Ms. Epitome

Acknowledgments and Credits:

Produced by Marla Louell Design Team

Writer: Jane Anne Henderson

Photography: Marla Chernoff

Proofreading Editor: Nikki Kinakin

Contributors:

Sophia Antoniuk - Book Binding/Scenic Site Photography

Malgosia - Perfume Bottle Collection

Aya - Floral Design

Carol Koorbatoff - Vintage Bowls/Scenic Site Photography

Clare Pelton - Pencil Crayon Art

Sonia Harder - Art/Storytelling

Maria Barber - Gardening/Storytelling

Connie White - Sewing/Fashion/Storytelling

Mieke Wishart - Literature/Storytelling

Colleen McParland - Lucet Braiding

Dale Planidin - Walking Stick

Tovah Praire Ceramics - Pottery

Publication designed and published by Marla Louell Design Team

Copyright Ms. Epitome 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission from the producer. marlalouelldesignteam@gmail.com www.msepitome.com

Disclaimer

Ms. Epitome is published by Marla Louell Design Team in good faith and cannot guarantee to be held liable for the accuracy, completeness, reliability or usefulness of any information, product or service represented in this magazine, web site or links to other web sites. By using this site you agree go do so at your own risk, understanding the information provided is for inspirational purposes only.

The views and opinions of each featured article belongs strictly to them and does not reflect the views of other contributors or authors.

www.msepitome.com

Table of Contents:

Book Binding

Perfumery

Rose Bud Tree

Collectibles

Page 28

Vintage Dishes

A Gift Resurrected

Gardening

6 Page 18 Page 24 Page 42 Page 48 Page 54

Ageless Style

Page 60

Literature

Page 64

Pencil Crayon Art

Page 69

Lucet Braiding

Page 72

Flower Farming

Page 78

Nature Walk

Page 80

Dear Friends:

It is a delight and pleasure to share some inspirational moments with the readers of Ms. Epitome magazine and, introduce an array of contributors who have a passion for creating beauty. Many of these individuals create without monetary purpose, but to make something that gives them pleasure and that is often presented as a gift for a special someone in their lives.

Viewing collectibles are always appreciated, and we are privileged to be able to peek at a collection of perfume bottles that took years and many travels to accumulate. Also in the category of collectibles is an invitation to check out vintage dishes paired with wild huckleberries; a showpiece to a dinner table.

For those interested in storytelling there are a few stories that touch the heart on how they came to find a passion whether in fashion, literature, perfumery, painting or gardening.

There is a nod to a local flower grower; forging out in business. Who can resist visiting a lavender farm?

Nature is at the forefront for us here in British Columbia with many epic views. Included in these pages is a walk through a path of wild yarrow along the Pacific Coast and also a few scenes from the contributors. A walk in nature is a place to dream, refresh the mind, or spend time with a friend.

If I was to pick a theme for this magazine it’s gratitude. Expressing gratitude for the very special people we know, get to meet and share time with. Gratitude for the opportunities to pursue our interests. Gratitude for so many things, big and small that come our way.

Thank you to all the contributors and for all that make this magazine possible. To the readers, thank you for visiting and as the editor I hope you find something here, that inspires you and helps you celebrate your passions and interests.

Marla

Book Binding

Featuring: Sophia Antoniuk

I was pleased to be invited to Sophia Antoniuk’s art studio overlooking the majestic Slocan River. High ceilings and spectacular water and mountain views were a backdrop to this beautiful room, providing a great space for the artisan. I was immediately drawn to what was showcased on the tables. The craft of book binding was Sophia’s current art project. Beautiful books were all perfectly displayed.

To start her creative process, Sophia begins gathering the special papers that she loves. Each one having a theme, whether it is garden roses, perfume bottles or nature views. As she begins to pour her heart into making each book, she imagines the receiver of her gift; treasuring pictures of their loved ones, writing a gratitude list, journaling or keeping notes of inspiration or encouragement. She then analyzes the placement of the special compartments, pages, envelopes and tucked away places in the book.

Sophia uses purchased papers and creates some of her own with ancient paper dyeing techniques using avocado skins. Scissors, glue, paper cutter, measuring stick, chipboard, magnets, thread and needle are some of her tools for the process of making a book.

