Christine Hart

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T14:34:00.000-08:00

Rather than give you another excuse for my lack of posting here in the last few months (well, the last year if I'm being honest) I thought I'd share a photo of my reason. I mentioned back in June that I was expecting. Naturally, my baby finally arrived and since October 22, Johnathan Christian has been keeping me on my toes. Now we're looking forward to his first Christmas. Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

The Monkey Suit

Sitting with Santa @ Metrotown

Teaching writing to clients

2011-08-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

I read an article this afternoon titled, "3 Steps to Finding Your True Writing Voice". The author is a copywriter who has been asked multiple times, "teach me to write like you". I've read many, many other blog posts on the subject of learning to write, but this one made more of an impact.

Brushing aside the gut reaction of "why would I teach myself out of a job?" I know that writers consent to (on the surface, at least) tutor themselves out of work for the purpose of getting their names out there. In enough cases, potential clients will be convinced of the writer's talent, but not motivated to take on their own copywriting as a DIY project. I agree with the strategy, from a marketing point of view.

What I don't agree with is the impression the practice creates. Writing is easy. Here, try these tips and you too will create amazing content. Like many professional writers, I have a writing degree which took a host of instructors and over four years of my life to complete. Added to that is the introspective assessment that I didn't develop truly effective writing skills until I had several years of workplace experience to back up my education.

So with the above context in mind, my question to other writers is, can we genuinely assist self-motivated clients with a few pointers? Or in the end, are we devaluing our industry as a whole if we give the impression that the ability to make meaningful connections with readers can be acquired through a little light reading?

I'm not taking the stance that writers are experts and other businesspeople are not. It is certainly possible to develop advanced skills through self-guided study. But you have to be starting from a place of inherent talent. Almost all of us can write, just as it doesn't break any laws of physics for most of us to sing, dance, paint, take photographs, or craft a sculpture. Will it be any good is the real question.

In creative endeavours, 'good' is always relative. But for the same reason I lift an eyebrow at writers that make our craft seem like neurosurgery (instilling fear in their readers to even attempt as much as a memo), I'm wary of writers that offer to dole out admission to the wordsmithing theme park where you only need to be "this tall" to get on the roller coaster.

Custom silver steampunk swallow

2011-08-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

I always enjoy custom work, so I wanted to share this photo of my latest made-to-order design. This is a miniature and pure silver (including several ruby chips) version of my brass steampunk swallows (recent version shown in the 2nd photo).

These swallows are always one-of-a-kind, but making a tiny copy with real silver was new. It was a pleasure to make this piece and I hope its new owner wears it well.

Silver Steampunk Swallow

Brass and Silver Steampunk Swallows

The allure of the market (and my Top 10)

2011-07-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

My Top 10 Real & Fictional Markets:

Creative Chaos, Vernon, BC

Faerie Market in Wall (Stardust)

Floating Market (Neverwhere)

Fan Tan Alley, Victoria, BC

Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Market Square, Victoria, BC

Moss Street Market, Victoria, BC

Space Port/Station (Firefly)

Troll Market (Hellboy: The Golden Army)

Vancouver Flea Market, Vancouver, BC

After attending the public market at Vancouver's Folk Festival this past weekend, I'm still wondering, what specifically do we love about markets? The atmosphere of chaotic commerce? The feeling of doing business 'off the grid' or at least independently? Or just a magic combination of bizarre knickknacks, trinkets, treasures?

So tell me, why do you love markets?

Art Attire and nesting syndrome

2011-07-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

I've finally got some pictures to share from the Art Attire fashion show on June 11 and I know this woefully neglected blog needs some love right now. It's taken me a few weeks to retrieve these photos from my sister's camera and to collect my thoughts a bit.

It was an amazing event, but more generally, I always enjoy attending literary and visual arts events for the chance they offer to see what other like-minded artists are creating. Even just spending a day in your own unique element is always fun.

For example, I reveled in the Victorian splendor that was the Antique Corset Exhibition & Historic Fashion Show at Hycroft Manor here in Vancouver, the weekend right after Art Attire. And I'm looking forward to Word On The Street again this fall.

Art Attire: Celebrating Wearable Art

Gears and Flowers Necklace

Emerald Contraption Pendant

Steampunk Letterpress Pendant

But looking at the photos from Art Attire, I think I'm ready to mention here on my blog that I'm expecting a baby this fall. Now that I've mentioned it, take another look at the photo of me standing next to the case.

Yep, that's a bump. It's not my style to do a bump-watch marathon on my Facebook page, but I wouldn't want anyone to mistake that for a lack of excitement on my part. My enthusiasm is always a bit subdued; it's just the nature of my personality.

Rather than write a lengthy introspection (or series of updates) on my bump, baby, and their joint progress, I wanted to share another artist's work, Amy Joy Dyck. Her work spoke to me as soon as I saw it and the prints below now reside on the wall in my workshop.

I highly recommend checking out the rest of her collection on her web site or at her Etsy shop. Her work is funny, provocative, and honest as well as visually engaging. The prints I chose communicated something I haven't been able to put into words, but Amy has been gracious enough to let me share these images here. Thank you Amy!

I Wonder, Will It Fit?

Nesting

Don't Mess With the Pregnant Lady

Summer in Burnaby and new projects

2011-06-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

It's summertime here in Burnaby and there are lots of exciting projects in my workshop. I'm halfway through my next novel - the first of what should be a trilogy. I'm heading back to Victoria next weekend for Art Attire, which should be an impressive show.

And I've started working with a new medium, courtesy of the awesome staff at the DVC Indoor Shooting Centre. These are my first few pendants that I'm sure will spark some discussion for anyone who wears them.

Steampunk with a Bang Pendant

Brass Gear & Bullet Pendant

Bullet & Blossoms - Gunmetal

Bullet & Blossoms - Brass

Top 10 Twitter Efficiencies

2011-01-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

I saw a tweet recently that caught my attention because I realized I used to feel the exact same way. A woman asked how people find time to tweet so much. When I first started using Twitter, I wasn't really sure why I was getting involved or whether or not I was even using it properly.

Over time, I got a feel for the rhythm of it. Then it became part of my job. And once I began using Twitter every day, it began to really make sense. I progressed from wondering what to say and to whom, to having to detach myself from spending too much time tweeting. Now it's a balancing act, but very worthwhile.

To get real value from Twitter, you really need to use it frequently. Not necessarily every day; there aren't rules like that. Unfortunately, a lot of advice out there is extremely vague. So I thought I'd throw out my personal strategies.

These are the tips I'd pass on to anyone who wants to get more out of Twitter, without downloading a mystery how-to guide or simply staring at feeds and streams all day that make as much sense as the Matrix.

When I got started with Twitter, I wanted concrete suggestions. Like these:

Be relevant. Whatever the theme of your account, your followers are looking for thoughts, insights, information, and links related to the topic you cover. For business or personal accounts, decide what topics are of interest to you and deliver on that plan, even generally.
Share articles. If you find it interesting, a number of your followers probably will too. Most publications make it painfully easy with share buttons that connect to your Twitter account and do the work for you. Most share links or buttons actually populate the text field and, unless you want to add or change anything, you just click the tweet button.
Ask questions. Your followers won't always answer, but Twitter is like that. Sometimes you're talking to yourself. I felt more comfortable using the site once I made peace with that and stopped feeling shy or embarrassed.
Share photos. Use your photos, albums you like, pictures from deviantART, Picassa, Flickr or wherever you surf photos. People like beautiful imagery because it can be enjoyed and appreciated quickly or referenced later. And like articles, this can often be done with share buttons.
Use #hashtags for the key words in your tweet. Also drop-dead easy, this simply involves putting a number sign in front of your #keyword so that when people search Twitter, your tweet comes up. More advanced users create specialized hashtags in the hopes of their term going 'viral' or 'trending' but once you're worrying about that, you won't be reading a blog post like this one.
Share products. This doesn't necessarily mean 'selling'. Nobody likes that. (Unless you're tweeting for a retailer and that's what people follow you for.) But as a regular user, if you see something really cool, share it. If you maintain a professional Twitter account, you may want to think more carefully about products you share as it can be considered an endorsement.
ReTweet and do so selflessly. ReTweeting (an RT) is a good way to build relationships, but use this function as an extension of sharing what you're interested in, even if you don't receive RTs in return. When you do receive RTs, it's appropriate to thank the user, even if you thank several users at once. My only caution with RTs is that it can become easier than generating your own content, so you might want to use them sparingly to start.
Mention other users. Like ReTweeting, this is a smart relationship-building tool already built into Twitter. You are, in a way, addressing the user when you add the @ symbol in front of their username. But like asking questions, you need to become comfortable with the prospect of talking to or about someone who may not respond.
Sustain conversations. When you mention someone and they reply to you, take a moment to think of another response. If one doesn't come naturally, that's okay. Let it pass. Don't be a last word keener. But often it's very much like commenting on a thread in Facebook. Twitter doesn't make it as visually easy to follow comment threads as Facebook does, so using a free 3rd party management tool, like HootSuite, can be very helpful.
Use a scheduling tool. I like HootSuite for this feature as well. It can turn a 15-minute session into a week's worth of tweets. I don't recommend scheduling too far in advance as Twitter users probably want a response within 24 hours. Incorporate your Twitter scheduling into a period of web browsing and you'll be surprised how many tweets you'll line up.

2010 in review

2011-01-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the wave of recaps for 2010, I think the year is definitely worth looking back on. So I've got a list of my top events and accomplishments.

Top 10 in 2010:

Loudspeaker Festival (February)
Took my jewellery to this awesome local arts festival.

Reading at The Overleafe Cafe (March)
Read from my second novel, Best Laid Plans.

Bits & Baubles at Flaming Angels (March)
My first retail presence in Vancouver.

Victoria Steam Exposition (May)
Shared a booth with the lovely and talented Rad Juli.

Tour of Victoria (July)
Visits to favourite spots and last-minute discoveries as I said goodbye to Victoria.

Stalked (September)
My third novel was released by James Lorimer & Co.

Sister Pendants (September)
A fun custom order - gifts for two sisters.

House in Burnaby (October)
Finally properly settled into life in Vancouver!

Beyond Junk (November)
Started my second Etsy shop featuring recycled craft supplies.

Home for the Holidays! (December)
Heading back to Vernon is always a treat, winter or summer.

Burnaby in the snow

2010-11-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

We've had some snow on and off for the last few days, but I haven't woken up to a winter wonderland until this morning. Thankfully it's Saturday!

And I remember, once upon a time, living halfway up Silver Star Mountain ...

Back Yard (Burnaby)

Front Yard (New West)

Stalked

2010-11-14T15:51:00.000-08:00

It's finally time give my new novel, Stalked, a little bit of promo love. So Montreal author Jill Murray, a fellow YA novelist, was kind enough to have a quick chat.

Read the whole interview over on her blog at: jillmurray.com.

How to write at home

2010-10-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

Wake up early on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday morning. Not as early as you would on a work day; don't set your alarm. But don't sleep in either.

Make a cup of instant coffee. It'll taste awful, but you won't risk waking the rest of the house with the smell of a whole fresh pot. You need the caffeine, not the noise of everyone else getting up.

Sit down at your computer desk. Unplug the Ethernet cable from your tower or laptop. If you have a wireless network, disable it.

This is important: don't dawdle. Don't get up to look for something. Don't reorganize your local files. Don't look at photos from last Christmas or your summer vacation. Open your outline, notes file, or work in progress. For notes or an outline, re-read everything. For a work in progress, re-read your most recent chapter. Hit return under the last thing you typed, and start typing something new. Make notes, record ideas, or pick up your story.

