Saturday, January 30, 2010

.almost.



Almost done!! Just have to hand sew the top stitching along the hem. I can't find my hand sewing gear, though... I'm hoping it's at school.

They're really comfy and quite warm.

Notice my hair flying up at my part. This is due to a full day of wearing a hat. Nice, huh?

.woven.




Here is the final woven fabric, in all it's glory. I made enough to wear two cowls and three pairs of fingerless mittens! I might end up selling at least one pair of mittens and a cowl. I'll keep you all posted. I'm sitting down right now to sew together all three pairs of fingerless mittens. I'm not quite sure about how I'll approach the cowls, so I'll just do the mittens first.

Hope your Saturday afternoon is going well!

Friday, January 29, 2010

.winner.



Well, I just paid a visit to random.org and out popped number 8, Rebecca from The Clothes Horse. Now, if you don't already know Rebecca, you should. She has an awesome blog, where she showcases the well-put-together and often times whimsical clothes that she wears. She also lives in Washington (the state) and the settings where she photographs are always drop dead gorgeous. Go visit her, you won't be disappointed :)

Yay for Rebecca!

Everyone else, thank you so so much for stopping by and entering. I really loved reading all of your comments about art and craft. I might have to ask you questions more often!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

.press.





Letterpress! I am so psyched for this class. It's starting really slowly, but hopefully it'll pick up and we'll make some great stuff. I have a pretty solid idea as to what I would like the theme of my letterpress adventures to be, but I'll update you more on that later. I'm printing my first poster next week, so I'll just let you see it. This post has to be very quick today. My thumb muscle on my right hand and the mid-forearm on my left arm are both killing me. Jerks.

Anyway, I'm the only person in my section of the class who isn't in Illustration. Intimidated? Uh, yeah. Buuuut... We just did cyanotypes today! So, I can use photography as an image, which is very relieving. Also, we'll be doing block carving, so I can carve blocks of my repeat patterns from last semester as well as images from photographs. I'm excited to see how the heck you translate a photo into a linoleum block.

Sadly, I had to leave my cyanotype at school to dry, so I have no image of it today. But, I can tell you that the first image I printed was the corn photo from Greenfield Village (looking over at you, Lisa!). Something to look forward to tomorrow, no?

I must stop functioning now.

I'm reading "Independence Days: A Guide to Sustainable Food Storage and Preservation" by Sharon Astyk. I'm only on the second chapter, but I'm in love. The points she makes are spot on, if not a little dramatic (she talks about preparing for emergencies a lot, which is relevant, but not quite to this degree, I think) and I really like the style of her writing. She doesn't talk down, she doesn't preach, it's like a conversation. I'm feeling so motivated right now! I think I'll even go down to the Ann Arbor farmer's market on Saturday, since I haven't gone all winter. I'm also going to join a CSA this year. I haven't decided on which one yet... If anyone in the area has any recommendations? Jen?


Don't forget about my giveaway for a pair of handwoven fingerless mittens! It's open til 7pm Friday night, so don't delay, my friends!

Monday, January 25, 2010

.hiatus.

Oh my goodness, I was gone forever. With school starting, time goes all wonky and I didn't even realize that it had been so long since I last posted. And in the middle of a giveaway. Geez. Speaking of which, my 300th blog post giveaway is still underway! You have until this Friday, Jan. 29 to enter. GO ENTER!! I just finished weaving the fabric last night and will wash it tomorrow. I'm so happy with how it turned out! My first foray into 8 harness weaving was officially a success. It's pretty much the same as 4 harnesses, but with more harnesses. Obvious, I know. I always kind of thought that maybe it was trickier or something. Nope. Just more setup! Silly me, right? And now, I must decide on my next project... I may do a rug, actually. I've always wanted to, and I definitely want to before I graduate and am on my own. I know that Mollie would always answer my questions if I emailed her, but I feel more comfortable tackling these things while still under her wing. Also, Susan and Angela are always so kind (and weave beautiful things!). I think that weaving will always be a part of my life. I badly hope that I will find the funds to purchase my own loom when I graduate. I want an eight harness Baby Wolf.

