tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194574752024-03-13T14:38:26.330-05:00yarn spinnerJoannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.comBlogger978125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-10283008180248556462023-11-30T12:00:00.003-06:002023-11-30T14:05:01.875-06:00An update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncWgqycyGDzNwjjeIsbJH_a1oze8fMJBHSKTGP7L3HveQPUiAUlqrl_vZSvNH6go9uqXbfXmI8bfDuEeOkfdT8dn7J6rXrEMGyXC1c-SXToNi0jWhiMN0avSNikU3KJUCCLx23k56aEhlUxSR9Jbu4m36o18E12BlIzADXkZ99JMnUoqnEAgN/s1334/9E23316E-2543-4F83-982B-97639AD551D4.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncWgqycyGDzNwjjeIsbJH_a1oze8fMJBHSKTGP7L3HveQPUiAUlqrl_vZSvNH6go9uqXbfXmI8bfDuEeOkfdT8dn7J6rXrEMGyXC1c-SXToNi0jWhiMN0avSNikU3KJUCCLx23k56aEhlUxSR9Jbu4m36o18E12BlIzADXkZ99JMnUoqnEAgN/w181-h320/9E23316E-2543-4F83-982B-97639AD551D4.jpeg" width="181" /></a>Greetings! It's been too long since I updated this blog...I've had a hard time keeping up. Here are some details about things that I've done, umm, in the last few months! The Manitoba Craft Museum and Library has put the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi3AF4_XC6U" target="_blank"><b>Accessibility for Pattern Makers and Users</b></a> event online for anyone who might be interested in viewing it. (Bonus, you can knit or spin or whatever while watching the talk!) I've been doing some occasional blog posts for <a href="https://www.winnipegsews.com/tips" target="_blank"><b>Winnipeg Sews</b></a>, too. This is a great local sewing studio where both my kids have had successful sewing lessons...culminating in making pj bottoms. I'm continuing to write for the <a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/byline/joanne-seiff/" target="_blank"><b>Vancouver Jewish Independent</b></a> as well as doing occasional pieces elsewhere. I wrote a piece on dyslexia, <b><a href="https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2023/10/07/fight-for-the-right-to-read" target="_blank">Fight for the Right to Read</a>, </b>for the Winnipeg Free Press in October.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr99Z6e-6F1QMSfITDSWA5PbaJmQqPQkCY3oGno6O4Ew8ycfuOL7Y2gOZntvMW5T1Tn6lfkXgu1HJyBAFLRfNFOFB71Ai-J-TZOzDYYuWIbUNij0ivz7gcur7gKjXwaM1YUFOagrrfdmSFTV4YQavLuw_nRpwODyoBzdig-JsoGG59zG4eC0UO/s1334/50921F76-F763-4C6C-82D1-DCA73C9AEBE7.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr99Z6e-6F1QMSfITDSWA5PbaJmQqPQkCY3oGno6O4Ew8ycfuOL7Y2gOZntvMW5T1Tn6lfkXgu1HJyBAFLRfNFOFB71Ai-J-TZOzDYYuWIbUNij0ivz7gcur7gKjXwaM1YUFOagrrfdmSFTV4YQavLuw_nRpwODyoBzdig-JsoGG59zG4eC0UO/w113-h200/50921F76-F763-4C6C-82D1-DCA73C9AEBE7.jpeg" width="113" /></a></div>I'm participating, again, the <a href="https://www.fastenoffyal.com/3sjeiru-staging-22kjrj/script.cgi?TYPE=profile&VALUE=joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>Fasten Off Yarn Along</b></a> this year. This is a great opportunity to get knitting and crochet patterns at a discount, as well as to socialize and knit/crochet along with others in an accessible environment. All my patterns on <a href="https://payhip.com/joanneseiff" target="_blank"><b>Payhip</b></a> and <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>Ravelry</b></a> are on sale for 25% off through December 8th at midnight with this coupon code: <b>FO2023</b></div>(This is a pretty darn good deal and a fun event.)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8oEuc8uIlRA3Pc5rKpLE8LOfu_XVF5bFJAdF54SAbTTEGbQo-KSUiCgGJmScT3ILarA1ko3ILLZ3LQ6S1PqnfMGemBLEv7YeEOGQWa7IM35lFNBLODWpWVrlF2RBQsi_vxEP717nxK4QGSgL0UIgCiTIgSn1IRXYzpj6zEDf8uHhrPrxSYhi/s3264/IMG_7557.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8oEuc8uIlRA3Pc5rKpLE8LOfu_XVF5bFJAdF54SAbTTEGbQo-KSUiCgGJmScT3ILarA1ko3ILLZ3LQ6S1PqnfMGemBLEv7YeEOGQWa7IM35lFNBLODWpWVrlF2RBQsi_vxEP717nxK4QGSgL0UIgCiTIgSn1IRXYzpj6zEDf8uHhrPrxSYhi/w150-h200/IMG_7557.jpeg" width="150" /></a>What am I making/knitting/spinning these days? Well, I've finally admitted to myself that I was just too overwhelmed with the household renovation and other obligations to turn out patterns this past year. I decided 'sabbatical' might be the best term for what I've been on. I've been at this for about 20 years, more or less, in terms of writing fiber publications and designs, it is ok to take breaks. So I am knitting but using up stash and turning out things like this funny Snail Hat (A classic Elizabeth Zimmerman design) instead.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYYwbfvWfJkQGCyjwLAw0Lj_I_7NLA8_wGt1DVAnUePtXSlrYk6TRKUYFap4VOp8_tnKfbRrFJL08-1sS1bdwsq6ZaGLtToaEA3A6CgypNgfEiBgp0AT84BbDoeC2CT-MsdtEJPQPxk5fS8t0Vfqcxxk_yT8oaFZsMnG-0v5hflCOS-qb9EFo/s3264/IMG_7607.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYYwbfvWfJkQGCyjwLAw0Lj_I_7NLA8_wGt1DVAnUePtXSlrYk6TRKUYFap4VOp8_tnKfbRrFJL08-1sS1bdwsq6ZaGLtToaEA3A6CgypNgfEiBgp0AT84BbDoeC2CT-MsdtEJPQPxk5fS8t0Vfqcxxk_yT8oaFZsMnG-0v5hflCOS-qb9EFo/s320/IMG_7607.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We've also finished up the renovations 'to paste our house back together' for now. Does this mean it is all fixed? Not really...but things are finally stable, the plumbing and electricity work, the holes are plugged up. It means we'll save up and take time off for now. </div></div>It may seem small, but part of 'getting back to normal' means emptying more boxes. Some of our moving boxes have not been emptied due to all the construction, some furniture needs to be moved.. and after a year, it's time. I do a little every day, when I can manage, and twins and the Professor help on weekends. Last weekend, I put our nice dishes away in our breakfront for the third time. (Yes, I tried twice before, but had to move them each time due to construction.) I also managed to unpack some family china. This box had been packed for our move from Kentucky to Canada in 2009 and now, it has a safe place and it's all finally out of the box...and the enormous china box is no longer in the living room. This is both a frivolous thing and also, well, a reassuring step towards making order in our house again. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAd8uZfu_MhJgnHe5Bdr1GJhkBrfubJ6-UuleknIWFNit0m4PASJ0WJX-Cp4seARqY2tEc-R5O9vuL1cVNEoN_Wu-2O7agFUzdVuN7U92gJ_0-aAUSzsS_0EVDnfLvf7LwqtXTpvQtJRi6BRBeYDUHCx0KjJlga_jxWyQ3Ghy3tgew7d81OLZ/s3264/IMG_7604.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAd8uZfu_MhJgnHe5Bdr1GJhkBrfubJ6-UuleknIWFNit0m4PASJ0WJX-Cp4seARqY2tEc-R5O9vuL1cVNEoN_Wu-2O7agFUzdVuN7U92gJ_0-aAUSzsS_0EVDnfLvf7LwqtXTpvQtJRi6BRBeYDUHCx0KjJlga_jxWyQ3Ghy3tgew7d81OLZ/s320/IMG_7604.jpeg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ie4AKovPMJfYq_ob16CBbkuXDm_xB-G5_WHOjJKL9v6wX2lPddNxu_X7PZ4Af08QpDIy665D5T2FAwtRmf3nmckPkIkAuhHGWyX3lhUIhGMrG0Aq5p544BmAWrx1LNFbI2wrO568vSUTwn-kjCRASI1LEFUNQgKRXpDUmr-Ks0ZvghOoUSaT/s1080/IMG_7601.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ie4AKovPMJfYq_ob16CBbkuXDm_xB-G5_WHOjJKL9v6wX2lPddNxu_X7PZ4Af08QpDIy665D5T2FAwtRmf3nmckPkIkAuhHGWyX3lhUIhGMrG0Aq5p544BmAWrx1LNFbI2wrO568vSUTwn-kjCRASI1LEFUNQgKRXpDUmr-Ks0ZvghOoUSaT/s320/IMG_7601.png" width="320" /></a><p></p></div><div>Remember the sale! Please check it out if you're interested. There's still time to download a pattern. Join in and make something with your hands during a stressful time.</div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Wishing you everything good.</span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-69794052076349048702023-08-21T11:04:00.003-05:002023-08-21T11:04:41.920-05:00Accessibility for Pattern Makers and Users<p> On Wednesday, August 23rd, at 6pm at the Manitoba Craft Museum and Library in Winnipeg, I am teaching about low vision accessible patterns, accessibility and how to make patterns more accessible. This workshop is for knitting and crochet designers (and anyone who writes instructions for makers) as well as for those who are seeking more accessible and inclusive patterns. There is no “one size fits all” but there are so many ways to be more inclusive. Come explore this topic with me! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXuY2_OgkslyF1fBHWf9keAnacyE7ad8WP1SYDRLzJu5C0Clb_hXc3IElAszvnDFUMpGtWZLHmt_Yo8EI0i4Geer82gsGjh5uxvFPpT6loy-BqJ8YSo8anf8pylCgkIsUjqPgRi22beXXLL8iqhOtAsPToby3aVGmvQ0FkTV5g0SPi6r-97dZ/s3000/IMG_6753.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXuY2_OgkslyF1fBHWf9keAnacyE7ad8WP1SYDRLzJu5C0Clb_hXc3IElAszvnDFUMpGtWZLHmt_Yo8EI0i4Geer82gsGjh5uxvFPpT6loy-BqJ8YSo8anf8pylCgkIsUjqPgRi22beXXLL8iqhOtAsPToby3aVGmvQ0FkTV5g0SPi6r-97dZ/s320/IMG_6753.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-47273945189412284372023-07-03T00:00:00.002-05:002023-07-03T00:00:00.157-05:00keeping it clean: summer edition<p> Years, ago, I wrote <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/marijuana-second-hand-smoke-legalization-1.4292069" target="_blank"><b>an article</b></a> about how hard it was to keep my kids' bedroom cool in the summer when we had to shut the windows...their bedroom at the time was near a bus stop. Folks leaving nearby bars and waiting for the bus on a summer evening would smoke cigarettes, talk and sing, and even smoke pot. They didn't look up 20 feet to see the open bedroom windows, and of course, it was always after kids go to bed. This was one of a series of articles I wrote about <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/environment-canada-air-quality-warning-system-needs-a-megaphone-1.3177243" target="_blank"><b>air quality</b></a> and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-air-light-sound-pollution-bylaws-fall-flat-1.3132005" target="_blank"><b>pollution.</b></a> Nothing has improved in Winnipeg in the past few years, either. I suspect lawmakers do not live near the density corridors and probably have air conditioning, too.</p><p>What I found is that if you have air conditioning, live in a quieter residential neighbourhood, or have no health challenges (like asthma) to begin with, nobody thinks much or cares about these things. I can certainly tell the difference now that we have moved to a quieter neighbourhood away from a major road, patios and restaurants.</p><p>Then the wildfires happened this year, and the smoke spread farther than usual. Suddenly people in the US and all across Canada suffered from wildfires the way we do, every summer. Sandwiched between western fires in Alberta and Saskatchewan and the fires in Ontario and Quebec, Manitoba gets wildfire smoke every summer. Of course, we also have wildfires in our province, too. Air quality issues are part of the summer experience in Manitoba.</p><p>When I wrote those articles, I got an email out of the blue from someone offering me an air purifier for free. I was shocked- in those days, if I got a freebie, it might be a skein of yarn! However, they said they felt bad about our predicament and offered this to help us keep our kids' bedroom air safer at night.</p><p>Well, this was in 2018. Five years later, this thing is still running all the time in my kids' room, in a new house, and has made such a big difference when coping with wildfire smoke and allergens. After all this time, the person who sent me this as a marketing intern has moved on, I'm sure...but this was a gift that made a big difference, so I'm passing along the information.</p><p>This is the model that I think I was sent. I can recommend Honeywell purifiers. It's done a marvelous job of helping us breathe through challenging air conditions. </p>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-True-Allergen-Remover-HPA300/dp/B00BWYO53G?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=La3kN&content-id=amzn1.sym.fd890e16-d287-4109-9166-cf98a9958c4e&pf_rd_p=fd890e16-d287-4109-9166-cf98a9958c4e&pf_rd_r=WBTY8M48Z855X55NHGJB&pd_rd_wg=d6oIi&pd_rd_r=ae501434-1c8e-4ddd-a0a5-9f50b838d9a0&linkCode=li3&tag=yarnspinner-20&linkId=7a35cba90f8233250d80db654beffcf9&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00BWYO53G&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=yarnspinner-20&language=en_US" width="200" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=yarnspinner-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B00BWYO53G" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><div>Note: If you click on this image, it'll take you to Amazon. I think 5 years is enough of a trial period, I recommend this. If you're struggling with smoke this summer, this might be worth a try.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-44346265756825420062023-06-09T10:31:00.001-05:002023-06-09T10:31:38.705-05:00A month of change<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnZBW8LvFuX3BYWPCu5aeEz-m-DAM8xbJfO7erb_MnJ1JjSQezsRURnC8MWyH3m7dPjZqIIFdPbaEzAXyJVrPw-vhi3EptXGp_W-rkEk77iC-EGY4sQVk1vz9Y7UBg_vpHnA3nnv-8cXatl0BURla2mNW0TgOCXgINCChUUlzZ_0GVDwrUA/s3264/5FF208E7-88E0-402C-9C41-852A2E953338.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnZBW8LvFuX3BYWPCu5aeEz-m-DAM8xbJfO7erb_MnJ1JjSQezsRURnC8MWyH3m7dPjZqIIFdPbaEzAXyJVrPw-vhi3EptXGp_W-rkEk77iC-EGY4sQVk1vz9Y7UBg_vpHnA3nnv-8cXatl0BURla2mNW0TgOCXgINCChUUlzZ_0GVDwrUA/s320/5FF208E7-88E0-402C-9C41-852A2E953338.jpeg" width="320" /></a>This space, on our second floor, is being renovated now. When this house was new, in 1913, it was a master bathroom, very modern for its time, a light filled space on the way to a sun porch, and possibly a dressing room or nursery space, although it is hard to tell exactly what else was there. When we moved in, it was renovated to contain an enormous master bathroom with a circa 1980 hot tub, Cookie Monster blue shag carpeting, and failing plumbing. In order to redo this, lots of quarter sawn oak flooring had to be pulled up (water damaged by the hot tub, of course) and we discovered the original hex tiles, a 1925 penny and other surprises.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also during this time, I had a series of freelance articles come out, including two pieces in the Winnipeg Free Press…this one, about women’s value in the workplace, got a lot of positive responses. At the same time, my part time job ended, which has been for the best. It was difficult juggling the renovations, the family household demands, and the freelance work with this job, which did not work out the way I had hoped it would. —In a moment where “remote” work is suddenly becoming hybrid or in-office again, I remain the parent who needs to work remotely as my professor has gone back into the research lab with new research students.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzsS_Vu0ePh4isFyvtXm6qdWYrOsA9QYSYy9MwF4E2-p64IkoOlldllw7SaxcT0W2QqpCvZvf5ns965Pxh87ECu_eO1uZiEvJkDMxua2dda76n6K_m1irKEhJl6WpzYuXoVHGWJFCs0RPdwH7zsxMnW1jLAOJx2WbrBS9JqTTQD31scOTOg/s1334/693883F9-3AB4-4BC3-8EDA-EB1042A33732.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzsS_Vu0ePh4isFyvtXm6qdWYrOsA9QYSYy9MwF4E2-p64IkoOlldllw7SaxcT0W2QqpCvZvf5ns965Pxh87ECu_eO1uZiEvJkDMxua2dda76n6K_m1irKEhJl6WpzYuXoVHGWJFCs0RPdwH7zsxMnW1jLAOJx2WbrBS9JqTTQD31scOTOg/w113-h200/693883F9-3AB4-4BC3-8EDA-EB1042A33732.jpeg" width="113" /></a></div>Each spring, all the woollies have to be washed - and this year, I experienced it in a new location. After moving house, some household tasks morph. Here, I was delighted to have the use of the new chain link fence for drying purposes as it was a windy day and the huge wooden drying rack would have toppled over. Some day in the future, we may be able to dry everything in a sun porch or two, but right now one of ours still leaks and the other is full of construction materials, so fencing worked just fine! (The bright orange, blue, red, and gray sweater is a brand new, upsized version of my “Stripe Freestyle” design- available on Ravelry, Payhip and Lovecrafts.com. Finished for a kid just in time for warmer weather, I sure hope it still fits in the fall!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUknGSXn_IJ_dM0hnL2WAqc8m_hJ7-tBlc0vyhBK7Q0H1ZQxHmRPU7G26ecyEdlO3OpdLV0yXETzzBsM7jjsjVFq64j9_daUquKWPrQI045w0kr30669pdGEV2QbVHn997jqlouijUX614ES7d5rVAGh59AmCXqpPOgp0QP2NBA57i_NA3w/s3264/IMG_6676.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUknGSXn_IJ_dM0hnL2WAqc8m_hJ7-tBlc0vyhBK7Q0H1ZQxHmRPU7G26ecyEdlO3OpdLV0yXETzzBsM7jjsjVFq64j9_daUquKWPrQI045w0kr30669pdGEV2QbVHn997jqlouijUX614ES7d5rVAGh59AmCXqpPOgp0QP2NBA57i_NA3w/w200-h150/IMG_6676.jpeg" width="200" /></a>Speaking of kids, these twins just turned 12! Hurray! We celebrated with a pizza and ice cream cake party with a few of their friends. On their actual birthday, they were performing in the school musical, which was a huge production. It went very well on a stifling hot weekday night in the school gym.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYvcEtCAkOiKZDgJQ62_EOTdBoylXgdBEEk4RBD7nElXtJNg2xUhqok_0I6Asjt3rsN4B48rBzwgX794Oo55vR-1kfceJJDWZLG1O-XrJT8kIgQjWObpaG2uNopSX7zsJh-zPdmPGW9vrXCi22vuPy2l26E5GXwHS0OMcQQKSQKIWsIvoag/s3264/IMG_6691.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYvcEtCAkOiKZDgJQ62_EOTdBoylXgdBEEk4RBD7nElXtJNg2xUhqok_0I6Asjt3rsN4B48rBzwgX794Oo55vR-1kfceJJDWZLG1O-XrJT8kIgQjWObpaG2uNopSX7zsJh-zPdmPGW9vrXCi22vuPy2l26E5GXwHS0OMcQQKSQKIWsIvoag/s320/IMG_6691.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH7axz0vcSyin9Z4OSNef8Bt3HRjKR-S_lU5OdRAqKiuppIL5oEYoXmcfOQPl6YQ-lZPk9-3GUtKfKN90SK_D2fkt9ZJdAV652r7n3P_lWTauL7XxjQ0nrutoENCaj8Al3u1JgzbMhz1sDZhXYZnwGVjNyzltO0ncKBuZ4AtEqfCsMQGgBg/s3264/IMG_6772.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH7axz0vcSyin9Z4OSNef8Bt3HRjKR-S_lU5OdRAqKiuppIL5oEYoXmcfOQPl6YQ-lZPk9-3GUtKfKN90SK_D2fkt9ZJdAV652r7n3P_lWTauL7XxjQ0nrutoENCaj8Al3u1JgzbMhz1sDZhXYZnwGVjNyzltO0ncKBuZ4AtEqfCsMQGgBg/w150-h200/IMG_6772.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>Just after that, one of our guys had a long-planned medical procedure. He is just trying out school today for the morning for the first day, it has been a week of recovery and things are still hurting. Recuperation was aided by handmade loose fitting cotton pyjamas - his feature unicorns and other magical creatures.