Mostly Stellar Stuff

I Love Pinterest!

2012-02-02T19:00:00.000-05:00

It's not often that I feel compelled to rave over some internet site, especially one that makes me spend so much time on it. (tongue in cheek there) However, after months of trying to persuade me to join Pinterest, that giant internet photo album, my son finally got me by pinning a few of my jewelry photos to a board on his page. I know it was all ego, but I was curious. Now, after only about one week, I find myself spending far too much time there. ...Or am I? As I ponder on this, I realize that Pinterest has done something that I would have thought impossible. Using Pinterest is like being given a million dollars and told to go shopping for whatever you like. Reminding me of my childhood, and that of so many of my friends, when we spent hours pouring through the Sears catalogs looking for things we loved. We would cut out pictures of toys that we dreamed about owning, clothing, and anything else our imaginations could conjure from those pages. Now, here I am again, "pinning" (a quick click process) favorite things as fast as I can to boards that keep multiplying. Just as quickly as I can paste, someone else will see those things and re-pin them to their own boards. Then, there are those who decide that they like your taste so much that they want to follow you. Yeh, ...saves them the time of looking for things on their own. I am finding that so many of my own followers, who are really a small growing handful, are all wanting to have secret little getaways, gypsy wagons to drive off into the sunset in, and rustic little cabins or grand castles (or both). We all have crafty sides and DIY. We all have fantastical imaginations and love faerie bowers. We sew, we build, and that is the beauty of Pinterest. Pinterest is the place where dreams are born and grow, built photo by photo.

Already, I have new projects planned and raring to go. I have had an old clock body that is probably a hundred years old. Gorgeously carved, and with burled walnut on its frame, my father and I tried to restore it many years ago. It had been chewed by squirrels in an old garage attic. I re-carved floral medallions and he built a new frame for part of it. It was ready for "more" and yet I never could decide what to do with it. Now, after Pinterest, I have the plan to mount a newer clock, that I have had in my kitchen, within its face, and use the bottom part where the pendulum would have shown as a tiny shelf for display. Finally, after all these years, ...and all because of Pinterest photos getting my brain working in a different direction. .

“Change your thoughts to change your life”

2012-01-01T10:49:00.011-05:00

“Change your thoughts to change your life”

This thinking is having a profound effect on me lately. With so much negativity being broadcast at every turn, it seems I am faced with the choice of either diving deep into depression or focusing myself into living more positively and meaningfully. The choice is easy! …And therefore I am looking forward to a really great year! This morning while surfing through my favorite blogs, I found some photos on one of snowflakes on New Year’s Eve on Resurrection Fern's blog. They were in the pattern of Truth according to Messages in Water, work done by Dr. Masuru Emoto. So, to start the New Year off to a celebration of meaning, I am taking “Truth” as my keyword to live by for today …maybe the week …or even a month, because 30 days makes it a habit. For me, this means that as I define myself, I am an ARTIST!

I want every day to be filled with artistry and creative pursuits. I will start today with breakfast and a wonderful omelet. I will remain in Truth by speaking the Truth as I see it, by being creative, by expressing myself creatively and artfully and mindfully in every way I can imagine!
The process of achievement is really guaranteed through definition. So, today and forever, I am an artist. I am defining myself as talented, successful, fruitful, auspicious, profitable, thriving, and living a wonderful life I create easily for myself!

...JUST WATCH ME!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-04T07:33:00.016-05:00

Now that the New Year is upon us, and in a few days, all the decorations will be packed away until next December, I take more time to renew my connections with what makes Christmas special to me. The tree is full of memories with hand-made decorations hanging generously from all the branches.

Each year, mid-December, as Christmas drew near, my father would take the family out to choose a Christmas tree. We spent hours in the Mid-West snowy cold driving from one tree lot to another in search of the perfect tree. After much consideration, dispute, and anguished selection, we finally made a choice and tied the tree to the roof of the car, and drove our prize home. There it would sit propped up out in the cold, allowing the branches that had been compressed into a flat shape, to adjust into their natural shape. We would occasionally shake the tree and branches to help it untangle and shed dried needles.

One year, as I was going through the preparations, I discovered a perfect little nestdeep in it's branches, which I accordingly took it for a sign of good fortune. After all, how many times are we lucky enough to get a tree that had a nest too? And so, in its propitiousness, I have honored that same little nest in a conspicuous place at the front of the tree ever since. Now, many (many) years later, as my glance falls upon it, I am reminded of its origins and the circumstances that surround it. In remembering my father on this New Years Day, I celebrate his loving and creative spirit by sharing with you the miniature birdhouses that he made for me one year. I also honor all those family and friends who helped to create a variety of decorations to include felt snowmen, fabric covered balls, paper snowflakes, clothespin soldiers, and tiny paper doily angels. One year we got my sons involved and made bread dough ornaments of an angel, teddy bear and a even a fisherman holding a huge worm. (Boys will be boys!) When each of them got married, I shared some of these ornaments with them so that they also have memories on the branches.

My very best wishes to you all for a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

The Necklace that toyed itself into existence

2011-12-03T09:44:00.013-05:00

My latest creative pursuit is a necklace that started with one of those ugly beads. It was elongated, and a drab shade of orangey-rusty-brown. Really an ugly thing. Lately, however, I have been looking at this sort of thing as a challenge to create something that exonerates it and makes it beautiful in its own way. To begin, the bead was added to a rosary type link and wire wrapped, continuing the wrapping to spiral about the bead. In the spiraling I added small orange seed beads to help hide it. It looked better, but what do you do with one rather large ugly bead wrapped with wire and decorated with seed beads. OK, being me, I made it the focal point. In my last necklace, the bead was the focal, but this time, the bead didn't carry enough design interest to make on its own. I set it aside, and was just playing with wire, created a triangular spiral that waved off at the end. ...Had no idea what to do with that either! Somehow, ...maybe they bumped together, and the idea of using them together began taking shape. Hanging off the lower edge of the triangle, the forming pendant was somewhat interesting, but was lacking still. The focus really needed to go to something else.

Rocks. I love rocks. A few weeks back, I had found a small egg-shaped river stone that was in the garden path in my backyard. It was a stone that just told me that it was meant to be more than a part of the path, going unnoticed and anonymous. At the very least it would have been happy as a worry stone, residing in a pocket and caressed occasionally, connecting the bearer with a sense of Mother Earth and grounding. The desperate mind will try anything, and so the river stone found a new place to rest. Wrapping it was a little challenging because there were no dents or corners to hold the wrapping wire, but after playing around with it I finally came up with a satisfying result. The pendant was looking very primitive and somehow talisman-like.

Next, I searched through the diminishing supply of ugly beads to find the drabbest, dingy gray rounds I could find. They needed to look earthy and natural. Adding those and a few more primitive wire links, it began to feel important. However, it needed more prestige. How about some verdigris? Just like the beard of an old man, it got more credible in age. A homemade recipe, I used:

2 parts white vinegar
1 part non-sudsy ammonia
1/2 part non-iodized salt

Put these ingredients into a spray bottle and mist the piece. The chemical reaction starts very quickly. Spray a few more times. Remove the piece to a paper towel and allow to dry and sit overnight. The "rusting" process will continue, and the next day you can see the results. Mine were a bit too green, moving the necklace into a different color range, so I washed it and rubbed some of it off. Once dry, I was able to move into adding the fiber part to the neck. Now, the Talisman came together quickly, and this is the result....

Mother Earth's Talisman Necklace

The Ugly Bead Necklace Finished

2011-11-13T06:51:00.009-05:00

I did it! I got thorough my self-imposed challenge to create something useful out of the ugliest beads I have. There were even some very nice compliments on photos I posted in my Flickr group. One person said it looked like "a party on a chain." ...Love that idea, and as the chain grew, the party got more carefree. It became a friend rather than an opponent. My ugly friend encouraged permissiveness, ...an anything goes approach. After all, there was absolutely nothing to be lost, I was starting at the bottom of the barrel with this. All I was contributing was a little effort, and that was of value in itself because I was getting more practice. .

Starting at the Bottom

As I was creating this piece, I found myself going through an incredible thought process. Every so often, I would question the validity of spending time on creating something worthwhile with such a sorry-looking batch of components: ugly, misshapen, unmatched, left-over cheap glass beads bought in bulk when I first got interested in beading, and crazy, imperfect forged metal practice pieces I had crafted of copper wire as learned in the BuildZone jewelry making course.

The Process

As the necklace grew, it took me through some interesting thoughts. Beginning with a lot of self-doubts (those Gremlins I blogged about a few posts back), I was not at all sure of why I took this challenge on. Why would anyone in their right mind start creating with a bunch of stuff that seemed to say "just put me in the trash!" Isn't is much nicer to think about having gorgeous materials and what the end result of silver and gemstones could be? What was driving me? ...stubbornness? ...a sense of frugality? ...a "way out" excuse for defeat? I am really not sure.

Yet the ugly bead necklace grew, and as it grew, I felt a sense of acceptance. It allowed me to free myself of any constraints that might have held me back. I gave myself over to the spirit of freedom, and creative energy flowed through my braincells and into my fingertips. I ceased to think so much and just did what felt right with each added link. It didn't have to be anything but ugly, and yet with each link I started to like it more and more. A strange sort of beauty was unfolding in my hands and although I knew each imperfection well, I felt like I was forging a life. Out of ugliness and pain came joy and freedom, and a thing of carefree beauty. It doesn't matter if it is of the basest materials because it has a spirit of the highest nature. Maybe it has a "face" that only a mother can love, but this is one child I love to look at.

The Sweet Finish

I may add a few more ribbon tails, and a random dangle here and there, but this child is birthed. As I look at this piece, I am thinking many thoughts so different than those that weighed me down at the start. It reminds me that beauty is only skin deep, but also that just because something isn't always beautiful by most standards, doesn't mean that it has no beauty or value in and of itself. It reminds me that beauty can be found wherever we look for it, and that we should do what we love never separating ourselves from the Creator within. In all things there is purpose, and that our intent and openness can lead us to a beauty that we are not always aware of. I feel a real sense of serenity in that.

May you find beauty and serenity in your day.

A Very Ugly-Bead Necklace

2011-11-10T17:52:00.026-05:00

So, I mentioned a few blogs ago that I was taking a jewelry making course. As usual, I am slow starting to create, especially with the new skills I am learning. I watched all the videos and read the tuts, and did a few wire wrapped bead links, some "S" links, plain wire links, and twisted wire links, and then I did it all over again. I guess I should confess here that my practice results have often been less than successful, and perfection is (strangely enough) not even close. I am usually very judgmental and demand getting as close to perfection as possible. However, I am fascinated and very intrigued by the obvious flaunting of imperfection and breaking the ruling standards that mixed media art has as an outstanding characteristic. So, throwing rules and judgment to the winds of change, I am now creating without any set standards. My cheap and ugly beads that served me to practice with began to assert an unexpected charm and so they are becoming a necklace.

I started with an orphan bead that had no affinity to any other that I had. Why not make it the focal? It is so ugly it is perfect! I ran my wire through it and because it was too loose, I just wound some ribbon yarn around each end in order to help stabilize it. The ribbon did have some connection to some other 30 year old ugly seed beads I had. (Have I ever told you I have a "collecting" problem?) That led me to a thought to attempt to conceal some of its ugliness, and I decided to partially conceal it with a wrap of wire and ugly orange seed beads.

Orange? ...My very least favorite color! Then I threw in a few cheapo ill-formed jade glass beads to keep the orange from being so overwhelming.

Next, I began to add a dangle to the lower end. But why stop at just one? More! More! ...the more the merrier I thought! ...and why not? ...it is a focal! ...there are no more rules! Once satisfied, I simmered and thought about how I could get all my practice parts into this one piece. You know, be done with all the uglies in one fell swoop. So now, I am slowly crawling up the sides with my own very strange "S" links, that were looking so irregular and strange that I began to bend them into crazy out-of-control spirals, which are vaguely reminiscent of those Tree of Life spiral shapes that Gustav Klimt added to his paintings. His inspiration is hard to separate from! ...And do I now see a hint of those same colors from my sweater? I do not as yet have a picture of the growing chain, but will be sure to share with you in my next blog. Till then, be well and happy!

Done, Da-Done Done!

2011-11-04T16:24:00.007-04:00

Yes, it is done! I am so glad that this is now finished, and all those pesky little ends are tied off, tucked in and otherwise taken car
e of. I am already off to other pursuits and now it is a course in making jewelry. I spent the morning making S-links out of copper wire, and practicing torching wire to create little balls at the ends. It is a pretty cool way to make head pins, and a lot cheaper than purchasing them. At first, I was admittedly terrified of the torch, just knowing that I would set my self on fire the first time I used it. However, Fate is much kinder than that, and I have not had an unpleasant episode and do not expect to. I have unfortunately had a few wire go "dead" due to cooking them too long. A few of my beautiful little balls cracked off as I tried to curl the wire around my pliers. Well, practice and time will improve my efforts. Not always sure I have found the "sweet spot" at the end of the blue flame, I can tell that the metal is about to melt. There is a beautiful flaming rainbow of color that fans out behind the wire as it glows nearly white before it balls up. That part has me hooked. I adore rainbows, however they come to me.

A New Face: Mixed Media

2011-10-25T09:29:00.001-04:00

I treated myself this week. There was a "So You Say You Can't Draw" Raw Journaling webinar posted on CreateMixedMedia. It was right in the middle of our lunch hour, but with a little maneuvering, I managed to work it out. Rather expecting it to be more focused on art journaling, I was surprised that it was more about being more creative, and especially interesting to me was that apparently everyone has "gremlins" that give negative voice to the creative experience. ...You know, the ones that say things like:

there's not enough time
...not enough money
what will you do with it?
I can't find what I need
I don't know where to market my stuff
I'd have to clear off the table
I'd have to make a decision
I need to go shopping for supplies first
The house really ought to be cleaned instead
etc., etc

...There is always something! So it seems that it is important to just get over it and DO IT! After all, who cares about all that stuff? Being creative is so personal. Without creativity, the spirit shuts down and shrivels up. That's right! Use it or lose it. Being creative is a great way to relax and release stress. Many artists express a range of emotions through art that we all can relate to. If it were not for my creative pursuits, I would surely be drifting in a haze of uppers while watching soap operas on TV. Creativity expands the borders that confine my narrow world and lift me to the far corners of an infinite universe. My world abounds with all kinds of textures and color combinations, I examine tiny details of nature that most people pass unnoticed, and boredom is never an issue. Soon, the Klimt sweater will be finished. I am nearly done with the first sleeve, and I am looking forward to wearing it in a few more days.

What next? Well, I have signed up for an online jewelry making course called The Build Zone. It is about time I learned more and improve upon my techniques. I have gone far beyond simple beading and wire wrapping sometimes has me challenged. I have developed a love of mixed media art jewelry and want to push back the borders of convention even more than I already have. I am so looking forward to learning to use a butane torch, and other tools and supplies that I have had no experience of, and how to give metal a patina as well as other useful procedures. In a few days, I will be able to start, ....so,

...Uhhhh, ...I guess I ought to clear off the work table first?

The Klimt Limps On

2011-10-18T10:45:00.007-04:00

Yes, ...limps. It feels that way anyway, I am naturally an impetuous and impatient person, and this project has been going on for months! Even though I can see the end in sight now, it still feels like it's dragging its feet! I have been thinking and planning for some design in the sleeves, but the little voice in my head is now saying K.I.S.S and lighten up. I think I will listen. Life has been throwing its challenges my way, and there have been too many interruptions. How in the world do other people keep a train of focus when one thing after another causes an interruption? ....Have I mentioned there was yet another kitchen ceiling leak? Yup, ...that too! Now there is a new hole in the brand new ceiling to be repaired, and I can't remember what paint I used this past spring, or even if I have any left over. Sigh. Maybe I will just paint a design up there, or a sign that says "ouch" or "c'est la vie."

Oh but back to the Klimt.
I hope to be finished in less than a week!

What next?

2011-09-18T07:54:00.010-04:00

In between creative projects, there is sometimes a place of stagnation. Because I have a hard time not "doing" something, I have never liked this place. I get what I call "impatience anxiety." In spite of this, it is also a time for me to reflect and prepare for new pursuits, letting them line up and simmer in their formation. Most of the time, I get through these by having more than one project going at a time. After some creative simmering, I am back to knitting the Klimt again, but moving slowly. I needed to make another trip to the yarn store in order to pull it together. Klimt is known for his bold use of color, and I am needing more color to this piece. One might say "Use your stash!" but I don't have the color I am seeing in my head now, ...a bold limey green.

