Renato attached these photos of his mom's beautiful crochet work:
I accepted his kind invitation, and suggested we meet at the garden where the Raining Cats and Dogs were installed 1.5 years ago. One raindrop remained:
Susan the Bull Terrier
Renato's girlfriend, Weiping, took photos while MJ recorded this video of our meet:
August 17, 2011
An angel:
Photos by Weiping, taken at Davie Village Community Garden
in Vancouver on August 17, 2011
in Vancouver on August 17, 2011
UPDATE - Sept 12, 2011:
Renato just sent me this email, after viewing the latest blog entry:
Here are photos of Anita with her fun family, two raindrops (Shorty & Susan), and some WooWork trinkets (including an early ice cream cone):
And here are new photos of Anita's creations, including the vinyl record she crocheted for her musical son, Nedu:
All my gratitude and good wishes to Anita's kind-hearted and creative family!
Yay! I love this.
ReplyDeleteI also can't believe your raindrop stayed up so long! Impressive restraint from the citizens who walked by it each day. :)
I'm surprised they lasted so long too! The drops that weren't reinforced by fishing wire were the first to go, I think. MJ's dad thought they'd all be nabbed in the first week, so I was happy they survived longer than that, at least :D
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I hear there's a terrific new book that just came out, highlighting the adventures of the best yarnstorming group ever ;)
I may have just emailed you about that. :)
ReplyDeleteWow her work is beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! ;)
DeleteCheers,
Renato Lopes (Anita's son)
Awww, this just further proves what a wonderful person you are! (And MJ, of course). What a lovely story, thanks for sharing & thanks for sharing Renato's Mom's work, it is stunning:)
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I totally agree, Howie and MJ are wonderful persons!
DeleteCheers,
Renato Lopes (Anita's son)
That's an amazing story! It's great how the internet and crochet can make the world a little smaller.
ReplyDeleteIt's true... and as Howie said: "a raindrop fell and the distance between two continents (& two crocheters) was bridged by a few feet of yarn!"
DeleteWhat an amazing story. Thanks for telling it.
ReplyDeleteyou are a great man,here in Portugal a man who does crochet is very discriminated,still with your wonderfull work.
ReplyDeletesuch a sweet and cool story! i love that crafting can bring people from all over the world together. people that would never have met otherwise :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww! What a sweet story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story!! Love to see how crochet joins people together. Beautiful works!! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic story! Although now I feel bad for the one remaining raindrop...
ReplyDeleteconnections like these are just so amazing! thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHowie, wow that was an amazing story. Her pictures looked so fantastic (what a smile)! You are a good guy and you and your great attitude bring happiness to many. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOww!! That’s was a interesting story!! It is so Amazing how two different countries, culture and people can join themselves for such a delicate an beautiful art! My name is Vinícius, I`m Renato´s cousin, well, I have also some to share: my gramma, (Anitas´s sister) is an artists as Hoeiw and Anita as well, her name is Rosária and she and Anita used to share the news about crochet, I feel proud to have two artist on my family, and happy to know that are incredible works like MJ’s in Canada! Thaks Renato anda Howie for this story! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow this is a very sweet and touching story of how awesome cute crochet connects people! What a memorable and heart-warming experience! Thanks for sharing this with us ^_^
ReplyDelete@Alexandriaweb: Yes, Anita's work is beautiful and oh-so-nice! :) Renato told me that the angel holds its shape because it was painted over with glue, then let to dry (probably over a cone shape?). The purse is so delicately made!
ReplyDelete@MissJulep: hehe Thanks! Anita & Renato are the wonderful ones, who gave the last raindrop(s) a warm new home :)
@Jillie the Great: That's so true about the world being smaller when we see how the passion-for-creating is something universal!
@JelliDonut & @CHD & @Myra: Thanks! I'm happy the story was enjoyable :) It was a sweet summer surprise.
@Anonymous: You're right, there's still a long way to go for societal perceptions about what activities are "allowed" for each gender. I almost didn't crochet because of those limitations, but that would've been pure personal defeat. Imagine how much potential joy we rob from ourselves (and others) when we limit ourselves to those stale rules-of-behaviour!
@youngmi & @Little Green Doll & @Missus D: Yes, it's such a treat when individuals are joined together by something constructive and creative!
@Kitty Ballistic: True, that lonely last raindrop was looking blue (and a lil grimy) for awhile! I bet she's enjoying her new home in Brazil now :)
@Knit Hot Guy: Thanks for your kind words! I wish each new project arrived sooner for everyone. The next blog entry (with video) was made over a 3 month period, and I hope it's worth the wait :D
@ Vinícius: Thank you for sharing the story about how Anita and her sister Rosária (your gramma) also have crochet in common! They must similarly be proud to have you—and additional family members—to appreciate their artistry! :) My grandma learned to crochet after she retired, and it was precious when we had that in common. Thanks again, Vinícius!
@Rita: Thanks for reading the story :) It's astounding when real-life connections can be made from the bits&bytes of a blog!
Aweee! Soo sweet of you to meet up and exchange gifts :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the sweetest blog post i have read all day :)
It was my joy to meet Renato and to share our exchange online :) So happy I made your day!
DeleteThis is a wonderful touching story! Love it! Woo, you are my favorite crocheter ever! Not only because of your amazing creativiness, you are fun, amazing, friendly, warm. Thanks for sharing this story. Woo and Anita rock!
ReplyDeleteCan I use you as my go-to reference for my future resumes? hehe jk Thank you for your kind words, Mina!
DeleteWhat a fantastic story! Although now I feel bad for the one remaining raindrop...
ReplyDeleteAll the raindrops have evaporated away now, but I'm so happy that two raindrops have found a warm and happy house with Anita & family!
DeleteAww!!! What a touching story! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been one year since we first met... the day which the last raindrop fell, and, as Howie said, the distance between two countries (& two crocheters) was bridged by a few feet of yarn! It was an amazing day which I could meet two amazing people: Howie and MJ... Thank you Howie, to accept my invitation, thank you for all the gifts you gave to my mom, thank you for the video which MJ has recorded and you've edited (Thanks MJ), and thank you for publishing our meeting in your blog, what it's meant too much for my mom and myself. And, of course, I also wanna thank everyone for the comments here... it really was a fantastic story!! I'm glad to have been part of it. I've read all the post and all the comments for my mom and she just loved so much!! She got so excited and proud!!! Thank you all, specially you Howie to make this happen. You are an awesome person who I fortunatelly had the great opportunity to have met. Keep doing your excellent job and keep being this extraordinary human being you are!!! All best wishes for you, my friend! I hope see you again some day!!!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Renato Lopes (Anita's son)
What a joy to hear from you Renato, one year after we met! Meeting you and exchanging gifts with your talented Mom, that was a highlight of my year & such a heartwarming reminder that personal stories are what give true power to art.
DeleteThank you for contacting me to make it all possible, Renato! I'm very grateful...
All my happy and creative wishes go to you and Anita and your warm-hearted family :)
~ Howie