If that doesn't work, find a sticky note or piece of scrap paper. Consult a calendar and find the next available Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. Write down the date. Post the note somewhere prominent on or near your desk. Remove the last date note and crumple it into your waste basket. Plug the Ethernet cable back into your computer and load Facebook. Now you're done.

Have we reached the age of the introvert?

2010-09-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

As a naturally shy writer who lives in her head whenever possible, I've found myself pondering this question more and more as the online world marches forward. After attending a webinar several days ago, I started to contemplate the question again.

I know it's a slippery slope. Preference for conducing all business and personal communication online starts to erode the interpersonal soft skills that are so important in our daily lives.

However, when I can record a reading and post it on my web site, contribute to a workshop through a conference call, or interact with other writers and readers via blogs and social media, I'm starting to wonder what will be expected of serious writers in years to come.

Having recently started a new full-time job, I'm not in a good position to visit libraries, schools, or book stores for readings. And unless you're already in demand, nobody will chase you to do it. Because my work as a novelist is important to me, I want to challenge myself to do the hard, nerve-wracking things that could help me go farther as a writer. But I also believe in working smarter, not harder.

I remember a time when citing online sources or conducting interviews via email was frowned upon. Some publications still have research and reporting restrictions. But the tide has certainly turned in favour of doing things online where there are no time zones and no long distance charges.

So I wonder, will electronic promotion and internet marketing soon take over as the method of choice for writers? Are we there already? Probably not, but I'll be keeping an eye on the situation nevertheless.

Rescue, Reuse, Recycle

2010-08-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I found myself window shopping in chilly weather, which turned into a casual hunt for some fall additions to my wardrobe. I walked in to a few second hand shops, as is my habit to do. I am now the proud owner of the following not-new items: a beige-grey leather bomber, a light long coat with embroidery and awesome Aum buttons, and two pairs of pointy pumps that actually fit my tiny feet.

I normally buy used clothing on principle, because I feel there's simply too much waste in the world. And I like to support independent clothing stores, especially when I do buy new. But sometimes I also buy designer brand names second hand; never because of the brand, but because I like the article of clothing.

Today, I bought the light long coat because I fell in love with it, not because of the designer label. But every time I buy a trendy brand second hand, I wonder if it's the same thing as wearing faux fur. Sure, it's not really the original, but you're still supporting the aesthetic.

I recently read a thought-provoking post in one of the Etsy forums. Although the theme of the post revolves more around the personal customer service independents can offer, it reminded me how strongly Etsy sellers (and buyers too) often feel about big brands.

Etsy Success Reading List and a Thought About Big Brands

www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6608658

Are big brands part of what's wrong with the world? Should we wear them at all, even once the purchase price doesn't go into the mega designer's corporate coffer? Is it enough to think about where our clothes come from as often as we think about our food?

Switching gears to SEO

2010-08-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

This post will be the first time in many months that I'm mentioning gears without talking about trashion or steampunk. What I am talking about is my recent day-job shift from the marketing and communications writing I've done in the past to an SEO and pro blogging focus. Just in case you haven't heard of it, I mean writing for Search Engine Optimization.

Marketing strategies are still relevant, so I've been catching up on my reading from trusted favourites like Copyblogger, FutureNow, and Marketing Sherpa - along with daily doses of Seth Godin and Mitch Joel. That's all been fun reading, but I'm on the steady hunt for SEO-specific pointers.

SEO expertise isn't hard to come by, but much of what I've found is full of spin, buzz, and lots of hype. I'm looking for concrete suggestions and useful answers without having someone try to sell me consulting services.

What kind of keyword density should I aim for in body copy? One term per paragraph? Per sentence? What is the threshold for your text to be considered keyword stuffing, especially in cases where you're working with a limited selection of keywords, but still need to generate a certain volume of text?

Do keyword phrases need to be duplicated exactly or can you shuffle them a bit for grammar or flow? Does it matter if Title and H1 copy use the same keywords or is the effort redundant? Is Boolean logic still relevant in understanding search algorithms?

If some of the jargon above doesn't make sense, you might not be ready to tackle SEO projects. However, many writers with some SEO experience are sitting where I am, with just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

Even though I definitely don't have all the answers, I thought I'd share some simple plain-language notes on what I've picked up. I'm hoping to spread the good karma to writers who, like me, aren't personally interested in hiring an SEO firm just to learn a few things.

Work keywords in where and when you can

SEO can be intimidating, but it's important to write naturally, regardless of the terms you need to weave in. Think of it like a wordsmithing game and you'll get a kick out of how many keywords you can use.

You're not going to get a rule book

Unless you work for a company with a style guide for the web, you'll find that you have to wing it a bit. Different search engines use different search algorithms and none of them are passing around pointers. Google isn't posting articles like, "How to be the top result for blue metal widgets" or "Great strategies for prioritizing keyword phrases", so you'll have to get a feel for what works through trial and error.

Work with an in-house SEO expert

Trial and error is a lot easier to deal with when you have guidance. Having someone on your team do the research on which keywords should be applied to your subject, service, or product is invaluable. Your SEO expert will also be able to recommend the select most important keywords to focus on and suggest revisions if traffic doesn't improve.

It's okay to be a writer first and a marketer second

Those of use who've been working in the marketing world for any length of time know how much clout gurus, experts, and visionaries can command. The SEO niche is no different. So I'll say it again, SEO can be intimidating. You might be tempted to pass the buck and not tackle the optimization of web copy because you were trained as a journalist or creative writer. But trust me, you've already mastered more difficult forms than SEO writing.

Tell a story with your SEO writing

Statistically, it's unlikely very many users will sit down to a fresh cup of coffee and read your SEO writing they way they would an article. Sure there will be exceptions, users that ready your work in full. But mostly, your copy will either be ignored or skimmed for nuggets of information. For SEO assignments, the primary purpose of what you write is to improve the volume of relevant traffic (getting more visitors, but those actually looking to buy blue widgets rather than just anyone). Still, you don't have to settle for creating boring bad writing. Tell a story - even for those select few - and you'll have more fun with your work.

EDIT: Since posting the notes above, I spent a bit more time digging around on Copyblogger and found a really helpful guide – for free!

www.copyblogger.com/seo-copywriting

Goodbye Victoria summer tour

2010-08-01T08:26:00.001-07:00

I'm getting ready for a move to Vancouver and naturally I'm sad to leave Victoria. But rather than just wringing my hands over what I'll miss in my everyday life, I decided to make a point of getting around to visit spots I've never been to or places I haven't seen often enough.

Next time you get a chance to visit BC's capital, put some of these stops on your must-see list if you haven't already.

Bamberton Provincial Park
After visiting several Provincial campgrounds over the years, I must say, if you've seen one camp site, you've seen them all. But what makes Bamberton special as a park is the location. The park's secluded, warm, shallow beach has a great view of the peninsula across Saanich Inlet. This campground is also right next to a preserved mining site which is always cool.

Chinatown
Fresh groceries, excellent restaurants, funky boutiques and eclectic art characterize Canada's oldest Chinatown, just a block from the waterfront. (HDR image)

Christ Church Cathedral
A quiet, shady park on one side, and a charming brick labyrinth foot path on the other, this Quadra Street cathedral is a great place to take your lunch. (HDR image)

Hatley Castle
To have a wicked-awesome monument in your own city and not check it out is silly. But when it's a castle featured in X-Men movies, Smallville, and many other films and television shows, you're really dropping the ball if you don't visit. So I did - on my way out of town - but it still counts.

Johnson Street Bridge
Part of what makes Victoria such a great city is it's walkability. The Johnson Street Bridge is no exception, with a separate pedestrian path. A great spot to view the Inner Harbour.

Oak Bay Marina
A great place for seal spotting, the Marina also has a gourmet restaurant.

Ross Bay Cemetery
Located in Fairfield, this large seaside cemetery is filled with beautiful carvings. Lush lawns and ample trees make for a green setting year-round.

Royal London Wax Museum
As soon as I found out the Wax Museum was slated to close around mid-September, it popped onto my must-see-before-leaving list. And now I know why wax figures creep people out so much. About fifty per cent of them are so realistic that you can't look for long before it feels like the statue will say "boo" or lurch towards you. Also creepy was the layout that took you from the horror scenes directly to the Disney characters.

Silk Road
I've been a Silk Road customer since I discovered their tea back in 2005. Shortly afterwards, I realized they had a spa in the basement and I became an avid fan. For a quality spa, their prices are on the affordable side. But don't let that fool you. Silk Road has attentive, professional and skilled staff with excellent natural products.

Stadacona Park
I used to live around Oak Bay Junction as a student (three different apartments over the years) and hardly ever went to the park. I also didn't smell any roses anywhere in the city. But I've always remembered what a great space it is, so I went back for some quiet reading.

The Superior
I'm not one to play favourites, but I'll make an exception for The Superior. Where else can you get a fig, prosciutto and goat cheese flatbread with local gin, alongside live burlesque, blues, or jazz - all under a real life shoe tree? Nowhere. Well, nowhere I've ever been, but I'm working on that.

Electrons in a low-pressure space

2010-06-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Vacuum or Electron Tubes are one of the most interesting pieces of recycled hardware incorporated into steampunk jewellery. As a supply item, they've eluded me for some time, as my only option was to purchase small overpriced quantities on eBay.

However, I came across a jackpot at a local swap meet recently (photo below) and I'm excited to start designing with them. I have a move coming up soon, so the workshop needs to stay packed for the foreseeable future. So it will take some time, but look for these fascinating bulbs to show up in my designs this fall.

Electron Tubes

In the meantime, anyone in or around Vancouver can check out some of my new steampunk creations at Flaming Angels' table at the VSteam Mini-Con next Saturday July 10th or any other time at their shop on Main Street.

Steampunk coming to Victoria

2010-05-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

I can't wait for the Victoria Steam Expo coming up on May 22nd and 23rd! Steampunk fans will be coming from far and wide to the delightfully elegant Empress Hotel.

And I'll be at there with partner in crime Rad Juli. I've been stockpiling like mad, creating pendants, earrings, and rings exclusively for this event. My inspirations have been, of course, steam-powered machinery, but also celestial imagery, robotics, and even fairytales.

Celestial Creations

Heavy-Duty Designs

Steampunk Characters

Industrial Rings

Pendant Multiples

I've also added an individual item gallery to my Baubles' Facebook page.

For those of you that can't make it into town, check out my Etsy store in the weeks following for a flood of new steampunk items.

I'm also re-sharing a few steam-powered pics from my 2009 visit to Manchester and MOSI.

MOSI: The Baby
Replica of a computer from 1948

MOSI: Rail
Steam engine

MOSI: Power Hall
Steam machine

A new design to fiddle with

2010-04-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

If you're a regular visitor reading this blog post, you've already noticed the change in scenery. If you're new to my blog, I should explain that I do this once every few years.

This morning, I started to fiddle with the style sheet for my old template. Sometimes it's like picking at a paint flake, driving the obsessive compulsive inside to make one more change, and another, and another, until you get out the sandpaper.

Changing your web site is a lot easier than repainting your apartment (well, depending on what your web site actually does). But my little corner of the web is pretty small, so I'm really just going through a can of paint and a few slip covers for a new look.

Okay, I'm done with the renovation analogy. If you have some thoughts on the new template or find any bugs, please do leave me a comment.

PS: I'm already aware that the image map I'm using for a header doesn't work properly in the blogger version of this template. I'd absolutely love any suggestions on how to remedy that.

