Completed: Learn to label all the countries in Africa on a map

I realized there's really no excuse to not know these unless I, you know, don't try.

It took about a day - a couple hours total - to remember / recall them all.
Thank you to this game, this game, and this game.

I like being able to visualize places in the world when I hear their names. I also came to recognize countries I didn't even previously know, like Lesotho, Seychelles, and Djibouti, and discover that are some I've always been saying or spelling wrong, like Namibia and Angola. Now I want to learn more history.

Original goal list posted here

Progress #5: Go greener

Making and eco-wrapping gifts for my work fam. Did you know it was possible to wrap such pretty packages with repurposed paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, hemp string and fabric scraps?

Well, now you do! Know better, do better.


Original goal list posted here

Progress: #34. Try 10 different beading projects

4/10: Anatomical Heart Medicine Pouch

To be kept next to mine, daily, containing: a clipping of my cat's fur, sweetgrass, ceremonial tobacco, cedar, white sage, and a chevron amethyst that I tumbled myself.

I picked out the bead colours through studying my heart model. I think it went pretty well.

Original goal list posted here

Progress: #34. Try 10 different beading projects

3/10: Wolf Medicine Pouch

I have never been religious, though I suppose -- besides a mixed CD -- a medicine pouch is the most sacred thing I could give you. It is crafted to carry the four great medicines, plus anything you hold dear. Traditionally, it's meant to be worn daily for protection, close to the heart, either visibly or not. I wore my last -- the first I ever crafted -- until the strings broke, and then I tied what was left to my backpack, so that it would still be with me every day. I'm in the process of making another for myself.

This, though, is for my work friend Ali. Ali is, really, every kind of ally. She has gifted me many quirky and/or wonderful gifts that are really close to my heart. She has gifted me many valuable words and pieces of advice. She has gifted me tickets to see Tanya Talaga speak the truth, to the resounding appreciation of a standing ovation.

I gift her this medicine pouch, with ceremonial tobacco, cedar, sweetgrass, white sage + space for whatever else is sacred.

I gift this to Ali, because someone who would respect an indigenous adornment enough to worry that wearing it could be disrespectful understands that everything made by hand and through culture contains a special sort of symbolism.

I picked a wolf because she is resourceful and logical and independent, but fiercely protective of her pack.

(Ali, I personally give you permission to wear this if and whenever you want, p.s.)

Original goal list posted here

Completed: #18. Apply to secondment or a teacher-funded leave, further my education, or teach something new

I am applying for the position of Inclusive Education secondment faculty with York University's Faculty of Education. I have been preparing myself to apply for a secondment position since way back when I was a teacher candidate and learned that this was where many of my instructors came from.

Ergo, if I am unsuccessful, I will keep trying until I am there.

Regardless, I felt really accomplished crafting a detailed resume of 5-8 pages and putting all my experiences in one place.

Apologies for photo quality -- I had to convert file types twice, redact text, then save again. I think it is still readable, though definitely not the same quality as the original. Click each photo for original sizing.

Original goal list posted here

Progress: #5. Go greener

Today I went to the Toronto Tool Library Annual Gift Swap with my mom, where you bring giftable items you don't want and receive (eco)tickets in exchange for items you do. They also have DIY eco workshops and an eco gift wrapping station. It was so much fun and I'd definitely do it again.

Here's most of my haul, which includes a sunlight alarm I've been wanting forever, some brand new fuzzy socks, garden books and tools, incense, packaged oatmeal soaps, and wooden coasters for flower press decoupage.

I also found and had eco-wrapped (so cool) a gift for my beloved friend Steph -- so I'm going to move the gift I already had for next year's Christmas and give this one instead. (I also have your very belated birthday gift, pictured beside this one. See you soon?)

Original goal list posted here

Progress: 19. Get married

1. I'm madly excited to have booked and placed a down payment on an award-winning and badass makeup artist who works with cruelty-free and vegan products. She will travel to my house the morning of the wedding and do both my hair and makeup.

My requests for makeup are as follows: More dramatic than natural. I want a black liner cat-eye and colours in the range of golds / coppers / red-purple. Something like these:

For hair, nothing crazy. Nice curls / waves. Half up, half down. Something like these:

She said that these look great and she's excited. So am I!

2. I've been making my place cards of materials from my studio: cue cards (and cut scrapbooking paper when I run out), some old out of date business cards with my art, my hand-carved rubber heart stamp, and stamped names. My dad is going to help me carve stands of wood slabs (cut from my old Christmas tree) with slats. Eco wedding!

Anyway. They are looking pretty sweet.

1. Original goal list posted here