weaving – Page 9

Change

March 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment

We are stumbling closer and closer to our move to Connecticut. We have a buyer for our house in New Jersey, and we’ve committed to a house in Connecticut…..but getting everything to fall into place so everyone involved can move on has been a bit difficult. It looks like we will be en route to our new home by the middle of next week! We have been rattling around in our empty, echoing house for a few weeks now. It doesn’t feel like our home anymore, so it’s time to move on….

We packed my last loom over the weekend. I probably should have taken some photographs!…but it was too stressful. I had the strong impression that one of us was going to end up in the ER, so grabbing the camera just didn’t happen. This last loom is my big Toika, and it had a warp of cotton seine twine on it for a boundweave project. My dear friend and experienced Toika weaver, Sister Bianca recommended leaving the warp on the loom.

Sr. Bianca advised me to take the beater, the harnesses, and the jacks from the top of the loom, and wrap them all together around the warp beam. It was a brilliant suggestion!….

….executing it was not so brilliant….. imagine cutting the warp from the front apron and taking the reed out of the beater. While trying to keep that from flopping about, I then tried to hold all the jacks in place while my husband tried to disconnect the jack-holding frame from the large side frames of the loom. Where was our 3rd set of hands for this job??? Certainly no extra hands for photos… At one point I thought the jack frame would surely hit one of us on the head, necessitating a hospital visit, and possibly necessitating a long recovery from head injuries (if not worse). My husband was not amused at my conjectures. I wanted to take a ‘time out’ to plan a strategy; he just wanted to get it over with! Typical male/female disagreement, I believe!

I’m happy to report that there was no loss of life…..or even loss of consciousness! But I don’t want to do that again any time soon. If there is to be a next time, I must remember to get more detailed information on how to accomplish this! Advise welcome!

With my looms packed, I have turned to more portable projects. (Hey, who am I kidding?….I haven’t actually woven in several months, just knowing that I was going to have to pack up those looms.) Have you seen the swing knitting projects on Ravelry? Amazing! I’m intrigued…

I did buy the workshop download for learning this technique, but I didn’t want wristlets, or a hat, or socks. I wanted a jacket! So I jumped in the deep end of the pool, and really, this technique is not difficult to understand. There is no reason to do a little project if you really want the big one! This jacket, designed by Heidrun Leigmann, requires four sections just like this one which I finished a few days ago:

Knitting swing jacket 1 mar 2012 — Swing Knitted Jacket by Heidrun Leigmann

As you can see, it is a mitered square with short rows to create the curving elements. The yarn called for is Noro’s “Flower Bed,” which I cannot find here in the US. Since it is roughly sock weight yarn, and since I love the weight and bounce of Shetland, I have chosen to use a Shetland-like yarn by Kauni in a long colorway that runs through the entire spectrum. Is it too colorful?? Probably. Do I have the guts to wear something this blinding? …not sure… but I am enjoying knitting it! Can I really knit four of these sections without losing motivation? …not sure of that either!

In other facets of life, when not packing, I have made another “Blooming Gardens” crystal bracelet, along with matching earrings and even a small pendant. The purple one is for my sister’s very belated birthday.

And lastly, I finished the Nantucket basket that I want to give as a wedding present to a dear friend’s daughter. It’s only three months late…. that’s actually quite good for me! Now I’d like to make one for each of my own kids!

Recharge

December 28, 2011 | 2 Comments

Life has been pretty stressful for the past 8 months. My blog is a place where I try to put my daily, non-fiber obligations behind me, but all those obligations have basically taken over my life these past few months so it’s been hard to feel connected here, especially when I’m avoiding talking about these obligations!

Thankfully, this is a time a year when I recharge my enthusiasm, my commitment, my passion for weaving, knitting, spinning, dyeing. My wonderful family and friends have encouraged a rekindling of fiber energy by giving me some empowering gifts!

‘Warped 2 Weave’…..exactly the message I need to get me back on track! My son ‘painted’ these sneakers for me with colored pens. He says if I keep him supplied with shoes he’ll keep making them!

Finally! A way to organize my circular needles! Some Tofootsie sock yarn to knit while drinking my favorite morning beverage in this adorable sheep mug.

This sheep mug is from Herdy. I’m in love…..
Their website has a creative video of escaping sheep that showcases their products.

Time to get busy!

Glorious Summer

July 21, 2011 | 2 Comments

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 004 — herb garden on board Pandora

This is the extent of my gardening on board (well, almost)! Rosemary, thyme and a bright red geranium! I have no idea how my gardens at home are faring in the 90+ degree heat of the past few weeks, but this little pot makes me quite happy!

A visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay with a good friend was a perfect summer day. These gardens sit on 128 acres that border the shoreline of Back River. The idea for the gardens started in 1991, and the land was purchased in 1996, with some of the founding directors using their personal homes as collateral for the land purchase. The grand opening occurred in 2007! There is a wealth of inspiration here, and most plants are clearly identified. There are tranquil spaces, such as the Meditation Garden and the Waterfall garden along with several quiet woodland paths. And then there are spaces that are strikingly beautiful such as the Children’s Garden and many perennial borders.

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 024 — One of several mazes in the gardens

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 016 — Birdhouse at edge of Cleaver Event Lawn and Garden

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 019 — Really large bonsai planter

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 026 — So many daisies!

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 043 — Path through the Vayo Meditation Garden

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 033 — Pond in the Children's Garden

And here is the winning idea I took from my tour: a wall of plants! It is made by filling wire baskets with soil, then stacking them and framing them into an attractive wall. This wall of plants not only saves space, but also makes a good screen to block unsightly views! I want it!

Pandora 2011 botanical gardens 006 — Herb wall

This example of a planted wall is filled with herbs. You can see one of the wire boxes in the lower left on the ground next to the wall. They had walls planted with annual flowers and one shade wall planted with ferns.

Today the wind is howling so we will sit on our mooring in Boothbay Harbor. I am going to work on my Nantucket purse and remember my wonderful day in the gardens!

Fodder for tapestry

July 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment

: Blue Heron at Seal Cove

: Taking flight (startled by our approach)

In this cove the shallows are full of the shells of sea life eaten by the various birds fishing these waters. We found a huge scallop shell, several large quohog shells and a razor clam shell, and endless mussel shells. Mussel shells are so beautiful with their range of iridescent blues and purples! Looking through the water at the shells made me think this would be a wonderful tapestry, having some of the shells in sharp focus as seen through clear water, and others obscured by light reflected on water. Now, how to actually depict that! I took several photos with a polaroid filter, but they all came out perfectly clear, as if there were no water at all!….

Then I happened to read Kathy Spoering’s post about taking the time to osbserve the natural world, to really look….through an artist’s eyes. I definitely need more looking…

Wild Kingdom!

July 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment

I spent most of yesterday watching the bird life around Snow Island. There are several ospreys in the area, more than I’ve seen in one place before, and they all seem intent on ridding themselves of the eagles in the area. The ospreys worked together to dive bomb the eagles, and I’m not sure if they were just claiming their hunting territory of if the eagles pose some additional threat. I know some birds steal the nests of others. Clearly, for reasons I may not fully understand, the ospreys do not wish to cohabitate with eagles!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — eagle at Snow Island

This eagle sat calmly in the tree while a group of ospreys hurled themselves and dived down on her/him! Right nearby was the eagle’s nest complete with adolescent eaglet.

Well, I know this eaglet is hard to see even if you ‘bigify’ the photo…nest is near the center of the image. I marveled at the parent eagle bringing food to this baby whose sharp beak and claws surely must make parenting difficult!

Yesterday was one of those Maine days that is so clear everything appears super-focused. I took photos of water and sky, and I hope someday they will be useful to developing a cartoon for a tapestry.

And I finished one of my summer books….

Summer reading:

This is a fascinating history of New York before the English, when it was the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. The author gives vivid images of life in this colony through the written records and correspondence of that period and shows that the Dutch culture has lived on to the present time in current New York culture. His premise is that New York is still more Dutch than English, and that the Dutch culture of the 17th century is the core of American culture. He does a great job!

Amazing book!…too moving to describe. I highly recommend it! I bought it for reading on board, but I finished it the day I took sneak peak at home….

I just finished this yesterday, while watching the bird life here. A wonderful story written from the point of view of three different women during the year before American involvement in WWII, during the blitzkrieg of London and the rounding of up Jews throughout Europe. I put this near the top of very few books that I will always treasure!

Just started this yesterday, and I’m hooked. I don’t normally stumble on so many good books all at once! I feel incredibly lucky….

And I’m looking forward to Water for Elephants that is on my phone. I can’t see the movie until I read (or listen to!) the book!

The day will end with a dinner of fresh local veggies and local cheese from the this quaint farm stand in Five Islands Habor….oh, and a bouquet of dark red dahlias, feverfew, and love in a mist!