needles, hooks, and shepherd's crooks

Fuel

2010-09-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

A few things I've come across that have been making my imagination train chug a little harder.

Crocheted Wire Sculpture by Ruth Asawa

Crocheted "Grass" rug

Porcelain crocheted doil ies

PS: I may have found some EXCELLENT things thrifting this weekend.

Thrift Store Chronicles 2: I succumbed...

2010-08-27T20:11:00.001-07:00

So, I've been really pretty good about not spending money for the last couple of weeks (granted, it was because I pretty much didn't have any) and I definitely hid my credit card in the back of my closet, but then this fashion blog I follow had to go and introduce me to a new online store and I have been completely consumed by the glory that is the British clothing label All Saints. Consequently I bought this sweater and that purchase opened up the shopping fever floodgates prompting me to take an unplanned visit to the neighborhood Goodwill on the way back from (better) job search related activities. What did I find there? Well, I had to keep the sweater lust satisfied, and what better way to do it than with this beautifully ugly grey/magenta thing I found hidden among the racks? Plus, it fits super well (more so on me than on the dress form). I also found this no doubt once very expensive 70% silk 30% cotton blend, paneled dress tee. Tres sexy. It also fits me awesomely (again, dress form has boobs, boy clothes don't fit her like they fit me).

I also snagged another cute, well fitting sweater and a NICE powder blue sports coat that I may take in just a teeny bit, but also fit me pretty darn well. And of course, knowing me, I couldn't help but spend much longer than necessary browsing through the housewares...and I may have found a couple of things. Really awesome things. Really awesome things that were totally worth the combined $4.50 of investment I made in them.

First off, a real English tea set. Well half of one. Vintage Denby Stoneware teacups and saucers. Made in England, thus lit'rally English. I spent forever trying to track down the teacups, but only two seemed to be remaining, so tea for two it is. (With several backup saucers...) My other worthwhile finds were a really great uniquely modern vase and an ancient amber colored container. Both will someday pride great services for me in my dining room and kitchen respectively.

And in other news there should be a relatively good chance of my having a full time job by the end of the month. Unfortunately the process of filling positions and Indiana State University (where I'm hoping to be employed) is not speedy, but I'll keep y'all informed.

Also. I joined a choir. We're singing Poulenc's Gloria. The guy who stands next to me is tone deaf. Enough said.

PS: I'm sewing. (And knitting). I pinky swear that my next post will be about things I've made rather than bought. ^- ^

If I had a million dollars...

2010-07-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

...I would wait for these to be seriously on sale(and I mean at least reduced by 90%) and then buy them.

Vince: Shawl Collar Cable Sweater $265 Polo Ralph Lauren: Cable Knit Belted Cardigan $495

Pierotucci: Toscanella Shoulder Bag $335
Master-Piece: Coile Toto $450

Moreschi: Blue Suede Twist Slip On $635
Also on my wish list: a Canon Rebel EOS 550D Rebel T2i. I need a camera. A good one. This one is probably plenty good to suit my purposes. I should stop buying things and start saving some money up while I wait for this bad boy to go on sale. ^ - ^

Thrift Store Chronicles - Louisville

2010-07-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

I've had a problem with thrift stores since I was in middle school. Though I'm slowly progressing to the point where I really look for things I can actually use, I've always been drawn to things that sit on a shelf and look pretty. I've got so many lovely, but mostly useless little things stored away that I could probably go about accessorizing a large apartment. This past week I spent a few quality hours thrifting with my aunt, her mom, and my grandma in Louisville, KY. Here's a glimpse at some of what I found.

I, of course, didn't at all manage to limit myself to awesome functional things I would put to use, a few "space fillers" managed to be slipped into the mix. Green seemed to be the color of the day, as hidden among the other items on the shelves I espied this beautiful apple paperweight and two little antique pitchers, all hand-blown.

I think this lead crystal table lamp was a great find. It's super sturdy and I think cleaned up a bit, with the hardware an awesome shade of teal and finished off with the perfect shade it'll look fantastic. Completely worth the $3 it cost me.

And I absolutely love this glass cup. It's so unique and the amber color is phenomenal. I want more of them. There was only this one in the shop I found it in, but if anyone comes across others like it, buy them for me!

But my favorite finds? These awesome vintage red and blue paisley suspenders, a fantastic canvas and leather commuter bag ($2!), and a cream colored 1980's Member's Only jacket for less than $5.

