Doll House or Bawdy House? What Kind of Women is Society turning Little Girls into these days?

Collage: What Kind of Women is Society turning Little Girls into these days?
Images Credit: Microsoft Office Clipart: Girl painting toy house + MS 00018269

"Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk - real straight talk about souls, for life is holy and every moment is precious."
- Jack Kerouac, American Poet and Novelist. Source: thinkexist.com

Today, I brought my childhood doll-house furniture collection into the office. Everyone eagerly crowded around, carefully emptied out the box of tiny little chairs, tables, wardrobes, kitchen cupboards and appliances, bathroom fixtures, even little books, magazines (all legible), and every conceivable household necessity in miniature. Many made from real wood.

Everyone was excited and we spent a good deal of time reminiscing and feeling like kids again. It almost brought a tear to my eye. I wish I could say it was a tear of happiness and joy, but I can’t. Here’s why…

Last week I watched a documentary entitled “Sext Up Kids” on CBC’s Doc Zone. Here’s a preview:

youtube.com: CBC Doc Zone: Sex't Up Kids- Preview
Uploaded by CBCtv on Feb 15, 2012

Watch the full documentary online here: CBC: Sext Up Kids

I know there’s a large contingent of women out there who are adamant that little girls shouldn’t be forced to play with doll houses and other gender-specific toys that impose old-fashioned ideas about gender roles in society and might skew impressionable young girls’ ideas about their future adult roles.

Fair enough, but what about “Bratz Big Babyz” or “Monster High” dolls’ thongs? Or “Struts,” the sexed-up pony featuring high-heels and handbags?

Collage: What “positive gender roles” are such toys encouraging little girls to embrace, exactly?
Images Credits: amazon.co.uk: Bratz Big Babyz + shapingyouth.org: Monster High Dolls +
essentialkids.com.au: New Struts dolls

What "positive gender roles" are such toys encouraging little girls to embrace, exactly? What about lines of lingerie being marketed to ever-younger audiences, as young as 7-12 years of age? What ever happened to letting children be children and not rushing them into a life they cannot begin to understand, let alone cope with: mentally, emotionally, and/or physically?

Many women find coping with issues around self-image, healthy sexuality, gender roles and men’s expectations, relationships, and all the messy stuff around sex challenging. Even as adults we find it difficult to handle the onslaught of ever-more risqué ads depicting grown women as sex objects.

Wo-Built is a woman-owned contractor in the Greater Toronto Area. We started this company with a social mission which included encouraging and supporting women in the trades. We know the issues around gender roles, self-image, what is “sexy” and what makes “a real woman.”

I grew up playing with my doll house and have fond, loving memories of my childhood years playing house. Now, I run a construction company that is innovating a revolutionary new way to live off-grid in the 21st Century. We will be launching this innovation at the National Home Show. No “booth babes.”

But then, I had a proper childhood. I never had to contend with marketers apparently hell-bent on rushing me into a thong and onto the couch of some pimply-faced boy playing “monkey see, monkey do.” Not having any idea what they are doing. No notion how much their actions will come back to haunt them as an adult. A pop culture seemingly indifferent … a “porn culture,” indeed.

In fact, we created Wobinna as a direct answer to the “oversexed teens and tweens” phenomenon. Here’s what Wobinna did when she needed “a doll house” as a little girl …

Comic Strip: Wobinna & Friends: Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2012 © Wo-Built Inc.

And here’s what Wobinna and Friends “do” with “empty apartments and spaces” as teens …

Comic Strip: WoBinna and Friends: A Home Reno: The Final Reveal Panorama
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2012 © Wo-Built Inc.

Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Success Strategies for Women and Trades: Forum

Comic Strip: Wobinna & Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
2012 © wobuilt.com

Save the date
March 6, 2012
Women Trade Forum
An event for those who want more strategies to accelerate women’s employment in non-traditional trades.

