Dear www,
How are you today? l hope this e-mail finds you well. l'm at work and should be working, but it's Wednesday and Spring has gotten the better of me. l'm day dreaming about fixing my sewing machines (yes, l broke both of them) and finishing my dress.
l spent the evening watching X-Files Season 1 and quilting. Netflix 'watch instantly' is the best thing since sliced bread. It keeps me entertained through the KING SIZED (that's very big) quilt that is my brother's wedding present (okay they've been married for 2 years- what's the rush at this point?). This is my first quilt. l've never made one before, but really wanted to make my brother something special. l found a picture of a quilt that inspired me. l bought a mix of Joann's & Amy Butler and random cotton fabrics in prints & solids and got to work. Little did l know that King size is very large for a quilt, especially a hand quilted quilt, even more especially for a first time quilter. l had to enlist the help of some amazingly talented friend at the Central Ohio Weaver's Guild. Luckily many of the members are experienced and talented quilters. Jane and her daughter Rachel helped me baste the beast! It took 2 tables, a lot of masking tape and 3 million safety pins (slight exaggeration). Boy did we have sore fingers, but the masterpiece is together and on the frame that l had to borrow from Jane.
Lesson learned - do not buy a quilt frame unless you try one out first and know what you are buying. The used one l purchased was difficult, awkward, huge and broke in the first 2 hours of it's life. Now that l know, l could have saved $60 and bought (for the same price) the easy to use, store and assemble frame that Jane uses and has graciously let me borrow.
What else is on the craft calender for this week?
Well l've still got that Vogue sweater on the needles. l guess it's almost a year now. Having been a Sweater Designer for 7 years l love the irony that l've never actually knit a sweater. Maybe that is what is holding me back from finishing this guy. It's going to be super cute when it's done- see photo or Vogue Knitting to purchase the pattern.
Spinning my novelty boucle with my hand dyed bamboo roving. l've got the first ply started and it's looking good. l love spinning. l don't feel like l did enough of it this winter. Usually the summer doesn't lend itself to lots of spinning, not with the garden, house work, quilting, farmer's market and work. The winter though, there's nothing better then an evening spent by the fire with the wheel going.
The new dress. l've picked up a vintage pattern from the 50's and some cheap fabric from Joann's. l don't make a pattern in good fabric until l've tried it once in something inexpensive. l want to make sure it fits, that l like how it looks, etc before l invest in some serious fabric $$$. This project is on hold until the sewing machines are repaired. Hopefully by Saturday. l am really aching to get this done by Sunday. If it all works out l want to discharge print the dress and get it into the COWG style show on the 17th. Nothing like last minute......
Etsy and the hair accessories. Okay l have the Etsy account set up and ready, the headbands are ready, the pictures were taken and....well the pictures- l'm not happy with how they turned out. l need to do some investigating and find a way to take better still life photos. The lighting is awkward, the headbands don't look great and they are! l think l'm going to build a light box and see if that helps. Wait what's that you say? Another big project? Yes this is going to put the Etsy shop on hold for a bit until l get this figured out... Stay tuned.
The candles- my wine bottle candles are waiting for the essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs to arrive. Then back into candle production. l think l can get these on Etsy before my headbands. It's the labels l've got to figure out now.
There's more- there's the flower beds. They need to be weeded and my seeds need to be started for this year. That's a Sunday project. We have our 'walk in the woods' this Saturday morning to look for wild ferns, wild geraniums & succulents. Don't worry there are plenty of them in the woods we walk through and we have the owners permission. l'd never disturb an endangered or protected plant or tress pass. They'll be transplanted into my wild shade garden, where they can hang out with hosta's, bleeding hearts and wild ginger....
l've got some great inspirational ideas for my next weaving project from Sri Threads. http://srithreads.com/ It doesn't get more inspirational then their collection of Japanese textiles. Whoa baby that's the good stuff!!! l love the wisteria fiber and am fascinated with what fabric would look like woven in that. l am either going to get my own wisteria or call mom and dad and have them send some of theirs out this way. l'll have to experiment on how to process it. It might mean an e-mail to Judith Mackenzie McCuin to see if she has any advice on where to even start...
There's more, much, much more, but l will leave it at that for now. Also l will have to post some pictures of the quilt, the dress, the sweater, the bamboo....
We've only just begun.
Your Friend,
Kim
xoxoxo
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