Art by the Fence

Health Update - Amazing News!

2011-08-24T21:06:00.003-05:00

Okay, readers (the few of you who follow my very occasional blog), when last I posted, I left you hanging about the candida diet, acupuncture, and the state of my health. I only managed to stay on the cleanse for five days, but that seems to have been enough. I'm still drinking the "gray sludge," as I fondly refer to the CandiClear5. It's pretty awful, but I think it's working. Besides, given what it costs, I'm determined to drink it several times a week until it's all gone! I no longer have any of the symptoms of candida overgrowth and am feeling really great.

But here's the really amazing news. I'm still seeing the acupuncturist once a week. I get acupuncture and "cupping," where he puts these glass vacuum cups on my back to draw the toxins out of my lungs. Last week, I did my first round (first of three) of Chinese herbs. I'll do a second round next week, and a third two weeks after that. I took the herbs on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and the last dose on Sunday morning. Other than making me constipated (I know, TMI, but some of you are reading this for your own health benefits so I'm telling you everything), I didn't notice anything at all. I thought they might make me sick at my stomach or something, but they didn't. No effect at all.

But then, when I woke up Monday morning, it was absolutely miraculous!!! My lungs were totally CLEAR. No congestion, no wheezing, no coughing, breathing all the way down to the bottoms of my lungs. Honestly, my lungs haven't been this clear since before I was diagnosed with asthma 22 years ago. I simply can't believe it. And because my tissues are finally getting enough oxygen, I have more energy than I've had in years, as well. I wake up in the morning and am practically bouncing. I stay alert throughout the day, instead of feeling sluggish and having trouble staying awake all afternoon. I've rejoined Curves and am doing the Zumba Circuit - without getting winded and feeling like I'm gonna die. My stamina has returned. I feel like I've awakened from a decades-long sleep!

I saw the acupuncturist today and told him I had "news." When I told him about my clear lungs, he was amazed, as well. He said he usually gets that type of result from the Chinese herbs, but usually not until well after the third dose - it's never this quick.

He explained that what the herbs do is sort of retrain your body to heal itself. That's why there's a two-week gap between the herbal treatments, and why the effects were somewhat delayed. The particular herbs he gave me were to remove "heat" from my lungs (which he said were very hot), and help my lungs remember what it feels like to be cool, clear, and unobstructed.

I'm reserving final judgment until I see how long-term these effects are, but for today, I'm singing "I'm A Believer"!!!

2011-08-06T15:46:00.002-05:00

Day 9
Someone's coming to dinner - what can we fix that will appeal to a guest, but also give me something to eat that's on my diet? The solution - Craig made his famous Chicken Pepperoni, and kept out some of the grilled chicken for me. He also made a big salad for everyone, so I had salad with chicken on top - perfect. We also had toast from his homemade Cibatta bread. I picked up a piece and had eaten half of it before I even realized what I was doing. It doesn't seem to have hurt me any.

Today will be interesting, as well. We're going out for dinner, so it'll be a challenge to find something on the menu that doesn't have sugar or starches in it.

My first trip to the acupuncturist was very interesting and informative. When he put in the very first needle, I felt 'zings' like little electrical currents running all over my body. By the time he got the last needle in, I was already breathing more easily. When he put the needle in the place on my right wrist he said is associated with my lungs, I felt electric shocks running down my entire hand and all of my fingers, and throughout the 20 minutes the needles remained in, my right thumb and a myscle in my forearm jerked and spasmed. The whole experience was really strange - I could feel movement just everywhere. He said acupuncture realigns your Qi (pronounced "chee"). Mine must really need realigning!

2011-08-05T15:45:00.002-05:00

Day 8
I was just crazy for something flavored to drink! I love water, but after a week of it, I simply had to have something different. I had a blueberry herbal tea that I'd picked up somewhere, so I had a cup of that this afternoon. Last night, I had a cup of Constant Comment - I know, black tea's not supposed to be great for candida, but that wasn't much of a cheat. I still haven't had sugar - that's a huge thing for me. And actually, my craving for sugar is way down today from where it was yesterday. (Yesterday, my body was angry that it wasn't getting any sugar!) Last night, Craig made me an omelet with green pepper, green onion, and a little mozarella cheese. (Hard, aged cheeses are the worst for me at this stage. A little mozarella won't kill me.) It was heavenly!

This afternoon will be my first trip to the acupuncturist. Should be interesting. I have a Groupon for an acupuncture treatment and a Reflexology foot massage.

I've also bought some stuff called CandiClear5. Here's how the manufacturer describes it:

The main ingredient in CandiClear 5 is a fossilized freshwater phytoplankton that shreds up any parasites and candida that come in contact with it. It does a super job of killing candida. Plus, its porous structure absorbs toxins and waste debris to help reduce die-off symptoms from the candida die-off. . . . [It also] attracts and absorbs mercury and other heavy metals, helps absorb other toxins, and works to adjust the body's pH to a more alkaline state - all important for eliminating candida.

I started drinking the stuff two nights ago. It tastes strange and feels powdery in your mouth - bleah! But maybe that's why my sugar craving is gone today. Hmmm. I also got some drops, Customized Elixir Y, from the same company. It's "frequency enhanced purified water." It's supposed to be "one of the most important products for helping to deal with a Candida yeast condition." Time will tell, eh? I have enough of the powder and the drops for about a month.

2011-08-04T11:32:00.003-05:00

Days 6 & 7
It's feels really good to be eating solid food again! I've had grilled chicken on salad, grilled chicken with steamed broccoli and cauliflower, grilled pork steak with grilled asparagus, and every morning I have two scrambled eggs.

I think I'm in the throes of sugar withdrawal. Boy, am I craving something sweet! Even fruit would be fabulous. I think the serious craving means I need to stay off the sugars!

At least I've finally lost a few pounds. That's the best benefit of the diet so far!

2011-08-02T10:53:00.002-05:00

Day 5
Today I stuck with the alternating detox drink and veggie broth during the day. Then for dinner, Craig made fresh guacamole - yum! Fresh avocados, garlic, onion - all good for me on this diet. I ate it on some veggie chips instead of corn chips.

I'm pretty much finished with the "cleanse" portion and getting into Step 1 now. I'm going to avoid all sugars, yeast, caffeine, wheat and corn, dairy, most condiments, oats, pasta. I can still eat proteins, most veggies, and most nuts and seeds.

I finally broke down and got a prescription for an anti-fungal. The thrush in my mouth and throat just wasn't going away and was driving me crazy. Five days on an anti-fungal, combined with this diet and my upcoming acupuncture treatments, and I should be feeling great in pretty short order!

2011-08-01T14:01:00.002-05:00

Day 4
I felt better today than on any other day of the "cleanse" so far. My cough is dramatically better - thankfully! By evening, I'd decided to have a salad. One of the options for the cleanse is just to eat raw or steamed vegetables. I just had to have something solid in my stomach for a change. I'll eat veggies for a couple more days before I start adding in proteins. I'm also eating a handful of rice-and-nut crackers (made by Blue Diamond). They're satisfying my craving to chew something!

2011-07-31T00:34:00.003-05:00

Day 3
I started Day 3 feeling weak and shaky, with a very low energy level. Nevertheless, it was time to start painting the kitchen, so that's what I did. I didn't get as much done as I would have if I were drinking coffee and eating 'real food,' but at least I got it started. By mid-day, I was feeling better, and by this evening, I no longer feel weak. I've gotta tell you, though, I don't think I can stand to drink that 'liver flush' drink one more time. I think three is going to be my magic number for that one. I really can't stand it!

One thing is surprising me. After three full days on a liquid diet, I haven't lost an ounce. I felt sure I would lose weight. I feel pretty bloated, though - I drink water all day long. I have to, or I feel totally dried out, almost like when I take a medication that dries me out. One good thing is happening - my cough is improving dramatically. On we go. . . .

2011-07-29T11:21:00.003-05:00

Day 2
So there's the good news and the bad news. First, the good news. Last night's "liver flush" drink wasn't anywhere near as bad as I'd anticipated it was going to be. It's made up of a cup of water, a Tbsp of olive oil, a clove of garlic, and a small chunk of ginger, all blended together. It's not something I'd choose to drink under ordinary circumstances, but it's definitely tolerable for six more nights. (Craig actually liked it!) Second, the bad news - there's no way in hell I'm going to drink the bentonite clay. The psyllium (Metamucil) is fine. The clay doesn't even begin to dissolve in water - just makes big, dry clumps that float around. Gag! So my week of 'cleansing' will just have to leave that part out.

More good news, though - the liquid diet isn't really bothering me. The veggie broth tastes wonderful, and my stomach hasn't felt empty. If I could just stop coughing, I'd actually feel pretty good. Onward we go. . . .

The Candida Diet

2011-07-28T15:24:00.004-05:00

Okay, my sister pointed out that I haven't blogged in two years (!), and then I mentioned I was going on a candida diet and a friend suggested I blog about it. So that's what brings me here. First, a mini-catch-up of the last two years: people had birthdays, people died, babies were born, the economy's been in the toilet, we took a trip to Germany (photos here), my sister and I took a trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (photos here), and, most recently, Craig and I pulled up stakes and moved 1600 miles west to the Portland, Oregon, area, where we're now only a two-hour drive from our kids and grandkids.

