Blog

Entires are made about once a month with the newest being at the top and the oldest at the bottom. This is updates, random ramblings, compositions, opinions, and events. Honestly, you never know what you are going to get. But it is all me! Happy reading 😁

Looking for ‘Star Oakes’? She lives here as ‘Star Oakes’ is my writers (and true) name. I also have a site just for published works at http://www.staroakes.com.

November 18, 2025

I have big news. Last week I got my very first acceptance letter from an Ontario publisher. I wrote a short story for submission and  it was chosen to be part of an anthology. This means that next time this year, I’ll be a published author. As for details, those will have to wait as the book isn’t ready yet. It takes time to get it all ready. But you can be sure I’ll scream it from the roof tops when it is. Haha!

This is a huge personal victory as well. With each concussion, my words are harder to find. I have to fight my way through the brain fog to find them. Saying them out loud can even be a challenge, on bad days. Forget putting pen to paper (or fingers to keypad). It’s been decades of hard work to get to this moment. This blog is a part of this success as it keeps me writing every month. It keeps me pushing through.

A sentence is like crafting a necklace. Each word is a bead on the string that sits in just the right spot to give the desired look. Except that I can’t see the design in my head. I have to listen for it. It can be hard to listen. Especially when bees are buzzing around in there or the fog is so thick it stops words from making sense. Just noise in the thick cloud. Clarity of thought is a hard won battle for me, as a person living with prolonged post concussion syndrome. Each sentence is a victory over the damage in my brain that tries to silence me. It’s a good thing I’ve never been one to keep quiet!

Learning my true name has been a tonic to me as well. Star Oakes is a writer. No doubt about it. This name is one that just feels so much more “me”. It is a gift from my father. I’ve enjoyed days of perfect clarity this past summer. All of them were put to good use writing. With the winter storms moving in, this will be harder to find but I’ll still keep pushing through when I can. I have stories to tell and for the first time in years, they are whispering to me again. I want to share them all with the world. With you. Thank you for being a part of my journey.

October 12, 2025

The Canada Union of Postal Workers has announced that its workers will be returning to the job site as of October 11, 2025. Well, sort of. They will be doing rotating strikes instead of a blanket strike. This means mail will still flow, but at more of a snail’s pace than normal. This is to build public sympathy. I really can’t see how returning to work, part time and providing very delayed service will get people to be “sympathetic” to the worker’s cause. However, I am glad that they are returning to work. Let’s face it, strike pay is a joke. No one can live off of it,  especially in today’s climate. And it means I can, once again, start selling my crochet stuffies and doll fashions online, as a small business owner. Just with an undisclosed amount of delays.

The corporation is playing the numbers game. And they have a valid point, Canada Post, as a Crown Corporation is bleeding money. The flip side is that postal workers are a much needed public service, especially in rural areas of the country where Canada Post is the only mail delivery option. Our postal service has been a service to the Canadian people since 1867. It is this duality of Canada Post Corporation that is causing the biggest money drain. It is time this stopped. I do agree that jobs should be cut to save costs. Just not the jobs that the CEO and executives (of which there are a staggering 120 of them!) would want to see cut. 

The top dog and CEO of Canada Post is Doug Ettinger. This man makes over $650 000 CAD a year. $650 000 a year is $312.50 an hour, in case you are wondering. And that is just his base salary. He also gets an undisclosed amount of bonuses on top of that. That’s a lot of money for mismanaging a failing company. In other words, he is failing at his job and being paid out the wazoo to do it. What is the brilliant solution to save Canada Post Corporation as presented by this CEO and his executive team? Fire postal workers and continue to rely on billions of dollars in Federal bails out to keep the company afloat. Let’s be clear, this is not good management. The postal worker making on average of $25 an hour is not the problem here. This plan does not help the Canadian people or the postal workers. No, this plan supports the CEO and his fellow fat cats and only them.

I say the job cuts should start with him. And it will save Canada Post Corporation over $650 000 a year right off the top, plus whatever those undisclosed bonuses are. While we are at it, there are 120 other executives of this failing company that can also be let go in a massive cost cutting spree! The lowest paid executive makes $250 000 a year. If we take just the lowest paid amount and times that by 120 it comes to $30 million dollars a year. Based on available public numbers, I’d estimate $50 to $60 million dollars a year in savings could easily be had if the whole executive team were to face the chopping block. Plus all those undisclosed bonuses.

Let’s not stop there! Canada Post was turned into a Crown Corporation by the Canada Post Corporation Act of 1981 which was supposed to secure its financial security and independence. The numbers clearly show this has failed. Billions of dollars in losses (that includes the salaries of the CEO and his executive team of 120 people) have proven for years that this does not work. It is either a soulless corporation or a public service. Canada Post can not be both and make money. It is time to get off the fence and pick which side they are on. I side with the original intention from 1867. That the mail is so important that it is a public service and thus, should be an agency under the government, devoted to that public service.

Now, is mail as important as it was in 1867? No. We have email and telephones and numerous other ways to help keep people in touch. There are also several parcel delivery service options. However, basic and affordable mail delivery is still important. I do support the Super Box idea. We can all go and collect our letters, bills, flyers, and parcels from the Super Box, or even the post office. This makes sense for most of us, at least for those of us who are able-bodied. I would see the change to include wellness checks on our ever aging and vastly growing population. People over 65 or those who are physically unable to go to a postal super box or post office, should continue to have to-the-door mail delivery. This can then expand to include wellness checks on this part of the population. 

There is an increasing amount of people who live alone and pass in their sleep, taking up to weeks to find the body (it’s the smell, in the end, people start to notice it). Or even have an injury in their home such as a fall, and help is not available. Postal workers who have been retrained to do wellness checks can then know what to do to make sure medical services are informed of the issue and stay with the person until they arrive. Even just a friendly chat once a day can do so much good for the mental health for our vulnerable persons, and add deeper meaning for postal workers, who will already be out there with their boots to the ground, stuffing those super boxes, and wanting human contact themselves.

So yes, it is time for Canada Post Corperation to be abolished. It is time for Canada to take back its postal service from the clutches of the corporate world. We can call it a failed experiment and cut our loses, now. These last 44 years are just a blip in the 158 years that we as a country have had a postal service. By taking back our postal service, the Federal government can restructure, retrain, and retain the postal works who are already there. Workers who already pride themselves on supporting Canadians.

Bonus not so fun fact: Canada Post Corporation CEO Doug Ettinger also sits on the board of directors for Purolator. This is the major Canadian competitor of Canada Post Corporation. This is a huge conflict of interest and should never have been allowed to happen in the first place. It makes my blood boil. He is profiting from the troubles happening at Canada Post Corporation, as Purolator shares go up! I have no sympathy for him if he looses his cushy job as CEO of Canada Post Corporation. This man has already made more money than most of us will ever see in our lifetimes.

October 2, 2025

While I’ve been living under a rock (it’s quite cozy under here, thank you), Canada Post went on strike. I ship with Canada Post as its still the most cost effective way for a small business owner to use when they do very little shipping to begin with. Sadly, this means that I will have to pause online sales until the strike is resolved. Thank you for your understanding.

October 1, 2025

I did a mad, wild, crazy thing! I’ve been missing your feed back on my art. I wanted a platform that will let me share and interact without taking away too much making time. I think YouTube will be that platform! Find me there. YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RosemarieNeumayer/videos

September 24, 2025

Well, in an interesting turn of events, Facebook’s AI giving me the boot has been a good thing! My productivity has gone through the roof. As it turns out, I’d been doom scrolling too much this past year. No FB (or Meta) account, no more problem! In the month and a half since my account was dirty deleted I completed a long list of things and I just have to share this with you…

• Typed up several edited patterns for my pattern book
• Edited several patterns for my forthcoming pattern book
• Wrote a short story, edited (and edited!), and submitted it for possible publication
• Designed and created my brand new website for all future writing (www.staroakes.com)
• Created ‘pocket philosophy’ graphic’s to show case on the new site
• Planted trees and gardened
• Took a weeks vacation
• Started making Halloween Stuffies for Ma’s Pantry and Pizzazz
• Created my ‘Star Doll Fashions’ page on this site
• Made a witch’s outfit for my Luna Lily doll
• Made a shawl for Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls
• Posted to my ko-fi page and updated my shop
• Wrote 2 new chapters in my YA novel

Just so many things that would never have happened if I’d been on FB. The AI did me a huge favour by kicking me off and blocking my face. My husband might put up a fan page going forward to direct people to me on here, that would be all. Nothing fancy, just a hey, she’s found here kinda thing. My making time is mine again and I’m not giving it away for any price.

August 19, 2025

Facebook has dirty deleted my account of over 15 years on a bogus charge with an appeal that isn’t fit to grace a kangaroo court! The full story below.

It’s the evening of August 10th. I’m on Facebook (FB) geeking out in my doll collector groups. Getting my daily dose of serotonin. A new limited edition doll has just come out that happens to meets the criteria that another member is looking for. So, being a helpful person, I share the link to the company’s official website, for the doll. Less than a minute later, my account is suspended for unspecified “cybersecurity” violations by FB’s “technology” (ya ok, whatever *insert eye roll here*. It’s FB’s shitty AI. Want more on this? Pop over to ‘Reuters’ and read up on the dirty, horrible things that FB now allows its AI to do, then go take a shower). I read the list FB points me to, to see what violation I’ve somehow committed. This is a joke, right? I’m very open and honest. I’m not trying to access anyones information or account data. I’ve done none of these things on this list of horrible, sneaky, criminal doings! I put in my appeal confident in the knowledge that it’s all just one big mix up, soon to be fixed.

Wrong! Three days later FB informs me that my account still doesn’t meet their community standards on cybersecurity and that my account is being permanently disabled. And that “you can not reappeal this decision”. WTF?! I mean, my account is over 15 years old. I’ve been hanging out doing the same socialization on this social media site for over 15 years and suddenly being a helpful person is a cyber crime! Or is this just some big war on cuteness I haven’t been told about? My FB account is set to professional mode where it is my tiny business selling my crochet stuffed animals, animal adoption, dolls, and a bit of self help. Where in that do they get cybersecurity risk?! Madness.

And forget trying to reach them. The phone number for FB (Meta) is now a recording telling that you need to access their help online as “this number can no longer accept telephone support”. On the website, all I could do was leave “feedback” in the help section which no one sees or gives a crap about. The opposite of “helpful”. No option to contact them is provided to suspend accounts.

