Saturday, June 25, 2016

Magazine For Handspinners

In my many years of being a handspinner and weaver, I've gone through multi number
of publications for such fiberists.  About 5 years ago, I decided to discontinue my
connection to these magazines--mainly, there is so much you can receive through
digitization.  I have stacks and stacks of unused magazines--sometimes, I browse
through them, but mostly, they just sat there on the shelf.
Recently, I came across this magazine--PLY.  I thought--let's give it a try.
It is published four times a year--and I've received the latest issue
on Bulky yarns--I'm not the biggest fan on bulky yarns.  
I know there is a place for them in our fiber work, but not in mine.
This is a slick paper magazine--many colorful photos
and instructions on how to accomplish bulky yarns.
We'll see how the next publication is--
I'll pass this issue along to a bulky spinner.


Friday, June 24, 2016

Let's Read!

Now that the summer solstice is here, it's time to pull out a good book, find a soft comfy chair, pour a chilling glass of something cold and READ!
I found this list of books that are highlighted for 2016--which will you pick up?


Thursday, June 23, 2016

MORE LOVE!


Anna Dalvi has designed these fingerless gloves to
give the world MORE LOVE!
You can capture her pattern here

The pattern is free until July 4th.

Let's outreach to each other and give
MORE LOVE!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Wednesday's Yarn Day

Well, there it is!  The dreaded Kitchener stitch!
I don't know why I think it's dreaded--it's easy to do,
if you concentrate while doing it.
It got me to thinking---hmmm,
where and how did this stitch begin.
Knitting played a big part in WWI and many 
were encouraged to knit socks for the soldiers.
Take a look at the history of this 'famous' stitch.

And how did Kitchener get its name--here is the low down!

The British Secretary of State for War, Horatio Herbert Kitchener, associated himself with the Red Cross drive to urge women to knit “comforts” or items for the men in the military, particularly mittens, socks and scarves. He was concerned about the foot problems the sock seams caused and personally contributed a pattern for socks which included a seamless grafting technique that would come to be known as the “Kitchener stitch”.

okay, I'm grabbing my needles and a quiet location to close up these socks
and I'll be done with another UFO!
Happy Wednesday Knitting or whatever fiber work you are doing.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Denver Botanic Gardens Presents...............................

SCULPTURES!
These lovely works of art are created from various artists.
It's always a pleasure to walk the grounds of the gardens and
works of arts make the morning walk more pleasant!

"Goddess with the Golden Thighs"
Reuben Nakian

"Theater Set Element from Judith"
Isamu Noguchi

"Without Words"
Judith Shea

Judith Shea

"Hare on Bell on Portland Stone Piers"
Barry G
Flanagan

"Cavaliere (Horseman)
Marino Marini

"Down Tree"
Louise Nevelson
"Nike"
Saul Baizerman 


"Standing Figure"
Henry Moore



"Wounded Amazon"
Jonathan Silver

"La Grande Chiave (The Large Key)"
Giacomo Manzu
"Woodrow"
Deborah Butterfield

Take a walk through the gardens and savory the sights, sounds and peacefulness
of your journey


Monday, June 20, 2016

Quilts! Not Just Tops!

I'm so excited to have two of my tops returned to me from my Colorado quilter, Alycia.
I mailed them off to her in May, knowing I would be in Denver during June.
We met up last week!  Now, I have two lovely quilted tops turned into Quilts!

This one was from Bonnie Hunter's free list of quilts.

Alycia did stars!  Just perfect for this starry quilt!

The other top was my Bonnie's 2015 mystery.  I think it's no longer free pattern, but
I love doing this one--used up lots of my stash reds and golds.

This one was quilted with circles!  Love it!

Binding is sewn on--next comes hand stitching.
Hmmm, wonder if the blond headed daughter would like this one--
it is quite large and would fit her bed nicely.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Father's Day

Father's Day in the United States

Father's Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June. It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children's lives. Its origins may lie in a memorial service held for a large group of men, many of them fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in 1907.
Father's Day is a day for fathers and father-like figures.
©iStockphoto.com/aldomurillo

What Do People Do?

Father's Day is an occasion to mark and celebrate the contribution that your own father has made to your life. Many people send or give cards or gifts to their fathers. Common Father's Day gifts include sports items or clothing, electronic gadgets, outdoor cooking supplies and tools for household maintenance.
Father's Day is a relatively modern holiday so different families have a range of traditions. These can range from a simple phone call or greetings card to large parties honoring all of the 'father' figures in a particular extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers and great-grandfathers and even other male relatives. In the days and weeks before Father's Day, many schools and Sunday schools help their pupils to prepare a handmade card or small gift for their fathers.

Public Life

Father's Day is not a federal holiday. Organizations, businesses and stores are open or closed, just as they are on any other Sunday in the year. Public transit systems run to their normal Sunday schedules. Restaurants may be busier than usual, as some people take their fathers out for a treat.

Background and symbols

There are a range of events, which may have inspired the idea of Father's Day. One of these was the start of the Mother's Day tradition in the first decade of the 20th century. Another was a memorial service held in 1908 for a large group of men, many of them fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in December 1907.
A woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was an influential figure in the establishment of Father's Day. Her father raised six children by himself after the death of their mother. This was uncommon at that time, as many widowers placed their children in the care of others or quickly married again.
Sonora was inspired by the work of Anna Jarvis, who had pushed for Mother's Day celebrations. Sonora felt that her father deserved recognition for what he had done. The first time Father's Day was held in June was in 1910. Father's Day was officially recognized as a holiday in 1972 by President Nixon.

Repurposing!

 Still cleaning out closets; finding all sorts of interesting things I had forgotten about.  Years ago, I had spun cotton and wove on indigo...