Wednesday, July 6, 2011

installation day - collaborative design is not for the faint of heart

today is the day... that we have been collectively imagining for months now.

imagine the scene. a basement, cool, even cold in summer. round tables with chairs pulled up. tea cups full. and women gazing at a screen upon which is projected a potential banner design.

slow down! says the woman at the computer, who is manipulating the design in photoshop and thinking collaborative design is not for the faint of heart, or the slow of finger. there is excitement as each piece of the banner is created, re-visioned, shifted, added to, re-coloured... until finally everyone in the room says ok, ok, ok. we all agree this works. final notes are taken so that the last design changes can be implemented off site.

Monday, July 4, 2011

this says it all...

I woke up this morning thinking about the usual things - housing, poverty, making home. And I had a memory of one of the women who made ironing board covers for every ironing board in the shelter...

a sewing machine was donated and it is being used. we hope that we learn enough to keep it maintained! In addition to the ironing board covers there are these insoles - made of layer upon layer of fabric, that is quilted together and then placed into shoes... softening the steps...

Sunday, July 3, 2011

home is....

where you hang your hat...
This is one of the interior banners that will be hung next week! The hats were made by the women...