CynthiaParkhill

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

JCLS seeks relief from library management contract

Officials with Jackson County Library Services in Jackson County, Ore. are exploring options for getting out of a contract for library management with Library Systems and Services (LS&S).

Hat from ‘cycle-hacked’ garments

'Newsboy' style hat with crown assembled from varigated panels of sunflowers-on-green-check, pale green lace over pale green backing fabric and dark green-on-green embroidered fabric. The hat band is bias-cut sunflower-and-check. The visible upper bill is pale green lace over backing fabric. The hat sits atop a folded sleeveless dress of the sunflower-and-green-check print and a dark-green embroidered tunic with a yellow-gold embroidered and appliqued neckline border

Talk about a win-win situation: I chop the hemline of a dress or long tunic so that I can wear it, paired with pants or leggings, while I ride on my bicycle. This saves garments that, while loved, might otherwise never be worn because they weren’t biking-compatible. Here, leftover fabric from recent alterations found purpose of their own when assembled into a “newsboy” hat. The crown, band and brim of the hat were assembled out of fabric from a sunflower-print dress, an embroidered long tunic and a long lace skirt. Shown with it are “cycle-hacked” garments that contributed its fabric.

Also posted to Librarian on a Bicycle

Hats in golds, browns and reds

Eight-paneled crowns for 'newsboy' styled hats in varigated shades of brown, red, green, gold, tan and yellow in various combinations

Eight-paneled 'newsboy' hat, in varigated shades of brown, pale yellow, red and tan, hanging from a peg. Tag affixed to hat reads, 'The Hat People'

It’s a treat to see pieces I’ve assembled for Hat People of southern Oregon, in the hats’ final completed form. These varigated creations seemed especially cheerful with their rich golds, browns and reds — so much so that when I saw one of the finished hats at the Lithia Artisans Market, I couldn’t resist snapping a photograph.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Hand-made banner for ‘Religious Explorations’

Description of image: Rectangular applique, white against hot pink, proclaims 'Famous Unitarian Universalists' - identified by name - 'and ... Me.' The text surrounds a flame and chalice. The chalice flame has been outlined with gold chain-stitch embroidery. The applique panel is affixed to a banner of brown fabric printed with multi-colored flower designs.

It’s great to employ my creative abilities for the benefit of employers. In this instance, I assembled and hung a banner depicting the names of famous Unitarian Universalists at the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. (I work for the church as web content editor and administrative coordinator for the church’s “Religious Explorations” program.) The sweatshirt from which the banner’s applique panel came, was donated to Religious Explorations and I made the banner with the donor’s permission to make use of the sweatshirt this way.

Friday, May 20, 2016

‘Classroom Friendly’ pencil sharpener

Sharpened pencils arranged next to a 'Groovy Green' pencil sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies atop a blue, green and purple drawstring pouch on wooden table surface

‘Classroom Friendly’ sharpener in ‘Groovy Green’

Between looking up call numbers or doing homework or some other writing, someone, somewhere, in the library, is going to need a pencil, meaning a fresh supply of sharpened pencils needs always to be on hand. If you understand this, you’ll know why a quiet, efficient manual sharpener is a really wonderful thing.

Recently, I was privileged to try out a really great pencil sharpener, courtesy of Classroom Friendly Supplies. I had a bundle of unsharpened pencils at the ready when my “Groovy Green” sharpener arrived.