Two Crocheted Finishes, and More...

The days since my last post have been full of happy moments.

Last Saturday was spent with a delightful Iowa friend, Rondelle. She and I met through our weekly virtual Women's Bible study at Lutheran Church of Hope. She came to Central Florida to visit nearby relatives so we spent most of Saturday together, meeting for coffee, visiting Ancient Olive to taste and buy yummy combinations of flavored balsamic vinegars and oils, golf-carting to my house for chattime on the lanai, and then visiting 4-H Club. At the Club meeting Rondelle left numerous "little Jesus's" behind. I discovered she left this keepsake for me too 

I sent Rondelle home with two knitted dishcloths and a round loom knitted tiny doll to which she affixed one of my FlourishingPalms pins. We had a wonderful time together.

A new toy tool arrived for me - a Stanwood 7-ounce manual yarn ball winder. I spent some quality time with the winder, turning most of two large bags of stashed yarn into cakes. (Some are already in cakes.)

It's great to have my small yarn stash organized.

I have two crocheted garment finishes to share. This is Lace Summer Top. 

 

This is Summer Cardigan. Both patterns are by KnitCroAddict.

I'm continuing to knit Summer Soul Top by Julia Piro Knits. 

A couple other tidbits... 

Thanks to a recent post by Debbie at A Quilter's Table, I learned about a book she has used as inspiration for improv. Though the book is out of print, I was delighted to find an inexpensive copy through Ebay. 

Bold Expressions is a picture compilation of mostly unidentified-maker quilts collected from Southern states by Corrine Riley

These quilts were displayed May 15 to November 6, 2011 at the Mingei International Museum in San Diego, California.

It was delightful to see where the book came from... Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, Washington. It looks like no one ever checked it out from their docent library. 

I've already thoroughly looked through the book, and can see how these quilts - similar to Gee's Bend quilts - will provide improv inspiration.

A quick drive through Twistee Treat, and...  It's still not open! But signage is up. They're close. Others are as anxious for it to open as I am because two cars followed behind!

Open in "two weeks" according to a paper sign taped on the menu board and drive-up window.

From the day I stopped to ask an employee, "two weeks" is July 4. The rumormill is saying July 1. Either date, I'll be there! 

One more noteworthy mention... Tuesday, June 23 marked the anniversary of our move-in to this house in Florida 14 years ago! It's still incredible how time flies - faster the older I get. Linda

On the Design Wall

I'm doing a little sewing and these items are on my design wall. The large yellow burst represents my efforts thus far to create a quilt for the QuiltCon challenge - Pick a Color Challenge. At least ten different fabrics are to be used in a single-hued quilt. My stash and scrap bins led me to choose yellow because I have it in abundance. 

The design is fairly convoluted. I first created it in EQ8 printing the design into a grid on 8½" X 11" paper which I then printed with different values of yellow.

Then on a gigantic piece of paper I manually drew a grid, and drew each individual triangle shape on the paper. When the life-sized paper was done, I used it as a template for each piece. With transparent paper, I'm in the process of drawing around around each triangle, adding a quarter-inch seam, from which I cut each piece of fabric. A few of the triangles are "made fabric" from print scraps. It's a tedious, slow process. 

On the left side of the design wall is something much easier to work on. Modern Maze was designed as an Along by Debbie of Big Cypress Quilters. These are the small blocks (larger blocks to be revealed later) that measure 6" X 12½" unfinished.

Since we've be given free rein to make this however we wish - from yardage or scraps - I will continue making blocks this size, so as to use-up pieces exclusively from scrap bins. 

The third item on the design wall is this Patchwork Sashiko, made according to instructions in Diane Fitzgerald's book Patchwork Sashiko. I came across the book after reading that Diane will be an instructor at QuiltCon. I don't care for this method of using scraps because they're raw-edged. 

A sewing machine is needed to baste the raw-edge fabric to a muslin background. I used red thread for basting. 

Hand stitching is with crochet thread (I prefer Wonderfil) across lines marked at quarter-inch intervals. I'd prefer to eyeball the distance. Anyway, my least favorite part is leaving exposed loose threads on the surface. 

I'd prefer to make my fabric with turned-under edges because the made fabrics would be more durable. Still, I like several of the projects in the book - those slippers! If I make fabric in more of a Kawandi style, I'm sure I'd be happier with the result. 

                                

Now that the 7" X 9" made fabric is washed (per instructions), I need to decide what to do with it. 

