Red is our favourite colour.

When I was  little  my dad used to dress me in bright red rain-gear when we walked on our beach

up north.When I was about seven we hiked the west - coast trail for the first time. Again.. I wore bright red sweaters and clothing. My first gore tex parka was red. My back-pack too.

So was our land-cruiser. The kayak was also was red come to think of it. 

I used to assume that vivid red was just his favourite colour. It was and still is. Then he told me that he dressed me that way for visibility in remote areas we spent a lot of time in. He liked being able to spot me in the landscape easily. It gave me the  freedom to wander further.

I thought that was a bit silly.

I really do love red. And I also like being able to spot our girl in the landscape easily. She  likes to wander ahead you see.

'Your World Dolls' brought to you by Angel-Blue

All of these photographs were taken by our 10 year old .Except the one of her setting up a shot.I took that one.The following words are hers.They are in response to an ad campaign that arrived with Owl magazine in the mail.The advertising was selling Maplelea dolls .They sell for about $100.00 per doll.The clothing and what-not is also very costly.They are nothing special. Designed in Canada.Just plastic dolls manufactured in China like so many other dolls.Except these dolls have a VERY seductive ad campaign.

So seductive in fact that lots of little girls save up their money, and beg hard-working parents to spend hard earned money on these things.

Our child watched children be pulled in by this advertising.Then she asked me if it was possible to make inexpensive things "popular".I told her that with the right advertising nearly anything can be sold.( Don't I know it.)

She reasoned that her old dolls were really just as beautiful and should be made fashionable ,so that all children could afford the popular thing.

So here it is, our 10 year old's advertising campaign for second-hand dolls, that anyone can afford :

'Your World Dolls' are dolls that range from $2.00-$7.00 each.You can find them anywhere almost.Garage sales and secondhand stores have them.With 'Your World Dolls' you can make set-ups like you never dreamed of.

Imagine you and your doll are in your magical world.What do you do together ?

Please write and tell me the adventures you have had with your doll.

Because these are  'Your World Dolls' , they don't come with pre-made personalities or any stuff.You will have to get or make the stuff yourself.The dolls always come with the out-fit they are wearing .It will be up to you to change it somehow.And you will  also have to make up a personality for it.

This months adventure that is photographed is titled "Down by the Bay"

Rosaminda,Gina,Ellana and Luna go down to the bay to play.Luna and Rosaminda ran off to play while the grown-ups set up the pic-nic.After lunch Rosalinda feeds the fire.They decide to camp at the beach.Everyone is happy to feel the warmth of friendship as well as the warmth of the fire.

Luna sips hot-chocolate and watches the fire burn.

Ellana likes to wander off and think.She wandered off a little too far and got trapped by the tide.For a moment she swore she saw a mermaid splash.

Gina got in a boat to save her.At the end of the day they sat by the fire.They are getting ready for a new day full of new adventures.

As you can see ,you can make an adventure practically for free, and the total cost of my dolls was 

Rosaminda -$7.00

Gina-$7.00

Ellana-$6.00

Luna-$5.00  

that is  $25.00 in total.So there is no need to spend a lot of money to have fun.

Yan Tan Tethera

Yan Tan Tethera :

It's meaning is ancient and simple.It is pre-roman english for : one-two-three.They would count the sheep, and put a notch in their stick to keep track of them.
Like the yarn and hats themselves,ancient yet modern.From a time that wasn't.An old method.A new twist.
One,two, three.Count the sheep.One two three.Count the stitches.
No pattern, each one unique .A bond between two species,spinning and dancing..one,two three.

   Artist statement excerpt  from Jane Ellerington of Yan Tan Tethera

photography by gina-rae horvath
Model   A.B.

Trevor "loaned" me this boat at Ford cove

One freezing cold March day I went to Ford cove for a coffee,  and I saw this great little boat.I wanted to know who owned it,so I started asking around about it. A few folks wondered why I was so interested in this particular boat. I explained that I really wanted it for a photo-shoot ..hopefully that day.

Trevor asked me to show him the boat I wanted..so I pointed it out to him.He said "sure, by all means.enjoy your shoot.just put it back when you're done".  "Great,thank-you so much" I said.

Angel-Blue patiently suffered through another cold day shoot for me.

I put the boat the boat carefully away, and took my model back to the "cove" store for some hot chocolate.

Trevor was still there sipping his coffee, so I thanked him profusely for the use of his boat.

He smiled broadly and told me that it wasn't his boat.

Everyone laughed. I think of Trevor every time I look at those small boats down at the "cove".

I still have no idea who owns this boat.And I still miss seeing Trevor down at Ford cove.

Small island stuff that makes me smile..

With so many e-things in the hands of children,it makes me happy that this crappy old bike tire brings so much joy.