Just over a year and a half ago, I reported a fake account to FB. This account is using my name (Rosemarie Neumayer) and took my profile and cover photos, as their own. I filed a case. Nothing ever happened. It’s still up! I did, however, keep that email, so I tried to reach out there. Of course I got nothing back. The irony is, I’m a real person (duh) and my account is deactivated but the fake account posing as me? Well that one is still going strong! Oh and the so called appeal? It’s a joke. Upload a selfie and verify your phone number with a text code. That’s it. No way to defend yourself at all. It does however, help them to block your attempt at getting a new account by having your face and phone number on file.

When I looked into it more, Meta has switched to AI for all this front line stuff. An article on the CBC talked about a teacher who had the same type of thing done to her instagram account. Now while the CBC was able to help this teacher, the writer had zero helpful advice for me when I contacted him. It is possible that FB has just recently made the switch to an all online support format because of the massive amount of accounts that are going through this problem, because let’s face it, their AI is total crap. A petition on ‘change.org’ has over 36 000 signatures (at time of writing this) from Canadians that have had their accounts suspended or deactivated. More than half of the signatures had accounts of over 10 years that were suddenly suspended for outrageous charges and then their appeals failed and the accounts were permanently disabled, just like mine. This leaves me to wonder if FB is using Canadians to test out their AI on and/or to clear out long term accounts for more storage space.

It does seem that FB provides limited support for verified accounts now. Before my account was deactivated, I had noticed that several of the other Canadian artist’s I follow on FB, had the same issue in the last few months. For no reason, their accounts were deactivated. I also noticed a trend. If the artist was verified, FB turned their account back on. However, their data was still all gone and they had to rebuild from scratch. So what really are they paying for? Apparently it’s access to a person. Real people are just for verified accounts now, it seems. You’ll still get flagged by AI and screwed that way, but hey, your $15 a month will get you a person who will apologize for the “mix up” and turn your account back on. So sorry about all your lost data. Why not try paying for an add to get your followers back? 

As to the unverified ones like me? Forget it. Nothing. Zip. You’ll be lucky to make a new account (I tried and failed). FB has been after me, since they started charging for verification, to get verified. Like I’m going to pay $15 a month (that’s $180 a year, before taxes) for protection money to a company that is making money off of my data without even backing it up for me? I think not. I’m just not making that kinda cash.

A piece of advice? If you have an account, just hang out in the shadows. Lerk. Download and save all your pictures and important things because in the blink of an eye FB’s “technology” will do the same thing to you! And if you happen to be someone with serious tech skills, see the business opportunity here. Canadians are looking for a new social media platform. A competitor to Meta. One where we don’t get screwed. I’d do it, but heck, I can’t code to save my life; even though, according to Facebook, I’m a master cyber criminal *insert facepalm here*. I’m dead to Facebook. Worse than. All my friends and family, followers, and posts are gone. Everything is gone. It’s like I never existed there. What a joke. Pathetic. For now, I’m only on ko-fi, a European tip jar site and here, my own website. Meta and I are through.

July 29, 2025

I did a thing. I updated my “home” page. Promoting myself is the hardest thing for me. I’d rather do paper work (and that is saying something). It was more than time to update it. It now has my welcome message and an intro to each page found here. Hope you like it.

Art in the Park – Stirling was just such a great day. Thank you to my friends and family that helped me out or stopped by. And a huge thank you to all of you (both returning faces and new ones) who came out and bought my Stuffies! I’m just so happy for all the love…still buzzing over it. See you next year!

June 30, 2025

Time for some updates. My pattern book is in the testing and final edit’s phase. I’ve got 65 main patterns with some having off shoots for more creativity. It’s going to be epic once this snail has it finished. Next off, I’m busy making for “Art in the Park” which is my one and only in person art show. Come and see me this July 19, 2025 at Farmtown Park in beautiful Stirling, Ontario. There will be a BBQ lunch, ice cream , and lots and lots of art created by local artists. The park is also an agricultural museum and with your donation at the door, you get to take in the art show and tour the museum. I look forward to seeing all the happy faces.

May 25, 2025

It’s ‘kitten season’. It rains kittens this time of year, as an unfixed cat will have on average 4-6 kittens per litter. The full range, is one to nine kittens! As we are in Canada, where the temperature is colder, mama cat will have a least 2 litters of kittens, sometimes 3, in a year. The more kittens she has had, the more likely she will have large litters. So you see how quickly that one single mama cat on someone’s farm or in your community will very quickly increase the cat population in the area. It happens more so in warmer climates. Here is your kitten primer. This piece on kittens is written from my years of experience and learning. It is just to get your toes wet. There is so much more to learn! Online, ‘kittenlady.org’ is your best resource for kitten care. She has been a life saver (literally) for me over the years.

Kittens are considered kittens from birth to 2 years old. After that, they are “cats”. The first 6 months are the cute cuddly baby stage where they play with their siblings and learn how to behave. This is why kittens are better in pairs. They need someone to play and grow and learn with. They can and will bond for life. Solo kittens are at risk for behaviour issues. Google “solo kitten syndrome” to learn more and how to combat it, should you be considering a solo kitten. Most people will get a kitten at about 8 to 12 weeks old. They are adorable but like all babies, they like to discover the world with their mouths. Yarn, kids toys, and plants now all pose a possible choking risk. You’ll need to ‘kitten prof’ your home (keep all the little things up and away or in sealed totes and ditch toxic plants like Ivy). Cat toys, scratching posts, and cat trees will need to be purchased to help with enrichment. Because you have just welcome a top predator into your home and they will need to play (hunt) almost all the time. The rest of the time they will be sleeping or eating.

Then at 6 months, you have a teenager on your hands till they are 2 years old. And just like a human’s teen years, your cute cuddly kitten is now full of angst and testing all the boundaries. They knock stuff over just for fun, climb your curtains and climb up the furniture. You’ll think you brought home a mountain goat! Just like a human teen, they are learning to be bold and what they can get away with. And left unfixed, they will go into heat at least once a month (or more). This will also cause a change in personality making a difficult time, that much worse. Males will pee on everything to mark their territory and females will howl to attract a mate and bleed on your bedspread (they get periods too). This is why it is important to get them fixed before 6 months of age, even if left indoors. If not fixed, they will also try to get out of the house to find a mate. You might never see kitty again. And if they do turn up again, they might not be alone! Your kitty might bring home kittens of their own. Even a fixed kitten will test all your boundaries. Like all teens, take a deep breath and remember you love them, then proceed. By 2 years, they tend to settle down. Unless you got a ‘breed cat’ then the teen years can last till 3 years of age. Yay!

Did I mention I love cats? I am a cat person. I’ve had kittens and cats my whole life. My first solo rescue kitten was when I was a preteen. She was 3 months old, the cutest little thing you ever did see! So fluffy, half starved, and chock-full of parasites. Did I mention she was “free”? Little bit of advice here for you, there is no such thing as a “free kitten”. The first thing you need to do with a “free kitten” is get them to the vet’s for a heath assessment (same day, if possible). If they are healthy, they will need to be dewormed. Almost all kittens have bellies full of worms which left untreated will kill them and spread to you and your family (even kittens born inside have a high risk for worms). You will not know it, till it is too late. Get them dewormed. Trust me on this one. Chances are kitten will also have fleas and need to be treaded for that. In some of the worst cases I’ve seen, the poor things even had lice! Then kitten will need it’s shots. You have to do 3 rounds to make sure kitten will be healthy. If there are health problems, the bill and care will sky rocket.

Sad fact, in cats, cancer is a virus that can spread through touch. Even if you keep kitten inside (and I hope you do, they live longer that way, in our climate) they could still get it from you. Just by you having pet a cat with the cancer virus (which is cat specific, it poses no danger to you). It’s that simple to pass around from cat to cat, just a simple touch. Kittens are even more at risk as they have fragile immune systems. So shots are a must. Then you’ll want to get kitten fixed by 6 months of age so that they do not go into ‘heat’ (ready to start making kittens of their own). Being a teenager is hard, it is even harder for cats as they are biologically programmed to start to reproduce by 6 months of age, sometimes, even as early as 5 months! You could find yourself with a pregnant teen on your hands, if you chance it. If everything goes perfectly, health wise, that “free kitten” will cost you at least $1000 in medical bills, alone, in the first 6 months of it’s life. Not to mention the food, litter, and start-up costs for toys and supplies for any kitty*. If this is not something you are prepared to pay for, say “no thank-you” or get a shelter cat or kitten if you really want one but can’t afford the extra health costs of a “free kitten”. 

Shelter cats and kittens are up to date on their shots, have been parasite treated, and are fixed. This has become the standard for rescue. Of course, always check before adopting. The shelter and its vet partners have taken care of all the hard work and the big costs that happen with a kitten or cat who has been living outdoors or come from a home that couldn’t afford it. This is what your adoption fee helps to cover. A bargain and a fraction of the actual costs of healthcare that kittens or cats need. Humane society’s do not make a profit. They are there for the well being of animals, not to make money. Same goes for rescues. They do not make money. Only breeder make money off of animals.

It can be fun to adopt a cat or kitten. You can make a day of it, take the whole family in to meet the cats and kittens and pick out your new furry family member. The staff and volunteers will help you pick the best match for your family. Cats can also pick their owners. It’s a great feeling when they do. Then it’s the fun part of taking kitty home and feeding it and loving it and taking it to the vet every year for boosters and a wellness check and covering all the vet bills should they have health issues as they age. Spoiler alert, all cats do, just like people. No one ages without having *something* go wrong. Of course good healthy food and exercise will help to combat this. Never cheep out on cat food, you and your cat will pay for it down the road. Treats are just junk food. Give them sparingly or not at all. Now you and your cat can enjoy the next 15 to 20 years or more, together. Warm laps, playing, purrs, and all the delights of having a furry family member are yours. A healthy cat is a 15 to 25 year commitment. Be sure you are ready for it.

*Pro tips: Cardboard boxes are the favourite beds of cats around the world. They will also use them to scratch. Most of your online shopping will keep you well stocked in these. You’ll still want a tree cat and scratching post (“Cat-it” is a Canadian company that makes the best furniture), but boxes will be the big hit. Toilet paper rolls are also super fun for kitten to play with (and come with your TP). Also balls of paper (make sure they are bigger to avoid choking). One of the best Canadian foods, right now, is “Performatrin Ultra” from PetValu. It has all the building blocks for a healthy life. My babies love it and their coats are just so healthy and silky. The healthier a cat’s coat is, the less they need to groom which means the less hairballs for you to step in. Also, less brushing for you. Our clowder (group of happy cats) likes a walnut based litter the best but there are lot’s of options. Keep in mind that clay is strip mined so it is very hard on the planet. A walnut or corn based litter is better for the planet and works better at trapping in smells. A scent free litter is best as cats smell about 14 times better than you and me, so a scent can be over powering and off putting. Cat nip is basically pot for cats. Use responsibly. I recommend avoiding in kittens all together. Some kittens or cats will have violent reactions (go berserk). If so, you’ll need to be a cat nip free home. Always check toy labels as a lot of toys come with catnip sewn in or included. If sewn in, you are stuck with it till it fades (months). If included, you can toss out the package and just use the toy as is.

