Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Conversations

It's what happens between thread, the needle, and the cloth.

Somehow, I'm not a part of this conversation. It seems to happen while I'm not paying attention. My mind is elsewhere, on other conversations.

Monday, April 29, 2019

GOT spoiler alert...

...but really, if you're not watching, why? I screamed. I cried, I covered my eyes and the cat ran out of the room disgusted with me.

It's such great theater. Reminds me of old school soap operas, although those writers never planned endings. This one is going to break my heart.

I don't watch much TV.  Didn't start watching this one until early last year. I'm always late to catch the wave. So glad I did for this one.


Sunday, April 28, 2019

the dirty thread boogie



I want to thank everyone who ordered threads this weekend. There are a few more sets to post, then there will be a week or so before I can set up the next round.

In a world where the phrases "hand-crafted" and "artisanal" get tossed around pretty fast and loose, I can assure you that those expressions really do apply to Dirty Thread making. It may be messy and time-consuming, but I think it's worth the trouble.

As you can see, I got mine.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

ghosts

As I pack up orders for thread and scraps, I have to restrain myself from holding things back on the off chance I might someday do something with them.

The river basket is full of bits and pieces of possibility - anything more would be a distraction.

After a busy morning of chores and errands, I picked this new piece up for a timed hour of stitching before my nap.

The trees stir in the warm air and confederate jasmine is as strong and effective as marijuana.

getting it done

I'm on my way to the post office. If you've ordered anything to date,  it's on the way!! Have a great weekend. I got stuff to do.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

some days off...


  ...are full of delight. Spent the morning in a very satisfying meeting with my word wizard.

Then, a little retail therapy on the cheap at Goodwill.

Yesterday, it was the after school book fair where it was easy to read someone's heart's delight. What started out as a baby cat speaking it's first word (Hi!), became a wand/scanner gathering mystery sounds in the yard.
this is manifesting now.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

More new threads

 they are all out there basking in the Sun waiting for the winder to come home and see to them.

.

Friday, April 19, 2019

happy Friday!

I  put the finishing touches on this today. I worked on this through several episodes of True Detective and kept sticking myself. Such compelling acting!

If the sun comes around tomorrow, I'll take some better pictures and post it for sale in the gallery.

That out of the way, I started auditioning pieces for another small thing to clutch and stab when the need arises.

Physical therapy is making a difference in my shoulder. On a happy note, Charlie has declared himself no longer afraid of heavy weather. Hallelujia.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Sunday, April 14, 2019

The catchers.

First "table moppers" of the season. We are having a fine steady spring rain. The light is even green.
 For the uninitiated, I spread cotton cloth underneath the cards of thread to catch the excess dye. Nothing gets wasted.
I usually use the same cloths throughout the season and they tend to get kind of muddy.
 This lot might get retired early depending on how they look after a good wash and dry.

ps - we are under a tornado warning right now. spooky.

First fruits

A few were ready. You can see that the color transitions are pretty sharp. I've learned how to control that.

For a while, I've been thinking about writing a book on how to make your own dirty threads, but it seemed like a lot of trouble for four or five pages.

With that in mind this time, I made (mental) notes of all the yes/no, how much/how long, etc. decisions and the outcomes or why of each choice along the way.   Expressing things that have become intuitive is important when one is attempting to teach. And sometimes I did not have any answers for the questions I posed.

 For now, I'll stay a maker.

They are here.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Season 1st

I didn't think the dyefest would get off the ground today. Myriad foolish impediments that had to be dealt with one by one. Stupid stuff. Wrong gloves? Deal. Salt from last year clumpy? Run it through the blender. Forgot to buy small containers for dyestock? Switch to baggies.  Murphy's law was riding high. I got higher and it looks like the first batch of Dirty Threads from the Frankenstein Dyeworx of Lawrenceville is going to be a show stopper! You should see the three table moppers!

Tomorrow. Now I'm going to relax and come up with a suitable name for this lot. I never counted them. Sixty or seventy?

pre-dawn post script. I left them all over the kitchen table and counter, stacked house of cards style, each holding its neighbor up. They are 99% dry.  A few hours of sun and I'll be able to start my favorite compulsive activity- winding them off the dye cards onto the little cardboard bobbing. Feeling the smoothness of the cotton slip through my fingers. Watching as the color character of each one reveals itself in the sunlight. 

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Busted wing - update

Looks like vintage chintz but it's my messy kitchen table.

What I should be doing is winding spindles of dmc cotton to transform into dirty threads, but it's not going well.

I had a simple, speedy process in place. The stock arrived. I set everything in position only to realize that, due to the stupid left shoulder injury, I just cannot.

Had the MRI and met with the surgeon. A labrum tear and pieces of floating junk that have formed benign cysts big enough to interfere with movement and cause pain and weakness.

Before any surgery, there will be physical therapy. I will consult with that person to find a way to incorporate dirty thread production into the PT.

The trick? Teach Lefty to do Righty's thing. Lefty is a quick study while Righty is slow to pick it up. Who da thunk it?


Sunday, April 07, 2019

finishing

Finishing.

This backing fabric has been waiting ten years or more for being called to active duty.

Once this part is done, I'll be faced with the struggle of orientation, although I may just leave that to the new owner when the time comes.

I'm so ready to start everything new. New cloth, new stories, new me.