Craft Clothier

Fall Essential Cardigan & Cycling Cap

2010-10-27T11:16:00.000-05:00

My fall essential cardigan project is now complete and has been worn several times. I love love love it. So warm, soft, and yet comfortable in silk and wool blend DK Gloss from Knit Picks. You really have to feel this yarn to believe it. And for someone who is sensitive to wool, I have had absolutely no problems wearing this near and around my sensitive neck line. Yesterday, I cycled down to Mac's - Macadoodle's wine & spirits, for the uninitiated - in my new cardi and cycling cap, a project I worked up over two days. The cardigan pattern was from the last issue (Fall 2010) of Interweave Knits and the cap pattern was a freebie from the Vogue Knitting site, by Debbie Stoller.

Stash Buster Projects and their Patterns, 2

2010-10-25T11:24:00.001-05:00

Another stash buster project I completed used Lion Brand suede, left over from a hobby horse that I crocheted for Lillian last Christmas. (Note to self, have to make up a toy for Jo-Jo!). The suede, while soft, velvety, and chocolate brown, isn't good for much in the way of traditional knitting. So I thought I'd try it out on these pretty pleated ballet flats from Coco Knits. The suede is a little hard to work with. It tends not to slide easily so it's tiresome to work. But these knitted so fast and easily, I can definitely see myself making a few pairs, perhaps for gifts. Yarn cost: $0; Pattern Cost: $6. The next stash buster project is as-yet undecided. Any suggestions?

In the meantime, I finished up my fall essentials cardigan and another fun little dandy, a cabled cycling cap. I'll have much more to write about those another day.

Stash Buster Projects and their Patterns

2010-10-22T09:10:00.000-05:00

Stash buster projects. Sounds boring. Terribly boring and limiting! For me, knitting - and any other form of sewing or needlework for that matter - has always been about unleashing my creativity. What inspires me; what can I imagine into reality with only my mind, my hands, and the perfect materials; these are the questions I ask. In fact, I am pretty well known for spending literally hours upon hours in the shops in frustration because I can't find the perfect "this" or "that" for the project that my unbridled mind gleefully gave birth to as expectation.

Like everyone else, the economic crunch is hitting us too. I really want to be responsible and thrifty. This basket of yarns has been staring at me literally for years. It has so much potential! But for the most part, something rendered this yarn "unworthy" earlier in its life. The gorgeous blue and green colorway in the hank ended up looking dreadfully like camouflage in fabric. Or I only needed a very few links of this plush brown suede specialty yarn that isn't made anymore. Or most perplexing of all, a deliciously warm hand spun organic wool in subtle pinks and greens that should have been worked up years ago was kept for that special something, only I realized there wasn't enough to do much of anything with.

But knitting up a stash is a total departure for me. Instead of being inspired and dreaming up projects, I now have parameters under which I have to operate. The patterns I choose have to fit the materials I have on hand. And this is a challenge! But it has to go: all of it. It has to fill my knitting life with knitting purpose, because it's free. Then, it has to go. I don't care if it goes away to the thrift store as a donation: it's going! Then, I can dream up new projects and go back to buying!

So here they are, in order of completion. And no, my stash isn't yet empty (sigh).

Stash Project 1: Simple Scarf. This is the green/pink hand spun organic delicious wool. I whipped up a plain, flat stockinette scarf with a garter edge. No pattern necessary. Original yarn cost: $26, over five years ago. Current cost: nothing.

Stash Project 2: Hunter's Camo Scarf. This is a pattern I downloaded for free from the Christmas at Sea website. The seamen's church provides knitting patterns for knitters who want to create things to send for donations to rivermen & seamen as care packages. I really like their patten collection because they are no-muss, no fuss patterns that are very men-friendly. My DH is also no-muss, no fuss. I also like the sock patterns on there. This one is the seafarer's scarf pattern.Original yarn cost: $6, over four years ago. Original pattern cost: free. Current cost: nothing.

Stash Project 3: Buttoned up Neck Warmer. For this project, I actually purchased a downloadable pattern but I think it was worth it. Organic 100% cotton in a cool neutral had long been calling for a soft treatment. I used buttons from my sewing stash (a long-ago forgotten coat project). Original yarn cost: $8, over two years ago. Pattern cost: $6.

Next time, I'll write about the most recent stash busting project, the pleated ballet slippers that I crafted from "suede" yarn. Soft and fuzzy, I think I may keep them for myself!

Back again

2010-10-15T10:02:00.000-05:00

It's been a really long time since I last posted to this blog. My bad. Life got in the way. There was that pesky oil spill for months on end. My sewing machine broke and has been "in repair" for months now. I got antsy and made one of the couture project garments by hand (more on that in a minute) and have been focusing on my knitting a lot lately.

After returning from three months in the Gulf, I picked up my scissors and cut out a DKNY-designed skirt to be sewn completely by hand. With my sewing machine broke and the itch very much alive to create, I dove into the work. I had purchased some gorgeous wool gabardine at a shop in New Orleans the past March and set to cutting it out. My figure is a bit on the strange side: larger hips and smaller waist make fitting a tad complicated, especially where a set-in waist is concerned. Usually, I just take up extra space on the side seams but this design challenged that status quo. The side seams are actually set on an angle to vertical. You can see it in the design drawing, below. Pockets set into the side seam also prevented my normal response. So instead, I doubled the darts on the front (there are actually darts on the back too, but I wonder why they were omitted from the design drawing?).

Another change from the original was to lower the back slit. I am only 5'3" so this slit ran right up to the undies: not so hot! Lowered, I felt more relaxed and business-like.

I paired the camel-colored skirt with a forest green sweater with cowl neckline, leather healed sandals, and silver bracelet. It was a real winner, and working with the gabardine was very pleasant.

I've also been busy busting my stash lately. I'm trying desperately to limit my expenses right now and as such, I feel it necessary to find projects that fit the stash of yarn that I have hanging out in my basket right now. I'll try to post tomorrow on the four projects I finished out of stash yarn.

Back to the Project

2010-02-17T16:31:00.001-06:00

I returned from New Orleans with the absolute best souvenir anyone could hope for: fabric. Okay, well you probably don't care much for that conclusion but let me tell you, I'm thrilled. Picking out the fabric for my Chicken Coup Couture Project from Promenade Fabrics on St. Charles was among the thrills of my project, readers. Consider this: a fabric store that sells apparel fabrics (and associated notions, laces, and trims) only. No drapery fabrics, no crafty-yarny stuff; just gorgeous silks, woolens, laces, linens, buttons, and beading. The collection ranged from $30 per yard to well over $200 per yard. This is exquisitely high for my usual price range, but the quality was completely there: Italian, French, English, and Irish imports abounded. Vintage laces were everywhere. Silk in every variety and color lined the walls. I was greeted promptly at the door but was then left unobtusely to brouse to my heart's content. When I asked for guidance from the proprietor, Mr. Herbert Halpern, I got ample attention. This is what shopping should be, I thought. If you ever find yourself in New Orleans, stop by the Promenade Fabric store on St. Charles and look out for a wonderful experience. Also, if you ever happen to want that kind of personalized service but can't get to New Orleans, Mr. Halpern gratiously provides a mail order service with complimentary swatches (within reason). How's that for unusual these days? He told me Promenade is the last of its kind in the South. I believe it. I can't find anything of the kind anywhere else, either.

The Moto Jacket: Completed Project Photos and Details

2010-02-04T21:28:00.000-06:00

Well, here it is: my black wool moto jacket lined with iridescent saffron-colored silk dupioni. This was made from the “Larissa” pattern, obtained from Burdastyle online at a very reasonable $5.00 USD (no tax).

The jacket design features a full lining, interfaced collar and lapels, topstitching, five zippers (two for pockets, two for sleeves, and one for closure), a fitted, snapped waistband, shoulder tabs, two-piece sleeves, side pieces, and back pleats. It should be noted that these last three design features – two-piece sleeves, side pieces, and back pleats – are a measure of a quality pattern and this was definitely well-designed.

I added an interlining of warm & natural organic cotton batting, double interfacing on lapels and collar, sleeve heads, and shoulder pads. I also chose to omit the snap/tabs on the back of the coat because, alas, I have too much junk in my trunk. That much detailing near my bum would only draw more attention to it and a short jacket at my waistline is enough to make me a little self-conscious as it is!

Because the pattern only went up to a size 42 and I measured nearer to a size 44, I had to size it up. This was my first attempt at sizing up a pattern and it happened to end up working very well. Like anything else, patience is required and careful, regular measuring. A design ruler would have helped, but I didn’t have mine yet and so I managed it with a regular ruler and eyeballed the curves to the best of my ability. I traced the pattern out onto tracing paper and cut it out.

