Hats--Done!!

This was such fun to knit--I hastily picked up a ball of yarn and my needles as we

were going out of town.  I need something to do with my hands as we travel.

Knit, knit, knit--follow the pattern and soon I see that the yarn is changing colors

Well, I'll be!  This is a ball of leftovers!  yarns that have been wound together

into a ball--forgot I did that! 

 But, who cares--I like the color changes!

This was Sea Folk by Jennifer Lysen

This is the second hat off my needles--It is Picacho Peak

by  Alyssa Latuchie 

The yarn is silk and feels so soft; will be nice to stuff into a coat

pocket for anytime use.

New Publication!

a date has been set for the first issue! There are a lot of foundational instruction to write, patterning to check, and stash to organize before we go live. Plus plenty of time to contribute your ideas into the first issue. Here is what's going on behind the scenes.

Preface: What is THIS yarn and How to Organize Your Stash
Chapter One: Knitting
Chapter Two: Crochet
Chapter Three: Weaving
Chapter Four: Fiber Art

Every pattern will be organized by yarn texture (tailspun, coiled, etc.) and yardage (1-25, 25-50, 50-100, etc.) and weight/WPI (TBD). We are coming up with names for defining weights of "Super Bulky" that are most common in the industry. The commercial yarn industry has "Fingering" "Lace" "Worsted" "Chunky" etc. We need terms too - don't you agree? 

RE-DO!

Have you ever finished a project, stepped back and gave it a good look, and just didn't like what you see?  That happens to me all the time--wish I had a magic mirror that would tell me--"Don't do it with that fiber or fabric!"  It would be so much easier.

I finished the first block of "Be My Neighbor" by Moda, sponsored by Bear Creek Quilting Company

And I did NOT like it!  Not only did I get the chimneys off the roof, but I just didn't like the fabric

I selected.  It's always interesting how the selection of fabric makes a difference.

Then the light bulb went off in my head--why not use plaids for my neighborhood?

DUH!  I have a whole box of plaids just waiting to be accommodated--

and then went I dropped into Creations last week and saw this 

awesome PLAID quilt on their welcoming wall--I just knew 

Plaids were the way to go!

Navajo Code Talkers Quilt

I just had to buy a bundle of plaids and stripes!

This is such a neat looking quilt.  I hope to make my

Neighborhood plaid friendly!

This is the second block in the neighborhood and it's plaids.  Haven't redone the first

block yet so I'm on schedule to behind in this project!!

Pockets--Or Purse?

I began to think about pockets recently when I left my purse in a restaurant and the restaurant was closed for

three days before I could retrieve it.  What a blow!  Cancelled my credit cards right off the bat--

then I'm thinking, oh dear, new driver's license--the dread of standing in line for that...............

So, why don't I just use my pockets instead of a purse?

Can't leave a pocket, that's for sure!

Aside (I did retrieve my purse!  the server placed it in the safety vault--am I relieved--except for the credit cards I cancelled!--)

Hence, my brain went to thinking about the history of pockets, especially for women.

History of Pockets 

Once upon a time, everyone carried bags. In the Medieval era, both men and women tied their bags to the waist or wore them suspended from belts; these bags looked very much like Renfaire fanny packs. As the rural world grew more urban and criminals more sophisticated, people cunningly hid their external pockets under layers of clothing to hinder cutpurses; men’s jackets and women’s petticoats were outfitted with little slits that allowed to you access your tied-on pockets through your clothing.

The French Revolution changed everything. While the mid-eighteenth century lavished in rococo, wide skirts that screamed decadence and wealth in their yards and yards of fabric, the end of the eighteenth century whispered restraint. Skirts pulled in close to the body, the natural waist crept ever upward, and the silhouette thinned to a slender column. This neoclassical look had no room for pouchy pockets, yet women still needed to carry their stuff. The reticule, a small, highly decorated purse, was born — and like a pernicious poltergeist, it has never really gone away. On the heels of the reticule, chatelaines— waist chains that resemble big, tinkling charm bracelets for the very busy — came into the consumer consciousness in 1828. Unlike purses, which hid everything away, these fashionable belts put women’s necessities on display.Only in the late seventeenth century did pockets make their move to become part of men’s clothing, permanently sewn into coats, waistcoats, and trousers; women’s pockets, however, failed to make the same migration. Lacking built-in pockets, women continued to hide their tied-on pockets, which were large, often pendulous bags. Secreted under their petticoats, panniers, and bustles, these highly decorated pockets swung heavy with their contents. You could fit a lot in those pockets — sewing kits, food, keys, spectacles, watches, scent bottles, combs, snuffboxes, writing materials, and money all found their place.

Pockets in women’s dress hit a watershed moment in the fin-de-siècle Rational Dress campaign. Founded in 1891, the Rational Dress Society called for women to dress for health, ditching corsets in favor of boneless stays and bloomers, wearing loose trousers, and adopting clothing that allowed for movement, especially bicycling. It hit its pinnacle just around the turn of the century, a time when men’s suits sported somewhere around 15 pockets — so it’s no coincidence that pockets abound in Rational Dress. An 1899 New York Times piece makes the somewhat tongue-in-cheek claim that civilization itself is founded on pockets. "As we become more civilized, we need more pockets," the piece says, "No pocketless people has ever been great since pockets were invented, and the female sex cannot rival us while it is pocketless."

Power of Color

I love color!  And over the past few years, my studies of color has expanded.

Did you know there are cultural differences to meaning of color?

What if you wear Red one day and blue the next?

Are you angry with the red or just showing your power factor.

Blue--are you mellow or just showing your inner security or confidence?

Color surrounds us.  Some colors pop meanings into our daily lives without 

even knowing how the color affects you.

I'm an Orange person-- the color orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow.

Orange relates to 'gut reaction' or our gut instincts, as opposed to the physical reaction of red or the mental reaction of yellow.

Orange offers emotional strength in difficult times. It helps us to bounce back from disappointments and despair, assisting in recovery from grief.

The color psychology of orange is optimistic and uplifting, rejuvenating our spirit. In fact orange is so optimistic and uplifting that we should all find ways to use it in our everyday life, even if it is just an orange colored pen that we use.

Orange brings spontaneity and a positive outlook on life and is a great color to use during tough economic times, keeping us motivated and helping us to look on the bright side of life.

What color are you?

Power of Color

Check out the website--you'll be surprised how color affect your life!

"Neighbors": Quilt And Other Art Forms

We were recently in Central Texas, Kerrville to be exact--when in town we like to stop in the Cultural Arts Center.  They always host interesting and informative exhibits.

This exhibit was "Neighbors", Quilts and other art forms:

Interesting progression of small quilts inspired by photographs

The quilter took their photo of historical house in their neighbor

and did their interpretation of that house in fabric

I loved this creative outlet to feature the city's historic element.

Each display had a statement about the history of the home

Some were whimsical, like this one-- for all they could see

was the swan flower pot on the porch

This quilt feature the mimosa tree in the front yard

Different techniques were used in each small art piece

Such a fun exhibit to walk through

Not only did I enjoy the quilting aspect, but I learned

about the history of the homes

If you have a chance, stop in the center and walk through history

Knitting For Cooler Weather---Fingerless Gloves (FLG!)

I love having fingerless mitts--they are so handy for many purposes.

These are quite lovely too!

January Mitts

These are designed by William Nelson

I have the yarn and needles!

Ready, set, knit!!