Woolybuns

A Touch Of Spring

Today's trip to the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show was a delightful touch of spring, a bit of thumbing of the nose at the overnight snowfall.  Craptastic photography but the subject matter kind of makes up for it.  

And The Answer Is

Yes.  Sort of.  The hat is done.  Except it's not dry yet.  And won't dry fully for a couple days.  But that's ok.  It's done enough.

I started with this blob at about 10:30 am, stopped around 11:15 to discuss house repairs with a possible contractor, then got back to work play at noon.  I took a couple more breaks during the afternoon, trying to preserve my wrist and elbow, and finally finished, at least enough for now, at about 4:30.  It's not an elaborate hat but I'd need more time to do a lot of embellishment.  So... ta dahhh!  Lousy lighting and a damage lens on the camera, so the photo is a bit fuzzy and you really can't see the brim very well, but you get the gist of it. 

Can I Do It In Time?

I need a red hat.  For tonight.  I'm a slow knitter, made slower by elbows threatening to "tennis" with every knit stitch I make, and felt is faster, so decision 1 is easy.  It will be a felted hat.  Decision 2, shape, is even easier: it's for impish good fun so it must be a kind of elf hat.  Decisions made, let the fun begin.  Step one:  dig through stash, books, craft supplies, anything that might be helpful.  I found that bit of red corriedale I knew was hiding someplace, made a mental note of assorted embellishment possibilities, pulled out some plastic to make a resist of the approximate shape (felt is such a forgiving craft, I can get away with wing-and-a-prayer approach), and realize I have no red angora on hand.  Well.  I quickly flitted through some choice words and adjusted my plans.  It will be a wool hat.  Probably just as well, because I'm all achy and stiff and sore in the neck and probably shouldn't undertake any craft project at the moment, so that's one less opportunity to damage myself by convincing angora to play well with wool on the drum carder.  And as I type this, an image replaced those choice words in my head.  Heh.  I might have some fun with this even without angora.  Don't know if my thought will translate to the project but hey.  As good ole Tommy Edison pointed out, "Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something." So now the race begins.  Can I do it in time? 

The Woolybuns Store

At long last, I opened a store, the online variety.   It's called, quite simply, The Woolybuns Store.  TWS even has a shopping cart.   Given my ... let's just say inexpertise... on all things 'puter tech, that is a big deal.  Cause I figured it out myself.  The whole thing came about with some gentle nudging from others, some who openly nudged, some who may not even realize they nudged.  Anne of  many talents had a big part in it.  She and her co-hort at Ennea Collective published another article by me and included a click through ad.  Well.  The ad has to lead somewhere, now, doesn't it.  TWS is in it's infancy.  At some point, there will be a more official Grand Opening.  But for now, it's just a wee bit easier for those of you who like your luxury soft and fuzzy.

A Quick n Silly Chuckle

Go here, search United States to China, then check out number 31.  And number 104.  I also like that you start in the middle of the country, go to Seattle to get to Hawaii.  Seriously, you can't leave from southern California?  And don't forget after number 31 to "go straight" for .1 mile.   And by number 46, start brushing up on Asian languages. 

Ok.  So last night was full of other people's medical issues: I sat in an ER with a family member who was having an asthma attack, came home to hear a friend coping, yet again, with crappy health issues so sort of helped, via Facebook with others, hold her hand until things got better.  Embracing silly is a good thing. 

Oh, here's Mapquest's take on the trip:

"We had trouble getting your directions.

We can't find a route from US to CN.

Please try modifying the start or end point and try again."

Apparently Googlers have a better sense of humor, or direction, than Mapquesters.

Impossible Dream?

Organized.  Yeah.  For me, that's sort of a 4-letter word.  When I am creating, neat and orderly is not part of the mix.  Stuff is just out in plain sight and I think my thinker hones in on what should be thrown into the project at hand.  If all my materials were put away in an orderly fashion, I'd draw a blank.  I wouldn't even know what I have, let alone where it would be.  But for running the household, a spot for all things and all things in their spot works so much better.  Right now, the household is more like the creative area.  And I want it not to be.  Like.  Right now.  Magic wand type right now.  I think if I can get organized, I can stay organized.  At least by confining all things fiber to what I've affectionately considered my studio.  It's just taking so darn long to get that space (aka family room) set up as a fiber studio.  It still needs some cosmetic work. But I've been working on that felting project which led to another project (soon to be revealed) so now there is even more creative material all over the house.  Sanity says STOP!  So  I've started throwing some stuff out, junk like latex paint cans that really have no business still being here, and clothes left behind so long ago, they are of no use to anyone.  I really should list other stuff for sale.  Things like the two lizard cages and the bird cage, collectibles like the never used set of Norman Rockwell mugs and Franklin Mint set of bird scultptures, a small collection of Erzebirge nutcrackers.    These collectibles are still packed from the last move, back in 1996.  Sheesh!  At least my collection of Belleek china is on display, but it too, should go up for sale.  These things all had a place in my life at one point, but now... they just take up space.   Space is a hot commodity for a fiber artist!  I even have a Harrisville folding floor loom in the garage, a 22 incher, big enough to make things on but small enough for most homes - got it from Mum when she started shedding stuff.  I've never used it.  It needs a bit of fix up.  Want it?  It's free.  And if it left, I could actually get to the bird and lizard cages so I could photograph them and list them for sale at the feed store.  And that would make the dream seem possible after all. 

The Great Debate

Whatever your belief, this debate itself is kind of fun.  Supposedly these two churches are across the street from each other, with a busy road between. 

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

 

Round 4:

Round 5: