what's up?

I didn't think that any activity could sink lower on my list of priorities than 'exercising'....but apparently blogging has done just that lately.  LOL!  Strangely, I can't seem to isolate a single dominating reason.  Yes, I have been busy and have an even busier schedule for the next few weeks (teaching 4 two-day workshops, a speaking engagement, taking a three-day class and making my annual pilgrimage to Vermont -- all happening before a month passes).  And because I've been busy getting ready for all of that -- and avoiding getting ready by escaping into the world of mind-candy books -- I haven't really been creating much, so that doesn't really help matters.  Or maybe it's just because I'm starting my seventh year of blogging....and I need to shake things up a bit?    Who knows.....

What I do know for sure is that the lack of blogging makes me feel guilty.   And deep down, I know that's a pretty silly waste of energy....but it still festers.   So I've decided to combat the guilt by setting a realistic goal of posting just a picture every day most days for the next while.  Sometimes there will be an accompanying sentence or two, but in the aim of keeping it manageable, I am not promising anything more than a picture.

Hopefully this new challenge will help me to get my blogging mojo back.  In the meantime, here is today's snap....taken a couple of weeks ago along the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park, NY.   Okay, so there are quite a few more than just one -- I was having a hard time deciding, and it was taking too long....LOL!  Single photos start tomorrow.... ;-)

P.S.  I totally recommend visiting and doing the hike, if you are nearby and able - it's about 3 miles round trip and, although we didn't count, I don't dispute the 800 steps (stairs) each way!  :-D

I'm baaaaaaack!

I was away for just over a week, and arrived home smack in the middle of family Thanksgiving gatherings.  I am still tackling 100+ emails, unpacking (mostly just the putting away from the unpacking, and finding homes for the new additions is left), and trying to catch up on all of the TV episodes I missed (somehow zonking in front of the screen for an hour is a lot more attractive than actually working....LOL!)

I've lots of photos to share from my adventures....just as soon as I upload the rest of them!  In the meantime, here is a little sneak peak and some more information about a couple of upcoming events....

AMAZING MATRIX WORKSHOP  •  October 19-21
Northern Needle Arts Retreat, South River, ON
There are still a couple of spots available in my class....you can find out more information here.

R.U.G. •  Saturday November 03, 2012
Simcoe County Museum,  9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m

~ A Social Gathering For All Those Interested in Traditional Rug Hooking ~   Everyone Welcome!

Program

Afternoon Speaker:  Jennifer Manuell (yes, me! ;-) )talking about her trip to England.

There will be time for an afternoon hook-in so be sure to bring your hooking projects to work on! 

The Simcoe County Museum is located at 1151 Highway 26, Minesing, Ontario, minutes northwest of Barrie.   From Barrie, follow Bayfield Street North and exit at Highway 26.   The Museum is on the south side of the highway. 

Hostess Group:  "Others"
If you have not brought food for the refreshment table before, please do so this time.

Lighthouse Challenge
In Support of the Rug Hooking Museum of North America.
Bring your finished pieces. 
We will accept your work at future R.U.G. meetings as well.

Barn Raising Project
Your intent to enter forms are due at this meeting.

If you wish to book a table to sell rug hooking supplies, please contact Linda Wilson at seven05-835-7589  or billwil AT sympatico DOT ca

Do not forget to bring - your hooking projects for 'Show and Tell', a brown bag lunch with a mug, and of course your name tag!
As always please remember:  The museum is a nut free building.

 Please bring

Any items you wish to donate to the Rug Hooking Museum of North America
or
Any items you wish to donate for auction to support the Simcoe County Museum

 

NEWS FLASH: “Scissor Sharpening Plus Fraser and Bliss Cutting Machine Clinic”

 
Reminder of upcoming dates and Hostesses
Spring 2013 Date is 04 May 2013
Fall 2013 Date is 05 Oct 2013 - Hostess Group will be Huronia Branch. 
- There will be the presentation of the "Barn Raising Project".

what I heard on "The Voice" tonight

"An artist isn't an artist

unless there isn't anyone

 else like 'em"

–Blake Shelton

quick snap

I have just a few more rows to knit and then I will split the top and just knit progressively smaller Vs to fill in the open spots on front and back.  Every time I knit garter stitch I am reminded how long it takes – yes it's practically mindless, but it also takes a lot more rows to cover the same area as, say, stocking stitch. 