LOVE - Home

2010-07-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

So, every now and then I'm going to put up a post featuring beautiful and interesting things I've come across that I absolutely love. I'll try and bunch these up into little sub-groups, you know like food, home, fashion, etc. These posts will be pretty focused just on sharing my finds, visually focused without a lot of chatter. For round one, it's "home".

There's this store I've found. VivaTerra.com. Natural, modern, and global, but with an earthy antiqued feel. It's an incredible blend of things I love. Here are a few of my favorites. None of which I can afford.

First: Living succulent wreath, felted stone mat

Below: hand-blown glass pears, recycled glass lamp

And lastly, probably my favorite: library desk

Moving Forward

2010-07-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

I'm completely fixed upon developing my relationship with sewing machines. I've used them from time to time, I'm somewhat familiar with the territory...but any time I start thinking about what I'd like to sew, I get anxious. All this knitting and crocheting has given me the fabulous luxury of absolute control over the finished project. Thus, when I'm at a sewing machine, I feel like a back seat driver. I'm not the one in control though I desperately want to be. However, I'm determined to conquer one of these beasts and to move my way into the drivers seat.

Hopefully, sometime soon I'll have one of these, a 15-91 Singer, headed my direction. And if the one I've got my eye on gets to me, it'll come with extra attachments, original instruction manual, and cabinet in tow.

I feel like sharing.

2010-03-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

So far this blog hasn't acheived much in the way of growth, but I think I'm reaching a point where that could change. I'm two months away from graduating with a degree I'm no longer certain I want to pruse any further, and while I'm certainly not writing it off by any means, I'm ready to explore some new directions. Hopefully I'll be more successful in sharing my projects but also (taking a hint of inspiration from some other blogs I frequent) sharing things I find that I really love and take inspiration from. Starting with these.

The artist behind these AMAZING end tables, Laura Spector, harvests the wood of invasive vine species to create her work, not only helping to decrease the damage these plants do to the environments they've invaded, but creating beautiful works of functional art. I highly suggest you visit her website to see some of the even more amazing things she's created. http://www.lauraspectorrusticdesign.com/

I've always found the natural shapes of wood incredibly appealing. When I was growing up, any trip to the beach would include my mother scavenging for interesting bits of driftwood and any trip we'd take to our ranch in the Colorado rockies would end up with my grandmother dragging home some enormous wind weathered tree root or another. I love the warmth and beauty of natural wood, and find successful incorporation of natural elements into a modern aesthetic breathtaking.

This is probably why I love so many of the things at Terrain. Especially this suspended cattleya cloche.

I find it absolutely stunning and I love how it combines two of my favorite things, plants and glass containers, so beautifully. The only way to make this better would be to sit it upon one of Laura Specter's nightstands. And if you're interested in eco-friendly products I've just come across this store as well. http://www.vivaterra.com/

Lastly, since we broached the subject of my fascination with glass containers, my mother found this fantastic vintage wine cooling decanter for me. (This isn't a picture of mine, but one I pulled off the net after some research).

Unfortunately, in mine, the little ice bowl you can make out within the body of the decanter is cracked and leaks a tiny bit. However, I think I might see just how well it serves as a sangria jug regardless of that fact.Hopefully this represents the start of something more consistent in my blog life. ^ - ^

PS: Check out this giveaway for some fantastic spring green sock yarns from Alaskan Purl!

Not quite reunited with my stash, but closer!

2009-08-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

I've got a spinning wheel! I haven't yet spun on it yet as my fiber is all locked away in storage on my college campus, but I've got my very own little Ashford Traveler! My grandmother happened to know a woman who taught spinning and it turned out she had a few wheels she was willing to part with so one of them has become my own!

This of course means I'd love, love, love to get my hands on some wool! So in comes another Phatfiber contest! This stuff sure looks pretty!

http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/08/jelas-fiber-and-giveaway.html

And there's this one I've just come across too!

http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/08/moonwood-farm-moonbeam-club-giveaway.html

And another one! A big 'un for a complete set of the new Knit Picks acrylic circular Zephyr needles!

http://thingsmomslike.com/2009/07/30/knitpicks-zephyr-knitting-needle-set-giveaway-821

The home stretch is here!

