Creative Abundance

Sailing Along

I would have been to this point earlier if I avoided two things.  T

The first was making a compass that I really did not like, and having to discard it. 

I find working with the colors in this rug to be very difficult.  The background map fabric is also difficult - it's busy and I feel like I have a limited range of color possibilities. 

The paisley and the border fabric on the right are going to make up the border.  I need to applique the remaining five compasses and add a fleur de lis or two to embellish the compasses.  The jury is still out on the fabric in the center of the middle compass.  It is the same fabric as the first border but I am a little worried that it looks too  much like the brown "land" in the map. I may also change two of the compasses so that they have a different orientation - not on point.  But varying the position of the fleur de is embelishments might break up the monotony of the compass positions.  One thing is certain, I have gotten plenty of poodle help.

The other reason for the delay was that I needed to add some color to my life.  So I started another quilt using Moda's Portobello Market.  I love the paisleys and colors.  I do no feel that I am backed into a corner.  Here it is with lots of poodle assisance.  I am thinking of this quilt for another room but it might play nicely with this rug, too.

 

How Quickly Things Can Change

On Saturday afernoon I was taking pictures of Iris near the white hydrangeas.  It looked like this:

Note:  that's a tree trunk in back of the hydrangeas.

On Sunday morning Ms. Peachy and Luci and I were about fifteen feet away from the tree when it came down - with little warning:  it now looks like this:

 

The hydrangeas in the earlier picture are on the left.  Here it is from he other side:

I feel very very fortunate that we were not closer when it came down.  It was a very noisy event.  There are horses in the pasture across the street and the thud spooked the horses.  I was also spooked.  The poodles were fine. 

The tree service came out this morning and told me that they would remove it by noon - so that I could get out of the driveway.  It was windy yesterday morning.  But unfortunately I believe the tree was diseased - and it does not take wind to bring it down.  We have a couple of other trees that probably need to come down and I would rather have the tree service do it than mother nature.

I am really in no hurry to leave.. I have some very interesting projects that keep me here....I've been doing some drawing - some miniatures in graphite on prepared water color paper. I am working from some photos of ruins I took many years ago...

I wonder how long that tree has been there......

Iris

Iris is complete.  I took a number of pictures of her today. 

After being blocked the join looks even more invisible if that is possible. Here she is - look for the diamond on the edging and the join is in the middle of the diamond:

 

She looks great with hydrangeas:

She looks great on the mermaid:

 

She may spend a great deal of time with the mermaid because she coordinates with the sofa....after 5,000 beads I do want to ensure that I can enjoy her.  Plus, now the mermaid looks at home with that little Renoir girl who is knitting by the sea.  The only main difference is now the mermaid has a FO while the Renoir girl is in knitting hell - a WIP for eternity.

DH took some pictures of me with Iris and Joy.  I discovered that I have lots of things to wear with her in the winter but not much in the summer.  I did find that I have the perfect pair of summer shoes that works with her- that was totally accidental.  I found  a skirt and top that I thought would work.  But honestly, I am really too short to wear this skirt.  The sales clerk should have not let me purchase it. 

But I thought I could compensate a bit - I asked Eric to lay on the ground when he took the pictures...

After some discussion about this, he complied - now Joy and I look so much taller, even the grass looks taller...:)

 

 

 

 

IRIS UNBL0CKED

(WARNING:  my 0 key 0n my lap t0p isn't w0rking!  G00d thing the zer0 key is!!!  But b0y is spell check c0mplaining!)

In an earlier p0st I had menti0ned that Iris was finished except she needed t0 be kitchenered t0gether.  I asked my friend, Sue V0n0hlsen... master knitter and 0wner 0f the Knitting C0rner... t0 help me with finding a better s0luti0n than what the pattern guidelines 0ffered.   

The w0nderful f0lks 0n Ravelry had already suggested a partial s0luti0n - alth0ugh I am n0t sure any0ne actually implemented it.  Sue used that partial s0luti0n as a beginning - instead 0f ending b0th halves 0n a purl r0w - I ended 0ne half 0n r0w 3 (a knit r0w) 0f the repeat and the 0ther half ended 0n knit r0w 5.  (The scarf pattern ends with eight r0ws that are repeated until y0u reach the preferred length - f0r clarity I just numbered the r0ws 1 t0 8.)  Bef0re Sue kitchenered them t0gether she placed the beads 0n the apprpriate stitches where they w0uld have been placed while d0ing the purl r0w.  The kitchener r0w became the purl r0w. 

I t00k s0me pictures this aftern00n f Iris bef0re bl0cking- unf0rtunately it has been very 0vercast- and will pr0bably be that way t0m0rr0w.  I am p0sting these pictures until I can d0 better.  However, I think that y0u will agree that the j0in is basically invisible.  I have t0 hunt f0r it.  

 

Please n0te that the scarf is being supp0rted by a hydrangea stem which is near the j0in.  H0wever, I can describe where the j0in is l0cated. L00k at the pattern alng the edge.  I changed the edging - at the beginning 0f the scarf the edging is knitted as written in the pattern, then it turns int0 Vs.  Where the tw0 sides are j0ined the Vs becme a diam0nd.  That center r0w is where it is j0ined.  Click the picture and y0u can d0 s0me z00ming.

I am very, very happy with this scarf and I believe the designer is a genius.  I am h0ping that she will n0t view these changes as criticisms.  An0ther s0luti0n that might have w0rked is t0 knit a lace insert.  Melanie Gibb0ns did this in the symmetrical versi0n 0f Swan Lake - I knitted the symetrical as well as the asymmetrical versi0n and l0ve them b0th.  I believe her appr0ach 0f knitting a h0riz0ntal lace insert w0uld have w0rked - I w0uld have inserted the eighteen stitch edge m0tif t0 j0in the tw0 halves t0gether and I may d0 that f0r Hydrangea.

I am bl0cking Iris t0night and h0pe t0 have beter pictures t0m0rr0w. 

 

 

Setting a New Course

This has had quite a bit of my attention the last few days.

Only one compass has been appliqued to the background....thinking about doing a total of five.  The fabric on the right is auditioning for a possible role as a border. 

I am amazed with how smoothly it's going.  None of the compasses have extra fabric in the center that could form a tent to accommodate a family of five.

Today I attended an orientation at a local hospital.  They have a fantastic music therapy program - there is a grand piano in the lobby and the music therapist plays for those entering the hospital as well as for the individuals waiting for their out-patient appointments.  Of course, the music therapist also visits resident patients - he has a portable keyboard to do that.  During the week of July 6 I will begin playing my harp in the lobby and will accompany the music therapist in the wards playing for patients.  The music therapist is absolutely wonderful,and I am very, very fortunate to have this opportunity.

 

Lady MacBeth's Choice

I dropped into the Oreck store the other day to drop my vacuum clearner off for repair.  My Oreck vacuum cleaner came with a lifetime, free maintenance guarantee. I have been very satisfied with it.  However, I noticed they introduceds some new technology - the Halo- a vacuum cleaner that uses UV light  and kills germs, bacteria, viruses, mold, dust mite eggs, flea eggs, and other germs.  It kills 99.9% of bacteria and 90% of the dust mite eggs.  Eric has some respitory issues and I thought that this product would really help.

It uses the same ultraviolet light technology used to purify water and help filter the air in hospitals! The Oreck Halo technology was developed by parents of triplets.....  Before I purchased it I did some research and it all seemed to check out.  I am delighted with it.  I really work hard at keeping our home clean - and this has just made things so much easier, and I would never have been able to get my floors this clean without it.  It is heavy; however, knowing that it is removing bacteria and other nasties makes it totally worth it...this vacuum would be Lady M's choice!!!

The Mariner's Compass Quilt is going well... The first compass is done.  I chose to applique it to the background by hand.  I think that would have been Lady M's choice as well.  Here it is with my helper, Cassie.

It may be hard to tell from the photo but the back rays are split and there is a slight color contrast which gives it much more dimension and interest.  I've selected a subdued, cool palette for this quilt as I hope it will make "friends" with this rug.  (Click to make it larger.)  I am very, very satisified with this beginning- the compass was very compliant in that the center did not turn into a "volcano"  which is easy to happen when there are so many pieces cut on the bias.   

Twinings is still on track....I have about six more repeats.