Since we got to Oregon, I've been in the throes of a horrible asthma episode that, despite lots of medications, just won't go away. I've known for years that I need to get off sugar, and that candida is probably at the root of most of my health problems. I've finally reached the point where I'm willing to take drastic measures to get healthy, so here goes! For more information on the candida diet I'm using, you can visit http://www.thecandidadiet.com/

Week 1 - The "Cleanse
The first week is a "colon cleanse" where I'll be on a liquid diet. I'll alternate every couple of hours between a "detox drink" (basically Metamucil with some bentonite thrown in) and a vegetable broth. We made the veggie broth last night - potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, and kale - simmered for 20 minutes and then the broth strained off. It tastes great, so at least that's a plus. The part I'm really dreading is the night-time "liver flush drink." It's made up of water, olive oil, garlic, and ginger! Garlic and ginger both really give me heartburn. However, I only have to drink it seven times, so I'm going to give it a go!

Day 1
Started the day with a glass of hot vegetable broth, and then took my regular vitamins and medications. I was worried the vitamins might make me sick without something solid in my stomach, but thankfully they haven't. Mid-morning was the detox drink, and then lunch time another glass of veggie broth. Whenever I start to feel hungry, I drink a big glass of filtered water. I think the first 48 hours will be the toughest - I find my thoughts drifting to food all the time!

Long Time, No Post

2009-03-19T10:43:00.004-05:00

Wow, I haven't posted in ages! It's time to catch up. In September 2008, we visited London and South Africa. Dozens of photos from the South Africa trip can be viewed on my flickr site. Here's one of my favorites - Craig with a friend Rainbow Lorikeet on his shoulder.

We visited the kids in Eugene, Oregon, for Thanksgiving, and then were in Oklahoma for Christmas. At the end of February, we visited my cousins Jim & Karen in Atlanta, and then cousins Jeff & Vicki, two couples from Sioux City, and Craig and I went sailing in the Grenadines for a week with friends who own a beautiful sailboat named "Tatonka."

I got my scuba certification and have fallen in love with diving. The underwater world is spectacularly beautiful, and diving is relaxing and almost effortless (once you get in the water, that is).

On February 22, 2009, we were blessed with a new grandson, Andrew Dylan Cornelius, born to my son Larry and his lovely wife Melody. My next trip is out to Eugene, to meet that sweet baby face-to-face.

Keeping up with Ravelry, Facebook, and Twitter, along with the blogs I follow and 'real life' (as opposed to my virtual one) is keeping me busy and away from Blogger. I'll try to post more often than once every eight months in the future!

Hope Remains Alive

2008-07-30T08:56:00.005-05:00

For the last two days, fiber artist Virginia Spiegel has been discussing, on her blog, the benefits of writing haiku. Besides being a talented artist, Virginia is well known for her fund-raising efforts on behalf of the American Cancer Society through her project Fiber Art for a Cause.

I'm chairing a current fund-raiser on the FFAC site. For a minimum donation of only $10, plus $2 shipping and handling, you can purchase a CD that contains 173 photographs from the Quiltart 2008 Grab Bag Challenge. In the challenge, each participant filled a small bag with fabric, fibers, embellishments - whatever they chose - and someone else made a quilt based on the items in the bag. The contributor of the bag received the finished quilt. The CD contains a full view and a detail view of each quilt, as well as the artist's statement for the quilt. The quilt I made, shown below, was made from the bag contributed by Beth Mastin. The quilt is called "Finding Balance," and it includes hand-dyed cottons, silk, cheesecloth, ribbon, and trim; silk rods; Beth's hand-made fabric beads; and metallic cording. The quilt was machine pieced, machine embroidered, and hand and machine quilted.

Please consider making a small donation to the American Cancer Society through Fiber Art for a Cause. You can donate to the ACS via a link on the FFAC website or by mailing Virginia a check, and then send me $2 for the CD and postage via PayPal or by mailing me a check. All the instructions are on the website. With our help, the ACS can continue its efforts to find a cure for cancer in our lifetime!

Many voices cry.
How can we find a cure?
Hope remains alive.

A Goodbye Story

2008-07-08T15:02:00.011-05:00

It was 6:30 am on the morning of Friday, June 20, 2008. In a rural farmhouse outside of Mulhall, Oklahoma, my mother-in-law, Frances Fent, or "Frann" as she was known to friends, got out of bed and walked out onto the front porch to check the weather, so she would know what clothes to wear that day. One of her sons, the second of three, was going to pick her up about 9:30 am for an appointment in Stillwater, a city about 20 miles away, and home to the Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team, which Frann had enjoyed watching for decades.

When they returned from the appointment, she might have followed through on the plan she had announced to her son two days earlier. She wanted to dig up some bright orange daylilies that grew wild out by the roadside and transplant them to her garden to fill in some empty spots. Perhaps this was just wishful thinking; it had been several years since Frann had spent much time outdoors tending her gardens. In any event, it was not to be.

Instead, Frann came back indoors that early morning and poured herself a glass of milk. Then she sat down in her favorite recliner, closed her eyes, and died. She was 90 years old.

Frances was married to Richard Fent, a self-effacing, bona fide World War II hero. A very humble man, Richard barely acknowledged that he had won the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and other commendations during the war. Despite a war injury that left him partially paralyzed, Richard raised cattle and farmed throughout his post-war working life. He and Frann raised three sons, the youngest of whom is my husband Craig.

After Richard's death in 1990, Frann continued to live on the farm. She maintained a large vegetable garden for many years, and enjoyed tending her flower gardens surrounding the house. She loved flowers, both real and artificial - she had a 'collection' of silk and plastic flowers that would have filled a small shop!

Frann loved the farm, and though the majority of her work was that of raising children, fixing meals, and keeping up the house and gardens, she proudly considered herself to be a "Farmer."

Her deepest hope was that she would never have to move into town, to a nursing home or assisted living center. She got her wish. She was able to stay on the farm until she died. She never had to suffer through a terrible illness. She died peacefully, in the home she loved. We should all be so lucky, when our time comes.

I'll miss Frann's sense of humor, and her quiet dignity. She seldom had a harsh word to say about anyone. She was a great mother-in-law, and I was privileged to know her.

In loving memory of Frances Wilma (Frey) Fent, born January 5, 1918, and died June 20, 2008.

Oops, not a Mountain Bluebird after all

2008-05-29T09:02:00.003-05:00

An avid birder took a look at our photos and says what we have isn't a Mountain Bluebird - it's an Indigo Bunting. After looking at photos on the web, I have to agree. The bird in our yard has the black coloring around his eyes that's characteristic of the Indigo Bunting. He's still gorgeous, though!

And here's a new photo of our other, more permanent pal - Max, the Devil Dog - after she's been to the groomer. When she's groomed, they always put a bandana on her. After awhile, when it gets ratty looking, I take it off and Max always wants to play with it. So if you wonder what the blob of pink fabric is, it's her bandana. The white blob at her feet is the tip of her sock toy.

This is a good picture of Max. She's hard to photograph. Her black eyes (now filled with silver cataracts) almost always look either bright red (thus the nickname "Devil Dog") or they reflect like mirrors.

A New Garden Friend

2008-05-28T14:15:00.003-05:00

Much to our surprise, this Mountain Bluebird has taken up residence near us and is visiting our garden bird feeder regularly. How he ever got this far east is anyone's guess, but he's certainly brightening our view. He's the most gorgeous shades of blue! (Photos were taken through four panes of dirty glass.)

Ravelry Rocks!

2008-05-22T13:08:00.007-05:00

If you knit or crochet and you don't know about Ravelry yet, you should! Ravelry is an online community for yarn-lovin' folks like me. It has so many cool features, it's hard to know where to start to tell you about them. First off, you have your own Notebook in which you can record details about projects you've finished, queue up projects you want to make in the future, keep a record of your library of books, magazines, and patterns, and even keep a record of your yarn stash. There are groups you can join to interact with others who have like interests. And there's a huge pattern library you can search using key words, designers' names, magazine issues, etc.

Besides being just plain fun, I've found the website to be useful in a number of ways. Take the project queue, for example. So many times I'll be looking through a magazine and see something I want to make. When I actually go looking for a new project, do you think I'm going to remember that one, or if I do, find it? Not often! Now I just add the project to my queue. I can even link to a particular yarn I want to use for the project, and add notes and a targeted completion date. Then when I get ready to make the project, I can search to see who else has used the pattern. They might have useful notes about the design, yarn amounts listed, shaping, or cool alternatives - things I want to know before I get started.

Getting my Ravelry notebook organized has also prompted me to finish some UFOs, and to take pictures of finished projects. Over in the sidebar of this blog, under "Off the Needles," you'll now find pictures of Craig's sweater, which uses an interesting stitch pattern (at right) in a super-soft baby alpaca; my Summer Openwork Sweater, which uses a drop-stitch Snowshoe pattern (below) in a cool summer-weight cotton; and my Blueberry Wrapper.

Now if someone would just develop a website like this for quilters, I'd really be organized. Of course, it would take me months to create that notebook!

"Blue" - A Postcard

2008-03-20T12:49:00.004-05:00

Here's the second of the eight postcards I'll be making for members of my quilting small group. I called this one just "Blue." Then today, I got an e-mail from Virginia Spiegel that she has a piece in an upcoming exhibit at Translations Gallery in Denver, called -- what else -- "Blue." Seems the gallery and I share a talent for stating the obvious. (heh heh)
Sorry the picture's not better -- I forgot to photograph the card and had to borrow a friend's cell phone to get a pic.

