Baby Blanket

I learned just before Christmas that another branch is being added to the family tree, so I dug out my knitting needles and made the little one a blanket.

I used a free pattern by 'maanel' from Ravelry. Very simple, just a little texture.

I used Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Paints 100% Pima washable cotton. The yarn itself was fine to work with, but I don't think I would use the bold variegated colors again for the blanket. I was told a the yarn shop that the current 'trend' in baby items is bold, not pastel.

I am happy to have something made with love to send to my cousin.

Klaralund & Noro Silk Garden yarn

Oh my gosh.... I think it could be as many as 8 years later and I have finished one of my sweaters. Just in time for warm/hot weather in New Orleans and then later in Washington, DC. Sigh.

Yarns have been made after this Noro came out which seems to be much better quality and look very similar. The colors of the Noro Silk Garden yarns are particularly pretty, but there is so much junk spun in to the yarn. Hard, scratchy things that are tough to pull out.

I like the result, but though I followed the pattern, the sleeves are a little long for me. I made the Large, allowing for a 41" bust.

I bought the yarn at Wool Winders in Rockville, MD. I can't tell when I bought it, but like I said, probably 6 to 8 years ago....

First Mover...

** UPDATE 11/21/2015 ** I drove by the warehouse where I first saw the cyclops dog and it has been painted over!

Dang - my idea has been taken!
Well, maybe by the artist him/herself... I hope so.

While walking along Tchoupotoulas street in New Orleans I saw a wonderful graffiti on what looked like an abandoned warehouse. I took pictures.

And then later I found an even better example on the side of a truck.
>

So, I made myself a needlepoint canvas...

Finally the other day I finished the needlepoint. (The project traveled all through Turkey with me.)

But here is why I am bitching and moaning... Someone has made a sticker of the graffiti! I saw this the other day when I was back in New Orleans.

I saw this on the backside of a traffic sign - again on Tchoupotoulas.

Now I need to figure out what to do with the piece.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival

This will happen on September 26th and 27th this year. (The card below is old! I had picked it up in 2014, but was unable to attend.)
I went in 2013, but not since. It is a small festival, but growing, I am sure.
Check out their web site to get more information.



The Washington County Fairgrounds are only 30 miles from Troy, NY - where Herb grew up.

Greg Stones, author

I can see no reason to include Greg Stones on my blog - no genealogy and no fiber art - but his paintings were so fabulous that I had to share him with my readers... I saw his work at the Central Pennsylvania Arts Festival in July 2015. Mr. Stones has a wonderful, warped sense of humor. He is also an author. His work and sense of humor reminds me a lot of Edward Gorey.

Edward Gorey drawing taken from this web site

And here are some of Greg Stones' work:

Penguins love balloons

Sock Monkey Meets Mummy

Zombies hate Sock Monkeys

His latest book is called Sock Monkeys Have Issues which can be purchased here.

Recycled T-shirts, turned into skirts - Loveworn

I met BJ McHugh of Loveworn at the Central Pennsylvania Arts Festival over the July 10th weekend in State College, Pa. BJ hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she makes new pieces of clothing out of recycled t-shirts. She will even make you a custom piece out of your saved t-shirts - you know those t-shirts you never wear but don't want to toss because they meant something to you once upon a time. (A skirt or hoodie seems more practical to me than a quilt, which is another idea for old t-shirts; or a rag rug, but you would never see the t-shirts anymore in the rug... Just thinking out loud)

Looking at her web site it seems that she has many more styles than she brought to the Central Pennsylvania Arts Festival. Here are a few images I took from her web site:

Little Girl's skirt - had to be fun piecing this together

Woman's jacket - wouldn't this be great made from your old t-shirts?

Women's skirt with a cute pocket

I was disappointed that she only had a few in my size - maybe that says more about me than her inventory - but I bought a lovely black and grey short skirt with a draw-string waist.

