Hello!
You know those days when you find yourself dragging your heals because you can?...Many would say...lazy....Well I was having one of those days today...really moving slow because I didn't have anything on my platter until noon...so it wasn't until quite late in the morning that I finally stuck my head out the door and decided to walk the dog. Wow! The view was literally breath taking!
Our neighbors across the street have a beautiful willow and it was silhouetted in the sunshine with snow drifting out of its branches. Luckily I was able to catch this while fumbling with gloves, dog leash and my phone! As I walked closer I noticed that the poles people stick in the edges of their lawns to show the snow plows where to stop - were covered in precision cut crystals. In fact, it was a very particular kind of crystal formation...rime ice. I had taught a unit about this when teaching school children. Great to see in person. Rime ice forms under just the right conditions and apparently we had just that the night before.
Later today we drove into Spokane, Washington and went through dense fog along the way. Fog is one of the conditions that must exist in order for rime ice to form so I am pretty sure that is what it is...as much of it is still around tonight since it stayed cool and many places even cooler because they are shaded from what sun we did get.
For more information on rime ice do a google search or follow this link:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?14714-Ice-crystals!
I have a felting project that is now inspired by this formation...I am not sure I can get anything close to the precision cut look of the crystals today...but I am going to try and get as close to the idea as I can...more to come on this project later... In the meantime, I am finishing felting Christmas gifts which I am not posting since my relatives monitor my blog :) and would see them. Also I got hired today to teach some classes in January. WhooHoo!
Hope you are enjoying the Season and the weather wherever you may be,
Janet
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Holiday Cheer!
Good Evening Everyone,
I have had the most enjoyable couple of days - and this despite attending the funeral of a dear friend of my Mom's. It must be that I am finally catching the holiday cheer and relaxing a bit. Whew!
Last night I wasn't blogging because at 5 PM I was at the store. At 6:30 pm we had just finished dinner and by midnight we (hubby and I...the dog bailed out and went to sleep) had made Dark Chocolate Orange Scones, Caramels and my Yummy in the Tummy Bars. To this I added loaves of Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread that I made earlier and tucked into the freezer. Why all the goodies? It was not for the funeral reception, though I would have gladly shared, but rather to treat my fiber friends to a bit of sweet for their Christmas celebrations. Tuesday afternoon is Fiber Fun at my friend Silda's house.
So today after enjoying a wonderful celebration of Walt's life I headed home with my Mom in tow. We ate a quick bite and then piled all the yummy treats into her car and off we went. It was a joyful afternoon - just the kind of tonic my mother needed. We chatted, knitted, laughed and ate.
I hope everyone else is getting some time to stop and enjoy their friends and family like I did today. I am including a recipe for my scones in case you decide you need yet another delectable treat in your pantry. Cheers!
Janet
Dark Chocolate Orange Scones Heat oven to 425 degrees
2 cups flour sifted before measuring (very important to sift)
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
Measure all dry ingredients and mix together well. Zest one orange and add to dry mixture. Stir well to separate and coat the orange zest. If you wish you can also add a tablespoon of candied orange peel at this point. Stir this in well.
Next coarsely chop 1 cup of chocolate. Make it a mixture of super dark (75+%) chocolate, dark (70%) and (65%) and a little bit of semi-sweet. Add to the dry ingredients. Stir.
1 and 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tab butter melted
2 Tab sugar
Add the cream and use a fork to stir just until the mixture holds together. It may be sticky. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead 10 times turning 1/4 turn each time. Pat into a 9-inch circle. Use a pastry brush to brush on the melted butter. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut into 8 wedges...or like I did last night, I made a whole bunch of small bite sized wedges!
Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes or until just turning light brown at the edges. Remove to a rack to cool. May add an orange glaze by squeezing the orange you zested and mixing it with some powered sugar. Cool scones before adding glaze. Store in air tight container. Can be frozen.
I have had the most enjoyable couple of days - and this despite attending the funeral of a dear friend of my Mom's. It must be that I am finally catching the holiday cheer and relaxing a bit. Whew!
Last night I wasn't blogging because at 5 PM I was at the store. At 6:30 pm we had just finished dinner and by midnight we (hubby and I...the dog bailed out and went to sleep) had made Dark Chocolate Orange Scones, Caramels and my Yummy in the Tummy Bars. To this I added loaves of Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread that I made earlier and tucked into the freezer. Why all the goodies? It was not for the funeral reception, though I would have gladly shared, but rather to treat my fiber friends to a bit of sweet for their Christmas celebrations. Tuesday afternoon is Fiber Fun at my friend Silda's house.
So today after enjoying a wonderful celebration of Walt's life I headed home with my Mom in tow. We ate a quick bite and then piled all the yummy treats into her car and off we went. It was a joyful afternoon - just the kind of tonic my mother needed. We chatted, knitted, laughed and ate.
I hope everyone else is getting some time to stop and enjoy their friends and family like I did today. I am including a recipe for my scones in case you decide you need yet another delectable treat in your pantry. Cheers!
Janet
Dark Chocolate Orange Scones Heat oven to 425 degrees
2 cups flour sifted before measuring (very important to sift)
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
Measure all dry ingredients and mix together well. Zest one orange and add to dry mixture. Stir well to separate and coat the orange zest. If you wish you can also add a tablespoon of candied orange peel at this point. Stir this in well.
Next coarsely chop 1 cup of chocolate. Make it a mixture of super dark (75+%) chocolate, dark (70%) and (65%) and a little bit of semi-sweet. Add to the dry ingredients. Stir.
1 and 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tab butter melted
2 Tab sugar
Add the cream and use a fork to stir just until the mixture holds together. It may be sticky. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead 10 times turning 1/4 turn each time. Pat into a 9-inch circle. Use a pastry brush to brush on the melted butter. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut into 8 wedges...or like I did last night, I made a whole bunch of small bite sized wedges!
Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes or until just turning light brown at the edges. Remove to a rack to cool. May add an orange glaze by squeezing the orange you zested and mixing it with some powered sugar. Cool scones before adding glaze. Store in air tight container. Can be frozen.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Death and Creation
Hello Again,
We have another funeral to attend...this time it's a Tuesday. Three people I knew have died in the last five weeks. Something like this can leave a person wondering what it's all about. Wondering how it is that a person's life is over just like that... "poof" and they are no more. But are they really gone? My mind has begun to spin...thinking...thinking...thinking.
I am finding that my art is what keeps me going...helps me to feel grounded again...to remember without pain... The joy of taking my silk and fiber...carefully placing one on the other and working them together in one with my own hands...working until I have created something beautiful is somehow soothing and uplifting. Knowing that someone is going to find pleasure in what I have created...knowing that I am capable of creating this! Knowing I am alive. It is all part of the cycle of life, right?
I hope you enjoy seeing my creations...I sure like making them.
Take care,
Janet
We have another funeral to attend...this time it's a Tuesday. Three people I knew have died in the last five weeks. Something like this can leave a person wondering what it's all about. Wondering how it is that a person's life is over just like that... "poof" and they are no more. But are they really gone? My mind has begun to spin...thinking...thinking...thinking.
I am finding that my art is what keeps me going...helps me to feel grounded again...to remember without pain... The joy of taking my silk and fiber...carefully placing one on the other and working them together in one with my own hands...working until I have created something beautiful is somehow soothing and uplifting. Knowing that someone is going to find pleasure in what I have created...knowing that I am capable of creating this! Knowing I am alive. It is all part of the cycle of life, right?
I hope you enjoy seeing my creations...I sure like making them.
Take care,
Janet
Friday, December 16, 2011
Charge!
Good Evening!
I have been doing some personal projects today to try and get some Christmas gifts taken care of...I have knitted up a couple scarves and made some gloves...other ideas are perking in my brain...but as I was knitting this wonderful alpaca scarf today I found that I had inadvertently changed my pattern. Do I (sucking in of breath here) go back?! Take it out and fix that part?!? Never! In the words of great (and maybe not so great) military leaders the world over, I say "Charge!" I will not retreat! I am going forward and try to adapt my pattern as I go so that it remains beautiful and eye pleasing. Will it work? We shall see...
Speaking if Alpaca...it is my wish to someday own some. For some quick basic facts about them read this:
http://www.ilovealpacas.com/facts.shtml
and here are a few great pictures of some Alpaca...
Enjoy!
Janet
I have been doing some personal projects today to try and get some Christmas gifts taken care of...I have knitted up a couple scarves and made some gloves...other ideas are perking in my brain...but as I was knitting this wonderful alpaca scarf today I found that I had inadvertently changed my pattern. Do I (sucking in of breath here) go back?! Take it out and fix that part?!? Never! In the words of great (and maybe not so great) military leaders the world over, I say "Charge!" I will not retreat! I am going forward and try to adapt my pattern as I go so that it remains beautiful and eye pleasing. Will it work? We shall see...
Speaking if Alpaca...it is my wish to someday own some. For some quick basic facts about them read this:
http://www.ilovealpacas.com/facts.shtml
and here are a few great pictures of some Alpaca...
Janet
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Great Shot!
Hello,
The other day while out walking the dog (sometimes it seems like I always am...) I captured this awesome picture of the full moon. Unusual because it was so bright and during daylight hours. Also there was to be a full lunar eclipse only I didn't know about that until Sunday...two days after I took this. I had been having a bad week as you may have noticed by my intermittent posts here...and I was blaming all sorts of things...the full moon being one of them...others I talked to noticed it too. Is it possible that it was especially bad because there was to be an eclipse? I don't know...but I sure am glad that the doom and gloom has fled with the waining moon and things are getting back to normal! Still it was a beautiful view of the moon.
Since things are on the upswing around here I was busy felting yesterday. I have finished two sets of fingerless gloves. The black pair is already sold and is heading to California for Christmas. The other is a gift I am giving.
I also received some very soft and unusual Alpaca yarn at my fiber group get together. This Alpaca comes from some animals that are living just south of Spokane in Washington state. The yarn was my payment for some knitting I had done several months ago. I love the twining brown and black - the natural color of the two Alpacas! I am combining that with a golden ribbon yarn in a scarf. Hopefully it will be masculine enough when I am done!
Have a great day everyone!
Janet
The other day while out walking the dog (sometimes it seems like I always am...) I captured this awesome picture of the full moon. Unusual because it was so bright and during daylight hours. Also there was to be a full lunar eclipse only I didn't know about that until Sunday...two days after I took this. I had been having a bad week as you may have noticed by my intermittent posts here...and I was blaming all sorts of things...the full moon being one of them...others I talked to noticed it too. Is it possible that it was especially bad because there was to be an eclipse? I don't know...but I sure am glad that the doom and gloom has fled with the waining moon and things are getting back to normal! Still it was a beautiful view of the moon.
Since things are on the upswing around here I was busy felting yesterday. I have finished two sets of fingerless gloves. The black pair is already sold and is heading to California for Christmas. The other is a gift I am giving.
I also received some very soft and unusual Alpaca yarn at my fiber group get together. This Alpaca comes from some animals that are living just south of Spokane in Washington state. The yarn was my payment for some knitting I had done several months ago. I love the twining brown and black - the natural color of the two Alpacas! I am combining that with a golden ribbon yarn in a scarf. Hopefully it will be masculine enough when I am done!
Have a great day everyone!
Janet
Fiber Friends
I love my fiber friends! We planned to lunch together today at Olive Garden to celebrate the holiday season...and one friend showed up with a corsage for each of us that she had made. Talk about special!!! We had a great time visiting and then we all motored over to Michael's in search of a particular yarn that I had spotted there a couple weeks ago...alas! it was nowhere to be found :( so now we must continue our search.
My corsage is carefully tucked inside a green bag in the refrigerator so that I can continue to enjoy it a few more days this week. Thanks Kathy!!!
Hope you all are out there taking a few moments to meet with friends and enjoy the holidays.
Take care,
Janet
My corsage is carefully tucked inside a green bag in the refrigerator so that I can continue to enjoy it a few more days this week. Thanks Kathy!!!
Hope you all are out there taking a few moments to meet with friends and enjoy the holidays.