Knitting for Babies is Fun!

2008-02-17T09:49:00.006-06:00

I'm hooked on knitting baby clothes. Things get finished so quickly! I had a three day weekend two weeks ago, and made this darling little hoodie for a friend's new baby. I finished the entire sweater (0-3 mos. size), from casting on to stitching up, over the weekend. If it was adult size, it would take me forever!

I had planned to photograph the sweater on a teddy bear, but one of my bears is too big and the other too small. The closest thing I had to a newborn size was my Felicity doll, one of the American Girl dolls. This is probably how the sweater will fit a newborn - they'll be rolling up those sleeves for awhile.

Pattern: Hooded Sweater from "Special Knits" by Debbie Bliss, which contains 22 adorable patterns for babies and toddlers. I've already picked out a little sundress I want to knit for my grandniece.
Yarn: Cascade 220 (80% cotton, 20% wool).
Needles: US8

Emily's Sweater

2008-02-09T15:46:00.000-06:00

I made this cute little sweater for my grandniece, Emily. The pattern was adapted from the "Cuff to Cuff Infant Sweater" by Rae Creedle. The pattern only gives the infant size. I enlarged it to make a 9-12 month size. Yarn - Cotton Chenille by Crystal Palace, on size 6 needles. Hand-dyed buttons are by Primrose Gradations (now discontinued).

Winter Warmers

2008-02-03T12:40:00.000-06:00

Hell officially froze over in Iowa during January. About a week ago, the actual temperature (not the wind chill) was -22 during my morning drive to work. To keep us warm and comfortable, I've spent the last few weeks knitting scarves. I've made lots of scarves in the past but never remembered to take photos before I gave them away. This time, I did better.

First, I made myself a really looooong scarf. I can wrap it around twice and still have nice long ends to loop through each other or let hang. It's just a quick garter stitch scarf on size 18 needles. Next, I made a scarf for Craig. It's based on the "Architect Scarf" in Greetings from Knit Cafe , but I used different colors. Encore washable wool and size 11 needles. My son Larry just came for a visit, and was here on his birthday. I knew he was completely unprepared for these temperatures. (He lives on the coast of Georgia where people are "cold" when it's in the 40s.) So I made him a scarf too. It's a k2p2 rib in rich brown, with random stripes of seven different colors. Same yarn and needles as Craig's scarf. And a bonus photo -- here's the very first thing I ever made after attending a knitting class in the summer of 2006. It took one two-hour class for me to become hooked on knitting.
Today I'm finishing up a little sweater for my six-month-old grandniece. Photo soon!

Ahoy, Matey!

2008-01-15T17:52:00.000-06:00

In my small group of nine quilters, the Material Girls, we always do something for the person hosting the meeting each month. One year it was fat quarters, one year it was blocks in a design of the person's choosing, etc. This year, we're making each other postcards. The person hosting tonight's meeting has a sailboat. I made her a card form a photo she took of a rope ("line") coiled on the deck of the boat. I haven't made a postcard in a couple of years and had forgotten a few tricks, but overall, I'm pretty pleased with it. I don't think there's much chance she'll see this before tonight's meeting, so here's a pic of the postcard.

Who Made the Cards?

2008-01-14T16:46:00.001-06:00

Oops, I totally forgot to attribute the makers of the fabulous postcards on my display. Here they are. Back row, left to right: Liz Berg, Karen Stiehl-Osborn, Susan Fischer Parker, Diane Rusin Doran, Barbara Leaheey, Cathy Otelle (? - hard to read). Front row, left to right: Peggy Schroder, Joan (last name unknown), Jane Dávila.

Fiber Postcard Display

2008-01-14T12:47:00.000-06:00

I've found a new way to enjoy my collection of fiber art postcards. Until now, I've had the whole stack of them in a fabric bowl in my studio. I had one of those "lightbulb" moments and have now loaded nine of them into a photo display stand I had at my office. Now I can rotate the cards from time to time, and really get to enjoy them.

I also want to share a picture of a box I received today from
Novica. I love shopping their website, which has handmade items from all over the world. Novica was purchased a few years ago by National Geographic, giving the site a greater presence on the web. Purchases benefit cottage industries and individual artists from all over. Everything I've ever purchased from Novica has come beautifully wrapped, with a postcard from the item's maker. This lovely box houses a pretty garnet-silver-&-gold bracelet I bought with a Christmas check from my precious mother-in-law.

A New Way to Waste Time

2007-12-14T16:00:00.001-06:00

Wow, time flies, doesn't it? It's hard to imagine that I haven't blogged since late October. And as if time isn't already a scarce commodity, I've happened onto a new way (for me) to waste time. Here's how it evolved. Craig and I like to watch crime dramas -- the three CSI series, Criminal Minds, Numbers, and the like. During the past month, at least four different series have had story lines involving Avatars (graphical representations of people) and MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role playing games). As much time as we've spent playing computer games over the past couple of decades, you'd think we would have heard of these, right? Boy, were we uninformed. (You notice, I avoided saying we're "old" or "outdated.")

Just out of curiosity, I did a Google search one day for role playing games. I found several hundred! In fact, a "Wikipedia article" says MMORPGs generated a billion dollars in 2006! I skimmed information on a bunch of the games and found one that sounded like it would be fun to try (and also had a free membership).

I joined Second Life. (If you end up joining, say "Jeri Devin" referred you and I'll get some free points or something. Of course, I'll have to figure out what it is I get and how to use it. . . .) Once you're inside the game, the first thing you do is create your avatar. You can change all kinds of things about your avatar's appearance, and even buy cool clothes for him/her. You use "Linden dollars" - the currency in the virtual world -- 1,000 Linden dollars will cost a little over $4.00. Here's my avatar, Jeri Devin, sitting at a coffee shop. (The "snapshot" function is less than perfect -- it distorts the avatar's image somewhat, but you can get a general idea.) The second pic is Jeri standing outside in the snow.

The virtual world is way cool. People buy and sell all kinds of stuff, open businesses, build houses and office buildings, go on vacations to exotic locations, and even get into relationships, with dating, weddings, divorces, and just about anything else you can think of. (Any "X-rated" activity only takes place within people's private property.) One word of caution -- if you don't have cable modem or DSL (or a T-1 line), and a pretty fast computer, you won't enjoy this type of game.

So I now have a totally new way to waste time -- just what I needed, right?

Remarkably, I managed to finish knitting four scarves, two of them really long ones, and get them mailed off. Of course, I forgot to take photos. I was probably too busy thinking about Second Life!

Read any good books lately?

2007-10-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

(Nicked from Kate's blog, by way of Amy's blog.

Okay, here's the deal. Copy the first 106 books from this list. (Note: The list changes, so your list won't be exactly the same as mine.) Mark the books you've read in bold. Mark the books you started, but couldn't finish, in italics. Strike through the books you can't stand. (I added a new category -- if you've see the movie made from the book, mark it in color.)

Dune by Frank Herbert
The catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger
A confederacy of dunces by John Kennedy Toole
If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino
Infinite jest : a novel by David Foster Wallace
The magic mountain by Thomas Mann
Wizard's first rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1) by Terry Goodkind
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The demolished man by Alfred Bester
Legends II : new short novels by the masters of modern fantasy by Robert Silverberg
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Vanity fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
The lovely bones : a novel by Alice Sebold
Crime and punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Ulysses by James Joyce
Porno by Irvine Welsh
August 1914: The Red Wheel by Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr Isaevich
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
War and peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens
Night watch by Terry Pratchett
Deadhouse gates by Steven Erikson
The brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The name of the rose by Umberto Eco
Reading Lolita in Tehran : a memoir in books by Azar Nafisi
Foucault's pendulum by Umberto Eco
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The satanic verses by Salman Rushdie
The historian : a novel by Elizabeth Kostova
Gulliver's travels by Jonathan Swift
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
The Odyssey by Homer
The history of Tom Jones, a foundling by Henry Fielding
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies by Jared Diamond
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Emma by Jane Austen
Sons and lovers by D.H. Lawrence
The hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Love in the time of cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Life of Pi: a novel by Yann Martel
The once and future king by T. H. White
Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand
Underworld by Don DeLillo
The Canterbury tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
A heartbreaking work of staggering genius by Dave Eggers
The Gormenghast novels by Mervyn Peake
Lady Chatterley's lover by D.H. Lawrence
The time traveler's wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A portrait of the artist as a young man by James Joyce
The sound and the fury by William Faulkner
The kite runner by Khaled Hosseini
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Great expectations by Charles Dickens
The elegant universe : superstrings, hidden dimensions, and … by Brian Greene
One flew over the cuckoo's nest by Ken Kesey
The Iliad by Homer
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
The confusion by Neal Stephenson
The English patient by Michael Ondaatje
Collapse : how societies choose to fail or succeed by Jared Diamond
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The house of the seven gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Swann's way by Marcel Proust
To the lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Les misérables by Victor Hugo
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
A people's history of the United States : 1492-present by Howard Zinn
The bonesetter's daughter by Amy Tan
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
In cold blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its … by Truman Capote
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Oryx and Crake : a novel by Margaret Atwood
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
The grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck
A clockwork orange by Anthony Burgess
The inferno by Dante Alighieri
The book thief by Markus Zusak
Tropic of cancer by Henry Miller
The amazing adventures of Kavalier and Clay : a novel by Michael Chabon
Silas Marner by George Eliot
The divine comedy by Dante Alighieri
The age of innocence by Edith Wharton
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
50 Great American Short Stories by Milton Crane
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance : an inquiry into … by Robert M. Pirsig
Uncle Tom's cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Twenty thousand leagues under the sea by Jules Verne
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Brave new world by Aldous Huxley
Slaughterhouse five by Kurt Vonnegut

Happy Halloween Week!

2007-10-29T16:06:00.001-05:00

I love Halloween. I love dressing up, although I seldom do it anymore. I love seeing all the wonderful costumes on the kids who come to my door for treats. I love the carved pumpkins and decorations. Halloween is the herald's cry that Fall is truly here. I don't think I'd want to live somewhere that doesn't have all four seasons. Each season has its beauty, its charm, and its eagerly anticipated activities.

I'm sharing a great fiber postcard I received from quilt artist Laura Krasinski. I hope it makes you laugh - it did me!

Happy Halloween Week, everyone!

Eye of the Storm

2007-10-25T08:49:00.000-05:00

Virginia Spiegel has published a wonderful new online book - "Art, Nature, Creativity, Life" - as yet another of her contributions to fundraising for the American Cancer Society. I wrote a review of the book that I'll share with you here:

Sometimes life seems like a tornado, with family commitments, work, social activities, and creative projects swirling around me and making me dizzy. At those times, it's wonderful to find myself in the eye of the storm for a few moments, giving me a chance to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on something beautiful.

For the past three years, Virginia Spiegel's newsletter Art, Nature, Creativity, Life has provided me with some of those moments of calm reflection.

Whether she's sharing a thought-provoking insight into what it means to be an artist, inspiring me with her latest work, or amazing me with her extraordinary photographs, Virginia never fails to remind me that beauty is everywhere, if I only choose to see it.
Thus, I am delighted that Virginia has collected her newsletters into this eBook. The book is a treasure trove of ideas and insights, offering a glimpse into the mind and soul of this gifted artist. I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants ready access to the eye of the storm.

You might want to consider giving the book as a unique and unexpected Christmas or birthday gift, or as a gift to yourself. After all, you deserve it!

Talk Like A Pirate Day -- Arrr!

2007-09-19T10:57:00.000-05:00

This gave me a laugh. The test itself is fun, with hilarious questions. Go get your own pirate name!

My pirate name is:

Captain Anne Cash

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You're musical, and you've got a certain style if not flair. You'll do just fine. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.

part of the fidius.org network

Throwing in the towel - or the jacket, in this case

2007-09-14T15:26:00.000-05:00

Have you ever started knitting something and been really excited about it, and then it just became a nightmare and your instinct was to throw it out the window? I finally decided to quit beating myself up about the Big Easy Jacket and frog the whole thing. Then I gave the yarn to a friend who knits much looser than I do.

The problem wasn't the pattern; it was a combination of the yarn and my knitting tension. I tend to knit really tightly -- I usually go up a couple of needle sizes over what's recommended to get the right gauge. This beautiful yarn from Cherry Tree Hill is one of those that's like two yarns, one wrapped around the other. So when someone who knits tightly, like I do, knits with the stuff, the wrapped yarn tends to scoot along the other yarn, forming blobs, or leaving loose, hanging pieces. It was just a nightmare for me. I worked with it for ages and knit about half the jacket, but I just wasn't pleased with how it looked. And I know me -- if I don't really like how something looks, I won't wear it.

My friend Signe (the loose-knitting one) was thrilled with the yarn (who wouldn't be thrilled with over $100 worth of yarn, right?). And as serendipity would have it, she had just finished the most gorgeous, icy blue sweater that ended up being too long for her in the sleeves. Instead of fixing it for herself, she gave it to me, and I love it! Check back in a day or two -- I'll get a photo posted. (By the way, Signe knits like a machine -- she can finish a sweater or a poncho in just a few days AND she works full-time!)

Life is good.

Simple Pleasures

2007-08-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the most ordinary thing becomes extraordinary.
Take a mailbox, for instance. We recently had our house sided with Western Red Cedar and stone. We had leftovers. What can you do with some leftover siding and pieces of stone? Why, make a mailbox, of course. Craig and I each took a turn at designing a mailbox to go with our house, and between the two of us, we came up with a great design, executed to perfection by my oh-so-talented husband! So, when was the last time a mailbox made you smile? Try a Google search for "wacky mailboxes" and I'm sure you'll find a few!

Living in the Moment

2007-08-15T16:57:00.000-05:00

A friend e-mailed me recently about a scare with her mother's health, when her mother's blood pressure spiked unexpectedly. I was wishing I could give my friend a hug and relieve her of her worries about her mom. It reminded me that I've been really intentional lately about consciously choosing to enjoy the present moment -- the taste of a glass of fresh iced tea, the pleasant feel and light scent of peach hand lotion, the warmth and comfort of snuggling up to my husband as we drift off to sleep -- instead of worrying about what might happen next week, or tomorrow, or this evening. I haven't gotten to the point where I remember to do it all the time, but I'm getting better.

I noticed that I was spending an inordinate amount of time worrying about something bad happening, whether it was to my husband, my sister, my kids, or someone else. I was experiencing sort of a free-floating anxiety all the time. I got present to the fact that in worrying about what the future will bring, I was missing out on enjoying all the wonderful things that are right here, right now. In addition, I realized worrying was a good way to shirk taking responsibility for creating and choosing my reality, right now. There's nothing I can do about the fact that we only get to stay here in these human bodies for a limited period of time, so I might as well just accept that fact and concentrate on getting the most I can out of the moments I have. Viewed in this way, even a headache can be a positive experience if I recognize it as feeling something I wouldn't be able to feel in spiritual form.

Getting present to the joy and beauty of simply being alive, and opening my eyes to what's around me, changes my outlook on everything from my job to my relationships. It makes me more productive, and also more creative. So, for today, I commit to accepting things as they are. Like Doris Day sang, "Que sera, sera. What will be, will be."

(Photo is of a Blue Morpho butterfly perched on my hand at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens in San Jose, Costa Rica.)

I'm a Pin-Up Girl

2007-06-19T09:16:00.000-05:00

I spent Thursday through Saturday of last week in St. Paul, MN, at the Minnesota Quilters' annual show. In addition to taking two really wonderful classes and seeing some spectacular quilts, I won a quilt at the Silent Auction. The quilt, made and donated by Sandi Irish, is a Show Pin Quilt, designed as a showcase for the lovely little pins we quilters acquire from quilt shows, quilt shops, and guilds.

My show pins have been accumulating in a little pile at one end of my cutting table for several years. When I got home, I promptly installed them in their new home, where they're now happily stretching their curves and corners and settling into their new surroundings. This undoubtedly will improve the overall mood in my studio - after all, there's nothing worse than a cramped, unhappy show pin.

So I guess you could call me a Pin-Up Girl. Had you going there, didn't I?

Blog of the Day

2007-05-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

Occasionally, if I have a few minutes to spare, I'll log onto one of the blogs I read regularly and visit some of the blogger's favorites, usually listed in a sidebar. I did that today and, once again, was stunned into (albeit momentary) humility by the amazing people who are out there blogging.

the department of me is one of my favorite blogs. K.E. Andrews (whoever he/she is), of Australia, takes the most incredible, clear, insightful photographs, often of the most ordinary things. I thought I would check out some of the blogs Andrews recommends. I spent the next hour laughing, crying, admiring, wishful thinking, and laughing some more. I'm constantly surprised and delighted at the things people are willing to share, sometimes under the 'anonymity cloak' provided by cyberspace, but oftentimes with profiles that tell us all about them. I once heard someone say that if we took the time to get to know people, really know them, there wouldn't be a single person who wouldn't have something to contribute to us. I believe that's true.

There's something beautiful about every step of this journey, even when we're too buried by events to see the beauty. It's the struggle itself that's beautiful. I often forget to notice.

I've been tagged!

2007-05-16T09:56:00.000-05:00

Well, this is one way to get me to post to my blog! (heh heh). Kniterella has tagged me to give 7 random facts about myself. When you're tagged, you're supposed to post 7 random facts (not 'interesting' facts, or 'secret' facts) about yourself in your blog, and also post the rules of the game. Then you tag seven others, and list their names in your blog. Leave those you've tagged a comment on their blogs so they'll know they've been tagged and to read your blog. So, here are my 7 random facts:

1. I can't stand reality TV shows. Give me a good sci-fi saga or crime drama.

2. I ran away from home at age 3, not because I was unhappy but just to have an adventure. The police found me in the middle of a busy four-lane street, bought me an ice cream cone, and brought me home (luckily, I was able to recognize my house -- didn't know my address yet, or my last name)!

3. The first thing I do when I get to work every morning is open a can of Dr. Pepper.

4. You'd never guess by looking at my cluttered studio that I'm someone who loves neatness and order!

5. If I were granted one vanity-related wish, I would ask for clear, smooth, young-looking skin, all over my body.

6. My license plate (for almost 20 years now) reads: TLOVESC (stands for "Tomme loves Craig")

7. I started to go bungee jumping off a bridge in Costa Rica a couple of months ago, and then chickened out when I saw how far the drop was!

