PROGRESS REPORT 33

A L I S A

I really love combining techniques in creating my puppets and dolls. I am currently working on a budgie doll and decided I wanted to weave the wings. I've used a sewing ham to secure the warp and then packing the weave tightly to create a woven shape. I really love that I can create these types of shapes. 

J E N N E

Heading into Autumn, feeling the need to make some warm woolies for everyone.  Wool socks are a necessity and not cheap, but somehow over the years I have amassed a stash of quite a lot of sock yarn and it makes more sense to just make them this year.   Its the first time I have made socks completely from math and measurements and though they look pointy they fit my kid better than any other socks I have made for myself from a pattern.  I love this time of year, the slowing down and working on home projects and turning a bit inwards, it suits my hermit-y craft pursuits.  

PROGRESS REPORT 32

A L I S A

I've been working on this great shawl called Sea glass. It's been a great carry around project of join-as-you-go crochet motifs. The best is that Kelbourne Woolens declared this summer Crochet Summer 2015 and there have been some amazing projects tagged. I used a very fun multi-coloured yarn and, as I usually do, ran out of yarn just in time for the border. This happens to me a lot and I really like that it does. It gives me a chance to get creative and add a fun new colour or texture element. This time, I'm using some fun hand-dyed yellow yarn that I had in my stash to finish it off! It's the perfect fall colours and I can't wait to give it a bath and wear it!

J E N N E

Merino, spun woolen, feels like spiderwoman spinning chewing gum so fine.  Its really my favorite way to spin wool, the ease of pulling the wool into place, letting it fill the twist as it will.  4 bobbins full to ply and then dye in a rudbeckia bath, then to overdye some of it in indigo as a test.  

PROGRESS REPORT 31

A L I S A

I've been working on a bunch of stuff lately. Some weaving (you can see some of it in the background of this picture), prepping for some cool classes I'll be teaching starting in a few weeks and dolls. The dolls have paper heads and I use weaving, hand-sewing, crochet and embroidery for the bodies. I'm trying to add some birds and reptiles to the bunch. I'm also thinking of making some of them into hand-puppets.

J E N N E

Aaannnd we are back!  It has been a record hot summer in the Pacific Northwest and we moved back here right in the middle of it - it has been great for starting some dyeplants in the garden to quickly harvest and dry to work with when the rain comes (and rumor has it thats tomorrow.)  I took a natural dyeing class from farm to field with Local Color Fiber Studio on Bainbridge Island a couple weeks ago in which we harvested from the dye fields in the morning and dyed in the studio in the afternoon.  I never really had the space to really get into dyeing anything until now in our new house, and this class renewed my intense love of playing with color and learning about what can be grown here in this usually short growing season.  Already planning next years dye garden in a borrowed plot, indigo and other things but for right now just cutting and keeping dahlias, marigolds and rudbeckia for days.  Heading out on a hike to look for hawthorne berries and oregon grape tomorrow, hoping to forage some to try too.  

PROGRESS REPORT 26

A L I S A

I finally finished and blocked my Camino de Santiago cowl by Danielle Kassner. I started it last year when I was visiting Cal at Hodge Podge Farm. It's made out of a variety of yarns from my stash and is super warm and cushy and perfect for the impending winter. It's done in tapestry crochet and I have to say that this is one of my favourite techniques. I cannot wait to use it more and make up my own patterns. The only thing about it was that it was a difficult project to carry around because there was a chart and several balls of yarn on the go at once. I'm thinking of digging out my fingerless mitts to finish - a pattern by the same designer. 

J E N N E

Last week I almost totally destroyed my left hand in a fall at my daughter's school. Thankfully, after xrays nothing was deemed broken, just a lot of pain, bruising, and a sprain. My doctor's prescription was normal daily activity in moderation, and when I explained that that for me was alot of handwork she said yes. My hands were used to the work and it was important to keep the muscles moving in the ways they are used to. Alisa sent me a message that Laboradite would be a good stone to hold in my hand to help heal, so I spent the last week weaving and knitting on this vest, alternating with rest holding my favorite blue flashy stone in hand. And today my hand is so purple, turning yellow, in the clearing up stages of bruising and looks terrible but feels totally normal. Thank you craft. Thank you hands.