As the project unfolds, concealed magnets keep sections in place, thread is needled through for the binding and ribbons are attached in specific areas. Everything made with precision and accuracy right down to the final touches.

Sophia creates for the love of making something special for someone she deeply cares for whether its a family member or a friend.

It is our joy for her to share a few of her books with us.

Life

does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Why write a gratitude list?

There are so many benefits to writing a gratitude list. It helps shift one’s focus to the positive, reduces stress, can bring new insights, gives hope and so much more...

Ideas for a gratitude list:

Faith

Wildlife Family

Flowers that we can smell

A unique personality

Great conversation

Friendship

Sitting in a comfy chair

A sunset

A blue sky

Enjoying a dessert

Candles

A sandy beach

Sweet memories

A good book

A new outfit

A hot shower

A child’s laughter

Honesty

Fresh air

The sun’s warmth

A swing...

Perfumery

Written by Jane Anne Henderson

Have you ever been out for an autumn stroll and smelled the air and the scent has taken you to the memory of childhood days, jumping in piles of fall leaves? Or maybe walked past a cotton candy machine and instantly remembered the fair you used to attend with friends? Perhaps the fragrance of lilacs reminds you of the bushes that used to grow outside your bedroom window.

One whiff of a pleasant smell can instantly transport you back in time. Of all our senses, scientists say that the sense of smell is the most powerful in evoking memories. Sentimentality being one of the reasons we choose specific perfumes.

There are many theories as to why one fragrance appeals to us, over another.

Sometimes we choose a perfume solely on its beautiful bottle. My earliest childhood memories of a perfume revolve around a fascination with the packaging.

My uncle gifted me with a set of mini perfumes from one of his travels. The look of all those little bottles lined up in a slender, elegant box appealed to me more than the fragrance of the perfumes. I also recall getting a couple of novelty perfumes from the “Avon” book. One was a little brooch of a kangaroo with a movable Joey(baby kangaroo) in her pouch. The pocket had solid perfumed cream in the back. Another was a beautiful girl holding flowers. You twisted her torso to open the bottle, which was her skirt. I rarely wore any of these fragrances. I simply delighted in the way they looked.

Advertising can influence which fragrance we select, targeting the appeal of fashion and glamour associated with perfume.

Perfume contains pheromones that can make you more attractive and pleasing to the senses; we can choose to wear it as an accessory.

As a pre-teen, peer influence also played a powerful role in my choice of perfumes. I wore a powdery scented perfume called “Babe”; all the girls seemed to wear it. Although, I will admit I never really liked the way it smelled on me. Apparently, we all smell differently because of our immune systems, and as an interesting side note, we are supposedly attracted to people whose immune systems are different from our own. Our choice of fragrance proves to be more complex than it appears on the surface.

Nostalgia, beauty, advertising, cleanliness and attracting others are all secondary to how a perfume reacts with our own body’s chemistry. Have you ever tried a perfume that a friend wears and found that it smells good on them, but not on you?

That’s because each person has their own individualistic chemistry that interacts with a fragrance; resulting in a smell that is as unique as you are.

Scientists in a recent study say the single most prominent reason one person chooses a fragrance while another rejects it, is how it compliments our own personal scent.

Anthropologist Dr. Jan Havlicek said, "In fact, what we have found is there is a strong individual interaction between perfume and body odor. People choose fragrances to complement their own odor." Whether we realize it or not, we pick perfumes that smell like, well, us.”

So the next time you are at the perfume counter, remember how special you are, and choose a fragrance that you love, because how it smells on your body will be one of a kind!

Notes & Harmonies

Top Notes: First introduction to the perfume. Usually quite light and does not last for long.

Middle Notes: These are considered the heart or theme of the perfume.

Base Notes: These ingredients(fixatives) will last the longest on the skin.

Harmonies

Composition of ingredients blended to create a unique fragrance.

Examplesof.....

Top Notes:

Lemon, Lavender, Bergamont, Orange, Gardenia. Pineapple, Banana, Cherry, Licorice, Red Apple, Black Tea, Blackberry, Lime, Mint,

Middle Notes:

Rose, Cinnamon, Hyacinth, Ginger, Pepper, Lilac, Lavender, Jasmine, Roasted Barley, Dried Fruit, Cocoa, Balsamic, Peach, Iris, Lily-of-the-Valley, Lotus

Base Notes:

Cedarwood, Sandlewood, Celery, Musk, Honey, Oloe Vera, Almond, Ambery, Anise, Myrtle, Burnt Wood

Question: If you were to have a perfume made especially for you, what would you choose as the top notes, middle notes and base notes?

