Winged Things

I have not been a very good blogger these past several months. This problem is mostly due to the fact that my employer has blocked any and all blogs from my view. It sucks and I've yet to come up with a viable solution for posting to my own blog as well as regularly checking out what's going on with all of you! Short of giving up crafting in the evenings to catch up with the blogosphere, I'm stumped as to how I can rectify this situation. Any suggestions are welcome!

Needless to say I have been making stuff. What follows is a load of FO's waiting for a post all their own.

First we have a lovely knitted Black Bat Wing Shawl with crocheted red sparkly veins AND its accompanying crocheted Batty Beanie...



This has been sitting on my "to be photographed" pile for months! For shame!

Here's a detail of the veins...



And the hat...



I used my Chicken Beanie pattern (sales pitch: available for just $5 on my sidebar!) as the basis for the Batty Beanie, which can also easily translate into a Kitty Beanie. I think there are more themed beanies in my future...

Next up, the knitted Blue Bat Wing Shawl with crocheted veins of in the same yarn...



This one is sparkly all over!

And just because wings seem to be my thing for this post, how about a pair of crocheted flight implements...



I plan to use this hand painted ribbon as the tie for these babies...



Feels good to get these off of the "to be..." pile. The sad part is that I have so much more sitting there waiting patiently.

I cannot stand feeling so behind! Oh well, maybe I need to put in a few super early mornings to get back to my posting schedule...

I'll figure it out....eventually.

Happy Monday one and all!

The Three Y's

I don't speak much about my trials and tribulations, but suffice it to say that life has been pretty difficult for my family over the past several months. The accompanying stress is really beginning to take its toll on me. Many days I am exhausted from the moment I awake in the wee hours of the morning and often I find myself in the act of withdrawal from friends and family in an effort to catch my breath, if only for a moment. Oh, don't worry, my personal acts of withdrawal do not include semi-catatonic states, rocking back and forth repeatedly, mumbling unintelligibly. Not yet anyway...No, I tend to withdraw accompanied by what I like to call "the three Y's": yoga; yarn; and youthful creativity.

Yoga is my savior. No, I'm not being dramatic! A few years ago I began to suffer from vertigo. Every few months I would succumb to this condition, dizziness and nausea plaguing me for days, sometimes weeks, at a time. However, since beginning to practice yoga last April, I have suffered little to none from this debilitating state. In addition to the virtual eradication of vertigo from my existence, yoga always, ALWAYS has the ability to subdue my stress induced agitated soul, no matter my level of discombobulation. Then there are the added benefits that partner with a consistent practice: flexibility; muscle tone; balance; core strength and of course, an inner calm that goes beyond the mat into everyday life. Yoga is nothing short of amazing!

Yarn is my constant companion. Literally! My project bag crammed with fuzzy WIP's goes with me everywhere. Retreating into the act of making loops, knots, weaves and strings, regardless of circumstances or locale, is the creation of an instant inner sanctum, giving myself the ability to regenerate and recharge whenever I find the opportunity.

Youthful creativity, yarn's best friend, is my foundation. Some time ago, amidst the career proceeding my current employment endeavor, I reacquainted myself with my inner child. In doing so I learned that art unhinged, unrestrained, explorative, full of honesty and discovery was the kind of art that I wanted to be making. I gave a nod to my art school training and preconceived notions about what made a good piece of work and set sail on a journey beyond my known creative borders. And in the uncharted territories I still find myself. For me there is limitless solace in this exploration.

Though I know my road ahead is still at an incline, I am comforted by the knowledge that each day I can find a rest stop within the three Y's...

Scoring Fluff

2lb. Bag O' Fiber Crack
Originally uploaded by ladylinoleum

My supply was starting to run dangerously low.

Definitely time for a fix.

Revealed current distressed situation to fellow addict.

Fellow addict (Hi Jenna! I can’t link to you due to work blog ban!), ever resourceful in situations such as this one, contacted mutual dealer (Hi John! Ditto as for Jenna!) to determine whether he had any inventory to move.

Dealer flush.

Fluff to move.

Addicts drove over to mutually agreed upon destination to score some fluff.

Crumpled up bills exchanged for big bag of white in the corner of a Culver City parking lot.

