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  • Update to the Jax pattern, and tough learning experiences.

    I’ve updated the pattern for Jax to include instructions for a full-length leg warmer pattern as well as the boot topper version – I was enlightened to the need for this by someone who listed it as a project on Ravelry, and let’s just say she wasn’t kind.

    It was an interesting experience for me – I had spent a lot of time replying to emails from this person to help her through the pattern – explaining the cables, the row and pattern counts etc. I felt I’d done a lot, particularly considering my day job doesn’t leave a lot of time for drafting emails about knitting patterns.

    I care about standing by my patterns though, and making sure people have a good experience with them. It’s important to me that folks are happy with my work. So you can imagine my shock when she listed her completed project and wrote that she basically hated them. There was even swearing involved.  It seems that the problem was her being under the impression that they were leg warmers instead of boot toppers. As though I had somehow written a miraculous pattern that would allow me to wrest 2 full sized leg warmers out of a measly 350 yards of sport weight yarn.

    Well, lesson learned for me. I even wrote a short email back to her, after I updated the pattern to include yardage and instructions for full length warmers. I confess, I was so hurt that it took me literally months before I felt ready to draft a short letter expressing dismay at her choice of words and advice on maybe being kinder in the future.

    It’s a good lesson. I love designing knitwear, and I love that feeling of satisfaction when people send me photos of things they’ve made. I want to make sure I’m improving the way I work, and the way I communicate with my fellow knitters. To this end I thanked her as well, for bringing the discrepancy to my attention.

    The internet is a big place. When you put your work out there you can expect a few pieces of feedback that run the gamut from unflattering to downright mean. I’ve been lucky; in the wide worlds of Ravelry, WordPress, Facebook and Pinterest my negative experiences can be counted on one hand, with room to spare.

    It was a tough learning experience, but one I’m glad I had!

  • Sorry…

    I’ve been bad to the blog, I know. It’s been a while since I posted and I’d like to say it’s because I’ve been having a fabulous time on vacation somewhere, but it’s because I’ve been working like mad. I missed all kinds of things this summer, I might just have to throw a party to make sure I get a little fun in before the warm weather moves on.

    In the meantime, Buskerfest is on here in Toronto this weekend and I am desperately hoping to be able to make it, at least for a little bit! Here are some pics from past years, enjoy!

    For the photo-geeks out there; I shot these using Canon’s 24mm prime f2.8 lens, it gave me great wide angle shots at low light conditions, and is an affordable lens to boot :)

  • It’s just cool enough…

    Not that I’m hastening the end of summer. But it’s just cool enough at the office today to wear something knitted. Yes.

  • Found this beautiful quote and just had to share.

    The photo is one I took of the 2 sisters roving I’m working on, and I found the quote online – feel free to click on it for a bigger version, enjoy!

    Spinning - Photo ©Shireen Nadir 2012

    Here’s something else I learned from a friend, quoted from wikipedia:

    The charkha (etymologically related to Chakra) was both a tool and a symbol of the Indian independence movement. The charkha, a small, portable, hand-cranked wheel, is ideal for spinning cotton and other fine, short-staple fibers, though it can be used to spin other fibers as well. The size varies, from that of a hardbound novel to the size of a briefcase, to a floor charkha. Mahatma Gandhi brought the charkha into larger use with his teachings. He hoped the charkha would assist the peoples of India achieve self-sufficiency and independence, and so used the charkha as a symbol of the Indian independence movement and included it on earlier versions of the Flag of India.

     

  • Just a really nifty rainbow…

    Taken after a storm on Saturday, I’ve never seen one so bright!

    ©Shireen Nadir

  • Karate-Cool at Albion Falls

    ©Shireen Nadir 2012

    This past weekend was the dan (black belt) grading at my karate school. It was an excellent grading, and now that it’s over I wanted to share the photos of Senpai that I took for his grading submission.

    Every black belt I know dreads the photography part of a grading. It’s hard to try and look your karate-cool-best when you are in your uniform, in public, and feeling a little bit silly. I was no different for mine. 15 years of practice and there I was having trouble coming up with a move that would make me look like Chuck Norris without feeling like a complete loser.

    ©Shireen Nadir 2012

    Senpai’s photos, though I know he didn’t feel too comfortable either, turned out excellent. I think out of all the black belt shots I’ve taken for folks these are easily the best so far. The dramatic backdrop certainly added a lot to it – he actually climbed halfway up the waterfall for a few of the shots. I’ve got to figure out how to top this for the next one!

  • What’s that? Dragonfly inspired jewellery?

    OK :)

    Dragonfly bracelet

    • Sterling silver oversized dragonfly clasp
    • 4mm bicone Swarovski crystals in Aqua
    • 3mm bicone Swarovski Crystals in Caribbean Blue
    • 4mm Deep brown Swarovski pearls
    • 2mm sterling silver seed beads
    • Smoky Quartz finish Japanese delicas
    • 2 Sterling silver filigree cone ends

    Dragonfly Bracelet

     

  • If you do not like bugs…. then this post is not for you.

    If, on the other hand, you adore bugs, then enjoy! All these photos are from our weekend walk at the Leslie Street Spit. Shot with the Canon 7D and Canon’s 100mm prime f2.8 macro lens. The last one is my favourite :)

  • Spinning the day away

    This weekend I got lots of spinning time in on the balcony, while relaxing in the sun.

    I swear it’s heaven.

    I finally decided to take a crack at this bad boy from a company called ‘Two Sisters”:

    … and I must say it’s coming along nicely.

    I’ve decided to treat myself this weekend to a pretty new drop spindle at the Purple Purl. In the meantime, Tito and I spent the princely sum of $10.68 at the local army surplus store and came away with some plastic wheels and pvc piping – from which we plan to construct our own wheel. On the off chance that it works out I’ll document exactly what we do and share it in case anyone else wants to try!

     

     

     

  • A day at Wonderland, through Instagram

     

    Instagram Canada's Wonderland

    This weekend I have done nothing but have fun. Dearly needed, overdue, fun. Sunday was the icing on the funnel cake as a bunch of us spent a glorious day at Canada’s Wonderland.

    Instagram Canada's Wonderland

    A rainy morning combined with a long weekend resulted in a park that was practically deserted by normal standards. The skies opened up into a beautiful, clear blue and we never spent more than 5 minutes lined up for any ride. Score!

    Instagram Canada's Wonderland

    My diet went to hell, and I enjoyed every minute of a cheeseburger, fries, funnel cake and cotton candy. I shall redeem myself later, but no regrets.

    Instagram Canada's Wonderland

    All these photos were taken with the instagram application on my iPhone. It’s a great little app if you haven’t tried it – and however cynical I might be about a kitchy little photo app that lets you put filters and faux tilt-shift effects on your images…. well this one is addictive. I admit it.

    Instagram Canada's Wonderland

    Hope you all had an amazing long weekend!