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By: andrea joseph,
on 11/11/2014
By: Emily Smith Pearce,
on 2/20/2014
Hello there! It’s been awhile. What with the snow storm and my determination to focus most of my energies on my (book) writing, I haven’t had much time to be here, and I’ve missed it.
How about you? How did you survive the weather, those of you who had it? It was the biggest snowstorm I’ve ever seen in the South, and I’ve lived here most of my life. We were without power for a few hours, not too bad, and got in a good bit of sledding. I have to admit I’m glad to be back to a normal schedule, though. Except for the fact that my nine-year-old is being buried with homework and projects in an attempt to make up for lost time. Bless her dear little heart.
In other news, the local chapter of the Women’s National Book Association, along with the Charlotte Writer’s Club, had a great panel Tuesday night on writers and authors using social media. Very informative, with very knowledgeable guests. If you live in the area, you should check out these two groups.
Meanwhile, I finished Malcolm Gladwell’s latest (David and Goliath). Very Gladwell, very thought-provoking and entertaining. And now I’m diving into My Berlin Kitchen, given to me by a friend (thanks, Christina!). I looooove it! It’s written by a cooking blogger who grew up bouncing between Berlin and the U.S. I haven’t gotten too far, so I don’t know the story yet, but her style is so warm, so genuine and earthy. You throw that in with cooking and international living, and I’m so there. I’d recommend it to anyone but especially to my German-connection friends. It’s almost like sitting down to kaffe und kuchen with you. Almost.
Also, because I had to do something when I couldn’t use my sewing machine, I’ve unraveled a sweater to re-use its very worthy yarn. Don’t cry for it, Argentina. It was a very heavy, stiff sweater, out of style, that my husband hardly wore (and never since I’ve known him). I’m thinking of reincarnating it into some throw pillow covers. What do you think? The yarn is actually pretty soft, just soooo heavy for a sweater. It’s almost like soft rug yarn.
If you’re insane like me and are interested in unraveling sweaters, there are tons of tutorials out there about it. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a sweater with very chunky yarn. This one worked like a charm, I think because it must’ve been hand-knit, but sometimes unraveling can be more work than it’s worth. The tutorials can point you down the right path.
Lastly, I made this little piece with one of my photographs:
Recognize the quote, anyone? This is where I go when I need the Calgon to take me away.
Okay, back to work. Cheers!
By: Emily Smith Pearce,
on 3/18/2013
The front door needed something, something that was NOT the red berry wreath that has seen better days. I wanted to make a wreath that wasn’t permanent, not too fussy or prim, but would give us a burst of spring color.
Also, it had to be easy and quick. I pictured something along the lines of the ribbon wreath my daughter made last year. Or maybe a little like the Anthropologie thread-wrapped bricks I saw on Pinterest. Or the yarn-and-fiber wrapped rabbit I’d seen at the Ackland Museum Store in Chapel Hill. For the life of me, I can’t find the name of that artist or a link to her work, so let me know if you know what I’m talking about.
I bought a straw wreath form at Michaels and pulled out a bunch of spring-colored scraps: leftover strips from this quilt, scraps from this dress and this one, and Kool-Aid dyed yarns.
I started wrapping and pinning on the darker color strips, hoping a little dark poking through from the bottom layer would keep the color scheme from getting too saccharine. Though in the end there’s actually very few darks to be seen.
Next came the lighter and brighter strips, then the ribbons. Last, I started wrapping the yarn, but my five-year-old was really into that part, so I let him wrap until the whole thing had a good spreading of yarn.
In the end, I’m fairly happy with the results. It hit all my requirements, though it didn’t quite match up to my vision. Hubs wasn’t so sure about it at first, but it’s grown on him, he says. Either that or he just wants to make sure I make his favorite chicken salad this week.
For more of my posts about crafts, click here.
Is it spring where you are? We had lovely weather over the weekend, and things are sprouting up in the garden.
