slovakiasteph's Xanga

Friday, September 11, 2009

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:32:49 GMT

I’ve started Christmas presents on my looms, so I can’t talk about them in much detail or show pictures—sorry! I will tell you that I’m trying to find a new method of beaming the warp so it doesn’t tangle as much—I had been taking forever to beam the warp and it was a trying process.

Right now, I’m almost done with the dishcloths that are on Honor (my floor loom), I’ve just started a project on Helena (rigid heddle loom) but had to stop last night because I wasn’t getting a balanced weave, so I asked advice of my fellow Ravelers (in the weaving group, of course). I’ve also started winding the warp for a new project for Honor (Christmas!), and Hobart (inkle loom) is the only loom where I can actually weave for a while. I was going to do a set of bookmarks on him, but it was too wide, so I don’t know what I’ll do. Maybe make another zipper bag?

And, for the 2 ½ people who read this blog, I think two of you have already seen my post on facebook, but I’ve started an etsy store to raise money for Slovakia, so check it out!

www.http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5798951

Friday, September 04, 2009

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:34:25 GMT

On Wednesday Diana, Mary, and I went to Conner Prairie (they were visiting me). I’d been there last year with Naria and Maya, but a few things had changed since last summer. They have a new balloon exhibit and have completed the building they were working on last year: the carpentry shop. That was one of my favorite buildings, so I was glad it was done. I did a little bargaining with the carpenter for a shaving bench. Too bad I can’t really buy one for $2.75. For some reason I’m obsessed with shaving benches and draw knives (if you don’t know what this is, think Farmer Boy—Almanzo and his dad make shingles. This is also the same chapter with mother weaving on her loom, by the way...).

Back to Conner Prairie. We took a tour of the Conner house, which I hadn’t done before. Our tour guide’s name was Larry and he was very talkative. He knew a lot about the house and the Conner Prairie—as in, he had done research on his own and not just memorized the information. We’d both seen Interpreting William at the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre, so we talked about the play a bit.

Then we stopped in the loom house and talked to Elizabeth… for what everyone else thought was a long time. Elizabeth was making overshot bookmarks on a metal structo loom. I want one of those! They come up on e-bay occasionally. We talked about weaving a bit (there was another overshot project on the large loom), dyeing, and she spun for us. I’m now enthralled with spinning—on a great wheel (also called a walking wheel). I saw someone spin on a treadle wheel and thought “oh, that’s cool. I want to do that sometime.” When I watched the walking wheel, I thought “that is amazing! I need to do that now.” Unfortunately, there are two folks I’ve found who make them, and they sell for 1400/1600 each. I’ve also found a metal one for 200, so that’s not too bad if you want to spin but don’t need an historic feel.

The Doctor’s house had a piano, so Diana sat down to play. We ended up singing “Believe Me, if All These Endearing Young Charms” with another guest and one of the costumed characters (she was singing harmony). I think the characters really enjoyed it—it made me think of life before technology, when entertainment was created by the folks who were being entertained. The ladies were having fun and interested—well, if you sat around all day in an old wooden house, you’d be glad for a diversion.

When we went down the street to the Golden Eagle Inn, the innkeeper was humming the song… we shared our music all over town! She had only heard Di playing piano, though.

Before we left, I stopped back to see how Elizabeth had progressed with the bookmarks. We ended up talking for a while—I asked about her accent, and she’s from Leeds, England, came to the US in 1963 (I think?) to teach because she preferred our educational philosophy. She worked at the Indianapolis School for the Deaf, knits—and knows British TV. She’s seen my favorite show, The Good Life, and watches As Time Goes By frequently, which was funny because I’ve just finished that show. And, I learned how to do overshot by watching Elizabeth do a few picks. I was sure I had the concept correct but wanted to see someone do it first…

Today’s my day off, so I want to knit a dishcloth, weave one, weave on my scarf, and weave at least two bookmarks. And possibly do some sewing, although I don’t know what yet.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:34:08 GMT

I’ve been weaving like crazy. I would have pictures to show post except that I haven’t downloaded any to my laptop because it’s not my laptop… the screen on mine died, so it’s at BSU and I have a replacement. I like the replacement better because it’s about half as light.

