Breaking Up with Blogger

This is not the first time I have attempted to maintain a blog here on Blogger and after some thought and a rather thought provoking post by another Tatter on Facebook, I realized: she is right, why am I trying to maintain two blogs?  because essentially this blog is harboring the same content as my Facebook page (the eco-activist posts and attempts and getting healthy posts not withstanding)


So here it is, I am breaking up with Blogger.  I might come back to this at some time (perhaps where they fix the app and I am able to instantly upload images with my posts) but for right now, I will stick with an easier to access and easier to use social media platform:  Facebook.

Come and visit me here:  Erronious Lace on Facebook

Cheers,
Erronious Lace (A.K.A Erin)

Dedication

It takes a certain amount of dedication to your talent, to hold down a full-time job, wear the "hat of a wife" and remember all the social media platforms you use to "peddle" (or at the very least shamelessly self-promote) your talent.

I love creating tatted lace, I even enjoy just sitting down with a cup of coffee (or tea) and just "doodling" away until I get an end result that I like.  I even love all the tatted lace garterbelts I have made for co-workers, but sometimes I forget how important it is to: Self-Promote.

Dedication.

Self-Promotion.

Two very important aspects of my craft, its not a full time job, and in truth I would have to be living with a rather financially well off man to do that.  But I didn't choose my partner for the size of his wallet, (I chose him for his heart, his tenacity and his never-ending patience) I don't have the mindset to be a trophy wife.

Dedication.

This is not a full-time job, it is a hobby, in which I would happily take money from people in exchange for fine handcrafted lace.

Hobby.

Dedication.

Self-Promotion.

The toughest aspect of a hobby you wish to share with the world, there is a fine line between self-promotion and the desperate plea of someone wanted to make enough money, fast enough, to allow them to stay at home.  Not my deal. 

Hobby.

I'm rambling, and it is clearly time for sleep.  Please enjoy an image of my latest project:  a tatted lace border for a cross-stitched table cloth.

Back to Patterns

Sometimes I need a break from patterns, mostly because I struggle with following them, but lately I have needed some inspiration.  And since tomorrow is #WowWednesday I thought I would shine a light on Jon Yusoff and her blog: Tat-A-Renda as well as her books (which you should purchase, if you haven't already).

First off let me admit to the heinous act of taking my pattern books apart (I know my Librarian Friends are probably freaking out) but lets settle something carrying one page of a book in my purse is far easier than carrying an entire book. 

Right now I am enjoying some pages from Jon Yusoff's tatted snowflakes book.  This Milky Way snowflake and the "Twirly Whirly" one have become my recent favourites. expecially since I have figured out how to add red beads to the Twirly Whirly snowflake to make it look like a peppermint twist. (Pictures to come later)

You will need to learn split rings to work most of these patterns but they are clearly designed with love, care and a passion for Tatting.  

Again, check out her website:  Tat-A-Renda and see what she has been up to, and if you are interested in her books they can be found in a number of places, but if possible, purchase them directly from her (through her website I image) since there is not middle man to take majority of the money.

Christmas is Coming....

Sometimes I find it so frustrating that the retail industry puts out Christmas items before Remembrance Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving; that frustration can't be any more evident when walking into Micheals!  Micheals.

Winter is coming, Christmas is coming; it's inevitable.  How we witness each Holiday as it passes, is what matters.  It doesn't matter that Micheals is stocking Halloween and Fall items along side Christmas.

No.  What matters is that we Remember on November 11th, and that we are Thankful for all we have that first Sunday in October and that when Christmas comes we hold our family members dear and remember those who needs us more than ever.

We should remember everyone and help them when they need a kind word or a helping hand.

Sometimes

It's September 3rd and usually I do all I can to avoid noticing this day.  But sometimes it sits there in my peripheral vision, a nagging reminder of eleven years, eleven birthdays.  Eleven.  Today, it's different, I don't miss you like I used to, there is a knot of reminder in my stomach, but I don't hold the knot the same way.

In the past I would hold this knot, caress it and wonder why I don't feel myself.

Well today: No. Today I will invite this knot to tea, have a conversation and send it on its way, with blessings and love and light.