Take care,
Janet
Monday, December 12, 2011
Ya Just Never Know
Well Saturday's Sale at the Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center was quite pleasant. This was the first sale in recent times. There were just five artist/vendors. And multiple singing groups! The sound was outstanding!!! The Jacklin is comprised of two old church buildings that have been moved to this location and joined together. We were set up in one half and the signers were in the main 'chapel' of the other half... and the resonance was something to behold.
As far as our sale went it was a mixed deal, but with future sales planned, the Center's director hopes to build up the number of artists as well as the number of customers. What was so interesting was who my customers were...well who one of them was...a 10 year old boy from one of the choirs was fascinated with my needle felted Treasure Pockets and talked it up to his parents enough that his father returned to buy it for him for Christmas. Amazing :)... but who knows...maybe he is a future fashion designer in the making! I can still picture the way his face lit up when he saw them, touched one and told his mother about it...really warms me to think of it.
I said it was a mixed deal...well that is because I spent more than I sold! One of the vendors had alpaca sweaters and jackets on sale for a really, really good price and I couldn't pass them up so in between customers I did some Christmas shopping as well as getting one for myself. All and all a very nice way to spend the day.
As far as our sale went it was a mixed deal, but with future sales planned, the Center's director hopes to build up the number of artists as well as the number of customers. What was so interesting was who my customers were...well who one of them was...a 10 year old boy from one of the choirs was fascinated with my needle felted Treasure Pockets and talked it up to his parents enough that his father returned to buy it for him for Christmas. Amazing :)... but who knows...maybe he is a future fashion designer in the making! I can still picture the way his face lit up when he saw them, touched one and told his mother about it...really warms me to think of it.
I said it was a mixed deal...well that is because I spent more than I sold! One of the vendors had alpaca sweaters and jackets on sale for a really, really good price and I couldn't pass them up so in between customers I did some Christmas shopping as well as getting one for myself. All and all a very nice way to spend the day.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The Jacklin Center
Full post for today coming later...I'm off to the Jacklin Center for the Arts...will have something for you from there. Taking these with me...there are six corsages here...
Friday, December 9, 2011
Living in the Northern Latitudes
Good Evening,
Well more and more beautiful decorations are appearing around my neighborhood. I love it! I only wish it would snow!!! It seems to be a dirty word to locals here, but I see no advantage to living this far north and freezing when I go outside but missing out on the beauty of a white Christmas. I know, I know, I don't have to report to work elsewhere or shuttle my children to and fro all their various activities in the sloppy, slippery wet mess that snow can present, but winter has a beauty all its own and I miss it! Therefore I am finding it hard to get into the spirit of Christmas, so I am happy that at least my neighbors are showing some spirit by putting up sparkly decorations....still I Ho-Hum through my days. One good thing has been the colorful sunsets like this one:
I have completed one project that I have been struggling to finish for a few weeks now. A custom handbag that is going off to California tomorrow. Whew! Finally!! Finished!!!
Tomorrow I hope to finish a few quick items that I can sell on Saturday. Have a great day everyone!
Janet
Well more and more beautiful decorations are appearing around my neighborhood. I love it! I only wish it would snow!!! It seems to be a dirty word to locals here, but I see no advantage to living this far north and freezing when I go outside but missing out on the beauty of a white Christmas. I know, I know, I don't have to report to work elsewhere or shuttle my children to and fro all their various activities in the sloppy, slippery wet mess that snow can present, but winter has a beauty all its own and I miss it! Therefore I am finding it hard to get into the spirit of Christmas, so I am happy that at least my neighbors are showing some spirit by putting up sparkly decorations....still I Ho-Hum through my days. One good thing has been the colorful sunsets like this one:
I have completed one project that I have been struggling to finish for a few weeks now. A custom handbag that is going off to California tomorrow. Whew! Finally!! Finished!!!
Tomorrow I hope to finish a few quick items that I can sell on Saturday. Have a great day everyone!
Janet
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Some Days!
Howdy,
Well some days it just doesn't pay to get up and try...it is nearly 3 am and the rolled leather straps I am making for a custom ordered handbag are giving me fits! Maybe the third time will be the charm?! So tomorrow I try again.
Goodnight all,
Janet
Well some days it just doesn't pay to get up and try...it is nearly 3 am and the rolled leather straps I am making for a custom ordered handbag are giving me fits! Maybe the third time will be the charm?! So tomorrow I try again.
Goodnight all,
Janet
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Going for a Roller Coaster Ride
Hello,
Well if I felt like I'd run a marathon on Friday and Saturday...(thankfully Sunday was truly a day of rest) then Monday was an absolute roller-coaster! Over a month and a half ago we had taken samples of my work to be juried at a couple of local shops - right on the main street in Coeur d' Alene. Both said they liked what they saw...however...we were still tied up with the end of summer Farmers Markets, Blue Flag, getting our website built and everything photographed for it and then the Christmas Market...so it wasn't until Monday that all of this came back around...I had been planning to clean house and decorate for Christmas...but...
A call from Mark led to a quick trip down to the gallery to look over the proposed display space...then back home for a discussion and a quick decision to take all our merchandise, which was still packed from Saturday's Christmas sale, down to Northwest Artists Cooperative Gallery on Sherman Avenue that afternoon. Friday is Art Walk all through downtown and we wanted to be part of it! But we needed lunch so we detoured to Subway for that and then proceeded to unload and set up all of our 'stuff' yet again! We are getting pretty good - and much faster - at doing this now :) Here is a quick look...
For a video tour of the gallery and some of the work done by other artists check out this link.
Northwest Artists Cooperative http://www.northwestartists.net/nw_artist_coop_gallery_001.htm
The sun was shining very brightly today...it was so beautiful...then today's mail brought our first check from Blue Flag Studio! Whoopee! Thank you Kristie and Terri - Love you both! Couldn't have been a better compliment to the sun outside. But I am still on the roller coaster today...what I thought was going to be a slow down this week has just continued to build up steam. Friday is Art Walk from 5-8 pm http://www.artsincda.org/ArtWalk.html and Saturday I will be with a fellow artist down at the Jacklin Center for the Arts in Post Falls from 10-2. Check it out at: http://thejacklincenter.org/
Until then I need to finish a handbag for Sharon in California, felted fingerless gloves for Antigone, earrings for Bonnie, and a scarf for Gail...and maybe more things for myself for Saturday at Jacklin...noooooo problem....guess the cleaning and tree decorating can wait! I hope!!!