Chatting with Jill Murray

2010-03-29T13:15:00.000-07:00

After joining the freshly redesigned Y-Eh! blog, I've just had the chance to grab a few moments with YA author Jill Murray and get her perspective on life, work, writing, and more.

Jill's new book, Rhythm and Blues is sometimes described as "a teen comedy of ambition, identity and Auto-Tune." Her characters, much like their author, are driven (that's a polite word for obsessed), sometimes right off the deep end.

Keep reading for our Q&A below!

C: Do you believe in finding a dream job, and if so, what is the uber-fantastic-ultimate-perfect career for you?

J: I believe in making a dream job. However, I think that "dream job" as a final destination is not achievable. The more you learn, the more you change, the more you change... oops! Now my dream's different! So right now I'm trying to figure out how to make my whole life good, so I can be as responsive to change as possible. The vision I have for my life at the moment includes being able to write as much as I want, work on web projects for good people just because I want to, not for money, and to be able to live in a tiny farmhouse somewhere pretty with good air, and grow my own vegetables. I guess I'm a hippie.

C: Everybody has a creative side, even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist. What or who inspires you?

J: Getting out and trying new things inspires me-- basically, everything I write about. Dancing, singing, being (hyper)active, meeting people who look at things differently. For Break On Through I was initially inspired by shebang! b-girl crew in Toronto. For Rhythm and Blues, I took singing lessons with Amanda Mabro. Recently I was doing research in Panama, and I was just amazed by these coffee farmers who spend their whole day in the sun, on the mountains, surrounded by coffee-- so full of joy and pride and satisfaction in what they do. That's the life I'm aiming for.

C: If you could do one single thing to improve your life or your family’s life, what would it be?

J: I would blink my eyes and make it so that the entire world ran on something more caring and fulfilling than money.

C: What is the most exciting thing you've ever dreamt of doing? Skydiving? Singing in public? Climbing to the top of a Mayan pyramid?

J: I can't think of anything more exciting than building a small simple life full of loved friends and family, satisfying work, and amazing food. And some days it seems like there's nothing harder to achieve either. In the summer, I'll go to Ethiopia to learn about coffee and build housing. That will give me temporary excitement for the summer. What I learn is almost guaranteed to last much longer. But I'd rather be fulfilled than excited.

C: If you could move to any city in the world, which one would it be and why?

J: I'm a Montrealer at heart, and for a long time when I lived away from it, I pined to be back. I've been to a few places that were fascinating, welcoming and special. So far the only other city I've visited that made me want to send for my things and install myself permanently was San Francisco. But maybe I'd even like to move away from the city. (Of course, one could do far worse than the temperate, fertile area around San Fran... hmm... food for thought!)

Thanks so much for having me on your blog to answer these big questions, Christine!

Jill Murray

Author:
Rhythm & Blues
http://www.jillmurray.com/books/rhythm-and-blues

Break On Through
http://www.jillmurray.com/books/break-on-through

http://twitter.com/codejill
http://www.facebook.com/codejill

mail@jillmurray.com

Visiting Vernon

2010-03-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

They say you can never go home again. A long time ago I discovered that 'they' were right and that when and if you return to your home town, you'll never find things as you left them.

When you go home outside the holiday season, you're the only one doing so at that particular time. Your friends are grown and gone, shops and restaurants have changed, leaving you slightly unfulfilled in terms of nostalgia and social connection.

Nevertheless, I love going home for visits because fortunately, some things never change - or take a really, really long time to. I do cheesy stuff like walk on my favourite beaches and drive around to viewpoints in the valley.

And sometimes friends move back. I'm now at the age where people come full circle, returning home to raise their own kids. I'm not there yet, but it's interesting to watch these changes unfolding and accepting that life only moves in one direction.

Themes for Baubles in 2010

2010-03-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

Since starting an Etsy store in January 2009, I've learned a lot about how to make sturdier, more interesting jewellery. It's been a great ride learning about what works and what doesn't.

So far in 2010, I've been experimenting more than ever and giving my Etsy store some much needed love. I've really enjoyed putting together a couple of themed collections inspired by my trip to Kenya and the early spring here in Victoria.

Without droning on too much, here are the pics:

From Kenya with Love

Strange in the Springtime

If you haven't had a chance to visit, my Baubles now have their own Facebook page. I'm also hoping to add a new album for recent and upcoming Steampunk designs as well as a "Feeling Blue" theme. Check back soon!

Are computer parts safe to wear?

2010-02-16T17:26:00.000-08:00

It's a good question and I've been fielding it verbally for a few months now, so I thought I'd address it online as well.

What most of us are generally aware of is that technological waste is becoming a problem in India, China, Africa, and other places we've shipped waste to in the past. What's not as well known is exactly what computer parts are harmful.

Most of the harmful chemicals found in computers are in older monitors, but some chemicals can be found in chips fixed to older motherboards, sound cards, and video cards. Recycling those components for the trace metals of value can release many harmful chemicals in the process.

More details at: www.greencitizen.com/toxics_inside.php

As I'm aware of this, the parts I use in my jewellery are drawn from newer computers. Sadly, we're going through more upgrades more often as technology marches forward, creating a constant surplus of components like hard drives and DVD ROMs.

The hard disk drive arms I use are usually solid aluminum but for the odd bit of copper and plastic. My motor windings are made mostly with copper and steel, sometimes including magnets on the larger components.

So my components are generally green aside from the fact that they're being discarded too frequently. I don't break up any chips or treat anything with heat.

Bottom line, yes, all my jewellery is safe - including the computer part pieces.

If you have a question about computer parts or any other recycled materials used in my jewellery and accessories, please shout it out. If I don't have the answer on hand, I'll be sure to track it down.

The Sunshine Blog Award

2010-02-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday, I received the Sunshine Award for inspiring blogs from Joylene Nowell Butler.

Thanks Joylene, I'm flattered and I enjoy your posts too! So, in keeping with the spirit of the gesture, I'm passing it on to another group of bloggers who all inspire me in different ways.

It took me a few days to organize my list, but here are my nominations:

Akane Designs

Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs

Endangered Ugly Things

Handmade Marketer

Indie Biz Chicks

Izile's Oddities

Jill Murray

Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem

Nourish

Sam's Sideshow

Shielou

The Random Canadian

To accept the Sunshine Award:

- Put the logo on your blog or within your post
- Pass the award onto 12 bloggers
- Link the nominees within your post
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award

Writing for the web

2010-01-25T15:32:00.000-08:00

It's simple, but it's not. This isn't a subject I tackle very often here on my blog, because many, many, many other bloggers cover this subject daily. In fact, I read about copywriting much more than I actually write about it.

However, since I had several conversations about writing "copy" rather than fiction today, I thought I'd put a few of my own ideas out there.

My first and most important thought on writing for web pages and blog posts is that it's still writing; you have to be engaging and informative. Like an article, you have to provide information. Like a novel, you have to move forward. If I visit a web site that bores or confuses me, I'm gone - fast.

After you take care of entertainment value, writing for the web needs to weave in keywords, for SEO or Search Engine Optimization purposes. This has to be subtle, but effective without creating awkward and unreadable text.

Have you ever found a web site that seemed like it wasn't authored by an actual person? You may have been reading the work of someone overly excited about Google's Keyword tool.

As Internet users, we all know we experience the web differently than we do a magazine or novel. But how do we read it differently?

We scan web pages for the one nugget we're interested in, click, then do the same thing again and again, hoping to read as little as required to: find a fact, make a purchase, get a location, obtain a contact, etc.

Web writers also have to structure their text differently. Use shorter sentences, more fragments, and often convert those fragments into even shorter bullets.

So I'll take my own advice and keep it brief. But if you write for the web and you're reading this post, please do leave a comment and let me know what you think, where I've gone wrong, or what I'm missing.

Two and 1/2 weeks in Kenya

2010-01-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

It's taken me almost two weeks after coming back to Victoria to put this blog post together. Granted, it took me several days to recover from jetlag and I'm still waking up before 5 am every day and I'm racing towards a rather crucial deadline.

Regardless, I think this journey to and through Kenya might have been the most influential trip in my life to-date. Not only did I travel halfway around the world, I did so to meet and work with an amazing group of writers. It's been a very long time since I've been around that many writers (for a sustained period of time) and it was wonderful.

So where do I start? The trip itself had three significant legs, so I think it's best to break it up that way.

Week 1: Nairobi (view pictures)

A long flight from Vancouver via Seattle and Amsterdam finally ended at Jomo Kenyatta airport on December 11, 2009 and I experienced my first taste of Africa, Kenya specifically. (Slightly distracted by sharing all my flights with TV's Clark Kent - but I digress.) Walking through the slightly humid airport, I saw kiosks, gift shops, prayer rooms, and not surprisingly, people going about the business of domestic and international travel.

However, unlike most other trips I've taken, I was unprepared for Kenya. Work, books, jewellery - life in general - seemed to have overtaken me in the weeks before, so I found myself scrambling for shillings at an ATM, with only the vague idea that I needed to purchase a visa and look for someone holding an SLS sign.

As soon as the bureaucracy of officially "getting into" Kenya was over, I collected my bags, found the sign and a travel guide behind it, and was on my way to the Kivi Milimani Hotel.

Only a couple of sleepless nights passed before I was in the rhythm of compound-style life in Nairobi. The term "Nairobbery" quickly surfaced as our safety was advised on, but we didn't have any problems and saw a fair amount of the city.

We toured the downtown area, Ngong Hills, and the Rift Valley. We attended the musical Mo Faya and a Storymoja reading. We sampled local cuisine and nightlife. And during the day, we workshopped fiction and attended lectures about what it means to be a writer in Kenya - the latter, I still can't pretend to understand the reality of. It was an amazing week, but the trip had only just started.

Safari: Maasi Mara (view pictures)

After an uncomfortably early start the morning of Friday, December 18th, a Dash 8 took me to Keekorok air strip in the Maasi Mara National Park Reserve. It was very much like a movie. I retrieved my bags from underneath the plane and hauled my oversized suitcase (embarrassingly slowly) across the gravel and red clay over to a cluster of vehicles, wondering if anyone was waiting for me. Fortunately, a large man was relieved that I was, in fact, Christine Hart, and he brought my bags into his safari van.

We drove the rural roads to Keekorok Lodge and I thought I really had been whisked into a movie. The open-air lobby, to me, looked lavish and opulent. Another man, this one dressed as a Maasi warrior, brought me a glass of juice and checked me in. I looked around the lobby at the artwork, particularly the cheetah carved into the front desk, and remembered (briefly) that everything during this trip (behind and ahead of me) all cost hard earned money which I would need to start replacing immediately when I got back to Victoria.

I suppressed financial worries and another staff member helped me get my bags back to my room. It was a lovely room, nicer than I'd had in Nairobi, but I was a bit sad to be there by myself. My own scheduling error had wedged my safari into the middle of my stay in Kenya instead of at the end, with everyone else in the program.

I took a minute to get oriented, then grabbed my camera bag and purse. I planned to have a drink at the lodge to kill time before the afternoon game drive I'd been informed was on my schedule.

Then I saw them trotting across the lawn. Monkeys! I did double take. Were those ... monkeys? Yes, they were, I thought as I'd paused mid step to examine them. They'd noticed me too, but unlike me, didn't stop to assess the situation. In a second, two of the three animals were on me, one on each leg, scratching, clawing, biting, grappling my calves as I tried to alternately shake them loose.

It was really happening! I was really being attacked by two cat-sized monkeys. And they were doing damage. I started to panic. Then I got angry. I dropped my purse and started to beat them off with my camera bag, yelling "shoo" as I finally shook them loose. A Maasi lion-clubbing stick flew overhead and sent the monkeys running.