There is no room here for the knot of September Third anymore.

Bead Shop Mayhem: The Struggle is Real

After today's wonderful moments of "inter-web" catastrophes and reminding myself that a wonderful walk on a beautiful sunny Sunday (after a stormy Saturday). I really can't complain about a bead shop having the wrong business hours posted on their Facebook page.  I will however lament that this did not go over well for me since this was my first attempt to visit this store (given that it was local and only a short 20 minute walk away from my house) and at time time is not inciting me to check out the store again any time soon.

I did however take the 45 minute leisurely stroll down to my favourite bead shop just off Johnson St, on Broad (I believe: Victoria Bead Town) in downtown Victoria only to discover some new beads that I "really-really" had to have!  There was one little glitch, I realized when I got home that it meant I would have to re-do a garter belt.  Am I sad?  No not really, because to be honest, the initial garter belt was "not sparkly or fancy" enough with simple glass beads on them.  I wanted sparkle! I wanted something the Bride will be happy to hold on to for her daughter or future daughter-in-law to wear when she walks down the aisle (Something Old, Something Blue)

And I have yet to be disappointed by the selection or even the wonderful service I always receive at Victoria Bead Town Designs, and 10% off VIP card is always a nice treat!  

Back to the initial bead shop, it was a moment today that I am starting to considered that maybe my cousin is on the right track with the idea of recycling old glass beaded jewelry she finds at garage sales and in Thrift Shops.  Not only does it reuse what will otherwise eventually end-up in a landfill, but it removes the dismay when faced with other shops being closed on a sunny Sunday.

Summer is Almost Over...

As summer ends and I sew in the ends of the last few octopi I have made for children at Kids Klub I feel excitement and some vague sense of "bittersweet"; partially because summer is ending and the long days spent splashing in the water on Beach days or the short moments teaching the children how to make felted animals or simply play a few rounds of Uno are shortening just like the time the sun spends in the sky is shortening.

Already I am making plans for the years and months that lie ahead.  We (my partner and I) know what is up with my health and we are taking the steps to get me better while I take on the challenge of finally going back to school. (YAY)

It's going to be busy, but I will learn to budget my time and at least post here once a week, even if it is just pictures of what I am getting up too in the tatting world.

Waste Not, Want Not

It's impressive what people are willing to throw away; either because some pieces got lost or broken and what a negative impact that has on our environment!

Mr. Smith saved this from wasting away for years and years and millennia at the local dump; it can certainly be used by me! I'm looking forward to embellishing the edges with tatted lace and making info cards for the center panel. 

Oh the possibilities are endless for next year's Fribrations Festival as a demonstrator!

Fibrations Festival 2015

Fibrations Festival is a one day festival held in Victoria BC each Summer; the past few years it was housed on the grounds of St. Ann's Academy, this year it was at Robert J Porter Park.

This was my first year attending this event as well as volunteering both with the Fibrations crew and as a member of the Victoria Embroiderers Guild (despite not paying my dues yet) and I had some very mixed impressions of the day.

Volunteering as part of the Festival was an incredible experience and I was there for set-up at 8am and tear down at 4:30, on the whole it was great experience; watching the vendors arrive with their items to sell, setting up tents and tables, and watching as the donations for the Raffle table were being submitted and arranged.

I would do it again.



I also loved the demonstrations that were available for patrons to attend.  Although I volunteered for two shifts with Fibrations and on with The Victoria Embroiderers Guild I was able to attend at least one demonstration.  

The first demo of the day was the one I was most interested in: Basic Kumihumo.

What a skill to learn!  And so simple!  It has instant gratification for children; and in a world where gratification is instant this is a craft that will fill that need for a quick and easy completion of a craft AND help work on patience, fine motor skills as well as allow for a chance for children to work their creative minds a little.

                                                                        Now attending this event with the Victoria Embroiderers Guild is another story all together.

An experience that leaves me questioning why I would want to pay my registration fee for this year.  As an interested party in joining the Guild one can imagine my dismay when I was excited enough to volunteer to help out at the Guild table at the event only to be reminded that I was not yet a member.

