A Big Wheel

Happy Hallowe'en!

It was treat only today when we went to spin in because we had a great person, Bridget demonstrate and then teach us to spin on a Walking Wheel if we wished.

 She found this walking wheel in a family farm homestead and they handed a bag of parts to her and said, good luck. By trial and error and sometimes great luck in finding people with skills to help her to  refurbish it she then taught herself to use it. Clever!

I was the witch in the story spinning old school but she was a genius and so great at teaching you what to do. Most likely a princess. She wasn't wearing a nightgown though.

A very old school style of spinning, probably what they were doing during the of the Salem Witch  Trials, this is not for those of us who like to sit down. You can see a demo here, this is not Bridget! But this is how you do it. Very dancelike and calming to watch. Sorta Tai Chi for spinners.

Here is one- not a wheel for apartment dwellers!

Today I spun special wool for Alicia's fingerless gloves she won in The Wool of Fortune, the Welcome Mat's game show.

I'm wishing you the treat of wonderful wool working for you this week!

Whose Daughter ARE you?

You all know I'm a rug hooker and a wool worker and frankly my dears I feel that is enough at this time in my life.

Coincide this fact with the fact we want to give #1 her wedding present. She forces us to call her #1. We have no choice.

Now we want to give these two something that lasts. A gift for a lifetime. Hopefully hand or homemade.

Far be it for me to lay one of my horrible rugs on someone unwanted. But really I can make any kind of vile rug and will ( just try and stop me) and it is something you can easily cover the woodpile with, let the dog vomit on or let your cat have kittens in, very, very useful. 

I think you can strain gravy through them too but I've never tried.

Last night on the phone I'm skirting the edge of this again...

When I asked her for the bleventy bleventh time what would she like or what would her number one 

( we must spell them this way to make sure we do not get mixed up) like I get met with silence.

And she says you know what I really want you to make ?

What I say? 

A quilt!

 A quilt?

A quilt!

Are you crazy? I'm not a quilter. I'm a hooker.

I hook.

Do you know who I am?

Do you want a wool quilt?

 NO!

Why don't I make you a jet plane from recycled tin cans ?

Or maybe do the plumbing in your house with buttons and zippers ?

 Or maybe I could make you the leader of a small country with the power of my mind?

 All seem equally possible.

I'm standing firm, I am not a quilter.

Strangely I said the same thing about spinning and look what happened there.

No really  LOOK!

Terrifying, hold fast to your boundaries dear readers, hold fast.
All I need to break the spell is a kiss from a quilter.

Spirit Moose

Here is wee spirit moose waiting for her raspberry plate (trim for the outline of the rug) and a few other refinements/ adjustments like her disappearing berries for instance.

 I love make strange scrappy pieces and this sure fits the bill.

 If you want to hook this pattern or peruse other varied and interesting archived free pattern choices, Join the Welcome Mat

Also from my new dye column on The  Welcome Mat, Dyeing Matters this weeks colours:

Holgate Blue and Thomson Green inspired by the Group Of Seven.

Hope you are creating and are well and happy!

I'm on drugs. 

I said yes.

to

Sinus drugs.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by the good folks at The Welcome Mat.

Blockage/Spinrite/ Styling

If only my sinuses would act half wise I'd be able to think and function.

Instead they are trying to take over my whole body with their rebellious ways. Who needs a teenager when they have a sinus condition? Continuous hell with intermittent periods of drainage but not of the wallet thankfully.

On a happy note today someone told me my rugs were like fine french food. Wasn't that delightful?

But really I wish they would stop eating them because they are made largely of butter and cream and that stuff is expensive to replace and harder to hook with.

I went to the Anderson Center Site and learned they called me Wand in the list of artists.

Isn't that cute?

 I would have like them to add Magic to that, like Magic Johnson.

I would really be styling then.

Speaking of styling I'm going to be getting more grown up furniture.

This is part of my bid to no longer live like "honeymooners in their first apartment ala orange crates and found street orphans of chest of drawers and couches"

It is a good thing. A sectional. I took cat hair to choose the material best suited to not show it.

I hope the next person who chooses that sample is not allergic.

It is a twill weave with a repeat making small diamonds. 

If I can't wear 'em I'll sit on 'em.

It was music to my ears when the saleswoman said, do you know about our sale?

I also went to the Spinrite outlet. I was hoping for cones of fine things.

I was mildly disappointed but did find some things for core spinning and for the stuff to make this yarn, I'm going to make wrap a wreath with it:

 Celie likes it!

And I spun this yarn... and plied it at Back to Basic's Monday Spin in

 And look at the way roving and then spun locks that were plied back on themselves look from the same dye pot lot.

 And here are some spun natural locks ( BFL)

I have also finished hooking my spirit Moose and will post him here tomorrow

 Happy hooking and spinning!

What I built this week

I'm greatly inspired by our Welcome Mat events this week.

Below is my Spirit Moose from our September free pattern:

This is also our fall challenge project, to let our spirits move us to explore this pattern. So many amazing moose ( meeese? ) of all types ( abstracted, interpreted, exciting!) and varying wonderful colour plans, some of us are hooking it twice we are so smitten!

I'm using up the wool, as I stated before, from my summer rugs.

Earlier this week taken in day light

As of tonight, still a work in progress.

And we are having a scary yarn challenge too in our group Amusing Yarns

Ghosts and Goblins

 Spyikes

I've also started a new monthly book review for good rug hooking books and am well into my new 

column called Dyeing Matters. It is somewhat like my column in Rug Hooking but with completely different content and weekly submissions, sometime with kinda the same results formula translation We are currently exploring colours from The Group of Seven. 

You should join us, we are having a blast. Just click the link at the top of this post.

Last but not least

I'm getting this quote as a tattoo, not sure where just yet.

 Will take into consideration submissions of general areass. areas Whoops that was a typo but I guess it was kinda Freudian... wasn't it?

Hi Claude!

Let 'er rip I say

I feel pretty strongly about ripping out offending loops as I hook.
I'm not from the leave it in and see what it looks like later school of thought, I'm not that curious.

When I'm deciding to rip out it is instant.

I ask myself the question, is this colour selection doing the job it needs to in this section I placed it?

Of course I already kinda know what it will need to do, because mostly while hooking I hold a pretty firm concept in my mind. Maybe it needs to recede or provide a fence or make another part stand out or make rest for the eye, or keep action and passivity balanced. There are many jobs colour does.

I can see that right away. I don't wait, fearing a domino effect by letting a slacker stay in the work place I fire them as soon as possible in case soon everybody is leaning on their brooms.

I often rip out pitifully formed loops too especially when I'm trying to go in another direction and I start loosing my smooth corn kernel look.

Right now I'm hooking Spirit Moose with leftovers from my summer rugs.

It is clear when one part is alarming. When light dawns over yonder yardarm I'll take a photo for you. Meanwhile you can imagine all the strips left from 3 rugs joining together, hmmm dogs breakfast anyone?

I just realized you might have though this entry was more of a gaseous nature.

Sorry to disappoint.

Signed the old windbag

Hooked Hand bag and fingerless gloves

My Hat and Fingerless Gloves

Long ago I started a handbag, then I fell down on the job, but today I finished it!

It is called Stoned.

The rocks go all the way around and change colour, I dyed it with my method " The World's Most Wonderful Wool" So humble.

Speaking of rocks, my new and just started yesterday and finished two hours later fingerless gloves with my hand spun match my new bag perfectly. Fall here I come!

Keep on rockin' in the free world!

Yes I'm headless for a reason, the hair my friends is despicable. I was up all night and well it is astounding!

hmmm, gotta do something about my upper lip too it seems...

 Just look at the gloves my friends.... that'll solve everything.

Promise.

Here is a terrifying chunk of The Welcome Mat's newest pattern:

Which is scarier?

Saucy!

Daughter you asked and I will share with you this long held secret. Now I can die in peace.