April 22, 2025

I’m hypoglycaemic. This means that I tend to have low blood sugar. Hypoglycaemia (too little sugar in the blood) and hyperglycaemia (too much sugar in the blood) are considered pre-diabetic. Baby diabetic if you will. I’ve had this diagnosis since grade 6 when after fainting while participating in track and field, again, the supervising teacher called home. My womb wielder was unconcerned about the issue. She was convinced to take me to the doctor about it after the teacher said she would call the ambulance the next time I fainted. Thank you track and field teacher, I’m sorry I don’t remember your name. I am forever grateful for your intervention as it has shaped my life.

The doctor took the matter seriously and sent me for a blood test. It showed that my blood glucose levels were low. Not low enough for a full on diabetic but low enough to be worrying and thus, the hypoglycaemic diagnoses. My doctor told me to “eat healthy and at least 3 meals a day with snacks in between. You’ll be diabetic before you are 40, though so we’ll have to keep an eye on it.” This was not something I was looking forward to, so I asked what “eating healthy” meant. Apparently, it was the Canada Food Guide. If you have ever read this document then you know that it is just too much food for one person to eat in a day. I’m not a cow (seriously, this is what the food guide is based on, how to feed cattle). There was good advice in it though. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Keep up your protein. Have whole grains and not just empty white bread.

I started to take eating seriously and tracked what happened when I had food from a box or can. They were harder to ah-hem, pass through my system, even causing bloating or cramping. Same with things that were made with regular white flour. In-case you don’t know, regular white flour is made white by the use of bleach. Its natural colour is an off white. Also, bleach is bad for you to ingest (duh). I started eating ‘organic’. Sugary drinks also tended to make me feel like crap. Unless my blood sugar was too low. Then it would help. Otherwise water was my best choice for drinking as I felt good after drinking it. I also trained myself, over the years to eat regularly with 6 to 7 hours between each meal with a snack or two (such as an apple or a handful of plain nuts) before bed or I’d wake up too shaky first thing in the morning. I’d even get shaky during the day, if active, so healthy snacks help fix this. Food is a serous matter when one has hypoglycaemia. I do start my day with a glass of Orange Juice as I always wake up a bit too low and that is it for sugar drinks most days. It’s water, maybe a green or herbal tea (without anything in it) too. Water keeps my system working and me functioning. I like to say I like to eat my calories not drink them.

I also adopted what I call the ‘real food’ rule. At least once a day I eat something ‘real’. This means that I eat a fruit or vegetable that is raw. No cooking, no cans, no additives. This could be an apple or a handful of carrot sticks for example. Learning about fruit and vegetables, I also came to find out I was mildly allergic to tropic fruits, they would burn the inside of my mouth or cause vomiting. So I gave those up. Hopefully, you can enjoy them without any issue. And I did this with all the food that was causing me digestive issues. I stopped eating them (just the odd tomato in pizza). Spoiler, I was a ‘picky’ eater…maybe all these food sensitivities had something to do with it? Anyway, once I knew what I could eat without issues, food opened up to me. It also meant I could insist on eating food that made me feel good (or not eat them for the ones that made me feel bad). So while I love french fries, cheese pizza, and chocolate, I have also come to love salad, chicken breast, and apples (Red Prince is my favourite).

The next bit was exercise. Yes, you need to do this. Humans are meant to move as well as rest. Even just one 20 minute walk a day helps keep your body running well. I did this. When disability hit me hard, this became harder to do. My dog got me through it, forcing me to go out and walk. And I’d delight in his delight at being outside. To a dog, there is no better place to be. The years keep rolling on by and while I’d still have the odd low blood sugar feelings, I’d pay attention to them and eat. No more fainting. In-case you are wondering, low blood sugar warning signs feel like brain fog, trouble getting your words out, shaking in your limbs, nausea, sweating for no reason with chills as an added bonus, and of course hanger. Once hunger has set in and is disregarded, hanger sets in. I’m mad for no reason other than I’m hungry. Which is something I’d rather not be. So I eat on my schedule.  Breakfast within the first hour of waking up, lunch 6 to 7 hours later, then dinner 6 to 7 hours after that. Snacks are eaten between or at the end of the day as needed. Which means I listen to my stomach. Is it hungry, is it full? To keep healthy I had to pay attention to my stomach and its needs.

I was listening to my body to keep low blood sugar spells away. And it was working too. My blood tests would come back showing pre-diabetic. You have to fast before one, so skipping a meal would cause a low. But it was never full on set diabetes. Which is the goal. The dream was to have a blood test where my blood sugar levels were normal. And while I do still have dizzy spells on the regular nowadays, they are not from low blood sugar as I keep my levels up (I can thank prolonged post concussion syndrome for that). Then the dream happened. Last year, for the first time ever, I had a blood test that showed normal. As in, my blood glucose levels were normal. Not low. Not pre-diabetic. Normal. Average. My doctor asked me what changes I’d made to have this result. This was huge! I’m supposed to be full on diabetic by my current age but instead, my blood sugar levels after skipping a meal were normal.

This was just wonderful. It felt like all my hard work over the years was paying off. But what had I done differently? My eating habits were the same. My excise levels were the same. What had tipped the balance to a normal result? On reflection there were two things that I had done that could have had the effect. The first was stopping oral birth control. I’d been on it since I was 17 to control my flow which was irregular and violent (as in sick and having to stay home bad, you get the picture). I’d been on the same pill for decades then the company stopped making it. The one I was switched to was working per-say but I was starting to feel bloated all the time and just ‘off’. My husband decided to take over the birth control issue. I might have helped make up his mind when I said I was stopping the pill. A few months after being off the pill, I was feeling and doing better. Back to my regular self, before the pill change. 

Then I read about how the North America diets kill our healthy gut bacteria. I decided to do a month of probiotics (gel caps). The first week was ruff. Let’s just say it was gas and a lot of poo. I apparently had a lot of old shit in me. Feel free to laugh, you do too! After, the first week, things again started feeling better. I noticed a change in my acid reflux as well. Foods like pizza that would normally give me heartburn, no longer did. After my month of probiotics were finished, I was hurt-burn free for about 3 months. Then indigestion came creeping back in. So I decided to treat probiotics as an antacid. I have one with pizza or tomato sauce or even just a big meal. This has worked beautifully. My tummy is the happiest it’s ever been.

That was it…just two small changes in my life. Of course I have kept up my eating schedule and try to eat as healthy as I can. Mostly raw foods and home cooking. Dinner out is a treat a couple of times a month. Not the norm. It’s one of those moments in life when years of hard work and dedication to my own health has paid off. A normal result blood test. Years of work and learning have brought me to this moment and it is just so satisfying. To know what I am doing is working. That I am looking after myself despite my disability’s is just so much more satisfying. I hope you too will invest in your own health and learn to work with your body. Trust me, it’s worth it.

March 24, 2025

Memories. They are what allows us to grow and interact with our world and the people around us. We learn and grow and our brains remember each new thing. It stores each new memory in its data base with chemicals to keep it preserved. With each new memory made we have a new experience that goes on to shape us. These memories foam the baseline for what we perceive as “normal” or “average”. They help to shape how we will interpret and interact with the world around us. In turn, these memories go on to shape how we will remember each new experience that happens to us.

Neuroscience has learned that it is the new that we remember the most. The novel is far more likely to be stored away for later remembrance. That’s why the average person is unlikely to recall what they ate for breakfast last Thursday or what they did at work last Tuesday. It was just the usual breakfast and it was just a normal Tuesday. 

But say that Thursday you ate a new breakfast? Something brand new to you? Well you’d remember it of course! Or if that breakfast was an old favourite that you hadn’t eaten in ages, that too would be remembered. How many times have you heard someone say something along the lines of “I had bacon and eggs for breakfast. I can’t remember the last time I had them but they were so good.” And now, for a little while at least, you will recall those bacon and eggs with the side of toast and how good they were.

While the exact date or time might not stick with you, the flavour would. Our memories are so much more than a picture in our mind. They are the smell of the bacon. The firmness of the eggs as you chew. The taste of the butter on the toast. The sounds of the bacon sizzling as it cooks. Even the person you ate those bacon and eggs with. So while you may not remember the last time you had bacon and eggs in terms of a calendar date, you will always recall the experience. This is why we like to seek out new experiences or relive old ones. If most of our newness is positive and pleasant then we want more of it. Like wise, we want to add to the pleasant memories we remember. 

The same holds true for that passed Tuesday at work. Say something out of the ordinary happened. The computer’s went down and the light’s went out. The power is gone! That would stay with you too. You’d remember the confusion, the scramble to do what now needs to be done. If it’s a retail shop, now you have to ask your customers to leave, as it is not safe to be in store with the power off. Or if it’s an office, the phones might still be ringing and need to be answered. Where is that pen and paper to write notes on? The anger of the people on the other end of the line at how you are unable to do for them what they want and the stress that causes you will stay with you. You will find yourself dreading each and every time the power goes out.

And while years later you may not remember it was a Tuesday, the story will still be there. The feelings will still be there for you. You’ll share it with friends and family. “I remember a time when I was working and the lights went out!” While you are sharing this remembered experience, you will be back there, reliving it all. This brings us to the next part of memory. Each time we remember an experience we are transported through time. The chemicals that store those memories also store each and every time we have remembered them going back from the now to the then. The people you are telling this memory too, will now become a part of it as well.

For instance, if you haven’t remembered something since you were 5 years old, when a stimulus activates that memory it will bring you back for just a time, to being 5 years old. It is why even though you have matured, a simple visit with your sibling can have you acting like your childhood self. You are remembering what it felt like to be with that sibling before and acting upon it now. Depending on what emotions are felt with the memory the word used to describe the recollection changes. If it is a joyous moment, you will “glimmer”. If it is a painful moment, you will be “trigger”. If it is something in between those two, then it is a remembrance. This is because emotions are a huge part of our memories. We experience how we interact physically with the world by using our senses. Smell, touch, taste, sight and sounds. We pull all available stimuli in when we interact with our environment then we react with our emotions. Logic and reasoning come last. There is no way to avoid this. It is part of being human.

Whether it is delight at what we see. Disgust at what we smell. Pain at what is felt or heard. All of it is now a part of ourselves and gets stored away in our memories and then linked to other moments that have similar stimuli and emotions in them. It is why you might walk by a park and stop to watch a child playing on the swings and suddenly feel the wind hitting your face or feel the power in your legs from pumping the swing to make it go higher, even though you are standing still. You’ll feel the emotions of the moment as well. The freedom of swinging through the air mixed with exhilaration. Maybe even a touch of fear if you have even fallen off and hurt yourself.

So there you are in a park at 35 years old but suddenly you feel like a kid again. And now, next time you recall the swings, not only will you feel the what you felt as a child, you will also feel what you felt right here at 35. This might be a wonder at how your life has changed or loss that you will never be that free again. So many things could come to mind, but they will forever be attached to your memory of playing on the swings as a child. This is why it is so important to allow yourself the time to experience your memory. To feel it. Because the next time you will remember the swings you will actually be remembering this moment right here at 35 years old, first. Whether you will go past 35 and recall the next part of this memory chain, is all part of what you choose to do at 35. Then at 45, then at 55 and so on. At each remembrance a link in the memory chain is formed. If you choose not to look back, each and every time you remember it it will be harder and harder to look back to the original memory as you’ll keep experiencing your choice to not look beyond. Some people will even choose to rewrite the memory, making the truth of the memory even harder to find. It will still be there just out of reach, like a splinter in your finger that you cannot see or remove but nonetheless, feel.

Thus, we remember the last time we experience the memory. Then maybe we remember the stuff further down the chain or not. It all depends on what you choose to do in the moment. If you do not want to remember the fun of the swings and instead just think, “This is childish. I am glad I put these childish things behind me,” then you will. And all the joy and fun will be lost to you. The next time you see a child on the swings in the park, you will not stop. You will not feel the freedom. You will just keep walking on by. And this is how we forget ourselves. How we grow “old”. It is why old men who placed work first, suddenly weep while watching their grandchildren play. Because they are sitting still and not thinking of anything in particular, the original experience of the freedom and exhibition returns to them, with the sound of laughter on the wind. This glimmer will then cause them to recall how they once thought these simple pleasures “childish” and they will weep for the loss. For all the times they could have enjoyed this childhood pleasure but chose not too instead.

The same is even more true for painful, traumatic memories. We do not want to experience them because of the pain, confusion, rage, anxiety, and even guilt they cause us so we push them away. Locking them up in the corners of our minds. Focusing on more pleasant things or even doom scrolling our way past them. While for a time this might be beneficial, as it allows us the ability to return to them when we do feel safe enough to examine them, sadly, more often than not, this does not happen. We leave them locked away. Then one day, a sound, an image, a smell and then bam! The trigger brings us back to that day, that moment of the terrible thing and our emotions are tormenting us. Because this is brought on so suddenly we try to push this traumatic memory away from us once again. The space is not safe, the timing is not right and we burry this pain even deeper. The more this happens, the more we forget our traumatic memories, the more power they will have over us till nothing but the unanswered feelings of fear, of panic, of anxiety is left. Enter in existential dread. If we do this too often to ourselves, then we can even come to reject the glimmers as well. Joy and pain are extreme emotions. If one is rejected we can come to reject them all feeling comfortable only in the mundane. Or even worse yet, only when we are the ones inflicting the pain. This is the danger of negative experiences.

Should you wish to grow beyond your negative experiences, past your triggers, it will take years of self reflection to dig up the memories. Like an archeologist, you will uncover fragments of this trauma. Piece by piece, you examine these fragments to find the full memory. Then allow yourself time to sit with it. To experience it. To feel the pain. To make space for it. To grow a scar over the old wound and heal. This is hard work. Far harder than if we were to allow our selves the freedom to feel in the first place. Experience gives us the test first and the lesson afterwards. Pain is just as important as joy, both shape us. So do anger, discust, fear, happiness, sadness, love, loathing, nostalgia, hatred, and peace. All of them are at some point a part of us. Each and every emotion. To be full and complete we need to accept them, to make space for them in our lives and in our memories. Then and only then can clear and rational decisions be made. This allows us to be our complete selves. To be honest to ourselves we must first be honest to our memories. We must allow our memories to be a part of us. A memory fully felt can then be made a part of us and then once we have exepted it, the memory has less power over us, emotionally. It is then easier to act rationally. Remember, first you take in the stimulus, then you feel it, then you can reason with it. There is no short cut to changing this.

The more honest we are in our memories the easier it is to remember them as well. Take every moment in. Feel it. Examine it. Then reason with it and keep it for later. These moments we experience are the building blocks for our personalities, being honest in our recollection creates a more balanced individual. The more open we are to our past experiences, the more honest we will be to ourselves which brings peace and fulfillment to our lives. This helps to safe guard our minds for the future, protecting the integrity of our memories for tomorrow.

February 24, 2025

This month’s Blog post is a follow up to last months. I placed an order with “yarnover.ca” located in Regina, SK. The website is user friendly and the shop has competitive prices. There was a supply issue with the hooks which the owner, Brianna was quick to communicate with me and so the decision to ship the 3 books in my order was made. They came by Purolator ground (4 days, over the weekend). The packaging was top knotch. A cardboard box (reused to generate less waste) with lots of paper packing. The books were placed in a zippered plastic bag to prevent any possible water damage that might happen as it is winter. Lot’s of snow and ice. Excellent attention to deal on this! So happy. The books are perfect. I’m looking forward to when the hooks arrive and I’ll be ordering more. These pattern books will get me through the winter blues and making more cute stuffies. Thank you Yarn Over! Highly recommend.

I posted an unboxing video to my facebook account, should you like to watch it there and feel free to follow along if you are a FB user.(https://www.facebook.com/Rosemarie.Neumayer.Stuffies/)

January 23, 2025

Let’s talk hooks. There are so many crochet hooks on the market, right now. Which is a good thing, as you have choice. Modern crochet hooks come in metal, plastic, and bamboo. I’m a fan of metal as the hook is less likely to break down, over time. I like my tools to last. I do have a few bamboo hooks for use with chunky yarn, as I like the feel of the two together and it helps to keep my natural tension (which is tight) lighter. So really, it depends on what you are making as to which hook you use. The same goes for sizing, the hook size if affected by the yarn weight (size) and your own personal tension. That and your own preferences.

For this bit, I’m going to focus on crochet stuffed animal (stuffie) making with cotton yarn as this is what I make the most of. When I make stuffies, my hook is inline. Lately, people have looked at me weird when I say this. Turns out, not too many people know that there are two categories of hooks. Tapered and inline hooks. A tapered hook is blunt at the tip and has a small curve to hold your yarn on. The hook, itself is also not straight, it tapers, hence the name. Tapered hooks can also be wonky looking. They have less constancy in their design. An inline hook has a point at its tip and is very consistent looking, overall. The space to hold your yarn is much deeper and the hook itself is very straight, it is “inline” all the way down. This helps to keep your tension even while working. Work smarter, not harder my people.

For stuffie making you’ll want to use an inline hook. Stuffies need a tighter tension than say making a blanket or lace. There should be no spaces visible between your stitches. An inline hooks will help you to achieve this with ease due to its design. I once read that tampered hooks are for pro’s and inline hooks are for beginners. This is nonsense. What I can say, is that tapered hooks are older than inline. All my vintage hooks are tapered. They are easier to make as they do not require the fine machining of an inline hook. Also, if you are just starting out, it is easier to learn with an inline hook. Most likely these factors caused the prejudice. Right now, the best inline hooks available on the North American market are from the “Susan Bates” line up.

And this is where another type of hook factors in. Ergonomical. This type of hook comes in both tapered and inline designs. The idea is that they cut back on hand and wrist cramping. Which can also be affected by your grip style (pen or knife). Pen or knife grips, get their names from how you hold a pen vs how you hold a knife but with a crochet hook instead. As a gal with large hands (man hands), I find the knife style to be best for me and I make all my movements with elbow to cut back on wrist strain. Smaller hands can find that the pen grip gives them better elbow action. It’s a personal preference thing. Ergonomical hooks are a dime a dozen for tapered hooks but not so much for inline. I once found one and then broke it within 6 months as the hook only went half way into the grip. This was bad design. I have been waiting for a better one ever since.

Enter Susan Bates soft ergonomical crochet hooks. Susan Bates hooks, over all, are inline. From what I can tell, inline hooks start at 3.50 mm and go up from there, so all fine crochet hooks are all tapered (at least all the one’s I’ve ever found are). Most likely it is easier for production. Good thing my stuffie hook of choice with my Barnet Handicrafter yarn (also branded under: “lily: sugars ‘n cream”, “loops and treads”, and “peaches and cream”) is a 3.50 mm hook. 

I have been trying to get my hands on a 3.59 mm hook for months in the ergonomical style. It has been sold out since I first found it, 6 months ago. I finally tracked one down to an independent yarn shop in Regina, SK called “Yarn Over” (and got a few pattern book’s I’ve had my eye on too). The shop owner is expecting a restocking and I have my hook on order! Finally. Have a look at this gem of an independent shop at http://www.yarnover.ca. That aside, I have picked up other Susan Bates soft ergonomical hooks from Micheals and have been using them with my acrylic making, so I know it is worth the wait. If given the choice, I will always use an inline hook over a tapered. Even with 16 years of crochet making under my belt. Inline helps me work fast and efficiently with better results and less stress.

Now for the unsponsored product review of the Susan Bates soft ergonomical crochet hooks: The other day, my family was needing some new warm hats, so I test drove (so to speak) the Susan Bates ergo hooks. Wow! Just so good. I am in love with this line up. My tension was a thing of beauty. My hands just flew with these hooks. I made 2 hats in one night! And to top it off, I had zero hand cramping. The hook sits comfortably in my hand without creating any pressure points. My arthritis didn’t flinch. As to the design, the hook seems to go all the way through the grip which is both soft yet firm. My congratulations to Susan Bates for these perfect hooks. I hope that they release the smaller (2.50 mm and down sizings) in these grips as well. It would be a life saver for light and fine weight yarn as well as crochet thread making.

