tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120017492320071012024-02-07T19:59:12.034-08:00Life with an ArtistRamblings of life with a fine craftsman - wood carver, luthier and folk artist (one and the same) - and occasional forays into art myself on the Coast of California....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-83105755397706419532012-03-31T08:37:00.007-07:002012-03-31T09:02:49.642-07:00Weaving Away<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It’s been a while… It seems I can’t get the computer away from The Artist in the evenings. But as he says, “It keeps me out of the bars!” (Note to public: The only time he ever hung out in bars was in his early 20’s when he played in Rock and Roll bands in them, long before we knew each other. He was actually in a very popular local area band at the time … a man of many talents.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So anyway, I started weaving. I’ve always wanted to weave. So, I finally took an all day class at an area knitting show. I used a 12” wide Ashford Knitter’s Loom in the class, which I subsequently purchased. The teacher was really fantastic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It’s so much fun! Little scarves go so much faster than knitting and I can make up one for everyone that I owe something to in their favorite color.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But there’s one problem. You’re supposed to use up your stash and the ends of balls from other knitting projects. I do that, but I also keep buying new yarn! I guess ‘twas ever the life of any craft enthusiast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here’s the first one I made, 6” wide in blues, and the second one, also 6” in reds. The reds really are ends, for the most part. Some of the blues I picked up for projects, and (ahem) repurposed a bit ofthem, others are ends.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFqJFMsuYvEpqlmZf2RL05ie8uBQUZZvDSEItbOLGIXJrQzZaC1ITm86WY5rEn9WBvSLDPXuueTriRenrW6zTde5LdVVcennbiz1mX9QmqDwu3OZD7aFnvKA13fQxCtTdEe9GfIvMD0g/s1600-h/First%252520two%252520weavings%2525201%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="First two weavings 1" border="0" height="184px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgqu7qZ2SJSMnmBaTg6VeOgXe9j7xzhO9Pgi3A_6u6N7_tHsoQO4i20xTMoQ04etzHxJ9YvR8-4ft6cxyB3DupmNOGc1lH1PvNpkc2JMC1s-vgLDLZT03Vp7-UvQQZLU9fUySZiau5_s/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="First two weavings 1" width="244px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And here’s the third one, made for my good friend (who called it very ecclesiastical-looking):</span><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5blLIlZoont4aCF3cGTf43Sw6J0VTEzL0oA8Y9SMGPD5gCM8v4R3LStuprkSJ2py5QZwL1AdMWoZX_5rmmDAa60Fttz_DQxxb18Q833OUKbmBJbmpDYfltxr78z9PNpgnuRctanXDaZI/s1600-h/Kathy%252520Scarf-3-24-12%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Kathy Scarf-3-24-12" border="0" height="244px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_NOCPvcfnE6LXD7kLdusEAxOiS1FWxmgWGsM_gk4YiSOlVP1K_JtCH5CEhBwPfuGw_EZwItvHPzBuY1raVTMl7w7Er3KOSX_y5G1nC7y0Z8Km54VTxgGo7Ef3qPwVFM2gQo7Uixr5N4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kathy Scarf-3-24-12" width="184px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This one is actually a bamboo and silk warp and a silk weft. It took a while to figure out how to do the weft just right, because the silk was so slippery, so it ended up being a little shorter than I planned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Ashford Knitter’s loom is a great little rigid heddle loom, meaning, in layman’s terms, that it doesn’t take up much space, doesn’t have a complicated set up and folds away in a bag. It’s made to use against a table edge, comes with a carrying bag and will fold up with your project on it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I plan to start a new one this weekend. The Artist has been really helpful to me in setting up the warp. He says it’s because he likes mechanical things. What a guy!</span>...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-87072811283005269582011-12-03T21:16:00.000-08:002011-12-03T21:16:45.415-08:00Snowball for Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6C1gtHDxdXCKxc4et8zqTIPfwR83iqQEuj33Ypne-vJf_-Xee2NaUe3KkoVelAEm9OZ6yzHtRKzVjKN5Loq8rhy1UmkctaxbZFF4wSvyiSxjUWNwhhtIeNnMJKsj3r2h827jwvYTydw/s1600/Snowball++X+-+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6C1gtHDxdXCKxc4et8zqTIPfwR83iqQEuj33Ypne-vJf_-Xee2NaUe3KkoVelAEm9OZ6yzHtRKzVjKN5Loq8rhy1UmkctaxbZFF4wSvyiSxjUWNwhhtIeNnMJKsj3r2h827jwvYTydw/s320/Snowball++X+-+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I've been knitting away a couple rows at a time for the last few days making a Christmas ornament. The pattern is from a new book I bought called <strong>55 Christmas Balls to Knit</strong> by Arne & Carlos, two Norwegian guys who are apparently very big in knitting in Europe. All the patterns they present are based on old Norwegian patterns that they have collected.<br />
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I did this one with some angora that a friend bought at a street fair in NYC and sent to me. I just love it. It's quite fast to make and a great introduction to the Fair Isle technique. <br />
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I had to get some red yarn today so I could make more!...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-74350431059814992722011-09-18T12:12:00.000-07:002011-09-18T12:12:19.155-07:00Knit and Sew, part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJYiMLWdcO8Vda2AnCCMB4NVaV2DmIZFj1SwhK8Xb_uUlMhc8fUOQUMuCIly4pKB8qUbiSJTb65ga6Zyx8-ED3KwUovgQQaOsh5cEZ_uYPhkeC7R5nkU81d05qxQv7gXk46QQBCNHNOY/s1600/Pillow+Cover+Finished+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJYiMLWdcO8Vda2AnCCMB4NVaV2DmIZFj1SwhK8Xb_uUlMhc8fUOQUMuCIly4pKB8qUbiSJTb65ga6Zyx8-ED3KwUovgQQaOsh5cEZ_uYPhkeC7R5nkU81d05qxQv7gXk46QQBCNHNOY/s320/Pillow+Cover+Finished+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Since I had so many compliments on my pillow, I thought I'd show off the back.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHW7OOTOcYqPkuqFTXUjpm0k8phojpU6-zDJUz2uEP2Q7GbVygjUeZ78diZfN4oydwVrJzeLna_eBfLTicIxFf09YYlMwpaqdYP_GglFQoggy1NzjrmRejPajuga3eAspVvoJFefSPTbA/s1600/Pillow+Cover+Back+Finished+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHW7OOTOcYqPkuqFTXUjpm0k8phojpU6-zDJUz2uEP2Q7GbVygjUeZ78diZfN4oydwVrJzeLna_eBfLTicIxFf09YYlMwpaqdYP_GglFQoggy1NzjrmRejPajuga3eAspVvoJFefSPTbA/s320/Pillow+Cover+Back+Finished+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
From the back, you can see much better the wild crochet stitch that I did, alternating blue, red and gold.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9h-1oaIkNnGRNu1U0PH4id6xDS_T1VQLCwibEoAUyhhf1zl9y_B2tyTU2HD3AvWsfB5XqNksJBorv1ChrJ79GWJamCadrki4KlfEWTgOqNM9H8mVGQ1Rgxg6zy8FtK5s8sRsd2h51tqQ/s1600/Pillow+Cover+Detail+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9h-1oaIkNnGRNu1U0PH4id6xDS_T1VQLCwibEoAUyhhf1zl9y_B2tyTU2HD3AvWsfB5XqNksJBorv1ChrJ79GWJamCadrki4KlfEWTgOqNM9H8mVGQ1Rgxg6zy8FtK5s8sRsd2h51tqQ/s320/Pillow+Cover+Detail+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Great challenge, great fun, and I think I'll do it again. Maybe this winter....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-80761100614172572102011-09-16T18:54:00.000-07:002011-09-16T18:54:33.265-07:00Where in the World?<img height="220" src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=t&chtm=usa&chs=440x220&chf=bg,s,336699&chco=d0d0d0,cc0000&chd=s:999999999999999999999999&chld=AZCACTDEFLHIIDILINIAMDMANVNJNMNYNCOHORPARITXVAWA" width="440" /><br />
visited 24 states (48%)<br />
<a href="http://douweosinga.com/projects/visited?region=usa">Create your own visited map of The United States</a> or <a href="http://www.tonjafabritz.com/nederlands/websites">website vertaling duits?</a><br />
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How cool!<br />
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This is where I've been in the US in my life!<br />
...and here's where I've been in the world.<br />
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<img height="300" src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=map:fixed=-70,-180,80,180&chs=450x300&chf=bg,s,336699&chco=d0d0d0,cc0000&chd=s:99999999&chld=CO|PA|GB|CH|FR|DE|US|CA" width="450" /><br />
visited 8 states (3.55%)<br />
<a href="http://douweosinga.com/projects/visited?region=world">Create your own visited map of The World</a> or <a href="http://www.tonjafabritz.com/nederlands/legal">jurisdische veraling duits?</a>...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-38828115712197743172011-09-15T20:11:00.000-07:002011-09-15T20:13:18.917-07:00Knit and SewAt long last, I have a work that combines knitting and sewing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCfBPTPRgxGF_im5GuT1B7GfdHk8pDBq0T-C9DcefYzU6mDAx3-hvsEBWeGyyKBrKus7Oe_XDRwII-SNTr9z_AjRuKHASck-gTwh3VEVm2SJeM6KEjiWXD0TiBvEIRH98rtnQSP5libs/s1600/Pillow+Cover+Finished+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCfBPTPRgxGF_im5GuT1B7GfdHk8pDBq0T-C9DcefYzU6mDAx3-hvsEBWeGyyKBrKus7Oe_XDRwII-SNTr9z_AjRuKHASck-gTwh3VEVm2SJeM6KEjiWXD0TiBvEIRH98rtnQSP5libs/s320/Pillow+Cover+Finished+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Above, a pillow cover that I knitted: sari silk yarn, cotton crochet yarn, rayon and wool yarn, chenille yarn and some special yarn from a shop in San Francisco.<br />
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What you can’t see is the cover itself, a royal purple silk and cotton blend, and the invisible zipper. The hardest part? Not the knitting. Learning the new crochet stitches to do six rows of crochet for the flange was a challenge. <br />
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But doing the last part, making the full pillow undercover and back cover itself, was probably the most challenging… Not that I can’t sew. It was just that in my mind, the pillow was done and making the case was just cleanup work. Silk. It slid. I had to baste. I had to sew. I had to remove the basting. I had to resew a couple parts. <br />
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But, it was worth it. It looks gorgeous. And what a great stash buster!<br />