 Cheese Sauce

3 tbsp flour

3 tbsp butter or margerine

Mash together in a pot to form a paste

Add in 1/2 tsp dry mustard if you wish, it adds tang. Do not add French's  Flavine Yellow mustard, not tranferrable

Add in some pepper.

Pour in two cups of cold milk or half and half ( dear god!) 

Heat while whisking.

It will get thick and ubbly or bubbly as I meant to say.

Let it cook for a minute on low.

Grate 2 cups of old cheddar the colour of cheetos if'n you like yours orange.

Add in and stir until melted.

 It's go time girly!

Straight to the broccoli.

Make sure the broccoli really drains well, because it tends to hold water and that is nasty to the cheese sauce, NASTY I say!

It is the food of gods.

Love your mom even if you don't like her.

Around The Sound Studio Tour! We are ready.

This was just before we were ready to roll, we had a great week-end and lots of fun, good sales too, including my pear rug, "What a pair!" There were interesting people, wonderful conversations and I hooked half a rug and spun 4 batts up. What else could a girl want?

Oh and my hair was fabulouso.

I hope this explains why I fell off the face of the blogosphere for a week or so.

I'm hard at my article for spring in RHM right now so I've got to run to the scanner, that's the best way I've found to bring you the truest colour I can.

Cathy! Gives us a tour of the Anderson Center Rug Show!

Go here to see her thoughts on the show and see amazing rugs!

 I think I might hook a rug of this photo... if Cathy lets me!

This sheep has a better orthodontist than me!

That's all I'm saying.

The Antique Coverlet/ The Bar/ The Edge

 This week I bought an antique coverlet in an overshot pattern from Back to Basics Farm, I'm going to look up which one in my Marguerite Davisons book, soon and report back. It is in primo condition!
It is wool turquoise weft and a white linen warp making this linsey woolsey, sometimes it's called winsey! If you read Anne of Green Gables, winsey is mentioned many times.  This brings us full circle back to Joanne who owns Back to Basics as she is reading all of Lucy Maude Montgomery's autobiographical journals right now! Isn't that a interesting circle?

Birdee loves it, in her former life as a super model she developed the talent of always situating herself to the best possible photographic advantage. Too bad the camera wielder is not so talented.

Speaking of handling... this monarch, it's a boy! ( how to sex a butterfly will be in the next instalment) was hatched at Man's work and then abandoned by it's handler for the week-end. It needed FOOD but was still in its enclosure, inside our house, far from any butterfly fast food.

So how can you force a monarch to belly up to the bar?

To explain in a simple way, they eat through something like an elephant's trunk.

It is curled up close to its body somewhere between its first legs and antennae.

It needs the flower to trigger it somehow to unfurl the "trunk. I don't know for sure what makes it 'know" where it can eat, I'm a woman of wool,  not science!

But instead of flowers we have a tray of sugar water so we need to intervene.

Using a beading needle ( the blunt end) I stroke the area until the "trunk" unfurls (it was beautifully curved), I dip the end of the trunk into the sugar water and it straightens right out like a hose at the gas station and it takes on all it needs. We kept him until this morning and then released him. It is cold but he was energetic and sailed right up to the roof and over heading southward on the strong north wind. Probably he is crossing Lake Erie right now!

The moral of this story? You can lead a butterfly to the bar and have him drink.

I'm officially done with September Vogue, the edge is on and I'm replete with completing. Now for the final steaming and over looking for errant strip ends or threads. It only took 3 Septembers! 09, 10, 11.

And though I hated it for all of 2010, I'm now back in the area of kind regard or even fondness.

Spin, eat and rug

Last week's spinning!

 From Afar

Close Up 

Monday's supper starter World's Sexiest Salad! 

Really that's it's name, it is divine.

I used thick bacon.

The dressing, oy, it is wonderfully simple and so great!

And look what I

 quietly finished on it's 2nd anniversary! September Vogue!

You have seen it so many times by now you probably thing this is a haunting.

 Nope it's real. I tried to put my hand through it and I couldn't.

Recipes For Snow with Translations

Dirty Sheep

 White Bark

Here continues the saga of advice for the snowlorn, she is making snowmen!

