Grad show coming up 04/29/2010
 We're done, we're done!!!! So, now you can come and see our fabulous creations at the Textile Arts Grad Show at City Scape Gallery on 3rd and Lonsdale from May 14th-June 5th. All are welcome to attend our opening night on the 13th from 7pm - 9pm where there will eats and bevies and lots of lovely ladies to congratulate. Add Comment Vancouver Registry 04/23/2010
 Our friends Jeanette and Steve are getting married in July and they've registered with a local social enterprise JustWork who has an Etsy store. I LOVE this idea. They even have their own section in the store. It's perfect because each dinner set is $75, great for the friends that are students (ie. me) and it's easy enough to double or triple the order if you're a family member etc. So smart. Also I just love knowing that their new home will be filled with hand-made ceramics, so it's fun to peek at what they've asked for. JustWork is an economic initiative who employs people with multiple barriers. There are several initiatives under the JustWork umbrella including JustPotters (as seen above), JustGarden, JustCatering and JustRepair. I put my faith on a mountaintop 04/23/2010
  Process pics 04/20/2010
My imagery for this project is inspired by conversations around the church, hospitality and homosexuality. I will be attempting to wear my convictions when this fabric is made into a dress. The dominating image is that of a chalice which, in the negative spaces of stem, show two like-faces confronting each other; representing the likeness in gender among homosexuals who are in partnerships, as well as echoing the biblical scripture, 'God created man in His own image' Genesis 1:27 I am currently going to a Baptist church here in Vancouver where we are in an active and serious dialogue about this topic. I am extremely convicted about the importance of equality for gays in the church (and everywhere), and am feeling especially overwhelmed lately by the misinterpretation of the bible regarding the topic. I pounded flowers (representing hospitality) into the fabric to achieve texture and later dyed it in potassium to show the contrast of the chalices (silk) against the negative space (rayon). It is no coincidence that the faces are in the 'negative' space.  I later rusted the fabric with nails and found objects.   I then created a silkscreen of a chain and discharged the image on top, sometimes purposefully placing them across the mouths and eyes of the faces. I'm not extremely satisfied with the obvious image of a chain for the purpose of representing bondage, burden and restriction. I usually like to use more subtle imagery. For this purpose it works though since, when it is made into a dress, it will not be as obvious what they are. In some places I added chains with a foiling technique using gold foil.  mock up 04/18/2010
  Today at school I did a mock-up of the type of dress I plan to make with my chalice fabric. It's a pattern making technique developed by Julian Roberts called subtractive cutting. It is very counter-intuitive for me and challenges my spacial intelligence in a big way. Katherine Soucie, who did some work with Julian, visited our class a couple of weeks ago and gave us a demo of the process. I had challenges right off the bat with this mock-up, and it didn't really work out in the end, but it's not too bad for a first try I'd say. This fabric is very different from my chalice fabric in the way it will drape and hang off the body, so this is not a very telling photograph. I mostly wanted to experiment with the pattern making style before I cut into my precious fabric. I learned a lot and now know what not to do....(famous last words) Montreal here we come 04/17/2010
 pic by Lisa howarth I have officially received my acceptance in to the Fibres Program at Concordia University in Montreal. So, come July Danny and I (and Lily our cat too) will be leaving on a jet plane. YAY!! Beautiful Grandma Clara 04/13/2010
 I had the best visit with grandma tonight. She is doing really well; walking around and doing everything on her own. She even stood up to hug me good-bye. Here we are wearing matching shrugs. Montreal apartment 04/10/2010
 Thanks to our amazing friend Corrie we have already found a place to live in Montreal. We are probably moving in August, but thought it would be smart to secure a place for July just in case we went any earlier, especially since we're bringing kitty. Also Corrie will be here in Vancouver for June, so now was the best time for her be looking for us. She looked at a few places, some too small, some strangely laid out, some without laundry. She was very patient and found exactly what we were looking for within our price range. Our place is a 1 bedroom one the second floor (in the building pictured bellow) with in-suite laundry. We are only three blocks away from Jean Talon Market in Little Italy, and a five minute walk away from the metro. Google Maps Street View (as creepy as it is) has helped us become better acquainted with our new neighborhood. Isn't it cute?  Upon closer observation I realized Street View was also giving us a sneak peek at one of our neighbours too. So funny. Painful waiting 04/10/2010
I am still waiting for a reply from Concordia regarding my acceptance in the Fall. I have been cruising Kijiji and Craiglist for apartments with much appreciated help from my friend Corrie in Montreal. I sent her a long list of possible places which turned out to be laughable in terms of location (apparently I'm not very good at deciphering distance on Google maps). My portfolio came back in the mail today, so I hope that's a good sign. Teachers and colleges keep on telling me that 'of course I'm getting in' and to continue to plan for the move to Montreal, but I know it won't seem real, and I won't begin hauling ass until I've heard from them. So, alas the wait continues. On a sadder and more important note, my lovely grandmother Clara has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I found out tonight that it has spread to her liver. So, obviously she is experiencing the ultimate painful wait. It must be so surreal to know that you are going to die soon, and that you are actually saying good-bye to your loved ones forever (at least in this lifetime). I have taken a week off school to spend time with her while she is at Lions Gate Hospital here in Vancouver. My priorities have been really made clear since I heard the bad news, and especially after spending so much precious time with her. I know that being with her is all that matters, even though I am in the home stretch of my two year textiles program. My teachers have been more than understanding, giving me extensions on everything (thank you, thank you, thank you). A couple of nights ago I was visiting with her wearing one of my Penny Shrugs and she admired it all night long. I would take it off and shortly after she would ask to see it on me again. I told her that I would make her one and she happily complied but only under the condition that I do no use "that lovely fabric....it's too nice". Of course she deserves only the nicest yarn, and I made it for her today, only after she made some button choices yesterday (she chose the brown ceramic ones). I'll be seeing her tomorrow and adorning her with it, hopefully helping her feel cozy and beautiful Larry for Tegan and Sarah 04/10/2010
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Janna Maria
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