Within minutes, I had received medical treatment consisting of a large bandage, at tetanus shot, and a 5-day course of ciprofloxacin. I went back to my room, had a good cry, then had my drink before going on the afternoon's game drive.

It was all worth it. The Maasi plains were like the geographic embodiment of peace. The air smelled like fresh rain and I wanted to stay there forever, driving back and forth, looking at the mountains and clouds and umbrella trees. After another three game drives over the weekend, I'd seen everything. Lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, all the prey animals - even a black rhino, which I was told is rare.

Week 2: Lamu Island (view pictures)

Two short days later, I was dragging my luggage across another dusty remote air strip. This one, however, was the most humid air that I'd ever come into contact with. At first, I told myself it was just like being back in the Okanagan. After thirty seconds of hauling bags in that heat, I was dripping with sweat and it was nothing like back home. From the air strip, we braved the sun and dragged our bags to a wooden ferry that took us from Manda island over to Lamu.

The boat docked and we scrambled up the worn stone steps to an intense group of would-be bag carriers, boat captains, donkey masters, and city guides. Following our SLS-approved guide, we navigated narrow dirt streets, walled in by rustic plaster buildings. Donkey shit was everywhere and the smell was overpowering, but then the scents of burning wood, fresh jasmine, and barbecued meat all traded places as we walked.

"Jambo! Karibu Lamu! Polle, polle sister ... sawa sawa, asante sana." Swahili phrases greeted and chased us. (That also constitutes most of the Swahili I remember, so that will probably be all you'll get.)

Everywhere we went we were offered dhow boat trips and 'company' such as it was. In a group of mostly women, we soon picked up on the presence of male prostitution as it was rampant on the island.

We all had shirts and dresses made for mere dollars. We talked lazily about fiction in the morning and drank malt Tuskers in the afternoon. We took boat rides, swam in the bath-warm ocean, and ate crab at shacks on the waterfront at night. I don't think there is anywhere like Lamu in the world.

Not to worry, I took loads of photos along with all the other SLS students. In the era of Facebook (and book deadlines), I've got links to albums for each leg of the trip, rather than reformatting and reposting them here.

With a sunburn turned tan, mendi on my arm, healing monkey wounds, and faded hair dye, I do feel fully transformed. The marks of Kenya are written on my body and I'm completely delighted that travel still has the capacity to make an impression on me.

Countdown to Kenya!

2009-12-05T07:45:00.001-08:00

Getting into the last few days before I leave, I'm tying up loose ends and running those last few errands. It's surreal that I'm actually going.

For those of you that don't know, I'm leaving for Nairobi next Thursday to participate in a fiction program with the Summer Literary Seminars.

This is an amazing opportunity and I'm extremely excited. I was so sad when the program was cancelled last year, but I couldn't resist the chance to try again. I'm really looking forward to the atmosphere in Africa and the workshop process.

Stay tuned for photos from Nairobi, the Maasai Mara park, and Lamu island. In the meantime, I've indulged in a taste of Christmas a bit early over at Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem.

Fresh from the workshop!

2009-11-23T20:02:00.000-08:00

Just in time for this weekend's annual Rock and Roll Market, I've got brand new goodies ready to go. I'll be closing up SleeplessStoryteller's Bits & Baubles for the day, so if you'll be in Victoria and would like to see my designs in person, come check out the Market.

4th Annual Rock, Rock, Rock, and Roll Market!

hard drive disc arms & motor windings

steampunk & trashion

"Time Flies" & cyborg butterflies

rings & lapel pins

copper steampunk

Adventuring online

2009-11-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

Getting into the fall project crunch as I always seem to do - and loosing more light every day - I decided to cheer myself up today by searching for an old favourite game I used to play online. We all need distractions sometimes, right?

By the time I'd surfed around a bit and satisfied my nostalgia, I realized that I genuinely have no time to waste time. How sad is that?

If you, on the other hand, have some time to kill in the near future, I highly recommend a bit of light-hearted (and free!) gaming:

The Kingdom of Loathing

www.kingdomofloathing.com

Before you visit the site and come back to comment, I should warn you that this is a very visually basic game. If you can get past that, you'll be surprised how funny it actually is.

Clickable, flickable, twistable parts

2009-10-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

A friend was browsing through my store a few weeks ago, and the pieces she picked out immediately were the spinner rings. She loved that the parts still moved. That was my favourite part of each piece too.

I delight in being able to preserve a working button, switch, dial or other moving part from an old hard drive, DVD ROM, computer component or other piece of electronic equipment.

So I thought I'd collect up some of my designs with moving parts, and dedicate a blog post just to them. Although none of these fixtures still perform their intended tasks, they're pretty fun to play with.

Cyborg Cameo Necklace
(button clicks)

Sound of Trashion Dial*
(dial twists 360°)

Switchback Pendant*
(spring-loaded switch moves)

Switch Set
(all switches move)

Steampunk Set
(arm turns and gears move)

Motor West
(wheels turn)

Spinner Ring
(top piece moves indefinitely in either direction)

Wonder Winding Spinner Ring
(winding and accents move indefinitely in either direction)

Directionless Ring
(compass moves, but isn't accurate)

Screwy Idea Pendant
(watch case opens like a locket)

Hyeopjae Beach

2009-10-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

Now that the gray raincloud of winter has descended on Vancouver Island, I'm compelled to start surrounding myself with happier beach imagery. Searching for a new desktop background yesterday, I used the term "Jungmun Beach". It's a tourist beach near swanky seaside hotels on Jeju Island, off the southern coast of South Korea.

Jungmun is beautiful, but when we drove around to the rural, less commercial touristy parts of the island, we saw other beaches with a different, but still very exotic appeal.

When I posted my photographs from the trip, I didn't try very hard to track down the names of all those extra beaches and viewpoints.

But yesterday, while looking for Jungmun, I came across images I recognized from one of those rural stops and I remembered just how gorgeous it was. Some of those rugged beaches and weathered roadside amenities were beautiful in the same way that old watch parts and obsolete computer parts draw me in.

I made a mental note to myself: become a better traveller. Next time I share travel photos, I'll try to do justice to each and every one - not just the hot-spots.

Hyeopjae Beach

Imitation vs. inspiration

2009-09-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

In chatting with other crafters, artists, and writers, the issue of imitation often comes up. Some of us have strong feelings, so I'm curious to hear more opinions.

If somebody knowingly copies my designs or story ideas, I'm offended, but I also choose the viewpoint that if my ideas are worth stealing, then they're interesting and engaging. I'll be inspired again and poachers - probably never have been.

But where is the line between copying and drawing on another for inspiration. There are no new ideas, so we have to concede that even our most beloved creations are not entirely our own.

What do you think? How do you feel?

Keeping busy, really

2009-09-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when life moves fast, our digital calendar looks empty. Personally, I attribute this to the fact that my relationship with the Internet (and my various online hang-outs) has changed dramatically since starting a new job this past March.

It's both interesting and challenging to figure out just how many times one doesn't need to check her Yahoo email when it's no longer optional.

That said, in spite of the fact that I haven't been active on my blog or DA or Facebook, I do have something to show for myself.

I've been writing, reading, crafting more jewellery, and just popped home to Vernon for a visit over Labour Day. I was bummed at the time when my August long weekend trip was cancelled, but looking back, it probably wasn't the best time to visit - Terrace Mountain being on fire and all.

I don't have any pics to show for my latest trip, so I'm re-posting some from the summer of 2006 when I went home for a wedding. (If you've been reading this blog for awhile, I also posted these during the summer of 2007 because I was homesick.)

Terrace Mountain behind Kin Beach

Okanagan Landing

Sailing in the Sun

Sage Hills

View from Mom & Dad's

In other news, I've finally signed up for Twitter. I'll admit that I still don't get why this site is such a big hit, but I'm sure millions of people can't be wrong. I suspect I just haven't figured out what makes 'tweets' tick.

Best Laid Plans is now available September 18 (previously October 15), so I'll be excited to get a hold of my first hard copy a bit earlier.

Also, look for a fresh wave of new jewellery next weekend on my DA account, if not also in my Etsy store. I've held back quite a few new pieces as some of them may end up being consigned locally.

Moonlight, Lace & Mayhem

2009-08-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note this morning, for anyone who's interested. An interview I did with Carrie Hinkel-Gill is now posted on her blog at: moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com.

It's pretty comprehensive, so go check it out for anything you ever wanted to know about me.

DIY enamel

2009-07-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

I've been getting ridiculously frustrated with sourcing vintage enamel recently.

For most of my jewellery, I start with junk, then see what I can make. But for some pieces, I want a few special touches and I need outside supplies.

And sometimes once I've got those supplies, I get inspired to make something from scratch. Most of my flowers and butterflies fall under the 'supply' category.

Last week, while browsing online for some economical enameled flowers (in vintage jewellery or as loose charms) - and finding the selection slim and overpriced - it occurred to me, "Why can't I just do this myself?" And it turns out I could.

Butterflies previously silver-toned, flowers previously brass

So for all the other crafters out there finding enamel charms getting rarer and more expensive, hit the nearest hobby shop and pick up a jar of paint for $2.50. You'll never catch yourself trolling eBay again. (Well, not for enamel flowers.)

Now for the rosary upcycle. I wouldn't classify the rosary as junk. But as it wasn't going to serve either of its original purposes - of garnering a donation or as a prayer guide. So it became two new things.

Butterfly statement necklace with watch parts and Lucite flowers

Locket necklace, brass and red aluminum

Sunbursts and Best Laid Plans

2009-07-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to share my recent news that Watching July received an Honourable Mention from the 2009 Sunburst Awards.

I also discovered that Chapters has already listed my next novel, due out this fall. So if you'd like a sneak peek at Best Laid Plans, it's online.

Now I'm off to the All Art Show in Sooke to listen to a reading.

Rosary beads and claymation

2009-07-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

Before Jeff and I went camping this weekend at Sombrio Beach, we received an interesting promotional item in the mail.

A church from Ontario mailed "Jeff Hart" (by the way, I love it when people employ variable data and give Jeff my name) a rosary with a personalized keepsake bag. The purpose for this gift was outlined in the accompanying letter soliciting donations.

It's not possible that this church knew, but Jeff was raised as a Catholic - although I don't think he was interested in the beads.

Regardless of what I think about a church soliciting donations outside its membership, I find it fascinating that this group took it upon themselves to reduce - what for many is a valued holy object - to the significance of a key chain or magnet.

I, however, will make use of the rosary. Look for red rosary beads to show up in a necklace and earring set in my store. (I will recycle anything and everything is fair game.)

On a mildly related note, I sat down to watch a favourite Primus video on YouTube this afternoon after we got home. While camping, Jeff and I listened to an old punk and metal mix of mine and I remembered how cool their claymation videos were (and still are).

I'm always impressed by bands that enhance a distinctive sound by adding equally unique imagery. Even when they're covering another band.

Dani's on the cover of Monday Magazine!

2009-07-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

Well, technically, she's not on the cover, but her photograph is! My good friend Dani Boynton just got her first magazine cover credit and I'm thrilled for her!

Before you read any further, go visit her web site. Seriously, all my links open new browser windows; go check her out.

Okay, now that you're back, it probably makes sense that I begged her to do my wedding and why I'm so lucky to have her do my author bio pics.

If you're in the Victoria area and you need any kind of fashion or portrait photography, she's your gal.

Congrats Dani!

Interesting custom order

2009-06-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

I had my first online custom request last weekend (the same weekend as the events of my previous post!) and I just wrapped everything up today. I had done a commission awhile back, but it was less formal.