Meanwhile, I’m still inching along with the revision on my novel. I’m remembering something Katherine Paterson once said/ wrote….something to the effect that she had to sculpt her plot out of granite, using straight pins. My process is feeling something like that. I keep making headway but then realizing there’s so much more to do. What are you up to?
By: Aline Pereira,
on 3/23/2012
This past Wednesday, March 21 was World Poetry Day as first proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999. I spent World Poetry Day attending a reading of local poets in my town of Winnipeg put on by the poetry magazine CV2. Of course, there were various other events occurring all over the world to celebrate the day and one on-line site that caught my eye was YARN. For World Poetry Day, seven poems were published on the site on the theme of “Measuring the World, the Geography of Poetry” inspired by the ancient poet Eratosthenes. Do check out this great site, especially informative for young adult writers and readers! And congratulations to the poets whose work was selected — an international bunch from far-flung places like Israel, Japan, Argentina and Canada.
This week Poetry Friday is hosted by Franki and Mary Lee at A Year of Reading.
By: Emily Smith Pearce,
on 3/2/2012
I first read about these looms in an issue of Craft magazine, back in the good ol’ days when they still had a print edition. With the article, there was a pattern to make your own loom with cardboard, and although I’m sure that works fine, it wasn’t until I found out the author of the article was making hard plastic looms for sale on etsy that I decided I had to try it. Oops! Looks like his store is currently closed, but hopefully he is just on vacation or something.
I got the loom for Christmas and tried it out a few weeks ago using some wool sock yarn I found at the thrift store for 2 euros. Score! Actually, I think it was like 1 euro 60 because they were having a funny promotion where you had to roll the dice to see if you could get a discount. I did. Yay me!
Anyway, the video the loom maker (Travis Meinolf) provides on youtube is very helpful, though I found doing the setup to be a little trickier than I thought it would be. I guess practice will make it easier. I also had grand ideas of the weaving being so fast—like, faster than my snail-like knitting—but because I chose such a skinny yarn, it hasn’t been all that fast.
The good news is, the weaving itself is pretty fun, and the kids and even my husband had to get in on the action. I’ll admit the kids’ weaving isn’t as neat as I might like, but they had a good time, and the labor was free.
The edges, as you see, are pretty uneven. I’m not sure if this is something I would get better at with practice, or if I should just view it as charming and deal with it. Or, another option, to cover it with some kind of (silk?) bias binding, like the professional weaver downstairs does with her gorgeous blankets.
I love this shot of Cinderella (below) at the loom. It’s somehow totally right for Cinderella to be weaving, don’t you think? People in fairy tales do stuff like that.
Next we’ll be spinning wool and warning against pricking fingers on spindles.
I seem to be stuck in an almost-finished project mode. The Haiku sweater is done except for blocking. A dress like this is almost done, but I’m so frustrated that it’s not turning out the way I want it to.
Meanwhile, I’ve been writing and researching on my book projects. I’m reading another great writing book called
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By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 2/23/2011
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By: Andi Brown,
on 2/7/2011
I don't understand how people can keep up the tweets. In the interest of sparing you the boring minutiae of my life, I took a hiatus from the blog. But I'm back!
With no news!
Well, a little. I went to a fabulous extravaganza called Vogue Knitting Live in New York a couple of weeks ago, where I practically swooned from the sheer sensory delight of being surrounded by yarns, knitted garments and knitters.
But you don't care about that. How's this? Amy, my pseudonymous book doctor, is, as we speak, poring over the last third of my book with an eye to jazzing it up, as requested by VERY complimentary agent. I await her sage counsel.
AND....I have finally, really and truly, in earnest, started my screenplay. It's fun, and funny and I'm grooving right along. Almost finished with the outline, next I have to write a "treatment" (yes, I am up on my Hollywood lingo).
Oh, and one more thing. Yesterday, I turned 60.
