tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235154110482544042024-02-08T16:15:29.479+11:00Le Craft TerribleHandmadeDenysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-58280060356068761852008-06-04T11:38:00.013+10:002008-06-09T20:30:11.966+10:00Meet FionaEver since I decided I wanted to try my hand at a blog, I was hoping to be able to profile people who are making things by hand. I have always found interviews, profiles, and individual blogs of the craft minded inspiring, challenging and sometimes exasperating. I wanted to create a blog where not only could I indulge my passion for the primarily textile and fibre based crafts, but also where I could indulge my interest in finding out what makes other crafters and makers tick. Also, People who love making things and /or appreciating the handmade are interesting folks. There is such a range of personality, philosophy, and passion. Who can't get enough of that?<br /><br />I am lucky enough to have lured an exceptional first profile, Fiona Donovan; set designer and true knit-maniac. Fiona is my favourite kind of knitter; adventurous, good humoured, able to balance elegance with wit and a good degree of whimsy. She is also a truly passionate knitter who has recently been bit by the spinning bug as well.<br /><br />She does not back down from a challenge. Recently engaged to a lucky man known as "The Sock Victim", she is knitting her wedding dress. Many people are enthusiastically following her progress (you can check it out on Ravelry-look for missfee). She was also given a gift of the yarn by Australian Country Spinners. Damo, the marketing manager at ACS is not one to give yarn away easily. He says of Fiona's latest adventure "Whilst we are not in business to give away yarn, I felt this was a special request…", and how right he is. Knitters and related fibreholics tend to be a generous and supportive bunch.<br /><br />Fiona will also have her first published design in the next issue of Yarn magazine. Look for it!<br /><br />And now to the questions and answers. I must thank her publicly for being such a patient and willing guinea pig for the first Craft Terrible profile. First attempts can often be clunky, and I am grateful to her for hitching her good name to my infant abilities as blogger.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;"><br />Le Craft Terrible</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">: You seem to be primarily a knitter. Is that true?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fiona Donovan:</span> Most definitely, I prefer the texture of knitting. <o:p></o:p>The way it hangs and the variations derived from two simple stitches. Crochet looks great in amagarumi but as I child of the 70's and too many granny square I am not at all fond of crochet.<span style=""> </span> I did design a small coffee cup man purse in amagarumi - and love the playful nature of these small cartoon-ish toys.<br /><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span>And I had just started spinning the last 6 months - but there are only 24 hours in a day and I have a full time job. So knitting is the main obsession in my life at the moment.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qhy0iJy39aPzQIGahHnNjYkkMcM8azruwBqguCOVQtWsyyMxRf5CAXaA9vcTjkuaQw2ppH4hrOMKfCmFpkKb8ji2vduq4j8QDEphYIDxdUuwBXG-JVuuhW4y1sQxavQB_Qu9-HWTfVI/s1600-h/coffee+cup+man.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qhy0iJy39aPzQIGahHnNjYkkMcM8azruwBqguCOVQtWsyyMxRf5CAXaA9vcTjkuaQw2ppH4hrOMKfCmFpkKb8ji2vduq4j8QDEphYIDxdUuwBXG-JVuuhW4y1sQxavQB_Qu9-HWTfVI/s200/coffee+cup+man.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209816245005849874" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" > <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Miss Fee's Coffee Cup Man: An Original!</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dhScWBDxElA6_f31eQdE_d5k-wTHwMoyKuE-Q4TXtb2-30lN4Xa70NWZKtAdjEjKtZvvg8ny5QDgCm2VUZG-XgUc4komT1ZtjI0AOfTPskRqk3fpNguGzXJI1UA_6vAbHY553eG4zOI/s1600-h/monnkey+and+teddy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dhScWBDxElA6_f31eQdE_d5k-wTHwMoyKuE-Q4TXtb2-30lN4Xa70NWZKtAdjEjKtZvvg8ny5QDgCm2VUZG-XgUc4komT1ZtjI0AOfTPskRqk3fpNguGzXJI1UA_6vAbHY553eG4zOI/s200/monnkey+and+teddy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209817876001341794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p>LCT:</span> So, is knitting the sun in which your craft universe revolves?<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> </o:p></span>Most definitely. I knit to live at the moment. It started slowly where I would pick up the needles when the winter winds started to blow. Then somehow I found myself knitting on the Gold Coast mid summer with the air con on - surfacing only to draft on a certain reality TV show. Knitting had well and truly taken over - now I tend to knit smaller projects and cotton in the warmer months and larger items in the cooler months. Unless I am fully obsessed with something then the temperature has no effect on my knitting at all.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-US"><o:p>LCT: </o:p></span>Why do you love knitting?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> </o:p>I can't decide if I am a process or product knitter. I love to lust after a pattern I could wear or a technique I wanted to master. I then will throw myself in finding out as much as I can and learning all I can about what it is. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p>I saw a friend knit (Kris Web-goddess on Ravelry) a jumper called 'baby norgi'. I had to have me one of those. I enjoyed the process of picking out the colours - a very different mix to what the designer intended. Then I struggled with all aspects of fair isle, reading the pattern - left to right took a few goes, holding the wool- in each hand, getting my tension right. At one point I emailed Kris with the title 'notfairisle' with a list of questions. I unpicked the first pattern band at least 5 times. Each time I inched closer to 'getting' it. This in essence is one major reason why I love knitting. I am interested and constantly learning in and around it . I discover small building blocks every time I tackle a new project. I still have quite a lot to learn and I am truly excited by this.<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The other major factor in my love of knitting is the process of making a garment - picking out the wool and deciding on a project. Sometimes these are intertwined or separate. I may have some wool I want to use or a garment I want to wear or make. Then it is the process of making the garment. The casting on , the first flush of excitement of the new project - sometime this carries me speedily towards the finish line. Other times it is the process of knitting - and the love hate relationship that develops with the item. Just a bit more then becomes frustrating and this is the only bit I truly dislike. At this point of the process I love turning my frustration into my meditation. I knit for knitting. This is my ultimate moment in knitting - just my love of picking up the sticks the wool and knitting. I love it, I miss it so much at the moment. Due to my hand injury - index finger and hand joint - possible fluid leak or beginning of trigger finger, I have had to cut right back on my knitting. I realised how much knitting calmed me - soothed me and was my daily meditation. I have had endless discussions on how knitting is a moving mediation. It quietens my busy mind and I am able to focus on the single stitch in each moment. This is my pure joy.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVExD2K96YSlG0mOpStFBHfBTkUzSn4d3XOPRXXxqrxlJQPakSSwIyf4usukXHDlhuKdg2WEcOm8FU6EsO0tpVaLOV062zmf77t9wEs0Wz8GlLsdNXfxaXYeEHxNfwEwlTBquJIBGFank/s1600-h/Wedding+dress.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVExD2K96YSlG0mOpStFBHfBTkUzSn4d3XOPRXXxqrxlJQPakSSwIyf4usukXHDlhuKdg2WEcOm8FU6EsO0tpVaLOV062zmf77t9wEs0Wz8GlLsdNXfxaXYeEHxNfwEwlTBquJIBGFank/s200/Wedding+dress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209817022743822322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:85%;" >The Wedding Dress. Keep up with Fiona's progress on the Australian Country Knitters group on Ravelry</span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">LCT:</span> What are your favourite things to knit?<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> </o:p></span>At the moment it would be socks!!!! Then any variation on a cardigan for me. Lace and cables also excite me.