This order was interesting because I was asked to duplicate one of my other necklaces, to create a pair of symbolic gifts to give to two friends celebrating a joint milestone birthday.

Given the type of jewellery I create, a duplication is nearly impossible. Fortunately this was a very open-minded customer who embraced my suggestion of creating a 'sister' piece. Ironically, the original necklace was already an adaptation of a brooch I sold locally.

Time Flies Sister Necklaces

(Original black "Time Flies Necklace" on the right, custom sister on the left.)

Coming off a wave of stressful, time-crunched copy editing on the proof of my next novel, it was a nice change of pace. (And yes, I still have a full-time job and a remote semblance of a social life.)

New goodies at Sideshow

2009-06-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

I had a very productive Saturday, so I thought I'd share some new jewellery with the blogosphere. They weren't made today, but are available in downtown Victoria as of this afternoon.

I've been getting a bit more elaborate, so the first few pics are of the same pieces from different angles.

Cameo Clockworks Necklace

Copper Creation Set

Purple Passion Set

Cameo Brooch

Hard Drive Hoops - Long

Winding Earrings

HDD Arm Charmed

UK part 2: Edinburgh

2009-06-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Even as I type this post, it occurs to me that sharing photos on my blog (when it's much easier to create a Facebook album) is not the most efficient, desirable way to do this.

That said, I've already edited the photos (and my sister already created a Facebook album of our trip), so in chronological order, here are a few snaps from my recent stay in Edinburgh:

Morton Hall
Not quite as expansive as Tatton Park, but infinitely more impressive than my tiny little condo

Aberdour Beach
Sarah and our second cousin on The Silver Sands Beach

Edinburgh Castle
The windy hilltop castle overlooking the city

Scottish Crown Jewels
A very long line for jewels less impressive than the collection at the Tower of London

Rosslyn Chapel
The fabled potential home of the Holy Grail

Rosslyn Carving
Inspirational carving on a memorial on the Chapel grounds

Sisters at Rosslyn
Sarah and I by the main entrance

Burrell Archway
One of many preserved castle archways in the Burrell Collection

Traquair House
The oldest inhabited house in Scotland (with a world-famous brewery)

Traquair Maze
Charming maze with four subsections around a wooden sculpture at the centre

UK part 1: Manchester

2009-06-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

Getting settled into daily life after a long break is always tough for me. Especially when that break involved some interesting travel - this time it was Manchester and Edinburgh. It helps to sift through photos.

I'm still processing much of the trip as it was a more family-oriented visit than my 2003 London and Edinburgh visit. So rather than rambling any further, here are a few snaps from our first leg in Manchester:

Tatton Park
I love these estates that make me feel like a Jane Austen character

MOSI: The Baby
Replica of a computer from 1948

MOSI: Rail
Steam engine

MOSI: Power Hall
Steam machine

Chester Amphitheatre
Ancient Roman Ruins

Nemeseum
Shrine to Nemesis, the goddess of fate and divine vengeance.

Roman Heating System
Probably a good spot on a cold night.

Tower Foundation
Roadside ruins are the norm here.

St. John the Baptist's Church
Cathedral dating back to the 13th century.

Ruins at St. John's
Hmmm... nice setting. Will have to use this some day.

Stay tuned (or bear with me) for more vacation photos from Edinburgh. More posted on my deviantART page.

A bit of press, new goodies and a holiday

2009-05-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started getting relatively serious with my jewellery crafting hobby, I find myself thinking two things. Firstly, I love making jewellery. Secondly, I really need to get back to writing.

However, a visit to Side Show Clothing yesterday put a fresh bit of press on my radar; not for my writing, but for my jewellery. The Times Colonist published a piece about handmade fashion in Victoria and my jewellery got a small shout. Click the thumbnail below for the full article.

Made in Victoria

So I think I'll let myself indulge along this side road a little longer. Today, I'm sharing a few new pieces I'm genuinely delighted with. They aren't posted on my Etsy store yet, but will be as soon as I'm back from my upcoming holiday.

I'm not a daily blogger, so my absence won't cause too much of a ripple here, but anyone looking for SleeplessStoryteller's Bits & Baubles will find it offline until I come back on June 4.

Steampunk Spy Camera Pendant

Winding Web Flycatcher Necklace

I hope someone gets as excited about these new designs as I did. The spy camera in particular really tickled me and I'm pretty sure I can make other variations.

I'll be sure to post some Manchester and Edinburgh pictures next month too!

PS: I recently learned to use a Dremel rotary cutting tool, so funky smaller motor windings will soon be showing up on earrings and pendants. Soldering is next!

Deadlines

2009-04-28T20:31:00.000-07:00

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
- Douglas Adams

I love deadlines too. Although my favourite thing about deadlines is that it feels very satisfying to strike a line through them. They preserve my sense that the world has order and meaning.

However, the real world is never so clean-cut. Deadlines come in many shapes and sizes, some are flexible like taffy and others are hard as steel. Some come with invisible variables or sinkholes just steps before.

Now that I've made the switch from copywriting to project coordination, my days revolve much more closely around an intricate network of due dates leading up to soft and hard deadlines.

I'm grateful for my academic background which trained me to treat deadlines like task-masters. Not so long ago, I entered the real world equipped with a near Chicken Little approach to missing a deadline.

Fortunately, I now have a reasonable amount of experience with professional deadlines, so I've tempered my tactics and I'm grateful for that too.

Of course, from time to time (increasing in frequency over the years), more of Adams' words come to mind: "Don't Panic."

These days, I treat deadlines like white chocolate mochas; I'll grab one every chance I get, but sometimes, I'll just have to wait - or settle for coffee whitener.

I've often wondered at what point I'll be prompted to cut off the back of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, tape it to a ping pong paddle, and keep it handy to flick at anyone succumbing to terror at the prospect of the sky falling after a missed deadline.

But remember, I love deadlines. You should too. They mean you won't be working on the same ad, brochure, web page, or article forever. And this is a good thing.

Urban Easter

2009-04-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Jeff and I hopped over to The Big Rainy to visit my sister for Easter (and to bum around downtown). I've become strangely attached to Vancouver over the years and it's growing as I get older.

Sad, but true, the latest long weekend was my very first trip to Granville Island. It was like cultural overload; so much to see, so little time while not dressed for the chilly wind. I will definitely be heading back as soon as possible, preferably on a warmer day.

To diversify or not to diversify

2009-03-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

A few things have landed on my desk recently that, due to their dramatic differences, reminded me just how diverse the profession of 'writing' is.

I've always bounced between business communication, journalism, marketing, and more recently, fiction. As I endeavour to concurrently write a magazine feature, create a volume of product copy, and during the day, write ads and web content, I wonder if I stretch myself too thin, diversifying too far as a writer.

My question to the writing world today is, does a writer's work benefit from writing in different areas? Or should she stick to one form of writing and become a master in order to produce her best work?

Live, from Victoria, it's ...

2009-03-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not reading anything - yet. But if you're browsing through some of my latest pieces on deviantART, you'll notice that they're not also on my Etsy site.

That's because Side Show Clothing here in Victoria, BC is now carrying a selection of my jewellery, so for any locals wanting to check them out in person, you can find them at 559 Johnson Street.

Having taken the step to in-person retail, I'm now extremely nervous, but I expect this project will continue evolving overall.

Feedback (restricted to happy thoughts if possible) is, of course, much appreciated.

Cutting Time

Funky Smoky Steampunk

TIME Brooch

Copper Coil and Movement

Time Flies

Screwy Idea Pendant

What is speculative fiction?

2009-02-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

A friend asked me the other day what I meant in describing a collection of short stories I've been building as "speculative". I think she had the economy on her mind and thought I'd been writing about business (which is not my forte, in case anyone is curious).

I usually turn to Wikipedia for answers and the mega resource didn't disappoint. In fact, the entry containing the following quote is Google's top result for speculative fiction (in case anyone is curious).

"Speculative fiction is a term used as an inclusive descriptor covering a group of fiction genres that speculate about worlds that are unlike the real world in various important ways. In these contexts, it generally overlaps with one or more of the following: science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history.
The term is used this way in academic and ideological criticism of these genres, as well as by some readers, writers, and editors of these genres."

Sadly, the outline for my collection has grown larger than the number of completed stories, but it is moving, albeit at a glacial pace.

I don't know that they'll fit the YA market I've become more familiar with, but I'll have a better idea when more stories come into focus.

Boomers, make room for Gen Y... please?

2009-02-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

I've written about this before in my column over at Cahoots, but I consider myself to be part of Generation Y. Why? Because I fall right on the cusp between X and Y, left to decide by their respective definitions into which one I fit.

I met another Gen Y-er last night who's in the same position I was a few years ago of being underemployed. And she's a few years younger than me, so it sounds about right.

She graduated from university with a degree that should have her working in the field of physiotherapy. What's she doing? Working as a customer service rep for the Province and not exactly experiencing job satisfaction.

I've also written about underemployment before, so these are issues close to the surface for me. Ironically, when I was underemployed, I was working as an employment counsellor. And getting a first-hand look at why underemployment was going to continue for my generation. Boomers aren't retiring - still.

But I'm not laying blame. Talking with my parents, in-laws, aunts, uncles, and other Boomers makes it clear that financially, they don't feel alright either. It's a conundrum and as I've heard pitched recently, "Hope is not a strategy."

Having both generations reduce expectations for lifestyle seems to be a straightforward answer. But try telling someone who's worked for decades to have a nice house and trips to Europe that they have to give up one or both for the sake of their kids - whom they've already sacrificed for. Then try telling a twenty-something that no matter how hard they work, it's unlikely they'll ever achieve what they always categorized as 'the basics' - like owning a house.

Unfortunately, I don't know what the right approach is other than to keep going and feel a little less guilty that my generation still has to lean on our parents. With unemployment mounting across Canada and EI benefits not measuring up, is there any other choice?

Balancing books

2009-02-12T13:41:00.000-08:00

Reading a recent post over at the Y-Eh! blog got me to thinking - again - about what it means to be a working author. And by that I mean an author who earns her living by means other than her books. I expect about 99% of us have day jobs to pay the bills.

Some of those jobs involve writing, some don't. Even within the YA world, authors have diverse backgrounds, but North American authors overall write in a huge range of genres and sub-genres, all for different reasons.

But all our jobs (in fairness to companies and co-workers) require our undivided attention for anywhere between eight to 10 hours each weekday - more or less depending on your 'other' profession.

Aside from a memorable (to me) Quill & Quire post, I've read very little about how other writers feel about this. Obviously there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.

I love to write, but find myself constantly juggling to make it work. So, I'm curious, how do other writers feel about their work/life/writing balance?

Sakura time

2009-02-07T13:27:00.001-08:00

It's almost that time of year here in Victoria where the Japanese cherry blossoms pop up on boughs across the city, so while I wait to be back in revision mode, I'm working on a few blossom-inspired wire creations. They'll definitely last longer than the real versions, though they'll never be as pretty.

Small cherry blossom wire-wrapped ring size 3

Large cherry blossom wire-wrapped ring size 7

Trashion!

2009-02-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

I found a new word today! I love finding new words, but this one was particularly spectacular as it applies to my Bits & Baubles.

Wikipedia says:

"Trashion is a term for art, jewelry, fashion and objects for the home from used, thrown-out, found & repurposed elements. Trashion is a philosophy and an ethic. It encompasses environmentalism and innovation, and respects the human creative and healing potential."

Read the rest here.

Moonbeams and the ALA in Denver

2009-01-27T17:53:00.000-08:00

Denver was a blast and I've got fresh pics to share! Again, big thanks to everyone at Sumach Press and the Moonbeam Awards.