I am lusting after a stylish Henley garment that I saw in some internet shop-site. Clearing away the beads and other paraphernalia that I was using to craft some of my more unusual jewelry, I will need to replace it all with cutting board and sewing supplies. I have the perfect retro pattern by Betsy Johnson that will make the Henley nearly like I saw it. Now that the weather is turning cooler, I am eager to make this up so I can wear it with the "jeggings" (that's leggins that are also jeans) I made a few months ago and haven't worn yet for need of a proper top. Although I had converted my winter wardrobe to leggings and tunics, the summer wardrobe didn't catch up. Once the Klimt is done, it will be spicy great with these pants. ...You can call me "Spicy." ...Don't laugh, I may even pull off a Betsy Johnson hair-do. After all, I did tell my sons that when I turned 65 I would dye my hair purple. I really ought to get some practice at wilding* before then.

*wild-ing: a plant, originally cultivated, that now grows wild; an escape.

Back to "Work" and Into Fall!

2011-09-06T16:00:00.015-04:00

The Stay-cation was great, but I fell down on my promise to share each days activities with you. Truth be told, I pretty much forgot about photo taking, and really, ...what is a blog post without a visual? On other days, we saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II and had lunch at a wings restaurant with my eldest son; another lunch was Mexican food; we got lots of movies that we had not been able to see in the theaters to watch on TV; I made lots of munchies, and we gained a few pounds. I did a lot of internet surfing and knit on the Klimt some more. Pretty laid back week. We also hung out at Barnes and Noble a few times and I bought the new Autumn issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine. That, of course, led to hours of awesome surfing to visit the blogs of featured artisans and to all the resource sites.

Now, my head spins with all sorts of ideas for creative jewelry. I do love something that is created especially for one of my original knit creations or an outfit that I have put together. I was inspired to give some polyclay a try. I can't say that I am loving it, as it looks and feels like a piece of hard rubber to me. What started out as earrings turned into rather hefty pieces and now they have become two pendants, similar, yet different.However, I am taking this as a challenge to explore new materials and I am including fabric and ribbon too. Not very satisfying and filled with frustrations, as it seems each step of the process is taking approximately 1/2 hour just to make decisions. My patience is being superbly tested.

Stay-cation!

2011-08-26T07:17:00.005-04:00

We are off to a great start on our much anticipated stay-cation. Day 1 was on Wednesday, and we set out on a little raod trip to Pineyville, in the Charlotte, NC area, which is about a 1-1/2 hour trip. Our objective was food! Great food! A few years ago, we discovered Tin-Tin, a Chinese restaurant, that is so amazing. This place is a buffet. Now, I usually treat buffet restaurants with total disdain. Why would anyone want to pay for food that has been sitting on a steam table for who knows how long? ...And Chinese buffet? That simply sends chills up my spine because truly good Chinese food is flash cooked and presented piping hot from the pan still a little crisp and vibrantly colorful. However, Tin-Tin proves that a buffet can serve a great meal. We go with appetites blazing for everything from sushi made right in front of you to a freshly grilled steak. Not very Chinese, I know, but they have a broad range of authentic Chinese foods that even the Chinese fill the place for, and they keep replenishing the pans frequently. They have a huge selection of salads and fresh fruits, soft ice-cream that the kids love to serve themselves. They have cookies and cakes. Steamed fish, crab legs, 'butter" fried shrimp, egg-drop soup, freshly made-to-order soup, peach buns, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, ...you name it, they got it! My photos were not so good this time, but this blog says it all.

Of course, after a meal like that, one would be remiss unless one walked it off. Black Lion, just a half a block away takes care of that exercise very nicely. This BL is a joy to walk through, with colorful, gleaming and lux merchandise a feast for the eyes. BL is a huge store that is really composed of many stores, much like a very upscale flea market. I go with camera in hand because I know that I will see things that inspire me and there have been a few times I couldn't resist taking things home with me. Prices run the gamut there, and you will find shops that purvey jewelry, soaps, Christmas and all sorts of home decor, textile goods and furniture.

Who Me? ...Profiled!

2011-08-22T18:28:00.000-04:00

Feeling a little like a celebrity, I just have to point you to Jane Thornley's blog. Jane has been profiling her many talented followers for a few weeks now, and now she has profiled me! Now what would you do if someone asked you to write a page about who you are? Not as easy as it may seem, this was an exploration into the inner side of myself, and I don't always check in with me as often as one should. Read about me here.

Count down!

2011-08-22T17:54:00.010-04:00

Here we are with just one more day to go before the first day of our Stay-cation! Yay! I am not exactly ready to go, ...or shall I say "stay," but tomorrow will have to be a day to set it all up. Even as hurricane Irene is looming this way, I am making plans. Food in plenty is in the frig and pantry, and one of the things I have planned for the week is munchies. One special favorite is a spicy and crunchy recipe I was gifted years ago by a good friend who is a caterer. Because I promised never to give it away without forfeiting my life, I offer an alternative from popcorn.org which shares similarities.

Cajun Corn
Yield: 2 1/2 quarts
Ingredients

2 1/2 quarts popped popcorn
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper

Directions

Pour butter over warm popcorn.
Combine remaining seasonings and sprinkle over popcorn; toss to mix.
Bake in 300-degree Fahrenheit oven for crispy popcorn.
*Throw in some nuts or other munchie snacks to add interest.

I have to admit, I have been remiss in my posting lately. Sorry about that, but I have had my mind wrapped about a certain knitting project. In the Jane Thornley group in Ravelry, we have been holding a knit-a-long all summer based on knitting a masterpiece. Though all of the completed pieces are masterpieces, we are actually knitting a favorite artist. Mine is Gustav Klimt. Klimt is an artist known for his wonderful Art Nouveau expression and his exhilarating style. He created art constantly and for the high he got doing it. I like that attitude.

The Stay-cation

2011-07-14T17:45:00.014-04:00

I was so tired I was literally asleep on my feet. No more late night "parties" coupled with weekend workshops for me! Now, catching up on much needed rest, I am again reminded that it will soon be time to take that "Stay-cation" I mentioned in a previous post. This is just a stay-at-home vacation instead of going away somewhere. We have been having extreme heat here, and I am trying to stay inside with the AC. Taking my mother out for adventure is out of the question unless it cools down. As promised, here are the various ideas that I have accumulated and plan to schedule into a weeks time:

Movies to watch on the TV, with seriously scrumptious munchies and beverages, good for a few thousand calories I would think
Catching up on reading at Barnes & Noble, hopefully not bringing home too many books and mags
Eating lunch out a few times
Quick and easy dinners
A few exciting creative projects
One short out-of-town outing returning the same day
Date or other quality time with the spouse besides watching TV together
Visit a local Farmer's Market
Visit a local museum

All of these are easy enough to do. With a bit of prior planning, the stay-cation will be just as fun as a real vacation. It will take the same prior planning, taking care of anything that might cause frustration or distract us from the plan. What needs to be done first? As with any vacation, there are a few things that need to be taken care of:

Bills all paid
Laundry all clean
House cleaned and Beds changed
Yard cleaned, mowed, etc.

Yet, there are additional considerations when staying home that make it more like getting away:

Creative projects planned and ready to play with
Grocery shopping done
Special little touches prepared, like the serious munchies mentioned earlier.

Oh yes, one more thing, ...Tell the hubby that I am not available for work, only lascivious living for the next week. ...Maybe longer. ...And maybe I'll have such a good time I won't come back!

The lariat necklace that is pictured is one of my most recent, and is for sale in my Etsy store.

The Cobweb That Caught the Sky

2011-07-06T07:30:00.001-04:00

COBWEB: A flimsy, insubstantial snare spun by a special breed of spider to entrap its prey

After weeks of repair and remodel, I needed an outlet for a gentler creative side of me. Picking up knitting needles once again after months of neglect, I vowed that I would just simply let them and the yarn take me to places I have never ventured before. I did have in mind something sort of Rodarte, who I have venerated ever since the sister's 2008 lines came out. Based on nature and totally radical knits, they represented for me a no-rules way of creating something out of nothing more than an idea. Characterized by loosely knit webs of fine mohair capturing bold areas of color and heavily textured, they have captured my spirit, which has always been a voice in the background begging me to give it a try.

The yarns seemed to just fall into my hands. Even though I had planned for another use of a wild diva that looks like bits of wool tied to hologram metallic thread and nylon cord scraps, it called to be a companion to the more sedate natural tan silk fingering weight that I have been hoarding from Artfibers for years now. Artfibers has the most gorgeous stuff I have ever seen in one place. All their yarns are spun to order. Amazing, yarn heaven, and it is worth a visit if you are ever in the San Francisco area. Then, a painted pastel nylon ribbon that had insisted on coming home with the diva (for some reason), entered the mix. And that was it. Just three yarns, ...quite a change of habit for me since I am usually working with anywhere from six to ten in any one project.

After trying several large needle sizes on the fingering weight yarn, I settled on a #13. At that point, I just began by casting on three stitches. The only thoughts for an end result were perhaps to make a cropped vest to go over summer tops for a little cover. From then on, all I kept in mind were basic rectangular shapes that roughly met my measurements. Free of regard for any sort of edge consistency, I simply knit until the pieces were relatively the same length. Individual stitches were another form of abandon. I threw in short rows, drop stitches, and varied knits and pearls to add more irregularity, and jigged and jogged the hems and edges. The yarns were picked up and dropped at will, creating shapes that drift like clouds of diva yarn and held by patches of ribbon that look like the sky. Yarn tails fly free like the tails of kites.

Once the pieces were of a relatively matched length, I cast off the back and fronts, and joined the shoulders as well as at the sides. To give a bit more shape and weight for a nice drape, I crocheted a single row of chain stitches to the edges with the ribbon yarn, and added a tie of the combined yarns braided together at the front.

I have written up a downloadable pattern/guide for those of you special spider types, who want to give this a try with more guidance than I have given here. You can find it on Ravelry as the Cobweb Vest, or my Etsy store, or by simply emailing me a message.

It's Hot Out and I Am Too!

2011-07-04T07:43:00.000-04:00

After a long blogging dry spell. I am getting back into the fun of it. I am also moving ahead with a list of great projects. I didn't get to do the Bootcamp again this year, with too much on a priority list of home repair/remodeling, and that was such a slow down for me personally. Sometimes life is just like that, but we have to keep on. Once the "Cobweb" was completed, I was inspired to write it up as a pattern. Pattern writing is a challenge. I have to keep asking myself what a beginner would want to know and did I include everything that is essential for success. Now that is scratched off the "To-Do" list, I am surging on to other things. Already on the needles is yet another Rodarte inspired top. That yarn I over-dyed earlier this year just kept telling me that it wanted to be completely free in a wild knit. Well, it is well on it's way to completion. In fact, I thought I was putting the finishing touches on yesterday, and then as I tried it on, it told me it wanted more. Now, I am planning to add a little skirting to it as soon as I get the side seams sewn up.

I'm On Vacation! (I Wish!)

2011-06-26T08:00:00.004-04:00

That's right! I wish I was on vacation. I haven't had a vacation for about three years now, and I want one! The challenge is that it is nearly impossible to leave home now that I am the sole caregiver for my elderly mother. When I go anywhere, she goes along, and because this carries a number of risks, we mostly stay home. So, what I try to do is fill my days with new and interesting tasks and educational pursuits. I am fortunate to be self-employed and have a wonderful husband who supports me in all I do. He also helps out as best he can. He brought me chocolate last night, as I was probably showing withdrawal symptoms after running out. Now is he a "Keeper" with a capital K" or what?

But what to do about a vacation? Well, I do have a plan, and that is a vacation at home! I have been styling a home vacation for a while now in my head, and am about ready to launch for later this summer. I am not giving out my secrets yet, but will share as I go on a daily basis. I plan to go on my "staycation," as others are dubbing this growing phenomena, in late July. For one reason or another, there are a lot of us. Either too financially burdened to go anywhere, or for reasons such as my own, people are trying to get more creative about what they are doing, and to explore their own communities more. I have even heard of locals doing the "tourist thing" in their towns. I sure do wish that there was a chocolate factory nearby so I could tour it, or a sourdough bread bakery like San Francisco's Wharf district. Trouble is, I live in an area that grew from banking, university and military based functions. If I went to a bank and said I wanted a tour, they would likely call security; the University would send me to registration and admissions; and the post might consider me with suspicion. Its too hot and humid to explore outdoors until fall, and malls are boring, so I have to put my thinking hat on and do some research. I remember once having a visitor that my husband brought to town on business. We drove that poor man up an down Main Street several times before we gave up on trying to show him what a memorable town we have. We all joked about it and had a few laughs over it, but ever since I have wondered what else we could have done to leave a more exciting impression. So, my challenge for the next few weeks is to put together an interesting and exciting line-up of activities and experiences that will result in a memory as wonderful as all our vacations where we were able to get away and see the world away from home.

Can I Frog My Bathroom?

2011-05-26T08:50:00.000-04:00

Can I "frog" the bathroom? Well, technically "No." Yet, I did nix the plan for "Cave Art," and go off in a different direction. I don't do this sort of thing very easily. I am like the bulldog that has a death grip on the bull's neck, and won't let go or let a project beat me. However, this was really turning into an example of Murphy's Law in action and it was snowballing and gaining momentum and power with each day. The issue that seemed to be behind it was that the paint was "re-wetting" and pulling off the walls. Although I left a fan running on the walls for days, and that helped some, it was not enough to do the faux work that was part of my plan. Besides that, my right wrist was having carpel tunnel fits and I was icing it several times each day. Being a massage therapist, this was a disaster. There were other problems too, like getting the tape off without pulling sheets of paint off with it. So, I decided that it would be in my own best interest to choose another decor style for the new bathroom. I allowed enough time for the present paint to cure (about a week), and then painted it all a chocolate brown. I was able to get the shower walls fauxed with some copper and bronze metallic, and left it to dry for over a week with no further ill effects. Now the other walls are done and the wrist is feeling better.

Life is just like this at times. We need to recognize when we are going against the flow rather than working with it. At least I can appreciate the experience for reminding me of this, and I am really loving the new look.

Cave Art for the Bathroom

2011-05-02T07:39:00.014-04:00

It was supposed to be inspiration for a knitting project, but as that was so long delayed, somehow the project that I had in mind exploded instead onto the new bathroom walls. How did I go from "serene and uplifting" to this? How will I convert the bright golden yellow named "grilled cheese" and the intense orange companion I chose into "serene?" Well, that waits to be proven. However, burnt umber in glaze will quiet it all down. Thank goodness.

What I am contemplating is how it came to this. The Creative Spirit that resides in me was actively planning a pullover sweater. Frustrated at what seemed an endless delay, it burst forth in paint colors instead. My plan for a soft green/teal/or maybe gray/and silver color scheme got lost in a moment of temporary insanity at the paint store. Now that plan is all about a brilliant gold that morphs into a burnt orange, overlaid with burnt umber to calm and age it. And true to form, I must include some metallic bling. Gold, bronze, copper, and ...oh what the heck, silver too. I worked with a sample board to see how the layering would look, and make sure that I would get the look that I had in my head to create. I might have begun by painting the wall a dark brown and layering a wash of the gold and orange over that, morphing the colors into a gentle blending, lightening as I went along. However, I decided to lay down the gold as a base coat, and go darker. This is about as far as I got until other life got in the way. Things like going to work and a dental appointment will set me back til later this week but I fully expect to have finished photos to share by the weekend! YAY!!!!

Endless Noise and Mess

2011-04-28T16:37:00.009-04:00

Yes, that is the way my house has been for over a month now. After weeks of a bathroom repair that required the shower to be rebuilt, I now have what the contractor termed an "industrial" bathroom. He said the whole house could fall down, but that bathroom is built to last. Through crashing hammers, saws, fumes and the layers of dust from pollen, dirt, and stone dust, the bathroom building is over. Even the week of scaling the popcorn off the kitchen ceiling and repairing that damage, and the entire mudding and plaster sanding experience is over. What is left is a lot of serious cleaning, but wait! There is painting to be done!