By: Jennifer E. Morris,
on 1/14/2011
I bet everyone has seen brick-a-brac at yard sales made from plastic needle point canvas. In face you may have a Kleenex box holder lurking in your house made by your aunt Bernice. And I have to admit I never gave needlepoint much thought. But I'm loving this One Step camera created by Nicole Gastonguay. Ah, I loved my One Step camera when I was a kid. In fact, I just recently passed my One-Step down to a young friend and photography enthusiast who is still using it.
Check out the rest of Nicole's gallery. The jar of pickles (is that crochet?) is just too cute.
By: Emily Smith Pearce,
on 1/14/2011
Want to try dyeing things but don’t know where to start?
A reader wrote me recently asking for help.
Where to start, what to read?
The easiest kind of dyeing to start with is food dye on animal fibers. I love this because you can do it in the kitchen with grocery-store items, the results are super-satisfying, and the kids can join in.
What are animal fibers? Wool, silk, cashmere, you get the idea
Wool and Cashmere:
You can do some beautiful things with Kool-Aid and wool, and IT WILL NEVER WASH OUT.
Kool-Aid (or Easter egg dye) and wool yarn is a perfect starter project, especially if you knit. You can dye it with a rainbow of colors, using your microwave. Check out this article for details. Lion Brand makes an undyed 100% wool yarn called Fisherman’s Yarn that is very reasonably priced. I used to buy it at Hobby Lobby, but it may also be available at Michael’s and other craft stores. Knitpicks also sells undyed yarn, in a wider variety of weights and variations. Their prices are very reasonable also, but you do have to order it. Also try dharmatrading.
You can dye pieces of old wool or cashmere sweaters in a similar way, but it’s a little tricky—-you should be prepared for uneven results. Here’s a project of mine with Easter egg dye on cashmere. I would recommend starting with a light-colored sweater and dyeing smaller pieces (an arm or less) at a time, as a sweater acts like a sponge to the dye, absorbing the color before it gets the chance to circulate around the fabric.
The process is similar to the yarn-dyeing project, but use a larger amount of dye and a larger container, on the stove instead of the microwave. I used my big soup pot. The same process should work for wool and cashmere wovens, though I’ve never tried it.
Silk:
Kool-Aid, Easter egg dye, or food coloring also works well on silk. I’ve used it to make playsilks, with the directions here. I’ve also dip-dyed silk scarves, which you can see here. After heat-setting, these dyes are not quite as colorfast as in wool and cashmere, so I would recommend hand-washing, but the bleeding is very little. Also, dry out of direct sunlight.
With any dyeing project, there’s a certain amount of risk involved. You never know exactly what your finished project is going to look like, and for me, that’s part of the thrill. Be prepared for that uncertainty, because even if your project turns out beautifully, chances are it won’t be exactly as you envisioned.
More about other kinds of dyeing soon.
1 Comments on Getting Started with Dyes, Part I: Animal Fibers, last added: 1/14/2011
By: Paula Pertile,
on 10/7/2010
There's a new yarn - a Malabrigo Rios - which is 100% Merino wool, but also washable. If you know about these things, you know that wool usually 'felts' in the wash. So washable wool is a pretty cool thing. I may have to get some to play with. Oooh, a trip to the yarn store - sounds dangerous! to my checkbook, anyway. We'll see.
By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 11/24/2009
After all this spinning, I thought I should do a bit of knitting. So what did I do? Knit something with yarn I bought at the Royal Winter Fair.
It was a soft squooshy 100g skein from Sonny's Llama Farm. I found it in a basket at the Llama display. Now that I'm on Ravelry, it has changed my knitting. It's so great to be able to look up an item and find lots of patterns, even free ones, and then see what it looked like when other people made it.
This hat is my first Ravelry project! Here's the link:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/needlebook/slouchy-copy-cat-hat
but I think you may need to be a member to view projects on Ravelry.
The pattern was for a slouchy hat but I didn't have enough yarn, so I shortened it to make a regular hat that would use up my skein as much as possible. Finishing a project and having just a short tail of yarn leftover is one of my big thrills in life. 