Rose Bud Tree

Designed and Created by Aya

This dried rose splendor began with each bud carefully picked from a French designed garden overlooking the Kootenay Lake. Aya, from a Latvian background, brings her heritage and inspiration from her travels into creating for her home and garden.

At every turn there is something unique and awe-inspiring whether its a window dressing made from bottles, stained glass or a chandelier.

As a designer she pours all her imagination and efforts into her pieces and rarely makes it twice.

This rose tree was made as a gift to be cherished.

Collectibles

Malgosia and her husband collect perfume bottles. Over the years, they have collected over 4000 perfume bottles from all parts of the world and from all different creators. Some of the bottles are vintage and date quite far back and some are more recent. Each perfume not only a fragrance of notes and harmonies but each bottle uniquely crafted.

Bottles are cataloged and there is always a search for new designs and special finds. She is kindly sharing a few displays of her collection for our enjoyment.

Violets

Lavender

Fireplace Ashes

Dirt

Sage Geranium Leather

Sourcherry,Rose, Vanilla

Vintage Dishes

Carol Koorbatoff shares a few pieces of vintage dishes that belonged to her mom. She has fond memories of family celebrations with these dishes on the table along with this complimentary linen floral tablecloth.

These cherished dishes filled with fresh, wild huckleberries evoke memories of time spent with loved ones, foraging, then preparing recipes, new and old, and sharing the delicious results with family and friends.

Recipe: Huckleberry or Blueberry Upside-Down Cake

1 ½ cup berries, ⅓ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 tsp. butter, grated rind of one lemon. Combine all the above ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour into greased pan; 8 inch square.

¼ cup butter, ½ tsp. vanilla, ½ cup sugar, 1 beaten egg. Cream butter, add vanilla then add sugar. Add egg and beat well.

3/4 cup flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, In separate bowl stir flour, salt, baking powder together.

¼ cup milk. Add flour mixture alternately with milk to the creamed butter mixture. Pour over berry mixture, spread evenly. Bake at 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.

(Note: Can double cake section of recipe for higher cake as shown in image.)

A Gift Resurrected

Since Sonia was a young girl, she knew she was artistic.

She dabbled in many different art forms: painting Ukrainian eggs, designs on Christmas balls, faces on Victorian angels, tole painting, folk art, sewing, etc...

But then life got busy. As a pastor’s wife, and a mother to three active girls, she simply didn’t have the time to work on art. She gave her paints away, although keeping her brushes, and stopped all crafting. What had once been a part of her life, became less of a priority for a time.

Fast forward 20 years later to two years ago. Sonia’s gift re-emerged and began to take on "life" in a wonderful way. She was now in a different season, becoming quite involved with her little greatgranddaughters. They began asking her to draw with them. Sonia and the two girls would go on “Art Hub”, a "YouTube" drawing channel for kids, and draw together.

When Sonia’s daughters saw their mom’s renewed interest and obvious ability in art, they encouraged her to start creating pieces for future generations. She began sketching with pencil crayons and quickly filled six sketch books. She went on to set up an area on a desk in front of her computer where she could easily sit down with pencils, an electric sharpener, paint, and the brushes she’d kept from earlier days. She began educating herself with "Bob Ross" and other artist’s videos, learning new techniques and practicing ones she'd already tried, using nature, the paintings of others, and even "google" as inspiration for her subject matter.

She now always keeps a sketch book handy and starts her work with a sketch of what she ultimately wants to paint. It takes her an hour or two to complete a picture, and she spends about 10 hours a week working on her acrylic paintings.

Her advice to budding painters?

Start simple; with pencils, pencil crayons and a sketchbook. She explains that learning involves experimenting and trying new ideas, so she cautions not to spend a lot of money in the beginning. Sonia advises taking things slowly, buying at the 'discount home and art stores’ to start, then upgrading to better materials as you improve. She also stresses the importance of persistence in developing your work. Sonia has found that sometimes when she starts a picture, it meanders in a direction different than she’d planned to take it. She sticks with it, and enjoys the wonder of seeing the painting take on a life of its own. She feels that there is no limit to creating a beautiful picture, and that anyone can paint, but perseverance is key.

