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An iron will is needed now

by | Nov 4, 2024 | Assemblage, Fabric, Fast Fashion, Fiber Artist, Fibre, Flo, Ironing, Joyful Making In Perilous Times, Joyfulmakinginperiloustimes, Meditation, Meditative, Quilt Block, Quilting, Sewing, Textile, Textiles, Trump

Working out those wrinkles is so satisfyingIf you’re uselessly wringing your hands right about now, pump some iron.Hear me out: Ironing is useful, which, in the few days left before the US election, is the opposite position of those of us watching who can’t vote or...

Repairing is caring

by | Sep 21, 2024 | Community Building, Gardening, Joyfulmakinginperiloustimes, Kintsugi, MakingIsConnecting, Mending, Perfectionism, Re-use, Repairing Is Caring, RepairingIsCaring, Sewing, SharingIsCaring, Upcycling, Use Object, Wabi-sabi, Zero Waste Art

Making things better requires thinking creatively, not throwing it all awayCan you do me a favour, a neighbour-friend asked, and I knew his sweet, destructive dog had done it again.The pup, bred to herd, over large tracts of land, has made uneven progress adjusting to...

End of an era for Vancouver makers

by | Sep 7, 2024 | Carlyn Yandle, Costume, Counter-culture, Creative Process, DIY, Dressed, Fabric, Fiber Artist, Fibre Arts, Halloween, Handmaking, Knitting, Making, Material Exploration, Quilting, Sewing, Stitching, Textile, Textile Art, Vancouver

The one great store that fuels textile dreams is closing due to small-business struggles​​Judging by the early deluge of reactions on Reddit last week, we Vancouver makers are stunned to learn that our mecca for material and more is selling off its inventory and...

Faith is key when you’re cutting up family heirlooms

by | Jun 7, 2024 | Anxiety, Art Quilt, Carlyn Yandle, Collaboration, Colour, Conceptual Craft, Connection, Craftsmanship, Embroidery, Forage, Found Materials, Hand Stitching, Heirloom, Linen, Quilt, Quilt Block, Quilting, Sewing, Slow Craft, Textiles

Is it easy to cut up hand-embroidered linen tablecloths, runners, pillowcases?It is not. As an adequate hand-stitcher I understand the skill, labour, time and patience that goes into each linen. I understand the desire to cherish these vintage domestic-craft objects...

Halloween a reminder of fiery end to a neighbourhood hub

by | Oct 22, 2022 | Community Building, Costume, DIY, Fashion, Halloween, Handmade, Performance, Recycling, Sewing, Textile, Thrift Stores, Thrifting, Upcycling, Value Village

Just a week before Halloween — prime creative costume time — we in these parts are again reminded of the tragic, toxic end to our local Value Village.The general love-hate relationship came to a fiery finish one summer night four months ago yet I can’t shake thoughts...