Tuesday Treasury

I am miserable. But this treasury with my collage of Pisa made me smile. My husband is on morphine for the post op pain and he is a little bit annoying when he is on morphine.

new stuff

I have made more of these little guys. I just adore them.

I use sweaters from the Goodwill that I full in the wash and other found and new fabrics.

There is a ton of hand sewing involved, which I can really enjoy, but sometimes I am bored by it. I have also been knitting a lot, and have a couple of felted bags to show off soon.

Something new

So, I have not posted in over 11 days. That is odd for me. I am a little tired of looking at that priest image so I decided I had better get something new up...

I have been working a lot on different things and I have had to spend some time at the hospital as my husband has a lower bowel blockage that is not life threatening, just extremely uncomfortable and annoying. The docs are trying to avoid surgery but it is a slow go at waiting to see what of two possible scenarios will happen. Scenario 1- the blockage will go away on its own . Scenario 2- docs need to make it go away with a laser. It has been 5 days now of waiting...

But for a little enjoyment here is the image I just put together to advertise a show I will be having at Crocus Clay Works (opening Friday August 7th).

Duane Michals

"Trust that little voice in your head that says "Wouldn't it be interesting if..."
And then do it..."

Duane Michals

Duane Michals' work is a hodgepodge of the brilliant, metaphysical and playful, and has changed the face of photography. For four decades he has asked questions with photography rather than give answers.

Felted Striped

Here is the bag I mentioned earlier that I knit up alot of the itchy wool yarn I have that is just no good for sweaters or mittens. I have a few more skeins of the periwinke and it becomes a very soft material when fulled. So I have begun another bag using that yarn. 144 sts. per side on 9s! I know it seems that might as well make a sweater, but I have such difficulty following patterns. The bags are easy because I just knit stockinette for a very long time. And the yarn was paid for a very long time ago. The bag pictured was 104 sts on 9s (two pieces sewn tog as I dislikes circulars), worsted weight itchy wool yarns and it shrunk up to a perfect 10 x 12 inch bag.

wool education

According to wool expert Clara Parkes, more than 200 distinct sheep breeds exist today, each with their own traits and their own stories. In The Knitter’s Book of Wool, Clara translates the vast world of sheep and their wool into the language and context of knitting.

I know very little about any of those 200 varieties of sheep. And now that I am getting into spinning more and more it seems that it kind of matters...I guess I need to get this book.

The publishers have a quiz you can take and find out which ewe you are...I am a Rambouillet. A fine wool. Pretty nice huh? I think it is a sort of sexy sheep.

I can't figure out how to link the picture of my Rambouillet with the quiz page so you can go to Warmth in the North (a blogger with substantially better blogging skills than me) and click on her medium wool Finn and take the quiz if you so desire.

FO and on the needles

I actually finished something - the silky light blue shawl/wrap (unknown yarn). Although I am seriously thinking about putting sleeves on it and making it into a sweater. I just love the yarn and I know that I hardly ever "throw" on a wrap, as I own quite a few and never wear them.
Oh, who am I kidding, I need to complete the thing and move onto the long list of the things I have on the needles.

List of all the things I have already started:

1. I have been knitting all my itchy awful wool yarns into a striped bag/purse to be fulled (as fulled is the correct term for when you wash a knitted wool object in order to felt it).
2. I started a baby sweater using the off white hand spun cotton I got at the Guild Auction.
3. I have a bubble gum pink cotton Aran baby sweater that I started possibly fifteen years ago.
4. I have to finish that horrible stripey cardigan. I still have to knit the sleeves and I just hate knitting on small circulars. I also have to knit the piping - so maybe I can get motivated to do that soon.
5. I started a beautiful intargia sweater years ago that is using various yarns for which I do not know the yardage. It is, so far, a brassy copper, dark chocoalate and raspberry. I have yet to find one more perfect complimentary yarn to make sure it will work. I have knit one side of the front and half of the back- hard to believe, isn't it? I really have to frog the front side piece and just can find the heart to do it.
6. I have fingerless gloves going (always).
7. A second bag to be fulled, made of an awful dirty snow colored mohair with sparkles. The sparkles get all over me when I work on it.
8. And today I am casting on for a lavender bag, the yarn is a great color, but itchy, itchy, itchy!