After those nerve wracking weeks of construction, it's my turn. I like painting, but it's not as easy at it used to be. I have to divide my work time with meals and other duties, and it is hard to get a good flow going. The kitchen ceiling is now completed, and I have been putting things back in place. I even have a resolution to be clutter free. ...If that is at all possible.

The bathroom is more of a challenge than a simple coat or two of paint however. After the DH and I first tried out the new shower, and I felt like a Greek Goddess, and he related to a Roman Emperor, I knew that this was a job not to be taken lightly. Much more than wall painting is needed. All the beautiful tile work deserved a freshly painted ceiling and trim. After 30 years, there was yellowing and surface marring. Even the door hinges and other hardware had become corroded, and the vanity light and switch-plates are seriously inappropriate. The cabinet is worn and tired, with knobs that were never even. Yes, this job may take a while.

Yes, It's a Hole In The Ceiling

2011-04-10T05:36:00.011-04:00

...All because water began dripping from the ceiling a few weeks ago. When the plumber came and cut the hole, we could see the upstairs shower pan was not doing its job, and so the fun began.Since last Monday, a contractor with his one-man crew has removed all tiles from the shower, rebuilt a shower pan, and will re-tiled the whole thing. Looking at tile, and with a new look about to happen, I really am happy to have some choice in what is going to replace the 30 year old tile. This is exciting, and I happen to adore rustic, and this house is a "colonial" style as interpreted by middle America. So, the big question is ... do I go with standard middle American taste, or be daring and follow my own desires in this? I am dangerously leaning toward right-brain lately, so I am almost positive what the answer will be. ...And if I had a huge bank account, I would certainly be incredibly outrageous. The whole house would become artisan, all restraint gone!

The old square tiles will be banished to the past, and replaced with luscious creamy Travertine tiles. A softer natural stone cousin to marble, it has a rustic (yay!) quality that has become very mainstream. That is not the least of it however, as I have had in mind to update the bathroom for some time. Really, since I bought the house 9 years ago, I have detested the old faded red wallpaper, and the cracks in the floor, and mold in the shower. It was all an "UGH" look. A few years ago, one of my sons helped me along by changing out the vanity counter, and new sinks and faucets were put in place. Now, with the new tile, it is absolute that the walls, trim, lighting, and lack of medicine cabinets must be taken care of.

What has me worried is the hole in the kitchen ceiling. Because it has that nasty "popcorn" effect, a patch would be awful looking. The entire ceiling must be scraped (?) and repaired and painted. It will take over a week, and I have been told the room will be cocooned in plastic. Does this sound like I won't have access, and therefore not be cooking? I feel like I have somehow entered an alternate reality of getting just what I asked for.

It's the Pits

2011-03-25T05:26:00.014-04:00

Tax time. Really, it's the pits. I force myself into my work corner that is now piled high with papers, and wear my eyes out, fry my brain and mentally berate myself for not having kept up with it all for the past year. Having your own business is wonderful freedom for anyone who rebels at any sort of confinement most of the year but for those who simply take their W-2 and fill in a few blanks on 1040 EZ, tax time provides a moment to be grateful for being an employee. Every year I vow that I will be more organized, and keep up with all the income and expenses. However, it is more my style to label a box with the current year, and fill it up with receipts and notes that in the end require hours of sorting.

This year, the inner voice is stronger than ever. It talks to me of creative pursuits to come, tantalizing and teasing as I struggle to focus on the tax software and endless numerical entries. As I engage more and more with the left side of my brain, the right gets more seductive as it tantalizes me with visions so enchanting that I make promises to pursue them once I am through and mail off the offensive papers, forcing my attention ever onward. Needing a time out yesterday, I decided to try something new and used some Procion Fiber Reactive Dye to over-dye and hand-paint some yarn I had on hand. I am going to make a totally organic vest that resembles the bark of a tree. Hopefully, it will not make me resemble a tree. It will be completely left brain: no pattern, no direction, random stitches, and no particular shape. ...And when I run out of yarn it will be done. ...Maybe.

Making my senses tingle and promising appeasement for my left brain appetite, I happened to discover that the Creativity Bootcamp that I had such good results with last spring is going to ensue again this May 15th. The new slideshow shows most of what I did for last years challenge. I promptly signed up so that I can create along with all the other artists. This time however, I am planning ahead so that my creations do not take me as long to do. This is a project per day challenge, and knitting a sweater is just not suited to that time frame. However, I will plan projects like shawl pins, buttons, jewelry, and anything else that can meet the 24 hour criteria. Perhaps even the acrylic paints will come out of the storage box, and it would be fun to creatively journal the process that will last for 2 weeks. I urge anyone who seeks to bring out and charge up their creative spirit to join in.

Just for fun, here is an easy visual test to tell you whether you are a right brain or a left brain thinker.

right brain vs left brain

Another shrug!

2011-03-20T07:11:00.007-04:00

I adore sleeveless shrugs and vests. They are so perfect for keeping just cozy enough, allow for maximum movement, and I don't get my sleeves wet at the kitchen sink. My latest knitting project was a runaway color scheme. I blame the wild artsy side of me for that deviation. What I began to be a variety of mossy greens and shades of gray, suddenly took off with an outrageous will of it's own to become jade when I tried a row (just a row, LOL) of that seducing color to add some "pop." "Pop" is a term which describes bringing out the character of the piece by contrasting and activating the other colors and textures that accompany it. How could I have known that jade would be so addictive and satisfying? Well, when the creative spirit is tapped into and turned on, there is no telling what can happen. Letting go of a plan and trusting to intuitive guidance is where it's happening!

This shrug is yet another following the Woven Woods pattern from the Winter Forest Evocative Guide by Jane Thornley. The pattern is easy to follow, as it is made of of simple basic shapes, and relies on ombre technique to build character. I do mean build!!! This technique utilizes yarns held together to morph from one color into another, bleeding the colors into each other like a watercolor painting. At times, I had four yarns working into fabric at once. The fabric becomes more dense and textural. This is where the uniqueness and beauty of the fabric grows. Done all in seed stitch, ombre plying tends to break up the "knit, purl, knit, purl..." stitch monotony. Rows build up quickly for a fast knit. ...Now I just need to create a pin that it as special as the shrug!

I Might Just Be A Jewelry Artist When I Grow Up, ...Too

2011-02-09T16:34:00.002-05:00

I am so entranced with a new mag I got at B&N a week ago! Hey, Susan Sark, I am juiced! Belle Armoire's new wire wrapping magazine is making me itch to try more techniques. I certainly do like the fact that I can create jewelry without buying a kiln and taking classes (being a self-taught sort of person). I had the interest many years ago in college, but it never amounted to much, and ended dismally with a hammered project that was far too ambitious. I attempted a copper bowl, and the sheet metal was so thick that it took all my strength and didn't make a dent. I even enlisted the assistance of a few athletes, and it simply served to embarrass their male egos. All I ever did afterward was to string a few beads during the 70's like everyone else. What I especially like are the new outrageous designs that are coming out now. Call it "alternative art" or "upcycling" or "indie," it is all very creative and it doesn't require being a serious artisan or any cultural standard of perfection. Wire wrapping which used to really turn me off as looking "Mom's and Pop-sy," ...is an alternative to real metal working. Now, it is coming into it's own as expressions of inspired design. I have a special love for the little nets that are made to hold something precious and dangle as a pendant. To me they speak of infinite possibilities. In the meantime, as I hone some new skills, I have made a little something with a Valentine's theme. This being my first try, I hope to get a lot better at manipulating the wire and using the hammer to forge the metal. It might even be in line to buy a few tools. Some people think copper is too amateurish, but I like the earthiness and warmth of copper and it's yielding qualities. It is also far less expensive than silver and gold, and is perfect for budding jewelry artisans to play with. This project is all about fun, and I do not pretend that I am original with it. In fact, I saw a very similar design in my Googling explorations, and after analyzing the techniques and how I could go about doing this too, I made my own attempt. There were a few mistakes I made along the way, but I let them simply create a new design. It was all about learning something, and that part was a big success. In case you have the itch to create something beautiful to adorn yourself or to gift to others, here is a fabulous site, The Beading Gem's Journal. Here you will find endless info and has helped and inspired me.

DO I have resolutions?!!!

2011-01-13T08:45:00.011-05:00

Do I ever! I always do though. Every year I start with great plans to be more creative, find an outlet for what I am creating, get rid of clutter, be a better person, follow my dreams, make more money, lose a few pounds, etc., etc. Trouble is, I think I got fried during the holidays, and now I just want to sit around like a frog on a log, ...just making a comment now and then. Rib-bit, rib-bit, and rib-bittttt! Being snow and iced in for the past few days, hasn't helped a bit. That's hibernation weather. So, I am going to step out today and get myself juiced again. Juiced in the Susan Sark sense of "living juicy." That's just another way of saying that I want to do and live with passion. If there is a project to be created, I intend to do it passionately. This makes a huge difference in the outcome. Too often, we are pulled into doing things just because we have to, and we simply go through the motions. The results are mediocre. Just think of it all: meals thrown together, or a meal made with passion for flavor and visual beauty. The sight and consumption of the latter makes one feel as if they are very special. It is the same with whatever we do, even if it's just housecleaning. Any creative endeavor made with passion and inspiration is bound to be a work of art. So, this is where I want to be in life, ...making every moment count and lived in a sense of passion. ...Not in abandonment, like the grasshopper who was only living in the moment and never planned ahead, but with purpose and inspiration. So, it is with a sense of greater purpose that I plan to be more passionate than ever with my blog. Why? ...Because I want all of you who stop by to read to feel special!

Raggedy Revisited

2011-01-06T07:31:00.006-05:00

The holidays left me feeling just a little drained, and yet the creative urges have had me pacing the floor at times. Nervous energy with no place to go and express itself. Out of desperation for another quick project, I created another raggedy scarf. I love these things because they are perfect for keeping the base of the neck cozy without even being aware of them. This is the one I made to wear with a tan tunic. So easy to put together with leftover jersey scraps and whatever additions you feel the urge to use to spice it up. This time I used a little jewelry making and wire wrapping to hold it together and pretty it up. After making this one, I am now thinking of challenging myself to do a daily creation out of something that I might think was too worthless to bother with. Why? ...Because I have been noticing that there are many very creative and inspiring projects done with what I would consider a throw-away thing. Another bigger reason is that it would really challenge my creative nature and send it to another level.

Mom, Drink Your Gatorade!!!

2010-12-10T08:20:00.013-05:00

I may have mentioned in another blog that I am caring for my mother who has Alzheimer's Disease. Early this Fall, she went through a period of off-and-on illness that was very puzzling. About three months ago now, she became ill. ...Just not feeling well, in addition to the ongoing increasing confusion, falling about every two weeks or so, and not being able to eat much, and a great deal of sleeping. With Alzheimer's, one is never quite sure just what is going on. It's like taking care of a baby. You know the baby is not well, but it's nearly impossible to discover what the problem is without taking the child to a doctor. Well, after several doctors visits, scans, and blood tests, it was determined that her electrolytes were off and she was dehydrated. The doctor prescribed Gatorade G2, which is excellent for replacing electrolytes, to replace her water requirement, and she slowly got better. She has not fallen in over a few months (as opposed to a few times a month for over a year!), does not "space out," and although the confusion is still present along with other Alzheimer's symptoms, she is doing a whole lot better. I can only feel that if she had been taking care of herself by not fighting her liquid intake, she would still be in robust health. Old people are tricky though, and my mom still hates to drink her daily fluids. She says she has to go to the bathroom all the time. She used to pour her water down the sink when I wasn't looking. Now, I use a drinking jug she can't figure out how to open so she has to drink it all! There is a twisted sort of humor to the situation!

One thing has stood out alarmingly for me, and I really want to share this loud and clear:

Drink enough fluids!

After many situations, some of which have been medically desperate, it became very clear to me that my mother's refusal to drink anything more than a minimal amount of water and other fluids over many years has caused her repeated health issues, and brought a lot of worry, fear and grief to her loved ones. ...And trips to the emergency room. Who knows what deficiencies were caused because of low fluid intake. I shudder to think about it! To make things more complicated, after about the age of 50, our sense of thirst diminishes, but not our need for fluids! Here is a link to a sight that discusses dehydration in detail. Take a few moments to visit them and read about this very important subject. You might even find that you are experiencing some of these symptoms and had no clue that you needed more fluids.

...And how much do you need to drink each day? Well, here is another link from the Mayo Clinic about that subject. So, go grab a glass of delicious water, ...and Cheers to you health!

More Fibula Pins!

2010-12-05T12:54:00.007-05:00

I have been having fun this weekend. Creating is always fun. ...Sometimes frustrating, but all the more rewarding in the end. Last weekend, we all went to the Gem & Mineral Show at the fairgrounds. I bought a few beads and geodes, ...not much, but my intention was to dabble. Now, I really wish I had been far more indulgent, as I could make a few of these every day. Each one has its own character, and males me feel (in my own mind anyway) just the teeniest bit akin to great sculptors such a Michelangelo. Yeah, I know that's a stretch, but simply putting oneself into the position of taking a naturally beautiful thing and then attempting to co-create with it is awesome. Here is what I did....

I have already worn the Blue pin with my Jane Thornley Organic Wrap. It held it on and in place perfectly.

PS: I know I am just a beginner

I Think I Got Caught In A Time Warp

2010-12-01T07:44:00.000-05:00

Where has this month gone? I am absolutely aghast that it is now at the end of the month, and we are ready to rush headlong into the holiday season. Saying that I have been busy is an understatement.I came up with yet another option for a shrug closure. I simply found a twig in the back yarn that needed pruning, and then trimmed it to the right length. After stripping the outer bark off, as well as scraping the green inner bark off too, I let it dry for a few days. Then, I shaped and smoothed it with sandpaper, added some stain and paint, and let it dry. I am able to easily push the twig into the stitches on each center front of the garment, and then slip a tie I created from icord with bead clusters on each end, over the ends of the twig. It looks very Oriental, somewhat Zen-ish, and adds a simple yet eloquent effect.

There is a new project on the needles now too. After buying some yarn that took my fancy a few months ago, and having a few frustrating tries to knit it into something, I almost gave up hope that it would come out looking like anything I wanted. The yarns outstanding feature was that it is cream with flecks of orange and green. Attempts to combine it with with those solid colors made me gag. Not to be daunted, I got crazy one day and just began adding in strips of yarn to the knitting, and leaving tails hanging everywhere. ...And I liked it! This project is a very simple top-down knit garment that is being designed as I go along. At this point, it is a cropped top, with a U-shaped neckline and rust picot edging trim at the dropped shoulder edge and around the hem, I plan to add length and do this in sampler panels of color and pattern, keeping it all as simple as possible.

This past weekend, was the annual Gem & Mineral Show. I haven't missed one in over 20 years now. I just love going and talking to the rockhounds, and getting to see and hold beautiful crystals from all over the world. This year, I was surprised to see ancient Chinese "Prayer Wheels." These are mostly small discs, with a few characters carved into the sides. They were traditionally placed into the graves of those departed loved ones, to give them an eternal prayer for happiness and good fortune on the other side. The vendor told me that plans for a new dam meant that many graves had to be moved. In the process, these prayer wheels were removed, and ended up being "available for sale." To put it as my husband said: "Some things aren't meant to be sold." I did not bring one of those home with me, but I did find several small geode pieces to make into more fibula pins. Here is the first one, which I made yesterday.

...And may the blessings remain with the ancestors.

...A Solution for the Shrug!

2010-11-10T08:07:00.006-05:00

...Here is one solution to the shrug design balance and closure issue. The hardest part of making this pin was finding wire! I called every beading and jewelry making store in town, and either they were out, or just didn't have 16g copper wire on hand. I was about to order, when I just decided to give the smaller hardware stores a try. BINGO!!!! I found just what I was looking for at good old Ace Hardware. I watched this video from YouTube on making a wire fibula pin, which is perfect for getting a completely ignorant person started. The next hurdle was figuring out what to use as an anvil. About to head for the garden shed and draft a shovel into unusual use, My eye caught an antique iron that perches on my phone books in the kitchen, and turning it upside down, it became a perfectly good anvil to hammer the wire on with my household hammer. Obviously, I didn't let the lack of specialized jeweler tools stop me. It was pretty quick and easy, and there are such a variety of these fibula pins, that working from a basic design and adding embellishments is a breeze. Fibula pins are the first known "safety Pins." They date back to ancient Roman and Greek history, and perhaps even beyond that. They were utilized for holding pieces of cloth onto a person's body. Strangely, not much was known about cutting and sewing pieces of fabric together to fit. I can hardly imagine this, but maybe that came along after scissors were invented. I can also see reason in the preciousness of supplies and not having fabric waste.

