Introductions as Promised
Since people have been asking about the picture on the left, I thought I ought to introduce Caitlin that’s coblogging here with me on this project, for those of you reading this that don’t already know her. I think most people reading this are aware of my history, so I won’t mention that, but briefly, Caitlin’s background professionally is first in theatre, having worked extensively in opera costuming. She’s a creative and gifted artist and toymaker, and provides a lot of the technical skills we need on our projects as she’s also a welder.
I met Caitlin in 1994 when we were both working at Stainless Studios (I painted the portrait above not long afterwards) — I worked in the back of the shop as a jeweler and she worked at the front. She’d actually been working there a bit longer than me and I started the job with a crush on her. For the next few years I was kind of like a cat bringing her dead animals, except in our case it was various items of custom jewelry. We also worked together with Tom Brazda developing new piercings and piercing technologies and she’s credited with naming two types of piercing. She helped on BME from its inception in various capacities (and was BME’s first employee), and was later involved in the start of BME’s community site, initiating and hosting all of the first events.
We started dating in the late 90’s and spent much of our time fantasizing about building a homestead — we had stacks of paper covered in drawings of Quonset huts, domes, and earthships, and looking through the latest Dignam catalog (she’s who introduced me to them) wondering where we’d end up. For a variety of reasons, some good, some bad, we spent some time apart, and now for many of the same reasons, we’ve ended up on our original course again and are in the process of following those dreams, too long put aside, on a beautiful homestead on Cape Breton Island’s Mira River, which along with documenting our art is the main purpose of this particular blog.
Anyway… If you see posts from her in the future, now you know who she is!
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
magic, hahah, im a sucker for true romance, nice post man.
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Welcome Caitlin!!! And im very VERY happy for you both!
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:06 pm
!hem heM
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Does that mean . . . Shannon cannot be mine?
I have my nipple pierced and everything!
Just kidding. Godspeed both of you!
Also, as a sidenote, anyone who can weld is a total hottie.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:41 pm
I too, am sulking that Shannon is taken…however, its good to see youre happy, and welcome to Caitlin!
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:37 pm
:))
November 4th, 2007 at 12:44 am
What a wonderful story, and I’m glad you shared it with us. I love this blog and look forward to her contributions.
I just wish you posted more often!
:D
November 4th, 2007 at 1:51 am
I was privileged to meet Caitlin at Stainless Studios in 1996. I proposed a friendship with her. She said she would be happy to be friends, but the price of said friendship was 1 box of Franken-berry cereal, apparently un-available in the Great White North. We only met one more time, when I brought her such a give, but I am sure the cereal lives on in some form.
November 4th, 2007 at 3:03 am
caitlin is amazing…maybe adam and i will be lucky enough to join you on cape breton someday soon. our fav part of the ocean is in cape breton.
much love you both.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Such a formal introduction deserves an answer of some pomp and maybe a little ceremony but I’m so easy on this Sunday morning that all I can come up with is a huge welcome. You seem like a young woman anyone would be proud to have their son, brother or best friend be with. Also yes, welding? HOW HOT IS THAT? ahh yay, a very easy double entendre. 50 pts.
November 4th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Me and my partner often read Dignam catalogues…looking at the scarce photographs of beautiful land. Dreaming of what could be - mostly I think about swimming, beekeeping, gardening, canning and having hens so I can eat fresh eggs everyday. Seeing where our food comes from and having control over how it’s grown is so seriously important to me.
I also dream about the absence of lawnmowers, locks on my doors and windows, a formal driveway….*sigh*
I think he dreams about all the delicious fresh food we can make and eggs in the morning. Things like tire swings, hammocks, napping in a sunbeam, building amazing houses and privacy are also his thang.
I think we also dream about being able to experiment with housing types and all sorts of fun/experimental structures….. I think this blog is going to rock once you two really get going. I’m really excited for it, I’m sure that we both will read it.
November 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I’m very happy for both of you
I love romantic stories like that… Keeps me hopeful that I’ll get one of my own one day!
November 4th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Awe…
What about my crush? I’m heart broken!
November 5th, 2007 at 8:08 am
good times. hey Caitlin
November 5th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
You have crushed the dreams of many with this post Shannon. As long as your happy thats what really matters.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:24 am
What can I say? Ure amazing, youre art is amazing… marry me .. hahaha