it is a manly looking khaki green and beige cotton chenille. Cozy, and kind of safe after my wild mixed fibre warp this time around. For warp number three I have plans for fabric that goes bump, or maybe some woven shibori. I have some bamboo yarn that would make a lovely soft, drapey (is drapey a word?) scarf. I have not dyed bamboo yet, but I think it will take colour without a hitch. Yes I think that is it, I shall make a bamboo shibori warp for scarf a week warp #3.

Off to the Big City

2010-02-05T01:31:00.000-04:00

Well folks, Lizzie is off and running to Halifax for the weekend. I will be attending the Atlantic Craft Trade show as an observer, Just giving a little scope out of the show to see if I want to go the wholesale route. Oh and also so I can eat good food and see my friend Shannon. This will make me happy. I will make little progress on my weekly scarf, as I can't twist fringes and drive at the same time yet. I will be taking it with me though, and may get some done while visiting with Shannon. She won't mind at all, she understands the need to twist yarn, being one of those knitting types. She is obsessed with yarn as much as the rest of us, there are even photos of her knitting in her wedding dress. That folks is HARDCORE!!
ttfn,
lizzie

Scarf a Day, or week, or month...

2010-01-29T16:34:00.000-04:00

So My weaver friend Janet at scarfaday.blogspot.com politely challenged us crazy fibre types to weave a scarf a day... now, to be fair I enjoy a good challenge, but I know my body can't take that much weaving. so, I have joined in at a scarf a week.
It will be a challenge for me to get that done since I spend my days making pots. But as a further challenge to myself I will attempt to meet this challenge without purchasing any new yarn. It will be the ultimate stash buster, methinks!
The scarf pictured here will be my first, and there is one more on this warp. I will then move on to make warps of four scarf lengths each. That way I only have to warp once a month. Lets see if I can make it happen...

Monkeying Around

2010-01-26T12:28:00.019-04:00

For those of you who are familiar with my kids, you will know that they have a minor obsession with monkeys. Over the years this obsession has taken many forms, there have been monkey pajamas, monkey paintings, monkeys in a barrel, random monkey impersonations-even a breakaway pop hit written and performed by my children and the kids at One Thread Two Thread, entitled, "dancing with the monkeys" All has been quiet on the monkey front recently. I was thinking maybe thay were outgrowing the monkey obsession, when suddenly over dinner one night India said "Do you know what's really cool?"
"No" I replied, "what's really cool?" (this is a frequent conversation, and the cool thing is ever changing)
"Sock Monkeys"
"Sock Monkeys?" I query.
"Sock Monkeys" she said again
It is true, I cannot deny that sock monkeys are cool.
"You should make me one" she says
"you should make yourself one" I say.

That conversation took place before Christmas, we bought a five pack of socks while out shopping and I never heard a word about the sock monkeys again until a couple of days ago when Miss India asked me to source out the instructions for said monkeys. Last night My monkey started her sock monkey production. I have to say this kid worked diligently on her project and nearly finished him before bed last night. I have no doubt she will get the finishing touches done before dinner tonight.

She is doing a great job with it, and plans to make many more.This first sock monkey is to be called Cecil, and he is a gift for a friend.

Gettin er Done

2010-01-19T08:17:00.000-04:00

This past year and a half has been full of change. Moving to Cape Breton, setting up my Pottery, and getting back into the teaching groove has certainly been a life altering set of events. It has been quite an adjustment! I have learned a lot about myself,some of it seemed to be a natural sort of realization and some of it really surprised me.
In the land of natural realizations, I have discovered a love of the country life. Sure, I miss walking down the street and grabbing a coffee with friends at a coffee shop, or going out for beers with the gang. But all in all, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. The quietness, the beauty and the solitude have done marvelous things for my spirit, and my work.This may surprise those who think they know me well. But I always suspected I was a country girl at heart. I love the sound of the chickens in the yard, I love looking above my bed through the skylight and seeing a blanket of stars. I love that I can walk to the end of the driveway and jump in the canoe. Life is good.
The surprising realizations come in that I can't believe how much I love teaching. Sure I always enjoyed giving workshops now and again, but last term I taught three full term courses and LOVED it. It was a bit tiring but all in all it was a great experience.
My introductory weaving class made some fantastic projects, I was really impressed. Two of my students were veteran knitters, some might even say they were HARDCORE!!!!! Two twenty somethings carrying knitting everywhere, they made some really cool stuff (and had stashes that were mouthwatering).
My other two classes were both pottery classes. I have to say, I enjoyed these most of all. I have more confidence with clay, more of a natural communication with it and I think this translates well into teaching. I am looking forward to the start of term tomorrow. I'll be dusting off my teaching hat and delving in to the pottery Studio at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design at the crack of noon.
Unfortunately I have given up my weaving class. I was stretched a little thin last term, and it was the one thing to many on my plate. I am hoping however to get some weaving done at the centre this term. they have eight harnesses calling my name.....
ttfn Lizzie

photo update on the pottery front.....

2009-04-29T12:47:00.011-03:00

can't blog long, pots dying and class unplanned as of yet.........
but I do have some photos
and if I can make them appear here in a timely manner......

back with a twist.

2009-03-03T19:12:00.002-04:00

Hello all of you out there in the blogesphere! It sure has been a long time. There have been many changes and many twists and turns in the last couple of years,some good, some bad, some just there. Lizzies yarns has moved folks, yup, we are now country folk, with chickens, and a fantastic view of the beautiful Mira river on Cape Breton Island. And it sure has been a while since I had a ball of yarn and some knitting needles in my hands. I did venture into a yarn store recently, and came out with a sock pattern, and some needles, and NO YARN. yup I was so very proud of myself, I cast on the first sock, and knit one row. This took me several hours, as I had help from a not quite two year old, and stimulating entertainment from a five year old doing an interpretive dance to the philedelphia chickens. Being the smart woman I am, I decided that maybe the socks could wait, and I could get some dishes done instead. This was a much more productive use of my time.
These days Ihave spent much of my time making pottery. I am designing a new line and am very pleased so far, I will post up some pictures as soon as I find the camera.
well cheers for now
lizzie

Happy New Year !Back to Work, With a Vengeance

2008-01-04T14:24:00.000-04:00

Well Christmas is over, and the fun has begun. With two pregnant nieces and some serious creativity bursting forth in my house, production of cute little shoes and such has begun. The front beam of my loom is lined up with wee little felt booties. Miss India has been needle felting and sewing up a storm. When I find a camera I will snap some photos they truly are quite something.
My personal creativity is being channeled in a new non fibre direction briefly. I am painting. I have not painted in eons. But I have the canvass, I have the paint, and I have a goal. I am donating a painting to a silent auction raising money for kids music lessons. The last auction ended in December and was quite successful. Mason is to be the lucky recipient of six months of bagpipe lessons. Thanks to the talented staff of Isaac's Way Restaurant. I think it is a particularly good cause, and am kind of excited to be doing it. Hopefully I can get something decent on the canvass, and quick before I get too nervous to do it. I think it'll be a mixed media sort of thing, less daunting than just painting, painting intimidates me to no end. It really feels like reaching outside the box for me, challenging my comfort zone. It will probably be a good thing for me, I have holed up inside my comfortable space for the last year, recovering from life wounds, and getting my head securely attached. I have not pushed my creative self beyond healing and self examination.I feel like with this new year, I will be able to push down some barriers, and make real art for the first time in a long,long time.
I have spent most of the past year, working at getting my life together, recovering from a few horrible years of personal trials, and am slowly but surely moving forward. I have spent a lot of time by myself exploring, and strengthening my purpose It was something I needed to do by and for myself. I believe I am stronger for it, and healthier. I am getting ready to enter the real world again, move amongst the people, and make more art. I am still broke as hell, in debt up the ying yang, still working two part time jobs and still searching for a nine to fiver, but I feel a wee tad better about it all.

Weaving again

2007-11-02T14:22:00.000-03:00

Well after the move from hell last year, I kind of faded away into the land of job hunting, travelling to see long lost friends and basically recovering from the shock of it all. But just a few short weeks ago, I bravely attacked the pile of sticks in my living rommm and lo and behold a loom rose forth from tha carnage.
it is being warped this very weekend. Second warping in two weeks.
I have already warped some cards and am weaving some bookmarks with messages on em. I missed my yarn SOOOOOO much. First on the loom is going to be some mixed warp scarves, then on to some lovely little chenille bath mits. I will definately post photos of the progress.
Ta for now, off to send more resumes.

Loss of a Friend. Charlotte Glencross

2007-10-30T13:45:00.000-03:00

We say goodbye this week to a wonderful friend, tireless advocate for the Arts, and extremely talented artist. She will be sadly missed. Charlotte touched so many lives during her career as both artist and advocate. her work to bring the Charlotte Street art centre to life was only one of the many wonderful contributions she made to the arts community in Fredericton.
Rest well Charlotte, be at peace I for one will miss you and your vibrant personality.

packing over Cristmas is hell

2006-12-23T16:59:00.000-04:00

how the BLEEP did I accumulate all of this crap. I have a closing Date of January the 8th. And eleven years of crap to move before then. Oh and a place to move into. One that won't Break the bank, and I won't hate within six months. I never want to move again.
I have been packing it all on my own. With the exception of Joe taking apart all the beds and hauling them down to a reasonably accessible space, I have been sorting and heaving on my own. It is very cathartic. And an incredibly huge job. Nasty even.
I am going to be so glad when it is over. My house is a sea of laundry, and boxes. oh, and PILES OF USELESS CRAP!!!!!!
The kids left about half an hour ago to hang out with thier dad, I am spending the evening at a friends place doing laundry and toasting the tree. Tomorrow is the marathon packing and chucking session. Just me and a 100 pack of garbage bags, no kids to plead with me, no guilt over silly sentiment just HEAVE HO.
I had a little meltdown today over the change in the closing date, the incredible lack of money in my life and the stress of the first offer being so sketchy. The new offer is better, but I am just sick that there might be something that will cause a snag. I think this is the most stressfull thing I have ever done. But I guess it will all be over soon. January 8 is the day I am going to relax and take a deep breath, then start my christmas shopping. Boy oh boy are we ever in for a nice Christmas in January.

the waiting game

2006-12-09T03:12:00.000-04:00

I got an offer on my house. It certainly was quick, and quite shocking. It did not even have a sign up, and hadn't yet hit the MLS lists. Damn my realtor had not even stepped into the place to do the write up. The offer was really close to what I was asking, so I guess I can't complain. So now we go the rounds of inspectors and finance etc. And then the fun of house hunting, and cleaning out eleven years of accumulated CRAP.
I am an artist. We artists tend to collect stuff. A lot of stuff. Way more stuff than we will ever use. oh. and I was married to an artist who also collected stuff. and left it behind. My sister suggested a dumpster. She may not be far off the mark.
Now I need to gather forth my minions to sort and chuck and otherwise purge my life of the unneccesary bits and pieces. I am not strong enough to pull it off alone.
I am hoping all goes well with the sale, the buyer wants to close on the 28th, and I want to be in a place with my kids by Christmas. What are the chances???
pray it all goes well will ya? I certainly could use a good luck break.

socks on the wall

2006-12-07T20:48:00.000-04:00

Well these are my latest creations folks. I have been sewing socks like nobody's business. India drew a lovely elf sock one day and I just new they had to be made in cloth. Well lime and hot pink faux suede to be exact. OOOH the remnants I get at work are lovely.
I was finishing up some loose ends while having a post sale drink with joepoet on sunday when we realized the wall of Isaacs way was the best possible place to hang them. We left one for the staff but the rest are home with me now.
Cheers
Lizzie
I also made some very elegant silk ones in taupe with brocade trim. yummy.

A small slice of my life

2006-12-07T00:20:00.000-04:00

Last night I listed my house for sale.

Today I stumbled onto the blog of our minister of energy, this is an exerpt from his announcement regarding the banning of power disconnection in the province.

"If a single mother with 2 kids has to decide whether to pay the power bill or feed her kids this Liberal government wants her to feed her kids every time! NB Power and Family and Community Services will help her work out a schedule whereby she can pay the bill over an extended period of time. Let's not make any assumptions, everyone must pay their power bill. There was never any intent to give ratepayers a free ride in the winter time. If you have the financial means to pay but just decide not to and cannot prove financial hardship , you must pay. This is good news for folks in financial hardship and are worried about picking heat over eating....this government will pick feeding your children every time."

this is all very interesting, especially since the power company won't negotiate a payment plan with me. I was told they only negotiate with welfare recipients. Too bad my protestant work ethic kicked in,
It has been such a hard year, the family court, the losing school funding, the unemployment have taken thier toll.
I have no power and water hooked up, am crashing at a friend's and trying desperately to pay of the debts that accumulated over the past year. My children's father refuses to help, financially or by taking them for extra time so I can work.
Not that the job is making much of a difference at this point. Bare minimum, and transport is killing me.
Family and community services refuse to help me negotiate a payment plan, apparently thier rules are that I have to be on welfare, and mentally incapable of paying bills.
NB Power says they only negotiate with family and community services.
SO long story short, I work, so that I can live without utilities and be forced from my home
All I want for Christmas is a decent job. And my home back. Even an apartment would do.

actual fiber content.