Success Strategies for Women and Trades

Showcasing and enhancing best practices
Illuminating ideas to accelerate change

Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Centennial College, Ashtonbee Campus
75 Ashtonbee Rd., Toronto, ON, M1L 4N4

Coordinated by the Women’s Access to Trades Network**, and hosted by Centennial College, with support from the Province of Ontario and Canadian Women’s Foundation.

Who should attend?
This event will benefit all those who want more women working in the non-traditional trades:

• Employers seeking more women and skilled workers
• Labour groups looking to include more women in trades and apprenticeship
• Tradeswomen looking for more compatible workplace
• Groups accountable for equity, diversity, labour force development, productivity, poverty reduction
• Colleges, training centres looking to increase women in trades programs
• Secondary schools seeking more career options for girls
• Women looking for better paid jobs

What will the day offer?

• Success strategies in recruiting, training and employment
• Conditions for success -what we need to do more of
• Opportunity to envision what needs to change for more change to occur
• Update on status of College of Trades
• Emerging opportunities for change – a provincial women’s access to trades network

Why are we doing this now?

• Advancement on this issue is still a work in progress
• The demand for skilled trades’ workers is increasing
• We need to collaborate, link up and scale up in order to achieve a critical mass of women in trades
• Women need access to the full range of well paid jobs. It’s in our social contract.

Women’s access to trades is about…
women’s equitable participation in the economy.

• And reducing child poverty.
• And improving labour force development.
• And increasing productivity in a global economy.

**The Women’s Access to Trades Network is a collaboration of organizations dedicated to accelerating women’s participation in non-traditional trades to increase women’s access to good jobs and decrease their risk of poverty. Members include MicroSkills, On Track Career and Employment Services, The Centre for Skills Development and Training, George Brown College, YWCA, South Asian Women’s Rights Organization, Centennial College, Canadian Association of Women in Construction, IBEW Local 153 Women’s Committee, Skills for Change.

links:
about.com: Non-Traditional Employment for Women: Chipping Away At the Glass Ceiling
By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com Guide

WIL National Mentorship Program: 2012 · Vancouver · Toronto · Montreal: Toronto Mentorship Program Application Packages

itabc.ca: The British Columbia Industry Training Authority: : Women in Construction Trades: A Strategic Plan to Promote Women
Prepared by The Women in Leadership Foundation, WIL, November 16, 2007

alis.alberta.ca: Career Planning - Education - Jobs: Women in Non-Traditional Occupations: Stories to Inspire

swc-cfc.gc.ca: Status of Women Canada: Statistics: Women in Canada 2010-2011 - A Gender-based Statistical Report

statcan.gc.ca: Statistics Canada: Women in Non-traditional Occupations and Fields of Study
"As was the case for occupation, women have made fewer inroads into non-traditional fields of study in the trades. The top five trades in which men had earned a trades certificate accounted for 79% of men in the trades in 2006. In these top-five male-dominated trades, women accounted for 2% of those with trades certificates in mechanics and repairers and in construction trades; for 3% of certificates in the precision production trades; for 7%, in transportation and materials moving; and for 10%, in engineering technology."
by Kathryn McMullen, Jason Gilmore and Christel Le Petit

employmentjourney.com: Women in non-traditional trades and technology: raising awareness
"Trade HERizons is a program coordinated by Women’s Network PEI. The aim is to encourage women to consider a career in trades and give women the support needed to make that transition."
by Gloria Welton

thecentre.on.ca: Local skilled trades training program helps women achieve their dreams
by mcdonaldm

skillsontario.com: “Women in Non-Traditional Roles – Putting Our Skills to Work”
Putting Our Skills to Work - Women Working in the Skilled Trades and Technologies

theglasshammer.com: The Glass Hammer is an online community designed for women executives in financial services, law and business.

wobuilt.com: Community: Mentoring: The Wo-Built Career Advancement Program
Our mission is to help women enter and succeed in the skilled trades. We hope to open more doors and provide more opportunities for women who strive for a career in the building/finishing trades.

wobuilt.com/blog: Helping Women in the Building Trades

Our Anime PR Avatar WoBinna First Anniversary

Collage: Our Anime WoBinna Is Turning One
2011 @ wobuilt.com

WoBinna and Friends – Happy Birthday - Our anime is turning one.

