Our Gallery Show

On Tuesday evening, T-Man and I headed back over the Ironworker’s Memorial Bridge again to Deep Cove for the opening of my guild’s 75th Anniversary show. Here’s the invitation and that photograph of Kirsten’s lovely shawl is the perfect introduction to the items on display. (I think it might have been cropped from one of the photos I took for her.) The opening was a really fun party with lots of dear old friends, cake, strawberries, yummy nibblies, much chatter and hugs. Some of these folks I’ve known for 25 years! But that’s only 1/3 of the guild’s long existence.

I didn’t get the best pictures of the show since I didn’t take time to set up the shots properly. Everyone was mingling around so I just snapped quickly. But here’s some of the displays anyhow:

Baskets. I love the pack basket on the wall. I don’t really make baskets so I’m always in awe of what they come up with.

Colour. The gorgeous one peeking out on the far left is by Dawn and dyed with a rusted muffler! (Get it?)

Structure. I didn’t record who wove these but love the one on the right intensely.

Texture. I so love the neutral colours and exciting topography of these ones. I’m almost wishing now that I had taken Anne Field’s collapse weave class as well as the spinning one. I need to get back to weaving and experiment. Yeah, I know I’ve said that before.

And of course the lace corner! That’s my bison shawl in the middle of the only handspun and knitted pieces and mine was also the only triangle in the entire show. (Dare to be different!) The top one is by Ruth and the one on the right by Masami.

There were lots more including a truly impressive large jacquard woven image by Kaija, several drawloom-woven pieces by siblings Janice and Ruth, two little tapestries by Myrna (I loved the Jazz Cat) and a whole plethora of scarves in a rainbow of colours, fibres and structures. I think it was said that 35 guild members contributed pieces. Pretty impressive, hey?

On another note entirely, yesterday I spent the morning buying a couple of patterns from BurdaStyle and then printing out and assembling the one for Celestina. I have no idea what fabric I’m going to use but I think I’ll make it with cap sleeves for a summer dress kind of like this one. And I might change the neckline a bit too. It’s also cute sleeveless so there’s lots of variations possible. It seems the sizing is much more accurate with the patterns from this source (at least the ones actually produced by their team), but I’ll find out for sure when I trace off what I hope is my size from the “jigsaw puzzle” and tissue fit.

Note BurdaStyle has free patterns on offer as well as low-cost copyright-free ones from a number of sources, including Burda Fashion (aka Burda Style magazine). If you already have the magazine in question though, there’s no point in buying the pattern again because you still have a lot of work to do to get to the point where you can cut out a garment! The styles have a youthful Euro vibe yet many include larger size versions so they aren’t just for skinny-minnies. There’s even one I like that I would have to size down to fit me. I also like that the website saves the patterns that you’ve downloaded, both the free ones and the paid ones, so you can download anything again if you need to. There are tonnes of tutorials and the newsletter is also worth subscribing to if you are interested in garment sewing.

If you prefer, most patterns have an optional PDF that you can use to print at a copy shop on 3-foot wide paper which saves the “jigsaw puzzle” step. Which really wasn’t that difficult except for the fact that my printer doesn’t print to the edges of the paper so I have little gaps in the lines where they should match. Not a big problem though as long as I was careful to line things up properly. Now I’m wishing desperately for the dressmaker’s stand that I’ve been threatening to make for ages. Soon! Maybe this weekend if the weather is as bad as the forecast suggests. It’s too hard to fit things on your own body.

In other news, I also plan to cast on a new knitting project today. I have decided that my Rhubarb yarn is going to become a Multnomah. 2100+ knitters can’t be wrong. Off to wind a ball and hunt down 3.25mm Addi Lace circs…

I’m Tracking You

I think I’ve figured out what went wrong with my site counter. When I changed my template I lost the java-script for SiteMeter. Anyhow I think this particular free online service has nearly reached its end and is running on fumes. (Their blog posts end over a year ago and there are broken links on the site.) I started checking out some alternatives and am going with StatCounter. It’s installed now and you won’t see any difference but I will know who has been visiting this old damselfly’s pond. (Mwah-ha-ha!) StatCounter is very functional and they politely sent me emails with a kind welcome and all the information I might need to get up and running, including a link to a Getting Started guide. Very impressive. I’m sold. OK, so it’s actually free.

