Creativ in the Fall

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Heather

At the end of October, I went to the bi-annual CreativFestival here in Toronto. There are two shows, one in the spring and one in the fall, that focus on needlework, quilting, knitting, scrapbooking etc. I go to the fall show, partly because it is easier for me to get to (the spring show being held in another part of the city), and partly because I enjoy the classes.

This year I only took three class, since growing this wee baby inside me makes me very tired. My favourite class piece is Laura Dickson of Enchanting Lair‘s Jade Dragon. (You can see my work in progress here.) I love it so much that I have already bought a box in which to mount it, and a companion chart for matching stitching accessories (needle case, scissor keeper and fob.) I also took two classes by Dragon Dream‘s Jennifer Aikman-Smith: Teeny Tiny Treasure Chest (which really is tiny!) and Sleeping Dragon Ornament. These were great fun to stitch, and I am very happy to have finished them already.

Jennifer Aikman-Smith also gave two lectures this year. The first was about creativity, mostly as it applied to crafting. However, I took about a page of notes that make sense for all creative endeavours, from cooking to Tarot reading. Her second lecture was about copyright and self-publishing. Again, it was full of good information, but was a little more applicable to people looking to publish craft patterns. I will say, though, that I am shocked by the amount of cross stitch patterns available online (one of her topics of discussion). People who claim they share patterns because they are expensive and can’t afford to buy them make me laugh–patterns are the least expensive part of this hobby. The supplies–threads, beads, fabric, etc.–cost many times more then a pattern. (There are a few exceptions, companies that charge a ridiculous amount for a computer generated pattern, but oddly I haven’t seen too many of their patterns being shared.)

And even thought the baby will still be very small next fall, I am hoping I can go to the show again then. Teresa Wentzler of TW Designworks will be returning to teach at least one class with Jennifer Aikman-Smith. I’m sure quanta can handle the baby for a day while I relax with some stitching.

Comments Off on Creativ in the Fall | Posted in Cross Stitch |

Election 2007 & Faith-Based Schooling

Posted on October 10, 2007 by Heather

Today was Election Day in Ontario again. What with the minority governments in both the Federal and Provincial government for the past few elections, and a few by-elections, I feel as if I have been voting every six months. Being a good citizen, I went out in rain to make my mark yet again.

With all the issues facing Ontario–high taxes, coal energy plants, health care wait times, and election system reform to name a few–the issue of funding faith-based schooling turned out to be a major polarizer. In this province, both the public school system and the Catholic school system are funded by the provincial government. No other faith-based school systems receive government funding. I’m of the opinion that either all faith-based school systems should be funded, or only the public school system should be funded. It is unfair that only the Catholic system benefits from public money.

This, of course, opens up two cans of worms. First, who decides which faiths are valid? I’m sure there is no question that Jewish or Muslim schools would get funding, but what about Wiccan or Baha’i, for example? Secondly, a great deal of care would need to be taken to ensure that all schools, regardless of faith, taught a standard course of math, science, English, etc., along with their respective religious teachings. A student from the public school system shouldn’t receive a better (or worse) education then a student from one of the faith-based schools.

I suspect that once the election is over this issue will disappear, and things will return to the way they are now. We are likely to have another Liberal minority government, and Daulton McGuinty (the Liberal leader) doesn’t seem overly concerned about this issue. He is more likely to create a new bank holiday in February then to give funding to religious schools.


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Pond Still Alive

Posted on September 7, 2007 by Heather

It has been about three and a half months since my last post, likely making nearly everyone suspect that I’ve given up on my blog.  Far from it.  Life has been a series of if not adventures, then at least interesting events, for the last little while.

I turned 30 on May 10th, not too long before my last post.  On May 11th we bought a lovely condo within the GTA, and moved there on July 10th.  It was a mad two months of cleaning, de-cluttering, and packing, but the move went smoothly in the end, all things considered.

The biggest event of the last few months has been my pregnancy.  I found out I was pregnant on May 13th, Mother’s Day.  (How fitting!)  Unfortunately, I’m one of the lucky women who suffer horribly from morning sickness, and was all but stuck in bed sick from the middle of May to the middle of July (which is why the move was more difficult then it should have been).  It has only been in the last few weeks that I have begun to feel more like myself, just in time for the baby to begin learning to play drums in my abdomen (making me feel slightly ill and very uncomfortable).

As I start my fifth month of pregnancy, I am recovering.  The baby is doing very well, even if I’m not at my best.  We have also learned that it is a boy.  I suspected so all along, but no one believed me, of course.