I think that's it.

art

Found this artist book at Treasuring.
It is only $14.50 and it comes with a CD of songs bythte same artist. I am trying hard not to buy everything I want lately - partially because our washing machine busted and the $600 for th e new (crappy) one was a little bit tof a shock to the bank account! I hate losing old appliances because I am never as happy with the new low quality replacement. But I will get this book someday soon.

Envelopes

Found this atThings Nina Might Like.
I also collect these envelopes- I scan them in to the computer for the patterns. And I know another artist who uses them in his black and white photography.

new give away

oh hello friend is having a very wonderful large scale give away! There are 16 amazing Etsy sellers that have donated over $275 worth of hand made goodies for this (did I already say it?) AMAZING give away. You simply have to post about the Incredible thing they are doing by giving away wonderful handmade item sand then let them know that you posted the post. (Like I just did) How easy and amazing is that? two (of my favorite) examples of winning prizes:

3. steppie + blog.
win: Ocean Blue "I Am A Ninja" Tote Bag, value: $15

4. f2images + blog.
win: any print of your choice, up to $25 value!

new spinning

I was up until 11:30 one night spinning. I never stay up late to do anything, but I was in such a groove I just had to finish the entire batt. It came out just beautiful, soft and perfect in every way. I am only disappointed that I don't have more of it. I got about 110 yds. I can't wait to knit it up. I have so many knitting projects on needles right now, as well as a few planned for needles but not yet begun. (Check back for more on those projects soon.)So, with the idea of wanting a decent amount of yardage to actually create something from my own hand spun - I have attempted to incorporate three batts into one - deep teal, an off white and a light light blue. I think it will work. I actually have no idea what I am doing. Spinning is not all that much fun for me yet - but there is always something to learn, and I like that.

Artful Weekend

Well, first of all...
TODAY is the opening day for the South Wedge Farmer's Market! Hooray! 4:00 - 8:00, but get there early you don't want to miss the lettuce toss and give aways.
Then you can head over to Rochester Contremporary...

Raven, by Lucinda Storms

As there is the amazing 6 X 6 show and sale at Roco
and there are imges of the 3000 plus works for viewing at RochesterContemporary.org

Each and every piece is only $20. But please come see the actual art work ,
Hours: June 4, 7-10 pm, June 5 & 6, 1-6 pm
the sale of 6 X 6 works begins at 6:00 on Saturday, June 6th. This one is mine (we both love crows).

Also - On Friday June 5th, from 5-9 pm
Crocus Clay Works in Suite 225 in the Hungerford Building will have an open studio and reception for their Guest Artists' Exhibit -

Alchemy from Ordinaryand there are 3 other receptions in the Hungerford Building for shows opening on Friday night:

Betsy Hoefen: Drawing / painting Suite 308 / 312 Sterz: Light installation Suite 224 John Wilson: Welded garden sculptures On the Dock by Door 2 And there is the Quilt Festival! And ...The Gallery at Studio 34 on Elton Street is having an opening reception for Kathy Farrell's new work It is also Fairport Canal Days and the East End Music Festival!!! ALSO... don't miss Out of the Fire and into the Garden Friday June 5, 5pm - 9pm & Saturday, June 6, 11am - 4pm Nancy Valle This is a sale at More Fire of wonderful one-of-a-kind, handmade, garden pieces! This event will feature work by Nancy Valle, Paul Knoblauch, Elizabeth Lyons, Lori Mills, and others! Objects made from clay, metal, glass and mosaic including garden vessels, bird houses, tiles, benches, trellis, sculptural objects and more!

Summer Twist Collective

Check out the latest issue of Twist Collective

Birthday gifts keep coming

My husband bought me this print by Michelle Maul. It just arrived today. I love her work and This piece looks so beautiful in person. I can't wait to get it framed and exhibited in our home!

treasures

My letterpress print Away has been exhibited in an Etsy Treasury!

Falling Stars

Falling Stars
by Rainer Maria Rilke

Do you remember still the falling stars
that like swift horses through the heavens raced
and suddenly leaped across the hurdles
of our wishes--do you recall?
And we made so many!
For there were countless numbers of stars:
each time we looked above we were
astounded by the swiftness of their daring play,
while in our hearts we felt safe and secure
watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate,
knowing somehow we had survived their fall.