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| Oh My Stars and Garter Stitch!! |
| 05.28.05 (11:45 am) [edit] |
I was organizing only my handspun stash. I had no business spinning all of this yarn and dyeing this fiber:
Okay, the solar method worked "better" for the turquoise, but the colors still seemed to separate. This is the closest to the advertised color for this dye that I have come.
Here is the reason I had no business generating MORE yarn:
Yup, it's all handspun. I'd better get knitting!
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| Woman on a Mission |
| 05.27.05 (11:35 am) [edit] |
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Or... I'm still trying to get turquoise to work. This time, I tried one of the methods in the latest Spin Off. I wet my fiber (with plain old hard water - not our fancy house, softened variety), laid it on a huge black plastic bag, squirted my dye on it, wrapped it up in a roll and secured with rubber bands, and set it out in the 80 degree weather in direct sunlight to bake all day long. I will let you know how it turns out!!
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| Peeking In to Say Hi |
| 05.23.05 (4:11 pm) [edit] |
In case you all are wondering, I am still here, but have been extremely preoccupied the last few days:
1) Helping set #1 son up with housing in Florida
2) Taking DH to hospital for day surgery, and tending to after surgery stuff and
3) Talking to some people about the possibility of a new job
I have managed to get some knitting in - just a bit. I decided to try my hand at making a Clapotis. I messed up - had to start all the way over and am just now back to the place where I messed up. I am also spinning my rainbow shocking yellow and "sorta turquoise" and sky blue roving.
Well, back to life once more...
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| Fool Me Twice! |
| 05.16.05 (6:17 pm) [edit] |
First of all, Phillip and I would like to thank all of you for the congratulatory and encouraging comments about his internship. Certainly, this will be an exciting time for him. You ladies are the best!
Okay, I have a quandary. This is the second time I have tried to dye some wool turquoise. Both times, the color has just sort of separated out when I rinse the fiber. It "looks" really pretty and bright turquoise, but when I rinse it, it turns kind of dull blue/gray. What's up with this stuff? Apparently, I need to do something different with it. The dyes I am using are Gaywool Bush Blends, and so far I have tried 2 different hues, with the same result each time. I know turquoise is difficult, but this is getting ridiculous!!
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| When You Wish Upon A Star |
| 05.14.05 (7:30 am) [edit] |
Or... Fairy Tales Can Come True
Once upon a time.
There was a little boy. He was not a prince, but his mom and dad loved him as much as any mom and dad could love a boy.
The little boy was very bright, but also, as little boys are wont to be, full of little boy mischief. He had to discover everything for himself.
About the time the little boy was 5 years old, mom and dad saw he was very artistic. He would come home from kindergarden, and comment on a little girl's "coloring", thus: "Rebecca doesn't color, she scribble scrabbles!"
Some time passes, during which time the little boy draws anything which catches his fancy. He makes drawings of his mom and dad - sometimes which are embarassingly (for his parents) true to life, capturing every mole, wrinkle and imperfection, his birds - in a hilarious parody of birds living the life of people, as in birds going on vacation at the beach, birds with binoculars, birds flying on airplanes (of all things!), maps of favorite vacation cities, but most of all, his favorite cartoon characters, especially ones of his favorite - THE famous mouse, you know, the one with the red shorts. Son INSISTS that one day he will work for The-Company-of-Famous-Mou se. (Mom and dad think - yeah, "sure", and every other little girl and boy who loves to draw cartoon characters)
Mom and dad continue to nurture this obsession/talent, and send him on Saturdays to the fairy-princess-art-teache r that had gone to high school with dad, for private lessons, where she taps him with her magic, how to mix life like colors, wand.
Years pass, and son perfects his drawing, illustrative skills. Teenage years happen, with son still having the same goal of working for The-Company-of-Famous-Mou se. A brief interruption in ambition occurs around senior year of high school where son is no longer certain of what to do, due to a bad experience with high school art.
Mom and dad counsel son to "try art school for a year." Son does that, and pours every ounce of ambition and energy into to projects and to being the best at his art -6 long years worth, in fact.
Last week, son got the WORD! He has been chosen for a 6 month internship (in Orlando, NOT California - YES!!) at, you have guessed it by now, THE company of THE FAMOUS MOUSE with red shorts!!
