lilliputian

The Button Box

2008-06-18T11:24:00.001-04:00

Jun09.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

I have so many wonderful memories of digging through my mom's button box as a child. I would pick out my favorites and find their mates. The smell of them was very unique, since my mom stored them in a tin. She tells me that she remembers doing the same with her mother's button box.

Well, I suppose that everyone needs their own button box, and my mom started me off with some buttons from her own, and a bunch she picked up at a garage sale. Does the acquisition of a button box make me officially an adult? Officially fit to be the matriarch of my own household?

Flickr Meme

2008-06-03T12:21:00.001-04:00

Flickr Meme
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

I saw this Meme on BitterSweet's blog: http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/ and had to do it for my very own.
Click on the moasic to see what it's all about

May24.08

2008-05-30T16:33:00.001-04:00

May24.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

The Royal Ontario Museum's newest addition: the Lee-Chin Crystal on the inside.

The exterior is an interesting blend of new and old in every way - glass and steel paired with brick and mortar. The juxtaposition is, in my opinion, jarring and exciting. It is visually stimulating and I couldn't wait to see how the new and old was blended inside.

I was, and am underwhelmed. I see now why an elimination of the windows originally planned is such a huge loss: the interior feels oddly cramped by the angular nature and is too dark for my liking. The space is strangely utilized, and some space appears to not be used at all, as large darkened portions of the wayfinding map appear often. And the wayfinding? ATROCIOUS. The signage is misleading, or often missing entirely. Navigation from the new to the old sections of the museum are convoluted and simply finding a washroom was like trying to search out the lost ark. Trying to get to the restaurant on the fifth floor we were simply directed to "take Such and Such elevator." That is fine and dandy, but can anyone tell me where Such and Such elevator is? When we finally resorted to taking the stairs, we got halfway up to see that the restaurant was closed. This information would have been extremely handy if it was posted, say, in the lobby!

Whether intentional or not, the finishing left something to be desired. Screws and seams were very visible. It felt as though we had just missed the construction crew picking up their tools for the day. Sure, the industrial look is very 'fresh' and 'hip' but I for one don't find it to be a very effective tool to make a visitor feel at ease. I felt like it was cheap and/or poor workmanship.

The ROM is a museum, and not an art gallery. The Art Gallery of Ontario is expanding their own square footage and seem to have the official art gallery thing down pat. I would expect to find historic things here, not art installations.

The addition of new space at the ROM is extremely exciting, and introducing public lounge space and wide open areas are wonderful. I have been there and done it, and am now content to enjoy the outside.

May8.08

2008-05-26T10:02:00.001-04:00

May8.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

The origin of these beautiful ivory chopsticks is a mystery to me. My mom gave them to me along with her mother's silverware. She explained that these are a set of chopsitcks for a man and a woman.

Which is which?

The man is the mountain
The woman, the grass at the foot of the mountain.

Ahhh... I see....!

May4.08

2008-05-12T09:07:00.001-04:00

May4.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

I love all the shiny machine parts inside the lawnmower. Such interesting shapes and mysterious workings!

Canoe

2008-04-22T15:42:00.001-04:00

Apr18.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

Canoe navigating the melting icebergs in Lake Erie at Crystal Beach. I love the misty background

IMG_1360

2008-04-17T10:05:00.001-04:00

IMG_1360
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

Finished the beautiful Dragon Scale Shawl!
I asked D to take some photos of it for me.

IMG_1924

2008-04-09T13:29:00.001-04:00

IMG_1924
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

I found this photo in my portfolio and finally posted it . It was taken in the middle of the winter, and my model was VERY brave!

Apr05.08

2008-04-08T09:39:00.001-04:00

Apr05.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

I've been taking a wedding photography course through Niagara College, and this week we had a couple model as our bride and groom. We had an excellent fun time and overall it was a great class!

Mar25.08

2008-03-26T11:37:00.001-04:00

Mar25.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

Photographing Rosarios4 Sole Latte Yarn in my cardboard box lighting box

Meme

2008-03-18T13:39:00.003-04:00

My First Meme, tagged by A Long Yarn.

The Rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Six strange things:
1. I have a graphite tattoo in my thigh. I accidentally sat on a pencil inside a backpack in elementary school, the tip broke off and the Doctor couldn't get all of the graphite out. I'm lucky that pencils weren't made with lead any more at the time.
2. I dislike peanuts, but enjoy peanut butter.
3. I dream of being a race car driver.
4. I shower in the exact same order, every day.
5. I need to have something to fidget with or do something with my hands, almost all of the time (likely why I enjoy knitting as much as I do)
6. I took lessons to play the violin, but when I didn't immeadiately succeed, and I felt it was 'hard' I gave up, stopped practicing and stopped taking lessons.

