The sound of silence.....

I haven't been able to hear for 2 days now. I got some water in both ears when I swam yesterday morning. Yes, I wear earplugs. I readjusted my earplugs when I was in the pool -- I think that I pushed water waaaay into my ear. I've had one ear plugged before, but never both. This isn't just a bit plugged. I can only hear if someone who is standing right in front of me yells. I can also hear my dog bark, which will help me if there is an emergency!

I can't hear
cars passing me on the street,
people talking,
children screaming,
the phone ringing.
I only hear
my own thoughts
and my voice
seems buried in a dream.

So, I can't watch tv. I can't talk to my family or friends (well, I CAN talk, I just can't listen. Perhaps this is to my advantage....) But I can read, surf the internet, do my report cards (due tuesday) and visit my knit up. It's a bit droopy, but I can't pull it up, because it's frozen. (note to self -- don't mix acrylic and wool in the same knit up). But I can't concentrate in all of this silence! Cross your fingers that my hearing is back by Monday. My students thought that yelling at Ms Brown was fun for a day, but I think that they will start to take advantage of me in a few days!

Well, what's a post without a picture, right? I'll finish off February with the rest of my Valentine Swap pieces.The fabric covered hand-made journal is from Arlene Tavnik-- I can't wait to write in it! The dangly collage is by Nicolette Anderson -- I've had it hanging on my Valentine's tree. The glittery key pendent is by Dawn Supina -- very fun and glittery! And the glass tile heart pendant is by Kim Mailhot . You can see much better pictures on the groups blog! They (we) are a very talented bunch. I am a very lucky person to be part of it!!

Guerilla Love :)

Well, I didn't join the knit up so I would get wonderful comments from my neighbours. That's just a bonus. So far, nothing unpleasant. I can't believe that all of the tags were full when I checked it out today! It's freezing out, yet people took the time to add a comment. I added some more blank tags. I can't decide when I should remove the tags, if ever. I kind of wanted to make a tag book with the comments, but I like the idea of leaving them there too......Here are some of them!

Guerilla Knit Up

When Dneese announced her Global Guerilla Knit up I thought it would be a lot of fun to join. I was not disappointed. However -- it is summer over in Australia! It's a bit hard to sew a "pole sweater" (a passer by's word) when it is below 0!!!!! Many thanks to my neighbour Martina who admiringly called this a "senseless act of beauty". And a big thank you to Ray who provided the moral support as I stood on a stepladder on the side of a semi busy street, sewing a sweater onto a pole. He took hundred of pictures on our new Camera (a Nikon D40x)(Ray WON IT at a trade show!) He did a great job -- you'd never know that I was incapacitated with stomach flu for the past few days.
This was truly a family affair. Lauren knit many rows and my mom and Ray each had a go too. While, we did measure the pole first -- my finished wrap was over a foot too wide -- what a waste of stitches!!!!! there is a big overlap at the back.
Hopefully this will stay up on the pole. some possible outcomes are:
a) it becomes a pole legwarmer when it slides to the ground
b) one of the neighbourhood old men cuts it off (definitely a possibility)
c) a homeless person takes it off to use as a blanket (I welcome this possibility)
I added some tags and a pencil so people could add comments (I got this idea from Seth) -- I'll swing by tomorrow to see if anyone actually does. And if they do, I'll add more tags.I'm going to add more decorations throughout this park over the next few months (years? decades?) for those of you in Toronto -- the park is McCormick Park -- on the East side of Brock Avenue between Dundas and Queen. Enjoy!

Bookmarks

Made from paper and transparencies. Sewn together by machine.
On the back is the quotation:

If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.
(Oscar Wilde)

Valentine Apron

Do you remember the one that I made? Well, this is the one that Anita made for me -- it is beautiful!!!

Catching up...

I am still catching up with Valentine art!!! I'll be posting it all this week.....These are the Racy ATCs that I made for my ATC night (the romantic ones are in the previous post)

February ATCs

The theme is ribbon and lace, or maybe trims....... anyway, these are what I created! They are for our ATC night at Bizzy Bs (in Toronto -- the second Friday of the month) If you want to be put on our ATC mailing list for our meetings, please leave a message on this post or email me.

One World One Heart -- the winners!

I used a random number generator to pick the winners!
The robots picked.......................
Deirdra Doan for the cuff!
and......................
Kim Mailhot for the pin! Kim has a blog called Queen of Arts! Coincidentally , I am right now wearing a necklace that she created!
Hurray for you both! I know how to contact you both -- and will be doing it shortly.
Readers: if you have a chance, go to their blogs!
Deirdra makes these really cool dolls and is teaching at ArtFiberFest in June 2009 and Art and Soul in October 2009. she also sells her wonderful dolls on etsy!

Valentine Pins

This year my valentine pins are more funky and less vintage. I made a bunch of them but forgot to photograph them. Some said "Adore", "xox" , and some other words that I can't remember. Document, document, document -- why can't I remember that???

Valentines Apron

(due to technical difficulties, Day 6 of the Valentine exchange will be shown at a later date :)I was in an Valentines Apron Exchange with my Fabric in Altered Art Yahoo group. I got a beautiful Apron from Anita, but haven't photographed it yet. But it is all brown and pink and polka dottie! yummy!!!! This is the one that I sent to Anita. Lauren is modeling it over the rubber ducky jammies that I made her for Christmas. Quite a colourful clash, but you get the idea :)

Valentine's Countdown Day 5!

Today's gift is from Vanessa. They are packets of seeds from her garden, with little watercolour packages. I am already planning to frame the watercolours -- all 3 together -- aren't they sweet? Thank you Vanessa!!!! Vanessa has a blog called Old Soul Knits -- if you knit (or even if you don't), you should really check out her blog!

Valentine's Countdown Day 4!

Lisa created a beautiful bookmark -- very valentiney! -- I'm using it in The Penny Tree -- which I've just started. Thanks, Lisa!!

Valentine's Countdown Day 3!

That would be me!!!
I made 5x5 fabric collages. They can be hung (they actually have a ribbon sewn on to hang them), or used as fancy coasters, or sewn onto something (a bag or a jacket). Or maybe glued onto the cover of a journal. Any other ideas?

Puffy Hearts

I made these wabi sabi puffy hearts -- inspired by Belinda Spiwak's article in Cloth Paper Scissors. The beading took forever. Have I mentioned how much I dislike hand sewing and beading? These are much brighter than my usual work, but I like them.... I'm doing some more with some letter beads on them too.

Valentine's Countdown Day 2!

Today's gift was made by Holly -- Don't you just love these earrings? I never change my earrings (honestly -- a few times in the last 10 years) but I am wearing these to school tomorrow for sure!!! and I can see me wearing them all summer too. Thanks Holly!!!

more cuffs

These are just a few of the many many Valentine themed creations that I've been working on. I love hearts. I should just make valentines all year 'round. I would be soooo happy.......

Valentine's Countdown Day 1!

I'm in an all Canadian Valentines countdown. Today's gift was from Mar. It is a wonderful bookmark -- on the back it has my name. Totally personalized! And if you know me, you know that I love to read -- my usual bookmark is a piece of tissue, so this is perfect! Thanks, Mar!