Monday, September 29, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Fingerless Gloves for Lulu-Bells
Over the last twelve years I have had the pleasure of being involved with a lovely family of two daughters, a mom and a dad. The girls were six and a couple months when I met them and they are growing up fast. The younger one is very quick with her hands and has learned many fine motor skills over the years.
Early scissors user, model builder, inventor of all kinds of games and hobbies. Last week she asked me to teach her to knit. I am a better crocheter so after a couple of knitting mishaps, I brought out my trusty hooks and taught her to crochet.
As a tangible example of how quickly crochet works up, I made her a pair of fingerless gloves last night and this afternoon. I used DMC Ecru Laine Colbert Pour Tapisserie for the main color and an Anchor Tapisserie in a darker beige for the trim. Took less than four hours total.
Early scissors user, model builder, inventor of all kinds of games and hobbies. Last week she asked me to teach her to knit. I am a better crocheter so after a couple of knitting mishaps, I brought out my trusty hooks and taught her to crochet.
As a tangible example of how quickly crochet works up, I made her a pair of fingerless gloves last night and this afternoon. I used DMC Ecru Laine Colbert Pour Tapisserie for the main color and an Anchor Tapisserie in a darker beige for the trim. Took less than four hours total.
They came out two different sizes--as is always the case when I have to make two of anything !~!
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Depression Wins Again, the Bastard
The phone rang at about 9:30 tonight; the caller id said Florida calling. But it's past midnight there and Sharv works so she's not usually initiating calls this late...
"It's Nige. He lost to the depression today" in a hotel on the beach in Queensland Australia where he'd traveled just over a month ago to find his new love and life.
Pain grips and grabs and flays. Breath catches; tears fall hot and furious. This was to be his new beginning.
Words won't come. Sorrow pushes them out of reach.
"It's Nige. He lost to the depression today" in a hotel on the beach in Queensland Australia where he'd traveled just over a month ago to find his new love and life.
Pain grips and grabs and flays. Breath catches; tears fall hot and furious. This was to be his new beginning.
Words won't come. Sorrow pushes them out of reach.
Good night, my friend, I love you and will miss you more than you will ever know.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
The Roosevelts
This past week public television ran a seven-part series by Ken Burns chronicling the lives of three of the Roosevelts: Teddy, Eleanor and Franklin. I have learned more about American history in a week than I was ever taught in what passes for public school in this country. My sincere hope is that most everyone watched it and engaged with the programming. Ken Burns is a master at film-making. We are so lucky to have him in our generation.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Wearing Weaving, Why Not ?~!
My First Attempts at Floor Loom Weaving
The Richmond Art Center offers floor loom weaving classes at a fairly reasonable rate. I wanted to learn how these amazing machines operate and so took their Tuesday night class for two consecutive terms.The first term I learned how different treadling patterns look and what happens when you use cloth strips and driftwood. OK, that's cool.
The first steps in getting the warp threads onto the loom. |
Driftwood from Yosemite and fabric strips add interest. |
The treadles raise and lower the warp threads. |
Second Term and Another Idea
Last Autumn (2013) I took my second term of loom weaving.By then I wanted to use more tactile portion of my senses, and so purchased bamboo and silk yarn in a 70% bamboo, 30% silk mixture. Unbelievably satiny; I'm sure there are softer yarns in the world, I just haven't met them yet. The silken feel is as yet unmatched in my limited experience. I made a wall hanging ten inches wide and about five feet long with a very loose weave.
The loosely woven piece before I squashed it down. |
The two pieces I made at Richmond Art Center during 2013. |
It worked out better than I could have anticipated.
I am so pleased with the colors and the feel of the yarn I may have to do something similar
with the larger of my two lap looms; it could be the loom's maiden project.
I am so pleased with the colors and the feel of the yarn I may have to do something similar
with the larger of my two lap looms; it could be the loom's maiden project.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
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