When Things Don't Go According to the Plan...

2010-11-02T17:39:00.012-04:00

....well, ya gotta make a new plan. My latest knitting project is just such an example of this. It is a pattern for a shrug that I actually began knitting late last winter, but set it aside because of the heat of Spring. A relatively simple pattern, it requires using more than one yarn at a time in order to blend adjoining colors together in a watercolor sort of way. "Ombre" its called. As a result, the fabric can become quite thick. This doesn't bother me, because I like a little extra warmth. All that is to the good. What happened is that the pattern is made up of rectangles, and not having a drop at the back of the neck, adding the final decorative, finishing touch, a wide band, caused the shoulder seam to move way to the back. It was enough to change the angle of drape and the side seams were pointing to the front. Yikes! The only thing I could do was a very narrow edging, four rows of garter that curled inward. This meant the decorative effect was completely lost, and the balance of design gone. Being such a simple piece, it needs a focus. Now it has none. So, back to the working stage, and I will add some focal interest. I have a plan!

I Sold Something!

2010-10-22T17:50:00.005-04:00

Yes I did! I am so excited that I can say this. This week, and it is not over yet, an old friend has been hostessing a home boutique featuring hand made items. Years ago, she had a store that was dedicated to heirloom sewing. After leaving that business, she now teaches out of her home studio, and once a year, she clears out the entire downstairs of her home to host this event. Lat night, "ladies night out," and a chance to meet the artisans, was fabulous, and I had to keep checking to make sure my eyeballs were still in my head. There was just so much to see.

My friend, Barbara, of B3Fibers, took several skeins of hand spun yarn, and a number of the most whimsical tea cozies I have ever seen. I contributed several items of my own, and was thrilled to find that the scarf I named "Leaves & Dewdrops" had sold. Yippee!!! I am going to need to create a few more of these, as they are on my daughter-in-laws favorites list. I do have a few already knit, but they do need their decorations of bead conglomerates. So, here's hoping that my little green creation will find a loving home, and be a frequent adornment of someone's neck. Goodbye and good fortune "Leaves & Dewdrops!"

Yesssss, ...I Have Been Called A "Witch"

2010-10-08T06:25:00.001-04:00

It was years ago, actually. ...A man I met who was suffering from Carpel Tunnel was complaining and I offered to help him with acupressure. A few minutes later, his pain was gone, and he blurted those words out. At the time, I was horrified and hoped that no-one else heard. Most of the time, people just think I am nuts. They can believe in needles stuck and twisted into their bodies, because it somehow seems like they have to suffer through it, but a gentle and pleasant touch, ...that they enjoy? There is just no redemption in that, so they don't know what to make of me! Now, I am just amused and take the comments in stride. I love my work.

I Used to Hate My Serger....

2010-10-05T15:03:00.001-04:00

Years ago, in another lifetime, I spent 14 years working as head dressmaker for the North American office of the Burda Pattern Company, sewing model garments for trade shows. I loved the job, working from home while I raised my three sons. I got to assist at fashion shows, as well as getting all the Burda patterns and magazines I wanted. Working with the best of fabrics was really a plus too, though I had to force myself to get over the fear of cutting into some of the really precious ones that came my way. Anyway, when sergers came out for home sewing, Burda sent me one to use, and frankly, I was horrified. I was such a purist back then, thoroughly schooled in the Bishop Method as I majored in Textiles and Design back in college. ...Ya gotta know there were proper ways to finish seams for crying out loud!

Since then, so many fashion rules have been broken, and as there is an evolution for all things, so has my approach to sewing changed. I am discovering that the forlorn little serger that was banned to the recesses of the closet for some 20 odd years (but I can never toss things out...) is now one of my simple pleasures. I really enjoy the time I spend now, serging odd shapes of fabric together and designing garments as I go. Its like the old Crazy Quilts I used to adore, and I have found a lot of artistry in the freedom it allows me. This past week, I have been eyeballing a piece of gray jersey, and making sketches, and Saturday, I had cut pieces ready to sew. By the end of the day, I had a new tunic to wear with a little Zen-like topper I had created a few weeks ago. Then, as another idea hit me, I made myself a ragged necklace out of the piece of fabric that was left-over.

The Tan on Tan is Finished!

2010-10-01T08:58:00.008-04:00

Done after what seemed too much deliberating, here is the new cowl...

Based in the shape of a triangle, it is a series of triangles that fade into each other through blending the yarn.

I love garments like this with generous fabric and fit. I also like things to be feminine but not fussy. Practical not excessive and stroppy. (That's a new word I just learned! Isn't is a fun word? ...Look it up.) Now, that's not to say that a pair of earrings are not practical. They serve a purpose if they fill in the artistic balance of a look. It could also serve to draw attention to the face, or accentuate a hairstyle. I rarely wear earrings and a necklace at the same time. It seems too overdone and like adding too much frosting to the cake. I want people to admire the "cake" and not the frosting on the cake. Garments and accessories should bring out the best of the wearer, not overshadow the wearer.

Tan on Tan on Tan

2010-09-15T08:15:00.011-04:00

I am knitting a new cowl. I adore cowls and I think they are just so practical. I could have a hundred of them and would probably want more. This is one I started as a knitalong project for Ravelry's Jane Thornley group. Our requirement is that the project be based on a triangle. I am also using this project as a stash buster, and I was more than surprised that a couple skeins of a ribbon yarn that is terrible to knit with and never seemed to go with any other yarn, works perfectly in this family of browns. Because this is supposed to be a quickie project, I am using it as a carry-along yarn throughout. ...The better to help it blend in, and blend the other yarns into the mix. It makes for a chunky yarn and with large needles it knits up quickly. I am now at a point where I can be a little nervous about my dwindling yarn remnants, and whether they will last long enough to allow me to knit to my plan. ...It would be nice, but is life ever that easy?

.

Views On Being An Artisan

2010-09-09T16:09:00.003-04:00

Taking another look at this clothing phenomenon of up-cycling, deconstructing, reconstructing clothing in ways that seems like the designer is on acid…

It appears that this is also dubbed the “Indie” style of design, which refers to the DIY culture of crafter/creators that are independent of bigger business, often selling from street fairs or etsy. Usually they are eco-smart and using recycled clothing with an unusual flair for combining patterns and fabrics that is reminiscent of my grandmother’s house, and it’s almost droll combination of unrelated patterns and colors.

Some are saying that this is a resurgence of the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 1900’s. Yes, we have moved away from the handcrafting things that we use, as well as growing and preparing he foods that we eat. I think that the more we are in touch with nature and the creation of what we require is a good philosophy to live by. I deplore mass-consumerism, and the mediocrity it results in. I am truly disgusted with what I see in the stores now, …sleazy and poorly made clothing and shoes, and tasteless packaged prepared meals that we kill the nutrition of even further by throwing them into the microwave. Although the American Arts and Crafts Movement advocated truth to materials and traditional craftsmanship, as well as using simple shapes, it was also paired with a political viewpoint of Progressivism. Well, here we are, we hear it every day. ...What I can’t see is how Socialist political views are attached to artistry and craftsmanship, when they clearly ignore the individual artisan in favor of large labor forces, ergo mass-production and mediocrity, which means accepting surrounding ourselves with clutter that gives us no real satisfaction.

I like the idea of being an "Indie" designer and craftswoman. I get enormous satisfaction from creating from scratch, whether it is the meal I prepare for my family, or the clothes on our backs, and the decor of my home, I know I can feel proud of what I have accomplished.

"THE " Jacket

2010-08-24T19:39:00.006-04:00

No ordinary piece of clothing, this jacket of mine has led many lives. It began it's first life in the 80's when Don Johnson starred on Miami Vice, and his scruffy face and casual linen jacket were all the rage. One of my sons wanted a linen jacket, and so that is how "THE" jacket came home with us. He quickly outgrew it, and the jacket fell out of fashion, as the hard rock era and its demonic and gore style emerged. Being a fabric snob, there was no way I would ever get rid of a linen jacket, and after several years of gathering dust in a closet, I got it out and narrowed the shoulders. ( The 80's had crazy wide shoulders.) Then, one day when my granddaughter was 3 years old, I got the idea that we ought to paint it together. ...And that is what we did. It was a blast! Flowers, smiley faces, Ohms, circles, hearts, an engagement ring and a rocket ship, in many shades of metallic and sparkly fabric paint, all found a place on "THE" jacket. It became my most beloved and frequently worn garment for the next 20 years, and it got the compliments nearly every time I wore it. A few times over the years, I found it necessary to do some touch up painting. Last year, I noticed that there were a few places where heavy use had left some edges fraying. No problem! I used satin ribbon to re-face the neck edge and the tops of the pockets. I also had to cover the sleeves where the rolled up cuff hem was. Then, three weeks ago I washed it again. As it was being pressed, I noticed to my shock that the fabric itself was now beginning to give out. Looking at it made me so sad that I had to put it away for days while I racked my brain as to what course I would take this time, and would it be worthwhile. Well, I missed my jacket! ...and the decision was made that any course of action was definitely worthwhile.

An Old Pair of Jeans Gets a Facelift Resurection ...or Too Much Is Never Enough!

2010-08-17T07:34:00.017-04:00

I have an old pair of Lee jeans. They fit perfectly. They are so soft and comfortable that I live in them. They are several years old now. They have been patched with iron-on patches to help keep them together at the seams, but now, the fabric is getting so thin that it has given way over one knee, and the crotch is shredding apart, ...and I am not ready to give them up even though I hesitate to wear these jeans anywhere out of the house now for fear of a blow out that would certainly leave me facing public humiliation. I have devised a few plans to deal with this possibility. One solution has been to iron patches on the underside, ...and patch, ...and patch, ...in order to give the illusion that they are still new and wearable. I suspect that I am only fooling myself. Another solution is to wear a mini-skirt over the jeans to provide decency in case of a rip out.

Yesterday, I got the new September issue of Elle in the mail. Lots of jeans! Some even had patches featured, and got me to thinking of my quilting days and fascination with patchwork embroidery. It has such a rich history, and Victorian times provided a height of embellishment. The Victorians must have had a philosophy of "too much is never enough!" There has never been as much popularity in ripped up jeans as there is now. My grandson won't buy a pair unless it is properly ripped, and it's a happy day when the hem gets caught by the bicycle chain and it bites a chunk out. For myself, however, I prefer a less chewed up, grubby style.

Anyway, my old jeans need revival. I plan to share the transformation with you.

Creating Aruba in a Necklace

2010-07-31T20:02:00.001-04:00

Barnacles, Bubbles & Pearls in a Fisherman's Net

First of all, I have never been there, but I loved seeing photos of the clean white sandy beaches and the beautiful greenish tint to the coastal waters of Aruba. Now that the sweater has been finished, and I am eagerly waiting for the weather to get cooler so I can wear it, I am faced with how to companion it. Challenged with redesigning my wardrobe, I look into the closets and drawers and see nothing! It seemed a natural turn that because one of the knit-a-long requirements (that I imposed on myself as well as everyone else), is that the knit creation have embellishment. Well, sometimes a piece of art just needs to be kept simple. SO, I decided to be complete with the knitting. However, not quite satisfied, I took a notion to accessorize with a necklace. Never having been one to hesitate doing something because I never tried it before, I jumped in fully committed. Although I have experimented at beading simple strings of jewelry, as just about everyone else has, I have never done something encrusted with beads. The necklace became like a project I have seen in Belle Armoire, a beautiful magazine for bead crafters. This necklace has been daunting. Just a jewelry dabbler, I have to learn, or create ways, to put this together that has had me researching throughout the process.

The inspiration concept that was my beginning point was that of a fisherman's net. Using some old corks saved form a celebration deeming champagne, I cut the corks in two, shaped them into beads and drilling holes. Then, I knit a net of silver metallic crochet cord. and attached the cork "floats." I attached the ends of the silver net to a chain, and began the process of encrusting the piece with barnacles of seed beads, shell palettes, irregular pearls, and silver and glass beads.

The End. ...Or is it?

2010-07-28T17:00:00.000-04:00

"SMILE" the final challenge.

The Bootcamp has been fun. I have not had the support of actually accomplishing it along with the others, as I discovered it a few days after it had started, and I had to wait a few more days to get my thoughts together. Working along by myself has been interesting because it is only a contract with myself, after all, and it has been my choice whether or not I finish. I have certainly planned to, in spite of delays of all sorts. What I have noticed is that there is a strong connection with Spirit, and the desire to move forward prevails and each day accomplished has motivated me to do the next. Now, I am seeing each day as things accomplished rather than things I have not done. Each day has a bit of creative excitement that keeps the connection thriving, in directions other than just the challenge for that day. So, even with the delays that were encountered, I find that I have created and finished several more projects in addition to the challenges, and I don't feel the least bit guilty about those delays. After all, creativity is where one finds it, and it is in the moment.
And I am smiling! Look at all the things I have created. So what if it took me over a month instead of 13 days? If I had been doing just photography as the other mostly did, it would have been 13 days. However, I was knitting, cooking, sewing, making jewelry, taking photos, blogging, and designing more, more, more in addition to housework and business "to-dos." So, how am I coming along? I am, really I am. It's just that I am doing so many things. I get inspired frequently now by the really great stuff that comes my way. It may be a photo I see, or some profound words, or a bit on the news, or the Bootcamp pages, or someone else's blog. Lately there are so many creative inspirations flying at me from all directions. It makes me feel like I am about to start a race and here I am at the starting line waiting for the shot to signal me to dash forward inot yet another exciting creation.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 12

2010-07-28T09:47:00.000-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 12

The days challenge is the theme "SMOOTH"

So what is smooth? Something like a smoothie?

Smoothies are so simple and so delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day. Our temps have been close to 100 F on both sides this past week. So this tall cool one really hit the spot. First, I cut up fruit into small chunks so that they puree in the blender easily. I like to use ripe bananas as the foundation and add other fruit to this. For each person, I take 1/2 frozen banana, and a handful of other fruits. This one has yummy ripe peach slices added in, but strawberries, blueberries, and other fruits are great too. I add about 1/2 cup of juice (not too sweet as this is already very sweet, I used Gojiberry this time, but like apple cider too), and perhaps a few ice cubes and blend on high speed, sometimes adding a little bit of water if its too thick.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 11

2010-07-21T17:22:00.000-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 11

"Hush...."

I knew exactly what I would do the moment I read this challenge word. It took a few days to put together, but part of the hush was that I had to do this without the hubby's knowing. Silly really, but I have recycled a pair of old flannel lounge pants and also an old cotton T-shirt. The pants were shredded apart at the center back seam, and beyond any repair short of placing a giant patch up the back.

I cut the legs off his freshly washed pants and cut them into strips along with the shirt, and then tied the strips together to create strippon yarn.

Knitted up loosely on large needles, and a fast project, this deep cowl is soft and warm.

Aruba is Done!

2010-07-20T16:00:00.004-04:00

The Aruba Beach sweater is now off the needles! Done! Although the original plans were to embellish the sweater with beads, I like it as is. So, plans have changed, and I am currently thinking of designs for a necklace to wear with it. I also see this with a long tan tunic top, a short or long tube skirt, tights or leggings, and boots (not the nylon undergarment and white jeans). ...Stylin'!

This creation is the result of a knit-a-long conceived on Ravelry's Jane Thornley group. We were asked to come up with a summer travel destination, and re-create it in a project. Thinking beaches, I found an image of the beautiful white sand and greenish-blue waters of Aruba. I used Jane's Scotian Meadow Wrap pattern as a starting point, and then switched stitching and turned a ragged rectangle into a sweater with long sleeves.

...On Clearing Clutter

2010-07-17T06:54:00.008-04:00

I know I am not the only person to have this problem. I have a lot of clutter. ...Now I feel like I am in an AA meeting, and it is pretty much the same thing. I know my method of handling my stuff is like an addiction. I know I am going to take it in hand and change, and it may not be the easiest thing I have ever done. Why have I come to this public announcement? ...Because maybe it will help someone else, and knowing that I have outed myself will help keep me on track.

