Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Collars and thoughts

I have been thinking about clothing lately.
I am thinking of making a few Spring things.
I will need to get some patterns.

I finished my collar.
It is the first knitted piece I did a couple of years ago.
When I chose my yarn I chose an all natural fisherman's wool.
Once I finished knitting the skein I machine felted the piece. Last week I decided to make my piece into a collar for a sweater or jacket. For my collar I folded the piece lenghtwise and hand stitched the edges together using a brown satin cord for trim.


I sewed one of my Grandmother's coat buttons on the point.




I machine felted an old wool sweater. 




I think I will make a headband out it.
Something soft with a bit of elastic.
I save pictures of things I like when I look in the catalogs
that come in the mail.
They inspire me.
In January I celebrate
the Japanese culture.
I admire the way threads become art.

When I study different cultures
and their hand crafts


I am inspired to create.

The way of the Japanese culture is very wabi sabi.

I am saving all my scrapes
 for quilts and rugs and balls.

When I think of Japanese culture 
I always think of their amazing papers,
their washi.


The honored tradition
 of the origami crane
has come to represent peace.


I have brought my knot board up
to the living room.
I want to work on learning my button knots.
Maybe someday I could knot a butterfly.


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Twelfth Night

My daughter sent a yarn bowl for my birthday,
 made by an local artist in her city.
I have it in the living room by the windows.
Just seeing it brings me much delight.

It is time for me to work on my Chinese Knotting.
I brought up my knot board and my cords.
Hopefully this January I will learn how to do one of the basic knots.



We celebrate Luna New Year in January. Our house is decorated with an nod towards Asian influence.
My husband and I were born in the year of the rain dragon. We have dragons hanging here and there.


It is very fun to bring out the January things.


I am aware of the placement of our decorations.
I practice less is more.


After my Victorian Christmas
January is refreshing.


Painted fans and silk embroidery  
help to set the mood.


2011 is the year of the Rabbit.
We have plans to attend an early Luna New Year
celebration at the art gallery.


I am listening to 
some of my favorite music.











It is Twelfth Night, 
Christmastide ends tomorrow
with the Epiphany.


I have many projects to do in 2011.


There are many days to celebrate.