Before it's all over, I will be picking up stitches along the bottom edge and knitting a row before casting off, just to tidy things up a bit.  Or maybe add a picot edge?  That might be fun....

knitted skirt 1.1

So within 24 hours of my last post about the skirt, it had been reduced to this.....

I came to the harsh realization that I would need to gain at least 20lbs to fit it, and as painful as it was to destroy four nights of work....it was not nearly so bad as being that big!  LOL!

I've made a bunch of tweaks and have almost caught back up again to where I had been.  When I start knitting I typically have factory wound balls or ball winder balls, but when I've unravelled I tend to just wind it back up by hand.  It's a quick and dirty job, but also makes it easy for me to see where I had previously stopped.  I think with tonight's knitting I will begin making real progress.  At least I hope so – there is some good TV on tonight, so I should be able to plonk down and knit away the evening.

I will try to take some pictures of the new and improved skirt version and share tomorrow....

yes, I'm knitting a skirt

This past summer was definitely 'the summer of the dress' for me.  More than any other summer than I can remember - and maybe even more than all of the last many summers put together - I was in love with wearing a skirt or dress and it quickly became my uniform most days.  While I have lost weight over the last couple of years, I think the real reason I shook off my 'fat leg syndrome' was when my (skinny) sister told me I was being ridiculous and quickly wrapped her hand around her own calve and then 'measured' mine the same way.  I was shocked that the difference was only an inch.

Now that Fall is in the air, I want to keep expanding my skirt wardrobe and start wearing lots of tights. I immediately thought of the Lanesplitter, but quickly thought about how I could make it without a seam.  With a few more days of pondering, I had the brainwave to mimic the lines of a favourite summer dress with a fishtail? hemline.  Well getting the idea was just the first teensy piece of the puzzle and a lot of thinking time and swatching time finally resulted in a real plan.  I started knitting for real on Sunday night...and if I can maintain my pace, I should hopefully have it finished in time for my trip to Rochester next weekend.  Provided it fits, of course!  LOL!

Sometimes when I am knitting with Noro, I have a tendency to micro-manage the colours.  I clip out those ones I think might aggravate me later on - usually the 1-2 colours that are a little bit lighter, maybe brighter or sometimes just a strange colour that does relate to the rest.  But not this time!  Nope, I am determined to just knit it as it happens.  The only choice I'm allowing myself is to choose which balls to knit with next, once one runs out.  It's so liberating!  ;-)

I'm still not 100% convinced that I like the two sides looking so different....but as Wendie says,  it will be like having two skirts in one - I can just choose which side I want facing front!  

I'm so excited....

I can hardly contain myself.  About a year ago I heard about a special trip to Guatemala for rug hookers that took place in February.  I wanted to go so badly, but I had just returned from England, and just couldn't swing it.  I promised myself that if it happened again next year, I would seriously consider going.  And guess what?  It's happening!

So in honour of turning the big 4-0 next March, I am gifting myself with a trip of a lifetime.  Actually all of the classes I am teaching this fall will be treating me....but it will be no less memorable, I am sure.

This group is near Chichicastenango. The rugs made w/a wide mixture of recycled fabrics- very little wool in their rugs because wool does not show up in the used clothing stores (pacas) in Guatemala.  (Photo from Mary Anne Wise). 

If you haven't heard about this trip yet and/or want more information, you can download the brochure here or directly from Cultural Cloth.  All proceeds benefit the non-governmental organization on the ground in Guatemala called Thirteen Threads, a group that helps over 500 women in democracy building skills, health and education opportunities (like rug hooking classes).  I heard the tour was about half-full or more, but there are still a few spots available. 

Mary Anne Wise is happy to connect interested people with participants from this year's tour.  Her email address is wisemaryanne AT gmail DOT com

today's play

These little Ewe-Fuse pieces will soon become little pouches.  Lots of pressing, cutting, fusing, sewing, and more pressing this afternoon.  It's been a slice! (pun intended...LOL!)

getting back to the wool

Over the last several days week, I've slowly been getting back into creating mode.  Yes, there has been knitting happening, and cooking over the last while.....but there is something special and free about just 'doing' and having a loose plan in mind for what you want to make – or sometimes no plan at all – and waiting to see how it all turns out.   I find it's even more fun and exciting when I get to play with my hand-dyed wools and all sorts of colours, with no pre-set scheme or ideas guiding me. 

