Busy Month for shows!

Sep5

I’m taking the cats to the pet motel tomorrow and getting the dog washed. We head out Friday to Natural Fiber Fair in Arcata to join in the fun there for our first time. This fair has been going on for 22 years but it’s the first time we’ve been part of it. I am looking forward to it. And it’s on the coast, which will be fun, too. as the weather is perfect!

The end of the month is the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival and we’ll be OFFF to it in a couple more weeks. Today on American Girl Knitters on Ravelry we discussed a Weave ALong to be tentatively set for January/February. that will be fun , too. We’ll weave a doll dress, of course!

Speaking of dolls… I got a new one today. She’s an American Girl, too. An older one, no longer made by Pleasant Company.  I knew she was coming in just her undies so i found some patterns from fellow dollers and had some waiting for her. Now that she’s here for me to fit I can start weaving her wardrobe, too!  Meet Skyler! She’s having a bad hair day just out of the box but is in great shape elsewhere.  She even stands up. her mini skirt is just a tad too mini but the sweater fits just fine.

End of summer?

Aug28

It’s been down in the 80’s all week and in the 40’s at night. I love it but my tomatoes don’t. They are ripening a couple at a time, slowly. I have some veggies in the dehydrator today, zucchini,  peppers, green beans, a roma type tomato, stuff to make into my soup mix. I dried the Asian pears that a neighbor gave me, those we didn’t eat fresh, that is. Good stuff! And the black berries to deal with tomorrow. I made some dill relish using up the excess cucumbers. It’s pretty good, I have a half pint left over that I just put in the fridge to use more or less fresh.

But today I also finished up a little doll dress. I say a kid version of this in a knitting magazine but this doll one is woven on an assortment of little blooms. Here’s Samantha Whirling and twirling in her new dancing dress,

Been awhile!

Aug22

I did not realize it had been so long since I posted here. I am really falling down on the job as a blogger.   Well, I have been busy but not that busy so that’s a poor excuse.  Sounds better than “I forgot”, tho.

I got my HandWoven magazine last week with the picture of my toddler set I sent in to the contest. They bumped me out because I sent the shorts with it. The title of the contest and the only rule was “sleeveless” so I don’t quite get this. You may have seen it. They didn’t mention the looms but I guess that’s okay, too. Anyway, it was a nice picture.  Fed Ex was supposed to have it back here yesterday but they can never find us. UPS has no trouble finding us but Fed Ex… well, I have to call and explain every time. Anyway, Hopefully they’ll get it here tomorrow. I want to try to talk a neighbor into letting her little girl model it for some pictures. I’ve almost finished the boys outfit and then I have to find a toddler boy.

I almost sent this one. They’re both sock yarns. Now I’m working on a doll dress for a possible WAL. And I am working up the hooded doll jacket pattern, too, and have started sketching some baby things.

That’s about all I’ve finished since the chicken kitchen  curtain. We’re trying to get the loom stock up for the fall shows and orders are pouring in again now that the very hot weather is abating a bit. And boy am I glad about that. I’m not ready for winter yet but I am ready for a little moderation! It got up to 82 today, I can deal with that!

What else? I’ve been printing snow scenes today for a neighbor who has ordered 20 more christmas cards! Wow, that’s planning ahead! And yesterday I canned pickle relish to use up the excess cucumbers the garden is producing this year. The tomatoes will be coming on by the bushel in a week or so, too.

Did  I mention that I will be teaching a class this November at Fiber Mania in Grants Pass, Oregon?  This is a new venture for me. X your fingers that someone actually signs up for it!

Some pictures

Jul31

Here’s a few of my pictures.  I did a series of self portraits for a show, running them down through the years. I don’t have them all digital but it started in my 20’s and went on up to the present. They were titled In my 20’s, In my 30’s etc and on up to the last one ! lol

20’s (& painted in my 20’s as well)

This one is In my 60’s.. It’s a dirt painting & not true to life. It was one of the times I never got around to having my hair cut but it was not red by that time. Should have used the red for the back ground and the grey for my hair but I still like it. You can tell that I’ve learned a bit about life in the interim.