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And the Artist? He’s busy getting ready for the annual Open Studios event. Be sure to see his museum show if you’re in the area. It has received rave reviews....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-31049604334971003562011-08-26T17:09:00.000-07:002011-08-26T17:11:25.045-07:00A Quilt 20 Years in the MakingI’m extremely proud that a little quilt I started <em>at least</em> 20 years ago has been finished.<br />
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Until about a month ago, only the center, with the grey and the blue and pink flying geese was almost completed. (It’s my own design, for what it’s worth.) The unfinished quilt top sat in my stash of fabric for years. Once in a while, I’d take it out and look at it longingly, wondering if I’d ever complete it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtv4KwPvSgcvKL8BtZko5ByoFUBB2jU5u2ttYof-4E9BP7LJIP-7E9IZ2NDMOL11zUmbRFy8KhVlUK-UfMBUULUkw7mC3nF9ND2VAtwDgTaLF9c5F2LOcatgHmyg3zyalKxjlYh32ins/s1600-h/20%252520year%252520quilt%252520-1%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="20 year quilt -1 - 72" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1DVt_OzjL2x06WxQ_aC_zVr4WkkHeKPVr-FkIcuhu_VW0OlitnaG-ErU_yOLJlYqQYH-vl5uG-YkFAwEp7siArlew6J8-T5hIhzP3Sda7BpbnWotfpZGeV8fNe9hjtpIA4yuuj8jBao/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="20 year quilt -1 - 72" width="209" /></a><br />
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What happened? Why didn’t I finish it? It wasn't that big. Quite simply, I never made space for myself to sew (although I thought I had), I never knew how to put on the binding (this was true), and I never had any real motive to finish it (this was also true).<br />
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Why did I finish it? Several reasons. About seven years ago, I joined a fiber art group that meets once a month. Meeting once a month encourages you to complete things to show off, so I knitted, for which I have developed a passion. I completed a large “quilt” and an advertising banner. I knit three sweaters. I knit a pillow top. But, I never finished my little quilt. <br />
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One day, a wonderful member of our group named <a href="http://www.ellenedith.com/">ellen edith</a> called me up and said, “Come on over, I’ll show you how to do the binding.” You bet I took her up on it. She made a sample for me to take home to refer to. I made a <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/274236">“cheater” quilt</a> of fabric I recently designed. I made a set of placemats. I made another set of placemats and some napkins (also 20-year-old projects!). I still knit.<br />
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ellen edith passed away. The threat of mortality struck me. I decided it was time to finish all the projects I have hanging around.<br />
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I had only one more excuse. No space. I had a room, it was just poorly arranged with the wrong equipment. I bought a new sewing table. What a present to myself! Why didn’t I do it years earlier? Forget the cost. Look at the reward!<br />
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So, now I have no excuse to finish the rest of my 20- and 15- and even 25-year-old sewing projects. It feels so good! <br />
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Thank you ellen, thank you CCTA, thank you my dear, sweet husband, thank you everyone who’s given me encouragement through the years.<br />
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You, too, can finish things, all you procrastinators. Just be persistent. And be very kind and giving to your fiber friends. Actually, be kind and giving to <em>all</em> your friends. You never know...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLj8dAVnwYA5XAmGSRJPsrLzKGnYmiSyNqlNLexDruC9F4_gNuq24R1UXZhjTwhAohq4UqZlm3By5kBLMBucAgtespKp1TzunD-ee04T3PfhYWnaC7dRL58OGuVp0nlyNPpdH-cp4CjQ/s1600-h/20%252520year%252520quilt%252520-%2525202%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="20 year quilt - 2 - 72" border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi36C25HXViobVkcBDyLjgLx1gpK9PFNvp4FwEZgCzhkPSfuqm-I62-ppZbu_ew6VUVWF4ZwdSwIKp8n15NiZZUoDPc4k1QmCbA9wWgZZwUq-coNUJlsKx_gUuXWnsvZWX1KrLz1aQarA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="20 year quilt - 2 - 72" width="244" /></a><br />
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...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-23137620250977383512011-08-11T07:50:00.000-07:002011-08-11T07:50:39.733-07:00Incredibly Busy Time for The Artist and MeThe Artist and I have been so busy we can barely remember what’s coming next! For The Artist, his museum show, <strong>Studio Made: The Santa Cruz Woodworkers</strong>, at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, has been up for two weekends and is showing to huge groups of people and rave reviews. Before he can take a breath and pat himself on the back, it’s off to the American Craft Council Show this weekend, August 12,13 and 14 at Fort Mason in San Francisco. <br />
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This is the only large out-of-town show he is doing this year and since some of his work is in the museum show, he’s been madly trying to finish up some new work for the ACC show. <br />
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I, of course, am at the start of a new accounting year and all its new spreadsheets with updated budgets, our time compromised by our yearly audit, with its batch of fresh, young auditors, never quite seeming to understand our business like we do. We pay to train them so that they can sign off that our books are clean. What an interesting concept.<br />
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But - the interesting stuff. Let’s see some shots of the museum show!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV5gACDukRPTBYWrZZPIf-mO5PquGj-yQCUZbK2cGQUyDo2Bt5_ojRIf7q89aD9nPPoWtSm8-yfYnfpmmi6b_NfDgy5NWoM9uxa9QwE_Q-9j7DNIaCErQ3xCVKRLqRqNpBBN-5LxwzSQ/s1600-h/Ron%252520entrance%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ron entrance - 72" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1AMhtOR1eTk7hwqpwkIXomGiRfqNxpmmXkV2IIC63TP_7dCto8fnDKMXGDMHOUjRIzfBVXcu9fGqqGRDLMPLk30tSly2Yz6pYroo2jKHJadphzmhzWiBjuKLh-wE8tdlye2yu-OdS4Y/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ron entrance - 72" width="184" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV5gACDukRPTBYWrZZPIf-mO5PquGj-yQCUZbK2cGQUyDo2Bt5_ojRIf7q89aD9nPPoWtSm8-yfYnfpmmi6b_NfDgy5NWoM9uxa9QwE_Q-9j7DNIaCErQ3xCVKRLqRqNpBBN-5LxwzSQ/s1600-h/Ron%252520entrance%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV5gACDukRPTBYWrZZPIf-mO5PquGj-yQCUZbK2cGQUyDo2Bt5_ojRIf7q89aD9nPPoWtSm8-yfYnfpmmi6b_NfDgy5NWoM9uxa9QwE_Q-9j7DNIaCErQ3xCVKRLqRqNpBBN-5LxwzSQ/s1600-h/Ron%252520entrance%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV5gACDukRPTBYWrZZPIf-mO5PquGj-yQCUZbK2cGQUyDo2Bt5_ojRIf7q89aD9nPPoWtSm8-yfYnfpmmi6b_NfDgy5NWoM9uxa9QwE_Q-9j7DNIaCErQ3xCVKRLqRqNpBBN-5LxwzSQ/s1600-h/Ron%252520entrance%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><div style="text-align: left;"></div></a><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">The Artist showing off his work, the Medieval installation, work of other woodworkers:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua6YNew4UVi4WmSbRQkk4G1AzR_xE-j6nwXVIhzxYwHWXIfjhBJDllSAATNj74oxTqDrZGhSo2Qj91pvxgNPWz-fF8p6nqbCcOwpd_jpjGze6XrtZXP1ky38XnuaS802SRGL_HOHCLwY/s1600-h/Ron%252520-%252520chandelier%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ron - chandelier - 72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqgLMUq_HSeT9sCfBjT8zQGu0UXDrfLl_gWmPy6x6CDYZwpil8UF8xrTwjO0TBWPa6R899otu9NrWiLbaUIEgA-EEb0qwldx3W2AMe38Gk-nwLFzB5Et8BZkjGyG9NySBe1VTJRLMQeA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ron - chandelier - 72" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iuiKPSVf5O2dtOYrcmnKMYBbCnUSBoOxoguWfDeuN3TdGypMZs5IT5fI6RXmFtOgilzl0SrxhRWrcZSiqMIWwFDWhX4_L91DBLSvFU7Ol90sTmdly-aVCxeLKSj0Un9fyqOq3EZpE6s/s1600-h/Ron%252520and%252520Penny%252520-%25252072%25255B7%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ron and Penny - 72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfE6LaXhidTv3MaB7OuTRAHGWDlQreY3vpUFRpRSj4UlpqrczFHH3N-hBXG57KHOP5CxDOf8-KjmEonBbKnmHm2V7AYgfNxCoRZfAwfjyae-J59pUp1Fk88Ud4FuZDyuw473oxU9SVrY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ron and Penny - 72" width="244" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOZXWeOC1EHHtJcvKDeXGzihBCiDvNSmpEhW0oIh_1K1ZH8ST5p8cD9x8q7SurY2dgCWHRyY8IU8j4WuAQ0XRugBnjhlBaNWVsZIZsUwtouXtNnN-OvxKh458kSWfmzEDai-S7cz0p20/s1600-h/Installation%252520-%25252072%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Installation - 72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHCyJewm1hMWTiZrYNFx5yfMYMq2MLRXshzX-H5QY-gFqLPDpzpCHN5vsBh2p4GjlZHXXEyz6YTPzxK6YVLJmGRJu0OlFs-BirN5fr-yRTCqkzQql6e9kVR0_hMOvVooRadrlxA8IlG0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Installation - 72" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9ro2B_ABRXmdTHiA6BxX0yCs93dCuMJZL-JR5p8YOax0zS94-AT8NE33Kyl7gBd3vTbHjDJViAysZcBJtx_WfeQt_rA-UQdDmlAvkn3AxteInPGo5diBwFWVTboIutFJFzLBrRfsFLE/s1600-h/Roger-desk-Matt-Wall-o-marquetry_72%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roger-desk-Matt-Wall-o-marquetry_72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMMRXOmwm1TAyJ3goAbi3Yd4zGf0Lyu6GcDOaWqSsbDF0FMrlZzgUpl8JL1R19Z0FdEwiUmAaKfVn6Taf8ixjKUxfvW3v8IjQzUHm8wgjew8SU0R8GBzBL5EBnOQiw5j6_bVLfILnNs8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Roger-desk-Matt-Wall-o-marquetry_72" width="244" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeAnlXOptrMaKih5Gs_WzwUJ-S21A0IcAeyyrP2k9PBKV5HhTkDOTHDLDAVngAzHaz7kS2-OS95suU1oy_X117ktvvV0zGmbjgu7K0UTNtzqQ8QZUkTYl_c1F6mslFm2hyphenhyphenhR-CiBjtqA/s1600-h/Ron-Award3_edited-1%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ron-Award3_edited-1 72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsqJUt5GafwwnZ8rMdapoNAckLOEWDC5-FKLkbKjaxiM84nKSM28jO9sh14I1oJNz8YspbpVAOESeQLTIz5u-yuu8bFf7mJ9dgryeXYcDXY706dkHMLGsFYVQ30kFgl4iCC1hnW_Ir3U/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ron-Award3_edited-1 72" width="244" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Artist receives a thank you from his fellow woodworkers for his time and effort in creating the graphic and media material. As one of "the guys" said, "How ironic that the guy who makes reproductions of ancient instruments is our go-to guy for the latest technology."</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2opOIbnHDFTvaUXzhCATwYpzmEh9AjQxaQdxplPanpay1U4Ui02vZj5nhukOMNiLiHeQ1GbibeN2oZZDFNzTGd8fezdxf8c9AEpjhCAw2vthi8yB95YgODdfnZd01o_tkKEAFFwZGPo/s1600-h/Ron%252520with%252520MAH%252520show%252520sign%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ron with MAH show sign - 72" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNnvW7F2G9adBy6LHKdDBTQ8aRq1Em-VHN_gN6YvDsoXLYGidrB6ln9RsO9uGicbvBrUL74jS2BI-CNh5b-H3bDYtGr3eMg8UDrZAdZatP33LaMQ0eBBn3rhUR5vWKswFgWJD0d3Dwss/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ron with MAH show sign - 72" width="184" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rather tired after First Friday, where a record number of people passed through the exhibit.</div>...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-77480633668193839692011-07-10T17:17:00.000-07:002011-07-10T17:19:36.525-07:00Weaving in New MexicoThe Artist and I recently returned from a vacation in New Mexico. Since I promised several followers a report, I submit it herewith, even if a little late.<br />