I love this hat! The pattern calls for worsted and my yarn was aran weight (a bit heavier) so it turned out really warm and squishy. Also llama yarn can be super warm, so the eyelets should help. The pattern is so easy, once you do the four rows for the first time, you can see where you are and carry on without looking at the pattern. And the eyelet mock cable stitch is very pretty.
In case you're not on Ravelry, the free pattern is here. I made another change in mine which was decreasing in the pattern. I thought it would look nice if I did that, especially as mine isn't slouchy. Here are my notes on that:
FINISHED
Note: I started decreasing after 5 1/4" instead of 8 1/2"
I changed the pattern so that it decreased in the pattern instead of all knit. It worked really well by ending on Row 3 of the Eyelet Mock Cable stitch, then decreasing as follows:
Row 1: K, YO, K, P2tog
Row 2: K3, P1
Row 3: SL1, K2, PSSO, P1
Row 4: K2, P1
Row 5: K2TOG, P1
Row 6: K1, P1
Row 7 on: same as pattern.
By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 10/28/2009
I am so proud of this yarn I can't tell you
Now I need a niddy noddy so I can make skeins without my husband's hands
By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 10/20/2009
Thank you to everyone who came to the Rummage Show at the Workroom. I had a great time with lots of fun chatting and a bit of swapping. I did manage to sell lots of things and so it was a big success for me as I went home with a lot less than I brought even though I picked up lots of nice new craft supplies.
Lately as the weather gets cooler I've been turning to the woolier crafts and my new interest is hand spinning. I had bought a drop spindle at a craft show but couldn't manage to spin with it. I picked it up again the other day and realized I should try Youtube for some more tips. I found a great tutorial by the spinning guru Abby Franquemont and that made all the difference.
The big tip is to begin by trying the "park and draft" technique. This means that you can "build up twist" in your yarn by spinning the spindle, then hold it between your knees so that it doesn't have a chance to spin backwards, then take your time "drafting" your roving.
Drafting means pulling gently at the roving to thin it out to create the thickness of the yarn you want. It can take time to learn how to do this while keeping the spindle spinning, so "parking" the spindle gives you as much time as you want. While the yarn is building up twist you pinch it so that the twist doesn't travel up into your roving until you've finished drafting.
I finally finished my first skein of yarn! The picture at the top of this post is the yarn wound up on the spindle. The picture below is the yarn transferred to a pair of wooden purse handles. I just had them lying around (they were up for offer at the Rummage Show and didn't sell, so that was lucky). The main object is to keep the tension in the yarn so that it doesn't get all twisty.
Then I "set the twist" by soaking the yarn for 10 minutes in hot water. After that I took the yarn off the handles thinking that it might dry quicker. But this was a mistake as the twists showed up again and the whole ball got all kinked up:
So I carefully wound the yarn back onto the handles to dry:
Seems ok now! It seems this stage is akin to blocking a hand knit sweater.
Lastly, I am no expert with hand spinning. The whole thing is new to me. So if you'd like to read along as I learn how please do, but turn to the experts if you want information you can rely on! More experienced spinners are welcome to leave comments telling me what I'm doing wrong as I'm keen to learn. And then other people can benefit from your expertise too. And one warning to those of you who would like to try this: I suspect it will become quite addictive...
By: Paula Pertile,
on 7/5/2009
Yesterday I started my Fall line for Tweedy Crab. My poor little shop on etsy has been empty for too long! The theme is going to be CABLES. Yes, they're fiddly to knit. But look at them! They're worth the bother. You really do have to concentrate though, I will say. No wandering thoughts, or you'll end up with bits crossed the wrong way and an ugly mess.
This is one repeat of this pattern. Multiply this by 12, and we'll have a scarf I think.
I have an idea for lining these scarves with wool or some other fabric, but am afraid it will make them cost prohibitive. Maybe I'll do a few and see what happens. I'm torn between wanting to do all 'high end' pieces, and doing pieces that regular people can afford. I'm afraid my tastes run to 'high end', but there's a good practical side of me as well, so I'll try to make them work together and hopefully will have something for everyone.
This is a new Debbie Mumm yarn that I couldn't pass up in the shop. Its acrylic and wool and wee bit of "other", which will remain a mystery I guess. It does have a bit of stretch to it, which I'm guessing is the mystery "other" ingredient. Its gradated, as you can see, and is wonderfully soft, and really yummy (or I wouldn't be bothering with it). I usually don't like yarns that are mostly acrylic, (translation = "cheap") like those "buy it by the pound" jumbo skeins ~ you know the ones I'm talking about. Euw, cooties. I only use better yarn that feels nice and looks expensive (and sometimes IS, very).
There was a cute little old lady in the shop while I was buying this. She had a bag with an almost-done sweater that she'd run out of the yarn for. She was trying to match it, and had a skein that was close but not it, and wondered if I could help her. I did, and she was lucky, we found the perfect match! She was so grateful and wanted to repay me, it was very sweet. I said just knowing she'd wouldn't be walking around in a sweater with mismatched yarns was payment enough, but no, she insisted on telling me a joke, if I'd like to hear it. So here goes:
Dolly Parton and Queen Elizabeth are at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter greets them, and says "There's only room for one of you."
Dolly struts up to him with her famous chest stuck out.
Then Queen Elizabeth, who has brought her commode with her (?) sits, and flushes.
St. Peter says "OK Your Highness, you're in!"
Dolly protests, and he tells her "Sorry Dolly, but a Royal Flush always beats a Pair, no matter how big."
Its cuter told with a little old lady acting it out, but it made me laugh!
By: Paula Pertile,
on 1/1/2009
2009, wow. I like that number better than 2008. I like odd numbers better for some reason.
I guess everyone's off doing new year resolution / organizing / goals / type things today.
I am too, sort of. Bills are paid, a few stacks of 'stuff' have been sorted and the Christmas decorations are all completely put away. That felt really good.
This time last year I was doing my yarn ACEOs, one a day. That was fun, but I figured out pretty quick that I'm not a "painting a day" person. It was good discipline, as far as I went with it. Doing yarn is OK too, but I'm kind of over it. (Although I do really like doing just black yarn, like the piece above, and could see doing bigger pieces like this.)
Last year I really meandered around with my work, and although I scratched a lot of itches (or just chased after a lot of shiny objects ~ lots of euphemisms apply!), I didn't get a whole lot done. Lots of pieces and bits and starts of things, but not a lot of really satisfying, whole, finished, or financially lucrative conclusions to my artistic wanderings.
So this year my one goal is to pick a few things and see them through.
There are a couple of book dummies that I've had half started for a while now, and they are front and center on my "to do" list.
I also have a really fabulous idea for a series of paintings. You know how you daydream an idea, and visualize it completed? Well, I see this series hanging in a museum ~ not just a gallery mind you, the Legion of Honor, specifically. I even know which room. I KNOW! Who am I? But I think its better to think big, take a big leap, and you'll go farther (there's a famous quote along those lines, but I can't remember what it is or who said it.) So I will work on that, and see where that goes.
I'm also still very enamored with the idea of doing licensing, in some form. Whether its a line of greeting cards, or designs for products, or puzzles, or something else, I'm not sure.
And I would still like to do some paintings/drawings to sell directly through my blog or on etsy or something. Maybe one a week. I'd like to develop some small series, maybe a dozen or so of one thing, then move on to something else.
And my knitting. I have my etsy shop and lots of pieces started that need finishing. There are also some more 'arty' knitting ideas I'd like to explore, like knitted canvases.
So there I go again~ too many things!
This time last year it was really stormy, and I was dealing with a blown-down fence. It seemed to be a portent for the year ahead, and as it turned out, the year in fact was a bit difficult.