One omission in the pattern that would have really helped with the collar construction was including the roll line. The roll line for a collar or lapel is just as it sounds – where the roll will be. Good tailoring requires that this line be treated to some interfacing but I couldn’t manage it because I didn’t know where the roll line was. While my collars look good, I didn’t master the “turn of the cloth” that I read about as being the mark of a well-tailored garment. Nevertheless, I’m pleased – very pleased – with how this jacket turned out. I learned some very valuable lessons that I’ll be able to apply in my future projects. The most important of these are 1) that patience pays off; and 2) that hand stitching may take longer, but often it looks better.

Moto Jacket Techniques II: A Quilted Interlining

2010-02-02T15:33:00.000-06:00

As promised, here is the second installment of couture sewing techniques I used on the moto jacket. I wanted a warmer jacket and so I decided to insert a quilted interlining. But what is interlining?

Interlining is not interfacing. Interfacing is used to add stiffness, weight, and/or strength to a facing fabric and is located on the wrong side of the facing fabric, between the facing and the lining (hence the name, interfacing). Interlining on the other hand is used to add insulation to a garment and is located on the wrong side of the lining fabric, between the facing and the lining (hence the name, interlining). While interfacing is a structural element of a tailored garment, interfacing is not; it may add bulk but that isn’t the point.

Good choices for interfacing fabric include lambs wool, wool or cotton flannel, or (as I discovered), left over thin organic cotton quilt batting that is pre-needled. I used the latter on my moto jacket since I had some left over and the alternatives available at my local fabric store were limited and inferior. It is important to note that most highly tailored and well-fitted jackets don’t afford much room to add an interlining. Therefore, if you chose to use an interlining, either make sure the design you’re working with has sufficient ease to accommodate it, or build in a little extra ease by adjusting seam allowances.

Interlining is generally attached to each piece of the lining by basting in the seam allowance and then the two are handled as one when the garment lining is constructed and attached to the garment. For this project, I wanted a particular look to the lining and I wanted it quite warm. I noted that Chanel likes to quilt her lining to her facing fashion fabric and, while this definitely piqued my interest, it wasn’t exactly what I was going for here. I decided to quilt the lining to the interlining to get the part of that look that I liked, without impacting the facing fabric.

1) Cut out lining pieces from lining fabric.

2) Lay lining pieces on interfacing, wrong sides together; spread flat and pin.

3) Start with the largest piece, usually the center back. Using tailor’s chalk and a ruler, draw a line vertically down the center of the garment piece.

4) Using a matching thread, sew small running stitches through the interlining and lining, from the top of the piece to the bottom. This is your centerline, your prime meridian.

5) Draw another vertical line exactly 2 inches to the left of the centerline and quilt in the same manner, from top to bottom. Repeat this for all vertical lines, always stitching from top to bottom.

6) Once all vertical lines have been quilted, find the horizontal centerline of the piece and draw a horizontal chalkline there. Quilt the line from right to left (or left to right, if you’re a leftie). The idea is to work all vertical lines top to bottom, center to edges. Then, work all horizontal lines right to left, (or left to right if you’re a leftie) center to edges; what matters is that you go only in one direction with your stitching and from the center out, to avoid puckers. Note that you can use the warp and/or weft to help you get evenly-spaced lines.

7) Start all quilting lines ½” inch from the outside edge of the seam allowance, not at the edge of the fabric.

8) Once all quilt lines have been placed at 2” intervals, baste the outside edge of the lining to the interlining at ½” from the edge of the seam allowance.

9) Turn the lining/interlining sandwich over and trim the interlining only, very carefully, close to the basting. If your quilting lines happened to get into the ½” no-man’s-land, cut around them, not through them. You don’t want to weaken your quilting before constructing the lining. This trimming provides a nice neat appearance to lining seams.

Once the largest piece is quilted, start quilting all other pieces. You can either quilt them independently, or try to match your quilting lines. It isn’t difficult to do the latter and makes the piece look that much nicer.

If your garment has a pleat in the lining, it is very important that you trim away the two extra layers of interlining in this area, to ensure you aren’t tripling the interlining. Some may find it easier to trim the interlining before quilting, but I find it easier to trim after.

Enjoy your quilted interlining. I know I’m enjoying mine. Next blog entry will feature the jacket itself, hopefully modeled by yours truly, if I can get a helper to snap the photos. If not, my dress form will do the honors. Till then…

Moto Jacket Techniques I: A Perfectly Topstitched Zipper

2010-02-01T22:59:00.001-06:00

So I promised you some interesting sewing techniques that I'd learned in the construction of the moto jacket which, I am pleased to say, is now finished. The plan is to share two techniques - 1) how to get a perfectly topstitched zipper insertion and 2) how to interline the jacket - and then I'll share photos of the completed jacket. This post is all about Technique I: A Perfectly Topstitched Zipper.

The moto jacket required me to insert five zippers. By the time I was done with the jacket, I felt fairly confident in this technique, and that I'm convinced I won't be deviating from it in the future. One of the biggest struggles home sewists face when inserting this type of zipper is getting the topstitching even and straight while avoiding the zipper teeth (too close and the zipper doesn't work; too far and it looks poorly made). Couture houses avoid this problem altogether by making it a simpler, albeit lengthier process. Instead of trying to do several things at once (get the fabric folded exactly on the seamline, get the zipper inserted perfectly, and get the topstitching to look good), they separate it into distinct elements and augment machine stitching with hand stitching. You will deal with one side completely - from start to finish - before dealing with the other side.

Step 1: Mark a chalkline on the seamline.

Step 2: Fold the fabric on the seamline, wrong sides together, and baste; press.

Step 3: Topstitch by machine 1/4" from the seamline; remove basting stitches and repress to set the topstitching. Press the zipper tape while you're at it.*

Step 4: Pin the zipper in place and hand stitch it using tiny, invisible running stitches within the topstitching line. This is accomplished by anchoring the thread in the zipper tape and pushing the needle up from the underside of the zipper tape into the topstitching. Pull thread through. Push the needle right back to the underside almost exactly next to the point from which the needle came up. This makes an invisible tiny stitch in the topstitching. From the back, take a single running stitch approximately two to three topstitches in length, coming up again between two topstitches. Repeat.

Step 5: Repeat for other side of zipper. Whala: the most hassle-free zipper insertion ever. I'm throwing out my so-called zipper foot.

*It really is a very good idea to press your zipper tape before inserting the zipper, no matter what technique you've chosen to employ. Zipper tape is by nature very stiff and after being folded in it's cardboard packaging for who-knows how long, is likely to need a pressing, unless you like lumps in your finished projects (I don't).

Next time, fair readers, I'm going to discuss inserting an interlining and quilting that interlining to the lining fabric.

The Moto Jacket: Practice Project A

2010-01-27T17:54:00.005-06:00

Burdastyle 6032 is titled "Larissa." But I just call it the super-cool moto jacket. It's my first practice project where I'll be utilizing some of my new techniques, but not all of them. I'm planning this jacket for a trip to New Orleans next month and really, I have to get it done to make the trip in it!

Although I wanted a teal wool with a crazy background print silk lining, I was limited by funds and time. I selected a 100% wool coating in black and 100% silk dupioni in an irridescent saffron color (the warp and weft are cross-dyed orange and yellow for a beautifully shimmering silk). For interlining I chose some warm & natural batting. This is not a typical interlining choice, but I wanted a very warm coat and I wanted to quilt the lining to the interlining. I will display this technique in a future post. Since I had leftovers from my hand-quilted spring quilt, it seemed like a convenient choice. We'll see how successful it was soon, I think. Thoughts? Reactions?

New Year, New Project

2010-01-27T16:27:00.005-06:00

Well boys and girls, it has been a really, really long time since I've updated this blog. I'm told that if I am to have loyal readers, then I need to update regularly and keep things interesting, inspiring. Personally, I don't see myself as very interesting or inspiring, so I'm just going to waste this internet space talking about things that I'm doing and things that I like, as usual.

Firstly, this New Year is going to be filled with my new project: Chicken Coup Couture. Yes, the beloved chicken coup in which I live has been transformed into my very own personal couture atellier, or workroom, because I've undertaken the teaching of myself some new skills: couture sewing techniques. I'll need plenty of projects to practice on, so I've selected a series of several garments that, by the time I'm done, will result in a truly stunning wardrobe (hopefully). They include:

Vogue 8449: an evening gown

Vogue 8333: a jacket

Vogue 7468: trousers

McCall's 5661: a shell, View A

Vogue 1093: a skirt

Vogue 8392: a knit blouse, View A

and Vogue 1137, a sheath dress

I have also decided to make two practice projects (while I'm learning the techniques), a moto jacket from Burdastyle and a silk camisole from an old vintage Butterick pattern that is no longer in print. As bonus projects, I am considering a coat, purse, and gloves.