2006-11-11T01:14:00.000-04:00

I bought yarn. well ribbon masquerading as yarn. first fiber stash enhancement in months. photos later after battery purchase

Alittle Spot of Sunshine

2006-10-22T00:19:00.000-03:00

well Last evening we celebrated the marriage of my oldest niece.
This first photo is her and her dad, dancing at the reception.

and this is the happy couple. Mr and mrs Daniel and Courtney Rickard

What a welcome bit of celebrating it was, a good time was had by all, as evidance, I have this charming picture of my sisters, well into the evening, And near the bottom of a bottle of something grandma would definately not approve of...

The one in the middle is the mother of the bride, just tipsy enough to try out the belly dancing belt borrowed from the sister on the left. What kind of example are they setting for thier baby sister???
I am thinking a pretty darned good one!

Family Fun with the Girls.

2006-09-25T12:41:00.000-03:00

This trio of lovely ladies are my Nieces. Left to right, Ashley, Courtney and Melissa. This photo was taken at Courtney's bridal shower on Saturday afternoon. It was really a fun time. I am not usually a fan of these hen parties, but this was truly a good time. The food was great, the company was pleasant and there were absolutely no family feuds brewing anywhere. Life was good, all round.
It is hard to believe that I have neices old enough to get married, where does the time go. It seems like only last week I was sewing little rompers for her, and borrowing her for home ec class fashion shows.
I am not sure that she would be keen on matching dinosaur shorts with her auntie any more.
The wedding is next month, October 20, I will have to start building up my kleenex stash, I am sure there will be many tears of happiness shed on george street that day.

Stolen Meme from Jackie

2006-08-28T22:02:00.000-03:00

5 Things always in my purse
In summer, I carry a purse. In winter, my parka has huge pockets

1. Asthma puffer
2. dirt/garbage from candy
3. wallet
4. agenda
5. Pen

5 things always in my wallet

1. Drivers license
2. Receipts
3. Medicare cards
4. blue cross cards
5. Library card

5 things always in my refrigerator

1. sambal oleck, and or jackies killer hot sauce
2. science experiment fodder
3. veggies of some shape form or description( see science experiment fodder)
4. cheese
5. coffee cream, and butter( This rarely runs out, if that happens, life is not pretty.) I vowed when I seperated from the ex, I would drink REAL cream in my coffee and Have REAL butter on my bread) I will sacrifice most things for these two items

5 things always in my closet

1. stash
2. books(large bookshelf, no where else to put it but have a huge closet)
3. Clothes
4. saganishiki loom, as yet unused
5. box of unknowns from my last apartment. 11 years ago

5 things always in my car
I don't own a car, but if I did I would surely have the folowing( insert dream sequence here) ...
1. A map, or several maps
2. Armour bag,
3. pertinant emergency tools and such
4. coffee
5. music, lots and lots of music

5 things always on my desk

1. Computer
2. picture of DTL
3. Pencils and pens
4. Paper
5. kid fodder, toys, beads, un finished sewing, beading stuff

as for people to tag

1. insert
2. your
3. name
4. here
5. if you want to play

Not Dead Yet

2006-08-03T16:24:00.000-03:00

Yes folks, I am still alive. Though busy as a one armed paper hanger. or a one handed weaver, whatever works for ya. I have been hangin out at the highland games, weaving some tweed, shoulda been some tartan, but reggae night interfered.
Aside from sewing bags and doing the artist market I have been searching for a job, being artist in residence, and trying to drum up some enthusiasm for life.
Yup, hard to be enthusiastic about yet more impending court dates, putting my education on hold -again, and looking for work that will pay the bills, without the ever lovin response of "if you had your degree..."
Yup, that is the clincher, If I had my degree I could get get a job, if I had a job I could pay for a degree...
The end result is the same. I haven't got a job, I have a huge lawyer bill to pay and an ex with a propensity for litigation paid for by mommy. nice work if you can get it.
A girl could go loonie.
but hey, i do have a duffle bag full of quiviat sp?? well, muskox fluff, and a gig teaching two nights, residency next week and again the first week of september. so It ain't all bad. really.
Well all. gotta fly, and get prepared for teaching the fine citizens of freddy to felt.
ta ta for now
lizzie

Sewing Like a fool...

2006-07-05T21:00:00.000-03:00

I have been a busy little beaver these past few weeks. I have been chained to my husqvarna and sewing like a demon. I have certainly made some progress on the production work. I listed four new bags on etsy today, I am pretty excited about this new line. I am really enjoying the painting and the sewing. There will be more up in the next few days, but etsy was slower than molasses today so I got bored and took an extended break. Check em out at the etsy store penelopespiderworks.etsy.com

World Cup Fever, My little lady, and the England - Sweden Game

2006-06-21T16:48:00.000-03:00

This folks is my little lady, behaving like all good footie fans should in a pub. Our local watering hole, known for its lack of tv has rented a huge mother of all tv's for the world cup festivities. Each day at three thirty, we can watch a game and sip some local brews among some true fans of the sport. We have not attended any of the games until England vs Sweden. Let me tell ya this little princess was letting everyone know who she was rooting for!

How I spent My Saturday

2006-06-20T22:09:00.000-03:00

This lovely couple is my dear friend Jason, and his lovely new wife, Patti. The wedding was beautiful, I cried like a baby. I wish them both all happiness. A blessing on them.

666 the number of the GIRLS NIGHT OUT...New Brunswick Style

2006-06-06T21:57:00.000-03:00

So today was Jackie's birthday. I will leave it up to her to expound apon her loot. Suffice it to say that Kate and I had the booze makin supplies, chocolate, and fibre all wrapped up. Joe poet covered the caffiene vessel area. But i would have to say that the star of the evening was Nigel. God bless Nigel.
WE descended on his lovely, quiet pub, created our own little party, drank his booze, abused him mercilessly, I think there was even partial nudity at one point ( his not ours, but I digress). Brain a little fuzzy, might have been the Irish Car bomb....\Suffice it to say, a good time was had by all. And Nigel is a little dizzy from the excitement of us. But hey what's not to get excited about? Imagine, Me, the Oddball, and jackie+ booze, and chocolate-children and husbands= one hell of a whirlwind party. We might be a little hard to take for the uninitiated.well ta for now. must weave drunkenly so I can finish up the scarves and put on the wedding gift warp.
ta fer now, lizzie

Carleton Artists Market.

2006-06-02T11:20:00.000-03:00

Tomorrow marks the first Saturday that Jackie and I will be attending the Carleton Artists Market as vendors. It is pretty exciting I must say. We will be sharing a space and switching off weeks, and well sometimes, like tomorrow we will be together.
Up for grabs will be a variety of handwoven, and felted goods,and some hand sewn bags and purses, when we get it done we will have some hand dyed yarn as well. I am hoping to put together a couple of kits for felted handbags with the lovely rovings I dyed last weekend. I have a few wovens, but not nearly as many as Jackie, I gotta catch up to that girl! She's a machine I tell ya!
I haven't finished the scarves that are currently on the loom, but maybe this evening after I take my first medieval dance lesson I will have some time to weave. My goal for today is to put some last minute finishing touches on some "Done-Buts" and attach some hangtags to the goods.
Here is a little sneak peak at what I am taking for sale, so if you're in the hood stop by. Oh, and if you are heading our way- bring coffee !!!
Carleton Artists Market.King Street Fredericton, Beside Brewbaker's. Rain location, inside Carleton Place. See You There!

blanket memories

2006-06-02T09:53:00.000-03:00

So Jackie got me thinking about the whole learning to weave issue. We were taught by the same teacher, albeit, a few years apart. I did not persue weaving as my major course of study, instead I wandered downstairs to play in the mud. Although I chose to study pottery, and dropped the weaving after first year, I had my blanket. I have used this blanket for more than twelve years, it has been darned more than once, and it has moved from room to room. It has been dragged around by kids, and kept me warm while nursing babies, snuggling kids on the couch, and while sitting around the kitchen shelter with friends when camping. It has travelled to Vermont, and to Pennsylvania with me, and is still going strong.
I love this blanket. It holds a lot of good memories. The beat is pretty good for a first time weaver, the fringe is a little ratty, but still basically intact, and the colours are a little brighter than I would choose today, but all in all, it ain’t a half bad effort for a first try.

Some "craft porn"for Jay

2006-05-30T15:52:00.000-03:00

Our dear Aussie friend, Jay has spoken of his love of Craft Porn. He wants to show the process, to see the process, peep into the making of craft. so these photos are for him, and anyone else who wishes to take a peek.

this is a photo looking in to the front door of my friend Darren's wood fired kiln. darren has been experimaenting with local clays and has built this kiln at his studio at Browns Flats NB. He is coming up with some really amazing stuff.Check out his site

The crazy fires we build in the backwoods of NB eh?

Now I would like to travel back a few years to when I was playing with fire on a more regular basis. the following few pots are ones that I made while pregnant for my oldest, he is 12 now.

Well that is all for now, I am sure that I will scrounge up some more "Dirty" pictures for Jay later. ta for now, thanks for reading
Lizzie

Full Circle, or a trio of shawls

2006-05-30T15:41:00.000-03:00

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A few years back, while working at the Craft College, I gathered up a few of odds and sods from my stash and put on a very long mixed purple warp. The results of this weaving were three shawls. Each of the three shawls was different from the next because of the weft I used. All were woven in plain weave, all were different lengths and all were very warm and lovely after washing and finishing. Well, all but the one that has yet to be finished. The longest of the three, I will be digging it out soon, and creating a fringe, finishing it off and sending it on its way.
I know not where its home will lie, or even if it will leave my home at all. Only that the time has finally come to take it out and finish it. Pictured above is the second of the three shawls, and the smallest. The first left for its home in March of 2001. A gift.
I began this project in January of 2001. It was a messy, turbulent time in my life. I had been ill for several weeks with Pneumonia, and my marriage was in trouble. In a way these shawls were my therapy, and in a way they were my nemesis. I designed them with my mother in law’s birthday in mind, wove them and finished hers in time for her birthday in March.
Mere days after giving her the shawl, my world was turned upside down. I was served legal papers, and my battle to keep my children and my sanity began. I did not touch the shawls again for many months. As time wore on, the two remaining shawls, lay in the bottom of a trunk, waiting their final tweaking.
In April of 2002 while preparing for medieval event I was attending with the children I pulled out the trunk, and I finished the second of the three to keep wee little I warm in the spring chill. The third shawl remains in the trunk, and waits.
In March of 2006, my world went upside down again. I fought the good fight, went back to court, and it begins again. The final shawl has been calling me, it is time. Perhaps in finishing the shawl, embellishing it, washing and owning the shawl will in some way bring this latest battle to a close, I will have come full circle, tied up the loose ends, and will be able to breathe, on my own, and steadily move on.

sunday at the spiderworks.

2006-05-29T00:16:00.000-03:00

After a wonderful barbeque with the gang from one thread two thread, and Joepoet on Friday, the rest of my weekend became all about getting to the dyepot. I spent Saturday afternoon winding skeins, and gathering fibres to dye today. I rifled through the shed and came up with a dyepot. I raided the fridge and found an icy cold beer( or three) and settled down with a few skeins and a few cups of dye.
It felt so good to be back at the dyepot for even a few hours. As usual, I only accomplished about half of what I intended, but all in all I think the day was fairly productive. I managed to dye three large skeins of B&L country roving, a large skein of laceweight wool, and one small skein of spider web weight silk. Not bad for an afternoon filled with distractions. As per usual, despite the gloves, I managed to dye one finger green. Tomorrow I will get at the cottons, and maybe some more silk. If the weather holds out, I should be well under way into knitting a bag proto type for my kits with some of the dyed roving. I have two patterns already, but am itching for some design work in something more fancy than my simple casual bags. I have a truckload of great beads and baubles that are screaming for use and this just might be the venue.

New Chenille Scarves

2006-05-23T22:13:00.000-03:00

Well I am finally ably to post o progress shot of the log cabin chenille scarves currently on the loom. After a few minor glitches with the threading, I have them well underway. I am really enjoying the feel of the chenille and the pattern is so beautiful. I just love the colour and weave effct. It is a simple plain weave, pattern appearing as the shuttles are switched, one colour for another. I am really pleased with this set, but am really anxious to finish so I can sart on my lovely blue and chocolate brown tweed.I guess so many beautiful warps waiting will keep me at it. Just have to keep up the warping ahead. Thanks for reading must get back to the weaving!

Launched the Etsy store.....

2006-05-22T14:20:00.000-03:00

So I have ventured out into the world of online selling with etsy.com. Check out my store, it is penelopespiderworks.etsy.com I am pretty excited that things are up and for sale and out of my hands. The setup was really simple and the price seems super reasonable. I only have four things up right now, but am told that Jackie will list a few things with me too. That should beef up the spot a bit.
In the process of picking pictures from my stash I came across some older photos of things I had done, since I have not much newly photographed I will share a few pics from the past.

This is a galvenized steel handbag that I knit a few years back. I just wanted to see if I could. so I did. The handles and the top band were woven in my inkle loom. I really love this little bag and I had a blast making it. might do some more someday.

This little number was from a series of bags I made, and sold. this is the last one I have, will definately make some more when I can. These bags sold really well. I have this one up on etsy right now.

this little box is made from some hand painted fabric that I was doing when India was a baby, I really enjoyed the process and I love the little box. I think that I will do up a few this summer and embellish them a bit more. maybe take the idea for a walk. I had made a few little boxes while taking a bookbinding workshop a few years ago, but have no photos of them.

this is another of my woven silk bags. This one I own, and use all the time. I love this bag. It sadly is wearing out on the strap where it joins the bag, but I love it so much that I am going to weave me a sturdier strap and let the bag soldier on, for a few more years anyway. It has absolutely no wear and tear anywhere else on the bag.
well thanks for reading, gotta run and weave me a scarf.

Productivity, No... REALLY!

2006-05-18T01:44:00.000-03:00

Boy do I feel like a little worker bee. Nigel's scarf was the catalyst, project given, challenge met. Then there was Katie's wee scarf, gave myself the week, but hey look its done!!!! don't have a camera so bear with my scanner photos. I just cannot wait until someone appears with camera in hand. I have to share. After months of ufo's I have completed two entire projects!!
oh and smarty pants me added a bit extra on the warp for Kate's scarf and I now have a lovely piece of fabric for a handbag.
Well just colour me HAPPY would ya?
But no folks it doesn't stop there, I also made two new warps this morning for scarves while chatting on the phone. I have these lovely cotton chenille yarns from my stash, that just screamed to be woven. One warp, (two scarves) is a deep rust and a lovely warm beige. The other is the same beige with olive green. They are too yummy for words!
I have already threaded the green and beige warp and am ready to tie on and weave in the morning.
oops fatal scanner thingy won't let me show you the progress. Well trust me there has been some. Lots even.I am sure that kate will have her camera when she arrives to block the shawl that time forgot in the morning.
Ta for now must medicate and catch some zzzzzz's

So I am trying the selling thing.

2006-05-15T00:16:00.000-03:00

Well the time has come for me to clean out the stash, and start selling a few of my finished goodies. I have placed a couple of items on ebay, and we shall see how they go. I am planning to start selling some things at the local artists market, if they'll take me that is...
I am just getting started so it will be a few weeks before I can commit to every saturday, gots ta build up the stock so I don't have a chintzy looking booth, and Jackie is going to join with me in this fine endeavour, we shall post pics of the work and the booth. Wish us luck!
For now I shall show ya what is on auction as we speak

Nigel's Sulky Scarf

2006-05-14T23:06:00.000-03:00

So this is not exactly knitting, but I used yarn to make it so in my books it counts as blog fodder. I wove this scarf for my dear friend Nigel. Poor dear was scarfless and sulking, and he is such a good pouter, that I caved at his expert sad puppy act.

Man he's good!

Seems his nose was a little out of joint when his girlfriend started knitting a scarf for his equally sad puppy best friend/room mate. Now these are two very lovely boy's who are excellant friends, but WHOA are they competitive. Now I normally wouldn't put my self in the middle of their little competitions, but hey, it was a week moment. I was lagging in the fibre creating, slacking on the sock from hell, and grabbed the first diversion to come my way. I had a blast. Took my normal weaving style for a walk and ran screaming away from my usual wool. I rifled the stash of both my girl's Kate and Jackie, added it to my long forgotten cottons and voila, Nigel's sulking scarf was born from the remnants of several dyeing projects, and stray bobbins of silk.

I believe I have created a monster, I need to do a series, I have Kate's on the warping board as we speak, ready to thread the loom over the next few days, and hoping she will have it in her hot little hands by the weekend.

I love weaving in the summer. It rocks my world fer sure.

I wove this scarf on a table top loom, but the rest will be woven on Jackie's spare floor loom which is currently being stored in my workroom. The weaving is much quicker on the big loom, and much easier opn the old creaky back. Well I must run off and prepare my residency foprms for the tomorrow deadline, Kate the keener is already done. sheesh what a brown noser!!!!

ta ta for now, thanks for readin'

Lizzie

Literature, Knitting and the state of my reading these days

2006-05-09T03:28:00.000-03:00

I stumbled across this meme on someones blog, it made me think. And I see that I am more well read than I had thought. I won’t tag anyone, but would encourage you all to give some thought to what you read. My personal reading habits of late have been either purely academic, or pure trash fiction. I am glad to realise that it has not always been this way. I have read a surprisingly large number of the books on this list, though I must say that I read most of them many long years ago. Doing this meme has made me realise that I need to take time once in a while to read some valid and new works, toss in a few classics, and get back a bit of where I was before all hell broke loose in my life. I realised that with the exception of the Harry Potter books, and the DaVinci code, most of these books, I read before even thinking about giving birth. My oldest is twelve.
If this has done one thing for me, it has opened my eyes. I am going to make a list of books that I have always wanted to read. I will go through them one by one until I have completed the list. Now I tend to lean toward the classics, and the safe (ie recommended and or loaned from trusted friends) so therefore, To add to my torture/pleasure, I will pick some books that are new and written by people I have either never heard of, or just never bothered to read.
This is going to be a toughie for me, so bear with me through it all. I will include a brief blurb from time to time so y’all will know I am keeping my word. But fer the most patrt I will discuss… My Sock!!!!! (after the meme and first draft book list)
Book Meme!
1. Copy & paste.
2. Bold the ones you’ve read.
3. Add four recent reads to the end.
4. Tag!
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter 6) - J.K. Rowling
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story - George Orwell
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
1984 - George Orwell
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) - J.K. Rowling One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) - J.K. Rowling
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5) - J.K. Rowling
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Book 1) - J.K. Rowling
Neuromancer - William Gibson
Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) - J.K. Rowling
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
American Gods - Neil Gaiman
Ender’s Game (The Ender Saga) - Orson Scott Card
Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Atonement - Ian McEwanThe Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz ZafonThe Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Dune - Frank Herbert
The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan KunderaHey
Nostradamus! - Douglas Coupland
The Nature of Blood - Caryl Phillips
Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules -Ed. David SedarisI
Know This Much is True - Wally Lamb
Empire Falls - Richard Russo
American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Daley - Adam Cohen & Elizabeth Taylor

Devil in the White City - Erik Larson
First Man In Rome- Colleen Mccullough ( current Read)
Alias Grace- Margaret Atwood (current re read)
The Sun Also Rises- Ernest Hemingway
Candide- Voltaire
Wide Sargasso Sea- Jean Rhys

The great unread list of books, soon to be tackled by Lizzie, draft # 1.
Angels and Demons_ Dan Brown.

Loved the code, have been waiting to read this one.

Frankenstein_Mary Shelley

Read it in High School, but feel the need to do it again. I enjoyed it then, and enjoyed the movie as well. Maybe I will treat myself and the kids to movie night to celebrate the finishing of this book.

The Illiad and the Odyssy_ Homer

I have read bits and pieces and am familiar with the works, but have never set out to read em cover to cover. S’bout time I did.

Several biographies.don’t know the names of most of the works, but will list the people I am interested in

Peter the Great of Russia

Anne Boleyn

Marie Curie

Donald Sutherland( what can I say Canadian, wicked good actor, hottie)

Pierre Elliot Trudeau_ My political hero

Frank McKenna_ Kind of a political dynamo, here in this neck of the woods. And a wicked businessman. Nuff’ said.

Andy Warhol

Robert Roschenburg

Keith Haring

Jackson Pollack

Paul McCartney

Of Mice and Men

Angela’s Ashes

Art Of War_ Sun Tsu

Of course this list will morph into others as my sock project grows. I will be hiting the library for fodder soon after I finish my American History paper.
Have a good one, Thanks for readfin
Lizzie

More Inner Journey, and Some Sock Talk

2006-04-07T00:03:00.000-03:00

"When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure."-Peter Marshall

Yup, still doing the soul searching. It is funny this looking inside oneself. For the most part I am liking what I see. I am proud of where I am and what I have accomplished in the last five years. I have won a few battles and lost a few battles, but the war ain’t over yet.

We all have people in our life that enter and exit, but never really leave. They are no less important to us for their brief encounters in our lives. In fact they may very well be the ones who have the most profound effects on our being. They are the ones who show up when you least expect them. Their moments are not always long (or pleasant) but are certainly never meaningless. They may even be the ones you seek out when you want the gut wrenching truth. No matter how hard it is to swallow, you know they will hold up that mirror and make you acknowledge what you see. I am blessed to have this. In the past few weeks I have been touched by three of these people who matter, each in their own way have helped in my journey, becoming an integral part of my processing. It feels good.

Sure I have made my share of mistakes, and will probably continue to do so while I stumble on down this crazy path. I am thinking of taking up knitting a sock for the journey. I just need a simple recipe and the where withal to cast the bugger on. I am going to take a page out of jackie’s book and dye me own yarns I have some crazy pink lemieux wool from the good old days that might make a lovely overdying experiment…
If I don’t screw up the first one too badly I may even make the second one. Don’t hold your breath though, I am not big on committing to a matched pair of anything.

But first I really must read a crapload of European history for my final on Monday.
And then it is on to ancient Greece for Wednesday.

I suspect sleep will elude me yet again…. Aah those crazy Brits, not to mention good old King Louis (and there were a couple of those to deal with…)

2006-03-28T02:07:00.000-04:00

St Andrews, July 20 2002

The Road Not Taken

2006-03-28T01:55:00.000-04:00

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Circumstances being what they are in my life, these days are ones of reflection and of seeking the truth inside of myself. The road thus far has been long, and pitted, and full of dangerous curves. By times there have been exciting hills, and wide open fields either side, full of sunshine and summer breezes. Though they may be brief and far apart, they have given me the strength to survive the steep and narrow paths through dark forests and around craggy cliffs. My current craggy cliff is not as scary as the one five years ago, but I learned a lot on that last precipice, and lost a beautiful treasure over the edge half way through the steepest curve.

I have learned not to be so careless with my valuables.

Going through my photos tonight, I stumbled across two images that brought immediate feelings of peacefulness and utter joy. These photos were taken on the happiest day of my life so far. At the first glimpse of these photos my heart skipped, and the day flooded back to me in rushing images. The winding country roads, the airstream trailor with the two-story addition and chicken coop in the yard, the wooden castle and dinner from a paper bag, enjoyed by the ocean side. There is nothing I would change about this day at all, except maybe the disappointing chowder that my fellow traveller had for lunch. The weather was beautiful, the company treasured, and the moment forever imbedded in my heart. I will treasure it always. If there was time travel, this is the day I would visit.

Tomorrow the photos get blown up and framed. Inspiration for the days to come.

Loom update

2006-03-19T20:26:00.000-04:00

Well, we have lumber, we have yarn, and we have a bottle of Australian wine. I have the power tools necessary for cutting, drilling and screwing the beast together. So why is the warp weighted loom not done? Well folks, it will be worked on this fine evening for sure. I have been inspired by my recent trip to Jackie’s where she was busily dyeing wool, and snapping photos of her progress. Her warp is pretty, beautiful even. Stunning might come to mind. I am so very inspired by it that I have hauled out my yarns and am going to embark on a marathon Dye session of my own. My warp is going to be much smaller, and will definitely be less painterly. But it sure will beat the crappy colours that it is at the moment. The yarn is a lovely fine merino pilfered from Jackie’s stash, and bound for a reproduction Roman fabric. It has an unfortunate, 1980’s country blue colour that does nothing for me. It shall become a lovely rich indigo colour before the evening is done. I may even find a cool colour for the crap green that accompanies it.
I have tablets threaded already for the tablet weaving samples to accompany the loom, and am planning a bit o’ weaving on them while my warp simmers in its bath of rich blue dye. I am thoroughly enjoying this wee project, and don’t even resent the paperwork involved. Will post yarn pictures soon.
Night y’all, gotta get at it…
Lizzie

Cause I have SOOO Much Spare Time, I am taking the challenge

2006-03-10T00:12:00.000-04:00

Well I am up for the challenge. I am preparing myself for Jay’s contest. Though time is at a premium right now, what with papers to write, projects to finish, and money to earn, I think I need something fun to fill in my off hours. I am likely not going to knit, because that requires too much time, I shall sew, embellish and weave my way through this, I have beads being ignored, and silk calling my name. Or maybe it is time I finally made the damned boiled wool jacket… decisions, decisions.
I give myself till tomorrow to decide what I am making, commit to a fabric, and do some sketches. Jay will have my entry verified by tomorrow evening. I swear it. I may even have swatched some stuff by then!

My Fabulous Day

2006-03-09T18:14:00.000-04:00

Went to the library today all by myself. There was no one saying “I’m bored” , no one needed to pee. No one even had the urge to fight and expect me to mediate. I left when they rang the little almost closed bell, stress free, not ready to kill and maim. I have made progress on my homework, and feel able to breathe. For all of these blessings, I thank Jackie.
Merci beaucoup, ma belle amie!

Why I Love My House, Warts and All

2006-03-05T10:40:00.000-04:00

Every now and again I have to remind myself what it is I love about my house. I have had a particularly event filled week regarding my humble pile of sticks. It is an old beast, and needs constant fine-tuning. This odd winter we are experiencing has played havoc with my pipes. And I sadly need to save for new windows, and sewage drain pipes,. Within the next few years I have to rid myself of my oil-burning furnace, and replace with Gas or electric. I have had the old girl for 10 ½ years, and we have had a love / hate relationship for most of it. So bear with me while I share what I do love about her.
I love my Kitchen. It is a work in progress, but I love it. I love the counter top of beautiful tiles that Jackie and I designed over a pint of beer. I love the sandy tile floors, and the warm, rich, pumpkin walls. I love that when we tore off the hideous vinyl wall board and cheap pine wainscoting that was poorly installed, we found original beaded board on walls and ceiling. When I finally put up the crown moulding and cup shelves it will be EXACLTY the kitchen I want. I love that when I look out my French door in summer, I see a crazy vine laden with grapes, and know we will have jelly, or wine in the fall. I love the art that hangs above my table. It is vibrant and warm and meaningful.
I love that all the baseboards are lovely wide pieces of wood, I love the random pine floor in my Bedroom, The tiles I am laying in the hall, and the sloppy ceilings on the second floor. I love my walk in closet. When I finally organize it I may move in to it.
I love my location, I don’t need a car to function day to day. I can walk to the grocery store, my sister’s office, liquor store, pub, and all the good restaurants. I have a hardware store and art supply store and a yarn store close enough to practically spit on. There are two used bookstores and a great independent bookseller within a block of each other sandwiched between my favourite pub, the art supply store and my favourite restaurant
Jackie, her DH and kids are two blocks away, and the kids are old enough to make the journey on their own. Finally. We have two indoor and one outdoor rink within walking distance, should we get the urge to skate. The police station is three blocks away, so when Kate makes soup, I can generally get some before Fredericton’s finest descends upon it like a herd of locusts.
My kids and I can walk to school and everywhere else. We like that. All in all, it ain’t such a bad place to be. Except when the pipes burst, and you are ankle deep in mud trying to solder copper pipes that won’t stop dripping. Or when your drain freezes and your washer spews all over the laundry area, and through the floor to the basement. But thank the gods and goddesses for dirt floor basements!

But the really good things are:
I do now have fully functional pipes to all of my water areas, both hot and cold.
I can now solder copper pipes, and have the tools to do it should the need arise.
I know how to shut off water supplies.
I saved approximately $200 in plumber fees, and survived the adventure..
I don’t hate my house, and nobody caught a tirade of swearwords. NOT EVEN ONCE!!!!!

Totally stolen from CanKnittian

2006-03-02T22:16:00.000-04:00

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Stormy Weather - Sarah Harmer, Songs for Clem

A great re-make of a fabulous song. I can’t get enough of this one, the whole album really works for me, but this song has always been one of my faves, and she just does it ever so well.

Raised on Robbery- Joni Mitchell
Every good Canadian girl should have this song in her repertoire. It is the ultimate dance around, housecleaning, ruising- down –the –highway with the top down song.

American Idiot- Green Day
This one just says it all.

Skater Boi- Avril Lavigne
This one is courtesy of the wee missy in my house. She has given up on the girly girl fuss and is wearing combats and singing along with Avril dancing up a storm. I am thoroughly enjoying this phase in our life. She keeps me real.

Down to The River to Pray- Alison Kraus
This song levels me, brings me to a place I can deal with, when shit is going on.

Sugar Magnolia- Grateful Dead
This song never leaves my playlist. It has been there in many forms for more years than I can count. I never met a version of it that I didn’t like.

I’ll Fly Away- Alison Kraus, Gillian Welch

Just plain brilliant on every level, great song, great singers.

Tied for number 8 for many reasons are the following

Uncle John’s Band- Indigo Girls, Deadicated
Ripple- Jane’s Addiction, Deadicated
Big yellow Taxi- Joni Mitchell
Canadian railroad Trilogy- Gordon Lightfoot.

And on that note, I tag:
Kate, Jackie, Joe, Kelly, Jay, Deb, Diana

work in progress

2006-03-01T12:48:00.000-04:00

Just a little update on the goins on here chez lizzie. I am working on a project for my power of images class, and am having a blast. The assignment was to appropriate an image and make it something it isn't. I chose to cut wee missy here from a photo and play around with her a bit.
The original photo has her father and brother on either side, all hangin out the window first thing after nap time. Messy hair and sleepy eyes and such. I am making her a glamour queen. kinda wierd, buit definately out of context no? not sure what the final product will look like but the playing around is kind of fun fer sure.
they may become stitched papers, or they may just be apprpriated in other ways. dunno yet. I think she would make a great t-shirt. or poster.

Craving a Fibre Fix, and I Don't Mean Muffins...

2006-02-22T23:29:00.000-04:00

All I want to do is weave. I don't care about the war between Sparta and Athens. I am fast losing interest in the various idiosynchracies of Early Modern European kings. I am not particularly thrilled with the pragmatic philosophy of early 20th century America. and quite frankl;y have too much to say about NAFTA to even start worrying about at this point.
Can't complain much about my Roman Classics, cause I get to weave, ( after I build the damned loom) and My fine arts project is way to cool for words.
So two out of six ain't bad.
But I really just want to weave.
And sew something cool.
So I bought a pattern today. It is really quite cute. A bag for missy I to carry the dog in. Yeah I know, I coulda drafted a pattern, but why f around when someone else has already done it. I will probably morph the damned thing beyond all recognition anyway.
If I ever get Five spare Minutes to sew.
The boy child is not feeling so hot tonight so I may get to stay home tomorrow...
Three hours of sparta versus Athens, small healthy lunch, then three hours of sewing time sounds fair to me...
Lord knows I can't really spare the time to warp a loom, and actually weave something in that time.
Sigh, need a fibre fix bad.
Maybe I'll pull a jackie a dye something to get that instant hit of satisfaction!

Wise Words to Live By

2006-02-19T21:55:00.000-04:00

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
" WOO HOO – What a Ride!"

When in Rome

2006-02-19T21:30:00.000-04:00

When in Rome…

Yes well, I am not really in Rome. But am buried deep into Classics 1413, Rome during Classical times. Lovin it, lovin it lovin it. My professor has decided we can do a project, and short write up in lieu of an essay. I love it. I get to MAKE something odd and obsolete, with a built in F***k off factor of approximately 1 billion.
Oh and I get to do double duty and appear at my local SCA shire spring Schola and blow the rest of the ninnies sideways. Not that I disrespect any of them in any way. But I am a little sick of a few snarks who think they know it all from Genesis on.
So my project is a reproduction Roman warp weighted loom. I am building it myself, and making the clay weights myself, weaving the header on cards in a lozenge or broken twill pattern. Joe poet and I visited the local Home Hardware yesterday. Lumber is ordered and project is underway.
Jackie kindly donated some lovely fine merino that will become the header band, and Joe has kindly taken on the role of Chief photographer for the project. Kate the Oddball, is moral support in the wings. Oh - and she owns the cards that the header will be woven on. Posts will be short and sweet over the next few weeks but will keep y’all updated on the progress.
Sorry it is not exactly knitting, but hey at least there is yarn, and yarn snobbery involved.
Cheers all, and happy knitting!

Well Katie tagged me

2006-02-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

Well Katie tagged me…then claimed I was stuck in Ancient Greece and wouldn’t respond. Hah this is way more fun than Thucydides. So here it is gals, the fab four quiz/easy-peasy blog fodder for the girl with no knittin’ goin’ on

Four jobs I have had in my life.

Waitress/shooter girl at a crazy fun pub in Montreal. Met some wonderful people, had some laughs, and played a crapload of pool. Made friends there that are friends for life.

Fundraiser/Resource Librarian for a provincial AIDS organization. I loved every part of this job.

Chief Curator at our local Museum. Loved/hated this job. We won’t get into that.

Nanny

Four movies I could watch over and over

The Importance of Being Earnest (both versions)

The Italian Job/Oceans Eleven tie for second place, tried hard to choose, but couldn’t.

Sweet Home Alabama

Ten Things I Hate About You

Four Places I would love to visit

Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland

Africa

Newfoundland

Morocco

Four Places I have lived

Fredericton New Brunswick

Windsor Ontario

Waterborough New Brunswick

Montreal Quebec

Four TV shows I love(d) to watch

Crossing Jordan

Black Adder

Friends

Law and Order

Four websites I visit daily

University of New Brunswick

arseblog

Dysfunktional Knitter

Oddballknittery

Four places I have been on Vacation

Slippery Rock Pennsylvania

Burlington, and Stowe Vermont

Eastern Townships of Quebec

Southern Maine

Four things on the floor/ trunk of your car

Well I don’t actually have a car. So this is not a good question for me. I am instead going to name four things in the bottom of my backpack.

Translation of Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian Wars

Half a pack of sugar free gum

Three liquor store receipts ( priority for reading the aforementioned book)

labello lip balm.

Four friends????
Can’t tag no one cause all my friends are taken. I could retag Joe, since Jackie’s tag didn’t stick. So yeah, I tag Joe, and Kellie. Wish I could think of another person…

All Hail the weekend.

2006-01-28T16:39:00.000-04:00

This has been one long and crazy week. I am soooo glad it is over and the weekend is here. It may sound crazy girls, but I have the urge to scrub, haul and generally turf the shite from at least the ground floor of my house. I actually want to clean. Not just wish for faeries to come along.
Well sure, I wouldn't turn them away if they showed up, there is a lot to do afterall.
I must say, I am a little concerned about this change in temperament. I normally avoid housework like the plague. There must be mischief afoot. But seriously, I am making room for a new loom, arriving sometime vaguely in the near future, to grace my living space. I am not entirely sure when I will find time to weave, but with one neice getting married, and one friend with a baby on the way, me thinks that there needs to be some serious loom action between now and august. I'm a gonna put the great effort out to do some overshot name drafting. Jackie says it isn't too difficult...
Well folks, I am off to do my cleansweep, and then some homework, cheers, and happy knitting.
I also have to

helooooo out there!!!!!

2006-01-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Yes folks I am still alive. Lots has happened chez lizzie. so now for the update.... and then the political rant. Read what you will, then ignore the rest.
Hmmmm... where to start?
Ahh yes, Christmas.
Chapter one: a christmas story

well, Me -yes me, who never gets more than a head cold, (like that'll stop me)
got knocked sideway by the flu. I was well onto flat on my ass, when joe poet said (and I quote)
"call the doctor"
I looked at him like he had sprouted several heads.
"you are really sick" he says.
no shit.
Why do I need a doctor I think. Men. wimps all of em.
so Later that day, my instant message thingy says "did you get a hold of the doctor?"
damned joe.
but I did feel pretty shitty, and he was really worried, so for his sake I call the doctor.
I never call the doctor. I don't get sick. I do the once a year, girl go to the doctor thing, but I do NOT ever have reason beyond that to go to a doctor.
The receptionist says , OH my god, can ya be here tomorrow at 4.
sure. that was quick. Joe will be happy, he can goto NS knowing I am not avoiding medical attention.
or dead on the couch.
I was pretty sure the doctor would say its a cold, sleep, eat , yada yada. But noooo. She says very slowly and clearly, looking me straight in the eye "You my dear, are officially SICK. You need someone to take care of you, and someone to take the kids. True influenza. The big one. The one that kills people flu.
I was stunned. Never have I been to ill to take care of my kids. Even when I had pneumonia, and was inches from the hospital door, I could cook a meal, and wipe snotty noses. wasn't supposed to, but I did.
there must be a mistake. I can do this.
Apparently not.
Thus enters my favourite sport:
It is called "hunt down the deadbeat sperm donor, and see if he can do his duty and care for his offspring" I have purposefully contracted a terrible illness in an attempt to foil his plans for holiday revelry, and gaming.
Cause I am just like that, really.
Wow! I am sure ranting, it is not likely to end soon, so sorry.
SOOOOO, there I am , sitting in a borrowed car in the medical centre parking lot; dialling his number, bawling like a baby, on an ex husband hunt.
Work phone says try cell, cell says he is unavailable. i leave a message, take a deep breath, wish for the stars to align themselves just so, and call his MOTHER. ( I had to be REALLY sick to do that, eh Kate?)I really thought I had no choice. I left a message. She called me back, said she would hunt him down, and if not would come up from her place to get the kids. That means a major commute, 2 hours ish, and HE has her car.
Eventually the genius called me. He says, it is inconvenient, could I try harder to find someone else to care for the kids. He has plans for a party he would rather not cancel.
I want to cancel my influenza --- BUT I CAN"T!!!!!!!
deep breath, caughing fit, followed by near spontaneous combustion. gritted teeth. calm voice. "Your mother would like to speak with you"
he hung up on me.
Five, maybe ten minutes later he calls back. Mommy has spoken, he will take the kids.
this was my start to the Christmas holidays.
My friend Amy came and took me to her house to get better.
I got better, had ok Christmas, and spent some family time with my sister , brothr in law and neices, happy things occurred, a niece got engaged. Nice hand made, custom designed princess cut diamond solitaire with a wide gold band. He must have mortgaged a kidney to pay for it. Nice boy, we should clone him. I'll take one, about 15 years older.
Oh my god Kate wasn't it only last week we made the crinoline from hell to fit under the promdress???? it was yesterday, and it is the same boy, again with the cloning.
She was gorgeous wasn't she.
Fuck I am dripping tears on the keyboard.
October 20th i will be a mess
But I digress
The resident genius, in shear and utter, orneriness decided not to give kids back. NICE.
Looks good in the courts.
He wonders why I have sole custody. (By the way that RARELY happens in NB.)
You have to really suck to not get joint custody in this province.
Not only did he neglect to return my kids, he bought India a puppy.
Don't get me wrong. I like puppies, and dogs. But I had had the grownup discussion about veterinary care, feeding etc. YADA YADA with the kid and we were working on a two- three year plan.
My darling beloved deadbeat spermdoner bought her a miniature chihuahua. nice. should get along great with the rotweilers and labradors in the family.
Miximus comes home next week. Maximus Killer Haines. now daddy wants to keep the dog at his house. who's dog is it? She sees it once every two weeks, not her dog.
I was not impressed about the dog at first, but the Idea is growing on me. She is so excited about him. I am ok with having him here, if it can be arranged.
will post pictures when available.
She has been knitting up a storm. He will be the bast dressed dog in freddy for sure.
That was Christmas in a nutshell. New Years Eve was a nice quiet evening with friends, playing board games. eating fantastic Lasagna from Darlene, and PIzza made by Mason. oh yeah, and booze, booze was here. But I only drank a little, cause I was still sickish.
Later in the holiday sperm doner boy called and wanted a vist with the kids. I said sure, a few hours. On the way home from the restaurant, attempting to be there on time to meet the kids, I fell and cracked some ribs.
nice goin healthy girl.
Missed idiot boys dropoff, had to invovle the oddball it departmet to retrieve my offspring from the hostile territory. boy did I need a drink that day.
Ribs didn't hurt til 4 am whenn I was sure I was dying of a haert attack.
Question all you nursy types out there- why if I fall on my hip and shoulder do my ribs crack in the left off center of my chest directly under my underwire??????

Since Christmas

Well folks not sure how it came about, but I am back in school. I decided to finish my degree. I am not entirely positive that I was sober at the time, but here I am. I am reading thucydides, memorizing maps and wars and a whole lot of greek shite.
I am studying the romans---WAY COOL. and European history. But surprise, surprise my favourite course so far is American History, Civil War to Present. OH and North American Politics. more on that in my political rant.
Yeah so I am the old chick in alll of my classes. I turned 36 on the 14th of January and I am sure that I am as old as two of my profs. wierd.
but who knows how long I will be ther. I have beenm fighting funding with my EI/training and employment guy. He is a really nice fellow, I am just not sure he gets it.
IN NB if you qualify for ei or have done in the last whatever months/years, you are eligable for training allowence from the gov. Help with tuition books daycare etc.
BUT, most people seeking this service want to study a trade. easy peasy. done take the money and run.
Most do not go to University.
I cannot be a tradesmen. I have a little problem with a hand and some permanetn nerve damage in the opposite side that is caused by overuse. BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I want university so I can teach. not rocket science.
Have all my teachables for art, now nead a core subject. History,easy peasy. Every one needs history. getting it all, europe, rome.greece America.
I now know what drives men/women to grab an ouzi and hit the post office/bank/local gov office.
I don't fit the mold
I could make em a new one, but hey.
so that is school. except I have embarked on a cours in personal imagery, in the education department. I am making a way cool project, joe will take a photo and we shall post it when it is done. It ain't exactly knittin, but it is textile-ish.
so now for the political rant.

We in Canada are having a Federal election.
For those of you who follow Jackie's blog one thread two thread, you will have her take on the current situation.
I will state my fears.
I fear a Prime Minister who believes he has the right to condemn the populace based on thier sexual orientation, thier economic status, and thier geographical location.
I fear a Prime minister who will sell us to the George w
I fear a Prime Minister who will assume the right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her own body.
I fear the privitzation of healthcare, for my children would surely suffer.
I fear a man who would cut taxes to big business, and cut social programs to pay for it.
I fear a man who would go to war cause theguy next door did, so why shouldn't we?
The reality is, that we have a balnced budget, we are ready to go. Liberal, NDP even Bloc, aside from the separatist issue, are all better bets than Harper's conservatives. Racism, sexism, and socio economic bigotry have no place on parliament hill.
CFheers, my next post will at least have yarn in it
Lizzie

oops

2005-11-03T22:40:00.000-04:00

Well time chez lizzie has been at a stand still for ages. I have been hanging out at the gym, babysitting a cool kid named Jasmin, and puttering away at some long overdue flooring issues. Not really dyeing much yarn/or roving.
So when the Fredericton designer weavers called on Monday asking me to fill in for their cancelled guest this Saturday, panic struck.I said sure, I'll be there thinking I could dye some stuff no problem. Sure Lizzie. Great idea. Super idea.
I need my head read.
Subflooring is nearly finished in the front hall. Laundry is piled higher and deeper, boxes of ceramic tile are functioning very well as tripping devices, and power tools are scatterded everywhere. So why not attempt to dye yarn on top of it all. I can multi task.
This is all well and good and probably even doable, IF YOUR WATER HEATER DOESN"T CHOOSE TO DIE.
Yup there I was, attempting to shower the floor laying grime off before picking the kiddos up at school, when lo and behold, no Hot H2O. I was not impressed. I figuered it was a fuse, so they got replaced, 24 hours later. no go. still icy cold. Time for a new one. And it is friday. yay. what are the chances of getting one in before the weekend?My guess is slim to none. sigh.
Anyhoo, I made a really cute felted purse this week, before the water heater incident, and was felting two more when I had to give up for lack of hot water. If Kate would visit with her fancy camera, I would post a picture.
Yoo -Hoo, Kate... come visit, bring camera. I actually finished something!!!!!!
I give up. probably no dying going on chez Lizzie.

2005-10-20T16:33:00.000-03:00

new beads

Stash Enhancement

2005-10-19T23:47:00.000-03:00

Well folks. for a girl who had no home internets, and for a very long time, no tv. I have certainly been intrigued by the online shopping lately. I have purchased the motherload of scrumptious beads on ebay.
For the past two years I have been lamenting the lack of bling on my hand woven bags. I tried the fimo route. I have tried searching out the vintage jewellry at local yard sales and tag sales. I have whined, pissed and moaned about the lack of good craft suppliers in freddy. Then I met ebay.
I may be in love.
Or at least obsessed.
I have admittedly bought too many beads for the bags I have completed, so now I am planning jewellry. Lots of jewellry. I have a s**t load of lampwork beads in my purse, and a shipload of swarovski crystals and vintage glass beads on the way.
My current knitting project has about a zillion glass seed beads of various colours strung on it. Its really shiny. I am very excited about it. I think I need to buy a digital Camera to show off my pretties.my blog has become very picture deficient these days. Kate has a camera. joe bought one today, I may be the only kid on the block who doesn't have one. pout. sigh. I need a "sugar daddy" in the biggest way.
So anyway, this fine week in New Brunswick will see me laying subfloor in my front hall, (and possibly tiling if I don't injure myself with the skil saw). Joe-poet is off to Serbia for a book launching thingy, and I have raided his power tools for the Renovation marathon. 100 year old houses are not easy to heat in this fine province. I can't decide if it is the single paned windows, or the lack of insulation that have me hyperventalating but the local Home Hardware has seen my panic stricken face several times today. I currently have seven opinions on the best way to insulate my basement stairwell. Three on what to heat with, and two on what material to use under my ceramic tile as sub flooring. I love small towns. every one has an opinion and the god given right to express it. bless the lot of em.
The subfloor is the ends of my studio subfloor. free leftovers are the best. For the love of God there is approximately three and a half inches of plank flooring underneath. I think it will be ok, the ceramic tile will not fall through the hundred year old planks. lord knows I haven't and I am no lightweight.
furthermore, it being wednesday, I have had my token beer with my dear friend, and expert on all matters of construction, Doug. Doug says I am right, and told me that my way of insulating was best. (and he isn't even sucking up.) He is also gonna come hang my door. I like Doug. He rocks. Well gotta fly sleep calls and I must be up early to go to the gym.
Cheers, Lizzie

Could a been the Whiskey...

2005-10-14T14:20:00.000-03:00

Yes folks, that time has come to fredericton when all drunken Scotsmen get proud..er, proud Scotsmen get drunk, umm... Well -one or the other or both of the above are true.
You may have guessed it, tonight is the night, it is finally here... The tenth anniversary version of ....

let's raise your spirits!
Whiskey, Spirits and Liqueur Festival
2005

Yay! how excited am I ? I can hardly stand it.
Joe poet has his ticket, and Kellie just arrived from Sackville. I have new pants and new boots. My lipstick has even been hauled out and dusted off.
There will be whiskey of course, and lovely liqueurs, and MEN IN KILTS. Oh goody I can hardly sit still!

And tomorrow, by golly, is the travelling yarn yardsale, held by the Fredericton Designer Weavers. Scads and oodles of beautiful yarns and more yarns and yet ..more yarns. we get to drink whiskey Friday, shop for yarn on Saturday, and there is an antique sale on Sunday. This just might be the perfect weekend. sigh. I am realy not sure I can handle the excitement. I think I need to lay down.
Oh yeah, knitting. Blog is about knitting.

I am currently knitting a very secret project with galvanized steel and glass seed beads. I am also weaving a project with wire and beads. I will probably go crazy and or do permanent damage to something before they are done but I am sure they will both be worth the effort.
Gotta go pick up the kidlets, cheers all!
Lizzie
I'll let y'all know how the festival went.

Saturday, or something Like it

2005-10-01T08:38:00.000-03:00

Today is yard sale day chez Lizzie. I have nothing priced, or even sorted really, and I have no cash float and I have yet to open the front door and start chucking stuff out. I figure I can just wing it. Kate was just here with a large Timmie’s, Her weekend is filled with Fantastic Fun at the machine knitting guild shindig. I supplied her with several pretty little packs of roving to sell, drank the coffee and am now semi motivated to begin the day.
Time chez Lizzie has been sadly spent neglecting knitting and concentrating on pottery design. I have now reached the point where stuff can start to happen production wise, and I can pick up the needles again. Kate and I went road trippin to Harvey and maxed out the old bank account at Briggs and Little one more time. I rented some movies for the kids and started a bag. I am knitting B&L Country roving in sheep’s brown, goldenrod, and natural. I cannot believe how quickly it knits up! I have done felted bags with it before, but mostly ones I dyed myself. It is nice to just use the commercial colours for a change. But then I found a rogue skein of fleece artist slubby that might look good in it too…
Sigh. Must get the ever so organized yard sale underway, wake up the grunt labour, uh I mean the kids and get this dog and pony show on the road.

the things your friends leave behind

2005-09-15T10:41:00.000-03:00

Well folks you may recall that on Labour day weekend, your girl Lizzie was dividing her time between being President of the craft council at the festival, and knitting up a storm at the casemates residency. What you may not know is that at the festival was a potter demonstrating. No folks it was not me this time. It was a talented young fellow by the name of Lee Horus Clark.
Now Lee makes interesting things with clay, very interesting. And occasionally big things. Very big things. Very Big and hard to transport things. This is where I come in to the story. I have through default and sheer lunacy become the custodian of Lee's latest very large pot. It was supposed to be only a week. The pot is bigger than my kids, and nearly 200 pounds of clay were used in the making. no that is not a typo. it really is 200 pounds of clay.Cool Huh?

Harvest Jazz and Blues

2005-09-15T09:57:00.000-03:00

Feat don’t fail me now…

Well they are here. Tonight is the night, two shows live at the Bud Light Blues tent -acoustic at 6 pm and electric at 9. I have my Thursday pass and I have my beer tokens, I am ready to dance my a** off. I love harvest time in Freddyville. For more than 30 years the groovy, funky, jam-band sounds of little feat have been settin’ toes tappin’ all over the place, now they have come to Fredericton. And I am going to BOTH shows. Yay Me!!!!

This is where I do my happy dance. One of the real joys of living in Fredericton is The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. Now in its 15th year, this small town festival has grown to big city proportions. Fredericton is now attracting and producing world class musicians. We will be enjoying such great names as Fruteland Jackson, Matt Minglewood, John Lee Hooker Jr. and a ton more. Again with the happy dance.

Our local talented line up includes Hot Toddy, Big Alice, Barriomatic Trust, Vetch, Petunia, Grand Theft Bus, Isaac and Blewett, and Melonworks. All are worthy bands, some ECMA winners and nominees.

The kids and I attended the kick off concert last night with the STU Jazz ensemble and we will be taking in some shows tomorrow and Saturday, but tonight is all about the mama. And little feat, maybe about the Barriomatic Trust, possibly about Big Alice. But definitely about the Late night Jam. And about the beer. Yup breaking the all but hump day beer ban. It has to be done, they don’t make martinis at the Blues tents, damned peasants.
For those interested I have included a link to one of my personal faves from the local scene.

ttp://www.hottoddytrio.com/

Well folks the shameless promotion of our little festival is done for now. I must do laundry, and I must prepare for the evening ahead. Ta Ta for now.
Yours, Lizzie

India Learns To Needle felt

2005-09-08T10:43:00.000-03:00

So while I am struggling through my residency, with two kids in tow, I bring along some fluff and needles to entertain the kids. This is what my ten year old kid made for her first attempt.
Athree dimensional mermaid. Her second project was a selikie, the kid is a prodigy.sigh.

2005-09-08T10:42:00.000-03:00

India's mermaid

Words fail me.

2005-09-08T00:04:00.000-03:00

Bear with me, I am having a moment. I am definately going to get a bit wierd on ya for a while. Forgive me, my next blog will most definately be about knitting.
As you may know, I have been artist in residence for the Fredericton Arts Alliance, at the casemates ( Historic Garrison District, former British soldiers barracks) in Fredericton, for the past week and a bit. I began My residency on August 27.
My first day in residence a lovely gentleman and his wife visited. He asked me
"Who were the first people to settle Canada, and where did they settle?" My response to him was along the lines of, are we including the natives, or do want to know about the outsiders? he chuckled and said
"the outsiders"
Always the purest, I returned with ,
"Well that's debateable. It certainly depends on who you talk to, and when you ask"
(Little did he know he snagged the chief curator of the museum, and freeky little historian chick, knitting in a casemate)
You see the little known fact to the outside world, is that the Vikings were in Newfoundland and established a settlement, long before Columbus even thought about America, and it is strongly assumed that there were outsiders in the north of Canada prior to the Vikings.
This kind of surprised the gentleman, and he clued me in on the real question on his mind.
He wanted to know about the Acadians, and the expulsion. Touchy subject, and one I am never sure how to approach. It has been at the centre of many of my anxious moments for the past three years. My Heart rate raised, and I began to worry about my wording. I know both sides of the story. I am aware of the cold dry facts as presented by both sides of the story. I have co -curated exhibits based on this involving the froncophone, and anglophone communities, and I am constantly on edge about it. It is not a proud moment in our history. But it happened.
I found my tour guide/politician stance somewhere, deep inside. I spoke of the two factions, the expulsion, and the results and repercussions to the people of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I told him of the places that the Acadian people ended up. I told him about being here now. and I said I often wonder about the people who left and what they felt, and how they survived. Making a new life for the second time in a foriegn land.
It was then that the kind gentleman told me that he was a descendant of Les Acadiennes. Exploring the land his forefathers had called home after leaving France. He was looking for the other side of the stories he was raised on. Curious about the Geography of Acadia, and the french who are still here.
I feel honestly I may have dissappointed him with my neutrality. He and his quiet and lovely wife touched me. I appreciated their interest, and their quest. I have had them and the Acadians on my mind for several days. I truly wonder where the gentleman and his wife are. Are they ok? Were they here when Katrina hit? Were they in back home in New Orleans?
I hope to God they were still here in Acadia, looking for their roots.
So much of our history in this region is tied with the history of Louisiana. Our Acadienne, are their Cajun. Divided by oaths, words only, blood is thicker than water. They are brothers, and sisters. I have been watching the footage at he gym, while working out.
I am horrified.
I cannot fathom the complete devastation. I cannot even properly articulate my feelings to my best friend. My thoughts are chaos. I am looking for and not finding the humanity in the US Federal Government.
I am frightened for the people and hope that they will make it through this devastating crisis.
I do not personally have money to donate to the cause, but I am going to give blood. I encourage all who can, to do likewise. If you cannot, then give school supplies, or money to the schools who are taking in the children of this tragedy. Give your time at a shelter, or a food bank. Reach out to the people who have lost everything and everyone important. Show a stranger you care that they live.

I used to be buff ... dammit!

2005-08-29T22:49:00.000-03:00

Sure, I could blame it on having kids. Sure I could say it took me years to pack it on, I could even go so far as to say it must be a genetic/age thing. But let's face it girls, they would all be big fat lies. No kidding. I expanded exponentially over the past year. I have become a sloth.
Truth is, in the spring of 2004, I was wearing a size five. The spring of 2001, 2002,and again 2003 also size five. My weight was 130 lbs, give or take a few. For several years.
I wasn't thin and wraithlike, or weak and undernourished. I was active and healthy, and normal.
This year there was no famous orange dress, much to the horror of the Oddball IT department and half of southern Maine and Quebec.(don't even ask) There was no little black tank dress with strappy sandals. As a matter of fact there was very little in my overly large wardrobe that would begin to button, zip, or tie around my suddenly round body.
I got a wee bit freaked out.
Last time I weighed in this high was two days before giving birth to a 9lb 3 oz baby girl.
Now, our beloved Oddball has listened to me piss and moan about this before.
Once or twice.
Maybe three times.But certainly no more than that.
Really.
I keep threatening to sign up for a fitness class, and cut beer out of my diet, and eat organic greens with tofu for a year. Idol threats all of them. I kept expanding. and not feeling well, and being inactive. It wasn't fun.
So I joined the gym.
Or entered another dimension.
the jury is still out on that one.
Friday morning I walked over to the Superstore, marched my little hiney up the stairs and asked to buy a membership. I thought it would be that simple.

"Hi! Here's my excrutiatingly large amount of money, give me a card and point me to the nearest treadmill."

Not so much.
I met several lovely perky girls who all remembered my first name and wanted to shake my hand, and welcome me to Goodlife. They were sweet really. I was a little afraid.
An hour later, after much smiling and perkiness on the part of the manager, my bank account considerably lighter, and an appointment card with a personal trainer in my hand. I left the stuper store. Stumbling and wondering if my life would ever be the same again.
Last night I tossed and turned and worried about my impending appointment with the mysterious Anne.
Today I met her. She rocks. I don't feel nearly as nervous now. Tommorrow we start a program. She gets to tell me what to do to make my body resemble a human form, rather than a bad potatoe experiment gone wrong. And I get to work my everlovin ass off to get there.
I think it is a reasonably fair thing to do. considering I may have to sell a kidney to pay for this healthclub experiment. I am pretty confident that by Christmas there will be a little less of me, right in time for holiday binging.
And to celebrate this, I have decided I can only have beer on weekends and hump days. I must drink twice as much water than I already do, and I must eat breakfast every day.
martinis are still fair game.

creativity and the art of the workaholic

2005-08-25T09:50:00.000-03:00

So here I sit at the new computer desk of lizzies yarns. Joe poet and I put the damned thing together in the two part episode from hell. Who knew that two highly qualified craftspeople, both of whom regularly work in three dimensions, could nearly be taken down to our knees by a $68 desk from Wallmart.
It looked so innocent in the box.
But despite two very late nights,left over shiny bits and not nearly enough alcohol Joe and I are still speaking, and the desk is standing quite securely in the corner of my textiles studio.
Today is frought with getting ready for my next residency at the casemates, and with a trip to Kings Landing Historical settlement, mixed in with making moulds for dinner and side plates and somehow getting to the gym. The evening of course is filled with the damned housework that those slack arsed faeries refuse to complete while I am out.
Are they unionized or something?
well gotta run, the shower and the coffee shop await. ttfn
Lizzie

they know me so well

2005-08-18T02:05:00.000-03:00

Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible

Fun, funky, and a little bit euro.
You love your summers to be full of style and sun!

What's Your Summer Ride?

a bit o fun at 2 am

2005-08-18T01:48:00.000-03:00

1. A reader to "Men's Journal" recently wrote about technological innovations, stating that there isn't any gadget he couldn't live without: "To see how vital technology is, spend a few days in the backcountry without your phone, pager, PDA, laptop, cappuccino machine, or MP3 player. You'll emerge cleansed and refreshed." Could you go a whole week really roughing it with no modern conveniences? Would you want to?

Yes, I absolutely could and have done so on more than one occasion. I often turn my phone off for days, and lived for two years with no tv or computer. I haven’t owned a car for four years, and ideal vacation is camping with the kids. When I was potting full time I used a kick wheel.

2. What is the most you've ever paid for a:

A) Shirt
$86 at Robert Simmonds in freddy. It was originally more than $300. Awsome sale, still outrageous for a shirt. The sweetie was visiting his folks in England and I was lonely and exercised massive retail therapy. Added some garnet earrings, and outrageous shoes, then there was the magazine binge. It wasn’t pretty. Thank God he was only gone three weeks. Who knows how much I would have spent.

B) Pair of Shoes
$149. Worth every penny, wish I had bought two pair. Runner up would be $130 for the Birkenstocks that saved me in Pennsic.

C) CD or Album
$75 boxed set Led Zeppelin gift for the boyfriend.

D) DVD
$40 Braveheart

E) Book
Do text books count? Well over $150. Next to that I guess would be the $85 book on Japanese style.

F) Vacation
$2000

3. Looking back at the answers to#2, which one was the most foolish?
Led Zeppelin box set

4. Take this quiz: Which snack food are you?
An Apple

5. There are three wells: Love, Beauty and Creativity. If you could only drink from one of them, which would you choose and why?
Creativity, without that life is meaningless. Being an artist is in my soul. I would wither without my ability to create. The lowest points of my life have been when my creativity was stifled, or not fed

6. If you were another person, do you think you would be friends with the person you know as yourself?

Absolutely.

Hump Day

2005-08-17T22:21:00.000-03:00

Day three as artist in residence at String Fever Textiles Gallery. I am surviving, even producing things. True to my personality, I had no clue as to what the @#$# I was going to do all week, until I started doing it.
Turns out I was better off than I thought. I have been knitting, felting, and gossiping like mad! I have made some major progress in the "get-off-my-ass -and-just-do-SOMETHING!" department. All of the insane designs that have flitted through my brain in the last four months are seemingly, sorting themselves out and becoming actual works in progress. Though I am sure that I will not have a great deal of product at weeks end, I am reasonably sure that I will have at least worked out what it is I will be producing during my two weeks at the Casemates. so far the theme seems to be all about the boiled wool purses. A bit of the old needlefelting, and some crazy floral accessaries.
I am sharing my residency with Sarah Maloney, a Halifax based textile artist who is working on some amazing things. Her current work has me slack jawed with awe. I have been a real fan of her work for years, she has been exploring the human form, through textiles. Some of her previous works are- a knitted brain and spinal column, a vessal filled with knitted human hearts, A skeleten, and many embroidered peices based on the human body.
The peice she is working on right now is mind blowing. She is beading a skin. One bead at a time.For the last three years. Wow , and I am so needing a digital camera.
Maybe I need to shop next week.
I definately need to shop next week. Well I must run off and plan day four. Cheers all.
Lizzie

awsome quotes

2005-08-08T00:08:00.000-03:00

Did you ever run across a quote that just worked on so many levels you had to share it with the world, only to have half the people you share it with look at you as though you have sprouted a second head?
My dear friend from high school posted a quote recently that was, in my mind, truly brilliant. Now to explain my friend-she is a wonderfully talented person, very bright and soo much fun. We see each other rarely, she is in Ontario and I am here :( Seonaid (Gaelic = shona) started university in Electrical Engineering, switched to physics, married a physicist, quit her phd in Nuclear physics, and is now studing Education at grad school. Why am I sharing all of this? it is relevant to the quote I will be throwing at you for comment. While walking through campus the other day she came across this, written outside the fine arts building:

"When you accept that matter expanded into something out of nothing, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy."
Seonaid's addendum: That explains why physicists dress that way.

Now I thought this was truly brilliant. no one I told about it got it. Is it me?

ps Seonaid does not dress that way

tagged by kate

2005-08-02T19:25:00.000-03:00

yup it is the long awaited tag experience.Here goes nothin.

10 Years ago:
I was very pregnant. It was a major heat wave. I craved air conditioning, and chillers from the Second Cup. That's right folks, coffee, slushified and dosed with chocolate. At least once a day. I know, I know, you should give up caffiene when you are pregnant. Been there read the books, made the everlovin t-shirt, tie dyed it and sold it. But lets face it. I gave up booze for the baby. I gave up smoking for the baby. I didn't do drugs, again for the baby. I drank the coffee for ME. Baby seems fine she will be ten on the fifteenth of this month.

5 Years ago:
Summer from hell. Troy was working on a television series, he was gone all the time, I was home with my kids and a couple of spares. No drivers license, again super hot, heat wave again. Marriage on the rocks, house full of movie set people who drink lots, eat all the food, play games all hours of the night, and put thier children to bed in MY bed, so that I am sitting up all hours waiting for a place to sleep.

1 Year ago:
I was working at the museum, and sitting on the executive of the crafts council. We were having great fun with many gallery openings and fundraising events for the Charlotte Street School project ( our new art centre, opening soon) We had martinis with Dali at the Beaverbrook, and strawberry socials, and art auctions galore. This I believe was the time of year that we had the biggest bestest fundraisng bash around for the Beaverbrook art gallery. The Dali Gala. A night of surrealism like Fredericton has never seen. It was a night to remember, folks are still talking about it.

Yesterday:
sorted through a million and ten boxes hauled from the studio. Did a billion dishes, hung out with the coolest kids ever. Yesterday was New Brunswick day. We celebrated by cleaning the house and studio, had kd for supper and basically took it easy.

Today:
I had a meeting at lunch, though it did not actually involve lunch, thus a headache arrived. Then I completed expense reports, and took complaints from disgruntled people. I am very tired of disgruntled people. I want to be around happy people for a while. But not too happy. cause that just irks me. tonight I continue my quest through boxes in the kitchen and hope to rearrange my weaving studio/computer room. If I find the floor, I might just mop it. don't hold your breath. Christ I could use a beer. or g&t

Tomorrow:

I will continue to plow through the craziness in preparation for my company arriving on Thursday. I will take a brief break to go to coffee with my friend and former student employee, Janet, who leaves for Montreal very soon. Janet is a metalsmith and jeweller, she recently completed second year studies at the NB College of Craft and Design. She has juried successfully with the NB Crafts Council, and is continuing her studies in Montreal where she will be working with glass. I am very excited for her, she is a talented young lady and will go far.
She is in the running for some prestigious stuff at the moment, and currently has a group exhibit at Government House, the official residence of the Lt Governor for New Brunswick.

5 Snacks I enjoy
I love finger food. I believe that life is perfect as long as there is grazing food available. I like snacks of all styles shapes forms and descriptions but to pick Five is very hard. I have come up with a rather diverse list, a kind of the best of the best so to speak.

1- fresh brocoli and red pepper strips with herb and garlic dip
2-guacamole (preferably made by my friend Jackie) with super crisp tortillas and an icy cold Corona or two
3-Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, straight from the carton,eaten while wearing flannel jammies and watching late night crime shows.
4-smoked oysters on vegetable crackers with cheese.
5-Denman Island organic dark chocolate- any kind, but especially the raspberry.

5 Bands or singers I know most of the lyrics for their songs
This one is easy peasy. I love music of all types but do have my regulars for singing along with. Some of them have been around longer than me, but they are definately classics.

1- The Grateful Dead - gotta love the dead, a timeless classic
2- Neil Young (in various bands and groupings) again with the classics
3- Barenaked Ladies
4- Joni Mitchell
5- Great Big Sea

It just occured to me that there is only one non Canadian in the list. But the dead transcend that border easily and are in good company with the other four.

5 Things I would do with $1 000 000

I would buy Jackie a way nice minivan for her troop of kidlets.
I would open a gallery for limited edition and one of a kind Canadian craft
I would pay off my mortgage and fix up and expand my house.
I would buy a decent Awd vehicle for my self with air conditioning and a wicked stereo. I miss not having a car.

5 Locations I would love to run away to

I often dream of running away. The location changes from time to time but the urge to hit the road is very strong in me. I think in a past life I was definately a nomad. Today the top five locations are:

1- all time favourite city so far, Montreal. I went to school there for a year when I was youger, then worked in the city for a further year and a half. My Childhood summers were spent between there and here.
2- Vermont, probably around the Burlington area, but anywhere in the White Mountains is good with me. I would love to have a studio that looks out over the mountains and meadow for a yard. The only big drawback to Vermont is that I am definately not a fan of George W. so living in the states is out of the question.
3- Scotland, I love the thoughts of being in the highlands. My deep connection with the past and the soul stirring sound of the pipes and drums draws me every time. then of course the kilted men are a treat as well. But it has nothing at all to do with the whiskey. Nope. Couldn't force me to choke it down. Not even if you hog tied me and held my nose.
4-The Canadian Rockies, because I have never been there and have always wanted to see them.
5-Newfoundland. I think I would like it there.

5 Bad Habits I have

I forget to eat regular meals and then can't understand why I have no energy.
I tend to think of things I enjoy as not a priority.
I procrastinate (I was supposed to answer this damn thing two weeks ago)
I make a huge mess whenever I am working on anything creative
I often forget the laundry while I am doing it so that it has to go through the wash a second time.
I amost always forget my grocery list at home.

5 Things I like Doing

Making pottery, currently I am thrilled with wet cut tile murals.
Weaving tapestry, somewhat like murals, hmmm.
Having cocktails with the girls
Teaching. I love to give workshops, meet the people and learn what draws them to art.
Exploring new places, beaches, towns, gardens, etc.

5 things I would never wear
this one is easy there are many fashion nightmares I would never inflict on the public.They would be a moving violation

1-a bikini, When I was younger I may have had the figure, but let's be honest, I am thirty five years old, and gave birth twice, I am not a gym bunny. No bikini for me.
2-black tights with white shoes, or skirt. Just plain wrong ,wrong ,wrong on anyone.
3-tulle skirts, I most certainly am not a ballerina, not a fairy princess, not a small child or even Cary from Sex in the City.
4-the snow beast dress.
5-baby doll pajamas

5 tv shows that I like

Crossing Jordan
Law and Order
Investigative Reports
Cold Case Files
CSI

anyone detect a trend...

5 movies that I like

Mona Lisa Smile
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
10 things I hate about you
Chocolat- and most other movies that Johnny Depp is in
In the Name of the Rose

5 Famous people that I would like to meet

For this question we have to assume that I have the powers of time travel.

1- Marie Curie- I believe she was a fascinating woman, a leader among women for her time. Her Research and life's work is an invaluable foundation to modern Chemistry. I could definately do cocktails with her.
2-Grace Kelly- The epitome of style, and Grace under pressure.
3- Leonardo daVinci- pure brilliance
4- Dr. Martin Luther King jr.- I am sure this needs no explanation
5- Pierre Trudeau- because he is, was, and always will be my politaical superstar.

5 biggest joys in my life

Stating the obvious as always my kids are number one they have brought to me the most satisfying experiences in my life. They teach me patience, and humility. They inspire me to create, and they make me laugh. watching them grow continues to be the greatest joy in my life.

2 Art- because it is where the artist was
3 Friendship- I am blessed with some very good friends. A small group of diverse people who all add some vital thread to the tapestry of my life. I know how freakin sappy is THAT.
4 My work- creating makes me whole
5 Books- all kinds of books, when we stop learning, we stop living. Reading is a major pathway to education and communication.

5 favorite toys
My Husqvarna Sewing machine.
My pottery wheel
My cocktail shaker
My blender (slushy drinks are good too)
My computer

Well as they say, that's all she wrote.
ciao lizzie

Definately Blog Fodder, says Joe...

2005-08-02T07:29:00.000-03:00

For those in the know, this crazy Maritimer has been up to her a** in studio renovation. Because two craft shows, three weeks as artist in residence to prepare for, two kids to feed, guests arriving on Thursday from Ontario, sitting as chair of the NB Crafts Council, and volunteering for the Fredericton area AIDS Walk aren't nearly enough for one little lizzie to do.
Lord help me, I decided it was time to end the procrastination and just DO the studio.
I no longer have a potters wheel in my Kitchen. I have all parts to my paragon kiln attached together, just waiting for Bill to connect the power. The insulation that the EVER LOVIN BRILLIANT SUPERSTAR (who is now my ex husband) installed in 1996, is now neatly covered with plastic. Thank you Scotty for the loan of your staple hammer- oh and the fine beer. MMMM Beer.
But I digress.
The studio was amazing. no really. In tearing out the frighteningly Horrid cobbled together crap that was the shelving and workbench deathtrap -er, I mean lovely fine furniture installed by my beloved darling.. I realized two things.

1. During the early 1990's I was possessd by evil aliens. This, after many years of pondering is the only reason I could possibly fatham for having been attracted to, married and yes folks -Bred with, Lord Farqquad. All other reasons just seem so entirely out of line. Aliens it is, no arguments. Sick little bastards and thier experiments!

2. I can trace the power tool purchases by furniture ( and I use that term loosely) construction in the studio. The cordless drill in particular. Just how many drywall screws can one man use to screw one end of a shelf down, you ask? I can answer that, it is ten, because if you do that then you can use only one finishing, and/ or roofing nail to hold the other end down. No really. Honest, I have seen it. Oh, and shelving should always be made from recycled 100 year old floor joists, cause it is important that the shelves live on into eternity with the cockroaches and cabbage, even though it is perfectly fine to cut a ROOF TRUSS to create storage for your various and sundry CRAP including such things as cardboard boxes and abandoned skis belonging to your siblings who live in California.
Anyone in the market for a pair of Ancient Rossignols? how about equally ancient telemark boots.
I love my ex husband, I want to marry him all over again. Maybe he could renovate the bathroom for me, whatta ya think Kate???? want to be my maid of honour? I will dust off the snow beast dress -yet more proof of alien possession, cause who the f**k in their right mind would wear that much polyester satin, lace and sparkles (not to mention the bloody crinoline) in JULY!!! or ever for that matter.
The end result of the weekend spent gutting the studio is this:
I have located several of the things that are absolutely necessary for survival including my purple juice jug, the lid to my gravy shaker, cheesecake pans and some handmade pottery mugs. Popsicle molds and ice cube trays. Yes Kate I do own them apparently, no more need for bagged ice. we can now have heart and star shaped ice in our girly drinks. suddenly a g&t sounds so good.
I have a workable space in which to create pottery to my hearts content, until winter hits then I need heat. minor detail, can definately be fixed.
My kitchen is yet again full of boxes for me to sort and toss from.
I need the flylady to visit NOW my studio is lovely, the house not so much. it is definately a vicious cycle.
gotta go now, joe is emailing me about the Gaelic song.
tata for now,
Lizzie

Back in the land of the living, I think

2005-07-29T16:01:00.000-03:00

Wow has life been BUSY here at the Homestead. I hadn't realised how long it has been since the last time I blogged. So much has happened and the days have been running fast and furiously into one another. I have hardly had time to spit! but what to blog about??? I have been designing like crazy inside my head, setting up my studio, weaving and spinning at the Highland games, and preparing for the next festival in Fredericton on labour day weekend. My life is filled with needs to get done and my days are only 24 hours long. sigh.
Kate tagged me a while back so my next post will be the results of the tagging incident. I need to attend the liquor selling place and then answer it. these things just cannot be done sober.I will update y'all on the design process as soon as it is in physical form. I am currently attempting to merge fiber and clay. hmmmmm. how to get there? we shall see how it goes. cheers all. will write again soon. lizzie

solstice party photos. we all had fun. some of us even had more fun!

2005-06-25T21:23:00.000-03:00

poppa will do in a pinch

2005-06-25T21:22:00.000-03:00

jon and the parade of children

2005-06-25T21:21:00.001-03:00

jon find's his inner??? child

2005-06-25T21:21:00.000-03:00

Nicole and mama

2005-06-25T21:20:00.000-03:00

mira's solstice international weirdo costume

2005-06-25T21:19:00.000-03:00

the boy filling the pool one jug at a time...

Procrastination, inspiration, and motivation

2005-06-25T14:57:00.000-03:00

Procrastinating is what seems to be my greatest feat of late. I have come to a point where I need to start making giant steps in designing kits to sell, product to sell and getting some of my own art done. I have managed in the last month to get product into the gallery in Queenstown, and have done a little looking about for venues here in Freddy. Today there will be no knitting.it is 35 degrees here and dead humid air. no breeze.and I have been dealing with my tres dysfunctional family this week.nice.
Well just got off the phone with the one who is less dysfunctional, and 2000 miles away hmmmm, correlation I think maybe....
But really next week will be more about the knitting, dyeing, spinning etc.

Solstice,Full moon,family

2005-06-23T23:31:00.000-03:00

well what can I say? As kate the oddball knitter pointed out not even an hour ago I haven't posted in a week. I wanted to post ,yet this week knitting is the last thing on my mind. SO BEAR WITH ME, It ain't pretty.
It isn't that I have forgotton, it is just that this week has been for me a lttle overwhelming. I come from what in the sixties and seventies was an odd family. We pioneered the stepfamily. We made it through (all of us kids). we have the battle scars to prove it. JUST to let you know beforehand, I'd take a bullet for each and every one of them, the whole siblings, the half siblings and those who are the products of subsequent unions/previous unions on both sides.. The Brady Bunch was fiction, trust me it is a whole lot harder in real life.Besides we beat em any way, there are seven of us. (and then most of us bred...)
So needless to say knitting? not so much. Martinis? yes why yes indeed there have been a few.
My niece graduated this week from high school, awesome kid. She will be heading off to NY state in November to work as an au pair, and attend classes subject to be determined. I am sooooo gonna miss her being around. the kids in our family are great, its the parents we need to worry about!!! but seriously it is over now. god bless.
We all had a great little solstice party though! Kate, Jackie, Bill, Jon and I and all appropriate children except Kate's gathered at my place. We drank to the summer and to each other. I'll post the pictures later!
Lizzie

String Fever

2005-06-15T07:39:00.000-03:00

Well the gallery shift is over, passed rather quickly if I do say so. I was in very good company the whole time. The artists in residence this week were Elizabeth Bastin, rug hooker extraordinaire, and Denise Richard with her fantasic felt products. She is making some great stuff.
Elizabeth I have known for a few years and she does lovely hooked rugs, and is kind, sweet and always bakes cookies for her residency. Yesterday they were brown sugar-raisin (YUM!!!)
Denise is the new kid in town, I am thrilled to have her around. BC"s loss is definately New Brunswick's gain. Denise's felted work is on the edge for sure. She has upholstered jellyfish stools, sea urchin ottoman, little organic looking pod hand bags, flower napkin rings, the stuff is WILD. Kate got one, just for showing up with extra coffee. Some girls have all the luck. sigh........
I would post pictures but, kate is the one with the camera, I have to get her to go back and snap the pics. I am sure she will post one of her napkin ring. The summer here in fredericton is so culturally alive, it is great inspiration time, the community grows and crawls out of their collective caves to produce out of doors.
Within the Historic Garrison District we have the York Sunbury Museum which houses String Fever Textiles Gallery, a non profit collective gallery, and workshop/residency series. Along the way we have the casemates, summer shops and studios where various artists and craftspeople make and peddle their wares. This is such a fantastic opportunity for exposure for our artistic community. We have summer music festivals, and film festivals theatre stuff goes on in the park and the tannery square. We are blessed with some of the finest musicians and craftspeople in the country. I love freddy.It is definately a great place to be.

Feltin' Fool

2005-06-12T10:06:00.000-03:00

Sunday morning 10:00 and I have accomplished more today than I imagined was possible. Nothin like a deadline to light a fire under you. I am under the gun for gallery stock, and have my first volunteer shift on Tuesday. Things are really moving forward and I am most definitely in shock. I can actually see the top surface of my kitchen table. All of it. I forgot how much I liked it. My pottery wheel is not currently hosting a pile of merino roving, my dishwasher is loaded and the counter is clean. I am on the downhill slide of my second pot o yarn on the stove, have the next batch ready to go, have fed India and Mira pancakes, and drank two -count em TWO cups of coffee.
I love sleepovers. It's a win win situation. the kids feel like they won the lotto, and the grown ups Know that they have. The girls have built a fort in the backyard, watched movies, played monkey and generally been the perfect little darlings that only appear when separated from siblings. I am sur Jackie feels the same way at her house. We should do this kid swap more often. For the first time in weeks I have hung up the referee shirt!
As we all know I have been knitting yardage on Trish's machine and felting it to make handbags this week. I have some lovely soft pink and a variegated merino to work on, they both have made smashing fabrics. But I can't seem to stop imagining the next and the next and the next after that. It is now officially an obsession. Yesterday I found myself knitting frantically at the folk concert in the park trying to get yet another bag ready for washing last night, My beer actually got warm in the glass while knitting at rye's deli, and I was awake at 4 am itching to pick up the needles. It should be a productive week if this continues! I have scrounged my stash and come up with several pounds of off white Scottish wool that is screaming for a dye and felt job. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Add to that some lovely lace weight merino that really wants to be a lace shawl and I have the week tied right up! so much fiber, so little time.

2005-06-11T00:16:00.000-03:00

All in a Day's Work

2005-06-11T00:15:00.001-03:00

roving

What a day! for someone who is no longer holding down the super stressful day job, I'm certainly not having a hard time filling time. It seems that the old adage about closing a door certainly is true. I wasn't out of my office 24 hours before the opportunities came a knockin'. I am doing two, and possibly even three artist in residence gigs this summer, and have two galleries wanting my stuff. a smart girl would panic, but not me, I am either not bright enough to figure out that I have 2 months worth of work to do in 10 days or I have faith that my good old protestant work ethic will have the stamina to make it through. But seriously, I am making some real progress getting things done.
I was up and at em this morning first thing, and yarns in tow, made it to Trish's to knit yardage before ten oclock. I have made a considerable dent in the stash, and been having a ball designing bags. After knitting all morning Kate and I had a marathon photo shoot in my yard, WOW. She made me haul stuff out that I haven't seen in ages, and how good was THAT for my ego! I hardly had a moment to think, she was whippin' stuff on and off of the table, hangin stuff off the fence and generally just flying through it. It was so satisfying to get those photos and be able to say "I did that" that is my work, my design, and I can certainly be proud of it.
So I have posted a few of them for you guys to all see. It was exhausting but there it is, I now have photos of it all.
I have to run, must prepare kits and product for pickup on the 20th. And get stuff to "hand work" stage for my gallery shift on Tuesday. Ta Ta.
Lizzie

2005-06-11T00:15:00.000-03:00

2005-06-11T00:14:00.000-03:00

work work work;

2005-06-11T00:05:00.000-03:00

Kate went camera crazy

2005-06-05T13:54:00.000-03:00

martini girls

The Gagetown Wrap up

2005-06-04T23:17:00.000-03:00

martini sheep
We never actually got a picture of Kate with her martini so this lovely sheep will stand in for her. The Fibre festival was fun, lots of interest in everything we were doing. And lots of fibre fondling.
The sun was hot, the company was good, and the lunch was FANTASTIC. Diane's potato salad RULES. I have to be honest, I have never travelled with a more organized bunch of people in my life. Everyone was on time, all supplies were present, and everyone was in a great and positive mood. I will roadtrip with those three anytime. oops I mean four -Onslow the dog was with us too. Just picture us will ya? Four grown women, one midsize dog, enough fiber and dying equipment to sink a small battleship and a cooler full of food. All piled in to Trish's Subaru and off we went.
Set up and activities went fairly smoothly for the most part. There was one small incident of a sheep escaping first thing in the morning, but Barb and Norm managed to chase the little bugger down fairly efficiently and all was well after that.
Kate had some great and wonderful interest in her needle felting-- no big surprise there. Her work is so beautiful, and she is such a good instructor. Our token boy fibre junkie arrived and was spinning and weaving along with us, it was so great that James could come, he is a photo tech in the Airforce and has been posted to Alberta so it was our last hang out time before he packs up the wife and kid for parts west.
We had a wonderful surprise spinner show up, My dear friend Liz came by with her wheel and her lovely partner Fenton. She was sprung from the Oncology Ward in St. John for the weekend, and joined us for most of the day. After wards Trish Kate and I defragged over a raspberry martini on Kate's step, and decided we sure could do it again next year. Bigger and better.

2005-06-04T22:59:00.000-03:00

Fiber option 05

When Katie Met Lizzie or Close Encounters of the Oddball Kind.

2005-06-02T23:49:00.000-03:00

Well everyone I am back. Did y'all miss me? first off let me tell you all just how much I Love the cable guys. Internets at home, digital cable and high speed connection. I can talk to Kate and surf the net while the electronic babysitter entertains the younguns!
Of course the first thing I did online was check Kate's blog. As usual I was snorting and giggling away, wiping the tears from my eyes and trying not to pee myself. Thinking to myself, "Damn is she ever funny in writing!"
Wait a minute. She is just plain funny period. While checking out the comments section I noticed her newest blog commenter felt the same way. My immediate thought was "If you think she's funny in writing, you should meet her live and in person." Believe me it is quite an experience!
No really.
I met her approximately 3 1/2 years ago and I am still not totally sure I have recovered. I swear to all the God's and Goddesses, this is the absolute truth about our first meeting. I will never forget it so long as I live.

Picture this.
April 2002

There I was just puttering around the house, feeling a bit restless and missing my own true love who was visiting his folks in England. The house was quiet, but for the sounds of CBC radio in the background. I was pondering my next sewing project, contemplating rearranging the furniture, and .........(phone rings)

L: Hello?
K: You're not one of those freaks that doesn't feed her kids sugar are you?
L: Umm, uh, ah, .....no? (no clue who I am talking to)
K: Thank god whatta ya take in your coffee?Cause I 'm assuming you do drink coffee.
L: (meekly with some bewilderment) Double- double but...
K: Right. I'm at the timmie's drive through, oh S**T, gotta go.
dial tone
L:(hanging up the phone, with a somewhat stunned look on my face) I began to panic. A stranger is coming to my house with sugar.
And coffee.
At least I think she is. But really, who could be sure?
Knocking sounded at the front door. I look wildly around me. The house is a mess (not really messy, but this is a stranger! my house is definately not stranger clean.) What'll I do??? What if it is school and family association people. What if it's the church people from down the street, damn I knew I should have just gone to church more......
Again with the knocking
So I did what all sane (?) 32 year old women who are expecting strange women bearing coffee and sugar, who may or may not be the school and family association and the minister's wife, and hell while we're at it Martha Stewart, and the fashion police.
I pasted a perfectly lovely (tr: somewhat frantic and slightly pannicked) smile on my face, and swung open the door to greet .....
K: Hi , can't stay long, nice place (dumps a twenty pack of timbits on the coffee table, heads for kitchen) don't eat those they're for the kids here's your coffee, promised D I would stop in to see you while he's gone so here I am. Can only stay a minute, what's your schedule? I'll pick you up tomorrow we're going to Debbie's to hash out this wedding gown thing. You are helping right? Thought so. See you at tenish. I'll get the coffee on the way. Gotta go. Bye. (walks out the back door, lights a cigarette waves at me up over her head, and heads on down the drive to her little civic and drives away)
L: so that is D's friend Kate. This should be interesting...........
and it definately has been.

2005-06-02T22:33:00.000-03:00

newest bag

2005-06-02T22:32:00.000-03:00

the paparazzi

She'll be back....

2005-05-31T09:44:00.000-03:00

Hi, guest editor Kate here...

Liz is temporarily off the air. She making a move to pursue dying, spinning and et ceterea on a full time basis and is waiting for internet installation at home which would give me just a beautiful launching pad for yet another tirade on why Aliant, the local phone service company in this part of the world, just totally sucks in stereo but this isn't my 'blog so I'll keep my comments to the fact that the cable guy will more than likely install her internet connection on time on Wednesday. Which is way more than you'd be able to say about the plods at the phone company. Damn, that was so restrained, I think I twisted something.

In any event, the point of this column is to tell you that she's still with us all and this blog will continue to be updated, even if it's by me.

Have a great day everyone; thanks for stopping by.

Singin The Blues

2005-05-22T23:21:00.000-03:00

In honour of the blue feelings about my pub and in honour of the two fine musicians who share them. Matt Fitzgerald, and Mike Doherty. I can't play the blues like you guys so I give to you my version of the blues.

It Really is a Small World

2005-05-22T03:54:00.000-03:00

For those of you who don't know Freddy, it's a small town. We have approximately 40000 people. I think I know 90% of them, and the minute I decide I have met someone new, I discover I know their mother, brother, sister or husband. It really is a small town. And in the way of all small towns, people care. Case in point: our local watering hole.
For the past several years we have frequented a fine little pub by the name of McPail's Taproom. The proprietor of this excellant establishment being Scotty. We love Scotty, he is like kin to us. The bar staff know us and can pour what we want without us asking, in our own personal steins. They know that India never gets black pop, no matter what and that Kate seldom drinks more than one Irish Red, but often will have a couple of good single malts. Recently our pub was ruined. Through some very odd circumstances the pub changed hands, Scott and the gang stayed on, but it is all wrong.The atmosphere is strained the regulars aren't coming back, and the bar has been renovated -badly. The new owners don't understand their patrons and the patrons are leaving. in droves.
I have to point out that this particular pub was one of a dying breed. There was no TV, it didn't serve food, but you could order in, you could bring your dog, your kids and your knitting. We have celebrated engagements, marriages, and births there. We have cried a few tears there, and we have shared many laughs, loves, and friendships there. We have greeted new friends and said goodbye to old friends, accompanied by fine microbrew, and good single malts. The floorboards were worn, the chairs a bit rickety but it was home.
Yesterday, I went in to the pub and hung out with Barry the bartender, we ordered in supper, and shot the shit for a few hours. Two more ofthe old regulars stopped in for a minute, and had their beer elsewhere. Near closing time they came back to share the walk home. We sat and chatted about the situation, four of us looking around the place where we used to feel at home. The conversation was deep and the subject was our feelings about the pub, and the situation Sipping a beer, acknowledging that it will never be the same again. It is the end of an era. I looked at the guys and thought, where do we go from here?

2005-05-20T11:47:00.000-03:00

rovings

SHEEP THRILLS

2005-05-20T11:18:00.000-03:00

Winding yarn for Kate
Herself the cheif dipper at lizzies Yarns. Not the best photo Ever taken of me but, not the worst either. The sweater I am wearing was made by my friend Barb Telford at Woodsmoke Woolworks. It was one of my favourite Christmas pressies this year. Right up there with my cocktail Shaker/bar set and corresponding recipe book that my children gave me. Note to self always send kate's husband Xmas shopping with the kids. He is not so bad. Actually according to my eleven year old son he is the best thing about Kate. who knew.

Kate's Martini

2005-05-20T10:04:00.000-03:00

the stash
I have to say that the evening was a hoot. Kate came over toting her camera, and photographed a weeks worth of dyeing. and made herself a raspberry martini. My Kitchen table was covered with yarn and rovings as you can see. I guess when you dye two or three pots at a time it adds up. I am getting better organized every day and things are smoothing out and becoming easier. I now have a huge selection of photographs that I can blog nad use to flog may yarns.
Problem of the day?? need more yarns. We have been waiting and waiting and waiting for our mohair boucle, and it is nowhere to be found. The slubby that I have already done is great but we need some variety. It was hard enough to decide which yarns to order in the first place, and to know what people will want in the end. Lets face it we are not marketing to the average knitter who shops wall mart for the bargain yarns. I am looking towards the true fibre junkies. I know they are out there I just need to tap into them and give them the variety I know they want. Currently I have the slubby, merino rovings, and finn rovings. I have dyed some merino yarns for Barb Telford and some silks from my personal stash but I think developing a personal line will be an ongoing process of supply and demand. I just need to create the demand. Well time to go see what is going on in the laundry room. hoping the faeries have completed the million pounds of laundry while I have been blogging. What are the chances?????
laters
Lizzie

technology, Who Knew?????/

2005-05-19T09:47:00.000-03:00

Yesterday I ventured down to York Street, and dropped off the rovings and merino to Trish. While there Barb showed us how to use the knitting machine. Wow. I am so impressed. Here I was trying desperately to make up sample bags to showcaes my yarns slogging away for hours and hours and hours(I knit very slowley)to make little hand bags that I felt anyway, when lo and behold, you can knit the damned things in ten minutes. I love technology. I gotta get me a knitting machine. Well maybe I'll just use Barb or Trish's, since really i don't knit all that much, I am first and foremost a weaver, and currently a dyer. Besides where would i put a knitting machine in my house, perhaps on top of thepottery wheel in my kitchen?
But seriously, I have been getting more and more organised and have I believe got this dye at night thing well underway. I have a bunch of rovings to do tonight, and am home with a sick kid today so there is a pot of Briggs and Little simmering on the stove, just got off phone from Trish and she sold a bunch of Merino last night!! yay!
It is sure a whole lot easier to believe that we are doing the right thing when people have started buying. I am having fun doing it but fun only takes ya so far. I hope to get some bags made possibly this weekend while the kiddies are away. And then there will be stock to sell yay! We will se just how that goes. I have to attend a wedding dance on Friday evening so who knows how the rest of the weekend will go. Me and two girlfriends that grew up on the same street, always a fun combination!
Add to that a bunch of relatives from the Miramichi and it can only be a good party. Well cheers all I must now run off to check my bags that are felting and the yarn that is a simmering.
Lizzie

2005-05-16T00:46:00.000-03:00

autumn yummies

2005-05-16T00:39:00.000-03:00

more yummies