Addicts' thirst sated...for now...

Repeat After Me...

At present, my days are filled with a constant level of pandemonium: demanding career; familial obligations; scads of bills; a plethora of appointments; making time for friends despite the perpetual fanfare; all amidst the backdrop of the ever so lovely and uninterrupted teenage tumult courtesy of my adoring daughter. Life’s mélange, so to speak. Needless to say I need to decompress from my daily toils in the evenings or I shall not be long for this world. So, how and where do I find a degree of downtime?

I find my brand of solace in repetition.

Yes, the act of pulling a loop of yarn through another loop of yarn over and over again is very meditative. Feet to treadles, wheel in motion, gentle twist entering strips of carded wool in a seemingly endless cycle is definitely calming. Aiding shuttle in its journey to and fro across the taught expanse of warp threads is nothing short of sheer tranquility. Moving brush from dye pot to fiber again and again, each stroke an explosion of color, pigments seeping into the essence of the yarn’s being, is my serenity.

This kind of repetition is the ultimate in restorative power.

A power that is produced from something as simple as reworking a familiar pattern in an unfamiliar colorway…



A power that is honed while working a pattern repeat ad infinitum.



A power that is all at once supportive and expansive with every lap around the niddy noddy.



A power that is generated at the end of each and every day in the humble environ that I call home.

What would I do without yarn???

Did You?

I Voted Sticker
Originally uploaded by ladylinoleum

Makin' Yarn

I know. Lately I haven't had much knitting and crocheting to show. Rest assured that I have been working both processes weekly. I've just been working on some substantial projects so I don't have anything to show you just yet.

I do have some yarn FO's to share though!

I made some real strides on the spinning front. Take a look...





Aren't they purty? I've been making tons of the two colorways above in the hopes of having enough of each to actually make something cool.

I just love spinning.

I love it as much as crocheting and knitting actually. And that's saying something! In fact, I've even been reading about spinning every night before bed...



This book is such a great reference for those interested in spinning art yarns! Right now my homespun looks a little, well, conservative. After perusing the pages of Intertwined, I am hoping to push myself right outside the proverbial box soon. Have no fear! There will be all matter of errata hanging off my singles and plies in no time! I've got a ton of goodies in my stash that would be perfect fuzzy embellishments...

On that note, I've taken to dyeing my own roving too. In fact, I spent my entire Sunday with fellow fiber fanatic, Jenna, dyeing piles of it. We also painted some yarn. Hey, that's what dye parties are all about!





I cannot think of a better way to spend a Sunday can you?

Itsy Bitsy Bee

Take a looksee at my newest needle felting experiment...



I'm rather happy with the way in which this little one turned out. Although, my fingers are a bit dismayed after having endured repeated pokings from sharp objects. Nonetheless, I will be making many more of these for future use. Just you wait and see!

Copyright 2008 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Recommended Reading (and Viewing)

We've not discussed crafty good reads in some time. Not that I've stopped purchasing books mind you. I've just neglected to share my acquisitions. So, let's get those spines cracking!

Okay, so it's no secret that I've been working with yarn outside of my familiar box during the past year. I am spinning, dyeing, weaving and even embroidering on a regular basis in addition to my usual knit and crochet regimen. Needless to say, learning or relearning these processes (as with weaving) required a certain level of research material for me to make an honest go at these new frontiers. I perused and even purchased many a book before deciding which ones were best suited to both my learning style and reading comprehension. What follows are the new essentials in my yarn library.

Addicted to the application of color to fiber? You need this book...



Upon first perusal I began making notes, depositing Post-Its amongst the pages and became completely immersed in personal stories of the dyers profiled in this book. This compendium is filled with dye recipes for a variety of chemical processes and fiber contents, clear step-by-step instructions with requisite pictures, is well organized and just a delight to thumb through for the experienced and novice dyer alike. There are also plenty of mostly knitting patterns throughout in an effort to show off the plethora newly painted fiber wares.