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After I told The Artist that next time we went to New Mexico, I wanted to go in the summer, he suggested that we go in late June, so that I could also attend the Poisoned Pen Mystery Book Conference in Phoenix. That was it! Count me in.<br />
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We took two days getting to Santa Fe in my trusty little Mini. Outside Needles, CA, the temperature hit 104.<br />
<blockquote><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fJaS9y1aBzdovM_nJZ4iGD_JdgihnivUf3KACGlGCy92AulAQH6VyRCh0LBd7sRvpz9ywV_fPmI5L6wrWXWEKUuWFBx_lR_vm5A0MzVcMtJl9zl9i4cdGhERnyl0iz4iAdxuYW3eidw/s1600-h/Temp-72%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Temp-72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLahGLGV0fdL3RgbWp-RYeagIge-vOUOHB9_dys1ZJsgCCYvab7CVx2YZklnO9ZqZoIG7dL0BJuIZ_Lkui_aXb4zG7uR_HeTFakDVNWJkdJtqmVa-A0s8YxxnZsujQPuRcMlm-98zBho/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Temp-72" width="244" /></a></div></blockquote>By the time we reached Phoenix, it was 111.<br />
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We stayed in a B&B for three nights in Santa Fe, having encountered a dust storm in Grants. This was the same wind that fed the recent large fire in Los Alamos, if I’m not mistaken.<br />
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I just love the sky in New Mexico. So blue, so clear. The flowers stand out so crisply.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnb7S4JIAiRBnk4PLXSF1jl_0cglZfpJZCWbugVmPuxL0z1bv4smZhnbgOWuVB88uL_8ZMMnCSUJAUgigydjRMuQu4KU8yNWp72CYSNjzz4GA1gdSedkfGy2I5lmmfgRJ5r6Mr7MRmbc/s1600-h/Flowers%2525203-72%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Flowers 3-72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHrr1qTDiDDhWaAgd5mFB2sSOmxXMMpg9p560j9CW5mnZCPkuGAQVciuJQqD6fV_Zyr96emcN-LHMj8r0mQ6-8b2a8nZh4wCoVXy2LpvMEBNzUcHnDd1A_Z1eG0RDQBBshUHVrcJGfOQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Flowers 3-72" width="244" /></a></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBseTxEX4SJDPAFkEMvUsBnpiPrzm6GkZIJIP1DoVK7t6ofMxZXsJVxsb4ziVecfhQA8RzI6n8JvbOqcVomquM-NYHTpxYxJe72lpNvYsjWyAy-WWx9TfDnS51mbsXCLmYKEj_l7MYls/s1600-h/Flowers%2525204-72%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Flowers 4-72" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0PLCjxM0-EhkOJnf7VpMr61WAHrjS807wABUDx_fp3oKBx3fy1E4jwankI5PpEm_DWtAzOBrMxucxV94ubyd6lqoqx_FIfUvkgHFphOvhL7eJhyJVoba-lhsmfePpAj_Ty8p8oF7cq8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Flowers 4-72" width="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jZWXmjBAJKp4VUzWL6eKS3t48NoyKJlGlobtHEYBqKP_sr3mRrIUeCwtygeETk1hyphenhyphenbXOaFYSdog4hHBOX8z4TJWulN3LEc6ouKB-oxer0MFvNIfGy8Fwj4K6tp63RKYPKmfDRwof3ZM/s1600-h/Flowers%2525205-72%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Flowers 5-72" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbIrkClA5nEvAuo6P6ek2KzB8znsNpDTevvj3S-gqIHe2LlwXyclveaYxuSbo79OnQhQsioke66QHITueudVL0OYp5xxgqcbTFR5gt0rjqjm_0med6BBP-4lwTiwKY2YmTo7JqHvvMZU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Flowers 5-72" width="184" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div>For a couple days, we window shopped around Santa Fe, visited Canyon Road, chatted with other visitors in the B&B and developed a new eating pattern: eat a big breakfast, a sturdy, late lunch at a great restaurant and skip dinner. This produced a a wonderful, relaxing time.<br />
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Then, it was on to Taos and Chimayo and weaving. I was determined to visit several places on the New Mexico Fiber Tour. In the past, we had only been to Taos in the heart of winter, so it was a real treat to visit in the summer. We took the low road up from Santa Fe and unexpectedly visited the Taos Pueblo, an interesting and very peaceful place, populated for about 1,000 years. Then on to elk burgers and lunch at a very good restaurant on the main street, a two-lane main highway which goes right through town. As we ate, loads of cattle, tractor trailers and piles of hay went right past the large windows. It felt like we were in a small town in the West, which we were. What a throwback in time! <br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc3JsZjPBA9Xfc9NybscT_RjjKgYyVgkp7Vr11vEUYJ0BZRW8cMDNL6S_MVJvWkyiv2H9eFlIHbOpA-_Ciu0yExfOA8cdAbSkgC7StWW9Nh7fdmVs0EJ5sE-tfCu6WPsGokQTu4WZFx4/s1600/Weaving+SW+2+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc3JsZjPBA9Xfc9NybscT_RjjKgYyVgkp7Vr11vEUYJ0BZRW8cMDNL6S_MVJvWkyiv2H9eFlIHbOpA-_Ciu0yExfOA8cdAbSkgC7StWW9Nh7fdmVs0EJ5sE-tfCu6WPsGokQTu4WZFx4/s320/Weaving+SW+2+72.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuKZe7R6pi3t6B0BEnBKy97MSkOrRl__DHF27z9Mcs2xKq-VS6iwwIcUQtqdWWbm2G0hKrLBg9rSOItJjcJV7zSFyyb_vmYacSoGxtwhtxjxjpA8T8qdOFQI_3f5DKzcwiLNCZrgnwIE/s1600/Weaving+SW+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuKZe7R6pi3t6B0BEnBKy97MSkOrRl__DHF27z9Mcs2xKq-VS6iwwIcUQtqdWWbm2G0hKrLBg9rSOItJjcJV7zSFyyb_vmYacSoGxtwhtxjxjpA8T8qdOFQI_3f5DKzcwiLNCZrgnwIE/s320/Weaving+SW+72.jpg" width="320" /></a>Right next door was Weaving Southwest. The front gallery had very colorful, interesting tapestry weavings, but as I turned around, and my eyes caught the floor-to-ceiling bins of brightly colored yarns, I nearly fell over. In the rear were probably 20 looms, including little inkle looms, upright Navajo looms and big, traditional New Mexican looms handed down from Spanish ancestors.<br />
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While The Artist examined the construction of the looms, I had a very interesting conversation with the owner, whose grandmother started the business and and mother does the dyeing. She indicated that since water is do scarce in New Mexico, they use the dyepot over and over until the dye batch is exhausted and the water comes out clear. I bought some yarn and moved on to La Lana Yarns, a natural dyeing store down the street, where I picked up some madder and naturally dyed yarn. <br />
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We took the beautiful High Road back to Chimayo and stayed at a very quiet, very peaceful B&B even using the hot tub. Sleep came very easily as we were extremely relaxed. Next day, we visited several local weavers: Rose Vigil (<em>Living Traditions</em>), Trujillo Weaving, Lisa and Irvin Trujillo (<em>Centinela</em>) and then drove back up to Truchas, where we met Harry Cordova in his small shop. I learned so much about weaving from each of the weavers. I also learned about churro sheep, which has stiff hair as well as fur. I’m sorry to admit that I did not take photos of the shops. I was just too interested in the weaving. I guess that’s a reason for going again.<br />
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Somehow, we managed to find time to eat lunch at Rancho Chimayo, which served the best chile rellenos I’ve ever had.<br />
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On to Phoenix. The Artist visited MIM, the new Museum of Musical Instruments (and took over 200 photos). I attended the book conference with my long-time book lover friend and got a couple more mysteries.<br />
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We had a great time and The Artist now wants to make me an upright Navajo loom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQdTPS_kozCD6oYHD5bKVRC8nphjSZc8YSpzvCzeAK3tU2XTqkBxyxWTbbBh6QbzkjUpfttAeKOp85837e4qOvYP0XHFfGRDIVzRN-QaG1FHD7qiNSuX6EYgVlX8GiEnR7oB_t-wvetM/s1600/Navajo+loom+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQdTPS_kozCD6oYHD5bKVRC8nphjSZc8YSpzvCzeAK3tU2XTqkBxyxWTbbBh6QbzkjUpfttAeKOp85837e4qOvYP0XHFfGRDIVzRN-QaG1FHD7qiNSuX6EYgVlX8GiEnR7oB_t-wvetM/s320/Navajo+loom+72.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm ready to return already, but The Artist has a museum show coming up...</div><div align="right"></div>...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-5012363754200008282011-06-04T12:48:00.000-07:002011-06-04T12:48:56.188-07:00Rain. Heavy Rain. In June. It’s Just Not Right.<strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong>Take my word. You Easterners don’t need a photo. Just remember, it’s not supposed to rain in California in the summertime. Oh, well. Every time it rains, I don’t have to water my garden, but I’m beginning to think Al Gore was right.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZNoLbKTMqZaXPEeJeoCOn9GjFIVVXAsapS53PjUC22MGWkFS3XCUDWxRYh6u7md7Q23mJHEGf3mVDoPqUMcLoVHkKVvdPxVce32sjFhWLliOTUFyIdEoAcuBFuhvEYTSHOU9jPlk16A/s1600/Chutney+ingredients+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZNoLbKTMqZaXPEeJeoCOn9GjFIVVXAsapS53PjUC22MGWkFS3XCUDWxRYh6u7md7Q23mJHEGf3mVDoPqUMcLoVHkKVvdPxVce32sjFhWLliOTUFyIdEoAcuBFuhvEYTSHOU9jPlk16A/s320/Chutney+ingredients+72.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ7jxLY1W8F2rJwgQ7jgmIEGU7f2bvwvr3txEjfsRukQymM_tP2Tc7cecVrhHU6dayW2vRNl7dee1E5nba-frQelwmKv3bqCFBWV-SMmQo3CkkuXNjmWx6X0iPAO0JnZEnGAP2bXG3Ok/s1600/Cherry+Chutney+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ7jxLY1W8F2rJwgQ7jgmIEGU7f2bvwvr3txEjfsRukQymM_tP2Tc7cecVrhHU6dayW2vRNl7dee1E5nba-frQelwmKv3bqCFBWV-SMmQo3CkkuXNjmWx6X0iPAO0JnZEnGAP2bXG3Ok/s320/Cherry+Chutney+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9bdOI5WszKbpW-W9Fyo910dbG2ubJSETfh9LT5zD3xJdfAGSofCspPnKhquQ8YfDe5XB5o8VWyVAw09UaMgIuFvTTszhBmmCN7B_tJJGYjmeMysnwXsnHGz7xH0s-na0g8JKQm6BYhQ/s1600-h/Cherry%252520Chutney%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>But on the bright side, last weekend I made Cherry Chutney. Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to do it. Long weekend, cherries abundant. It will be ready for Thanksgiving. I saved the cherry pits, boiled up the juice and this weekend, am planning to make wool dyed with the cherry juice. My cotton straining cloth came out green, so I’m very anxious to see what color the wool ends up.<br />