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrObnMJ0xpXF7semqfq6Z8JmXpa0XfNCERTrayU2Ceb_2VdUuaIkvVdmfVOXEnSPEoAFitmz5gijgB0549gBHF23tt0QAJw2rXyFRVp9oYQay2Rtj6DmLIo4eP_CLqNB0AT9ekuGs1n6A/s1600-h/Frost+jacket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrObnMJ0xpXF7semqfq6Z8JmXpa0XfNCERTrayU2Ceb_2VdUuaIkvVdmfVOXEnSPEoAFitmz5gijgB0549gBHF23tt0QAJw2rXyFRVp9oYQay2Rtj6DmLIo4eP_CLqNB0AT9ekuGs1n6A/s200/Frost+jacket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209817318459502322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvciJbc5Sb4AO1JXusa1H1DarOCQ280WFlhoGZrcdQTZSDq9TMbq98a1AjsLU4-6D3Ya26sqNhgcgvxKiBkNtHD5y5FoPkLYQ0U6cYFJd8XGlDAsR4UPSxTC6iLNfhuU2SVQ52krOoBY/s1600-h/sock+victim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvciJbc5Sb4AO1JXusa1H1DarOCQ280WFlhoGZrcdQTZSDq9TMbq98a1AjsLU4-6D3Ya26sqNhgcgvxKiBkNtHD5y5FoPkLYQ0U6cYFJd8XGlDAsR4UPSxTC6iLNfhuU2SVQ52krOoBY/s200/sock+victim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209819058931377906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">LCT:</span> </o:p></span>Do you develop your own designs?<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> </o:p></span>I have started to - and as any knitter I modify and tweak most things I knit. Whether it is changing a garment to be knit in the round to save me from the dreaded sewing up - or making it fit perfectly. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I did fall in love with a lace pattern last year and had to make a top out of it.<span style=""> </span> But there is so much to knit out there, where would I start?<span style=""><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">LCT:</span> Do you like to experiment with new fibres and techniques? What are your current favourites right now?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> </o:p></span>Currently I am enjoying my journey in the world of socks. Toe up, top down, different heels, different patterns. I am also planning and knitting my level 2 certificate for the N.S.W. Knitters Guild. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">LCT:</span> What are your thoughts on the “Knitting Revolution” of the past ten years or so? Did you ever think a craft like knitting would ever become so popular?<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-US"><o:p>FD:</o:p></span> I think that as technology has sped up there is a desire to slow down, the slow movement comes to mind. As with the nuts and berries movement in the 1970's and William Morris in the lat 1800's we are currently obsessed with the hand made and crafted, as a reaction to a move forward in technology. The Internet has lead to an explosion in blogs and access to ideas a variety of subjects and especially crafts. Who would of thought even two years ago that there would be a social networking device just for knitters!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-US"><o:p>LCT:</o:p></span> Do you utilise the Internet a lot in the pursuit of your craft? How?<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> </o:p></span>One word Ravelry!!! <o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span>and blogs - that is what got me really back into the craft and inspired. And then into writing my own blog.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">LCT:</span> What are the positive things to come out of this knitting movement? Do feel there are any negatives in this great rush of popularity?<span lang="EN-US"> <o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></p><p face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> </o:p></span>I can't see anything bad - although there will always be people who think feathers is the best thing since sliced bread. Other knitters may think some colour or texture combination is the bees knees and aesthetically I may disagree. But if they are as passionate for their craft as I am, I am only to happy to see their joy expressed in a combination that I may think is mad.<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">I am famously known for my dislike of acrylic and especially feathers. But anyone doing/ making /processing and most of all knitting has to be a good thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">LCT:</span> </o:p></span>Why do you think people are so attracted to “handmade” right now, both as purchasers and makers?</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUX_QQ9LFOega2_BsL4MUKUKrPq6BOStAaOAJJntEpHFGQpsQjDdSPabsMOmQailD9ruzC2rAe35wOMIaq54CgDDy5dnCzRmEdd5ptROMkSTMHzC9_RPyUPSplDg6FxsFOIXFthGJrlA/s1600-h/cardigan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUX_QQ9LFOega2_BsL4MUKUKrPq6BOStAaOAJJntEpHFGQpsQjDdSPabsMOmQailD9ruzC2rAe35wOMIaq54CgDDy5dnCzRmEdd5ptROMkSTMHzC9_RPyUPSplDg6FxsFOIXFthGJrlA/s200/cardigan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209823238326405266" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> I think it is part of the slow movement - and the time-poor aspect that is overtaking our lives. The value placed on an object that takes many hours to make that you could buy at the shops for a fraction of the price seems on face value to be mad. But the love and energy has value in hand made -along with there only being one of those items and it was made for me.<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">LCT:</span> </o:p></span>Final question: If you could spend a couple of hours with any knitter, living or dead, who would it be?<span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">FD:</span> Elizabeth Zimmerman - love love love love her. And I have watched some of her videos so in a way I have spent some time with her. I love her no nonsense approach and dry humour. In the Knitter's almanac there is a line in I think "December" where she says "starting a project this late smacks of madness" to me sums up her humour and my love of the craft. In itself knitting is a bit mad but the joy it brings to me as a knitter in the creation and eventually to the wearer of my knitted treats is worth every stitch. <br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Thank You Fiona!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYIdlMKN5v0f3-mzlTzpF1X5CjzMNi6Dl9ztSgsgiwS4MjKPNuW02R8gUd8-9lG1eBoUZvuRU_OI5z90GlTOwBIaXNFzSTmXiaL7A51Wjeiy0XFj-M6wmjD1IdmtXlE1KdlPT9M58YxM/s1600-h/pink+sox.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYIdlMKN5v0f3-mzlTzpF1X5CjzMNi6Dl9ztSgsgiwS4MjKPNuW02R8gUd8-9lG1eBoUZvuRU_OI5z90GlTOwBIaXNFzSTmXiaL7A51Wjeiy0XFj-M6wmjD1IdmtXlE1KdlPT9M58YxM/s200/pink+sox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209823380625452210" border="0" /></a></p> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" > </span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-84680961410722089682008-05-07T10:36:00.002+10:002008-05-07T10:47:57.626+10:00Computer WarsWe don't truly war in this household, but Chris has been looking for a new job and has been "hogging" the computer to prepare for job interviews, look for jobs, etc etc. I can't complain. As he is the one who actually brings in the money to clothe and feed us, I think he can monopolize our limited technology for the time being.<br /><br />That said, I am considering an even more total blog revamp. I am skulking around other blogs to see what providers they use, possible graphics, that sort of thing. Ultimately, this blog is to be an extension of my professional self, so I want it to appear that way instead of a hackneyed personal diary which is what I've been more or less maintaining to the present.<br /><br />It is very exciting to be building a small business from home. It is also scary, considering the heaps of people doing it. Scary thoughts include a saturated market for one, but handmade craft is not, say, gym shoes or weight loss programs. Hopefully, us crafters will make things that speak to people on a more personal level.<br /><br />That said, I am finding about 20 minutes a day at present to throw towards said crafts. All the others are of immediate personal need. Clothes for me, baby, toys, all that sort of thing. There are lots of benefits for taking on a simple living sort of lifestyle, but it can eat up the tick tocks.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-26633609755302917182008-04-29T10:26:00.002+10:002008-04-29T10:40:56.842+10:00Missing YouDear Blog,<br /><br />I am sorry I have been ignoring you. I really love the writing part, and the planning of the writing, but have been having trouble finding the time to do the other stuff I want to do for you, like make you pretty.<br /><br />OK, OK, I know I had a couple of hours last night. I got sucked into the Big Brother Launch. How did that happen! I am a weak, weak, woman. I did knit a little while it was on. Do you forgive me? I had trouble turning away after Brigitte walked in. I am so ashamed...<br /><br />I have been productive, blog, I have! The child remains clothed, fed, and happy. I have been knitting a little bit, sewing quite a lot, sketching and reading. My marriage is still good. I made lamb pides this morning, and emailed some friends. I made that doctor's appointment. I started a business plan. The house is almost clean in limited areas.<br /><br />Yes, yes, I did watch three episodes of Oprah. Alright, fine, I did watch the So You Think You Can Dance finale. Come on, it came down to Rhys v. Jack! They are both so cute, in a "they could be my sons" kind of way. I am sure I was knitting or sewing at the time.<br /><br />Blog, don't be mad. I am swearing off this brief elicit affair with reality TV. It could be hormonal.<br /><br />Love,<br />DenyseDenysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-4904595458582931672008-04-17T10:02:00.002+10:002008-04-17T10:08:27.649+10:00UpdateJust a quick note to myself and others.<br /><br />I am slowly slowly figuring out how to customize blogs. I am not a quick study at this sort of thing. Hopefully soon. Anyway, you'll have a good laugh because the changes will be tiny. The amount of time this seems to be taking would suggest this blog will be throwing rose petals on you when you stop by.<br /><br />I am also excited to say that the first profile and interview of a marvelous, crafty type person will be posted soon as well.<br /><br />See y'all soonDenysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-27349485940554780292008-03-17T10:35:00.003+11:002008-03-25T14:10:14.286+11:00CommitmentWhen I started this blog, it was for two primary reasons. One, to challenge myself to maintain something with regularity, hence my attempts to post at least once a week, usually on Monday or Tuesday. The other was to polish up my rusty writing skills while focusing on a particular passion, hopefully learning more as I go along.<br /><br />That said, I'm realizing that I need to take a posting break to try and get this blog looking the way I want it to. I am also adding a new feature which I hope will expand it's horizons, getting it closer to it's true form, which is about craft and makers.<br /><br />There is so much stuff to make as well, I can't even tell you sisters and brothers. I've got knitting out the whazoo, which came to a brief halt last week. I just got sick of it. I've got an embroidery assembly line going for Etsy. The new goal is to whack my shop up there after my visit to the States in July. There are also clothes to sew for said trip. The problem with being a part of two summers in one year is that my summer wardrobe is shabby and lame to the nth power as far as style-osity.<br /><br />I will now go take a brief gaze at Ravelry before the smallish boy wakes. Haven't been on Ravelry for yonks, due to my knitting break.<br /><br />No Tips and Wrinkles today.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-59663065919449512922008-03-12T08:19:00.004+11:002008-03-12T10:36:05.516+11:00ComfortThe last week or so has been tough. Bad news, psychic baggage, pressure. I have always gone to craft stores when I need some solace. Wandering amongst the fake flowers and scrap booking kits rests my mind.<br /><br />That said, I really dislike the brand of craft that might be best described as "Country". You know the stuff. Teddy bears, those weird rag dolls with raffia hair, over embellishment and lots and lots of gingham hearts. I would have sold my soul to have this kind of stuff when I was eleven, but now it makes my teeth hurt.<br /><br />When I was a kid, my tastes definitely ran to "giftshop", the more it smelled of cinnamon and eucalyptus the better. I made a couple of dolls out of pantyhose, and I am sure sparkles were present (Ah, the early 80's). Like many childhood passions and preferences, I find this sort of thing oddly comforting. It must be, because something needs to explain my recent purchase of "Australian Country Craft and Decorating" and another one that has something to do with country quiltin'. As expected, the vast vast majority of projects are things I would not dream of making; but there is a bit of treasure. There are a few patterns that could be translated into a different context; there embroidery things that are useful to current endeavors; and as usual, many of the ads are full of promise. Always good to have more options for places to spend my money. Best of all, they took my mind off of some of the harsher realities (What is up with all the teddies?!?! Argh! Ooooo. Nice fabric.) and gave me a bit of comfort with all the homey junk and neo-Victoriana. I wonder, why won't that look die? It just keeps going and going, the Energizer bunny of craft and decorating.<br /><br />The current issues came with extra publications which were really bloody painful re: Christmas in July. Despite the horrors within, they are brilliant for Isaacs passion for flipping pages, and sometimes ripping them. Better that then my latest Martha Stewart gardening issue.<br /><br />Absurd purchases maybe, for a gal with a Denyse Schmidt, Veronik Avery, slightly eco minimalist Midwestern aesthetic, but they did their job.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">From the Book of Hints and Wrinkles, a tip for shopping by telephone:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Personally, however, I feel this method is apt to lead those of us who are not strong minded into extravagance; it is difficult to resist that polite, encouraging voice at the end of the line, insinuating suggestions about "an unusually nice line in cauliflowers, madam"-just when one has decided to make do with the boiled onions from yesterday.</span><br /><br /></span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-78325269723074102292008-03-06T09:22:00.004+11:002008-03-06T09:37:10.576+11:00Right OnCheck out The Hen's latest post. ( I tried to do one of those neat little linky things but it didn't work and I don't feel like fiddling, you can find her site in my link list-little red hen).<br /><br />I am glad she wrote it. It makes me feel better. As a person who likes to bitch and appreciates a bit of dark in the humour, it is great to see someone stand up and say "Relax people. It's not all about affirmation." At least that's what I'm getting.<br /><br />The uber-politically correct positive camp, or at least the risk of stumbling across one, keeps me from posting to liberally on the Ravelry boards. How sad is that? What a meek little crabby mouse am I.<br /><br />Time to fortify my soul with some poached eggs and bitchy thoughts about my neighbours barking dog. I don't care that it's one of God's Creatures. Damn thing is annoying. Oh, and then there's the other dog who cacas all over the pavement...grrrrrrrrr.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-36374028156452978712008-03-03T10:16:00.005+11:002008-03-03T10:58:53.483+11:00We are the Goon Squad<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUv0ut3znr2P7btEs8N9Zeyca0lN9Ex3IU-GE_5BclTx0DoMzJ2y6maw4HJxoan6SFu_n6sMHPHaM6Jku-zinAB0ymUWtybz_EXBqTbcMGm2OIzQkj4iBGxRlr9v7sgPE7chuZvBs3qs/s1600-h/bowie+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUv0ut3znr2P7btEs8N9Zeyca0lN9Ex3IU-GE_5BclTx0DoMzJ2y6maw4HJxoan6SFu_n6sMHPHaM6Jku-zinAB0ymUWtybz_EXBqTbcMGm2OIzQkj4iBGxRlr9v7sgPE7chuZvBs3qs/s200/bowie+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173297970595918578" border="0" /></a>I bought the North American Spring issue of Vogue yesterday. I used to buy the massive Spring and Fall issues each year, just to get a dose of what is <span style="font-style: italic;">au courant</span>, especially in colours.<br /></div><br />I do love clothes, and enjoy looking at the high end stuff in photos. I once went to look at the high end stuff in person and felt intimidated. I don't like to go into shops if I can't buy, but there was this one Hermes leather coat that begged a closer look...but I digress.<br /><br />I haven't bought Vogue for years, and I remember why. Yes, there are lots of pretty clothes and crafty inspirations, but Lord Almighty, the little style snippets about the immensely privileged with their own "small PR firms", or their "art" are just revolting. As was the wedding of some gal to some guy whose parents had heaps of dough made through beverages. Her dress cost $200, 000. I mean, seriously. We're supposed to be impressed? Or that Julian Schnabel's gorgeous wife makes pajamas with the attitude of someone saving sick babies <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>their puppies? I do hope it's the spin that Vogue put on it and that Mme. Schnable doesn't really think she's providing a valuable service designing a pajama top that can also be worn as a shirt.<br /><br />I don't have issues with the rich. Heck, if I'm lucky they'll buy some of my things should I ever actually produce them. I just hate that society shit.<br /><br />There is a profile about a young painter however which will probably make me jealous. I think I like her stuff too, which will make it hard to rant.<br /><br />Being a News Hour addict, I was pleased to see there is a piece about Gwen Iffl. Maybe I can start buying Vogue for the articles.<br /><br />Has a glorious morning washing pieces of vintage textiles, lace and material, bits of tatting and crochet. I've been washing up largish amounts of old bits to start incorporating into sachets, cushion covers, and wearable things. I am hoping that having everything clean and organized will make the work so much easier. I'll take pictures, as crafty types love pictures, but that must come later.<br /><br />Everything is going along swimmingly. Gessoed a canvas. Almost finished my South Cape. Got a good idea for my bag for the Aussie Knitter bag swap so it won't be so boring. Almost finished with a skirt. The baby remains well fed and clean. What more could I want? Brilliant.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">From The Book of Hints and Wrinkles:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Many of the more modern houses and flats have kitchens too small for even the swinging of a kitten, but some have more accommodation, and in old-fashioned and converted houses it is often helpful to use the kitchen as a dining room.</span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-66126142664802393642008-02-25T09:29:00.004+11:002008-02-25T10:19:44.976+11:00Product DevelopmentHow not glamorous.<br /><br />How much better would it be to just sit at one's well organised work space (ideally looking out over an inspiring vista), nicely dressed and clean (no baby snot in hair), churning out one lovely after another. I know this doesn't happen except to a few souls profiled in magazines. I would still like that to be me.<br /><br />That said, I am working on some embroidered sachets to put up on Esty. I am in the experimental stages.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVjRQSAQ996L3X59lDbMp93psCkZgyHKYzqHNTCL4LHosikGH4dcHp2Qe6VA5UuAKHAz3PTPmPIF08amA9fWpCO9e9G0O1Kj6bQPsghDJUdB0qDgcrkWeoquKx3GgI04WSNozKXYIeKg/s1600-h/IMG_3175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVjRQSAQ996L3X59lDbMp93psCkZgyHKYzqHNTCL4LHosikGH4dcHp2Qe6VA5UuAKHAz3PTPmPIF08amA9fWpCO9e9G0O1Kj6bQPsghDJUdB0qDgcrkWeoquKx3GgI04WSNozKXYIeKg/s200/IMG_3175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170679725447223426" border="0" /></a> Sketching with thread. First thing to go will be that blue flower. I like the bird, although the poor thing is embroidered with the wrong stitch. It needs a meatier one. The cloth is a gorgeous Californian flax I dyed using a natural dye. I can't remember which dye. I must be maturing because while this won't be used, I am not fretting over the "waste" of materials. If I believed in past lives, I would have had one in The Depression. So many projects have not happened because of my weird "but I'll waste it" mentality. Lame. The re-use and recycle movement has been great for me. I have always been reluctant to take apart something perfectly good even if it doesn't fit, it has a hole, a stain, whatever. Which would mean it isn't perfectly good, ideal for reuse!<br /><br />Watching people tear into things and make gorgeous new things is just what I needed. That has always been in me, but there was a strange block there. Maybe I'll head over to a Carl Jung website and start exploring my psyche to see why I was so uptight. The moral of the story is the desire to create can over rule any bizarro psychological tendencies we may have. Or it can feed them. How exciting. What new bizarros around the corner...<br /><br />Embroidery Opinion of the Day: French knots suck. A mock French knot is way easier. My nana tried to teach me French knots when I was little and I never mastered it. Never. The French knot must be in the same part of my brain where algebra lives. The Great Void.<br /><br />Book recommendation: The Crabapple Bakery Cupcake Cookbook. I've made three recipes out of this since Xmas and they all rock. I just ate a John's Baci Birthday one. Yeah, it's not quite 10:00 in the morning. Cupcakes are an around the clock kind of food. Cupcakes are also a craft. I will debate you on this.<br /><br />As I am also an aficionado of the domestic life and since I cannot start another blog about that, I will leaving each post with a quote from The Book of Hints and Wrinkles, copyright 1939.<br /><br />We will start with some hair care.<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">Drying and Setting<br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Do not use a Turkish towel, but one or two old, soft face towels, linen ones for preference. Then proceed to whatever setting methods you employ. Never miss the chance to dry your hair in the sun, if there is any, but if you have to dry it by the fire, do not hold it too near.</span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-48318010632997839402008-02-20T08:37:00.003+11:002008-02-20T09:01:50.538+11:00A question that could lead to a rant.I am listening to the Religion Report on Radio National. I turned it on late, and I hope I haven't missed what I wanted to hear; a segment on a group of Christian ministers who are going to say sorry to gays and lesbians at the Sydney Mardi Gras.<br /><br />Here is my comment: It's about time.<br /><br />Here is my question: Anyone thinking about apologizing to say, women?<br /><br />Glad to hear that some conservative ministers are involved. I go to a pretty conservative church, and being a liberal type I am often driven to knit my brow over some knitting. Keeps life interesting. The minister they are interviewing is a Baptist. I give him credit, he's trying.<br /><br />Enjoyed the knitting group I went to last night very much. I am now going to stalk a few of the attendees on Ravelry to see what they've got on the needles.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-18563025490924076762008-02-19T10:13:00.002+11:002008-02-19T10:30:03.222+11:00What's going on?Not much.<br /><br />Isaac freaked out Sunday night at about 10:30 and kept going until 1:00am. Poor fella had a very stuffy nose. Despite being exhausted (I was sick too) some crafty thoughts and actions were able to happen. Isaac was so overtired that he wouldn't sleep, but he is a good natured boy so he just sat there staring at yogurt containers and plastic cups for ages and ages, which allowed me brain time and a wee bit of knitting.<br /><br />Today must be given over to practicalities as he slept 12 hours last night and is feeling much better. Post office (mailing off my Cloth and Soap swap, amongst other things), the ever present laundry, other stuff. Tonight I am going to my very first knitters group ever. This is a big step for me, being somewhat isolationist in my knitting. Ravelry has pushed me into the world of social knitting.<br /><br />I very much want to start a painting, but I've got all these (well, two) KALS breathing down my neck plus the promise I would get items onto Esty so I can start trying to make some scratch for a drum carder. Not bloody likely. I guess one item would still count. Right?<br /><br />Seriously, I don't know how people do it. I still wonder at Barbara Coddington, who was producing Yarn magazine (check it out if you haven't already) out of her home. With kids. I don't know if I could sustain that for a month. All these women, Linda Ligon, Melanie Falick, the list goes on and on. I don't need to write them all out-you know who they are. Worked their buns off creating such great publications and other work to guide us forward in our fibertastic creativity, often while juggling families. They also always look good, like they are having a great time.<br /><br />A shout out to them. Inspirations all. Thanks.<br /><br />Have yet to make it down to Craft Victoria. Bah.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-75797274032412055282008-02-08T09:29:00.000+11:002008-02-08T14:29:25.935+11:00Yarn KAL and the Lazy Woman MethodI <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> finished spinning the yarn for my South Cape. It seemed to take forever but it should be said I think I spun up more than I need. The yarn is a bit thin in places but could fluff up (the official terminology is bloom I believe?) after a while. Some bits are just thin, but such is the whimsy of handspun, especially when I just couldn't be bothered to try and make it perfect.<br /><br />I did dye it, using my unpatented Lazy Woman's Technique. I wanted there to be some colour variation, more or less subtle and in the same colour range, nothing too stripy or blocky. Lord knows I do not have the time right now or the inclination to be carefully squirting one shade away of this next to two shades away of that, especially on a significant amount of yarn. I've messed around with this method-I use that word lightly-before with satisfactory results. It sounds time consuming in the way baking a loaf of bread does, but the reality is that most of the work is done by the dye and the yarn. Here is what I do:<br /><br />First, make sure you have too much yarn for your dyepot. I have never done this with fleece, only yarn.<br /><br />Mix up your first round of dye. It help a LOT to be familiar with your brand of dye. I use Landscape dyes by Kolour Kraft. So bloody easy.<br /><br />Anyway, the first round acts as your base. This is kind of like painting-lay down the first foundations of colour to build up the future colours. My yarn was already naturally coloured (dark tan), but I did this step anyway. If you go straight ahead on pure white, I find it just ends up looking like a bad dye job.