In the past three days, I have discovered something I want to share. I discovered Louise Hay on YouTube. I have been feeling overwhelmed lately. Anyway, her series of ten videos on You Can Heal You Life. I am big on body awareness, and her videos made me feel better. Right from the first "I love you!" on Day 1, I felt lighter and freer. Day 2 was amazing. I felt so good that I set ten tasks that I wanted to do that day just because I love myself. The tasks I chose were things that have been hanging over me for a long time. They ranged from clearing off a comfy chair in my office, to taking care of sticky note actions (that have been on the face of my pc for the past week), to fun things like taking time to knit. I got eight of the ten done, and that was great because I got several other things done that had just popped up. On Day 3, I listed the two remaining tasks and added 8 more. ...And guess what? I did eight out of ten and the two remaining were the same two! They both had to do with clutter.

For a long time, I have been agonizing over piles of clutter. My results were not that surprising to me, but what is there to be done about this dilemma? I have had a mix of fun and work,…Very light on the work. I have read books, watched the TV shows, and challenged myself before, and I know there is a solution! So, I asked myself: "How can I look at this in a different way?" When I look at the clutter task at hand, I feel lost, and it seems overwhelming when I look at it, just too much.

Here is what I have come up with in terms of each of the reasons that come up as I ask this:

I don’t know where to put it ...Have a plan in mind before beginning. Example: I bought several plastic file boxes at the dollar store for saving old tax papers, which went into the attic.
There is so much to sort! ...Don’t mix things in the first place (I have a tendency to put stuff on top of other stuff)
How do I sort all this? ...Have a container for tossing out, one for saving what I think is mostly there, and make piles of the rest.
Where do I begin? ...If the mess is contained, as in a box, remove the box to an organized place (as in bedroom floor) and attack it there. It won’t be amplified by surrounding mess, and each sort will look like a neat stack. Then, each neat stack can be dealt with appropriately, and this is how you are to think of it. …Not “I am going to get rid of it all.” This implies an all or nothing approach that is defeating from the beginning

Here are a few other thoughts I have had that I believe to be helpful:

Take before and after photos so that I can relish the positive change!
Give myself the “I love me” talk before, during, and after the task
Have a solid benefit in mind of what each task will provide before beginning, as well as the “after” image in mind, and remind myself of it as I work.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 10

2010-07-11T20:54:00.002-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 10

"Full Bodied" Definition: robust, concentrated, fruity, full-flavored, heady, heavy, lusty, mellow, potent,strong, well-matured,redolent, rich

Does this speak something yummy? Something like the most delectable blueberries I found at the store. So, I know what I will do today! They just called out to be a pie!

Well, pie was made and eaten! Sorry no pie photo, unless you want to see our purple tongues.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 8 ...again

2010-07-10T19:00:00.000-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 8

So, finally back on track and only a few challenges away from completion. Day 8's challenge is "ornament." Struggling with not enough knowledge (I just dabble at jewelry making), I did a bit of research on what others have used for stringing, and it's still a hard decision to make. I am aiming for something with no shape of its own. The LBS recommends fine nylon. I just don't like nylon. Back in the 60-70's when everyone was stringing beads, we had something called tiger tail and it always broke. However, there was not that much available back then. I tried other stuff like nylon, but hated the results of everything I used. Now, here I am again, faced with the same issue, but now there are a gazillion products out there that promise perfect results. Sure. However, I have great hopes for the Power Pro string I bought. I am learning new tricks with my creation. Dabbler that I am, this excites me. I want results that look high quality and professional.In the meantime, I just did these danglers, while I figure out the others.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 9 ....Grumble, grumble.....

2010-07-08T07:43:00.002-04:00

DRIZZLE

OK, I have gotten behind with the bootcamp big time! Well, I have not been totally off track though. With preparation for the Fourth of July and long weekend and everyone home 24/7, I had my hands full. Life is like that and we just do the best we can. Being a rather practical person, I like to make moments count and I just can't do something because it is something to do. Tomorrow(?), I will tackle Day 8 (ornament) , the jewelry stringing issue head on, and intend to be back knocking out projects and getting to the finish line with the bootcamp. ...After all, it's only a few more days! I have come too far to quit now! However, there is one thing that requires my attention today, and that is making a cake for 30 people. It's my mother's birthday, and I am taking cake to the senior center she has been going to for a few hours each weekday for nearly two years now.

I make my cakes from scratch. Always have. Its not that hard to do, and the end result is so worth it. This one is Boston Cream Pie. ...and guess what?!!! Bootcamp Day 9's challenge is "Drizzle." That certainly sounds like chocolate glaze topping on the cake! I plan to cut the cupcakes in half and spread a filling, replace the top and add chocolate glaze. Here is the recipe I followed. It's a petty good one, but I think the cakes are a little too dense. The one thing that really made me crazy was the way measurements were listed. I like to see a list of ingredients that tells me ALL I need of one thing. This had the ingredients broken up between the cake, filling and glaze, but had no separations that made me think about that. I also like to see separate sections for each part, not listed as the next step. Anyway, they are done now, and ready to go to the center for devouring. Thank goodness!

Creativity Bootcamp Day 8

2010-07-01T06:36:00.017-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 8

An obvious solution for the "ornament" challenge is jewelry! This is almost too easy, as I have been thinking on a new pair of earrings for a few weeks now. It almost feels like cheating, as I didn't have to wrack my brain over what I could do. However, it makes up for Day 7's challenge that took me a few days to figure out before it came in like a lightning bolt. Sometimes though, even a simple thing can take on aspects of complexity. Dabbler that I am, I have tried using carpet thread for a few past projects that I wanted to dangle and have freedom of movement. After a few wears, the thread has stretched. so, I made a quick stop at the nearby bead store to make inquiries about what I ought to use to get this limp noodley result. What I was told was to use a nylon thread. It looks just like that nasty stuff that they used to sew into garments and the ends would poke out mercilessly attacking any skin within reach. I already tried some of that stuff years ago. It doesn't hold up well against wear, breaking easily. So, I am paused, once again looking for a solution.

In the meantime, I have been working on the Aruba sweater. The front is finished now.

Pink Ruffles and Shabby Chic

2010-06-30T07:29:00.056-04:00

Several years ago, when I bought a queen bed, I made a duvet cover for my feather comforter, using an abundance of very old green and white cotton seersucker, cut into squares. I purchased a set of pink and white striped twin sheets, which I cut into squares and strips, and sewed them all together. Teaming this duvet with a set of pink sheets and some additional green bordered pillowcases made for a beautiful combination. However, while folding my clean sheets last week, I noticed that my pink pillowcases were becoming frayed along the edges. ...Yes, I must have had my glasses on at that moment, or it would have passed unnoticed. This fraying did not have me tossing them out and making a mental note to go shopping. With lots of wear left in the sheets, I certainly wanted to extend the use of the cases. Here is where not throwing anything away can pay off! Instead, I got out the sewing machine and remnants of fabric and made them new again.

Here is how I did this (Please pardon some of the photos that came out on the dark side)...

1. Cut the hems off your cases at the stitching.

2. Then, cut a strip of your ruffle fabric that is about 1.5 inches wider than your hem measurement.

A nicely flouncing ruffle is achieved by using the rule of thumb of cutting the strip 1.5 times longer than the edge you are sewing it to. For a very flouncy look, be more generous. Mine follows the rule of thumb.

3. Hem one edge of the ruffle strip, by turning 1/4 inch to the wrong side and pressing it flat. Then, turn it again, so that the raw edge is hidden, and press again.

4. On the opposite edge of your ruffle, run gathering stitches. This is done by sewing with the right side up, and having two rows of stitching, about 1/4 inch from the edge, and again 1/4 inch away from the first row. Gathering stitches will be the longest straight stitch setting on your machine.

5. After you have done the gathering stitches, then mark your ruffle by pinning each end as it lies flat. Then, match up the two pins, and lay it flat again. This will give you another halfway marker, dividing it into quarters.

Mark your pillow case edges in the same way.

6. Now, match up the markers and pin the ruffle to the case. Match the seam of the ruffle to the seam of the pillow case, and make sure that the right side of the ruffle is facing down against the right side of the case. The stitches that are viewable to you will then be gathered up by pulling the same ends of each set of rows, simultaneously, so that they will pull in evenly. Work slowly, and arrange the gathers so that they are evenly distributed between the pins. Be sure that the gathers are not so tight that they are tighter than the case.

7. Finally! Sew your ruffle to the case, with your stitching line just above the 1/2 inch gathering row, using a normal stitch length. This row of stitching is between the two gathering rows. Then, use an overcast or zig-zag stitch to finish the raw edges. Now, you can pull out the gathering stitch row that is outside all the stitching. Trim the thread ends, and turn and press your ruffle seam toward the casing side.

8. The final step! Do a row of edge-stitching, which is simply a row of normal size stitches, that are very close to the seam, or about 1/8 inch away on the casing side. This will hold the seam in place on the inside and keep a crisper look.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 7

2010-06-28T07:28:00.015-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 7

We are talking "Fly" for Day 7. It gave me pause, yet you can see that I have not been slacking. Then, out of the "blue" came an idea from the blog of my friend, Jocerane, in France. She suggested starting a tale of a traveling blue oak leaf, and I thought "Perfect!" So, to compliment her blog, here is my tale of the Little Blue Oak Leaf (leaf recycled from an envelope I received in the mail!):

The Little Blue Oak Leaf was caught into the winds and flew hither and thither, not knowing where it would land, or what condition it would be in when it did. Poor little leaf! Finally, in a furious storm in the dead of night, it felt itself caught and held fast. Exhausted, it fell fast asleep. When it awoke with the first rays of dawn, it knew a terrible dread! It was held fast in the jaws of a ferocious dragon.

Oh the terror it felt! Poor little leaf. Yet, as the dragon awoke, he gave a great yawn, and the little leaf lost no time in catching his escape on a breeze that nearly drowned him in a birdbath. Luck, however, was with him, and he was caught and saved by the fairy who inhabited the birdbath who fortunately was taking her morning splash.

This kindly fairy gently set it down with some of it's distant relatives, the Pin Oak leaves of South Carolina. The Little Blue Oak Leaf had flown all the way across the Atlantic Ocean!

Creativity Bootcamp Day 6

2010-06-27T07:41:00.013-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 6

FLUID!

"The Hurrier I Go the Behinder I Get..."

One thing about posting to the public, you can't hide getting off-track. I admit it, I have fallen behind on the Bootcamp. I am still working on it, in my mind, but other things have jumped in as priorities. It all to the good. Why? ...Because it is all part of the process. If something I am doing gives me some inspirational burst that takes me into another direction for a moment, that is just who I am. I am certainly capable of focusing and doing one thing at a time, but occasionally, our journeys present us with opportunities that are fleeting and must be grasped at that very moment or they will dissipate and be gone. I like to take those opportunities. For instance, In the past few days, rather than follow the Bootcamp on a day by day basis, I have found the needed inspiration to continue with a knitting project I was in limbo with. Decisions, ...decisions. It was all about fluidity. This is my inspiration photo, a beach in Aruba...

I was stumped over the yarn progression. I began with linen, cotton, and some blends. Then, as I got into the blue-greens of the water, I went into mohair and wool. The texture annoyed my sensibilities. I didn't care for how the well-defined stitches morphed into furry blurry. It was lacking in fluidity. As this project is planned to be a sweater, it seemed that more consistency was needed. So, ...

What happened? Well, I became aware of a fiber artist (more on her later!) using fabric strips in an incredible way, and it inspired me to use more of my own. My problem is that my amazingly huge fabric stash has never come out of the boxes since I moved into this house eight years ago! My lack of organization has many reasons from long illness, mother moving in, daughter-in-law moving in, both moving out, surgery (all better now!), mother moving back in, etc., etc. As I am doing very little sewing, I had no real reason to unpack. Recently however, I have been wanting to sew again, and this recent exposure was decisive. So, I have been put to the task of unpacking and storing fabrics in a shelving unit. I am thrilled! This is a huge organizing leap forward for me. ...And it might not have happened without the bootcamp!

Creativity Bootcamp Day 5

2010-06-21T20:22:00.001-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 5 "But as artists, how can we express the world as we see it if we are not feeling it on a deeply emotional level?" ...Exactly! That is just what I was feeling yesterday with the Heavy Metal assignment! I didn't FEEL it, so I had no desire to express it creatively. No guilt at all! Today however, I felt this one: Grow. I like to grow things. Especially herbs, but I don't have a very green thumb. What does grow well for me is devoured by the insect population. As I have an aversion to using herbs that have been toxified by pesticides, there is not much harvesting. Oh well. So I guess you could say I putter at gardening. My yard really has too much shade, and what grows best here is moss. You have seen it before in some of my previous blogs. So, I have to say all I grew here was the sprig of mint peeking out of the top of the recycled flower pot (lined with clear wrap because the pot probably has lead or something in it). Anyway, just a fun way to serve a refreshing treat of watermelon.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 4

2010-06-21T16:52:00.006-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 4

Heavy Metal! I put a lot of thought into this and most of what comes to mind is my sons and their terrible teens. I am quite sure that at least half the "character", i.e. white hair on my head is due to those years in the 80's when Heavy Metal ruled the popular music scene. Back then my sons had long hair, pierced one ear and wore a tiny metal skull dangling on a chain. Ozzy Osbourne ate bats, and KISS had an serpently long tongue in my mind. Heavy Metal.

Oh well, I have thought of several projects from jewelry, and photos of various subjects. However, nothing really comes to mind that I want to create on this subject. So, I ask myself if I really want to spend the time to do something that I have no heart in? I don't think so. That would lower this challenge to a "to-do" list that has no meaning, or become an aversion to me. Perhaps, since I am doing this on my own anyway, I will have a back up plan to provide my own themes. Picking each word out of a jar randomly has a better sound to me. The one thing about these dealt out words is that they do make my brain churn around them. Maybe it is simply enough that I can think of ideas to create. The inspiration to create from words implies that there are special feelings attached or accessible, that spur one into artistic action.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 3

2010-06-19T05:20:00.013-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 3
This is another day full of work and not feeling quite up to par with a tension headache. Sleeping "wrong" left me with a crick in my neck that went up into my head. I hate it when that happens. As a result, I looked for an easy way to accomplish the goal for day 3. The theme is "multi-layered." Still thinking along the lines of food, lasagna came to mind. Usually, I'll make up a quicky from leftover spaghetti, otherwise using the expected ingredients. Definitely layers. I served up spaghetti for lunch, but I guess we were all hungry, because there just wasn't enough left to think about lasagna.

Thinking cap on again, mu thoughts traveled in another direction. Memories of a screen saver I used a few computers back spoke to me and a flood of images told me what to do. Simply rocks! The first time I ever knew anyting about stacking rocks was during a knitting KAL on Ravelry. The pattern is on by Jane Thornley, called Culture Fushion Wrap. Based on a favorite place we have been , I chose China, and was searching the web for ancient temples in Asia. What I found, not Chinese at all, but Korean, was primally beautiful.
Enthralled by the colors and majesty of the temple and these stacks, I was smitten with a desire to know more about the simple act of stacking rock upon rock. A modern day marvel of stacking expertise is Bill Dan, of Sausilito, California. His website has more about the ancient Buddhist monk who created those pagodas at Tapsa temple, and a wonderful exploration of his own work and also that of his many followers.

My own simple stack is made with rocks that I brought years ago from the family "cabin" in Pennsylvania. I brought a box full to build a small indoor fountain. I had disassembled it recently when I performed my annual "hosing down of the porch" to get rid of the pollen. So, I recycled a few for this photo. This stack is posed at my favorite photo spot (always good lighting) atop a hypertufa (another story here!) ball in my yard.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 2

2010-06-17T18:06:00.011-04:00

Creativity Bootcamp Day 2
The theme is "picnic," and for me, picnics are rare these days. I would rather prep in my kitchen and grill in the back yard, then eat in the house while I enjoy the air conditioning and the absence of flying and crawling critters trying to eat me and share my feast.

