Spring Ahead, Sure!

March 22
OK, it's not exactly Spring though the calendar may indicate it, we got another SNOWSTORM. To say this is getting old is... well, I'm ready, more than ready, for Spring. Real Spring.

Since I'm such a sloth about keeping this current, I'll just surrender and post as much as I can remember about the last several months. 









Susie's getting married!! In Iceland! And I get to go. Hence a flurry of Iceland knitting. The first was Ragga Eiriksdottir's pattern, here's a link to my Ravelry project My Odinn

The second was inspired by Ragga's Craftsy  class, Top Down Icelandic Sweater. The original is called Maren, but this is much modified. I wanted a short sleeve vest-type sweater to wear over a t shirt. Maren T The real Maren is a lovely open long sleeved cardigan.

I can't wait to go to Iceland. Susan and Fridgeir are getting married on the summer  Solstice in Reykjavik and her mother Jackie and are going. Jackie and I are adding 3-4 days before and 3 days after the wedding to play. I'm taking an empty suitcase for wool! I want to hike, see the geology (I am a geologist!!), swim in hot springs, ride their wonderful horses. Meet knitters. Drink coffee. Visit with Susie, Fridgeir and Jackie, who is my oldest friend. Have adventures, shop, eat fresh fish and thick, creamy yogurt. I can't wait!

Not sure what precipitated the urge I now have to knit sweaters again, but it's there. Confidence, I guess, and time. I still have the urge to change everything, and I'm firmly in the Frankensweater stage, but someday my sweaters will be better. these two Icelandic sweaters fit well, are warm, and my first two-handed stranded sweater efforts.

To practice the two handed thing I made a cowl before starting Odinn. Inspira-inspired. Homespun Inspira from bits of homespun I had lying around. I love this huge cowl!!

Weaving... Paula's cowl came out well, and has now been to Paris, Venice and Florence!! I wish I had been able to accompany it on its travels, but alas, someone has to stay here to Maine to SHOVEL the SNOW. 

We have had the most awesome winter, really amazing. Lots of cold, wind, beach erosion...

Such fun, despite the cold, I've spent many happy hours outside with Jackson walking and taking photos with my phone. Skating in the woods, so peaceful!!

On my needles... a new shawl from Paula Fuessle-Emmons, Gill's Rock 

and a sweater, Move , from Ankestrick at Fallmasche.  It uses the Contiguous Sleeve method developed by Susie Myers (SusieM on Ravelry: here

This is a fascinating method for doing a top down sleeve where the sleeve cap actually fits and cups the sleeve the way a set in sleeve does. 

I love this, and learning something new!! This was going to be simple, a Breton style pullover, but I've already deviated a bit. Endlessly amusing though.

First Snowy Day

Do more of what makes you feel good and less of what doesn't. Keeping this as mind as I navigate my life and times.

Still, I cry for a world abounding in damaged souls from Syria to CT and for the lives lost, esp the little children and the brave ones who try to protect them. I wish with all my heart it weren't so.

Walked with Marj and Bailer in the Smith Preserve on Saturday afternoon, good to get in a long walk before the snow, give the dogs a chance to re-establish their bond and the adults a chance to catch up.

Went to the Southern Maine Spinners and Weavers Guild Christmas meeting Saturday morning. We tossed around ideas for expanding interest in the group, programs we might have, etc. Shared potluck and projects. It was a nice, warm time.

I warped the loom for Paula's long cowl... 

The weft will be soft beats, long (2 ft) color blocks using the white, peach, and brown-black. and perhaps a thread or two of the multicolored silk ribbon you can just see here and there in the warp. My peculiar brand of whimsy!! She can"t tolerate wool, so this is nubby cotton and a bit of silk and will be long enough to wrap twice and still be loose and drapey.

I finished knitting my Wingspan scarf--it's posted in Ravelry here

It's quite attractive worn offset over a t-neck with a stickpin... I'm liking the slit in the band.

My new favorite thing is my m-wave egg cooker from t. b Pots

The handle on the cover, and the steam hole in it, make it heavy enough that the cover doesn't blow off in the microwave. The stoneware satisfies my need for handmade stuff, and it's an awesome thing for a foolproof soft-cooked egg.  I bought it locally at the Christmas Prelude Craft Fair at Consolidated School in the port, but he has an Etsy shop (see link above).

