Spring Cleaning My Soul

Spring. Spring Cleaning: cleaning out what you don't need anymore. Putting a fine polish on what you have. Taking stock. Appreciating. And laundry dried on the line.

I'm in the mood to do some serious spring cleaning. Spring cleaning my soul, my heart, my life. Letting slip the self-centered, energy-draining, loud, demanding, unreliable or unhappy. Appreciating those things that bring value to my life: the dependable, reliable, humorous, loving, affectionate, authentic.

Taking inventory of my soul. I am ready to give up:

Settling for less than I deserve.
Pre-supposing others' reactions. (so tiresome).
Part-way friendships. (yes, I've often done the limiting)
Remaining silent.
Hiding from the dark and unknown. (small steps here).
Expecting nothing good.
Exaggerating possibly great outcomes. (take what comes, whatever it is.)
Tight control. (it's exhausting).
Maybe any control. (it's an illusion).
Kentucky Fried Chicken.
TV during the day.
Bigger than I need.
More.

In spring cleaning your soul, what are you ready to give up?

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow...

I know I've been quiet this week. Quiet, actually, a lot longer. This week, however, there has been a good reason. I've been cleaning.

Why is it when I start to organize my sewing room, I can only get so far along with the job? I get part done, and usually pile "I don't know where to put them" items in the part I still haven't straightened in a while. Then things get out of hand, again, and I'm forced to make decisions and sort and move things back to another spot I'm not organizing at the moment.

(and how does the room get so messy if I'm not in there working that much? Oh yeah, I use the room as a holding station for everything that comes into the house.)

This week I started going through items again: what are the projects that I've been piling on top of the sewing machine? In what order do I work on them? What about the rest of the clutter?

I decided that many of these projects are simple things: lengthen a pair of jeans, fix a zipper in a hoodie, sew a panel dress, bind a quilt, finish a felted purse. I am tackling these projects immediately. Work on one, get it out of the room, straighten a little more, work on another, get it out of the room. I'm making real progress here.

Others need decisions made: a quilt I pieced several years ago really needs borders; I dont' have any of the fabrics left. Do I finish it as is or seek out alternative fabrics for the borders? When I'm down to the pondering pieces, each one will get time up on the wall. I will sit with the project for an hour or a day and make a decision. Go forward or give up.

I should have a handle on this part of the project in about a week.

The weather is getting nice enough to consider heading outside to do some dye work and improved screen printing. Getting the visual distractions of the "fix me" pile gone should finally free up some visual space for designing.

Bout damn time.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Terrific Tees.. Signing Party

Sunday I went to a book signing for my friend. Roberta's book, Terrific Tees, was published by C&T on Feb. 14th, and has been selling quite well. No surprise, it's a great book concept. Imagine making t-shirt quilts that look imaginative; where the t-shirts are an element of the design. NOT simple squares of t-shirts sashed and bordered and tied (or minimally quilted).

Like that Cal Bears t-shirt quilt in front of Roberta that has bear paw blocks mixed in with it. Get it? Bears and bear paws? Yeah.. great idea.

One of her latest creations is very Roberta.. completely insane medallions (inspired by Karen Stone's phenomenal designs) with Hell's Angels t-shirts in the center. The idea I think started as the wheels of the cycles.. and kind of got taken to the extreme. One thing you can say about this quilt: it's not your boring t-shirt quilt.

Here's the center. Look at the density of the quilting:


I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Put Your Money Where It Does Good

I'm an admitted Twitter addict. Those of us of who work in isolation seek it out for the "companionship" that others get in inner-office conversations, in lunches with the ladies, in some real-world interactions that we're missing.

On twitter, I keep on track with projects (GSD [Getting Sh*t Done] races during the day with others are fun), I share my healthy dinners.. and get lots of requests to become someone's live-in cook/room mate. We share good and bad moments.

As you might have read, one Twit-head, Andrew Baron of Rocketboom, is auctioning off his twitter accound including his followers. Silly idea, really. And I'm not getting into all that. If you're interested in a discussion/wrap up go read Virginia DeBolt's piece on BlogHer: Reputation, Friends, Follwers: What's It Worth In Dollars and Cents?