Because so much of the work in doing a picnic is in the packing up of everything from salt and pepper to plates and napkins, and drinks to desserts, I prefer absolute simplicity. My preference is for a picnic of a bottle of wine or beer, a loaf of artisan bread, and some great cheese.
Originally, I had another plan, but it fell through because I forgot to get an essential part when we went grocery shopping this morning. DH and I make the trip to the commissary about every two weeks, and this time it was longer due to our not feeling well. ...Summer colds are the pits! Anyway, I had to give more thought to how I would tie "picnic" and recycling together in another way and make this one a quick project. What I came up with is bread. The recycled element is "bubba" my sourdough starter, and my whole grain, seeded experiment is rising as I type. What better for a picnic than hearty homemade bread, Boar's Head cheese, and a glass of American wine? In this first photo, I am trying out a new recipe that after an hour of "rising" looks like the dough has no back-bone at all. Just a glob of gooey dough. I took it from here and kneaded in more unbleached flour to increase gluten, and added in some honey to sweeten it up a little and give the yeastie beasties something to grow on, and after a good rise, it baked into a fine loaf.

Pairing it up with wine and cheese is all good, but another favorite recipe is a triumph truly fit for a picnic.

Recipe for picnic loaf:

Slice the boule in half horizontally. Scoop out the inner portion, leaving the crust walls about 3/4" think.
Brush the entire inner surface with plain or herbed olive oil.
Add filling below by spooning it in and packing it high so it will fill the upper part of the crust too.
Cap with top crust.
Wrap snuggly with foil.
Allow to "season" overnight in the refrigerator. Flavors will blend and enhance.
The following day, carefully unwrap and cut into wedges, being careful to preserve the shape and contents.
Re-wrap and its ready for the picnic!

Filling:

scramble one dozen eggs (depends on the size of your boule)
add shredded cheese as desired
add seasonings as desired
in pan, saute diced onions, bell peppers, and garlic. You can also add diced ham , bacon, or sausage if you want a meat.
stir the egg mixture into the other ingredients and cook til set.

Creativity Bootcamp Day One

2010-06-16T20:29:00.018-04:00

Day 1 was great! I feel like I got so much done. Not only did I meet the days challenge, but I also managed to situate myself with a photo editing solution for a problem that has been making me crazy. The new pc was not loaded with a program to edit photos, and was not compatible with software I have on hand. ...Yet one more mountain to climb. Anyway, I settled on Picasa, which seems to be good, ....for now anyway. The challenge theme for Day 1 is "ivory." My medium of choice is anything that can be recycled. What I have done is to create a Jewelry Tree.

I started with a twig, which I trimmed, and an old can of primer. I painted the entire surface with primer, then painted over that with an "ivory" latex paint. So far, I am recycling the twig, which I saved from a tree being trimmed, and using paints that I have had in storage. All "free!" Then, I had to go shopping. I bought one 25 foot roll of 18 gauge copper wire, which cost me $4.80. That was the only thing I had to purchase. I also had about 6 feet of a much thinner copper wire in my craft stash, which was salvaged from an electrical wire which is made up of several small strands held together by a coating. Cut the coating away, separate the strands.

Then, I got out some beads saved from a scrunchie I had purchased several years ago. The glass beads were a disaster to my hair, so I cut them all off and saved them. Never throw anything away!

Next, I studied the twig to determine if it had enough places to hang necklaces and earrings from. They never do, so I added a few. I began wrapping the twig with the 18 gauge wire, being careful to reinforce the tiny branches with doubled wire and wraps. I added the beads to the smaller wire, which I spiraled the ends of to slip over the larger wire, so it was attached on both ends of the beads.Where I wanted to add hanging places, I made a skinny loop of wire and wrapped it on the twig. I embellished the hangers with beads so that the jewelry would be supported.

In all, it took only about two hours of time, and cost was just $4.80. Not bad! Now, I just need to attach it to my wall. I have seen copper plated pipe hanging "tape" with pre-drilled holes. I can cut this and screw the jewelry tree to the wall using toggles.

Here is the full view of the tree hung on my wall fountain so that I could photograph it.

The Creativity Bootcamp

2010-06-16T08:12:00.003-04:00

Just the other day, I found an interesting link to a blogsite through the Ravelry forums. It is The Creativity Bootcamp. Megan Beishline is an incredibly creative lady who has lots of energy and likes to motivate others to reach higher levels of achievement. I can so honor and appreciate this. The bootcamp is a ten day challenge to create something new each day, in a medium of our own choosing, based on a random word that Madeline gives the group on that day. I am coming into the Bootcamp late, as all the others are finishing up, but does this really matter?

As it so happens, I was just talking with the DH about doing something very similar for a period of a month. Well, a month may be a little long and maybe I would get behind and way off course. Ten days is definitely doable. My trouble is choosing a medium to work in. I am a changeable and variety loving creator that would be sorely challenged to stay in one medium. After giving this some thought, I have decided that it is really up to me and for my supreme benefit. Most of the participants are into photography, so a few photos a day is easy. Crafting something each day is a whole different challenge. However I feel up to it, and have decided that my "medium" is going to be anything recycled. I will be blogging daily about my experience along the way.

Moving On, ...Moving Up!

2010-05-04T08:03:00.006-04:00

We were in the throws of moving. It just came out of the blue so to speak, when a little over a month ago, we got new business neighbors. One after another, the reputable businesses in the strip mall had moved away. One by one, businesses that are of questionable repute have been moving in. For a few years now, I have been looking in a nearby town that we have felt would be good to locate in, and had not found available space to rent. Yeah, it was growing that much! Lately though, spaces have opened up with reasonable rents, and we must be blessed because we found the perfect location after just two days of looking.

What I find interesting is that this move will create several changes. I have been wanting to cease the massage for several months now, and this will give me the opportunity to recreate myself. I am wanting to do less massage, and move into more acupressure, and hypnosis. After 20 years, that's a big switch. I have loved the massage, and it will be hard to give up, but it is not so easy on the body, especially the hands and wrists. We still look like we haven't completed the moving process, and it will take a while to really settle in. It has been slow with so many other things going on at the same time. My dear old Honda dying, car shopping, computer going wacky (in death throws?), computer shopping, catching a summer cold and infection setting in, hubby catching a summer cold (this is even worse!), etc., etc. Now, however, I am slowing coming along and making a bit of progress, and hopefully will be resuming a more frequent blog.

Ta-Da! ...Abertay!

2010-04-26T16:06:00.009-04:00

Yeah done! My Abertay mini rocks! I just may do another one in PURPLE! It's great over my old jeans, cuz They ripped out along the back pocket a few days ago. I ironed on some patching fabric, and sewed over it all, but once they start to break up, one never knows when the next rip will happen. I plan to patch and embellish as it does so, and try to keep them going!

Well, I finished my taxes! ....Almost

2010-04-21T08:39:00.004-04:00

This year, I was one of these last minute tax filers. It wasn't intended that way, it makes me a nervous wreck. However, I received some tax information that was unexpected, and at the last minute. I was about to put the finishing touches on the tax returns. I have to admit freaking out, and not having adequate information on the matter, and taking too long to get my questions answered led to my scurrying to get the returns mailed on the final day. I got to the post office, weighed my envelopes on their scale, paid and got the label for the proper amount of postage, and sent them on there way. I( know I was breathing a long sigh of exhausted relief. So what happened? They came back, marked "insufficient postage." Am I ticked off? You bet I am! I am not even the slightest bit amused. Pardon me while I go scream in the closet.

New Tricks

2010-04-21T08:17:00.008-04:00

Just having finished my first knitted lace project from a pattern, I am considering it requires some sort of celebratory behavior. Although I wouldn't describe the project as hard, I would say that is was Sudoko for my brain cells. I am quite positive that I knitted the equivalent of two of these. When one considers all the knitting, frogging, and re-knitting I did, it's a wonder I stayed with it. Motivation was a high priority. In the remodel of my wardrobe, I have comfort and style as top requirements, and leggins are going to be a mainstay. Personally, I find that seeing the abdomen, hip and crotch lines are rather gauche and not often lovely on real people. So, a mini-skirt or hip wrap comes in as a perfect solution. Another of these in a different color would be great, but what I am asking myself is "do I really want to put myself through this again?" ...Well, the answer will lie in how much motivation there is for it.

Spicy Coffee

2010-04-05T06:38:00.009-04:00

Something that has been on my frequent list of beverages to enjoy is now Spicy Coffee. I am not a big coffee drinker, and my daily beverage of choice is tea. However, this year for Valentine's Day (which I can't believe I didn't blog about!), I made a recipe I found for Café Brulot (coffee with cinnamon and a jigger of brandy). "Brulot," …Now this means flaming! I had never done this before. "...warm the brandy in a warm soup ladle and then ignite and pour over the coffee." After looking at a few videos, it looked tricky. I have seen everything form the desired success, to people setting fires that they had not intended, to complete dudly failures. Mine fell into the latter category. However, the coffee was delicious. Since then, I have enjoyed Spicy Coffee a few times a week, saving the brandy for special occasions!

The Recipe:

Coffee
Orange peel, just a few slices
Whole cloves to taste
Cinnamon stick, broken up
Brandy, just a jogger ...optional!

I placed the goodies into the pot of my 2-cup coffee maker, and then brewed the coffee. Then, allow the coffee to steep for several minutes to infuse it with the orange peel, cinnamon and cloves. Pour into mugs, add brandy and give a stir. Yummmm.

Mama's Got Brand New Bag!

2010-04-02T08:28:00.008-04:00

Singin' it like James Brown! I can't remember when I last bought a new purse. I really am not fond of the things, but I do feel their necessity. I have always striven for the smallest I can find, and this baby is not exactly in that category. However, the rest of the world is into super-sizing, and what I have seen available is the two extremes of suitcase style, and something that would carry not much more than a cell phone. I wistfully remember the days when I was in college, and carried only a plastic thingy that I carried only my ID card and a few dollars in. Now, I carry not only my essentials, but also my mother's. She goes everywhere with me and she is unsteady, needs her hands free, and certainly doesn't need any purse to distract her or set her off balance. So, super-size me. On the news at Christmas time, I heard that the vinyl used in purses has so much lead in it that it can result in toxic levels in the body. Horrors! Never liking fake stuff anyway, I determined that I would find a real leather bag. Finding myself surrounded with atrocious gathered, fringed, ruffled, beaded and metaled, overly adorned arm baggage, I nearly lost hope of finding something that would not make me feel like a circus sideshow in public. ...Tuesday Morning to the rescue! Not so huge, this bag has simplicity, good design (we use to say this style was inspired by horses' feed bags), not a lot of weight, and has a look I like. It will carry all I need to tote quite nicely, perhaps even a water bottle and a knitting project. Never mind that I will be doing weight lifting to manage it, as it might have been even larger. I just want to know one thing... ...will everything still drop directly to the bottom and become hopelessly buried?

Car Woes or Ode to My Honda

2010-03-27T08:09:00.000-04:00

My car lost its zip. I was entering an interstate speedway, and it groaned excessively as I plunged the accelerator to the floor. The RPM's flew upward, yet my usually responsive Honda Accord struggled forward slowly into the fray. Trying its best, freeway speed gathered and held, but when I once again pulled to a stop, it heaved forward like a fatally wounded elephant. After just having spent a fortune and survived a week without a car to have the head gasket repaired, I was frantic. I called the mechanic, who came by the house and worked on it for an hour before he told me he had to take it to his shop again. And now, after another week of being car-less, I have my sweet Honda back and it has regained its pep and zips around as if nothing had even happened. At 130,000 miles, we have been together through a lot, and been many places. This car has given me the gift of no car payments for several years now, and this was the first time I had to do other than maintenance or tires, ...or brakes. ...I love my car!

Prayer Flags: Knit one, ...Serge one

2010-03-20T07:35:00.009-04:00

Prayer Flag tunic and the jewelry that served as my inspiration. The earrings and necklace were made for me by a dear friend, Ivy Bryan several years ago, and are some of my favorite and meaningful pieces. They were inspired by Himalayan prayer flags. The Tibetans believe that if you have a prayer, and write it onto a piece of fabric, then tie it where it will blow in the wind, the prayer will go out and be answered.

I have been creatively busy lately! The new wardrobe flows off the needles and sewing table and onto my back. I love the new tunics. ??? Both blue even, imagine that! Both are of my own design. It is my belief that a garment like this is so much more satisfying than just following a pattern by some one else. One of my favorite dresses was a little "dinner dress" I designed and made up back in the early sixties. Our dorm dress code actually dictated that we must wear a dress to dinner (OMG! ...How archaic is that!???) . So, I invented a pullover mini that I could thrown on in a flash to go to table. It was a turquoise/lime green/purple floral, and I lined it with lime green. I cut the sleeves bell shape, so that glimpses of the lime would show. I wore it with purple patent Mary Jane heels, and lime green tights. Wish I had a photo! Everything was floral back then. I also had a red floral pantsuit I wore. Once, at the grocery store, a toddler staring at me, yanked on his Mommy's sleeve, and seriously informed her that "that lady is wearing her pajamas!" ...I don't think I liked it as much after that.

Should I, ...or Could I? ...In other words, what to wear?

2010-03-16T15:30:00.004-04:00

As the building of the new wardrobe gathers speed, a little voice occasionally chirps in my brain saying: "What will people think?" ..."Are you dressing you age?" ..."Are you having a second childhood?" ...Or worse of all, ..."Will I look totally ridiculous?"

To all of these queries, I give a quick evaluation, and then decide that I am the one living this life. I am the one who is wearing the clothes. I have spent too much time concerned about what other people think. No, I am not in a second childhood, but I love to be comfortable. I am dressing to suit my lifestyle. Some persons may think I look ridiculous, but then, it's all relative anyway, and quite often, I think they look ridiculous!

Clothing styles coming out today are fabulously colorful. They even remind my of my grandmother's home. It had way too many floral patterns on the walls, floor, and furniture. Patterns are over the top. Styles are hip and chique. Remember when fashion revolutionaries dictated wearing stilettos with jeans? Out went the rules! Trust the youthful to bring it on with exuberance and vitality. The Boomers are not ready to succumb to what was once considered proper attire for middle age and beyond. We still think of ourselves as attractive, active and even sexy! Yeah baby! ...I said the 'S' word! Say it again, out loud! ...SEXY!!!

Hot Pants are Back!

2010-03-10T15:40:00.008-05:00

Here are some results of research I have been doing lately on fashion trends. I am in a slow process of giving myself a new wardrobe based on comfort and action.

Fashion trends for 2010

Denim is coming in big, tight, stretchy and distressed!

Ruffles

80's looks

Layers

Mesh & nudity

Texture

Patterns stripes, floral, dots, and animal prints

Short shorts and skirts

Glamour and lots of it!

Amazing to me is that I just allowed myself to get rid of hundreds of 80's patterns I have saved for all these years. Well, I did keep some special patterns. There is a Betsy Johnson long sleeve T with hot pants. (See pattern on left second from the right. I see this look everywhere on the fashion sights. Love that Betsy! What a style setter she was and still keeps the faith today. Still wild 'n wonderful after all these years. Now, don;t get me wrong, I have no intention of getting back into hot pants. Leggings, yes! But I must admit to owning a few bumps and bulges that would be gag me with a spoon ugly, ...and ugly ain't chique baby!

Being Honest 'til it Hurts

2010-03-02T16:55:00.002-05:00

As an update to my last post, I have been asked to make some additions to the course I just took by the school that offers it. I made sure that my criticisms were justifiable, and specific, and they appreciated my comments so much that they want me to make whatever additions to it I feel would make it more effective! I do believe I will take them up on their offer! Ha! ....I'll be published again after all these years!

Say "Work!" like Maynard G Krebs

2010-02-24T14:53:00.001-05:00

Ha! For anyone that can remember, Maynard was the beatnik buddy of the Dobie Gillis TV show in the 60's. Just kidding though, I think we all ought to love our work. ...I do, cuz I am "hooked on energy" and am just as fascinated today as I was when it all started 20 years back. Recently, I began a study course for the re-certification of my business license. Getting into the course, I found it was great and exciting information, and then it dawned on me that the person who developed it had pretty much dropped the ball about 2/3's of the way through. It has to do with muscle testing and accessing the core of a "body project," and then activating ear acu-points with laser light to balance energy. Well, that's all cool, but I have a problem with the ear. It's just really small, and there is a lot of body to fit into it, if you get my drift. Anyway, it would have been best if the creator of this course stopped there, because she went on to other things that were not really covered in any way to do them justice. At that point, my excitement fizzled out.