December 21, 2024

It’s holiday time. We say “Happy Holidays” when we do not know the other person well enough to know what they celebrate. Did you know that there are 11 holidays in December across the globe? So unless you know the person in front of you or they look like Christmas threw up on them, it is kinder to say “Happy Holidays”. This shows that you are not making assumptions about what the other person celebrates. It means you do in fact care and mean what you say.

For myself, it is “Merry Christmas”. But even this has changed. My childhood Christmases were huge fancy affairs with family, presents, carols, and mass all organized by my Grandma. It all changed the first Christmas after my Grandma had passed away. It changed again, when as an adult I became vocal about being mostly Atheist in my beliefs. This is when I started celebrating a secular Christmas. Bit’s of this had already been in my traditions such as gift giving and Santa. It did put more emphasis on celebrating friends and family. Making time to spend with my loved ones. Those who made me feel safe and welcomed.

Then when I went no contact with my mother (first time), it changed again. This was a kind of “last straw” for most of my family at the time. Turn your back on God? Ok, we’ll entertain that for a bit. Turn your back on your own mother? No. We’ll put the pressure on super thick for you to make up with her. Glass lighting, sadly, was a huge part of family Christmas. I slowly stopped seeing most of my family members at the holidays. This made for a much more relaxed Christmas and not the three ringed circuses of my childhood. Christmas where I could breathe.

Then disability came along and it once again changed for me. People’s loud and joyful celebrations were too much for me to handle at all. While I was allowing my mother a second chance in my life, most of my family was not. The tables had turned. And then I started dating a man who didn’t celebrate Christmas at all. This really got me thinking. Christmas has changed in so many ways for me over the years but the core has always remained the same to me. Christmas was a chance to spend time with those I loved, giving them a thoughtful present, and eating good food. Cuddling up with a good book at the end of the day.

The other thing was Christmas movies. I’m not talking about Hallmark movies (no thank you). I mean real big budget films that were always on my watch list. And when a new one would come out that was amazing, it too was added to my list. These movies were fun, silly, and joyful. They reminded me of happy times and helped create new ones.

The list in no order is:

Die Hard (1 and 2)

A Muppet Christmas Carol

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original animated version for TV)

Home Alone (1 and 2)

The Holiday

The Nightmare Before Christmas (which has the distinction of being both a Christmas and Halloween film)

Love actually (where we get to feel really good about Alan Rickman falling off a tower in Die Hard)

Elf

Somehow this way of celebrating Christmas sounded appealing to my then boy friend (spoiler, we got married). We baked goodies, warched Die Hard, had a good meal, ate the goodies, gave each other presents and just enjoyed a relaxing time. We also enjoyed gifting some of the goodies too. It is a fine thing to make the ones you love a tin of treats. 

Once you find your footing, change comes again. I had to go no contact with my mother for good, this made Christmas even smaller. And then that terrible thing happened the world over and Christmas shrunk (you know the one). These last few years, it has just been the two of us for the day. It has been fun. We see friends and family in intimate settings before and after the 25th now that it is safe to do so. Having good food and even better company makes a dark time of year bright. And it is literally dark, where I’m at the sun sets by 4:30pm. Yuck.

Life is always change. It is the one certainty. Christmas is no exception this year. This year Christmas changes again, as I have met my father and his family and formed healthy and happy relationships there. This year, I got my presents early in the form of connection, the power of belonging. This 25th of December, I’ll have good food and treats with family that loves me for who I am. Disability and all. Where my lack of faith is acceptable. Where my personal truths are recognized. Where I am valued. Where I can breathe deeply.

So this is the holiday wish I have for each and every person on this rock floating through space and time. May your holidays have good food and even better company where you are valued for who you are. Where you can breathe deeply. We are each and every one of us a gift. Happy Holidays!

November 27, 2024

This month I have exciting news! My stuffies are back in a shop! Ma’s Pantry is a baking supply and bakery in Downtown Trenton (38 Dundas St. W, across for the BMO). They also offer a selection of gifts. Stuffies and yummy baking? Seems like a perfect fit to me. Pop in.

Ma’s Pantry Winter hours are: Closed for Monday and Tuesday. Open Wednesday through Friday, 11am to 5pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 3pm.

October 28, 2024

Well, I missed September by a landslide. I had so many things on my mind that I wanted to write about that I couldn’t pick just one thing and ended up writing nothing instead. We have all had this before. Paralysis by analysis. Where we over think a thing (or two or three or more) and end up freezing up and therefore do nothing.

This was a huge turning point for me as a writer. I actually consider this to be a win. To know why, I have to take a step back. 8 years to be exact. I was in my kitchen and it was a hot day. The heat was sizzling off the pavement. I had the windows open when a pick up truck reved its engine. To most people this wouldn’t mean much. To someone living with Hyperacusis, this was devastating. My ears and head were suddenly flooded with pain and it set off a dizzy spell that sent me spinning so fast off course that I hit the side of my head on a wooden shelf. I passed out and woke up some time later. The light was different so it had been a few hours. My dog was on my chest liking my face in an effort to wake me. This was confirmed concussion number six.

Concussion number six brought with it something new. A month later, I had a grand mal seizure. To say this was not fun, would be a massive understatement. I was once again alone when this happened. I also, once again, hit my head. Seeing as how I was still concussed, it didn’t help matters at all. 

There are a ton of things I was struggling with after the physical injury’s had healed up. The biggest was brain fog. It felt like there was a fog in my brain so thick that I couldn’t see any of my thoughts any more. I struggled to talk. Writing, was O U T. Attempting to find the words to talk created a storm in my foggy brain so thick that I would often start sobbing like a confused 2 year old. This did pass, in time of course. But so much time! Every milestone came in months and years. So much of who were are is tied up in our ability to communicate. I felt like I was losing myself.

I’ve learned that the worst thing you can do to an intellect is to deny them access to it. I was struggling with my sense of self. Even drawing was difficult. This is why I chose to illustrate and self publish my adult colouring book “What Cheek!”. This took a year from start to finish. A project that in my 20’s would have been completed in a month, two tops. Then in the fall of 2021 I sent a copy of this book to Piers Anthony, the author who helped to warp my sense of humour while growing up. He was so kind as to write a full review of all my drawings. So touching. I wanted to share it with everyone. But where to put it? I had no such place on my website. Then I realized I could share it in a blog post (if I actually made a blog page). And if I was finally taking the plunge to do a blog then I should commit to a monthly post. Panic! Thankfully, logic won.

Creating the blog solved two needs. One, I was able to share Piers Anthony’s review and two, I was forcing myself to write again on a schedule. At the time, this did seem a lot like trying to climb Everest once a month. The struggle to compose a post once a month was massive! Most months I was able, some I took the short way out and just did “updates”, and a few I missed out on. As in all things, dedication, hard work, commitment, and just plain old stubbornness paid off. Here I am in October of 2024 and for once I was struggling with having too much to write (not enough or focus). And this is why the September sized whole in my blog is a win. As with all things, it’s your perspective that defines it.

August 12, 2024

I’m on vacation! The very first vacation I’ve ever taken as a tiny business owner. See you all September 2nd. Enjoy the rest of the summer, everyone!

July 30, 2024

Tomorrow is July 31 and I’ll admit I’m a little nervous about it. It has me thinking. Have you ever had one of those days that change your life forever? Of course you have. We all have. For me, this July seems to be a month full of these types of days. Days that have changed me, forever. I will never be the same again.

This month has been a month of answers, of connection, of new relationships, of new beginnings, and new life. On the other side of the coin, it has been a month of profound loss, of endings, and of dark truths.

It’s been one hell of a roller coater ride. So I’m a little concerned about the last day of the month. I remind myself that it is purely superstitious of me to think anything of it. I’ll thank my Ma for this little personality quirk. She’d say “When it rains, it pours.” Well it’s been a flood of emotions so far. If this month has thought me anything, it is how very much we are like our blood, but also how much we can be like those who loved us, if we are willing to learn. I like to think I have the best from both sides.

On a business note, “Art in the Park” was a great day. Just such a fun and happy day spent out under the shade of the trees at FarmTown Park in Stirling. As always, my family came to support me and make this day happen. I was so happy to see how many of my stuffie fans came out to see me. And to how many new ones were made. Thank you, to all of you. You made my day.

In closing I’ll just say “Hi Dad, Goodbye Patricia, and Welcome Patrick Jane”. I just can’t find the words for the rest of it all just yet. My heart feels so full and yet so empty. Hopefully the 31st will be boring as hell! Fingers crossed (some things I can’t seem to unlearn)!

July 3, 2024

This is the next big thing on the horizon for me. My one and only in person Art show. Come and meet me and see all that I have on display from Stuffies to baby blankets, from jewelry to my adult colouring book. I’ll be set up outside, under the shade of the trees with my fabulous support team (my family)

This show is the best as it is at a museum! An agricultural museum (Farmtown Park in Stirling). A donation at the door gets you in to tour the museum and take in the art show where over 50 vendors will be set up and selling their Art. BBQ and ice cream will be available to purchase too

Art in the Park – Stirling is Saturday July 20th from 10 to 4pm. The park is basically wrapped around the arena in Stirling, so if you can find the arena then you have found Farmtown Park (the museum).

May 29, 2024

This month I took the plunge into micro crochet which is done with crochet tread. This is crazy tiny! But just oh so cute. I have added examples to the bottom of the “Stuffies!” page. Here is a picture with my teeny tiny baby octopus pattern done up in my regular (medium weight) cotton yarn, mini crochet (light weight yarn), and the micro crochet at just over a centimetre tall. Enjoy 😊

April 28, 2024

For this month’s blog posting I thought I’d share a comment I made on a Facebook post, as the OP found it very helpful. The OP (original poster) had suddenly found themselves having to parent a younger family member. The child was struggling in school and needing assistance. While the OP was working with doctors for a diagnosis (ADHD or ASD, a slow process), the child needed coping skills right away. The OP was sure that there was something they could do to help, if only then knew what that was. I was moved by this cry for help and wrote up a comment with advice for the OP. I hope it will help someone else finding themselves in a similar situation, someday. Now that you know the back story, here is my comment…

“As a child that was parent to a younger sibling with ADHD that could have been ASD if it had been diagnosed right… I feel ya. It is hard. Not being the bio parent makes it harder. Also the damage done by said bio parent. Having these big emotions just makes everything so much harder. Being neurodivergent can also be isolating for her. It is hard being different from the “norm”.

