Hey! Check it Out! Wednesday!

Posted on October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 Posted in finished objects, sewingTagged cestari, columbus ohio, cumulus blouse, knitting, seamwork, sew to speak, sewing, yarn14 Comments

Do you think I can make Hey! Check it Out! Wednesday! a thing? Just kidding. It will never catch on like Wednesday WIPs.

But hey, check it out!

I finished my Lilac Heather Cumulus Blouse. It’s mostly great. This yarn is wonderful and it has great stitch definition. It fits well and is comfortable, and I love the color. The neckline… well, I saw this coming but carried on knitting anyway. I thought hopefully that the i-cord cast off was going to take up more space. I will have to wear a shirt under it. I’m sure the culprit is my yarn choice, but I love the yarn so I wouldn’t have changed it. I guess I should pay more attention to row gauge? But considering I only knit a 2 inch swatch, I got what I deserved. Pattern is Cumulus Blouse and yarn is Cestari Ash Lawn DK in Lilac Heather. Still happy.

Check out my new to me shoes! They are Baabuk and made in Portugal with local wool. I have terrible problem feet, and I go through a lot of shoes looking for “the one” pair that will make my feet happy. So far these are ticking all my boxes: wool, renewable resource, sustainably and ethically made, and I got them used (practically new) on Poshmark. They are super comfortable and like these so much I may purchase a pair of boots at some undetermined point in time in the future.

Check this out! I joined Seamwork (unlimited) at a special half off rate and got this style workshop. I really need it. When I was younger I didn’t have any problems knowing what I liked to wear or what looked good on me, and I changed my style frequently. Now that I’m older, I need a little help. I’ve already downloaded several patterns, but I’m making myself finish the workbook before I buy any fabric. First on my list to sew is Ace.

I have wanted a funnel neck ever since I saw Amelie, so that was probably 20 years ago!

I would love to have this done in time to take to Nova Scotia (1 week away!) but I would have to find a fabric I love locally. I will head over to Sew to Speak at some point just to see if she has any wool jersey or sweater fabric.

I also decided to make a Chip Jacket and Dexter Pants, and by that time I realized I just needed to join. I didn’t renew Ottobre, so that’s my rationalization.

I still need to finish my jeans, but I do have my zipper now. Maybe this weekend?

Unfortunately I’ve been feeling under the weather since Sunday. Today I finally accepted that I need to rest and get over whatever this is so I can have fun in Canada! My brain wants to go go go but my body is saying no no no.

Sock It To Me Monday

Posted on September 16, 2019September 16, 2019 Posted in knitting, sewing, socks, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged columbus ohio, knitting, sewing4 Comments

Here’s my paltry progress on my toe up sock. I’m worried it’s too wide.

I went to my local fabric store to get some interfacing for my jeans’ waistband. (She sold me horsehair. How cool is that?)

I wanted a floral fabric to make a top out of to work with my collection palette. There were many lovely floral fabrics, but most were very bright or a large print. I kept remembering to myself “wearable” “something I would be comfortable in” “something with some green or saffron” “roses” “must work with denim”. I think I did pretty well. I need a pattern, though.

ETA: Found a vintage pattern on Etsy!

Artist Date Sunday

Posted on September 15, 2019 Posted in art, design, inspiration, knitting, sewing, tools, what makes me tickTagged columbus ohio, knitting, sewing4 Comments

Today I took myself on an artist date to a couple of galleries in the Short North, an arts district in Columbus. It was a special day – Sunday Bazaar- when artists are working or talking about their work in the galleries and shops.

At Studios on High, an artists’ cooperative, I met Jennifer Jolley Brown, a printmaker. She was trying a new medium for her, woodcut.

We enjoyed chatting about art and life, and I love this image she is working on. She gave me some woodcutting tips in case I should ever try it. I must look like a serial enthusiast. (Is it that obvious?)

Then I came back to my studio and stewed in my juices a bit. After a long leisurely stare out the window, I opened my new planner/journal.

I had this binder made on Zazzle. This is a Carl Larsson painting. The knitting on the table and the textile on the chair, which must be Karin’s, inspire me. Really, the whole thing inspires me. It’s a home scene but so light and colorful — how I would like for my home to be.

I worked a little in my wardrobe planner. My aspirations are so modest here. Surely this is possible!

I was inspired enough to trace and cut out the Ottobre jeans.

The plaid is for the pocket bags.

I missed a few days blogging, but I did catch up on your blogs today!

Accountability

Posted on August 29, 2019August 29, 2019 Posted in art, knitting, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged church of craft, columbus foundation, columbus ohio, knitting7 Comments

Here it is: the start of my i-cord bind off. I started it last night, even though I had an event to attend.

Last night I was thrilled to be included in The Big Table discussion on the State of Craft in Columbus. It was a productive discussion, and I think there were some ideas worth pursuing. Who will pursue them? I’m not sure, but I think it would be great if someone would start a Church of Craft here. No, that wasn’t part of the discussion. Yes, I would join.

I set a date for my solo show! September 2021! What am I making? I don’t know yet! Fiber art!

Sunflower Shuffle

Posted on August 27, 2019August 27, 2019 Posted in art, field trips, what makes me tickTagged art, columbus ohio, sunflowers5 Comments

Several times during my work day I try to get out and go for what Bob and I call a “shuffle.” It’s a short walk around the block. It’s great for moving my body and clearing my head. One of our neighbors has a yard full of flowers, and a fence lined with sunflowers, my favorite flower. I think these are Mexican Red Sunflowers.

I am ready to start the i-cord bind off on Lilac Heather Cumulus Blouse. I’m going to do that tonight and update you tomorrow. Accountability!

