It's a variegated wool-silk blend, plied with blue silk filament. I can date it as "pre-spinning certificate" by the way I've done the spinning. That means at least 2008. I put a lot more twist into my fine spinning now, but I like the yarn enough to persist with it. The yarn is so fine that I can knit away at it for half and hour or more and still not see any noticeable difference in the size of the ball. I had it as my "carry along" project for a while, but the yarn wasn't standing up too well to that treatment. Then it sat neglected for some time. Now I'm trying to do a little bit every morning. As for the photo being on its side, I'm sorry, it's just one of those blogger days.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Knitting Away
I've been knitting away on this project for years now. It's a variegated wool-silk blend, plied with blue silk filament. I can date it as "pre-spinning certificate" by the way I've done the spinning. That means at least 2008. I put a lot more twist into my fine spinning now, but I like the yarn enough to persist with it. The yarn is so fine that I can knit away at it for half and hour or more and still not see any noticeable difference in the size of the ball. I had it as my "carry along" project for a while, but the yarn wasn't standing up too well to that treatment. Then it sat neglected for some time. Now I'm trying to do a little bit every morning. As for the photo being on its side, I'm sorry, it's just one of those blogger days.
It's a variegated wool-silk blend, plied with blue silk filament. I can date it as "pre-spinning certificate" by the way I've done the spinning. That means at least 2008. I put a lot more twist into my fine spinning now, but I like the yarn enough to persist with it. The yarn is so fine that I can knit away at it for half and hour or more and still not see any noticeable difference in the size of the ball. I had it as my "carry along" project for a while, but the yarn wasn't standing up too well to that treatment. Then it sat neglected for some time. Now I'm trying to do a little bit every morning. As for the photo being on its side, I'm sorry, it's just one of those blogger days.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Clay
Last time I mentioned my lump of clay homework, I'd just found my carving tools and spent several hours on the studio steps refining the shape. Here's how it looked at the end of that process. 
We had an impromptu mini-exhibition in class that week. We were all so excited about what we'd made that we pulled some cabinets and boxes out into the hallway to make a display. Then we stacked our pieces in the kiln room for firing. It's all a bit mysterious to this textiles woman, but last Friday I was still excited enough about my piece to visit the ceramics room again. I found that it had survived the first firing--apparently that's the test--now it's waiting for a second firing with sawdust, which will turn it black. I'll be back in the ceramics area this week, hopefully to take it home. I must remember to bring some suitable wrapping with me to keep it safe.
We had an impromptu mini-exhibition in class that week. We were all so excited about what we'd made that we pulled some cabinets and boxes out into the hallway to make a display. Then we stacked our pieces in the kiln room for firing. It's all a bit mysterious to this textiles woman, but last Friday I was still excited enough about my piece to visit the ceramics room again. I found that it had survived the first firing--apparently that's the test--now it's waiting for a second firing with sawdust, which will turn it black. I'll be back in the ceramics area this week, hopefully to take it home. I must remember to bring some suitable wrapping with me to keep it safe.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Maintenence
I'm keen to get out to the studio where various creative tasks await me, but I have to wait. There's a frittata in the oven and a pot of sauce on the stove-top. Nothing spectacular, either of them, but a woman has to eat. If I wait for a moment of inspiration at about tea time I generally end up eating junk, as the time lag between the idea and the food appearing on my plate is significantly longer than my patience or hunger will allow. So I'm making a point of preparing some food now when I'm not hungry, but I have the time and energy to make the effort. I'm finding that theme playing out in various aspects of my life . . . it seems that everything needs a fair bit of maintenance to keep it going. Yesterday I taught a sewing class at one of the local Neighbourhood Houses. This bulb represents the inspiration of watching a new student get excited about possibilities. On the other hand, the reason I have it is much more prosaic. I need to buy replacement bulbs for a couple of machines where the light is burnt out. 
Thankfully with a new student, everything is new and exciting. Even opening up the machine for a desperately needed clean up and lubrication. Or, as it turns out replacing the light bulb. My challenge for today is to do the routine tasks and keep up the spark needed for creative work.