One might ask why I would consider undertaking such a potentially expensive and superflous project. The honest truth is that I needed something, anything, that would be long-term, into which I could contentedly invest hundreds to thousands of hours, and after which I would have gained something valuable. Work is no longer satisfying; in fact, it's down right depressing. I'm probably at the beginning of a midlife crisis in which I am forced to ask myself, "what was it all for, anyway" and "what should I do now?" Unlike many Americans, I am still employed, for now. That a discontent hangs over me and colors my work is undoubted, though. How long will I be employed? Do I want to stay doing this anyway (since it's nothing like what I wanted when I signed up for graduate degrees)? For how long will my husband's business stay moderately successful? No one can tell the future, as far as I know. So, it's a matter of doing with what we have and making the most of it. I have a talent for sewing. I have a similar talent for teaching (myself and others). I think I'll teach myself some new sewing tricks and see if I can create some beautiful things in the process. And when I finally decide to pull my proverbial head from the proverbial sand, hopefully I'll have a game plan in place.

So, to give you a sneak peak of what this blog will likely be for the coming year, I anticipate a rough combination of two things:

1) new sewing techniques, demonstrations, etc. concerning what I'm doing
2) a rather boring discussion of where these experiences intersect with other aspects of my life.

Here's an early example: I have realized that there is some correspondence between my fear of cutting into fabric for the first time, and my fear of failure in my life. Interesting, eh?

Till next time,
The Chicken Coup Chick

Cycling in Missouri: Statutes Spell Recipe for Danger

2009-10-19T09:44:00.005-05:00

When I first started cycling in Missouri as a means of transportation (and not just for a leisurely ride) it became immediately clear to me that I was operating in foreign territory. Firstly, there aren't ANY bike lanes in my community, sidewalks aren't even useful for the disabled, and the majority opinion of my fellow travelers (from their car windows, accompanied by angry horn-blowing and obscene hand gestures) was that I didn't have any "right to be there." I have heard this many, many times: "Get off the road."

No right to be there? Get off the road? Well, where am I supposed to ride, if not on the sidewalks and not on the road?

New to biking in general, I sought the wisdom of other bicycle-commuters online. This excerpt is copied from Commute by Bike article Commuting 101: Top 5 Reasons to Claim the Lane and Why It's Safer:

"The extreme right side of the road – In my opinion this is the most dangerous place you can ride. You are risking two dangers:

1) Cars will repeatedly try to squeeze by you in the same lane and will almost always come very close to you which, obviously, increases your chance of getting hit.

2) The Peek-a-boo bike. Picture two cars approaching. The second car is following closely to the first. As the first car moves to miss you, it is seen by the second car as merely drifting in the lane since the car isn’t moving that much out of the way. The second car doesn’t realize you are in the road until it is to late.

Because of the above dangers and contrary to many people’s “common sense”, the best thing for a bike commuter to do is claim the lane. I ride at least a third of the way into the lane and, around curves, I roll right down the middle.

Here’s the top five reasons why I started claiming the lane (and why you should to):

1) Drivers give you more room – The day I started claiming the lane is the day I stopped getting regularly buzzed too close by cars. As mentioned above, when you are all the way to the right then cars will almost always try to squeeze by. When you claim the lane, they are forced to slow down and wait for an opportunity to pass you which means they take plenty of room to do it.

2) You are more visible – Drivers are used to looking for other large, metal boxes. And they’re used to looking in the middle of the lane ahead of them. When you hug the side of the road you are often outside their field of vision. By claiming the lane you are much more likely to be seen by oncoming traffic.

3) You avoid dangerous debris and obstacles – the sides of roads are usually covered in debris. Stuff that can slash your tires and/or fly up and hurt you. There are also things like sewer grates and uneven shoulders to worry about. By claiming the lane you avoid all of this.

4) It’s an easier, more enjoyable ride – When stuck squeezing the side of the road or riding on the sidewalk, feelings of stress abound. Constantly watching the terrain ahead of you, swerving out of the way of obstacles, slowing down for pedestrians and many other things that you are forced to pay attention to are reduced when you claim the lane.

5)You are making a statement – While not as important as the previous safety related reasons, this has long term effect. On many roads bicycles are seen as an annoyance that shouldn’t be allowed in the road with other “real” vehicles. By claiming the lane you are making a statement that we belong on the road and have all the same rights as cars."

Obviously, for all of these reasons, I too was inclined to claim my lane. I had always been in the right-hand, or "slow" lane anyway. When I politely moved over to the right 1/4 of that slow lane, inevitably I increased my chances of being hit by impatient drivers who wanted to pass other motorists on the right. They would swing their cars wildly toward me, terrifying me and nearly hitting me. Some people, even when the left hand lane was wide open, could still not be bothered to change lanes to give me the courtesy of that small amount of space. And the motorists got angrier and angrier.

Convinced that most motorists were probably ignorant of the Missouri State Bicycle Statutes (as I myself was), I investigated what the law said about where I was allowed to operate my bicycle. To my horror, this is what I found (For more information, see the Revised Statutes of Missouri Sections 300.347, 300.350,304.019,
307.183, 307.185, 307.188, 307.190, 307l191, 307.192, 307.193, 307.195.):

"Anyone riding slower than the speed limit must stay as far to the right-hand side as safe."

And

"People in cars have someplace to go … don't hold them up without a good reason."

Well, I too have someplace to go. I'm not out for a Sunday drive, folks. I'm using my bicycle as a responsible, reliable, green, healthy means of transportation and I HAVE A RIGHT TO DO SO. I'm willing to trade the speed of travel for a more environmentally responsible approach. And the difference is that my choice isn't just something that I'm doing for myself: my choice will benefit all of my neighbors. Everyone on the planet - let alone in the small state of Missouri - will benefit from my decision and for my trouble I've become the subject of derision and anger. But I don't mind. It's a small price to pay to change the minds of perhaps a few, pave the way for other cyclists, become a small example that others care.

Perhaps the biggest lesson of all here is that even the law-writers in my state need to have a change of perspective. Senators, Representatives, and MoDOT employees: please consider that the safety of the state's cyclists should not be a secondary consideration to the convenience and speed of travel of motorists in the state. Give us our own lane, or allow us the use of the right-hand, slow one. But don't encourage cars to crowd us: this simply isn't safe, let alone the right attitude toward those trying to make a difference.

As for me? Will I follow the "law" of my state or the wisdom of my fellow cyclists? I plan to practice a little civil disobedience and ride in the absolute middle of my lane. Why? Because I think that in time the law will have to change and until it does, it is the safest way for me to cycle. My only question now is, should I start returning the hand gestures? :)

Cycling Cap and the Pema Karpo Meditation Center

2009-10-06T08:28:00.006-05:00

I had the idea that I wanted to create a cap of some kind for bicycling this fall. I wanted something that would shield my eyes from the sun, but not a stinky old ball cap. Something funky, fresh, fun, a little sophisticated, and interesting. This cap (modeled by my delightful niece) is cut from a Vogue pattern out of 100% cotton flannel and lined in silk. (Yes, all I had to match in my stash was navy silk shantung from a previous project.) The plaid fabric was painful to match and as my first effort with such, was only marginally successful. Yet, with the top stitching in contrasting camel-colored thread, and hand-sewn lining, it was more than satisfactory in the detail department for me. I have also cut a coat from camel fleece with lining in the same plaid to match the hat, but that is still a work-in-progress. I'll be toasty warm on my bicycle this fall.

I spent the past weekend in Memphis at the Pema Karpo Meditation Center. Pema Karpo means White Lotus, and is so-called because it is a seat of dharma on the banks of the muddy Mississippi. Like all lotuses, it will grown unstained and undiminished, a beautiful lesson. All of us have basic goodness and although we are born in this place of pain and suffering, our goodness cannot be diminished or stained by it.

Big Brown Bag is Finished

2009-09-21T20:42:00.006-05:00

The Big Brown Bag is finished. And that's all I have to say about that.

Okay, not really. I knitted, I knitted some more. Then I felted. Then I formed and dried. Then I ironed. Then I sewed a lining. Then I added leather lacing. There. Now I'm done.

Pretty Little Undershirt and a Trolley Ride!

