Shawl Pin by Ingo Jewelry

Ingo Jewelry is having a  Shawl Pin!  This one is my very favaourite :)
Go to her website and checkout all her great jewelry.  I have many Ingo jewelry pieces and love them <3

Knook Beginner Set Giveaway

All Free Knitting is giving away a Knook Beginner Set to one lucky winner.  This special giveaway includes three Knook hooks, three Knook cords and four pattern books to help get you started.  What is The Knook exactly?  Here's how it works: The Knook is a specialized crochet hook that has a cord threaded through a hole in the non-hook end. The cord holds the stitches while you work, allowing you to create a knitted fabric.  That's right; you'll be able to knit using a crochet hook!  Pretty cool, huh?


I am going to enter!  Are you?

Canadian Aid vs. Canadian Trade Policies - An Oxymoron

Canadian Trade Policies damage any aid that goes from Canada to countries like Guatemala:
An eye opener of an article by Paul Webster helped me understand that Guatemalan peasant farmers will never eat the nutritious produce they help farm:

"The valleys contain the best land, but they are mostly used for export crops, not for growing food for Guatemalans."

"Rural families, most of whom survive via subsistence farming, suffer hunger and malnutrition because international agribusiness takes the best soil."

"Developed countries such as Canada built their agricultural might using protectionist measures such as subsidies, tariffs, and trade barriers in place to support Canadian farmers. Meanwhile, poor countries such as Guatemala have been forced to abandon such measures - often at the urging of the developed countries"

So what can I personally do about this? I'm not sure. I would like to say that I will make the time to do some research and find a way to help...I think this is not highly possible as I have a job, and family, and responsibilities that take of my time. However, I am going to try to find fair trade companies whom I can purchase products from:

UPAVIM CRAFTS

COLORES DEL PUEBLO

MAYAN HANDS

LAS MUJURES DE PANABAJ

LUCIA'S IMPORTS

GIFTS WITH HUMANITY

There are many more Fair trade on-line shops form Guatemala and other countries - you can do a search for the country you are interested. Just be sure that the site has a Fair Trade Federation tag.

Sad Loss for Canadians

This morning I tuned into CBC on the television while I waited for my coffee to be ready. I was shocked to find out that Jack Layton has passed away. I knew he was extremely ill, but had the best hopes for his recovery. I think that this is a great loss for all Canadians as well as for his family and his loved ones. I offer them my condolences.

I wish Jack relief in heaven.

Sick and Surfing

So, I took the day off because I have been fighting a cold for almost 3 months - well not the same cold, but it feels like it. You see, I'll catch a cold, have it for 2 to 3 weeks, finally start feeling better for a few days and, wham, get hit with another cold. My co-workers are even telling me I should take antibiotics. However, every time I visit the clinic the doctor tells me to let the cold just run its course...
Anyway, I thought I'd let my body rest a bit. I tidied the kitchen some, and did a couple of loads of laundry and then lay in bed surfing the net.
I found some inspiring craft ideas and wanted to share http://thelongthread.com because it's a cool site and because she is having a give away. Click on the link for details on that!

Conflicting Emotions

Watching the news coverage about Japan has me feeling extremely sad for all the hurt and anguish the earthquakes and tsunami have brought upon the people of Japan.

The fighting for democracy in Libya, Yemen, and other countries causes me to feel proud for the people who are wanting a change in their lives. However, their being crushed by the politicians causes great sadness in me. Why do people have to die?

All the events that are going on in the world brings one's own life into perspective: Where as the other day I was frustrated because I have to get up early in order to get a ride to school/work, I now give thanks that I have that ride to work because it saves me the hassle of having to commute by bus...

My life is good! I have a husband I can be myself with, one that appreciates my sense of humour and doesn't mind my unwinding by silliness. I have a wonderful and caring mother, one who has always wanted the best for me and who strived to help me when I needed it. I had a good father, with faults as we all have, who loved his children very much. I have a brother and a sister who, although not as close as my mom would like us to be, do talk to one another fairly often and have not distanced ourselves from one another. We are always there for each other when in times of stress...
I have a job I truly enjoy. I enjoy researching topics and spending time finding new resources for the subjects I teach. I love walking into the classrooms knowing that the majority of the children look forward to having me in their classroom and, even better, knowing that most of them enjoy what I am teaching them. The good working relationships I have with fellow teachers is something that is also very important in my being content.

I wish the happiness I have to all - to my colleagues, my friends, my family, the yayas, as well as to I do not know. May you all find some happiness in your lives...

Polka Dot Posh

I found a website that I really like! It's called Polka Dot Posh there are free crochet patterns on it! Check it out!