Why blue and green are cool.

Why are green and blue cool? Is it because they are cool shades in the colour palette? Is it because they are the colour my eyes (and my mom’s)? Is it because they are naturally-occuring hues?

Crochet Flower Scarf made from reclaimed and scrap yarn.

I don’t know. I’m not even sure they look cool as a colour combination in this scarf, but they  certainly do form a unique statement. For the life of me, though, I cannot put my finger on the statement. This scarf was birthed from the lowest drawer in my yarn dresser. Some yarn was purchased new for other projects (scrap yarn), some was frogged from other projects (farewell, ugly patchwork blanket I made in highschool). It’s a mishmosh of colours blending together to create a new family of seaweed and mermaid eyes. You will find it in Rewind Consignment Clothing as soon as I block it and ship it off.

Everything always ends up rainbow.

It’s autumn, which means the leaves will turn rich shades of red, orange and yellow, the pumkins and other gourds are just waiting for harvest, and the wheat in the fields is glowing gold in the warm afternoon sunshine. With this in mind, I have attempted to create some autumn-themed items for Persephone’s Awakening; alas, I’ve discovered a terribly (delightful) issue… when all my items are assembled together on display, they always look like one big rainbow!

Persephone's Awakening table at the Monarch Migration Festival, 2009

Le sigh. There’s no breaking away from this, thus I have embraced it (who doesn’t want to hug rainbows?!) and it seems to have worked to my advantage. You see, first some of my products were accepted at Simple Creations, and now I will have products in Calgary at Rewind Consignment, which is a really neat shop that sells consignment clothing and other handmade treasures. Bright colour is in!

Rewind Consignment believes that if you love it, you should wear it. They also believe in recycling and reusing to reduce waste in our environment. Out of this philosophy grew a consignment store full of beautiful pre-loved clothes have already demonstrated their quality. Find one-of-a-kind re-worked vintage necklaces, rings and earrings as well as handbags made from vintage and recycled materials. Rewind proudly supports local design and production and purchases local, independent and Canadian designed items wherever possible.

Fits the Persephone’s Awakening mandate, doesn’t it? That’s why I was pleased as punch (rainbow punch!) when the owner, Krista, responded to my email and said she would be happy to accept a few of my items in her shop. I’m now working on her order, which means lots of colour, yarn, buttons and a marathon of The Tudors.

Dublin Castle, which is now an office building complex.

Cogeco has Season 1 & 2 Free On Demand right now, so it’s given me a chance to fall in love with the series. The main character, I’ve learned from a friend, is from Cork (where I lived for two months last year), and it’s filmed just outside of Dublin. “The Vatican” is actually filmed at Dublin Castle, which doesn’t really look all that regal… (see the photo I took on my trip last year).

Anyway, I’ve been surrounded by colour all day, which is fine because it has been overcast and grey outdoors today, and needed a bit of a break from my tangled adventures with the yarn. But now it is time to return to the studio… my lovely red couch.

WIP flower brooches

Ooodles of colour at Simple Creations

Persephone is very excited right now. She’s nearly jumping out of her seat (if her legs weren’t so sore from working out, that is). You see, Persephone’s Awakening has just been accepted on consignment into a new shop in Chatham.

Simple Creations
151 King Street West
Chatham, Ontario

It’s a really sweet little place where you can go for all your stationary needs. Wedding, showers, parties… they’ll do it up, and do it nice. And now they have some of my products!

Crochet Rainbow Flower Scarf - 25$

The Talisman Project: Step 1

While visiting blogs, I stopped by ‘Arguing the Mobius‘, which belongs to a lady I met in Ireland. She was a member of the Cork Stitch ‘n Bitch, and has a rather fascinating life living as an American in Ireland. She had recently posted about a project she started, called ‘The Talisman Project‘. Rather than explain it, I have included a link to the website. After reading the concept, I decided to join. Step one (after signing up, of course) was to create a self-portrait as a means of introducing oneself to the rest of the participants, who are spread across the world. The due date for this piece was September 3/09, but the organizer mentioned that she may extend that deadline due to the number of new members.

I sketched out a rough idea of my self-portrait while on lunch a few days ago, and last night at ARTbar I started my piece. I had grand illusions of colour and thick embroidered areas, and for some reason thought I’d be able to finish the piece in the two hours I spent in Studio II. Alas, no such luck. I did, however, finish the lips, and have resigned myself to the fact that this will be a WIP  (work in progress).

I suppose that it being a WIP is quite significant, as I, myself, am a WIP and will be for the remainder of my life. Never finished learning, growing, knowing, being, etc. What does it mean that the only finished part on the embroidery is my lips, shaped like  a heart?