Today is dry and cold and very very quiet and still. Not sure what that might mean, but at least its not as dramatic as a storm! Let's hope its a sign of a better year ahead. For everyone.
(If I knew who created this image I'd give them credit...)
By: Paula Pertile,
on 9/30/2008
I'm calling this one finished. I like it! It has a very Fall/Halloween feel to it.
Yarn #42 © Paula Pertile
Light pressure, sharp sharp pencil, little circular strokes.
I added more color and more fuzz, but what colors and where and all I'm not telling. I just worked on it until it was done.
By: Paula Pertile,
on 9/25/2008
I know I said I was going to get to some childrens book art, but I've been obsessed with my etsy shop this week, and knitting, and all things "yarn".
So here we have another in the Yarn series.
5 x 7, done with Polychromos on illustration board, and matted.
Do you work like this too? Get obsessed with one thing for a while? Maybe its a certain subject matter, or media, or size, or genre.... I'd love to hear that I'm not the only one.
I have a couple more 'yarn' ideas that I have to do, then I absolutely HAVE to turn back into an illustrator for a while.
By: Paula Pertile,
on 9/17/2008
Today I put down the knitting needles for a while and just drew yarn instead. It was fun! I haven't done one of these for a while.
This is 5 x 7 done with Polychromos on illustration board. My old standby.
I took inspiration from some of the new yarns I've been knitting with. Things that are varied in width as well as color. I look forward to stretching my "yarn coloring skills" with some wilder ones in the future!
I'll put this in my new etsy shop, soon soon soon, a few days maybe, when I officially launch it. It will be full of all my yarn stuff, both art and knitting. (I also have an "old" etsy shop which is currently empty, which I plan to fill with other kinds of art, but not yarn. Keeping the two "themes" separate seemed like a good idea at the time. We'll see...)
~~~~~
You know you need to get out more when you get a thrill from ripping off a whole NEW big piece of aluminum foil from the roll, rather than using an old sad wrinkled rinsed-and-recycled-and-carefully-folded piece from the drawer. Yes, I did this today. Sad.
My other new thrill (or indulgence is maybe a better description) is eating Pringles in bed while reading at night. I find that inhaling a good stack of them (the plain variety) helps me sleep better and I have nicer dreams. But it has to be Pringles, no other kind of chips. Pringles are kind of creepy, I agree, with their perfectly stacked little selves in that round can, but I love them.
Too much info.
Back to knitting and my other newest addictions, Project Runway and Top Design. India Hicks and that drippy voice, and all the other judges...too much fun.
By: Gina MarySol Ruiz,
on 4/29/2008
Here's news from my local yarn store, That Yarn Store. If you don't live in the area, they have a website and amazing yarns. Be a pal, help them stay in business. Sign up for their newsletter, visit them in the store and one the web, read my recommendation of them on LinkedIn.com. That Yarn Store customers are big readers and support the local bookstores. Let's return the favor.
AmoXcalli supports local and independent businesses. The economy isn't too great right now and we all need to pitch in and help small businesses stay in business. Buy local, by often. That's my preachy soapbox for the day. On to the news...
Now you have two flavors of sock classes, and a few sock
yarns to choose.
Frannie teaches her sock class on Saturdays at 1:30
Julia Hiser will be teaching a two-part class covering all your
sock-knitting basics - Heels, toes, the whole-shebang!
First-timers and the newly sock-conscious all welcome.
Learn to make a pair of lovely foot-coverings or improve upon
your techniques.
Items required: Set of size #3 douple-pointed needles and
Sport weight yarn.
Bring them, or buy them here.
Thursdays at 7 pm $45
You have to pre-register for this class.
,,,,,,,,,,,,
Learn to Knit Lace, Tuesday nights at 6. $30
***************
Atelier Zero is an email newsletter that lists cool Los Angeles
events and shops. Even if they hadn't listed That Yarn Store
events we would still love the list.