The gift that gives Sonia a great sense of purpose and joy. How beautiful that the generation of Sonia's grandchildren were the catalyst to bring her gift back into her life, and the vision of her children fueled it with a deeper purpose. She now has a goal of giving every grandchild and great-grandchild a precious part of herself in the form of her art; to treasure and remember her by, for years to come.

Gardening

Featuring: Maria Barber

Written by Jane Anne Henderson

Maria Barber had always taken delight in a beautiful flourishing garden, observing her father, who was known to be a “wonderful” Dutch grower. He had taken pleasure in cultivating flowers, vegetables, as well as fruit trees.

Maria, as a little girl, was more of an observer than a participant, although she did help her father with the weeding. She was always nervous about pulling up the wrong plant. She didn’t really learn a lot at that tender age about having her own garden, but she did know it was a place of happiness for her.

As an adult, busy with a family, the idea of gardening didn’t present itself, until one day in her mid-forties she accepted an unusual invitation. Her daughter’s orthodontist office was located on a beautiful 2-acre farm and the orthodontist kindly welcomed her to wait in the garden during appointments. Maria began asking questions of her hostess, and one day, the orthodontist offered her a "hosta" plant. Maria accepted the gift with reluctance, not knowing where to plant it or how to take care of it. She asked for instructions and apprehensively took it home and planted it.

Slowly, with the "hosta" as her first plant, Maria began to add more flowers to her garden. She would ask questions of the orthodontist and friends. She bought books and visited the library and browsed garden centers. She read the tags to learn about the flowers she liked and began learning by trial and error. In this process, she would plant something and see if it bloomed and determine where it liked to be. She would move plants around, then move them back. Her garden began to grow and her love for gardening with it.

Then the unimaginable happened, four years after she had begun gardening; Maria’s husband, Doug, died after a very brief battle with cancer. That lonely winter, she couldn’t wait for spring. She wanted to get out and dig and plant and nurture her flowers. Her garden became a place that “soothed the soul”, allowing her to be alone with her thoughts. She knew that God had planted this pastime in her life years prior, knowing she would need it in the coming trials.

Maria found living in the home she had shared with Doug too difficult once he was gone. She bought land in Mission and set about building a home there. She brought with her some favourite plants from her old place: hostas, lilies, dahlias, and black-eyed Susan’s, then set to work on her garden.

In the first year, she planted flowers along the driveway, made a rockery, and put in a front flower bed. The backyard at that time was grass, with a small patio. She soon found that the grass there died because of shade, so she dug it up and made it into garden beds. Some of her favourite flowers for the garden beds included; poppies, bee balm, and sedums, as for the rockery; creeping thyme, lavender and day lilies. In the backyard where there was partial shade, she planted ferns, hostas, lilies, sweet William and hydrangeas.

Maria prefers long-blooming, hardy perennials, which means that every year she must divide and disperse them. She adds new plants, replants old ones that may not be thriving. She continually assesses whether things look good where they are; and what needs to be added or taken away.

While she appreciates almost any kind of flower garden, the chaotic beauty and “freedom” of an English garden is something she particularly loves.

Maria enjoys the beauty and satisfaction of the results of her labour, digging in the soil, the fact that gardening allows your mind to wander and there are no time limits, and the fun arranging of things. She finds the fresh air, exercise and peacefulness of gardening “a gift God gives that gives [her] peace of heart.”

Maria has grown from having a single "hosta" plant, to receiving recognition from the city of Mission’s Garden Club, for her gardens. The committee surveys and judges local gardens. They tell their award recipients what they like about their gardens, and issue a plaque, which the owner proudly displays near the awarded garden. Maria has received this honour for both her rockery and her backyard garden.

Her advice to budding gardeners is to start small, experiment, learn from workshops at garden centers, join a garden club, research at the library, on the internet, and seek advice from other gardeners.

She urges new gardeners not to be a perfectionist; to expect to be discouraged at times, and to have realistic expectations about their time, energy, and the outcomes of their efforts. We may not all become medal-winning gardeners, but we can reap many of the other benefits from gardening that Maria has, as we cultivate this pastime.