Why a counter at all? I find it comforting that I’m not just talking to myself! It’s heartening to know that even if you don’t post comments, you’re out there reading my deathless prose. Heh. At least I’m not just babbling into the ether. Yeah, I know – it’s still babbling nonetheless. But it’s mine!

So I finished the Pebbles Baby Cardi yesterday and got it washed and blocked. Turned out I didn’t need to go shopping for buttons because there were at least 4 or 5 choices in my stash already. I was surprised! Though I guess I shouldn’t be. After all my many stashes are pretty extensive. I went with the green ones which blend in nicely and fit through the little buttonholes properly. I’m pleased. A whole project out of the stash. Unfortunately there’s not enough yarn or time to do matching socks. Full disclosure coming up when I get it together. The file I need is on the Other Computer. Sheesh.

Meanwhile I’m plugging away on the Tweedi Cardi. I’m nearly down to the hem. Then it’s on to the sleeves which I’m going to take to the elbow or just below. I’ll be going around the whole neckline, front edges and hem with maybe 4 rounds of single crochet, incorporating buttonholes as I go. Hmmm…buttons. One? Two? Three? Back to the stash.

This evening we’re off to the opening of my guild’s 75th anniversary show at Crafthouse on Granville Island. Currently on that website link are photos of scarves by my friends Kirsten and Jo. Beauty, huh? Plus a delightful article by past member (and now internationally-known fibre artist) Jane Kenyon. The display is on until May 2 so if you’re in the area I hope you get a chance to see it. Nope, I don’t have a piece in this one but Galloping Gail is going to the larger show later at the Seymour Art Gallery in Deep Cove. More info to come.

Spick & Span

Well I finally did it! It’s eleventy-thousand degrees up here (you could cook eggs on my forehead) but I stuck with the cleaning and finished up getting all the stuff that was left back in the attic. It’s less than half of what it used to be so, even though I didn’t get ruthless enough, it’s much better than it was. I can even get inside the space myself now. See?


Notice Ms. Polly is back inspecting to make sure I got it all put back correctly. Labels and everything. I spent quite a bit of time making lids for all those square white boxes out of some sheets of corrugated cardboard that I found in there. I used a rectangular one as a pattern and just squared it off. I learned how to make storage boxes from my birth mom who used to get tons of cardboard from her former workplace and couldn’t let it go to waste. I think the lid I traced was one of hers. (She also makes very fancy boxes as well as utilitarian ones.) All you need is a ruler (preferably metal), a pencil and a box knife. Oh and something safe to cut on — I used my big table with the plastic cutting mats on it. Actually the square boxes are ones that I’ve had for over 30 years and originally held Kodak developer from T-Man’s former workplace. You can see the label on the unpainted one in front there. Obviously Mother isn’t the only one who can’t let good cardboard go to waste! I’ve been using them for craft supply storage for 3 decades. Yikes! I ran out of cardboard though before I ran out of boxes needing lids but that’s ok. I also ran out of arms and shoulder and neck just about at the same time. It’s hard for me to press down while cutting especially something that takes a lot of pressure to get through. I have to be careful because that’s exactly how I pinched the nerve in my neck before and I don’t want a repeat of that painful experience. Besides, I only afford to lose the feeling in just so many fingers. One is more than plenty.

What’s next? Besides a temporary rest from cleaning. There’s one more attic space but I need T to help with that one. It’s more family stuff than just mine. And it needs to be cooler up here before we tackle it. I definitely procrastinated this chore too late into summer. I suppose I could get started on the long closet that’s in front of the last attic space though since it’s all my stuff and I can stand up with the doors open and the fan on to do it. Hmmm…but not until next week. I need a break.

This will be a short post today. We’re heading out (as soon as T gets back from the dentist) to walk down to Granville Island for the opening of my friend Chisako’s exhibit at Diana Sanderson’s Silk Weaving Studio. Her colours are all botanical dyes and the weaving is exquisite. Her fellow exhibiter, Kate also uses botanical dyes for lovely colours that magically all coordinate. It’ll be a gorgeous summer evening for a walk along the Seawall at False Creek. Wearing a hat, sunglasses and lots of sunscreen of course. I’m totally looking forward to it.