The end result of all this is that it got me thinking about all the modalities I have been using for the past twenty years, and how I can use them differently, and more effectively through structure. So, I have been pulling it into a practice format, and I like where its all going! Suffice it to say that I am moving quickly away from Chinese Tui Na massage, and moving toward acupressure done less on the body, and more as reflexology. Using colored light on the points ("colorpuncture") is awesome. So is "bathing" the body with colored light. Most people don't even have a clue! Color is a vibrational wavelength, and we attune to vibrational wavelengths. Think of it like music that is below our level of conscious sense.

More magic!

2010-02-23T18:14:00.003-05:00

One of my resolutions for this year is to make magic every day. Part of this magic is giving myself a new wardrobe. Here is what I created a few days ago, and had a blast in the doing. I call it my Romaine (lettuce type) tunic. It is completely done on the serger, and this is a surprise for me, because I used to hate that machine. Not only is it a challenge to thread, but I was such a dressmaking perfectionist/snob that I considered it so below my quality standards that I only had it and used it for the pattern company I worked for. After finding some gloriously Grungy clothing on Etsy, I drug it out and barely dusted it off to get myself started. Now, I really must give it a proper cleaning and oiling so I don't ruin it. ...I have plans, you see.

I haev already finished the Wild Grasses vest. It goes nicely with the tunic as you can see here...

Now, I am designing and plotting other garments. I love the look of cowls, and can see them carrying over into warmer weather. Shrugs are also a great thing for every wardrobe. Both items are merely accessories, but they are totally practical, which, in my book, that makes them indispensable!

There's just one thing though. ...Where are the pockets????

Out with the old, ...In with the new!

2010-01-30T07:01:00.017-05:00

I am finally nearing the completion of a project that has been in process for what seems like forever. It went wilding, far from the pattern with which I began. It started it's life as the Autumn Grasses pattern by Jane Thornley. Then, after about four inches, it got way too wide. Because I find it easier to knit all the pieces that are supposed to match up at once, this would have meant a huge amount to frog. Project put aside. Then, undaunted, I plunged ahead. I joined the fronts and back (I don't like to sew up seams), and began to decrease at the sides. Aha! I decided to make it really long. ...Why? ...Because I want to re-invent myself and my wardrobe this year. I want to be more active (translate this as exercised), and my good ol' jeans just don't let me drop to the floor to do yoga stretches when the spirit takes me. Anyway, at this point, I got to thinking that some of my yarns might not be in sufficient amount to do what I wanted. So, I started a sleeve. Once again, after a few inches, I saw it would be giantly belled. This is OK for sitting about looking glam, but it's a pain when washing dishes or doing anything else productive. Even knitting would be challenging wearing giant sleeves. Ever thinking, and Wild Grasses put aside while the brain did yoga over this new development,

... I knit this up for a little relief knitting. I call it Wrapped In Deep" referring to the deep colors I used, which are a deviation from usual brights. Amazing how the shawl pin blends exactly. There was no plan for it, it just sorta happened. Lucky that! I am loving wearing it, as it is so warm , cozy, and does not get in my way. It also is very adaptive. It can be a cowl, and draped in several different ways.

Refreshed, I picked up the Wild Grasses, which was now on it's way to becoming a front-button vest, with a two inch sleeve cap.

Too busy or not too busy???

2010-01-15T07:04:00.001-05:00

Wow! It has been a while! I have been totally distracted and by what I couldn't tell you. It seems to me that I have not been doing very much. If you were to ask me what I have made or done lately, I would not have much to say for myself. I have been busy though! I did try something yarn related that was new for me. I made myself some clogs and felted them. That was a pattern that drove me nuts. What kept bothering me is that the pattern was the same for the both feet. I get it that the felting makes them look like socks, and could be interchangeable, and I was happy with them to that point, even though I ended up having to bake them in the oven when they refused to dry. Weather was rainy that week and humidity was high. I read a post someone had left on Ravelry that they were afraid theirs would grow mushrooms, and I decided action was necessary. They are very comfy, and I am wearing them a lot, but I have noticed that there is a tendency to shape in the same direction. The right foot clog is fine, but the left one seems to be shaping toward the right also, and leaves my foot feeling it is half off the sole and twisting.

The Holidays blew by like they never happened. I had the family, which keeps growing, over for the annual Solstice party. Now, there are 12 of us, and we overflow from the dining table (which was established at one end of a long living room after my mother came to live with us 1+ years ago and made the dining room her abode), onto the living room furniture. It's OK though, since we are still all in the same room, and its very cozy. I gave knitted items to the women in the group, and went shopping for my sons. I always made their clothing as they grew up, and they refer to those lovingly made items as "bobo's." Even though as a dressmaker and designer I was head dressmaker for a major pattern company, the idea of home-made clothing was not cool to them. Ha!

I have done some finishing, which is always a good thing at the years end and the beginning of another. The Fairy Name KAL on the Jane Thornley group of Ravelry is still going strong, but I have finished mine, complete with beads galore. Here you see me cavorting with the garden fairy who is telling me that is sure would be nice to have a wrap of her own to help warm the cold winter days she spends sitting on a frozen birdbath. Hey! I could be a yard/yarn bomber!

Who Me? ...Selfish?

2009-10-11T06:20:00.006-04:00

I totally agree with Laura's comment on my last post, and want to elaborate on it. Most people may think that being self-ish is a bad thing. I, however, think it is a good thing. This is possibly construed as a slap in the face of everything I was brought up with. Selfishness was always defined as a bad thing. I happen to believe that it is essential to life. Our very body processes are not designed for making another's life better, but to nurture and sustain ourselves. If we stop taking care of ourselves, then our body will go into survival mode. We are selfish beings from each tiny cell, to our organs, to our complete, selfish, magnificently functioning bodies. ...And our Creator made us this way! So, to go on along this line of thinking, how do we stay in fine tune with ourselves? ...By thinking positive thoughts and taking the best care of ourselves that we can. Pretty simple.

Well, it would be if we were taught that to begin with. ...And in all fairness, survival of the species does require a lot of sharing and helping others along too. A group that is moving together in the same direction can accomplish so much more than a single person alone. Our problem comes when the group dictates everything from our thinking to our behavior. Case in point: myself and the way I dress. I love clothing. I love making clothes. I love decorating them too. I love the colors and fit and style. I get excited over fabrics and fibers. ...And why not?!!! We all have to wear clothes don't we? Why not use our bodies as a place to hang art that expresses our moods and lifestyles? So, what is my point? Well, I live in a very conservative city, in a very conservative state.

As I look around me, I see people wearing the most popular brands (you know, the retailers with the biggest advertising budgets) . Think about this, these brands must be made to appeal to as many people as they can to flourish. This means nothing very unique or expressive in an individual sense. ANYBODY can wear the product. ...Except me. ...Well, I do live in a pair of Lee jeans. But after that, one never knows what I will put on that makes a statement about how I feel that day.

By the way, I finished the Holiday scarf. In fact, making it was so much fun that I had to make another very like it.

Finding myself

2009-09-27T09:25:00.017-04:00

Well, for starters, finding myself is not as easy as it might seem it should be. After all, I have a lot of years of expectation dust to clear off. Someone should invent a spiritual vacuum cleaner that will do it all in a flash. That would be easy. It has occurred to me that once one finds oneself, then the work of staying found begins. Just like cleaning house, the house will not stay clean unless there is constant concentrated effort to keep it clean. ...And isn't it much more fun to just play all the time? ...And wouldn't it be great if life was always kind and people were always kind and did the right things and took care of their own business? ...And wouldn't it be great if we were raised up to be knowing who we are instead of some version of what our cultural surround wants us to be?

It seems to me that the more I look for myself, the more I see I am lost. So, looking back to the last post, where I suggested that the process is a little easier if we focus on what things we like and enjoy doing, I have been finding more of myself in this action. So, actually, I have moved the second question: "What do I love to do and couldn't do without?" up to first place. My list looks something like this:

I love knitting, beading, sewing?, making jewelry, …being artistic!
I love being impulsive and in the moment.
I love teaching to a big group.
I love my acupressure and hypnosis career.
I love my home.
I love my husband.

Now, I said "something like this" because it has changed a few times. My first list had loving the hubby in second place. After a few days, however, I realized that this really didn't define who I am, and the focus has been shifting to those self-defining loves. In many ways, loving my husband does define who I am, and so it remains on the list, but as this is dependent on a changing, growing, renewing partnership, it is not who I am. The first on the list is very important. Being creative especially defines who I feel I am. I am currently focusing on increasing my creativity, looking for new ways of doing things, creating something new and wonderful, even if it is not so in anyone else's opinion. At one time in my life, I was much more free to explore my creativiyt. Now, I have boundaries of family needs, financial needs, etc. So, I make it a point to set aside time for myself. That's important!

In order to fuel creativity, it is essential to just do it, and forgo all judgmental criticism. Why? ...Because criticism puts on the brakes. Creativity comes in a flow, in the flash of the moment, and if you stop the flow, it's gone and more reluctant to flow the next time.

My latest efforts are getting ready for a holiday boutique. After 5 1/2 years of knitting, I have a laundry basket full of creations that need a home. I have also been toying with setting up an etsy store. It isn't nearly ready to go active, but I do hope to have it up in time to send off some special creations to someone who will adore having them.

My on the needles project? ...A joyful scarf in holiday colors that will send the message that whoever wears it is a merry person.

Yes, I am still here... just quietly contemplating my navel

2009-09-03T17:48:00.005-04:00

It has been ages, I know. Well, sometimes we just get seriously sidetracked and lately i have had so many priorities that I just haven't kept up with the blog. In some sort of defense though, I have been journaling. It has been an ongoing project of mine to get back to mySELF. ...A continuance of a spiritual journey that I began many years ago. So, I started a journal about the same time I stopped blogging. Private stuff you know. Time has been precious, and so the blogging end of things seemed to be less important. I do want you to know that I have been making progress with my finding mySELF. I was actually right here, under my own nose. Just a little forgotten and very confused. Wouldn't anyone be if you forgot where you put yourSELF? I was hidden behind everyone else in my life, getting tarnished and dusty, and it felt like my own needs didn't matter a bit. A life of service is fine for Mother Theresa types, but I do have my limits. So, I have been asking questions like:

What do I want to be when I grow up?
What do I love to do and couldn't do without?
What do I want in my life?

...well, you get the idea. I know for sure that I love being creative, and it makes my SELF feel really great when I am creating something. I will be sharing some of my process in the following blogs, but this is how I started out:

I am on course to figure out just who I am these days. …Maybe where I got lost along the way,and which way I want to go. I feel usurped. Everyone else came in and bumped me out. I am just hanging on by my itty bitty fingernails to my own shoulders.…And it doesn’t feel good.

The process started with listing 6 things that I love. And Guess what? They changed after a few days!

Bark & Vines

2009-05-11T16:08:00.005-04:00

I am taking off into unknown areas now. Into the trees with my latest creation, which I am calling Bark & Vines. Probably #1. It took a lot of pondering before the first stitch. There are simply endless ways to represent bark in a knit fabric. Not only could it be a knitted barkground of scale-like patterns, in a solid tightly knit fabric, it can also be light and lace-like, with many irregular stitches laid down with absolutely no pattern or plan in mind other than to make certain that there is no particular patterning going on. So, I just started out with knit stitches, creating an irregular edge by adding on unevenly with each progressive row. As the rows built up, I randomly added in purl stitches, yarn overs and knitting 2 togethers. Because the yarn is a lightweight Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold, the stitches really control the fabric. The result is a very rumply, textural relief surface that does remind me of tree bark. Now, I am in the process of creating vines: ...I-cord ropes that will twine in and out of the holes, and twist about each other with elegant green leaves extending outward to frame the face.

Moss & Clay: a story of greens and terracotta

2009-04-28T19:30:00.007-04:00

I have finally finished knitting a vest from a pattern by Jane Thornley, named the Riverstone Vest. Her version is an astonishing replication of river rocks in shades of blackish-grayish-creamy yarns that would get lost if you happened to lay it down on top of a river rock. I loved it at first sight. My own creation strayed a bit in color when I found a gorgeous ribbon, Sari by Louisa Harding. Shades of mossy green, rusts and browns, set off with a strip of copper gleam, it just had to come home with me. ...Along with a few other beauties that befriended it in the shop. It is a super fast knitting project, but I was held back by running out of yarns, having to order, and even over-dye a Patagonia Nature Cotton that was a bit too yellow to blend in with the first one.

Once I started, I forgot to count rows along the neck edge. (I do things like that occasionally.) As a solution for a barely discernible deviation of symmetry, I decided that some terracotta dangles and ribbons to give a bit more character to the neckline was exactly what it needed.

Several Internet searches came up with no terracotta beads. Perhaps for some reason I have yet to discover. However, I am the sort of person who won't take "No' for an answer, and made it a mission to find them. Ever eying some broken flower pots in the back yard, I finally came to the realization that if I were to have what I wanted, I would have to make them myself. Hammer and Dremel in hand, I did what I had to, and this is my result. Photo of the final result will be coming soon!

Faded Roses

2009-04-24T08:00:00.007-04:00

Finished!!!! The Cloud Bolero by Ysolda Teague is done!!!! I wore it all afternoon yesterday, and love it! Didn't even block it. I am not sure what blocking does for a cotton and nylon knit (ouch!). I think it is mostly for wooly wonders. It is such a cute shrug, but I am not sure whether I will be doing Solstice gifts of it though. Maybe I could get the hang of it? Its amazing that I didn't go insane with all the knitting/frogging/knitting/frogging/knitting I had to do. Once I decided to use straight needles it was so much better. …But I really don’t like the straight aluminum needles. Way too slippery. Sure wish I could find a way to use the circs without losing track of the stitches because the markers slip though.

I am also about to finish the Riverstone Vest by Jane Thornley. It was love at first sight. I love my vests, and have several. This one will be a real fashion statement as it is long and drapey, in shades of rust and copper, alternated with dark brown and mossy green. I am calling it Moss and Clay. ...Can't wait to get it done and wear it!

I can no longer be trusted....

2009-04-03T18:47:00.004-04:00

Of course, those of you who knit may have fallen prey to this affliction. I have joined the ranks of the yarn shopaholics. Just this morning, I visited my LYS in desperation to get a yarn I had run out of. As soon as I entered the door, I was bombarded with many lovelies that absolutely had to come home with me. ...In a huge shopping bag, no less!

How did this happen? Well, I am a sucker for a sale, and it just so happened that the owner was busy marking things down to get them out of the store. Noro Silk Garden for $2 a skein for Heaven's sake! ...And Elsabeth Lavold Silky Wool for the same price! Then, there were the lashies for only $1. That was in addition to the regular priced yarns that I needed.

I feel so satisfied!

Green Glop

2009-04-02T17:40:00.005-04:00

I have been making green glops for years. ...Since my kids were little and I couldn't get them to eat spinach. So what can a mother do? Disguise it! With a little help from Doctor Seuss and the blender, my green eggs became a green glop. Actually a fritatta, which is something like a pancake with spinach and cheese, it has became a favorite that my grown sons eat even today with gusto!

Now, however, the blender is no longer a necessity, and this glop just has green "stuff' in it. Add a little salsa on top, and you've got a yummy, fast, and nutritious breakfast!

Rodarte ...high fashion grunge?

2009-03-24T06:40:00.012-04:00

I have discovered a sister design team called Rodarte. They are amazing, young explorers in the field of fashion. Their designs are based on nature, and create more "wearable art" than wearable fashions, but they are so interesting to me. They appear to be complete opposites of what they design. The sisters are heavily influenced by string art of the German-American artist Eva Hesse, and create their knits to look like this art was draped onto the body.

The Rodarte duo looks at nature and determines to replicate it. I have to ask myself “if I were to do this, how would I create what I see?” …I have had some ideas about this to, you see. I have been wanting to do bark. Yeah, tree bark. …And vines.

My imagination stretches and awakens with Rodarte’s influence. They are organic designers, true California-style creations themselves. I feel as though there is a new definition for designing that I can achieve. It never felt right to me to use traditional shapes and try to make something new about them. Thus, I labeled myself “technical” rather than designer. One of the sisters said that she tries to create fashions that seem to have existed, and without structure. Yeah! ...ORGANIC!
I love the newness and sheer creativity.
I love the way they exonerate and recreate something perfect in itself.