Anyway, back to weaving. I’m on my fifth inkle band since I’ve been back from Slovakia. Two have made spiral zipper bags, another one will, one is bookmarks, and I’m working on bookmarks now. I hope to post some on etsy to make some money for Slovakia next year—and the zipper bags as well.

Forty and a half weeks until I leave for Slovakia… :P Susie pointed out that we only have 47 weeks from leaving until we return, so I’ve been counting down. I already have most of my prizes for next year, all of my classroom supplies, and most of the beads I’ll need. I have a lot of beads left from last year—and as for the morning supplies, I’ve already done some shopping. It’s cheapest to buy them now when they’re on sale for school!

I know most people don’t post on their blogs in the summer because they’re busy, and I have been, but it’s more because I don’t need to. I get enough social interaction from traveling and spending weeks at a time with people. Plus, I post those small random pieces on facebook now instead of creating a blog entry.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:40:51 GMT

It’s been over a month since I’ve written—I think this is my longest blog break. However, I don’t write as frequently in the summer anyway, probably because I have more contact with people and less of a need to blog.

I got back from Slovakia a week ago, but first I had jet lag and then I’ve had a sore throat ever since. So, I’ve been reading, weaving, cooking, and sleeping.

I will post some pictures (of Slovakia) soon. In the meantime, here is one a few months ago, of my current loom project:

Friday, June 19, 2009

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:03:59 GMT

I’ve been preparing for Slovakia… double-time. Normally I’d have everything done two weeks ago, but for some reason I was behind this time. Wednesday I finished everything for the beading, including making samples. Now I have a lot of things to do for my lesson plans—things to get ready, getting everything together.

Next Tuesday I’m doing a weaving program at the girls’ camp my church is having. We’re using my inkle looms and two other inkles and the girls will make bookmarks… now I have to warp the three looms this weekend. At least they’re not full-size looms! I think it takes me about 2 hours to warp my inkle loom. I just finished my sixth warp on it… the first one was a long cord, the middle three bookmarks, then a warp of headbands, and finally another cord I’ll use to make a bag.

As for Honor, she’s warped with a project—it’s been about a month since I started weaving on her, but I sprained my foot so was delayed. I also had LOTS of problems. I’m using rayon chenille I got cheap, and set it close, 18 epi, as everything I’d read about chenille instructed. However, since I’ve sleyed 2 per dent, the threads get twisted together. I’ve found out that if I spray the warp with hair de-tangler, have the tension tight, and press the treadles twice (hard) before throwing the shuttle. Then I have few floats. It’s coming along much better.

I have some images to load somewhere. I’ll find them eventually. Right now I’m inspired to weave because yesterday Heather L and I went to pick up a inklette for camp (at Tabby Tree… saw some beautiful overshot samples)—I have to dress three inkle looms but would rather weave on my floor loom.

here's something I wrote a week ago but never posted... it's about my trip to Pittsburgh

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:44:04 GMT

Saturday, David and I went into Pittsburgh around noon… it was his birthday, so we opened presents first. And he saved two to open when we got home at night. We first went to the Arts Festival (they’ve been having it downtown for something like 30 years)—there was one weaver selling jackets she’d made. We saw a glassworker make a bead, a calligraphy demonstrator, and lots of booths with a variety of arts (and expensive stuff… not the crochet-and-knitting art fair).

After that, we went to a Greek restaurant for dinner—David got lamb and chicken kabobs (I tried the lamb, and I like it very much!!) and I got a mixed plate with hummus, a vegetarian grape leaf, gyro, and rice. Yummy. Then we went to the other greek restaurant across the street and got a piece of baklava (I knew it would be cheaper there). I wanted to go back on Sunday, but they were closed.

As part of the art festival, we saw a film called Pittsburgh Neighborhoods. Each short film took place in a different neighborhood, highlighting a few people in that neighborhood, and some were quite funny. We stopped out for dinner and to watch the Red Wings game on TV.

