Randomocity

Welcome to today's random, babbling entry. I'm your host, Mother of Purl.



The following headline was in my local newspaper last week. I can only assume the reporter was making an attempt at humor.

Local obesity conference draws large crowd‎

Well, ok, it's a little bit funny.

I would like to plug my new favorite soda: FRESCA Black Cherry Citrus. My mom-in-law introduced us yesterday and we have been inseparable ever since.

Twenty bucks says you can't guess what my husband is doing right now. No, you're way off. He's boiling a hog head. And he owes me a new gumbo pot.

The purplish, knobby, fuzzy scarf (which is possibly for my niece) is coming along pretty well. I can't tell if it's my idiocy or the nature of the yarn that is to blame for the accidental increasing I keep doing. I used stitch markers at first, then started screwing up again. If I'm having this much trouble with a scarf, how am I ever going to make a sweater?! I am a slow learner, I suppose. Next time I'm using regular yarn.


Been thinking of some patterns I'd like to try in an inkle band. I think it's time to step up to pick-up technique. Maybe I'll wait until after the purple, amorphous scarf is finished. (Maybe I should call it the Barney scarf.) I have also been fantasizing about getting a rigid heddle loom. I have read and re-read a few sets of "plans" for building my own but I'm not sure about that. Has anyone done this? if so, e mail me and let me know how it turned out. I like the idea of just having a loom show up via UPS but it would be waaay cool if I made it myself. There's just not enough time to do all the yarny goodness I want.

Look, I am quite fond of commas, hyphens and parenthesis. I will use them in situations where they are inappropriate. I will use them often. Occasionally I will even be conscious of the fact that I misusing them, yet use them I will.

DH and I put together my recumbent exercise bike today. Woo-hoo! It monitors my speed, distance, calories burned, and heart rate. We set it up in the living room in front of the T.V. Surely I can pedal away fat cells while watching the crab show. (Deadliest Catch on Discovery Channel) I get so into that show! And also Man vs. Wild. That Bear is CRAZY! I wonder who would win in a competition between him and the Survival Man. People who drink their own urine are bad asses.

I am preparing for the greatest non-religious holiday of the year. Of course, I am referring to HALLOWEEN! I am like a kid when it comes to All Hallow's Eve. I love to dress up. this year DH and I will host our 2nd annual Halloween Party at our hunting property. I already have my costume picked out and I even have some backups planned. (squeals)

One last thing: Prancing Nougat in the Meadow

Aw, Look, My First Finger Weaving

M'kay, here are the pictures of the Peruvian flat braid I promised. Not very impressive, is it? I love the Thick n Quick Wool Ease yarn I used but it isn't quite right for this project. I need coarser wool that isn't quite as stretchy, I do believe.

I Will Survive

Okay, I know everyone is on the edge of their seat, waiting for an update on my sinuses and stomach contents.

Turns out the antibiotics I was taking made me sick. Apparently, lots of people have trouble with this particular kind, and I am one of those lucky individuals. Now I'm taking a different kind and am no longer kneeling at the porcelain throne and my sinus issue is clearing up. Thank you, modern medicine. Of course, the incantation and chicken may have worked just as well. :)

I have made progress on the banjo strap. It has been a little slow because of my heddle issues but it's moving along now.

AND...

My camera and lens were mailed to me so I now have a working digital camera to use whenever I see fit. Yea!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited! FINALLY. I'm going to take pictures all weekend and annoy everyone with e mails of my spectacular photo achievements.

Proof of my stupidity

My friend Stacye and I can really identify with the novel and movie character Bridget Jones. Poor Bridget, she tries so hard to keep it together, but she always ends up sabotaging herself. She can really do some dumb stuff. Stacye and I do dumb stuff.

Thus, a new phrase was coined. Now, when we do something stupid or ditzy we say we "pulled a Bridget" or had a "Bridget moment. Alas, there are far too many of them.