Ms. Peachy's e-collar came off yesterday.  She was such a good sport about wearing it! Although I brushed her hair every couple of days, the collar really matted her neck and ear fur.  It is going to take a couple of sessions to remove those tangles.

Here she is without the collar taking a morning strroll.  She is a doll!

Oh. and there is some exciting harp news but I am going to save it for this weekend or Monday!

Out of the Detour and back to Green Lights

The past week or so included a little detour for Peachy's recovery from cataract surgery.  At our second recheck it was determined that she had pulled out her sutures.  I do not know how that could have happened.  I have taken every possible precaution and many above and beyond!!!! 

She had to be sedated and resutured.  Dr. Berdoulay put in a couple of extra sutures.  The down side of that was the possibility of more inflamation and increased pressure.  And we experienced that down side.  On Wednesday she received an injection in her eye to open the ducts to lessen the pressure.  That worked.  We have an additional medication to give her.  But I can finally say that the surgery was a success and we have negotiated through the challenges of postopertive complications.  We go back for a recheck in ten days.  Here is precious Peachy during some heavily controlled play with her buddies - oh, and yes, she came into heat.....spaying and heart worm treatment will follow shortly.  The eye surgery was done first because the window of opportunity for a successful surgery was very narrow.

 

While she was recovering I worked on  Twinings - it's half way there:

 

And then there's also this - Ms. Luci AKA Lucifer was spayed - she's doing great...and I think it has improved her personality...there is room for improvement!!!!

 

Lots of time spent practicing at the harp. I am excited about some opportunities I have to play - which are coming up shortly.  And then there is a little of this...Mariner's compass quilt...Doesn't Peachy look like Little Bo Peep - especially with her sheep toy?

Another Green Light

This morning Ms. Peachy's eye pressure was checked and it was perfect!!!!  This is similar to the successful experience we had with Joy's surgery.  Dr. Berdoulay will examine her on Wednesday, and in the mean time, she is doing very well!  She is holding her eye open (no signs of discomfort indicated by squinting) and her energy level has been great.  To observe her rediscover sight is like watching a miracle unfold.

I spent a number of quiet, peaceful hours today working on Anne Hansen's Twinings while everyone napped.  Here's a picture.  I am  working it in Sea Silk, pale pink.

 

All Green Lights

This morning Ms. Peachy was evaluated to determine if she could be a candidate for cataract surgery.  Because the results of the test were very good, they went forward with her surgery. 

It apears that it was successful. She now can see.  She tracks my hand as it moves.  I am delighted.  It is very interesting to watch her react to being able to see.  She will have to wear an E-collar for a week or so.  Tomorrow morning we return for a pressure check.  I am hoping for all green lights and no complications.

After enjoying dinner, she went outside for a picture.  She is doing wonderfully!

 

Optimism: stubborness in the face of low probability

I was planning on knitting Hydrangea.  This is the second time I've tried.  The first time produced a vintage look; circa the Wild West. The dagger beads looked like Ithe beads from Matt Dillon's girl friend's lamp shade. 

I tried again with Sea Silk in the Pale Pink colorway.  The dagger beads and seed beads really did not enhance the Sea Silk. I am so disappointed with the effect of the beads that I am not going to show you a picture. I dislike the combination that much.  This evening I am going to frog it and begin Anne Hanson's Twinings. That is sure to be lovely. I do believe that I will do a bead cast on - a few beads will be fine. 

I stubbornly decided to try again with Sea Silk in the Topaz colorway. I think it is Topaz -but it could be teal.  It's a bit of a mystery.  However, I have the perfect beads for it.  The only problem is I need another skein.  I felt that was a minor problem that could be resolved.   I casted on and found that I loved it.  Here's a picture - it's been raining for three days and is still overcast - the best I can do is a picture with some Lady Slippers under the Grow Light.

 Today I discovered that being short a skein is not an easy problem to solve.  Evelyn of Knitty-Noddy is doing her best to help me with it, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can come up with a skein that is close, one that I can alternate.  If not, I will just have to use it to knit Swallowtail.

More optimistic news.  Peachy is scheduled to have cataract surgery on Friday.  Prior to surgery they will do some tests to ensure that her retina is healthy.  If that is the case, they will perform the surgery.  Dr. Berdoulay had a very successful outcome with Joy, and I am hoping for the same for Peachy.