Well that six weeks went by fast! I haven’t been idle; I’ve barely been home but I’ve kept busy when I have been here.
We did the swap meet and the weather was better than predicted – a lot better, thank goodness. I finished knitting a little one piece for my grandson for Christmas.
Since then I’ve knit myself a sweater that actually fits
and a pair of wee mittens, also for the grandson, from leftover cashmere/merino/acryllic blend.
I’ve been in and out of so many doctor’s offices and labs that I’ve lost track and there are a couple more tests yet to come but I’ve also lost 30 pounds since May!
I made a “wallhanging” (for lack of a better word) and submitted it to a local juried bieenial exhibition. I’m waiting to hear if it’s accepted. “Earth Mother” threatens to be the first piece in a series.
I finally got back to the fabric book I was working on at last writing and I’ve just this afternoon finished constructing the pages though it still needs a cover and has to be assembled.
No harm in a little self-promotion! I will not appear opposite the nuts in the final assembly. The acorns contain little metal discs which adhere to rare earth magnets (also securely embedded) in the tree.
I will admit here that the upside down Jack was a mistake but – after all the machine sewing that secures the face and adds the features, I wasn’t taking it out! The book I’m using (less and less) for reference had a queen for “Q” but I didn’t like her (and finding a “Q” word was tricky for various reasons). I settled on “quack” before The Ed thought of “quilt”. I can be very dumb.
“Kite” is a bit of a cop out but it works. I didn’t like their “P” either (and don’t remember what it was at the moment but how can you lose with a puppy?
“Otter” replaced “Owl” because my son doesn’t collect owls. The shoe is the book’s and I quite like it.
I know. I’m out of order. It gets confusing but I think they’re at least all placed right for assembly. They’d better be or Evan’s gonna learn a whole new alphabet! The crackers are plastic. No idea where I got ‘em. The animal cracker box is from a commercial print, believe it or not. The clock’s hands move, of course and the numbers are that fun foam stuff, die cut.
One of the blocks of snow in the igloo is on velcro and can be removed and (hopefully) replaced. The blocks are cut from one of those scrubby “sponges”. The hat is a lined pocket and the rabbit comes all the way out. He’s several layers of flannelette outlined in pink.
I believe “M” and “N” complete the alphabet (and the book) and – if they don’t – you get the idea. The mitten is cut from a (failed) sweater sleeve and is zigzagged onto the page but only partly so a child can put his or her hand into it. It’s large enough for several years of play. Another idea of my own as the book used ”mirror” which I covered with “Evan” under “E”. They wussed out anyway, using the word, “mirror” but only a simple face applique.
The nest is woven of fabric strips from a print that reminds me of straw or grass or basket weaving. It’s a “braid” woven on three warps from a book, 200 braids to twist, knot, loop, or weave by Jacqui Carey which I quite like but haven’t used much before now. The eggs are fastened in because I don’t have any snaps on hand and wanted to finish today. The activity can be the counting. I talked myself out of hatched or hatching eggs with birdies. Enough, already!
It’s very late and – while we had a late lunch – I’m not going to want to be preparing supper at 8:00 so I’m outta here.