Ageless Style

Featuring: Connie White

Written by Jane Anne Henderson

We have all heard the expression, "A first impression is a lasting impression", and where Connie White is concerned, this is especially true.

I will always remember the first time I met Connie, over a decade ago when she was 70 years old. She extended her manicured hand and introduced herself with a big smile; the very image of grace and style. She was wearing a lovely outfit complimented with tasteful jewelry. Her hair cut in a modern look and dyed a fun, fiery red. I felt a desire to get to know her better immediately, incidentally numerous friends share a similar experience to mine. They have met Connie only once, and then asked me about her, sometimes years later.

Connie’s vivacious personality is expressed in her impeccable taste and attention to personal style and detail. A woman who at 80-plus years exudes youth, yet with a maturity, and an understanding of who she is. This strong sense of fashion, confidence, charisma, and personal style began very early in her life and has evolved to what she is at present.

Connie’s childhood experiences shaped her fashion sense, both in a positive and a negative way. As a very young girl, growing up in New Zealand, she was raised by her mother, an attractive widow and talented seamstress, who valued dressing well. Connie was immersed in the tailoring world because her mother was constantly sewing for clients and the family. Here, Connie was able to give input into her mother’s projects and managed to learn to sew for herself.

There were opportunities for her mother to take her and her siblings to ‘fancy dress parties’ where each member would choose a character to dress up as. She and her family members often won prizes for their costumes.

Connie attended a private girl’s school, where she and fellow home economics students would sew their own fashions and wear them in a fashion show. When there was something special happening at school that her mother needed to attend, Connie always felt proud of her mom’s fashionable looks, which always included wearing lipstick.

Being in a private school, and wearing a uniform daily, impacted Connie’s desire to express herself out-of-school hours. Many of her fashion influences came from movies. She remembers seeing Debbie Reynolds in a green dress with puff sleeves and a Peter Pan collar. The actress had red hair like Connie’s, and the dress captivated her. She said ‘nothing would rest’ until she had that dress which was then sewn by her mother. In her teen years, her school would host dances with the local private boy’s school. Connie would come home with fabric Friday night, and her mother would have her dress made for the following night’s dance.

Some less happy childhood memories contributed to Connie’s self-image and subsequent fashion evolution. When her father died, she and her family moved in with her older sister and three nieces. Her niece’s attention-grabbing looks created an insecurity about Connie’s own. She felt she needed to compensate with clothing and make-up, for what she felt she didn’t naturally have.

In adulthood she launched a career in business, understanding the value of ‘dressing for success’. Her style matured to a business look, which gave her confidence when dealing with large companies. She relied on magazines as her resource, for knowing what was in style for business-women at the time. She also took up ballroom dancing, which always required a beautiful gown. She loved dressing up for these events.

Eventually, Connie started her own personnel business. She felt that her personal care in dressing was a way to compliment the people she worked with, in that it reflected respect for them, and also helped to invoke the confidence of her clients in her abilities.

Today, Connie is still intentional about her manner of dress. She never just haphazardly throws something on. She arranges her clothing the evening before an event, so that the stress of last-minute dressing doesn’t lead to regrettable results. She thinks about what the engagement is, the venue, the weather, the time of year, what others may be wearing, etc. She doesn’t want to dominate with her clothing, but to be understated in a classic way with clean lines and simplicity. ‘Less is more’ is a motto, for example, rarely will she wear both earrings and a necklace, or a necklace and bracelets at the same time.

As she has grown in her faith and who she is as a woman, her childhood feelings of inadequacy have diminished, and her motives for making an effort to look good have changed to more of an enjoyment of fashion and beauty and a hope of making a connection with others. When I ask Connie about her image today, she explains that she learned very early in her life that “everyone has only one chance to make a first impression, and you never know who you will meet, or the opportunities you will encounter in a day.”

Literature

Featuring: Mieke Wishart

Written by: Jane Anne Henderson

Mieke Wishart loves books, and like most of us who love books, she began this relationship as a young child. When Mieke grew up in the Netherlands, her mother would read aloud to her in Dutch. Her favorite story was about Abraham’s maid, Hagar, from the Bible, (although she didn’t know the story’s source at the time). The story has stayed with her all these years, and what she still remembers is how God cared for Ishmael and Hagar. Mieke would be quick to agree that good books, when shared with enthusiasm, can be powerful in shaping one’s thinking.

