Saturday, August 06, 2011

So much to update!

Sorry for neglecting the blog lately.  I've been so busy with selling the flock, making arrangements for pick up and transport, dealing with all the challenges of my husband's illness while trying to keep up with my grant projects and volunteer commitments. It's just been way too much.

The adult BFLs will be leaving for Missouri tomorrow.  I am so sad to see them go.  Lanora has been here since she was a lamb in 2006.  She's such a character.  And Harwell is so sweet.  I will miss them terribly. But I do plan to keep Harwell's four ewe lambs, two of whom are Lanora's granddaughters.
I don't know if I've posted a photo on the blog yet of this raw felted fleece project I made out of Harwell's fleece on June 20th.  That was the day of Stan's first endoscopy and creating a project like this really helped take my mind off the worries. 

It is so comforting when I can't sleep at night.  I go out on the couch and snuggle up under this soft, luxurious throw and sink my face into those lustrous purly locks.  I'm really going to miss Harwell, but at least I have this reminder. :-)
This photo shows the back of the throw, I added a layer of silk gauze along with the roving.

I've been knitting quite a bit with all the travel and waiting during medical visits.
This is a mobius scarf I did using Cat Bordi's mobius cast on.  The last one I made following her pattern was too small so I cast on an extra 40 stitches - which translates into 80 extra stitches. So this one is really long.  I made sure to work in reversible stitch patterns.  So the inner rounds are k2,p2 rib and then I went with Cat's Paw in garter stitch.  For the edging, I used one I found in Hazel Carter's Shetland Lace Knitting.

At last week's appointment I cast on this cable hat, it's out of  natural colored Shetland Mule combed top and again I worked out my own simple cable design. It's going really fast and that yarn has really nice stitch definition. This was the fiber that got lost at the processor and then was found and shipped to me.  I'm so glad they found it.  I can't wait to try felting with it.

And last but not least, the other day I had a busload of kids here as part of the Mora Schools Comprehensive Art Planning and Programming Summer Art Crawl.  This was part of a grant project* involving 6 artists' studios. First the kids come and make various art projects at each studio, then this fall each artist will have an open studio (for all ages) and the grand finale is a collaborative piece incorporating the art of all six artists and the kids in one installation.  It's a really fun project.

*This activity is funded, in part, by a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council with funds provided by the Minnesota Art and Cultural Heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

6 comments:

  1. OH MY HEAVENS, Becky...That throw is awesome!!
    How do you keep the locks so long and free and untangled?
    ...or is it just the breed of sheep that makes this possible?
    I want to sit at your feet and learn how to make a throw this FABULOUS!! (We truly must felt together sometime!) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! XXO-

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  2. Thanks Heather, I was thrilled with the throw. I thought it turned out the best of the three I've done. The key was to include a fabric layer along with the roving. I gleaned that from reading your blog. :-) Yes, it's the breed that makes it possible to have those long purly locks. Bluefaced Leicester fleeces are my favorite, I love their luster.
    I would love to felt with you someday! I got a grant to go to Jone's Creative Felt Gathering in Michigan this September but I had to cancel due to our circumstances right now. One of these days, I'm sure our paths will cross, in the meantime I always look forward to your educational blog posts.

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  3. Oh, Becky...I didn't realize how close we nearly came to meeting in person (at the CFG). You've had SO MANY losses in your life lately...this one has to be on the lower end of the scale, all things considered.
    (Still disappointing, though...for both of us!!)
    I'm so glad that the fabric layer idea helped, and now I know must be on the lookout for some of that amazing Bluefaced Leicester fleece, the next time I'm at a S&W!
    Thinking of you so often, and hoping for your husband's complete recovery...XXO-

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  4. Continued best wishes to you and Stan. Update us when you're able.

    The throw is really gorgeous!

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  5. Thanks so much Karen and Heather. We have been overwhelmed by all the outpouring of concern. I set up a CaringBridge site to keep people informed about Stan's progress. There's a link to it under "Links" on the right side of this page. But if you go to www.caringbridge.org and then type in stanutecht, you'll find it. He got his hair shaved off today - our oldest son did the honors. And I have to say, I think he looks a bit younger without all that grey hair. :-)
    He's not able to eat and keep it down, and he tires very easily, but he's been feeling okay the past week so we've been doing a lot of visiting with friends. He has the heavy duty chemo coming up again this week, so it will be rough.

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  6. Oo I think that's an awesome addition to your felted fleeces, and that mobius scarf is AWESOME. You guys hang in there, you're in our thoughts. *hugs*

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Getting ready for Christmas Markets!

  I'll be doing two Christmas markets this year. The first one is at Sapsucker Farms in Brook Park, MN Nov. 18-19th. And the second one ...