Sunday we went to church in the morning (Peters Creek Baptist Church)—it’s a little weird being in an area that’s close to where my parents grew up. Dad used to play in Peters Creek, and went to T.J. High (a few kids from the church had recently graduated from there). Then it was out to South Park (David lives in South Park, but this was the South Park in South Park Township. Nope, not confusing at all). We walked on the trails for about an hour, then toured the Oliver Miller homestead—it only cost a dollar each, and we were there for an hour and a half. They had an old stone house (built in 1830), springhouse, smaller replica log cabin, blacksmith forge, and barn. At each point, there was an interpreter to tell us about the Miller family. This was where the first shots of the Whiskey Rebellion were fired. Inside the stone house was a woman spinning—both wool and flax—and a big barn loom. It only had two shafts, but the spinner said no one knew how to work it, so they’d had the same warp on for about 6 years. There was also a woman making candle wicking on what I believe was a lucet.

Then we went to Pittsburgh again—first back to the arts festival because I wanted a little glass bead I’d seen the day before, then to look for a place to eat (lots of places downtown are closed on Sundays), get tickets for the theatre, eat dinner at Primati’s, and then to theatre. One of the main characters in the play was also in Pittsburgh Neighborhoods (one of my favorite pieces about parking in the South Side and a milk crate, a juxtaposition of young and old). I wanted to get his autograph, but we didn’t see any of the actors afterward.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wed, 27 May 2009 04:15:19 GMT

I think David and I will have to spend the whole time eating when I’m in Pittsburgh. I want to have pierogies in McKees Rocks, Bahn Mi in the Strip, have paella and tapas (which I was introduced to in Spain—I’m so hungry for manchego, tortilla de patatas, and paella), go to Isaly’s (a Pittsburgh tradition and must have chipped ham), and of course eat somewhere Greek/Mediterranean. I think that’s about four meals a day. :)

Today I went to Meijer looking for ground lamb, but they didn’t have any. The lady at the meat counter said they wouldn’t get another shipment until Thursday. And just when I’m craving lamb… last week I had gyros and kibbeh, but apparently that’s not enough. It doesn’t help that I just read The Language of Baklava with a Jordanian recipe in every chapter, many of which are similar to Greek/Lebanese/etc. cooking.

It’s funny how once you learn something, it shows up frequently. I’d read about mastic on Friday here (http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/), then in Language of Baklava Sunday, and today on this blog (which I’m loving!) http://kalofagas.ca.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Wed, 20 May 2009 22:17:35 GMT

For some reason, when I’m at an art museum, I don’t look at paintings that feature people. Shiloh was telling me about a painting she liked, but I’d never even noticed it before. I look at the landscapes mostly, people if it’s a Cassatt or Copely, and Dutch skies. I think I need to expand my horizons next time I go and look at some different paintings; I tend to focus on the same ones.

firsts for me

Sun, 17 May 2009 14:10:59 GMT

- an actual injury

- using a wheelchair

- using crutches

- having to sit with my leg up and foot on ice

I twisted my foot over the weekend (walking... my foot slipped out of my sandal and twisted). If I were at home, this wouldn’t have been as big of a deal, but I was at Cedarville judging debate, so had to get from one to the next. And if I wasn’t having company this weekend, which isn’t exactly an invitation to sit around with my foot up.

wildflowers at Mounds State Park

Wed, 13 May 2009 18:01:07 GMT

Was out at Mounds State Park Sunday afternoon for two hours (now that I’ve finished my grading!) and took a picture of every wildflower I found. I’m not familiar with any of them from Michigan (hard to believe they have completely different wildflowers 5 hours south), but I have my trusty Peterson Field Guide.

Yesterday morning I went to Mounds with Suzanne from Edgewood, and we were there for two hours. We found lots of Jack-in-the-Pulpit—they’re all over the park! There’s also wild ginger, bloodroot, hepatica (which already bloomed, as did the Dutchman’s Breeches), and a few other flowers we didn’t recognize. I’ve now been on all the trails at Mounds. Oh, and we saw a pileated woodpecker. It was only five feet away from me on a tree stump about five feet off the ground, and it was very big! Probably about sixteen inches long and a little scary looking.

Golden ragwort, possibly?

Wild geranium

Swamp buttercup

Spring beauties

Prairie trillium

Shooting Star (these are starting to look wilted)

False Solomon’s Seal

Spiderwort

Jack in the Pulpit (there were two of these, VERY hard to spot as they’re green and blend in. I just happened to notice the leaf on top of the flower). I know it's not a very good pic, but I'll get a better one later.