The Quest Continues..................................

I store my fiber stash in large plastic jugs--this one had

Alpaca before I placed part of my silk bricks to be transported.

When we were traveling back and forth from Venezuela

and California and Colorado--I thought I'd better

tag my fibers in case something happen to me--my kids

wouldn't have the foggiest idea what fiber was what!

At one time, I bought 5 lbs of bombyx silk bricks from

a dear friend who was going out of fiber business--you know 

that silk has not  depleted much--it goes on and on!

Now, the quest is to continue spinning the silk for those pillowcases

I so desire--I usually spin two bobbins half full and then ply from

those bobbins for my two ply.

I have one ball ready to use--do you have any idea how long

it takes to spin silk singles?!!  I have a slight idea--

I spun the silk for blond headed daughter's wedding dress--

it took me 9 months to just produce the warp/weft--

it was definitely gift of love for her.

I know it won't take quite so long to spin for the

pillowcases--

What better thing to do than spin inside while the weather

is hot and humid!!

Tackling UFOS.............................

Recently, I read a blog about tackling your UFOs--

here is their advice--

gather your UFOs

Place each in a plain brown paper bag--staple or tie up tight

Number each

Take single pieces of EVEN cut paper and number

them--write 1 to 10 or higher if you have more UFOs bagged.

Before you begin a new project, pull a number from the

singles, and take the corresponding number of the UFO

that has been securely tied

Finish that UFO!

Sounds good, right??

Well, I could see some flaws with this technique--

1.  I'd remember which bag had which UFO--somehow,

my memory works on my UFO projects!

2.  Pull a number and pick corresponding UFO, open

the bag--nope!  I don't want to do that one--that's why it's

a UFO

3.  The new project I just began, became a UFO

4.  I see something interesting and put down the UFO

to begin that project.....that's when my will power and this method go out the window!

Nothing wrong with this way to conquer that pile of UFO's--

so I'll try.............to finish at least one..........

before I begin new project!

Well, here we are--all the blocks were completed and half

of the rows had been sewn together and it languished--why??

Who knows?  Not me!

It only took an hour to sew the rest of the blocks together

and finish up the rows

One UFO down--

Now, to find a NEW project to begin........

Off The Loom!!!!

After weeks, no--most likely months--I've cut off 7 yards of warp!

A warp and weft of all my handspun natural cottons (been stock piled for awhile)

It feels so good when you pull off the last bit and take the scissors

to finish off a project!

Done!  Ready to tie on another one--

what a view--a stack of towels.

This brings back memories of the indigo dyed handspun cotton 

piece of 10 yards I did many moons ago--That piece was

juried into several exhibits and was chosen to represent

the state of Louisiana at Convergence--Handweavers Guild

of America biannual conference in Toronto, Canada--the first

Convergence held outside of US. 

From the seven yard warp, here are the seven towels that

are finished with hems--just need to wash to complete

the project

Although the warp was the same--I varied the weft sections--

whatever yarn I had on the bobbin was thrown--this

section was alternated with white and brown cotton.

So Creative.............

Some people are so creative and think 'outside of the box'!  I remember many moons ago when
we learned from Mary Ellen Hopkins' book "It's Okay to Sit On My Quilt" that you could cut your sewing time in half by the use of corner sewing a block on top of another block--

That was a real eye opener for me--I still use this technique today in my work.

But, Eva Paige, above video, has established another method of

pulling half squares out of an accordion sewing block!  Just

blew my mind!

Watch the video and be amazed!  Why can't I be so creative?!

Leaf Lace knitting................

I've always wanted to weave my handspun silk to make pillowcases--it's a life long project and goal-- recently, I found just the right pattern to do the edging for these ongoing pillow cases--

Isn't this just elegant looking?  I think my handspun silk would look

lovely in this pattern--

The pattern is understandable and would be easy to knit--

you can find this interesting pattern and others at Stitch Maps--

want to join me as I begin my journey for those handwoven, handspun

pillowcases? 

Memories at My Fingertips..........

Memories--ah, memories!  Those treasured times, places, people, sight you can recall--
I have so many t-shirts that hold memories as well--places I've visited, workshops I've attended--

I decided to use those Tee-shirts to make my memory quilt!  As I cut each one into 12" pieces,
the memories flooded back--all my t-shirts are from weaving or spinning events.  I may not have
the item I produced in the workshop anymore, but I have the shirt--the shirt was proudly worn to
boast "I was here!"

One of my dear friends loves to make t-shirt quilts and she'll search and search for the perfect
fabric to use that makes the quilt pop--but, I was lazy--just get those squares together, get them
quilted, and sit back to enjoy the memories.

Here they are!  together and quilted with a cool sheep pattern--

which is hard to see 

Maybe, you attended some of these events

Spinning conferences--or wool conferences--

some had really neat shirts

This is my backing

Don't you just love the border?!! 

Here comes the memories............

Agatha June Mystery

Another Poirot mystery- Sheila Webb, a Stenographer,

is instructed to let herself into 19 Wilbraham Crescent and finds

the body of a dead man sprawled on the living room floor.

Poirot on the case finding time was a factor--Sheila remembers

hearing a cuckoo clock strike three O'clock--

the other four clocks in the living room 

show the time as 4:13 and only one of these

clocks belonged to the owner!

Mystery indeed!  And another mystery--what to knit for

this interesting tale?

When I typed in "Clocks" to Ravelry pattern section,

five pages of patterns appeared--that didn't help with

the decision--

patterns for socks, potholders, shawls, mitts, actual clocks,

scarves, and the list goes on and on--just like a clock--

I finally settled on a hat--

The Time Thief Watch Hat designed by

 Antoinette Buchanan

This pattern reminded me of the hats I've done in the past

using up all my small bits of yarn--

it's a go! 

I had the yarn left overs from various projects--one was the FLG

I posted about few days ago.  The hat has been begun--I knitted

along as I watched the story unfold on Acorn--I know I cheated--

I didn't read the book--sure do enjoy watching though as I knit!