On and Off the Wall

A good start to 2014!

As I reported Wednesday, I've been back in the sewdio part of each day for a few days now.  I say 'part of' as a way of explaining that my intentions (= 'most of') have not been (entirely) fulfilled.  I've been trying to increase my sewdio time but when one is a single person living in a Very Snowy Country, one finds that sewdio hours are eroded by the time spent either a) on the roof removing snow from inside and around various vents and/or b) shovelling out walkways and driveways -- even with the help of one's neighbour!

So.

I'm pleased to present this finished piece, which was shipped off to E in Virginia yesterday, ExpressPost, with tracking and insurance, in the fond hope that Canada/US Customs/Border Patrol won't see fit to sit on it for an undue length of time, so that it will arrive by January 31 and be part of the SAQA 25th Anniversary Trunk Show:

Tree Study III (C) 2013

For the curious, here's a detail shot of the moss/fungus "embellishment" (Lutradur (R), painted and heat distressed:

And here's the inspirational photo -- a close-up of a portion of a trunk of one of the trees in my back yard:

In other quilting...here's another peek at my 'Rhythm' piece for 15 x 15 -- the background...Well...

1. A detail of the sky/trees -- quilted:

2. And one of the trees/fields...also quilted:

I'm SO thankful for J's machine!  So far, it hasn't failed to produce!

On the Knitting Front, while I wait for my DD to confirm size for the "Elm" socks,  I'm continuing my word on the entrelac scarf I started years ago in a class at River City Yarns.  Here's what it looked like when I abandoned it, shortly after taking the class:

And here it is with a wee bit more progress made:

I know it doesn't look much different, but it is longer -- and the best news is that I've learned to 'read' my knitting in entrelac such that I know where I've left off and what I need to do to begin again.  That alone is worth the effort!  Pattern: free from Allison LoCicero at Freckles and Purls (see link in right side-bar.)

Having trekked up to the roof for the second time this week , to clear snow and ice around various vents, and having shovelled out both walks and driveway, tomorrow I'm setting in to work on the main motif for the "Rhythm" piece, and to do a bit of plain piecing with the January block of my 2014 BOM -- the second in the series of BOM kits in my stash.  I cut out the fabrics earlier this afternoon, so all I have left to do is assemble the pieces, square up, and photograph!

Meanwhile, I'm linking up to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and will savour the entries over the weekend.  Have a good one!

Something Old, Something New

I believe one is never too old to learn something new. Yesterday I took a class in entrelac at River City Yarns in Edmonton (their south-end store) -- and had a great time. I came away with the beginnings of a new scarf made in "old" (read: stash!) yarn, and I think I might have just found another addictive knitting technique. The yarn is Emu Super-wash DK, 100% wool (breed of sheep not supplied), and the entire piece will use all 4 balls (119 metres each) that I have in my stash. I'm thinking this one might be an ideal project to donate to the craft-and-bake sale coming up at church.

Another something new is the recent photo I received from my DD, sporting her new Sweet Tee from Interweave Knits, Spring 2009 (it's a self-portrait, always a tricky thing to do). In the words of Stevie Wonder, "Isn't she lovely?" (I'm no proud mom, am I? My late DH and I often wondered -- and I still do -- how we managed to produce two such good-looking, good-living kids...)

You might notice that DD's shirt doesn't have the Fair Isle floral embellishment around the yolk -- that was by request. Also, I think the yolk is a bit wider than the original pattern, but IMHO that gives it a very elegant look. Try making it in a sparkly black-and-gold yarn to wear with great black pants or a long black skirt...or perhaps in a sporty denim, with a long-sleeved turtleneck worn underneath. This pattern has so many possibilities, that I expect I'll make it again.

This version took three balls of Berroco Comfort Worsted; DD's chosen colour way was "Maine Woods", #9839 (scroll all the way to the bottom of the linked page). Generally good at math, I messed up the calculations on the yardage I ordered and bought seven balls! LOL! No worries; I like the yarn well enough I'll use it for something else. Perhaps an entrelac scarf...?