BLACK & BLUE SUNDAY REPORT

No photos today....who wants to see bruises.....physical or emotional?!?

So yesterday my day started out lovely......the now daily dense morning fog lifted early and we set out for our morning walk.  I actually call it a 'forced march', as we walk every square inch of our subdivision.  That includes a 1,000 foot elevation change - 4 times, requiring a 90 min. time commitment.

However, it's very helpful for my 20 year long battle with osteoporosis, and to exercise our 2 year old black lab.  So....as we rounded a corner....Sooty spots a rabbit.  Sooty is STRONG.....VERY STRONG.  I had my hand snugly holding the retractable leash, when suddenly I became Sally Field.  First as the Flying Nun....my feet left the ground as Sooty tore off after the rabbit....next I was Gidget....body surfing the blacktop road.  Totally knocked the breath out of me....scraps, bruises, and perhaps 1 or 2 broken fingers are the result. Did I say she was STRONG??  I'd have let go of the leash if it hadn't happened so fast.....seriously this was instant.  I won't bother you will the rest of the details....but I did not have a comfortable day.....well....today isn't any better either.  The good news is that I've had more broken bones with less drama, so perhaps the new once of year injection I receive for osteoporosis is acutally helping!

It got worse......our beloved Packers looked like rookies.  NO defense.....I cringe at the thought of Thurs. nights' game....losing is bad enough....but unthinkable where the Bears are concerned!

And finally......oh my.....week 1 of the suicide pool and I'm OUT....and in it's over for me.  Why oh why did I select New Orleans to win??  A team that is being punished for cheating??  Geesh.  If I'd only known my SIL had pick them too....I wouldn't have.  She has the worst annual pool luck......I don't think she's ever made it past week 1 or 2 in all the years her son has organized it.  In fact, 3 of the 6 of us in our family are out on week 1!!!!  A total of 9 participants picked the losing team this week.....3 more have a chance to be out tonight depending upon if Philadelphia wins or not.

So....this is my sad tale of my black and blue Sunday.  Don't get me wrong....I still appreciate that I had a Sunday to grumble about.......life goes on and so does the suicide pool...without me......

 But congratulations to Robbie.....who got a last minute thrill from the Lions!

ARE YOU READY FOR FOOTBALL?!?!?

There's nothing quite like the first crisp fall day when the Packers return to their stadium for another season.  To put us in the mood, we woke up to 43 degree temps. here in the mountains today......although it will warm up.

So.....our eyes will be riveted at Lambeau Field as the Packers take on San Francisco.....

GO PACK GOoooooo!!!

 The flag will be flying.

Proper attire will be donned....

Our beautiful nieces, posing with 'Saint Vincent' during the tail gate festivities. 

CURRENT BEADING PROJECT

I probably should be saving these pictures to post next week....when, due to lots of fiber group activities....I'm anticipating very little studio time will occur.

So.....after spending days making faux river rocks......the evening beading continued on this weird design.  No.....def. not one of my successes.  It's just too rambling and abstract for me.  If the felted background wasn't so lovely, I'd just fill in the blank spaces.  However, I can't make myself do that......

Maybe someone will like the finished project......and I'll post that asap.....until then, I'm having a pity party over my disappointment!!

Click on the photos to enlarge.....the actual beading motifs are pretty fun though.

FALL ARBORETUM - PTA EXHIBIT

Yesterday several of us PTA members hung another exhibit at the WNC Arboretum, located in Asheville, NC.

We are so fortunate to have such a nice space for our work. Unfortunately, because the space is narrow......photo taking is difficult....  But you'll get the idea and if you are in the area before Sept. 24th.....stop by and visit.  All the pieces you see here are for sale.  

If any particular piece speaks to you....please email me using the link on the right side bar and I can provide the details.  Now sit back and enjoy....

 These are my 4 contributions.....visit here for more available work.

NFL SEASON BEGINS

Let the games begin!!!  And I couldn't be more pleased with the Cowboy's win over the Giants last night....not that I give a rip about the Cowboys (sorry if you are a fan)....

My delight is merely because a Giant's loss last season caused me to go out of our annual Suicide NFL pool after about 6 weeks.

My nephew has been running this fun pool now for several years.  The rules are easy.....each week you select one and only one team to WIN.  If they do, you remain in the pool another week.....the last one standing wins the pot.

This year 63 eager fans are participating...the pot is $1260.  So....here's the hard part.  Whatever team you pick to win, can NEVER be selected again.  So obviously, some strategy is involved.

