Something New

One of the great joys of finishing a project is the anticipation of a new project. There are so many options! When I finished the socks, I set about starting another similar-sized carry-along project. It was not to be. Sitting on a shelf in my fiber room was 3 balls of intensely red cashmere-merino yarn. It has been there for years, quietly biding its time, not being the least bit intrusive into my creative process. Suddenly it has become pushy, crying for incorporation into something soft, cuddly, yet elegant. I tried to ignore it and launch into something sensibly portable and reasonably doable in distracting environments. Maybe another pair of socks, I thought. But still the red yarn wormed its way into my consciousness. And it had to be a lace something. So here it is in its embryonic form: the Kimono Shawl from "Folk Shawls" by Cheryl Oberle. I want it a bit bigger, so I have increased the width-wise pattern repeats by 50%. (Sorry about the poor picture.) I hope I have enough yarn!

February FO (Finished Object)

Last night, while procrastinating other tasks, I finished the Anti-Gray Socks. I made them just a touch large, knowing that "superwash" will shrink slightly in the wash. Just to be safe, I washed a swatch to see what would happen. Although it didn't shrink, it did fade a touch and lose some stitch definition to increased fuzzyness. So today I am wearing the slightly large, yet-to-be-washed, socks in all their brilliant glory. Soon I will throw them in the wash, so I felt they should have at least one outing in full color. The fancy lace pattern does not show in the picture.

As is my custom, I now get to start another project. Hmm... so many options...

Stage 2 finished

The Great Front Hall Project continues. Stage one was to remove the vinyl top layer. Stage 2 (a particularly arduous stage) was to heat and scrape up the cardboard backing layer. I have finished this process, except for the bit under the metal threshold. I'll wait until it is a little warmer for the threshold operation, since I will have to work with the front door open. That leaves the residual glue mess you see in the picture. Miscellaneous advice on the internet recommends dissolving the glue with mineral spirits. Of course this advice is from the same optimistic folks who said the glue would easily scrape right off when heated. Still, worth a try. And since I am fresh out of mineral spirits, I can use this excuse to visit Home Depot - I have been thinking of buying a reciprocal saw... And maybe collecting paint chips for after the wallpaper is removed....

Progress

Escalation

Those who have visited my little 1956 house know that I am in a long-term war against 45 years of questionable decorating. When I bought the house a few years ago I made great inroads on the flooring front by removing the unusually blue carpeting that was smothering perfectly wonderful honey-oak hardwood, and replacing many of the ugly-puny light fixtures. I was victorious again when I successfully tiled the fireplace, banished all popcorn ceiling and replaced tired tan wallpaper with paint in the livingroom. Since then the war has been stalled. The greatest ongoing battle is being waged in the front hall. Years ago someone glued down faux flagstone sheet vinyl directly onto the beautiful hardwood floor. Who would do such an atrocity? And the walls were covered with 2 layers of wallpaper, then painted, then covered with 3 more layers of wallpaper; all of it ugly beyond belief. For at least 2 years now I have been scraping at both walls and floor, hoping to preserve what lies below. Considerable elbow grease has resulted in little progress. To add to the, um, scenic nature of this battle zone, Zach has decided that if I can scrape at the walls, so can he. He has designated one of the walls as a scratching zone. It was clearly time for an arms escalation.

I am now the proud owner of both a heat gun and a wallpaper steamer. You can rent either of these tools, but the number of hours needed would cost more than buying the equipment. I spent way too many hours yesterday wielding the scary heat gun. I know it was way too many hours because I can hardly move today. Encouraging instructions on the 'net say just heat the surface and the flooring and glue will easily scrape right off. Not exactly. Six hours of heating and scraping cleaned up about 4 square feet of flooring. Still, this is more progress than I have managed in 2 years.

Next weekend I'll try out the wallpaper steamer. War is Hell.

Socks for a dreary winter weekend

The weekend was gray and cold with intermittent snow flurries. I went out once on Saturday to fill the birdfeeders and once on Sunday to shovel the driveway. Other than that I cheered myself up by working on some socks that are the opposite of gray and dreary. The yarn is some commercial superwash wool that aways back I tie-dyed with black cherry Koolade. Then it sat for over a year because it was oh-so-ugly, brick red and white. Last week I tossed it in a bright yellow dye bath and, voila!, it is transformed. These will be my first toe-up socks, using short-row toes and heels. I love the technique! It is from my favorite sock book: Simple Socks. The lace pattern is "Small Capitals" from Sensational Knitted Socks. I chose the pattern because it looks kinda like flames. Sort of.

Camouflage

Can you spot the hidden goldfinches? A whole flock is hanging out in the winter skeleton of the mock orange. Despite the drippy, snowy, frigid weather they are sprinting back and forth to the thistle socks on the back porch. Only two quail have been so brave, scuffling around below the seed feeders. There is also a scrub jay, sitting on the fence, ready to do battle with anyone who dares to raid his suet feeder. No one has shown up to take the challenge. Too cold and drippy, I guess.