Check them out at http://atelierzero.com/
Here is the link for our Ravelry group:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/that-yarn-store
………………………
Knit in Public Day, June 14th
Knitting in public is a wonderful way to spread the craft and
inspire all those would be knitters and crocheters to join in.
Beverly, Suzanne, and Deborah have been kind enough to
make suggestions on what we can do to celebrate the
World Wide Knit in Public Day on June 14th
Help us make this a memorable event please send us your ideas!
We're thinking about sitting outside at SWORKS,
and a Pic-Knit under the trees at Eagle Rock or Yosemite Rec Centers
………..
Spring Craftaganza. May 10, 1 to 5 pm
Thea from across the pond, and Mila, one of the 15 or so vendors,
have been planning this year's biannual event. Please come!
We've made an Evite,
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/WWDXGNFVRLFMMUSXADVM/yarn
so you can send it to friends.
What: Spring Craftaganza, a hand-made craft fair
When: May 10, 1-5pm
Where: That Yarn Store - 5028 Eagle Rock Blvd
Why: Handmade is better! Plus free refreshments.
Spring Craftaganza is our yearly arts and crafts event where you
can purchase funky and unique handmade products created by
local artisans and crafters.
They offer everything from jewelry to clothes to handspun yarn.
Pick up a one-of-a-kind gift for your Mom (the next day is Mother's Day),
start your holiday shopping early, or snag something cool for yourself.
We’ll have free refreshments.
…………………….
We have a space at the Los Angeles County Fair in September.
We can't sell our goods, apparently, but we can show them off,
including our knitting and crocheting samples and even give lessons
and demonstrations. You are invited to help us hang out and show
stuff and answer knitting questions.
Other things where you can participate – submitting your projects for a
blue ribbon, and a fashion show.
Free admission to volunteers, a hefty perk for participating.
*******************************
You've asked for them….
Sewing Classes
Beginning Sewing *
Learn use a sewing machine and sew in straight lines
and curves. Bring home a pillowcase you’ll make yourself.
Materials provided.
~~Thursday, May 6, at 7pm~~ $30
Beginning Sewing, Part 2: pattern reading*
bring a simple pattern and your own material and supplies.
~~Thursday, May 29, at 7pm~~ $30
~~Saturday, May 31, at 11:30 am~~
Skirts Without Patterns*
Bring in measurements,
and your own fabric, thread and tools.
~~Thursday, May 1, at 7pm~~ $30
~~Saturday, May 3, at 11:30 am~~
*Please note that we have limited space and limited
sewing machines available for these classes.
When registering, please tell us if you will
need to borrow one of our sewing machines.
And please sign up early.
Since we keep eccentric hours, we'll always include..
Hour Ours
Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 pm
Monday closed
Tuesday 11:07 to 7:35
Closed 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Wednesday 11:30 to 8:30 ish
Closed 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 to 7:00 pm
(we will often be open evenings)
Friday 11:30 to 8:00 ish
Closed 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 to 6:00 pm
By: Paula Pertile,
on 3/1/2008
I've been a bad blogger this week, I know, I'm sorry.
I have some new art started, but I don't feel like showing it yet. Its all at that 'ugly stage', you know what I'm talking about.
I CAN tell you that the truffles in the picture are reference for some of what I'm working on. YUM. Who doesn't love a good truffle?
I wish I had something educational or insightful or... just plain interesting to talk about.
I've been reading some good blogs this week ~ the kind where people "learn you" something, or have something useful to share. I'm very impressed with that. I don't know how they do it AND do their art as well. A few:
The Extraordinary Pencil
Making a Mark
Maggie Stiefivater
I've started reading The Golden Compass, and am loving it. I want a daemon now. (No, I haven't seen the movie, didn't want to spoil the book.)
I promise I'll have some art to show this week, promise. Something. No more yarn ACEOs I don't think, I'm tired of doing those. But more yarn, yes, but just different. You'll see.
