Wool and needles in my casket : knitting as habit among rural Newfoundland women

This thesis examines the motives and meanings behind the actions of female knitters in rural Newfoundland. This is done from a Weberian standpoint. -- This research will present the findings from a survey conducted in April 1999, and subsequent interviews done in June and July 1999. The population that is under investigation consists of Newfoundlanders who knit for Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial Association (NONIA). This organisation is a non-profit cottage industry. One will see the general characteristics of NONIA knitters, and what they perceive to be the motivations and meanings attached to the knitting they do. -- It will be established that while the knitters in this research get paid for their knitting, monetary reward is not the main motivating factor. This research shows that the necessity of having a learned activity to pass time and to maintain a coherent self is the prime motivator, and meaning, behind knitting. For many rural Newfoundland women, knitting has developed into a habit that is intertwined into many aspects of their lives

Self-employed craft production is embedded work

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how self-employed craft producers are embedded in social relationships. Design/methodology/approach – To explore this question, narrative analysis and case study methodology is employed. Findings – It is found that despite doing work that speaks to local values, self-employed craft producers in Newfoundland narrate tensions that exist between themselves and locals. Originality/value – This paper takes on the notion of a “global village” where the local is no longer seen as important to work and labour. It contributes to the understanding of work as embedded within a place.Canada, Community development, Health education, Personal health, Rural areas

Good work? Scottish cultural workers’ narratives about working and living on islands

This paper sets out to ask how cultural workers on Scottish islands come to narrate their work and everyday life experiences. We ask this question in the context of two dominant doctrines that can influence whether or not these experiences are “good or bad.” The first doctrine describes attitudes toward creativity with reference to current discussions around cultural work and the idea of “creative.” The second doctrine highlights conceptions of islands as unique places with pastoral characteristics that need to be fostered and promoted. It is our contention that island cultural workers must continuously negotiate with these two frameworks in order to successfully achieve good work. If the negotiation is fraught with difficulties, the cultural worker will ultimately leave either this form of work or the island. For the purpose of this paper we focus on the narratives of two cultural workers located on two different Scottish islands to highlight the ways their particular narratives engage with the doctrines of creativity and islandness