2009-05-18T09:45:00.001-07:00

It's finals time no campus and in less than one week I will be departing for Europe for two months! It feels like there is still sooo much to take care of before then. For now I'm taking tests and crafting up a storm to give make up for how lonely all of my supplies are going to feel since they'll be in storage all summer. Unfortunately, I've already parted with my computer for the summer so there won't be any pictures for quite some time. I haven't any knitting projects at the moment, but my crochet project for my mother, Stitch Diva's Baroque Ladies Jacket is coming along quite nicely. I've also been spinning away and yesterday I plied and dyed a bit of blue faced leicester (definitely one of my favorite wools so far) and have come up with a 60 yard hand dyed, hand spun, mostly heavy worsted weight skein! I haven't seen the finished color yet because I had to leave before the process was quite finished, but I'm told it's a lovely red/orange color. I'm excited to see it! And the Vines Painted Desert colorway I won from Phat Fiber arrived and I just couldn't handle seeing it sit there so I'm finally experiencing my first hand painted spinning! It's been a little tought to adjust to the merino fibers and I definitely think I should probably have predrafted a bit before I started, but I'm beginning to produce a much more consistent yarn weight and it is fascination to watch the colors change and wrap around one another. I hope I manage to get the rest of it spun ASAP!

And also! Check out these contests!

http://www.divaknitting.com/blog/2009/05/15/

http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/05/cool-climates-interveiw-with-rachel.html

Showing off the Loot

2009-05-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I went to Shepherds Harvest Saturday, and spent more than I intended too. That however, was definitely an unavoidable outcome. ^.^

The trip there was rather terrifying in that it represented a number of "firsts" for me. I finally managed to get my license in March a few days after I turned 21, and before I barely passed that test, in the three years that I had my permit, I probably spent less time driving than I can number hours on my fingers. Anyway. Saturday's excursion was:

The first time I had driven a car alone a longer distance than 5 miles. Consecutively or otherwise.
The first time I had driven alone on an interstate or highway.
The first time I had driven in a metropolitan area.
The first time I had driven anywhere while attempting to follow directions written on a piece of paper.

PS: Way harder to drive and read directions and pay attention to signs than I expected.

In short: My mantra the entire journey up there was, "Be calm, you're okay, you can do this....I AM SUCH A BAD DRIVER!"

But! I made it to St. Elmo in one piece and thought it was awfully chilly, I spent a few hours browsing the huge number of vendors and taking pictures of the animals and I came away with a few nice finds.

There were many, many things I was hugely tempted by but ultimately resisted before find myself at the Mielke Fiber Arts booth. Therein I made some incredibly difficult decisions but eventually, after agonizing for ages I decided against some amazing blue corriedale roving and a beautiful little Lizzie spendle and picked up a tiny copper Tahkli spindle, some light blue corridale roving, an instructional book to clear up some of my questions and a large sample bag of 14 different tussah/merino blend colorways. Here's a quick picture! It really doesn't do the fiber justice though...

I'm excited to spin these as I just finished my first plied skein of yarn last night! Hopefully I can get some pictures up of those results tomorrow! The other find of the day was some amazing, amazingly soft alpaca yarn. I bought three 600 yard skeins of this sport/light worsted weight yarn. It was mighty expensive, and all they had with them so I'm hoping 1800 might be enough for an amazing sweater knitting experience. Or at least a sweater vest. I am so excited!

And the animaux! There were several different breeds of sheep, but my camera focuses very poorly without the flash and most of my photos were shoddy. And bunnies, alpaca, llamas! And goats...but they were part of a meat goat convention....sad.

I'M EXCITED! FOR TWO REASONS!

2009-05-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'm going to Shepherd's Harvest Wool and Sheep Festival! HORRAY! I can't wait to go through all of the vendor booths and to take pictures of all of the sheep, bunnies, alpacas, llamas, and goats! However, it's very unfortunate that I have such a low spending limit. That I think is one major bummer about this expedition.... But it'll be worth it just to look I think!

AND one more thing, a cotton yarn and knitting needles contest at Things Moms Like! Check it out!

AND I WANT THESE TWO ZEBISIS DESIGNS SPINDLES SO MUCH IT ACHES....

Lots of (knit) time on my hands.

2009-05-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Well, the semester is wrapping up pretty quickly and I'm finding that I don't have much left to do except for studying for a final or two. Thus, I'm just knitting/spinning/crocheting away, apparently too much, because a certain individual has issued some complaints. But you know what? I'm just going to keep at it because my summer plans will be forcing me into several month long fiber diet. I'm probably trying to make up for that. Anyway, in other news, I've had some of my first real drop spindle success! I still haven't any finished hand spun products, but I'm definitely closer! I very, very much enjoy the little Kundert I received not so long ago.

Also, I encourage you to visit Knit It Up on etsy! The most recent Phat Fiber contest/blog post features some of her work and I'd love to try it out!

And one more! Tactile Fiber Arts is definitely worth a visit too!