And lastly… In my dreams   (When I was in high school I used to make 50 cent each painting ‘cheese cake’ on the hard hats of guys who worked on my dad’s survey crew!)

Well, painting is fun and I have made a few bucks, but probably  not enough to pay for all the supplies I’ve bought though the years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying it out.

Jul15

I really haven’t make a whole project on the new peg loom so thought I ought to give it a serious try. Randy designed this one at the request of several weavers.   It seems to be going quickly and is making a very plush rug. I’m using  a reel of selvage  cut from knit fabric. I’ve used the smooth-and- cut smaller version of this fabric to make place mats on the Mat Maker loom,  & wove a larger rug on my old rug loom that I gave away. There was lots of this fabric. it was given me by a neighbor of my Rogue River sister. Here’s what I have so far.

 

Hot here but…

Jul8

Not as hot as the Eastern parts, thank  the Maker! I closed up the house in the morning and stayed indoors where it was nice and cool. Himself and Dog went hiking to the high country to find their cool. Came home with sore muscles and sunburn but relaxed and happy.

Here’s a view of Ycatapom peak with Mt Shasta way off  in the background. Grass still green and lots of wildflowers in bloom up there at 6ooo’.

 

A cool summer day

Jun23

Yeah, it’s nearly July and only 47 degrees this morning. Rained heavily yesterday but none so far today, in fact the sun is peeping out just now. My tomatoes hate this weather! So does my old man. That’s Robin, not Randy, but he isn’t real happy about it, either, tho in his case it’s the rain, rather than the cool. Cool is good for fixing roofs, rain on the other hand…

But Robin deals with it like this. He’s usually out napping on the deck,  80-90 degrees is comfortable for his old cat body.

The Damsel

Jun22

The Damsel Fly

The little glint of blue left a faint glittering and sparkling trail as it darted over the clear water of the pool. I sat on a sun warmed rock watching, knowing what would happen shortly. It never failed and it never failed to delight me. It only lasted for a few minutes; they could not maintain it and I don’t know how they do it. Or even if they do. Could it be my imagination?  No one else has ever mentioned seeing it. There! Alighting on my outstretched palm; the Damsel, tiny, perfect, gowned in blue, smiling up at me.

 

This weeks Flash Friday I find kind of fun. I like to look at the bright side, it makes a tiny balance for the way most see this.

Quiet

Jun15

          I think I am linking to a site that posts a photo each week for you to match with a 100 word story of your own composing. I thought that sounded like fun. http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/photo-prompt-for-100-word-flash-fridayfictioneers-34/ I’m technically challenged so I don’t know if I’m doing this right but here my story  for this week.

                                                     Quiet

I was sure I saw a flicker of movement just there where the path disappears into the woods. It’s quiet, a distant bird song and the steady clicking of some courting insect is all the sound in the world.  Those two teen boys claimed to have seen Sasquatch here just two days ago. I don’t believe it but they said it left tracks in the mud near that stream about half mile into the woods. Just some boys wanting attention but I was sent  to get a picture so I’ll get a picture. Just wish is wasn’t so quiet.

Flash Friday

 

Is it June already!?

Jun14

How time flies… whether you’re having fun or not! Well, I guess I have been having a little fun. It’s getting the garden in time, doing all the chores that were neglected all winter. But I have been weaving, too. Have been inspired to try a couple new (to me) techniques on the looms. One is transparent weaving where you weave a net-like base and weave pictures with colored yarns in that base. On a “traditional” looms you weave it as you go. On the 12″ Quilt Weaver Square (what I am using) I make a large “weavie” and then weave in the picture. It has involved some interesting challenges but I think I am getting it. In some ways, doing it like this is  kind of like embroidery but yet it is still weaving.  This is destined to be a kitchen curtain. A valance, actually. The pictures come from my bread box and a couple wooden hamburger presses  that are only decorative pieces in my kitchen. I think they are 1950′ or maybe even ’40’s. Antique, vintage, or retro, take your pick! lol

The other project I have going is a colorway blanket, a rainbow affair. I’ll post photos of it once I get it a little further along. And I am working also on making up a booklet of pattern stitches. This is a more or less long term project and is going to challenge my photography skills. or lack of them, as well as my weaving skills, but I thought it might be of interest.