All of the pros aside, could I pick this book up (having had no previous dye experience) and get colorfied? Ah, that's debatable. If you're detail oriented, love a challenge, operate with a high degree of reading comprehension and have tons of space in your domicile with which to experiment in the messy world of hand dyed yarn, sure, this book will get you off and running. However, if you are a hands-on learner, I recommend that you take a class and then purchase this book to supplement the base of knowledge acquired in class. And the knitting patterns? They are nice to have, but really not necessary. The type of patterns found in the book are pretty average knitting fare, easily found in the wealth of knitting books available on the market today.

Wanna make some yarn? Here are two excellent additions to your spinning library!

First is a DVD featuring Mabel Ross titled, Handspinning: Advanced Techniques...



This instructional DVD is 112 minutes of Mabel's spinning genius. It was mesmerizing to watch this woman handle fiber and wheel. She teaches such varied techniques from preparing and spinning different lengths of fibers to making worsted and woolen yarns for weaving or knitting and using short draw and traditional long draw techniques. She also demonstrates how to create a plied yarn of any exact thickness with just the right amount of twist, for various purposes, and how to repeat it exactly at any time. Besides yarns of average thickness, very thick, soft knitting yarn and extremely fine gossamer for knitting lace are spun. Although, some spinning experience is required in order to make use of the DVD, as a novice, I found the entire DVD to be illuminating. I plethora of lessons on a disk!

My second spinning library acquisition is another Mabel find. This one in book format titled, The Essentials of Yarn Design for Handspinners.



This book is basically the DVD above and then some. I recommend purchasing both. They make a great set! Both of these items can be found online at Paradise Fibers and The Woolery amongst other sources. I buy lots (and I mean LOTS) of weaving, spinning, knitting and crochet supplies from both of these stores and I can vouch for their high quality of service. Paradise Fibers is, however, the source I buy from first and foremost. Family run business, amazing customer service and just all around nice people! Love them!

You can never have too many stitch dictionaries! I bought the new versions of the Harmony Guides (for knitting) by Erika Knight.

Knit & Purl...



Lace & Eyelets...



Cables & Arans...



I loved these dictionaries upon opening. The instructions are clear. The images are wonderful and I like that the techniques are separated into three separate books. In fact, these appeal to me so much that I was actually disturbed by the amount of negative feedback about them on Amazon. Basically, the reviewers seem to be dismayed by the lack of charts. Hey, what can I say, I'm old school. I learned to knit 31 years ago where the written pattern was queen! I could give a sheep's butt about charts. So, for me, these dictionaries are awesome.

I'm at home with my rebel within...

Getting Reacquainted

I'm back! I was able to leave Chicago on Friday before temperatures dropped to the single digits. Lucky me!

Anyway, this weekend was all about getting reacquainted with my family, friends and fibers. In accordance with this theme, I kicked off the holiday three day-er with an all day workshop on Saturday at one of my favorite local haunts, the Urban Craft Center, from one of my favorite fiber fiends, John Pitblado, on the fine art of fiber reactive dyes. It was awesome!

Now, I am familiar with this type of dye, having used it quite often as an undergrad in college. However, that, my friends, was a looooooong time ago. So, I needless to say, a refresher course was in order.

Just look at this lovely color...


Ribbon.


More ribbon.


Bamboo.


Cotton.


Rayon fabric.

The use of fiber reactive dyes differs a bit from that of their acid-based kin. Generally speaking they are more cumbersome in terms of their chemical components, application and final rinsing process. However, the results are really beautiful. Muted, natural beauty to be sure.

The resulting colors above are a nice contrast to my acid dyed wool below:



I really love the process of hand-dyeing fibers. For me, the color play involved satifies the latent painter within. I also enjoy the added benefit of the resulting unique yarns and fabrics than can then be incorporated into my design process. It just doesn't get much better than this!

Although I do tend to get equally excited about spinning...

And Sunday was all about that! Oh how I've missed my daily contact with my wheel! So, I got down to business and spun a few singles...



And worked on mastering my ply...



I'm really happy with the plied hank. So much so that I will be spinning up much more, enough for an actual project! I'm thinking knitting, but that may change. My mind is a jumble with ideas. I'll be sure to keep you posted...

I'm so happy to be back! Definitely ready for some regularly scheduled posts and catching up with what you all have been doing. Thanks so much for your patience and understanding!

Happy Monday everyone!

