Posts Tagged ‘flags’

two minutes of silence

Posted: November 14, 2015 in events
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Nathan Phillips Square, 14 Nov 2015
A quiet gathering in support of Paris

blog_paris_memorial_nathan_phillips_square

looking through the end O of the 3D Toronto sign towards the main part of Nathan Phillips Square where a large number of people have gathered

The event started with a few speeches.   French Consul General Mr. Marc Trouyet spoke first, followed by Carolyn Bennett, Liberal MP and then Toronto mayor John Tory.

Carolyn Bennett, Liberal MP, speaks at a gathering at Nathan Phillips Square that pays tribute to the city of Paris. A lineup of other people waiting to talk, including John Tory, mayor, is standing behind her.

A woman in a white beret and red scarf is holding a lit candle and a small French flag

The official part of the event ended with two minutes of silence.

A crowd of people standing at Nathan Phillips Square listening to speeches. Some people hold two large French flags.

A sign on a backpack that says Toronto est Paris. Written in blue, white and red

Three people standing in front of the 3D Toronto sign, holding a French flag and a large sign that says "Pas Feur, no fear"

A young man with a French flag draped over his shoulders is being interviewed for TV

#parisisaboutlife

Jesus in the city

Posted: September 13, 2015 in events, people
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Jesus in the City parade 
They walked north from Queens Park to Bloor, south on Yonge, and then back across College to Queens Park and they walked with exuberance and joy.

A young black man is holding a banner in a parade. He is looking upwards. Other people around him are also holding banners. The banners are gold and each one has the name of a book of the bible on it.

Many people holding a long banner at the start of a parade. The banner says Jesus in the city. This is the name of the parade.

below: The man who played Jesus was very good
The cold hard pavement couldn’t have been easy on his body.

Four men are reenacting Jesus being taken by the Romans for crucifixion. A man is on the ground while the Roman soldiers whip and beat him. A cross is lying on the ground too. A group of upset women onlookers (part of the acting) follow behind. Part of the Jesus in the city parade.

A group dressed in red t-shirts blowing horns

Four women wearing long ruffled skirts in white, red and yellow, swishing their skirts side to side as they walk in a parade

Two women in blue t-shirts are holding a banner in a parade. Others are walking with them. The banner says Jesus Christ in large red letters. There are smaller words in blue below that are a verse from Matthew that starts with Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. The group is from the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry

Three girls riding on a float in the Jesus in the CIty parade.

A man wearing a t-shirt that says Jesus in the City Celebration on the back. He is holding a young girl who is wearing a jacket with a hood that has little ears on it.

A woman poses with a red, yellow and green striped flag as she walks in a parade

A black man is wearing a yellow sign around his neck. It says Sing aloud unto God our strength make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Three young women pose with a heart that they have made out of two long skinny balloons.

A group of young people are walking in a parade. Some are waving to the camera. One girl is holding a banner with just the word Jesus on it.

Two young black women on a float in a parade. One has her arms outstretched wide as she sings along with some music. Under them is a sign that says Jesus is the Rock.

Some women are waving large coloured flags. A purple flag, and a green flag are the ones in the foreground.

some people wearing white robes and large gold angel wings are walking in a parade. Three of them are holding signs. The first signs says Jesus Saves. The second sign says Jesus is the only way to heaven. The third sign says Avoid hell repent trust Jesus today.

An older black woman with a very big smile is holding a sign that says Jesus is the Savior of the world. She is walking in the Jesus in the City parade in Toronto.

Kids dressed up in colourful costumes and walking in a parade

A group of people, mostly young and mostly Asian, are walking in a parade. One is holding a sign that says Jesus loves you. Another person is holding a sign that says Jesus is Savior.

A line of Japanese women in kimonos are carrying large open fans above the heads. The fans have big pink flowers on them as well as a pink feathery border.

An Asian man driving a truck waves to the camera.

Two boys are holding a brown banner that says Jesus is holy, love, rightousness. A group of Asian people are walking with them in a parade.

That backs of 4 young women. THey are all wearing sweaters and yellow sashes. The sashes have Korean or maybe Chinese lettering on them as well as a red cross.

Two women in a car. The driver is making a smiley face. The women in the backseat is holding a sign out the window that says

A woman is holding a shiny turquoise fabric sign with the word jehovah on it. #jitc2015

Labour Day parade

Posted: September 8, 2015 in events, people
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Toronto Labour Day Parade 
Monday 7th September
from Queen & University to the CNE

A group walks in a labour day parade, they are carrying a red banner that says A union for everyone. THey are also carrying red unifor flags.

Two people in a labour day parade. The man is wearing wonder woman sunglasses.