While power walking on Thursday, I stopped because this hawk, perched on a roof, was squawking at me! I sure appreciate seeing that blue sky and pink crape myrtle. 

Last Saturday, at the Central Florida MQG meeting, I was unexpectedly honored when President Betty invited me and my friend Karen to the front of the room to be presented with a gift and thanks for founding Central Florida MQG 13 years ago.

The thoughtful gift was the cute green clock in center of this picture. The swaying pendulum is a pair of scissors. 

On this short wall and shelf in my sewing room are a few of the gifts I've been given by friends - postcard, framed piece, "L" in a hoop, ice cream sundae pin cushion, Lego sewing machine, handmade coaster - and a few special award ribbons.

Post-knee replacement surgery hubs is more mobile, walking with a cane as directed and taking a 10 minute outdoor walk each day. Since our neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks and streets are designed with a curve for water run-off, I golf cart him to a grocery store or nearby postal station so he can walk on flat surfaces. He needs only a little assistance with wound care and putting on a compression stocking, so he's back in the kitchen for limited amounts of times, doing a little cooking. Ah... much better. Linda

Mostly Yarn-y Things

Just as I do with sewing/quilting projects, I've been rotating through three different yarn-y garment projects.

Continuing to work on the crocheted Summer Cardigan following Wan's YouTube video, I quickly realized I made a big mistake. To get gauge, I reduced the number of chains I crocheted for the back. But then when I chained each of the two front sides, I didn't reduce accordingly. I forgot, darn it! I realized my error when I laid out all the parts to begin sewing them together. The neck opening was much too small.

It needs to be more like this. 

I had no other option than to uncrochet the two sides. I'm very disappointed in myself, but I suppose this is part of learning how to crochet (and knit) garments to fit oneself. I can't imagine how much skill is required to crochet (or knit) to make something to fit someone else!

uncrocheted sides, hand wound into balls

I have now re-crocheted one side, and after doing so, sewed together parts - one side to the back and then one sleeve to the side. I've begun to re-crochet the second side. Though the neck opening will still be slightly smaller than Wan's instructions, I'm hoping it fits me. If not, I will take apart what's required to fix it. 

Following another of Wan's YouTube videos (I also bought this pattern on Etsy), I'm making Crochet Summer Lace Top. The design is effective because of dyed color gradations in the yarn.

Unfortunately, the cotton/acrylic fingering weight yarn Wan used is no longer available, so I bought this gradient cake from Okey Dokeys 

Wan's version ends as far as I've crocheted in this picture. I tried it on and found it much too short, so I'll be adding ten more rows. At least the color gradient will be more visible though I'm sure I won't make it to the gray color at the end. I think I'll be happy with this finished. 

I've discovered I really like yarn "cakes" which are meant to be used from the center. The yarn pulls out very easily. 

Since I've spent more time than I'd like winding yarn balls by hand, it would sure be nice to have a manual yarn winder, perhaps like this one. Until then, I'm hand winding yarn. I had to do that today with what's left of a yarn ball I started using in my Summer Soul Top knitting project. Yarn was getting very tangled.

I first wound figure eights around my left-hand thumb and index finger.

Then I placed the yarn ring from my index finger on top of the yarn ring already on my thumb.

Then I begin wrapping yarn around my thumb. After six to eight wraps, I turn the yarn ball and continue wrapping... then turning, then wrapping. 

It turns into a nice yarn ball, but it can be tedious when yarn has gotten tangled and needs to be untangled. Rather than deal with tangles, I'd prefer to wind a ball first, then start knitting (or crocheting). 

This week I've made progress on each of these project because hubs had knee replacement early Monday morning. Being at home with him this week has meant lots of fetching and delivering. Basically being at-the-ready if something is needed. Crocheting has been easy to pick up and put down. 

Helping him has helped me appreciate the seven times he helped me following angioplasties in my legs dut to having peripheral artery disease. Heart-pumping exercise is necessary for me to keep arteries clear of plaque. But even though I didn't exercise Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, so as to be available to him, on Tuesday I logged more than 13,000 steps amounting to 6.01 miles in the house! And our house isn't that big. Wednesday was slightly less demanding as I logged only 3.85 miles in the house. Ha! Today, since getting out to power walk 4 miles (my typical walk distance), I've hit 6 miles again. I am grateful I'm able-bodied enough to exercise and keep pace with whatever hubs needs. 