<br /><br />Get your dye pot ready and stick in your wet(to paraphrase Salt-n-Pepa, s-s-soak it real good) yarn. Stir it around. Remember, there should be just a little too much yarn for your pot. Now, let it alone. The stuff at the top should be floating above the top of the water line, but still getting some dye. Let it simmer away. After about 30 minutes, go and give it a flip, and leave it again for however long you feel it needs. Sometimes I give it a few more flips, but because the dye bath is starting to exhaust itself, the yarn at the bottom doesn't get as intense. With the yarn for the South Cape, I made up a purply dye, a medium strength solution. Some of the yarn was a hideous taupe, other bits were bright red violet, etc etc. When you think it's finished, take it out, rinse, and dry, so you can see what you've got.<br /><br />After the skeins are dry, repeat the process with the colour you really want the yarn to be. It seems a more intense shade works better. I left it in the pot for ages. I think I forgot about it and went to the shops. I chose a teal colour, and now have skeins of yarn that go from a grayish greeny blue to a deep teal. I am quite happy with it. I wanted to keep to the spirit of the South Cape, so I thought of the water around Cape Shanck on the Mornington Peninsula, another rather cool and often fierce place, but also one of great beauty.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarWAyf1hd4MI3aprUwmAMnvxeABcOh8xqFnzYkma0AT5JBmd1Ud3_fJSWmvInYvQudJAL8c__xUm-E17cEzv_N5Y43U6gomXHR-aExspOtexUgbiM3IT9G_LmvMTPC4dWGZSrjsccDOo/s1600-h/IMG_3218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarWAyf1hd4MI3aprUwmAMnvxeABcOh8xqFnzYkma0AT5JBmd1Ud3_fJSWmvInYvQudJAL8c__xUm-E17cEzv_N5Y43U6gomXHR-aExspOtexUgbiM3IT9G_LmvMTPC4dWGZSrjsccDOo/s200/IMG_3218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164442093929079298" border="0" /></a> Fresh from the dye pot.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBrQValhhuHjR4kFLRB-jQeL2rPab-33WOC9MPUBwxAQdXQSUzYSvDtImXd0uqg_oIvO0lRrZa9Qh2xouNg7lNWyG-2Lacm_9tTVtnCDL-kN09AXeJyyeELbrEuYq4gIFnKVkLtx8ckQ/s1600-h/IMG_3223.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBrQValhhuHjR4kFLRB-jQeL2rPab-33WOC9MPUBwxAQdXQSUzYSvDtImXd0uqg_oIvO0lRrZa9Qh2xouNg7lNWyG-2Lacm_9tTVtnCDL-kN09AXeJyyeELbrEuYq4gIFnKVkLtx8ckQ/s200/IMG_3223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164443283635020306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s3e7hTxigWzNnKYX3fNGcaShLLjH66ezifKHGakYF-CgB-TVQiRloSUzDzF667J3aLZcSTEmUUWhCxgut21binaYCGvQBFaM9-TiO5wr7egbw2WPJwQ7E27aV6Mrysd9B3y4VrVv8iA/s1600-h/IMG_3252.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s3e7hTxigWzNnKYX3fNGcaShLLjH66ezifKHGakYF-CgB-TVQiRloSUzDzF667J3aLZcSTEmUUWhCxgut21binaYCGvQBFaM9-TiO5wr7egbw2WPJwQ7E27aV6Mrysd9B3y4VrVv8iA/s200/IMG_3252.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164443983714689570" border="0" /></a> The South Cape commences!<br /><br />The Lazy Woman method of dying is quite fun, but you cannot be a perfectionist or you'll have a heart attack. You also have to have a correction colour at the ready in case the whole thing turns out to be horrible. Mine was navy.<br /><br />The South Cape is so much fun to knit. I was worried I wouldn't have it finished in time, but it shouldn't be a problem. It's all I want to do. There is so much laundry to put away...Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-31461722389000471622008-02-05T09:28:00.000+11:002008-02-05T09:46:08.404+11:00The Cup OverflowethThere is no lack of things to do.<br /><br />I think I may have joined too many knitalongs, but this is the year of upping the ante with my knitting skills AND the getting-things-done skills, the latter being of primary importance. I guess I could try and sell UFO's as concept art. I could score a show at Craft Victoria.<br /><br />Speaking of Craft Victoria, there's a show up now of dolls representing Aussie musicians. The catch is they all have big wangs made to look like snakes or dragons. I intend to go see it. It sounds quite funny. Curious to see how well they are made. I went to one show where the work was needlepoint on that plastic stuff-I forget what it's called but it's used a lot for Xmas ornaments..plastic canvas? Anyhoo, it looked s*(&. The needle point was all well and good, even stitches and all that, but the pieces appeared to be tacked onto the wall, and some were curving up on themselves...bah. You could clearly see the plastic canvas which is a hideous beast by nature in my opinion. Use it, fine, but don't make me look at it. What made it worse was in the next gallery, there was the most exquisite wood furniture. If I had 10k there was a liquor cabinet that would have been mine.<br /><br />Let it be said I doubt I'll ever be hip enough for CV, but I do intend to renew my professional membership. I think it's a great outfit, and the folks there are really nice. However, I saw the curator (maybe the director?) once at a seminar and she scared me. She looked like the type of person who could critique you within an inch of your life. Being an art school survivor, there is still a small, much more hiply dressed part of me cowering in the dark corners of my soul, rocking back and forth repeating " I don't KNOW how this fits into the post modern paradigm."<br /><br />Baby done woked up. I better go get him.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-11268750543605116342008-02-02T11:57:00.000+11:002008-02-02T12:36:44.170+11:00I'm not good enoughDon't we hate that feeling. I really really hate it when I am chirping along and then hit a wall of "My Stuff Sucks". Why why why? It's so stupid.<br /><br />This isn't a bad round of it though. I think now that I am older and wiser I won't get into too many more of those creative black pits that would last years. One lasted long enough for me to get a certificate in Environmental Technology, which was cool (certified to go into toxic dumps wearing creepy suits and respirators-I used to think about the bad guys in Elliot's house looking for E.T.) but was really an excuse not to use my creative energy. Another black pit was my first marriage. I basically married a 30 year old child with a drinking problem and an aversion to work. This kept me too busy and miserable to pursue my truer callings. Had to work. Had to keep it together.<br /><br />Why do we do this to ourselves? While my reactions were a bit on the extreme side, there are plenty of people who say they just can't do something when they darn well could. I am thankful to have pulled out of it before I became too old and too wise!<br /><br />Still, habits are hard to break and I still get moments of doubt. What they truly are, however, are moments of trying to make things better and truer to what I want them to be. I tend to identify them negatively at first, instead of just the normal process of getting something right.<br /><br />There is a good interview in the latest FiberArts with Carter Smith. It is endlessly amazing to me that we often will be given just what we need when we need it. I was feeling pretty low when FiberArts showed up in the post. I thought "Rats. Let's look at the successful people. People who are not me. Boo hoo hoo." I read the Carter Smith article first because his ads have been on the back cover of FiberArts for yonks, and I wanted to see what this guy was all about. I don't want to break copyright, but here is a small sampling of what he said:<br /><br />"Sometimes people work too hard to find a style rather than just create, create, create, and let the process of creation finally have it's own cohesion. Don't worry about whether someone else is going to like your work or not. Do you like it? That is what's important. Do what you love, and work on what your passion is. If you instill your passion in your work, it will evolve in your way, and that's how you will find your style, and people will respond to what you are doing. It is so important to let go, not to think you have to create in certain parameters."<br /><br />There you go.<br /><br />I have a spiritual life (Christian) so am not opposed to or uncomfortable with thinking we are given what we are needed via outside forces when we are open to it. I think many people who "got religion" or another spiritual well find this to be so. I imagine atheists have coincidence. However you choose to look at it, we're all meant to be creating something, don' t you think?<br /><br />It is now time to create lunch.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-11950991876901961672008-01-28T08:51:00.001+11:002008-01-28T09:18:25.796+11:00Booya!If I am not mistaken, booya means something like "Right on!" or "Score!" or "Yeah!". I played a video game once where when something good happened, my little man would shake his arms in the air and yell "BOOYA!"<br /><br />Well booya for me. Our little family pod went down to Queenscliff last Friday to take in the sea breezes. It was a gorgeous day. We wandered around town, ate blueberry crepes with mounds of icecream, bought lunch at a fish and chips place and ate it by the shore (this place had the best chips. I also bought a weird thing called a corn jack, basically deep fried cream of corn. The jury is still out), walked along the pier...ah, it was lovely.