It has been a year since WoBinna and her friends came onto the scene and helped us to promote Wo-Built’s mission of encouraging young women to consider the building trades as a career. We had great fun bringing you stories where WoBinna shares her design and building experiences and her love for the building trades.

WoBinna is based on the collective experiences of the Wo-Built team, our experiences on site and life, even our aspirations when we were children.

My own personal favourites are: “A fabulous doll house” and the follow-up “A star is built”, “A summer job project like no other” , and "Class assignment" with a petroleum pelican getting the green message out.

Enjoy!!!! For more stories: wobinna.blogspot.com and wobuilt.blogspot.com

We wanted WoBinna’s stories to be humorous and interesting to encourage debate about the trades amongst young people and hopefully plant a seed to consider the building trades an alternative career. The building trades face a crisis in the next few years as more and more qualified trades people will retire. The industry has not managed to inspire a lot of interest in young people to do apprenticeships and WoBinna is our attempt to engage them in discussions.

I grew up with sophisticated comics, such as Asterix and Obelix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo; and I have always liked animation. When I first envisaged WoBinna three years ago I had an Archibald "Archie" Andrews’ look and feel in mind, created by Vic Bloom and Bob Montana; mainly because this comic deals with teenagers. But recently I have been intrigued by the Japanese based manga style and I believe WoBinna would do well in this genre. Much more hip and fun, more contemporary. So look out for a change in WoBinna again - another make over is on the way.

We want to spread the news about WoBinna much more than we have and we need your help!!! We invite everyone to share WoBinna’s stories with their friends, schools and anyone who would like to start career discussions with young people. Or just share the stories, because you love them.

Martina Ernst
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Young Blond Female Anime Avatar
Credit: MS Office Clipart - MC900440373

Links to some other WoBinna & Friends comic strips:
Wobinna and Friends: Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
Wobinna and Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
A Home Reno: Inspired by Piet Mondrian
A Home Reno: Finishing Touches

Start Planning Your Home Renovation: Renovate Your House – Rediscover Your Home!

Renovate Your House – Rediscover Your Home!
2011 @ wobuilt.com

2010 - Year of Achievement
2010 was a challenging year for many businesses, but somehow, it still became a year of achievement for Wo-Built Inc. and we did find things to celebrate. We moved to a bigger and better office space (with windows!) in a wonderful neighbourhood, we were creators of WoBinna & Friends our anime, and we finished some exciting home addition projects just to name a few of our achievements.

2011 – Year of Expansion
We have some great ideas for 2011: more WoBinna, new services, lighting design, more mentoring initiatives, and more innovative green design projects including a modern greenhouse, green roof or a geothermal development. We are going to redesign our Dream House Assessment process and put it on our website. We are going to start our design workshops again as we have this lovely office in the Corso Italia area - great shops, great restaurants, check it out.

As the festivities of the Christmas season wind down and we say good-bye to the old year, we start to look forward to what 2011 will bring us. We'd like to remind you that now is a good time to start planning that home renovation that you have been thinking of. You may have been putting your Christmas decorations away and thought it might be a good time to refresh your home by renovating a kitchen for instance, or you may have already been thinking of a bigger renovation or addition to increase the space in your home before all the festivities began.

With spring around the corner, now is an ideal time to start planning. At Wo-Built Inc. as a boutique design and build firm, we have many innovative design ideas to create your dream space, and we know about the upcoming trends for this year. We can also help you with the planning of your project, as well as making your dream a reality.

Wo-Built would like to extend our best wishes for the New Year and we look forward to helping you achieve the home of your dreams in this New Year. Make this the year that your dream home becomes a reality! We'd love to help.

Wo-Built's Team
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Happy Holidays! It's the 2011 Children's Book Of Celebration!

