Squam 2012, part 3
(Me, stitching. Photo by Jessica Marquez, who has a book coming out soon!)
I leave for Squam again in a little more than three weeks. I've heard the "vibe" at the September session is quite different than the gleeful fiber-fest that is June, which is just one of many reasons I'm looking forward to the experience. The September session has painting and mixed media classes, jewelry making, and some rather "woo woo" stuff as well. I must say, I'm very excited for the "woo woo."Most exciting of all, though, is the writing workshop I will be facilitating on Saturday morning. I'll tell you more about it afterward, but here's a peek at my prep:
The workshop is called "No-Stress Storytelling." I'll be building on some of the exercises we tried out in my library sessions to get everyone creatively limbered up. Of course, they'll be coming off two full days of art workshops, so some people will be ready to go, but others will need a bit more encouragement. The prospect of a blank page can be paralyzing, especially when you have a nasty little voice in your head telling you you're not a writer, who do you think you are, blah blah blah. The beginning is a tender spot, and I want to honor that. So: there's no pressure. No one else is going to read what you write, unless you choose to share it. You are a writer--a writer is someone who writes, not just someone who has published a book or gets regular bylines. And so forth.Squam is usually on the surface of my thoughts, no doubt because I've been working on my embroidery from Rebecca's class:
Bonnie put this photo of me (with Rebecca and Jeanne) on her blog, and it made me laugh. (See why below.)
Now check out my art club yearbook pictures:
(That's also me in the top left, holding my "Birth of Violet.")I like to think I've grown a great deal since Mr. Heusser took those photos in 1998/1999, but it's comforting to see that the best parts of me--that passion, that single-mindedness--those I get to keep forever.(Squam, part 1; Squam, part 2; Anne's post on Squam 2012.)
Cathedral Dress
One of the many neat things about Squam is that you get to drool over (and be inspired by) all the gorgeous things people have knit and sewn for themselves. This dress was on the agenda for last year, but I only managed to finish the shell. This year my dear friend Anne took these photos on Saturday afternoon.
The fabric is a cotton lawn from Spoonflower in an amazing print inspired by medieval rosette windows, a Christmas gift from my mom and sister. The designer's name is Samarra Khaja, and her website is here. I've always had a thing for stained glass, but up 'til now I could only dream of wearing it!
The pattern is Butterick 5490, which I first spotted on Green Apples. I'd originally envisioned something really simple so as not to cut up the rosettes, but then every pattern I looked at felt a bit too plain, even considering the busyness of the pattern. Notice the bold fabric used in the sample garment (view A). Might as well make a statement, right?
The lining is a fine cotton batiste from Mood Fabrics. (Yes, this was a really expensive project. So, so worth it.)
Prewashing.
Part of what kept this project in my UFO pile was my reluctance to attempt an invisible zipper. Thanks to this Colette tutorial it feels doable now--except when it came time to use the invisible zipper foot, the machine seized up and the needle wouldn't move! (I still need to figure out what I did wrong there.) Shuddering at a vision of spending the next two hours raging against my New Home, I decided to install the zipper by hand. Yes, it took ages, but it was stress free, even when I tried it on and found I needed to pull out the stitching and take it in a bit; plus, I got to hand-sew my way through Catching Fire on audiobook.
The green cardigan is from a pattern by Alexis Winslow, and I will blog about it soon. (Ravelry project link here.)
I'm really happy with this dress, even though the pleats at the back might make me look like I'm wearing a bustle, and a funky wrinkle keeps showing on the bodice (which I can probably fix). This is the first 'proper' dress I've ever really sewn—I'm not really counting sundresses #1 and #2, since they were super easy and required no daunting new techniques. The pattern calls for a lined bodice only, but the cotton lawn is slightly sheer, so I needed to add a skirt lining as well. I just traced the skirt from Heather Ross's sundress pattern and gathered it using another great Colette how-to (I got the book for Christmas this past year—the format, clear photography, and projects are all terrific.) This lining no doubt contributes to the bustle effect, but I've never been concerned about the size of my tookus, and I'm not about to start.