A man holds a banner in the Labour day parade, only part of the banner can be seen but it is for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

A group walking in a lbaour day parade, they are carrying a large banner that says I am ready for change, the Union of hospitality workers

Two women in black caps and T-shirts are walking in a labour day parade. One of them is carrying a Canadian flag

A large group from OPSEU SEFPO union walk in a labour day parade behind a large banner stating Standing Up For Workers Rights and good jobs for all. they are wearing blue t-shirts.

Four women in purple t-shirts from SEIU healthcare union walk in a labour day parade. One woman is wearing sunglasses with agents of change written on them. Another woman has the words The Social Picketer written on the front.

Two people walking in a Labour Day parade. One of them has a small circular sign covering her face with a picture of a pair of glasses on it, and the words library worker on it.

A group of people walk in a labour day parade

I man from the shoulders up. He is wearing a camo like t-shirt and hat with the ironworkers union label, and he is standing in front of a blue ironworkers flag.

An IATSE union group walks in a parade, Stagehands according to the banner that they are carrying.

A girl in a blue hat and holding a unifor union flag sits on a flatbed truck in a labour day parade. An Asian woman sits beside her.

A group of people walks in a labour day parade wearing orange t-shirts and carrying small flags that say Vote for Historic Change

A young man waves a pennant for the ONA, Ontario Nursing Association, as he walks in labour day parade

A t-shirt hanging in the window of a car. It has a picture of Stephen Harper wearing a crown and the words No More Democracy. There is a button on the t-shirt that says Harper's last day, 19th October 2015.

Four kids with flags walking in a labour day parade with their parents.

A black woman wearing a brightly coloured hat is waving a small sign that says I am not alone. She is walking in a labour day parade with a group from local 75

workers from local 183 union walk in a labour day parade while carrying union flags

Three people stand on the sidewalk by La Abuela, a Peruvian restaurant. A young girl is holding a CBC sign above her head while her father stands beside her. A woman in black burka and white head scarf is also on the sidewalk.

A young woman is holding up a sign about youth cares about and then it lists a few things like employment, tuition fees, unions, climate and the environment, at a Labour day parade

A woman carries a purple parasol as she walks in a labor day parade. She is wearing purple sunglasses that say Agent of Change on them

A couple look at his phone while they walk down Dufferin Ave. in front of a parade. Walkers in the parade are in ornage t-shirts in the background.

A labour day parade, people in red t-shirts walk behind a red banner for Toronto ACORN, Social Justice, Economic Justice. ACORN stands for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

The backs of a group walking in a labour day parade, they are wearing purple t-shirts with the words The Society of Energy Professionals, IFPTE local 160. One of the women is wearing a red hat with a Canadian flag on it.

Two women walk in a Labour day parade in support of the CBC

Labour day parade - ACTRA group walking behind a banner that says respect the artist

Men walking in a labour day parade. They are wearing baseball caps. One of them has a small union flag tucked into the back of his cap. transit workers local 113

Two kids in the back of a pick up truck in a lbaour day parade. The truck is pulling a trailer with a picture of a circle of hands

men and women from IBEW (electrical workers) walk in a labour day parade

A man carried a purple flag and wears a placard on his front with a picture of man on it. Missing person, Bernardo Flores Alcazar. The person behind him is holding a picture of Jose A. Navarrete Gonzalez

A man who is walking in a labour day parade is carrying three signs, first Pwer work union, second Settlements based on perjury is wrong and third supressing evidence is wrong

A group walks in a parade beside a large truck that is carrying more people on the back of it. They are carrying placards and banners in support of Canada Post. There is also a yellow banner that says Smash Capitalist Austerity

Two people in a labour day parade are carrying round signs, one says national health care program and the other says a fair minimum wage.

An Asian woman holds two small NDP flags as she stands on a sidewalk on Queen St. West by the Rex bar as she watches a labour day parade

Labour day parade - two marchers, one with a sign that protests agains the WSIB and the other person's sign says This person wants justice for injured workers

Group shot of union IATSE local 873, Toronto Motion Picture Technicians, prior to walking a labour day parade

Labour Day parade - hand written signs on the side of a truck that say, My work place is safe thanks to my union, and, I retired with dignity thanks to my union

A dog has a pink bandana around his neck. He is with a group walking in a labour day parade although only their legs and feet show in the picture

An Asian woman rides her bike in a labour day parade. She is wearing a CUPE 2484 shirt. Her bike has two baskets, one in front and one behind. Both are covered with artificial flowers and buttons. She has a small NDP flag in the back basket.

