Dreams coming true

Newcomer wins Best New Product at P.E.I. Craft Council’s Buyers’ Market

Newcomer Tatiana Mizerina holds up two of her P.E.I. fox mittens, which won Best New Product of 2017 in the P.E.I. Craft Council’s Buyers’ Market at the Delta Prince Edward last weekend. The mittens were a hot seller around Christmas time and are made with 100 per cent wool from MacAusland Woolen Mills in Bloomfield.

Tatiana Mizerina fell in love with her new home on P.E.I. before she even set foot in the province.

Now, the bright colours and natural beauty surrounding the Russian immigrant in her new home have inspired her to find entrepreneurial success through her new brand “Colourful Island.”

Mizerina’s newest product, mittens inspired by P.E.I. foxes, won the Best New Product of 2017 category at the P.E.I. Craft Council’s Buyers’ Market this month.

Although it was Mizerina’s second time attending the market, it was the first for her new brand.

“It represents P.E.I. and is inspired by P.E.I.,” she said. “It’s also made with products and materials from P.E.I.”

Mizerina has been living in P.E.I. for two and a half years but is originally from Russia.

Nearly five years ago, Mizerina had moved to Texas where she stayed for two years before coming to Canada.

Mizerina noted that she spent much of her first year in the province learning how to speak English.

“I didn’t speak English at all,” she said.

Despite the language barrier, Mizerina had a simple reason for moving to P.E.I.

That’s the natural beauty of the province.

“I saw the pictures on Facebook and fell in love,” said Mizerina, who now lives in Stratford.

“I was so excited. It’s a very quiet and nice neighbourhood. I can see ships from my window.”

The artisan’s home is also her studio, where she makes more products than just the fox mittens.

Among other hand-crafted products, the artisan also breathes new life into old jeans by fashioning them into purses and bags.

Mizerina said the bags, which also feature hand-drawn pictures, are a perfect product for P.E.I. tourists since they’re able to hold new treasures while also being a souvenir in itself.

It’s also a product that Mizerina stands by after using one herself while travelling for the past several years.

“They’re my old passion,” said Mizerina, who has been fashioning the bags for about 12 years.

“And it’s my way to help save the environment. It’s very good material.”

Mezerina said meeting buyers and fellow exhibitors at the market has also given her more drive to continue with her business.

“It’s very good experience to speak with buyers and exhibitors. They’ve all been very helpful and very kind,” she said. “Now I have a vision of what to do.”

After planning to not have children, my partner and I had to adopt one of his family members. Long story short, it was us or an unsafe situation.

I have never in my life had an interest in children or spent any time with them. After a few years, I still have no interest in parenting. I work long hours, so my partner does most of it, but he is better at it, so it makes sense.

I ensure that the child’s needs are met. I organize events, take him to point A or B, but have no interest in bonding or spending time with him — no desire to form a connection, which I feel some guilt about. Deep down, I resent having been forced to take on a responsibility I never wanted in the first place. Is it good enough to provide a safe, stable home with opportunities for a child, but not to love or form a special connection with him? — RELUCTANT PARENT IN TEXAS

In your case, it appears it’s going to have to be. We don’t have to love everyone, but we do have to treat them well, which you have done to the best of your ability. But recognize that if you are truly unable to form an emotional bond with the child, his only attachment will be to your partner. And because of all the effort you HAVE put into raising him, it’s rather sad — for you.

I noticed a picture of a young boy on Facebook. He appeared to be about 4 or 5. He was holding a sign stating that if he received 20,000 “likes,” his father would quit smoking. My immediate reaction was, “Isn’t the fact that your son loves you enough to make you be healthy?”

I question the values we are teaching our young children. In a world where the trend is to conform and gather likes, how much value should we allow our children to place on the opinions of others? Should our self-esteem and actions be based this heavily on being “liked” by strangers or peers? I’m an old-fashioned gal who believes in family ties and the strength a person develops by acting independently. — BELIEVES IN FAMILY TIES

Whether we like it or not, people — especially young people — depend upon the affirmation of others. The internet provides a quick and easy way for folks to bring attention to themselves or to a cause they believe in. Whether this phenomenon is healthy, I cannot say — but of this I am certain: It’s here to stay.

I agree with you that for his health and for the sake of his child, the father should quit smoking without being bribed with computer clicks. Between you and me, I suspect it was something the boy’s mother dreamed up. Perhaps I’m suffering from “cuteness fatigue.” But if you believe a child thought that gambit up on his own, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you.