Mystery Pod

This is one of the plants that we have in our office at work. This one belongs to my friend and office mate, Helen. We are convinced that this blossom will be a "pod person" ! We've never seen anything like it before and have been following it's growth expectantly. Now, I am sure it is going to bloom this weekend when we are away from the office - so I can only hope that it will be a typically long lived cactus flower and I will get to see it next week! The pod has an almost smooth surface - not hairy really - and has these four little "horns" at the lower edges - you can see them in the photos. Anyone have any clue what kind of flower this will be?

Reminder's Of The Changing Seasons

Reminders of the changing seasons are all around me. Seems like just yesterday that the bees were busy were busy collecting nectar. Maybe I just noticed them more this year because of all the concern over declining bee populations. I love honey in my tea - so I have a vested interest in keeping them healthy and supplied with appropriately "nectared" flowers.

Yesterday , the fog banks were a visual reminder of the encroaching Fall. The skies cleared and the afternoon was glorious - if I had to chose a word to define the rest of the day it would be "perfect". Last night, however, the weather turned again. It was in the mid 40'sF (7-ish C) and this morning the skies are cold and heavy gray. Rain is forecast for later today and the first flood watch of the season has been posted.

I love all of the seasons - each has it's positive aspects -as well as it's negatives ! I can't change the weather so I really try to take notice of the small changes - and savor each one.

Happy weekend to all - whatever season you are in -enjoy !

My Knitting's Got A Brand New Bag!

I enjoyed making this 15" X 9" (38.10 X 22.86 cm) knitting bag so much ! I think one of my favorite things is the free motion quilting. This bag is lined and has incredible texture. It's my first braid made with a "real" kumihimo tool - which I thoroughly enjoyed using. So very much to learn ! SO many projects to do! I was already commissioned to make one of these for someone - and hope there will be more requests in the future. I did not add pockets to this first one - but think I will on the next. The photos are of the front and back - and two close up details.

Mighty Minis

Some years ago I became enthralled with the "Dear Jane" quilts. I spent months working on thse small 4.5 inch finsihed blocks and fell in love with the small format. For this quilt I used the blocks from the Dear Jane book as well as some from "Dear Hannah" and from Judy Rothermel. You can click on the photo to get a closer look at the birds, flowers and Saturn ! I was very fortunate to have been able to meet Brenda Papadakis - the author of Dear Jane - and she is a person. Warm, generous ,caring and talented. This finished as a king size quilt. The worst thing is (or maybe it's a good thing really) that I am getting an urge to begin another - somewhat wilder - one . This quilt was how I taught myslef to applique - in all of it's wonderful, delightful forms! I used an atypical border which I think broke up the uniformity of the blocks.

Perfectionism

Release your perfectionism.
The process of life is always changing.
Demanding perfection holds the universe
in a strait jacket.

Christine Northrup MD

I love this sentiment ! Give yourself permission to be less than perfect. !

The Fog Come In

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
by Carl Sandburg

I love the fog - and I suppose it's a good thing that I do - since we get quite a bit of it in our area. This is prime fog time here - through the end of October pretty much. Then the rains generally begin, the happy lights come out of storage, and we all start hunker down for the winter. We are lucky though since we don't usually get great amounts of snow, nor is there that bone chilling icy cold that I grew up with on the Atlantic Coast. By February I am desperately seeking sun though - and start counting the days until the hummingbirds arrive - which for me signals Spring is near. Those hearty little creatures generally arrive the week of Saint Patrick's Day.

I have been working on a new felted project and am so excited because the handle is almost done - then I can take some pictures of it and post it. Hope everyone will have a great week !

Marudai Mania

I am so excited (I guess it really does not take much!). I finally found a Marudai that I could afford ! I found it on Ebay. Made by a nice man from Canada whose wife is a fiber artist. It's beautifully made and is a wonderful value. If you have an interest in getting one I can see if he would like me to send you his email address. Last Fall I bought one of the Kumihimo Disk sets at Festival in Houston. It was a splurge for me as I got both the round (marudai) disk that makes round braids and the square(kakudai) disk that makes flat braids - along with a book by Helen Deighan. I was not sure how - or even if- I would really use it, but it looked interesting.

Over the last year I have used it more and more and have become fascinated with the process - and how using different colors,textures, & weights of yarn and ribbon work together. I decided that I really wanted to try "the real thing". Problem was that they are very pricey little items and I just could not afford $200. for the one I wanted.

Today I tried my marudai for the first time! Thus far I have found that, indeed, it is a bit easier & faster than using the soft foam disk. Catching the yarns, threads and ribbons in the little catches on the disk (required to maintain tension) tended to slow me down. The "real thing" is tensioned by a small bag (or in my case large lamp worked beads) in the middle for counter weight and the threads are wound around weighted bobbins - and you just move the threads into position & the weights in the bobbins maintains the tension for you.

