Showing posts with label design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label design. Show all posts

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Boxing Day aka St Stephen's Day

in which our plucky heroine has a somewhat better day...

Yesterday was lonesome, though I did enjoy a nice long zoomchat with sister. Today I rode almost all the way to St Johns to GrocOut, to get greens, as I plan on making up some lasagna to put in the freezer, and I like to add  layers of cooked greens along with the cheese and the sauce. By the time I got home again, the rain was really falling, so it was a quick scamper to the back yard to gather in all the laundry, which was still more dry than wet. The wind that arrived before the weather front moved in had made a big difference.

I remember seeing this exquisite tapestry weaving years ago in a magazine, and falling in love with it! Here is some more information about the weaver and the work... There are so many different folk traditions hung about this day. Today I learned that it was also Wren Day, when the hunting of the wren took place...
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~ Day 26 ~
what better for Boxing Day than a little box that proclaimed "open carefully"... when those instructions were followed inside was a most delightful assortment of very small random things! I know that the tiny stick on googly eyes will be of great help when I make some soot sprites for next year, and the fossil shark tooth will be an great addition to my curio shelf (once I build it, that is)
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Plotting out the sleeves, now that I have decided to do yet more alteration of the stripey sleeve cardigan... The body really has shoulders that are totally square, unlike my own, so I am going to do some pretty radical knitwear surgery, since I do like very much how the rest of the body turned out!

I finally have both a value chart of dark/light changes, and a basic plan for how to attach the sleeves. This project actually began waaaay back in May of 2023, and has seen quite a few false starts and changes of direction in the interim. I think it is time to "pick up my pointy sticks" and cast on yet again!
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wondering if anyone I know has ever used one of the portable high speed spin extractors, that remove most (but not all) of the water from laundered clothing... ever since my tumble dryer stopped working properly, I've been managing so far by catching the sunbreaks and putting my laundry out on the line, then pulling it indoors when the rain returns and hanging it above the tub and on the drying rack over the washer. Have been reading about alternatives to tumble drying, and this small, fairly inexpensive, and very energy efficient option seemed like an interesting possibility
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I was fourteen, back in the LongAgo...
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December SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 rainbow cowl tassels
more clothesline
recycle bin
2 85 origami squares
cardboard down
random book parts
3 heraldic potholders
set up paperwhites
recycle bin
4 pine needle stars
grey linen pinafore
yard waste bin
5 solstice sweets
bandana hem
yard waste bin
6 2025 calendar
calendar pages
recycle bin
7 x keyboard key cap  x
8 x x x
9 x x x

today's gratitudes -
1. I was able to watch the Call The Midwife holiday special on PBS online last night.
2. Absolute HUZZAH! The replacement key cap for my keyboard, that I ordered on Sunday, arrived in my mailbox today. The seller did a superb job of packing it protectively, it is in perfect shape, and best of all, it simply snapped into place with no trouble at all... My keyboard is repaired!
3. just found out that the spin extractor I've been investigating is also available from Dharma Trading, which gives me more confidence, and also would cut the Behemoth out of the transaction, so double win!

Time of Isolation - Day 1624

Friday, January 12, 2024

kludgeification

in which our plucky heroine does that funky design thing...

So, the undercabinet LED light bar I bought to use in the computer zone is wonderfully bright, which is good, but it needs to be diffused better so it doesn't blind me, and needs to be adjusted so it doesn't blind the video camera or block the screen(s)

Clever plucky heroine decided that kludge was the word for the day in this regard. A few small C clamps on the front uprights of the computer zone were just the thing to balance a sturdy vintage wooden yardstick. These could be easily moved to determine what height was optimal. Since I didn't want to attach the permanent clips to hold the light yet, I opted to slide two sturdy hair elastics over the light fixture and the yardstick, which was all that was needed to hold it in location. Then, multiple layers of white tissue paper were added to the front of the light until the intensity of the light shining into my eyes was ameliorated; two clothespins hold the paper in place.

