The Week in Review

The class taught by Marty Wallace that I attended yesterday with two of my friends from the Surface Design Group, Cheryl and Laura, was so much fun!
It was difficult to choose which color yarns to make my treasure bag with- Marty had so many kits prepared!
I went with the purple and greens and had fun weaving on the tiny cardboard loom.
We talked and shared as we wove, the light shining in the many windows of the classroom at the Colleen Cassidy Studio.
It's an old Victorian with many small rooms and creaky wooden floors and delightful artwork everywhere.
I never did make it upstairs- maybe next week I can see if there is more art up there.
The two hour class was quickly over and Cheryl, Laura and I went over to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch.
Salad and more sharing and then a quick trip to JoAnn's next door for large needles to weave with.
The Surface Design meeting was on Tuesday night and the speaker shared her lovely woven purses that were a much larger scale than what we did in Marty Wallace's class.

The little looms were made on cardboard and the straight pattern of over under is very relaxing.
I don't often discuss my previous life as a weaver of free-form sculptural basketry, but this was a gentle reminder of my own past. I kept wanting to do a pattern, like twill or tapestry and had to check the impulse.
This makes a tiny little bag and it is the cuteness and then the camaraderie of the friends in the class that convinced me to take the class.
I do have lots of yarns that I have bought to be used as doll hair but now I can also use them to make woven things.
The constant busy work keeps my mind calm and is a productive use of my time.
Someone asked how do you find the time to make all the things you do and I wasn't sure the question was for me- I had to stop and think- well, it's what I do, I said.
It seemed like a strange question because I am always making something.
Housework and cooking comes second. This is my job. It isn't just something to keep me busy. It is my motivation to rise and shine.

This morning the phone woke us up as Fred was on call and some kind of water related crisis was brewing along with our coffee and he is gone to work.
The county doesn't care if it's Saturday and he has already worked 65 hours this week.
So, I checked my email, after grabbing a mug o'joe and then Flickr and still haven't gotten to the other email account.
I figured I would come here while I still had some energy and share my busy week with you.
Normally, I am here sewing or working and not out gallivanting around like this past week.
It was great fun though, and it seems like a lot more time has passed than just a week!
Monday we went to The Ringling Museum and saw Grandma Moses and I dodged ninja docents and was intoxicated by the rose garden.
Tuesday was the Surface Design Meeting where we traded hats and learned about pin weaving and discussed the FAB show coming later this year. (Fiber Arts Boutique) it will be in Nov at the Sarasota Art Association. I will keep talking about it as the year progresses- it is a fabulous show with the work of 3 Guilds- The Surface Design Guild, The Venetian Society for Basketweavers and the Manasota Weavers Guild. What an opportunity to buy some woven or wearable art!

Wednesday was Knit and Itch at Picasso's Moon where the owner, Deborah taught me to crochet.
I went back on Thursday after cleaning the house and catching up on the laundry and grocery shopping.
I learned two different stitches. The treble stitch and the picot (?).
Not sure if that's what it's called but I am anxious to learn more! I want to make flowers and leaves and someday maybe I will make myself a shawl with scrumbles on the edges and be comforted with its cozy softness as I sit and quilt in my rocker...
Then Friday was the woven treasure bag class and after lunch and JoAnn's,  I went back to Picasso's Moon and sat with Deb and worked on my tiny loom.
She is doing the Convergence show in June in Tampa and will have a booth there with her gorgeous yarns. I can't wait.

I guess that I have almost come full circle.
Basket weaving
Paper Making
Felting
Book Binding
Teddy Bears & Rabbits
Art Dolls
Aprons/ Art to Wear
Crochet
Loom weaving

I don't think I will be weaving any more baskets, but you never say never, right?
More likely, I will be knitting some nifty hats and sweaters for some bears and gnomes at Casa Calamity.
Or maybe some cozies for stuff, like the phone, coffee cups or the pencil holder- all enhanced with a bit of interlocked wool.
My Grandmother used to crochet on the glass candy jars and add beads. Fancy.
I am not sure if I will ever be that skilled, but, I sure am going to keep learning until I get those flowers and vines and leaves down- I need a scarf that looks like the garden was enchanted and wove itself together for me to wear! Or maybe a hat!
The jasmine is blooming out back and it was  all you could smell when we were out back taking the pictures of the crochet trim last night.
Fred, I need a picture! Up he jumps and away we go! I hope you are all suitably wowed! Even if your dog or 3 year old could crochet better than me, you wouldn't tell me- you'd just politely encourage me because you know someday it will be EXTREME CROCHET MADNESS and you'll pop on over here to see what the current calamity is and there I'll be- Rocking the craziest crochet ever seen on the planet! Now, I'm not saying it will be as awesome as some of those art installations we have seen where the entire room is covered in crochet and everything from the floor to ceiling light is crocheted. I'm just saying, it will be crochet enchantment. Magical and sparklie and happy and frivolous and the most delightful counterpoint to an otherwise dull day.

Crochet dreams...

I went to the my picot site and nearly lost my mind- thank you for the link Gwen's Mom! You were right! I swooned!

Anyway, today is wide open in front of me and I am not sure what to do first!

I finished the first tiny loom bag last night and then started another. We will go back next Friday for another 2 hours and learn to finish it off and make a handle.

Last night we watched a repeat of last weeks Battlestar Galactica and then the new episode. It is interesting to watch the story unfold. Will they get to Earth? Who are the final 5??

Is Starbuck a Cylon? We think it is Giaus Baltar because he can see the other cylons in his mind.
I love the music and the mythology of the storyline.
But, you all probably don't love the Sci-Fi as much as I do.

Whatever.

I should go work on Debra's smock/apron.

Way too much to do to be sitting here rattling on about  clones and cylons and raiders and such nonsense...

Have a happy Saturday!
love & stitches,
Calamity Kim

Barbie pictures:
SuzyQuzy
and PatrickQ from Flickr