<p></p><p>Our dog Sadie decided that a bear stuffed animal which arrived as part of an amazing “get well soon” gift belonged to her. She thought it would be most comforting if she stayed right nearby, with the bear, nearly all the time.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9SMjH56jfbc5YmYTZjvc-WyiryrCY6QYJ7UiV-u4Wqi07bT4QI_i2iFGYWghtts1xmB-917me0zxmv4zWPShSL5uhPD9o-0GfqI4iW97Lm_3CzmTKqZeBJISZdlHZAfn8UHA5o3DzivaOTJqxUoZWN0v2AYB58UdkmkCyrSWpdQvmgq_IQ/s3264/IMG_6786.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9SMjH56jfbc5YmYTZjvc-WyiryrCY6QYJ7UiV-u4Wqi07bT4QI_i2iFGYWghtts1xmB-917me0zxmv4zWPShSL5uhPD9o-0GfqI4iW97Lm_3CzmTKqZeBJISZdlHZAfn8UHA5o3DzivaOTJqxUoZWN0v2AYB58UdkmkCyrSWpdQvmgq_IQ/w150-h200/IMG_6786.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDp6UkPYV4WAhOeMT6tbAYcodICts1_GOGFim1XVn6hwt4D0AVvwO2ud1wRDvyO5Oa78w0FX7HgIdY9VMfXetZGqv0Y5KMHmjXHdCU548t0XV3WRgZybQ491cO288mA9SrXywfwk8Wy16PpXeSjSJyysxnc5cbwJZoZvDLrMNm224u0sEng/s3264/IMG_6788.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDp6UkPYV4WAhOeMT6tbAYcodICts1_GOGFim1XVn6hwt4D0AVvwO2ud1wRDvyO5Oa78w0FX7HgIdY9VMfXetZGqv0Y5KMHmjXHdCU548t0XV3WRgZybQ491cO288mA9SrXywfwk8Wy16PpXeSjSJyysxnc5cbwJZoZvDLrMNm224u0sEng/w150-h200/IMG_6788.jpeg" width="150" /></a>I thought through everything that has transpired over the last month or so as I could, and actually, it’s been quite a lot. Five freelance articles that I wrote have been published, twins turned 12, a kid had surgery, a long-delayed small claims legal matter has been dealt with (not as we’d hoped, but hey, we were accused of extortion because we chose to pursue this in small claims court, so it was not without its comic moments…) and, among other things, I have sewn four pairs of cotton pyjama pants and two pairs of shorts…still have more to make, but everyone is happy and sleeping comfortably, so that too is a big accomplishment. Yes, things are still busy, but I have regained some equilibrium about my work life, and that time has been a great gift.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What’s coming up? Summer break, visits with grandparents, and more. In August, I am excited to say I have been invited to give a talk/learning event about Accessibility in Pattern writing/pattern use at the Manitoba Craft Museum. More interesting (and flexible) work to come soon, I hope! </div> <p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-34823535822751819602023-04-01T21:20:00.002-05:002023-04-01T21:23:31.698-05:00Catching up<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6oNw56l6AWoWe6Mn29FfcaKGIhMNNI812DF1_2R7BbJ1xi7GLhWQuVItnLdyI2ENjtwRF486YKuxYgkptfE8AciZjucleq5GgEjTXJ4T349RAzWK0QtsSxVRrtLJubIUFcEadSJmiNP4Q6Emp-Z6V8Q6rq0QfNv0PqJ-yiS6M_LzxvZoFw/s3264/0B753DC8-D8C1-43C1-B0C1-E5889696C991.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6oNw56l6AWoWe6Mn29FfcaKGIhMNNI812DF1_2R7BbJ1xi7GLhWQuVItnLdyI2ENjtwRF486YKuxYgkptfE8AciZjucleq5GgEjTXJ4T349RAzWK0QtsSxVRrtLJubIUFcEadSJmiNP4Q6Emp-Z6V8Q6rq0QfNv0PqJ-yiS6M_LzxvZoFw/w150-h200/0B753DC8-D8C1-43C1-B0C1-E5889696C991.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>Since the day I started this blog, long ago, I have never let it sit so many months without updates...but it felt like I could never quite get enough time to come back and visit. Everyday things I love fell by the wayside over the last few months, and I am only now getting them back. The first big news is that by the end of February, we finally had our new kitchen. The one where we had to gut the old kitchen entirely, put in a structural beam, get a lot of plumbing and frozen pipes fixed, etc. This bread would be unremarkable, except we went many months without homemade bread...everyone in our house is so "used" to having it that going from November until end of February without bread was a long wait. (Of course now, Passover is almost here too, so no more homemade bread, but at least there is a kitchen to cook and eat in again!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhEFwf4eSAYpU29wpPvPaGkMKUnG2JfpQLUz0rtG8SOOD554Px3K8x9xE129_Xu4wWlaCROFSvIvzbpNSaP434hyclu6TeoqWvPHFWKGDbKJss1A7WG7O2wnvFnVN9k5GuYCAYu2biUX_K0VGG4ghvxCn0erYuuTGJMk8TdiBCHTk02MT2g/s3059/01EBC73B-3947-4211-A32A-C54DA3DC5EA9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3059" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhEFwf4eSAYpU29wpPvPaGkMKUnG2JfpQLUz0rtG8SOOD554Px3K8x9xE129_Xu4wWlaCROFSvIvzbpNSaP434hyclu6TeoqWvPHFWKGDbKJss1A7WG7O2wnvFnVN9k5GuYCAYu2biUX_K0VGG4ghvxCn0erYuuTGJMk8TdiBCHTk02MT2g/w160-h200/01EBC73B-3947-4211-A32A-C54DA3DC5EA9.jpeg" width="160" /></a></div>Literally the moment the cookbooks got taken out of the boxes, we were looking at recipes again, discussing what to make next, and getting excited about future meals again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGEQ2McOWUojGGJ55lgJQgZ6YLHArDysEE-_UuFtJZCLIQTxeb-XKw9WlKSmOMp7ZUFRpded3XieSkYYsqzfUPylmf1qzA-U8zyosIN_cinmLap9I04f-NBKGlCa4FIbVCbHHqNvIcZwMSKvMEOeClw7fcmlq0Qt6g3l6FdflGSCYiu9ifQ/s3264/6B8B97E9-7A2F-4886-B96D-C3F31DB76C74.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGEQ2McOWUojGGJ55lgJQgZ6YLHArDysEE-_UuFtJZCLIQTxeb-XKw9WlKSmOMp7ZUFRpded3XieSkYYsqzfUPylmf1qzA-U8zyosIN_cinmLap9I04f-NBKGlCa4FIbVCbHHqNvIcZwMSKvMEOeClw7fcmlq0Qt6g3l6FdflGSCYiu9ifQ/w150-h200/6B8B97E9-7A2F-4886-B96D-C3F31DB76C74.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div><br /></div>When the kitchen was finished, we could move the stained glass from the old house and hang it in the new one. Everyone felt relieved at the move. We bought this stained glass when our twins were infants, and recently the artist who has helped us with the glass in this "new" old house told us that this window stained glass was likely from the late 1800s or early 1900s, and by the way, many of the types of glass in it were no longer available. All the more reason to treat it with caution.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKhrOE3DMavDYAq2ywz6yQ02dDbMXADZbmAHBagwtXk4fX4Yi011D4HqZSvkGMlyNJeTAGD1gBax4UsPz5DoMdO3qf0A7cLQz0u0EPcll9Ip5I7FDYNjZTETCF1YRlfO7328c4MYfM1P1HwyTjypkEWdHgunwO8yyIew9gi6jF5c0ZBn-6g/s3840/6E42AB06-34B6-4DF1-9D6E-1725CECEE58F.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKhrOE3DMavDYAq2ywz6yQ02dDbMXADZbmAHBagwtXk4fX4Yi011D4HqZSvkGMlyNJeTAGD1gBax4UsPz5DoMdO3qf0A7cLQz0u0EPcll9Ip5I7FDYNjZTETCF1YRlfO7328c4MYfM1P1HwyTjypkEWdHgunwO8yyIew9gi6jF5c0ZBn-6g/s320/6E42AB06-34B6-4DF1-9D6E-1725CECEE58F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Getting through this time with no real kitchen, managing two mortgages (until the old house sold), a part-time job plus my freelance work, and of course, managing our household, twins and dog--has been complicated. We spent a lot of time outside and I have found access to winter time activities and exercise like an outdoor rink in walking distance and the (frozen) river trail--have been a great gift.</div><div>Walking the dog out on the river trail among art displays, skaters, skiers, kicksleds...it's an amazing opportunity, like having a new provincial park at the end of the block. When the trail closed, the dog and I were both sad!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuU3hfKdiObI_vsT4WOgmsqdQeoBRi7syVKynNyLHe0VJDSsad-LHp0mrH4akD1eY0xW0v0kzCPkHDcsfrInQB5inEbs5llr1uDRLZBL9bVjlTt9nUVq638_JrCx1c7PyDR5NVsYdyhaR2VuOZB4wSA3KJsdO86I-Supw8ueIopiCJ1KQKQ/s3840/9F35F38D-64D3-4624-AB8A-E372914BBB3C.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuU3hfKdiObI_vsT4WOgmsqdQeoBRi7syVKynNyLHe0VJDSsad-LHp0mrH4akD1eY0xW0v0kzCPkHDcsfrInQB5inEbs5llr1uDRLZBL9bVjlTt9nUVq638_JrCx1c7PyDR5NVsYdyhaR2VuOZB4wSA3KJsdO86I-Supw8ueIopiCJ1KQKQ/s320/9F35F38D-64D3-4624-AB8A-E372914BBB3C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HTPoqnAyTcEriZfbsaCOWtch6khnyZjSzD2De-5sdkmK1goE9qB1yWiRkCWUM6JziUWRyh-tl0lueMR7dw7qYX_xGVRRpmaz3Yml21ZOFyL19Xhm7l0TDJ3w4wSnFGVrGLNT81MgXAhSBoTRtRjM_uMo-OTNNsEsZqBdkIdzWrZ0VWqBAg/s3107/7FCE2F7D-CD50-4F00-8A78-532E2A0C588B.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3107" data-original-width="2274" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HTPoqnAyTcEriZfbsaCOWtch6khnyZjSzD2De-5sdkmK1goE9qB1yWiRkCWUM6JziUWRyh-tl0lueMR7dw7qYX_xGVRRpmaz3Yml21ZOFyL19Xhm7l0TDJ3w4wSnFGVrGLNT81MgXAhSBoTRtRjM_uMo-OTNNsEsZqBdkIdzWrZ0VWqBAg/w146-h200/7FCE2F7D-CD50-4F00-8A78-532E2A0C588B.jpeg" width="146" /></a></div>I've also been sewing, knitting and spinning when I can fit it in, although not with as much regularity as I managed before. This winter, we managed to have twins signed up to three extracurricular activities in January and February. (Chess club, sewing studio and piano lessons) In March, we continued with piano, tried out kick sledding--with and without the dog, and also kids had an intro to racquetball. Later in April, we're starting again with chess and sewing, but at least there will be fewer snowstorms and -30C evenings to contend with while driving around.<br /><br />Each bit of renovation that happens is a triumph. When our contractor brothers opened up this back door area and renovated it, it was like a doorway to the past. My professor husband has been slowly getting windows fixed one at a time, rehanging the window weights, and we have so far opened up 4 windows and two doorways. (2 more windows to go, I think.) Whoever decided to close off windows and doors in a long-ago renovation...maybe in the 1980s or maybe much earlier...really wasn't the brightest bulb.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUBOyEyWA8yTWy5zZ-LMjPtzEDdvsd0wf9rSUhsEBXTJW0Pc5v_Gbh53hwuB2pMgwK8xtxbVSnq0ayXaEGIJna4xtfNgSlkowXI3HTfSvjsy-X2BuHAxeCgHYEeh2XVOA6DpHp4k6DamIayAc_O_JT5z9ZJtTCkGx5qYtSJddYDFXd9ncBA/s3264/18CD6EB1-F5E2-4D00-A4D6-B61B9579B8DE.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUBOyEyWA8yTWy5zZ-LMjPtzEDdvsd0wf9rSUhsEBXTJW0Pc5v_Gbh53hwuB2pMgwK8xtxbVSnq0ayXaEGIJna4xtfNgSlkowXI3HTfSvjsy-X2BuHAxeCgHYEeh2XVOA6DpHp4k6DamIayAc_O_JT5z9ZJtTCkGx5qYtSJddYDFXd9ncBA/w150-h200/18CD6EB1-F5E2-4D00-A4D6-B61B9579B8DE.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>Here's the re-opened back door area. Below are two high up windows in our new kitchen...both were blocked off but one of them had actually been left open, behind cupboards and walls, to vent a half-bath for perhaps 40 or more years. No wonder why the area was cold and the pipes froze in winter!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAHZbYTmimKA5noXeXWQomjcaYQ4xJ40NGsovUF40yNG-uYlmPDQZtk1NJrLVm8hvyPTpLkeC_MGeMdbKbKgR61PDGeRpz9fOSGvV_6PTfBVlIlmkU2w0CyzzQA-NBQk2z3mJEKXCDurG6Mj2n8d8vnTzjZeBCLL_CWSloxoqt4BQrqCkmg/s3264/29EC2D45-4236-4751-89BB-82B06FEDCCAE.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAHZbYTmimKA5noXeXWQomjcaYQ4xJ40NGsovUF40yNG-uYlmPDQZtk1NJrLVm8hvyPTpLkeC_MGeMdbKbKgR61PDGeRpz9fOSGvV_6PTfBVlIlmkU2w0CyzzQA-NBQk2z3mJEKXCDurG6Mj2n8d8vnTzjZeBCLL_CWSloxoqt4BQrqCkmg/w200-h150/29EC2D45-4236-4751-89BB-82B06FEDCCAE.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We also finally have a working dishwasher, which is a huge deal when feeding a family all winter. We were not surviving on take out or eating out during this time...but we did choose to use paper plates during the kitchen renovation. It was probably the most paper plates we adults have ever used in our lifetimes. It was worth it though, there are limits to what one family can manage...even an eco-conscious one. It's also the first time in 20 some years when we haven't composted at all--because our dog got skunked in September right after we started composting. So you know, we decided to stop composting until we figured out how NOT to attract skunks to the yard. If you have tips on that, let me know in the comments!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPmTp80L5MP07EsFrlVGeFqZJf80yd_oj2Mjr7alW_9UE7LGB8RvVPFLnYs3bdQoWbnhDUdHA29Qqy7StxqrSpSjKYZ7vvadTtdW0yPoZrl1RgCVCPae9J3xPBTZuOobxB6b4qFeChAZIJqG3PreaWMjtMiZCbmB41otcGNhdQaPOTnrgRw/s3264/860FCD91-356A-4331-83DC-000CE19CEF93.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPmTp80L5MP07EsFrlVGeFqZJf80yd_oj2Mjr7alW_9UE7LGB8RvVPFLnYs3bdQoWbnhDUdHA29Qqy7StxqrSpSjKYZ7vvadTtdW0yPoZrl1RgCVCPae9J3xPBTZuOobxB6b4qFeChAZIJqG3PreaWMjtMiZCbmB41otcGNhdQaPOTnrgRw/w200-h150/860FCD91-356A-4331-83DC-000CE19CEF93.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z8P2fNcwzZfX16d-0p2xKHPgAFkCozcIGCzCmkoUasBDsC23sFHdAJkuRrfyDP5GXYVDBOaYUfjGUr_82YEUuuz3WXgSI6IjZ8Rgu7d2JXL_WJG_5XC8ioW2yQiXAGLsE1OfdbsTbOU8xUp02b4oRWklU1p60zK72U6yEfRQ76swT-OAsg/s3264/A3A6CDC4-C98C-4B98-A6A5-83A9A7148A4B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z8P2fNcwzZfX16d-0p2xKHPgAFkCozcIGCzCmkoUasBDsC23sFHdAJkuRrfyDP5GXYVDBOaYUfjGUr_82YEUuuz3WXgSI6IjZ8Rgu7d2JXL_WJG_5XC8ioW2yQiXAGLsE1OfdbsTbOU8xUp02b4oRWklU1p60zK72U6yEfRQ76swT-OAsg/s320/A3A6CDC4-C98C-4B98-A6A5-83A9A7148A4B.jpeg" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVWiIF3lG6ERcLvS1k-p1AxcqPkWDh1yDqsdy8nB722cTk235TXrCx6KlzbfFW9EzaX93AzS-5JpCvS14-Lpj-FaTrtLxYeA9y8R7SY2T69AojDmcKuT10WhBINV30bVSdWVWyXk9hwlLzAByAQ9wjUCirznkrbO3wNotoNeaAZncqkmaNw/s3264/D0C687E3-CBFF-49E7-8724-BF9FA39611FC.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVWiIF3lG6ERcLvS1k-p1AxcqPkWDh1yDqsdy8nB722cTk235TXrCx6KlzbfFW9EzaX93AzS-5JpCvS14-Lpj-FaTrtLxYeA9y8R7SY2T69AojDmcKuT10WhBINV30bVSdWVWyXk9hwlLzAByAQ9wjUCirznkrbO3wNotoNeaAZncqkmaNw/w150-h200/D0C687E3-CBFF-49E7-8724-BF9FA39611FC.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div></div>Knitting continued as kids keep growing and needing new woollies! This is another version of my "Stripe Freestyle" Sweater- slightly upsized as my kids are now a little bigger than the pattern I published. The yarn for this one was my handspun Cotswold and silk singles. I dyed it as well, the yellow was dyed with marigolds and the red came from a nice dye packet. I wrote about spinning and dyeing this yarn on the blog in 2006. Some yarns just need time to marinate in the stash! In this case, I obviously had to give birth to twins first and then wait 11 years.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHcBl0As4Yn_t080gt5YKvb2-qwZsv62lJV5_UqIgv9xwn7IvD0uR68BlH-2jIyLyGWkVDldGtb-zK612U_p_ueSGxHduayUJFy5LE3HtV89u6fL1_LEM44h9iby82TmRE3Qc9NQR5hlt-wZhggLgergWI8rgZsjZxC2dBuMIop0RQvUFtQ/s3840/DBFD8440-43D2-4392-A7EC-78723748F168.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHcBl0As4Yn_t080gt5YKvb2-qwZsv62lJV5_UqIgv9xwn7IvD0uR68BlH-2jIyLyGWkVDldGtb-zK612U_p_ueSGxHduayUJFy5LE3HtV89u6fL1_LEM44h9iby82TmRE3Qc9NQR5hlt-wZhggLgergWI8rgZsjZxC2dBuMIop0RQvUFtQ/s320/DBFD8440-43D2-4392-A7EC-78723748F168.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Here's another fun photo of kids enjoying the art installations this year--this one was taken at the Forks. This sail turned in the wind while you stood on it...but it also served as a much needed windbreak on a very chilly day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm now on to knitting yet another "Stripe Freestyle" sweater for the other kid and the fuschia yarn in the background will likely be a sweater for me, someday. (It's on hold while I knit more for kids.) It never fails to surprise me which knitting patterns sell lots of copies and which don't. The Stripe Freestyle pattern is a slam dunk in my household, but doesn't sell many copies on Ravelry, Payhip or Lovecrafts. No idea why. In any event, it's been a mainstay in these twins' wardrobes for years.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_YyeiSPacXDk-1qBrR_uTZetQsq-JbQZFajcQ1eW_K8Exc6yMXx3XB76wK5SLEvLM51CrTHj5WgBDwCgXSKczcbdsmpO54JuAH_YfwUCjpeU4xvLZqXFZaO-KmnvpJAy2g8NKx8QbuVaPYwbfpv6HROqu4ZvynBafGBvm6iDhla-9SqQHA/s3264/F0D1DC03-EFA6-4502-94F0-7EFE5F53BE41.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_YyeiSPacXDk-1qBrR_uTZetQsq-JbQZFajcQ1eW_K8Exc6yMXx3XB76wK5SLEvLM51CrTHj5WgBDwCgXSKczcbdsmpO54JuAH_YfwUCjpeU4xvLZqXFZaO-KmnvpJAy2g8NKx8QbuVaPYwbfpv6HROqu4ZvynBafGBvm6iDhla-9SqQHA/s320/F0D1DC03-EFA6-4502-94F0-7EFE5F53BE41.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKPMWlmfI7OOW5KsMmqI_3CNU7D4aP4tO19xbuDzF4xlQlUUiBD2r_EaIPCv9bI8LVuLvLB0PpNFe-o6CzfeHIHBHzNoro6AoRrUqnXudJ7nm9C-krn_O0F0eyGeaNR1OnPdCs-4cyVmiaIkbfz7VlPF3Eevpw4a8uwmfNGc2RKVnF4aH9g/s3264/F8F7D010-009E-4330-932D-80DFE3ED107D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKPMWlmfI7OOW5KsMmqI_3CNU7D4aP4tO19xbuDzF4xlQlUUiBD2r_EaIPCv9bI8LVuLvLB0PpNFe-o6CzfeHIHBHzNoro6AoRrUqnXudJ7nm9C-krn_O0F0eyGeaNR1OnPdCs-4cyVmiaIkbfz7VlPF3Eevpw4a8uwmfNGc2RKVnF4aH9g/s320/F8F7D010-009E-4330-932D-80DFE3ED107D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Finally, I'm adding a much overdue photo of the lovely birthday celebration we had back in January- I had a big birthday, in the midst of all of this. We were stressed out and it went by quietly. However, now that we're "down" to owning only one house, things are somewhat calmer. Still lots of renovations to go and some ends to tie up, but I'm hoping for warmer weather and more time for writing, designing and playing ahead. <p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-24426369199240678282022-11-25T21:31:00.001-06:002022-11-25T21:32:14.638-06:00No more bandwidth?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxeegHoyiyL758_3PJWmGEq_1-VZISXre-RzSr2l3v3FTYrRpnUUnHcXlUTiqy5o4UTM20QZxuKUR7_j6O0_venMr6zwI3L422Fx_0oX_MJfkXQqLmc6cEN6w0GiwUKAN6l58KrrNj661EfxGGWmzuNlTSxhEVKiL8i8XPfzUd98jXxPgQg/s3264/0BD06B93-FC7E-4CCC-8EE2-682B2EECA737.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxeegHoyiyL758_3PJWmGEq_1-VZISXre-RzSr2l3v3FTYrRpnUUnHcXlUTiqy5o4UTM20QZxuKUR7_j6O0_venMr6zwI3L422Fx_0oX_MJfkXQqLmc6cEN6w0GiwUKAN6l58KrrNj661EfxGGWmzuNlTSxhEVKiL8i8XPfzUd98jXxPgQg/s320/0BD06B93-FC7E-4CCC-8EE2-682B2EECA737.jpeg" width="320" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">You may wonder where I've been. The answer would be, umm, completely overwhelmed with moving and all it entails! Also, the “new” house needs quite a bit more work, so we are living in a construction zone. Not a noisy "disrupt the neighbours" or 24 hour highway construction zone, but the kind that slowly and steadily has now lasted a year and now, in this phase, involves a lot of demolition. Here is a shot of our kitchen, halfway through being gutted, a couple days ago. Note the ugly ancient carpet that was found under the island, (why?!) and our dog in the shot, she sticks close by all the time right now. This stuff is nerve-wracking at times.