I know I haven’t been keeping up this blog very well this last couple of weeks. But today I went to a meeting in Weaverville called “From Field To Fabric” with Tracy Shapiro, a fiber historian and master weaver, spinner, etc. It was very interesting and very informative. Tracy has been helping the Trinity Historical Society sort and store their vast collection of historical costumes and fabrics. She also was kind enough to look at the two old quilts that Grandmother was throwing out as “those old blankets” and which I snaggled. Both are entirely hand made, one she said from the fabrics used was probably 1930’s and the other older, maybe 1890’s. That is it in the picture, or rather the cornmeal sack that forms the backing. Neither are in great condition and I had intended to use them as drapery in the studio but she advises against it so maybe I’ll just put them on the bunk beds.
The other thing I came away with is a cupful of cotton fiber, even a bole of the brown. With seeds! She says cotton won’t grow here (She’s from Humbolt where it’s much wetter) but I have done it before and even gotten boles so I know better. Not that it would make a commercial crop but it is cotton!
Oh yes, I also won a door prize… a box of English Toffee from a local candy maker. 🙂

I’m weaving these 14″ diamonds for a new project, inspired by a knitted pattern. This isn’t going to look much like the knitted one but that one gave me the idea. I bought this yarn at Jo-Ann’s. It was pretty cheap but I love those really big fat skeins! :laugh: I was thinking of pillows or something non-wearable but I think this is going to make a rather nice fabric. I sure like the way the diamonds look so far. I’d like this to fit me so am not sure how many of these I’ll have to weave. And…really… I don’t wear sleeveless tops anymore so maybe I’ll make it for my daughter. I think I have an idea for an entry in the Spin-Off poncho contest, too! lol It is one that would probably be called “art”. No… you’ll have to wait and see! 😎 :laugh:

Here’s something a bit more cheerful. I picked this up at a sale at Jo-Ann’s but I think LB makes one about like it. It wove up nicely on the Quilt Weaver Square and I used the end of a knitting needle to easily pull up the “flags” after. This brand, at least, is made up of three stands and the biggest problem is making sure you don’t drop one on the way though. Again, easy to fix, but annoying. It didn’t happen much and I’d use it again. Don’t know what you’d make with it. Scarves, of course, maybe a hat, cuff or collars for a bigger project. This one is for an afghan patch swap. Soft stuff… actually I can see it as a sleeveless summer top for little girl. I expect two 12″ or 14″ squares might make a little boat necked top, depending on the size of your girl. It’d be fun, anyway! 😀
Snowed here again this morning. I think we may have gotten 3″. Enough to cancel Sis’s trip down. Again. :plain:

It’s been that kind of week. So here’s all the creativity that’s come out of me this week. Now… what do we make of that?

Robin is keeping my chair warm while I make lunch. 😉 There’s the stack of triangles for the border of my blanket. I single crochet around each one before adding it to the blanket. It needs the dark to seperate the jumble of colors. Randy is putting the new door up in the studio 😀 and that means I can get started on the remodling I want to do over there. He has to do the “carpenter” stuff first!
Snow’s all gone again, but it’s blustery and quite chilly out. Nice to see the new white on the Mt. tops, tho. California’s summer water supply! 😛 But I’ll stay in today!

My camera decided I didn’t need a flash or something so this photo is a bit hazy 😛 but this is the crazy quilt on the bed. It needs, probably, one more row to make it a bit longer and then I think I’ll work on the border. I haven’t quite decided what to do there but have been thinking about triangles. 💡

:confused: Well, it happens every spring when the daffies bloom. Here’s a view of the yard which includes the Blue Jay nest. They’ve been using this site under the eaves for quite a few years but this year they started a bit early, it seems to me. I didn’t get a chance to get out and prune and tie up the rose after the winters heavy snow tore it down, as it does every year. It is the prettiest rose, a cream with a bit of pale pink in the center, very fragrant, too. Well worth all the maintenance. And very forgiving is it doesn’t get enough of that!
I haven’t any fiber stuff to show; been spring cleaning. Getting rid of ‘stuff’. And since it started raining… well, the last time Himself hit the “junk ” stores with his friend he brought me a box with 38 Barbie’s, 1 Ken, and 5 little Barbie’s… Skipper, I think she’s called, and Tom & Kelly? Needless to say they were all naked. I had mentioned earlier this winter that I was going to knit up a wardrobe for the baby doll I have and donate it this coming Xmas. Well… he didn’t remember the details of that plan but got the general idea and put it together with my enjoyment in clothing Barbie. Hummm…. Well! lol I have got some of them clothed. I hope I can find a place to donate them. I was thinking of a children’s hospital but they might not want to take second hand toys. Even if I do wash them up well first. I’m sure I’ll find out before I get them all dressed! :laugh:

Bonnie’s Granny Square Flower
🙂 Chain 5, join with slip stitch in 1st chain to make circle.
:confused:Chain 3, * 3 double crochets in circle. Chain 3, turn.
:doze:1 double crochet in each of next 2 double crochets and make 1 double crochet
in top of turning chain.
:O Reach around behind the double crochets, and do 1 double crochet into
original circle, behind 1st set, so it is actually as if it was done 1st.
😀 Repeat from * seven times for a total of 8 petals.

If you keep all your petals turning in the same direction this turns out just like it should. When you reach from the right side of the petal to the left side to work the dc back into the chain circle, the left corner of the petal will come forward. It makes a nice little flower. The rest of this block came from a pattern on-line http://members.aol.com/gandal195/irishivyrose.html by a lady whose name is also Bonnie. I don’t know if it’s the same one, tho! I can’t seem to get the knack of the bullion stitch but this granny flower works well and is nicer looking than my feeble bullions! :laugh:

I put the panel on holders at this point and started a second one. This should be just about half my yarn and long enough for the vest panel. The second one wil be slightly different as I am starting from opposite ends so that it now starts with the pale yellow and the dark purple. When I get it going I’ll post another photo. I like the general idea but am learning quite a bit about color runs, for instance, I think these are really too long and don’t blend nearly enough though the changes. It’s been an interesting experiment.

I saw one crocus this morning but this afternoon when I finally got outside… lo and behold! Primroses, too! I said I was going to get out today and rake but I never made it. I guess I’d better do it tomorrow. The poor things are tyring so hard to get though all last years litter. I see some ferns edging their little fiddle heads up, too. I don’t think we have any tulips left, they don’t go on forever and the critters munch then, too. But I bought a pot of blooming tulips at the grocery yesterday. Yes, I know, but they were so pretty, so I spent a little bit of the grocery money on Beauty. That’s better than chocolate, isn’t it?! :crazy: Well… isn’t it?!! :laugh: