Is Your Everyday Life Interfering with Your Art?

by | Jul 8, 2024 | 0 comments

I almost fell in.....

Some days, it’s tough to start anything, even just writing the first sentence. I know what I want to say, but getting it out is a struggle. You know those days.

For the past six months, I’ve been working to build an online Fiberarts Community with all the bells and whistles. It’s been fun learning new things and designing online experiences, but I’ve been neglecting the real world. It’s been over a month since I’ve picked up my paint brushes and several weeks since I’ve spent more than half an hour knitting. My real-life art has been overtaken by the digital life I’m building. I now see this is a classic example of not balancing life and work.

I recently spent 8 days at my MIL’s and thought I had everything set up to work, but of course, there were tech glitches. I managed to get some work done, but it had been so long since I spent an afternoon knitting, and Lake Huron was just meters away. So, I decided to take a break. Between tech issues, spotty internet, two dogs, a lake, and my knitting, it was an easy choice.

Committing to Change!

I was actually there to help my MIL after a heart scare (she’s doing well now). I just helped with things around the house and cooked meals, nothing more than I do at home. It was nice to spend time with her. In the afternoons, I’d sit and knit, which was glorious! I had planned to go to the lake every day, but various mattresses took a toll on my back. I still enjoyed the view and took a few nice trips to let the dogs play in the water.

As a person with A.D.D., I need to find a way to schedule my time so that all aspects of my life are in balance. Here are some techniques that might help:

  1. Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for different activities, such as work, art, and relaxation. Stick to these blocks to ensure you give attention to all areas of your life.
  2. Prioritizing Tasks: List your tasks in order of importance and tackle them one by one. This can help prevent feeling overwhelmed and ensure that you make progress on your most important projects.
  3. Setting Alarms and Reminders: Use alarms and reminders to keep you on track throughout the day. This can help manage transitions between activities and ensure you don’t lose track of time.
  4. Breaks and Downtime: Schedule regular breaks to rest and recharge. Short, frequent breaks can improve focus and productivity.
  5. Combining Activities: Find ways to combine activities you enjoy with those you need to do. For example, listen to a podcast while knitting or take a walk while brainstorming ideas.

This experience has given me some insight into the importance of balancing life and work. It’s easy to get caught up in projects and let them consume all our time, but it’s crucial to step back and reconnect with the real world. Taking breaks, enjoying hobbies, and spending time with loved ones are essential for our well-being and creativity. Moving forward, I’m committed to finding a better balance and making time for the things that bring joy and relaxation into my life.

Until next time friends…

Beyond the Skein – 02 – From Yarn to Bytes: Weaving Technology into Fiberarts

by | May 12, 2024 | 0 comments

Tune into our latest podcast episode where we delve into the merging of digital and fiberarts with AI tools like Dalle and ChatGPT. Discover how I’ve transformed rural Ontario landscapes into vibrant fiberarts, tackled website design challenges for my new store, Beyond the Skein Merch, and preparing for an upcoming fiberarts exhibit at the World Building Expo on goBrunch. It’s all about using technology to expand creative boundaries and bring artistic visions to life. Join us for a journey of innovation and inspiration!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 6:39 — 8.3MB) | Embed

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This is where we dive into how our toughest times shape the art we create. We’re talking real talk about the ups and downs of creativity, inspired by our own struggles and triumphs.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or just curious about the creative process, you’re in the right spot. Let’s explore together how every challenge can spark something amazing.

Grab a cozy seat, and let’s get started!

Unraveling the Mystery: Simplifying the Butterfly Shawl Pattern

by | May 11, 2024 | 0 comments

A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon the “Butterfly Shawl” pattern in MarinJa’s Ravelry Store and was instantly captivated by its beauty. Yet, I quickly discovered that, while the knitting itself isn’t overly difficult, keeping track of where you are in the pattern can be quite the challenge. The design consists of three color-coded modules that repeat in various sections, demanding a good deal of attention to detail.

I found it worth the effort to devise a method to keep track effectively. Many knitters have shared their hacks online, but I particularly enjoyed the guidance from The Yarn Queen NZ’s YouTube video—it was a real game-changer for me.

To help manage the colorful sections, I turned to the Knitting Genius app on both my tablet and phone. It’s packed with helpful tools and well worth the annual subscription.

As someone with a neuro-divergent mind, I can hyper-focus on a project but often struggle to remember where I left off if I step away for a while. This was one reason I hesitated to start this project, especially since working with short rows can be confusing and, if done incorrectly, can result in gaps.