I am tagging the following people because I read their blogs and would like to know more about them:

Emily

Jo

Karen

Laura

Liz

Jamie

Margaret

Game on!

Gushing over "The Panopticon"

2007-04-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

Okay, I simply must encourage you today to check out my favorite blog, The Panopticon, where one Franklin Habit, currently of Chicago, mixes thoughtful musings about the nature of life, witty observations of humankind, exquisite knitting, and eloquent prose, with the hilarious diary entries and escapades of a campy knitting sheep named Delores and her unusual entourage.

Having heard Franklin on Cast-On: A Podcast for Knitters, I literally can hear his voice as I read the blog. I've been reading the blog for about a year now, I think, and feel I know Franklin quite well, though we've never met. He's mentioned that when he attends knitting events, people frequently come running up as though they've seen an old friend and tell him how much they love his blog. I have no doubt that I would do the same (and, Franklin, as I'm wont to dole out unsolicited hugs, consider yourself forewarned).

So if you're thoughtful and intelligent, and open-minded enough to become enamored with the decidedly un-ordinary musings of a gay male knitter, check out The Panopticon, and join me and several hundred (thousand, even?) others in making Franklin Habit a habit of your own.

Returning to Earth

2007-04-10T16:32:00.000-05:00

I'm just returning to earth from Paradise, otherwise known as Costa Rica. Craig and I went with six ladies from my local quilt guild to visit Costa Rican quilters who came to Iowa for our quilt show in 2005. Between trying to organize several hundred photos from our trip, dealing with exterior and interior renovations on our house, and chairing our upcoming quilt show (coming in October), I've hardly had time to breathe! Check out my Webshots site for some of the photos from Costa Rica, and a couple of photos of the ongoing renovations to our house!

Abrazos.

Snowed In!

2007-03-02T14:23:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted in ages, it seems. I had a lot of trouble getting the "new, improved" Blogger to accept photos, got disgusted, and just ignored it for awhile. But I thought I'd try it again today, given that I'm snowed in at home. Iowa is in blizzard-ville at the moment. We got 8" of snow yesterday, I don't know how much today, and making it all worse are the high winds that make visibility almost zero.

Here are some photos. The first one is looking out our front storm door, which can't even be opened 'cause the snow is drifted up so high in front of it.

The next one is looking out our garage door -- we can't even get out of our driveway at the moment. Craig blows the snow off and it immediately blows right back on.

The last one is looking out our back windows. That drift is over four feet high. The neighbor's son is out snowboarding down the hill in back of our houses -- ah, to be young again! Just walking back up that hill a couple of times would do me in!

Stay warm, ya'll.

Greetings, Humans!

2007-01-22T16:17:00.000-06:00

I was reminded today of just how interesting we humans are. If I simply take the time to watch and listen to the people in my life, I can constantly be amused, entertained, educated, and exposed to the entire panoply of emotions, sights and sounds that life on this planet has to offer.

How much more serene my life would be if I could only remember to be present to the wonder of it all when I'm driving behind someone whose car obviously lacks turn signals or an accelerator.

The Boxes Finally Arrived!

2006-12-27T17:43:00.000-06:00

Thankfully, the three big boxes we mailed to Oregon finally arrived. For several years now, our son Mike has been asking Craig to make him a set of dishes. This year, Craig complied, and created a beautiful new glaze pattern for Mike and Melanie's dishes. Here's a bit of what their three big boxes contained -- none of it broken during their week-long trip. Aren't they gorgeous?

You can see more of Craig's pottery here:Pottery By Craig

Today, I also got a surprise -- a big box of goodies from my super SP9 Secret Pal. Check out all of this stuff!

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-26T19:54:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone is in the midst of lots of happy holiday celebrations with friends and family. We've just returned from several days in Oklahoma, visiting with our families. I can now reveal that the sweater was for my oldest son Mike, and the hat was for his lady Melanie. I got my sister a couple of knitting books and enough yarn to make her first sweater. She also wanted me to show her how to begin a bag for her youngest daughter's birthday. Well, she and I spent a VERY long time Christmas night trying to figure out how to use double-pointed needles. We even watched an online video. We never could get it right, however.

Then we found a video on how to do small circular knitting using two circular needles. That method seemed much easier, and my sister figured it out. Now the question is, what am I gonna do with my three sets of dpns? (Yeah, I'll probably get my LYS owner to show me how to use them, one of these days!)

On a more frustrating note, we sent three very large boxes to Mike on 12/18, by Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation, and they've never been seen again! No tracking info at all, and they've never shown up in Oregon. We're majorly bummed, and just waiting to see what happens. We filed a trace form with USPS and have called Mike's local PO, but still no info on the boxes. Needless to say, when they show up I'll be seeking a refund of the Priority Mail fees from USPS !!! I'd love to tell you what's in the boxes -- even more, I'd love for Mike and Melanie to see what's in them! Stay tuned for updates.

Wishing everyone peace and joy, and the knowledge that you are loved.

"Seams" Difficult to Me!

2006-12-08T11:02:00.000-06:00

I made this guy's sweater for a Christmas gift (recipient unnamed until after Christmas). The pattern is from the Austrian knitting magazine "Sandra." I've been very pleased with their patterns so far -- all except having to convert all the measurements from centimeters to inches, which is a pain.

This was my first experience putting a zipper in a sweater. I'm less than overjoyed with the result (notice I didn't post a close-up?). Similarly, I'm not thrilled with my seams. I tried several different seaming methods on the sweater, figuring since this probably will be worn for snowboarding, uniformity of seam appearance isn't really a big thing. I didn't find any of the methods really satisfactory. I think one problem is the super bulky yarn -- seaming and zipper insertion might look nicer on a smaller-gauge yarn. In any event, I think for my next sweater I'm going to ask my LYS owner for some assistance. I'm totally a perfectionist and would really like to become proficient at finishing techniques. After all, the yarn I buy for sweaters usually costs way more than I would spend just to buy the sweater, and I want the finished product to look professionally done.

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn's Encore Mega Colorspun in color 7130 (75% acrylic, 25% wool)

Hat's Off (the Needles, that is)

2006-12-05T15:47:00.000-06:00

I finished this hat from "The Viking Knits Collection" by Elsebeth Lavold. The hat is called Gram, an Old Norse name for a sword that’s mentioned in many of the Icelandic Sagas. In one of the most popular, the hero Sigurd kills the mythological serpent Fafner with the sword. The tale is depicted on many Viking Age rock and wood carvings in Sweden.

The motif on the hat is called a Four-Knot or a Love Knot, and consists of two intertwined rings. In Sweden, home to many Viking Age artifacts, it is a common practice to have a good luck symbol on your cap and mittens. The Love Knot was a very popular symbol among the Vikings.

The hat is a Christmas gift for someone special!

Fiber content: 65% Wool, 35% Silk

Early Christmas in Iowa!

2006-11-27T21:52:00.000-06:00

My Secret Pal rocks! This morning I hit the Post Office after almost a week's absence. Among the bin full of mail (98% catalogues that went straight to File 13), there was a big box from my Secret Pal. Holy cow, it took several minutes just to pull everything out and look at it. Check out the seven (count 'em, seven!) balls of cool sock yarn, a pattern book, note pads, sweet smelling bath stuff, and a hand-knit bath mitt - she even included the soap. I'm totally excited about the lace blocking wires - something I've been wanting. She sent me a knitting loom board, too. Now she just has to give me instructions on how to use it. (heh heh) I feel like an early Christmas has arrived in Iowa, and I'm the luckiest member of SP9!

I finished my jacket and have been loving it. It's very comfortable. The shoulders move easily like a sweater but it has the look of denim and is really warm. I like it a lot. I'm wondering about adding knitted sleeves to other types of vests -- corduroy, fleece, or even suede.

Here's a close-up of the sleeve pattern. Cool, eh? Time for more of my Christmastime "high fiber diet" -- knitting and quilting to finish! Happy Holidays, everyone!

Just Checking In

2006-11-16T16:23:00.000-06:00

It amazes me how quickly time flies by. I think about blogging almost daily, and I have loads of photos I'd like to post, but then suddenly it's midnight and I just have to get to bed. Work is a two-edged sword. Although it funds my habits and hobbies, it seriously interferes with my leisure activities!

I finished my own jacket from the denim vest and love it -- I wear it all the time. I promise to post photos by the weekend. I'm about 80% finished with a sweater for a male relative's Christmas gift (not saying who until after Christmas). This is the first item I've knit from mega-chunky yarn. WOW, does it go fast! Makes me want to knit more with great big yarn!

I'm about half-way through with my Big Easy jacket. I finished one scarf for the Red Scarf Project and have started another one. And I have plans for a dozen other knitting projects, at least.

I'm also working on a small art quilt for an exhibit that will travel to Costa Rica, for a show in March. Craig and I will be there, as well as several members of my local quilt guild. The exhibit is called Samples of Siouxland ('cause we're the Siouxland Samplers Quilt Guild).

I hope everyone's enjoying a "high fiber diet" full of yarn and fabric!

Jacket Up!