Note a big part of that article points to Odd Times Signatures, Karoli who points out what could be done with the money bid so far on this Twitter account. She used as her guidepost the BlogHer's Global Giving campaign to Save Women's Lives Around the World. I have the same widget over on my sidebar.

So here's the deal: I am going to place a post to this link up on Twitter and invite my followers to come here, click on that widget and give a little something. Those who regularly read my blog, you can show me some love, too.

I'm not asking for a lot. Can you spare $10 to run a Women's and Children's clinic in Nepal for 2 days? Would you ratherspare $15 to feed 50 girls lunch in poor west Africa? That's all I'll ask from you.

Or choose one of the other initiatives. Give what you can. I'd like to see that "Total Given" number grow to $1800 by tomorrow this time. Come On! Show a little love; I love you all back.


I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

The Week Ahead

Anymore I swear on Monday I look at the next week on the calendar and it's completely blank. Come back to check it out on Thursday and it's grown into something almost approaching a monster of logistics. I think part of the problem is having 3 different calendars (the one on my laptop, the paper one by the phone and the paper one in my purse.) that I don't take the time to compare every day.

I used to carry a cheap PALM that would sync to the computer, but I couldn't get that calendar to show up on my desktop or work as a reminder/alarm, so they were still independent programs that require my physically updating them all. PIA.

There are plans penciled in that aren't firmed up; I hold the space open as long as I can.. but when do you give up on tentative plans and just figure that the other parties involved don't care as much about the activity (or you) as you do?

This month I've suffered the MAJOR frustration of doing my best to communicate with people.. that is to send information OUT. Yet many of the people then suck my communication in like a black hole.. nothing is returned. What is the opposite of a black hole? That's me this month. And I'm getting tired of it.

This week: I have a tentative lunch tomorrow, an appointment Wednesday afternoon that's had the time changed twice. I had also accidently scheduled a dentist appointment for the same time; had to push that 2 hour plan to next week. Thursday has tentative plans; Friday my singing workshop has been changed up by 2 hours. I didn't find out about that until I showed up at the right time last week, so missed the class completely! (that blackhole thing...).

When these set/tentative plans work through, I have to hit the gym, walk the dogs, clean up my newly established office space, clean my studio so I can start sewing again, make a few phone calls, blog and write a proposal.

Could be a busy week out in the world.. or could be a long week working at home. Wish people would let me know if I indeed fit into their plans.

Grump.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

CraftCon 08: Truth- Story- Maker - Do

I spent the weekend at CraftCon, a business development conference for the craft community. There were craft fair organizers, online and real world publishers and authors, Etsy shop owners and more there to learn and share. Before the first hour of the event had run, I had my THEMES for the weekend; they held with every valuable person I met:

TRUTH - STORY - MAKER - DO

That is every individual showed up in an authentic way, sharing their own TRUTH.
Each of us had a STORY to share that others wanted to hear.
Whether we use tools or our hands, we are the MAKERS of our lives and our crafts.
We were there as attendees and presenters because we believe that Craft is what we DO. It's Active not passive. It's process more than product.

Rather than yammer on about my experience, I'd like to instead simply introduce you to some of the fabulous folk I met this weekend. Please click through on every link and fall in love in the people I spent this weekend with.

First contact: Show organizer, shop owner, crafter and power woman extraordinaire is Rachel Lyra Hodspodor. Online, you can find Rachel at Medium Reality. There you will notice her shop info, Pandora's Trunk, her studio log and her paintings. Rachel is the embodiment of Make and Do. I stand in awe of her competence and grace.

First Love: Betsy Greer of Craftivism. Warm, intelligent, engaging, obscene, opinionated, honest, approachable, funny, believable. Now If you ever meet her, give her a big warm smack for me.

Now in no particular order:

Reverend Callie Janoff from the Church of Craft.. Beautiful, confident, engaging.

Garth Johnson from Extreme Craft. I kept thinking that Garth and Mo Rocca were separated at birth. That might explain it all.