First thing, take a deep breath (you need it). So will she. Deep belly breathing can be done to help calm the mind (I tell kids, imagine you are breathing out of your belly button!) and it can be done in a fun way. And that is the trick, you need to find a way to make every single thing that has to be done, fun for her or her mind will shut it down. So it’s “hey come see this fun thing” and show them it, then talk about it after. Counselling is a must but sadly hard to find in today’s healthcare. Even just play dates with other kids like her so she feels accepted. Everyone needs their own tribe.

Find what grabs her. Every kid has that one thing that just pulls them in, find it and let her learn the crap outta it. Make it weird. Get books and shows and whatever the thing comes in to reach her. Have special things made of the thing for her. Then find things that branch off of it to build up more learning fun. Let her talk about it for ages. Whatever the thing is, even if it is a game or rocks. She needs something else to focus on. This will help her relax and learn life skills. And once that happens she will focus on other things too.

Remember, this is a mind that focuses better one on one. Even with going to school, homeschool will have to be done as a busy and loud classroom will not let her learn. I spent at least 3 hours a night teaching what was supposed to have been “learned” during the day. You’ll need to have an agenda that the teach writes in (keeping you up to date on the days work) so you and them can help her do her best. And think outside the box. She is smart, just a different kind. Most ADHD kids love hands on, one on one. Show, then tell. And repetition. Also be consistent in everything you do, always. They do not understand doing it differently just for today or because of “x”. It is a hard road but worth it in the end.”

March 29, 2024

**** I’ll just leave this little trigger warning here, as in this month’s blog post I’m going to talk about narcissism and narcissistic abuse, just not in graphic detail. If you want to see how that plays out with a happy ending, watch “Wish”.  Also spoilers as I discuss Disney’s “Wish”. You have been warned. ****

Narcissism is a hot topic now. With people accusing anyone who has a hint of selfishness in their bones of being a narcissist. News flash, they aren’t. People who are being selfish know they are being selfish, in the end. They can see reason. Narcissists just think it is their due, they have major entitlement issues. Everything is theirs by rights of them being themselves, the most perfect person in existence! According to Psychology Today, “Narcissism is characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, a need for excessive admiration, and the belief that one is unique and deserving of special treatment.” In other words, true narcissists are pathological. And they are rare, 5% of the population or less. Narcissists live in a fantasy land where they are number one and the only needs that matter at all, are their own. They can even believe that no one else even has needs (I’m serious here). In fact everything is about them. And I mean everything! Question this belief, even just hint at the fact that they are not the sun and that the universe doesn’t revolve around them and bam! They turn on you. You are public enemy number one. You are the traitor! How dare you! You have to fix this for them and make it right now, or else! Worst part is, they mean it. You can practically see the flames coming off of them with their righteous fury that you have mortally wronged them by questioning their perfection.

Sure you can shake your head and walk away going that person is “crazy” but what if you can’t (at least not right away)? What if the narcissist is in a position of power over you such as a boss or parent. A narcissistic boss will work their butt off to fire you without provocation while bad mouthing you to all your coworkers. They will do their best to see that you never work again (at least not if they can help it) with you never having done a thing wrong. In fact, the better at your job you are, the more of a threat they will see you as, as they are the best worker, ever. Times 10. If they happen to be your parent (this is the case for me), they will abuse you mentally (for sure) and physically (if they can get away with it) all the while accusing you of betrayal for daring to question their perfection. They are the parent, they always know best. About everything, even about you and your own life, your wants and desires. Who am I kidding here, you are just an extension of the narcissist, not a person who has a life of their own, please get with the program people (sarcastic comment). If you are worrying here, know that to keep my sanity, individually, and sense of self worth, I had to go “no contact” quite a few years back now. It was the only option left to me where I could thrive. And I’m loving living my own life. Freedom is awesome. And thank you for being an empathetic person. You rock.

Back to the narcissist. A narcissist somewhere is reading that sentence and thinking, “damn straight, who gives a crap about this chick?! Haha! A narcissist will steal any of your accomplishments. For example, you win an award at school. Great right? Wrong. You can’t own that. The narcissistic parent will take it from you. After all, you only won that award because of how great a parent they are. And they can do the things so much better than you, anyway. So why are people paying attention to you, kid? They need to be praising them! Yes, you will be shit on for winning an award! Been there, done that as they say. Is it unbelievable? To people who have emotionally available parents, yes it must seem this way. Anything bad happens? Well get ready to be the scapegoat because it was all your fault. Just by being in the vicinity of the narcissist, you caused that bad thing to happen because the narcissist can not accept responsibility for anything bad they do. Ever. “I’m sorry but…” is a huge thing I grew up with. The “but” gets rid of all accountability and places the blame squarely on your shoulders where it belongs (grrrrrrr). They have an allergy to accountability. Even if the narcissist had lit a match and tossed it on a stack of papers causing them to burn and take the house with them… Not their fault. You *somehow* made them do it. And of course dating them is hell on wheels. Thankfully, I’ve not had the pleasure (read: more sarcasm). Sadly, narcissists are more commonly men, thus more women have experienced dating them as a whole. But make no mistake, women narcissists are a thing, too and from my own experiences, they do it better (sorry, not sorry guys, on this one).

This need to be perfect all the time, also leads to lying. Narcissists are the best liars as they are pathological liars. They actually believe their own lies. After all, image is everything to them and their image is the best as they are the best! They make up little stories and lies to help further this narrative. They can be oh so charming at first. This pulls people in and they either come to their senses and realize something is terribly wrong and walk away or they get caught up in the fantasy land of the narcissist and play along. Because if you question the narrative of a narcissist, watch out! They will strike with cobra like precision, hurting you in your most vulnerable of areas, leaving a deadly poison behind. After all, they have spent ages learning all your weak points. They love to show how flawed others are in comparison to their perfection. They are master manipulators. Stay with one long enough, do the “buy in” thing to narcissistic fantasy land and you will not know your ass end from your elbow (mentally speaking) and yet you’ll be glad of this? Gag! Or like me, who questioned everything, you will be living in a 24/7 war zone. Both options lead to madness, in the end. Walk away as soon as you can. Very fast, covering your tracks as you go. Get help once you are free. Be who you were meant to be. I believe in you!

So what’s the point of this rant? Well, I watched Disney’s Wish. And while yes, this film is flawed, the songs are too top 40′ s pop and there are times where it feels more like an add for Disney than an actual film thanks to the whole centennial thing and the need to appeal to a mass audience. However, the one thing this film does right and is somehow being slammed for, is the central story. I feel this has a lot to do with the fact that so many people just don’t know what life is like living under the thumb of a true narcissist. Lucky them (no sarcasm). The king, Magnifico is a narcissist to his core. He is text book! He uses his magic to keep his subjects in-line while they praise him to keep his ego boosted because like any good narcissist, he has self-esteem issues. He needs constant praise and admiration or he starts to feel down and lash out. This is a person who has zero internal emotional regulation! Tell me I’m handsome (perfect) and wonderful all the time as I need constant validation. And watch out if you don’t give it to him. Public enemy number one! 

Enter Asha. She lives in this kingdom built on Magnifico’s lies, his need for admiration and control. She starts the story off by telling you how wonderful he is, and this is her own story! This is classic narcissistic abuse. She can’t take credit for her own story. She even does the opening song about how great Rosas is because of him. It is the fantasy land buy in. Heck, even the wood cutter carves a bust of him and the baker bakes cookies that look like him. Everyone loves and protects his fragile ego, constantly building up this man-child. Even the apprentice’s job is really just a shitty personal assistant job looking after the king as only the king can do magic, by law. This film starts off as a narcissist’s wet dream. 

Of course, once she meets him, her and everyone else’s hero, in person, he starts to attack her sense of self worth by questioning her artistic talent. The closer you get to a narcissist the more you get burned. Going back to my sun reference, the sun is beautiful to look at but the closer to it you get, the more you get burned and eventually you will just burn up altogether. Thankfully, she pretty soon sees through him by being the smart, empathetic, and clever, quirky person she is. She is exactly the type of person to see through the narcissist’s fake persona as she is an artist. Artist’s look deeper at things, they try to connect with people’s needs but also with their own and the world around them. Asha has a quick connection with him as they bond over loss that soon fizzles out once she realizes that he is keeping people’s wishes from them for his own gain (read, control). He takes the best part of people from them and keeps it “safe” for himself. Wow! This is this one hell of a good metaphor for what happens to people who have interactions with a narcissist. They can loose the best parts of themselves if they have prolonged contact. And the best narcissists make you happy this happens too, like Magnifico.

Magnifico also uses a classic misdirection tactic used by narcissists to manipulate people by getting them so busy thinking about getting their wishes “granted” to notice that he has stolen their hearts. Remember, in Disneyland, a dream is a wish your heart makes. Which is exactly what is being done at the wish ceremony. And it just goes on from there! It is the perfect display of a narcissist in power and of the person who breaks free from their abuse (power to the cycle breaker). I could write a thesis on this movie and how it displays a classic narcissist, the mania, the rage, the immaturity. It’s all there! It is that true to the subject matter. And the hero’s reactions are on point. In fact the only bit of a stretch here is that her friends and the city eventually back her, once hearing her side of things and seeing how terrible Magnifico is. It wouldn’t be a Disney movie without this happy ending, we watch them for these. We all want to see dreams come true. 

The screenplay is by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore. It is clear to me that one or both of them have lived at the hands of a narcissist (or really, really, really done their homework). That being said, most people do not have the experience of living under the tyranny of a narcissist. So of course they can’t relate to the script (insert eye role here)! Very few people can relate to something beyond their own experience. These people say the script is unbelievable or unrealistic or worse, AI written. Then there are the narcissists themselves and their current victims, the ones who have bought into the fantasy of the narcissist. These people watch the film and go “Asha is a brat, Magnifico is a great guy!” Or something to that effect. Ya, no. This film now has an added bonus of being able to be used as a redflag indicator when asking people their view point of it. I shall be using it. Muahahahaa! Side note, you develop one hell of a wicked sense of humour from narcissistic abuse, because if you don’t laugh, you cry. Actually you do both, but that is another story altogether. 

So for me, and the few other’s like me who have lived under narcissistic abuse and broken free to rebuild their own lives and take back their own stories, this film is a gift. Thank you ladies. Job well done. I hope that more people will watch this film with a better understanding going forward. Do you find this film jarring? Why yes, it is that jarring to live with a narcissist. Take it from someone who knows. Or don’t. Your choice and isn’t that the best part? We can all learn and grow as people. To my other narcissistic abuse survivors, enjoy being seen for once, just try not to gag on all the excess pop syrupy songs. Some are actually good, serving the story, while others should have stayed on the cutting room floor. All the voice actors have lovely singing voices as well, so you will be ear wormed. Finally, the animation is beautiful. So simple! In animation, simple is really hard to do! This is my new “guilty pleasure” film. Which I am by no means embarrassed about, well ok… maybe a little. Enjoy.