2009-09-15T14:29:00.005-05:00

It’s the norm for me to take on a really big knitting or sewing project (remember the queen-size hand-quilted nightmare that occupied most of my spring and early summer) and then get tired and overwhelmed with it and not want to touch it for a while. That’s what has happened with the Big Brown Bag, a felted project that, given the nature of felting, will shrink up when washed much like your favorite wool sweater that hubs ruined when he tried to help with the laundry. (Indeed, the bag body is about the size of a grown woman's cardigan!) Naturally, then, if I intend to felt the bag, it’s going to require me knitting it into an enormous size beforehand, which takes an enormous amount of time. Suffice to say, I'm sick of the Big Brown Bag. So after finishing the bag body, I set it aside over the weekend for a little R&R knitting. I had just received the new issue of Interweave Knits and had been drooling over the new projects I wanted to start when I saw this pretty little number and recalled I had organic cotton in my stash. A few hours and on-hand supplies is all it took to knock one out. And it's too pretty with the 100% cotton velvet ribbon left over from a previous project. The body is knit in stockinette in the round with the bottom in a Knit 2 Purl 1 ribbing. After completing the piece, the armholes were edged in single crochet and the neckline I edged in triple crochet to accomodate the width of the lovely lavender ribbon woven through it every four stitches. So pretty...

I'm getting excited about vising the farmer's market in Webb City this weekend; they are going to give free trolley rides on a street car that was once used in a community-wide public transportation infrastructure stretching between Galena, KS, Webb City, MO, Joplin, MO and Carthage, MO. These little mining towns once comprised a burgeoning community with public rail transportation accessible to all. What the heck happened to us? Oh yeah, the death of mining. Now we're completely car-dependent - and pedestrians and bicyclists beware the death trap that is Joplin's public streets. It makes me miss New Orleans more than ever, where streetcars (and pedestrian locomotion) have been in continuous use since the 1800s. But I'll ride the trolley and hopefully get a chance to remind other locals that there's hope for public transportation yet!

Big Brown Bag inspires buddhists, terrifies feds

2009-08-28T15:36:00.009-05:00

Now that I've returned home, I can continue working on my very own "Big Brown Bag," as designed by Laura Irwin and presented in her fabulous book, Boutique Knits. Although I brought the project with me on a recent leisure/business combo trip, and made some significant headway, I'm still a "young" enough knitter that I seem really to require some concentration for more serious designs. Anything that requires counting, really! The bag is knitted in the round or using stockinette, so it is fairly easy. But Irwin has included some beautiful design details, demanding a little more attention to get everything right. I can't wait to get it done and felted, so I've attached some pics of Irwin's to inspire me.

Knitting is an interesting thing. Most people are drawn to it, use it as a conversation-opener, a way of connecting. Perhaps it has something to do with the warmth of that hand-knitted gift received, or having known a dear family member who knitted. I just finished my Level V Shambhala class in Durham this past weekend and was happy to hear that my project has inspired others to knit. Yet, if we were to ask the federal government about knitters and, more accurately about frightening knitting needles, they would inevitably suggest that knitters always attempt to bring weapons (of mass destruction?) into sensitive public places like airplanes and government buildings, terrorists that we are. Although the TSA formally allows all knitting tools, I just (today) got kicked out of the Social Security office for attempting to bring weapons into a federal building. Apparently the SSA and the TSA don't talk about these things. Sigh. Good thing I didn't have to stay and wait in that tremendous line because without my knitting, I might have gone postal! (Just kiddin' guys, no really... I was ONLY KIDDING).

Ruffled Cloche and Opera Skirt Plans

2009-08-06T08:22:00.005-05:00

I finished the practice piece from Boutique Knits' featured accessory, the "Side Slip Cloche." I knitted this one up using a cheap 97% wool blend called "I love this wool." It was more than adequate at a far lower price than 100% wool, and served to allow me to practice the pattern before diving into my angora/wool/bamboo blend that I bought for my sister's birthday present; she wants one in black or charcoal grey. I learned an important lesson: blocking is very important. It "sets" the knit the same way pressing a sewn piece "sets" the stitches. And though the word "blocking" seems a little strange, in the end, I just turned my iron on to steam and gently steamed the article, especially where the band was connected to the crown. It made for a much nicer piece that ended up fitting far better.

Since my last posting, I have driven to Tulsa to get on a plane to do a weekend meditation retreat, only to arrive and discover my flight had been cancelled. "And the next available flight we can get you on arrives the next day." The next day, the weekend retreat is half over already. It was a grave disappointment. I made it up by starting the cloche and enjoying a recorded DVD of a BBC production of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which was very good indeed and I highly recommend it.

My next projects will involve starting the birthday cloche and sewing an opera skirt for next season's productions. I have bought a subscription for the Tulsa Opera and plan to attend Kansas City's for two of four productions. A girl needs something to wear, after all. I'm planning a floor length a-line skirt with set-in waistband of black silk with buttons at the small of my back instead of a zipper. It will be plain enough to pair both with beaded as well as knitted pieces as I like; perhaps crushed velvet (hat, scarf) in the winter, light airy things while it's still hot out, and so on. Such a project won't take long, either, which I appreciate. Since finishing the hand quilting on that queen-sized, I've been happy with shorter projects!

The Death and Rebirth of my Cabled Hat

2009-07-30T09:31:00.004-05:00

Way back in January 2008, I started a cabled hat project, intended as a winter hat for myself. I was a relatively "young" knitter, and therefore inexperienced. At the end of the project, it was apparent that I had done something terribly wrong. Due to disastrous gauge ignorance, use of a cotton-based yarn (the pattern was written for wool) and wilful denial, the hat proved far, far too small for me. Disgusted, but unwilling to trash it, I put the finished hat in the bottom of the knitting basket never to be seen again. (And forevermore, I vow to make a gauge swatch). A year and a half later I cleaned out the basket and realized I now have two nieces, at least one of which should fit the hat beautifully. I stitched 1.5” wide double-faced satin in ivory color to the inside crown of the hat for a lovely tie, and added two pieces of i-cord on the brim, left and right of the face, to hold them in place. The result is a sweet baby hat that can be worn with tie under the chin or above the crown to raise the brim off the face somewhat. Since it is knit in cotton, this hat could be worn all winter long and into spring. Three cheers for rescuing a failed project!

There's probably a bevy of life lessons here, so I'm going to make an attempt to acknowledge a few of them. 1) What doesn't fit you, today, might fit somebody else later on, so don't throw away clothes - donate them. 2) "Failures" are just learning opportunities. 3) Knitting in cotton is nothing whatever like knitting in wool. 4)Double-faced satin ribbons make everything better. 5) Oh... and, cleaning out the knitting basket every now and again can lead to wonderful things. I rediscovered a very large skein of hand-spun, hand-dyed virgin wool I purchased in West Virginia... I see my next pair of socks now.

First Socks

2009-07-29T11:19:00.005-05:00

The socks are finished... and I'm thoroughly pleased with them. I decided it's good to practice a first version on a pair for myself. Next time maybe I'll try a lace pattern or cables; cables are so lovely. For a first sock project, though, I recommend one without any decorative effects. This "Basic Sock" pattern, free on the Lion Brand Pattern Finder website, uses a sport- or fingering-weight yarn. I chose a superwash 100% wool in a lovely variegated pattern called Jojoland Melody No. 27. Knitting on double-pointed needles seems intimidating at first, but truly it is easy once you get in and just try. Knitting socks also lets one practice decreases and picking up stitches on a smaller project, both of which are used in shaping and garment-making. Best of all, socks allow you to practice the same pattern twice (obviously)... allowing the knitter to get better in all portions of the pattern. I think I'm hooked.

Providence trip and Oysters

2009-07-24T13:26:00.007-05:00

I'm finally getting around to blogging about my very short, but enjoyable trip to Providence last month. A work colleague and I made the decision to fly in and out of the more convenient and smaller Providence airport, instead of the dreaded Boston Logan monster. That meant staying a night in Providence (again, instead of hellish Boston). We spent the night at the Providence Biltmore Hotel. Opened in 1922, it was designed to recreate the Vanderbilt Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. The Biltmore is a very beautiful hotel replete with hanging chandeliers, murals, and art deco styling... and I would love to stay there again. Since the Federal Hill area was close enough to walk to, we did so. We enjoyed afternoon pastries and coffee around the corner from this darling courtyard overflowing with lavender flowers (pictured, above), followed by exploring of a quaint little art gallery. It was charming to say the least. After walking back to the Biltmore, we had a scrumptous dinner with freshly shucked oysters as an appetizer. I was in heaven. They were so sweet, fresh, and smelling of the ocean that one didn't even need any condiments. Then we explored the hotel. From the rooftop patio, the rest of Providence poured out below us. The skyline at sunset was truly breathtaking (pictured, below). I would enjoy spending more time in Providence.