When Mieke’s family moved to Canada, her mother bought books here and read to her in English. Two series that impacted her were the "Little House"series, by "Laura Ingalls Wilder", and the "Anne of Green Gables" series, by "Lucy Maude Montgomery".

In grade 6, Mieke’s teacher would read aloud to her students daily for about 45 minutes from "The Great Brain" series by "J.D Fitzgerald". Mieke’s teacher’s enthusiasm for the books was inspirational, and Mieke is quick to point out that children are very sensitive to an adult reader’s enjoyment of what they are sharing. As a result, she would advise that when choosing a book to read to a child, the adult’s litmus test should be whether it holds their own interest .

A common theme in Mieke’s life is the transfer of a zeal for books from others to herself; and now from herself, to others. When Mieke was a mom raising five young children, reading to them was a high priority. She chose quality literature, and even with her children’s busy lives in school and activities, she carved out at least 30 minutes a day to read aloud to her children. During holidays, even more time could be devoted daily to this enriching pastime. Some of the Wishart family favorites were: "C.S Lewis", "The Narnia Chronicles", and works by "J.R Tolkien" like "The Hobbit", and "The Lord of the Rings". Incidentally, it wasn’t only Mieke and her children who discovered some of these books together. Her husband, Robin, had never read ‘The Little House" books as a child, and enjoyed hearing them for the first time with his family.

As Mieke’s family grew up and left home, in 2012, she earned her Diploma as a Library Technician. Mieke began working in prison libraries and school libraries until 2018, when she was hired to work for the Fraser Valley Regional Library. This job allows her to influence the library’s choices of books, and gives her the opportunity to share literature and learning with the community. Recently, for example, she was able to encourage the procurement of "The Great Brain" series at the Fraser Valley Regional Library, and record podcasts for them on these books which were so pivotal to her as a child.

Mieke reads not only because she has a passion for it, but because it enables her to intelligently share information and recommend books to others. She has helped “Seeds of Hope”, a Christian organization in Zambia, devoted to AIDS orphans with their library and school books. She has a variety of books in her home which reflect the fact that she reads about half of the time for information, and the other half for pleasure. Her collection ranges from meaningful novels, to biographies, autobiographies, self-help, devotionals, hobby-related how-to (writing, kayaking, hiking) books, textbooks, recipe books and photo albums. She also has a children’s collection.

She has learned much about books, their care, and organization from this job. This knowledge has helped her with her own personal library at home. Her own system for her home library makes it easier to find her books both for herself and others. Generally, she knows where to find particular books, although they are arranged in different places around her home. She has an inviting reading nook with natural lighting and plants where some favourites are on bookshelves. Other books are grouped according to series, or even randomly according to books on bookshelves and end tables around her home.

Her system for deciding on culling, versus keeping books, is whether or not they are meaningful to her. Books written by friends, and many of the favourite original books that were read to her as a child, as well as replacement copies of well-worn family favourites, are part of what makes up her personal collection. To keep her books controlled, she tends to borrow a lot from the library, for example, cookbooks and novels. Rarely does she buy herself novels, unless they are second-hand, choosing instead to borrow these from friends or the library. She is unafraid of discarding books that are well-worn or water-damaged, or giving away books that she knows someone else would benefit from. She gifted her family’s Dutch Bible from the 1600’s to her son, knowing he would treasure it as an important heirloom.

Now as a grandmother, Mieke is sharing books with a whole new generation. To help her do this, she has adopted the “rainbow” organizational system for her children’s books. She has a playroom for grandchildren set up with books arranged on bookshelves according to the colours of the rainbow. Not only does this look pretty, it allows her and the grandchildren remember what “colour” the spine of their favourites are in so they can be easily found.

The aesthetic of how Mieke stores her books is not as important to her as the content of the books themselves. To sum up Mieke’s book collection is to say she keeps books she values, and that she is able to share with others, or enjoy again in some way.

A Rose

The scent of heaven. Brought down to earth. All else pauses for this moment to experience its divine. Forever placed in our memories, That can never be erased.

Pencil Crayon Art: By Clare Pelton

Lucet Braiding

Colleen McParland and friends like to make gifts for each other every Christmas. They think about what they are going to make throughout the year and try to find some type of unique craft.