Is this optimal, or elegant, or good design... no not really. Does this point the way to determining what the parameters are that a future build will need to encompass... yes, very much so.
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~ experimental neckline ~
finished the teal knit top with the overlap turtleneck collar... It has been an interesting experiment to create, but I am not sure I will use this collar again. I'll have to see if I like wearing it; trying it on, the side neck edges created soft folds, which I could have predicted had I given it much thought ahead of time. (I know it isn't that my neck is particularly fleshy, being one of the few slender parts of my body, but just how fabric bends around a curved surface). Well, that, and I have perhaps more than enough long sleeve knit tops to wear in the winter - a whole drawer-full in wonderful variety! So it will be a while before I have any need to sew more...
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This morning was probably about as warm as it is likely to be for the next few days, and the temperature has been steadily dropping ever since. I saw a few tiny sparkles of snow around 10:30, it was too warm yet for any snow to stick, with all still wet, and the temperature around 40F, but now after sundown, the thermometer has dropped to below 30, and will fall even more before tomorrow. The high is forecast to be only 21F tomorrow, and any precipitation will likely be "wintery mix" meaning snow/sleet/freezing rain...
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Earlier today, while it was still daylight, I decided to ride my bike to the hardware store. I wanted to get a box of light bulbs, and was hoping for some small hinges for the "reinstall the bathroom access panel" project. It was dreadfully cold, despite my multiple layers and thick Jen mittens, but the roads were dry and it was safe for riding. On the way home, I thought to stop at the University New Seasons and get a quart of milk. Must be that New England tradition of making sure one has bread and eggs and milk on hand before a storm?

Well, despite at the time there being no weather to speak of other than cold air, the power was out at the store, and they were running on backups. I quickly snagged some milk and a box of frozen sausages and headed out again before they closed the store down. On the way home there were tiny dots of white on the grey canvas sleeves of my chore coat. Not really flakes of snow, but more like the smallest flecks of snow-paint. It stopped again by the time I returned to Acorn Cottage.
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Today the secondary phone charging brick arrived, and is currently plugged in to the wall to be filled with electricity, as it were. It is taking much longer to fill than the first brick, so I suppose it holds more? It is all rather mysterious, but useful.
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January SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 Jedi obi sash reinstall octopusrecycle bin
2 Jedi underlayerhang candle lantern-
3 2 tiny bookspaint tiger frame -
4 teal knit top
patch closet holes -
5 -- -
6 x x
x
7 x x x
8 x x x
9 x x x

today's gratitudes -
1. Now I have two power bricks to store electricity for the cell phone. Backups are good.
2. I have a bicycle, and am still able to ride it to do my local errands. I intend to keep doing so as long as flesh is willing.
3. I have been really enjoying "Spirited Away - live on stage". Perhaps since I know the story, and am familiar with the animated film, I am finding how it has been adapted to a live stage performance fascinating as well as beautiful. Well worth the time spent watching it!

Time of Isolation - Day 1289

Saturday, January 14, 2023

broadside graphics

in which our plucky heroine dips her toes back in the scribal waters...

I am quite pleased with my recent attempt at creating a broadside inspired by early 17th c Ravenscroft...
My friend Elisabeth wrote an original round (words and music) and I offered to add artwork and transcribe it into a more historical form, with her assistance. I enjoyed drawing sprays of holiday greenery when I created this colophon to mark the broadside as original contemporary work

Took a bit less than two days of drawing and inking, interspersed with consultation to be sure I had all the musical notation correct. Was very grateful to have found facsimile editions of Ravenscroft online, which helped inspire the square initials and the hand lettering (to imitate early type face)
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Here you can see both one of the original historiated capital letters on the left, and my attempt to evoke it on the right. The design fills a space that is just over 1" square. (I would like to know the size of the original book, given that the decorative initials were all printed from carved blocks, but I have yet to find that information
This was the sketch I began with, loosely indicating my ideas, and starting to adjust the music to a more appropriate transcription... Beth decided, after seeing this, that shifting the notation itself to more period style was what she wanted, and also that I could include a period G clef.
Once she proofread the music, I could begin on inking the page. I looked at the printed text in the facsimile and adapted my writing to give the same sort of feeling. I also noticed that each line that started with a decorative initial, the first word fragment began with an uppercase letter and then went on to lower case letters. Subtle, but it helps lead the eye along the line, and makes a smoother transition, as is also seen in some hand lettered illuminated manuscripts