The wee one is due on January 19th, and quanta and I are eagerly awaiting his arrival.

As a note, if you happen to know me in real life but didn’t know I was pregnant, obviously you need to give me a call!

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Older, but Not Wiser

Posted on May 11, 2007 by Heather

I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers the childhood/rock saying “Never trust anyone over 30.” So, what do you do when you reach 30? This is a dilemma I am now faced with, because I turned 30 yesterday.

Okay, hardly anyone lives their life based on such maxims, but it still gives one pause. When you are little, 30 is old! Your parents are 30, their friends are 30, your teachers are even older then 30. And then you get older, and 30 is still old, but not quite as old. In your 20’s, 30 looms large, but still seems so far away. And then one day (for me a lovely spring day, but no less painful for that), you are 30. Ouch.

There is one nice thing about getting older: instead of getting Barbie dolls as gifts, I’m now getting Chanel No.5 and emerald earrings. That certainly eases the pain of a few gray hairs.

3 Comments | Posted in My Life |

Joy’s Fat Rant

Posted on March 31, 2007 by Heather

As I have mentioned in the past, I consider myself Rubenesque, curvy… in a word: fat. Sometimes I don’t care, other times I want to hide in the house. I’m not ashamed on my weight; I think that I am quite pretty. What bothers me is the reactions of other people. I live in a large city full of want-to-be-fashionistas; pencil thin women who eat only a carrot stick for lunch. They seem to hate fat people. Maybe it isn’t so much my size they hate, but rather that I eat whatever I want and don’t feel guilty (usually).

I may be fat, but I do try to take care of myself. I am not extremely active (I’m very clumsy so playing sports is dangerous!), but I walk a lot as well as do yoga and play Dance Dance Revolution occasionally. I eat fairly well, and get enough sleep. My health is relatively good, and I am always trying to make it better. And yet, I’m still fat. I don’t think I will ever try a strict diet or a hardcore exercise program to loose weight. I know that they don’t work for the long term, and life is more about the long term then the short.

It is nice to know that ideals of beauty are slowly changing, with more normal models showing up in advertisements, like those for Dove. But honestly, I will scream if I see any other tabloid calling some star who wears a size 12 overweight.

For another perspective on being fat, check out this video by Joy Nash.



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Ancient Land of Mystery

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Heather

My obsession with Ancient Egypt dates back to grade school. I remember that a friend was studying Ancient Egypt in her grade 4 class, while my class was studying something else. I asked my teacher if I could do an extra credit project on Ancient Egypt, and she readily agreed. The result was a mock journal of my trip down the Nile river to visit the temples and the Valley of the Kings. The longer lasting result was a love affair with the land and gods of Egypt.

I have another memory of grade school: during our weekly trip to the school library, I would either bury myself in a large picture book about dolls (another early obsession, but one which has died out), or in one about the treasures found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. I remember being entranced by the gold statues, and was probably as awed by the treasures as Carter and Carnarvin where in their time.

As I grew older my love for Egypt remained. My alias, Silverlotus, is inspired by the Ancient Egypt, as the lotus abounds in the artwork. I work almost exclusively with Ancient Egyptian deities, although I certainly don’t consider myself a Kemetic or reconstructionist of any sort. I am, however, considering working out a tradition, or perhaps a set of rituals within the UEW, that respect Ancient Egyptian religion.

For now, I am content reading books about Ancient and not-so-ancient Egypt. My current favourites include The Treasures of Tutankhamun by Jaromir Malek (the removable documents are amazing) and Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters. Oddly enough, they both deal with Tutankhamun, and I have had few dealings with the boy king since my days in grade school, other then watching the odd documentary. Maybe it is time to revisit those things that originally made me fall in love with Ancient Egypt.


Comments Off on Ancient Land of Mystery | Posted in Memories, My Life |

Support the March of Dimes

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Heather

A fellow member of the UEW tradition will be taking part in the March of Dimes Walk America on April 29, 2007. Please consider donating to her team. This may be a better option for all my American readers, since you will get a tax receipt. (I’m not sure that donations to the Canadian charity I walk for are good for American taxes.)

Please use this link to make your donation: Star and Spiral Coven – Walk American Donation Page

The goal of the March of Dimes is simply to improve the health of all babies funding research aimed at preventing birth defects. As Star and Spiral’s team captain says, “Can you think of anything more important than the health of our babies?”

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