July 23, 2003

If You're Wondering What To Do With Your Spare Time...

I don’t know quite what to make of this site. It’s noble yet creepy, interesting yet weird, fascinating yet repellent and, most importantly, flirts ever-so-slightly with being a Kooky Kraft: http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bandages.html

Knitting Knews
Here is a test swatch I'm knitting for a new pair of socks. I'm trying to echo the feel of this piece of pottery by Native American artist Dorothy Torivio but I can't quite qet that special "swirl" effect. On the bright side, the two-color stranded knitting is going much better than my last attempt, after which I swore I would never knit with two colors again. That sock turned out Lilliputian in size, inelastic, and with very irregular stitches. Blech. Fortunately K's mother is also Lilliputian in size (although not inelastic and has no irregular stitches) and she was more than happy to receive the socks.

basketpattern.jpg

Here is another example of Dorothy Torivio's work. Now, if I only had $3,360 dollars plus tax and shipping burning a hole in my pocket.

Dyeing Dyegest
Here is my favorite Dye Garden Project photo that we've taken so far, a veritable smorgasbord of dyestuffs. From the top, clockwise:


  • Koppertone dahlias (purchased from Swan Island Dahlias; grown in what we call DahliAlley in K’s garden)

  • Fire Magic dahlias ( again, purchased from Swan Island Dahlias; also grown in DahliAlley)

  • Calendula (grown from seed; planted in the dye garden)

  • Coreopsis (grown from starter plants; planted in the dye garden)

  • Marigolds (grown from starter plants; planted in the dye garden)

  • Center: Cosmos (grown from starter plants; planted in the dye garden)

flowerheads.jpg

Posted by Ryan at July 23, 2003 12:45 PM
Comments

Keep working at it, you'll get that design yet. Even if it doesn't eventually hurl the swirl, it's pretty as is, and it's awesome that you're getting the hand of two-color knitting. Before you know it, we'll have you knitting fair isle!!

Are you going to join Pink Tea? It sure would be lonely without you!

Posted by: Sheila on July 23, 2003 01:47 PM

We have a small Acoma seed pot that is just amazing. The lady that made it tells me that the Acoma women never use manufactured paint brushes, instead they chew the ends of yucca plants into the shapes and sizes they need.

Maybe you and the Missus should consider some Yucca for your garden.

Posted by: Justin on July 23, 2003 03:03 PM

Sheila, does READING Pink Tea count? The few-and-far-between items I have to share, I put in my blog and I don't end up with much left over to put in another blog... But I read "Pink Tea" faithfully and will put a link to it in Mossy Cottage.

Justin, I'm a city girl, born and bred. The fact that I'm armpit deep in natural dyestuffs is a miracle all in itself. And now you want me to be growing and chewing yucca?! Besides, have you seen yucca? It's big and pointy and sharp and vicious! (Oh, and your Acoma pottery? I am jeh-LUS!!!)

Posted by: Ryan on July 25, 2003 10:05 AM
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