Take care all,
Janet
Well if I felt like I'd run a marathon on Friday and Saturday...(thankfully Sunday was truly a day of rest) then Monday was an absolute roller-coaster! Over a month and a half ago we had taken samples of my work to be juried at a couple of local shops - right on the main street in Coeur d' Alene. Both said they liked what they saw...however...we were still tied up with the end of summer Farmers Markets, Blue Flag, getting our website built and everything photographed for it and then the Christmas Market...so it wasn't until Monday that all of this came back around...I had been planning to clean house and decorate for Christmas...but...
A call from Mark led to a quick trip down to the gallery to look over the proposed display space...then back home for a discussion and a quick decision to take all our merchandise, which was still packed from Saturday's Christmas sale, down to Northwest Artists Cooperative Gallery on Sherman Avenue that afternoon. Friday is Art Walk all through downtown and we wanted to be part of it! But we needed lunch so we detoured to Subway for that and then proceeded to unload and set up all of our 'stuff' yet again! We are getting pretty good - and much faster - at doing this now :) Here is a quick look...
For a video tour of the gallery and some of the work done by other artists check out this link.
Northwest Artists Cooperative http://www.northwestartists.net/nw_artist_coop_gallery_001.htm
The sun was shining very brightly today...it was so beautiful...then today's mail brought our first check from Blue Flag Studio! Whoopee! Thank you Kristie and Terri - Love you both! Couldn't have been a better compliment to the sun outside. But I am still on the roller coaster today...what I thought was going to be a slow down this week has just continued to build up steam. Friday is Art Walk from 5-8 pm http://www.artsincda.org/ArtWalk.html and Saturday I will be with a fellow artist down at the Jacklin Center for the Arts in Post Falls from 10-2. Check it out at: http://thejacklincenter.org/
Until then I need to finish a handbag for Sharon in California, felted fingerless gloves for Antigone, earrings for Bonnie, and a scarf for Gail...and maybe more things for myself for Saturday at Jacklin...noooooo problem....guess the cleaning and tree decorating can wait! I hope!!!
Take care all,
Janet
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Christmas Sale
Hi!
I'm not a runner and I can only imagine what it must be like to run a marathon...but I feel like that is what we just got done doing! There is so much involved in getting through a show!!!
We started months ago by purchasing more grid wall for a larger booth; ordered more mannequins and sign holders from Phoenix, Arizona; and I got busy creating new treasures... Then there was set-up day...lifting all those grid wall panels into our van and back out again...ugh!...next they all need to be held in place and fastened together...and now we have so much 'stuff' we can't make it all fit in one load...Yikes!!!...so all of that was followed by and extra early morning to bring the second load which was all of the fun stuff we had for sale...so after a very late night finishing last minute pricing and inventory duties, 6 am found us crawling through the dark for food and clothes and heading to the fairgrounds with our van of goodies which we hung or placed somewhere in our booth for viewing...and a day of meeting and greeting all of our followers and potential clients...and finally the end of day two is take-down load and unload (again!) Whew!!! So that is why I say that it felt like we had just run a marathon! We crashed and slept for over 12 hours which is what I hear marathoner's say they do too.
For those of you that were not able to make it personally to say hello, here are a couple of quick snaps of our booth. New items not yet on our website for sale are table runners, drapes (the ones pictured are samples...I make these all custom to specifications), pillows, felpture (table lamp) and several scarves. Unfortunately, I failed to get a picture of the other wall which had lots of new scarves on it... look for all of the new goodies to show up on the website in the coming week. http://www.sapphire-art.com/
This is a holiday scarf that I made for this past Saturday's Market. It wraps around several times and ties at the shoulder. There are two points in front and two points in back. Black silk with red merino wool and sparkle yarn. $78 Can also be draped over each shoulder and allowed to twirl down the front...great look both ways!
Have a great Monday everyone! I am off to work on the custom orders I took and need to fill. Thanks everyone!!!
Janet
I'm not a runner and I can only imagine what it must be like to run a marathon...but I feel like that is what we just got done doing! There is so much involved in getting through a show!!!
We started months ago by purchasing more grid wall for a larger booth; ordered more mannequins and sign holders from Phoenix, Arizona; and I got busy creating new treasures... Then there was set-up day...lifting all those grid wall panels into our van and back out again...ugh!...next they all need to be held in place and fastened together...and now we have so much 'stuff' we can't make it all fit in one load...Yikes!!!...so all of that was followed by and extra early morning to bring the second load which was all of the fun stuff we had for sale...so after a very late night finishing last minute pricing and inventory duties, 6 am found us crawling through the dark for food and clothes and heading to the fairgrounds with our van of goodies which we hung or placed somewhere in our booth for viewing...and a day of meeting and greeting all of our followers and potential clients...and finally the end of day two is take-down load and unload (again!) Whew!!! So that is why I say that it felt like we had just run a marathon! We crashed and slept for over 12 hours which is what I hear marathoner's say they do too.
For those of you that were not able to make it personally to say hello, here are a couple of quick snaps of our booth. New items not yet on our website for sale are table runners, drapes (the ones pictured are samples...I make these all custom to specifications), pillows, felpture (table lamp) and several scarves. Unfortunately, I failed to get a picture of the other wall which had lots of new scarves on it... look for all of the new goodies to show up on the website in the coming week. http://www.sapphire-art.com/
This is a holiday scarf that I made for this past Saturday's Market. It wraps around several times and ties at the shoulder. There are two points in front and two points in back. Black silk with red merino wool and sparkle yarn. $78 Can also be draped over each shoulder and allowed to twirl down the front...great look both ways!
Have a great Monday everyone! I am off to work on the custom orders I took and need to fill. Thanks everyone!!!
Janet
Friday, December 2, 2011
Triple Wrap Nuno Scarf
Time is up! Gone...I have none left...well maybe I can squeeze a few more hours out of tomorrow before set-up...I have been fairly productive though these past few days which is making me excited to get set up and see what people think of my newest creations. Saturday will tell as they say.
And so it is now very late on Thursday (actually it is almost two hours into Friday) and in the past two days I have finished four new scarves! Yippee!!! Long hours though so my blog is suffering for it. Anyway these scarves are all in a fashion I call a Triple Wrap Around. They were very big sellers this summer at the Market. I start with an double dyed, iridescent silk scarf and add merino. When it is finished I cut it up so that it is very long and wraps around and around... Very fun, light and flirty. Sorry to say that none of the double dyed, iridescence shows in my quick pics...a little of the sparkle I add in with the merino shows...for the rest it's left to your imagination.
Enjoy!
And so it is now very late on Thursday (actually it is almost two hours into Friday) and in the past two days I have finished four new scarves! Yippee!!! Long hours though so my blog is suffering for it. Anyway these scarves are all in a fashion I call a Triple Wrap Around. They were very big sellers this summer at the Market. I start with an double dyed, iridescent silk scarf and add merino. When it is finished I cut it up so that it is very long and wraps around and around... Very fun, light and flirty. Sorry to say that none of the double dyed, iridescence shows in my quick pics...a little of the sparkle I add in with the merino shows...for the rest it's left to your imagination.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Power Of Suggestion
Ever have something happen to you just by the power of suggestion? You know...you get a fortune cookie and it says something and then a day or so later sure enough that's what happens?! What I always wonder is did it happen because it was going to happen anyway or did it happen because I was thinking about it a few days earlier??? People out there that believe in the power of suggestion would say it only happened because my conscious and then unconscious brain activity was attracting "it"...and a big part of me believes that...especially after what happened to me today!
At Thanksgiving dinner someone mentioned self-cleaning ovens. That led to a discussion about their merits and whatnot. Two people in on the discussion LOVED the feature...but the third person had incurred a $250 bill and still didn't have a clean oven after she had tried to use the feature on her oven and it malfunctioned. So despite the fact that I needed to clean the oven, I hadn't quite decided to flip the switch on it, so to speak.
Sure enough today my husband leaned against the stove long enough to turn on the self-cleaning feature (which neither of us noticed). About 20 minutes later I noticed the smell! But by now the oven was LOCKED! We are renting and I have not used this feature on this oven or any oven - ever!...I neede to find the manual and see what it said. I was still thinking about it but the discussionfrom Thanksgiving had me wary ...well too late!...it was out of my hands!...nothing to do but wait and see...
That's how my felting project went too...I had created some beautiful 'nature' felt and was set to assemble my next felpture (a felted sculpture). It seems that my subliminal thoughts were guiding my project for today...things seemed out of my control. I could picture it in my mind, but I wasn't getting there. It took many trials and lots of error, but by mid-afternoon (while the oven, I hoped, was baking away all my lovely spills) I had lighting that would hopefully work...a sculpted framework...and my felt cut into the correct sized pieces. If I just pictured it harder in my head would it "just happen"?
Somewhere my brain must have skipped some steps...I could see in my mind what it would look like finished but failed to quickly attract the solutions for getting there...though now...at 1 AM it is finally!!!...and so is the oven! No blow-ups and no need for a repair man. Had to open some windows for a bit to air the place out...and dinner was take out!
Here are some quick snaps of my felpture...
This little beauty is headed to the Christmas Farmers' Market this Saturday. Hope to see many of you there cuase everything is way more spectacular in person!
Janet
At Thanksgiving dinner someone mentioned self-cleaning ovens. That led to a discussion about their merits and whatnot. Two people in on the discussion LOVED the feature...but the third person had incurred a $250 bill and still didn't have a clean oven after she had tried to use the feature on her oven and it malfunctioned. So despite the fact that I needed to clean the oven, I hadn't quite decided to flip the switch on it, so to speak.
Sure enough today my husband leaned against the stove long enough to turn on the self-cleaning feature (which neither of us noticed). About 20 minutes later I noticed the smell! But by now the oven was LOCKED! We are renting and I have not used this feature on this oven or any oven - ever!...I neede to find the manual and see what it said. I was still thinking about it but the discussionfrom Thanksgiving had me wary ...well too late!...it was out of my hands!...nothing to do but wait and see...
That's how my felting project went too...I had created some beautiful 'nature' felt and was set to assemble my next felpture (a felted sculpture). It seems that my subliminal thoughts were guiding my project for today...things seemed out of my control. I could picture it in my mind, but I wasn't getting there. It took many trials and lots of error, but by mid-afternoon (while the oven, I hoped, was baking away all my lovely spills) I had lighting that would hopefully work...a sculpted framework...and my felt cut into the correct sized pieces. If I just pictured it harder in my head would it "just happen"?
Somewhere my brain must have skipped some steps...I could see in my mind what it would look like finished but failed to quickly attract the solutions for getting there...though now...at 1 AM it is finally!!!...and so is the oven! No blow-ups and no need for a repair man. Had to open some windows for a bit to air the place out...and dinner was take out!
Here are some quick snaps of my felpture...
This little beauty is headed to the Christmas Farmers' Market this Saturday. Hope to see many of you there cuase everything is way more spectacular in person!
Janet
Monday, November 28, 2011
Runners
Well it is after 1 AM which makes it Monday. This is it...4 days left to finish things before set-up day on Friday and the Christmas Farmers' Market on Saturday. I am NOT ready. I have completed some things since I last posted about this upcoming show. Not as much as I wanted, but more than I had before!
4 silk pillows
2 party wraps
3 table runners
3 sets of wrist cuffs
Next up I want to work on Felptures. If I have time after that (not sure how that could possibly occur except if I were to work through the night and all day!) I sort of promised to get some wrap around scarves done for a couple of interested people. Whew! Glad I am not having to do any Christmas shopping this week!
For tonight I have the wet, but finished table runners for you to see. I am including before and after pictures. I found that the holes I had cut in my white prefelt to make my snowflakes closed up more that I liked...guess I should make gigantic holes...but then they tended to fall apart. The holly leaves and berries turned out well except for a few that didn't want to attach for some reason. Finally got them on there well enough that I could stop rolling. The leaves and acorns turned out really, really well! My favorite by far. I did have trouble on this one too...the acorn tops didn't want to attach as well as other parts so it took some tender loving care with just them to get them on there. They will look different after they dry...
Enjoy! I am off to bed for some much needed sleep :)
Janet
4 silk pillows
2 party wraps
3 table runners
3 sets of wrist cuffs
Next up I want to work on Felptures. If I have time after that (not sure how that could possibly occur except if I were to work through the night and all day!) I sort of promised to get some wrap around scarves done for a couple of interested people. Whew! Glad I am not having to do any Christmas shopping this week!
For tonight I have the wet, but finished table runners for you to see. I am including before and after pictures. I found that the holes I had cut in my white prefelt to make my snowflakes closed up more that I liked...guess I should make gigantic holes...but then they tended to fall apart. The holly leaves and berries turned out well except for a few that didn't want to attach for some reason. Finally got them on there well enough that I could stop rolling. The leaves and acorns turned out really, really well! My favorite by far. I did have trouble on this one too...the acorn tops didn't want to attach as well as other parts so it took some tender loving care with just them to get them on there. They will look different after they dry...
Enjoy! I am off to bed for some much needed sleep :)
Janet
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A Trio of Runners
Hi Everyone,
Today's project, besides a bit of shoe shopping, was to finish the first of three table runners I hope to have finished for the show December 3. This first one is a fall/Thanksgiving theme. I have laid two layers of merino and then a piece of silk. I had already made a couple of prefelts the other day. Today I cut them into leaves and acorns for my surface design. So my next layers were a papier ribbon (a ribbon yarn made with 75% paper) and my leaves and acorns. Its looking pretty good! Tomorrow I will begin my second runner...
So stay tuned...And for those of you that are headed out to shop tomorrow don't forget your small home grown merchants like Blue Flag Handweaving Studio in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Janet
Today's project, besides a bit of shoe shopping, was to finish the first of three table runners I hope to have finished for the show December 3. This first one is a fall/Thanksgiving theme. I have laid two layers of merino and then a piece of silk. I had already made a couple of prefelts the other day. Today I cut them into leaves and acorns for my surface design. So my next layers were a papier ribbon (a ribbon yarn made with 75% paper) and my leaves and acorns. Its looking pretty good! Tomorrow I will begin my second runner...
So stay tuned...And for those of you that are headed out to shop tomorrow don't forget your small home grown merchants like Blue Flag Handweaving Studio in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Janet
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The other day I got all bundled up in my wonderful Alpaca scarf and hat, boots, winter coat and mittens and headed out with the dog for a walk. On returning I noticed how the snow on our roof had been sculpted by the winds from the night before and marveled at my luck on not having it all drop on me as I went out. It was a lovely morning and the snow was beginning to fall again so I ran in to get my husband to take a snap or two of me in the snow!
But, oh how quickly the snow can go! We have had a Chinook wind for the past couple of days and all the lovely white blissful snow has now been melted away. On the positive side of things though, we might be able to squeeze in a bit more yard clean-up and some holiday decorating before the next snowfall begins!
I remember a year long ago when a Chinook wind came in February and caused great damage to things because of the super fast snow melt. Rivers and streams flooded all over the area. And of course we hadn't seen the last of Mr. Winter so after all the snow melted - of course confusing the plants and animals of which season it was - why here came a giant of a snowstorm to blast us back into the reality of winters in Montana. Weird what things you remember sometimes!
Anyway...thinking of those long ago days and my family seems appropriate with the biggest 'family gathering' day just a few hours away. We will be joining my older sister, her husband and his family, plus our Mom for dinner tomorrow...more memories to make...and here's hoping you and your loved ones have happy memories from tomorrow as well!
Janet
But, oh how quickly the snow can go! We have had a Chinook wind for the past couple of days and all the lovely white blissful snow has now been melted away. On the positive side of things though, we might be able to squeeze in a bit more yard clean-up and some holiday decorating before the next snowfall begins!
I remember a year long ago when a Chinook wind came in February and caused great damage to things because of the super fast snow melt. Rivers and streams flooded all over the area. And of course we hadn't seen the last of Mr. Winter so after all the snow melted - of course confusing the plants and animals of which season it was - why here came a giant of a snowstorm to blast us back into the reality of winters in Montana. Weird what things you remember sometimes!
Anyway...thinking of those long ago days and my family seems appropriate with the biggest 'family gathering' day just a few hours away. We will be joining my older sister, her husband and his family, plus our Mom for dinner tomorrow...more memories to make...and here's hoping you and your loved ones have happy memories from tomorrow as well!
Janet
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Olde America Antiques Quilt/Art Blocks
Hello!
The handbags I am going to show you tonight are not felt work of mine, but rather some sewing I did before I even knew how to felt. I have been sorting out my stock in order to prepare for our Holiday Farmer's Market on December 3rd. I came across these and it was just so satisfying to see them! They are very well done...even if it me saying so. I have a non-Christmas one in this design that I use as my knitting bag. I often get asked about the print I used on that one. I have used it daily for nearly two years and it has held up very well!
The prints used on these two bags are vintage (1910) postcard reproductions created by a company out of my hometown, Bozeman, Montana. I didn't learn this fact until I had already purchased from them and had my bags made. They have their office down the street from my sister's old place! Anyway they helped pioneer the process of using Giclee (zhee-CLAY) on cotton. In fact, I think they worked hand-in-hand with Epson to develop the printer used for this process. It is a great place to browse as all the vintage prints are wonderful...Check them out at:
http://oldeamericaantiques.com/catalog/index.php
My holiday bags will be available at the December market but you get a sneak preview!
Enjoy!