I ordered one book on braiding by Jacqui Carey - but it has not arrived yet - so I am sort of operating "in the blind". Trying to figure it out as I go along. I know I have a lot to learn! Now I see that I will need more books. Another wonderful adventure in learning ! I love trying something new !

The disk is a great "take along" tool and well worth getting to try. Joggles sells a great little tool as well called the Diva cordmaker - it's another great option.
The photo above is the top of the marudai. The photo below is of a bobbin wound with a bumpy beautiful yarn.
Below is the beginning of my first "official" braid - I used very textured yarns in a variety of weights to see how they would work together with the bobbins (the answer is they work well !)

Below is the original Kumihimo disk I got in Houston - it's still a great, portable tool to have and I have never regretted purchasing it !~

Latest small bag

This is the latest small bag I've finished. It's definitely one of my favorites! The Spousal says that I say that after I finish each one - maybe that means I get better with each one I make?! This one is unlined and I had a great time concentrating on the quilting, beading & other small details. Generally I don't like using a satin stitch much for the edges - but I thought that this bag called for a simple approach and so I used a dense stitching on it. I also machine seamed this bag - and I liked the effect. I have been trying to figure out ways to get the looks I want without spending quite as many hours per bag and this method is faster & simpler that doing the blanket stitch. I think it's a good option for some designs. I thoroughly enjoy letting each bag "tell" me what to do. I like not having plans for the final result - it allows me to really just "go with the flow"!

Now I am moving on to get the knitting bag finished - I hand basted the zipper in last night - so maybe by tomorrow it will almost finished .

How To Relax?

I am happy to report that my computer is working again. It reminds me of how much I LOVE my computer and how much I HATE it when something goes wrong. I am also happy to report that the speed is now b l a z i n g - what a difference!

I drew the little picture above yesterday and it's about how I was feeling - I had planned to post it this morning. Yesterday - or maybe for much of this week -I feel like the world has just plugged into me and has taken every bit of "energy juice" I have - leaving me rattled, tired and frazzled. So many demands at times - how to not allow it all to overwhelm me. Malls exhaust me - as does being in crowds for too long . The energy that gets so thick at work sometimes makes me want to run and pull the covers over my head. Yikes .....I know I have it pretty darned easy compared to many people -and am so grateful for my life, I just need a tougher hide I guess!

Happy weekend everyone - I should have some photos of new projects this weekend ! At least working on them always manages to restore my sense of balance !

Feeling A Bit Thorny

I upgraded the speed of our DSL service this week and have had problems ever since!Wednesday evening a somewhat laconic young woman I spoke with managed to got the internet going again but by last night it was, once again,not working. Last night I was lucky enough to connect with a very knowledgable person who helped me try many - actually all - options. No joy ! I gather there is a 'mapping' problem - thankfully that means something on their end - so I will be internet-less at home until at least tonight - or until Monday if it does not get fixed today. I AM grateful that the company has a 24/7 "live" help line, and I am also grateful that they speak clear English - but it's frustrating none the less.

ONE BIG GRUMBLE ! Apologies to anyone I owe replies to -----replies soon - I hope !

Lynden, Washington

Part of my weekend "In America" was spent in this charming little town. It's a place that I could easily call home! It's on the mainland but feels removed for the chaos of everyday life. Lots of great shops - not one but TWO great quilt stores and both offer classes ! There are antique stores, great tea shops and a host of other art friendly places to stroll through. It's one of the nicest Washington State towns I have visited - and I could easily be happy there !

We passed field of colorful, cheerful Dahlia blossoms and the town's streets were filled with some amazing hanging baskets. They are probably the lushest and largest that I have ever seen anywhere. The draped from the tops of buildings to the street - full, luscious blossoms. Quite amazing !
Carlo and Lauren. Dahlia blooms - ready to be cut !
These were some of the blossoms in the hanging baskets that lined the town's streets. Amazing colorful and luscious !

A Fine Idea From Sue

Sue B. Had a great idea for another felted project for me. A knitting bag. I did a little research on how large the typical "knitting" bag is and decided to make one. Sue has good ideas ! I already has started this particular piece and it was the perfect size- about 16 inches (40.64 cm) long and 8 inches (20.32 cm) wide. Large enough for needles, a couple of balls of yarn and some notions and a pattern. This is just the beginning, but I had SUCH a good time quilting the piece ! I used one of my hand-dyed pieces for the lining and am in the process of getting the zipper in. Stand by for a post of the finished project !

The first two photos are the front and the bottom two are of the lining side - shows the quilting.