I've been wanting to experiment some more with my Ewe-Fuse fabrics, and since nothing gets me moving quite like a deadline (did I mention that I need a little project to demo at an upcoming speaking engagement?), I just dove right in this last weekend.  The project I settled on is a little pouch to hold scissors and hooks.....

After making my first prototype with plain wool, I was itching to start using some pieces of Ewe-fuse that having been nesting since the Spring.  After a few attempts and some refinements, I had soon finalized my pattern and construction and I was ready to go into full swing production mode.  And then, before I knew it I had not only used up most of the leftover bits and pieces....but I also had a neat pile of cut pieces of fabric ready to go.  With just a wee bit of sewing, this pile will be transformed into a whopping 7 more bags!  But before I get ahead of myself, I need to stop and thing about what samples I want to use to demonstrate each the various steps in the finishing.  I could easily - and quickly - finish them all off.....and then need to make more samples.  No big deal, except for the fact that need everything ready and packed in just a couple of short weeks.

(I actually wrote this post days ago, but dragged my feet in taking the snaps.  Now I am off to go and do some sewing!  :-D)

Fall is in the air

This morning I woke up in a cold room.  Well before I opened my eyes, my first instinct was that I was sleeping in my tent!    My body wasn't really cold, but I could tell the air was cold, my face was cold....and I was afraid to move on my pillow.  When I consulted WeatherEye on my iPad, it showed the current temperature as being just 1ºC, but by the time I was driving to work this morning my car said it was 4ºC.  Needless to say, the idea of getting back under my frame to do some hooking is no longer making me fan my face with my hands.  I am also wearing socks today for the first time in ages.

Speaking of ages, I really didn't think I would take quite so long of a rest in between posts.  I don't regret it though, it was actually quite sweet and I barely felt guilty.  I also don't really know that I have a lot to show for my time away, but I will try to take some photos of my recent knitting and other various projects to share in the days ahead.

This is one of the few photos I've taken recently - just a quick snap with my iPhone.  It's the view out the pack window of my tent, in the morning before I took it down for the season.

I've become a little disenchanted with my camera lately and not happy with many of the photos that it's I've been taking.  I'm not sure if it's the camera's fault or my fault.  I don't think I'm doing anything different from what I've always done, yet the photos are not as crisp nor accurately coloured.  Despite some experimenting, I can't seem to improve matters much.....other than to avoid the frustration by just taking fewer photos.  Not an ideal solution...especially when I'm trying to get my blogging grove back..LOL!  In the meantime, I will persevere, but I am toying with the idea of splurging on a new camera.  I would love to hear from anyone who has any experience with the Sony Nex series.

Welcome to September!

see you in September

I realized this morning that I haven't yet posted this month  – and it's almost half over.  So I'm thinking that now might be a good time to consciously sit back for a bit and take a wee break from blogging.  I'm going to try to savour these last few weeks of summer.  Knit some more.  Maybe prepare some wool for dyeing.  Sift through my piles of paper.  Make a dent in my reading pile.  Start assembling and planning for all of the classes I'm teaching this Fall.  There are some busy months ahead, and I need to focus on tying up some loose ends and getting ready. 

I'll be back here in September.   Hopefully feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to do some serious making (and share some finished items, too). 

P.S.  Progress on the Noro Cropped Jacket continues.  I totally missed my short-lived goal of completing it during the Olympics....but I'm still loving it none-the-less.  I decided to mix up the back a bit from the pattern (all skinny stripes) to make it relate more with the rest of the sweater (stripes of varying widths).

project update

It's hard to believe that tomorrow it will be August already.  This summer is certainly zooming by.  It must be all of the sunny days.... ;-)

The first table mat got its test run at the Campsite on the weekend.  It makes a great surface for card playing, and survived the weekend intact.  Now I am inspired to get busy finishing off the other one, if only I can tear myself away from the knitting...