<br /><br />And then, I went to Vinnies. I love me some op shops, and I have to visit them wherever I am. Always on the look out for vintage tablecloths and the like that I can use in my crafty projects. Well, not only did I find my tablecloths, I also found this (queue heavenly music):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGPU0Hos_jgOXWCliLOL_vvN3EbQ2oy_lyVI8EpnG1hVabp5iD-Ni11gAofnE1CGtqU52JpGcbSs2CNY9BrGi7cd-ftJsNl1uua-2wOuTBq0JTEK4LfeHHFfyV2GtgbR03crudEefrM4/s1600-h/IMG_3125.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGPU0Hos_jgOXWCliLOL_vvN3EbQ2oy_lyVI8EpnG1hVabp5iD-Ni11gAofnE1CGtqU52JpGcbSs2CNY9BrGi7cd-ftJsNl1uua-2wOuTBq0JTEK4LfeHHFfyV2GtgbR03crudEefrM4/s200/IMG_3125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160281799627612626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI9ktlVHvZ5w4SCkyDa8dR70EkueOMChHn640WwapjGNiyy3f-1PXDj2dsC4-vI0LWPgCnKRfa1Sx-F_SKeh200MCz9Qmk5J2pPL29tDMq9whpdWi62KC5T8un8q0ot7GoENllcAR1rg/s1600-h/IMG_3126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI9ktlVHvZ5w4SCkyDa8dR70EkueOMChHn640WwapjGNiyy3f-1PXDj2dsC4-vI0LWPgCnKRfa1Sx-F_SKeh200MCz9Qmk5J2pPL29tDMq9whpdWi62KC5T8un8q0ot7GoENllcAR1rg/s200/IMG_3126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160282095980356066" border="0" /></a><br />One kilo (2.2 pounds) of lovely, clean, 100% Corriedale crepe wool yarn from Tassie. Now, I paid 30 bucks for it which on an op shop scale may not be a pure bargain, but I am not complaining. I can't decide what to do with it. It may end up as a vest for my dad.<br /><br />Isaac was getting worried that he'd be crammed into the car next to a lot of wool yet again. He's sick of it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw0_BQXhcHaoCaYAnBBn6lNv4hzMqYHl7vRcQ7P1K9gfIJDQY3lx_kVo5gG3FZoKkHP8E27Oognid-70zy7OibaeXGymj5an-qiUQ3H7_86UQABPqYv6V0NbQGl6_7_Tu5DEePATWd_8/s1600-h/IMG_3120.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw0_BQXhcHaoCaYAnBBn6lNv4hzMqYHl7vRcQ7P1K9gfIJDQY3lx_kVo5gG3FZoKkHP8E27Oognid-70zy7OibaeXGymj5an-qiUQ3H7_86UQABPqYv6V0NbQGl6_7_Tu5DEePATWd_8/s200/IMG_3120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160282469642510834" border="0" /></a> Tough luck, baby.<br /><br />I need to get a handle on what this blogger can do. I am still in the wading pool, and am not taking advantage of what can be done. So many people have such good looking blogs. Mine is not representin'.<br /><br />Time for a rest. We have started watching the second season of Rome, and I have trouble falling asleep afterwards. We also have flying foxes hanging out in one of our trees right in front of the bedroom AND a couple of cats have been loving, then fighting, then loving again also right outside the bedroom. Sometimes it sounds like we are living on top of the hellmouth. Thank goodness our dog is deaf or she'd be going apes&*%.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-28572030867409681872008-01-21T09:37:00.000+11:002008-01-21T09:51:55.541+11:00Multi-taskingDid a good amount of spinning last night while watching <span style="font-style: italic;">In the Line of Beauty</span>. What good series. The yarn I am spinning up has quite a lot of pleasurable TV viewing twisted into it. I managed to get the second half of the first series of <span style="font-style: italic;">Firefly </span>at the library, + <span style="font-style: italic;">All Creatures Great and Small</span> and the Beastie Boys video anthology. I have be revisiting <span style="font-style: italic;">Planet Earth </span>too; it's all twisted in.<br /><br />I think there is definitely crap too. I have been spinning this yarn forever so there is sure to be a Dr. Phil in there someplace.<br /><br />I have to consider this when making things for sale. I am not sure people will want the bad juju of say, <span style="font-style: italic;">7th Heaven</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">Ready Steady Cook</span> worked into their purchase. I'm just saying, there are bad days where the craft must continue despite poor mental health resulting in a dose of questionable TV. It's not my fault the baby naps during times when there is sucky TV on.<br /><br />However, if a soul wants a cuff or wrap made up during <span style="font-style: italic;">The Biggest Loser</span>, who am I to question a commission? We all have our needs.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-89499050111835219422008-01-20T11:26:00.000+11:002008-01-20T11:33:30.718+11:00Dain BramageI read an item in the paper today and it made me mad. I wanted to write about it because it had something to do with mass production and would have given me the chance to champion making stuff for ourselves and others. However, I can't remember where it was in the paper and can't be bothered flipping through to dig it out. <br /><br />I think my brain is being hindered by a hormonal surge. I am really wantin' another baby, despite the fact the current one is destroying a book at this very moment. Let's see which book...<span style="font-style: italic;">Dilbert</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">and the Way of the Weasel</span>. Go for it baby. It's one of your dad's.<br /><br />Feeling irritated at knitting. It seems to be taking me a long time to finish my jammie bottoms. Grrrr.<br /><br />Looking forward to much spinning tonight while watching TV. Yeah.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-52076225552825309692008-01-19T11:34:00.000+11:002008-01-19T11:56:23.582+11:00Agitated, then not so much.Made the mistake of watching part of a doco on Goring last night. Had to stop when he signed off on the Final Solution. My mother's European family was all but wiped out (luckily her dad's family moved to South America before the s*$# hit the fan), and let me tell you, that sure mucks up the generational waters.<br /><br />Anyway, I tossed and turned last night feeling very righteous, thinking I should turn my life over to being a Great Defender of Human Rights. But in the light of day, the joy of making things came back to to the forefront. Not to get to deep about it, but think about it: creation, passing down tradition, making things of beauty. This is why I love art and craft. It's really all about the best of humanity. Some may argue people are more about destroying, but I disagree. I think most people would much rather create and learn, except for the minority of psychopaths, megalomaniacs, and bitter souls that screw things up for the rest of us. A broad statement with heaps of gray space, perhaps a subject for my imaginary dissertation I will write some day for my pretend PhD. I can't imagine ever finding the time to do a real one...<br /><br />Anyway, I don't think we have to look much past Ravelry and Library Thing to see that lots of people want to make stuff, read stuff, and commune with like minded folk. Doesn't that make you feel gooooood?!?!<br /><br />No felting today. Raining. Will be drawing instead, which is frightening. My skills there have really gone down the gurgler.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-9206293198876067662008-01-18T09:37:00.000+11:002008-01-18T09:49:54.659+11:00Time keeps on slippin'<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">I am flying like an eagle.<br /><br />TGIF. Tomorrow, if it isn't raining, I will be engaged in major felting activity. I swear by the end of the month (not this month, the next one) I will have a few bits up on Esty. The deal remains that whatever I sell will be funneled back into equipment and costs. I need a drumcarder, a more suitable production wheel, and other stuff. Take me 10 years to sell enough to buy these things, but hey, who cares? What does Oprah say? Something about it being the journey, not the destination? I knew eventually Oprah would have some revelation that applied to me. It's about time.<br /><br />Am wondering if it is possible to try and make a few shekles from handmade whilst also maintaining the obsessive production of things for self and family. I still think it's possible.<br /><br />Have a very exciting braided felt experiment in the works.<br /><br />Still concerned about refinement and polish. I don't want my things to look <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> handmade, if you know what I mean.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-56198175332603324962008-01-14T14:50:00.000+11:002008-01-14T15:01:07.019+11:00The Mummy Returns<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">I love being a mum. There has never been any doubt there. I feel like I've been able to keep up my own interests enough not to "lose" my identity as an individual, which seems a big concern these days. I enjoy Isaac's company. It's all good.