A tip. if you like a fast way to make an egg salad sandwich, hard-cook the egg in this (1.5 minutes in my microwave, which is old and slow) and mix with mayo, etc., spread on a pita, english muffin or crispbread. 

Four Days til the Light begins to return!!!!!

The intent is always evident in the results...

Because nearly everything we do has an effect, it's important to do things mindfully.
Firsts this week - used dried fish to make chowder, made a hammered copper pin, spun a bit of 60 dollar an ounce fiber.

1st  try, some less than perfect spots, but fun!

The chowder; the brown tone is from roasted vegetables; this tastes awesome!

I don't have a picture of the quiviut as I sat at Jenny's wheel to spin it but soooo soft!

I finished my ornament for the swap at the Christmas guild meeting tomorrow; felted and Border Leicester locks from a lamb fleece. It's stuffed slightly... adorable, no?

Eggs from Jenny's special chickens... lovely shades of green!

Speaking of green... we walked in the Smith Preserve today and I took multiple pictures of things that are still green!

The range of greens is really amazing, esp in the ubiquitous moss. 

The brook was also beautiful as usual with just a skim of ice forming little geometric shapes.

I still didn't warp the loom for Paula's cowl, but I will do that soon, maybe tomorrow afternoon after the guild meeting.

Awesome Day Blessings

Sun, sun, sun. How I love spinning, knitting or weaving with bright sun on my hands, esp when it's cold outside and I'm warm inside!

Jackson, my dear heart and best bud

Some of the pile of finished woven pieces--

Afternoon coffee and cookie in Lower Village--

Early fog--winter morning at Gooch's Beach

Some homespun, calling out to the loom/needles, "I'm here!"

Cascade Brook, so unexpected--

Evening light doesn't quite hide the wrinkles does it?

Here it comes, the season.

I admit it, I'll be happy when the 'season' is past and the days begin to lengthen. 

Who could resist such a face?

Today we walked in the woods for 2 and half hours, way in toward the Trolley museum. The day was cold, in the 20's but I peeled down to just my aran sweater, tied my jacket, mittens and hat, took some videos and emailed them hither and thither. Such pure joy!

OMG Almost Christmas!!??

Another attempt to get beyond blog ennui. No ennui in my life, I've now lost 63 lbs!! and have time to knit, spin, weave and/or sew every day. Sometimes all four if it's a good day. And bicycling, and reading. 

New things - Weaving. 

First project

Began by taking a class from Melodi at the Portland Fiber Gallery and Weaving Studio then rented one of her rigid heddle looms, a Schacht Flip 15", and loved the whole process. It's really easy, not intimidating at all.

Shortly after that I bought my own 20" Ashford Knitter's Loom, made a stand and a couple of stick shuttles for it, and was off and running. I've made several pieces, each trying out something new.

Uist Hebridean warp with my BFL homespun

Kimono Silk Ribbon

Mixed cotton, four weights

Leno in Alpaca Silk

Homemade Stand

Long Warp!

So the whole process of learning a new craft has been amazing. It's a terrific way to use the homespun I make... spinning every week and most days does pile it up...

I went to the New England Fiber show in Springfield MA this Fall and saw some gorgeous Saori work, and the special Saori looms, which seem awfully cool. I met Mihoko Wakabayashi from Worcester, who has an awesome studio, www.saoriworcester.com. I may go down there this winter to take some classes in the studio there. The wood folding loom is very appealing.

Lately I've been felting open work wool scarves, loving the techniques and variability of the finished products. I'm wearing a cowl I made this morning... I twisted it before seaming it up so it's a moebius. 

November Something

It's snowing, so imperceptibly it's almost invisible. Since arriving back from the dog-walk on the beach, I've raked, put away pots, hoses and tools, taken recycling to the dump... just getting around to coming indoors to have breakfast and feed the most patient of dogs. And myself.

Weight loss update, 65 lbs. Awesome. I feel almost springy, with that much weight off my knee joints it's no wonder. About 20 pounds to go to get to my goal.

Weaving is my newest passion to the stable of fiber arts I'm enjoying. I'm pretty sure I've saved my life with knitting, spinning and weaving.

I bought a rigid heddle loom, the 20" Ashford Knitter's Loom, after trying out a Schacht Flip for a month. I've done about 10 projects, and each seems more beautiful (to me) than the last. I learn so much from each thing I try, and the bonus is that I have a ready made pile of Christmas presents, a sort of bonus for my bliss.

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