Inspirational Beings

I am really surprised at how this blog has become a part of my routine comfort level- and how odd it feels when I don't write it. There are so many days when I am not doing anything new creatively - nor anything that is particularly worth writing about ... who would really want to read about the dust bunnies I corralled, the cat messes that I cleaned up, or the dinner being prepared?! I much prefer it when I have something to write about that is new!

These are photos from my weekend "in America". I have always felt that white animals are angels dressed in fur - and so I always especially look forward to seeing one of my friend's cats whose name is Lummi. She has a magnanimous purrsonality and, since their move to the mainland, really seems to have flourished !

There are also four amazing equine presences in residence. This is Allegra. She really stole my heart. She's a new addition to the crew and was, some 20 years ago, part of one of the Bureau of Land Management horse round-ups. She has an amazing presence and I am looking forward to spending more time with her !

These two beauties have been part of the family for years. Sim (the dark horse) was the first horse I had been on since my childhood riding lessons - more years ago than I care to think about! Lauren is part of the growing ranks of people who practice "natural horsemanship"- and the horses really do seem the better for it. My "family", Lauren & Carlo, really are developing a very peaceable kingdom - where I look forward to spending lots more time !

What In The Heck Have I Been Up To ?

I seem to fall into time warps often at times- a day goes by in the blink of an eye and a week is gone in with the speed on a single thought. Last week was one of those weeks. I was not feeling overly inspired and felt the need for a change of pace. I got to "go to America" (which is what islanders call going off island to the mainland) to visit my 'family' Lauren & Carlo, who moved off the island in late June. I LOVE chickens and Lauren wanted me to paint their chicken coop door. During the week I had been sketching what I would paint, but when I saw the door none of my "visions" would work so I had to come up with plan B. I also had not envisioned a grey-green door for the background - white was on my mind! The paints that I picked up were awful - more like painting with goopy clay than anything else...won't buy that brand again! Next time I am going to with good old fashioned acrylic enamels. Here I am trying to come up with Plan B.
This is "The Colonel" - my model for the door! He has a harem of four hens and is young and just getting the hang of crowing.He's mellow and seems to enjoy being the only rooster in the hen house!
This is "Thumper" the grande dame of the roost. She is large and beautiful and is the senior gal in the nest boxes. She came with their property and we think that she is a Buff Orkington. Her fellow harem mates are three small Plymouth bantams named Sophia,Audrey and Bridget.
It was a wonderful weekend and was a joyful time of renewal for Lauren and I. We visited a wonderful town called Lynden, ate great food, visited antique, quilt and knitting stores and once again acknowledged the need for our small 'family' to remain close. Having family is a blessing - whether with two or four legs ... or in this case with feathers !

Experimental Pouch: Variation on a Theme

I had made this piece of felt some time ago - and since it was not one of my favorites - was wondering what to do with it. I decided to try adding a zipper by hand. I didn't trim the selvage of the felt and added the zipper by following the slight curve that blocking had produced. I probably won't do it this way again - it looks alright but straightening the edge would have made it look better I think. I used Valdani varigated perle cotton for sewing in the zipper and some seed stitches which DID work rather well. I may use this bag as a cosmetic or pencil case. Using Stewart Gill Glitterati really added a lot of sparkle - which unfortunately is not evident in the photo. Glitterati is crimped and really makes the glitter "pop".

I have signed up for a great online wet felting class with Sue Bleiweiss this Fall. It's through Joggles - and if you have not tried one of their on-line classes before - you should ! They're really terrific! Very creatively stimulating and very well presented. I am been contemplating taking another class there with Susan Sorrell on Doodling. I have never been a very proficient doodler - though I always seem to do a lot of it! This morning I realized that I DO doodle (a lot!) but I do it on my sewing machine in free motion rather than with a pencil. Ah ! Now I feel less inept !
Anyway - here are a couple of close ups of the experiment pouch - I am, generally, pleased with it - and have started working on another bag today !

Picking Blackberries

It was time for our yearly blackberry picking today. We were a bit later than usual this year and we missed lots of berries to other scavengers - both human and critters. No worries though as there are lots that will be ripening soon - and the weather is forecast to cooperate ! Last year we picked at least twice a s much and I made LOTS of jam.

This bounty will be "jammed" as well, although DH's aunt make want us to freeze some for her. It was such a spectacular day - just perfect for being outdoors!



Seeing all of that incredibly gorgeous juice - I just could not bear to waste any - so I threw a shirt into a pot and processed it ! The shirt was a light pink to start with - but I was pretty impressed with my unscientific dye job ! I will probably reprocess it to get a more even depth of color - but I sure like the initial result ! This photo was taken with a flash - since it's getting dark so early now - so the color is actually deeper than this indicates ! Hope everyone is having a great weekend !