I understand how that would look (in hind-sight),  however it would really impress upon the Guild to request that interested members are made fully aware of their position and told not to volunteer for events until after their registration fees are paid.

I am also well aware that the protocol for registering is that interested parties are able to attend 2 meetings before paying their yearly dues, and it was come to an agreement that my volunteering would be considered my second meeting.  However, it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I will be taking the next few weeks to decide on whether I want to actually pay my dues (I really, really want to be a part of the Lace Special Interest Group and that really is the only reason for joining) However I think that it would be interesting to join and "shake things up a little".  Clearly it is time to add fresh eyes and a new perspective to the group thus improving membership: I hope.

As for volunteering with Fibrations: I am so on it for next year!!!

This Caterpillar is ready to be a Butterfly

The intent here is to hold myself accountable; most of you won't care, and the rest of you are just lurking to see whether or not I genuinely will hold myself accountable.

I've recently met a group of Doctors who are willing to look deeper into why in over 25 years I have been obese and no matter how hard I work or how "well" I eat the weight stays.  I can build muscle that would put "The Rock" to shame (but one trip to the gym leaves me so physically tired that I need 2 full days of sleep before I go back) and then there is the eating, I try and I'm human, I make mistakes but now there is no room for mistakes now... this time I'm building a network of support (and add kickers) to make sure that I keep the changes suggested to me: a soy free and gluten free diet (shoot me now)! Oh good God I hope I make it!

Keep in touch, next post will be at a computer so I can add pictures. 

(Yes, I am still struggling with posting photos via the app)

Between Chores...

It's not very often I take time to just doddle and play with thread and shuttles, just for the pure joy of holding the thread: its luster and shine, softness and flex.  This is just a sampling of what I have gotten up to today, so far, between chores and the other typical necessities of a day off.

F-it

It's ironic how much things can change in a year; from medical to emotional to personal growth.  I'm not crazy big on sharing (in real life) and I find it difficult to reach out (or even "put myself out there") but recently I finally saw a Doctor who admitted that I "most likely have a rather mild case of PCOS" and that is "the reason behind my 20 year struggle of not loosing weight" despite trying everything.

Now I can't claim that I am a saint: I am human, I have had days where I do home and eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough because the idea of prepping a healthy salad is about as fun as having my sinus' irrigated: a CHORE!  It doesn't make it okay, but again, I am human.

What angers me, is that it took 20 years of fighting with Doctors of documenting my eating habits or paying personal trainers ridiculous amounts of money to try and loose weight only to be told by the medical industry: "You're just not trying hard enough."

You're right, the days I come home so tired I can't even stand to take a shower, let along use a paring knife to prep vegetables means I am lazy.  Yawning through cardio class at the gym and having to take a 45 minute nap in my car before I can safety drive home means I am lazy.  You're right, I am simply lazy when a hike of 17kms a day with a full back pack leaves me dead physically and my partner has to set up camp alone (despite the training I took before the trip).

I am just lazy.

Imagine my anger when I find out that it most likely is PCOS (Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and I want to punch walls when I am finally told:  "Oh this is usually clinically diagnosed, it is very rare that anyone's blood work comes back indicating PCOS"

I want to yell.

I want to cry.

Instead I come to my profile picture.  This is me at approximately 235-40lbs last Summer (August 2014)  My partner had taken me to Horne Lake Caves (Near Nanaimo BC).  The hike to get to Andres' Annex nearly killed me.  By the time I got to the entrance to the cave I wanted to sit down and cry from exhaustion.  I was done.  My partner had to cajole a "sweet smile" out of me and what he got was this thinly veiled contempt of a smile.  I was done.  I didn't want to go into the cave.

I tried and "tapped out" I saw the ladder and couldn't do it, the ladder seemed too far away and I was unable to see the little ledge you could sit on to climb out on to the ladder.  I left the cave, and sat down for a good long cry outside the cave while he went exploring.

This year, was a little different.  This year I powered through most of the hike up the Andres' Annex, partially fueled by rage, exasperation and a desperation to prove to myself I am not lazy.  I only stopped once so short of breath that I thought I would almost pass out.  I had to prove to myself that I am not lazy.  Just constantly physically worn out, as of late; as side effect of being now 45 days late but not pregnant.  All I want to do is sleep.