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Also anxiety producing? Having freezing pipes, a half demolished kitchen, and a wall without a proper support beam in place. So, yeah, we're getting a new kitchen that we hadn't bargained for...one without an enormous island. (Yes, I want a kitchen table in the kitchen. I'm so retro.) In the end though, it will be warmer and safer too, so that's a bonus!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Our temporary kitchen is inside of a first floor powder room, which will eventually be a half-bath again. It was originally part of a servants' staircase and was seriously under-insulated. This meant the pipes froze there too with some frequency. We're revisiting that lack of insulation now while we wash dishes. Glad it is only November and not too cold yet. It's really good news that this old house was built in a sturdy way in the beginning, it's lived through some badly done renovations in the past, and now we get to help fix it all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4f9EQtf9fVQSrpOqaP4UXaQXbN_aRmF9WQaXEE6JoViVWN5Ih5iPZlaL51Hhz4SLsbhYHOu248vpnP9kfSsDIuaXLSO62-M06x9d7fOx1u8jIxYWvyCo_LKCStRmjVWOFIecdzykODSBJR88sQcZQApMxdVhaoahf7vCtUSlKlqQqAzitw/s3264/9C3A0F19-077F-404A-9E92-B78ABEB70CE5.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4f9EQtf9fVQSrpOqaP4UXaQXbN_aRmF9WQaXEE6JoViVWN5Ih5iPZlaL51Hhz4SLsbhYHOu248vpnP9kfSsDIuaXLSO62-M06x9d7fOx1u8jIxYWvyCo_LKCStRmjVWOFIecdzykODSBJR88sQcZQApMxdVhaoahf7vCtUSlKlqQqAzitw/w150-h200/9C3A0F19-077F-404A-9E92-B78ABEB70CE5.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>In the midst of all this, I'm juggling some new part-time work, some older freelance commitments, and of course, the care and feeding of my twins, who are very busy being in grade 6. Just today, I started volunteering at my kids' elementary school with grade 1 kids in the bilingual program, too. It was a fun afternoon. </div></div>So of course, I wasn't busy enough? ...so I signed up for an event! I am participating again as a designer in the <a href="https://www.wipinsanity.com/2022-staging-env/script.cgi?TYPE=profile&VALUE=joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>Fasten Off Yarn-a-long</b></a>. What's this? Well, it's a way to buy lots of knitting patterns, on sale, from November 25th until December 8th. It's also a way to participate in a yarn-along (knitting and crochet) event, even if you can't participate on Ravelry. My <a href="https://payhip.com/joanneseiff" target="_blank"><b>patterns on Payhip</b></a> and <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>my Ravelry patterns</b></a> are all on sale for 25% off with the coupon code: FO2022.<div>There are also games to participate in, a Discord channel, and more. The good news is that it's a sale with over 100 designers participating! Lots of exciting designs to explore and enjoy. Learn more at <a href="http://www.fastenoffyal.com"><b>www.fastenoffyal.com</b></a> and have fun!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje4a-nU0MuOWGcsMfvU-yrxYfZNa9c-pE2MBm8UO2hexzTVr5GUmClSsBDDPeZzoF6epDANTgaIrTan6pVpEu5odjLLcl_cOYhLdoJQQdNB4Se8fKfsp53WTORYSkCmb5it9MkwBfFPC9Op14kcmyYXIOl5slg-e8y-KK0wcXNxg_Mozbjg/s1334/B8258321-685D-4D08-A879-5EE99E9FDC9F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje4a-nU0MuOWGcsMfvU-yrxYfZNa9c-pE2MBm8UO2hexzTVr5GUmClSsBDDPeZzoF6epDANTgaIrTan6pVpEu5odjLLcl_cOYhLdoJQQdNB4Se8fKfsp53WTORYSkCmb5it9MkwBfFPC9Op14kcmyYXIOl5slg-e8y-KK0wcXNxg_Mozbjg/s320/B8258321-685D-4D08-A879-5EE99E9FDC9F.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-57258757693665501622022-09-08T12:56:00.013-05:002022-09-08T12:59:05.978-05:00Summer on the move<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It turns out that moving twins, a dog, and a household about a mile is a huge undertaking. About 13 years ago, I documented our move to Canada on this blog, and I wrote a lot about it. It involved a continent's drive, two bird dogs, a lot of boxes and plants, a moving van, my professor and me. I've since learned that moves with tweens can be, umm, more complicated than that one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The short story behind this is that our beautiful old house, featured in many blog posts, got damaged. This issue continued to cause a lot of friction for us, along with a dead tree hanging over our power lines, increased traffic nearby and a lot of construction around where we were living. It seemed like we needed to find somewhere else to live. During the pandemic, this was no small thing. It took us almost a year to accomplish this. How we ended up with our "new" old house is a story for another day. This story is a little about the summer...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTn2RbUVhfNTjp1nPE3lPrVm0M3cMis2i7mLdrBRgBvSXXw5vDK4F6zREXLVsndENrRXaaMqEN-J2wgdiXxlCBoN275av3S2uAS2mgcb3VGzgKWXBK5JPMDO-xA94aqztc5ojFWG5-fr523t-fxOVokC2vg3CnPzP9_GcDMKX3sZQyYGKVg/s1799/03D1D95B-CE95-4A3C-895F-12743F3F3815.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTn2RbUVhfNTjp1nPE3lPrVm0M3cMis2i7mLdrBRgBvSXXw5vDK4F6zREXLVsndENrRXaaMqEN-J2wgdiXxlCBoN275av3S2uAS2mgcb3VGzgKWXBK5JPMDO-xA94aqztc5ojFWG5-fr523t-fxOVokC2vg3CnPzP9_GcDMKX3sZQyYGKVg/w256-h320/03D1D95B-CE95-4A3C-895F-12743F3F3815.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div>It has involved moving things slowly, one at a time. Here's my Quebec Production wheel, and the two customers who helped me move it from the third floor of one house to the third floor of the other. (Note, I still have two great wheels left to move!)</div>Meanwhile, my parents visited and my mom helped enormously by hemming curtains with twins. (Both twins went to a sewing camp for part of the summer and were very keen.) Just beyond this photo were boxes, a refrigerator and a dishwasher, appliances for our as-yet-unrenovated kitchen. Partly demolished, in fact.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qwHNxxVru1AdmAHfnZqrHrCbc1gTqETrRvUFlc-I752VUDQQpvFQA3mtKbzQlPPxv4dUDlscFuBMWU0CCEMs4sudkIjUGjBGuw9xSwkKHvgKeYAUkl11RYB4br9SiMRtvVY9_k3OZuivd-KWqGm69XCDWCYV8adEVPre438peDwkaGW-xA/s1799/4F4B484A-4F3E-4F98-BA5C-AA3551DDE637.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qwHNxxVru1AdmAHfnZqrHrCbc1gTqETrRvUFlc-I752VUDQQpvFQA3mtKbzQlPPxv4dUDlscFuBMWU0CCEMs4sudkIjUGjBGuw9xSwkKHvgKeYAUkl11RYB4br9SiMRtvVY9_k3OZuivd-KWqGm69XCDWCYV8adEVPre438peDwkaGW-xA/s320/4F4B484A-4F3E-4F98-BA5C-AA3551DDE637.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div>Here's our old house, which is now for sale. I will really miss things about this house, including the front porch.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKECLWyeNYwWSSsh8utw1mRrRay9tisPgZZUbtzBobo0kVMeYnA7RRgTjAT1UCOvFaoGIdGoUYPuruhPierNp5YolOF7qQ1wGlGLcyhy8-8W9-PTNVo_6V4UWx-F4_-3DfV3NmyXdtiAipyYpCaTcMCux5gYeCvSCieCorSU1SfHRlZ2DZQ/s3034/64B2EC2A-68C7-4AC4-B889-35ED0B347077.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3034" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKECLWyeNYwWSSsh8utw1mRrRay9tisPgZZUbtzBobo0kVMeYnA7RRgTjAT1UCOvFaoGIdGoUYPuruhPierNp5YolOF7qQ1wGlGLcyhy8-8W9-PTNVo_6V4UWx-F4_-3DfV3NmyXdtiAipyYpCaTcMCux5gYeCvSCieCorSU1SfHRlZ2DZQ/s320/64B2EC2A-68C7-4AC4-B889-35ED0B347077.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>However, our new backyard is quiet at night, and I can sit, watch the dog wander the yard, and there's little to no noise or light pollution - and yes, it is right in the middle of the city. That bright light in the photo is the moon rising.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3-Cd01Jz6OBQPhz2iBwrxzdY_MORxFPFS4rsXMz46j6swuYqYvHoKsEjCDQEhRt_NRItQXo1sfp5M4NCZsf8L5TWypVbPTqeDDEkL5bkiaEdFVV9_9k4MUYaI3quPnhzPYWYNZ48R_lL1sO3pvLRcZU0HFWoOR8O44VyzX07ouw5EiFkfw/s2757/14946109-1C1C-4171-89A2-FD767C53E27B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2757" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3-Cd01Jz6OBQPhz2iBwrxzdY_MORxFPFS4rsXMz46j6swuYqYvHoKsEjCDQEhRt_NRItQXo1sfp5M4NCZsf8L5TWypVbPTqeDDEkL5bkiaEdFVV9_9k4MUYaI3quPnhzPYWYNZ48R_lL1sO3pvLRcZU0HFWoOR8O44VyzX07ouw5EiFkfw/s320/14946109-1C1C-4171-89A2-FD767C53E27B.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div>The inside of the house still looks like this though. Our furniture was used to stage our old house, but it's being moved to the new house soon. In the meanwhile...things are a bit hard to put away. Necessary renovations are still happening as we have one lovely working bathroom (nothing else is functional yet) and a kitchen that needs a lot of work. Note tiles at the front of this photo.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGQcPpKUW-Q9siWh2KXWR2l7Im0S4n2M1M2ynIpV2hYqltCrRBpChcsUvTFRd38py1GrNDk1DKEWxmqkqr6MS2WRDxW2xzUkauyMDMZqnOdbPqe8SCelFkW1kZL-3-jzjnM88HmbpcwoJIWgHvrjlpwDUjtbf-yKevBGPlnekTp9nuP-USQ/s3264/A813C42C-3500-4DE4-9445-D7005A2C1235.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGQcPpKUW-Q9siWh2KXWR2l7Im0S4n2M1M2ynIpV2hYqltCrRBpChcsUvTFRd38py1GrNDk1DKEWxmqkqr6MS2WRDxW2xzUkauyMDMZqnOdbPqe8SCelFkW1kZL-3-jzjnM88HmbpcwoJIWgHvrjlpwDUjtbf-yKevBGPlnekTp9nuP-USQ/s320/A813C42C-3500-4DE4-9445-D7005A2C1235.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Despite all this transition, I tried to find space every day to do something fun with kids and dog, too. This was an amazing art exhibit we 'toured' - it is painted on fences and garage doors in a backlane in Wolseley. We were able to walk there from our new house. It was a long walk on a hot day, but well worth it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiQKbzcHsKmtzrxFn9KIJ20UXx-mdK88zCHpC5l-YpQ7-6qRWkDFS0wdP6PKzcV--STBlWv64IgoH-IZxlL6dDlwJcBD64DMzSaLJWdteJljaWmJOYb2UbZ2yrqUBkt_gzesWOs-v1qnwi6qVGYGqUtgRxt94cQjc4eBCMJRX5QO-9Nhefw/s3840/AA7F5E02-264C-4085-B952-AD11A1DD6983.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiQKbzcHsKmtzrxFn9KIJ20UXx-mdK88zCHpC5l-YpQ7-6qRWkDFS0wdP6PKzcV--STBlWv64IgoH-IZxlL6dDlwJcBD64DMzSaLJWdteJljaWmJOYb2UbZ2yrqUBkt_gzesWOs-v1qnwi6qVGYGqUtgRxt94cQjc4eBCMJRX5QO-9Nhefw/s320/AA7F5E02-264C-4085-B952-AD11A1DD6983.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>There's a lot more to this story, but now, kids are back at school and we adults are still trying to make order out of chaos. (Sometimes the blog silence is because I am silently screaming in the background?!)<br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-82007515337568722242022-06-30T21:51:00.004-05:002022-06-30T21:51:38.003-05:00New Pattern! Veecardi McStrippit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H3TXlk9SS2MeAJeEupaSRAzW0P-WFeFAIBppH773JrpA49Qz2MuBjdZgYxNh175VqBkQnDroUWtz2ZObuOqxFbml01O8VE-vDOF-ooWw-72r3KbxlN5JxPXtfp_1uQDOCO5A67yfqsGqBZeBoUwN2J2cHbqdgL-FEtzPKshj_vnibKnJhw/s1736/Veecardi5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1736" data-original-width="1352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H3TXlk9SS2MeAJeEupaSRAzW0P-WFeFAIBppH773JrpA49Qz2MuBjdZgYxNh175VqBkQnDroUWtz2ZObuOqxFbml01O8VE-vDOF-ooWw-72r3KbxlN5JxPXtfp_1uQDOCO5A67yfqsGqBZeBoUwN2J2cHbqdgL-FEtzPKshj_vnibKnJhw/s320/Veecardi5.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">After a long incubation period, I introduce you to...Veecardi McStrippit, my new design! This textured cardigan pattern is knit in seven pieces and is available in 7 sizes, from 33-53". There is also a Low Vision Accessible version available. Check it out on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/veecardi-mcstrippit" target="_blank"><b>Ravelry</b></a>, <a href="https://payhip.com/b/YmnpD" target="_blank"><b>Payhip</b></a> (both of these sites have a Low Vision option) and coming soon...on Lovecrafts (no Low Vision option there, the platform doesn't support it).</div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ6ckpzjsaIkUOsAJ3LeJBkUHkSX1fa6TIKT8bjhAMkM5u5CfhQJfPWXxaHWZYfjOHc3ebWv7NnZtsRt3qQEe5qJp3cgUcb4Uwt7Zs0WuXm0jX5vy7dEDRBdH0ZoKmJ5Sx_DT6UwyLcr-fGCFwbeDS6HuggSQf-nkDRZ7BTfdDBKpImBCgg/s1494/Veecardi6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="1269" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ6ckpzjsaIkUOsAJ3LeJBkUHkSX1fa6TIKT8bjhAMkM5u5CfhQJfPWXxaHWZYfjOHc3ebWv7NnZtsRt3qQEe5qJp3cgUcb4Uwt7Zs0WuXm0jX5vy7dEDRBdH0ZoKmJ5Sx_DT6UwyLcr-fGCFwbeDS6HuggSQf-nkDRZ7BTfdDBKpImBCgg/s320/Veecardi6.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>To celebrate this new design and the start of school summer vacation here, I'm also having a sale. Get 20% off <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>all my designs on Ravelry</b></a> or <a href="https://payhip.com/JoanneSeiff" target="_blank"><b>Payhip </b></a> until July 5th, (ends midnight, CT) with the coupon code:<p></p><p>SUMMER</p>And now...I'm going to photo bomb the blog just the way Sadie the dog did during this cardigan's photo shoot! Enjoy!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpzaFE73htRCwYSs0P5eiE2gKFl9cLBitSyB-oQ0ynwO1i_7yv6xAg3MDbMqKMxvNq8qFeLPx8DAJTATjY7X4022xiYzHT1jzcUKq6a200CbR_D6y8G3WuwSgkTdCAvGtjFFkEe6Fzxvd0AdfpX73zxphGE1jHQzso5Kl6buycakWGVfO8w/s2048/Veecardi7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpzaFE73htRCwYSs0P5eiE2gKFl9cLBitSyB-oQ0ynwO1i_7yv6xAg3MDbMqKMxvNq8qFeLPx8DAJTATjY7X4022xiYzHT1jzcUKq6a200CbR_D6y8G3WuwSgkTdCAvGtjFFkEe6Fzxvd0AdfpX73zxphGE1jHQzso5Kl6buycakWGVfO8w/s320/Veecardi7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpZ4QTjUgnIv8Mm8B4BqSQqJHMmTfNaq-JLGXq-Fi0sXJif8i17UECzZIRP5TS0d14aayfmvOZHHVyCpbh8SD2bIipnvYEWe9WaRt-kLwDds50jD_2NNeYaBineZikaQvU-OtsMP8R0MlsSHmiT_4OQRXYVz_dJICgE5ZyVoH3Vbaf_JuyQ/s2049/Veecardi-comingsoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpZ4QTjUgnIv8Mm8B4BqSQqJHMmTfNaq-JLGXq-Fi0sXJif8i17UECzZIRP5TS0d14aayfmvOZHHVyCpbh8SD2bIipnvYEWe9WaRt-kLwDds50jD_2NNeYaBineZikaQvU-OtsMP8R0MlsSHmiT_4OQRXYVz_dJICgE5ZyVoH3Vbaf_JuyQ/s320/Veecardi-comingsoon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdbrWjXZn3Gd9gZ-YOQ3HxiFM4LzoCcXJj9Gwap4XRxeCIwIX76dIVcvlGJr_DigUuJvEoRaC44aoeUl4NJGzSUzjytmUaHxaJv3CwYeL9_tJELC2-eVKqVYJ-punqDSiZ45Ps_g2lwVagbXbY5_GL27noXsqTJUC3IQMv-Nri8e4PL_Lkg/s2049/Veecardi-denim1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdbrWjXZn3Gd9gZ-YOQ3HxiFM4LzoCcXJj9Gwap4XRxeCIwIX76dIVcvlGJr_DigUuJvEoRaC44aoeUl4NJGzSUzjytmUaHxaJv3CwYeL9_tJELC2-eVKqVYJ-punqDSiZ45Ps_g2lwVagbXbY5_GL27noXsqTJUC3IQMv-Nri8e4PL_Lkg/s320/Veecardi-denim1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsmoIIFrKyev6BkRP-pCzr_1-kyLURCtnnnt2e9KHlsUFZvfJKxspOzN6QgipRSajw7PPsQfWPjQ-FxoXrF-yE0UL6l8elMVj0GvLfpPBRKaGNUNU9eUweVuiVNYDk8INUMuffsG-8grocFs4S8zO6QtdYFvmhnxtfnoCChukIxVHiotMWw/s3264/Veecardi-ipad3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsmoIIFrKyev6BkRP-pCzr_1-kyLURCtnnnt2e9KHlsUFZvfJKxspOzN6QgipRSajw7PPsQfWPjQ-FxoXrF-yE0UL6l8elMVj0GvLfpPBRKaGNUNU9eUweVuiVNYDk8INUMuffsG-8grocFs4S8zO6QtdYFvmhnxtfnoCChukIxVHiotMWw/s320/Veecardi-ipad3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQZouMCZ5vue6p5Uoo2FTTaGk2OVP-ENPWxAxZVcjEpIweCsOgt737CvJNP3snZkPBkMoPFgr8vdVhGiDcIwJowtLqGrLl3GF_xq4635pp_ZFG8Gr8QdamKoUZfyYCNel6tdPNhT0S3OxNdxxPs-4u3vdQYvOsMqL6TEnosraDpEH_miSXA/s2048/Veecardi-Sadiehelps1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQZouMCZ5vue6p5Uoo2FTTaGk2OVP-ENPWxAxZVcjEpIweCsOgt737CvJNP3snZkPBkMoPFgr8vdVhGiDcIwJowtLqGrLl3GF_xq4635pp_ZFG8Gr8QdamKoUZfyYCNel6tdPNhT0S3OxNdxxPs-4u3vdQYvOsMqL6TEnosraDpEH_miSXA/s320/Veecardi-Sadiehelps1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJKGwfAZySzggmk4quTaKZJFHg2W5UHQ2rB3T6l8sk08fYzjHiPjzkaB86B_fQDZ_Vf5LffHt4qvc4VWa9Nul_cNCS-NvN77aib87Nfm5hrFow-hGlhLT7bxkykeGyf7oh9oYepmMlKEpj4sPM19LcfFf8WI9ChG7yYIqXf2T39mAvAlV3g/s313/croppeddesigner%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="219" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJKGwfAZySzggmk4quTaKZJFHg2W5UHQ2rB3T6l8sk08fYzjHiPjzkaB86B_fQDZ_Vf5LffHt4qvc4VWa9Nul_cNCS-NvN77aib87Nfm5hrFow-hGlhLT7bxkykeGyf7oh9oYepmMlKEpj4sPM19LcfFf8WI9ChG7yYIqXf2T39mAvAlV3g/s1600/croppeddesigner%20photo.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-87747910497421929722022-06-09T10:43:00.030-05:002022-06-10T13:39:05.224-05:00Update from springtime<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXoVpUVcf2GV0nUyH1uOBYNmMmx77qTuG3ZKUlDqKktegqrM9CnLmvu1-ZZMApeKWp3TKGbrRFUMNkSie9YaFN3Xzy3TH_cq2HatkL_cIn2vivG3SgPSy1aTTWGhNYN1MmugDm3rR0ozm9SMv0EuKLkkHWrdM_jqrlH65i_zV2g6bqNt5mA/s1440/4A5A2533-85B5-49FD-B962-5EB67F5E4C08.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1440" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXoVpUVcf2GV0nUyH1uOBYNmMmx77qTuG3ZKUlDqKktegqrM9CnLmvu1-ZZMApeKWp3TKGbrRFUMNkSie9YaFN3Xzy3TH_cq2HatkL_cIn2vivG3SgPSy1aTTWGhNYN1MmugDm3rR0ozm9SMv0EuKLkkHWrdM_jqrlH65i_zV2g6bqNt5mA/w200-h150/4A5A2533-85B5-49FD-B962-5EB67F5E4C08.jpeg" width="200" /></a>Dear blog readers, I am not sure how many of you are still out there! Some friends may still visit? It's hard to tell --I used to receive lots of comments and make conversation on every post. Now? Nothing. Hard to tell...So here are some updates from my world...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made an unfortunate knitting project choice back in March. One of my twins asked for a gray sweater and I agreed to knit it during our most gray, long, wet, puddle filled and flooded time of year. True, the yarn is Polwarth wool so lovely and soft. It will make a nice dress sweater. I finished it on one of the first warm days and my kid didn't even want to try it on long enough for fit. Good news with twins is that if one does not want it, the other likely will...assuming it still fits somebody in the fall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXIBYGIzd8eF47ATj1SjDXx3mGLytUV8SayLhXhS29JuyA9Vd1IV1NDQLAJrWbakOQcNWyHTLFczCmQtrvQcm0lC-2S5CJ1QNPGlxbXgzagIIeROJOM3rXLyZ_vgod1Xh82Am7qoBdRK_ac_vPoEzqkI38uBFRrmJdg4wWjZeyhs96V9zPA/s3264/26CD4574-94EB-4BC2-A046-8216878A2B3E.