February 14, 2024

I’ll start this out with a notice: There is a imposter account of me on Facebook which Facebook doesn’t seem to care about. It was created on January 30th. Whoever made it, took my cover and profile picture (at the time) and my name. If you come across it, please report it as a fake account and block it (it will help if more than just me reports this). My real account has been around for over 10 years and has lot’s and lot’s of pictures. I have “professional mode” turned on, so the public side of my page is for my art. It is my only social media account as I find that stuff takes away from making and can be draining. Now on to what I want to talk about this post…

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all. I have a tear jerker to share with you, today. I was asked to make a stuffie doll as a special order, made especially for Valentine’s Day. It is a memorial doll of a Papa who has recently passed. 

I am both honoured and humbled to have made this doll. One last Valentines to his loved ones. Going through the pictures sent to me, I noticed the Papa wearing a navy and white golf shirt. On a personal note, this one gutted me as my own Papa used to have and loved to wear a navy and white striped golf shirt. It turns out this Papa did too. I new that I had to make the doll in that shirt.

Making this doll was a strong reminder that the end of each person’s story is the next chapter in the lives of our loved ones, the ones we leave behind. A chapter called loss and grief. One that is made bearable by the memories of love we leave behind. That is our true legacy…a well lived life spent with the ones we love, loving them ❤️

Hug your special ones a little tighter today, folks ❤️🥹 Here is the Papa doll for you to see.

January 6, 2024

Happy New Year to you!

Hot off the hook is this rainbow infinity scarf. Every once and awhile I create something that isn’t a stuffie…heheee 😅🧶

This is made using just one ball of Lion Brand Yarns “Mandala” which is a variegated yarn so the colour is dyed right in. This yarn is acrylic with a weight of 150g and is 540m in length. The colour is called “gnome”.

The finished scarf itself is 77 inches in circumference so it is very long (giving off Dr. Who vibes) but because it is an infinity scarf is will never drag which is good for wobbly me. I wanted to make myself a long scarf that was safe for me to use…mission accomplished.

This is simple to make. With just one ball of the yarn, I chained 363 stitches! Then I kept working single crochet in the round for 30 rounds. Then finished off. That’s it. I had just a little bit left, so I just made it! I used a size 4 hook for this. The scarf can be worn 3 ways, as the collage shows. The third way, with it being wrapped 3 times around my neck is so very warm. It is fun to see what can be made from just one ball of yarn.

December 23, 2023

This time of year is my busiest and it just flys on by. This is my way of explaining why I missed November’s Blog entry. My bad. But to make it up to you all, this month’s entry will be yummie! As it is the holiday season, it is Christmas cookie time. I’ve been slowly putting all my favourtite things to make on the “Yummie!” page to share. Side note, I know “yummy” is spelled with a “y” but I like the “ie” as it looks cuter. Sadly, spell check doesn’t agree with me 😅. Ok, back to this post on Christmas cookies. I’ve been gifting cookies for years and people love them. One of my favourite things to add to the tin of cookies is a mini cupcake or two.

Mini cupcakes just pop! This is a surprise that makes people smile. They also get eaten first. To make these, I use the “white cake (all purpose)” and “homemade frosting (icing)” found on my “Yummie” page and decorate them with sprinkles or a little candy cane candy. Making mini cupcakes can be a bit of a job. So I always use paper cups to line the tin. Then, to put the batter into the cups, I use a long handled measuring spoon (mine is repurposed from a tin of coffee) to put the batter into the cups. I find just under a tablespoon of batter is enough for these. It makes up over 50 mini cupcakes. Then once they are cool, I put the icing into a reusable piping bag to decorate the tops of the mini cupcakes. It saves time and looks very cute. See for yourself in the picture below. Happy Holidays to each and every one of you. May they be relaxing and fun 🎄🧁

October 25, 2023

As promised, a selection of my stuffies are ready to buy at “The Peculiar Platypus” on 50 Front Street here in Campbellford. I’m posting a picture that was taken, in shop, of my stuffies as part of the shop’s display, at the bottom of this month’s entry. This is just such a fun and individual gift shop, I always find something when I pop in. My wallet is not happy about this but I am so it’s all good.

Pattern typing is coming along nicely and I even made 2 more patterns bringing the total count up to 60 patterns. This is going to be epic (in the full sense of the word). I am so excited to be working on this project. Sharing my stuffies with the world! It just takes time. Bear with me on this while I get everything prepared. It is very time consuming and with my disabilities and health challenges, I don’t have as much useable time in my day as an average writer.

That being said, I not sure I would have ever had the time or even the inspiration to create this project if I was not a disabled artist. My before self, that was able to work in society, was far to busy making TV and movies and working to take the time to crochet beyond a hobby. Crochet is such an interesting medium for me to create in as well as it combines my schooling and passions into one art form. Designing patterns I draw, sculpt, and create all in one with input from others making the creation process just so much more! I often reflect on how life is so much more than I ever had planned. I never saw any of this coming, believe you me! I am thankful for the support everyone has shown me over the years by loving my work, it has been 15 years of crochet now. Just super.

So while I may lead a simple life, it is grand and I will continue to celebrate it by creating.

September 27, 2023

Thank you Belleville and Bazaar Artisan Market for the wonderful 7 months in shop! This was my first time renting a space and the response was unreal! I made roughly 200 stuffies while in shop. The most I have ever made! All the love. And wonderful stuffie ideas. Just so much fun was had by all. A great place to shop local.

Now that the cold has returned my arthritis has as well. I will not be able to keep up the demand of a rented space. To this end, I have had to pull out of the Bazaar. This brings on new focus for the winter season. I will be typing more on my pattern book more (introduction and 6 patterns are typed) as I can still type once finger locking arthritis happens. Bear paws are just no good for crochet.

During my semi-hibernation, I will also be keeping up with the “All things local online market” on FB and coming soon, I will have a few “ready to buy” stuffies in at “The Peculiar Platapus” gift shop here in Campbellford, Ontario. Stuffies will not disappear, have no fear. I will still be taking on the odd special order too. Here is hoping for a dryer winter but planing for a miserable wet one. 🤞

August 20, 2023

This year’s “Art in the Park” was a huge success. Thank you for your support and love, everyone! Lot’s of stuffies went to their new homes and I got to see old and new fans too! So much fun was had by all attending.

Pattern Book update: I have all the patterns written and am starting the typing and pattern checking part of this journey. Very excited for the progress. This thing is going to be awesome.

I’ve been doll making a lot this month and thought I’d share this picture of a funky “One doll, two looks” that I made up. Enjoy!

July 18, 2023

I’ve been hooking my finger’s off 😂. This Saturday (July 22nd) is “Art in the Park” at Farmtown Park in Stirling, Ontario. The location is an agricultural museum and a huge show with over 40 vendors. Entry is a donation at the door and you’ll get to see the show and all 9 buildings of the museum. This is the only show I have found that is quite enough for my poor ears to do so you can come and see me “live and in person” 😂. I hope to see you there, if you are in the area! ❤️

June 1, 2023

For this month’s blog post, I am going to get personal in the hopes that this will help someone discover a bit about themselves. And others to open up to the idea that not everyone feels things the way they do.

A fun fact about me, I’ve been reading about the “plus” side of things, for several months, to better understand the different types of sexuality. While learning I came to realize that I am demisextual. I’ve always felt more comfortable with the views of Aces but it was never a perfect fit. Now I know why. I require an emotional connection to be physical with someone, to feel any attraction at all. I am not broken. This is who I am. Trust is everything to me.

While I am straight, I have spent years hearing men tell me they can change me or women telling me to just go out and get laid (yuck!). And all of them wondering why I am “so weird” about needing to know a person and connect with them on all levels before being intimate. So happy I met my husband who understands this about me. Now I find myself on the “plus” side of things for the rainbow. This year I celebrate my first pride, not as an ally but as a member. LGBTQ+🌈

May 8, 2023

Bazaar underwent a facelift (or maybe boob lift? Hahaa). The shop has added bras from France! Made to last. The new layout is awesome. My Stuffies are front and centre to greet you as you walk in. Enjoy the picture and stop in to shop if you are in Belleville’s downtown (Front St).

April 2, 2023

Spring is here, reluctantly it seems. I however, am happy to welcome the sunshine and warmer weather. This has put me in a pastels kind of mood which does well with Easter just around the conner. Stuffies in all types of pastel colours went into the Bazaar (downtown Front St, Belleville). Here is a look at a few to get you feeling that spring feeling as well.

March 3, 2023

Wow! February just slipped on by. I do however, have a really good excuse. I was busy making stuffies for the new shop. If you find yourself in downtown Belleville make sure to check out the Bazaar! Also, buy a stuffie to keep me making more 😁 ❤️

January 25, 2023

Happy New Year to you! For this months blog bit, please read this piece I wrote on how to adjust your thinking while living with chromic pain and illness or disability.

What if? Vs. Right now?

“What if?” It is a short question with many ways to flush it out. It is full of wonder and possibly. What if I tried a new sport? I’ll have fun and I might get good enough to go pro! What if I took up a new hobby? I might be able to start my own small business! Or I might fill my time with something that brings me joy. What if I worked harder? I might get that new promotion I’ve been wanting. What if I said hello? I should! Maybe this is the person for me!

Ah yes, a new world can open up to you with “What if?”! If you are healthy that is. 

But that same question when seen through the lens of chronic pain and illness becomes loss and despair. What if I could have played sports? I’d have been a normal kid! I could have had a happier childhood. What if I take up a hobby? What if I can’t put in the time or do the things my new hobby requires? I’ll never be good at anything or successful! What if I could work harder? I know I could, if I had the energy but I’m spent from dealing with my chronic pain and illness all the time. I’m just so damn tired! I feel worthless! What if I said hello? Then there would be conversations and my chronic illness and pain would come out. No one wants to be in a relationship with someone like me.

The “What if’s?” are enough to crush your soul and drown you in a sea of your own tears. 

While dealing with my own “What if’s”, I found a new question “Right now?”. Right now? I can get out of bed. Right now? I can brush my teeth. Right now? I can make dinner. Right now? I can do my laundry. Right now? I can spend time with friends. Right now? I can do my shopping.

“Right now?” Is the life preserver in my sea of tears. It lifts me out of loss, out of lament. Right now? Becomes a powerful affirmation of what I can do, in whatever moment I happen to be in. 