I am disappointed that I didn't find a post on another woman I stumbled upon in New Orleans who makes wrap skirts from neckties. I bought one of her fun skirts, too. I will have to see what  have in my files and introduce you to her.

Searching the term recycle, though, I found another of my fiber artists - MsCrochetJig - who uses soda top tabs in her purses.

Rondell Fiber Art at Jazz Fest 2015

I'm afraid I was on a tear and did not have the opportunity to talk with Mr. Witherspoon. I absolutely loved his art, though. Wonderful images of joyful people.

I was unable to find a web site for him, but I found this and yet under the category of art by clients, I saw some of the same types of work as seen at Jazz Fest. He clearly is a very talented photographer, too.

Man, how do these artists find the time? I can't get everything I want to do done... But then I guess it's true what has been observed in the past, the task takes the time allotted to it.

But I digress.

I scanned his business card which shows some of his art:





I found this piece, entitled Diva, from a pinterest site.



How can you not love it?

MsCrochetjig Creative Crochet

I was amazed and delighted by the crochet work of Ms. Roycelyn Dequair. I walked in to her booth at the Rhythms Festival in New Orleans because of the crochet. I was interested because I like the idea of crochet very much, but I'm not one of those lighter-than-air, hippy-dippy sorts who model lacey shawls - which are all the crochet patterns I ever see.

Well, let me tell you - her work is wonderful. She is making purses and clutches with brightly colored string and the tabs from soda or beer cans. In New Orleans, the City does not recycle, so one can find cans all over the place. She indicated to me that her neighbors and festival volunteers will bring her bags of the tabs. I thought to myself, this is brilliant, she is helping with the issue and making money. I suppose one day the Crescent City will get their act together and have recycling, but in the meantime, she is doing a small part to remove some waste from the land fill.

In her own words - taken from her web site:

I was born in New Orleans, La. I have been married for 24 yrs. stay at home
housewife who loves to crochet and read. I have a great passion for
crocheting, so I decided to create my own business. I have been crocheting
for over 28 yrs and love to learn new things. I decided to research more about crocheting and found that women in Brazil was crocheting with pop tabs! Wow I thought to myself now how can I do this and make it not only a business but my career!!!! So I begin to go out on the street and collect cans! Started practicing and after many mess ups, and long hours of practicing it became a passion! Each tab is washed , sanitized and sanded by hand, crocheted together and uniquely designed by me! I also crochet photos into fabric!!!!!!!! My teacher Todd Paschall is the founder of this technique and I was very interested so I once again begin practicing and taking it to the next level in my business! All of my work is done by hand carefully planned out and with love!

Ms. Roycelyn has used top designers for her inspiration. She mentioned to me that she had seen a purse by Dolce & Gabanna for over $2,000 and she is selling one inspired by their design for $450. (I pulled an example of a crocheted purse by D&B below - not that the image I found is the same, just that I found one and have just learned how to post it on my blog!) She indicated that she was certain that at Jazz Fest here in NOLA in April 2015 she will absolutely sell the purse. (If I were fashionable enough and not so frugal, I would pay that easily for one of her hand made purses.)

Dolce & Gabbana Miss Charles Jeweled Crochet Shoulder Bag (see more chain strap purses)

Now, if only one can figure out what to do with the rest of the can.

Ekologic of Troy, NY

Ok, so I am seriously behind in my blogging - and I am especially aware of this oversight because I have been thinking about this this wonderful recycled clothing company. Kathleen Tesnakis sold me a fabulous recycled cashmere cardigan at the Bethesda Row Arts Festival this past early autumn. First off, let me just say that the Bethesda, Maryland Arts Festival is quite something - they have some seriously skilled artisans presenting and selling there on the two days in the fall. In 2015 the festival will be held on October 17th & 18th.

But back to Kathleen and her cashmere sweaters...

Here is a little something I took directly from their web site to describe their mission:

`e ko logic is a life philosophy based upon a sustainable way of living and creating. Every item in our clothing and accessory line is handmade in Troy, New York by recycling post-consumer used garments. We believe that you are much more than a consumer and we enjoy creating wearable art from recycled materials that speaks to your individual style. Together we can change the world…one garment at a time.