By: Paula Pertile,
on 2/27/2008
2.5 x 3.5
2B Graphite on Rives BFK paper
ebay
Back to my little yarn pieces. I'm still having fun experimenting with different pencil / paper combinations, as well as working out ideas for what to do with yarn as a subject.
With this one I actually set up a dice tied up with yarn and hung it from my drafting lamp. I wanted to see what the weight of the dice did to the yarn. It pulls the "plys", elongates and stretches them, like I knew it would.
I like how this piece looks like a little page of studies, like you'd find in a sketchbook.
I'm planning a new series of slightly larger yarn pieces, 5 x 7 I think, and maybe some other knitting themed ones.
And ~shock~ I may go back to painting something other than yarn!
Right now I'm working on my entry for the CPSA show. This will be my first year entering, and I'll be thrilled to even get juried in, let alone win anything. That March 31st deadline is closing in fast...
To see all the Yarn pieces in this series side-by-side, please go here. Or visit my ebay store to see which are available for sale.
All images and content herein are © Paula Pertile and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
By: David Elzey,
on 2/19/2008
written and illustrated by Marla Frazee Harcourt 2008 James and his friend Eamon are going to Nature Camp for a week. It's a day camp near Eamon's grandparent's beach front house where the boys spend their week. If you want to see what they did at camp all you need to read are the endpapers which are snapshots of their time at camp. Their best week ever happened at Bill and Pam's (Eamon's
By: Paula Pertile,
on 2/17/2008
2.5 x 3.5
Polychromo Walnut Brown pencil on BRISTOL
ebay
I thought I'd try one more support. It was kind of a d'oh! thing. I found some good Strathmore 500 Bristol PAPER in my file drawer. The bristol is only 2-ply I think. And so its also "see-thru" on a lightbox, like the Rives in the last post.
Let's see how they compare now: (click to make it bigger)
The color isn't as soft as on the Rives, and has some of its punch back. Its a twinge different than the original one done on board. But it comes closer to the original one than the Rives does.
Very interesting (said like the guy on Laugh-In, if you remember that)...
To see all the Yarn pieces in this series side-by-side, please go here. Or visit my ebay store to see which are available for sale.
All images and content herein are © Paula Pertile and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
By: Paula Pertile,
on 2/16/2008
2.5 x 3.5
4B Graphite on illustration board
ebay
I decided to stick with graphite, but try a darker lead. This was done with a 4B.
I'm into just using one lead on these. I could use a full range of values in the graphite and get a much more rendered look, but I like trying to make it work with just one.
4B is really dark, so no light values were really possible. Even using the lightest possible pressure you still get a dark value. But that's OK. I like this.
To see all the Yarn pieces in this series side-by-side, please go here. Or visit my ebay store to see which are available for sale.
All images and content herein are © Paula Pertile and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
By: Paula Pertile,
on 2/15/2008
SOLD
2.5 x 3.5
Faber Castel HB graphite pencil on illustration board
I haven't used just plain graphite in ages. I bought this new set of pencils a couple of weeks ago, and thought I'd better check them out!
I purposely used just the HB on this, so it didn't get really really dark anywhere; it just stayed in the mid-range of values. Maybe I'll do one more darker one, next time.
I really enjoyed using the graphite. I only sharpened the pencil once! It kept such a nice point, and went on so smooth, it was just lovely. And I love grey, so all in all this one was very fun to do.
I'm not sure that the HB alone would be a good substitute for black colored pencil, or how much warmer it is, but still, its an alternative. And a nice one I think.
To see all the Yarn pieces in this series side-by-side, please go here. Or visit my ebay store to see which are available for sale.
All images and content herein are © Paula Pertile and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
Thanks, Emily, we enjoy your newsy blogs. The carousel project in Kingsport is oozing forward. the latest estimate is that it will open late in 2014 or maybe into early 2015. More details nearer the opening date.
GD Bob
I look forward to seeing it! Hope you are all thawed out.