Inspiration

When I make requests to hang out or to search for people who would like to collaborate artistically with me, they invariably get ignored (except by people who live way too far away, alas). It's pretty apparent I am THAT girl. It's a good thing I am capable of keeping myself occupied and productive. But at the same time, if I have a B.O. problem, you'd tell me. Right?

.........

Words/concepts floating in my brain, devoid of context:

I spit bits into the ether. They immerse themselves in white noise.

A character named Meniscus Porter.

.........

When I was a student at the craft college, I maintained several scrap books of inspirational images: stuff which I could look at that would make my idling brain go into overdrive. I seem to have stopped doing that, if only because I don't really have access to a lot of magazines and such that I can clip images from. However, there's no reason why I can't do the same thing electronically, so now I want to start doing it again. The bonus is that with the internet, I have even more images to work from, and that I can also share these with a lot more people. Maybe you will find some of these images inspiring, too.

I also want to make a wish list of sewing patterns, and keep adding to it as I find things that make me go ooooh!

More to follow....

Costuming Inspiration: Coats

Ghawazee coat by Velvet Peacock Designs:


Coat made from recycled sweaters made by Enlightened Platypus (look at all her stuff. It's all incredible.):


Just because it's totally wacky in an awesome/terrible way, a teddy bear coat by Sebastian Erraszuriz:

Sewing Pattern Wish List

Turkish Dancer. Folkwear 108:


Japanese Hakama & Kataginu Hakama. Folkwear 151:

Costuming Inspiration: Viking Garb

Viking garb recreated and shown at Museum Gustavianum, Uppsala University:


Rus Male Costume (I'm currently working on a coat based on one discussed on this site):


Einarr & Sigarda Girbeson: A blog that focuses on traditional Viking costuming and textiles. Covers tablet weaving, naalbinding, and more. Contains tutorials, too.

Found It!

Yay! I found the satin to line my coat. I also found some other fabrics which will be nice for the matching skirt/pants/belt/whatever.

Oh Canada (as sung on Vancouver Island)

Another spring cracks open
on the rocks as the seagull drops
living mussels on stone shore,
alights to tear the flesh.

I know the fierce gull.
I know the creature
torn from its shell.

Amidst the carnage
the sea laps, laps,
licks the stone foot of the house,
sea like a beast,
sea like a beast I know.
When I was a child it almost killed me.
The one who went before,
my mermaid sister,
drowned.

Yet I have learned to love

- by Karen Connelly

Going Postal

This afternoon I showed up at the post office with my parcel slip in hand, pretty excited because I'm expecting my loom and a box of books in the mail. There was a young Asian woman ahead of me in line. The postmaster was giving her a hard time. "Is this your actual name? Is this your actual address? Because in another situation, I could not give you the parcel." I paid idle attention, not wanting to be too nosy. She agreed that it was her name, and finally, with obvious reluctance, the man gave her her parcel: a manufacturer's sample of baby formula.

She walked off and I smiled and placed my parcel slip on the counter. He looked at me without saying a word and held out his hand imperiously.

I blinked at him. "I'm sorry, sir, what is it you are looking for?"

"I need a piece of photo ID with your address."

I handed him a couple pieces of ID: my old NB personal ID, and my health card. He handed both back to me. "I need something with your address."

I was getting a bit flustered. I've never had this issue before. The postmaster has always handed me my parcel when I've shown my ID. "What do you suggest? I don't have a driver's license."

"A credit card statement, a hydro bill, or something of that nature."

"I don't carry anything like that with me."

"I'm sorry," he said, rolling his eyes, "but those are the rules. You can always bring in a rental agreement."

I was definitely frustrated, at this point, and set up a base of operations at the counter. I went through my wallet meticulously, pulling out card after card, searching for one with my address on it. Nada. I looked for pay stubs. Nada. I just don't carry those around with me.

I looked up at him, my iPhone in hand. "What about digital proof? I can sign in to my Amazon.com account and show you the mailing address they have on file."

"No. That won't work. I need something on paper."

After I'd emptied my entire purse on the counter, I sifted through its contents. None of it had my address on it: poi, CDs, cell phone, keys, notepad, 3 hanks of lovely silk/wool yarn, a novel.... All useless to anyone who wanted to collect my mail.

He looked my way and sniffed.

"Bills aren't in in my name," I said. "They're in my husband's."

"Does he live with you?"

"Yes."

"Then you can initial the paper and he can bring it in and collect it for you."

"But his name is different from mine."

"That doesn't matter, as long as you initial the form."

My mind churned this over. I was not allowed to collect my own mail, but I was allowed to authorize someone to collect it for me. Even though they would have no proof that was my signature. My mind was boggled. Finally, I turned and left, texting my displeasure to f00dave.

He texted me back. "Use your health card. The address is on the back."

And indeed it is. So back in I marched and presented the postmaster with my health card. "Here," I said. "Government-issued identification with my mailing address on it."

He held his palms at me in the classic "no" pose. "I cannot accept that."

My voice was starting to get louder. "You have got to be shitting me!"

"I am legally not permitted to accept that as ID."

"Oh bollocks!" I shouted. "You are allowed to accept it. You are not permitted by law to request it, that's all."

He shook his head at me, and I stormed out.

I may not have my parcel, but I can at least take bittersweet pleasure in knowing that even if someone were to steal my purse, they're not getting it, either. Identity theft might get you a lot of places, but it won't get you sweet fuck all at the post office.

Cowl and Coat

I'm knitting a cowl scarf to go with my coat. I managed to match the colours perfectly. Yarn is Louise Harding's Willow Tweed, a mix of alpaca, Merino wool, and silk. It is very soft and lovely to work with.