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXIBYGIzd8eF47ATj1SjDXx3mGLytUV8SayLhXhS29JuyA9Vd1IV1NDQLAJrWbakOQcNWyHTLFczCmQtrvQcm0lC-2S5CJ1QNPGlxbXgzagIIeROJOM3rXLyZ_vgod1Xh82Am7qoBdRK_ac_vPoEzqkI38uBFRrmJdg4wWjZeyhs96V9zPA/w150-h200/26CD4574-94EB-4BC2-A046-8216878A2B3E.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>We also happened to hear about a new baby...so I made an "upsized" Worry Bear. I took the pattern for a small pocket sized bear, which is really supposed to meet specific needs for those with anxiety, sensory issues, autism, dementia, etc. and I knit it on #8(5mm) double pointed needles and I used three strands of sportweight yarn. Stuffed with wool, it will be perfect for a toddler to carry around or chew on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWxeGD4JItERCZIa7dfsxJCJ-yN7GIxjqOxqKggcDY27MkTPi80AIYZIuVlgHBlfcaCAFqMB-J-kU4NVkbvaQxeNiykW4gYCEZPsHDYPc5128elCcTv4K9ZGY631rNwCdJupPSLf_SkbObe8chUue4oenigCvIC1-UneN0LU651yffaMP6A/w200-h200/267DC27B-1F6D-488F-A3AF-04136D4A1526.jpeg" width="200" />The world news has also really gotten me down. I've struggled to keep cheerful. Our province has opened up to crowded events, without masks, despite an increasing rate of COVID deaths and health care cannot keep up. Meanwhile, war and gun violence are happening-completely avoidable deaths that politicians refuse to be mature enough to take prompt action on...people who can resolve conflicts peaceably seem to be in short supply.</div>When I'm particularly stressed by these things, I "make" a lot more...more sewing, spinning, knitting and cooking. To my surprise, I discovered I'd cranked out over 900 yards of 2 ply Clun Forest wool (Western Canadian wool) while processing bad news. I washed and skeined it, and? - have absolutely nothing planned for it. So, if you're taking on a big dyeing, weaving, knitting, or other project and could use handspun for it, let me know. Let's make a deal!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM9eO6Ro25qU6Nog2pseSWsHRXzhUIS3ijb4j26CLRmiAs1l311lARNnXiGNO3e0nB0aN81OxrcUC3cYIsfdXqhcDgpPDWORF399VktkOryzQPy3k7k_n_ClrgKQS7MU74Q9sKYwbeOo8-iUob29LaNISq7bHXzZuyjC_-jPu6bSqzprXcw/s3264/F589EFE8-AF44-4863-B1E6-D4ED637BE674.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM9eO6Ro25qU6Nog2pseSWsHRXzhUIS3ijb4j26CLRmiAs1l311lARNnXiGNO3e0nB0aN81OxrcUC3cYIsfdXqhcDgpPDWORF399VktkOryzQPy3k7k_n_ClrgKQS7MU74Q9sKYwbeOo8-iUob29LaNISq7bHXzZuyjC_-jPu6bSqzprXcw/s320/F589EFE8-AF44-4863-B1E6-D4ED637BE674.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>There's also been an uptick in special life events. Twins turned 11! Alas, the gelati cakes from the past no longer are made at our favourite shop, but birthdays continue. Mommy cake came to the rescue....although I truly failed "buttercream 101" in my 'breads and desserts' course in university...I made a big cake, and everyone seemed happy. Yes, this is true, I took an elective course in breads and desserts at the Cornell hotel school. Since I already knew how to bake bread, I ended up cranking it out to feed people during our labs and sales rather than getting tips on, say, icing application. That's ok though, even poor icing skills taste good and satisfy my household! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIw6WItU7ZFuhEAOk40NU6T0BeHlD7QuSZP3g9bHA9RKdf3Gg5zcP0ac4mVin2eQZymPfIxT7NbWCODY87ko5Fqoa-nD2zeT3gLpm0Tt59Da1_dTKRqgaO1lNkXskUM8x79MtFD7UocScb7N_b-boNTnaqudOLaiq3u5sqVlVWXEuQBC_Sw/s3264/ED8D9723-35B5-4387-9BDD-6B10A88D56E2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIw6WItU7ZFuhEAOk40NU6T0BeHlD7QuSZP3g9bHA9RKdf3Gg5zcP0ac4mVin2eQZymPfIxT7NbWCODY87ko5Fqoa-nD2zeT3gLpm0Tt59Da1_dTKRqgaO1lNkXskUM8x79MtFD7UocScb7N_b-boNTnaqudOLaiq3u5sqVlVWXEuQBC_Sw/s320/ED8D9723-35B5-4387-9BDD-6B10A88D56E2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Work has been slower, despite the insistence that everyone is bouncing back now. It's kind of discouraging. Some of the markets I used to write for have stopped publishing or changed what they print. In one case, the publication's even been so disorganized or slow to respond that the short deadlines/low pay/weird responses have made it impossible to continue with them. </div><div>In any case, I still had wool to wash this spring, and surprise! I still know how...even if I wasn't able to write about it for publication. (This was the first of several loads for my household, no way I could do it one garment at a time...)</div><div>I'm still here... continuing to pitch publications, I write <a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/byline/joanne-seiff/" target="_blank"><b>my column</b></a> and my knitting designs are still out there on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>Ravelry</b></a>, <b><a href="https://payhip.com/JoanneSeiff" target="_blank">Payhip</a> </b>and <a href="https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/user/maker/8ba7c837-4393-4690-82fb-12e268998147?utm_medium=affiliate&a_aid=776deb3e" target="_blank"><b>Lovecrafts</b></a>. I post a bit more frequently on Instagram here: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yrnspinner/" target="_blank"><b>@yrnspinner</b></a>.</div><div>I'm also celebrating our glorious (and short) spring in Winnipeg.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWxeGD4JItERCZIa7dfsxJCJ-yN7GIxjqOxqKggcDY27MkTPi80AIYZIuVlgHBlfcaCAFqMB-J-kU4NVkbvaQxeNiykW4gYCEZPsHDYPc5128elCcTv4K9ZGY631rNwCdJupPSLf_SkbObe8chUue4oenigCvIC1-UneN0LU651yffaMP6A/s1440/267DC27B-1F6D-488F-A3AF-04136D4A1526.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DdT5D4DkYG92atOktotwGw-mVRZCdUysJsP69vzRGGUFC34kAwRrYDmLDcxiBQnUQx8cYMJQVKpmetsqEC76-lzDfQs9qfoMM16zj3Ua32XJyMD6CgOYU1XcnCEJurzMUM8PluT1BZhwGqo2DWthYT1fWEFai4_HRol0Vr3bxLJ7J5URGQ/s1440/5C837E59-CA9C-4130-B5C8-E459B3396377.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1440" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DdT5D4DkYG92atOktotwGw-mVRZCdUysJsP69vzRGGUFC34kAwRrYDmLDcxiBQnUQx8cYMJQVKpmetsqEC76-lzDfQs9qfoMM16zj3Ua32XJyMD6CgOYU1XcnCEJurzMUM8PluT1BZhwGqo2DWthYT1fWEFai4_HRol0Vr3bxLJ7J5URGQ/w200-h150/5C837E59-CA9C-4130-B5C8-E459B3396377.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWxeGD4JItERCZIa7dfsxJCJ-yN7GIxjqOxqKggcDY27MkTPi80AIYZIuVlgHBlfcaCAFqMB-J-kU4NVkbvaQxeNiykW4gYCEZPsHDYPc5128elCcTv4K9ZGY631rNwCdJupPSLf_SkbObe8chUue4oenigCvIC1-UneN0LU651yffaMP6A/s1440/267DC27B-1F6D-488F-A3AF-04136D4A1526.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div></div>Last but not least? I've had a very strange work email snafu...if you've reached out to me via email for work reasons since last October? I may not have your message! Last weekend, my account somehow disappeared messages from the last 7 months. No amount of customer service or 'restore' functions seem to be working. Please do reach out if you need anything! I'm still here, even after this new challenge.</div><div>It's been an important reminder, too. No matter how hard I'm trying, many things are out of my control. For instance, due to some infill construction near us, we have this large dead tree hanging over our power lines. It's not on our property, so legally, we can't do a thing about it, though of course, like losing work email in a strange blip, it's out of our control. We cannot fix this. So I'm trying hard to tilt my head, look at the blossoms in our yard, and hope for the best. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuENLxcbO5md2RCMZ158bA4p-0INb-jvERZ5KvATzCUZLjeHi92YCCuR7UJh4bk-rrSuzguVsCNJYWMeanyIw4cMR1VrCOXY2Trl8MyewjmFc-BrykjRrlOgpWVvdxTavn7Xlxn3hAnrqn7Ehwil1je_l6TD0Mpw-8C05wy-W1AovuzEt0g/s1440/C24C5AA9-6DAB-476B-9437-0D25FDD1B8B7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuENLxcbO5md2RCMZ158bA4p-0INb-jvERZ5KvATzCUZLjeHi92YCCuR7UJh4bk-rrSuzguVsCNJYWMeanyIw4cMR1VrCOXY2Trl8MyewjmFc-BrykjRrlOgpWVvdxTavn7Xlxn3hAnrqn7Ehwil1je_l6TD0Mpw-8C05wy-W1AovuzEt0g/s320/C24C5AA9-6DAB-476B-9437-0D25FDD1B8B7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-22174896922919630312022-04-21T15:12:00.001-05:002022-04-21T15:17:00.957-05:00Some Wednesdays are Thursday, instead<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMsGJ6Q9E1KzEYAl5Ekk12zRnD87_gmSqZAKkQxd7o7OY-Vh8x_QihUNZ-jCJYUZZ5JJP3-7axa5Ihs0irkqRjG4gJTD6PKYvOAzzf9EhYoJCPltZY6Q10UcD5uZJGxwOiUKINAaIO1PuH9rBLpYah3ZrqJmYm6IdStQqPyS0uaRJJUjXvQ/s3059/0CE7F47A-3E8E-4C00-BCBA-5F55DE855693.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3059" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMsGJ6Q9E1KzEYAl5Ekk12zRnD87_gmSqZAKkQxd7o7OY-Vh8x_QihUNZ-jCJYUZZ5JJP3-7axa5Ihs0irkqRjG4gJTD6PKYvOAzzf9EhYoJCPltZY6Q10UcD5uZJGxwOiUKINAaIO1PuH9rBLpYah3ZrqJmYm6IdStQqPyS0uaRJJUjXvQ/s320/0CE7F47A-3E8E-4C00-BCBA-5F55DE855693.jpeg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6-Nr_xPRi57DosAoPpDY73SIV0lQ65zC8dCqspcyATTIhcq8iPEOJYWNolP275WedBjRStYyXat8Budynybzr0Eoh4D4hoMkwvtpilkj6rzEaPJiAwigHFmsCLh3hch4wQYL_DnekTvikVcbdEoCovACWO5yzI3J-P6SH-rKl60VcvqJQ/s2048/30248E6F-3259-47B9-9F41-74B8D61535EE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6-Nr_xPRi57DosAoPpDY73SIV0lQ65zC8dCqspcyATTIhcq8iPEOJYWNolP275WedBjRStYyXat8Budynybzr0Eoh4D4hoMkwvtpilkj6rzEaPJiAwigHFmsCLh3hch4wQYL_DnekTvikVcbdEoCovACWO5yzI3J-P6SH-rKl60VcvqJQ/s320/30248E6F-3259-47B9-9F41-74B8D61535EE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I spent hours this week with this office view, looking at a work in progress but not having time to write up the pattern. Instead? A wonderful (unexpected) but brief analysis/editing job about breastfeeding and healthcare. I also spent many hours on a job on a tight deadline that I pushed myself on--and then, that fell through. I planned to work on this sweater design and shoot a photo but then my iPad broke! (It fell, a kid accident, unfortunate, no one's fault...) Two trips to the fix-it shop later, the broken charger port is fixed and camera restored. WHEW! Mistakes happen.<p></p><p>The work I did this week just covered the repair cost. (Yup, that's what writing/editing pay is like these days)</p><p>Kids will get off the bus soon, there's no school tomorrow. We've got another "special" snow/rain weather event on its way. Sometimes "work in progress Wednesday" happens on Thursday. That's life. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-62259888759702522102022-02-24T14:16:00.003-06:002022-02-24T14:20:00.510-06:00Housekeeping and hibernation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgku6l7oMwmzMiHD95OmH20liv_ypPk8ZfCh2eBFiJbQl4-VB-PENZDxTrNW229Ny6c9kT5AmLj-VePVkHABUZ0BeuQPKpV-DHG-bEUlNYSMjz6cNY4GYAB6kbdQZqg3hBmso2_kYt4FL5wNLl4HKW8QL0mgKGOzQjnQgIGIpLGW-_CVkJUYA=s320" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgku6l7oMwmzMiHD95OmH20liv_ypPk8ZfCh2eBFiJbQl4-VB-PENZDxTrNW229Ny6c9kT5AmLj-VePVkHABUZ0BeuQPKpV-DHG-bEUlNYSMjz6cNY4GYAB6kbdQZqg3hBmso2_kYt4FL5wNLl4HKW8QL0mgKGOzQjnQgIGIpLGW-_CVkJUYA=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>It seems a little like we've been in an endless loop of very cold days (Think: -30C/-25F, for many days in a row) and then there is a little warm up and a big snowfall. It's great for the drought Manitoba has had, but it's also been somewhat hard to get through. I find it hard to exercise when the air is so cold and the sidewalks aren't plowed...and both have been a recurring theme this year.<div><br /></div><div>Some of my hibernation time has been spent on housekeeping. I realized that some of my older knitting patterns, available for download on Lovecrafts.com, Ravelry and Payhip...were still priced at US$4. Alas, prices for everything in life have gone up. So, I spent some time raising those to an even $5. While the price increase seems small, it may mean the difference between buying a fancy coffee...or not. When I get back to going out and buying those coffees? Yes, I think my work is worth that. So, you can find the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/molly-baby-socks" target="_blank"><b>Molly Baby Socks</b></a>, the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ill-pack-a-hat" target="_blank"><b>I'll Pack a Hat</b></a> (links to Ravelry) and others still around for sale on <a href="https://payhip.com/joanneseiff" target="_blank"><b>Payhip</b></a> and <a href="https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/user/maker/8ba7c837-4393-4690-82fb-12e268998147" target="_blank"><b>Lovecrafts</b></a> if you want a quick knit this winter.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiolbPa5H93gbcGGAAZVx5LVZIfetb8gJQqiZFpUer-oi35qpA_rnZ6Xa_O8mRld80OCtcGp0zGNh2tsX1H5_qm-9-nkSdMvjSoNYfGi5nugCcenpV3rCaPjTeLY3zS-RF1AyHkEIe7BFJyRkkAKUpOg4tIEQSPKlAzZY_STXsIhzYRfYDi6g=s2522" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2522" data-original-width="2164" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiolbPa5H93gbcGGAAZVx5LVZIfetb8gJQqiZFpUer-oi35qpA_rnZ6Xa_O8mRld80OCtcGp0zGNh2tsX1H5_qm-9-nkSdMvjSoNYfGi5nugCcenpV3rCaPjTeLY3zS-RF1AyHkEIe7BFJyRkkAKUpOg4tIEQSPKlAzZY_STXsIhzYRfYDi6g=w172-h200" width="172" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The sunlight has been bright and cheering though, which is helpful. The light in my office has been sort of blinding. Here's a shot of me, wearing the <a href="https://payhip.com/b/BPb2O" target="_blank"><b>Lattice Embrace</b></a><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://payhip.com/b/BPb2O" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhSWZ4BD8RvxoLWez_Rqo9ruf8lChZuEXfChR-MjTu51BiZhHk0Ftf1ryGtTPEKCrwyX0Pv6u7bOoiK4OBuSAV-Hsq1sQLZzwahbLeKaDxaPLDZR8YFb5EJdcEi8dAiGSf3ZK_9Sf024k2bGSD7jmLuFsnTtFXnkbS7We8ZQ0L5FekKiSJkQ=s1200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhSWZ4BD8RvxoLWez_Rqo9ruf8lChZuEXfChR-MjTu51BiZhHk0Ftf1ryGtTPEKCrwyX0Pv6u7bOoiK4OBuSAV-Hsq1sQLZzwahbLeKaDxaPLDZR8YFb5EJdcEi8dAiGSf3ZK_9Sf024k2bGSD7jmLuFsnTtFXnkbS7We8ZQ0L5FekKiSJkQ=w160-h200" width="160" /></a></div></b> sweater as I leaned over my computer. I've been trying to get back into my work routine...delayed for weeks after a longer than usual school winter break, but I have fewer gigs right now, too. (Thanks Pandemic) If you've been looking to work with me for writing, editing or design...or even teaching a workshop - don't hesitate to let me know!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxYlArVPdlqzbiVNUVINReiJ9IWBUQUW4nniG6CMQVQZ117Sk9QjLGQvg0hDFyvVl9xV4f6HICGBGemceRKMJxd0YPB_VpR8vnP0UXw58DGQf09SavGn0mrH08pueRArGq1SzFO8sahZa2tLga9qsqr7lAR8H2QgXnIadFQ1gY0FxZ5EdyXQ=s3059" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3059" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxYlArVPdlqzbiVNUVINReiJ9IWBUQUW4nniG6CMQVQZ117Sk9QjLGQvg0hDFyvVl9xV4f6HICGBGemceRKMJxd0YPB_VpR8vnP0UXw58DGQf09SavGn0mrH08pueRArGq1SzFO8sahZa2tLga9qsqr7lAR8H2QgXnIadFQ1gY0FxZ5EdyXQ=w160-h200" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3IFtZec8j8dXKaJ0L6CFLfVpiWre9k0kNuHl72u0bN0jGMJixM1WAHn1H2_MK_aEMnLkxJG5aduLal8dRbuNcUZ6nfczQ_kcC-EGYLZf1S8_UBb9UzhJFu1Uhi1_EpSNoXPQIILIAVrkZjKp05TGUjh2LC_pO-E_o3dyRYouU9rvg-enVcw=s640" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3IFtZec8j8dXKaJ0L6CFLfVpiWre9k0kNuHl72u0bN0jGMJixM1WAHn1H2_MK_aEMnLkxJG5aduLal8dRbuNcUZ6nfczQ_kcC-EGYLZf1S8_UBb9UzhJFu1Uhi1_EpSNoXPQIILIAVrkZjKp05TGUjh2LC_pO-E_o3dyRYouU9rvg-enVcw=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></div>I've been doing some spinning (this is Clun Forest wool on the left and Polwarth on the right, waiting for its bath to set the twist...) and taking time to be with my family. At these very cold temperatures, we're not doing a lot of playing outdoors, so we've come up with some fun new projects inside.<br /><br />There's been a lot of playing with stuffies and legos and playmobil, listening to audio books, and dreaming of warmer weather and picnics to come. We've also had the opportunity to buy a Spinolution wheel--the Echo-- second hand, and it's just the right size for a kid to learn to spin on a wheel. I've been doing some lowkey coaching, he already knows how to spin on a spindle, but the hands and feet coordination takes time to learn. It reminded me of how much I loved to teach beginners, pre-pandemic! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUhNEOjJOr4kpEW8qWgIVQWLG-08RS5FLTYVOmwCkuDdYbprKqoXZS92S4qSDV5pxGBIcWsgk678vb__RiRt2ena8Zd_E7aXbGxUctNi02vJDoepsQxYCfkZ40dZCkJvF415aPHpcWihor64X4ahCRH2dU3v8dmtZclVxQY4bMn_78SUUCmA=s1440" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1440" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUhNEOjJOr4kpEW8qWgIVQWLG-08RS5FLTYVOmwCkuDdYbprKqoXZS92S4qSDV5pxGBIcWsgk678vb__RiRt2ena8Zd_E7aXbGxUctNi02vJDoepsQxYCfkZ40dZCkJvF415aPHpcWihor64X4ahCRH2dU3v8dmtZclVxQY4bMn_78SUUCmA=w200-h151" width="200" /></a></div>This is most of the February news from here. Sending you this bit of peaceful domesticity...I can't lie. I've thought a lot about what peaceful protest looks like-not what we've seen (or the honking heard) in Canada of late- and worrying about the safety of Ukrainians and their democracy. There is not a lot I can do from here...but we continue to celebrate science, try to take care of each other, and continue making and doing until things finally warm up. We're staying hopeful and looking forward to spring, summer, and those hot weather days outdoors. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTbxr2kld4uPkw5CGchTihYvgsLADRKRI9psASLWE3xn11eWn_5DbL4pBauF0P8UTOMnY87pOw1YAI7tH2OJIIs-Wt2LSoAwduF7C1w6CaY88yVW470b1HtVz1z9v3-CVunipQWZl049q4jkMXg3a1hd9rzVsO_jcxIKCe7kvhrMt7f2s_Xw=s1799" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTbxr2kld4uPkw5CGchTihYvgsLADRKRI9psASLWE3xn11eWn_5DbL4pBauF0P8UTOMnY87pOw1YAI7tH2OJIIs-Wt2LSoAwduF7C1w6CaY88yVW470b1HtVz1z9v3-CVunipQWZl049q4jkMXg3a1hd9rzVsO_jcxIKCe7kvhrMt7f2s_Xw=w160-h200" width="160" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQEXOiud7A4xdU7q5o23UWCEMUjbFTE1WlNiU7bBGdl7xXOzucyU7rTObpjvq9O4lO3W0LB5pFfn8FTMUejwzahs1EWU5cKVvDcT7tBKEmlkLNn5EAnZ5VwUaD49ARfmxINDQJGhz6Bv0GmBQA3oc4hP-Lh4wiU2dz9rmLmWcOiDDy3V8VKw=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQEXOiud7A4xdU7q5o23UWCEMUjbFTE1WlNiU7bBGdl7xXOzucyU7rTObpjvq9O4lO3W0LB5pFfn8FTMUejwzahs1EWU5cKVvDcT7tBKEmlkLNn5EAnZ5VwUaD49ARfmxINDQJGhz6Bv0GmBQA3oc4hP-Lh4wiU2dz9rmLmWcOiDDy3V8VKw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-58943874305450075932021-12-30T10:58:00.003-06:002021-12-30T10:58:27.576-06:00End of year summary…<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our end of year has alternated between shoveling huge amounts of snow and resting and playing a lot indoors. There's a big COVID surge in Manitoba so we're doing a lot of hibernating and no one seems to mind. I am thrilled by the snowfall as we are in a drought and every bit of moisture matters. Still it requires a lot of work to shovel out several houses and that's most of what we've been doing these days. (It was maybe 10" or 25 cm of snow or maybe 12"/30 cm, and we helped out some 80 year old family friends, too.) Needless to say, we all like a rest afterwards, as you can see from Sadie the dog's photo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp6rhNGRFC9RlE_hSXJLNsZPHeliENLVFWbR42PCu7IpjQiV0mwsWAHATbbcTAqchoa6dVlGyN8RMws1ZsXFSeEVq6HkJcM2265ypb7LzCOrEfU57jRiFXEkVInqZVT2jeKftpuTqioS4JiQ2oCu4Ne-tHlQ8s92mzWdslApJHxQKY9Wp7EA=s3059" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3059" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp6rhNGRFC9RlE_hSXJLNsZPHeliENLVFWbR42PCu7IpjQiV0mwsWAHATbbcTAqchoa6dVlGyN8RMws1ZsXFSeEVq6HkJcM2265ypb7LzCOrEfU57jRiFXEkVInqZVT2jeKftpuTqioS4JiQ2oCu4Ne-tHlQ8s92mzWdslApJHxQKY9Wp7EA=w160-h200" width="160" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMsPOyW3FBp8AZzcxsaFURG9wEq-Q-Nn79wOWRfIAz7qa9DgNw_zhL9dyemujGq-iC1ooYi8RTMoIityC7giJXyy7s2jjOo-33t7sfDTBGrvn0iB6IDApcgvNsbaxZw7twRxX1hrNiBWL73fAHhJGXfvkXniTLxbA2eI1g4N9M9K8T96Rf3w=s3264" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMsPOyW3FBp8AZzcxsaFURG9wEq-Q-Nn79wOWRfIAz7qa9DgNw_zhL9dyemujGq-iC1ooYi8RTMoIityC7giJXyy7s2jjOo-33t7sfDTBGrvn0iB6IDApcgvNsbaxZw7twRxX1hrNiBWL73fAHhJGXfvkXniTLxbA2eI1g4N9M9K8T96Rf3w=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div>We seem to also take part in a lot of toy sorting and match box car demolition derby.<br /><br />I've also been doing some occasional making, spinning, knitting and sewing. I've just washed all these skeins of handspun and tucked them away for the future.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh32-BzJCF-K0EmFhbCQr29wQ-WmyFrTaE2F40ghFxWTH4eg2W923AGMggmvUb8KZrpvPSZWdbddmYhhFbHE1EKwnPq7EDoIUBDWHLWOGIPMsYjk_RIRrzUkpSLAsljyerotjqGa78C6gpt6PgeC0nB76MCZQ9nouDhV-4klVu1VzGsJNE9qQ=s3264" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh32-BzJCF-K0EmFhbCQr29wQ-WmyFrTaE2F40ghFxWTH4eg2W923AGMggmvUb8KZrpvPSZWdbddmYhhFbHE1EKwnPq7EDoIUBDWHLWOGIPMsYjk_RIRrzUkpSLAsljyerotjqGa78C6gpt6PgeC0nB76MCZQ9nouDhV-4klVu1VzGsJNE9qQ=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div>I got an email from Yarncanada asking me to let people know about a charity knitting project giveaway. <a href="https://www.yarncanada.ca/for-good" target="_blank"><b></b></a><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqhggHbiyMdEYD8w0UaI4-4jbESHYu6El9LMtnx6HKy8duqtdqi_NUB86yzafDxNqUbcmrq_nTpWN2wPeSlO6uFJsEkXKVoEuA5fc3W8G0IRKCMWIFq_-st7krvc8sroB4zLbAz8OVvgaN4NlKnwjmL176LNj-befF-Pr81ZmeS7LTF7AUNg=s2000" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqhggHbiyMdEYD8w0UaI4-4jbESHYu6El9LMtnx6HKy8duqtdqi_NUB86yzafDxNqUbcmrq_nTpWN2wPeSlO6uFJsEkXKVoEuA5fc3W8G0IRKCMWIFq_-st7krvc8sroB4zLbAz8OVvgaN4NlKnwjmL176LNj-befF-Pr81ZmeS7LTF7AUNg=s320" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.yarncanada.ca/for-good" target="_blank"></a></div><a href="https://www.yarncanada.ca/for-good" target="_blank">Here's an opportunity to get yarn for free to make things for charity. Please apply soon if you're interested!</a></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I'm continuing efforts to improve my "me made wardrobe." This is a wool tweed tunic, based on the 100 acts of sewing dress no. 1. It's a great warm layer with pockets, which is always good. I got this fabric for $4 as part of the MB fibre festival fibre trail and Costume Museum's sale in September. It's an amazing tweed, it looks very serious at a distance but up close, is full of bits of very bright colour. Hot pink, neon yellow and green, electric blue. Very cheerful, and of course, only very special people are allowed "up close" these days. (Basically, the professor, twins, and a dog!) <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgNJKVStq1V0aZbDC4M8KbwZR_wdegKm4XzdH1h_5oQ_bbjPeXtJ_BWS5YDWcMCymEIWTEFF9ZJ0c1lCXlA3Qh0oVrELs914fKSYX5QzOEg0WBs0tCJw0H1pqPNOy3YADU0TSOw_bkCC5QVdgT4G_oQYy68aubIcnsAifQEi0KRRdqRnGQAw=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgNJKVStq1V0aZbDC4M8KbwZR_wdegKm4XzdH1h_5oQ_bbjPeXtJ_BWS5YDWcMCymEIWTEFF9ZJ0c1lCXlA3Qh0oVrELs914fKSYX5QzOEg0WBs0tCJw0H1pqPNOy3YADU0TSOw_bkCC5QVdgT4G_oQYy68aubIcnsAifQEi0KRRdqRnGQAw=s320" width="240" /></a></div>I'm continuing to spin up some well-aged brown Polwarth wool on my Quebec wheel, and I'm also working on a simple sewing project...but a sweet housewarming project. Six napkins in a linen/cotton fabric - the gorgeous pattern matches the new owners' future dining room to a tee. I could not resist the fabric when I saw it, and I'm rooting for things to go smoothly so that these napkins end up in use on a dining room table soon.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_N_A_R0vAkbZ1mRw4k1hkvxsshxV-mNGv0QLQtf3yAGFr-AoZDP-m3FNeyg6ZMBWP5h4Jc44iYpKcBkf8Xig17NDJ2ZobCHDY2yMnauAgH7oE0OwItYpDVsjzNgceY2h_REhi0yWFuVnv5mYboiRsLwrAjn8EHhs97kBJA50515UGnsQ91g=s3059" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3059" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_N_A_R0vAkbZ1mRw4k1hkvxsshxV-mNGv0QLQtf3yAGFr-AoZDP-m3FNeyg6ZMBWP5h4Jc44iYpKcBkf8Xig17NDJ2ZobCHDY2yMnauAgH7oE0OwItYpDVsjzNgceY2h_REhi0yWFuVnv5mYboiRsLwrAjn8EHhs97kBJA50515UGnsQ91g=w160-h200" width="160" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I've also been working (as I can) behind the scenes. I've had op-ed articles run in the Winnipeg Free Press and the Vancouver Independent. Another article ran in PLY magazine, and I'm still very proud of that Winter 21/22 Vogue Knitting article that ran on moths and how to avoid them. It's not been world's best year in terms of my freelance life, but considering how complicated the pandemic has been, remote schooling, not seeing family, and construction disruptions to our home life, well, I'll take what I can get. In just a few moments, I'll be bundling up twins. It's -14F (-26C) right now, and that's the warmest it's been all day! I'm looking forward to getting out in it so we can walk over to a medical clinic to go get their second vaccine dose, and I couldn't be happier or more relieved to have access to this opportunity. Thank you, science.</div><div>Wishing you a peaceful, healthy, and happy 2022. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1sEh34doawesiv87H_GxCPIvPFCae62yaVsC0iXIGrZVb9JEH31f1A3uDM2IXWIxYIVklX705CbXBTAsJZ_C72oEr2DcnS27tdgiY6bcat7qGw-2owMu7CKyT5wZY6FjMD43nHDMA2nb5v1Z2kOokAjxAikYXgebQULRtO7EMX9e-lVzJwA=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1sEh34doawesiv87H_GxCPIvPFCae62yaVsC0iXIGrZVb9JEH31f1A3uDM2IXWIxYIVklX705CbXBTAsJZ_C72oEr2DcnS27tdgiY6bcat7qGw-2owMu7CKyT5wZY6FjMD43nHDMA2nb5v1Z2kOokAjxAikYXgebQULRtO7EMX9e-lVzJwA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-60139115005436305322021-11-30T19:05:00.005-06:002021-11-30T19:07:47.034-06:00Sale!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-259vVJrcT3U/YabILzoiIEI/AAAAAAAAGUg/bE7IJTcD_pcHBTv2VLjx_sWCRJ2HAdVpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/EA3EEC71-1F44-4EBC-A7BC-921A32866B63.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-259vVJrcT3U/YabILzoiIEI/AAAAAAAAGUg/bE7IJTcD_pcHBTv2VLjx_sWCRJ2HAdVpACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/EA3EEC71-1F44-4EBC-A7BC-921A32866B63.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Big sale! All my patterns on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" target="_blank"> <b>Ravelry</b></a> and on <b><a href="https://payhip.com/JoanneSeiff" target="_blank">Payhip</a> </b>are on sale!<p></p><div>The sale starts today, November 30th, at 9pm ET and ends at midnight ET on December 6th. Use this coupon code to get 25% off!</div><div><b>FO2021</b></div><div><b>Also, </b>please feel free to join in with the Fasten Off YAL to chat on discord, earn prizes, and more! This is an accessible event, which is why you can gain access to the <a href="https://www.wipinsanity.com/fastenoffyal/joanne-seiff" target="_blank">whole sale and event</a> without using Ravelry, it offers lots of accessible patterns and web options, too.</div><div>Enjoy! (And I would be so grateful if you wanted to check out my designs, we just replaced our boiler cause uhh, the old one died, we needed heat and winter is here! Every download counts!)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-78051053145388965682021-11-23T21:51:00.002-06:002021-11-23T21:51:22.054-06:00Lattice Embrace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ozRYP6CY-tE/YZ2vg8phi5I/AAAAAAAAGTw/ipKB3EhAYckLi0-qdy2aGDW165R5nou4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/917587BE-524F-4F6D-A9D4-CE78BBC6C193.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rylD81WBXKI/YZ2vh1IlviI/AAAAAAAAGT4/rlYyyrjdt2kJmckrz4rde_jRbOJ4IQ43ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/B9AB0CF1-AFEE-4A2F-9A1D-4549AA373C02.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rylD81WBXKI/YZ2vh1IlviI/AAAAAAAAGT4/rlYyyrjdt2kJmckrz4rde_jRbOJ4IQ43ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/B9AB0CF1-AFEE-4A2F-9A1D-4549AA373C02.webp" width="240" /></a></div></div><p>I'm excited to report -- I'm finally getting back to publishing knitting designs. Or maybe, to be clear, two designs. The first has been launched today and is an asymmetrical cardigan called “Lattice Embrace.” It's a bulky, easy knit, and yes, it's a way for me to send 'a hug' to knitters! That's how this sweater feels to me. I knit it and took notes while remote schooling twins last year, and now that they are back in school in person, I've been able to focus on writing it up.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoS0E-3wKBM/YZ2vg5IdxTI/AAAAAAAAGT0/JjORzplE9IQ2LM4Tlk-mQWSe8aYp6_niQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/3CFA487C-2729-47DA-AB37-178737F13FE3.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoS0E-3wKBM/YZ2vg5IdxTI/AAAAAAAAGT0/JjORzplE9IQ2LM4Tlk-mQWSe8aYp6_niQCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/3CFA487C-2729-47DA-AB37-178737F13FE3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>This design’s now available for download on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lattice-embrace" target="_blank"><b>Ravelry</b></a>, <a href="https://payhip.com/b/BPb2O" target="_blank"><b>Payhip</b></a> and <a href="https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/lattice-embrace-knitting-pattern-by-joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>Lovecrafts.com</b></a>. <div><br /></div><div>Note: If you’re looking for a Low Vision Accessible version of the pattern, that's available on Payhip and Ravelry.<p></p><p>Just making this leap back into focused work has been exciting. I found I lost concentration when it came to helping 4th graders and couldn't do the math needed to grade sizes while juggling everything during the pandemic. This sweater includes sizing from 36-64” and that is a lot of spreadsheet work! I'm looking forward to seeing how this design makes its way into the world. I love seeing knitters’ work and interpretations of these designs.</p><p>I'll also be participating again in the <a href="http://www.wipinsanity.com/indy-event/script.cgi?TYPE=page&VALUE=home" target="_blank"><b>Fasten Off Yarn-Along</b></a> this year. This event starts at the end of November and includes a hefty discount for the first week for those buying patterns. I will pass along the secret code closer to the time. </p><p>If you happen to worry about wool moths, my article on that appears in <a href="https://www.vogueknitting.com/" target="_blank"><b>the Winter 21/22 issue of Vogue Knitting! </b></a>(I was pretty stoked to be included in an issue with such a famous knitter on the cover.) I also continue to write a column <a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/byline/joanne-seiff/" target="_blank">here for the <b>Vancouver Jewish Independent</b></a><b> </b>as well…but it’s not always on knitting or fibre arts topics… That’s most of the news for now! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ozRYP6CY-tE/YZ2vg8phi5I/AAAAAAAAGTw/ipKB3EhAYckLi0-qdy2aGDW165R5nou4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/917587BE-524F-4F6D-A9D4-CE78BBC6C193.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ozRYP6CY-tE/YZ2vg8phi5I/AAAAAAAAGTw/ipKB3EhAYckLi0-qdy2aGDW165R5nou4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/917587BE-524F-4F6D-A9D4-CE78BBC6C193.jpeg" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5KEwLFoQN4s/YZ2viTxkbvI/AAAAAAAAGT8/yDbXsQqX91cPRXP9QykiK_VJGSrfEUtTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/E9C9E8C2-2950-41A5-BFEB-FEAD2EFB5CBA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5KEwLFoQN4s/YZ2viTxkbvI/AAAAAAAAGT8/yDbXsQqX91cPRXP9QykiK_VJGSrfEUtTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/E9C9E8C2-2950-41A5-BFEB-FEAD2EFB5CBA.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-6160866088209884612021-11-04T10:25:00.001-05:002021-11-04T10:25:31.564-05:00Transitions<p> Note, I am posting from a different device, format may be wonky!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7swSFFTgxcM/YYKZl9hGttI/AAAAAAAAGTM/BD16UwFiw7kNudiFtC3I5s7zZxC6zLCWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/EE92ED46-8A76-4B18-AE86-39541CC7CB5F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7swSFFTgxcM/YYKZl9hGttI/AAAAAAAAGTM/BD16UwFiw7kNudiFtC3I5s7zZxC6zLCWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/EE92ED46-8A76-4B18-AE86-39541CC7CB5F.jpeg" width="240" /></a>What’s happening here? We had a longer warm period than usual, but alas, all good things come to an end. We harvested our last herbs and greens, and the frost came. All of us got used to life spent indoors, although we are still outside a lot. Temperatures below freezing do not keep us home bound! Sadie the dog is here, on the steps, asking about her walk.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8U-YEPzPiA4/YYKZmI2VDhI/AAAAAAAAGTU/ZscNhtZVqgojU146zOGP_NdtZkE-gw0qQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E4DA4B42-0393-450A-8A36-5273F75826D3.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8U-YEPzPiA4/YYKZmI2VDhI/AAAAAAAAGTU/ZscNhtZVqgojU146zOGP_NdtZkE-gw0qQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/E4DA4B42-0393-450A-8A36-5273F75826D3.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>I continue to spin through deep stash. This is some Polwarth that came originally from Australia, but I bought it in a fiber arts business retirement sale. It is well aged! That said, it is spinning up beautifully on my Quebec wheel.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Y3G47qOJQg/YYKZmA22BMI/AAAAAAAAGTQ/PSfB5mvdTBoG6wfaINpAlQw4T1_8--0UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D38547DA-FE5E-4193-A9FA-6B5C1FB5297E.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Y3G47qOJQg/YYKZmA22BMI/AAAAAAAAGTQ/PSfB5mvdTBoG6wfaINpAlQw4T1_8--0UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D38547DA-FE5E-4193-A9FA-6B5C1FB5297E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kU9Raa4Z0tY/YYKZjB_-BmI/AAAAAAAAGTI/cpoHpHInbZMpSLN9AIlK5ugCBBAnDZZPACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/88BEAF18-0BAD-484F-9A91-3FBAB772FD65.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kU9Raa4Z0tY/YYKZjB_-BmI/AAAAAAAAGTI/cpoHpHInbZMpSLN9AIlK5ugCBBAnDZZPACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/88BEAF18-0BAD-484F-9A91-3FBAB772FD65.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Every fall, a kid or two gets a sweater. This year, I made another one out of Icelandic plotulopi (unspun.). It is light and warm, if not the hardest wearing. We were aiming for colour blocking here, but then my kid asked if I could knit the original early 20th century tile pattern from our bathroom into his sweater. Of course! I sent him into the bathroom with his iPad and then I knit it from the photo. I did imagine doing those rows in the bathroom, just to see the tile in person, but thought better of it!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVcumrVaBns/YYKZiYDVP3I/AAAAAAAAGTE/mdphekot4uoUyte4BknWXSbYBGg_AJ_XACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6F25CE49-F432-4408-BFD4-F114035AE81A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVcumrVaBns/YYKZiYDVP3I/AAAAAAAAGTE/mdphekot4uoUyte4BknWXSbYBGg_AJ_XACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6F25CE49-F432-4408-BFD4-F114035AE81A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>To keep cheerful clothing around, I also made myself another jumper using the 100 acts of sewing pattern and Rifle Paper Company print. My biology professor husband (currently on strike at the U of Manitoba, but that is another story) suggests I am now dressing like a herbaceous border. I ignored him. I like it!