Thanks Snowlorn, are you a subscriber to RHM?

I wrote an article called It's all white with many white spot dyes.

I used pro chem dyes but the brand doesn't matter.

The idea is to use very little dye and have alternating temperatures or values in each of your snow spot dyes for use in 

each snow man part to help it show up! Or outline in a darker one and fill in with a lighter one.

To determine what values these will be add up the amount of dye! The more dye added, the darker they will be. I've already explained the temperature beside the title.

Here are some of the recipes spot dyed over 1/2 yd of natural wool with approx majic carpet translations beside them:

White Pepper  ( cool white)

1/256 tsp. Aljo  Military Green  moss green

1/256 tsp. Prochem Navy 413  half blue , half black

1/256 tsp. prochem Mint 723   toothpick of brilliant green

Iceberg - (cool white)

1/128 tsp. Prochem Sky blue 407     Blue

1/128 tsp. Prochem Slate blue 441   Blue + black

1/256 tsp. Prochem Iris 816   Blue Violet + blue

Moon Glow ( Warm)

1/256 tsp. Prochem Yellow 135   Yellow

1/256 tsp. Prochem Caramel 130  Orange + Seal Brown

1/256 tsp. Prochem Clay 561        Seal brown+black

Cheese Soufflé ( Warm White) 

1/256 tsp. Prochem Brown 503    Chocolate brown + moss green

1/256 tsp. Prochem Yellow 135   yellow

1/256 tsp. Prochem Caramel 130 orange + seal brown

Dirty Sheep ( Neutral)

1/128 tsp. Prochem Maple Sugar 121   Yellow + Seal Brown

1/128 tsp. Prochem Golden Pear 120    Yellow + speck of Brilliant green + speck of seal brown

1/128 tsp. Prochem Charcoal Gray 670   Black but cut the measurement in half

White Bark (Cool)

1/128 tsp. Prochem Slate Blue 441  Blue + Black

1/128 tsp. Prochem Clay 561          Seal Brown + Black

1/256 tsp. Prochem Violet 818        Blue Violet + Black + Blue

1/256 tsp. Prochem Evergreen 729  Bottle Green + Black

Filthy  Collars ( Neutral)

1/128 tsp. Prochem Brown 503   Chocolate Brown +  Moss Green

1/128 tsp. Prochem Mocha Chino 501  Chocolate Brown measure cut in half.

1/128 tsp. Prochem Charcoal Gray 670  Black measure cut in half

Sugar Bush Snow (Neutral)

2/64 tsp. Prochem Maple Sugar 121   Yellow + Seal Brown

1/64 tsp. Prochem Slate Blue 441        Blue + Black

1/64 tsp. Prochem Golden Pear 120     Yellow + speck of Brilliant green + speck of seal brown

Advice for the snowlorn - what do you think?

I got a little letter asking me what makes good snow. Here it is:

"What would you suggest to dye over white or neutral wool for different shades of snow? I think it would be to stark to just use plain white. Do I use small amounts of black, blue or even brown? I have Majic dyes that I love but also have some Cushing. Not quite sure what to do"

Here is what I said back:

Hi !

I need more info, is the snow shadowed in some places or just meeting pieces of snow like with a snowman? Is this a simple or complex project?

 Generally you want to think about what your snow needs. 

Is it a sharp cold day?

 I suggest blue with blue green too.

Is it in shadow ? I suggest blue violet with blue added and black added.

Is it spring? I suggest adding a small amount of seal brown.

There are many variables here and I can't advise you without more info!

 Write me back!!!

Now I want you all to tell me, seriously, am I too complex?

Now take a look at this photo and tell me I think too much!

This snow is everything from bright yellow white to violet!

And it is coming no matter the colour. So get spinning and knitting up your new gear.

Miss it? or want to study it?

Go here

Everybody going out and having fun!

Yesterday I traveled to Back to Basic Farms and joined a spin in from 2 to 4.

This will be held each Monday with a bigger meeting the last Monday of the month, with a show and tell etc. I think we could call ourselves the Barefoot Contessas, we all kicked off our shoes!

Here is the store's proprietress and the spin in's hostess - Joanne Evans

Now that's some bobbin she's got!!

Here is our fellow spinner Marion, she has a beautiful antique spinning wheel!

We were all laughing so much....

Isn't Joanne's store the best! She sells special teas, preserves she does herself and antiques as well as all that wool you can see, we had beautiful tea and baking too. If you want to join us some Monday please let me know and I'll pass Back to Basics number to you!

All spinners are welcome in the Owen Sound and surrounds!

 When I got home I had this wonderful pkg. waiting for me. Weird looking isn't it? A to Z Alpacas sends out their fibre vacuum packed.

 Here is the side view.

Here Mary realizes I cut open the bag because she smells the unwashed alpaca, it is very clean though, no dirt, no veg matter,  just not washed hence very "farmy" and all alpaca sweat and fumes. 

Ambrosia to some.

She dug out the whole pile to pussy foot in and then threw her head back in the bag.

Seems my precious little Mary is a huffer.

 Sad isn't it? This went on for eons.

The Addiction to Alpacas Treatment Center is calling me back today.

And now for some sunshine and light- what I spun at spin in and then plyed last night.

Dyed Hodgepodge

Gander upon this big ol' vat of happiness. I dyed locks and knops, icicle and mohair bits. And now I'm tearing downstair to make a batt. I used dyes, Aljo Indian Yellow, Military Green ( I love it) Prochem Boysenberry, Country Blue, Iris and that's what you get, used the point method. You can see how to do that cool method in a video on the Mat.

I just posted the the Mat's colour of the week, calling it Bive oh Free... do you get it? It is a very subtle  joke ....

The cooler weather is making me want to dye and dye. Not great drying weather though.

Look what Eartha Kitt said!

Dr. Einstein was not successful in school, but he found something in the air from his own imagination and his own brain power, and look what he did.

Do you think she is trying to steal my boyfriend?

Here the vat of happiness and fountain of youth as it dries, Ponce deLeon eat my dust!

I'm so dizzy, my hands are spinning!

Dizzy but deeply satisfied.

A Letter about Skies and Water

 Invented Landscape

Inspired by a photo

"When you hook a piece that have water and sky, do you hook the sky first because the water reflects the sky? Where on your welcome mat do I find information on how you've hooked some of your pieces??    Looking forward to hearing from you Wanda.

I love to hook landscapes. After much frustration in my earlier hooking I now like to rely on visual aides. 

My imagination is either too broad or too fine to make up the details or vaguaries that Mother Nature supplies us on a daily basis. Neither upon seeing these wonders does my brain allow for remembrance of important key factors of specific reflection details and colour notes. Like was that a warm yellow or a cool one? Was it warm at the top and cool at the bottom? Was the reflection brighter, lighter, duller? 

So I use a visual aid and it doesn't matter one whit where I start or finish, I'm just plugging the right colours into the shapes that exist, and while doing that a sense a accuracy develops and leaves the viewer feeling, "that looks right" 

I use dozens of variations of my key colours. For instance if I need pink, I will have one warm, cool, bright, dull and in a whatever of values are needed.

So I don't pay any head to rules, like always have a straight horizon, the sun reflects in a triangle on water, make your horizon line darker or light or have the water reflect the sky at all, the sky is alwayslighter, brighter whatever.... 

I've seen a thousand examples of those common wisdoms being thumbed at by Mother Nature.

I just put in what I see. I don't try to say anything by implication just lay down what I see where I see it.

An imagined landscape is one that looks invented, it might not look true nor have depth due to my lacks.

Inspired by a photo

Invented

Oh I also don't give a fig for direction of my hooking.

I might hook every way while doing either sky or water depending on what's transpiring weather wise.

I hope this helps you out Linda.

PS To find out exactly how I hook some things you can go to Free Online Classroom, or join a class when I give them. I have some lessons in I'm a new Hooker, and I frequently chronicle my rugging in Works in Progress.