Alga is all but finished.  I decided to add 5" onto each of the sleeves (they were just 3/4ish), and have just 2?" left on one sleeve and the cuff to finish.  If only I hadn't forgotten my ball of wool up at the campsite....   Not to worry, it will be a quick finish when I am back up again on the weekend.

So last night I started knitting on the new Noro Cropped Jacket.  Here is the left front, at the end of day one....

As expected, it's hard to put down.  All of the colour changes and combinations makes it exciting to watch it come together right before my eyes.  With the Olympics on TV, it should be easy to park in front of the couch and knit in the evenings, so I'm hoping it will be a fast knit despite the 3.5mm needles.  I will keep you posted...

Christmas in July*

Good things usually come in threes, so they say.  And They were right yesterday!  A couple of things I had ordered seemingly ages ago finally arrived - a big box of wool from Heaven's to Betsy and some yummy Noro sock yarn.  The surprise arrival was the newest issue of Selvedge.  Although the joy was pretty instantaneous with the first glance at each of these items, I think the real pleasure will be savoured over time. 

The wool yardage will have to be measured, cut and ripped into pieces.  Some will be washed to use 'as is' and the rest will be fodder for my dye pots (once the weather cools off, of course!)   The yarn will be knit into a new sweater pour moi.  Since first spotting pictures of the Cropped Jacket on Julie's blog a couple of months ago, I cannot seem stop thinking about this cardi from the new Noro Magazine.....

image borrowed from here

It's simply perfect - in every way.   The colours, the neat shaping.....it's just delicious!  The only downside was trying to track down the colourways used in the sample (I really love it, just as it is and I have no interest in changing a single thing - which is quite rare for me).  Since the yarn (Silk Garden Sock) was apparently discontinued and then brought back, many yarn shops cut it from their lineups....and with the launch of the magazine, most everywhere that still carries it is back-ordered on one or both of the two colourways used.   Persistence did pay off, though....and I was finally able to order it from Knitting Sisters – and even better, there was no customs or taxes due upon arrival!  :-)  Now I just need to finish off my Alga (2" from the bottom edging....and a few inches to add to each sleeve with my extra yarn), and I will be good to go.   There is nothing like an exciting project waiting in the wings to motivate me to finish the current one.  Hopefully I will be underway on the Noro early next week.

*It was only this morning that I noticed yesterday was also the 25th – a happy coincidence!  ;-)

3 hours later

Abandoned projects.  We all have them - myself included.  Having unfinished business lying around (or hiding out of sight, but not out of mind) drives me nuts and pinches my conscience....so I try force myself to finish off most things before I start another one.  Every once in a while, though, one will slip though my fingers.  Sometimes I get stuck and don't know how to proceed.  Other times it gets side-lined, usually in the name of tidying up (and once it goes away, it tends to stay away....because often the reason the mess is all out and about is because I'm stuck...).  So I guess it usually all comes back to being 'stuck'.

The good news is that I've learned that last year's (month's, week's, decade's) version of being stuck usually vanishes shortly after I haul the project out to see the light of day.  Whatever I might have thought of as insurmountable at one time, is often easily overcome with the benefit of time.  Sometimes this is because I've just worked it up into a much bigger problem than it really was....sometimes I learn to just accept whatever was bothering me....sometimes I've learned something new in the interim....and sometimes I simply decide that to try something and fail is better than having things hanging around gathering dust.  At least if it really doesn't work, I can toss the lot and assuage my guilt.

Remember the Table Mats I started making last summer?  They've been hibernating for a whole year now....and after talking about it for weeks, I finally got around to pulling them out tonight.  I think they were abandoned because I didn't know how I was going to sew on the binding - or if I even had enough fabric to make it.  But after three hours of ironing, cutting, making mitred seams (this tool is awesome - and works every time!), pinning, sewing, and pinning some more.....the first table pad is ready for action!

We are having a family gathering at the campsite this weekend, so it will get it's debut....and I will try to take some snaps of it in situ.  Once I try it out on the table and make sure it fit and works okay, I plan to resume working on pad #2.  In the meantime, it's looking like this....

Something tells me it's going to take more than 3 hours to finish off the next one....LOL!  But at least I know that I am going to have enough fabric to finish off the binding (I didn't quite use half on the first one...yippee!)