I'm not going to tag anyone, becuase the people I know have already been tagged!

Mar10.08

2008-03-18T09:41:00.001-04:00

Mar10.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

Ahhh... a nice glass of wine while cooking dinner.
Trying new things with the lightbox

Mar09.08

2008-03-14T12:16:00.001-04:00

Mar09.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

My first bread baking experience -perhaps a little firm and dense, but very tasty all the same!

Mar05.08

2008-03-05T21:31:00.001-05:00

Mar05.08
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

With the player piano, a gift from my mother, came many music rolls - this being one of them. I think I could take photos of each of these to describe a mood or a day.

IMG_9836

2008-03-04T11:14:00.001-05:00

IMG_9836
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

Florida was wonderful, and my favorite part: the beach.

The little Alien

2008-01-07T21:47:00.000-05:00

Today a little alien came for a visit

We had a coffee together

And relaxed on the couch

We got the mail

He especially enjoyed my knitting

The little alien admired the plant life And helped me investigate the contents of the fridge He helped me cook dinnerAnd loved the salad!

2007: A Knitting Year in Review

2008-01-05T12:43:00.001-05:00

Knitting 2007
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme

2007: A Year in Review

2008-01-01T13:36:00.000-05:00

2007 has been a fabulous year and I am very grateful that I started Project 365 to document the year. I plan to do it all over again this year!

In 2007 I got a new job and my first office

I travelled to Sudbury - a lotI played hard with my friends I ate wellI adventured to far away places to visit sheep and buy yarn

I knitI celebrated my Grandfather's 100th birthdayI tried new things

I got older
I celebrated my mother's wedding

I moved to a new city, a new home and moved in with a boy I loveI made my first big purchaseI survived!

Christmas Ornaments

2007-12-26T21:48:00.001-05:00

Christmas ornaments from our home and homes we visited on Christmas day

My very own light box

2007-12-13T19:29:00.000-05:00

I have wanted my own lighting studio, and have never had enough space or money or time to build one. Enter inspiration from friends and a helpful tutorial found on the internet

I was able to set it up in less then an hour, and I think I will be able to have a lot of fun with this set up! It is only temporary as I have already gouged the tissue paper sides a couple of times. I would like to construct a larger box, with better lights, sturdier sides, and higher up. Pretty good results for something I put out less than $5 for!

If you build it, they will come.

The whole set up

Shot on a black background - it looks more brown, as I suspected it would.

Shot on a white background

Getting fancy with a gold background

Silver background -looks similar to the white

Long Return

2007-12-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

It has admittedly been a long time since I have been here.

Since last here, I've moved! So more interesting posts about my transition from the big city to the little one.

Here, long overdue photos from Halloween! Pumpkin carving and roasting the seeds.

Mystery Plant

2007-04-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

With spring clawing at the bit to emerge, and mother nature holding back, all kinds of odd thigns are happening. This plant (I have no idea what it is) is usually in full bloom of these little red flowers, and yet it looks more like an underwater plant than above.

Rachel & Mike's Wedding

2007-03-18T21:18:00.000-04:00

The wedding I shot with Sar for friends of hers, lots of fun!

Blogiversary

2007-03-05T23:39:00.000-05:00

Or maybe it's not so much a blog anniversary we celebrate, but a blog birthday?

At any rate, happy first blogiversary/blogirthday to lilliputian!

Valentine

2007-02-18T18:05:00.000-05:00

My valentine sent this to me at work on Tuesday, lucky me!

History

2007-02-10T23:15:00.000-05:00

Last weekend while in Perth visiting family I was rediscovering my Grandfather's home, which perhaps hasn't changed in all of the years I have been visiting.

Sudbury visit

2007-01-28T22:42:00.000-05:00

Out for a walk on a beautiful sunny (albeit cold) Sudbury day.

Cold day

2007-01-21T20:26:00.000-05:00

Out for a walk on a cold winter day - brrr!

Bling Bling bike

2007-01-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

Check out this slammin' ride that a couple of gals and I checked out (while yarn shopping!). Just looking at it makes me want to bring out the Jane & Finch, Flavor Flav part of myself, (much to the chagrin of those around me) homeboy!

Bling bling!