When I climbed into Andres' Annex this time I was able to marvel at the assortment of cave crickets and limestone streaked rocks.  I made it to the bottom of the ladder and promptly had to stifle to animalistic need to scream and cry when I could not figure how to maneuver my swollen stomach through a crevasse, I gave up and climbed back up the ladder.  at the top of the ladder before I headed out of the cave I saw this crack and realized that  with a tentative diagnosis treatment is around the corner.

That once treatment starts I can relax and once the weight loss happens and with the right guidance from the Diabetic Education Center I will start to see the results I want to see after months in the gym.  I will start to feel normal again.  I will be happy with the lightest weight of 192lbs, but lets be honest that 185-180lbs would be a beautiful thing.

With any situation there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, I just have to focus on breathing through the panic and trust that the people with me are willing to catch me and lift me up when I need it.

Wow Wednesday - Heart Doily

This Heart Doily is my "Wow Wednesday" post...

I found it while checking out the latest updates at Tat-a-Renda's Blog site, as always it is a joy to see what Jon Yusoff is up to as she has some incredible books published and is always posting "new" Vintage items that she has found.  I can't post any of her images; you will just have to check out her site to see for yourself.

I also do not want to step on toes and post images of the "Heart Doily" that are already posted on the "Land of Laces" blog site.  I will however reference back to this post once I attempt this doily for myself.

Please check out both websites.  I promise you will be in awe.

The Walbran Valley - The Road Must Stop Here!

Have you ever taken the time to lie in a forest and listen to what it has to say?

Have you shaken hands with the people who have gone before you and felt a certain awe when standing in the shadow of their integrity?

Have you met the people who worked so hard in the early 90's to protect a tract of Rain forest only to find them kicked in the teeth by the government?

And yet with teeth bleeding and gums raw they stand, united in protecting something so precious I do not have words to explain what I feel.

I have walked these weathered board walks, I have breathed the same heavy, humid air laced with the scent and taste of cedar.  I have lain on these same boardwalks and listened, heard the whispers of the people who fought so hard for this land.  I want this small parcel of land to be standing when I am able to take my first (future) child out to see what "Daddy fought for when he was twelve and what he fought for again when he was in his 30's"  I want future children to stand on the upgraded boardwalks and listen, listen to the whispers of the voices that stood united under the trees.

Please share this post, thus sharing the links below.  We have had the luxury of the Victoria City Council passing a motion to take a stance against logging in this valley no mater what form of logging that is.

The British Columbia Government needs to be aware of the logging practices back east in Ontario and Quebec, sustainable practices that has helped to leave what pittance of old growth forest they have left alone.

Please, write your letter!!

Sign the Petition!

We can't let the momentum die, make sure The Road Stops Here FOREVER.

Morganna The White: Recycled textiles Woven art frames

Morganna The White: Recycled textiles Woven art frames: New recycled artwork  by Morganna The White I find  Myself obsessing with weaving  and  the basic beauty of textiles.  How  int...

It takes a certain creative eye to look at a pile of threads and instantly know how you will use that pile of reclaimed threads and re purpose them into something that would lends just the right soft and feminine feel to a "Shabby Chic" decor.

My half of the hobby room in my house has brightly coloured tatted motifs suspended from the ceiling over my desk and bits of thread hanging out of drawers and spilling out of jars, cups and glass vases.  (I don't know how often I have heard:  Honey PLEASE! can I use this jar for more fresh pesto?)

My tatting and bobbin lace crafting is not what I want to discuss today, I want to remind you of my awe of my cousins creative eye.  From the time we were young enough to realise you could draw and paint with mud and dirt she has been unstoppable!  I hope her daughter finds similar joy in painting with mud and chooses to never stop!  Not for anyone!


I am years behind my cousin in creativity and it is because I made the choice to stay when my Ex said: "It's you or your art junk and crap"  I should have taken my "art crap" and walked out the door and never looked back.  Hindsight is always 20/20, but do I regret my choices? No. Not for one second, because I learned from them and I hope that other women (AND men) will read this one day and realise their craft, their creativity that center that makes them as "unique and beautiful as a snowflake" is far more important than whether they have a warm bed.