I heart stamps

Yes, it's true.  And although I was a 'stamp collector' when I was a kid (soaking, tweezers, and special books - the whole bit!), there were several years in between when I didn't really pay too much attention to what was going onto my packages and envelopes.  Not quite sure what happened there, but for the last few years, I have returned to asking at the post office "do you have any fun stamps?"

When they do, I buy – and buy, if I really like them (because I've slowly learned that there can be droughts in the 'fun stamp' supply).  Sometimes I have to resort to buying whatever is available, but still, all is not lost.  It's the eclectic collection of stamps on an envelope that really makes me smile (not to mention watching the clerks trying to count up the value when they question whether or not I've put enough postage on...LOL!)  And with the dwindling amounts of personal mail arriving in mailboxes everywhere, I like to do what I can to pretty-up the packages. 

Aside from mailing out some orders (thank you, thank you! bisou, bisou! merci beaucoup!), I've been knitting away on my sweater.  I will post a picture soon (my attempts earlier in the week were just that: weak).   In the meantime, I'm heading off to the MAC show in Bracebridge this afternoon for some eye candy and inspiration....and maybe even a bit of shopping? ;-)  Happy weekending!

more "Ewe-Fuse"

Thanks so much for your orders last week.  I will include ordering information over on the sidebar --> soon...but in the meantime, just send me an email if you are interested).

Today I want to share snaps of some of the other items I've made employing the same basic technique.  These are all table runners.....

Hauling a couple of pieces out for some quick snaps this morning has my fingers itchy to get making.  Too bad I have to leave home in 10 minutes to go to work... ;-(

introducing "Ewe-Fuse"

I know that I've hinted at and alluded to a new project many times over the last few months....and honestly, I really didn't plan on it being so long before I shared it here.  I guess the flurry of activity before (and during!) the Annual took a lot more out of me than I thought it would.  All the same, the excitement for this technique hasn't diminished one iota for me.  I am thrilled to be able to share my newest creative discovery with you – I've never heard of anyone employing a similar method before. I think the most wonderful thing about it is that I feel the possibilities are endless.  There are so many different things I want to make using my Ewe-Fuse fabric.  So without further ado, here it is.....

The idea of sewing strips of wool together without the bulk of traditional quilting seams has been running around in my head for a few years now. But it really evolved beyond just an idea this past December, when I needed to make a few 11th hour Christmas gifts. Over the course of an evening – and several misfires – I quickly developed the basics for this technique. I knew right away that it was something that I wanted to explore and experiment more with, but I just didn’t have a block of time available to do so until this Spring. When I finally got back to it, it was almost as though someone had suddenly changed the light bulb to a brighter one….and with the space that time provides, ideas quickly morphed beyond my original thoughts.

I know that I still have a lot of my own experimenting to do with this technique and patterns I would still like to develop, but I was just too excited not to share this first simple project: Hot Pads.

Let me assure you that despite all of the steps involved, it really is very basic. You really just need to be able to cut straight – and that’s pretty easy with the help of a rotary cutter, ruler and mat. As always, there are comprehensive full-colour instructions and illustrations to help guide you through each of the steps. I've included some tips and hints to make things easier along the way, as well.

The instruction booklet sells for $12, and it is divided into 3 parts…

1. Making your 1st piece of ‘ewe-fuse’ fabric
2. Creating your 1st hot pad
3. Master Class (pointers about future project possibilities, and some suggestions for making more complex ‘ewe-fuse’ fabrics).

Here are a few snaps of some of the hot pads I've made.  I think they are a great way to experiment with different colour palettes and play with gorgeous hand-dyed wools, without the time that hand-hooking requires.  And they would make a pretty nice gift! :-D

 

 

 

on the needles

Last August I knit my first Alga pullover....and while it was bliss at first, the combination of losing a little weight and it stretching soon rendered it a little too big for me.  Rather than unravelling the whole thing and essentially throwing away all of those knitting hours, I decided to give it away.  Which was a great deal for my mum, but a little sad for me because I really liked it.

Fast forward to this spring, when I paid a visit to the Needle Emporium and picked out some more Tosh Merino Light to knit another one.  Manor is a lovely greyish colour with little hints of turquoise - it should compliment my new Mother Nature hair nicely.....LOL.