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After I tried weaving with it, I decided that the integrity of my earlier red onion skin wool was destroyed because the fibers were so weakened, and I have to make some more, heating it at a lower temperature. I asked for the sloughed off dried skins at the local grocery and I think they emptied the bin for me. I had to divide the reds and yellows, but that’s OK. Two big tubs!<br />
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The big show at the local museum is getting closer for the artist, and he’s finished the hanging light.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoY5UR6-PUtnhZ9z5Gf3mgXEIutwPMU-dERZyQ9vNxrDksPbodXNBrxWUOK_tas8_T6tVnI0488cLp9Zo98AFkGaZW8x2vVPysPxN9Utqhlv3qND7rm_tvIeqnHNLtEqos5zzNJTYS4A/s1600-h/Light%252520-%25252072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Light - 72" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKinaWzUYQlp8U_3T_qBZTtgPwibP9M2njxKw2Mw_oWFQSzFR-phBXPmxQHTytlXpv4mvAcP7mSF-ut7Z9X9YMMyoe1LTtthmWpcDJC-F-yON9-2VWlb_u-D2G9Wj7-vXd26aJnLP00M/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Light - 72" width="244" /></a><br />
I love the angles in this. Note the little carved bee in the center of the flower. It's made of zebrawood, Kingwood, and lacewood. The hallway is the only place we have the height to hang the the light, but we can’t illuminate it because there is no outlet.<br />
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It’s a good weekend for soup. At the Farmers’ Market this AM, several farmers had a very worried look. Cherries will split if it rains, strawberries will mold. They thanked me for coming out. It’s more like February than June.<br />
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Last night was the anniversary event for my 20th year at my place of work. Amazing. I started with a one month temporary job there over 21 years ago. It’s been a good 20 years. Never boring, always interesting. My thanks to those who made it possible....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-49927586709603571262011-05-08T14:51:00.001-07:002011-05-08T14:51:08.621-07:00Cooking up Pink Geraniums for Dyeing<p>Yesterday’s experiment in natural dyeing was truly extraordinary. Last week, I boiled up some fresh pink geranium flowers. Once the broth had cooled, I strained the mixture and put it in the fridge, being careful not to mistake the carton for my yogurt during the week. (This is a joke, folks.) I decided that there was less risk of mold if I kept it carefully labeled in the fridge.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZV5_uua5quCdtwih8PwpDdk12hmg4ELJdGA8_vZ8NoFhbF7ONpv3-S9Ov8I9BX8Gb6zIXnKLBf_djHbnST6WOuWUIH3LJyPjGdtVijI8YBDm1Y3E4kceLNqKWayeuAHXdes4TO5862A/s1600-h/Pink%20Geraniums%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Pink Geraniums" border="0" alt="Pink Geraniums" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ8RWCPuqBJYDjj4QMN6QyJ17m7K5PGVcUMVfDIGlkQM4Zb4JVGILUPwLqYnfc39eWAmPLJ3xdudgnBMkm0a2l85M-VyYoRJ40Yq_77Mtx918Soeg5FcbNQ2vSBlnXk_N5R6ysyJ9CsI/?imgmax=800" width="141" height="202" /></a></p> <p align="center">Start</p> <p align="left">Yesterday, I heated the liquid in my trusty ex-fondue pot, added some stannous chloride (tin mordant), which fizzed up a little, then cream of tartar, and watched the mixture turn from clear light pink to opaque. How strange! Unless you kept stirring it, the mixture formed a couple layers of sediment, which can be seen below. (I wish I could remember the technical term for this from my high school chemistry class, but I may have been too interested in my lab partner that year.)</p> <p align="center"> </p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqv7MU3U2GZ5eJR4yrLeYesteb-c3WMv3M6n28mVJj08-4vatKADXC3Cly3ekELoLA5p1K7JTMIwwmuFpgTBLsAZX2BwYHySnZZXhUBitxnbnNkPaeG4eT1fGv19AlpHh5h3SC5vT68U/s1600-h/Pink%20Geranium%20Soup%202011%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Pink Geranium Soup 2011" border="0" alt="Pink Geranium Soup 2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj606Q6tncD1-v3KDfHu4EjNt6Kl6tizOSfdoFbpxtXiQAPtjm0KR7w0468w3iUI_BThVH7WlYnkvwpQxtEc-QIxHNujknlVd6mwtg0Nx34R3jowqYEffAn8a58J56Zz_5XTy1QAtkf7Oc/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <p align="center">Process</p> <p align="left">Once I rinsed it, the wool was a gorgeous yellow! Deep, dark, gorgeous yellow.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jlHe0jNnUYAw7gZruzi9ZFY4HbM3dcL6sut3qzKc3Z-5E2778qZ5QHouXhyphenhyphensPYIM65dq4vyB4bG0cfUypRm-qal76ff-KRNu5wgSmF-KsVYS1db5SKv7IX1-lqv7D4avySmyJXfgoR8/s1600-h/Pink%20Geraniums%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Pink Geraniums" border="0" alt="Pink Geraniums" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBY6cqmjgJc7Q-prNjUleZWl2EgFfsmD6VW6cm5Oc56cxCx_Ky1leZXFqESk0NQW-mm9NWOxLvSC8F5lVXS1Tpco-MmRaxsQ9CJoGrXhdoszZc99th1_fBW-8I9BxAWlN8Zg-f0FBygc/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p align="center">Finished Product</p> <p align="left">This whole experiment of mine this spring has truly made me more interested in chemistry (other than food preparation) than I have been in ages.  Just fascinating.</p> <p align="left">The tin worked this time, so I think that the time I used it on the red onion skins and it turned out so badly was because the temperature was too high.</p> <p align="left"><strong>On another note…</strong></p> <p align="left">Each year The Artist and I give a Craft Award for the High School Show at out local Art League. This year we gave it for wearable art made of homework folded into airplanes:</p> <p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN1F65oonsBufyMVUsIZBiHA4Mn-U4d0g75iYYCvwMNQpKLPolv9eUWh0VDQJ84DBZalePBYWMdTQlE9-MBH-Yjd5qlN6hccKdddS23PESt0WWD_8pJyfMPATKqiZAgKia6gCrEl5pic/s1600-h/HS%20Show%202011%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="HS Show 2011" border="0" alt="HS Show 2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLLJFW5Tu0U0AAnSqEBtQPVOmefSgFhxn-KvX80vVh062zAxbIovGrsWH1m-TXM2-vByttEIS7SXl4_PD_i2OJuiCVqvu7UK0__FSLDF7JtRmEsjGqGcVQgg16yvQKkUieBWRWJC2oCc/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center">Flying Homework Wedding Dress</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfWVtVxiLHncI3DaQ-P0n5Hk5aEQ5Pki9BSUgJpLnqjZsMo7T07KvL06nLPiWCcqiBsJGGSgFlaTlD6FBbH4IAzAs9QU01nZVm2kbv00G7eSKbbuQsLYN49P3q8j1g9w1Vj9wZSGcLp8/s1600-h/Fiber%20wedding%20dress%20bodice%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fiber wedding dress bodice" border="0" alt="Fiber wedding dress bodice" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvIZj4ktNrhZn3J-D6txS6LQN_Lfa_GRqnMf3c2Yby68BNfvKVpB2AsCtU-QQOcoy9UoF1jgXoXTA5pHvfWQ9Q5ep_tAVam47TV81ONoPbaf9tzhpq1m31O9VW969wKkW6n6cLt1_4Uw/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p align="center">Closeup of Woven Bodice</p> <p align="left">Our goal is to encourage young people in Fine Craft.</p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-41755628162645737032011-04-24T19:14:00.001-07:002011-04-24T19:14:58.316-07:00Red Onions Anyone?<p>This weekend’s dyeing and weaving project was red onions and it met with mixed success.</p> <p>The first batch, using cream of tartar and alum as mordent, worked great, but the second batch, using cream of tartar and tin chloride came out darker, but with the consistency of string. Perhaps I boiled it and felted it. Or maybe I put too much mordent in it. Anyway, my first experiment using tin for mordenting was not too successful. The onion skins are from a generous farmer at the Farmers’ Market.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcwKQlNvQ8L9wzyK5tgvcLBHhyyZSNPZj1uOj1VSAMyzTCr-bAdAMLBmGdJN_vsobM4GMjF3IOoQia2AAkZCTc2ww5xEIQhSeJxE9zFV739Z9P1NzA_TgR_t040RSnH817JygeEr7BaY/s1600-h/Red%20Onions%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Red Onions" border="0" alt="Red Onions" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoishBDWYdGTJKOl3vcr_iaJhWsblaxJ6XzB8By3l6DfeX7PaTnausrAsXjqdI7nMoLOzDxIEXSdAdTRaT7CJPQmy-wGxtvU3b87AMjPpCoa3VGGDy7DNdXFYRqtGJbJhCt2XQ2UnbYLw/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Red Onions. Left: alum; right: tin chloride</p> <p align="left">Last weekend’s experiment using walnut shavings looks quite good. I did not pre-soak the shavings, from a Nakashimi-style table-to-be by The Artist, made from a very large walnut slab given to him. For next weekend, however, I have some shavings soaking and the sample should be much darker. </p> <p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_CgqL92Hk-6uM28Ex6CE1XEtS8NUxjTTF97wiqmGhKkOD0GkWB1Tcvqbee8HOh2pb8-03Y3eXEY7h6n4ljT3L80C3V5ZTY5fp6YrUS7FAw4f6RR-Xiat7SUO1CIEOJRiscphoNGkRGk/s1600-h/Walnut%20light%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Walnut light" border="0" alt="Walnut light" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXZBsCf_6d2JDdaStp-R03PcCr3UaKWL-dTC2m9GxYISFdLyJZ3E-PS3ehQLwK0MRH3Po1-ViWavPr0GBbd6Y3S87KzVmHUliOSIIpjIPtRaCMcvfE0rjcJWWcAxENtlw7iuSisI_Ibk/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p align="center">Walnut</p> <p align="left">Weaving will have to wait a little; I’m trying to finish knitting a sweater or two.</p> <p align="left">The Artist is finishing up his work for the museum show and doing a poster for the group.</p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-47040841830941181162011-04-02T14:01:00.001-07:002011-04-02T14:01:47.661-07:00Weaving Beets<p>Remember all that yarn that my cousin gave me?  Well, I’ve started to use it.</p> <p>The photo below is the first batch of yarn that I dyed with natural ingredients, woven on a 4” square  hand loom that my husband made for me.  </p> <p>So what did I dye it with? Red beet juice left over from cooking the beets. “Red?”, you say? Yes. Red. I used cream of tartar and alum as mordents, and it came out a creamy yellow. I was a little bit in a hurry to see the results, so I didn’t leave it in the pot too long.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjgtAweXBkHntGuWQyViJalmr4cQXSMVrAtKyd2O4IhowsWFBNOFhPf9ZcGIOj8UgxFBLyfp22Yw0B9yIMjMBaK8_PzTIuCtSXdeNLnZaV8VRH168nNzCeU4iGRyVQ4ib5BeeXATplF4/s1600-h/Weaving%20Beets%2072%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Weaving Beets 72" border="0" alt="Weaving Beets 72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3jJ6KRyCWuxBOdpe8QWLTVTRF8noKt9yJ7_W2Zc7IqqntmvA7MCZOdCUUvRYp39J8MVxp8LFLxNDuyFnFEjEl-J64SklAbq7H_c6zmX87yQMb5m9RO0yfWWQmSbg4GRcFyTwrniKzaI/?imgmax=800" width="239" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I plan to do a series of these weavings. I will use the yarn that my cousin spun from sheep that she raised. I understand that Lincoln is very good for weaving, so I will probably use that. It comes from sheep that look like they have dreadlocks and is rather coarse. Keeping with the natural, hand made look, I will dye the yarn with various fruits, vegetables and spices from my garden or the farmer’s market or my cupboard. I plan to do these in very small batches, hopefully one a weekend. It should keep me busy all summer!</p> <p>I already have carrot tops in the a pot and plan to do beet greens, red onion skins and red cabbage soon.</p> <p>And The Artist? His joiner motor died. He’s using some wood that was given to him to make a Nakashimi-style table, a style he’s never done before. I’m very excited about it. He’s also finishing up his pieces for the MAH show.</p> <p>By the way, the Big Creek Pottery retrospective currently at the Museum of Art and History is fantastic.</p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-23449540591234888392011-02-20T14:54:00.001-08:002011-02-20T14:54:21.522-08:00Stitches West was GREAT!<p>I had such a wonderful time at Stitches West, the big fiber event in Santa Clara this weekend.</p> <p>On Friday, I took an all-day class in Knitting Rugs, not my first choice, but I registered late, and had to take what was left. It turned out to be a big surprise, with a wonderful history lesson in how our ancestors creatively reused anything made of fiber up to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. We are now only beginning to appreciate their efforts as we attempt to create our own  interpretations of  reuse of materials.</p> <p>My two favorites of the rug samples we created are shown below:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHEoYJNhidcMxm3SR1vWssme4Ue5gsuQ-BIQgunRXZHCWQs5BKuiWJ1249mOQvRYcOjCUxye2kN4k4vGKBbNrSWLGybZTur77Do5ufGhY3dOpUC6zJcxTWd8qvksnaQQxamlJEbxgvDE/s1600-h/Rug%20class%20samples%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="Rug class samples" alt="Rug class samples" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSbYTM2k4W8OGuEfQ1-deSVLTmg-aF5qNIvgFXC6V6Ae9BUZyw4IScg9vMigNqapVzYh1DTUsbnp-RiTjZEp7eKzy3RcllENHyfjXvquQMD24lwT_JGbNrMaMwoadoa6t10AjTU08FBY/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p>The beginning of the the rug on the left is the center core of a washboard rug, comprised of  knitted strips of yarn. (To be historically correct, I should use wool, but the center is the remains of some silk yarn.) This would be a great use of extra wool, especially the shades of purple in the Noro that I still have left from my sweater. Combined with purple alpaca, it is extremely soft. How, then, could I ever put it on the floor?</p> <p>The rug on the right is based on a Shaker confetti rug, with strips of cloth knitted into the rows of plain knitting. Of course, Shakers never used batiks, like I did. This is a perfect one for me and would be a good use of all those extra strips of batik that I cut up for the jacket I was going to make but eventually made placemats!</p> <p>Below on the right is my favorite rug of our teacher, Rose Ann Hunter.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0iFyMxs1rFGQNzkWF-GQh4u9sNwdK_sWbRD89DtCPd2zuOyF80bnG-csP3rgCphQNcWMOl7WaKv-gaDNjRsNP857hDFLataFUvaBJQ7mU51I81WmTjcy6Lu5QaHN4Tl0I5yMVOu11D4/s1600-h/Rug%20class%20-%201%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Rug class - 1" border="0" alt="Rug class - 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly7-P_tjX-QZG2btLzvJQ1cIeWqZkfXUfOsAeqEWU6ukcdwDdQCbm0VfJeSQo7ooU7mt1T2krTwcauTBxmdfAhDsi4A23-HENR9KPOrcmWB61VbwktkzvFWe7hdQq0wbYohpuA-YgJ4w/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="171" /></a></p> <p>On Saturday, I took a one-hour market class in mitred squares from Cindy Craig. Mitred squares are also known as Domino Knitting, whereby decreasing in the center of a long strip rather than at the ends forms a square. I have a project started that uses large mitred squares and felt I really needed some pointers. I certainly got what I was looking for and Cindy’s class was a huge help.</p> <p>Below right is my first attempt and on the left is my second attempt. (Note that the angle on the lower left red square is going the wrong way.) Huge improvement. Thank you, Cindy! As with anything, it’s practice, practice, practice.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3M7C2fjlWxZqwVJ0TVs5IKPBjJcWkgyt-61hkzjkbFM-s9q97elvzKfbZjiagzwtt19ycwbIuRD4cIQY4yLtYVQwjWOPPLov6FpO_Xq_ZQxFf3vqwRS_Q5kzW3pExtlB2xJzjwhQGrk/s1600-h/Mitred%20squares%20examples%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mitred squares examples" border="0" alt="Mitred squares examples" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFUPKDoPvyQvzr8iC638oSY2Dv7oDCe0ZAGcialUydmEURARpee1DlPbiAbvhYDjjIVoPgXCK-cCuw0dsDx7QA3Z1qsh6qQmOZV_siTMKnAWEsEOpSsO11fKthAQ3d1KSQj_zgvxK6qE/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Of course, the highlight of Stitches West is the market. I was able to find the things I was really looking for on the first day. Then, I could relax and appreciate the yarns the rest of the time. </p> <p>Friday, I went alone, but on Saturday, I went over with my friend, <a href="http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com">Annie</a>, the inkle loom weaver. On Saturday, it snowed both going over the mountain and returning in the evening. (This comment is for the benefit of my friends on the East Coast who think it’s always at least in the 50’s here.) Annie showed me a booth that I had missed where I found an antique bone weaving needle. Thank you!</p> <p>On the more serious side, I bought yarn to use with yarn I already had. I got some dark yarn to make another heavy sweater I can wear around our cold house. Books. I’m such a sucker for books. But, I found some really good ones I had to have. I even found something to use in my <em>other</em> fiber arts.</p> <p>I got a Ravelry button and a Stitches West button.</p> <p>Even though I’ve now been knitting for about 6 years, I feel like I’m such a new knitter. I enjoy it so much. Just keep it up!</p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-12191062277030467742011-02-06T12:29:00.001-08:002011-02-06T15:39:46.754-08:00Spring in February<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFISPy6HZ9JE1uFeucZTcujF957E5dx-RGzQbrD5HwfYEn8l8Hl7wMgMG_9FU92M2gVi83lixIuKQn72h2p1jtY6IMXZjQEJ11X3B5Fe5B6t4UMnhtJayNd48YoM8R-Q-1c5u4R6hmxs/s1600-h/Blossoms%20in%20February%202011%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Blossoms in February 2011" border="0" alt="Blossoms in February 2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEo1rkuLIcvkJeOKpCU7Bd4MY1aZY1n7AXa4temqkjQGxoERIleKgwPb82TP4us2n8XzU50fZ17plyFznDRfg4pHJhE3nbJabDvPV9RIylehi1vkGw5FzufXNKaoEqWUQs0fuI2WAjzIA/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I figure I’d better get these plum blossoms posted before the weather changes.</p> <p>I know there’s several feet of snow back east, but here, it’s a very early Spring and the alley behind our house is lovely. Of course, the blossoms drop within about a day, but for the weekend, they’re lovely and their sweet scent is not overpowering. </p> <p>The Artist has been busy not only carving his Medieval tables, but also making me some looms. I’ve always wanted to weave, as if knitting and sewing is not enough, and after I saw a tiny little 2” square hand loom in an old magazine, I asked him if he could make one for me.  The Artist researched hand looms on the Internet and presented me with not only a 4” loom, but the instructions (from 1936) as well. I’m practicing. What will I “make”? I have no idea if I will ever have a finished product. But I really like it and I can use up all my yarn bits.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHcI0chzfS0Gn9aTqjxmLkTXZrWnrmAWd9liuXIWcp8fE4ZPOlLg64DDshawydCx4LXegHd9UW6-Rl6U9BS2hnTGmUq4Axy2X4rixnTWjo6QQXQ_IEsJmr401OvlBOAvwU2fd4apNtZE/s1600-h/Little%20Loom%20samples%20-%20first%205%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Little Loom samples - first 5" border="0" alt="Little Loom samples - first 5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe7q8qaLaLtCLwm6yGJvM0GoDILJfS21U41cPW_TqjWBNuJP-1sdysAFYQ6TdvlvZH8-h5Ef1SFXj-k55PGfW-h0dXuiLkOKnP9tQ640sCb0f3dmZdB_EER5OxxlAcOkEnr6ubXPqnVs/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Then, on Wednesday, I received an even larger loom from The Artist. I’m almost afraid to start using it, but I sure do like it! It’s 24”x18”.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQoAKKKwg7VMrWJ-vA-31ycEsFwG5wovFRefwg2gvEbIIcooy_rcHSVjtV1otMv8gmE0TicFAgUun0AF0VXbxVOSLEMCYNPT7P7xq05bZcjj_XXmTbADTDEV8_zeJTYAHum7DptU8VoE/s1600-h/Big%20loom%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Big loom" border="0" alt="Big loom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie63L9sPIOhJKrbcmVLDPCFC5AmNinRpgpob_9PkYeFMsLnMSXt3x8KuNc9k-cEMM3ta_9RE9yumekCR6U3HhC5ohdqrYX_dFIWKP15S2SN7ddd7gJaAgYJrfvPTIh9xRDvrdqcuNrdE/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-72020145439388311802011-01-28T17:46:00.000-08:002011-01-28T17:46:44.533-08:00Exciting Day in the LifeWednesday was an exciting day in my life. The Artist’s work appeared on the cover of a national magazine.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnGWe4BWv6PY3QBBo2DBn4m1Gl1hvv_UvoAh6R7ywvPFylILdcWRvcAXqmE1HVG_i2PJK3muxP8e_PKEWUeW_juFMwlhkN0yToE7VO4CMm2G3RUpAc3DtUhwAW8zGpglqU8NyddXf9gk/s1600-h/DPN-Winter-11-cover%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="DPN-Winter-11-cover" border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyeac4ROk5Rj2w2RwR13v0IlmiH2H-xJRXpAi2Ra2YbHSI3pdnaZhaEBB8hZskmBTQBRpfU2buJ7MBLqNOZrGJvDnk3taRvTOjowhVKjB_0K6I23RVTB1_dR3zJm9WBYqXN7kL88o9_g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DPN-Winter-11-cover" width="266" /></a></div><br />