Because in truth the people who REALLY love you will be the ones who help you unpack your "art crap" and ask you to stay a while on their couch.

Fall in love with yourself.

Fall in love with your craft.

And for goodness sakes walk away from anything that does not suit you!

New Glasses = Better Tatting

I finally updated my prescription glasses and right now I just have the sunglasses; got to enjoy some tatting in the sun today and could actually see the 20 and 40 gauge threads!

Wow Wednesday

I have been trying to do this for a while, but for whatever reason I am unable to make this post via the Blogger App...

My cousin has been an artist for as long as I can remember; ever since she could hold a crayon in her hand or get into someones paint supplies she has been creating.  Her paintings are bright and welcoming, and her jewelry has the ability to suit anyone.

I don't want to take any images from any of her online sites to share here as anyone can follow the links below to see just how incredible her reclaimed materials jewelry is.  I have a pair of earrings that I love to wear out for "date night" or even "girls night"

Seriously though, check her out you might find something to order for your Mother, Girlfriend or as an extra thank-you to your children's care-takers.

Morganna the White: Etsy Profile

Mornganna the White: Facebook Page

Morganna the White: Blog Spot

Thread Heaven

Thread Heaven.  What an impressive invention this is.  All the time I have wasted with thread breaking and tearing and so much more!

Image from the Thread Heaven website, please check out the link below.

The Thread Heaven website, will give you an idea of where you can purchase this incredible product.

As far as using this product in tatting I have come to rely on this product since I have a preference for sourcing my threads at garage sales and thrift shops. I know these are not ideal sources, because more often then not threads are rarely stored adequately and can degrade the threads.

But.

Thread Heaven doesn't just make using vintage threads easier, it helps Lizbeth Twirlz threads slip and keeps perle cotton threads from fraying when I tat with them.

Amazing.

I will post comparison images, once I can get a clear image...

Mental Conundrum

It's not often that I feel disillusioned when faced with the reality of the [(Corrupt) very, very, very corrupt] democratic process in Canada: but lately I do.  Teal Jones has their hands so deep into the financial pockets of the Liberal Party here in BC that I fear there will be no saving the Walbran Valley.

I have done my part, written my letter, called Teal Jones (and I am still waiting for a call back) I even sent another letter to Christy Clark and this time the email was "rejected" - Am I surprised? nope, not at all!  This is a woman who sets up a yoga day thing, on a bridge: and never shows. A woman who claims we need a better response to oils spills and yet when there was a crisis I am sure she "just needed her nails to dry" before she made it a priority.  A woman who screams about integrity and yet: has none.

Her integrity is so lacking that I am certain we will see the Walbran Valley desecrated soon enough.  Why because Christy Clark stands for Integrity.  Damn this woman needs a (F@*king) dictionary.  Integrity my a$$.

 Again, I implore people to write, ask your friends to write!  This small sliver of Rainforest is important, and its a bear sliver that is left.

Write Your Letter!

The road stopped here once before, lets ensure it stops again!!

Sunday Chores

There is usually a time in most peoples week, month or year where the idea of chores seems repetitive and far too "Adult".  Well today I seriously do not want to "Adult" (there is some sort of irony with the idea that being an adult is now a verb for most people)

Rather than "Adulting" I think I would prefer some "Tatting" or at the very least taking another run at trying some bobbin lace.

But even then Tatting seems like a chore, as I am a week behind on a wedding present and feeling embarrassed I would rather stick my head in the sand and ignore my blunder.  That is, until I remind myself that the Garter-belt is finished and the Christmas Ornament is too I just have to figure out how to get the optional Boston Bruins boutineer on the go...

While I mull that over, I might whip up a few more of these with different coloured beads.  The smaller motif in this chain is created by Jon Yusoff and you can check out here blog at: Tat-a-Renda, she has some impressive free motifs as well as you really should by her books, my favourite is: Tatted Gems

Time to go "Adult" no one likes a bathroom that is not cleaned at least once a week....