Collage: "The Children's Book Of Celebration" 2011
Publication of Regional Maple Leaf Communications Inc.
Illustrations by Cecilia Camet
Request your FREE Books to Take Home
Credit: regionalmapleleaf.com

We are glad to announce that this great practical activity book for children of all ages is now in distribution. You can see our advertisement published on page 26. Look out for your FREE copy to take home or request your FREE book online: http://regionalmapleleaf.com/distribution/default.htm

The Children's Book Of Celebration is a joyous colouring, activity book highlighting the special events and holidays from around the world and includes learning games, crafts and puzzles for kids.

We hope you find it useful. Enjoy!

Our Achievement Lunch

Invitation: Wo-Built's Achievement Celebration
Friday, December 3, 2010 at AGIO Ristorante
1351 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M6E 1C5

On Friday we held our annual staff celebration at Agio’s, a great Italian restaurant at the edge of Corso Italia. We called it our ‘Achievement lunch’ since we had a lot to celebrate, even though this was a tough year. How better to celebrate this with than three amazing starters, a lovely salad and soup, Osso Buco and Pomegranate Sorbet. We were in heaven.

In summary we had a lot of good things this year happen to us this year.

We finished two home additions, both very special to us in their own way. One had great innovative design elements, such as a trap door and eye-catching stairs, two huge decks which look amazing and the other provided us with the opportunity to create an architecturally interesting building that was challenging to build, but provided amazing spaces. We also completed several smaller projects, such as kitchens and a deck.

On a personal note, we moved into a great office space with windows!! That made everyone really very happy, more productive and enabled us to have much closer team work.

We created WoBinna and Friends, our animated spokesperson. WoBinna represents our outreach to the younger generation to persuade them that the trades are a viable career option.

And finally we went into a strategic partnership with Snider Homes to be able to serve our clients even better than in the past. We were very pleased that Sandy, Zack and Hailey from Snider Homes were able to celebrate our achievement lunch with us.

We have of course many more things which we celebrated, such as the friendships we forged with our suppliers and clients, something very personal and dear to us. Often when things are tough we forget that we are still very fortunate in being part of an innovative, caring and successful company.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Collage: Wo-Built's Achievement Celebration
Friday, December 3, 2010 at AGIO Ristorante
Photos: Olga Goubar
2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

Wobinna’s Dream Home Contest: Submission #4 Condo

Image: Design Competition 2010

Wobinna Wants to Know: What's Your Dream House? Is It ...
#4 ... Maybe Simplifying Your Living Space, Like a Condo ...
Illustration by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

New idea from the Wo-Built staff, this time a dreamhouse concept of simplifying living space, like an apartment in a condo .

The Condo

My dream house is a low-rise, 2-bedroom condominium with a walk-in closet that nestles on a quiet tree-lined street in the middle of the city. It would have to have a balcony preferably overlooking a park and be close to shopping and transportation. I’ve come to this conclusion over my lifetime.

At different stages of my life, I’ve lived in a variety of dwellings in different locations, so I’ve had a bit of time to realize what my “dream house” would truly be. I’ve lived in houses as well as apartments. I’ve learned that houses, although they have their perks, require a lot of upkeep. The time, maintenance and expense can be considerable and that this can impact on lifestyle as well.

An apartment is more compact, requires less upkeep as well as cleaning. And there are always neighbors close by. A condominium offers the opportunity of home ownership with all the perks of apartment living.

In short the "C"s have it for me: a Condo that’s

• Compact (easy on maintenance, in that someone else does it and smaller to keep clean),
• Close (to my neighbors) and
• Convenient (to all the amenities).
  

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

Next design idea: The Houseboat

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

Wobinna, Our Animated Tradeswoman & Friends Have Their Own Blog

Collage: Screenshot Wobinna & Friends Blog
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

We would like Wobinna, our animated tradeswoman, to connect with younger women to encourage them to enter the building trades. We want to create story lines that through humour and information will persuade young women to consider the trades as a career or at least will provide food for thought and discussions....
Announcing Wobinna's Own Blog,
by Martina Ernst, CEO - Wo-Built Inc

Exciting news!!

Wobinna & Friends is branching out and will be moving to her own blog!!

http//wobinna.blogspot.com

Wobinna and Friends was created to encourage more women to consider the trades as a career option. We are hoping through her adventures and light-hearted style that a young generation of women searching for a career path will be able to relate, and they will realize that there are more career alternatives open to them than just the traditional ones. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry and will reflect this in the storylines.

So please, tune in to our Wobinna blog and follow the exciting adventures of Wobinna & Friends every week.

Wobinna deserves her own blog.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

Wobinna’s Dream Home Contest: Submission #3 Grand Staircase

Image: Design Competition 2010

Wobinna Wants to Know: What's Your Dream House? Is It ...
#3 ... Maybe More Elegant Surroundings, Like a Staircase ...
Illustration by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

New idea from the Wo-Built staff, this time about more elegant surroundings of a dreamhouse with big sweeping staircase .

The Grand Staircase

I'm quite eclectic when it comes to style. I like a lot of different design types and often mix them together.

The crisp, clean look of a modern room or the feel of rich, dark wooden floors, ceilings and furniture, along with the old world charm of some antiquey pieces - they are all eye catching to me, but a grand staircase is what I would love most.

I grew up with and still enjoy the glitz and glamour of days gone by when movie stars were still movie stars and lived in homes with big sweeping staircases that gave them an air of elegance. I think creating a home with a staircase such as this one as the focal point would be amazing.

It should be open to the floor below and be designed in such a way that the underside could work as another functioning room. The home itself should surround this unique structure and be visible by most places in it.

My Dream Home is very open in concept and would be filled with large colourful pieces throughout to keep that homey feel.

Dawn Palfreyman is the artist, design creator, site worker for Wo-Built Inc.
Connect with Dawn on Facebook

Next design idea: The Condo

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

Wobinna and Friends: A Solo Class Assignment

Comic Strip: Wobinna and Friends: A Solo Class Assignment
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

Panel 1

Mikki & Wobinna are having a sleepover at Wobinna’s house. Already in their pajamas, they lounge around in Wobinna’s room chatting about another class assignment in Shop Class. This time the assignment is a solo project.

Mikki (asking with great curiosity): How are you going to top that project from Shop Class now!

Wobinna (hugging her pillow trying to think of a suitable project): I know!! The next assignment is a solo thing so I gotta get my thinking cap on!!!


Panel 2

The next morning Wobinna and Mikki are sitting in the kitchen at the breakfast table still talking about Wobinna’s solo class assignment over their cereal. Mikki has a suggestion for Wobinna.

Mikki (helpfully): Maybe an architectural model of a development for your final project could work?

Wobinna (liking the idea): I could make it out of wood!! Very cool!!!

Panel 3

Wobinna is in her basement working over her model development. As she puts the finishing touches on her project, she is quite pleased with the finished model. She then decides to have a little bit of fun and starts to clown around with a story about the town.

Wobinna (with a slightly wicked grin): The sleepy town never saw it coming ... the attack of the 50 ft. woman, BWHA HA! HA!.....

Hope you enjoyed this strip.
Look for a new Wobinna adventure next week.

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna Is Born
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna
Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna1
Wobinna and Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna2
Wobinna and Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna3
Wobinna and Friends: A Solo Class Assignment
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna8

Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Conclusion

Comic Strip: Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Part 3

Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

Wobinna & Friends: Class Assignment - Conclusion (Part 3)

Panel 1

Wobinna and all her classmates crowd into the auditorium anxiously awaiting the start of the competition. The principal is on stage at the podium making his introductory speech while the judges and teachers look on.

Wobinna (in the audience): Tough competition Rob!!

Principal (loudly and with great enthusiasm): Welcome participants! Let me say, I’m proud of all of you!!


Panel 2

Wobinna, Rob and Paul are eagerly explaining to the judge how their project works. The judge listens intently and makes her marking as they all chime in. The project all put together and spread out on the floor is called the petroleum pelican.

Paul (excitedly): The head scoops, sifts and swivels. Into the containment body it goes!!

Wobinna (continues with just as much excitement): Opens and closes too!