This project was a lot of fun to work on, and I cherished the idea that by making this I was still a part of the organisation I had spent so many years involved with, in the Before Times. Most of all I was able to do a tiny bit to help my friends with their goal of encouraging more participatory music in the SCA... I won't be at 12th Night this weekend, but my artwork will be, as they will be handing out copies of the broadside, and teaching this new musical piece to folks tonight
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January SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 striped tabletweaving
drawings for Vikki
recycle bin
2 night socks toile
2023 calendar masters
yard waste bin
3 2nd set of calendars
- -
4 night socks
- -
5 music broadside
- -
6 x x x
7 x x x
8 x x x
9 x x x
10 x x x
11 x x x
12 x x x
13 x x x
14 x x x
15 x x x

today's gratitudes -
1. a cleared off dining table for doing artwork on
2. the Useful printer/scanner
3. Past Me who made lasagna and froze it in dinner size portions

Time of Isolation - Day 1043

Friday, January 6, 2023

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine notices a slight shift of balance...

Despite still struggling with insomnia, my creative self seems to be coming back to life. I'm beginning to work through some of the long standing projects on my list, and finding inspiration in various new ideas. Looking forward to building art connections with online friends, and excited about learning things and playing with materials.
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at the bus stop
Every day my intention is to see beauty in the world, to document the way that shape and color and saturation or the lack of it, and texture come together if only we notice. If I was a painter, I would never lack for inspiration. For now, I am just paying attention, and when my attention is drawn towards some combination, catching it in some form or another. Mostly with my phone camera, because convenient...
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I began working out a pattern for a pair of night socks. Lotion helps my dry skin, but needs to be kept covered overnight to protect my bedding. Since my everyday socks are compression stockings, they aren't much help. I found a diagram online and used that as a starting point, though the finished objects it made were not any sort of match for my feet. It was necessary to do some significant reshaping, and adding in a good sized triangle across the instep. Probably the Polartec I was using to sample the idea wasn't ideal, but my adaptations worked well enough for a first attempt. I shall rummage around on the resource shelves and see if there is any cotton jersey with a robust lycra content for my next pair.
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~ if I had a hammer ~
Svava asked me to draw some line art of a Viking style bear holding a hammer, so she can use the motifs to embroider a tunic for her son Vanya. We are all really happy that after being in a horrific wreck last summer, that he is finally well enough to leave the hospital, though he will be continuing rehab for the indefinite future. I can't do much to be of help, but I can at least draw pictures. Before the accident, Vanya was becoming a talented art blacksmith. I've known the family for almost 30 years, and known him since he was just a bump inside his mama, 20+ years ago.
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Wanda gave me two small thrifted leather jackets to reuse... while the black one was "pleather" and therefore not useful for anything, the tan real leather one will have enough salvageable material that I will be able to finally begin the pair of my own hand sized work gloves. I took a class and made a pattern back in 2018, but the project languished due to lack of suitable leather. With luck, they can be finished prior to any of the sorts of yard and garden tasks for which they would be ideal protection.
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January SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 striped tabletweaving
drawings for Vikki
recycle bin
2 night socks toile
-yard waste bin
3 -- -
4 - - -
5 -- -
6 x x x
7 x x x
8 x x x
9 x x x
10 x x x
11 x x x
12 x x x
13 x x x
14 x x x
15 x x x

today's gratitudes -
1. 6 month post surgery, a clean bill of health from Dr O... no new skin cancers in evidence.
2. a rising sense of internal creativity
3. In the info flyer from my state representative, he helped secure significant funding (15 million) toward replacing our community pool, which was closed down due to structural issues late in 2019

Time of Isolation - Day 1037

Thursday, April 1, 2021

rule of thumb - day 20 (year 2)

in which our plucky heroine has a good breakfast...