Living with chronic illness and pain demands different questions than those of a healthy person. It demands a mind set change to get the most out of life. To have a quality of life. To feel successful. To feel powerful and capable. To maintain your self control. To keep your self respect.

My solution is the question of “Right now?”. Even writing this is an answer to that very question. Right now? I can write that thing I have been wanting to, as in this moment, my brain is clearer. 

“Right now?”, allows me to focus on my needs in the moment so that I can for fill them and move on with the next task that I can do, right now! It helps me to know what I can do. It also holds possibly, as each hour of the day my state is changing. My right now is forever shifting and I want to be able to recognize those moments when I am doing “better” and can be more productive. Right now?”, gives me that power. It lifts me from the sea of “What if’s?”!

December 23, 2022

Some very cool things to report this month. 10 copies of my ACB made their way into “The Peculiar Platypus” gift shop here in Campbellford, for your buying pleasure. I also updated the “Freebies” page with an all ages colouring page download called “Mash up party”. My gift to you all this holiday season. May you all have a gentle holiday.

November 12, 2022

Years ago while I was visiting my aunt and cousins, I was showing off my superior candy tastes by sharing a bag of “Fruit-Tella” with them. Much to my shock and amazement my youngest cousin started to fold his candy wrappers and tell everyone to pass theirs over. He made me this bracelet (picture at bottom of this months post). 

Now, years latter, a FB page did a flash back post with one of these and some one called it a “gum chain”. Finally, I new what to google to learn how to make one for myself. Which is good, because I have been hoarding Fruit-Tella wrappers all these years 😂

How to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQvXV8U2mxw

October 22, 2022

This month marks my 14 year anniversary of stuffie making! Wow, time flies. Some times it buzzes too (haha). Anyway, I did a contest thing on my Facebook page. My first ever. It was a hit. The prize was an octopus made from the first pattern I ever made. Just new of course, with my today skills and not my just starting out skills. Here is a picture. Pretty cute, huh? And of course the winner is crazy happy! This pattern is found in “Tiny Yarn Animals” by Tamie Snow. If you want to see what my first stuffie ever looked like, keep scrolling as I did a blog on “Octave” as well. This is that pattern, just done right 😅

September 14, 2022

Hello Fall! Well, almost, the calendar and I have words this time of year…heheee. With that comes the return of the “All Things Local Market” on Facebook. This months market is September 22 at 8pm to September 23 at 8pm. There are 25 vendors with lots of locally made goods. And stuffie love too, of course. Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/545922969654002/

Fall also means the return of special orders. I am working away at the list. Lots of fun new stuffies to be made. My pattern writing for my book went well over the summer, 30 of 40 planned patterns done. With the holidays coming this is my busy time of year, so pattern writing has been moved to the back burner. It should pick up again in the new year.

With the cost of paper having gone up, my Sweary Adult Colouring Book, “What Cheek!” went up on Amazon. It is now listed at $10. Still a good deal and lots of fun to colour. When people swear, my photographic mind sees funny things. In this book, I drew those out for you to enjoy and laugh at too (hey, I shouldn’t be the only one in the room laughing). I am old school, my pictures are drawn on real paper with pencil and then inked and scanned. It makes for a more nature feel as you colour 🖍

That’s all for now. Have a great fall, folks!

August 15, 2022

I did a thing! A photographic thing, that is. Once upon a time, I used to direct live TV and work on Indie films in Kingston, ON. I loved it. Making the magic happen, setting things up just right, it was my jam. My disability took that away. Something I never liked was being in front of the camera. But last week, I met with a young photographer. Kylie is starting up her business and to help promote this, we did a photo shoot. While I started out a basket of nerves, Kylie was a pure delight to work with. I was able to relax and just enjoy myself. I have posted the “best of” to my FB page (Rose Neumayer). And for this blog post, here is a sample collage for you to enjoy. These pictures will be making an appearance in my forth-coming pattern book as well. Very exciting! A fabulous job Kylie!! 😍

August 1, 2022

“Art in the Park” was such fun! Thanks to everyone who came out. Seeing you all was the highlight of my day! I have updated the “for sale” page with the stuffies who are still looking for homes. Pick up from me for free or I can ship to you at cost. Shipping has gone up because of the price of gas, so my recommendation is to stuff a box! Get your money’s worth out of the shipping, if you need it. Now it is back to pattern writing. So exciting.

June 28, 2022

An announcement. I posted, yesterday on FB that I am taking the summer off from “Special Orders” and the “All Things Local Online Market” on FaceBook. This is because I am busy making for “Art in the Park” and am working on my first pattern book! Haha! Yup, I just dropped that little gem on you all! The book is coming along but I need time to finish writing the patterns, so I am making it. Very exciting! If you would like a special order made, I am keeping a list of making for when “Special Orders” start up again in the fall (September). Have a great summer, everyone! ❤️

June 25, 2022

Summer is here! The heat is on! With summer comes my one and only in person art show. I am busy making stuffies to fill my spot at “Art in the Park” in Stirling. This is happening on July 30 at “Farm Town Park” just behind the Stirling Arena. It is a lovely family friendly show with so many vendors and you also get to tour the park with your donation at the door. And it is such a quiet spot! Which is why I am out for the day. Come and meet this eccentric stuffie maker for yourself, with my awesome family helping me out! I take cash for this event. Here is the poster for more info…

May 26, 2022

A few months back, I started peppering my stuffie pictures on my Facebook page with “Pocket Philosophy”. I love the term! It means to boil down a truth to it’s most simplest form while keeping it as short as possible. A sentence or two. This is harder than it looks but is something I love to do. I have been sharing my own truths with my “followers” as making stuffies give’s a gal a lot of time to think. Feel free to follow me for pocket philosophy and cuteness, on Facebook (Rosemarie Neumayer).

April 20, 2022

Been busy hooking (hehehee) and 10 new pictures have been uploaded to the “stuffie” page. From mods to fan art, I am so happy with them all! And of course, the promised mythical creature from last month’s blog had dropped. Drum roll, please…daaaadummmmm…it is a “Jackolope”. Legends of the Old American West tell tales of a horned rabbit that would sing along to campfire songs, keeping the lonely cowboys company. Here is a picture and you can find another picture of it “in the wild” under the “mythical creatures” section of the “Stuffies!” page. Enjoy!

March 29, 2022

Spring is sort of here. At least it is trying for a comeback. Much like me actually. After a full week of immobilizing arthritis pain in my left hand, I have motion again! I am so excited to get back to my hook. And I have big plans for an American fantasy creature. The pattern picture will drop here and on my FB, along with the name. If you are looking for Easter goodies, the Market on FB has all of my “Bunny Madness” up and ready as of last night. Happy Spring everyone!

February 22, 2022

For this months blog, I am doing some shameless self promotion. I did a pairing of my ACB with a tiny purple monkey for this months market (Feb 24-25) and it just looks so cute together that I am sharing it here! Enjoy! And here’s to next month and the end of all this snow! ❄️🤞

January 14, 2022

Happy New Year! Some bad news and some awesome news. Let’s start with the bad news, I have had to up my prices a bit as materials have gone up. Now for the awesome news! I have partnered with Dizzy Goose here in Campbellford. This means my stuffies are in a shop again!! Yuppie! Happy dance time! Come in and see them for yourself and check out all the cool things in store 😃😁💃🏻

December 27, 2021

This year is almost done! Thanks to all of you for your support! It means the world to me. Hope you had an awesome holiday time and all the best for 2022! 🥂⛄️😀

November 21, 2021

I love making stuffies! They make me happy and bring joy. I am very lucky to have my work so well received! People always say that they love them and wish they could crochet like me. This always makes me think of when I first started to teach myself crochet. So for this month’s blog, I am sharing that memory.

It is the Fall of 2008, I am in my local book store starting my Christmas making plans. I have 3 younger cousins that I adore and always make them something special for Christmas. This year is a bust, I have made them everything I know how to make (even a Gryffindor scarf that is longer than the boy was tall, another story). Sigh…what can I make them?

I look to my left and there on the end cap is my solution! A book called “Tiny Yarn Animals” by Tamie Snow. The lemur, koala, and lamb seem to look at me like “Ya, you can make us! It will be fun!” And suddenly I think that I can teach myself to crochet. After all, I can knit. Yes, with just this book, I can teach myself how to crochet stuffed animals!

If you talked to me during that first week, I was tossing it all out. Crochet was impossible! There is no way to knit with just one needle! Madness! Sheer madness! But I am stubborn. And the idea of giving up on homemade stuffies when the cousins and I all loved them, was not an option. 

The fix? How did it all come together? Well, after reading the instructions and looking at the pictures and making so many attempts! I just said “F*ck it!” and picked the easiest looking pattern and made it. Was it right? Did it look awesome? No! The octopus that I named “Octave” is a sad, pathetic, little lumpy thing. And I could not have loved her more! My blood, sweat, tears, and pure stubborn will made her. She is perfect to me.

Technically speaking, Octave is all wrong. I could not figure out how to “single crochet” so I ended up slip stitching the whole thing! This was before the days of wonderful people posting “how to” videos on YouTube. The poor little thing is much too small for the pattern. And lumpy. I improvised the “feet” as I could not get the pattern right. But that is what beginnings are. They are messy, imperfect, small little things. So I learned a lot. And not just about crochet.

October 5, 2021

Two new things to report. The first is that I have opened up my facebook page to allow “following” for people who are interested in seeing what I make, on that platform. I post my special orders as they are done and when I am in the market. Please follow me there, Rosemarie Neumayer (the one with the stuffies on the profile page). Feel free to message me there with questions as well.

The second thing is that I came across a coloured and framed picture from my ACB (adult colouring book) “What Cheek!” This was done as a motivational gift and I just love it! Thank you Shannon!

September 8, 2021

I have decided to put up a “Blog” for all my random bits of news and aimless ramblings. My first thought with this is “yuck” as blog sounds well, gross. It reminds me of vomit. But it does have a purpose. And it can not help that it sounds gross. My next thought was that I am not found of the busy layouts that are offered and often seen. So this will be a clean and simple thing. Just words on a page with the occasional picture.

I am a avid reader. My favourite author since I was a teen (and read my first Xanth novel) is Piers Anthony. He is the one responsible for warping my sense of humour. If you like my adult colouring book, you can thank him. Like wise if you don’t. I sent him a copy as thanks and he was kind enough to review it! I am posting the screenshot of his review below for your reading pleasure.