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_ygGadNT3g/YYKZfwPvEBI/AAAAAAAAGS8/woqew7MDHB4Kt_oJGSlkUpAt18VItiLwwCLcBGAsYHQ/w160-h200/1A4CBC1E-8173-4063-AB3A-8B751760680B.jpeg" width="160" /></span></div>Last, but not least, our heroic boiler had finally died and we are in the process of getting a new one installed. So, for now, no central heat, and a lot of toys to tidy in the basement so the new one can be put in. I am excited about this, although it is an expensive home repair while my professor is on strike…because, well, in Canada, heat is life! We are doing ok with running two gas fireplaces, a little radiator space heater, and of course, I am wearing a lot of wool…<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VTIHLHqxAJU/YYKZiEKxQQI/AAAAAAAAGTA/1Y9A5edqpmcK0zNDD6xGyYUgPopVeycwACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0A6EA11D-C317-40A2-94B6-E2891E13F71C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VTIHLHqxAJU/YYKZiEKxQQI/AAAAAAAAGTA/1Y9A5edqpmcK0zNDD6xGyYUgPopVeycwACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/0A6EA11D-C317-40A2-94B6-E2891E13F71C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-70997608379749024562021-09-14T10:41:00.006-05:002021-09-14T10:43:51.423-05:00Still here<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSFBrWOzGZ4/YUC4jjYbYyI/AAAAAAAAGSA/ZTLHljDxA8o_QmWeOqmg6QIvxChnErBXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0CB258ED-74D3-4C21-9FD9-CE68FC77993D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSFBrWOzGZ4/YUC4jjYbYyI/AAAAAAAAGSA/ZTLHljDxA8o_QmWeOqmg6QIvxChnErBXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/0CB258ED-74D3-4C21-9FD9-CE68FC77993D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>I recently got an email asking me if someone could monetize my blog and post homesteading articles. Obviously time to get back to writing on the blog! (and --just no-- unless you consider twins and a dog on a city street homesteading? Huh?) <div>So where have I been? I've been supervising kids' summer time play while I spin and knit. This is destined to be a kid sweater made out of plotulopi yarn from Icelandic. Lightweight, warm, but a little delicate to knit. Ideal for sitting still and knitting, but not for carrying around too much, in my experience.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRfiIkY8b8A/YUC4cq4E-EI/AAAAAAAAGR4/r-1SceKCs9UVxnBYwI5c34M9bPWLQV6eQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/3B6EA036-2854-423A-9148-4810E408D5D8.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRfiIkY8b8A/YUC4cq4E-EI/AAAAAAAAGR4/r-1SceKCs9UVxnBYwI5c34M9bPWLQV6eQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/3B6EA036-2854-423A-9148-4810E408D5D8.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Kids went back to school this past week and I was tasked with making more exciting, new masks. Unicorn, horse, octopus, and soda pop patterns seem to be a hit...we have plenty of masks, of course, but these are the fancy new "back to school" ones. We're grateful for the mask mandate but since our kids aren't old enough yet to be vaccinated, a bit wary about how long this 'in-school' stuff will last. Delta variant is real. Making a masks is a good way to cope with the mom worry! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYTVJcAo6XE/YUC41wJq5LI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/CFSQY6xg_0A6LmbPpS9c80Q0N-Y1PNAfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/464F5411-6A6F-4D49-8A29-C17B566EAE4D.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYTVJcAo6XE/YUC41wJq5LI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/CFSQY6xg_0A6LmbPpS9c80Q0N-Y1PNAfQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/464F5411-6A6F-4D49-8A29-C17B566EAE4D.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>I've also been busy putting up food. Plum apple chutney, apple chips for school lunches, applesauce, and more. Having food on the shelf in the winter is great, but I don't think it makes me a homesteader? (Please, give me more land for gardening and some sheep, as well as access to take out food options...that would be a heck of a farm.)</div><div><br />I've also continued to work as I can. Part of the reason why there have been fewer blog posts is that I decided this past year to narrow my focus. It was very important but also a lot to manage, having my kids home to do remote schooling/home learning for 11 months.</div><div>I optimized my time...I kept writing a regular column for this <a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/byline/joanne-seiff/" target="_blank"><b>Vancouver paper</b></a>. I also have had occasional pieces run in other publications. All my knitting patterns (around 80!) are still available <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>on Ravelry</b></a>, <a href="https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/user/maker/8ba7c837-4393-4690-82fb-12e268998147?utm_medium=affiliate&a_aid=776deb3e" target="_blank"><b>Lovecrafts.com</b></a> and <a href="https://payhip.com/Joanneseiff" target="_blank"><b>Payhip.</b></a> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JFDKNuZEiFw/YUC42_0LhRI/AAAAAAAAGSU/IvNmdNeXSicOxxUNxCAbzazvzh7qNpQKACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/7784E9B6-EE25-4714-A2E9-080409BF3385.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JFDKNuZEiFw/YUC42_0LhRI/AAAAAAAAGSU/IvNmdNeXSicOxxUNxCAbzazvzh7qNpQKACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/7784E9B6-EE25-4714-A2E9-080409BF3385.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>However, I realized that if a gig wasn't paying much, or might take a lot of time or risk exposing kids to COVID? It just wasn't worth it. I'm considering my options now about what work will look like for me in the future. I miss the teaching I used to do, and the collegiality of editing for someone on a daily basis, too...but for now, I want to find ways to ensure I'm both available if kids need me and earning something for my writing, editing, designing and teaching. People talk about work being satisfying (and that's important to me!) but work is also valuable. My experience, skills and time should be worth something, too. </div><div>In the meanwhile, we'll be exploring outside while the weather holds and eating lots of delicious stuff as we cruise through the fall holidays. That's an apple cinnamon challah I made. It was a hit!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbkPqPCg86g/YUC4gfAF0dI/AAAAAAAAGR8/-evniXQQdLYsnY3p2JDdHY5UIilDg05rwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/03369745-2B6E-47A5-B0A9-756036162118.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbkPqPCg86g/YUC4gfAF0dI/AAAAAAAAGR8/-evniXQQdLYsnY3p2JDdHY5UIilDg05rwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/03369745-2B6E-47A5-B0A9-756036162118.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-20280271599567690002021-07-29T22:22:00.002-05:002021-07-29T22:23:43.265-05:00weaving-a new article!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kY4J8TQH_PQ/YQNvE-853WI/AAAAAAAAGRg/zhl4P6ir39oklshxCMgBz576GCGq2FkkACLcBGAsYHQ/s1665/Hank%2BSeiff%2Bweaving%2BDan%2BSeiff%2527s%2Btallit%2B-%2B1991%2B-%2Bimp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="1665" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kY4J8TQH_PQ/YQNvE-853WI/AAAAAAAAGRg/zhl4P6ir39oklshxCMgBz576GCGq2FkkACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Hank%2BSeiff%2Bweaving%2BDan%2BSeiff%2527s%2Btallit%2B-%2B1991%2B-%2Bimp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Exciting news! I've just had an article come out in <a href="https://digitsandthreads.idevaffiliate.com/105-2.html" target="_blank"><b>Digits & Threads</b></a> magazine on the tradition of weaving tallitot (Jewish prayer shawls) in Winnipeg. It was a tradition in my family in Virginia too...shown here is a photo of my dad, weaving my youngest brother's tallit for his bar mitzvah. Also-clear proof of my family's maker/DIY history: this black and white photo was likely developed in my dad's dark room, and the Winnie the Pooh play room curtains behind my father were sewn by my mom. In later years, (cough cough) I ...may...have cut up some of that Winnie the Pooh fabric to make myself a pair of shorts--Which I then wore out and about in junior high and high school. Yes, I have always had a quirky fashion sense, excluding my handwoven tallit, of course! <div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-32212217798613307852021-07-28T22:18:00.008-05:002021-07-28T22:44:19.307-05:00Recalibrating<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTupppcP7vs/YQIRZGBmZxI/AAAAAAAAGQc/Ia7kVyUgwE0ZbHlfT9W_aWPIZfzVjTtvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8A082DF1-B8A6-4D2F-B36D-E3F414BF6E1B.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTupppcP7vs/YQIRZGBmZxI/AAAAAAAAGQc/Ia7kVyUgwE0ZbHlfT9W_aWPIZfzVjTtvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/8A082DF1-B8A6-4D2F-B36D-E3F414BF6E1B.jpeg" width="150" /></a>I recently had an article run that explained more about where I've been. As the pandemic has been a constant, (nothing's back to "normal" for us yet) I've worked and written at night when I can, but there's been a lot of time spent on other things. Here is a link to the article: <b><a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/recalibrating-our-life-route/" target="_blank">Recalibrating our life route</a> </b></div>This summer is another freeform one, where twins spend a lot of time on creative play in the yard, reading, making stuff and even doing a little learning...with outings to pick berries, swim at a lake for a day trip, etc. I mostly have stayed home with Sadie the dog while the professor does the out of town offerings. I seem to be Mom in charge of playgrounds, farmer's market, wading pools, and long dog walks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePIAvsgWwdE/YQIRYTLjE8I/AAAAAAAAGQU/vX9YJdMwlcUhRF15sH2vWdtAVrMykiwQACLcBGAsYHQ/s1334/8286CE5E-814B-4D14-A641-99F2A172E3AB.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePIAvsgWwdE/YQIRYTLjE8I/AAAAAAAAGQU/vX9YJdMwlcUhRF15sH2vWdtAVrMykiwQACLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/8286CE5E-814B-4D14-A641-99F2A172E3AB.jpeg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R30miZZf4Lk/YQIRaY9aD6I/AAAAAAAAGQg/KpmzimwrtFAC6W3cGpxO65Mbe5LcJ44ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/9B2F9748-51A6-475A-8C0E-81E934270AB2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R30miZZf4Lk/YQIRaY9aD6I/AAAAAAAAGQg/KpmzimwrtFAC6W3cGpxO65Mbe5LcJ44ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/9B2F9748-51A6-475A-8C0E-81E934270AB2.jpeg" width="200" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">I've done some spinning, knitting, and lots of sewing....made my own version of MC Hammer pants...and even a brand new bag, with zippers... for taking care of business on those dog walks.</div></div>I've canned some jam (natural outcome after all that berry picking!) and, despite our hot summer, managed to make a pie recently after a kind neighbour gifted us with an entire quart bag of pitted sour cherries. She pitted them for us! This, of course, is neighbourliness and treasure beyond measure in our household...local fresh fruit and the gift of her time!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i5yq262rptI/YQIRY4LgOTI/AAAAAAAAGQY/u1B1Jo9h1c8ENbQ_uxnI8gMKP5-WFS8PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/45274EB1-F1D6-452E-9149-A8DADDBD2226.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i5yq262rptI/YQIRY4LgOTI/AAAAAAAAGQY/u1B1Jo9h1c8ENbQ_uxnI8gMKP5-WFS8PQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/45274EB1-F1D6-452E-9149-A8DADDBD2226.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>The tricky bit? We love many of our longtime neighbours but the infill and a recent construction in our area - also more generally targeted as part of Winnipeg's densification efforts- has caused our house's walls to be damaged. The noise and construction is hard to live through. We also live along a very busy road. The increased traffic that returns, post-pandemic, from the nearby restaurant patios and their drunk clientele, the high schoolers going out for lunch, increased bus traffic, etc. - it gets to be a lot of noise. <div><br /><div>Anyway, due to the disruptions near us and the third wave of the pandemic in Manitoba... (and likely, a fourth wave coming for those who aren't vaccinated...)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4hqeBmPrm4/YQIRbNkNFjI/AAAAAAAAGQs/QSZXn8sAagI3IJL_FvL-vMq3H-E41q9VACLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/EBB76F62-A75F-4067-8C5B-A66C9F962A03.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1440" height="157" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4hqeBmPrm4/YQIRbNkNFjI/AAAAAAAAGQs/QSZXn8sAagI3IJL_FvL-vMq3H-E41q9VACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h157/EBB76F62-A75F-4067-8C5B-A66C9F962A03.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RhRHu5eyzZ8/YQIRa6rGP_I/AAAAAAAAGQo/4YRNMuWwKlQVYSVTTCoOXsEWb5KY-_qagCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E443DBAD-32B3-4744-ADC8-C2357F9F4E0F.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RhRHu5eyzZ8/YQIRa6rGP_I/AAAAAAAAGQo/4YRNMuWwKlQVYSVTTCoOXsEWb5KY-_qagCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/E443DBAD-32B3-4744-ADC8-C2357F9F4E0F.jpeg" width="150" /></a>--this summer has been different than planned. Whew. Now, the professor has a grant due, our kids are too young to get vaccinated yet, and we still can't see any of our relatives across the border. (They're vaccinated, we're vaccinated, but the delta variant, the travelling, health issues, and kids too young to be vaccinated yet--make this too complicated at present.)</div><div>So, in the meanwhile, here are some lightweight organic crinkle cotton pants that I made! Here are some jars of jam!</div><div>Here's to the summer that got away from me. Now, like those GPS things in the car, we're recalibrating--and readjusting our summer route.<br /><p></p></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-41895922366874755992021-06-30T21:46:00.005-05:002021-06-30T22:11:46.192-05:00Knitting for kids-a new article<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuJXj2tVtaQ/YN0ouoB7T0I/AAAAAAAAGPU/j_D9LKSwjhgsWV8pNegHeKJ9E2dp3zeKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/%252311%2Bnew%2Bplotulopi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuJXj2tVtaQ/YN0ouoB7T0I/AAAAAAAAGPU/j_D9LKSwjhgsWV8pNegHeKJ9E2dp3zeKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/%252311%2Bnew%2Bplotulopi.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a long time since I've posted...but this is a good one, I hope (...whew, it's been a long few months.) Like most moms with kids in remote school, I had to cut back on -everything else- to manage our lives during the third wave here in Manitoba. Even so, I wrote at night, and when I thought everyone could manage...and today, one of those long awaited pieces came out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This article, <a href="https://digitsandthreads.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=105&url=9" target="_blank"><b>Why I Value Making Clothes for Kids</b></a>, is in the new online publication<b> <a href="https://digitsandthreads.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=105&url=10" target="_blank">Digits & Threads</a></b> is about why I knit for (my) kids and why, if we makers value 'me made" wardrobes and slow fashion, we should be offering that, when we can manage, to our kids, too. It has some fun photos of my favourite knitwear models, at different ages, and some thoughts on why everyone in our household values handknits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecE5FbS12gA/YN0ouRl3FOI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/JRRu0VE9Q4cbuxim4tozOlKprgu4xqwvACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1%2Bnew%2Bmitts%2Bage%2B3.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecE5FbS12gA/YN0ouRl3FOI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/JRRu0VE9Q4cbuxim4tozOlKprgu4xqwvACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1%2Bnew%2Bmitts%2Bage%2B3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(It seems ridiculous to be writing this as Winnipeg faces a heatwave, again, but...obviously, from October to May, we wear a lot of sweaters around here!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://digitsandthreads.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=105&url=10" target="_blank"><b>Digits & Threads</b></a> features Canadian textiles and fibre arts, and it's the only Canadian publication of its kind--well worth checking it out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that school's finally out, kids are spending a lot more time playing in the shade while I spin or read or knit, so that's a plus, too!--We adults have gotten vaccinated -hurray!-but nothing's available for kids under 12 yet, so we'll be doing lots of playing in the yard, on our own, a while longer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hz_qK8M-NsY/YN0oulJpdZI/AAAAAAAAGPY/MB75VC5qIFgSWzX42JLK67uclZHrkQU0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8%2BWoolly%2B%25232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hz_qK8M-NsY/YN0oulJpdZI/AAAAAAAAGPY/MB75VC5qIFgSWzX42JLK67uclZHrkQU0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8%2BWoolly%2B%25232.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-28729346213453057372021-04-11T21:50:00.012-05:002021-04-11T21:55:54.610-05:00Popping by<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hzYxbyVHd4/YHOrqtMi8zI/AAAAAAAAGMU/8CZ_thxbvo0n-Olj4U7-LgePVFOv29G1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0CC97A98-9273-469B-9D10-0E37E6FB7A38.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hzYxbyVHd4/YHOrqtMi8zI/AAAAAAAAGMU/8CZ_thxbvo0n-Olj4U7-LgePVFOv29G1wCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/0CC97A98-9273-469B-9D10-0E37E6FB7A38.