I'll keep it short and sweet today and let the pics speak for themselves. (Including a few Polaroids for you fellow retro fans.)

Moonbeam books on display at the ALA exhibit floor

Me with Jim Barnes, Managing Editor & Awards Director, Independent Publisher

The Denver skyline from the Ramada Midtown

Denver's Six Flags behind the South Platte River

The Children's Museum, venue for the Moonbeam Awards

Adventures in Geekery

2009-01-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

I'm really pretty sure I'm part geek. I've known that for a long time, but sometimes you have an "ah-ha" moment, which I did halfway through season three of The IT Crowd on Friday.

Was it enough that I was watching a show about geeks on a Friday night? Nope; it was the moment when Jeff pointed out a desktop USB controlled missile launcher on the character Roy's desk and told me we could buy one online.

I immediately found a very similar product and started browsing through www.thinkgeek.com, which I had to equally quickly leave before I spent hundreds of dollars I don't have on stuff I don't need.

While we're talking about geekery, why not revisit my love of Live Trace? If you end up stuck with some lame cell phone pictures (in this case, Jeff snapping away at the NIИ concert in December), try plugging them into illustrator and turning them into abstract art. It's one of the few uses I could think of.

Art & Retail Therapies

2009-01-14T18:26:00.000-08:00

I can't speak for everyone, but I know resorting to retail therapy is pretty common these days.

Bad day at work? Go shopping. Big disappointment? Hit the mall and buy something pretty. And although that sounds gender-based, I'm sure men get sucked into retail therapy too.

But my recent surge into my jewellery-making hobby has revealed something wholly unexpected; my personal cure for the retail-rut blues.

Sitting down to turn junk into jewellery seems to stop the gap I used to fill with random, mass-produced trinkets, clothes, etc.

It made even more sense having recently read one of the SideStreets novels in the series I'll be adding to this fall.

"Making things helps." - Scarred, Monique Polak

I think Wikipedia should add jewellery to it's definition of Art Therapy.

Lorimer and Etsy

2009-01-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

Long time, no blog, eh? Well here I am, back after my break with what I think are some interesting developments to show for it.

First, I'm excited to let everyone know that my second novel will be coming out in Fall 2009 in the SideStreets series published by James Lorimer & Company Ltd. The title is still being bounced around, but I'll post updates here when I can.

Second, I'm almost as excited that I've finally got all my bits and baubles up into my Etsy store. If you don't know what Etsy is, or if you're a fan of steampunk and eccentric goodies, definitely check it out.

NIN and a brief hiatus

2008-12-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

Yes, another iconic band hit Victoria last night - an excellent birthday present, I have to say again - and rocked the roof off the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

The lights were amazing! They had cameras set up around the stage and the arena, projecting images onto what looked like giant mesh grids of tiny LED lights. Like LED curtains!

Trent Reznor sang right into the camera and it was translated to a night-vision and red-toned images on the massive LED grid.

The curtains had all kinds of graphics and backgrounds on the rest of the time. I'm wondering who's job it is to design for this kind of stuff, 'cause I'd like to know how you get going on that. But Jeff tells me it's likely they do everything themselves owing to how hands-on he says Reznor is.

Now on to the "hiatus" part of this post. I probably won't get to blog again until the end of January. Just scheduling and workload stuff, but I thought I'd mention it since I usually post more often than once every couple of months.

So TTFN and I'll see you again in 2009.

A non-precious project

2008-11-30T12:48:00.001-08:00

I've been sketching a bit over the last two weeks (when not crafting wire rings) for two reasons.

The first and most prominent is that I set out to attend a graphic novel workshop which I had to excuse myself from due to a sudden and unpleasant stomach bug. I was quite looking forward to hearing what instructor Sarah Leavitt had to share and very sad to have to bow out.

The second reason I've been sketching is that I expect to be busy this winter and it occurred to me that I should do something visually creative in my spare time before I'm back to being completely absorbed in writing.

Hence the following characters coming into rough focus:

Justin

Marcus

Pamela, AKA "Willow"

One of the few bits of wisdom I managed to glean from Sarah - before nausea demanded that I depart the room - was that it's okay to be "non-precious" with drawings.

I'm a tiny bit of a perfectionist, so it's hard for me to just bowl through something. I haven't thrown anything together anything since I was in high school - either sketching for a scheduled art class (or doodling in the margins of a notebook mentally skipping some other class).

So you'll notice that the drawings both above and below (old art projects) are of the "non-precious" category. I hope to explore this concept further as I find it very liberating.

Moonbeam Gold Medal!

2008-10-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 24, I got the amazing news that Watching July won a Gold Medal from Independent Publisher's 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards.

I was already very excited to be shortlisted for such an awesome prize, dedicated to promoting independently published, new and unknown authors.

Big, big, huge thank you to Jennifer, Lois, Dayle, Liz and all the ladies at Sumach Press who helped make July as successful as she's been so far!

Moonbeams, Kenya, and a national election

2008-10-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

Today was certainly an interesting day. I found out that Watching July has been shortlisted for a Moonbeam Award. Good news for a first novel!

I also had a less pleasant email notifying me that the December SLS Kenya writing workshops (which I've been ranting about to everyone) has been cancelled by the organizers.

I'm glad I got the good email first; I was in just the right mood to offset the Kenya cancellation. Balance in the universe, at least today, seems to be functioning just fine. Let's hope economies everywhere will follow.

On a brighter note, I expect my Kenya airfare credit will put a reasonable dent in the yet-unplanned honeymoon Jeff and I are in desperate need of. Stay tuned for that one :)

Distracted as I am today, I still made it out for the all-important Federal vote. I've been telling family, friends, and co-workers, "Even if we don't agree, just please get out and vote."

So, from this slightly confused author and would-be adventurer, happy Election Day! (Despite the fact that it seems not much has actually changed on that front.)

Nine Inch Nails @ Save On

2008-09-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

NIИ must have known that this December 5th was my 30th birthday, because they picked that date to come to Victoria for the first time. Thanks Trent!

However, unlike the heartache that ensued after failing to get tickets to the December 1, 2007 TOOL concert, I've already got my seats sorted (good ones at that) for the big event. Woot! (You can't see me dancing, but I'm doing the victory hip-bump.)

Although I really should stop stewing about the TOOL sellout, since I did actually get to go. Just seems somewhat undignified, yelling at a crowd for second-hand tickets. (Actually Dani did that, but I braved the cold too.)

So I'm a happy woman. 2008 is still a sweet year. Let's hope it stays that way!

Starting September

2008-09-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

Back from a too-short trip to Port Renfrew, trying to savour the last warm days of 2008, I'm still playing with my camera, compiling more HDR experiments.

No new technicolour pieces are ready yet, but if you're into marine biology or coastal scenery, check out the regular Port Renfrew and Botanical Beach photos here.

Fall blues aside, I'm getting pumped to go back into book mode this week. On Saturday, September 13th, I'll be going to the 3rd Annual Victoria Anarchist Bookfair.

If you're in the Victoria area, you should stop by and get a healthy dose of chaos. The details were kind of hard to find on their site, so I'm posting the hours here.

Saturday, September 13, 11 am - 7 pm
Sunday, September 14, 11 am - 5 pm

755 Pandora Street (The Victoria Cool Aid Society)

Meanwhile, I heard about another book review for Watching July; this one is in the Nexus Newspaper. It's a local student paper for Camosun College.

A sunny day and a Dark Knight

2008-08-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

Jeff and have I decided that, overall, the glass was half full for our wedding on Saturday. Sure, BC Ferries' latest disaster scratched our family dinner the night before and sent our out of town guests fleeing before dawn the day after.

But we had beautiful weather for the outdoor ceremony. (Unlike the couple after us, whose Sunday wedding was driven under the Inn's covered parking by the rain.)

The food was great and we were happy to see our friends and family. We had spectacular photos too. (Go check out our photographer Dani's web site at daniboynton.com.)

So after a day of quiet rain, on Monday we got around to something we've been meaning to do all summer. We went to see The Dark Knight. Both Jeff and I enjoyed the movie, but for my part, I'd expected to be 'wowed' from start to finish.

I suppose it's ironic to watch a supremely hyped movie right after your wedding. And silly to expect anything other than a morning-after-Christmas sigh at the end.

Riding the bus with Ricky and Julian

2008-08-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

Stressed and grouchy, I got on the bus after work today to run yet another wedding errand before the big day this Saturday. Then two reasonably clean-cut guys, wedged into the space I next to where I was unhappily standing. They were certainly the most interesting characters I've had the pleasure of overhearing on the bus in the last few months.

The gravelly-sounding labourers looked like they'd just gotten off work too, loudly talking about their plans for the weekend, specifically drugs, bars, dates, dating online, and their current women - that they'd met online.

Then it took an interesting turn. They started talking about how and when they own up to their past prison terms. The taller white T-shirt favoured hesitating until it was worth getting into. The blue T-shirt preferred to postpone owning up to smoking, while he thought it was essential to put his conviction history on the table immediately. As I listened to his logic about not wanting to lie, I wondered what he'd done to wind up in prison.

I also wondered, pending nuptials aside of course, if single, would I ever consider dating a guy who'd been to prison? Even if I wasn't looking for a lasting relationship? Would I ever use an online dating service in the first place? These kinds of thoughts don't cross my mind often. But when they do, Jeff looks better and better every time.

Top 10 Reasons I travel with books

2008-08-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Although I've travelled with pocket games, mp3 players and laptops, I always make a point of having at least one book because they:

10. Are available in handy shapes and sizes
9. Can be fairly affordable
8. Often have beautiful covers (and/or illustrations inside)
7. Don't interfere with ship/plane operations
6. Have no start-up or shut-down delays
5. Rarely prevent you from hearing announcements (and/or alarms)
4. Are never interrupted by pop up ads or commercials
3. Give you a solid excuse to glare at loud talkers
2. Never run out of batteries
1. Are always better than the movie

"Here we just sell small rectangular objects; they're called books.They require a little effort on your part and make no be-be-be-beeps."

- Carl Conrad Coreander

The All-Seeing-Bow and other oddities

2008-07-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

No idea why this hadn't occurred to me when I first made them, but over the weekend, I decided to add some craft pics to my deviantART page. Check them out here.

DA takes all kinds of jewellery and crafts, so I think I'll add a few more homemade accessories soon.

More on cell phones

2008-07-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Like my post from May 25, the video below is a trick, apparently done by removing a microwave component.

Still, it makes me glad that I don't spend much time on my phone. I'm not really a phone person in general, so I wouldn't be worried anyway.

Now if they tell me computer monitors or laptops can pop kernels, then I'll lose some sleep for sure.

A blurry bookshelf

2008-07-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

It sounds silly, but one of my personal benchmarks has always been finding a book I'd written on a shelf in a major book store.

My moment happened last Friday when I popped into the Chapters on Douglas Street in downtown Victoria. (I'm also aware that realistically, this matters only to me and a small circle of family and friends.)

YA shelf in the basement of Chapters

Nonetheless, I grinned openly walking back to work after taking a blurry picture with my camera phone of Watching July on the shelf.

(And no, unlike Carrie Bradshaw in her latest film outing, I did not swap my book for one on prominent display. I'm also pretty shy when it comes to stuff like that.)

I've since found it at Bolen Books and the Coles at Tillicum Mall. So for everyone who's been asking, yes July is in book stores.

I would have uploaded this photo and post earlier, but I've recently become addicted to Rock Band. Specifically the drums.

What will we do without oil?