Thankfully with a new student, everything is new and exciting. Even opening up the machine for a desperately needed clean up and lubrication. Or, as it turns out replacing the light bulb. My challenge for today is to do the routine tasks and keep up the spark needed for creative work.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Spinning for Pleasure
It's been too long since I did some regular spinning. On the back of my knitting efforts yesterday, I cleared off several bobbins. Next step was a good dose of spinning for pleasure. I'd picked up a bundle of hand-dyed wool-silk on a recent visit to the Guild. the visit was officially to the library, but there were some delays and I found myself in the Craft Outlet . . . you know how it goes. 
Good news, the fibre never made it into the "stash". Here it is spun and plied up with a strand of silk filament. I'm about to wash the skein and then it will be ready to knit. Since I turned on the heater for the first time yesterday, I figure it must be time for a new scrap of woolly comfort to wrap around my neck.
Good news, the fibre never made it into the "stash". Here it is spun and plied up with a strand of silk filament. I'm about to wash the skein and then it will be ready to knit. Since I turned on the heater for the first time yesterday, I figure it must be time for a new scrap of woolly comfort to wrap around my neck.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Knitting Again
It's great to be learning so many new things in my TAFE Textile Art course. The only down-side is the difficulty in finding time for the things I already know and love. I've had this knitting on the needles since last year:
I used it for my Windows Frames installation in Sydney Rd. I spun and knitted it from some merino fleece which a friend had kept for years in her garden shed. The knitting is fluid and organic and incorporates knitted singles--unbalanced yarn with a tendency to twist on itself. Lately I've been playing with the idea of working it into a scarf under the theme, "Rhythm of Life". Yesterday I decided to finish the yarn I had already spun up and use what I've knitted as a sample for my new piece. Now it's been washed and dried overnight. That gives me a good idea of how the fabric is going to behave. It also gives me the opportunity to start some new spinning and knitting. I also have homework to do for two new teachers and assignments to finish for our first block of subjects which concluded last week, so I'd better get into my day. Just as well the end of daylight saving effectively gives me an extra hour.
I used it for my Windows Frames installation in Sydney Rd. I spun and knitted it from some merino fleece which a friend had kept for years in her garden shed. The knitting is fluid and organic and incorporates knitted singles--unbalanced yarn with a tendency to twist on itself. Lately I've been playing with the idea of working it into a scarf under the theme, "Rhythm of Life". Yesterday I decided to finish the yarn I had already spun up and use what I've knitted as a sample for my new piece. Now it's been washed and dried overnight. That gives me a good idea of how the fabric is going to behave. It also gives me the opportunity to start some new spinning and knitting. I also have homework to do for two new teachers and assignments to finish for our first block of subjects which concluded last week, so I'd better get into my day. Just as well the end of daylight saving effectively gives me an extra hour.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Sorting Cuteness
While my coffee brewed this morning I picked over my bowl of buttons. I found lots of groups, patterns, textures and contrasts.
Some are speaking to me of garments needing practical embellishments--that's what buttons usually do--but others are speaking of greeting cards and stamp carving. Then there are possibilities for picking up texture from the different surfaces . . .
Some are speaking to me of garments needing practical embellishments--that's what buttons usually do--but others are speaking of greeting cards and stamp carving. Then there are possibilities for picking up texture from the different surfaces . . . I can't spare the space to have them all set out on my benchtop, but I feel a bit more familiar with my new little collection and I think I'll challenge myself to use at least one button today. Meanwhile I need to load some washing in the machine, get the kitchen cleared up for a lunch guest and start on some weeding before the day is too far established.
Friday, April 1, 2011
More Cuteness
I made a trip to the Haberdashery Warehouse yesterday to buy some new quilt wadding. I have several quilt projects on the go at the moment and I my supplies are all used up. I decided to allow myself just a little leeway to buy some pretty bits and pieces while I was there. The button packs were on the counter: a big bag for $5. Here's what I got
I've already fished out a small bag of gold buttons--not my favourites--and my cute collection is sitting in a glass bowl on my bench. I must find a container for them soon, but for now I'm just happy to walk past and pick over them every now and then.
I've already fished out a small bag of gold buttons--not my favourites--and my cute collection is sitting in a glass bowl on my bench. I must find a container for them soon, but for now I'm just happy to walk past and pick over them every now and then.
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