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>This has been a long time between blog posts...it's not usual for me. Lots has been happening, but it's kind of overwhelming. Like, when the weather finally warmed up, and we had a radiator pipe burst in the basement. Like that. <div><br /></div><div>When each challenge has happened this year, we've worked as a family team and well, just kept our heads down and dealt with it. Often, it means I'm doing home school/remote school with kids and dog while closed up in the guest room while the masked professor deals with a procession of tradespeople. But, you know, now our pipes work, our heat works, our hot water works, our dishwasher has stopped leaking, and even the mice influx seems to have finally stopped ... lots has been fixed while we continue to stay home. </div><div> I hear some people take exotic hot weather vacations. (not us) However, it's a pandemic, and last I checked, there are still 250,000 people ahead of us to be vaccinated in our province... so we just spent that money fixing stuff. Thank you, careful, masked tradespeople! Did each bit of damage happen for a reason? because of construction nearby? Because of the extreme weather? Because that one little dishwasher valve wore out? Who knows.</div><div>In the work department, I've had some articles published, but it's not been frequent work. In one case, somehow the article's comments became like, well, a real tire fire. I've been told by my Canadian friends that in Manitoba, people say "dumpster fire" to mean the same thing. When I say the words 'TIE ER FIE ER" --my accent comes out, straight from Virginia, with hints of my time spent in North Carolina and Kentucky. It's slow just like when you're driving on the highway and see the huge plume of black stinky smoke. Everyone ahead of you slows down to rubberneck and you're stuck in this horrible endless traffic jam. People are all aghast at the fire, which will take forever to put out and how did it happen? And what kind of nasty pollution will it leave? While the thing burns on endlessly and stinks. It's so awful that it's hard to look away. (OK, now you can imagine how negative the comments were.)</div><div>So, I'm not linking to that article. No need for anyone to go read those comments. Hint: it ran on the CBC and in this personal essay, I implored people to hold on, the pandemic's not done with us yet. I say this despite really missing my family and being so tired of this, we'd been lucky so far. We were privileged, despite losing a family member in NYC last spring. The article ran at the end of March, and well, here we are now, starting the third wave. Just. Not. Over... yet here, folks. (Sometimes the true news is an opinion that hits home. That's what people really didn't want to hear...)</div><div>While all this is happening, I am actively making things. Sometimes, it's lots of food to get ready for holidays. (We had a great Passover and spring break, and having a Zoom seder works fine for us. It's also awesome not to have to go anywhere and pack soggy matzah sandwiches for lunch...)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XXjBPABB1ew/YHOrqz8A9uI/AAAAAAAAGMY/_EWqkteIHnwEqAkGJ1gX53Og8jwrXLXHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/6E9F15B3-8657-447F-BABF-0117B7345BA7.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1440" height="199" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XXjBPABB1ew/YHOrqz8A9uI/AAAAAAAAGMY/_EWqkteIHnwEqAkGJ1gX53Og8jwrXLXHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h199/6E9F15B3-8657-447F-BABF-0117B7345BA7.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdDan5lp_wA/YHOrq7uNYdI/AAAAAAAAGMc/q4-ueiBXnZIUUW-Bu-GqVEKzxy213X7-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6D927242-5B2D-4158-A31F-AA33401E746D.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdDan5lp_wA/YHOrq7uNYdI/AAAAAAAAGMc/q4-ueiBXnZIUUW-Bu-GqVEKzxy213X7-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/6D927242-5B2D-4158-A31F-AA33401E746D.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>I've also been sewing, knitting and spinning up a storm as I find it a tremendous way to relieve stress right now. I made a really large scarf out of beautiful red silk from Japan (a deadstock fabric remnant sent to me from Fabcycle in Vancouver) and a tiny bit of coordinating floral print. I am knitting a sweater...probably for me, maybe a new design, but I'm sort of winging it so we'll see how it comes out. <br /><br />I finished the big new wool bathmat from Churro and Hebridean wool. It's been a great addition to kid shower or bath time!<br /><br />--Also, I was recently told by one of my twins that there was no way he was going back to wearing store bought pajama bottoms as the flannel ones I made were so much more roomy and cozy. But oh, by the way, spring is coming and both twins grew. So, now I'm sewing a pile of lightweight pjs in cheerful colours. There has been some dispute over who gets which fabric. (pretty much all from stash or deadstock remnants) I've encouraged both kids to realize that since they share the same room, they can always get to see the pjs across the room, even if they aren't wearing them. This seemed to briefly mollify them!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KnDmBW5QeM/YHOrp3oNVoI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/5qJppR9j_hUBZdergEb_HDsfuRJcVL83QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/11E833D7-3944-46EB-A8B2-46EFFC0AC99B.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KnDmBW5QeM/YHOrp3oNVoI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/5qJppR9j_hUBZdergEb_HDsfuRJcVL83QCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/11E833D7-3944-46EB-A8B2-46EFFC0AC99B.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />I've also been spinning up some Dorset/Rideau (I think) wool. This fleece was handed to me as a gift. It's really soft and cozy. The first couple skeins were ones I processed myself from start to finish, but then I decided to have the rest of the fleece processed by my favourite local woollen mill. The roving came back clean and lovely to spin. </div><div> Alas, despite everyone's best efforts, this fleece still has a lot of field left in it. At each stage, there's lots of vegetable matter to remove. I'm likely to still be removing it as I knit. However, the wool is really something...I have spun it as a chunky two ply and it will possibly make a sweater for one kid or another for next winter (after dyeing it) as they are growing like weeds.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sj9VrCceF4/YHOrrfQwUwI/AAAAAAAAGMk/TERnkFllS-cbIiPMEJEtsoiileXk3mRrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/AEA49478-2518-4013-B5ED-D62EBB0026B8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sj9VrCceF4/YHOrrfQwUwI/AAAAAAAAGMk/TERnkFllS-cbIiPMEJEtsoiileXk3mRrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AEA49478-2518-4013-B5ED-D62EBB0026B8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>There's lots more to tell you, dear blog readers, but no more time in a day to fit it all in. For now, I'll leave you with one finished pair of pajama bottoms and our table, set for the first Seder. It was great having my parents 'sitting' at the end of the table with us. The table was really long. Thanks to Zoom, it started in Virginia, and ended in Winnipeg. </div><div>-And, because we live in Winnipeg, and it's mid-April, we're expecting another snow storm. Happy spring time!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6S5ViV6IkkU/YHOrrUbDvhI/AAAAAAAAGMg/ETg4ewRzrZo4NNnPdCKJMKkjKa5vdfJxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/897BB69C-249B-4CDF-A32C-BB536481ED64.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6S5ViV6IkkU/YHOrrUbDvhI/AAAAAAAAGMg/ETg4ewRzrZo4NNnPdCKJMKkjKa5vdfJxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/897BB69C-249B-4CDF-A32C-BB536481ED64.jpeg" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVb71QA_AjM/YHOrr5muOZI/AAAAAAAAGMo/HcvMLgWnOPYhAnGI0JVFeSBE3C0hRCZzACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D5F5F218-A7CF-4E9E-B572-581E1E6699A9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2037" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVb71QA_AjM/YHOrr5muOZI/AAAAAAAAGMo/HcvMLgWnOPYhAnGI0JVFeSBE3C0hRCZzACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D5F5F218-A7CF-4E9E-B572-581E1E6699A9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-79461609795185335882021-02-17T15:23:00.003-06:002021-02-17T15:26:20.830-06:00Scenes from February<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FmiVQuhb4k/YC1ye_Ox-GI/AAAAAAAAGLI/IqOgBhEYDSQe_oGMjSt677tFl-CnRai4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5D39B89A-5FA5-4805-9BE2-19E31700B7CD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FmiVQuhb4k/YC1ye_Ox-GI/AAAAAAAAGLI/IqOgBhEYDSQe_oGMjSt677tFl-CnRai4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/5D39B89A-5FA5-4805-9BE2-19E31700B7CD.jpeg" width="200" /></a>February has been full of highs and lows...much like this textured bathroom rug I'm knitting out of my handspun Hebridean and Churro yarns. On the good side, full of love and busy times at home. I had a couple articles run in the Vancouver Independent: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/tu-bshevat-when-its-30c/" target="_blank"><b>Tu B'Shevat when it's -30</b></a></div>and <b><a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/rejoice-or-slog-you-choose/" target="_blank">Rejoice or slog? You choose</a></b><div>and I've submitted some pieces for publication in the fiber arts world, which will hopefully appear in due course!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVSOzL7SSUs/YC1yd48_bSI/AAAAAAAAGLE/LENIcA8W5HwFuDfHmZiHTzghfnxwptRQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/9AA6BD01-39D5-4DF5-B3CD-4EBF390D5BF3.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVSOzL7SSUs/YC1yd48_bSI/AAAAAAAAGLE/LENIcA8W5HwFuDfHmZiHTzghfnxwptRQgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/9AA6BD01-39D5-4DF5-B3CD-4EBF390D5BF3.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We've worked hard to keep spirits up during some very cold weather. My lovely professor bought us flowers from the local florist--while they struggled with a flower shortage and some challenging weather. We had an extreme weather warning for two weeks or so, and every single day was -40 windchill or colder. No, kids don't go outside at those temperatures, and we adults and the dog only brave it when we must! It has finally "warmed up" in Winnipeg today to -16C (3F) with a windchill of -26C (-13F) and I just about threw the kids, husband and dog outside to get some exercise while they could. --Note: I did the first walk this AM, when windchill was -35C, so you know, I'm taking a pass on the second walk!!<br /><br />I'm continuing to work on a new design when I can fit it in. Some kind followers on instagram convinced me that my newest wrap looks a lot like 'wings' and a hug. I'm working on how to name it, as well as writing up the technical details at night when twins are asleep...but hopefully will finish it soon.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ePoMdnxSrI/YC1yfUVyjzI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/DifefKrAsS0rMe9VquLvDFVs3SF73jbkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/9BEE44D6-482C-4661-8BD0-4C5AC8EAF990.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ePoMdnxSrI/YC1yfUVyjzI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/DifefKrAsS0rMe9VquLvDFVs3SF73jbkQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/9BEE44D6-482C-4661-8BD0-4C5AC8EAF990.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y0vUrhYLcs/YC1ydvs4ixI/AAAAAAAAGLA/2EDS8xQUEJgrRRcYV4hiHQa92-vPhSn_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/842D7111-205B-445F-AC1C-1A314C7BCF37.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y0vUrhYLcs/YC1ydvs4ixI/AAAAAAAAGLA/2EDS8xQUEJgrRRcYV4hiHQa92-vPhSn_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w160-h200/842D7111-205B-445F-AC1C-1A314C7BCF37.jpeg" width="160" /></a>I also keep sewing, and while you cannot tell from this crumply looking photo, this dress is adapted from the 100 acts of sewing dress no2 pattern. It's a green herringbone wool, and it's cozy with a cardigan and wool tights. I definitely made some errors there in the sewing department, it's not perfect, but I'm continuing to make myself clothing, so I'm proud of that.</div>We've had a lot of drama lately with keeping the household running. The cold temperatures make for hard times when the car needs fixing, and our dishwasher line has been freezing pretty regularly. A regular service call for our boiler became a big repair, complete with a new hot water heater as well. It meant keeping two 9 nine year olds and a dog contained on the third floor for nearly an entire work day so the plumbers could work--and almost $2200 CAD in repairs. Ouch. However, we never went without heat and the water wasn't off for long, and during a streak of days when the temperature high was around -30C, well, being warm was most important. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Sezwi4odjM/YC1yfRCxI7I/AAAAAAAAGLM/aLUHEuCr1Kw83pHl3ikmxMfJU2LnlJQJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/A0284461-5EE0-4469-984E-40B6897030F8.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Sezwi4odjM/YC1yfRCxI7I/AAAAAAAAGLM/aLUHEuCr1Kw83pHl3ikmxMfJU2LnlJQJgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/A0284461-5EE0-4469-984E-40B6897030F8.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We're still remote schooling, too...lots of projects in play, including our own virtual week of Festival du Voyageur. (You know I can't pass up a good festival!)</div><div>What's not happening? Those who follow me because of my opinion columns may notice--none of these have been happening. Why? Well, I still try to write them, at night, on weekends--whenever I can fit it in. However, I haven't had any luck in placing them. Some editors never respond. Others write kind rejection notes--but nothing is selling.</div><div>What's new? I've written about a recent Winnipeg city council decision to support a multi-use development in my neighbourhood which will knock down three homes-- each one is a hundred years old-- to build an enormous new building over three lots. 68 people objected to this, and only 6 people supported it (developers, lawyer, investors, and real estate agents) --but Winnipeg is allowing it to go ahead. (Developers and their money apparently outvote the rest of us?) </div><div>One media outlet didn't acknowledge my submission at all. The other (local publication) said they couldn't run something like this, because then it would open the floodgates to anyone else who wanted to write about these 'specific disputes' and 'local skirmishes.'</div><div>Past pieces-written, but never sold: About the gendered power politics of mask wearing and making room on the sidewalks...and another, about how nobody likes to hear "I told you so"--even when certain pandemic related events are easily predicted by the scientists. </div><div>Yet, whenever I'm taking it all too seriously, I'm heartened by funny 'art' installations around the house. I'll leave you with our grassheads, named Bob and Squidward Squeeesh (formerly known as Qushy Gushy.) Here's hoping for warmer times ahead.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBVtjFJSyks/YC1yf4wGEjI/AAAAAAAAGLU/OeDcgyo22Jc89XFiKPox97-LwtwH-OXMACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/F77C17B4-E4EA-4D96-AAB1-C3606098EDA2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBVtjFJSyks/YC1yf4wGEjI/AAAAAAAAGLU/OeDcgyo22Jc89XFiKPox97-LwtwH-OXMACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F77C17B4-E4EA-4D96-AAB1-C3606098EDA2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-63158715475728382452021-01-23T22:01:00.001-06:002021-01-23T22:01:37.753-06:00Esme McStrippit and other news<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnLYybYfhTY/YAzr6S3gm7I/AAAAAAAAGKQ/-49TfSdK844yWANkyafloFWz1R7-0EOwACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0B1055B5-DCFC-404B-A0E5-0D2289745C63.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnLYybYfhTY/YAzr6S3gm7I/AAAAAAAAGKQ/-49TfSdK844yWANkyafloFWz1R7-0EOwACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/0B1055B5-DCFC-404B-A0E5-0D2289745C63.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>We've been busy indoors this winter. First off, kids have been growing so I knit a new kid sweater. He then posed, with great joy, and I had to pass it along to everyone else to enjoy. He's sporting a one-of-a-kind handknit by Mommy striped sweater made of plotulopi (Icelandic, unspun yarn) and seems delighted by it. This twin is particular about his sweaters so I'm relieved that this seems to have been a home run!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xf2pxJs6L0k/YAzr6V2zfsI/AAAAAAAAGKM/-wioT_hPJGgIM-NK-OvBtVPz2FRWDj9nwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/8125E228-4F40-4311-980C-80A9DC8B8E28.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xf2pxJs6L0k/YAzr6V2zfsI/AAAAAAAAGKM/-wioT_hPJGgIM-NK-OvBtVPz2FRWDj9nwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8125E228-4F40-4311-980C-80A9DC8B8E28.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The kids have been learning at home, doing remote school since the end of October. This involves a lot of reading time, and we seem to have also trained Sadie the dog into enjoying reading time as well.<br />While I'm helping kids learn through a pandemic, I've had a slow down in terms of articles coming out... but this piece ran in the Jewish Independent on January 15th: </div><div><b><a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/kindness-a-blessing-to-share/" target="_blank">Kindness a blessing to share</a></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPN0FAfIJ_w/YAzr6kOoE6I/AAAAAAAAGKU/cHIOMNm3TSYs_be2-HJFn45GauKateCkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/CDAAB3BA-91A8-4D02-A384-29FEF28F0DCF.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPN0FAfIJ_w/YAzr6kOoE6I/AAAAAAAAGKU/cHIOMNm3TSYs_be2-HJFn45GauKateCkwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/CDAAB3BA-91A8-4D02-A384-29FEF28F0DCF.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDiew34yisw/YAzr7XQnjVI/AAAAAAAAGKY/8otVrlOpNY02beKit9pJOjVFgw6wApSeACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FB837F7B-A8C3-4878-8C88-9B0D66F564F8.