starting the day on a brighter note, my kitchen experiment with swapping out cooked kasha (buckwheat groats) for the cooked rice in Spinach Rice Bake* was an unqualified success! I've already tried from time to time changing out the vegetable for what I have on hand, but this was the first time with an alternate starch. Since I adore kasha, and try to be sparing with my rice useage because arsenic, this is a win win.
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I have long found apron straps to cause trouble inside the drum of the washing machine by entangling other clothing into stupid knots... and finally came up with a solution: instead of laundry day tangles, detachable straps/ties!
My first step was to create a leather spacer to keep the crossed straps tidy. Two layers of fairly thick leather glued together, then cut to shape, the holes punched at the ends where the cut slits are serve the same function as grommets, to distribute the strain and keep the leather from tearing out.
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the strap guide keeps them neatly centered in the back (without the guide, straps tend to cross right behind the neck, which I find most uncomfortable), and the straps then go through loops at the waist, cross one more time, and either buckle or tie closed.
the entire apron strap assembly is detachable, as it connects to the bib of the apron with this clever swivel/snap hook hardware... The whole system now works like a charm to defeat the laundry day blues, and I can have several work aprons in rotation but only need the one set of straps. I now will be making a heavy shop/gardening apron, in addition to the lightweight kitchen aprons
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beauty in the time of isolation:

callery pear flowers, they don't fruit and are common street trees...
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April SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 - cover smaller sleeve board
yard waste bin
2 --recycle bin
3 xx -
4 x x -
5 xx -
6 x x -
7 x x -
8 x x -
9 x x x
10 x x x
11 x x x
12 x x x
13 x x x
14 x x x
15 x x x

today's gratitude - this recipe from my childhood is become a staple breakfast dish, or equally well as a potluck contribution, should we ever have social gatherings again...

* Spinach Rice Bake
1 C cooked starch (rice, kasha, bulgar etc)
1 C shredded cheese
1 c cooked veg, chopped
2 eggs
2 T melted butter
2 t chopped onion
⅓ C milk (or 1 T dry milk and ⅓ C water)
½ t Worcester sauce
½ t dried herbs (or such fresh herbs as seem pleasing)

10 x 6 baking dish, 350°F, 20 - 25 min

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine is struggling with how to be of help in the current situation...

Like, I always felt like the best thing I could do is live in a way that caused as little harm as possible to the planet and other living beings, and now that isn't enough, if that makes sense. Like I need to be doing something actively healing. Which feels sort of impossible given my lack of resources and need to keep hiding in my house isolated.

So I have been spinning my brain and cogitating... so far, what I have come up with is the idea of making some kind of artworks that can be sold, to raise money to donate. And I realised how often I choose to do nothing, because I have no idea what the right thing to do is, and it has felt like doing something not-right is somehow worse than doing nothing at all... Which is completely not true, particularly now, but probably always.
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~ 100 day creativity challenge - day 20~
Today I have been working on designing. A postcard-size artwork, made with block printing, is affordable in a way that jewelry is not, and is a size that can be mailed easily. I have decided that although I feel pretty helpless to make a difference, one tiny action I can do is to make little artworks, and donate the payments to Useful Causes. So I am going to do that...
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A minor but definite improvement: magnetic towel bars. I've only been living here fifteen years (eep!) and only just now figured out a way to have kitchen towels conveniently to hand at the kitchen sink... Because all the Acorn Cottage kitchen cabinets are steel, it finally occurred to me that there was a way to effectively do this, and I decided to go ahead and put a little bit of dosh towards an improvement that would make my doing everyday chores a little bit better. One of my design goals overall is to have things be in the first place where you reach for whatever it is. Not always possible (see the gorram light switches and other infrastructure fails) but in this case, every time I reach for a kitchen towel it is now finally right in the correct spot.
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Finally managed to finish my turquoise linen pinafore... now only have two more things to complete by the end of the month for SWAP 2020. I'd planned to make a grey linen pinafore as well, and since there are lots of times when I miss my grey corduroy pinafore, I think that will be next up. Torn between the planned grey canvas chore coat and the possible grey canvas "jean jacket" that is my newest idea. I'd need to double check the pattern measurements of the former pattern against my current TNT blouse pattern, and see if it would work. Otherwise it is time to actually start making a toile of the new chore coat pattern...
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beauty in the time of isolation - day 87:

whenever I see positive vernacular art, it gives me hope....
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Found out my blood type is A, sister has blood type O, which means that a. I do not have the extra protection from COVID of being type O blood, and that b. parents must both be carrying type O, but at least one is type A... I find this sort of genetic thing fascinating, takes me back to Junior High science classes and those little "Punnet squares" that simplified how genes are expressed (I have the only blue eyes in my family)
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June SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 5½ pints rhubarb sauce apple tree pruned rotten beams
2 20 masks for Tulliaapples thinnedfrozen blueberries
3 2¾ pints blueberry sauceaphids soaped yard waste bin
4 3 half-pints bramble syrup x -
5 turquoise linen pinaforex -
6 2 more masks x
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7 x x -
8 x x x
9 x x x
10 x x x
11 x x x
12 x x x
13 x x x
14 x x x
15 x x x

today's gratitude - being old enough that we got a reasonably good education in public school.