Neglectful

2007-01-17T21:52:00.000-05:00

It's been too long since I have posted anything here and I feel quite neglectful!
These are just a couple of images I shot after hanging my work in the first show I've been in since leaving university.

Funghi

2007-01-06T16:47:00.000-05:00

While in Port Dalhousie I spotted these mushrooms growing on a tree at the side of the beach.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-03T22:05:00.000-05:00

Jan01.07
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme.

Ahhh... Eggs benedict (minus the artery clogging hollandaise sauce here of course) prepared by a chef extraordinaire who introduced me to this a new year's morning a few years back and it's since become a tradition.

Great way to start that New Years diet resolution!
Maybe I'll take on Project 365 instead.

Tag!

2006-12-21T09:41:00.000-05:00

Mural
Originally uploaded by lilliputianme.

Michelle tagged me with this one!

THE RULES:Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. I have become that crazy lady in the Walmart or the grocery store singing along to the overhead music, or whatever music is in my own head. I only do this when I'm alone - so far. But I take every opportunity to belt out some horrid song, at home, in the car, at work. I have a dream of being a vocalist, that was accidentally realised when I was roped into performing in a musical. I was told that the role was only speaking, and the next thing I knew I was belting out my grand (embarassing) performance in front of hundreds of people every night for a week. I loved every minute of it.

2. I have a letter of commendation from Donald Rumsfeld.

3. I am a large scale mural painter. Not really wierd unto itself, but when you think of me, my petite size, and what I do for a living, the words, 'humongous paintings' aren't exactly the first things that come to mind.

4. I was raised both Roman Catholic and Jewish.

5. I once accidentally scaled a Swiss Alp, and swore while I was about halfway up that cows could "smell fear"

6. I can 'crack my knuckles' so to speak by simply curling my fingers down into my palm. When I showed my chiropractor, he said he had never seen anyone who could do that before, and it is apparently my tendons moving over the bones that makes the noise.

7. I played (I'm sure I still could play) violin. When I was 14 I decided I wanted to learn to play an instrument becuase music was/is something that is so important to me. I payed for my own lessons, and within a year I was in an orchestra. I gave it up when I realized that music wasn't something that came completely naturally to me (like I thought it should) and I struggled to perfect my talent. I regret that I gave it up, and still think I'll go back to it one day.

Oopsie - more than 6!

I am not tagging anyone!

Jasmine

2006-12-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

While visiting my friend, she made me a pot of jasmine tea. Having recently returned from Korea, and taken a trip to China, she returned with these beautiful flowers that unfurl while soaking in hot water. They almost blossom, breathing out a luxurious aroma and creating a fabulous tea.

Rusty Fence

2006-11-27T22:22:00.000-05:00

I was out walking to get a cup of coffee and had to stop and take a few shots. Something about them reminds me of the peeling paint images that I shot. Does it have something to do with nature taking over? The beauty in the ugly when you look closely? The transience of the things we think are so stable, like steel?

Chicken Soup for the Soul

2006-11-26T16:54:00.000-05:00

Strawberry Bush Frost

2006-11-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

Early morning frost (I was a little late to work taking these photos!) on the strawberry bush in my garden in the backyard

The Ring

2006-11-19T23:05:00.000-05:00

About a year and a half ago I took a class in metalsmithing. There I made this ring for me, and its mate - which lives with the boy I love.

Red sky at night

2006-11-10T19:33:00.000-05:00

Who would believe this happens in our own backyard?

Glass

2006-11-10T19:27:00.000-05:00

I couldn't resist capturing all of the lucious forms that appeared in this glass floor at the ROM

Bata Shoes

2006-11-10T19:16:00.000-05:00

At the Bata Shoe Museum, I couldn't walk in these. I just couldn't. Beautiful design though

I took this photo specifically for Michelle because I knew she'd love it.

Sudbury travels

2006-11-06T20:13:00.000-05:00

5 hours on the way to Sudbury gets a little dull staring at trees and rocks and more trees.

Zombie at work

2006-11-01T08:23:00.000-05:00

No, I don't mean me being a zombie at work (though sometimes it feels it!)

This guy just walked into the office yesterday prompting everyone to ask, do you know who that is?

He was quite convincing! I was actually quite scared to be honest

Happy Halloween!

Beer can chicken & Allergies

2006-10-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

Weekend in Niagara:

1 Beer can chicken -yum! +

1 adorable, allergy-inducing kitty

= an excellent weekend

Sudbury - for Real!

2006-10-30T22:32:00.000-05:00

My purse was finally returned late Friday last week! So here are the real photos of Sudbury

Want to live here, right under the stack? not for me.