2006-10-28T17:36:00.000-05:00

I can finally share what I've been working on for the past few weeks. I've been making jackets from denim vests. A pattern in a magazine sparked the idea, although I didn't use their pattern. The photos in today's post are of the jacket I made for my sister. She bought a denim vest to fit her, and then I knitted sleeves using a 100% cotton yarn (called "Denim," but I can't find a ball band so I don't know the maker) held together with a variegated synthetic blend called "Fur Real" (Hummingbird).

Here's how I did her sleeves. First, I measured her wrist, sleeve length from underarm to wrist, upper arm circumference, and sleeve length from shoulder to wrist. I knit a gauge swatch and figured out how many stitches to cast on for a nice fit at her wrist. I added 3" ease at the upper arm and figured out how many stitches I should have at that point. Then I subtracted the cast-on row from the upper arm row to see how many stitches I needed to increase throughout the sleeve. I knit a couple of inches in garter stitch on US-4 needles, then switched to US-5 needles and knit in stockinette, increasing one stitch at each end every 6th row until I reached the underarm point, measuring to be sure the sleeve was long enough for her. I used a tape measure to measure around the vest's armhole -- the sleeve cap has to be the same measurement to fit the vest. I then started decreasing for the sleeve cap, knitting until the cap was the correct height. I bound off and stitched the sleeve seam.

To attach the sleeve to the vest, I pinned the sleeve inside the vest armhole. I then used thread to match the topstitching thread on the vest, and stitched right over the topstitching that was already there at the armhole (two paralellel rows of stitching about 1/4" apart, both going through the vest and the knitted sleeve). I gave her the jacket for her birthday last week, which is why I didn't post photos sooner - I didn't want her to see them. It fits perfectly and she loves it! Next week, I'll finish mine, which is totally different - smooth yarn and a pattern stitch. I'll post photos when it's done. Here's my sister in her new jacket. ;~)

Let the Games Begin!

2006-10-16T08:50:00.000-05:00

Shelby, my SP9 hostess-with-the-mostest, is running a contest that requires answers to a questionnaire about our favorite things. Here are my answers:

Actor - Robert Redford
Actress - Meryl Streep
Animal - Dogs, dogs, and more dogs!
Band - This one's impossible. If I have to choose just one, it's gonna have to be The Beatles.
Book - Another hard one - too many choices! I'll say "Magnificent Obsession" by Lloyd C. Douglas.
Bubble Bath - N/A -- I take showers.
Candy - Milk chocolate anything.
Color - Rust.
Drink - Strawberries & Cream Frappuccino from Starbucks
Flower - I love them ALL! For today, I'll pick mums.
Food - (You mean besides chocolate?) Mashed potatos and gravy.
Lip Balm - Cherry Chapstik
Lotion - Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Healing Formula
Movie - Star Wars: Episode IV (the original 1977 version)
Place - Anywhere with my husband
Song - No way I can choose just one song as my favorite. One that's on my Top 20 list is "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd.
TV Show - "Battlestar Galactica"
Yarn - Hmm, I'm going to have to go with "Legend," a 100% merino from Briar Rose Fibers
Vacation Spot - Lyon, France

Secret Pal 9 questionnaire

2006-10-05T13:26:00.000-05:00

1. Favorite yarns and fibers to knit with: Soft Merino wool; baby Alpaca; silk blends; unusual fibers like bamboo and soy silk and qiviut; soft cottons. Fibers I don't like: anything remotely scratchy against my skin; 100% synthetics, although blends with natural fibers are okay. Oh, and I HATE viscose (see Aug. 3rd blog entry about the "yarn from hell").

2. I store my needles in lovely silk needle cases from Lantern Moon.

3. I've been knitting for about 14 months. I actually learned over 30 years ago, but only did it for a year and then quit. During the summer of 2005, I took a beginning knitting class and was "off to the races," so to speak. I consider myself to be an adventurous intermediate, as far as skill level.

4. I don't have a "wish list" posted anywhere, but here's a short one: anything chocolate (notice this comes at the top, even before fiber - grin); stitch markers of all kinds and sizes; a pair of hand-knit socks - I've never had any, so I don't know what I'm missing; handknit dish cloths and hand towels; actually, anything that's handknit especially for me (with the exception of hats and mittens - I don't wear them); funky earrings.

5. My favorite scent? There are lots of them I like, but almost all scented items give me terrible hay fever. I like, and can tolerate, light scents of musk, patchouli, sandalwood, and herbal fragrances. I can't tolerate most floral scents, even in moderation.

6. No, I don't have a sweet tooth -- I have a whole sweet mouth! (Can you say "addicted to sugar"?) Milk chocolate is my favorite. I don't like licorice.

7. The other crafty thing I do is quilt. I love unusual fibers and fabrics. However, since I started knitting, my quilting has taken a back seat - I'm totally obsessed with knitting.

8. I love music. I usually listen to classic rock or contemporary country (not the "twangy" stuff), although I also like more easy-listening kinds of things (Josh Groban, some contemporary Christian music, etc.). I have an MP3 player and can load from a CD onto my MP3.

9. If we're talking about yarns and clothing, I think my favorite colors are rust, purples, and blues, but I like almost anything. My least favorites would be very clear colors (as opposed to variegated or mottled, etc.).

10. I'm married to an artist (a potter). I have a dog, Max (see very first blog post). I'm deathly allergic to cats.

11. I wear scarves and love them, but not hats or mittens. Although I like ponchos, our weather is usually too warm or too cold for them.

12. My favorite items to knit are sweaters, lace shawls, and scarves.

13. In addition to the list at the left under "On the Needles" (none of which is finished yet, by the way), I'm working on another jacket.

14. Do I like handmade gifts? Absolutely!

15. My favorite needles are Ebony straights and circulars from Lantern Moon. I also use Addi Turbos -- depends on the yarn. I find the Addi's too slippery for lace-weight yarns.

16. I do own a yarn winder and a swift. I'm terrible at winding lace-weight yarn, though -- I can't keep it from tangling!

17. My oldest knitting UFO is four months old. (Don't even ask me about my oldest quilting UFO -- I can't remember back that far!)

18. I love holidays. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd pick Thanksgiving because it's low-stress time with family and lots of great food!

19. Is there anything I collect? I guess it would have to be yarn and fabric and embellishments! (heh heh) I also collect small art quilts (see my Webshots page).

20. My friends say it's impossible to buy me books or magazines because I'll already have bought them. I subscribe to Vogue Knitting, Knit 'N Style, Rowan, Felati Handknitting, Sandra, Interweave Knits, and a couple more I can't remember. There's a new book coming out from Lily Chin called "Expressions" that I'd love to have but haven't been able to find (shall I stop looking?). [Update: Gasp! I just saw the Estonian Fiber Wrap from FiberTrends on another blog. It's gorgeous! I'd love to have that pattern!]

21. New techniques I'd like to learn? I'd have to say cables. I've done a few on dish cloths but thought they were quite awkward and not much fun. However, I only have one funky little cable needle -- maybe I need something else? I avoid patterns with cables (even though some are just gorgeous) because I've really never learned to do them well.

22. I've never knit socks yet. I have a long, narrow foot:
9 5/8" long; just under 3 3/4" wide at the widest point;
2" wide heel

23. My birthday is March 9th.

Now you know more about me than even I knew when I started this questionnaire!

"Evening at Quilthenge"

2006-09-22T12:55:00.000-05:00

I recently finished this quilt for the QuiltArt 2006 Grab Bag Challenge. The bag I received contained mostly fabrics in greens and blues, all close to the same value. They immediately gave me the impression of a landscape, but one that needed a focal point to add interest. I strip-pieced the grass and sky while I considered what to add to the landscape. I happened across a photograph of Stonehenge, and wondered again, for the hundredth time, how someone (human or alien) ever assembled the huge stones. I mused, "What if they had been quilters?"

I had the idea to superimpose quilt photos on the Stonehenge rocks. My sister, Nina Gilliland, recently took some PhotoShop courses, and I asked her if she would be able to do that. As you can see, she succeeded. She superimposed the photos of quilts and fabric over the rocks, and then added back in the original shading that was on the rocks in the photograph. I printed the individual rocks on a variety of cotton and silk fabrics, added FineFuse to the back, and fused them to the landscape. I couched thin decorative cording around each of the rocks to emphasize them.

The grass was quilted with long diagonal lines to emulate evening shadows, and the sky was quilted lightly with clouds. I did all of the quilting and couching before adding the backing fabric, which was fused on before the binding was applied.

"Evening at Quilthenge" is 20" x 20". After it travels in an exhibit for a year, it will go home to its owner, Virginia O'Donnell, who provided the Grab Bag from which the quilt was made.

Secret Weapon for Creativity

2006-09-21T10:06:00.000-05:00

In November, I'm going to take on the challenge of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo -- www.nanowrimo.org), and write 50,000 semi-coherent words in one month. To prepare for the task, I bought Chris Baty's book "No Plot? No Problem!" As I so often find in books I read, I've found gems in Baty's book that apply directly to art quilting, knitting, and any other form of creative endeavor. I thought I'd share this one with you. Baty says we need a secret weapon in order to succeed -- a deadline:

Deadlines are the dynamos of the modern age. They've built every city, won every contest, and helped all of us pay our taxes reasonably close to on time for years and years. Deadlines bring focus, forcing us to make time for the achievements we would otherwise postpone, encouraging us to reach beyond our conservative estimates of what we think possible, helping us to wrench victory from the jaws of sleep.