Sunday, May 3, 2020

hoping for a turnaround

in which our plucky heroine pokes at some truths...

but not too enthusiastically, because after almost four days, my poor finger is still in bad shape. Hopefully, the Keflex antibiotic capsules I started taking yesterday will help my body deal with what now has been diagnosed as (localised) cellulitis. Just for future reference, here is a photo of what it looked like on Friday, when it was obvious to me both internally and externally that the situation was worsening:

I suspected it was an infection ever since Thursday night when the pain kept me from sleeping. One wouldn't think such a tiny problem would cause so much trouble, but fingertips are one of the most nerve dense areas.

As I mentioned yesterday, before the Age of Antibiotics, which came into common use towards the beginning of the 20th century, this sort of infection could become a death wound, if it began to spread throughout the body. Indeed, last summer I had a Very Serious case of cellulitis (that developed from my surgical site after my appendectomy) that had me in hospital for four days on IV antibiotics.

I do try and remind myself that any humans alive now come from a long line of ancestors who's bodies were good at containing, healing, and surviving infections, because those who couldn't, didn't survive long! Here's hoping that I don't go join my ancestors any time soon, eh?

unhappy finger today: infection outlined with marker for comparison over time
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There are all kinds of things growing here, and some of the trees show signs of there being fruit later on this autumn:

tiny baby quincelet

tiny baby plums

blueberry blossoms
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I found this advice about "pandemic productivity" to be Useful, Kind, and kinda necessary right now. Some of the suggestions in this article are things I already do, that work well for me. YMMV.
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beauty in the time of isolation, day 55:

The miniature lilac next to the front door is blooming right now.
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~ 100 day challenge - day 12 ~
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"Pony Express" - inspiration after paying bills, reuse before recycle, so before taking the envelopes out to the wheelie bin... I made a collage.
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May SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 collage bird netting peas-
2 xx-
3 xx -
4 x
x -
5 xx -
6 x x
-
7 x x
-
8 x x x
9 x
x x
10 x x x
11 x x x
12 x x x
13 x x x
14 x x x
15 x x x

today's gratitudes - I was clever enough to plant some fruit trees here. (and continue to do so) which provides some sweetness that lasts throughout the year.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

a change is as good as a feast

in which our plucky heroine rings some more changes...

Here is some delightful percussion:
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Pre-pandemic my life was mostly solitary, but sprinkled with daily small social contact and connection, rather like one might sprinkle pepper on breakfast eggs, enough to add savor, but not so much as to overwhelm them... Now my life is more like hot cereal without any butter, or sweet, or savory toppings, it is still enough to sustain body and spirit, but the small sparks that brightened the inherent flavor are gone. No way around this but through. And there were, at various times of the year intensely social gatherings, eagerly awaited visits, and other human festivity that now feels both impossible currently and forever fatally risky to return to.
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The gum surgery I had almost six weeks ago (just prior to going into seclusion) has left me with a partially exposed tooth root. This is now excruciatingly sensitive to anything cold or hot, and I didn't know that  would be a likely result of saving the tooth. As I still need to continue to drink liquids, my choice is either lukewarm water, or re-learn how to use my tongue and mouth to drink with. I have a great appreciation now for the efforts made by infants, and people with brain injury, 'cos this is not an easy thing to do, but our plucky heroine is nothing if not persistent.
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beauty in the time of isolation:
A few days ago, I was walking early, just after dawn, enough that the street along the edge of the bluff was not chock-a-block full of joggers, walkers, and bikers. I adore what is called "the marine layer" which as far as I can tell consists of cool mist that is created inland every morning under certain conditions, and softens the early part of the day in the springtime. Before the mist burns off, the view is almost picturesque (in bright sunlight it looks out over railyards and industrial infill along the Willamette).
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This song... I never tire of it, or of what it says.
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~ 100 day challenge - day 8~
Got a request this week to carve a portrait block for printing a custom mask to wear when dog walking. Should be pretty interesting! Or at least a change from my usual medieval aesthetic.
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April SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 dried mushrooms window rainbowdead Bernina
2 frozen mushroomssome pruningfive pounds
3 6 more masksmotion light yard waste bin
4 12 masks
lawn mowed -
5 10 more maskssome more pruning -
6 21 more masks green onions planted
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7 tiny drawings peas protected
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8 green CYRK lion printer interface x
9 35 masks cut out
x x
10 red CYRK lion x x
11 drawing Ruby x x
12 x x x
13 x x x
14 x x x
15 x x x