We had known that the owner of the dulcimer was writing an article for the magazine and she had notified The Artist that it would be in the Winter 2011 issue, but to have it appear on the cover (and the CD that accompanies each magazine) was a gigantic surprise and brought us both tremendous pleasure.<br />
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I give huge thanks to the author, a prominent banjo and dulcimer musician, Mary Z. Cox, for her very kind words and thoughtful insight into the true value of historical instruments. Mary maintains a great appreciation for instruments made in the traditional way and believes that musical instruments have real personalities and destinies of their own. As The Artist said last night, “She really gets it!”<br />
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But… the day wasn’t over!<br />
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Wednesday evening was the annual Gail Rich Awards in our home town. The awards honor the abundance of creative artists—dancers, craftspeople, musicians, writers, artists, actors, entrepreneurs, teachers, clowns, exhibitors, purveyors—who make our town so culturally rich. This year, one of our good friends was honored. We <em>had</em> to attend and waited in line for a half hour before the awards began.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfELL8_olgBS2qamVA-l_Ti_8g3DSNE8Ke4IS4C-i_Iv_bAdGY5_C2LYO7xy5huExIHc_uvKvk_E0hw-mNhCdTJOtplTdhdrmHAqVrdkRp27O8bdzn4aIq28IA-jdAkTo58LmqA3T7DEU/s1600-h/Rio%20Theatre%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="Rio Theatre" border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4YZRBMOS-pMpRgsYnXL-WgOU6mevIpBN4bBp7CsFLELneHw2OWuTCXtAm1xof6t1FTUJl2RrdCAm1FCxdVlIbe9knEncxNq8SI7L1nDoF-kbj0BgMnfwl8ZzaSTk046v5K6gYuFqKBE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Rio Theatre" width="398" /></a></div><br />
Of course, I took a copy of the just-received DPN magazine to show everyone we knew and some of those we didn’t! Turns out one of those we didn’t know formerly owned a well-known dulcimer shop in town. (People at shows still ask us if we knew the shop.) “Didn’t know that magazine was still in business,” he quipped. Well, it is and at volume 37, #1, it’s better than ever; in fact, I think it's the best one yet!....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-7628036888615395302011-01-22T21:19:00.001-08:002011-01-22T21:20:45.744-08:00New Chandelier!<p>For Christmas this year, I gave The Artist a class in “Warm” Lighting at the local community college. I’ve taken so many great classes there: Exploring England (just before we visited), Quick Books, Intro to Photoshop, using PMC, just to name a few. I thought that he should also be exposed to more of the education that the place offers than just the degree in English that he received quite a few years ago.</p> <p>The Artist started the class by catching the cold that I had. But, true to himself and his work habits, he went in with a plan, remained focused, and completed a new chandelier for the living room within the two intense weeks of 9-5 class.</p> <p>Plasma welding and sand blasting glass were the two main crafts used in creating what is probably really called a drum pendant light, but to us is a medieval chandelier. We plan to swing across the room like Robin Hood (or Errol Flynn) on it. Or not.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi23FIB-k6BlrMaVj852kjB-JgTbz_A_VCspRN5q2hQDgn12_PTEv9BRSzojqAuhQmH8x48_ZirFAtMVLheFOuIMwh7yaVD8tKKf859dQDoMnuSOlAB5mkmocjfBf2Am61NRFLQ4bgzuw/s1600-h/New%20Chandelier-final%20hanging%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="New Chandelier-final hanging" alt="New Chandelier-final hanging" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HcbJz8D98i4ElIRvw8wss_LNFtXik7Gkp_oY4JFD4Rs2ztR3e3-yjjGCvwQiPXqPoKDvfsFOafHjmyA71_ae9AMLHqN-KiWIeiuNgPkyl-Vu9iQDGWzhMD0b14r6i3Bcw4YJC_zgBm0/?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a></p> <p>I thoroughly expected The Artist to make something that would be a prototype for an art piece in his business, but noooo, he had to replace that disgusting, ugly, hideously bright chandelier that we had (and hated) with one that looks wonderful over our round dining room table and gives off soft, glowing light, with the same wattage and number of bulbs as the other.  I love this one.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNDkNTO_LTncWx-41i_B73eG8Xng57eMRR2o1twELB3rwiTr2ch3T8M_MibujwKAHZaOui5dJ2yJkwKcpxZJxdEPe9wVS6Qo61v8pIyX8JE9qDR5WpYYEfphRroaoE5Uv9vrHD3-PMWI/s1600-h/New%20Chandelier-it%20works%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="New Chandelier-it works" border="0" alt="New Chandelier-it works" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_JgONJey_Uxfu2eZBEgLn3kHmtffKnaFJwxVBo7v2oBkKvzAFlHZYAbx_Ih8dudcvatHKKDsYCvCtPlhYDQo3dq8eWKRSXM685EBJ_UUdvuK9pJwqjVyDYEsyTlLO95F0-MbXMEptRg/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>He did enjoy the class and met lots of people. All is not lost on the art front. He’s now doing something in wood that’s along the same lines. </p> <p>And moi? What am I up to? I have a few more designs just released on Spoonflower and am starting to knit a new jacket, as soon as I can get the gauge right. </p> <p>Weather has been wonderful lately. Makes me want to make lists of things to do and vigorously check them off. The moon over the last several nights has been delicious, rising just as we sit down to dinner, and waning just as I wake up. Makes you forget about all the problems that exist in the world for a few minutes.</p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-76486251909196609782010-12-30T15:07:00.000-08:002010-12-30T15:07:14.589-08:00Christmas ColdsHah! That got you, huh?<br />
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No typo here. Not only was the house 59 degrees this AM, but I have a cold as well. My week of vacation has thus developed slight bruises, but it’s not completely rotten.<br />
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In fact, we had a great Christmas in San Francisco. Visited the post impressionist exhibit at the de Young and a couple exhibits at the SFMOMA. Shopped for yarn, fabric and buttons. Finally found the buttons at Britex for my Noro sweater. Art Yarns is a fantastic new place on Sutter. Even The Artist had a good time!<br />
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I think the most impressionable thing was Christmas day. Although it rained, we were out tromping around Chinatown and North Beach. Grant Street and Stockton were full of life and extremely busy, (need a haircut on Christmas day?) whereas Broadway and Columbus were barely waking up. We did get to see the wild parrots swooping around on their way back to Telegraph Hill.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUngzcM1ZJ0KiJkLgcIN21mdgSKd4Ii85aSm2JAfmX237E2FYRTTez5SIYjDd6KE9vtkxJaojU55jOHn5pq63VvStg_8XL9fE12B2RDioIHRmzQ_bjVlM_BCK2IqefrCU_fOv5yftSkg/s1600-h/Stella%20in%20Chinatown%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="Stella in Chinatown" border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHU7HmZk7Ve-_DjqjBvJh_bPjpXUNRYi457W1MvRTLraGJStqJbSRgdCai-u0TGRh1NpPSQU2i57vG6bCYxRWWvmPp7Mv8vYJ_g5K1B8YXmqsZGrYHY62NPIqxpZ6vEKYcn0zaGUSxVzk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Stella in Chinatown" width="284" /></a><br />
On our way back, we spotted a French Brasserie, Cafe de la Presse, at the corner of Grant across from the gate to Chinatown and had a late lunch. Jam packed. Wonderful food. Best latte I’ve ever had.<br />
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Day after Christmas was just packed with shoppers around Union Square. Even so, it was nice to get away to a big city for a holiday.<br />
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By the way, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-17180043123093762502010-12-18T16:26:00.001-08:002010-12-18T16:26:04.777-08:00‘’Twas a Week Before Christmas…<p> </p> <p>… and I bought myself an embellisher.</p> <p>So instead of showing what it looks like, I’m showing what it does.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfi1EBOndpj8lypeWszdEPo53xZZHdEl774iSWp4mSwyZCjFcw0bzQpPjmRzejd8EVY6y3PvULnzTFVixxBOcYinCOPjy4A1Eeye2dk_9u_ZYAcKEPgs_Ddi-16pUo4hooWwSLahZTeGU/s1600-h/Fuzz%20Ball%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fuzz Ball" border="0" alt="Fuzz Ball" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8USz2ym0vmH18HOlR9t1R861K5Td2OY1riythVhNAbv-7T8idaV4rMuRqDbmwto5zmssIQ_FRsuFwyz8wVD8uNcTAYxry0Gg9KEMuQJBE8inLNhCm8-LieD68DspLxjLTJr1VAqtYUQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>That’s black raw silk and gold paint with wool roving embellished on top. The machine has 12 needles with little hooks on the ends to push the wool fibers into the silk. It should be a lot of fun to work with. I look forward to combining my yarn scraps with my fabric scraps to make gorgeous new fabric.</p> <p>I’m finishing up my Christmas cards, so it’s back to work.</p> <p>By the way, thanks to all who voted for me. Flying Carpet was far from winning. I think you really have to be into social networking and your designs must be very literal, rather than imaginative and cerebral to win the Spoonflower contests, but it’s still fun.</p> <p>And the Artist? He’s working on the pipe organ and just finished two autoharps.</p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-24879180801379631522010-12-09T20:06:00.001-08:002010-12-09T20:06:28.766-08:00Vote for Me This Week!<p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/339146" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Nuno-1" border="0" alt="Nuno-1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHhs-AB6kDIaEj8hsGPaRg-W7DgKs963n2pJUtVV98jWiQWTrNWjH-J3DIwGVpKaPHkPGtRR3sQNZBsPN4wk_Xo2LhQO5GO4LzIdYITgN_AK90jo5BkUj6VB_sffV0qKAugp7OGuXlSs/?imgmax=800" width="212" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center"><strong>Flying Carpet</strong></p> <p>Vote for me this week! My fabric is in the Time Travel contest at <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/" target="_blank">Spoonflower</a> December 9-16.</p> <p>The Flying Carpet takes you wherever you want to go - the past, the future or just up the street. The process is fused wool fibers done in the wet felting process. When I first made this in my fiber art group, I was very disappointed with it. Then, I stood back to look at it and decided to upload it to Spoonflower as a fabric design. It became something entirely new, with a completely new feeling! It looks like an Oriental carpet! </p> <p>As one very thoughtful admirer commented: <em>This design has a marvelous fuzzy felted feeling about it. It makes you want to stroke its soft surface as you close your eyes and make a wish to be transported to another Time and Place! </em></p> <p>Thank you in advance for voting.</p> <p> </p> <p>And as a follow up on another fiber project, my quilt, <em>Body and Soul</em>, has taken on a new name for the month, <em>Temporarily Santa Cruz</em>, and is in the <strong>This is Santa Cruz</strong> show at the Santa Cruz Art League.</p> <p>And The Artist? He’s in the show, too.</p> ...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-51884758947283693962010-10-15T20:45:00.000-07:002010-10-15T20:45:18.983-07:00Days Lost. Where do I Find Them?Well, I lost a few days, and I realize that as you get older, each day becomes more precious.<br />
