Archive | April 2020

Looking though some old photos….

Apr24

I found this top which is made with some really nice Blue Sky cotton. But it, as you see, was a fashion fail! I think I’m going to frog it and find a better use for this nice yarn. In fact,  any ideas?

It’s just as well that it’s a fuzzy photo! lol  But you have to admit it is not flattering. Maybe if it was sewn instead of crocheted together and the sleeves were smaller, not so baggy…

Or how about this one. That goes way back! In fact, I think this one was woven on my first triangle loom, and adjustable 7′ tri. It’s supposed to be a cowboy style jacket. Not even sure what happened to that or whether it’s still around.

Another bad idea. Saw a picture of a knitted “cocoon”. Seemed like a great idea so used some nice alpaca to weave a bunch of 12″ squares and put them together into the same shape. Knitted about 100,000 rows of ribbing around it. Nope- definitely not. So I frogged the ribbing and ended up with this. It looks better on my ‘dummy’ with a belt. And has since been washed and pressed, which also helps but it was a hit on her at the last show.

So, anyway, just  a few examples of how things don’t always work like the ideas in your head. So then you look for another idea and try again! Sometimes you just have to give up in the end, but I won’t show you those just now. I hope to be able to show you the new cotton project sometime this summer.  It’s going to take awhile to disassemble this one and figure out just what can be done to save this lovely cotton yarn.

Hope you’re all getting some nice weaving done! And starting your gardens, of course. It almost May!

 

The Essential Practice of Doing Nothing

Apr20

We all have different words for doing nothing. Some of us putter, potter or tinker. And then there is the Italian, “Dolce Far Niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing.

I feel like doing nothing today
I recently became a proud member of the Do Nothing Club. Of course, this isn’t an actual club. I’m an introvert and don’t join or start clubs, but I do like the idea of doing nothing with you … together but alone.

Some people didn’t understand my desire to do nothing. They assumed do nothing meant do nothing all the time.

Doing nothing gives us the energy to do something.
The thought of doing nothing can be scary. It was for me.

When I was focused on doing it all, I rarely took time to do nothing. I ran at an unsustainable pace, multi-tasking my way through the day, and enjoying or being present for very little of it.

Because I measured my worth by what I accomplished, doing nothing was a luxury I could not afford.

I learned my lesson though, slowed down and began to embrace …

The Essential Practice of Doing Nothing
Now I do more nothing. Not all nothing, but more nothing. We have to stop assuming never, aways, none or all. There is so much in between.

Here’s how to implement the essential practice of doing nothing into your life.

1. Schedule it. Put (at least) a tiny block of “do nothing” on your calendar every single day. You don’t have to determine how you’ll spend your do nothing time in advance. This “do nothing” time will look different for everyone. Read a book, take a bath, stare at the stars, or simply rest. Do what helps you refuel and recover.

2. Say goodbye to guilt. You aren’t choosing to do nothing because you are lazy, but because it’s essential to your health and happiness. You are choosing to do nothing because you are not a robot and because you’ve done enough already.

If we want to have energy to show up for the things that matter to us, we need guilt-free common sense to rest in between.

3. Recognize the difference between nothing and numbing. Escaping your busy life with substances and activities that help you numb out does the opposite of intentionally doing nothing. It drags you down and continues to deplete you.

4. Do the math. If you are thinking, I don’t have time to do nothing, remind yourself that you’ll spend less time doing other things if you approach them with ease and clarity. You can’t do that when you are worn out. Good work doesn’t come from someone who is overworked.

By taking time to do nothing, you’ll be more present for the people you love and more engaged in work you care about.

5. Change your measuring system. Measure less by what’s on your calendar and more by what’s on your heart.

Do Nothing Club
Do you want to join my club? 😍

There are no fees, meetings or obligations.

All you have to do to join is schedule some glorious nothing on your calendar.

Who’s in?

xo,

by Courtney Carver

I think it’s springtime!

Apr19

Did I say that before? Well, I think it really is this time. Our lows have been in the 40’s and the garden is already growing. the early guys anyway. Flowers, too. And the trees are leafing out. All but the oaks, but they are always last, not really trusting kind of plants. Kinda like my Pop, he said don’t plant out until the Oak leaves are as big as squirrels ears. Yes, for most things but the peas like it early! And the daffies have been blooming, they never want to miss the last snow!  But the tulips are now blooming on my new bulb bed, too.

    

And Grandmother’s favorite wild flower. She said they look so cheerful in the lawn, the first to bloom in her yard. They always make me think of her. She was Randy’s grandmother but we cared for her in her last 20 or so years and I was closer to her than to my own grandmother so I just leave the in-law part off. A great lady. Too bad the new owner does not like them and has killed them all off, along with the wind flowers and English daisies. Only hawkweed left out there now. I suppose it is pretty too but way too invasive.

And The PUD says the power will be out from 8am to 4pm on Tuesday so I am designating Tuesday as Weaving day! Got my bins ready!

 

The Mystery Weave Along using the 3.5″ Quilt Weaver Square and a couple projects for patterns I’m writing up. I think it’ll be enough to keep me busy all day!  But weaving today, too, working on some color designs for the big triangles. And I badly needed a haircut so I figured I may as well re-dye it, too, as I cut most of the pink off. Himself & dog have gone firewood cutting, you’ll see why I like to do this when everyone is gone! Now, while the Kool Aid is doing it’s thing, I’m going back to weaving!

Whopee!

Apr7

The new Little Looms magazine just came out and I’m in it! They wanted my little Onsie, woven on the 4″ square Multi loom. This is only my 2nd time being Published. A few years ago Handwoven had one of my doll dresses in it. I  think I’ve caught the Bug! lol I’ve got a list of subjects and dates for projects and am busy planning!

But here’s the Onsie.

If you have a new baby coming, child, grandchild, friend, you might like this one. It’d make a great shower gift, too! (Link above to magazine, or check your local book store-if you can do so safely.) I used the 4″ triangle, too, but I think you could use the square and just fold it. However, we would be happy to sell you a 4″ triangle, they are very handy! The theme was Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. Mine is named after a flower so in the Veg category. This magazine only comes out once a year but I’ve already submitted & had accepted my project for next year.

Hey! Remember… You knew me when!