Now that you know the background, let me tell you that I pulled two Bridgets that are making me insane. First, the new digital SLR camera that my FABULOUS husband bought me arrived yesterday. Woo-hoo! I'm so stoked! The Bridget was 1. ordering a separate lens that will not ship until the end of the month and 2. leaving my other camera and only lens with my Mom who lives three hours away. And my husband has his digital camera in another state. So I have a cool new toy that I can't play with.

The second Bridget occurred during a recent weaving attempt. I warped the inkle loom to make the banjo strap - all 64 threads - and began to weave. Weaving was almost impossible since I had 1. failed to slide my tension bar back and 2. made heddles from thick cotton which the crochet thread weft has difficulty passing by when I make a shed. I made a few passes and realized that the hour I'd spent warping the darn thing was in vain. I almost shed a tear while I cut the warp off. I would post pictures of this failure, but I don't have a lens on my camera. (expletive)

Closure

The dog collar is finished! Halleluiah! If you can get past the stitching (which a blind, armless monkey could have done better) it's pretty cool. I never claimed to have sewing abilities. That's what Singer and Kenmore are for. Now baby Disco can have another collar, for when she's feeling pretty and girlie. I'm kinda proud - it's my first "real" weaving project. Pardon me while I pat myself on the back (pat, pat).

Now on to the banjo strap. I've got the colors picked out. It's daring, I know, but I will be venturing beyond two colors for this band. In fact, there will be a total of FOUR colors represented in this accessory. I've begun the warp, but haven't progressed far because I've been sick (cough, cough) and I was on the computer all day looking for house plans. But that's for another post...

Thoughts from a beginner weaver

I have only just started weaving. I up and decided to buy an inkle loom a few months ago and had barely made a band when I decided to apply for graduate school. I put weaving aside to study for the GRE then picked it back up recently. I have learned this craft from books and the internet. (Not to mention trial and error.) I finally found a fiber arts guild not far from me, so perhaps I'll even get a little hands-on instruction. I have made a total of 5 bands so I am a neophyte. I don't know what I'm doing yet, but I will post my successes and failures not only as a kindof scrapbook for myself, but also to document my progress to those who will very likely receive woven bands for Christmas. You think I'm kidding. And maybe, just maybe, I can help a new weaver learn from my journey into the fiber arts universe.

My first inkle band attempts

How is it possible to obscure the warp on a warp-faced weave? I'm not sure, either, but on my very first attempt to weave an inkle band, I managed to do it. Maybe the warp threads were too far apart. At least after a few inches I almost got the hang of it. The warp is visible, anyway.

My third attempt was better. I used a graduated warp, so it changed from a light orange to a very bright orange and I like that effect. Just the ol' line-down-the-middle pattern. This was only a test. Had this been an actual woven band, it would have been longer and finished on the ends.

Eventually I got cocky and decided to actually try a pattern. The result was a very narrow band which I use for a bookmark. I gained a bit of confidence with this one.

My most recent accomplishment is a dog collar I made for my friends' new puppy. It is a feminine collar, but Disco is a pretty little dog. I still have to put the closures on it, but that won't take long. Next I plan to weave a banjo strap for a friend. I'll post that if it goes well. Or even if it is a horrible mess.

Why I weave

There are many reasons why I weave, and I've compiled some into a handy list below.

1. It relaxes me.
Except for warping the loom, which makes me crazy, the weaving process is soothing. When I get a good rhythm going I chill out a little.

2. It is a creative outlet for me.
I have always wanted to create, and since God bestowed upon me no talent WHATSOEVER, I took up weaving! I like to make pretty, yet utilitarian objects.

3. I can create objects, clothing, bands, etc., for re-enacting, another "hobby". Um, I mean Living History. That doesn't sound as dorky.

4. Mass-produced products are overrated.
I'll make my own fabric, thank you.

5. I can do it on a plane (fingerweaving), I can do it on a train. I can do it in a house, I can do it with a mouse. You get the idea.