Here is blurb from the web site about the fiber artist, Kathleen:

Textile artist and designer Kathleen Tesnakis created `e ko logic in 1996 as an exploration in reuse. The creativity that recycling requires has provided years of inspiration. Every item she makes must be hand cut and combined like a collage as her raw material is multifarious in nature. Kathleen’s sustainable philosophy is deeply rooted in the `e ko logic studio where every bit of scrap waste is identified and resorted to develop future products. All of these actions take time but it is this very intention that resonates throughout the `e ko logic designs. You may have seen Kathleen’s work on the cover of Organic Style magazine, read about her in Daily Candy or seen her ‘fingerless mittens’ in Time magazine, to mention a few. This year, look for Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, rockin’ out in an `e ko logic recycled cashmere sweater, aptly named ‘Lee’. Currently, Kathleen operates `e ko logic with the help of her husband Charlie, bulldog Jasper and the studio team.

All products are handmade by recycling post-consumer used cashmere sweaters into one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories. In the 18 years since `e ko logic, Inc. was founded, over 7 tons of used clothing has been rescued and transformed. Kathleen chooses to use natural fibers because they allow your body to breathe and will eventually breakdown when landfilled. All `e ko logic products are made in their hometown of Troy, NY. This allows Kathleen to provide like-minded individuals with jobs they can put their hearts into. The garments used to create their raw material are discards from the NYC region. Reusing clothes as a raw material has many benefits; it decreases dependence on the water and chemicals required to make new materials, reduces the amount of used clothing being landfilled (85% of all used clothing is landfilled) and transforms a discarded product into something beautiful and functional that has the quality to last a second lifetime.

I believe i bought a version of the Julie Cuff in gray and blue. I wear it all the time. I swiped this from their web site, so let me give credit where it is due.

They make hats and sweaters and dresses, to name a few products. I like the idea a lot, and I am so happy to see a fashion business blooming in little, old Troy, NY.

On a side note, the folks at Wild Fibers Magazine have sponsored a Cashmere Community Center in India and Linda Cartwright, the journalist and founder of the magazine, leads trips to India to visit and promote this first community center for the nomadic peoples of this region. Pretty amazing stuff.

Battenkill Fibers - Carding and Spinning Mill

WOW. That's all I can say.

Processing Services
Yarn Sales
Mill Tours

There is nothing glamorous about this job - you just have to be very passionate about yarn.
They are working on huge pieces of equipment which look like they came right out of the 1880s - and Karen told me that in some cases, the equipment is exactly like what they were using back then.
They need to humidify the work area so as not to get shocks. The heat can be significant inside the work space, though the other day it was cool, they were still adding humidity.
Fiber from rutting rams can be overpowering, knocking you off your feet. (I hadn't considered that as an occupational hazard.)
They will process many types of fiber - including cats and dogs! Probably not on a regular basis.... Someone even asked them about Hemp.
For the summer they employ farm raised young people for they understand the nature of 'organics' in/on the unwashed fiber.... All sorts of things fall out on the screens as the fiber is examined - bugs, sticks, grass, feces.....
The fiber is washed a minimum of two times, air dried and then sent through a humongous carding machine imported from Montreal. The pieces of loose fiber gets all over everything, gathering all throughout the machines and in the air.
Vacuuming must be a large part of the job description.... though perhaps that wasn't in the main body of the craigslist ad.


Karen, the mill manager, was very friendly and dedicated a huge amount of time to walking me through the process and answering my questions. The structure in which they are housed is a modern aluminum building - no historic building pulling power from the Battenkill river. The employees are wearing t shirts and shorts, listening to their mp3 devices with the wires tucked in to their shirts so that they don't get caught in the machinery. Karen explained to me how in the last century the women would strip to their undergarments when it was hot, but that accidents would happen when the sleeves of their blouses would get pulled in to the machinery.

Overall, my visit was a fantastic learning experience. I admire their passion. I recognize the need for the service, especially to all the farmers out there. I value the employment, especially in this fairly depressed region.

Both employees had to stop what the process to attend to the fiber - he is spinning the fiber and she is taking three spools of what he has created and winding them together to make a three ply yarn. The lengths differ on the spools, so she must change the spools on a regular basis so that there is always three threads being twisted.

This photo is taken from the other side of the machine the young man in the orange cap is working - this is from where he pulls the roving to create the threads. Nothing glamorous abut the space....

A combination of Sewing and Knitting

I am not saying I love what they came up with, but I am intrigued by the idea of combining knitting and sewing.

I was walking along a major thoroughfare in my home town and saw this in a boutique window:

Please forgive the poor quality of the image - I do not possess the latest telephone technology.

It is clearly meant to look like a sweater vest over a t-shirt, but why? Seems a rather nerdy style, but perhaps that plays in to a hipster sensibility.... but this just doesn't seem to work. And the necklace? - the stylists are trying too hard to be au courant. Look, now I am a fashion critic. (We know I have no credibility there....)

I guess my conclusion is that I am eager to see a good execution of the confluence, but that this is not it. Too bad.

Fiber Art in High Fashion

On the cover of Glamour Magazine's July edition, spectacularly attractive Keira Knightley is sporting a bright fuchsia, woven dress. The photographer or editor cropped it at about her waist.

As a fiber artist, that caught my eye - high fashion with weaving. Oh, our lucky day. The dress designer, Altuzarra, was inspired by fiber artist Sheila Hicks.

BUT - WTF? This dress is awful. It looks in the same vein as Carol Burnett taking the curtains to make a dress à la Gone with the Wind. Did Altuzarra take a wall hanging down and wrap the runway model with it? As a top on Keira it looks splendid and enticing, here on the runway it seems a bit of a joke. How disappointing.

Though Altuzarra's execution was unfortunate in my opinion, it afforded us an opportunity to learn about Sheila Hicks, who

was born in Hastings, Nebraska and received her BFA and MFA degrees from Yale University. Upon completing her studies at Yale Hicks received a Fulbright scholarship in 1957 to paint in Chile. While in South America she developed her interest in working with fibers. After founding workshops in Mexico, Chile, and South Africa, and working in Morocco and India, she now divides her time between her Paris studio and New York.

Hicks has been widely exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions. A major retrospective Sheila Hicks: 50 Years debuted at the Addison Gallery of American Art and traveled to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia and the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC. Hicks‘ work is also included in such collections as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, both in New York City; Museum of Fine Arts Boston; The Art Institute of Chicago; Museo de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Chile; and the Museums of Modern Art, Tokyo and Kyoto. One-person exhibitions include those at the Seoul Art Center, Korea; Israel Museum, Jerusalem; and Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.

Here is a tiny little sample of her work, called Escape to the North, which I found the same place I pulled her biography:

Stix in Bozeman

I visited with lovely Carmen at Stix Luxury Yarns in downtown Bozeman. She has a nice small shop right on the man drag with lots of brightly colored yarns. She has a small section of local Montana yarns, and I found the Bison Wool again for $68. (Hasn't gone up in price in two years time.) With the Bison Wool she also has lots of sheep blends.

I wish I could remember some of her words, but Carmen is making up words to describe the fact that she promotes crochet as much as she does knitting. Carmen says these words without any self-consciousness, so one must look at her and question one's own vocabulary. I heard at least two while I was visiting her shop.

I would like to find some really nice crochet patterns - and she seemed to have some good ones. I am under the impression that crochet would be easier than knitting or needlepoint on an airplane.

Harry has been playing around with girls

Hahaha! I wish we had the letter from his mother describing what brother Harry was doing.

Sunday 1917 (8/19/1917)
Dear Mother,

Your Friday letter arrived today. We always have one mail delivery on Sunday.

It certainly was surprising to hear that Harry has been playing around with girls. I was glad to hear it, though. He ought to get out more often.

I had a regular surprise package from Karolyn today – a brown sweater and scarf to match that she knitted for me and a tobacco pouch. The sweater is a regular godsend. It’s pretty cold at 5:30 am these days. Her father is going to drive her down to Bridgeport this coming Saturday – the 25th. I’m going to try to get over to see her that Sunday. There is nothing definite yet but I’m inclined to think that Section 80 will be sent along with the section in which Allan Norton is. 80 is one of the oldest sections in camp now. Still you never can tell. At any rate I can’t drive yet – haven’t been given instructions so I’ll not see any actual service for quite a few months unless they transfer me to some sort of clerical work at some headquarters over there. If we are going I do wish they’d tell us.

The weather is ideal. Cool nights and warm clear days. Friday I was vaccinated for small pox so I am all through with having my arm jabbed and punctured unless the vaccination doesn’t take.

I got another pair of shoes this week – three pairs now.

Love to all,
Herbert

I believe this is a photo of Harry when he was young. He married, but never had any children. If not Harry, still a very handsome man.

Camel Fiber

You learn something new every day. (Hopefully, I suppose.)

While reading Volume 11, Issue 1 of Wild Fibers magazine I noticed a photograph of camel moms with their babies. (Do baby camels have a name, like kids or cria?) One frequently sees llamas, alpacas, etc., but I don't ever recall seeing photographs of camels in a context of knitting fiber. Maybe I just haven't been sensitive to it in the past, but it struck me as worthy of investigation.

The advertisement is for Weaver Creek Fibers. According to their web site they are wholesale purveyors of luxury fibers. I'm afraid they do not have a terribly long list of locations where one can buy their product, as I would love to feel camel fiber. They will blend the fiber with merino wool or silk.

Camels may be creatures of the desert but they need a downy undercoat to keep the suns rays away from their tender skin. Camel down has been prized for centuries and in modern times was in every gentleman's wardrobe, in the quintessential Camel Hair Coat.

OMG, Camel hair coats really are made of camel hair!

The Baby Camel Down is a warm golden brown and so very soft. This short stapled fiber is prepared in a manner that makes it very easy to spin and will do well, whether spun with a lot of loft or tightly for sturdy garments. It pairs wonderfully with merino and silk in our spectacular blends and will take dye beautifully. Camel down is the soft warm inner down of a bactrian camel with a fiber structure similar to cashmere. The down is usually 1-3 inches long. Camel down does not felt easily. Baby Camel Top has been becoming more popular every year.

I wonder if camel fiber is generally used for knitting, as well as making men's winter coats. I will have to ask around. I notice, too, that they are discussing the use of baby camel fiber, not the fiber from an adult animal. What do they do with all the adult animals? I did a google search on the address, and one cannot tell if they have a lot of land and they are raising the animals. (But, perhaps they are not raising the animals, given that they mention yaks, rabbits, alpaca fiber, too.) I was disturbed by the thought of all the adult animals.... So, I conclude, perhaps naively, that they have a source of fiber from a place that has more 'use' for adult animals.

As I read further, I see them discuss the animals. They indicate:

Bactrian camels have two humps, weigh about 1600 pounds and stand about 7-9 feet tall at the top of their humps. Their gestation period is 370-445 days and give birth to calves weighing 80-130 pounds. Their life span is 40-50 years. Bactrian camels have two coats: the warm inner coat of down and a rough outer coat which is long and hairy. They shed their fiber in clumps consisting of both coats and is normally gathered. They produce about 5 pounds of fiber annually.

What I conclude is that they do not raise their own animals, as the photograph shows animals with only one hump, not two...

I have swiped this image from a google image search.



Ok, I am disillusioned. And I wonder why they would use a photograph of animals with one hump instead of the two humps they discuss in their description.

A baby camel is a calf.