Too Much Travel

Too Much Travel
Originally uploaded by ladylinoleum

Okay, last week? Simply crazy.

I was in the office by 7:00 am on Tuesday for an early meeting. Wednesday, I was in court for another custody hearing, which, for all intensive purposes, went well. However, we need to go back to court in April. I am praying that this process ceases well before my soon to be 15 year old reaches the ripe old age of 18! Wednesday night I flew to New York on a red-eye. Yuck! Thursday, I conducted interviews all day in our New York office while attempting to stay awake. Ditto on Friday. Caught an early evening flight back to Los Angeles after conclusion of interviews. Taught a crochet class on Saturday at Abuelita’s Knitting and Needlepoint in Pasadena. Uh, yeah, I’m tired.

This week I leave LA on Wednesday and head to Chicago. If I don’t have a heart attack from all of this stressful activity, I should be home on Friday night for some much needed relaxation.

The only aspect of traveling for work that I actually look forward to is the uninterrupted aero-knitting or crocheting time. I basically worked a sweater from start to finish to and from NYC.

How cool is that?

A rather time-consuming cabling project will accompany me on this week’s Chicago travel extravaganza. Literally every other stitch hops on the cable needle. It’s nutty, but the results are well worth the effort. Stunning. Hopefully, I’ll plow through a majority of the work while sitting in the tube.

The other cool aspect of what I affectionately refer to as “my internment on the air bus” is the amount of reading I’m able to complete mid-flight. It’s awesome! I was able to read half of a novel in between knitting on my last trip.

I am happy to be home though, if only for a few days. I miss my family, friends and animals. My kitty hasn’t taken kindly to my comings and goings. Hubby and offspring have adjusted, but the cat? Yeah, she’s pretty darned perturbed. Leaves me “presents” all over the house for the entire week following my return from a trip. Totally annoying to be sure.

I have so many FO’s to share. I figured this week I work on Photoshopping everything in the airport. Thank you for being so patient with my intermittent posts! It’s been rough to find the time to attend to my virtual existence. Won’t last forever though. I have a few months of travel-free existence coming soon!

Wonderfully Woven

Lookie what I wove on my trusty tri-loom...

Shawl in "mid-loom".

Yes, that would be a lovely, loopy, quite tartan-like shawl! I even fringed it and I'm not a fringer!

Well, not a fringer in the myriad long strings sense anyway.

I cannot tell you how amazing it is to be weaving again! Although the process of making fabric differs somewhat when weaving on a tri-loom as opposed to that of a traditional floor loom. However, the rhythm of the weave transcends the type of loom used to create the fabric nonetheless...Over, under, over, under, over, under...

I love it!

Which is good because I have to finish up my diamond loom projects and make some time to dress my new Ashford Knitters Loom...

New Year Chrysanthemums

After finishing my December magazine projects I felt the need to work up a few quick items before beginning anything long and drawn out. Therefore, I give you the New Year Chrysanthemum(s)!



These versatile fuzzy flowers can be used as pins, as adornments for your favorite hats or even as an ornament on a chocker!



You'll definitely turn heads with the big ole flower strapped to your neck!

So, why don't you make one? Or two? The free pattern is below. Happy New Year everyone!

Chrysanthemum Pattern

Materials

• Any worsted weight yarn will give you a nice size fleur. I used some of my own hand dyed stash. Go Kool-Aid!
• US G hook
• Tapestry needle
• Pinbacks (optional)

Abbreviations
ch - chain stitch
dc - double crochet
PM - place marker
r - row
rnd - round
sc - single crochet
sl st - slip stitch
st/sts - stitch/stitches

Directions

Base
Rnd 1 - ch 2, 8 sc in second ch from hook. PM in first sc. Marker will move up as each rnd is completed to denote beginning of rnd.
Rnd 2 - working in back loops only 2 sc in every st.
Rnd 3 - working in back loops only (1 sc, 2 sc in next st) 8 times.
Rnd 3 - working in back loops only (2 sc, 2 sc in next st) 8 times, sl st to back loop of beg sc, fasten off.

Florets
Florets are worked in one continuous spiral in the available front loops on base. Beginning at the center of the base attach in the first front loop available.
Rnd 1 - (1 sc, ch 9, 1 sl st in second ch from hook, 7 sl st in remaining chains) repeat in each subsequent front loop on base. Fasten off.