Rob (not to be left out, chimes in as well): The remote controls all the action!!

Panel 3

All the winners are crowded onto the stage in jubilation. With arms outstretched and cheering in triumph they hold onto their trophies & prizes while the announcements of the winners can be heard in the background.

Principal’s voice in the background: This year’s auction was amazing. Very creative projects! Now ... to the winners and cash prizes!!!

Judge: 3rd Prize Team – "Ride Baby Ride" for $150.00! 2nd Prize Team – "Domed Domicile" for $300.00! 1st Prize Team – "Pelicans" for $500.00!!

Ride Baby Ride team jubilantly: We placed 3rd dude! Cool!

In conclusion Wobinna gives the audience the thumbs up while Paul and Rob wave. All three are clutching the 1st Prize cup!!!

Look for new adventures of Wobinna and Friends next week!!

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Part 2
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6b
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Conclusion
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6c

Wobinna’s Dream Home Contest: Submission #2 Tree House

Image: Design Competition 2010

Wobinna Wants to Know: What's Your Dream House? Is It ...
#2 ... Maybe Lots of Nature, Like a Tree House ...
Illustration by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

More ideas from the Wo-Built staff, this time about the tree house.
Dawn’s interpretation of a tree house is living in a tree with separate structures, but Lonya has a new take on it. Here is what her tree dreamhouse is all about.

The Tree House

In these days of green awareness and eco-friendliness, what could be more ideal than maybe ... a tree house? Not only does a tree house epitomize sustainability but it brings us back to a simpler and quieter time. A time when we were younger, innocent, and freer. And certainly, to a time when we could and DID let our imaginations run riot.

It seems that in these modern times, people are rediscovering tree houses and their joys and as such a few companies that specialize in tree houses have sprung up. Of course these are still for children only, but if you yearn to get away from it all, imagine living in a custom-built tree house just for you.

My dream tree house would actually be nestled between some trees away from prying eyes, but not necessarily IN a tree. It would be high enough off the ground to be able to walk underneath, a glassed-in area (sort of like a family room underneath your house) and supported by a number of beams.

There would be a staircase to access the main floor area. It would consist of a wraparound balcony and it would be divided into 3 rooms - 2 bedrooms and an open concept kitchenette, living and dining area with a huge bay window to be able to see the forest animals frolicking (remember this is a dream!) – but hopefully no bears!

Although I am a nature lover, but not really one for roughing it too much, an indoor washroom is needed with, of course, indoor plumbing. And being environmentally conscious my tree-house would have to be "green" (no pun intended).

This would certainly be my ideal getaway, away from prying eyes, back to nature and a more leisurely pace of life.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

Next design idea: The Grand Staircase

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Part 2

Comic Strip: Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment

Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment continues (part 2)

Panel 1

Wobinna is in the workshop at Rob’s parent’s garage with Paul and Rob and their project all wrapped up (literally!) in huge boxes. Paul gives the thumbs-up, while Rob looks on with relief and joy at a job well-done.

Wobinna (with her arm up triumphantly declares with excitement): Yes!! All done... Great job guys!!!

Panel 2

Wobinna is in the driver’s seat of the van while Rob and Paul load up the boxes with the project into the back of the vehicle.

Wobinna: Have we got all the boxes?

Rob (looking around for any stray boxes): Ummm……..

Paul (panting and struggling to load a huge box onto the van): I hope so!!

Panel 3

Wobinna, Paul and Rob are in the auditorium with all their other classmates unpacking the boxes and setting up their project.

Paul (bringing in the last box): We got this in the bag!!

Rob (with enthusiasm): Fer sure man!!!

... to be continued.

Look for the exciting conclusion and the announcement of the winner next week!!

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Part 2
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6b
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Conclusion
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6c

Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment

Comic Strip: Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment

Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

Panel 1

Wobinna is in her shop classroom as her teacher reads out their assignment. She gets a brainstorm and starts whispering excitedly to her classmate.

Teacher: New Project…Blah, Blah, Blah. You can win prizes!

Wobinna (whispering excitedly): I have an idea Paul! Let’s meet in the caf!

Paul listens intently.

Panel 2

Paul, Rob and Wobinna sit at the cafeteria table and talk excitedly about their ideas for the upcoming project over lunch.

Paul again listens intently and eats as Wobinna and Rob enthusiastically discuss their plans.

Wobinna: What about a robot that can clean the oil from the beaches?

Rob (waving his hand excitedly): Awesome! I think teach will love it!!

Panel 3

Paul, Rob and Wobinna are back in the workshop as Wobinna shows the boys her idea drawn out on paper. They go over their plans for the project and Paul and Wobinna start assembling materials and tools.

Wobinna (carrying some boards): You find it?

Paul (triumphantly): Ya, It’s over here!

Meanwhile Rob sets up a working area at his house.

Paul and Wobinna go shopping for the rest of the needed materials.

In a flurry of excitement the assembly begins.

... to be continued.

Stay tuned to the exciting conclusion of the project!

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna Is Born
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna
Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna1
Wobinna and Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna2
Wobinna and Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna3
Wobinna and Friends: A Summer Job Project Like No Other
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna4
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Part 2
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6b
Wobinna and Friends: Class Assignment: Conclusion
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna6c

Wobinna’s Dream Home Contest: Submission #1 Conservatory

Image: Design Competition 2010
Wobinna Wants to Know: What's Your Dream House? Is It ...
#1 ... Maybe Lots of Glass, Like a Conservatory ...
Illustration by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

Earlier this year we resurrected our intention of hosting a Dream House contest and bit by bit it is taking shape. The contest explores the notion of the dream house or home and we want to see the many forms this can take.

Over the next several weeks we are going to publish several dream house designs concepts and stories from our staff. As much as we want to see your design ideas we want to hear the reason and the stories behind the dream.

Dream House Ideas Which Will Be Featured from the Wo-Built Staff

We are influenced by popular culture or movies. Many of our ideas come from the images we see. My personal favorites are often the designs of futuristic movies, such as the set for Blade Runner. Creating environments for the future apparently gives us the leeway of dreaming big, different or out of the box.

In an age where we as a society excel in mediocrity and where often the lowest common denominator rules this contest will push the envelope of home design, of ideas, of finding out what is important to you. Dream houses do not have to be realistic or obtainable. Part of the joy of dreams is that one works towards an ideal.

We will feature:

• the conservatory
• the tree house
• the grand staircase
• the condo
• the houseboat

The Conservatory

My idea for a conservatory started when I went with my sister to Doi Angkhang in the northern parts of Thailand close to the Burmese and Cambodian borders in 1999. Doi Angkhang is a research station which studies the viability of different crops that can be farmed successfully in the area.

When we visited, the facility had grown to several large garden compounds, cultivating fruit trees, vegetables and other crops and a simple resort. One of my favorite places was large tented area with its own stream/pond and walkways. Since then I wanted to own a conservatory, but not a small one attached to the house, but a small house attached to a large conservatory.

Even though the Thai facility did not have buildings attached to the green houses, the idea is really an extension of the court yard one. Court yards were used to regulate temperature, used for relaxations and other purposes.

I don’t like large living spaces for the sake of being large, but I love the idea of a large garden you can live in through out the year.

Therefore my dream home is a conservatory with satellite buildings.

The satellite buildings would house small bedrooms, offices, kitchen and bathroom facilities, but the bulk of the central area would be used for growing food (hydroponics), lovely dining experience and the relaxing living area (no TV) amongst the plants.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

Next design idea: The Tree House

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

Wobinna and Friends: A Summer Job Project Like No Other

Comic Strip: Wobinna and Friends: A Summer Job Project Like No Other

Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

... summer has arrived ...

Panel 1

Wobinna and her friend, Micki enter Tamie’s Place, the local hangout where all the students from the neighborhood high school meet. As they enter, Wobinna turns to Micki and asks ...

Wobinna (curiously): How’s your summer job going?

Micki (smiling): Well ... you know ...


Panel 2

While having a cup of coffee Micki and Wobinna talk enthusiastically about Micki’s Project Management position for the summer.

Micki (excitedly): Let me tell you about my office reno, it’s gonna be like ... soooo sic!!

As Micki talks about her mental picture of the project, she explains its progress. During their conversation they both envision all the building activities.

Micki (giving building directions with vigor): I need this here ... Oh, and here ... And I want this here ... Especially there!

Builder (rolling his eyes in confusion and thinking Blah! Blah! Blah!): Where do you want the door?!

Wobinna (captivated by all the details): With all your explaining, building should be a breeze!

Panel 3

Micki takes Wobinna to the job site to show her the progress. To her dismay she realizes that her instructions where not completely understood.

Micki: LOOK! ... After all my explaining he still put the door in the wrong place!!!

Builder (looking more confused than ever, thinking to himself with a shrug): That’s what you told me you wanted.

Wobinna (thoughtfully): Maybe we have to draw pictures!!

Hope you enjoyed this strip.
Look for a new Wobinna adventure next week.

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna Is Born
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna
Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna1
Wobinna and Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna2
Wobinna and Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna3
Wobinna and Friends: A Summer Job Project Like No Other
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna4

Wobinna and Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!

Comic Strip: Wobinna & Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!

Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

... as time goes by ...

Panel 1

Wobinna must choose her course selection for grade 11. She and her Mom get comfortable on the couch and go thru all the options available to her.

Mom (excitedly): Oooh, wood shop, you should take that!!!

Wobinna (happily responding): That would fit!! PERFECT!

Panel 2

After finishing her first shop class, she puts her tools away into her locker. The girls just finishing their home economics class are whispering.

Blonde girl to her brunette friend (incredulously): Can you believe she has shop class?!

Two of Wobinna’s classmates spot her: There she is!!

Panel 3

Wobinna and her two (male) classmates are joking around in the school hallway while the Home Ec. girls look on enviously.

Brunette to her blonde friend: …and that’s not all she has!!

Hope you enjoyed this strip.
Look for a new Wobinna adventure next week.

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna Is Born
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna
Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna1
Wobinna and Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna2
Wobinna and Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna3

Wobinna and Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand

Comic Strip: Wobinna & Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

The Early Years...

Panel 1
Young Wobinna (about 10 years old) and her best friend, (Michaela, Micki for short) are lying in the backyard on the grass. It’s the week-end and they’re bored. They’re looking for something to do. Micki comes up with an idea.

Micki: Why don’t we set up a lemonade stand?

Wobinna with an enthusiastic response: H’mm….I like it, I’ll build the stand!

Panel 2
They are now in Wobinna’s room at her drafting table creating a plan for their lemonade stand. They’re both excited about the ideas that they’ve come up with.

Wobinna: What if we had an extra piece (of wood) here?

Micki (excitedly): Ooooh! And here!!

Panel 3
With the final constructed stand, they set up for business at their local park. With their unique design, they attract a lot of attention and sell a lot of lemonade!

Young couple buying lemonade: WOW! Cool stand!

Micki in response: (Yeah) She (Wobinna) loves to build!

We really hope you enjoy this story.
The next comic strip to follow!

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna Is Born
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna
Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna1
Wobinna and Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna2

Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House

Comic Strip: Wobinna & Friends: Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

The early years...

Panel 1
Wobinna’s mother is suggesting something for her to play with.
Wobinna looks at the dolls in her room with a grimace, and thinks to herself "I don’t want to play with these".

Wobinna’s mother’s voice: Why don’t you play with your dolls?!

Wobinna making a face: Hmm…

She then notices the wood in the backyard through her window.

Panel 2
Sitting by the tree with the wood and hammer in hand, there is a flurry of activity. With a big smile on her face she is building...

Wobinna (happy): Now this is fun!!


Panel 3
With not much care for her dolls, she shoves them all into their newly built home.

Wobinna (shouting to her mother from the backyard): Found something to do with my dolls Mom!!

We really hope you enjoy this story.
The next comic strip to follow!

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.