A deadline is, simply put, optimism in its most ass-kicking form. It's a potent force that, when wielded with respect, will level any obstacle in its path. This is especially true when it comes to creative pursuits.

I've always known that, for me, deadlines are the greatest motivators. However, I frequently have viewed them with resentment, dread, and anxiety. Thinking about deadlines as my "secret weapon to accomplishment" is a new perspective for me. I'm going to start welcoming more deadlines into my life, even setting some for myself. I started last Sunday -- I got up committed to finishing the center section of my Highland Triangle Shawl before I did anything else. I'm happy to say that after frogging the last dozen or so rows countless times, I finally succeeded and am ready to begin the first border.

It seems to me that a deadline is more motivating than a mere goal. Setting a goal is like saying, "I'll try," which brings to mind what Jedi Master Yoda told Luke Skywalker in Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back:

Do, or do not. There is no try.

May the Creative Force be with you today!

Going With the Flow

2006-09-01T08:37:00.000-05:00

Life just keeps on changing, doesn't it? I found out yesterday that I didn't get the job I wanted. I'm very disappointed. To help me get past it, I decided to make a list of the benefits of staying right where I am. Here are some of the things on my list:

* We don't have to move -- moving is awful!
* We won't be 4 1/2 hours farther away from our families.
* We don't have to leave all of the friends we've made here.
* My life will remain relatively stress-free.
* I can still wear jeans to work when the boss is gone (smile).
* I won't be the brunt of a higher up's complaints.
* My current work situation is extremely pleasant.

In the meantime, I have a couple of things beginning today to take my mind off my disappointment and bring me back to the excitement of my life! First, today is the day I start a new relationship with my Mentee through the vMentor program (see the Aug. 9, 2006 post). I'm excited about this and hope the relationship will grow and flourish and end up lasting a lifetime (probably mine, given our ages!). Second, today is the day I sign up to get a knitting "secret pal," which should be lots of fun for the next few months.

This is also the start of a holiday weekend, when I'll get to knit and quilt and watch Andre Agassi progress through his final U.S. Open (this is pro tennis, for those of you who are clueless), and just relax.

So life remains good! I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

The photos in this post are of the beautiful Umpqua National Forest and Toketee Falls in Oregon, near my son Mike's home.

Plea for Adult Merit Badges

2006-08-24T15:33:00.000-05:00

You know what I wish I still had? My green Girl Scout sash with all of my merit badges on it. Each embroidered merit badge was so colorful and pretty. I can still remember paging through the handbook as I decided which badge to earn next. If I still had my sash, I would remove the badges and stitch them into a wall hanging of some sort as a personal memory piece. Those merit badges provided a tangible incentive for me to branch out and try new things that otherwise I might not have tried.

My Girl Scout sash isn't the only item I lost along life's road that I wish I could recover. There was my Shirley Temple doll, which now would be worth a lot of money; the baby doll with the cloth body and the porcelain face, hands, and feet, that belonged to my mother when she was a child, which my ex-husband told me numerous times that he had but he never seemed to come up with; a china plate painted with roses by my paternal grandmother, which supposedly was packed when I moved to Iowa seven years ago but has never shown up; a stuffed squirrel (nope, not kidding) that I sold those hand-woven potholders to earn the money for when I was a kid; a plaster three-dimensional Last Supper that used to hang on my maternal grandparents' wall, broken when I moved from Denver to Boulder, Colorado, a very long time ago; my mother's emerald ring that was stolen from me at work right after her death (not current work, at a law firm where I worked 15 years ago). It feels a bit like I've left a trail of little bits of myself as I've traveled life's path -- as though instead of earning merit badges, I've had to give things away in order to progress.

I think we should have Adult Merit Badges. We could even design them ourselves. Here are some of my ideas -- what are yours?

* A mortarboard with tassel, for finishing my undergraduate degree.
* The Scales of Justice, for finishing my law degree.
* A grand piano, for serving as volunteer accompanist for my sons' high school choir
* A big red heart to evidence my love for my family and friends
* A broken heart for enduring the loss of my parents and other loved ones
* An old-fashioned Royal typewriter, because I'm the fastest typist I know
* A dog's paw print to show my love of dogs
* A red ribbon to evidence my loving service to persons living with AIDS
* A Mariner's Compass, to evidence my love for and pride in my two sons, and to show them there's always a way back home
* Knitting needles (I only get this one when I finish the Highland Triangle Shawl!)
* Nine interlocked circles to represent my group of 'high-fiber friends,' the Material Girls
* A hand-thrown vase to show my admiration for my husband's talent as a potter
* A book to evidence my ongoing quest to keep learning

Now all I need is a sash.

A Little Haiku

2006-08-17T16:44:00.000-05:00

I'm preparing to interview for a job that would require me to move, leaving close friends I've made during the seven years we've lived in Sioux City. I'm a member of a small group of "fabric and fiber" buddies -- the Material Girls. The nine of us have been together almost a year now and have gotten really close. When I moved to Iowa from Oklahoma, I had to leave my little sister behind. This move would be like leaving behind eight more sisters. Thinking about this possibility prompted me to write a haiku:

One road is ending.
My feet begin the journey.
Friendships will endure.

Traditional haiku is made up of three lines. Each line is distinct and complete, in and of itself, yet all three relate to each other. The first and third lines each have five syllables; the second line has seven syllables.

My favorite haiku is one my sister, Nina Gilliland, wrote in (get this) elementary school! I still think of it whenever I see a beautiful sunset with white, fluffy clouds. It goes like this:

The day is ending.
I stand and watch the sunset.
God is in the clouds.

Try writing a haiku yourself, for fun, as a meditation, or just as a creative exercise. Stretch your brain!

Dreaming of the Highlands!

2006-08-14T14:36:00.000-05:00

I'm midway through the last repeat of the center section of my Highland Triangle Shawl! I've had some stumbling blocks along the way. I'm not willing to leave mistakes in there, so I've done a bit of frogging. Wouldn't you know it, now that I'm almost through with the center, I've really gotten used to the lace pattern. By the end of the week, I should be picking up stitches for the first border. This will be my first experience at picking up stitches so I'm a little nervous, but I've read enough articles and blogs and seen enough photos that I think it'll be fine. Photos should be coming soon!

Book Recommendation: "Knitting Heaven and Earth" by Susan Gordon Lydon. Wonderful, inspirational essays and musings about knitting and life.

Life is Like a Yellow Brick Road

2006-08-09T08:49:00.000-05:00

In "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy is told to "follow the Yellow Brick Road" to find Oz, and her way home. As she travels the road, it leads her through many new experiences along her way. It occurs to me that life is a lot like a Yellow Brick Road that branches off in many directions. Others, who are farther along the road than we, may leave breadcrumbs for us to follow, if we choose to do so. The choices we make take us to further branches in the road, leading us into new adventures each day. Here's a recent example of my own trek down the Yellow Brick Road.

In the summer of 2005, I decided to take a knitting class. I learned very basic knitting thirty years ago, but didn't stick with it. This time, I caught the "knitting bug," and am now happily accumulating a yarn stash and knitting a variety of projects. About three months ago, I picked up a copy of a knitting magazine that had a little article on podcasts. I'd heard the word "podcast" before, but really didn't know what it meant. I decided to check out the links, and instantly became an avid listener of Cast-On with Brenda Dayne. I liked the podcast so much that I decided to listen to all of the episodes from the beginning. As a result, I'm only up to Episode 20, though Brenda posted Episode 32 last week.

Brenda always posts great show notes with links to all kinds of interesting websites. For me, one website leads to another, and then another and another, as I follow them like Dorothy followed the Yellow Brick Road. One day, as I was traveling this linked road, I came across the Red Scarf Project on the website of the Orphan Foundation of America, an organization I'd never heard of before. I browsed around the OFA's website and learned about the opportunity to become a vMentor to a foster youth. For a very small commitment of my time and energy, I could support a 'parentless' young person as he/she moves from the foster care program out into the world, either to work or to college. I applied immediately to become a vMentor. I have now been matched with a young man entering his junior year in college, and we are scheduled to begin our e-mail relationship on September 1st. I am excited at the prospect.

So, by following the breadcrumbs strewn across my own Yellow Brick Road, I have discovered (1) a passtime that provides me with immeasurable enjoyment and satisfaction; (2) a podcast that is entertaining, informative, and enriches my life, as an extraordinary woman shares her life and her knitting experiences with listeners; (3) opportunities to knit for charitable purposes; and (4) the chance to contribute to someone else's life and build a new relationship with a young person. And all of this is because I chose to take the fork in the road that led me to take a knitting class just over a year ago.

I can hardly wait to see where today's road takes me!

A Rant a Day Keeps the Blues Away!

2006-08-08T14:54:00.000-05:00

(Of course, it may send people running for cover. . . .) I have to rant today, on a number of topics. First, I'm disappointed in the response to my offer to exchange pieces of the "Spin City" drapes for a tax-deductible contribution to the American Cancer Society. I mean, come on, it's the American Cancer Society -- you'd make a donation even if you didn't get anything for it!

Second, I bought an expensive pair of ebony circular needles to complete my Highland Triangle Shawl. I think the company is making them too fast -- they totally forgot to glue one of the needles into the brass fitting. It somehow stayed in there long enough for me to knit a couple of rows, and then look down and see half a row of stitches laying in my lap with the needle -- just the needle, not the fitting and cord -- still in my hand. Needless (pun intended) to say, it took awhile to remedy the situation. I glued it in myself with epoxy. Now it'll stay in until the world ends.