Green Crafties and One-Sock Wonder

2009-07-20T15:47:00.004-05:00

The attached pic is my attempt at baggies to be used at the grocery (or farmer's market) into which one would put one's veggies instead of using the plastic, disposable kind. These I made out of washed thrift store curtain sheers, cut up, resewn, and re-strung with left-over grosgrain ribbon for draw strings (I love the sunny yellow ribbon peeking through the sheer). Now my veggies will ride in style.

If you want to make this craft, start with two pieces of curtain sheer (or other see-through and light-weight fabric) large enough for bundles of veggies. It's important that the fabric be light weight - because your veggies are often weighed - and see-through so that the cashier can tell what you're buying. Sew three sides together to make a sack. On the top, unsewn edge, turn down a casing, leaving an opening for the draw string. Since I started with curtains, the casing for the curtain rod was already there so I didn't even have to bother with making one. Bonus!

I've completed knitting my first sock - ever. Now that that's done, I'm moving on to the second sock.

Hand-quilting the Queen is complete!

2009-07-16T16:48:00.003-05:00

The 'Spring Haiku' quilt is officially complete, and as such, I officially enter - self-nominated, of course - the completely fabricated halls of that holiest of rank: hand quilters. I had originally thought that this quilt might be a gift; it's no small thing to hand-quilt a queen-size. But, what with my inherent clumsiness (grace is not my middle name), there were far too many pin pricks and blood droplets on the border and backing to warrant it worthy of giving. (Alliteration!) Had I been paying closer attention, I might be able to answer that ever-pervading question: "how long did that take you?" Not sure. So many hours, though... during the quilting, I watched at least five feature-length films, a baker's dozen of prime-time tv shows, and the entire first season of Mary Tyler Moore on DVD (thanks Connie... I will forever associate this quilt with MTM). That doesn't even include the piecing of the top or the basting that came beforehand. Suffice to say that I'm not sure I will ever repeat this endeavor. But then again, what is more personal than creating something for someone else in which was elicited much blood, a great deal of sweat (none-on-the-quilt, thank you very much!), and even some tears?

Wool in 100-degree Weather

2009-07-10T20:11:00.003-05:00

It's the crafter's conundrum. Whyever would one bear knitting pure wool stocking caps and quilting heavy batting into blankets during the hottest part of the year? It has to do with the urge to provide hand-made gifts for all the dear people in one's life - on the exact same day. So one must start six months early. Jo-Ann's understands this urge. They recently sent me a flyer with 40- and 50% off coupons for their sale entitled "Christmas in July." Aptly put, I thought. I too succumed to the crafter's conundrum and today, the 10th of July, made up my Christmas list. This year will be a doozy, I think. I have a new niece, new close friends, and my husband, too, has a few to add to the roster of worthy recipients (and, I beg to differ, it had nothing to do with the fact that these young men exhaulted the virtues of a few certain strawberry pies I made in May). But why the urge to craft for all of these people? I could just as well do away with the effort and pick up a handful of gift cards and probably make most of them far happier. For me, it has everything to do with compromise. I reject the commercialism that has been injected into that holiday. The act of giving should be a genuine one, not an empty one. So instead of not participating in the holiday, I compromised with myself. All gifts would be hand-made, and as many materials as possible would be re-used and recycled. One I'm planning for a few young ladies on my list who like their bling, is a watch bracelet: literally a bracelet made from old, no-longer-working watches that would otherwise be junk. And a trip to my local thrift store yesterday netted me several at 0.99 each. The shop attendent promised me that if I came in on a Sunday, they could be had for a quarter. I scooped up the best ones that I couldn't bear to part with and will be returning Sunday to get the rest. I encourage you to imbue your own personal style into the Christmas, Hanukkah, and other gifts that you will be choosing for loved ones this year and beyond. My style is to reduce, reuse, and recycle; so I'm going to show that off as well as I can - all while trying to give those gifties enough bling to be like-able. That and my style is to be modest with my money, where I can be. There is no need to be wasteful where a little creativity and effort will do. Dr. George Washington Carver said it best:

“We have become ninety-nine percent money mad. The method of living at home modestly and within our income, laying a little by systematically for the proverbial rainy day which is due to come, can almost be listed among the lost arts.”

and

"Since new developments are the products of a creative mind, we must therefore stimulate and encourage that type of mind in every way possible."

Project Gutenberg: Free Access to Books

2009-07-02T08:18:00.004-05:00

I have found a website and must share it with you: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page. Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. Because of copyright issues, most of the books are classical literature and/or reference. Works of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte are available, as well as queer titles like, "Amusements in Mathematics," and "Manual of Surgery (first volume)." I can imagine that I will spend many hours here finding new treasures. But the best part is that they are free and easily available no matter what your computing abilities and/or software. They also have audio books, works from CD and DVD, and sheet music. The Project is wholly staffed by volunteers interested in creating and distributing ebooks. Although the website never says this, I find that their efforts will lead to increased literacy and love of reading by giving equal access to anyone who desires to read. That, and with the copyright requirements, there is a greater attention given to classics. I hope you make some time to check out their amazing website and perhaps find a little time to volunteer for them. All it takes is a little proofreading, which can be done as you are enjoying one of their many free works.

Chop Stick/Tea Bag case

2009-06-30T07:52:00.002-05:00

I finally finished the chop stick and tea bag case for C. Instead of two separate items, I combined my design into one tie-up case. Made of 100% cotton, fabrics include duck cloth, quilting fabric, and seam binding. The seam binding served for both pocket details as well as the ties themselves. All fabric was from scraps, so I can't tell you exactly how much was used.
To make one for yourself, cut a square or rectangle from your cotton quilting fabric that is long enough for your chop sticks, adding another 1.25". This will provide for a 1/2" seam allowance and a little bit of give. Cut an identical square or rectangle from the duck cloth. Also cut out pockets for the left and right sides of your case (one long one for a spoon and chop sticks, several small short ones for tea bags). Each pocket, whether for left or right side, should be the same width as 1/2 of your rectangle. For each pocket, sew seem binding to top, ensuring your stitches have caught the back side of seam binding. You probably already know this, but commercially made seam binding has a front and a back side; the longer of the two is for the back side, enabling you to easily ensure you have caught it in your stitching. After covering the tops of all pockets, start attaching them to the quilting fabric square. Attach all bottoms of the pockets on the left-hand side; then sew up sides. Attach also the right side pocket, then add seam binding to cover raw edges of center, as well as to separate pocket on right side. Finally, place right sides together of pocketed rectangle with duck cloth rectangle. Stitch around, leaving an opening for turning. Clip corners, edges, and turn work. Attach a nice tie using any extra seam binding you might have; blind- or slip-stich your work closed. Whala... your very own chop stick and tea bag case. Now you are officially eco-friendly!

Double Feature: What to do with your basil, and where to keep your chop sticks

2009-06-21T00:44:00.004-05:00

My friend Connie, who is extremely eco-friendly, asked my opinion on making a "wallet" or "case" to carry around her very nice new stainless steel chopsticks. Instead of using disposable wood chopsticks or plastic utensils, she wants a way to carry around her washable pair, in a way that will keep them clean and from getting damaged. She'd like to add a spoon for soup and such too, and sent me these photos. The triangle-shaped pouch is for the chop sticks and the other photo is for carrying tea bags. I have to give these some thought; I can envision something like my knitting needle wallet with a place to slip in the chop sticks and spoon. Whatever the results, I think I'll make her a matching set as a little gift. You can find directions for the chopstick case here.

It is summer officially, as of tomorrow, and since it's in season and growing like a weed, there is no better time to enjoy basil. Fresh, potent basil is the main ingredient of basil pesto, a rich raw sauce to dress pasta or spread on bread; we also love it on pizza instead of red sauce, or to liven up steamed or grilled vegetables. Here's my recipe and yes, the best part, is that pesto freezes exceptionally well, capturing that fresh, perfectly green flavor well into the winter months. This recipe makes enough for 1 lb of spaghetti.

Add the following ingredients to your blender or food processor in this order, and pulse until crumbly:

1 large or 2 small cloves garlic (raw)

3 T pine nuts

1 ounce good parmesan cheese (omit if vegan).