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDiew34yisw/YAzr7XQnjVI/AAAAAAAAGKY/8otVrlOpNY02beKit9pJOjVFgw6wApSeACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/FB837F7B-A8C3-4878-8C88-9B0D66F564F8.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>During the first few days of January, I managed to make this wool tweed vest using a fabric remnant from Fabcycle in Vancouver. I was thrilled to use up deadstock fabric and this has been a great additional winter layer so far. (plus, it has a pocket, and I can never have enough of those!)</div><div><br />The kids added to their 'learn to sew' samplers with a 'here's how to do a running stitch' lesson. I hadn't been pushing these lessons until one day, one of my boys started to cry because we weren't having enough sewing and art lessons. Well, OK then! Happy to oblige...!<br /><br />Last, but certainly not least, I have finally (FINALLY!) released a new knitting pattern. Hallelujah. It took me long enough!</div><div>This is called <b><a href="https://payhip.com/b/oc53" target="_blank">Esme McStrippit</a> </b>and when I uploaded it onto Ravelry, I discovered it was my 80th pattern there. In honour of this new pattern, I'm celebrating with a sale. Get 20% off all my patterns! This sale is happening <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" target="_blank"><b>on Ravelry</b></a> and on <a href="https://payhip.com/joanneseiff" target="_blank"><b>Payhip</b></a> and ends on Tuesday, January 26th, at midnight, Central Time, US&Canada.</div><div>Use the coupon code:</div><div><b>Esme</b></div><div>For the 20% off discount!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDsyXhQ9Owg/YAzrXPO9brI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/uvki5TXT1wQ9Ked0YwUdREs8XxCimDkrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2020/Esme6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="1514" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDsyXhQ9Owg/YAzrXPO9brI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/uvki5TXT1wQ9Ked0YwUdREs8XxCimDkrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Esme6.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5g8GgeGFXPs/YAzrX1bnR_I/AAAAAAAAGKA/JQz-JI6RipcgiHP4auMbFl4ioG-toWn9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1964/EsmeJS2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="1601" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5g8GgeGFXPs/YAzrX1bnR_I/AAAAAAAAGKA/JQz-JI6RipcgiHP4auMbFl4ioG-toWn9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w163-h200/EsmeJS2.jpeg" width="163" /></a></div>Here are some of the shots of the sweater--the one shot with me in it was taken by a kid, too!<br /> <p></p><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_N0m9xkG2LI/YAzrXXbg21I/AAAAAAAAGJ8/xd-yA2WD6tsEScKtJeN8s2ZfBKxIg2PmACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Esme2.JPEG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_N0m9xkG2LI/YAzrXXbg21I/AAAAAAAAGJ8/xd-yA2WD6tsEScKtJeN8s2ZfBKxIg2PmACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/Esme2.JPEG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4L-r4mnSyNk/YAzrXAl4MlI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/LrHaWzJb8QgYVsH8ax95AjMxZiaRyTSbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1773/Esme1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4L-r4mnSyNk/YAzrXAl4MlI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/LrHaWzJb8QgYVsH8ax95AjMxZiaRyTSbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Esme1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-53664330933901790032020-12-21T16:17:00.005-06:002020-12-21T16:17:47.422-06:00Year's end<p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm1Rd3w4Ow0/X-EcH30VDII/AAAAAAAAGIs/Eh5MjiK1irQgag_hXmnsvo7h9IBkteOuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/889B43DD-8733-4408-89DA-6FC5C7F18062.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm1Rd3w4Ow0/X-EcH30VDII/AAAAAAAAGIs/Eh5MjiK1irQgag_hXmnsvo7h9IBkteOuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/889B43DD-8733-4408-89DA-6FC5C7F18062.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIlv86VAJtA/X-EcHAXuE8I/AAAAAAAAGIk/7RpFseYlyxAm6bE-VDqQpKYY2XSWn5iCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/7B4FA0C8-4DC3-40CC-A2EB-CEEB60F7641F.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIlv86VAJtA/X-EcHAXuE8I/AAAAAAAAGIk/7RpFseYlyxAm6bE-VDqQpKYY2XSWn5iCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/7B4FA0C8-4DC3-40CC-A2EB-CEEB60F7641F.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div></div> It's been hard for me to find a moment to catch up on the blog. I've a little more time now that Hanukah is over and winter break is here... I've mostly spent my days helping my kids learn at home. We've also been staying home for a while now...the high virus rates are worrying. It's a bit lonely, but we're definitely all introverts here. For us, there have been some advantages to having a break from regular life for a while, too. I've made a lot of challah. I've sewn Hanukah gifts: flannel pajama pants for little boys. <p></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6m3rFHyZnmI/X-EcII_9EqI/AAAAAAAAGIw/pTGm804cCxcX7aE1R9YMk75cSuP-ekFGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D258D9AC-3A1E-403B-9E09-2E218BBA14B3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1894" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6m3rFHyZnmI/X-EcII_9EqI/AAAAAAAAGIw/pTGm804cCxcX7aE1R9YMk75cSuP-ekFGwCLcBGAsYHQ/w185-h200/D258D9AC-3A1E-403B-9E09-2E218BBA14B3.jpeg" width="185" /></a>I've had some articles come out:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZH-yKycLfbE/X-EcHIl3L7I/AAAAAAAAGIo/8tFhVzY68e80zvdsqk4yQJBr4TV6Rb06wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/706A98F7-B47D-4D91-AB97-66435E8BEA12.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZH-yKycLfbE/X-EcHIl3L7I/AAAAAAAAGIo/8tFhVzY68e80zvdsqk4yQJBr4TV6Rb06wCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/706A98F7-B47D-4D91-AB97-66435E8BEA12.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p>This piece came out in the Winnipeg Free Press, I am a co-author (with my favourite professor):</p><p><b><a href="https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/half-measures-wont-slow-pandemic-spread-573424311.html" target="_blank">Half-measures won't slow the pandemic</a></b><br /></p><p>Here are some from the Jewish Independent, in Vancouver:</p><p><b><a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/that-glitter-gets-everywhere/" target="_blank">That glitter gets everywhere</a></b><br /></p><p><b><a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/gift-of-doing-nothing-at-all/" target="_blank">Gift of doing nothing at all</a><br /></b></p><p><a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/past-helps-decode-present/" target="_blank"><b>The past helps decode the present</b></a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IxxlAfKQPE/X-EcGoIhezI/AAAAAAAAGIg/Vl9Bs3eBfJIFpxxKlomvyPXBy1jDQ53NQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/08B163EF-7481-4B1C-A974-21E2610699E7.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IxxlAfKQPE/X-EcGoIhezI/AAAAAAAAGIg/Vl9Bs3eBfJIFpxxKlomvyPXBy1jDQ53NQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/08B163EF-7481-4B1C-A974-21E2610699E7.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p>Also, I had a fun article come out about how to plan for handspun yarns and garments to keep warm in <b><a href="https://plymagazine.com/" target="_blank">PLY magazine</a> </b>(I've yet to see a copy of that one in print). Just today, I got my copy of<a href="https://www.vogueknitting.com/magazine/winter-2020-21-fashion-preview/" target="_blank"><b> the new Vogue Knitting</b></a>. I'm very proud to have an article on the value of having a yarn stash in that issue, too.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3cbYkBx0VA/X-EcbeDIQhI/AAAAAAAAGI8/zVkfb1atHBgzPf3neHXheIabnFsNeSYoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/3B7DE75F-EFF9-4F7D-A5F7-35BC19FF9AB4.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="789" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3cbYkBx0VA/X-EcbeDIQhI/AAAAAAAAGI8/zVkfb1atHBgzPf3neHXheIabnFsNeSYoACLcBGAsYHQ/w154-h200/3B7DE75F-EFF9-4F7D-A5F7-35BC19FF9AB4.jpeg" width="154" /></a></div>We're doing lots of playing in the snow, dog walks, and eating yummy foods. We hope you're having a great winter break with lots of joy ahead. Our sky is darkening now, on December 21st, and it's barely 4pm. The great darkness is upon us....more time to read, knit, and stay cozy at home. We're very lucky -and privileged-to be able to do so.<p></p><p>Stay safe, stay warm, and here's looking forward to happy and healthy 2021.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-22251737639317904672020-11-24T22:22:00.006-06:002020-11-24T22:24:20.397-06:00Fasten Off Yarn Along!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYT0VJJswAU/X73cVa3nd7I/AAAAAAAAGIA/kFI5N-3YWo8mZICz0mIYfsoOXBYihr_PwCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Source%2Bad2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYT0VJJswAU/X73cVa3nd7I/AAAAAAAAGIA/kFI5N-3YWo8mZICz0mIYfsoOXBYihr_PwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Source%2Bad2.png" /></a></div><p>It's been a while since I participated in a knitting pattern event or sale of any kind. I'm busy helping kids learn at home, fitting in work when I can, and dealing with the noise and disruption of an infill construction project near my house and well, all the pandemic stuff. Heck, I haven't even published much in the way of new patterns this year, although I now have<a href="https://payhip.com/joanneseiff" target="_blank"><b> 65 patterns newly available on Payhip!</b></a></p><p> -Like many, I haven't been a fan of Ravelry's revamp -- it has big accessibility issues. So, when I heard that there was an event with many off-Ravelry, accessible options for knitters/crocheters/yarnies to enjoy, I decided to join in...so here's more information! </p><p>Note: Even the coupon code alludes to this crazy year we've been having...let's open up that window and say goodbye to 2020!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2dEjbXwhSI/X73abrANadI/AAAAAAAAGHs/uJOM65MAsRIyXNcC1y62Pt5AilWokefhACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Knitted%2BCurtainhighres.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2dEjbXwhSI/X73abrANadI/AAAAAAAAGHs/uJOM65MAsRIyXNcC1y62Pt5AilWokefhACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Knitted%2BCurtainhighres.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px;">I am honoured to be participating this year in the FastenOff YAL!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">This is inclusive stitch-a-long event to showcase independent crochet and knitting designers.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">It starts tomorrow and it comes with a big sale!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Get 25% off</strong> all my indie patterns from November 25 through December 5th! This sale <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-seiff" style="color: #666666;"><strong>includes all of my patterns and my ebook on both Ravelry</strong></a> and <a href="https://payhip.com/JoanneSeiff" style="color: #666666;"><strong>Payhip</strong></a> with the coupon code:</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>FO2020</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">You can learn more about participating in lots of ways!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">Note: Even if you don’t feel like participating, please feel free to enjoy the sale and share the discount code!<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />Thanks for checking this out!!<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" /><a href="https://twitter.com/FastenOffYAL" style="color: #666666;"><strong>On Twitter</strong></a><br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fastenoffyal/" style="color: #666666;"><strong>On Instagram</strong></a><br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" /><a href="http://www.wipinsanity.com/indy-event/script.cgi?TYPE=page&VALUE=forum" style="color: #666666;"><strong>On a discussion forum on Discord--information here on how to join</strong></a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">and <strong style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.wipinsanity.com/indy-event/script.cgi?TYPE=page&VALUE=home" style="color: #666666;">on this super helpful website.</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">As always, thanks for checking out my designs. Please enjoy the sale!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzhgv95AZMc/X73aw8D-V_I/AAAAAAAAGH0/vX2kBquCrfkEpRaJ_1U-2yMgXc3zcYwrACLcBGAsYHQ/s450/Source%2Bad3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzhgv95AZMc/X73aw8D-V_I/AAAAAAAAGH0/vX2kBquCrfkEpRaJ_1U-2yMgXc3zcYwrACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Source%2Bad3.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457475.post-70944239960398313812020-10-31T22:11:00.004-05:002020-10-31T22:11:40.931-05:00Behind the scenes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A while back, my professor husband made a prediction about when things would be shutting down again in Manitoba, and well,</span><b style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/covid-19-manitoba-update-october-31-1.5784996" target="_blank">he was right.</a> </b></div><p></p><p>I took it to heart and began to rush, and a few days ago, I got a lot more patterns up online on Payhip. At this point,<a href="https://payhip.com/joanneseiff" target="_blank"><b> 57 of my designs are available via Payhip</b></a>, as well as on Lovecrafts and Ravelry. This isn't quite all of them, but it's the majority.</p><p>It was also a really nice opportunity for me to revisit some of my older designs. This is <a href="https://payhip.com/b/UQs1" target="_blank"><b>the Scarf Cowl</b></a>-ideal for any weight yarn from lace to DK, and perfect for a beginning knitter or someone who needs some mindless garter stitch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKTOJQJVM9U/X54gKPB5HZI/AAAAAAAAGFg/bY4mwn3jcLEg_z65jUWhaQLDpr50dShIACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Scarf%2Bcowl%2Bindie%2Bdesigner%2Bportal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKTOJQJVM9U/X54gKPB5HZI/AAAAAAAAGFg/bY4mwn3jcLEg_z65jUWhaQLDpr50dShIACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Scarf%2Bcowl%2Bindie%2Bdesigner%2Bportal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>These are<b><a href="https://payhip.com/b/giXA" target="_blank"> the Knitted Napkins.</a> </b> In a time when we're all staying home a bit more, it can be nice to make mealtimes look nicer....and cut down on disposable napkin waste. I was surprised to see this download recently purchased by a knitter, it reminded me about the pattern, which I think may have been first published in 2009.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVMl4-nWxZo/X54gRsQVWEI/AAAAAAAAGFk/ky99I_hkYqMcaLGxituVZvgzA452sDORwCLcBGAsYHQ/s727/knittednapkins1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="727" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVMl4-nWxZo/X54gRsQVWEI/AAAAAAAAGFk/ky99I_hkYqMcaLGxituVZvgzA452sDORwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/knittednapkins1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I also wrote a column for the Jewish Independent, and <a href="https://www.jewishindependent.ca/consider-soul-maintenance/" target="_blank"><b>it went live on Friday here</b></a>. It's about the mortality 'wake up call' that the pandemic presents to us...it's both scary, and also a reminder to seize the day. </p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNXwONxz578/X54k96DcRmI/AAAAAAAAGF8/N4PWGARc5wEolOz29tRM-zO5DIiPozzNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/9443F6C4-56EF-4275-8B56-00CF6EA66A82.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNXwONxz578/X54k96DcRmI/AAAAAAAAGF8/N4PWGARc5wEolOz29tRM-zO5DIiPozzNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/9443F6C4-56EF-4275-8B56-00CF6EA66A82.jpeg" width="150" /></a>We've been outside in the snow...more than once this October.</p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FHsGkaAscM/X54k8NRD_yI/AAAAAAAAGF0/Dk6FJZI5vbskFPElHd1HVD_F1k4gi609QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8B6C514D-2068-4105-B9EC-E16279579713.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FHsGkaAscM/X54k8NRD_yI/AAAAAAAAGF0/Dk6FJZI5vbskFPElHd1HVD_F1k4gi609QCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/8B6C514D-2068-4105-B9EC-E16279579713.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cR1Xil6XGk/X54k9hKy5dI/AAAAAAAAGF4/QImkKt5iQ50I4DZno2e4aLHUxSqNA4nTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C43ABC4D-7ADD-40D6-B3E6-841EEB4377CE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="2045" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cR1Xil6XGk/X54k9hKy5dI/AAAAAAAAGF4/QImkKt5iQ50I4DZno2e4aLHUxSqNA4nTwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/C43ABC4D-7ADD-40D6-B3E6-841EEB4377CE.jpeg" width="200" /></a></p><p>We've eaten more than our share of sweet potato pie, apple crumble with pomegranate seeds (and frozen yogurt!) and more...</p><p>We've also returned to remote learning at our house for a bit, so things have been busy. However, we've had time to play in the snow, make and eat fancy desserts, and create special 'jet packs' for our stay-at-home Halloween superhero. There's less time for work, but more time for everything else-which makes our pandemic experience much like everybody else's, I suppose.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Check out my downloadable patterns and other writing at:
http://www.joanneseiff.com</div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028506404055347307noreply@blogger.com0