First Finished Project of 2008

I cast on for these mitts on New Year's Eve at the Motel 6 in Beatty, Nevada. I made the pattern up as I went along. Been pretty busy so I have just finished them. I have made fancy lacy alpaca Delicato mitts before, but they are reserved for chilly days at the office. I wanted some hard-wearing no-nonsense wool ones for field trips with the camera. These are made from 1.4oz of handspun, hand-dyed grey coopworth wool.

Quail Graffiti

Quail scribblings from my backyard:


Roughly translated, I think they say, "Fill the birdfeeders already, Dammit!"

2008 non-resolutions and wishful thinking

As soon as I make a resolution I am doomed to feeling stressed about not achieving it. The new year should present a wealth of possibilities, rather than a list of new deadlines and tasks to complete. If I want the adrenaline of multiple deadlines I can always turn on the computer and read the thousands (I'm not exaggerating) of work emails in my inbox. So instead of resolutions, I present to you a short list of possibilities for 2008. I could:

- build a lovely rock wall in my garden and plant a cloud of white lavender around it.
- Spin and knit a snuggly mystery project (it's a surprise) using a very special fleece from my stash.
- Burn and paint a wild folk art pattern all over my kitchen table (why not?).
- Visit Yosemite with my Dad.
- Make pine needle basket desk accessories so I can remember the mountains while toiling at my computer. Felt a mousepad while I am at it.
- Paint blue sky and white fluffy clouds across the side of my little vintage trailer and spend a few weekends with it parked under a pine tree, far from internet access.
- Spin up crazy multicolor wool and knit it into a bouquet of wild looking socks to keep my toes oh-so-cozy.
- Find the perfect chewy molasses cookie recipe and try out my javelina cookie cutter.
- Build an entire wall-sized cat scratcher in the front hall to make Zach very happy.
- Take lots and lots of photographs of any cool thing that catches my eye.
- And of course, find lots of big and little opportunities to spin/knit/hang out/laugh/eat/laugh some more with friends and family.

Welcome 2008!

I spent the holidays in Tucson visiting family. I drove down in my truck and Mittens made her first road trip with no problems.

Christmas Eve in my Dad's neighborhood everyone puts out luminaria. If you are not familiar with them, they are lanterns made by putting a scoop of sand and a candle in a paper lunch-size bag. (Be sure to fold down the top to avoid sudden little bagfires.) Some folks have fancy metal ones, but the glow from the paper bags is warm and friendly. All of the streets of the neighborhood are lined with the lanterns and families go out walking (or driving) to see the show. This year there was also a great big full moon to add to the atmosphere.

I headed back towards Reno on New Year's Eve. Traffic seemed pretty light so I took the road across Hoover Dam. Just to spite me, there was an accident on the Dam, so I spent an hour waiting to cross. That gave me time to take lots of pictures. If you have never driven across the dam, you may need to do so soon. A bridge is being built to have traffic bypass the Dam. I don't know when it will be finished. Currently you can see the huge supports in the distance that will take traffic over the Colorado River at a very scary height.

After an uneventful night in the Beatty Nevada Motel 6, I drove the rest of the way up Highway 95 to Reno. Winter in the Great Basin leaves the high desert scenery pale and faded, but a lucky confluence of jet trails made for some interesting photo shots near Walker Lake.

Final finished project for 2007

Tada!

Details for the fiber fan: Merino wool grown by W-bar-M Wool in northern Nevada, carded into roving by Stonehedge Fiber Mill. Dyed, spun and knit by me. I adapted the pattern panel from the Wyvern Woman's Sock Pattern.

Coming soon: a list of 2007 craft accomplishments.

On a non-fiber note, check out the cool ornament Sharon gave me - it even has the same blue stripe as my little vintage trailer!

So very close...

While Zach hangs with his buddy Santa, I am still busy with numerous preparations for Christmas. I thought I had finished shopping, then found a name on my list I missed. I thought I had all the presents wrapped, then stumbled upon a missed one. I thought I had roasted enough pecans but I am now running out of tins. This Christmas is really wearing me down. While I double check the slow progress through my todo list, I am longing to get back to my knitting. I have a pair of socks so close to being done that I can almost feel them on my feet. Just a half inch plus toe on one and an inch plus toe on the other. So close and yet so far! I may not be able to work on them before the new year. And I was so hoping to add them to my modest list of 2007 Finished Objects!


Here's hoping for a little relaxing knitting time for all in the coming weeks!

Pecans, lots and lots of pecans

I have just triumphantly removed the last batch of rosemary-cayenne roasted pecans from the oven. That makes 20 lbs of them (even heavier with all that butter). I wasn't going to make them this year, but a few folks (I won't say who) begged. I have 4 pans that can roast 1 lb each, so I production lined it. This is the 4th or 5th year I have made them so I have the process down to an exact science. In the 10 minutes it takes a batch to roast I am melting butter, measuring spices, openning pecan bags, mixing butter/spice/nuts together, removing butter wrappers from the cat, cleaning pans for the next batch, etc. 20 lbs takes about 6 hours and leaves behind a very buttery kitchen. And a heavenly smell. I only burnt myself once this year! Tomorrow, when they are completely cool, I will package them in tins. (Yes, Dad, you are getting another decorative tin. Just be glad I only do this once a year.)

Progress....

This is what has been keeping me away from blogging. I am pleased to say that all the boxes to be mailed went out this morning. I wrapped the presents in gold paper (not recycled, but using up existing closet stock), tied them with purple knitting ribbon, and used key tags as gift tags. Kudos to any diligent reader of my blog who remembers why I have a stash of key tags! I think they look kinda cool, anyway.
Here's a tip: my scissors had gone AWOL so I used the rotary cutter and mat I have left from all the sewing for the trailer. It was great! I was able to cut the paper straighter and faster than ever with the scissors. Made a big job so much more manageable.

Now I just need to start wrapping the presents I get to deliver personally. Then it is Santa Time! :-)

Too busy with Christmas knitting for a proper post

During this busy holiday season we take time out for a gratuitous cat picture. Clara is, no doubt, dismayed by how fast Christmas is coming.

Basket finished

As promised, here is my second pine needle basket. I thought the opaque blue glass beads had a nice vintagy look. As you can see, the basket is a bit bigger than my first one. This basket will be a Christmas present for one of my family. (Which family member? That would be telling. ;-))

Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving was great fun. Sharon and Ian adopted me for the weekend and let me spend the holiday with their large rambunctious family. Friday we went up to Plumas National Forest, uphill from Frenchman's Lake, and cut Christmas trees. The trees are cut by permit from areas that are being thinned. I picked out a lovely little California fir. It is set up in my livingroom awaiting decoration.

Saturday, before heading back into town, I was able to make it to Joe Winter's semi-annual studio sale. He and his wife make fabulous pottery. There were lots of amazing pieces on display in the studio and outside in two sheds. (Yes, I shopped.) I was also able to get a look at his wood-fired kiln. I especially like the display space/grid he had on the outside of one of the sheds. I think it would be cool to build something like that on the outside of my back porch to display natural stuff like interesting rocks, etc.

Sunday I started another basket. I think it is important to practice a new skill right away, or it may get put away in a closet and forgotten. It is amazing how addictive this form of basketry is. Before Thanksgiving I collected a shopping bag full of cast off pine needles from the Jeffery pines behind the Ag Building on campus. These are about 8-12 inches in length and soften up nicely when soaked overnight. I am using artificial sinew that I bought at Tandy's Leathercraft for sewing the coils together. (It was sort of a trip back in time going to Tandy's, which I swear has the exact same collection of kits that they sold in the 1970s.) My second basket is much bigger than my first (about 3 inches in diameter) and will have a lid that I plan to add some beads to. I will post a picture when it is complete.

Basketry Workshop

Linda and I spent today at a pine needle basketry workshop at the Nevada Museum of Art. Our teacher was Audrey Frank, who is Washoe/Paiute and learned from her aunt and grandmother. In about 5 hours each of us was able to finish a miniature basket. It was fun to see how different they all came out. Mine is sort of muffin shaped and only a little bit uneven. Not bad for my first try at a coiled basket! I have said over and over how I dislike anything resembling hand sewing, but this I really enjoyed. I am filled with inspiration to run out and collect pine needles and anything else that might work. Next year I could incorporate some lavender stalks....

The workshop was given in conjunction with a fabulous exhibit called "Yosemite: Art of an American Icon". Here is the description from the Museum site:

"Yosemite: Art of an American Icon presents over one hundred artworks that explore the rich artistic and cultural traditions that have helped to shape America's understanding of this celebrated national park. Featuring iconic paintings and photographs by artists such as Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Hill, Ansel Adams, and David Hockney, as well as a selection of Native American baskets by Carrie Bethel, the exhibit looks at Yosemite's changing visual identity and cultural role as a national and international destination, and also examines the artistic response to Yosemite's transition from a wilderness ideal to an often congested commercial tourist site."

The exhibit runs until January 13th, 2008 and I REALLY recommend it.

Closet full of fun

Friday night I did a bit of kamikaze dyeing. No planning ahead - just mixed up dye in plastic cups and went to work. I pulled merino roving, targhee roving and coopworth handspun out of my stash. Some I painted with dye, wrapped in plastic wrap, and steamed in the microwave. Some I immersion dyed. By the end of the evening I had a wealth of green and blue drying over the heat vents. Sunday, after smugly admiring the (now dry)results, I went back into my chaotic fiber room to put it away. I had an inspiration - since most of the roving was still on the plastic hangers used for drying, why not leave it on the hangers and park them in the closet? The resulting light and airiness (along with some of this year's lavender harvest)would discourage moths, and a simple glance into the closet would remind me what I had available next time I wanted to start a new project.

Once started, I got on a tear, hunting through bags and bins for dyed roving to hang in the closet. I am amazed at how much I had! And these are just some of the dyed rovings. Now if I can find a good way to store and display the fleece and the myriad of fiber equipment, I may be able to clear some floor space and change my "Fiber Room" to my "Fiber Studio".