Then add:

10 heads basil

salt & pepper, to taste

Stream in good quality extra virgin olive oil until the sauce has a nice thick paste-like consistency. Taste the pesto. Salt more if needed. It should taste bold and very green. I like a LOT of basil so at this point I usually add a few more heads and a little more olive oil to ensure the pesto is thick, spreadable, and very basil-y. Adjust all ingredient quantities to suit your taste; I really honestly never measure when I'm making pesto. Boil 1 lb spaghetti until done and drain. Immediately return to hot pot and add pesto, folding together to incorporate. Since the pesto is a "raw" sauce, it doesn't have the benefit of cooking the flavors together; the residual heat of the pasta will melt the pesto slightly, and warm the oils and cheese. It is delightfully good. Enjoy!

As summer unfolds, I'm embarking on a three-fold crafting mission: my first lace knitting project, a shawl; my first project quilting by hand; and knitting my first pair of socks. Maybe I should have labeled this post the triple feature... Thanks, Diane, for giving me a beautiful oak quilting frame to ease the quilting work. Going to your house felt a bit like Christmas morning! I'll have to think of something nice to do for you in return. hmmmm....

Help with Labels and Common Sense

2009-06-11T15:32:00.005-05:00

Seventh Generation has published a Label Reading Guide for those like me who want to avoid scary stuff in their cleaning products, but don't also want to avoid the good ones that just sound scary. Handily enough, they've provided an iphone ap, web enabled mobile ap, and a traditional pdf guide. http://www.seventhgeneration.com/show-whats-inside/cleaning-products-ingredients-guide

Their whole website just rocks so I go there regularly to get unbiased information on the latest "green" craze... what is truth and what is not.

I find this "green" craze to be almost ironic. At the end of an era of unprecedented industrial development and environmental exploitation, it has finally become popular(instead of crazy) to consider the effects of our actions; and everyone has to be in on the movement, claiming to be "green." Growing up, mom and dad always just did what made the most common sense. Reusing things instead of treating everything as disposable, and of course reducing our consumption (turning off lights, putting on a sweater instead of cranking up the heat, letting the sun dry our clothes) just makes sense to me because it is how I was raised. I struggle with the concept that doing common sense things somehow labels me as "poor," not because I'm bothered that people might think I don't have enough money, but because society has somehow learned to equate wealth with waste. When did that happen? To questions like, "Can't you afford a car" and "why don't you just get a new one instead of washing that one out" I don't have any answers. I do it because it makes sense to me and it brings a sense of wealth to me. I feel wealthy when I make clothes for myself and others, and I feel wealthy when I pick vegetables from my own garden. I feel wealthy when I teach these things to others too, so I share my own personal brand of wealth with the community whenever I can. I'm trying to reverse the notion that people save and conserve because they have to in order to afford living in this society. Instead we should consider ourselves the luckiest people on the planet to have the choice to conserve and save. The next generation might not have the choice at all.

Clean, Green, Convenient, and Free (or Why I Ride My Bicycle)

2009-05-16T17:03:00.006-05:00

Check out my tricked-out bicycle! I ride because I enjoy it, but also:

Convenience
I get the best parking spaces. And for cyclists, there are never any traffic jams. What is more convenient than exercising while engaging in transport? Try getting that kind of workout in a car!
Green/Sustainable
I spend nothing on gas, but burn calories instead. Calories are a renewable resource; petroleum is not. I, like most Americans, have an overabundance of calories in my diet, so I can afford to burn some. This also means I feel much better about eating dessert - whenever I want to.
Most of my transport needs are well within ten miles. In the US, 40% of urban trips are within five miles. Cars produce the most emissions within the first few minutes of working, before they are warmed up enough for the catalytic converter to work properly. Cars also go fewer miles per gallon when cold. Therefore, biking these distances does double duty for protecting the environment.
The Feel-good Factor
Regular exercise stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain and releases oxytocin and serotonin, neurotransmitters that promote a feeling of well-being. This amounts to a legal, natural, free feeling of happiness that nothing else can medicate or purchase for me. I wondered why I always feel like a happy kid riding my bike-I thought it was just nostalgia!
The Money Factor
No fuel bills, no depreciation, no insurance, no personal property taxes, no parking fees, no tolls, no expensive repairs, no tow bills. Owning a bicycle is inherently cheap, particularly when compared to other forms of transport. And when I am ready to upgrade, it isn’t going to cost what it would to replace a car.

I'm also including a picture of the spring green kimono cardigan that I finished for Lillian. Isn't it adorable?

New Schwinn Jenny Bicycle!!!

2009-05-09T20:53:00.005-05:00

My bicycle arrived and I have ridden every day since. My Schwinn Jenny is a sport cruiser: seven gears to climb hills and get really fast speeds, but all the comfort of cruiser handlebars, a springy seat, nice fenders, chain guard, and rear rack. I am in love. And I ride it everywhere. After a serious wind storm with gusts topping one hundred miles per hour took out our electricity (and that of over 60,000 others in our area) two days ago, we had little to do. So we picked up trees, begged the solar shower to warm up what little water we could scramble up (we have an electric well pump - no electricity, no water), and I rode my bicycle to the store to get more batteries. Too bad for the tot I had to fight off for the last "D" cells! Just kidding.

The hardest thing about riding a bicycle here is that nobody wants to share the road. I get honked at and yelled at to get out of the way, but it's illegal to ride on the sidewalks and they are designed to prevent bicyclists from doing just that (large curbs - hopefully no pedestrians are wheel-chair bound!). My personal favorite was the woman who nearly had a head-on collision in a parking lot because she was too impatient to wait for me to get over after blaring her horn. I hope that chewing gum got stuck in her mustache! :) The second hardest thing about riding in this town is that there's nowhere to park. Acres upon acres of car parks but nothing for my small, (cute), environmentally friendly ride. I've made it a habit to ask everywhere I go when they plan to put in a bicycle rack. Some strange looks ensue, but what of it? I'm here to make an example of myself, by gosh, and I will do just that!
Riding to the gym Thursday evening (before the storm) was very interesting too. I caught a few snickers about biking to the gym. At least one of those snickerers had driven there, and then went inside and I saw her hop on a stationary bike. So sad... using energy to get to the gym and then using energy at the gym. And all for the sake of getting some exercise. Yoga class reminded me to breathe out that negativity. Thank goodness - I didn't want to keep it all in, after all!

Next post will feature my (newly completed) kimono cardigan for Lillian. Green, silk-bamboo fibers, knitted into a little kimono-style sweater. Sweet. Till then!

Josephine Mae and a Spring Haiku

2009-04-26T16:14:00.008-05:00

It is spring, and I have a new neice: Josephine Mae (after my middle name and her great-grandmother's). She is pictured here in her Daddy's left arm (on the photo's right side) with her sister Lillian Marie in her Daddy's right arm. Aren't they sweet? Jo is only half-an-hour old in this photo.

I also finished piecing the top of my "Spring Haiku" quilt, a french braid design with intricately pieced fabric runs and separator bands. The picture just doesn't do justice to the vibrant oriental cotton fabrics.

Next week is another Section 106 consultation meeting in Cape Cod for the Cape Wind Energy project, so I fly out tomorrow. Hopefully my next blog will feature a picture of my brand new bicycle (funded in part by the extra work I did for the Offshore Energy meetings). I've decided that if mindfulness is what I want to embody, then altering my tranportation is a very important component of that effort. But it takes 5-10 business days after ordering before delivery. Sigh. Good intentions take so long to come to fruition sometimes!

Catching Up

2009-04-18T22:17:00.004-05:00

Lately, I've been so busy I don't even know where to start to catch up! The past several weeks have been devoted almost exclusively to preparation for and facilitation of four regional meetings on offshore energy development, held by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in Atlantic City, New Orleans, Anchorage, and San Francisco. It was a series of whirl-wind trips that required 16-hour days and provided for little time to sleep and eat. I returned home last night exhausted and generally stressed. My running (training) schedule is completely ruined and I'll have to start nearly over, I fear. Not to mention that I'd been eating incomprehensible junk and getting little nourishment. It's a miracle I'm not completely ill, instead of just somewhat. But the meetings, they were really amazing. I had never had the good fortune to be so close to the direct democratic process. Indeed, I'm not sure it existed quite like this before O'Bama's administration and since the Revolution.