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How could this happen? Well, I got a bad cold and spent one day in bed. Although I was able to finish two books, it disturbed my normal flow of Life. My head is still all fogged up, I breathe like a dragon (see those flames coming out my mouth? They are really cold germs.) and I'm generally confused. I actually left my knitting bag in either a meeting room or in someone's office. (Not yet found...)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUIm2ZwRMYPP2K0HIOn1lKDLpbOiJluX-1AdGPNqWl69QDNdsCMqwfd5Z2a5iPTNuKqCG0AZytZ1q4dnGYiloRxFRF5oNHnjflASl8EmpvtDfCqLUfxCbvQrFxQ60J3H5CPT_mEBes0g/s1600/Sick+bed+accessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUIm2ZwRMYPP2K0HIOn1lKDLpbOiJluX-1AdGPNqWl69QDNdsCMqwfd5Z2a5iPTNuKqCG0AZytZ1q4dnGYiloRxFRF5oNHnjflASl8EmpvtDfCqLUfxCbvQrFxQ60J3H5CPT_mEBes0g/s320/Sick+bed+accessories.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><strong>Sick Room Accessories for a Fiber Artist</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Books count as fiber. </strong><br />
<strong>So do tissues.</strong></div><br />
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You see, it was The Artist's Open Studio, where he presents all his work to the public in our backyard (and my studio) in hopes they will purchase something. It was very nice, but I shook hands with lots of people. I also have that exercise class with lots of moms with small kids. The Artist wants to know why I only get sick at his shows. (This is, unfortunately, true.) The weather is changing. It just <em>happens</em> this time of year.<br />
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Anyway, there <em>are</em> things happening besides my cold:<br />
<ul><li>I was able to knit when there was no one at the studio</li>
<li>You may see The Artist<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> at </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://woodworks.blip.tv/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://woodworks.blip.tv</span></a> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">presenting his life and skills</span></span></li>
<li>I have entered this week's Spoonflower contest <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/contest_voters/new?contest_id=51">http://www.spoonflower.com/contest_voters/new?contest_id=51</a> Please vote for Grandma's Rock #9.</li>
</ul>But I just can't find those two days and can't figure out where to find them....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-47235126363139274882010-10-07T18:57:00.000-07:002010-10-07T18:57:52.603-07:00Happenin' Stuff<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Open Studios for The Artist this Weekend</strong></div><br />
That's the operative event. Everything else stops. Rather, all personal activity for the week revolves around Open Studios. Last night when I came in all hot and sweaty after my Jazzercise class, the lights in my studio were blazing. I knew what it meant. Time to move the furniture, knitting, yarn, fabric, paint, and all half-finished projects <em>out</em> of my studio and to <em>somewhere else</em> for the annual Presentation of The Artist to the Public.<br />
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"Okay, sweetie," I said, "Let's turn off the lights and cut down on the electric bill. I get the picture." We ate dinner. We returned to the room. I saved dessert for later to reward myself. He actually sat there and watched me pick everything up and move it. Fortunately for me, he sets up a room about six inches inside the real room, so I can mash some things against the wall and not quite move everything. I thought he was crazy when he first suggested this, but it works well. (Notice the purple wall of the studio behind the green "booth" panels.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTTT6yDmJbWiSPh6JwmvDuP5QQWZzVeXwTVhWoLrN2VM9cxG-VtMFgFbLXdRSzbUWIuP4xAllwPlZiJwVaHe3abYa420x9REeY_UGj0-C38M7uDv1jB2ccw_jC1twqxa7MGXia97Gf3M/s1600/201010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTTT6yDmJbWiSPh6JwmvDuP5QQWZzVeXwTVhWoLrN2VM9cxG-VtMFgFbLXdRSzbUWIuP4xAllwPlZiJwVaHe3abYa420x9REeY_UGj0-C38M7uDv1jB2ccw_jC1twqxa7MGXia97Gf3M/s320/201010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><strong>Exhausted Artist Hiding his New Work</strong></div><br />
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"You know, you could stop all this next year if you were to apply to Open Studios and were accepted," he said at one point. "Then you could keep the studio as it is and not move much. A consistent body of work. That's all it takes." Well, I'm not quite ready.<br />
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I finally have a photo of my watercolor fabrics combined into a quilt. (I who do not make quilts made it.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmpcH-eEiegd0z578Uszgg9cgdWqBEBQHnfroHPGWz9Yha_gaynotsPziD4kqcSbXEMAdMM4ybKquCSEoIAH8vzDQO4iqxTAbc-vt4XcOeI_07nV0u0DWygLoR9pgfgD4QKMJhaaXtOA/s1600/Quilt-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmpcH-eEiegd0z578Uszgg9cgdWqBEBQHnfroHPGWz9Yha_gaynotsPziD4kqcSbXEMAdMM4ybKquCSEoIAH8vzDQO4iqxTAbc-vt4XcOeI_07nV0u0DWygLoR9pgfgD4QKMJhaaXtOA/s320/Quilt-72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><strong>Watercolor Quilt</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I truly love the colors and the graphics. If you would like to purchase the fabric, you may. (Link to Spoonflower on the fabric below.)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/274236" title="Body_and_Soul by not-enough-time on Spoonflower - custom fabric"><img alt="Body_and_Soul" src="http://www.spoonflower.com/design_thumbnails/0027/4236/Body_and_Soul_preview.png" /></a></div><br />
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I'm back on the Laddered Turtleneck knitting project and have yarn for a Blossom Blanket. (Great name, huh? All pinks and purples.) Hope to get a lot done while I sit around in the back yard for two weekends. Well, actually, I'd rather be busy selling The Artist's stuff.<br />
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I took a class in Drop Spindle spinning last weekend. Lots of fun, but I don't know if my fingernails can handle it.<br />
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Tomorrow evening? Avocado minicupcakes, apple minicupcakes. Get those internal engines revving! <br />
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I ran into an old friend this evening. She told me that I never change. I always look the same. Like a little girl. What a wonderful compliment. It's just the way I feel. Thank you, Bess.<br />
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I think it's dinner time. Talk with you later....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-8460166773615727862010-09-30T20:51:00.000-07:002010-09-30T20:54:34.289-07:00Fiber FinishThis time it's the quilt I've finished.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev9BlArPpPsVNDts2PLRNXHPLLz-kvtCmzhbqMZU0GYjbXtfLt5rV2fxDLGPgZyfVGzJIpP-NTv9Z6tPTynTuQD3UccubKIbMJPCwo9ZovGMLR_JPYltaYu0q_Gqi5AC0mjsdJbVjy-E/s1600/Quilt-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev9BlArPpPsVNDts2PLRNXHPLLz-kvtCmzhbqMZU0GYjbXtfLt5rV2fxDLGPgZyfVGzJIpP-NTv9Z6tPTynTuQD3UccubKIbMJPCwo9ZovGMLR_JPYltaYu0q_Gqi5AC0mjsdJbVjy-E/s320/Quilt-72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The first fabric that I ever put on Spoonflower in 2010 was from a small watercolor painting that I did in a class in maybe 2000 at the Art League. I thought it would make the most wonderful fabric: bright, geometric and colorful. It does make a great fabric. Later, I combined two other paintings I did after that class into a one-yard "cheater" quilt for a Spoonflower contest, thanks to software help from The Artist. I thought they would make a great front and back to a quilt. They did. <br />
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But, I had no binding. For that, I had to paint another watercolor. The watercolor set I use, by the way, is a set of Pelikan paints that I got for an even more ancient Art League class. Since all the watercolors are straight from the pans, and not mixed, they always look bright and vivid, with the usual watercolor gradients.<br />
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I finished painting the binding in late summer, then finished the quilt and sewed on the binding. I'm not a watercolorist and I'm not a quilter, but I love this quilt. The sewing has problems, but the design really lends itself to making an easy "cheater" quilt that really shows well and vibrates a little.<br />
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I plan to "hang it high" so you can't see the mistakes, but only the beauty....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-17778510639222088842010-09-25T14:26:00.000-07:002010-09-25T14:26:31.078-07:00Tieing up loose endsIt seems I have several <strong>loose ends</strong> to tie up. Knitting, sewing, life. (LIFE?)<br />
