Spectrum

 I pieced the mermaid quilt first thing in the studio today--it might jump up in line for the frame...!

 I began the new pattern I chose for the machine knit baby blanket!

The pieces are oddly shaped but it will work out in the end!

Well that's the plan;  it was pretty rhythmic!

 And the last coat of Shellac is dry on the oak burl bowl!

 The grain and crevices are so interesting...

 This bowl is 5 1/2" across and 2 3/4" high.

The bottom is so complex!  I signed and dated the bowl.

I will begin a new one today! 

Friday Finishes

 Fresh from the production line-a new Water Oak bowl.  This one, too, is made from a burl.

It was very hard/dense wood at this spot!  I learned so much more on this one!

 I am finishing the bowl with Shellac to give it a hard seal to the wood.

It will be interesting to see what the grain looks like when it's dried!

 My bowl wasn't the only finish for this Friday!  

May I present a paved driveway!

I'm thrilled!  

(This is looking from my living room toward the road.)

 I added the cut borders but didn't do any piecing yet..today will most likely see that done.

 Here is something else I am thrilled with--a new toddler hat!

The tassel gives it a perfect finishing touch!

 The back of the hat is seamed and the I-cord goes around the neck and ends as ties.

A really nice pattern called Tanager by Berroco.

 I enjoyed knitting it so much, I have already begin a new one!

And I cast on for the textured Irish Knit but more on that tomorrow!

Progress Inside and Out!

This is definitely the pattern I am going to use for the blanket!

It is an easy 3 row repeat that I hope even I can remember the rhythm!

It is a type of Tuck stitch on my standard gauge machine.

 I cut the tropical fish fabric and added my 'maids;

Yes, this will be a cute little quilt. 

I am going to use the fish fabric to make a border also.

 I finished up the quilting on the Around the World Christmas quilt.

The binding will be applied soon!

 This is going on outside right now!

 I haven't had a paved driveway since I was a girl!

Just wait until you see the driveway when it's complete!

Yarning...

 ...is what one of my grandsons called knitting!

Hand knitting is a great activity for a few hours in a car!

(Especially when you are the passenger!)

This is a pretty little girl's hat with a solid and a variegated contrast for the colorwork portion.

I'm working on the applied I-cord now, so will hopefully be able to show it tomorrow.

I worked on another pattern for that baby blanket.

I have one more to produce in a swatch and then I will definitely make my decision!

After being gone Monday and Tuesday, it will be nice to work on the mermaid quilt, the knitting machine and maybe a bit of wood turning before before I head in for dinner and church!

Two Ta-Da's!

 In quilting group yesterday, I finished the machine mat!

The row hanging down in front of the machine is a row of pockets;

this will help me prevent the sprawl in our shared space!

 I sewed in a rubberized drawer liner so the machine won't slip and slide

and it helps to cut down on the vibration from the plastic folding tables.

The mat rolls right up and is easy to transport!  I'm pleased with the results! 

This is my eighth and final mermaid!

I will pick up some fabric to go with them today when we head to JoAnn Fabric!

A Little Tweak for Style

It was just cool enough to need a shawl yesterday. 

I love knitting shawls but they are not always easy to wear

because

they don't stay put and you have to fuss all the time you wear one!

So I placed the shawl over my shoulders

and pinched where the underarm would be if it was a sweater.

(I rearranged it so the back hung like a swing sweater

and the fronts curled nicely, too.)

Then I did a whipped stitch to keep the edges in place

 and wore it like a little shrug

all day

and it never fell off my shoulder or shifted

so I never had to fear bending over or moving freely!!!!!

I will do this with all of my crescent shaped shawls!

And today, I will be going to quilting group.

I will take the sewing mat and finish it!

Blankets and Bowls

 A new bowl emerges from the block of wood, this time Water Oak.

Actually from this burl;  the knob that grows on trees usually when a branch is broken or trimmed

and the tree heals over the scar.  It has incredible grain because it is not the usual growth pattern.

 It also gives some interesting bark lines which the woodworker can choose to keep 

or completely remove.  I am going to try and keep it for character!

 After  cleaned up the mess-and I do mean mess!  There is a lot of wood to remove to get to the bowl!

 Once I was also cleaned up, I went in to work on a new swatch for a blanket.

This is just stockinette with lace weight yarn.

I am going to try a basket weave pattern before I commit to a baby blanket.

I am working out the details either way I decide!

From Wood!

 I had such an incredible experience making this little bowl!

I can't describe to you the feeling of possibility at each motion of my tool!

 The bottom of the bowl has a small base like a teacup.

 I even signed the bottom!   

 I did learn that the best of ideas still are only going to be as good as the wood you choose.

The burl, like this is what the bowl emerged from right under my nose! lol

So there might be the best of designs but if the wood has imperfections, 

there will be no amount of hiding it from the glare of the sharp tools!

This bowl has a dry patch of wood, pithy in fact, and a crack.

I sanded  it to the fineness of china and will enjoy keeping it in view on my bed table!

STATS:

Cedar burl

3 x 3"

1 light coat of Shellac

Feline Friday--Repose

I jokingly call Lena the lap-stalker because the minute I sit down,

she jumps up!

See how she holds onto my leg?
She pricks me if I tighten my leg muscle to stand!

Sunshine and Success

 It is always so pleasing to wake up to sunshine

 but especially at this time of year to have warm and sunny is a wonder, still.

The calliandra is still going strong.  

 I put away Christmas decorations 

until Bill had a bit of time to help me finalize the lathe area.  

He had already put up a LED light over the lathe 

but now we attached the peg board backing 

to the dresser/work bench.

Then we bolted down the lathe so that it stays put with all of the vibrations of woodworking!

And after a few hours, 

I began my very first bowl!

It is from a piece of cedar from our yard.

It smells so good!

I will be sure to collect some of the sawdust to make cachets.

I can't wait to finish this up tomorrow!

Welcome to 2020!

 I have this particular tradition on New Year's Day,

I like to sit and plan projects ahead for each of my crafty outlets.

For example, I only have this quilt to finish up on the frame

and two more and then I will need to get piecing again!

 I have a project or two planned for each of the knitting machines!

 I have some yarn to dye and knit!

 And a basket of sock yarn!

 Plus the new yarn to knit in a colorwork vest!

 I also have some fiber to wash and card, some flax and some woolen top to spin.

 I also need to finish up the next 4 ounces of brown Polworth wool.

 A renewed interest has been the hand embroidery;

even though this is the last in the mermaid series, 

I will continue this work on the other pillowcases and wall art I enjoyed again.

Needless to say, I will have to decide if I will continue the 'pillow cover a month' habit with the machine embroidery work.  I enjoyed doing it each month so why not! 

 I can always make them for friends and family so I don't drown in the pile of them!

 I will also put these new tools to use learning how to make bowls-

--on the wood lathe.  

The lathe is working well, so the new tools will make the technical part of this

      art all prepared for the intrinsic yet inexperienced aspect to kick in to become a woodworker!


I am so excited for what the new year will bring creatively; 
but also personally I want to be marked by this--
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

Reasonableness  refers to contentment with and generosity toward others. 
It can also refer to mercy or leniency toward the faults and failures of others.
It can even refer to patience in someone who submits to injustice or mistreatment without retaliating;  graciousness with humility encompasses all the above. 

I hope you can set your sights for all that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable...
think on these things!

 Philippians 4:5 and 8