Also, I asked the art gallery owner who hosted us for our Mother Artists at Work show this summer if he would be interested in me having a solo show there in a year or two. And he said YES! I just have to reach out and set a date!

Sundeee

Posted on July 21, 2019July 21, 2019 Posted in finished objects, life, sewingTagged columbus ohio, linen, movies, sewing, vampires10 Comments

I had fun in my studio today. I had intended to cut out one pair of Emerson Shorts in this natural linen, one pair of Emerson Pants in black linen, one Lily top in blue linen and one Lily top in the cotton bird print. I was so excited after cutting out the shorts to have enough natural linen left over for a tank top I just whizzed through and finished it and forgot all about everything else.

This is the same pattern as my tie dye Easter Twiggy tunic/dress, but instead of following it I made the front wider, added neckline pleats, trimmed the bust sides, and encased all the edges with a rough bias so that it will fray when washed. I’m pretty excited to wear this top as it has really been hot and I’ve been wanting a linen tank top.

Last night for Satur-date Bob and I went to see this adorable independent film Bite Me. The filmmaker is touring with the film and she was there for an intro, Q&A, and a “joyful vampire ball” for afters. We were supposed to wear “whatever makes you feel joyful” which is pretty much what we wear all the time, but there was a station at the ball with temporary tattoos and bling so I went for it.

I also picked up a new sweatshirt for October.

You may know that vampires are my favorite “monster” but I won’t say that anymore, because this is a fictional film about people who identify as vampires (there are people who identify as non-supernatural vampires in the real world) and the story is about love and acceptance. We really enjoyed it. If you want to watch it, it is all over the internet for a modest sum.

I feel like my life is more manageable now and at a pace I can maintain. Work is busy but rewarding, kids are doing the things that will lead them to being independent humans some day, I lost 5 pounds on my Noom plan, I am making things in my studio again, and Bob and I are thinking of buying a house.

I hope you are also having a great Sundeee! Toodle-loos!

Down with Bad Stuff

Posted on July 12, 2019July 12, 2019 Posted in art, fiber love, hats, knitting, life, Works in Progress (WIPs), yarnTagged art, books, columbus ohio, fiber art, knitting, tudors17 Comments

I do not like summer. I have never liked summer. I don’t like the heat. I don’t like the break in routine. Summer makes me grumpy. Summertime is when I like to stay indoors in the AC and read and knit. Down with Summer.

Bob and I walked to the library yesterday and I browsed the knitting books, while also picking up more Tudor books. I can’t seem to get enough of the Tudors — fiction, nonfiction, audiobook, proper book, well written, badly written… it really does not matter. And what’s fascinating is every author has a different take on the subject!

Anyway, I enjoyed browsing the knitting books and bringing a few home, noncommittally. In the past, I would only check out the knitting books if I thought I could learn something from them or if there was a pattern inside that I wanted to knit. I was in my same old rut — looking through knitting books that I thought were pretty but would never knit anything out of — when I realized it was okay. It is totally fine to check out a knitting book, flip through it and enjoy the eye candy, and then return it. It’s even okay to do it intentionally! Down with self-limiting arbitrary rules!

“Protest Knits” has a very enjoyable Trump Pincushion crochet pattern, but I will never make it. Maybe I will make the Down with Bad Stuff water bottle holder!

I have a HUUUGE water bottle (see what I did there?) and I never take it hiking because it’s too darn big! But this would solve that problem and be fun, albeit rather vague.

I started my Blue Ribbon Beanie. It is a beautiful shade of deep cerulean Malabrigo DK. It’s 2X2 rib. I’m not sure how I will decrease at the top yet. Ribbing can be tricky to decrease.

Honestly, I started the beanie because I’ve lost the verve for my FIVE sweaters I have on the needles, and even Celtic Myths feels a little fussy right now. So I’ve fallen back on hat knitting just to try to stick with it.

I had to give up a few things this Summer. I gave up the herb business. It needed more than I could give. I gave up some of my blog subscriptions. I couldn’t keep up. But I only gave up on the ones where I felt there wasn’t a connection. I have had to give up pleasure eating and drinking wine and margaritas. I gained a lot of weight last year and even exercise couldn’t help me keep it off, so I signed up for Noom and am counting every calorie and even steps! I had to give up sewing for a while, until I no longer needed to use my studio as an office.

But I got my office back, which means I also got my studio back. I got to participate in an art show. I got my teeth cleaned today, which included a new toothbrush, floss, and props for excellent hygiene. I’ve lost 2 pounds in 5 days. My garden is producing scrumptious tomatoes. Up with good stuff, amiright?!

Lavender

Posted on June 15, 2019June 15, 2019 Posted in art, finished objects, knitting, life, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged art, columbus ohio, fiber, fiber art, gardening, knitting5 Comments

Bob and I are on our way to a lavender festival, and I hope to blog tomorrow about all things lavender. Technically my cumulus blouse is lilac heather, but close enough.

I finished my felt piece for the Mother Artists at Work show next month. It’s all natural wool except for the blues. It’s mostly Romeldale-CVM and Shetland, and is called “Sunbleach”. It’s about 16X20. I hope it counts toward my Shave’Em to Save’em finished objects.

The caterpillars are eating my dill, but I don’t mind. Are these Monarchs?

Work has been very busy and I haven’t had time to blog or read blogs. I am trying to catch up.

Thursday

Posted on May 16, 2019 Posted in finished objects, knitting, life, sewingTagged columbus ohio, knitting, sewing4 Comments

Today I wore my Cricket Hitofude with my spring a-line dress over jeans and it made me happy. Also someone at Lucky’s (our market) said I looked like an ad because my outfit matched the produce in my cart.