today's gratitudes - a house that has all sorts of craft supplies and equipment, that allow all kinds of theoretical options to become reality

Sunday, February 16, 2020

challenge successfully met

in which our plucky heroine takes on an interesting job...

Circlets are a type of regalia headgear, similar to but different from crowns and coronets (and tiaras), and are worn as a formal indicator of having been given certain honors within the organization. The Order of the Laurel recognises excellence in the arts and sciences; the Order of the Pelican for high and ongoing service to the group.

A friend wanted to update her SCA circlet to reflect her current rank. It was originally made for her by a different artist, with a wide band of metal Laurel leaves, and a central medallion of her heraldry set in a Laurel leaf border. As she has also been a Pelican for many years, she wanted me fit symbols of that order into the already completed circlet. Challenge accepted!


(The challenge being complicated by my desire to have my additions done in a way that was complimentary to and congruent with the original artists work...)


I first did a sketch, based on her description and a photo of her circlet, fitting a pelican and chick into what looked like the right amount of space on either side of the central medallion.

However, when she brought the circlet to my studio, measurements proved that there was less space available, and so we decided to change the design to just the Pelican head with the iconic "drop of blood" being represented by these beautiful garnet cabochons. I also realised that the pelican heads could be anchored securely in place with just three rivets, and the neck could be neatly tucked underneath the open ends of the leafy Laurel wreath...
I slid paper into place between the central medallion and tucked under the leaves, carefully marked the available space, and drew facing pelican heads to fill the space. They were then cut from sheet silver, filed, polished, and the details stamped and engraved...

the bird heads are less than 1" tall

The next step was to make bezels for the garnets, and then solder the Pelican heads and bezels in the correct orientation to a backing of thin copper, to form a single unit...

Once the pieces are soldered, the edges of copper are mostly trimmed away, leaving a very narrow edge, both pelican heads are blackened and re-polished, curved to match the circlet curve. and then drilled in three places to be riveted to the circlet band. This was my first opportunity to use the riveting system acquired last year, and most useful it turned out to be...

Once the bird heads were both riveted in place, and the garnets set into their bezels, a bit more polishing was all that was needed to make the circlet ready to be worn...
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February SMART goals (x=extra)
# THINGS MADE THINGS FIXED THINGS GONE
1 one pelican head restrung grey beadspaper recycling
2 second pelican headdial tone regainedfrontyard prunings
3 xbra elastics renewed bag to Goodwill
4 x
Arlys circlet -
5 xAn Tir pennant -
6 x x
-
7 x x
x
8 x x x
9 x
x x
10 x x x
11 x x x
12 x x x
13 x x x
14 x x x
15 x x x

today's gratitude - I am grateful for work to do that suits my skill

Thursday, January 24, 2019

a Really Nice and Really Awful day...

In which our plucky heroine has an emotional rollercoaster day...

So, this morning I woke up with an assortment of body parts screaming - my right hip, right knee, and my lower back were all miserably angry. All because of the off-kilter alignment caused by das boot. So not going to wear that until I can figure out a way to level my legs and pelvis. There is over an inch difference in height between the boot and my regular shoe (based on how much I needed to jam into the heel) According to a friend who works in the medical rehab field, this sort of thing, and the subsequent ongoing iatrogenic damage, are unfortunately very common.

and... according to my first simple Google search, apparently there is a simple and inexpensive product (with many many positive reviews) available that addresses the difference in leg height caused by the boot. Rather like Yaktrax, it simply stretches over your regular shoe. Why was this not presented as an option, and sending me out of the office misaligned and without information/resources was the default?
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In the opposite direction, our plucky heroine spent a delightful afternoon with Leah today, doing scribal arts. In addition to much mutual perusing of books, and sketching, she showed me a simple method for applying gold leaf...
I immediately chose to create a tiny artwork, not at all medieval -  an illuminated design framing a favorite Ursula LeGuin quote. Letters are less than 1/4" tall, completed image will be 3 x 5. I plan on taking some time tomorrow to continue this just for me project, and start painting the inch-wide border, which includes the (now truly golden) sun, moon, and stars...