I heard over one thousand of my fellow Americans share their views on the future of our country's energy production crisis. Some misguided people really believe that more drilling for crude will solve our problems; while they weren't the majority at the hearings, I certainly hope they don't represent the majority of Americans. America's shores hold hope of providing only 3% of the world's current crude consumption, while Americans consume 25%. Even if we could recover the entire amount, it wouldn't solve our oil addiction or provide independence from other countries' production. That and it there is a finite amount. This kind of behavior cannot continue. We need to reduce our consumption of energy, switch immediately to clean, renewable energy that won't damage our oceans and lands, and instead of using taxpayer dollars to bail out old-school car manufacturers, invest in this technology for every American. Like the victory gardens of WWII, instead of a garden in my backyard, put a solar panel on my roof. (In fact, that is my plan, to be accomplished in the next few months!)

So as I recover from these travels, I'm catching up on promises to friends, sewing for my neice and her sister to come (April 21st!), and trying to get back on track. I spent the evening working on Bethany's project A Midwest Vegetarian, and I have some proofs to show her tomorrow at brunch. I will soon resume Lillian's grass-green spring sweater in a soy and silk fiber blend (so pretty!). I will also resume my spring/summer quilt, a french-braid pattern in a palette of greens, blues, and oriental florals (so lovely!). I will also triage my training schedule for the marathon in October. I haven't given it up yet!

Marathon changes

2009-03-04T14:48:00.004-06:00

My marathon dreams took a turn this week; I discovered that the Mother Road marathon, which was supposed to be held on historic Route 66 in October of this year, has been cancelled due to insufficient sponsorship. So, I've transferred my attentions to the next closest event happening in October: the Kansas City marathon. To complete the tranfer, I re-vamped my original vision collage and ritually burned the old one over the pyre of disappointment. Just kidding: I dumped it in the recycle bin after designing this beauty: beginning with a pic of down town KC from the view of the Missouri River bridge.

Since my goal is to finish the marathon - not to have any particular time - I've included the words "finish", "26.2 (the distance of a marathon race, in miles), and my running motto: a line from a poem by Robert Frost.

To celebrate spring, I've also started knitting on a thoroughly darling wrap-front cardigan for Lilly. This is the pattern photo; for mine I've selected a bright grass-green yarn made of 75% bamboo fiber and 25% silk fiber. It is silky soft and very light to the touch; hopefully it will make a nice light-weight spring sweater for my neice who - by the way - loves to play out-of-doors. Far be it from me to do anything other than facilitate that!

Seven Miles and a Sand Mandala

2009-02-25T13:02:00.005-06:00

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of completing a seven-mile run and viewing a beautiful stretch of nature. A gentle reminder: one can't see that from the gym (or the couch). The sun is out today and just warm enough for open windows. Spring is nearly here. It was a perfect time to complete my fabric origami project. The cranes were made of stiffened fabric and then folded exactly as paper origami. I gave these to my friends as Isadora's for their collection; they are asking customers to fold 1,000 cranes, which they are hanging from the ceiling of their business. Their sky will be full of good fortune!

Last evening, I travelled to PSU (local uni) to see the monks from the Drepung Loseling Monestary (in exile) work on a kil khor of the manjusheri or a sand mandala of wisdom. Link here to find out more about the monks and other Mystical Arts of Tibet. I bought some dar cho (prayer flags) to fly from the eaves of our little barn-turned-house. Hopefully the prayers will fly on the wind to the benefit of all sentient beings.

Valentine's Day and the Retro '52 Kimono Belt Dress

2009-02-19T15:33:00.005-06:00

Valentine's Day this year was inspired. L. and I attended his mother's cousin's wedding in the historic home in which we held our wedding four years ago. He dressed in his best suit and I wore my recently-completed retro '52 dress with its Kimono-patterned cotton cumberbund sash belt. After the wedding we went to Tokyo Restaurant and shared a hurricane for two... romantic and tasty; then dinner. After dinner, came Dexter, season 3. Dexter is a guilty pleasure of mine: a serial killer with a conscience (I love the irony) who brings justice to those who the system fails. Guilty pleasures, drinks for two, and a dress up date. I was very spoiled, indeed.

Simple Pleasures - Piemaking as Meditation

2009-02-09T13:03:00.007-06:00

As I was rolling out a pie for my friend yesterday, I realized what a wonder it is to enjoy that simple pleasure, and how many people just don't take that time. We live in a one-room barn-turned-house without running water, so part of the dough-making required me to take a moment and walk down to draw some water from our well. As I walked down the gentle, rolling hill that faces our modest property, I felt a soft breeze on my neck. I wondered aloud how people had voluntarily lost that connection with the small tasks of production and their gentle relationship with nature in favor of the greed and glutony - and isolation - that comes with consumption.

So I'm posting a few pics of the pie, to inspire you to try your hand at a home-made miracle. Gently sweet and juicy blackberries nestled in a woven-basket of fresh, organic butter, flour, salt, and water. Essential nature, made by hand.

My favorite butter pastry recipe (from Martha Stewart - I take no credit for it):
2.5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 sticks real, whole butter
1/4-1/2 cup icy cold water (preferably straight from your well)
4 pints of blackberries
Sugar to sweeten blackberries (to taste)

Combine flour, salt, and sugar. Cut butter sticks into 1 T pieces. Using a pastry cutter or two forks, "cut" the butter into the dry ingredients until they are pea-sized. Add the icy cold water and continue cutting. Then, using your hands, form dough into a ball. If the ball is too dry, it will appear powdery and crumby and you should add a little more water by the teaspoon-ful. If the ball is too wet, add a very little flour. The heat from your hands will help the doughball form. Don't overhandle the dough. The heat helps a little, but can be too much. The dough is just right when it can be turned about in the bowl and perfectly "cleans" the bowl of any crumb or powder, but without leaving the bowl wet. Cut the ball in half; one-half you should wrap in plastic and set in a cool place. The other half, turn out onto a flour-sack towel. Liberally flour the towel, the doughball, and your rolling pin. Gently roll out the dough to be large enough to accomodate the bottom of your pie plate. Re-flour dough and rolling pin as often as necessary. Lift the edge of the flour sack with your right hand and gently let gravity help the crust fall over onto your left hand. Peel flour sack off of dough, letting it rest in your left. Place pie plate under dough and allow left hand to drape dough into the plate. This is important: DO NOT CUT OFF EXTRA DOUGH. Gently press dough into plate but not too hard. Fill with fresh berries. Sprinkle with sugar to taste. Roll out other half of dough in same manner as above. Instead of moving it entirely onto the top, why not try your hand at a basket-weave topper?

Cut long strips about 1" wide. Start by using the longest strips (from the middle) and drape two in a cross over the center of the berries. Then move outward from the circle, weaving "over and under" by gently lifting every other dough stip and allowing it to fall back over the strip you are placing. It takes very little time once you've got the hang of it. Now the fun part - instead of cutting off extra dough, make your crusts stand up nice and high by tucking all that extra into the pie plate under the pie. Just lift the edge and tuck it in. It's as simple as that. Then using your thumb and fore-finger, pinch the edges at a regular interval around the pie. The pie is now ready for a pre-heated oven at 375.

As you're working the dough keep checking in with it. Is it too moist? Is it too dry? Is it too warm? Is it too cold (stiff?). Do the same with the cooking. Is it ready yet? Does it need a little more time? How about the berries? Do they need a little more sugar? Or are they perfectly sweet and tart at the same time? The goal isn't necessarily a perfect pie... the goal is to feel and experience every part of its making using all of your senses. A baking pie is not only a sight to behold... it is a smell straight from heaven. It is my hope that this creation will surely inspire some others. Enjoy!

Butterick 5032 - in Process

2009-02-05T14:31:00.006-06:00

I am currently stitching the Butterick Vintage '52 pattern no. 5032 to wear for my husband's second cousin's wedding that we will attend on Valentine's Day. It is a square-neck, sleeveless dress with a straight skirt accented by double darts and folds at the waist. I've chosen a solid sea-blue/green teal silk for the dress. I'm going to add a cumberbund-style belt at the waist in a contrasting kimono patterned cotton of gold, teal, deep teal, and brown. The dress's bodice facing is sewn from this contrasting fabric, and the seams are bound Hong Kong-style in the same contrast. The dress is looser on me than the models at right. But it seems to fit beautifully at present. I have only to finish the bodice facing around the already-inserted zipper, bind the waist seam, and hand-stitch the hem, which I've raised to just below my knee rather than mid-shin as the design has shown. I'm so short, that it is necessary in order to give me any height whatsoever.

If you've never made Hong Kong-style seam binding, it is truly worth the effort. The end result is a beautifully-finished, quality feel for the inside of an unlined garment. It does require five lengths of stitching for every one seam, but the result is extremely appealing, setting your creation apart from the crowd. A very good tutorial can be found here. I can't wait to complete the dress and post it.