Phillip, you did it! Way to go, and know that mom and dad are as proud as can be of you! Wishing you a future as brilliant as your talent.
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| Uncanny |
| 05.10.05 (8:58 pm) [edit] |
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If I were a newbie knitter and did not read knit blogs, I don't think I would think of buying At Knit's End for someone as a gift. But that is exactly what dear little Jessie got me for Mother's Day. How did my son ever find such a jewel of a girl!! And, yes, I am enjoying reading it very much. I am trying to pace myself and not plow through it a breakneck speed, because I want to savor every word. Phillip got me rosewood needles and some more Gaywool Bush Blend Dyes. What a sweet pair!
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| Chicken Soup for the Knitting Mom's Soul |
| 05.08.05 (12:44 pm) [edit] |
I am just finishing up sock #2 of these to give to Phillip today when he arrives:
As I was working on the first sock, I took it with me to Savannah for Phillip to try on since it had been awhile since I knitted him a pair. He looked at it, felt it, said "this is nice," then proceeded to give his "one and only... the-girl-he-would-do-almo st-anything-for" an impish look and said, "these are for ME, not for you." Ha - nice to have people fighting over my knitting.
I got some lovely fiber off e-bay from a lady who had bought it a Puckerbrush Farm. I had bought some gorgeous stuff from said vendor last year at the MD Sheep and Wool, so I felt like I was getting MD S&W in an envelope this year. Anyhow, I have been spinning it this weekend, in honor of the festival. I am making thick and thin single yarn:
Ah, yes, I know I am teasing you to distraction, so TADA, here is a picture of my felted bag. I am pleased with the results!
Happy Mother's Day to all!
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| It Worked!! |
| 05.07.05 (11:18 am) [edit] |
The bag felted beautifully, and after only one cycle, too. It is still wet and is drying/blocking out in the sun.
Every once in awhile, I think of all the folks at MD S&W shopping and picnicing and fellowshipping and taking classes and playing with fiber toys and petting sheep and llamas and rovings and handpainted yarns and wow... I am just driving myself crazy... I heave a heavy sigh every now and again.
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| It's in the Bag |
| 05.06.05 (2:27 pm) [edit] |
Well, no, not exactly... The bag is in the washing machine being felted. I found some lovely handles to go on it. I cannot wait to see how it will all turn out. I did a test swatch, and it looked like everything felted pretty evenly. I hope all turns out okay.
More later...
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| Let's Play Tag! |
| 05.03.05 (5:10 pm) [edit] |
This is my first meme courtesy of Donna
1. Total Number of Books in Your House:
Over 200, I suppose + 2 library books. I know we have one huge bookshelf full and a smaller bookshelf, also full. Also, I probably have at least 20 knitting/spinning related books, since our local library is very deficient in fiber art related books.
2. The Last Book You Bought Was:
Knit Wit by Amy Singer. I'm not sure I'm keeping it though. It is such a fun book, I think my daughter-in-law-to-be will be inspired by it. There are several cute things I would like to make from it, though.
3. What Was The Last Book You Read Before Reading This:
Bad Ground, by Dale Kramer. This was about a man who could not forgive himself because he thought he was responsible for his brother's death.
4. Write down 5 (or 6) books you often read, or that mean a lot to you.
Fun Book(s): Well, I have to agree with Donna about the Harry Potter Books. 1, 3 and 5 were my favorites.
Inspirational Book: Hind's Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hunard
Fiber Art Books: Elayne's Simply Perfect (knitting book) - because it can make anyone a much better knitter, and also because she's my best friend :) and Color in Spinning, by Deb Menz
All Around Decent Literature: The Mitford Series, by Jan Karon
Comedy Books: Welcome to the World, Baby Girl and Standing in the Rainbows, by Fannie Flagg
(Okay, so I didn't list any classic literature, but rest assured, I like many of them, too, but I'm mem(e)ing here, so I'm doing it my way)
5. Who are you going to pass the stick to (three people) and why?
I'm passing this to Shelley, Sandra and I'm going to have to think some more about #3, I consider them both articulate and well read, #2 they are good sports, and #3 neither of them are having to get ready to go to the Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend.
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