I have to finish Kelly's quilt before I do any more sewing for myself, but after that I'm excited to try some Colette patterns I've been stashing over the last year or two...
Knitted Garments for All
I seem to have lost my blogging mojo, though I'm sure to regain it when my Q&A (and giveaway!) with McCormick Templeman is ready to go next week. In the meantime, how about a little vintage knitting nerdiness?
Actually, I've been meaning to post this one for over a year. While I was staying in Edinburgh I met my friend "Ravelry Kate" (to distinguish from "Sister Kate" and "Agent Kate"). She's the friend who told me about the Mansfield Traquair Centre, and led me on a wonderful afternoon ramble through old lanes and churchyards.
Kate knits gorgeous sweaters from vintage patterns, and when she showed me her copy of Knitted Garments for All (published in 1944) I knew I had to get one for myself. This is a really excellent collection of wartime patterns--I even want to knit the undergarments! So I hopped on AbeBooks, snagged a copy for £5 (including shipping), and had it sent to Seanan in London so I wouldn't have to pay crazy-high postage. Looks like there are plenty of copies available on that site, which I've also used for inexpensive former-library copies of the Colored Fairy Books (post forthcoming).Kate has been working on this awesome colorwork jumper:
Three cheers for scratchy woolen underpants! (Because you know these patterns always call for 100% wool.)
I know this was the '40s, but it's still a little weird to see a model in a knitting book smoking--although he gets some make-up points for bottle-feeding that adorable little lamb.
Yes, I am actually rather enchanted by these "camiknickers."But this is the pattern I'm most excited about:
...Although I'm just going to plug the lace pattern into a basic short-sleeved raglan. The yarn I'll use is Madelinetosh, which I picked up at Squam last year (see first photo with book cover).Next week: The Little Woods Q&A and more Ciudad Perdida!
Squam 2012, part 2
(Squam, part 1. More Squam recaps here.)
When you come looking for sugar,your bag will be examinedto see how much it can hold;it will be filled accordingly.
--Rumi
Evenings at the Playhouse. Incandescent Elizabeth. Ahhhhhhhhh.
I made new friends, and grew to love my "old" ones even deeper. It is the loveliest feeling to know there's noplace else you'd rather be, and no one else you'd rather be with.
So in love with @pettymagic. One of the most beautiful people I know! http://t.co/3Nswl36b— Anne Weil (@flaxandtwine) June 10, 2012
Mumsy came along this year, and we had a great time. We took an embroidery class together, and she also took Helene's food photography class:
Savory scents wafted out of the Deephaven kitchen while we worked on our personal monograms in Jessica's embroidery class:
Jess's "E," Crystal's "J," Carol's "B," my "O," and Suzanne's "S." The "A" in the background is Jessica's sample. What a great gift idea! And Jessica is a fantastic teacher.
This shot is so Amy.
Bonnie had her sampler from Rebecca's class last year beautifully finished.
Renee's project inspired some serious embroidery envy! (There's a flamingo on her head!)As you can see, I took two embroidery classes, and they were both awesome. Jessica and Rebecca have very different styles, and I really admire them both.
I was a total enabler at the art fair ("should I?" / "BUY IT, BUY IT!") That gorgeous dress Anne's wearing is from Hodgepodge Farm. My goal for next year is to draft that pattern out of Cal's book and get it sewn! Also, the lovely sweater I have on is Bonnie's Pomegranate. I can't wait to knit it!(I will also be blogging soon about the dress I'm wearing in that photo. Yes, I made it!)
Squam 2012, part 1
Anne, Amy Lou, Jill and Jeanne, Saturday afternoon, Greenwood dock.
Evening light reflected by the surface of the lake.
Remember this?
A cicada shell (?) stuck to the porch screen.
Cragsmere.More soon.
Musings from a Beginning Quilter
Today I have a guest post on beginning quilting on my friend Anne's blog, Flax & Twine! Check it out!
(See also Cocktails & Calico and Welcome to Babyville, part 2.)
Cóilín likes the back side of his quilt better. He converses with the owls.
(He's two now, so he's grown out of that, but it still makes me happy to think of it!)
Art is Free, part 2
Two museums you must not miss while in Bogotá: the Botero (FREE!) and the Museo del Oro (A BUCK FIFTY! Unbelievable.)
The courtyard at the Botero.
Botero's version of Leda and the Swan. (Is it just me, or is it getting rather hot in here?)
"According to myths, the gods gave men musical instruments so their sounds could regenerate the world. They were sacred objects, which were only exhibited and used at certain ceremonies."Our tour at the Museo del Oro lasted for well over an hour, and we picked up plenty of interesting tidbits: of tribal rituals and poisonous amphibians ("A shaman will tell you which frog is safe to lick"), and the scientific explanation behind "the curse of the pharaohs."
In another display case we discovered an ornamental phallus, and our guide said, "It is better than the original. It shines and plays music."
Botero's Terremoto en Papayán. It pretty much blew my mind that he could make a scene of cataclysmic destruction so pleasing to the eye.
Okay, I neglected to write down the title and artist for this one (the photo's not good enough for me to zoom in on the info panel, and Dr. Google couldn't help me this time), but I do remember it was painted an astonishingly long time ago--in the 1950s, I think? It looks more like 2050 to me. Awesome. If anyone can identify the artist, I'd be very grateful.
Art is Free
Bogotá wasn't our favorite stop in Colombia, but we LOVED the street art. I've never seen such gorgeous graffiti.
(Kate took at least half the photos in this post.)
These ubiquitous political stencils are incredibly effective, are they not? (A little more information here, along with more photos.)
The irreverent ones made us smile:
On the tops of buildings you can see the "green men," who are made of papier-mâché. Sierra said they were installed about twenty years ago. It's amazing they're still in such good condition! (The clown above was our favorite.)And another green man:
Looking back over our photos now, this one is definitely my favorite.
Ishkabibble!
Sierra in Villa de Leyva on a sunny Sunday morning, wearing the Ishbel I made her as a birthday/hostess gift."Ishkabibble" is my grandfather's sometime nickname for my sister, after a comedian/musician from the 1940s. There are well over 10,000 Ishbels on Ravelry, so I thought I would call this one something different.
Limonada de coco. OH. MY. GOODNESS. We can die happy. (This was in Cartagena, not Villa de Leyva. I had to sneak Kate in here somehow.)Now for more pictures of a pretty shawl (perfect marriage of yarn and pattern!) on a very pretty lady...
I used Jill Draper Makes Stuff Splendor Sock, which is THE yarn that is making me sad to be going 100% vegan (i.e., not buying any more wool. If you'd like to know why I've made this decision, listen to this podcast.)
(Ravelry project link.)
This is one of my favorite photos. She's got a secret and wouldn't you like to know it. Hee!
Knitting for little men
BABY-SWOON!!!! This is Cóilín, Ailbhe and Christian's little man. I knit the Pembroke vest from Petite Purls for his first birthday (March 2011), and here he is wearing it. I knit the 2T, but I guess the cables contract to fit, so it doesn't look like he's swimming in it. (Or he might just be a baby-Hulk.)
I also knit one for Lindsay and Trev's adorable little man, Eamonn, born in July 2010. I love how Lindsay found a shirt to match!I recently knit a third Pembroke for my nephew for Christmas:
Look! He's wearing his Petty Magic t-shirt!
I was working on Cóilín's vest back in February, during my sojourn in Edinburgh. One night I stumbled upon this little pattern booklet for 50p in a charity shop at the foot of Victoria Street:
That little boy on the bottom left is so dapper!Of course I snapped it up. Not only am I a total sucker for vintage patterns, but these are some of the cutest children's sweaters I've seen.
That bit about the "Red Indian design" kinda makes me cringe. Oh, before there was such a thing as "PC"...