My breakthrough came when I received a gift card for a local yarn shop, London Yarns. There, I met Judy, who had just finished her own version of the shawl. It was gorgeous, adorned with purples and pinks and a stunning edging in a crochet stitch known as the crab stitch, which she executed in the main colour. Inspired by her use of German Short Rows—an easier alternative to the traditional method—I decided to give them a try after watching a helpful tutorial by The Blue Mouse Knits.

With a solid plan in place, I began my shawl, although I frogged it several times until I settled on a colour combination that resonated with me. Now, several sections in, I find the process of knitting this shawl addictive. Each section’s texture is more captivating than the last, and it’s the first time I’ve worked with the garter stitch and thought, “Wow, that’s beautiful!”

I have a lot on my plate, so I’m not sure how long it will take to complete the shawl, but I do know that each time I pick it up, it fills me with joy. What more could a fiberartist want?

Until next time friends…

Learning to Use Sharing Tools in the Fiberarts Community

by | Apr 25, 2024 | 0 comments

Learn how to share:

Cameras

Screens

Google Docs

Websites

Files

The Fiberarts Community is open and ready for you! Sign up for the Beyond the Skein newsletter to get all the details about our Grand Opening.

Check out  tutorial #1 on the Fiberarts Community page—it’ll guide you into the space and show you how to navigate from room to room.

Let’s dive into using those cool tools I mentioned! By the end of this post, you’ll be able to Use the Circle Cam and the Presenter Cam. You’ll be sharing your screen, Google Docs,and files like a pro with your fellow Fiberartists.

How to Use Your Camera

Using the Circle Cam is a breeze! When you first entered the space, you were likely prompted to use your camera. While not everyone chooses to activate it, if you want to use it, simply click on the “Circle Cam” button located in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.

If you’d like to turn off your circle cam just click on the button again. Easy peasy.

I’m really excited about the “Presentation Cam”! It’s such a useful tool. Recently, a friend and I used it in the Whisperspace to work out a new stitch together. It was fantastic—I could see her work and she could see mine, which helped us figure it out in no time! I think you’ll find this feature incredibly handy.

 

To use the Presentation Cam, simply click on the circle labelled “Cam.” Once it opens, you can resize it by dragging a corner. To move the cam window, place your cursor in the centre until the four-arrow icon appears, then drag the window to your desired location on the screen.

To deactivate the presenter cam, simply click on the “Cam” button once more.

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Screen Sharing

Sharing your screen allows you to collaborate directly on the same pattern, demonstrate chart-making, show how to use an app, or share anything else you want your friends to see. Simply click on the circle that says “SHARE” to the right of your Cam. Then click on “Share Your Screen”.

Please be aware: Your toolbar will have fewer items than mine, as I am the administrator. 

Next, click on “Select window or screen.” A drop-down menu will appear, showing all the screens or apps available to you. For example, if you want to share a picture you’re working on in PaintShop Pro, just click on that option.

Voila! You’re now sharing your screen. To resize the window, just click and drag the double arrow, indicated by the pink arrow, to your preferred size. If you need to move the window, simply click on it and drag it to your desired location.

To stop sharing your screen, click the “Share” circle once more, and it will deactivate.

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Sharing Google docs

To share your Google documents, just click on the “Share” circle like before. When the menu appears, select “Boards and Apps,” which is indicated by the pink arrow.

Please remember: before you can share Google Docs, spreadsheets, and other files, they need to be set to public sharing. Log into your google docs account, click on the document you want to share. You can adjust the visibility settings by clicking on the “Share” button in your Google Docs as shown by the pink arrow.

A small window will pop up. Below your name and email address you will see the “General” heading with a drop down menu below. Click on the menu and choose “Anyone with the link”. You’ve just set your document to pubic but only people with the link can see it. (This can easily be reversed by logging into google docs and using the “Share” button.

Simply click on the “Copy Link” button and then the blue “Close” button to exit this window.

Return to the Virtual Knitgroup and click on “Docs” as indicated by the pink arrow. You can also share “Slides”, “Sheets” and “Forms”

Next, insert your Google Doc link into the field marked by the pink arrow and click “Open Docs.”

Pretty cool, isn’t it? Now everyone can see your document. You can resize it by using the circle with two arrows located in the lower right of your window.

If you need to move the window around the screen, just drag and drop it using the four arrows indicated by the pink arrow on the dark grey bar at the bottom of the window.

One of my favorite features when sharing documents is the ability to view them in full screen! Simply click on the double arrows marked by the pink arrow to expand the document.

Below is the view you’ll get in full screen mode. The chat box appears on the right, and if you scroll down, you’ll see the room beneath the document. It’s a straightforward way to see everything clearly and follow along.