A man is wearing an orange T-shirt with round green stickers and buttons on it. They all say Go Vote

Panorama India

Posted: August 19, 2015 in events
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Sunday 16th August was the 69th anniversary of India’s independence.  Celebrations here in Toronto included Panorama India, a festival at Yonge Dundas Square.

 There was a small but energetic and colorful parade on the streets around the Eaton Center.

A group of people are walking in an India independence day celebration parade, they are holding a banner and walking behind it.

people dancing in a small circle in the middle of Yonge street. They are part of a parade celebrating India's 69th year of independence from Britain. The parade has stopped for a few minutes which has given them time to dance instead of walk.

A group of people walk behind a banner that says Tamil Nadu. This is a state in India and the parade is to mark Indian independence day. The women are wearing colourful saris

A smiling woman holds a sign written in Hindu

Men and women in a parade to mark India's 69th year of independence. The women are wearing saris and the men are wearing traditional Indian clothes

marchers in a parade

A man is holding up a sign with words written in Hindi
A group of marchers in a parade all wearing white clothes and carrying signs promoting peace and love and understanding and all those good things

 

The festival also featured vendors, music and speeches.

A woman is looking at jewellry that is for sale at an outdoor vendor at Panorama India, a festival in Toronto to celebrate India's 69th anniversary of independence day

Close up of a woman's back and shoulder. Her long black hair is braided and has flowers in it. Next to her is a man selling orange, green and white striped banners that are supposed to represent the colours of the Indian flag. Only his hand can be seen.

A few protesters waved flags and and carried signs and banners protesting against the Indian army’s presence in Kashmir.  They stood on the sidewalk across the street from the festival.

A protest is held on Yonge street by Dundas subway station entrance. A group of Sikhs is protesting the presence of the Indian army in Kashmir. They have two banners and some flags including a Canadian flag. They represent the group, Freedom of Kashmir, Canada.

of trees and queens

Posted: August 9, 2015 in galleries
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 Planet IndigenUS is a ten day festival co-produced by the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto and the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford. It features 300 artists with dance and music performances as well as visual art exhibits at a number of venues.  One of the venues is the gallery at Harbourfront Centre where a number of artists of Anishnabe heritage are showing their work.  Two of the artists are Christian Chapman and Scott Benesiinaabandan, and a sample of their work is presented here.

 

 Screenprints by Christian Chapman

print of an evergreen forest, a text in Ashishnabe language on top of the trees, hanging on a gallery wall gaawiin wiikaa ji gwerina-ka-nawich
miskwadessi opixwanak misa oi kitimagia
miskwadessi wag dash awessiwag
ji manaadji-a-ka-ni-watch

 never turn a turtle on its back so that it is helpless
turtles and all other animals are to be accorded respect

 

print of asky with clouds in red and orange tones, a text in Ashishnabe language on top of the trees, hanging on a gallery wall gaawiin wiikaa zaagi-dandaweken
wassetchiganatikong wayti-endaian
ai anike dibadjimowin eta ga nibodwach
sa gitinacasowug

never climb out a window in your house,
traditionally, only dead people are brought out like that

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below: ‘God Save the Queen’ by Scott Benesiinaabandan
a series of photos in which the queen is partially covered by the artist’s Solidarity Flag

In an art gallery, a series of three large photographs of a statue of Queen Victoria. THe first picture is just the statue, the middle picture is a man starting to put a flag over the bottom part of the statue and the third picture is the flag on the statue. Flag is solidarity flag created by Scott Benesiinaabandan, black and blue background, red circle in the middle, yellow sun in the red circle

 

jobs, justice and climate action

Posted: July 6, 2015 in events
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Protest, rally and march
from Queens Park to Allan Gardens,
5 July 2015

jobs, justice and climate action protest march - the lead banner of the march. It says Jobs, Justice and the Climate. It is red with white letters and is almost the full width of the street. A few drummers and dancers are in front of the banner. Many people with signs and flags are behind the banner.
jobs, justice and climate action protest march - a man is making large bubbles that float towards the front of the parade.

below:  A protester prepares to carry a large effigy of Kathleen Wynne, leader of the provincial Liberal party, with the help of some colleagues.

A couple of people are helping a woman prepare to wear a large effigy. A very large head of a woman wearing dark rimmed glasses.

below: David Suzuki being interviewed by CTV.

David Suzuki is being interviewed by a man from CTV. A few people are standing behind.

Three young women are making signs to carry in the protest march. Two are in green T-shirts. One of the signs says '73 North Americans own the same as 1/2 the continent.' Jobs, Justice and Climate protest rally and march.

A person wearing a sign that says 'Another photographer marching for #jobsjusticeclimate on his back.