I can see myself back "in the garden" doing something more organic than "Fairies..." was.
That was a lot of fun, and it flew off the needles. Now another creation is brewing and about to birth itself.

Nearly done and what else is going on here...

2009-02-18T08:28:00.011-05:00

So-o-o-o, ...after not posting for way too long, I guess I have to show that I have not been a totally idle couch potato. Not only have I been helping my mother, who is 93 1/2, become adjusted to living with my husband and me, I have been keeping my hands busy with knitting. The Endless Mountains wrap is nearly done. I have been thinking of increasing it along the lower edge by adding several more increased rows, creating something of a ruffle. That ruffle is morphing about in my brain as a solid color and then multi-color, and until it all calms down, I am content to wait.

Here is a close-up of the fabric:

I have also been doing a very mindless project. This happens when my brain wants to check out, but the hands keep moving. I got a Noro Catwalk pattern book for Christmas, and was planning to make one of the pullovers in it. However, I really didn't want to do endless cables with sock yarn. As it is, the thousands of tiny stitches are enough of a challenge with only a stockinette stitch on circular needles. I knew if I was going to do a project of this sort, it had better be something I get a lot of wear out of. Heaven forbid that after all this, it just sits in a drawer. As I tend to prefer minimalist, or a good structure to build off of, I thought a top-sown raglan sounded like a good bet. To make it even more simple, the neck and hems are going to be left to roll up. Never having done one of these, I started out with courage, yet with trepidation, wondering that it may not fit properly, and other various concerns.

To be on the safe side, I researched what I could, finding very little to provide assurance. However, I have discovered that this sweater is easy enough for a first project. Amazing! What could be easier than getting the gauge, and then casting on enough stitches to give the right neck hole? There is a bit of juggling for front, back and sleeve stitches, but after a few rows that curled the neckline nicely, I separated the stitches into four groups with stitch markers, and began to increase on each side with every row. I continued to knit in this way until a try-on determined the length was sufficient to meet under the armpit easily. I am hoping that there will be a bit extra throughout the length in the event I get carried away and throw it in the washer one day. I love the way Noro's colors morph into each other. These yarns must have been rainbow inspired.

In spite of the tiny yarn and the #6 needles, the knitting is going along quickly. What you see in the photo is mostly done with just one skein of yarn. The pattern I originally thought to make called for two, and I may manage to finish this with what I have. However, I am just enough of a perfectionist that I will want the sleeves to be symmetrically striped, and to match them to the torso. I know, kind of anal, but I do want to love it and wear it often.

Endless Mountains

2009-01-23T07:48:00.009-05:00

Another wrap is on the needles. I have been haunted by the thought of knitting a wrap that exemplifies to me the "cabin." Nestled in the "Endless Mountains" (American Indian name) of the Appalachian chain, the cabin exists only in memory now, as it burned to the ground about 10 years ago, but it is so much a part of my life that it demands recreation. So, now it is once again coming out in my knitting as yet another version of Jane Thornley's Feather 'n Fan Organic Wrap. The first was not quite hitting the mark, and was smaller than I had wanted. I wanted a luxuriously abundant wrap that draped about my shoulders the way whipped cream tops a banana split. Abundant. And colors. Colors to use are deep hemlock and mountain laurel greens, powdery reddish earth and hemlock needles, brown tree trunks, gray rocks, blue sky, silvery tin roof, teal shingles covered the outside walls, red bee balm, golden grasses, green of all shades, watery blues and white foam. oh how I wish I could share all this with you, but the digital camera came too late and the only pictoral memories I have are on paper.

I am using mostly the same colors and yarns, but in different combination. As you can see with the first wrap, it has more stripeyness, and the red I added to represent the brilliant red of bee balm growing wild in the field across from the cabin, takes a prominent place. The bee balm was very spotty, and just a few precious heads showed themselves at any one time. The hemlocks are everywhere, and I am making the foundational color of the wrap in the same deep rich greens.

I made a purse!

2009-01-17T07:44:00.008-05:00

I never thought I would do this, I don't even recall making one when I used to sew constantly for (scratching head), ...hmmm, most of my life. They just seemed so home-made. I always liked leather purses. However, the lure of a quick project with vibrant yarns just got the better of me. After all, I have been working on light tan socks for my hubby's Christmas gift forever. The endless rows of knitting/purling have gotten to me. I get really jazzed with brilliant color and sparkle. I just know I couldn't talk him into any of that. So, when Jane Thornley came up with yet another pattern just before the holidays, and I suffered a cringe as I thought of the line-up of knitting ahead of me, I sort of wrote this one off. Until now. It was as promised, fast and fun. There are endless possibilities for design diversion with the pattern, and it was great, ...no, better than great to be able to use up several bits of yarn that were only about 10 yards in length. Even though it is all in ribbing, just like the socks, it was so much more fun. This purselet only took about 5 days, but I only worked on it for a few minutes each day, and even skipped on some days. It is small, but perfect for holding the driver's license, credit cards, and a lipstick.

The yarns: I realized as I started out that the browns and
oranges needed another color to perk things up. So, I pulled in a handpainted orphan banana yarn. I bought it on close-out because I wanted to experience alternative yarns, and even though I would never have planned to knit with orange and blue yarn, unless they were school colors and I was a cheerleader, the yarn was wonderful here.

What day is it anyway?

2008-12-27T07:17:00.004-05:00

Time has been in a blender lately, ...and the world is upside-down. At every turn, there is some new critical to-do thing to take care of. My list of to-dos keeps growing instead of getting shorter. With the holidays, and the hubby off work (you can do that when you are the boss), and my Mom living here with us now, my alone time is limited to early morning hours when no-one else is awake. It is the only time I get to play on the computer now. I am counting on some balance here soon, so I can get back to what feels normal for me. Alone time. (thinking of this wistfully...) This is my time for regenerating, new ideas, creative thinking and giving in to somewhat selfish desires. Whether it is watching a few minutes of some TV program focused on cleaning and organizing a trashed house (I watch to assure myself I am NOT that bad!), or browsing for inspiration for a new knitting project, meditating, or getting out of the house altogether, I adore my alone time. I am addicted to it, ...it keeps me going. Knitting has been really off lately too. Some old Christmas stockings were discovered in an attic box by a daughter-in-law, and since there were mine and one for my mother, I had to do one for my sweet hubby. Digging into the stash, I pulled out the old ends left from stockings past, and started out. I have done several version of the old Bucilla patterns, which I have saved. This one is Santa coming or going from a chimney by the light of a crescent moon. I struggled with the entire awful thing! I am now a yarn snob, and that nasty acrylic was a nightmare to work with. It was so stiff and had no elasticity. Combined with my tight tension, the patterning of the changing yarns ended up creating a sculpted Santa. There was no way I was re-knitting anything! My wrists and hands are still complaining. Now, I am working on a pair of socks for the hubby. For months now he has been asking when I was going to make him something. The socks were a Christmas gift. I have jokingly told him they may be done by next Christmas.

Celebrating the Solstice

2008-12-16T17:37:00.009-05:00

I am now preparing for a Yule celebration. I grew up celebrating Christmas, but its really hard to get my extended family together. This is because my three grown and married sons, and their wives, all have divorced parents who have remarried. That means there are eight parental families that these young people feel duty bound to divide their time and efforts to. Christmas Day and Eve are in high demand. Nobody else in the family has even considered the Solstice but me! Happy Day! They probably never will either, as I live deep in the "Bible Belt."

If you are celebrating any of the traditions of Christmas, remember that you are actually enjoying the rituals and activities of several ancient religions whose traditions have been borrowed by Christians over the years for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Winter Solstice has been celebrated in cultures the world over for thousands of years. This start of the solar year is a celebration of Light and the rebirth of the Sun. In old Europe, it was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, meaning wheel. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

Long before Christ was born, Romans held the celebration of Saturnalia, however, this probably predates even Roman history. In ancient Rome, Emperor Aurelian established December 25 as the birthday of the "Invincible Sun" in the third century as part of the Roman Winter Solstice celebrations. Shortly thereafter, in the year 273, the Christian church selected this day to represent the birthday of Jesus. The early Christian church had gotten tired of unsuccessful efforts to stop people celebrating the solstice and the birthday of the sun god. So the pope at the time decided to make Jesus’ official birthday coincide with the other. No one knows what time of year Jesus was actually born but there is evidence to suggest that it was in midsummer.

This year I am designing a scavenger hunt for my grandson, that will educate him (and the rest of the family) to the history and rich traditions of the season that countries all over the world have contributed to. The symbols we love and use every season are rooted deeply in spiritual tradition.. The Yule log, "Christmas" Tree, holly, ivy, gifting, Wassail, feasting, fires and candle lighting, wreaths, mistletoe, singing, worshiping, etc., go back into antiquity, and all represent abundance, good fortune, love, peace, continuity of life, prosperity, and more. As each clue is followed, a brief description of each symbol will be read and a few "olde" carols will be sung by all.

Twilight Zoning

2008-11-28T07:12:00.003-05:00

It has been far too long since my last post, and I apologize. I took off for the West Coast about two weeks ago, with almost no planning. My mother was very unhappy, and for reasons that are best kept within the family. I had to look into things, and determined that I couldn't leave my mother behind. It was a wild week of legal issues and many unpleasant situations, and yesterday my family and I sat down to Thanksgiving dinner and were truly thankful. I need about another week to organize and regain my composure, but I will be back on course as soon as I can!

What to wear and socks for happy feet...

2008-11-09T07:04:00.032-05:00

I have always been different, without even trying to be. Finally, just this last week, the decision was made to embrace my differences and genuinely appreciate them. You see, it is all because of my creative nature. It asserts itself continually. When it is not finding a new way to fry an egg, for instance, it is itching to create some tangible expression of something with just about everything. A few days ago, on my regular checkup at the dentist (of nearly 18 years), one of the hygienists popped her head into the room and gave me a questioning look. I don't know this one very well, and so I must have looked surprised. She just laughed, and said she wanted to see what I was wearing. She was bewildered that I was looking mostly normal in my purple long sleeved T-shirt, and jeans. So, I pulled up one pant leg, and displayed my socks. Designed by artist Laurel Burch, with a mix of happy jewel colored dancing dogs, they are colorfully and playfully certain to make feet want to dance for joy. Laughing and satisfied, she left the room. So, there you are. Different.

My Laurel Burch socks came from one of my trips to the West Coast. There is a small shop in Sausilito which sells her things. This last trip, I decided I wanted to collect mugs. I like generous portions of coffee or tea, and I like my mug to fit my color mood, and I like colorful and happy to start my day. If you are interested in having happy feet, or a cheerful cup, you can find her stuff at: Laurel Burch

Several years ago, when dressing to impress was really hot in the spotlight for women, I became very aware of "colors." At the time, I was really tired of all the clothes in my wardrobe. The popular belief is that you have neutrals that you build, mix, and match around. Well, the long and short of it is that I find browns, tans, and often black, drab or dismal. To me, white is an invitation for mischievous dirt sprites to have at it. However, I discovered something very interesting in the process of taking everything out of my closet and giving it all a hard look.

1. Everything I love wearing sorted into similar color groups, mostly jewels and brights.
2. These different color groups relate well together.
3. ...And (drum roll) ...my clothing is mix and match around colorful "neutrals" of purple, or pink, green, or royal blue. ...Or jeans.
4. In addition, my clothing faves are all natural fibers.
5. And, my favorite clothes all have texture, whether it is silky, course, furry, etc.

At one time, while in a serious slump as I transitioned out of my first marriage, I suddenly became aware of the colors in my closet. It was as if someone else had taken it over. Nearly everything in there had turned into shades of brown and (oh, horrors!) ...gray! This couldn't be my wardrobe, I had never dressed in these colors. Yet, there they were, in all their drab and somber glory. It was at this point that I realized my mental state needed a lift. It was probably already lifting, or I likely would not have realized this. Now, every day is a color reflection of how I feel or want to feel. Colors are very important to me and are a source of comfort as well as expression. Each morning as I stand before my closet, I ask myself "what color am I feeling like today?"

Doomed to be Frogged!

2008-11-02T06:21:00.011-05:00

As a free range knitter, I am forced to look at my projects with an discerning eye as the yarns present themselves into the design. One of my recent projects, a cardigan, has been snoozing for a few weeks. It had been frogged a few times because there was just something about it that I was not satisfied with. When I pulled it out of the bag it was hiding in yesterday, I knew without a doubt that it would again become a pile of yarns. This is no easy undertaking. With mohair and some furry character yarn, it can take a good bit of teasing to separate them from their nesting places. The flash reflection makes it look pretty good. That furry looking yarn you can easily see across the middle of it all, has an iridescent quality that reflects a lot of the camera's light. However, the yarns actually come across far less bright and somewhat dismal.

The lighter yarns really look brighter too. I have been telling myself it would all work out, all through the back, and one front, but the big picture effect is one of somber colors. Its just not me, and those beautiful yarns are simply dieing in this combination. That gorgeous iridescent is lost among the others. The Fiesta is boring. The regal purple silk charmeuse that gave itself up to become strippon yarn languishes here, as does another beautiful Tartellette ribbon yarn. There are just too many counts against it, so frog I will.

This is the model for this ill-fated cardi. It's a Jane Thornley pattern based on the feather and fan stitch. I do plan to start over, but I must come to terms with what my yarns are looking for to awaken their greatness. Since this is the first time I have come up against this situation, I am still pondering their fate in combination. ...Will keep you posted.

..............As of November 3, this is now a pile of yarn. While I was frogging away, I realized that there was a total upstaging of the yarns which were meant to be in the background. They stole the show from the really beautiful and more expensive yarns that I had been looking to showcase. THAT is why I never felt that it was pleasing me!

Fairies in the Garden is done!!!

2008-10-22T06:04:00.016-04:00

Yes! ...Unlike the trees outside, which are slowly beginning to shower down their leaves, this Garden has been gaining leaves, and beads! Now completed, it is ready to be worn. When knitting in a free range style of using basic stitches to show off multiple yarns to their greatest advantage, it is possible to follow your creative spirit wherever it will lead you. Sometimes, yarns that appear to be perfect for play with others in a garment of this sort will opt out at the last minute. It is strange to me how this happens. Held together, the yarns seem to compliment each other in color and texture, but when the knitting begins, they start to fight each other. Many times a few rows have been frogged to remove the offending yarn. Many times has a project been set aside because something is missing, a particular kind of excitement that just the right yarn will lend to the others, bringing them alive. And that is where the passion lies in free ranging. In Fairies In The Garden, this spirit led me into new and wonderful territory. Until now, my embellished projects have had character beads. I searched space to find the right beads. I had it in mind to add little fairy pendants along with crystal, glass, and stone beads. However, the more I looked, it dawned on me that the cost of the fairies alone would make this a very pricey scarf. I also realized that they really wouldn't take the imagination anywhere. Was it really necessary to have metallic fairies cavorting in the fibers? After a bit of thought, I decided that the real treat for the imagination would be to simply imply that fairies would be found there.

Just as any mystical woodsy glen sparks the imagination to place mystical creatures there, my scarf, if I achieved that character, would suggest the same. So, how does one go about suggesting that this scarf would be favored by tiny creatures that by their very nature are unburdened? The scarf had to be weightless, like the web of a spider, soft as mist, full of hiding places and surprises, and glistening with beads hinting of dew and berries. Colors are reminiscent of soft morning light and springtime.

Sleeves or no sleeves?

2008-10-22T05:46:00.009-04:00

Colder weather has hit us here in the South quickly this year. Just when the back porch was seducing me to languorous hours there enjoying the cooler temps and fresher air that fall heralds in. From mid-seventies to 60's overnight. Now, after waiting all summer for a fall in which to enjoy my Peach Orchard Cardi-Wrap in it's sleeveless glory, there is no doubt that this had to be reconsidered right away. So, it was decision time. The plan is to simply lace the sleeves onto the body of the wrap. This would seem ideal, as the sleeve has YO's at the sleeve slots. If I had done the body with the same, they could be added and removed as the whim takes me. So, now , a quick whip stitch, and those homeless parts will finally be attached!