Since I'm a major Green Bay Packer fan, growing up about 60 mins. from Lambeau Field, basically I only care about the Packers....so this helps me get more invested in the rest of the games.  Especially since seeing the Packers on TV in this area is not a frequent happening....well unless you go to a sports bar.   Hummmm, which one will be visiting on Sun. afternoon??

Comment Verification

Karen in AU tried numerous times to post a comment.....but  said the word verifiction was a nightmare.  It could be a service issue between the servers....but if anyone else has been having problems....please drop me a note so I can address that issue.

Thank you!

FAUX RIVER ROCKS - Part 2

This is so much fun......

 I'm getting into a rhythm felting the 'rocks' and have learned several useful tips to share.  
#1.  I've had better success if I wet the 'filler' material....sort of pre-felting that portion....the whole piece holds together much better that way.
#2.  After wetting the filler, it's placed on roving strands which are then rolled around the wet mass. I've increased the amount of roving I used originally....that has helped a lot too.
#3.  It may not show too much in the photo...but I've taken to throwing the wet/soapy rock onto my rather rough cutting mat.....that sped up the felting process.  Though the soapy water spatters....

 Once they are felted.....rinse thoroughly and squeeze as much water out as possible...shaping as you go....dry on towel.

 I'm making better progress to with the veins....

Ta-da......I'll make more....but you get the idea.....  This also calls for a shopping trip to find a more attractive display bowl.

FAUX RIVER ROCKS

Sooooo, what did you do over the long holiday weekend??  Yippie....I had so much fun.....  

In part, I need to thank my friend Nancy Bruce, an original Fiber Junkie member.  Nancy introduced me to the thrills of felting from wool roving.....  She's a confident and experienced felter whose work I admire greatly.

Well...that led me to this current project.  I saw some faux felted river rocks in a gallery and was totally drawn to them, except for the price tag.  I couldn't quite get them out of my head.....so I figured...how hard could it be to try to make some myself? 

As it turns out.....not so difficult, but a tad time consuming.....I'm still experimenting but here's the process I've adapted so far.

 First, I ordered some wool roving in shades of grey, black and white.

 Some internet searching led me to several different directions....one of which was to use an actual river rock as the base....or filler if you will.  OR....using yarn.  I decided to try two approaches, one was some wool batting and the other was scraps of thickly felted and hand dyed felt I'd previously created.

The equipment is simple.....a bowl of hot (or as hot as you can stand it) soapy water & lots of towels to soak up the spills.

 I began by wrapping some felt scraps into a small ball (ignore the batting in this photo.....it was just there for a higher contrast.)

 I'd prepared some roving by arranging wisps of it vertically and horizontally, using different colors.

 The 'filler' was centered on the roving, which was wrapped over the 'filler'.

 Holding the mass tightly, it was dipped into the water.....pinching, squeezing, massaging the fibers until it began to stick together. (meaning the invisible barbs on the wool fibers get hopelessly tangled and become one) 

 This process takes TIME.....  The biggest issue I continue having is how to achieve a tiny 'vein' in the rock.  When added with all the fibers it disappears, adding afterwards I find it often won't adhere properly.

This one is better.  Notice that a bit of the green filler is peaking out.....I needed to have more roving around that area.  I'm learning little tricks as I go.    I'll provide some hints in my next post.  

CASUAL JACKET

A few days ago I posted two piles of materials.......one was bringing me back full circle....making wearable art.  Here's the progress report......

 

This grouping is some commericial silk noil and some that I marbled.  It seems every project I've tackled lately has not gotten up and running smoothly....but I rarely give up.  However, this one is now on hold, waiting to find a more appropriate garment pattern to better highlight the hand dyed fabrics.

Instead, I've turned to a hunk of grey and black woven cotton.  I have no memory where it came from and unfortunately there are some fade lines that I'll have to work around.  It will be paired with a black silk noil....sure to create a more interesting jacket BUT....also because I don't have enough of the print!

 This is the result....an unlined casual jacket.  Generally, a more tailored clothing style fits me better...these 'easy' casual patterns have so little shape I look like I'm wearing a sack.  My biggest complaint is the enormous underarm areas...way toooo much fabric and bulk for my body, so I won't be making this pattern again.

After the last picture was taken and I was reviewing it.....I decided to add another button....and silly as it sounds, I like it so much better.

So...back to beading, plus the next stack of materials I have laid out for a brand new project...something I've never done before......stay tuned.

STILL NO PLAN

Yup.....work continues on this still unnamed hand dyed felted wool piece.....

It's not coming together very well....and believe me, I've done my share of unstitching.  For me, this is often the case when trying to design an abstract piece....usually just before things turn around!  So, I'll continue to plug away and see what happens.

Hoping you all have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday weekend......