The Pittsburg Contingent. My brain (and body) was freezing, but let's see: he travel to camps to work with hemophiliac kids and makes shrinky-dink art from recycled plastic. She in the middle just closed her Pittsburgh shop and can't wait to open a new one. And Jessica is all the warmth.

Jeanee Ledoux is the author of a book and co designer for Honeydoux jewelry.

Julia Cosgrove from ReadyMade Magazine. Spoke about getting published and gave us all hope.

Natalie Zee Drieu, Senior Editor of CRAFT.

Autumn Wiggins. Owner of Etsy shop String Theory, creator of websites extra-ordinaire (she designed CraftCon including the cute button button!), one of the show organizers. She can half-a-dozen hats at once and do so with grace.

Faythe Levine. I didn't actually meet Faythe (my disappointment), but she showed a new clip from the movie Handmade Nation that I've written about before. Faythe hopes to enter it into maybe SXSW or SunDance next year; let's cheer that she gets accepted! Here's a preview of the movie that's been running on YouTube:


Girl on the Rocks. She knits, she's a geologist, she likes cocktails. If you are a real life knitter friend (you know who you are Pickle pals and Blogher Babes...) STOP READING NOW. (are they gone yet? Good.) The rest of you go see her Etsy shop because she makes knit markers with instructions on them. (like a kitchener stitch marker), and I think that many of my friends should get these; yet I want to them always wonder who my "top secret source" is.

This is it so far. Some of the people I met. They are all passionate and wonderful and seem to be living out my take away from the meeting: They Tell, Make, Do. And let me tell ya, they have stories!

BTW, the sessions that were held in the main theater were recorded and will eventually be available as podcasts for everyone to hear. I'll keep ya posted as that happens. My little session was in the second theater (no recording) but Vanessa from Etsy live-blogged the weekend. Her wrap is published as part of Etsy's Storque.

And, I think I rocked it.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Normally Programming Will Continue Shortly

Just a quick note. I've been catching up on real life, getting some rest and in general living away from the internets for a while. Just need me a short break.

I'm working on the mother of all posts about the people at CraftCon, and I've got assignments for BlogHer that are taking the spare bits of attention I have.

Normally blogging will resume shortly. Probably bigger and better than before.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Just a quick note..

This is CraftCon weekend, so I'm spending 2-2.5 hours/day (round trip) commuting into the city. But it's worth it, so far.

My talk on thinking about social media tools for the professional crafter ROCKED.

The people I'm meeting there are all cool.

I was neither the oldest one there, or the more boringly dressed.

You can catch the photos by checking Flickr photos tagged CraftCon.

They recorded everything in the main hall (I was upstairs in the dance studio), and it will available as podcasts in a few days at the website.

I forgot the card for my camera yesterday so only took a couple phone pix.

I can't wait for MakerFaire, and may make myself stay for the evening programs.

I wish I could have stayed for the gala last night, but I get home to feed the dogs. (does that sound lame?)

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

In The City...

(from hand written notes this morning)
Doing this really old skool at the moment, using pen and paper to record my thoughts. I'm standing in an auxiliary space at the Brava Theater waiting to accept delivery of tables and charis for CraftCon this weekend. So wish I had a mobile phone, yet also know I cherish being free from the constant "noise" of the internets.

Instead I'm standing here watching the street. People walk by quickly with purpose, or casually sure of their destination and knowing that no clock applies. Cars and trucks go about their business. There is almost constant motion.



This is a Latino neighborhood. mixed in with the standard city taupes, beiges and white are buildings of bright turquoise or deep gold. There are murals on nearly every block. The sun - the sun? in the city? really! - pools where it works down below the street trees. I can't identify the species.


It's noisy yet quiet. There is LIFE here that I do not experience living in the suburbs. I'm drinking it in.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Sidewalk Series: North Berkeley

Sidewalk Series: North Berkeley. Taken with my cellphone.

I was a couple minutes early for a luncheon at the Hillside Club last Friday, so I took the time to walk around the block and see if anything inspired me. I was surprised at how interesting the architecture for some of the houses were, but how boring the yards were. