What Have I Been Up To?

Christmas knitting and night shift have been dominating my world that last few weeks. This is some of the things I got done. Others I didn't get pictures of, I'll work on that over the next few weeks.

These are two pair of Target Wave Mittens from Norah Gaughan's book Knitting Nature. I made a pair for each of my nieces. This was an interesting knit, the construction is intriguing as are all of Norah's patterns I'm attracted to. The second pair went together a little better after I got my brain around how they worked.



This is a pair of plain men's socks. Pardon the pic, they really are too big for me. They are off living with a friend now.



This is a pair of Anemoi Mittens, pattern by Eunny Jang. These, I've actually had done for a while and they're for me. I've gotten tonnes of compliments whenever I wear them. The yarn is fun, the brown yarn was a present that a friend brought back for Copenhagen for me. The blue is reclaimed yarn from an old cardigan of my Grandmother's that she brought back from Edinburough. So, they have already seen the world and I've just started wearing them.



More to follow.

Wow, it’s been a whirlwind month hasn’t it? I have so many projects I can show off now that they are living with their new owners. For those of you who come here for pretty things, I’ll get to that soon, I promise.
For tonight, I want to point every one over to the Yarn Harlot’s blog for December 25th because, as usual, she has summed up the emotions and the stress that can come with this time of year with grace and poise.
I truly am blessed, surrounded by people that love me and an excess of food and gifts. I just want to thank every one of you for being part of the last year and being with me on this journey. Take a second, have a look around and appreciate how good we have it. Then maybe, consider supporting Doctors Without Borders, there are a lot of people out there who aren’t so lucky.
The very best of the Season everyone.
Bea

Wait For It.....

Late Friday Post

Check out one of the fun little bags I got done earlier this week.

New Stuff

I'm enjoying making some new bags for a few reasons. They are like doodles for a sewer, what looks fun together, challenge your finishing skills and a great way to use up all those small bits of fabric that are just too good to throw away. Of course, even though I have a small bag problem of my own I can't keep all of these so they are all destined my Etsy shop. If there is anything you like, drop me an email and I'd be happy to discount you shipping as a bonus as a blog reader.

Christmas Knitting

I can't show you almost all of the knitting I've been doing, it's all Christmas knitting. Most of the people I love enough to knit for read this blog. This one ought to be safe though, if not, you are all in suspense!

Wisp, a soft breath of a scarf that really does have a lot of possibilities. Have a look at the pattern to see the wearing options. The buttons are vintage from my stash, and the wool is Elann, Baby Lace Merino.

ps.... sorry for the mediocre pic, I figure, that at least is better than nothing.

Old Can Be New Again

First, I feel I need to introduce this post with sharing my thoughts on fur. I know that horrible, horrible things are done to animals in the name of fashion. Things that anyone with a soul could never condone. The thing is, there is another side of that coin. Fur has a history and a heritage that is part of our culture. I come from a family of hunters who treat the animals we kill (and food we consume) with respect and as much humanity as possible. Fur and leather is part of that food web that cannot be ignored and should be treated with the same respect. I don't want my meat served to me on styrofoam or full of chemicals, I should consider that as well when I am clothing myself.

That said, my friend came to me with her Grandmother's fur coat recently. She and her mother had kept it for years and years, knowing that it would never fit them but not sure what to do with it. Her Grandmother had loved her coat so much and it was important to her, to discard that seemed disrespectful. So she asked if I could make it into pillows so that it could be out, used and enjoyed. I thought that was a great idea.

I've never really worked in fur before but why not. I stripped down the coat, wow, things just aren't made like that anymore. It's interesting to note as well that the hides were all stamped with union stamps. No offshore child labour was used here. While I was taking it apart the cuff gave up some long stored confetti, this coat had seen a good time! So the confetti was put it into one of the new pillows, no point in stopping that journey just yet. Now from that coat there are three new pillows that will be enjoyed way more than an old coat in a closet ever would be.

My "Look"

A while back I put it out there that my wardrobe needed a little work. It still does, as someone who dresses other people I often look like a bit of a yard sale. I don't feel like I have to spend a million dollars or be the consumer extraordinaire to look good, but... that's another post. This post, well, I'm excited. I wanted to up the look a bit, I'm not sure this is what I was thinking....

Where Have I Been

Not your everyday book store for sure.... check it out. I could upload a tonne more great shots. Jose and Ian rocked the shoot of all of us, and everyone stepped up and found their inner model (though Carissa doesn't have a mean face in her anywhere!) Thanks so much guys.... you really did rock it out.

Watch to see pics like these up on my website www.matchfactory.ca soon.

Wanna Really Warp Your Day?

Get up at 3 am. Get yourself an audio copy of George Orwell's 1984 and listen to it for about 3 hours (until dawn of so) while cleaning offices. Spend the entire day noticing how much the concept of Big Brother has permeated our society.

I think I should go lie down?!

Halloween is on it's way!!

I'm sure any costumer out there can identify with my absolute love of Halloween. I've been up to my eyeballs with wonderful black fabric as I am costuming the entire staff for a Fifth Year Anniversary party on Halloween at Chat Noir Books in Temiskaming Shores.

It's going to be fabulous darling... ;o) If you are in the area come on by for a visit.

New Photos

When I was in Ottawa I got smeared up in some crazy grease paint and took some new pictures of my wigs for Etsy.

The pics turned out pretty well. I'm going to be able to use these for a lot of things.

I linked to Esty over in the side bar there.... check out the new pics.

Ummmm.. Yeah, they are

GO READ THIS!

Seriously, go read Yarn Harlot's blog post for Sept 29, 2008.

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/

Yep, one ordinary Canadian here as well thinking that Mr. Harper seems to have lost his freakin' mind.

