Last Sunday you learned that my grandpa Willetts planted a seed in Eriksdale, Manitoba's rocky soil, that grew the tree that eventually produced me. This Sunday...? Among my family's legacy is the story of the toll waiting takes on women during the time of war.  I'm guessing but I think the woman in this photo is my grandma Willetts  and I think she was a nurse's aide during WWI. Rural Manitoba Memories Aunty Kay: My mother was born in Manchester, England and came to Canada to stay with her sister-in-law and her three young nephews while my uncle Tom was working in Winnipeg ..read more

 Writing purchases for the writer a kind of immortality.  My dad, my aunt and my paternal grandparents all wrote--for fun and to build community. I've collected their writing for many years. This memoir was pieced together from that collection (with additional words, here and there, from other contributors) as a loving tribute to my family.  Aunty Kay and Grandma Willetts Rural Manitoba Memories Aunty Kay: They say the greatest things parents can give children are roots and wings. Leanne’s roots are right here in a little town in the Interlake where she has grown up surrounded ..read more

What is it like to grow old? What struggles do senior citizens face? Why, how do they (we) keep on living?  We do not all blend together. We are not ruined, helpless, a burden. We are not the elderly. We are not old people. Now, still, we're unique. Distinct. Regardless of what we've produced or what happens to our bodies. We each have our own memories and experiences, even if they've been lost and forgotten.' (p. 281-282)   We Spread Iain Reid Scribner an imprint of Simon & Schuster UK finalist for the Governor General's Literary award 2023 286 pages (thriller, suspense, s ..read more

What is it like to be a knitwear designer? What are the challenges? What are the rewards? How did they begin their career? Who taught them to knit? photo by ldyck From 2010 to 2012, for this blog, I interviewed a community of knitwear designers--for this blog. These interviews offer a unique insight into the career of knitwear design.  Interviews with Knitwear Designers My advise to knitters is to enjoy the process. You should allow yourself to experience the pleasure of all that yarn running through your fingers, how you feel about your accomplishments, learning new things, and seei ..read more

"spring" photo by ldyck Chapter Eighteen (The End)  “I kept designing, knitting and sharing my work.” I took a sip of tea. “Now my sweaters are sold in boutiques in North America and Europe. Now yarn shops around the world sell my hand knitting patterns. Now knitters line up to attend my workshops on the Norwegian purl. And it’s all because I dared to dream and continued to work to fulfill that dream. It’s all because of Auntie Ollie, Marta and Jaron.” Tale complete, I took my knitting out of the basket beside my chair. “What are you knitting?” Kyla asked. “I’m just playing.” Shortha ..read more

Chapter Fifteen: Jaron makes room for Gwen's yarn in his apartment and they move in together.   photo by ldyck Chapter Sixteen  To celebrate our first Christmas together, I was inspired to design and knit Jaron a sweater—like a knitwear designer's love ballad. Around the time I hatched that plan, a shipment of yarn arrived from a new supplier. Marta read the label before slicing open the first box. She pulled out a plastic bag containing several skeins of yarn. “Alpaca is a beautiful yarn with a luxurious, fine drape.” She tore open the bag and handed me a skein. The label r ..read more

Chapter Fourteen: Gwen meets with a website designer, and Jaron offers her the perfect name for her site--Sweaters by Gwen Bjarnson.  photo by Leanne Chapter Fifteen  Jaron and I waited four months—until the BC Day long weekend—to move the rest of my belongings into Jaron's one-bedroom apartment—on the top floor of a quaint heritage house. Cruising down Arbutus Street with Jaron cradling yarn in the passenger seat of the car-share, took us 13 minutes. The last four boxes we unloaded were all labelled, 'Yarn'. I tore open each box and ran my hand over the yarn. “It's okay. You're ho ..read more

Chapter Thirteen: Gwen visits her boyfriend Jaron's work and meets some of his friends--including Lulu Bell.  "dawn" photo by ldyck  Chapter Fourteen  I used the email address on the card and contacted Reginald, suggesting a quiet booth in The Starving Artist. He wrote back stating his preference for a room in our local library. I arrived five minutes early; he was waiting for me. Reginald Westman was polite, shy and reserved. He was Lulu Bell without the pizzazz, without the breasts. “Have you considered a name for your online boutique, Ms. Gwen?” “Yes, Gwen Knits.” “So ..read more

Chapter Twelve: Gwen welcomes a handsome stranger into the yarn shop and into her life. photo by ldyck Chapter Thirteen  On our first date, we planned to go to a theatre near Urban Knits. Jaron altered these plans with a text message explaining that he was working late and requesting that we meet at a restaurant in Kitsilano—The Starving Artist. Servers swirled from table to table, accompanied by a classical guitar played by a well-inked man in a skull cap. I leaned back against the deeply padded leatherette bench. Framed on the wall facing me, a black-haired goddess lay on a milk ..read more

Chapter Eleven: Gwen joins the Canadian Knitwear Designer Association and continues to work on establishing her knitwear design business.    photo by ldyck Chapter Twelve  Some crafters are cold-weather friends—abandoning their knitting needles in the Spring. One year, determined to encourage them to remain faithful I concocted a plan. I collected cotton, bamboo and linen in colours that popped and knit Summer weather wear. Once done, I worked on a window display. It had my full attention until... I saw him—a really cute guy skirting puddles. I started sending him subliminal me ..read more