Third, it took me all day to upload the "I Knit to Cast-On" button in my sidebar. I kept getting an error from Blogger, saying the photo upload page couldn't be displayed. Finally fiddled around with my Internet settings and it worked, but I've never had the problem before with other photos.

Fourth, Craig and I went to see Rascal Flatts the other night. For the most part, we couldn't even enjoy the group's tight, sweet harmonies because of the girls SCREAMING throughout every single minute of the concert. The same thing happened when we saw Rob Thomas in a smaller venue a couple of months ago. I wanted to go over and shake them and say, "HELLO, didn't you pay X dollars for a ticket? Don't you want to hear them SING?" They can put on a CD and scream at home! I mean, I can see screaming between the songs, but it just seems rude, to me, to scream while they're singing.

Fifth, my ankles are freezing in here. This morning, I asked the building maintenance guy to please turn up the temp back in my office because I've been cold all week. I think he turned the temp down, instead of up.

Okay, you've probably had enough by now. Dontcha feel better?

A Piece of TV History Supports FiberArt for a Cause

2006-08-07T11:22:00.000-05:00

For those of you who don't know already, FiberArt for a Cause, created by Virginia Spiegel, is a fund-raising program that benefits the American Cancer Society. (See FFAC button in the sidebar for more information.) Here's your chance to own a piece of television memorabilia and support the ACS in the process!

A few years ago, when "Spin City" went off the air, props from the show were auctioned off on eBay to benefit Michael J. Fox's "Fox Foundation," in support of research to end Parkinson's Disease. I purchased the drapes from Mike's "Spin City" office. Now, for a $30 donation to the American Cancer Society, you can own a piece or two of the drapes, complete with a Certificate of Authenticity. You will mail me a check payable to the ACS for $30.00, along with a Priority Mail stamp, and I will send you one or two pieces of the drapes (totaling at least 18" x 21"). E-mail me (tommequilts@cableone.net) to order a piece.

I also have larger pieces available, including a full 61" x 118" panel. And I have two panels of sheers that are 61" x 118" (with 3 1/2" hem). I am willing to negotiate for larger pieces, also involving payment directly to the ACS. So, how about it? Make a tax-deductible donation to the American Cancer Society and own a piece of "Spin City" memorabilia!

TGIF

2006-08-04T16:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, everyone! I enjoyed surfing from blog to blog this afternoon, reading about other people's works-in-progress, laughing at jokes, and generally just being glad the weekend's finally here. I don't have much to say, myself. I'm just wondering how it would be if I took my knitting to the Rascal Flatts concert tonight. I could attach one of those little book lights to the front brim of a cowboy hat and. . . .

The Yarn From Hell!

2006-08-03T14:54:00.000-05:00

First, a disclaimer -- the yarn company has been super accommodating regarding this yarn and is replacing it with a comparable quantity of a different yarn. Having said that, here's what happened.

I walked into my local yarn shop and saw the prettiest new yarn hanging in the window. It was obviously hand-dyed and came in a wide array of colors. I pulled out a hank to examine it more closely and first looked at the price - $35/hank for 150 yds! What was this stuff? I then saw it was 100% viscose (a natural polymer made from wood pulp that's gaining popularity in the clothing industry, often blended with rayon, silk, or cotton), and made by an organization in Nepal that empowers women who have escaped abusive situations. Okay, they won me over. I selected a colorway in blacks, tans, and grays, and bought three hanks, thinking I would make a smallish rectangular shawl from it.

The problems began when I started knitting with the stuff. First of all, there were at least a dozen knots in each hank. I soon found out why -- the yarn simply wouldn't hold together. I'd be knitting along -- loosely, mind you, on size 11 needles -- and it would just pull apart. It fuzzed up and pilled and shed. The fibers came unwound. It was the worst yarn I've ever knit with! The yarn is a thick-thin type, a bit like a bouclé, which is great, but the thin places went down almost to the thickness of regular sewing thread in places.

After I realized that whatever I knit from this "yarn from hell" was, of necessity, going to have numerous knots and stop-starts, and be fuzzy and scrumbly and uneven, I abandoned all hope of knitting a wearable and started a table runner, knit in a simple pattern of stockinette for 40 rows (20 right-side rows) and then 2 rows of pearl stitches, with bobbles on each end. I'm knitting from the bobble end to the middle, in two separate pieces, and then doing a 3-needle bindoff to join the two pieces. Here's a photo of a piece of the "World's Most Expensive Table Runner" (not blocked yet).

When I reported back to the yarn shop owner about my experience, she noted the hanks she was using for a shop sample hadn't experienced the same problems. She called the company and they agreed to replace my yarn. But I have to say I'll be reluctant to knit with 100% viscose again anytime soon!

On a happier note, I received in today's mail a one-pound skein of gorgeous lace-weight hand-painted rayon from Katsara Yarns (link is in the sidebar). And at lunchtime, I managed to knit a few rows on my Lana Grossa short-sleeved sweater, which I'm knitting out of a wonderful lavender-colored bamboo yarn that has the loveliest drape and sheen.

Happy Knitting, Everyone!

"Blogger" Conquered!

2006-08-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

With the guidance of friends from the QuiltArt Internet mail list, during the past two days I've learned a lot of HTML, figured out how to put lists of things in the "sidebar," changed colors and fonts, and done all kinds of things to customize my blog. I'm sure I'll keep tinkering with it as time goes by, but for now, I like the look much better than the generic template provided by Blogger. THANKS to everyone who helped!

Tomorrow, I'll tell you about the World's Most Expensive Table Runner -- the result of an unfortunate yarn buy!

Creative Thought for the Day:
Remember to Breathe!

Breast Cancer Awareness

2006-08-01T10:18:00.000-05:00

I have just watched a video of a Seattle newscast about a largely-unknown type of breast cancer, Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), that mascarades as a bug bite, of all things. I urge everyone to watch this six-minute video, available on the Seattle station's web site:
http://www.komotv.com/ibc/
It could save your life, or the life of a loved one.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2006-07-31T13:52:00.000-05:00

With "The Sound of Music" on the brain (I recently watched the 40th anniversary DVD, with all the interviews and documentaries), I'm motivated to share a few of my own "favorite things." Despite an hour of searching Blogger's "help" files, I cannot figure out how to list things over in the sidebar area of this blog. Sorry, but I'm just not up to learning html at the moment. So I'll just have to share some of my faves with you here, at least for now.

Favorite E-mail Group:

QuiltArt

Favorite Podcast:

Cast-On: A Podcast for Knitters

Favorite Yarns:

Hand-Painted yarns by Briar Rose Fibers

Anny Blatt silk

Lorna's Laces

Cascade "Sierra" (80% Pima cotton, 20% Peruvian wool)

Favorite Drink:

Strawberries & Cream Frappucino from Starbucks (well, of course I want whipped cream - silly question!)

Favorite License Plate:

My own: TLOVESC (Tomme Loves Craig)

Such a Dog!

2006-07-30T18:14:00.000-05:00

There was nothing serious wrong with Max. She just had a pulled muscle or something. After a couple of anti-inflammatories ("doggie Ibuprofen"), she's back to her usual, wild self!

I spent yesterday tearing out my hair over a lace shawl I'm knitting. It's the Highland Triangle Shawl from "Folk Shawls," and I'm knitting it with a lovely, soft, hand-painted Merino from Briar Rose Fibers. I was well into the center section when I spread out the fabric to admire the pattern. About half-way up from the bottom, I found a glaring mistake that went across an entire row. I wasn't willing to leave the mistake in there, so I proceeded to rip it back to the mistake (about 12"), and then start again from there. For some reason, I had the hardest time for awhile, and it took me hours to get back to the point I'd reached before I ripped it out. ARGH! I'm back on track, though. I love the "Folk Shawls" book and want to knit almost everything in it!

Today I've been working on a quilt for the Grab Bag Challenge on the QuiltArt internet list. Each person filled a small bag with fabrics, fibers, beads, etc., and then the bags were exchanged by the challenge chair (me). The challenge is to make a 20" x 20" art quilt using recognizable portions of at least 1/3 of the materials in the bag. No one knows whose quilt they are making or who's making their quilt. We did a similar challenge two years ago (the Bag O' Stuff Challenge). You can see the "raw" bags and the finished quilts on my Webshots site.

I can't say much about the quilt I'm making for the current challenge because it's a secret until the owner sees it, around the first week in September. What I will say is that my sister is helping me with her PhotoShop expertise. I made some progress on the quilt, so now I'm going to reward myself by (what else) going back to my knitting.

Creative thought for the day: Remember to look for different ways of doing things. Always doing something the "same old way" keeps you in a rut, and keeps you from discovering what else might be possible.

Oh, good grief!

2006-07-28T11:02:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm right in the middle of creating this new blog (by the way, something I said I'd never do). My husband is on his way out of town for an arts festival in Alexandria, MN, this weekend. He just called to tell me my dog isn't feeling well. If you knew how I feel about my dog, you'd understand that this takes priority over pretty much anything. (Here's a picture of Max, the "Devil Dog," so called by my husband because of her black eyes.) So I guess this will have to wait.