Jason and Beau come to visit

2009-02-05T14:08:00.006-06:00

My friend Jason and his beautiful black lab Beau have come to visit. I'm so excited to see them both. Beau was always my best running partner; I would take him up the Mississippi River levee on River Road through the part of New Orleans closest to where they live. While he's an amazing hunter, Jason tells me, I'll always appreciate the support I got from him to push the run just a little harder. If only all of my supporters were so very - well - supportive!
It's probably in my nature to be pessimistic and to view the grass as always greener elsewhere, but I miss New Orleans like no other place I've ever lived. It always held a special place in my heart, even before I moved there. It seemed a world away, yet is on our shores. The historic feel, the cultural variety, the social sphere and relaxed atmosphere... it all seemed to suit my personality perfectly. Leaving there for a better-paying job seemed like a great idea at the time. But money isn't everything. And the job wasn't what it was supposed to be anyway, though it moved me up the ladder and helped pay off most of my debt. But the price for that was most dear to me - too dear.

This morning was beautiful...

2009-01-20T15:27:00.002-06:00

This morning was beautiful to me, although I’m not sure many of my fellow southwest Missourians might agree. The cloud cover was dense, the air crisp and cool, and it threatened to snow. Some would call it grim; but to me it was the most beautiful day I may ever have witnessed. Today, America inaugurated its 44th president, a transition of power from a fear- and war-mongering oil baron to a bi-racial, hope-inducing usher of change. And change for the better, for the good.
I had the good fortune to listen to the inauguration speeches and the swearing-in of the president from the business of some friends over the best coffee in town. I listened intently to a newly-arranged piece by John Williams (who also wrote the scores for the Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack that I so adore) and then to the swearing-in of our first African-American president. But it was his speech that would be the highlight of my morning.
Our president began his speech with, “My fellow citizens,” not with “My fellow Americans,” as is customary. This beginning proved to be the main theme of his speech. He touched on the responsibilities of citizens: to serve, to build, to work hard, and to persevere. But his speech had nothing of the taint of fear, revenge, sour- and bitter-heartedness that had been the rule of the past eight years; in short, it failed to be xenophobic. Instead, it was moved with the impetus of generosity, of open-heartedness, and of loving-kindness. In one particular portion, he discussed how fortunate nations like our own can no longer perpetrate a policy of taking more than our fair share of natural resources and ignoring the results of those actions past our own borders. In another portion he discussed how we cannot willfully ignore the terrible atrocities affecting our neighbors in less-fortunate nations. To me, the theme of citizenship is not just being an American citizen (indeed, he did not say, “American citizens”), it is of being a world citizen. This is perhaps the most profound difference between the 43rd and 44th presidents. The former was an American of the 18-19th centuries, one “blessed” with manifest destiny and “justified” in his view of the difference between “us” and “them.” Unfortunately his version of “us” failed to include most Muslims and anyone (including any American) who appeared to question or challenge his newly-extended presidential authority.
It is perhaps too early to know if our president will be either willing or able to translate his good intentions into the real change that our country needs, but he certainly has inspired in me the ability to hope again. I have long felt that there was never and will never be a federal leadership that represented my thoughts and feelings about the state of our union. I remember the reaction of our 43rd president to the worst terrorist disaster on American soil: invasion, bombs, and automatic weapons in our civil airports. Seeing those weapons, being “felt-up” by security… it didn’t inspire in me a feeling of safety. All it did was spread the fear of one sad, old man. But when Barack O’Bama was elected, I wept in joy and relief; it was something I had never learned to hope to see in my entire life. Not only an African-American president, but one that inspired hope in me, one that I felt represented me. And to know that he views his responsibilities as a citizen of this planet, gives me more hope and joy even now. And yes, I wept again. Good luck Mr. President; we’re all behind you.

Mindful Eating

2009-01-16T12:38:00.003-06:00

The basics of beginning meditation involve learning mindfulness, or how to be present in the moment in which you are, well... present. It means not daydreaming or fantasizing about potential futures, or dwelling in the past. It means using all of your senses to experience the occupied moment. And while I've learned this technique, this art, and seen how it has benefited other portions of my life, I still haven't managed to translate that into how I eat. And that is a true shame because eating is so much a part of our social interaction, our culture, our humanness. The experience of eating should be a sensory journey, one in which the eater treasures every sight, smell, sound, taste, and of course touch. For example, remember the last time you had fajitas? You hear the waiter bring them to you before they arrive, crackling and sizzling on their hot plate. And once they do arrive to your table, the brilliant, vibrant colors of red and green peppers, charred brown and black, seem to fill your senses. The smell is unbearably pleasant, a mouth-watering mixture of seared and spicy. So you pick up some warm, soft tortillas, feeling the texture against your fingertips and palms and fill them with your favorites. The first bite is now in your mouth. Soft tortilla, creamy guacamole and sour cream, tangy cheese, and spicy fajitas. Amazing. All of your senses are there... present... delighted. Yes, that's what it should be like for every meal. But lately I've found myself more than half done with a plateful and I haven't even noticed the taste of the food, let alone used the other senses that I have. Where was I during all of that eating? Sometimes I was with the computer; sometimes the TV... but never was I there, present, with my meal. And what a shame because I so love to eat. Why on earth would I miss that? Some buddhist groups practice occasional silent eating. No distractions, no discussion, nothing but you being present with your meal and experiencing it as fully as you can using every sense you have. The experience is like nothing else... and you instantly become grateful for the food, grateful for the opportunity to have it and be present with it, and joyful at being alive. Eating in this way literally becomes spiritually fulfilling in a way "emotional" eating never will. I encourage everyone to try this some time. And see how long you can make the experience last. For myself, I'm going to practice this exercise as often as possible and - when it's not possible or I'm eating socially - I'm going to pause between conversation to notice what at least one of my senses is telling me about my experience. For someone who loves food and loves to eat, it is the least that I can do to pay attention and enjoy it.

New Year's Intentions

2009-01-16T12:35:00.001-06:00

Transferred from SparkPeople Blog, Tuesday, January 06, 2009
I've been reading in Yoga Journal lately about the difference between goals and intentions, that goals often lead to disappointment because they are temporary, transitory. They are changing and limited. One of two things can happen when I set a goal: either I fail to achieve it and I'm left questioning myself and criticizing myself, or I DO achieve it, and then the goal is over. The sense of achievement and accomplishment is fiery and hot; short-lived, quickly replaced with an urgency to set a new, different goal. It's a hunger that is never full... a grasping for a feeling of being "good enough," an expectation of myself that leads to more goals, more grasping. It is also set in the future, rather than the present. This is suffering, dukkah. Intentions are different. They are made of right thought, right speech, and right action. Intentions are neither temporary nor transitory. They guide thought, speech, and action toward positive outcomes that build contentment. They allow false expectations and grasping fall away. And they are rooted in the present: what am I experiencing right now, right this minute? How may I react that is in line with my understanding of suffering? For example, I might set a goal to stay under 1400 calories per day. Every day the goal is re-set. Either I do stay under, or I don't. If I don't, I wrack myself with guilt and disappointment at my own failures. If I do, I celebrate with insanity because for once I hit it. This approach fails to appreciate the WHY. Why DID I or DIDN'T I stay within 1400? What guided my decisions? What fortified my choices? How did I come to this outcome? Right intention would have provided me with these answers and probably resulted in more success, although that isn't the intent. It would have allowed me to see my decisions at the moment they are made, rather than in the aftermath. So, for 2009 my intention is to treat my body with an awareness of the cause of suffering. I must be present in my own mind, my own body, and respect it with my complete being, understanding why I make the decisions I do make by witnessing them at the moment they are made, rather than in retrospect. And because intentions are to be practiced, never won or lost, never met or failed, my intentions continue, carry on, when goals are long gone.

Right Intentions

2009-01-06T22:06:00.000-06:00

I've been learning lately the difference between goals and intentions: how goals are impermanent, lead to suffering, and are bound in a future of fantasy. Intentions, however, are ever-present and made new with every practice; they lead one out of suffering, and are bound in each present moment. With right intentions I approach training to run my first marathon, and - of course - with the same naivite with which I taught myself to knit and decided I could make my own wedding dress. (Both of these things I accomplished, by the way, with sheer determination and dumb luck.)

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." - Doug Larson

But I digress. The first marathon my midwestern home town has ever seen will be held on the original Route 66 and will follow the Mother Road through three states for the 26.2 mile-length of the race. I have never run a race before. Not even a 5K. But I have nine months remaining and sheer determination. No, I have right intentions. Now how about some dumb luck?