"Now all that was owed is repaid,
and all that was owned, returned;
Now all that was lost is found,
and all that was bound is free."

today's gratitude - access to the internets, which make it easier now that we all have to be our own health advocates

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

hats and other haberdashery

In which our plucky heroine cogitates on durability and etymology...

Did you know, that haberdasher once referred to one who deals in hats and caps, as well as the small goods and notions that it currently references? Perhaps Acorn Cottage ought be called a haberdashery as well as an artisanry...

In taking photos of my new pinafore, my denim sunhat appeared rather faded. On perusing the history of my sewing projects, that hat is a bit more than eight years old, being first made for Me-Made-May back in 2010. My other fabric hat, the brown one trimmed in black, is also nowhere near new, as it was made back in 2012.

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as they looked when new...

My brown hat has faded to more of a cafe au lait color now, the feathered pin (from a long-ago Oregon Country Fair back in the 80's) has gradually lost most of the feathers, and my denim hat is much faded and has had the brim reinforced with rows of machine stitches, (and is still a lot more floppy than in its heyday). While they are both still entirely wearable, impressive given how often they are worn, and how many years they have been in service, it might be enjoyable to give some thought to a new hat or two, and what pieces in the fabric resource center might be best for such a project. Hats don't take vast amounts of fabric or time to create, and are a staple accessory in my wardrobe.


Saturday, September 22, 2018

improvisational sewing and other Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine has no idea what she is doing...

at least, not to start with.

In the beginning, there was a concept: another denim pinafore, but this one slightly less basic, but still very versatile. Instead of smooth plain dark denim, the fabric is a denim jacquard, originally a thrifted duvet cover, with an overall abstract foliate scrollwork design. My current fascination for turquoise/teal as an accent color means that using a precious piece of multicolor handwoven ikat for the narrow edge bindings will let the binding be a transition as well as a memorial (every time I see that fabric, I remember my dear late friend Larissa, and the trip we took to the Puyallup Sewing Expo).

There was also a challenge: at some point in the past, I had cut from the denim jacquard a Theoretical Pinafore, but not using the current pattern. There were Viking Apron Dress style pieces, and a few large-ish scraps. This was challenging in two major ways. One was that it would be impossible to modify the pattern pieces to create my favorite pockets, which are constructed as part of the skirt gores, and require both more fabric, and, well, the pinafore skirt to have gores! The other was to figure out a tidy way to attach the shoulder strap bands to the body of the pinafore, since loops and Viking brooches was not a practical idea for everyday wear!

After several possible options for pockets stalled my progress, the simplest option seemed the best, patch pockets not double welt pockets. I've never made double welt pockets, and wanted pocket openings with a long diagonal curve, which would be complicated to get right. That is a technique to try in the future, but with hard fabric limits, I wanted a sure thing. The patch pockets with a curved top edge looked great, and once stitched down, matched my image of the future garment.

One minor issue was that the entire pinafore was too wide by at least six inches, rather a bit in excess of "comfortable not snug". Six evenly spaced inch wide pleats from the top edge to the waist at the center front added some shaping in the bodice while allowing the pinafore to skim over my belly. For the shoulder straps, flat felling the narrow strips to the bodice was much simpler than my other ideas, such as spaghetti straps, or straps inset between a facing and the bodice. Plus, it turned out that there was enough of the ikat bias to neatly bind the neckline and armscye openings, which strengthened the edges as well as adding beauty.