Janet
The handbags I am going to show you tonight are not felt work of mine, but rather some sewing I did before I even knew how to felt. I have been sorting out my stock in order to prepare for our Holiday Farmer's Market on December 3rd. I came across these and it was just so satisfying to see them! They are very well done...even if it me saying so. I have a non-Christmas one in this design that I use as my knitting bag. I often get asked about the print I used on that one. I have used it daily for nearly two years and it has held up very well!
The prints used on these two bags are vintage (1910) postcard reproductions created by a company out of my hometown, Bozeman, Montana. I didn't learn this fact until I had already purchased from them and had my bags made. They have their office down the street from my sister's old place! Anyway they helped pioneer the process of using Giclee (zhee-CLAY) on cotton. In fact, I think they worked hand-in-hand with Epson to develop the printer used for this process. It is a great place to browse as all the vintage prints are wonderful...Check them out at:
http://oldeamericaantiques.com/catalog/index.php
My holiday bags will be available at the December market but you get a sneak preview!
Enjoy!
Janet
Monday, November 21, 2011
Wrist Cuffs - Fashion or Function?
Good Morning!
Well almost...I neglected to get this post done last night...so sorry. I have been very busy so I have lots of new things to post for you over the next couple days. First off many of you may have been noticing women and young ladies wearing an item on their wrist that is unfamiliar to you. It probably wasn't a glove, even a fingerless version...so what was it? This newest craze is called wrist cuff or wrist warmer. And they are just that! A great way to keep your wrists warm, but for many it is all about making a fashion statement. I have seen many a young lady sporting a fashionable wrist cuff - most often it was peeking out from under her sweatshirt or sweater. I have made some myself. Some are felted with silk as an accent. Some are sewn with velvet, lace and other embellishments. And one is a fingerless glove out of wool (many varieties), tussah silk, viscose and silk noil. Some of these come as a pair though I am only posting one. However, keep in mind that many use only one cuff - especially when it is done for fashion.
I think that many more women would benefit from a pair of cuffs. Many of my friends complain about stiff hands and wrists, especially during the winter. Those that knit and crochet are really bothered by it so I think that a pair of cuffs could help them out so they can continue to enjoy their hobby! Patterns can be found on the Internet at http://www.ravelry.com/ and http://www.lionbrand.com/ and your can look at the types others are creating at http://www.etsy.com/
Enjoy!
Janet
Well almost...I neglected to get this post done last night...so sorry. I have been very busy so I have lots of new things to post for you over the next couple days. First off many of you may have been noticing women and young ladies wearing an item on their wrist that is unfamiliar to you. It probably wasn't a glove, even a fingerless version...so what was it? This newest craze is called wrist cuff or wrist warmer. And they are just that! A great way to keep your wrists warm, but for many it is all about making a fashion statement. I have seen many a young lady sporting a fashionable wrist cuff - most often it was peeking out from under her sweatshirt or sweater. I have made some myself. Some are felted with silk as an accent. Some are sewn with velvet, lace and other embellishments. And one is a fingerless glove out of wool (many varieties), tussah silk, viscose and silk noil. Some of these come as a pair though I am only posting one. However, keep in mind that many use only one cuff - especially when it is done for fashion.
I think that many more women would benefit from a pair of cuffs. Many of my friends complain about stiff hands and wrists, especially during the winter. Those that knit and crochet are really bothered by it so I think that a pair of cuffs could help them out so they can continue to enjoy their hobby! Patterns can be found on the Internet at http://www.ravelry.com/ and http://www.lionbrand.com/ and your can look at the types others are creating at http://www.etsy.com/
Enjoy!
Janet
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Oh Boy! Here We Go - Our WEBSITE is online!!!
Good Evening Everyone,
We are very, very proud to announce that we now have our website up and going! That's right - you can browse through our Internet store at your leisure in your home...so when we are not out selling Sapphire brand products at markets and shows you can still buy!
http://www.sapphire-art.com/
It is still a work in progress so we are making changes daily to get things looking better (for example - some photos need to be retaken) and to make sure all links are functioning. At present we have just under half our inventory online, but we want your opinion about what we have created so far. We would love to hear back from you! Click your way through and let us know what you like and what is not working or not to your liking.
Sincerely,
Janet and Dick King
Kings Treasure Chest presenting Sapphire brand fiber arts products
We are very, very proud to announce that we now have our website up and going! That's right - you can browse through our Internet store at your leisure in your home...so when we are not out selling Sapphire brand products at markets and shows you can still buy!
http://www.sapphire-art.com/
It is still a work in progress so we are making changes daily to get things looking better (for example - some photos need to be retaken) and to make sure all links are functioning. At present we have just under half our inventory online, but we want your opinion about what we have created so far. We would love to hear back from you! Click your way through and let us know what you like and what is not working or not to your liking.
Sincerely,
Janet and Dick King
Kings Treasure Chest presenting Sapphire brand fiber arts products
Friday, November 18, 2011
Nuno Felting - Part 2
Good Evening...we're expecting our first serious winter storm here tonight. Can't wait!!! I love the snow...falling...the flakes swirling...ahhh. Great weather to do some more felting too! I'll show you what I've been up to the past couple of days.
And if you want to learn more about Nuno felting, which is how I made the pillow above, you can watch part two of this series.
Enjoy!
Janet
And if you want to learn more about Nuno felting, which is how I made the pillow above, you can watch part two of this series.
Enjoy!
Janet
Thursday, November 17, 2011
My super, fantastic excercise plan...I get excercise and have something at the end that people want to buy! Now how cool is that , I ask you?! How do I do that? I am a felter...I think many people do not realize just what that means in the way of physical endurance.
Once I have laid out the loose wool for my project - which in itself requires a bit of staying power and bending over - well once I finish that and wet out my wool, I have to roll it. This usually means hours of rolling! During weeks that I get a lot of felting done, I can usually expect to see a weight loss a few days later...it's wonderful. And as I said, I have a super piece finished that I can sell!
You too can join my 'felter's excercise plan' and work out while creating.
There is a part TWO and part THREE to this series which you will find on http://www.youtube.com/
Have fun!