ADDENDUM 5/7: Another Phat Fiber giveaway! This time featuring GreenwoodFiberworks! There are some incredible color ways here!

Full Charge

2009-04-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

I had an enormous urge to make things come over me yesterday. I imagine it's due to the enormous amounts of stress the last few weeks of this school year have produced, but at least I'm getting some stress managing productivity in on my end! I've begun to crochet a lacy jacket in this Naturally Caron bamboo blend "Spa" yarn, for my mother. I haven't crocheted for a while so I was eager to get started on a crochet project. This is definitely going to be a long term one. I've also been in the process of finishing up a pair of knitted handwarmers, kind of for a while now, but with spring jumping into full spring, there's really no hurry. And lastly I decided to experiment with colorwork in the form of a hat! It's nothing too fancy just alternating stripes, but I'm sure before I know it I'll be jumping in to intarsia!

Also, the real purpose of this post, I'm helping to spread the news about this etsy shop (for a contest of course!): Sheepshape Spinning. There's some beautiful stuff there. Go check it out!

And for extra measure, here's another contest at To Knit and Write. I wonder if I'll win?

It's Overwhelming!

2009-04-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

In a very good way.

All of this has come to me in the mail basically just over the last week! All I do is mention that I want to learn to spin and suddenly I've got five packages coming my way full of goodies to get me started. I am seriously blown away by the generosity of the fiber loving community. I've now a veritable arsenal of spindles and fibers so hopefully I'll be producing some quality work sooner
rather than later.

First to arrive was this huge bundle of natural Romney pencil rovings that I am super excited to try out. The 3 oz. Schacht spindle came later, but I put it there to show you how much there is. ^.^ It's not the most appetizing all in a big bundle, but I think something
nice could come out of it. A sweater vest maybe?
Soon after that I received some unknown roving and my first spindle! Though nothing fancy, I've found it to work pretty darn well and I've spun up quite a bit of this mystery fiber. It feels and looks pretty similarly to the Romney I already received but I'm told it might be Corridale. It's definitely not too important. I doubt I produce anything substantial from this yarn anyway. Anyway, around the time that little home-made spindle arrived, this lovely bat of cotton candy merino came! I'm definitely going to hold off on it for a while until I feel like the product I produce won't a a waste of some good fiber. It looks like It could make some pretty beautiful yarn in the right hands, so hopefully my hands will be the "right" hands someday soon!

And I was super excited by the latest package! Spindles! An incredibly generous individual destashed three whole spindles into my posession. The 3 0z. Schacht Hi-Lo I mentioned earlier (middle), a 1.4 oz. Kevin Rhodes (left), and a 1.3 oz. Kundert (right)!

Also in this package were some lovely samples of several new fiber types I'm particularly excited to try out! From left to right I received two small samples of Tussah silk, some Blue Faced Leicester, a yellow merino/mulberry silk blend, and a bit of teal Corriedale. Horray!

PS: Check out Paula Wagner's gorgeous hand dyed fiber products at her etsy store!

Spin, Spin, Spin

2009-04-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been busy with the usual school things and a little bit of knitting and crocheting on the side. And I'm spinning! I unfortunately haven't turned out to be an instant pro or anything, but I'm getting the hang of it and hopefully I'll be producing something a little more consistent by the time I get around to spinning this beautiful merino I received. I think my next post will definitely feature some pictures of my woeful looking first attempt. Granted for some of it, I was purposefully experimenting with different thicknesses...but most of the time if it looks like an accident, it was an accident. I'll definitely also be sharing the amazing gifts I've received from some wonderful people who have enabled this new hobby of mine.

PS: http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/04/vines-giveaway.html

Wouldn't want to miss that! (Unless you were intentionally making it easier for me to win.) ^-^

Hurrah!

2009-04-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

Sweet!

http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/04/aurora-fiber-arts-and-giveaway.html

And I got a nice little handmade spindle and some roving in the mail today! If I wasn't so completely exhausted from having pulled an all nighter to write a paper I should have written ages ago, I totally swear I'd have conquered it by now. ^.^

SPINDLE LOVE

2009-04-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

I decided that since I'm still wasting time and not writing the paper I've due tomorrow I could do something productive... Like publicly admiring some AMAZING spindles I should hope to someday upgrade to! For now however I'll simply bask in the glory of these amazing tools and happily anticipate the arrival of those that have been so generously gifted unto me.

