Back in the Garden

I'm only teaching two weeks this summer so I hope to get my gardens back from the weeds.  For now, it's only close ups :-)



Once the scarves are off the loom I have some place mats and a runner, followed up by a tablecloth in the works.

Lots of good ideas.  Finally a little time!

Dyeing Onesies Again!

Was it really over four years ago that I dyed a batch of onesies for Jackson?

Onesie, pants, hoodie combo

A few years ago (hmm, apparently it was the summer of 2007!) I bought a Wonder Washer.  I thought it would help when I wanted a more even dye.  Life, as it has a way of doing, got in the way and I finally brought it out last week to dye these pants and hooded jackets.

Rockin' Crocodile

This one is a present for one of Josh's friends.  Tripp, he is the third Joseph Paul.  Granddad is Joe, son is J.P. and little one is Tripp.  J.P. is in a weekend band - a guitar player.

Appliqued Fish

This one is for Jacob, my new grandson. 

These are 6 month Rabbit Skin blanks from Dharma, despite their clown-like appearance here!

Sanity Returns

There is such joy in taking a moment to breathe.  I sat down on Sunday and my only intention was to hurry and get this scarf off the loom.  School is over next week and I have a dyed warp that I am anxious to get working on. I looked at this scarf as just another task waiting for a check mark!

Hemstitching

But taking the time to stitch across the width gave me more than just another tick on my list.  My breathing started to slow and my shoulders started to relax.

2/2 twill

Maybe Stephen Stills had it right - Love the One You're With!!

Fiber Muse

I've been working on improving my photography skills - okay, who am I kidding? I am trying to acquire some photography skills - to go along with my new camera. I knew there was no way I could keep up with the different 365 groups. I'm a big believer in keeping your goals achievable to prevent giving up. The MCP Project 52 seemed to be a good fit for me. Week 5's theme was "Muse".  All photos have to be taken uploaded during that week.  The week ends Friday night and at 10:30 I found myself in my basement studio grabbing colorful fibers that inspire me.  I kept a shallow depth of field and used an action that blurred the edges slightly so you couldn't see the rest of the mess!  Posted it at 11:15.  Phew!

The warp is a new one that will be going on the loom tonight or tomorrow.  WEBS 2/14 Alpaca Silk in black (looks more like a really deep charcoal) for the warp and a light gray for the weft.  I have two different 2/2 twills in mind for the scarves and hopefully there will be a little leftover for sampling. 

This Week 6's theme is words.  Boy do I use a lot of them! 

Back to Weaving!

Kutztown Overshot

If you thought there was no weaving going on in my life lately you would be correct.  But I'm ready to change that because I really miss throwing that shuttle.  The Kutztown Overshot runner has officially become the Kutztown Overshot placemat!

Well, it might just be a little bigger than a placemat.  I plan on using it on the hall table.  While I really enjoyed doing this, at this point in my life I want simple weaves with lots of color.


So ..... I'm going to take off the rest of this 20/2 mercerized cotton warp, dye it, put it back on and weave two more runners. When I have time I can weave and not have to take 20 of the 30 minutes I have available trying to figure out where I was and what comes next!

Lease Sticks in Tabby Shed

Next up, getting my knitting mojo back!

Yum! Peanut Blossoms

It wouldn't be Christmas without these delicious little morsels! Taking out this recipe each year is so heartwarming because the recipe is written in my mother's handwriting. I modified it from it's original Crisco shortening to butter but I've found that using a combination of butter and margarine gives the cookie a more solid base.

Peanut Blossoms

1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon salt
14 ounces chocolate kisses

Cream together the butter and peanut butter, gradually adding the sugars.
Mix the egg, milk, and vanilla and add to the creamed mixture.
Sift together the flour, soda, and salt and blend in thoroughly.
Shape by rounded teaspoonful into balls. Roll balls in granulated sugar and place on parchment paper.
Bake at 375 for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and place kiss in center, pressing gently so that cookie cracks around the edge.
Return to oven and bake 2-4 minutes longer.

Yield: 6 dozen

These taste so good when the chocolate is still creamy and soft but they are equally as delicious once they've cooled. Good for me that they freeze well because they are now safely out of sight in the basement freezer!

Finally, Some Progress

Seems like there was a short break between getting the loom threaded and actually weaving. I was just about ready to cut off this warp. Not because I didn't like it or that it was too difficult but what I really love about weaving is to be able to sit down and just throw the shuttle. I haven't had time to finish rehabbing the Gallinger loom and I don't get the relaxed, zen feeling when I'm weaving on my table loom.

I have the warp wound for some shawls and baby blankets. By the time I finish painting the warps I hope to be finished with these two runners. School is closed for election day tomorrow so the plan is to sit down a weave for a couple hours.