Danielle
How long have you been knitting Gibou items?
I have been knitting Gibou beanies since November 2015.
How did you start knitting? (If not with Gibou)
I started knitting around the age of 10. My sister introduced me to knitting with needles; she had made Phentex slippers in her home economics class.
Subsequently, a friend of my mother's served as my coach. She helped me create many items such as shawls, ponchos, blankets, reading scarves, socks, etc., both with needles and crochet. Hours and hours of pleasure, which means I have been knitting for 45 years—"OMG"!
Where do you knit, and under what circumstances?
My day always begins with a good coffee, and that's when I knit my first beanie of the day. Afterward, I knit while watching my favorite TV shows or a good movie. In the summer, I sometimes knit in my gazebo at the cottage. There's always a breeze by the river! Between babysitting, gardening, cooking, yoga, drawing, painting, and piano lessons, there's always a good time for a beanie.
What is your favorite Gibou color?
All Gibou colors are interesting, but I have a particular fondness for eggplant and especially the very latest, frosted purple. Having knitted all the colors, it's funny to see how much the dye gives a different texture to the yarn. Each color has its own texture!
What field did you retire from?
I worked in administration, management, and communications in the airport and port sectors within the federal public service for over 35 years.
What do you like best about retirement?
Being master of my time. What a joy to no longer have to get up at 5:15 every morning and no longer be stuck in traffic! I also had the privilege that my retirement coincided with the birth of my grandson; this freedom allows me to enjoy incredible quality time with him, and that fills me with happiness.
Do you have any life advice to give to a young adult?
This is a very difficult question because I am still learning! In fact, I find it beautiful to see young people venturing into life with all the passion that only 20/30-year-olds possess. I encourage them to pursue their dreams while listening to their inner voice, but also to listen to the voice of the older generation, which is often rich in life experience. We may sometimes feel like we have something new, a new process, a new approach, but in reality, it's often a wheel turning. By exchanging with the older generation, we give ourselves the opportunity to compare the new with the old, to improve what didn't work, and to maximize winning formulas. If my age allows me to give advice today, I realize that today young people are teaching me great lessons. What richness!