Janet
Once I have laid out the loose wool for my project - which in itself requires a bit of staying power and bending over - well once I finish that and wet out my wool, I have to roll it. This usually means hours of rolling! During weeks that I get a lot of felting done, I can usually expect to see a weight loss a few days later...it's wonderful. And as I said, I have a super piece finished that I can sell!
You too can join my 'felter's excercise plan' and work out while creating.
There is a part TWO and part THREE to this series which you will find on http://www.youtube.com/
Have fun!
Janet
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Oranges, Cranberries and Cinnamon...Yum!
I love this time of year...the smell of oranges, cranberries and cinnamon! All my childhood memories come back...tonight I made a cranberry pecan bread that Emeril posted on Food Network. It is so moist and yummy...won't last long around here. Reminds me a bit in texture and moistness of Fruit Cake by the flavor is not the same!
Thinking about the holidays made me eager to get some of my holiday table runners done. Look for them in a future post. Tonight I have been felting pillows made of silk, merino, mohair and other exotic things, but alas it is time to head to bed and they are not done so you must wait for a photo of those too.
For Emeril's bread click this link:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/cranberry-pecan-bread-recipe/index.html
Try it and I am sure you will love it!
Janet
Thinking about the holidays made me eager to get some of my holiday table runners done. Look for them in a future post. Tonight I have been felting pillows made of silk, merino, mohair and other exotic things, but alas it is time to head to bed and they are not done so you must wait for a photo of those too.
For Emeril's bread click this link:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/cranberry-pecan-bread-recipe/index.html
Try it and I am sure you will love it!
Janet
Monday, November 14, 2011
A while back we were living in our motor home in Las Vegas. I met a wonderful bunch of ladies and a couple gents that were all knitters and crocheters while there. We had some fabulous discussions, workshops and potlucks at a shop called Wooly Wonders on Tropicana Avenue.
One thing led to another and I received an autographed book by Prudence Mapstone of Australia called Coat of Many Scrumbles. The entire book is about free form knit and crochet. One small piece of free form work is referred to as a scrumble. This particular book documents the work of many artists from around the world that worked together to make a coat. Wonderful work!
It so inspired me that I made a handbag from free form myself. It is a very time consuming process, yet quite rewarding when you come up with a finished item at the end. Maybe you would like to give it a try yourself! For the book: ISBN 978-0-9580443-4-9
For the guild: http://www.freeformcrochet.com/
And for Prudence Mapstone: http://www.knotjustknitting.com/
For a look at my free form handbag on our new biz website:
http://www.sapphire-art.com/shop-wearable-art/handbags-a-purses/item/free-form-knitted-and-crocheted-handbag.html
The shop in Las Vegas does not have a website that I know of but it does have a presence on http://www.ravelry.com/ or you can just visit Joyce at her store the next time you are in town!
Wooly Wonders (702) 570-0268 · 3421 E Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89121
Enjoy!
Janet
One thing led to another and I received an autographed book by Prudence Mapstone of Australia called Coat of Many Scrumbles. The entire book is about free form knit and crochet. One small piece of free form work is referred to as a scrumble. This particular book documents the work of many artists from around the world that worked together to make a coat. Wonderful work!
It so inspired me that I made a handbag from free form myself. It is a very time consuming process, yet quite rewarding when you come up with a finished item at the end. Maybe you would like to give it a try yourself! For the book: ISBN 978-0-9580443-4-9
For the guild: http://www.freeformcrochet.com/
And for Prudence Mapstone: http://www.knotjustknitting.com/
For a look at my free form handbag on our new biz website:
http://www.sapphire-art.com/shop-wearable-art/handbags-a-purses/item/free-form-knitted-and-crocheted-handbag.html
The shop in Las Vegas does not have a website that I know of but it does have a presence on http://www.ravelry.com/ or you can just visit Joyce at her store the next time you are in town!
Wooly Wonders (702) 570-0268 · 3421 E Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89121
Enjoy!
Janet
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Well I spent a wonderful day at a local fine art and fine craft show in Spokane, Washington and I want to share a few great ones I found there...
A lady from Spokane, Washington named Jan Moulder who makes necklaces and pins out of paper that are light and stylish. She also makes paper lamps with a big natural theme to them.
http://www.wyldewoodpapers.com/
and a lady from Sandpoint, Idaho named Cyndie Morgan that makes the most extraordinary figurines from stone, wood and polymer clay.
http://www.earthdancesculpture.etsy.com/
and a woman from Clackamas, Oregon named Debra Carus, that has outstanding and unusual handmade jewelry. For example a Scandinavian bracelet made of reindeer leather and braided metal - a traditional art from that region.
http://www.elentari-handverk.com/
...It really was hard to limit myself here so I recommend a visit to the show site where you will find a link to all the artist.
http://inlandcrafts.org/artists/artists_2011.htm
Last, but definately not least for me, I wanted to share a link from Facebook with you since it features my art in a local shop! Check out the whole article by clicking on link below...little green purse was just sold!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Blue-Flag-Handweaving-Studio/150826434987643
We plan to have our own website up soon...this time we hired a pro...so hopefully sometime this week. Keep your fingers crossed!
Janet
A lady from Spokane, Washington named Jan Moulder who makes necklaces and pins out of paper that are light and stylish. She also makes paper lamps with a big natural theme to them.
http://www.wyldewoodpapers.com/
and a lady from Sandpoint, Idaho named Cyndie Morgan that makes the most extraordinary figurines from stone, wood and polymer clay.
http://www.earthdancesculpture.etsy.com/
and a woman from Clackamas, Oregon named Debra Carus, that has outstanding and unusual handmade jewelry. For example a Scandinavian bracelet made of reindeer leather and braided metal - a traditional art from that region.
http://www.elentari-handverk.com/
...It really was hard to limit myself here so I recommend a visit to the show site where you will find a link to all the artist.
http://inlandcrafts.org/artists/artists_2011.htm
Last, but definately not least for me, I wanted to share a link from Facebook with you since it features my art in a local shop! Check out the whole article by clicking on link below...little green purse was just sold!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Blue-Flag-Handweaving-Studio/150826434987643
We plan to have our own website up soon...this time we hired a pro...so hopefully sometime this week. Keep your fingers crossed!
Janet
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