2008-06-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

I saw a story on The National the last night called "Running on Empty" and much of it rang true for me. Escalating gas prices, environmental damage, unsustainable suburbs; just a few reasons I won't be replacing my car any time soon. Or buying a house an hour from where I work just so I can have a yard of my own.

Still, most people don't want to talk about tough changes and sacrifices within the plans we've all made and the goals we've set for ourselves - even as our collective grasp is continually too short.

More seriously (and I don't personally know anyone who fits this category) I think a large part of what James Howard Kunstler addresses in his commentary in "Running on Empty" is a tenacious sense of entitlement among many materialistic, high-earning, high-achievers.

It seems that some people believe that because their parents had it and they've worked for it, they're going to have their SUVs, overseas vacation villas, boats, and whatever else - consequences be damned.

Every time I bring up lifestyle revision in social conversation with people I do know, the reaction is either that I'm a downer or I get lip service in return. (Although for the former, I expect there may be a correlation between reluctance towards self-examination, a distaste for intellectual conversation, and/or disbelief in punctuated equilibrium . Fortunately, I expect these acquaintances also don't read my blog.)

That said, I'm not innocent either. As I watched "Running on Empty", part of me fretted for my yet-to-be-decided tropical honeymoon, an upcoming writing retreat in Kenya, and any other travels I might want to take up this year. After all, I work for a resort developer and we sell vacations.

We may be looking at a world where guilt and worry over our carbon footprints become moot. If you have a few minutes, I highly recommend watching the clip below.

Turkey Vulture!

2008-06-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

Above Lone Tree Hill, off Millstream Road

On a hike at Lone Tree Hill yesterday, we bumped into what we thought were a couple of hawks of some sort. It wasn't until we got home and looked at the pictures, in combination with the park web site, that we realized this rather unattractive bird is called a Turkey Vulture.

To quote a redhead...

2008-06-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

"Please explain to me the scientific nature of 'the whammy'."

- Dana Scully

You've got to love dispassionate professional women who never smile or have fun in their working hours. Personally, I think Scully had her 'serious face' on because she wanted her predominantly male co-workers to take her seriously, in addition to conveying her scientific background.

Any X-Files fan will tell you, Scully regularly, either through rank never clearly illustrated or her own personality, regularly subordinated herself - subtly, but noticeably - to Mulder.

What I'm wondering today is, if Scully's character had been the lead, would she have had the chance to sling the witty comic relief instead of her partner?

Launch and Vancouver pictures

2008-06-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

I've got a few new pictures today; a shot from the book launch and a few pics from my last trip to Vancouver.

Reading at the Flipside Teen Lounge
Photo by Dani Boynton

For the Vancouver pics, visit my deviantART account or check out the side bar on the right.

Post launch thoughts and thanks

2008-06-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a over a week since the launch of Watching July and the good wishes are still pouring in. Thank you to everyone for all your support and encouragement.

A big huge thank you to everyone at Sumach Press for all their work in helping to bring July into the world. Thanks to my editor Jennifer, publisher Lois and publicist Dayle.

Thanks also to everyone who came out to the launch. Although I'd planned to share the live reading here (which Jeff was kind enough to record with his mp3 player) the sound quality just wasn't post-worthy.

So although it's not live, here is the first chapter:

Salmon River Ranch
www.christine-hart.com/chapter_1_watching_july.mp3

The first review is in too - excerpt and link below.

"...the descriptive flowing style of the work invites the reader right into the life of July MacKenzie to the extent that it feels as if she is a friend.

...a cunningly written book, with strong and vivid characters, plot twists and turns."

- A 'n' E Vibe Magazine

Read the full review at:
www.anevibe.com/book-reviews/watching-july-christine-hart.html

The Happening and Facebook

2008-06-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

I came across two interesting items today: Adbusters discussing Facebook privacy issues, and the trailer for the next M. Night Shyamalan film The Happening.

As cautious as I am about using Facebook, I think this article is a little extremist - and that's saying something coming from me.

Facebook Suicide
www.adbusters.org/magazine/77/facebook_suicide.html

On the latter, I'm a pretty serious Shyamalan fan, so I felt kind of silly to be hearing about his next movie so close to the release (June 13). Well, at least it's not like finding out CAKE had a new album out months afterwards.

Cell Phones Are Evil

2008-05-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of cell phones. I own one because the conveniences outweigh the drawbacks of expense and constant connectedness.

I like the idea of being unavailable. Each time you give someone your cell phone number - regardless of the fact that you consciously give that information to people you know, like, and trust - you become more available at all times.

Because I don't value my cell phone enough to let a bill get out of control, I'm on a pay-and-talk plan. Obviously the guy who designed the video below wasn't as sensible with his phone:

Are you a vegetarian yet?

2008-05-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I still eat meat, but I am reaching a point where my diet is becoming more veggie-oriented for both health and moral reasons.

From fish farms to poultry pens, those of us paying attention are becoming increasingly disturbed by the treatment and conditions of food animals. If you're not bothered morally, just Google "sea lice" or "avian flu" before your next meat meal.

Mystery Meat
adbusters.org/magazine/77/Mystery_Meat.html

I can't imagine anyone would remember, but I've blogged on this kind of thing before:

What is The Meatrix?
sleeplessstoryteller.blogspot.com/2005/10/what-is-meatrix.html

What's in your food?
sleeplessstoryteller.blogspot.com/2005/05/whats-in-your-food.html

Camosun award

2008-05-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to my future husband Jeff Thomson on winning the 2008 Camosun College Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Award!

He's the top student in his year and was invited to Montreal for a national apprentice competition. Jeff also won the award for the Sheet Metal Entry Level Trades Training (ELTT) program in 2006.

Jeff's letter from the Camosun Dean of Trades and Technology

In a sad twist, the presentation for his award is May 30th, at about exactly the same time as the launch for my novel. He has very sweetly promised to skip his award to be at the launch, so if you'll be stopping by, please give him your best wishes and congratulations!

Dreary skies and dystopias

2008-05-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Reading yesterday's MediaScout memo "The Burmese Junta’s Cold Calculation", I felt compelled to put down the H. P. Lovecraft collection I've been devouring and get back to the last section of The Shock Doctrine. To me, realizing that military dictatorships don't form in a vacuum is an important step in interpreting their actions.

Since beginning Naomi Klein's latest book, I'm not surprised to look around and see growing potential for major dystopian governments like the ones depicted in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men or Alan Moore's V for Vendetta.

As two of those references go back to the early 80's, I'm wondering how much of their fictional futures those writers (and other past authors of dystopian settings) expected could come to pass. Are today's US and UK governments capable of crossing the line to bring home a selection of frightening policies and procedures into the daily lives of it's citizens - to the point where it can no longer be ignored by turning off the nightly news? Would Canada be immune?

Food for thought on a rainy, dreary Tuesday.

Finding my way around Facebook

2008-05-05T18:13:00.000-07:00

I held out for a long time - a very long time in Facebook milliseconds. Some of you might remember my posting a general notice that I had no plans to join. But I've finally signed on to the still exploding social network that is Facebook. And I'm having fun.

Although I do plan to keep blogging (particularly because Facebook seems more conducive to photo comments, byte-size memos and cartoon-illustrated gestures) I'm becoming fascinated by "the book" - especially now that I'm on the inside. The etiquette (or lack thereof in some cases), the addictive quality, the risqué images and slogans slotted neatly in between kittens and roses on individual profile pages.

Not only are Facebookers giving up their blogs, some seem to be forgoing external email almost entirely. When a notice from Facebook in your inbox is just an added step, why not cut out the middle man? I'm not judging, really. I find it very interesting from a professional point of view.

What will business look like for web-based email providers? What loyalty would users have to a tool that was free in the first place and for which they're a faceless web banner receptacle? Of course, that's true of Facebook too. Will we ever reach a point where one hegemonic social network trumps all others functioning as everything to everyone? Those are the kind of thoughts going through my mind as I navigate Facebook.

Then, this afternoon as I surfed the site of a savvy blogger I read regularly, I remembered why I began a blog in the first place. Conversation. It's different than connection - and it's still important.

Launch date set for Watching July

2008-04-21T19:29:00.001-07:00

I'm excited to announce that the launch date for my first novel, Watching July is May 30th here in Victoria! Please visit me on Facebook or view the pdf below for all the details.

Invitation to the launch for Watching July

I love Live Trace!

2008-04-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

And you should too if you work with Adobe Illustrator. I've been using Adobe Creative Suite for several years now - Photoshop and various Macromedia products for much, much longer. But as long as I can remember, vector files and any occasion to work with Illustrator used to make me grouchy. That's my polite way of putting it.

However, now that I've discovered Live Trace (and practical applications for it not shown here) I am a happy woman. Ever needed to convert a low res logo to line art and felt an aneurysm coming on? No more. And in my (limited) spare time, I've been clicking my way to a converting old low res or not zoomed enough photos to pseudo-impressionist images. Check out the side bar and/or my DeviantART gallery to see the damage.

Polaroid instant film going the way of the dodo

2008-04-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

As soon as I heard that Polaroid was stopping production on it's world-famous instant film, I felt sad. Although there are many die-hard fans who are more distraught, I will miss it.

I have to concede that between the bulky chemical laden prints and the battery-included film cartridges, Polaroid's instant film could be the most environmentally unfriendly film on the market.

Still, the whirring snap of an instant photo sticking like a tongue out of one of those distinctive cameras, to me, is a piece of nostalgia.

And I knew I had to get in on some of the last of it. Even grabbed some for my Dad too, although he may be more interested in his new DSLR for the foreseeable future.

So, new (used) camera and film in hand (both from eBay; local stores are sold out) I started snapping last night and continued this morning:

Galloping Goose Footbridge

Under the Highway

Creek Current

Reflection on the Colquitz

The Neighbours' Yard

Mannequin Vanity

Sam
(slightly out of focus)

For the whole scoop, here's a recent CBC story from February 24:

In the tiniest ring

2008-04-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

I came across a web site via my regular Tyee reading that I haven't been able to get off my mind. It's called Japanesebugfights.com and not surprisingly (in addition to banner ads) they host pre-recorded bug fight videos. All seem to go until death, although I have to admit, I wasn't able to sit through many (none involving spiders).

Normally, for anything available as an embedded video, I would post a sample here. Since I haven't made up my mind as to how I feel about this practice, I'm simply inviting you to read the article and visit the bug battling web site for yourself. But be warned - it's been over 24 hours and I'm still unnerved by the experience.

Bug Fights, Hot Trend

thetyee.ca/Life/2008/03/31/BugFight

Japanesebugfights.com

www.japanesebugfights.com

A day at the Vancouver International Airport

2008-03-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

I was disappointed, but not surprised to hear that my sister, planning to meet a 10 am flight, arrived at the Vancouver International Airport yesterday at 9:30 am, yet left well after 2 pm.

Lost luggage? No, that's understandable. A long customs line? Also not the source of the delay.

She was there to meet her boyfriend's flight from Seoul (after a layover in Japan as I understand) only to spend hours wringing her hands before herself being interrogated by our own customs officers.

Her boyfriend is a South Korean citizen she dated for the better part of a year while she taught English to kindergarten students. Both were interested in continuing the relationship, so he planned to come to Canada for an extended visit.

On his arrival in Vancouver, to his great misfortune, his English was not strong enough to communicate to the customs officers' satisfaction and he had lost my sister's cell phone number. Frustratingly, he was able to see her through one-way glass, yet not allowed to collect his bags and cross over with everyone else meeting friends and family. Instead, he was treated to 4 hours of detention and interrogation at the hands of cruel, arrogant, power-tripping customs officials.