Chrysanthemum Finishing
Weave in any remaining ends. If desired, sew pinback to back of flower.

Chocker
Foundation chain - ch 43.
R 1 - 1 sc in second ch from hook, 41 sc in remaining chains, turn.
R 2 - ch 1, 42 sc, turn.
Rnd 3 - ch 1, 42 sc, ch 1, rotate work right, make 2 dc in the middle (same space) of short side, ch 51, 1 sl st in second ch from hook, 49 sl st in remaining chains, 2 dc in same space as first 2 dc, ch 1, rotate work right and work 42 sc along foundation ch, ch 1, make 2 dc in the middle (same space) of short side, ch 51, 1 sl st in second ch from hook, 49 sl st in remaining chains, 2 dc in same space as first 2 dc, ch 1, sl st to first sc to join rnd. Fasten off.

Chocker Finishing
Weave in any remaining ends. Sew Chrysanthemum to chocker.

Copyright 2008 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

December's Blurry Flurry

December was a blur to be sure. In fact the last few weeks were so filled with activity that I didn't even have time to breath, let alone blog.

So, how about we play a bit of catch up, eh? Oh, and let's set our little catch-up session to a bit of music.

Sound good?

Okay, here's my December...events, travels, gifties, eating, drinking, making merriment...dancing around...

Sing it with me peeps!

...A partridge in a pear tree!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

An Ashford Knitters Loom!



Yep, about three weeks before the sparkling 25th day of the month, I encountered the hubs splayed out on the living room floor watching some sporting event on the tube and inquired as to his plans for my Christmas pressie. He looked at me with an expression that can only be categorized as blanc de blanc and answered, "I dunno." So as is my way, ever the organized visionary, I explained to him that I knew of the perfect pressie for moi and would be happy to facilitate his acquisition of said holiday magic. Needless to say he agreed and handed me his credit card. A week and a half later my lovely Ashford Knitters Loom arrived at our mailbox!

Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Two wonderfully woolly scarves!







The first example of scarfdom was created for me by my yarn-lovin' buddy, Ellen. Ellen's got a thang for Noro, which she used to crochet this beauty. Stunning eh?

The second example of scarfdom was created for me by my beautiful daughter. She even needle felted a little flower to adorn this lovely turquoise wonder. Stunning times two.

I love both of these scarves so much. Thanks girls!

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A ginormous Christmas tree!



We encountered this tree in San Francisco's Palace Hotel while simultaneously consuming copious amounts of breakfast buffet fare a few weeks ago.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Handfuls of homemade cookies!


Sugar cookies ready for the oven.


Oatmeal infused rancher cookies.


Always a crowd-pleaser, a plethora of ginger snaps.


German sour cream twists, my favorite cookies since girlhood.

The first weekend of December was spent with my sister, Stephanie, and our mother baking cookies from recipes found in my maternal grandmother's recipe box. Plentiful bounty resulted from this drawing of the three.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

An all expenses paid cruise to Alcatraz!


A view from the ship.


I took this shot at the beginning of out tour. We took the night tour by the way. So cool!


My daughter's cell. LOL

I am a native Californian and unbelievable as it may seem this was my first trip to The Rock. I definitely recommend taking this excursion should you ever find yourself in the Bay Area.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Time to design two new patterns for Crochet Today magazine!

Barely enough time, but I tackled the challenge of designing two projects during December anyway.

Yes, this would be further confirmation that I'm nuts.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Lots and lots of ballerina crotch!



Note to self...never ever sit in the front row of theater while attending a performance of the Nutcracker.

Um, yeah.

Did you know that ballerinas wear ruffled panties?

Sorry, I got nuthin' on the toe shoe front.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

The San Francisco skyline at night!



How beautiful is that?

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Perfect pecan and pumpkin pies!



Yes, I baked a lot this month.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A smile on my surly daughter's face!



Them smiles are hard to come by when one is inhabiting the teen years.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

The Raiders losing to the Colts!



I know. So what else is new?

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

The blessing of being able to share this holiday season with family and friends!

It just doesn't get much better than that!!

Happy New Year Everyone!