As we were driving toward Orlando for hub's early Monday morning surgery, we were surprised to see another Falcon 9 rocket launch right out the front car window! It was about 6:15 AM. You couldn't miss it!

This is probably the best view of a launch we've ever seen!

And what we'd never seen before was the massive expanding halo that comes at the end of a rocket launch. It's called the "space jellyfish" effect and is also known as the "SpaceX spiral." It happens when venting rocket propellant in a circular, rotating motion. Cool, isn't it? Linda

Sharing and Caring

Through my blog posts, you've watched me flit from project to project - hand appliqué to crochet to diamond painting to knitting to scrappy Sashiko and then to quiltmaking. While making, I often battle a temptation to work on something other than what is in my hands at the moment. My mind works ahead, to ask myself, "What can I accomplish in the moment that will allow me to "reward" myself and move on to the next thing that attracts my interest?"

It seems the older I get, the more I think and act this way - sort of like, if I don't hurry and get this done, I'll run out of time and not get that done. It feels like a functional craze. But as a maker/creator, I'm not alone in thinking this way.

You all know I enjoy responding to every comment made on one of my blog posts. As it sometimes happens, I end up swapping more than one email with the commenter, thus getting to know that person a little better, share information, and ultimately make a friend. This is one of several reasons I've continued to blog regularly for 17+ years. 

Observations About Inspiration

A recent email exchange with my friend Anne @springleafstudio in Colorado (we met in person once, 11 years ago! Picture below) generated conversation about following inspirational flow for making.

Photo taken at QuiltCon 2015, Austin, Texas
L-R: René (Florida), me, Anne (Colorado), Cindy (California)
in front of my Bias Tape Challenge quilt, Shapes

With Anne's permission, I'm sharing what she had to say about inspiration. 

I’ve learned over the years that when I feel inspiration out of the blue for one of my projects it’s best to go with the moment. When I do that I get things done. But the list of projects I want to do is always growing so there’s always something new to do. Go with what ever is striking you in the moment. It all adds up to accomplishment one way or another.

Don't ya appreciate a friend who validates how you create? Anne sure did that for me! Her statement to "Go with whatever is striking you in the moment." and that it "adds up to accomplishment" are words to live by. Thank you for your profound thoughts, Anne!

Observations about Kawandi

In late February I presented a program, and taught Kawandi to members of South Florida MQG in Boca Raton.

Recently my friend Marie @marie4nier (standing in the back center in the pink top) emailed a picture and thoughts about her recent, first Kawandi finish.

 I loved the Kawandi project! It took me a while to complete it because I needed to find a quiet time. And I finally did.

 

My response to Marie: 

I like the authenticity of Kawandi. It tells me about you - the fabrics (colors and prints) you like to use. Your personality is in every stitch. Simply wonderful! I hope you choose to make another one. I bet it will be different from this one, and give a different perspective about you. 

Marie's reply to me:

I noticed the same thing you did when I took the time to look at my project: the fabric is mine, and every piece of fabric has a story and is associated to a project in my "collection." I added some flowers. Flowers are my "signature." 

I so appreciate insightful thoughts and conversations such as these because they reveal how deeply we care and value our creations, and how much each make reveals about us. Thank you, Marie!

A Little Caring From Me: Tiny Dolls

Many of you know I round loom knit Tiny Dolls (I follow this Tiny Dolls YouTube tutorial by Denise of Loomahat). After making 20 dolls (more than shown in this basket) I promised myself I would donate them to the local police department.

Well the dolls have sat for many weeks, stored in an empty Cluster Stuff zipper bag (the filler brand I use inside each doll) while I tried to connect with the police department's community outreach liaison and make an appointment to drop off the dolls.

That finally happened this week. 

Chelsey and Captain Kinder met me in the police station lobby to thank me and take pictures. I was told the police like items like this because they're small enough to carry in a patrol car. They'll be given away to comfort a scared or hurting child. That makes me feel really good. 

A Little Share To Me

On Friday, after spending a couple hours diamond painting with friends, I returned to my golf cart parked in the lot outside the rec center to see this.

Some kind person decided to share a little happy, and make me smile by leaving this squeaky rubber duck on my cart seat.

Life is about love - sharing and caring, isn't it? Whether it's in a long-distance friendship, a nearby friendship, or sharing in an unexpected way, how we love and how we pass it around is a good indicator of how well we're living.

We can see the Lord's love all around when we open our hearts and eyes to appreciate it. Just in my own neighborhood, looking skyward to admire creation fills my heart.

Love to you, Linda