Colleen in her search came across Lucet Braiding and thought to try it. She ordered her Lucet fork and found it quit simple to master. She is enjoying making beverage coasters by first creating the braid through a technique similar to knitting and crochet yet slightly different and then adding a bead at the end.

She looks forward to presenting her Lucet braided coasters to her friends.

Q: What is Lucet Braiding?

A: It is a type of cording made with a fork-shaped tool with two prongs.

Q: Where did it originate from?

A: There is evidence of types of Lucet tools right back from the Viking and Medieval times. Museums in England and Norway have types of Lucet tools on display dating back many centuries.

Q: What are some of the different ways to use Lucet braiding?

A: The cording makes rope, drawstrings, embellishments on garments, rugs, pot holders, coasters and garland.

Q: Is it easy to learn?

A: Fairly easy with minimum materials. There are many tutorials and websites for the interested learner.

Pottery Credit: Tovah Praire Ceramics

Method:

Step 1: Select yarn and run through center hole in the Lucet fork.

Step 2: Bring yarn to top of fork and loop around one prong and then the other making a figure eight.

Step 3: Wrap connecting yarn around the front of the right prong once again.

Step 4: Now take the bottom strand and pull it over the top strand, like you would in knitting or crochet. Gently pull on lower yarn end with some tension so the new loop fits nicely on the right prong. This is your first braid.

Step 5: Turn the Lucet fork to the left.

Step 6:

Now once again bring the working stand of yarn around the right prong and lift bottom strand over top strand. Gently pull again to create second braid.

Step 7: Repeat steps 5 & 6 until your braid is desired length.

To finish take both right and left loops off Lucet fork and insert the yarn end through both and tighten.

Step 2

Step 3 and 4

Flower Farming

I applaud those that have taken on the work of floriculture. A flower farmer will tell you there is plenty of work involved, yet very rewarding. For those of us that are enchanted with lavender it is a great find to discover a lavender farm and often a highlight while traveling or on holidays.

It was such the case one summer vacation spent near Grand Forks, BC. Driving around the back roads we discovered Love’nder Acres. A family-owned and operated farm cultivating 5000 organic lavender plants.

I was warmly welcomed and eagerly bought a few bundles and took them back to our campsite. Women camping next to us were quick to ask where I got them and they were keen to visit Love’nder Acres themselves the next day.

There is something to supporting a local business. There is the experience of finding the farm, personally making a connection with the grower and the blessing of a lovely product. The grower is so appreciate that we found their farm and visited and we get to fill our home with lavender.

www.lovenderacres.ca

Nature Walk

Benefits of a Nature Walk

Witness unique foliage, vegetation, open fields and waterways that bring to mind a message of hope; as sustainability in nature seems to adapt, survive and flourish.

Helps to boost one’s immune system with exercise and fresh air.

Provides a peaceful space to clear the mind of stresses and distractions to reflect on the positive things in one’s life. Overall helps as a mood enhancer.

A place to think of new possibilities. Stimulates creativity and focus.

Improves overall wellbeing.

Walking stick that dates back 58 years. Dale Planidin’s father cut it down from a tree that had a honeysuckle vine wrapped around it; forming its unique character curves. Dale continues to take it along with her, on her lovely nature walks, that she enjoys with family and friends.

Site Credit: Walk along the west coast seashore in Ladner, BC

Site Credit: Carol Koorbatoff .

The Science of Gratitude

�

Increases important neurochemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.

Site Credit: Sophia Antoniuk

Further References

Book Binding:

Paper source

www.stamperia.com

www.ciaobellapaper.com

Perfumery: Information on notes of perfumes

www.fragrantica.com

Recipe: Practical Cook Book, Mir Publication Society, 1974

Illustrations/Sketches:

Books/Sewing Machine - ©GarkushaArt/Adobe Stock

Red Dress - ©krizhanskaya/Adobe Stock

Perfume Bottles - ©rosypatterns/Adobe Stock ©melazerg/Adobe Stock

Library of Books - ©Tartila/Adobe Stock

Orange - ©alhontess/Adobe Stock

Jasmine - ©Wonder Studio/Adobe Stock

Calendula

Grown, dried and made into creams and ointments for health benefits.