Does this sound familiar? My disappointment is, of course, exacerbated by the fact that this happened just months after the infamous taser incident which senselessly ended the life of Robert Dziekanski at the very same spot in the same Vancouver airport. His encounter with the RCMP happened approximately 10 hours after he landed in Canada - after 15 hours of travel.

Taser video shows RCMP shocked immigrant within 25 seconds of their arrival
www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/14/bc-taservideo.html

Questions hang over taser death
www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071025.wtaser1026/BNStory/National/home

Ironically, I remember seeing the memorial of candles and flowers to Mr. Dziekanski a little over a month after his death when I met my sister's flight back from South Korea in late November of last year.

In Mr. Dziekanski's case, it sounds like basic indifference to his needs and vulnerable state was the primary problem. While my sister's boyfriend was treated like a criminal suspect, questioned repeatedly until he began preparing himself for the prospect of heading directly back to Korea.

The resulting state of mind is very similar though: trapped - hopeless - lost. It begs the question, what will it take to convince the Vancouver Airport Authority and Canada Border Services that visitors to Canada deserve better treatment?

I understand having to detain someone if there are unanswered questions, but what would the worst case scenario be if the officers were just a bit more polite? A would-be smuggler doesn't get intimidated fast enough?

It's not often that I feel ashamed to be Canadian, but yesterday was one of those rare moments and I worry that it won't be the last.

Digital speed painting

2008-02-29T18:51:00.000-08:00

I've wanted a digital art tablet for some time now, so when I saw a collection of speed painting videos on You Tube, I got really excited (although my work will look nowhere near as sophisticated as this artist's).

He does a selection of well-known characters, but here's his Optimus Prime clip:

Another good read for the gamers

2008-02-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

Nearly every time I read a gaming article (that I like), I'm compelled to post it here despite the fact that I hardly ever play anything. Still, for everyone I know who plays a game online, I think the article below - and the discussion in the subsequent comment section - is a nice little boost.

The Gamer Disposition

Not unpleasantly cold

2008-02-20T14:19:00.000-08:00

Weather is a hot topic of conversation in Victoria and all around the West Coast virtually any day of the year. We all feel we've made some level of sacrifice to move to or continue to build our lives in a part of the country fraught with over-priced real estate and high cost of living.

So when Old Man Winter dares to touch our territory with so much as a pinky finger, we're agitated - even outraged. After 2007 saw a grim summer (at least it seemed like it) and a snowier, colder winter than we're used to, many of us were feeling mutinous. (Although I'm sure the prairie and East Coast folks feel an understandably low level of sympathy.)

Today is one of those days - a mid-February day - when I am completely certain that our balmy spring-like weather (10°C and sunny as I write) is that sunshine tax pays for. Now if it just happened more often...

A word on the new look

2008-02-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

If you've been here before, you're probably noticing that I've recently renovated.

I've been meaning to update the design of both my web site and blog to integrate the two sites more smoothly. Yet, I wanted a design that fit my personality and my work. To do this, I knew the coding was beyond my skill to create, so I've used an opensource xml template.

Life gets busy, so its great to keep things simple - which is what I'm going for here. I'd invite feedback, but as the design isn't mine, there's not much I can incorporate in the way of changes.

That said, please let me know if you see anything sketchy in terms of font, (eg. I'm still smoothing out the nav font size for consistency) graphics, layout or anything you think isn't being rendered properly on your computer.

If there are too many bugs, I'll likely revert to the old blog and previous incarnation of my personal site, so I need the bad news as much as the good.

In the meantime - thanks for visiting!

Eye tracking

2008-02-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

For some time now, I've been researching the reason the human eye fails to recognize typographical errors. I keep coming across chastising blog posts and intense proofing 'how-to' pages.

Fine, but none of those pages addressed the 'why' aspect I'm more interested in. Rather than internally berating myself for every error I've ever made, I wanted to find any scientific, biological, psychological reasons.

So my curiosity drove me forward. Here's what I found:

Eye Tracking
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_tracking

Eye movement in language and reading
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_movement_in_language_reading

Saccades
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccades

"From a study of speed reading made by Humanistlaboratoriet, Lund University, in 2005."

Good old Wikipedia. The more often I use it, the more I trust it.

Conquest

2008-01-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

I've been hearing this new one from the White Stripes on the radio quite a bit lately, so I looked it up on handy YouTube. And I have to admit, the song gave me more of a Middle-Eastern vibe than Spanish, so I was surprised to see a video about a matador. But then again, that's what I like the White Stripes for - surprises.

Cloverfield and Juno

2008-01-21T16:51:00.000-08:00

Sucked and rocked respectively. Unfortunately, some good friends of ours spent a certificate to get us all tickets to Cloverfield. Fortunately, I was along for the movie to visit with my friends once more before they moved out of town. (Which I hope went well.)

It wasn't so much that the monster movie sucked, it was more that the idea wasn't implemented properly. It shouldn't have been filmed as a Blair Witch knockoff and there should have been some form of backstory on the monster. I've been learning a lot about the importance of backstory lately and I firmly believe it could have turned the lemon that was Cloverfield into a kickass movie.

Juno, on the other hand, was quirky and beautiful. Someone met and captured the kid I used to be. (Without the teen pregnancy part.) I felt validated by a brave examination of a real, meaningful teen character. I highly recommend Juno, so I won't ruin it for anyone by going into too much detail here.

Cloverfield

www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277

Juno

www.imdb.com/title/tt0467406

Cameras on the bus

2008-01-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

While reading an article on public surveillance this afternoon, I reassured myself that Victoria was still outside the reach of urban 'big-brother' devices. At least as far as I knew. So I was surprised to look up on the bus this evening and see four cameras installed around the roof of the #11 I was on.

I'm pretty sure I don't want them there. I've been riding the bus in Victoria for over a decade and never once felt unsafe. Not even late at night and/or after a trip to a pub or bar. Now, I just feel unnerved and creeped out.

I'll Be Watching You:

thetyee.ca/Video/2008/01/16/WatchingYou

Camera 1

Camera 2

Trees on triangle canvases

2008-01-12T18:30:00.000-08:00

Sadly, but not surprisingly, I discovered this evening that deviantART does not support png files very well. I know IE 6 doesn't really either, but I like transparency enough to let people catch up when they will. So - because I can - here are two acrylic canvases I played with today. The canvases are triangles, so I think the digital version should be too.

Sunrise

Sunset

Pipin and the camera phone

2008-01-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

I have to contradict the theme of my last post by latching onto one mild disclaimer (see: "I am by no means blame-free in the world of consumption") in order to post the pic below of my new favourite living thing.

What my Mom got for Christmas was a rescued kitten. But the picture below was taken with what I got - a new camera phone. I know it's painfully trendy to get a phone for Christmas, but I don't care. The phone is cool.

Pipin the kitten

Phone aside, it's a heartbreaking shame that something awful had to happen to her in order for the little trouble-making fuzzball to end up under my parents' tree, but it's the beginning of a lifetime of spoiling for Pipin.

Stuff for Christmas

2008-01-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas. And I'm not just saying that. I love waking up to a tower of pine and tinsel lit by blue pre-dawn light. I love the glow of red, white, green and yellow bulbs on blankets of snow. I love gingerbread, eggnog, turkey and stuffing. My favourite part of Christmas is that wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, all my friends and family (more or less) throw responsibility and schedules to the wind and come together.

However, I am my father's daughter when it comes to Christmas consumption. The financial and physical waste from escalating consumerism bothers us both. A lot. In spite of (what I think is) a healthy sense of generosity, like years before, I found myself frustrated at gift-giving obligations this year.

Staring back and forth, up and down rows and rows of products on shelves in store after store, all I could think of was the homemade doll stores from my childhood, filled with cheap plastic product replicas.

Still, I do have a lamentable love for fashion, jewellery, decor and spa, while working weekdays in a marketing department. I am by no means blame-free in the world of consumption year-round. So while I hang out between my rock and hard place, I was pleased to come across a web site that more rationally and objectively outlines the life of 'INSERT WIDGET HERE' instead of vaguely whining like I do.

If you're feeling a tad detached and frustrated after the holidays, read about the Story of Stuff at:

www.storyofstuff.com

Winter in Vernon

2007-12-19T21:01:00.000-08:00

If I let my mind drift to my hometown, especially when I'm close to a visit, I miss the little things. A beach, a hilltop view, a coffee shop, the smell of fresh snow or lake water under the summer sun - pretty much anywhere or anything I used to take for granted that I'd always have at hand.

During the winter, I miss my old back yard on Dixon Dam Road, the view of the valley from the foothills below Silver Star, and from my parents' balcony on Bella Vista. So here are a few pics I'm looking at to tide me over until I'm home again.

Tillistar Winter

Tillistar Village

Snowy hills above

Foothills view

Okanagan Landing

Word of the Year 2007

2007-12-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

Friends who play Warcraft and other games online will be excited to hear that w00t has been added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the 2007 Word of the Year. Hmmm...

Read more at:

www.merriam-webster.com/info/07words.htm

Christmas shopping nightmares

2007-12-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

I did a major chunk of Christmas shopping yesterday. It was the first time this year that I faced an offensively overcrowded mall. And I'll be doing it again today - hopefully for the last time in 2007.

Yesterday's shopping reminded me of something a colleague told me this past spring. "Malls are not just training us to consume. They're training us to live on space stations after we destroy the world," he said (or something to that effect).

So if you haven't had a dose of Adbusters lately, this is the perfect time of year. It's long past Buy Nothing Day (which I'm ashamed to say a cup of coffee parted me from participating in) but the message is still valid.

Seat ninjas

2007-12-02T12:37:00.000-08:00

The awesomeness of last night's TOOL concert hasn't worn off on me and probably won't for some time. Amplified by the fact that I woke up yesterday morning beyond bitter that I wouldn't be going.

After making plans to meet up with someone (who already had tickets) after the concert, my friend Danielle called me up and said, "Hey, this is stupid; we'll be going to hang out with a bunch of people who just saw TOOL when we didn't. Let's just go low-ball some scalpers." And we didn't pay much more than the ticket price. Danielle is such a good friend :)

We even had half decent seats, although the SaveOn Arena is just too small for nosebleed seats. That said, we did pull a seat ninja act and found some bar stools and tables in an unticketed section way closer to the stage. I could see the tips of Maynard's mohawk and the rims of his sunglasses until one of the arena staff found us about halfway through.

These guys are definitely kings of the instrumental and last night's concert was officially the best live show I've ever seen for special effects. From the light and sound tribute to Close Encounters of the Third Kind to the full-stage projection effects, the whole night rocked!

(Note: this is not an official video, but I wanted to post something off 10,000 Days)

Vancouver trip and fall reading

2007-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

I've been in the thick of book revisions lately, but I still wanted to post something this week. So here's what's on my mind:

Tomorrow, I head to Van to pick up the little one. My last trip to downtown was for an Adobe Seminar in July 2006.

Downtown crosswalk

West Hastings

I'm reading Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine and finding myself thoroughly engaged by this very powerful book. Her detailed research and insightful analysis frames 20th century concepts of control through torture, both ideological and economic.

Nutrition, Adbusters style

2007-10-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

Jeff will be pleased to know his favourite yogurt rates highest on a new nutrition-oriented grocer chain's rating scale. Though it also frightens me (Happy Halloween by the way) that the average person needs a rating scale to know that broccoli is healthier than potato chips (trans-fat-free or otherwise). Read Adbusters' article on this Eastern US supermarket chain.

Hannaford Guides Consumers

adbusters.org/the_magazine/74/Hannaford_Guides_Consumers.html

Hannaford Supermarkets

www.hannaford.com