Overall, I am quite pleased with the new pinafore, as it is subtly different than my other pinafores, but still obviously in my own style.
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Last year I planted garlic at the beginning of November. It all grew, but would have done better (had more cloves each) if planted earlier. This means that I need to somehow create a new planting place for the garlics, as I believe it is better to not replant alliums where they grew the previous year. Indeed, it would be good to create, eventually, four Useful Raised Garden Beds, so I can practice a form of backyard crop rotation. Now to figure out HOW to use what is already here to make something suitable, and Where To Put It... Landscape design is not my forte.
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Four pounds of plums cut up and macerating prior to making plum sauce tomorrow tonight, veggies from farmers market acquired (alas, there will be no more local organic iceberg lettuce this year, it is a very seasonal treat) Final pocket for new pinafore shaped and cooling on the ironing board prior to stitching in place, warp for new tablet weaving combed out (my least favorite part of tablet weaving and ready to attach to the weaving frame. One rack of dishes put away and the second rack about to be washed. Trying to decide which additional tasks needs done soonest, probably watering the baby trees, then washing dishes. Will probably do some studio tidying after dinner, preparing for metalwork tomorrow set up tablet weaving loom, and continue cooking down the plum sauce tonight...

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine resumes usual programming...

My current scribal project is moving along nicely, and if all goes well should be done tomorrow. I sketched in all the details, then inked them with a .005 Micron pen. Then I added the calligraphy referencing the actual award, for the Order of Three Mountains. Once that part is successfully done, then I start on the painting. The painting takes a LOT longer than the writing, so I always do the calligraphy first, in case there are any problems. I am hoping that I will be able to add the tiny painted gold lines that delineate the "cloisons" in the design. As always I try and do at least one new thing each time I paint a charter or scroll...
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partialy painted
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So in the interest of adding one or two more popover dresses to my summer wardrobe, since the heat wave continues unabated, I found that for some unknown reason I cut out oddly-sized not-popover pieces of my two chunks of rayon. WTF! Whyever did I choose to cut out pattern pieces that bear no apparent congruence with the actual sizes needed for the garment?! I might dip into my one precious piece of Nani Iro double gauze if there is enough, since that would be much less annoying than piecing together the lovely rayon.

Instead, the rayon could become a popover blouse, as I have a concept brewing for transmogrifying my easy popover pattern into a woven top... The narrow front center panel could become a kind of button band, to allow a decorative button front. It would be easy to add sleeves, in the same way that an SCA undergown or tunic has sleeves. Might be possible to patternhack in a collar. If this works, I could even make a jacket from some of the handwoven wool, and add handknit sleeves. Food for thought anyway...
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And speaking of handknit, I found this graphic online about needlefelted steeks, which is absolutely a brilliant idea, so I image searched and traced back to this blog here  Though the idea of knitting is not at all appealing in this heat, eventually it will be cooler weather, and my desire for a new sweater might just cause me to start looking through the yarn and digging out the graph paper




Tuesday, July 10, 2018

well begun

in which our plucky heroine is pleased with progress...

As part of making and decorating SCA clothing for myself and for my Blue Cedar House pals, it seemed like an enjoyable idea to block print fabric for use as trim. In the Viking Age, precious silk samite fabric was cut into strips and used thusly, and though suitable samite isn't really an option, by block printing, we can create a similarly splendid effect.

I will be creating a mix and match group of blocks that can be combined in various ways, with central blocks that either reflect period motifs, or use our personal heraldry in a creatively historical manner, as a way of doing heraldic display for a non-heraldic time period, but appropriate to our own SCA culture...

A large border block partially carved, and a new interstitial block with the design laid out. Both will have the center portions void, to allow for various motifs and/or different colors to be used...
The design for the interstitial block is from this textile.
(Hanging with winged horses in medallions (detail), Egypt, 4th–6th century
©Abegg-Stiftung, CH-3132 Riggisberg (photo: Christoph von Viràg)

This block will be 5" in diameter and will fit neatly in the center or my large border block once it is completed. An example of creating a motif in a period style, but instead of copying a historical artifact, I am instead using pieces of Musa-Thora's personal heraldry.

What I did here was to take the main charge from her arms, the rampant mouse, and mirror it on either side of the main charge from her badge, the European cedar tree, and combine them in the "two animals confronted between a foliage" motif common to the samite roundels that inspire this style of block printing. My initial layout simply involved copy and paste of the designs from her heraldic submission forms, once I transferred that to the linoleum, I modified the tree foliage to better fill the space.