Permit Submitted, Permit Pending: War in the Woods Pending

It's not often I feel so deeply about a cause that I am speechless.  When will we stop?  When will humans realise that a sliver off land called a "Provincial Park" is not enough Rainforst to protect our environment?  Will we understand when the drought comes?  Will we see our mistake in hind-sight, when there are no more Marbled Murelets to sing us to sleep? No more Spirit Bears to revere?

When will be care?  When will we stand up and take notice?

We need to notice NOW!

We need to care enough to preserve this for the next generation.

Write you LETTERS!  Seriously.  Unless you don't care and you enjoy seeing the pictures in History and Geography books of what this land "used to look like"...

Write!  Please care, Write your letters!  Canadian's this affects all of us! To the rest of the World: Don't left the Canadian Government repeat your mistakes!  Write!!

Wilderness Committee: Write your Letter, Save the Walbran

At the very least, pretend to care and write your letter, click send.  We need to keep clear cuts away from the park boundaries as it will erode our part and eventually leave us with NOTHING.

Asymmetrical and Vintage

Some would say that it is best to stay away from Vintage threads, and to be honest I have no idea how vintage this particular ball of crochet cotton really is; but it tats up beautifully, snaps in the shuttles beautifully and the colours still look great.

Before I go, here is a picture of my latest add to  my Etsy shop...  "Fiesta at Sombrio Beach"

Celebrate

I have been thinking about theme of this years theme for Summer Camp, quite a bit, mostly because it has made sense:  Why is it we live in a world where the end result is more important than the travel to get there?

Its something to think about; life really is a marathon.

And I need to remind myself of this all the time.  I need to remind myself that my life, my journey can't be measured against anyone else's journey.  Am I happy?  Yes.  I have all that I need at this time, and yet, at times I forget to celebrate where I am, rather than wait to celebrate the large milestone.

Things we should all remember:

• Life is a Marathon, not a Race.
• Live each little moment as though you have caught up with the proverbial ice cream truck.
• Not my Circus, Not my Monkeys
• Celebrate, Celebrate small and Celebrate LARGE

In closing, please meet: Dr. Riddles, he is a new mascot for this years Summer Camp.  He loves to tell riddles, I can't wait to see how things go with him this Summer.

I can't stress this enough: Save the Walbran Valley

Teal Jones. We are watching you!

Teal Jones.  We know what you have marked for cutting

Teal Jones.  Stop.  Stop Teal Jones

We have had some people involved with Friends of the Walbran Valley head out this past weekend and what we have seen should be enough to worry everyone.  There are trees in the proposed cut blocks that are so huge you can't hug them with just a few friends.  So large they have been there since before the signing of the Magna Carta!  They have stood tall through 2 world wars and Teal Jones is willing to cut down these trees to make a few quick dollars.  Dollars that won't even stay in Canada.

Please have a heart and Write your Letter, Sign the petition!!!

Write your Letter - Save the Walbran Valley

Stay Informed: The Road Stops Here, and it will stop again!

Logging in British Columbia - Stay Informed

Tension and Picots

I still have concerns about the Walbran Valley and I will still supply the link so that people can write and submit their letters to Government and the appropriate people in this post.  This is something that is near and dear to my heart, some of you won't care because you have never been there, but when you stand on the bridge where the original protests happened; it changes you.  You see and feel the beauty of a place that people are willing to destroy to: "make a quick buck"

Write your Letter - Save the Walbran Valley

On to Tension and Picots:  I have never realised how important consistent tension and consistent form (for picots) is to creating the "perfect doily".

Let me tell you this is not an easy thing, and this being my third Summer as a Tatter its quite a kick to the Ego to find that I still have "a lot to learn" about tension and picots.

Firstly: I hate picots, I find them frivolous, just frivolous.  And I have a serious "Love-Hate" relationship with picot gauges.  I will admit, it probably has a LOT to do with the fact that maybe I have not yet found a gauging system that works for me.

Above is my final round of the Amusement Doily (pattern can be found by following the link) and you can seen how important tension and consistency with picots is because the last round seems to be taking on a "bowl like" affect because it is lifting up.  Frustrated, I "cut my losses" and clipped the shuttles off my work, I will keep this as a reminder, of how important tension and consistent picots really is.

Amusement Doily: Reboot, here is the next attempt.  I have also added more picots: one, to see if I can convince myself to like them and two, as practice using the picot gauge seen in the photo.

I will keep you posted on my progress with this 2nd attempt for this doily.

The Road MUST Stop Here

The Road Stops Here - 1991 info video on the Walbran Valley

I understand that I have already posted today on the matter of the Walbran Valley, but we need momentum, we need letters, we need our Government to stand up and take notice.  Watch the video and follow the link below to write your letter to the Government, all you have to do is fill out the form and once you hit send it will automatically be forwarded to the necessary people.

Times Colonist: Old-Growth Logging in the Walbran Valley

CTV-News coverage: Walbran Valley Threatened

Write your Letter now

Here is my letter:

RE: No old-growth logging in the Walbran Valley

First allow me to share a very pivotal experience for me; in grade nice I watched "The Road Stops Here" and as I sat in my grade nine Geography class crying I believed that the Government had actually heard the shouts of the protesters.  I fooled myself into believing the Government had the best interests of the environment at heart.  However, with time complacency breeds and we forget what it was these protesters fought so hard for.

Over time, we have all forgotten: The Walbran Valley contains some of the last intact tracts of old-growth temperate rain-forest left anywhere on southern Vancouver Island and that once this is removed it will be a desert of rock and land slides.

We have turned a blind eye to the fact that: Over 90 per cent of Vancouver Island’s low-elevation old-growth forest has already been logged, and we have a responsibility to conserve the rest for future generations.  I would like to be able to walk my children over the bridge where the protests happened and be able to say: Child this is what protesting can do, it can protect trees so old they have out lived world wars and provided cures for Cancer and could potentially provide clues for more cures in the future.

We need to remember that old-growth forests are more valuable standing because they provide habitat for endangered species, its an irreplaceable cultural and recreational resource and as a storage sink for climate-changing carbon.

The Walbran provides habitat for several endangered species, including the marbled murrelet and red-legged frog.

The BC government currently does not have a plan to conserve what’s left of the province’s old-growth forests, so it needs to halt old-growth logging now – starting with the Walbran Valley.

We need to stop pillaging something so priceless.

We need to keep this for the furture.

Remember: "If we lose our forests, if we savage this land, we might as well be cutting off our own right hand"



Erin McLeese
Victoria, BC

Save the Walbran Valley

A valley worth saving, and a cause greater than us:  The Road Stops here, reboot.

When I was in grade nine Geography I was introduced to a video that caused my heart to burn with fear and tears to fall from my eyes.  I was not part of the protests that saved the Walbran Valley from certain doom in 1991, I was eleven at the time and living in Ontario; a place where the idea of a forest was "tree farms" and "tree lots" or the small spattering of trees left along creeks and riverbeds.  I had no idea trees could grow so large and tall that it could take up the 30 or more people hand to hand just to encircle it.

Then, I saw the movie, I saw the ravaged mountainsides and felt a pain that only a person with a true understanding of Environment would understand.  And as my teacher turned off the short 30 minute video he said: there will come a time, in your life, when you will have to choose, choose between keeping silent or speaking up for something or someone who can't help themselves.  Someone or something that once snuffed out will never be back to grace us with their beauty.

Please, become part of a greater cause, something more important than merely remembering to recycle your paper on recycling day.

Write a letter, because once this bit of forest is gone, all we will have left is desert and no more forest.

Save the Walbran Valley

Global News - Wilderness Committee

Globe and Mail - Vow to Protect the Walbran Valley

Welcome

Good morning, Good evening, Hello,

Welcome to Erronious.Lace and Ejay Creations, this site is intended to share my creative progression of the items that will eventually be available in my shop (or that already are available).  Most items are Christmas and Winter in nature, however over time I hope to add more items that are for daily use, such as jewelry.  I am in no rush to try and "break into" this market as there are so many amazing Lace Artists already selling beautiful pieces of jewelry on Etsy.

Please enjoy this space as I work on building it; some days I will provide links to fellow Etsy shops to check out, however most posts will be to highlight my handmade items.

As always, Thank-you for stopping by.