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Except when he wakes up consistently at 11:00pm and wails and/or complains for two hours. Dad only makes it worse. It has to be mum. And he is then up and at 'em at 5:30am.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">The craft suffers, as the walking dead (me, and a few others I'm sure) are not not known for our creativity and prodigious output.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Frustrating. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">I am thinking mums who start small businesses with small kids are more then human. Or maybe the Power of the Mummy grows the longer she walks in the nether world.</span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-14423862705892215692008-01-11T19:12:00.000+11:002008-01-11T19:33:34.417+11:00The Problem with Ravelry<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">The problem with Ravelry is that there is not enough time to knit and enjoy it's riches. The internal struggle to actually knit (or spin, or sew, or whatever) or to putt around on Ravelry is making me weary.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Other than that, it's great. I recently had the privilege of being part of a private Ravelry swap-Miss Fee and I swapped some lovely Rowan wool cotton and other treats (her) for a sample of the copious amounts of spinning stuff I have. I hope to swap more in the future. It's a great system.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">I am terribly grateful however for the outlandish amount of cheap entertainment available to me in these upcoming Years of Living Moneylessly. We have decided it is time to buckle down and start saving for a house deposit. Historically we have always spent more on entertainment (we include books and cds in this category as well as films, concerts, etc) then necessary. We have wised up, and the fact is we own heaps of books, mags, dvds, cds, and I have more craft materials then I can use up quickly. With the library and the internet, well, cheap fun is to be had by all.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">And if I want this blog to actually be informative and get my business off the ground I should stop swanning out for coffees anyway.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">We are also lucky to have at home stand up comedy with Isaac as well. One year old humour. He has already discovered The Fart.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">I start a sewing class in less than a month. Very psyched. If I can't make it or buy it second hand, I ain't wearing it. I used to be able to sew quite well but fell out of practice. Use it or lose it, and I want to use it so I can wear the type of clothes I can't afford. I do like me some purty outfits. Hoping to sharpen up my skills too so I can offer a few made to measure garments through Gallimaufry, such as a simple, yet terribly chic, or perhaps funky, skirt.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Gallimaufry is slowly sinking under the weight of my over enthusiasm. I wear myself out by flapping around like a mayfly and caring for le bebe. Isaac will be going into one day of daycare sometime in 2008, so that will be my "working" day. It will probably seem like a trip to the spa.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">I am planning on pestering some craftspeople soon to add a bit of cache to this dog's breakfast I call a blog.</span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-59902975363490298462008-01-05T11:12:00.000+11:002008-01-05T12:20:22.090+11:00Locally Grown<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Just got back after a week in the country. Tardnwarncoort was marvelous, as expected. We relaxed, toured around, had good chats with Wendy and David Dennis. It is a great spot if you're looking for a holiday, especially a woolly one.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">That said, I did visit the wool shed. I bought yarn for a hat for Isaac-the big ball up the front is a gorgeous natural shade of camel-ish. The pic doesn't really do the yarn justice, but trust me, it is inspiring. And so soft.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EHP-5D8Aelzr6DgSBhV-euVdAJJPNCX6x4YjN-yxBzI3_fdvppxCFj2Ye3Wfy3MRjCdkZAfKv5MSP3rjdRBSy-CFGp5eT1CJUvzE_a7G3Bgy4N_S5AP16n1Vm9PWe6Fatynuw6mAwyA/s1600-h/IMG_3092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EHP-5D8Aelzr6DgSBhV-euVdAJJPNCX6x4YjN-yxBzI3_fdvppxCFj2Ye3Wfy3MRjCdkZAfKv5MSP3rjdRBSy-CFGp5eT1CJUvzE_a7G3Bgy4N_S5AP16n1Vm9PWe6Fatynuw6mAwyA/s200/IMG_3092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151790589955401298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B2SBUARD_V2O705ibmlY21RIZsiqeWGBfSBXm3YkAhtIBS8aRwmisbgcl8xtBWt2XdNEoxN-C8kltfgxt28i8qr5BBw8iLVPsWNa08KVPTmabLQzXNJuT-RJSZBVf4S1-F6XgHBlVzs/s1600-h/IMG_3087.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B2SBUARD_V2O705ibmlY21RIZsiqeWGBfSBXm3YkAhtIBS8aRwmisbgcl8xtBWt2XdNEoxN-C8kltfgxt28i8qr5BBw8iLVPsWNa08KVPTmabLQzXNJuT-RJSZBVf4S1-F6XgHBlVzs/s200/IMG_3087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151785105282164290" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">I buy the dyed wool for personal projects. I enjoy dyeing very much, but I also like having stuff right on hand for a particular project, and these are marked for a future as a wrap. The undyed (in the back) will eventually end up in the Gallimaufry oeuvre. It is my intention to use locally produced wool as much as possible. The only infractions I can think of are perhaps some rare breed sheep I am curious about. I believe strongly in local produce, even though my actions do not always match up with my enthusiasm. Sometimes you just want a few damn grapes, or a coconut, or a bizarro fibre from a beast on a little North Seas Island.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">But still, local is important, and I consider myself blessed to live in a truly bounteous area, drought or no. Meandering around the Colac Otway Shire as well as the surf coast stirred the creative juices and gave me pleasure in seeing so many people trying to make a go at the crafty life. We couldn't go to as many shops and studios as I may have liked, but the happy emphasis was on spending time outdoors with the family. Being a rather sickeningly adoring wife and mother, I was basking in our happy time together. Still, I did get time to myself for a bit of knitting, very minor spinning, and lots of reading: novels, fibre and craft stuff, and magazines. I hit a few op shops too, another passion. I truly get overly excited about country op shops, but here's the reason: I make awesome scores. Two pure wool blankets for seven bucks. Vintage fabric for four. Stack of vintage patterns for five. And magazines. I am trying desperately to curb my magazine addiction, so hopefully the stack of Organic Gardeners I bought for a few bucks will keep me sated in that category.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Wendy Dennis lent me a copy of Selvedge she bought overseas. Now that is a good looking magazine. She also lent me a trade mag out of Italy, full of yarn mostly, with a big focus on knits and some cloth. I forget what it was called. It was a bit weird looking in that continental style-slick with a high fashion focus and interesting language, but that was of little consequence as the photos of yarn etc were highly beautiful. Happily, there was a emphasis on the handmade</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">"look" with support of quality. Encouraging. While fashion is mercurial, and we all know the fate of trends, it is my very sincere hope that the making of things both practical and beautiful continues well into our future and gains an even stronger foothold. Where I don't wish to go back to the days of drudgery, or the negative aspects of "women's work" (no respect for time, skill, etc), I think the rapid loss of basic skills and the greater loss of one being able to make, buy, or simply appreciate the quality, beauty, and skill that goes into a handmade object is detrimental to us generally. It is a complex issue I look forward to exploring in greater depth.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">That said, it is time I go off and sort out my new loot and think about getting rid of old loot. I leave you with an image of the poor parenting of a crafter.<br />Thank goodness he isn't a reckless child...</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6csrHO0LjiaTWd4dUADuq4KXSF0hGe7875-ug1UI1yhp_AieqET407KXlHjh_5t_Cr1lbaxf4QKE52TYEWXJFsPhDj4MNkn6i0lGZLo55e7QvbkWCAzRgNWW2e6CrAEgc-mKzdv-TrU/s1600-h/IMG_2761.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6csrHO0LjiaTWd4dUADuq4KXSF0hGe7875-ug1UI1yhp_AieqET407KXlHjh_5t_Cr1lbaxf4QKE52TYEWXJFsPhDj4MNkn6i0lGZLo55e7QvbkWCAzRgNWW2e6CrAEgc-mKzdv-TrU/s200/IMG_2761.