Sunday, November 28, 2010

Belt Shuttles

Friday I was happy to visit with Laura, who was in town for Thanksgiving with her family. Sadly our visit was way too short. Laura brought me a nice fibery present - Books on weaving and basketry, some Ashford bobbins, and a belt shuttle. One of the books, Peter Collingwood's Techniques in Tablet Weaving, renewed my unfullfilled fascination with learning to card weave. I have done a few elementary peices, but I long to actually UNDERSTAND what I am doing. Perhaps I will make a study of it. The Collingwood book is a bit dense and intimidating, so I will start with Candace Crockett's Card Weaving, then work my way up.

The lovely dark wood (mahogany?) belt shuttle was looking a bit dry. A while back I acquired a birch (maple?) belt shuttle from Janet's husband, unfinished and ready for woodburning. The original plan was to woodburn and paint, but belt shuttles spend so much time in the hand. Acrylic paint and poly finish is too plastic to the touch. I decided to woodburn both shuttles and just oil them. That way the wood will develop a nice patina the more it is handled. I selected a fiberish quote for each, plus added simple designs along the wide edges.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving in the Park


oak leaves
Originally uploaded by Purple Fuzzy Mittens
Took a Thanksgiving Day amble in the Wilbur D. May Arboretum in Rancho San Raphael Park. Due to the holiday and the cold I had the Park mostly to myself. I could have gotten better shots if I visited at sunup, but I just can't get motivated in single-digit temperatures.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Baby Sweater with knitted flower

It looks a little alarming on the purple background. Trust me, the colors look better in person.

Monday, November 08, 2010

2010 Camping Review

Now that winter is here, I am looking forward to next summer's camping adventures. Before I pull out the campground guides and begin planning, here is a quick review of the little trailer's 2010 activity:

Due to travel for work, I didn't get any camping in until the 1st Intermountain Spindle Camp in May. It was a very wet joint campout of the Foothills Fiber Guild and the Carson Sierra Spinners and Weavers. A few pictures from the trip can be seen here and here. Despite the rain and cold, it was tons of fun. I was bummed to discover today that I have a conflict and won't be able to attend next year's Spindle Camp.

Independence Day weekend I took the little trailer up to Sharon and Ian's Sage Creek Farm for a very relaxing short stay. As far as I can tell, I didn't take any pictures, but I promise you I had a lovely time.

The big trip this year occurred in August. My Dad came up to Reno and we traveled together over to Salt Lake City for my Nephew's wedding. Afterward we continued on to Yellowstone National Park and camped for 5 nights in Madison Campground. Not only did we travel all around the park seeing geysers, glaciers, bears and elk, we also spent a day visiting the Grand Tetons. Magnificent country! Blossom only sleeps one, so Dad brought his tent. The 1953 trailer fit perfectly in the nation's first National Park. (In fact, chances are she has been there before!)

Next it was back to Sage Creek Farm for the annual Labor Day Gathering. Good food, great friends, lots of laughter, knitting, crystal hunting, giant Jenga, and the traditional visit to Joe Winter's pottery studio. As always, the little trailer looked truly tiny parked next to the giant 5th wheel.

The very next weekend was the Spinning Guild's annual Spinsters' Retreat at Davis Creek Park. Several of us camped in the Group site, while others came for just the day. It is nice to have a great little pine-shaded campground so close to Reno.

The last trailer trip of 2010 was to Coloma, CA for the Tin Can Tourists Northern California Regional Gathering. This was my first time at a TCT vintage trailer rally and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was so very exciting to drive up and see all the little trailers lined up! Saturday was trailer open house and I spent hours investigating each of the trailers. I took scads of pictures. Everyone was incredibly friendly and I didn't feel at all like a newbie. Blossom was one of the smallest trailers there, and folks were very nice about complimenting her refurbished interior, though most of these folks go to a lot of effort to restore their trailers to original fittings. I bought a very cool vintage bicycle from the folks in the trailer next door that I can take with me on future road trips. The campground was inside the Marshall Gold Discovery Park and right on the bank of the South Fork of the American River. It was exceptionally hot for October, so it was great to be able to scuttle down the bank right there at my campsite and sit on a rock with my feet in the river. I stayed an extra day and was able to do some exploring in Placerville, as well as get in some photography in the local historical cemetery.

That wraps up the trailer year. I've gotten pretty good at backing her, and can be ready to hit the road in no time at all. In 2012 I hope to get out earlier and am planning a first trip for April, weather permitting. Or even a weekend in March if we get unseasonably warm weather....

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Purple Hoodie - Resurrected and Completed

Does anyone remember my purple hoodie project from way back in 2009? I almost didn't. It has sat unfinished in a bag for over a year. Recently I stumbled over it and was surprised how close to finished it was when I forsook it. So I knuckled down and finished it up. I am exceedingly pleased with it and have worn it everywhere almost every day since. I made the pockets at precisely the right height and depth for comfy hand warming and carrying around lots of stuff. And I do believe this is the first project that I have finished at the beginning of the appropriate season for its use!





Monday, November 01, 2010

Another box

Old thrift-store-purchase jewelry box, given a facelift and a new job holding knitting stuff.