almost

This quilt is almost quilted!  I am finding everything is taking much longer then it used to with two small boys in the house.  As well as helping more with the boyos' knife business.  It used to be I only worked on the business cards and ran errands.  Now, I am being asked about cut lists for cabinets.  I will actually help build those cabinets so I am not surprised.  It is what happens when you gain more skills.

I had the conversation with Koda Bear about finishing what is started today.  I have a lot of works in progress and I am focusing on finishing each.  There are some works in progress that are really about me keeping my skills sharp, like spinning.  Or for the shop, like this quilt.  But I find that works in progress keep multiplying.  I am finding I need at least one day a week for mending.  I like the intention of very much but it does take away from what I am trying to do otherwise.

This is my life.  And that is okay.  Building these cabinets will be interesting.  Then, I will build the truck cabin for sharpening.  The plan is for me to continue doing what I am doing and become the mobile sharpener as well.  The biggest impact is that I do not get to travel as much as I would like.  That could change with time. 

Everything changes.

changing my mind

I know months ago, maybe even a couple years ago at this point, I had crocheted myself a cream cardigan.  I like it.  Kind of.  It does not really fit correctly and I really need something less structured.  And I truly wanted something more lacy.  That is what I get for trying to reconstruct a thirty year old memory.

I had a couple skeins of that same yarn left, so I decided to start another cardigan in a different pattern.  Pretty but based off a granny square.  When I really wanted lacy.  It was not holding my interest as I was making it.  I think the directions were hard for me to get my head around, plus the granny square pattern. versus lace.  

I pulled out that start.  I still love the yarn but I really want lacy.  Since I have been playing with motifs, I decided why not.  The fabric of the motif is soft.  It will be lacy.  I can make the sweater more unstructured. 

It also travels better with me in this shape.  The boyos have plans for me which will require more portable projects.  After I do all the carpentry they are plotting.  The display room.  The truck cabin for sharpening.  Remodeling the kitchen.  The dining room shelves.  The.....  I was purchased tools.  The funny thing is a lot of times I do not have the physical strength in the upper body that they have but I get the projects done.

Saying that, I really need to finish my yarn box.  Blue's cradle got in the way.  Then Blue arrived.  Building a sweater this way also gives me chance to have quiet.  Meditate.  Quiet is very hard to come by.  Space is hard to come by.

Maybe I will have pictures of the finished yarn box soon as well as a sweater!  I have a dress to lay out as well.  Fabric on the way for fancy dress.  Life is always busy.

about the level of thought I am at

It has been a good week but there has been a lot of change.  The boyos are building out the shop to include a display room for knives.  The whole back yard and shop feel like a mess!  Wednesday felt incredibly overwheliming but it keeps getting a bit better each day.

I was thinking about writing about making English muffins but my brain has not words.  Instead, all I wish to do is sit and spin.  Or sit and crochet.  Forever shawls are about my speed currently because I do not have to think.  I have a sweater I am working on and there is a little more thought involved there.  But there are a few more stitches involved.

I have started to do some researching into dyeing yarn.  I would like the ability to take some of the white fleeces I have and make them something else.  I love the natural browns, blacks, and whites but lets be honest.  I am a bit of a klutz and white yarn will not stay white in any garmet I make!  Color is a good thing.

Off to more research and crochet!

Lady Emma

We had frost in our neighborhood this week.  How strange for April in Houston.  I realized that I wished to put my hands in the soil.  It may be due to how chaotic life is.  I love the short people in my life but that does not mean I have a lot of time to create.  Or thought power.

I can pull weeds and try to make the flowers that are starting to flower try to look prettier.  I planted a Lady Emma rose.  The buds are changing in a positive way, not a I killed it as I planted it.  I hope to plant more roses again. I need flowers.  There is a theory that flowers are enlightened beings because they developed before insects and other pollinators.  

I do not know.  I am not that wise.  I know flowers sooth my soul.  I am going to add more roses to my garden again.  The soil should have revived from the last time I planted them.  And this time, I am not so worried about having veg as well.  I am told I may get a veg plot again in the backyard.  I am kind of at I will believe it when I see it stage of life.

But I will have roses.  Be prepared for many pictures when that does happen!

ballgown style skirt

It has been a week where the computer and myself have not been kind to each other.  I hope I now have everything sorted.  But is funny how a first world problem can seem like such a big deal when I am in the midst of it.  But, when I look back it did not mean anyone was hungry, unclothed, or unsheltered.  I was just having technology issues.  Bleah!  It is done.  I can hope it does not come up again for a long time.

I have a family wedding to go to this summer.  With requested dress for each event.  One of those is Dress to Impress.  Not that I really need anything new if I did not wish but I have been looking at ballgown style skirts for years.  I love the idea of long and swirl.  Especially with a white shirt.  It is an idea that has played in the back of my head for many years.

I bought some black twill to try it with.  Took cotton out of my stash for pockets.  Cut the fabric.  I used all day Friday for myself and made myself a skirt.  It really did not take all day but I double seamed everything.

I ended the day early with a long black skirt.  Which I love.  Especially with my hiking boots.

The pockets are not as deep as some others I have made in the past.  But I realized that means I cannot put so much stuff in my pockets that I drag the skirt down.  Thought I made it in a fashion that it will not go over my hips, even with an elastic waistband.  I did take it in a bit later.

This pattern added fullness but four deep pleats.  So the skirt still lies very flat but is very full.  It did not have to be cut in such deep wedges.

I love it!  It twirls!  Especially with my arms full of Blue.  I wear it with hiking boots.  I could wear it every day.  I have another in the works.