First up: A gorgeous Jenkins Turkish Delight in quilted maple (far left) And a Tabachek Tibetan support spindle in purplehart. I really want to try out a Turkish spindle at some point. It seems to me that winding my yarn into center pull ball would be an amazing time saver! Jenkins and Tabachek spindles were the first I came across and I find them really are beautiful in their simplicity. Also, though it seems drop spindles are more popular than their supported counterparts, it seems to me that supported spindles would be a lot more convenient to have in a lot of situations.

Next: The most amazing Kundert ever in walnut, maple, cherry, and padauk (right). I love how this relatively simple geometric design produces something so beautiful. I've got a walnut whirl Kundert coming in the mail next week and I'm incredibly excited to try it out.

And of course there's Golding (left)! If I were to pick just one it would probably be one similar to this one in kingwood (below right). While all of the fancy ones are nice, to me there is just something special about pieces that allow the wood to speak for itself.

And I just can't belive all of the beautiful stone whirl spindles there are! Turquoise is probably one of my favorite semi-precious stones so the two spindles below by butterflygirldesigns definitely called out to me as soon as I visited her etsy page. I just really love how beautifully the veining contrasts with the robins egg blue of the round whirl, but the the octagonal African turquoise whirl and dark elegantly shaped shaft of the spindle on the left really does me in.

And to finish things off, here are two more gorgeous spindles by zebisisdesigns. That on the left is in strawberry quartz and the gorgeous whirl of the spindle to the right is made from abalone! I imagine it would be quite difficult to make a well balanced whirl from a sea shell, but I wouldn't mind finding out!

Wow...I totally hadn't realized how time consuming it is to get images to go where I want them! I hope this post was worth it...

SUPER EXCITED!

2009-04-21T11:48:00.000-07:00

I think I'll be spinning by the end of the week! Some incredibly generous people have offered to supply me with the necessary materials to start spinning. Seriously, I'm overwhelmed. I already got a package of lovely natural Romney roving in the mail and I've heard I've a few more packages on the way!

Also check this out!

http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/04/wc-mercantile-and-giveaway.html

I'm hoping I'll win something for once!

SPINNING DREAMS...

2009-04-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

I desperately want to acquire a spindle and some fiber, however, because I'm in a very financially insecure state and have directed my efforts towards funding a European excursion this summer I can't justify purchasing more hobby materials for myself....

Thus, to enable my spinning ventures, I've been trying and trying to participate in any spinning/roving/knitting/fiber related contest I can find but have thus far had ZERO luck! I've very, very infrequently won things in that past and it seems not much has changed at the present. If only I could make a nice little spindle apparate into my hands...

For now, I waste hours of time (which I should be spending studying) perusing spindles of all kinds and am especially enamored of those created by Edward Tabachek and Edward Jenkins and I've pretty much decided that if I ever have the chance to purchase a spindle I want it to be made by one of those two Edwards. Or even better one from each!

On Edward Tabachek's website I also happened upon this gorgeous purple heartwood and curly maple Nostepinne, the one in the middle.
It. Is. So. Beautiful. *sigh...*

And how can I not mention the fibers! Someday I'd like to try hand dying myself, but for now I just moan and groan over all of the beautiful fiber patches I come across that I haven't the means to make mine own. Recently I came across these beautiful hand dyed bamboo tops for sale on Etsy and these two amazing wool rovings also on Etsy through northernlightsfiber and
FreckleFaceFibers respectively.

My goal is to eventually take fibers like these to produce yarns half as beautiful as this one I found on Ravelry spun by aliciamarie.

Big dreams for someone who hasn't even tried his hand at spinning yet...

FIRST POST!

2009-04-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I've tried blogging once or twice, but it was never something I kept up with, but maybe this time I'll change that!

I was bitten by a little yarn bug just over a year ago and since then I just can't seem to get enough! I started crocheting in January of 2008 and by February was well on my way to completing my first project, a beautiful (though yet unfinished due to supply issues...) chocolate brown and ivory afghan, on the bus as the St. Olaf Choir toured down the West Coast.

I was hooked. Pun intended. And my dorm room closest conveniently hides the vast majority of the proof. I doubt you could find a male college student with more yarn at hand than I have... ^-^ However, as much as I enjoy crochet, I couldn't fight the urge to learn to knit and I did that over Thanksgiving break last year and I'm rearing to get my hands on a spindle (though I'd eventually like a spinning wheel) and roving so that I can learn to spin!

That little bug is quickly turned into a pretty permanent hobby and I'm more than entertaining thoughts of owning my own fiber farm some day. I just have to figure out if there is some way of effectively joining that plan with my Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance...

Do you think sheep would pay me to sing for them?