I'm back....

I'm home... and it's Fall! Crazy. Some of the trees in my yard are even naked and I missed the entire thing. Some look like this.



This looks like what may survive of the harvest of the mystery plant of '08. Every year there seems to be something sprout in the compost. This year it was pumkin with the biggest, craziest vine I have ever seen. It was HUGE! Most of the fruit got blossom end rot but I did save this four beauties. I wonder if they will ripen? If they don't, they still look like a whole lot of chicken food. Of course Garm is home with me and demanding as ever. I missed him too.



When I checked on the 'Girls. I found the most amazing brown egg ever. My friends who looked after them for the two weeks said someone had started laying brown eggs. Wow, they are super pretty. If I figure out who is laying these, she may be a candidate to over winter. I'm thinking it's the Moran, she's the only odd one out, and she hadn't started laying yet.

More of the Same

We're done. There will be tech run through and set up but that's not my gig. Today is clean up my gear, get organized and do some shopping. This is the winter stock up, I may not be back to the city for a while. Casual trips are seriously curtailed with the cost of gas these days.

I am supposed to get some pics sent of Saunders up and running. I'll be sure to post them here as soon as I get them. So, I leave you with a parting shot... I'll be back next week, back working in my own studio.

A Day Outside

Sort, clean, finish. That was yesterday and should be our day today. We finished the Pirate Cove, The Chainsaw Cabin and the Train Platform. If you ever wonder what needs to be drug around to achieve a day like this, have a look.







Today, before we head out, we're cleaning the car!

The Pirate Cove was updated with a few things like this.





Then there's a Train Platform. The gag being the train that is bearing down on the wagon a little way's down the road.




Then, there is a Chain Saw cabin. I don't think a haunted ride can happen without a chainsaw scare? Not for the faint of heart, we started out kind of plain, still daytime friendly. Then, not so much....




More of the same today.....

And now for something completely different...

What's the title quote from? Does anyone remember? I'm thinking Monty Python but I'm really not sure.

We finished up in the barn yesterday. There are a few technical things that are going to have to be gone back over, but the dressing is done. It looks FAB. Of course, all the great stuff is impossible to get pics of, but trust me, it looks really good.

The end of the afternoon was sunny and beautiful. So to try and blow off some of the dust and unmentionable dirt from a day in the barn, Matt and I spent a little bit of time decorating the courtyard. I think it's a good transition into the Haunted Barn, a little bit of Halloween but still cute for the families who are still walking through. Of course, the fact that I consider putting a silly hat on a skeleton cute may reflect some over exposure to gore on my part lately! I'm not sure if I should be disturbed or not, as I'm laughing at the string of skulls I just put together.

Fresh air Tuesday, back to "Zey Pirates". Fun stuff planned for there.

The Haunted Barn

We have put in some long hours on the haunted barn. Things are looking really good, but not quite done yet. The plan was to get it done today. That just didn’t happen. Things always take longer than what you think.

I’m at my Grandfather’s for the weekend and outside on the line are a couple of shredded sheets I dyed in a dip bath. They weren’t dry when I left the farm so I bundled them up and brought them here to dry. I wonder what the neighbours think they are?

These pics are of the barn interior, they aren’t the best. Things are lit with a lot of coloured floods, flickering lights and strobes on hidden switches. The overall look is really effective. There are also alot of different textures and levels to walk on that are disconcerting. All in all, people are going to be scared!

Ze Pirates, zey are coming!

I spent the entire day yesterday in hip waders working on the Pirate Cove. It really is amazing how much work it is to walk through knee deep water all day lugging heavy bits and going up and down ladders. I feel like I've entered one of those reality work out and loose weight quick shows. Don't I need a 'target' dress or something? I think my hip waders will have to do!

Things are looking good though.

Fluorescent Paint is a Wonderful Thing

Two scenes are done now on the outdoor Haunted Hayride. The Toxic Dump and the skeleton playground. The playground is really some drive by interest on a quieter stretch of road. The skeletons on that section are 1/4 scale, something that's not obvious in the pictures. The Toxic Dump is full scale. That was a lot of fun, climbing on the irrigation pipes they have assembled, hanging around throwing paint on things. All of this will be lit with black lights so the fluorescent colours will sing.

Saunders Farm

Well, I'm here in Ottawa for a two week stint working at Saunders Farm with my friend Matt Ficner. I have to apologize for not getting any good pictures yesterday, the place is HUGE and I was working to take everything in and still get work done. There are now, about 4 finished scenes in the haunted barn. I'll try and get pics today.

Beading Workshop

Last night I went to a Beading Class held by Connie Boyd of the Silver Moccasin. Our teacher was Hank Rodgers whose beadwork is just beautiful. Check out some of his stuff. It's going to be a long time and a whole lot of practise to even begin to live up to his work after one little three hour class. Thanks Hank and thanks to you Connie for putting this all together.



This is Hank and Connie hard at work.



These are some of Hanks moccasins. (Photo credit goes to Connie at the Silver Moccasin.)



and really.. what's a fun class without sharing it with friends. Thanks for getting me out of the house for this one Val!

Etsy

I haven't put much up about my Etsy shop lately. Mostly because I haven't had much time to work on it. Back to it though, it's September, time for a fresh start. Check it out.

Etsy Buy Handmade TheMatchFactory

Fall Fair Time

I can't believe it's September! I guess the only thing to do is get ready for the fair. I always try and enter a few things in hand crafts area. I enjoy looking at what everyone else is up to so I should contribute as well, right? Umm.. yeah, see that picture, the one with the wet afghan pinned out and drying? I'm about to go get a fan to speed up the drying process so I'm sure to have it ready to enter tomorrow. Nothing like doing things ahead?!