Sadly, pictures are going to have to wait until tomorrow, after I have washed the fabric. Can't wait to see it all fresh and clean!

And now, pictures:



Ashley (my sister) and I each made a batch of chili last Tuesday. It's so nice to cook together. It's like bringing some home to each other, kind of like we're channeling mom, but making our own way. In my little kitchen. One batch was made with venison that my dad harvested. I had a phase when I though it was terrible that he hunted the poor little deer. But, I'm more grown up now and I realize that his actions are so much more noble than the meat we eat from tortured, sick animals raised in CAFOs. If you haven't watched "Food, Inc." do so immediately. We all need to see the way that most of our food is made (manufactured is a better word), so that we can make more informed decisions. This summer, I will preserve so much more. I will cook all the time. I will volunteer at a local farm. I will truly participate in the creation of at least some of my food. I have started reading "Independence Days" by Sharon Astyk. I've only read the introduction, but I can tell I will love this book. She has already talked about how cooking and eating together is one of the biggest ways in which we can foster community and friendships. It's intimate. It's beautiful. Chelsea and I cook together a lot. It's wonderful. I love it. I wish we could do it more.

I feel like I'm going through an emotional and intellectual growth spurt this year. I keep seeing things I didn't see before, or ones I had but in a new light. I've talked to a couple of my friends about this already, and am still kind of seeing where I'm going with it all.


I also saw Chelsea and Grace last Tuesday. We didn't cook together, but we ate together. We ate food from a local deli called Simple Sandwich in Plymouth. Their sandwiches and soups are so good. They make them every day. They are awesome people. She is growing up so fast. I remember when she was much smaller and didn't even remember me between visits. Now, she runs to me and fills my heart with joy. As does her mother.


The incinerator was running the other day. I can't believe that it wasn't voted out when there was a chance. Such poison.


We got seeds for Rizzo. She lives on them now, instead of sand. She was eating the sand and it kept making her bloated. Suddenly, she would be really fat one day. Strange. I love the way the seeds look in there. So much texture. She is getting so big. I love the way her front legs look like a bulldog's. Bulldog Rizzo.

Monday, January 18, 2010

.more.









Because there is no such thing as too much Greenfield Village.

Thank you so much to those of you who have commented on my last post so far. I love hearing what you guys have to say about craft/art and agree with everyone!

Don't forget to weigh in on that post for a chance to win a pair of fingerless mittens that I am weaving right now. If you're a lurker, then now is the time to comment :)


You guys are so great.

Friday, January 15, 2010

.300.

Not the movie! Um, so, this is my 300th post. I know, right? How did this happen!

Anyway, this calls for celebration, no? Yes, I know we just celebrated eggs... Maybe we should celebrate something every day. I think we would be happy. So, I need to give someone something! A good, old-fashioned giveaway is in order, my friends. Some of you I've known for a long time (since the very beginning of my online adventures!) and some of you I've known for only a while. Either way, I always always appreciate it when you stop by. Those of you who don't comment (I know you're there), do it! I want to hear from you, let's be friends :)



Don't worry, I'll get back to the giveaway in a moment...

That photo right there (screenshot really) is the pattern draft for my first weaving project of the semester. Isn't it beautiful? I'm making two sets of matching-ish neckwarmer and fingerless mittens! I was very inspired by Susan of Avalanche Looms. I'm weaving these in a cotton/linen/rayon yarn, one of my favorites. The yarns on top of my loom in the bottom photo are the colors I'm using. The oatmeal is the background, while the Purple Mountain's Majesty and the Sagey Green will be the foreground colors. The red is just there because I like it...

I've decided, just a moment ago, that my 300th post giveaway item will be one of the sets of fingerless mittens! I know, exciting! Hooray!


To enter, I would like it if you told me one of the things you love about art/craft. Don't worry about picking your favorite, I would never be able to pick mine! Just something you really value about it, you know?


Thank you so much for visiting, you are the best!