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Anyway. Remember all that <strong>crochet yarn</strong> my friend in NYC sent to me? I mailed some back east to my cousin (along with some pear butter I made) and she seemed to love it. Then, I gave a whole bunch to a friend who does inkle loom weaving. (A real expert in it - has been doing it for 30 years and has a loom for just about every year she's been weaving! Even her grown kids weave!) She <em>really</em> liked it. Said the black was perfect for guitar straps and the teal is a great color for her. (Check out her blog and Etsy Shops> <a href="http://www.aspinnerweaver.etsy.com/">http://www.aspinnerweaver.etsy.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.iweavesashes.etsy.com/">http://www.iweavesashes.etsy.com/</a> Blog> <a href="http://www.aspinnerweaver.com/">http://www.aspinnerweaver.com/</a>)<br />
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OK. Now, on to my <strong>knitting loose ends</strong>. I've given up for a while working on my "New York Beret" on size 5 needles in white mohair. I think the needle size is just too small and my eyes just too dim. This is the second time I've put it away. (I know. My eyes don't get any better while it sits in a bag.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrUPg4tMUIWcVAjm7THZd13r_CKL-S4k1c-3yNoZ1RDmL8J0ii2qfwBL4bpmTSWbza9RJtQonGDFWg29j2tjgaCAAKjtMoLq38Bz5QfGE_Q3LxkSdawHKEzV8bd-tshpjYQGKBuuScDY/s1600/Seduce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrUPg4tMUIWcVAjm7THZd13r_CKL-S4k1c-3yNoZ1RDmL8J0ii2qfwBL4bpmTSWbza9RJtQonGDFWg29j2tjgaCAAKjtMoLq38Bz5QfGE_Q3LxkSdawHKEzV8bd-tshpjYQGKBuuScDY/s320/Seduce.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So, I started the sleeveless shell in black cotton and "Splendora", as I call it. (It really has another name, as you can see in the photo.). Much larger needles - 8 and 9 - and since it's sleeveless, should knit up much faster. There's still that Blossom beckoning... Got a new book for it, but that grams to meters to yards thing has me stumped.<br />
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Lastly, my quilt. I've finished all the sewing and just need to take care of the thread <strong>loose ends</strong> and put on a quilt sleeve. Maybe I should design a label on Spoonflower. Although I'm not a quilter, it does look good, especially from afar. (No photos yet.)<br />
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Now, my<strong> loose ends in life</strong>. Finish my books (all 100 of them as yet unread...), make a will, pay off the house. What pie in the sky for today. How about something down to earth? How about go for a walk? Hey, it's 93 degrees! Why not? The knitting store is just the right distance for a nice walk in the sun.<br />
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Then, it's back to make avocado mini muffins for the Open Studios reception for The Artist for tomorrow. (Can't post this without a note on Life with The Artist, huh?) By the way, his student is back at "real" school and finished two instruments while at "independent study" school with The Artist. She said that her experience "far exceeded her expectations". That's my artist. What a guy!...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-38795842753404643462010-09-18T21:33:00.000-07:002010-09-18T21:35:17.012-07:00Knitting ThrillWell I'm just thrilled that I was able to get ravelry.com to look at my blog. I just have to keep it up!<br />
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The Artist has had an independent study student for the month of September. They've been great for each other. She has brought out an interest in teaching to the artist and shown to him that there is hope for today's youth. (That's age showing.) She has done very well and made two pieces. They will probably appear in a show together.<br />
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We're getting ready for Open Studios. This will be The Artist's 10th year as a participating artist and my 10th year as "Artist's Assistant": the beginning of my life in The Arts.<br />
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With that lead-in, what am I working on? Knitting, sewing and reading, what else? (But I'm thinking of taking up spinning and weaving!)<br />
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I finished a hat last week with some yarn leftover from my purple Noro sweater. And I still have more yarn left, enough for a second hat or even a third. They will all look completely different because the varigated yarns start and end in different places.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNhyrHPCkrj-xJEVHxsAUgjasj5qf8NbIygzx9n8L5W3KS4SLsaH3k7e5rEA7CULjOlqlDEAToNzolAbXm9usH_s-Hv7u8Z4QRD6RO89fKyT5OG_GcG-ndZppdedFkmsh7fj3ur6EdTA/s1600/Noro+hat+in+process.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNhyrHPCkrj-xJEVHxsAUgjasj5qf8NbIygzx9n8L5W3KS4SLsaH3k7e5rEA7CULjOlqlDEAToNzolAbXm9usH_s-Hv7u8Z4QRD6RO89fKyT5OG_GcG-ndZppdedFkmsh7fj3ur6EdTA/s320/Noro+hat+in+process.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Hat Unfinished</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I also knitted a teal necklace from some crochet yarn that a friend found at a flea market in NYC. I like this one; I thought it needed a little something, so I added metallic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHOzyaH-qQoOvJZiiC5yZShpJlqjeu-RGuZFoAWVvbYiQB-REOnVrRhWohabxutgRqkyTpxXfLbp_5luK1TzG7gYnFPhjtAlb06NG6kHyjV8sjN2yTuSNuovRz25RpkJfJGG6yXqVj5g/s1600/Teal+knitted+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHOzyaH-qQoOvJZiiC5yZShpJlqjeu-RGuZFoAWVvbYiQB-REOnVrRhWohabxutgRqkyTpxXfLbp_5luK1TzG7gYnFPhjtAlb06NG6kHyjV8sjN2yTuSNuovRz25RpkJfJGG6yXqVj5g/s320/Teal+knitted+necklace.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Knitted Necklace</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">I'm waiting rather patiently (for me) for some yarn to start another project. It's been ordered but has yet to arrive.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">The big event for the weekend is to finish the one-yard quilt from fabric I designed and had printed on Spoonflower.com. I finished the watercolor of the border over Labor Day and just received it yesterday. It's all quilted, but the border remains. I'm not a good quilter, and I don't particularly like to quilt, but I like to design. The front and back were actually painted several years ago when I took a watercolor class. The originals hang on the wall in my studio in little frames.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Reading? I just received a box of books in the mail from my dear friend and fellow book devourer, the ex-bookseller. Great authors, and a big thank you. Must go take advantage of them...</div>...Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412001749232007101.post-19071588821256671472010-09-04T08:34:00.000-07:002010-09-04T08:34:51.224-07:00Ode to Labor Day weekend - Why does life get so complicated?Or - am I getting old?<br />
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These silly computer programs keep changing, so that it gets harder to do those simple things in life like updating a blog. Every time I try to do it, the options change. What does all that "Changes to Make It Better!" stuff mean? Who cares? Just keep it so I can understand it. (Remember, guys. I used punch cards, so I was there at almost the beginning.) Somehow, my email address has been removed from my blogs. I can't get Ravelry.com to see my blog. Silly things. Who do I call? No one. Waste time to figure it out? Beg a college student for help?<br />
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A friend of mine asked me yesterday, "Remember when we were younger and we were told that computers were going to take over everything, and would do everything for us and make our lives simpler and we would have a shorter work week, like 35 hours instead of 40? That hasn't happened." No, it hasn't. Sometimes it seems like things have gotten worse. Maybe it's just that "labor" is not for the aged, or else I'm starting to feel my age.<br />
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I'm lost without a knitting project. I need something to start. I certainly have enough yarn. I just have to decide what it will be. A friend sent me some boxes of yarn picked up at a yard sale. Two boxes of crochet yarn. (Crochet yarn! Whatever will I do? Knit it? Learn to crochet? Give it all away?) A box of heathered silk and wool yarn (not my colors). Some black and white angora. (Rather nice and much more "me".) All discontinued, but very nice yarn. The crochet yarn would make great market bags or bikinis.<br />
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I still love best the yarn that my cousin sent. Finn. From her own sheep and spun by her.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VEVAg1Bqz7cNJCfKLvyqz_1YY1jf-ANISq0n-15UnWxNDMVhtFvUYrGY67WLXn43WCZHbZkI6Sj4d46gy45P3Eui6lpKl9awSbxN5wWm1A3q8V2dh1nRf2gLSt6c-YFoHBdFoCpkto8/s1600/Finn-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VEVAg1Bqz7cNJCfKLvyqz_1YY1jf-ANISq0n-15UnWxNDMVhtFvUYrGY67WLXn43WCZHbZkI6Sj4d46gy45P3Eui6lpKl9awSbxN5wWm1A3q8V2dh1nRf2gLSt6c-YFoHBdFoCpkto8/s320/Finn-72.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I'm finishing up my indie-self-designed quilt on my indie-self-designed fabric. I still need to design and print the border. I'll do that this weekend. See <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/">http://www.spoonflower.com/</a> if you want to see all of my designs. Search for <strong>not-enough-time</strong>.<br />
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The Artist has had a good week. (Oh, that's right, it's not just about me.) He has an independent study student who is building a couple things with him between semesters going into her senior year at college. He was videoed for a Community Television show on woodworkers.<br />
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OK. I'm outta here. Not enough time. <br />
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Time is<br />
Too slow for those who Wait,<br />
Too swift for those who Fear,<br />
Too long for those who Grieve,<br />
<strong>Too short for those who Rejoice</strong>,<br />
But for those who Love<br />
Time is not.<br />
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--Henry Vandyke (1852-1933) <br />
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I guess I rejoice. Uncomplicatedly, though....Not-enough-timehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07247615266713910414noreply@blogger.com0