The above photo shows the colour with the Ott light, and the following picture is a more natural light.  I think the actual colour lies somewhere in between. 

I'm by no means an expert or even a very quick knitter....but I do really enjoy it.  I am also very familiar with how frustrating it can be to make a wrong move and have to unravel backwards.  So I've learned a few tricks along the way that can help reduce the number of silly mistakes I make.

First, I knit a swatch.  I never used to do this - I was always too eager to just cast on and get started - but over time I've realized that it really can make or break your project.  More times than not, it saves heaps of heartbreak.  I am not so good about washing the swatch yet, though – I am going to have to work on that. 

Second, I try to read over the whole pattern before starting.  I circle all of the numbers in the instructions for the size that I am knitting, to make them quick and easy to find later on.  I also make notes in potential stumbling sections - especially areas where the pattern says to do something and then do it X more times.  I cross out the X and write in the total number of times (too often I've referred back to the pattern and missed including the first time in my count).

Third, I  make little cue cards.  When I have to repeat two rows (each with different actions) multiple times, it can be hard to remember where I am at.  I usually just take a little Post-it note folded in half or heavy piece of card and write the instructions for each of the rows on its own side.  At the conclusion of each round, I just flip over the cue card.  When there are a couple of hundred stitches in a round, there are bound to be interruptions before you get to the end....and this is a quick way to keep on track.  All it takes is a quick glance down.   If I need to work the same row a certain number of times, I can just keep track on the cue card. 

When I knit with hand-painted yarns, I try to work from two balls at once - switching every two rows.   My little note on the cue card reminds me when to switch.  I don't even need to think about it - just glance down and see if it's time....

Hopefully these little tricks are useful.   Do you have any tried and true tricks of your own to promote knitting success?

recovered

After a relaxing 48 hours mostly spent sitting lakeside, reading and sleeping in my tent, I am feeling a bit of excitement about the week ahead.  I've started knitting again (more on that tomorrow) and even started the internal debate about 'what to hook next'.  Thankfully the weather has cooled a bit, but it's still a little hard to contemplate starting a new rug project, given the forecast for later in the week.  I will also be posting more details about a series of projects I made in the Spring (the photo is a little tease).

I also received good news last night about another recovery - the rugs I posted about here have been found!

Good News,

The rugs have been found.  A young man walking his dog found them in a plastic garbage bag along a bike trail.  His dog was sniffing the bag and he opened it up and discovered the rugs.  He attends the church where the rugs were taken from and had seen the flyers about the rugs.  The rugs are in good condition with the exception of a few leaves and a musty odor.

I want to thank everyone who helped to spread the word by sending my note out to groups, adding it to blogs and websites.  Please resend to those same groups so everyone knows that the rugs have been found.
I heard from so many of you expressing your concern and that confirmed to me the unique friendships that we have within the rug hooking community.

Again thanks to all and have a wonderful summer,

Norma

not alone

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then this next snap goes a long way in explaining that my blog is not the only thing that's been neglected lately.  This poor Basil plant made it clear to me that it's not just my imagination – things are slowly spiraling out of control.  Many things.  The last few weeks have just seemed so busy.  And the crazy heat of the last few days has done little to help the situation.  Did I mention that I've probably read more books in the last month than I have in the last 5 years?  But enough whining and more than enough reading for a little while.  The reality is that I just need to start somewhere.  Anywhere.

So I decided that tonight was the night.  The time for simply ignoring it (and hoping it would go away) was over – and a solid job of tidying up needed to take its place.  Of course in the middle of my little cleaning blitz, I discovered the limp and crispy basil and decided to resume procrastinating take a little break and write this quickie post.....but at least I can cross one more thing of my list! :-)

I have a growing list of things to blog about.  Really, I do.  And so I'm pledging to resume regular, almost-daily, weekday posts starting on Monday.  [I know that if I write it down - and commit to it here - I will be more likely to follow through.  After 39 years together, I know myself.  I need deadlines.  Even self-imposed ones.]  Have a great weekend!

P.S.  If you want some neat eye candy, check out this neat design website my niece introduced to me.  They will even do custom printed duvet covers, shower curtains, etc.  Pretty cool, eh....