Time Again--To Spin Those Wheels--

While Tour de France is beginning their first leg of the multi day race on their fancy

bikes--we spinners are oiling our fancy spinning wheels--

From July 6 through July 28, we'll be spinning miles and miles of

yarn--some of us will join groups; some will spin independently--

read the 'official' guidelines of Spinfoolish here--join their group for inspiring daily emails--

There is no special amount you need to spin--you don't need to measure

what you've spun--you can skip days--this is a personal challenge --

 first of all--have Fun!

• Spin every day the tour rides (if you can)--our tour is 23 days long, includes 2 rest days
• Spin something challenging on the challenge days
• Wear yellow on the final day to announce victory
• Sign up for this group to receive emails each day to encourage you, educate you--most of all have fun!  Don't compare yourself to others on the team--you are unique!
• Ready, set, spin!!

How Do You Celebrate the Fourth?

How do you, as American, celebrate the freedom of July 4th?

Our small town has a parade in the morning--everyone camps out

the night before to have the perfect spot to watch the patriotic 

floats and bands march by.

The afternoon brings picnics and BBQs with friends and

families

In the evening, there is a big gathering at the local airfield

to watch fireworks burst right in front of our eyes!

This quilt isn't really a quilt yet!  Only a top--I think it needs

a couple of borders to make it complete--this was from

several red, white and blue squares I had left over from Texas flag

quilt that I made for our son--what to do with them?  I found this

pattern online--disappearing nine patch!  -although

not perfect stars, I liked the technique

and all the 5" squares were used!

This piece is hung on the first landing going up

the stairs--

Here is my ode to American flag--You can

find a similar pattern at Pat Sloan's site.

I did make a fractured flag--but--I have

no idea where that piece is--I figure someday I'll find it

when I'm not looking for it--

If you are in the mood to sew a mystery that begins

July 4th, this is your perfect opportunity

Meadow Mist Designs has the know how for an

exciting piecing adventure--I'll leave this one for you--

my quilt piecing is on hiatus--

No matter how you celebrate-

Happy Freedom!  Happy July 4th!

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?