"Please Clown, DON'T!"I'm always hazy on when it's okay to scan and distribute vintage patterns, and when it's not; a quick Ravelry forum search reminded me that one is not supposed to share vintage patterns unless they're over 75 years old. (I'm pretty sure this booklet is from the '50s.) Fortunately, it's not as rare as I thought at first--Google turned up a bunch of hits (~$1.50) on eBay and vintage pattern sites. (Just search for "Patons" and "jackets for small boys".)
This pattern is my favorite of the three—love the textures!
Ephesus
They say no trip to Turkey would be complete without a visit to Ephesus, one of the great cities of ancient Greece and Rome. The ruins were amazing, but the site (like Hieropolis the day before) was ridiculously crowded. Afrodisias may not have ruins quite so dramatic as the Celsus Library (above), but it was a much more enjoyable excursion overall.
The terrace houses were the highlight of our visit. The gorgeous frescoes and floor mosaics are well worth the additional 15-lira entrance fee, and because most tour groups don't budget enough time for it, the excavation site is relatively quiet too.
Many of the decisions made by the restoration team were puzzling at best. "Cubist architectural collage"?! WTF!
I feel like I should submit this one to LOLcats once I think up a funny tagline.
Afterward we went to the museum in town and checked out the Artemis statue, once housed in one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. I think I counted twenty-nine boobs.Happy New Year, everybody!
Turning Five
Last month my niece turned five. I promised to bake her a rainbow cake, and it almost gave me a nervous breakdown. (HA HA. You think I'm kidding?)
The rainbow layers had to be red, yellow, pink, and purple. It became a chant. Red, yellow, pink, and purple. Red, yellow, pink, and purple. IN THAT ORDER, or the unicorns would gouge out my eyes.(I'm kidding. I think.)Anyway, since she loves to play with my yarn whenever she comes to visit...
...I thought I would put together a little learn-to-knit kit for her, complete with Pony needles, a crochet hook, plenty of Knit Picks yarn and Lucinda Guy's Kids Learn to Knit, all in a project bag I sewed myself.
The pattern is Kate Davies' "Two Kates" project bag. I finished it in a couple of hours (if that).
I mucked up part of the seaming (so there are 'dimples' on either side of the handles, at the side seams), but I'm trying not to be such a perfectionist. It still looks good.More sewing is one of my resolutions for 2012!
A Christmas Jumper
Of all the pattern books in my library, I've gotten the most use out of Rowan Vintage Knits. My dad asked for a Beau out of green tweed (it's from Donegal, of course), and here it is.
He has hardly taken it off in the four days since I gave it to him. At Christmas dinner there was much oohing and ahhing over it.
(I was working on this while I was on the farm in Vermont.)
The buttons were a gift from Deirdre (I used the rest of them for Elliot's neckwarmer last year). My dad made sure to tell everyone at dinner that the yarn and the buttons were from Ireland.
I have to say, this is one of my most successful FOs: perfect marriage of yarn and pattern, satisfactory craftsmanship, flattering color and perfect fit--not to mention a great deal of gratitude from the recipient!
Raveled here.I hope you had a very merry Christmas!
Nero and Agrippina
(Also from the museum at Afrodisias.)Did you know Nero killed his own mother?
The Three Graces
Above: Afrodisias. Below: the so-teeny-it's-just-the-one-floor-mosaic museum at Narlikuyu, near "wonderful Kizkalesi."
Faces
These faces, on fragmentary friezes stacked on display outside, were my favorite part of Afrodisias. Apparently there was a school for sculpture here in ancient times. (Check out more faces on this page.)
I like this fellow. He's very jolly.There were more cool effigies inside the museum:
Doesn't this guy (Flavius Palmatus, governor of the province of Asia) look just like House??
Yarn 'n Ammo
This storefront in Afyon was, without a doubt, the most bizarre thing I saw on our month-long trip.
Romping elephants
There's a donations/lost-and-found closet at Sadhana Forest where you can often find some really cool free clothing. Someone got rid of these awesome elephant pajama bottoms just because of a rip in the seam. So easy to fix!
Elephants are my new obsession, although I don't yet have as much proof of it as I do my owls.
Lakshmi, the temple elephant at Hampi, out for her morning constitutional/bath.(More proof here and here.)