To exit full screen mode, just click on the small circle with a box inside, marked by the pink arrow, and the view will revert back to the smaller screen within the room.

To stop sharing your google doc, click on the “Share” circle to turn it off.

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Sharing Websites

The ability to share a fully interactive website offers numerous benefits. For instance, imagine shopping online with a fellow fiberartist, selecting materials for a project you’re both working on. The potential uses for this feature are truly limitless!

To share your website, just click on the “Share” circle like before. When the menu appears, select “Boards & Apps” which is indicated by the pink arrow.

Next, scroll down a little and click on “Custom URL” as indicated by the pink arrow.

Paste or type the website URL into the box.

And there you are, sharing a fully interactive website. Have fun!

To stop sharing your website, click on the “Share” circle to turn it off or the little red “x” at the top right of the window.

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Sharing Files

Deciding whether to allow file sharing required some thought. On one hand, we could create a shareable library; on the other, there were copyright concerns to consider.

Here’s the plan: I’ve enabled file sharing in each room for now, but I ask that you adhere to a few simple guidelines:

  1. Please delete any files you’ve shared before exiting the room.
  2. Original work can be posted in the Main Knitgroup room to create a sharable library. If you are the original designer, or if you reference the pattern and include your own insights or modifications, please rename your file starting with “00-“, such as “00-filename.”

To share your files, just click on the “Share” circle like before. When the menu appears, select “Files,” which is shown by the pink arrow.

To add a file, click on the white box marked with an X, as shown by the pink arrow.

Choose which file you want to upload and click, “Open” as shown by the pink arrow.

To delete your files, simply click on the white box that contains an X as shown by the pink arrow.

To close the file sharing window simply click the “X” at the top right of the window as shown by the pink arrow.

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I think we are all going to have some fun!! 

Until next time friends…

Discover the Joy of Camping at Ontario Provincial Parks

by | Mar 28, 2024 | 0 comments

The scent of pine needles, the crackling of a campfire, the cozy shelter of a tent… childhood camping trips in Ontario Parks hold a special place in my heart. From those rustic “vault toilets” to the thrill of exploring new parks like Balsam Lake or Algonquin, the memories still make me smile.

As a kid, I remember those dark brown “vault toilet” buildings—the ones that required a flashlight at night. But you know what? It didn’t matter. WE WERE CAMPING! Balsam Lake, Kill Bear, Algonquin, Bonecho, and Sharbot Lake—all these names evoke a sense of adventure and freedom.

As an adult, I appreciate Ontario Parks even more. The clean bathrooms (with real showers!), spacious campsites, and central amenities make them ideal for families. Growing up near Presquile Provincial Park was a dream – it was our own giant, nature-filled backyard!

But our absolute best family camping adventure was at The Pinery Provincial Park. My teens had enough space for independence, yet we were close enough to share laughter around the campfire, creating those forever moments.

Now, years later, my husband and I have the time to camp every summer. We bought a new tent at season’s end for half price—a sign, perhaps, that it was time to bid farewell to our trusty old Woods tent.

Setting Up Camp: Tarp Tales and Rainy Smiles

Every year, like clockwork, we unfold our camping ritual. Last year, a friendly gentleman strolled by as we were setting up. He glanced at our tarp and quipped, “Overkill, isn’t it?” We simply nodded and replied, “We’ll see.”

A few days later, there he was again—this time using a beach umbrella to shield himself from heavy rain. Meanwhile, we sat cozy and dry under our trusty tarp, sipping morning coffee. With a friendly “Good Morning,” we exchanged knowing smiles. He nodded back, perhaps a tad sheepishly, and continued on to the bathroom.

The tarp is always our first order of business. We play a game of “which trees to tie around” as we set it up. Over time, we’ve fine-tuned our technique. One stormy year, we lost a couple of grommets, but we adapted. And those adjustable, good-quality bungee cords? They’re our secret weapon, working seamlessly with each rope. Oh, and let’s not forget the poles we recycled from an old screen room tent—they’re part of our well-oiled setup. When we land our goal is setting up and hitting that sandy beach!

If you enjoy the sound of the rain on a tarp while you enjoying your morning camp coffee this video is for you!

Ontario Parks are like a well-loved book with extra chapters. Each one I’ve visited offers the same warm services, and then—surprise!—they unveil their own special magic. There’s a sense of peace that washes over me the moment I step onto their trails, a feeling of being both grounded and uplifted by the natural world. The vibrant colours, the symphony of birdsong, the textures of moss and stone – they all speak to a part of me that craves that wildness.

Until next time friends…