Reach! Me with the Big nickel, with Inco in the background
Detail of the big nickel, see the clouds?

Rust on the side of a piece of old mining equiptment - sort of pretty.

My own convenience store!

It does get worse.

2006-10-22T23:10:00.000-04:00

So remember how this past week I have had:
- the furnace break
- my apartment flooded
- my car broken into

I thought things came in threes. I thought it COULDN'T possibly get any worse than any of this. It got worse.

I went to Sudbury this weekend to help my boyfriend find an apartment because he's going to be moving there in a couple of weeks for work. On our way back, I left my purse in a Tim Hortons in Sudbury.

My wallet, my keys, my camera - basically everything I need in my life to live is currently 5 hours away in Sudbury. Someone nice turned it in, and it's safe and sound - IN SUDBURY.

I had taken many knifty cool photos to share, so in lieu I will exhibit my awesome artistic talents. Yes, I did gradute with a BFA, and I am a painter. I never claimed I could draw well.

This is our drive to Sudbury, look at me knitting away. Beautiful fall colours!

This is me with the Big Nickel. It sure is BIG! I'm actually standing on a picnic table trying to touch it (I'm too short).

So the weekend was a success, we found an apartment and Sudbury is quite nice. My favorite part was all of the rock everywhere jutting up in people's front lawns, all over the place. Even stores just sprout up on top of rock, and it makes for a very hilly city.

The best part was that I had one incident free day. One.

I'm going to shoot for two days this week. I think this is quite possibile seeing as I have no car to go anywhere and no money to spend. Excellent.

First Tow

2006-10-19T23:53:00.000-04:00

It's been a week of wonders.
First our furnace stopped running, secondly my (basement) apartment developed a leak in the rainstorm, and now... now my car has been broken into.

I don't keep anything valuable in my car, so I suppose when the theif discovered there was nothing to be had, my steering column was then torn apart and all of the locks and ignition were damaged so that I couldn't use it or get in. I'm pretty sure they tried to hotwire it, because there were wires all over. Perhaps the airbag was stolen too.

I'm now finally home after nearly 6 hours of calls to the police, reporting, insurance claims, crying to my parents, and tow trucks.

So here it is, my first tow!

Ivy church

2006-10-19T21:25:00.000-04:00

pupils like saucers & the new AGO

2006-10-16T20:54:00.000-04:00

My view today while in a meeting at work - the construction of the new Art Gallery of Ontario addition.

At the optometrist today I got those pupil expanding drops - like saucers!

Kaboom! Kraboom?

2006-10-15T23:17:00.000-04:00

Thanksgiving sky

2006-10-10T17:47:00.000-04:00

Porthole to the Heavens

2006-10-05T22:40:00.000-04:00

I work in a windowless office, but looking up in the entrance way, you can almost imagine that if you climb the ladder, you could touch those clouds.

Rubber Duckie, you're the one

2006-10-02T23:17:00.000-04:00

A nice relaxing soak in the tub - me and my duckie!

Sky view

2006-09-28T22:12:00.000-04:00

One of the things that I find hard about living in the city is not being able to see the sky. Tall buildings always seem to be in the way, and even when looking directly up, a wire crosses the view. It is often difficult to escape the encroaching city with a simple calming view of the clouds. But, there is beauty to be had in those buildings.

En route to the subway

2006-09-24T23:14:00.000-04:00

On my way to work I pass a daycare that is right beside the subway station. These flowers poke out from behind the bars that keep the kiddies safe and are illuminated in the morning light.

Fireworks flower

2006-09-21T22:31:00.000-04:00

I don't know what these flowers are called and if I planted them or if it was magic that brought them. They're huge though!

Michelle's Wedding

2006-09-12T20:11:00.000-04:00

Just a couple of photos from Michelle's wedding - I hope she doesn't mind me sharing them before she even gets them, but she really is the most beautiful woman - and this is proof!

St. Jacob's Bees

2006-09-06T20:04:00.000-04:00

Last weekend in St. Jacobs walking through a back street, we came across this little bee hive tucked in behind this metal building support. The building is the broom making place on the main strip, and th e woman making brooms stopped to see what we were doing taking photos - turns out they've had all kinds of infestations (including bats!).

Green Sari

2006-09-05T20:47:00.000-04:00

I covertly took these photos as this beautiful woman walked in front of me as I was going to the subway station after work.

chats over a cup of tea

2006-03-02T21:53:00.000-05:00