This fabric is really cool, but the pants were enormous. So I decided to make good friends with my seam ripper, and turn them into a romper using a pattern mash-up: the tried-and-true Mendocino sundress crossed with the McCall's pattern I used for my mermaid pajama bottoms. (Jill Draper was wearing an adorable strapless romper on our first night at Squam and I thought, I really need to make one of those! Perfect for bumming around the house.)I tried on one of my sundresses by pulling it up over my hips just to be sure I could get away with not using a zipper or some other form of closure.(Olivia wandered in while I was at my sewing machine, and wanted to try on the pants.)There are several sun-faded patches, but there was nothing I could do about that. The bodice is made up of four pieces from the lower legs. If I could sew it over again I'd make the legs longer, but oh well. I didn't reinstate the pockets (too much poochiness around the hips? and anyway, I'm lazy.) I fretted a bit over how best to join the two pieces, but it wasn't a big deal--I gathered the waist with a stray length of elastic thread, turned one piece inside the other with right sides facing, and stitched away.And I just used the drawstring for the straps! So easy!I always wonder how bloggers like Mena at The Sew Weekly can make a dress for a couple of dollars. Basically I need to start cruising some estate sales and flea markets! But I had thread to match and elastic thread left over from the sundresses, so this project was ALMOST free--I did run out of elastic toward the end, and had to buy one more spool. So total cost = $1.79 plus tax.
Weird angle, but you can see how I got the elephants lined up on the front center seam, woo hoo!(Thanks for the pics, Snook!)
Summer knitting
The Little Child's Sock pattern from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks, in Jill Draper's marvelously soft sock yarn. I wanted to knit something more intricate because this yarn is special, but travel knitting needs to be easy or I'll make lots of mistakes while I'm chatting with new friends. Finished sock #1 on the lawn at SolarFest last weekend. (Ravelry link.)
I have such a knack for finishing winter sweater projects in the middle of the summer! I started this one (the Lily of the Valley cardigan from Rowan 45, heavily modified--Ravelry link here) in February, and wearing it prompts happy memories of both knitting with my new friend Kate at an Edinburgh café and going to see Harry Potter at midnight last Friday. (You need a cozy sweater up here most nights, so I guess finishing it in June wasn't so silly.) I'm going to blog about this one once I get more photos.
Getting a head start on Christmas knitting (Ravelry link).
Madurai
Detail from one of the gopurams (monumental towers) at the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple.Thanks to layovers, I got to see much more than I had originally planned on. I got to Munnar via Madurai, so on the way back I visited the temple there. I must have arrived too late in the day (10 or 10:30, maybe?), because the temple elephant was nowhere to be seen. (I went back and asked the guy who sold my ticket and he pointed out where I might find her, but I never did.) I wasn't too disappointed because (thanks to tips from my new friend Chris at Sadhana) I knew I'd get to see Lakshmi at Hampi.
I had the best thali meal of my trip in Madurai, at a place called Sree Sabarees. Forty-five rupees (ONE DOLLAR!) for a huge amount of food, including a little cup of the most delicious cardamom rice pudding! (I didn't take a photo in the restaurant because I already felt like a silly tourist as it was, but I did take a photo of another thali plate in Hampi, so I'll show you that later. In real thali restaurants they give you a banana leaf and come by frequently to refill your 'plate' with rice, curries, chutneys, and pappadam or chapathi, but in other restaurants they just bring you the plate and that's that.)
Anyway, back to the temple: it was marvelous, of course, a riot of color and texture and sound (there were loads of market stalls in shopping arcades offering mostly junk, apart from the flower sellers selling their fuchsia and white garlands). You walk into a place like this and realize just how limited and Eurocentric is your grade-school history education. (I felt this times a hundred while I was walking through the ruins at Hampi; but that's for another post.) I really enjoyed walking around (even if going barefoot still squicks me out a bit) and watching people at their devotions.
The two statues above are inside the temple art museum.From Madurai, I took an overnight bus to Bangalore for another layover en route to Hampi. I did a city tour that day, though, so I still have plenty of good pics!