At a protest rally, two women are posing for a picture. One has a large cut out around her face that makes her face look like a large yellow flower

a groupd of young people standing beside a large yellow banner that says 'Youth marching for Climate Justice' at a protest rally in front of the Ontario parliament buildings.

below: The base of Sir John A. Macdonald’s statue provides a step up for photographers
(It looks like only some of them wanted to take my picture!)

Many photographers are standing on the base of a statue while they wait for a protest march to begin in Toronto at Queens Park

Two people with protest signs on their backs. One says 'Act like you live here' and the second says 'Stop Debating, Start acting'

A group of people at a protest rally. Somone is holding up a sign with a picture of Stephen Harper neck deep in water with the words, 'What climate change blub blub blub'

At the jobs, justice and climate action protest rally, a man wearing a hat that looks like an owl head. He's carrying a sign that says 'Give a hoot'
  below:  ‘Protect Turtle Island’ signs waiting for the march to begin.  North America is referred to as Turtle Island by many Native tribes, Native rights activists, and environmental groups.

A large parachute shaped piece of fabric in bright orange and white lies flat on the ground. In it are three signs waiting for people to begin marching in the jobs, justice and climate change march. The signs say 'Protect Turtle Island'

A group of people holding a large red banner that says 'Canadian Unitarians for social justice'

Three women at a protest rally.

A young girl in a bright red Tshirt runs in front of some protesters, one of whom is holding a sign that says Hope.

At the jobs, justice and climate action protest rally, four people hold a banner that says 'TTC riders, a voice for ttc riders' and it has a picture of a street car on it as well.

below:  $15 now refers to raising the minimum wage to $15/hour

jobs, justice and climate action protest march - a man is holding a sign that says $15 Now. It is white with red letters. It stands out because most of the signs around him are all bright red.

jobs, justice and climate action protest march - a group of people at Queens Park, the back of the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald can be seen. One woman is holding a sign that says Jobs Justice Climate. Another person holds up a picture of Pope Francis. They are all getting ready to march down University Ave.

below: After the rally at Queens Park, protesters marched south on University Ave.
and then east on Dundas St.

policemen on bikes block the street as they direct a march through city streets

jobs, justice and climate action protest march - some of the people marching, a white haired man is holding an orange flag that says Socialistworld.net Some people are walking their bikes.

A man is walking in a protest march while holding one end of a banner. He is wearing a large yellow chicken head and a T shirt that says 'this is what a vegan looks like'

two women are walking in the jobs, justice and climate action march in Toronto and both are carrying signs. One has a large peace symbol and the words 'vegan for life' and the the other sign says 'animal agriculture is responsible for 91 percent of amazon rainforest destruction

A number of women in a protest march, each is holding a different coloured sign and each has a different letter - together they spell 'yes we can'. Each women is also wearing a coloured box that matches the colour of her sign and each box represents a differ aspect of social policy such as gender equality, primary education, poverty eradication, healthcare,

A diverse group of people walk in a protest march in Toronto

A man in a red shirt pumps his fist in the air as he walks in a protest march

A man is holding up a protest sign with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's head on three monkeys along with the worsd, Hear no science, speak no science, see no science.

Marchers on the jobs, justice and climate action protest march who are carrying a large orange banner that says We have solutions.

 

Two middle aged men walking a in protest. One of them has a sign that says 'radicalized by Harper'

A large number of people walking in a protest march carrying signs and banners

A man wearing a green party T-shirt is carry a large sign that says 'carbon tax yes'. There are other green party supporters with him as they walk in a protest march in Toronto

jobs, justice and climate action protest march on University Ave showing many people walking. Two are holding large white signs with orange letters. One says Let hope prevail. The other says There is no Planet B.

jobs, justice and climate action protest march - a young woman in a head scarf holds a red and white sign, the woman behind her is wearing a floppy hat and there is a sign that says Be Brave in large capital letters above her head.

je suis Charlie

Posted: January 12, 2015 in events
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#jesuisCharlie Toronto version.
Rally & march, Sunday 11 January.
Nathan Phillips Square

Close up photo of two small flags, one Canadian and the other French, on the end of a guitar.

flags, music and people

Close up of a sign that says 'Je suis Charlie Toujours en vie! I am Charlie' in black letters on white paper. The sign is being held by someone who is wearing red mitts with big CAN on them in white.

One of the many Je Suis Charlie signs.

Overview of Nathan Philllips Square in front of Toronto City Hall showing a large number of people gathered on a winter day in January to rally in support of Je Suis Charlie.

The crowd part way through the rally.

Part of a crowd of people at the Je Suis Charlie rally. Many are holding signs that say Je Sui Charlie. Most are dresssed for winter weather.

Crowd scene, listening to speeches.

A man is wearing yellow clogs and holding a sign that says Je Suis CHarlie. Ik ben Theo Van Gogh

Theo Van Gogh was a Dutch film producer, writer and actor.   He helped create a short film depicting the mistreatment of  Islamic women after which he received death threats.  In November of 2004 he was murdered in Amsterdam.

A large TV camera is filming a reporter from CP24. People behind the reporter are holding Je Suis Charlie signs.

Many TV reporters were on the scene, including CP24

crowd

Je Suis Charlie signs and a few flags

A crowd in front of the stage at Nathan Phillips square on a January day when the Christmas tree in front of City Hall is still there.

The view from behind the stage.

A man is holding a sign that says Ich Bin Charlie

German participants too

Crowd at a rally in the winter

more crowd scene

A man is holding three signs. One says 'Je Suis Charlie' and two are in arabic. He standing behind a large white sign withblack letters. The words can't be read in this photo. An Iranian flag is being held by someone standing behind him.

There was also a group there with a large sign that said ‘Free all Political Prisoners in Iran’.  A number of Iranian flags were being carried, but they were the flag with the lion in the center.

People are walking through the intersection of Queen and Yonge streets as they march in the Je Suis Charlie rally. A policeman in a yellow jacket is standing in the intersection to help prevent the cars from interfering.

The crowd walked from Nathan Phillips Square to Dundas Square.

Two women. One is holding a Je Suis Charlie sign in one hand and a Starbucks cup in the other. THe other woman has a large pencil shaped sign.

at Dundas Square

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dyke march

Posted: June 29, 2014 in events, people
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The march finally got underway…..

Here is the first  sample of the photos that I took as it passed by.

A crowd of people are watching the parade from the sidewalk. Some are sitting on the kerb and some are standing behind.
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Three girls are walking in the parade
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Two women are walking in the parade. Both are holding signs. One says End Transmysogyny. The other says Some Dykes have Dicks.

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A woman, wearing a sash that says Ms. International Leather is running towards the camera. She is holding a flag that is white and blue. A few other women are walking behind. There are crowds lined along the sidewalk.
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blog_march_red

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In the foreground of the photo is the back of a woman's head. She has long wavy reddish hair and she is wearing a garland of flowers in her hair. In the background are motorcycles in the parade.
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A group of men is standing beside the street, watching the parade. One is using his phone to take a photo. One is leaning his head back and laughing.
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Two women on a red motorcycle. The one in front is topless and wearing a black helmet. She has her fist in the air.
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A crowd is watching the parade from the sidewalk. Motorcycles are passing by
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A woman with a camera around her neck and carrying a yellow umbrella is walking down the street

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dyke march – the befores

Posted: June 29, 2014 in events, people
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Getting ready, or waiting, for the Dyke March.  Saturday 28th June, from Allan Gardens west to Yonge St then north to Charles St.  It was a very warm and sunny day.

 

two lone photographers stand in a street that has no traffic. Crowds are on the sidewalks on either side. They are sitting, waiting for a parade to come past

Carlton street awaits the start of the march.

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Reflection in the round side view mirror of an old school bus that has been painted pink by CUPE.

reflecting on the CUPE bus, painted in pink and flying a pink flag.

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A man is wearing a rainbow flag like a cape, and he has one wrapped around his head like a headband. He is selling large and small sized rainbow flags. He is topless otherwise

I bought a flag.
Him: Oh, this is going to be put online?
Me: If it works.

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Two guys are sitting on the sidewalk. One has dyed his hair yellow and he's carrying a rainbow flag. The other is resting his chin on his hands, and his elbows on his knees. He has his rainbow flag draped over his head and he looks very bored.

It was a hot day and the parade was late getting started…….

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A multicoloured bracelet on a wrist. The bracelet says, Oy Vey I'm Gay.

I spoke briefly to a woman who was wearing this bracelet. One of the women she was with was wearing a sticker that said, “Eat Me, I’m Kosher” but I didn’t take a picture of it.

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detail of a crocheted banner that was made for the duke march

something about gender, details of a crocheted banner that was made to be carried in the march

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A good looking, very fit, man wearing just a pair of pink shorts and a pair of sandals is walking down the street.

pretty in pink

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A lacy umbrella decorated with crocheted 3D breasts in different colours, probably life sized.

custom crocheted umbrella to keep the sun off…. sitting on the grass before the parade

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A black helmet has two lines of pink fringe glued on the top it that make it look like a Mohawk hair cut. The helmet is sitting on the seat of a black motorcycle.

waiting to ride

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