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151795013771716194" border="0" /></a>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-38081573006041566022007-12-27T12:58:00.000+11:002007-12-27T20:26:55.322+11:00Barrelling into 2008Hurrah! I love the rapid approach of the new year. I don't make resolutions or anything, but the reality of having made it through another calendar year in one piece is always slightly momentous to me. I think anyone who had a long run of crap years may feel the same. What's that Robyn Hitchcock lyric? It's been a long hard decade? So far the noughties and I are getting on just fine. The 90's...blech.<br /><br />Someone recently asked me about my choice of name for this blog. It should be said it is not is reference to me, not being particularly unorthodox or successful for that matter (I am assuming no one needs an explanation of the <span style="font-style: italic;">l'enfant terrible</span> concept!). It is more in reference to the growing momentum of craft and a new appreciation of the handmade. To me, the fact that so many people are picking up needles of all sorts, hammers, clay, not to mention spades, brushes, and even cookbooks; well, something is afoot. Ideally I would like this blog to be more about that than myself and my projects. I am still getting my feet wet with the blogging thing and it's easiest to blather on about myself. I also need to make critical decisions like: do I stay in only the realm of my main craft interests (textiles and fibre), or do I consider the others which I love but don't actually make, such as woodwork and ceramics. And really, does it matter?<br /><br />I am gearing up for a stay at Tardwarncoort. I am itching to get into that wool shed. I usually buy fleece and fibre but have read impressive reviews of the Wendy Dennis yarns so I think I will finally bite the money bullet and buy some. I've got me some big plans for that fibre, which hopefully will end up on Esty in the next year. Isaac is rapidly going toddler, which means less time for making things during the day due to endless games of "Throw Myself off the Arm of the Couch", his latest toddly thrill.<br /><br />Spin spin spinning away to get the yarn done for the South Cape for the Yarn KAL.Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-26247432116181901402007-12-21T12:20:00.000+11:002007-12-22T10:04:40.431+11:00Sniffle<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Christmas right around the corner and I'm sick. Bah.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">I did dye the silk for the butterbean's cardigan. As the yarn for the bulk of it was designed with a Provencal theme, I decided to stick with that instead of searching my dull brain for fresh inspiration.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">I pulled out the catalog from the ginormous Van Gogh/Gaughin show the Art Institute of Chicago held about five years back. I did the open to a random page and pointing thing, and Van Gogh's "The Yellow House" presented itself. I think it turned out ok.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG3SpAVtSL0JBYzT1Y8t6CgEDOsYIs1CkH4_gkfRUtgSmILv74BcyEpJyMVN0iNnYXjlEi09t8LPTFw81vFI9-MngP6-5fo8Gyvu4ymmqtOSYQqxaLUMND63Q7BNtLKLx-AimSZ6QuOM/s1600-h/IMG_2731.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG3SpAVtSL0JBYzT1Y8t6CgEDOsYIs1CkH4_gkfRUtgSmILv74BcyEpJyMVN0iNnYXjlEi09t8LPTFw81vFI9-MngP6-5fo8Gyvu4ymmqtOSYQqxaLUMND63Q7BNtLKLx-AimSZ6QuOM/s200/IMG_2731.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146235383582341794" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 51);">I have knit up a swatch but can't get a good photo of it. Again, bah.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 51);">The dyeing went well which is surprising as I did it very, ahem, intuitively, which can just be another word for careless or lazy when applied to me! I used my trusty Kraft Kolour landscape dyes, just dissolved them up with a rough idea of how saturated I wanted the colour to be. That is one nice thing about using the same product for awhile; you do get an idea of how they are going to work for you. I then funneled my three colours into squirt bottles (old dishwashing detergent bottles DO NOT give one much control. Old hair colour mixing ones do, but rinse out well!!) and squirt squirt squirted away. I wanted there to be some blending and spots where the original colour of the silk still came through a little bit. I was thinking about the "sparkle" principle in watercolour , where you leave little bits of the paper unpainted to give a bit of light and movement to the painting. Does the principle work in a wee skein of silk? We shall soon find out...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 51);">Oh, I feel gross. Internal battle raging whether or not to lie down or head over to Ravelry. Butterbean is napping, and once he's up it'll be all over until 6:30. I am really wanting to get all my Ravelry stuff up and running but time, sweet sweet time. It is escaping me. The whole sick thing is a drag too. Plus, it is hot and humid. Plus, if I go to sleep I'll just have weird illness dreams. This morning I had a dream that I drowned an annoying leprechaun in the nappy bin. How twisted and apropos of nothing. It may have been because yesterday I drowned a big Sydney style cockroach in the toilet, and felt bad about it. But it was in my closet! I heard they are marching down here-women in my mothers group are experiencing these unwelcome beasts as well. Yick.</span>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423515411048254404.post-47367999401502319742007-12-19T13:32:00.000+11:002007-12-19T13:56:44.234+11:00Excitement<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">My goodness, how good is Ravelry? I am addicted. I really have to be careful, because it is Christmas time and I have heaps to do, but all I want to do in my free time is sail around Ravelry, not to mention list my projects so I can keep track. Just brilliant.</span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:100%;" ><br />I have also re-discovered how much I like spinning silk. I have four ancient skeins of Classic Elite Mistral; remember when CE did their whole south of France thing? I think Provence is the only yarn left standing. Anyway, I have these skeins of Mistral in a lovely deepish blue, and Isaac needs a little jacket for coolish but not cold weather. I've decided to knit him one, a seamless yoke style. I thought using just the Mistral would be a boring, so I spun up some silk to dye and incorporate into the yoke. Goodness it was pretty to spin. I am so looking forward to making the jacket.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4BjNp4NAIaJ_xVdxehLVq20g6ptPb2dRxwZJGx31v8VJEvn5KCs4XCZQZwxvO9WMebWmtsccU3DMkshOU0Gg0qwioM2HpjxNsW5_2dkHr0ofS0ZWg2QMos0GlP4rYi7nZh5Q0MAvlkc/s1600-h/IMG_2701.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4BjNp4NAIaJ_xVdxehLVq20g6ptPb2dRxwZJGx31v8VJEvn5KCs4XCZQZwxvO9WMebWmtsccU3DMkshOU0Gg0qwioM2HpjxNsW5_2dkHr0ofS0ZWg2QMos0GlP4rYi7nZh5Q0MAvlkc/s200/IMG_2701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145511501204339298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:100%;" ><br />I also delved into the world of the washcloth this Christmas. How boring is that, you may ask? Pretty boring, but brilliant if you</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:100%;" > have to follow a baby around the house. I perked things up by dyeing them with natural dyes, lac beetle (purple), osage orange (yellow), and quebacho red (pinky tan). I didn't do anything particularly adventurous, just mordanted them with alum. Looking forward to getting a bit more in it experiment wise. I have started taking iron tablet and a multi vitamin to try and keep myself energized after a long day with the baby man, all for the sake of squeezing out some more craft time!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5alQp_lLG8POIGXGJjJnwNwzRRm_Wo3rTvpkLxHH1fpZxYF7eZnrdbxu3f1Kw9S30qzBFM3PREqAq1ZCpc7ICs-9FM12a5yqtLVid0_-onWco2oTB1DoPNkXtfvjawK4aZozjK1zbMBw/s1600-h/IMG_2556.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5alQp_lLG8POIGXGJjJnwNwzRRm_Wo3rTvpkLxHH1fpZxYF7eZnrdbxu3f1Kw9S30qzBFM3PREqAq1ZCpc7ICs-9FM12a5yqtLVid0_-onWco2oTB1DoPNkXtfvjawK4aZozjK1zbMBw/s200/IMG_2556.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145511810441984626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:100%;" ><br />I made another bunny as well, this one for Maisy. Polworth spun up and dyed with Landscape dyes once again, and fulled in the trusty washing machine.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAVpYGcGgETVOdM_-0YZ6WRaWaHCx6pcrbzXYXYyUpjhgUOLROhN88wyWGu5yXlBpMcOocI-Q2lbbWBUt_D14950P2zM4kovoQqgQYJ0RdavJLB8KAwGRwe0tTl9v05XW99nfE9gUBvc/s1600-h/IMG_2547.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAVpYGcGgETVOdM_-0YZ6WRaWaHCx6pcrbzXYXYyUpjhgUOLROhN88wyWGu5yXlBpMcOocI-Q2lbbWBUt_D14950P2zM4kovoQqgQYJ0RdavJLB8KAwGRwe0tTl9v05XW99nfE9gUBvc/s200/IMG_2547.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145511965060807298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div>Denysehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821213969478271758noreply@blogger.com1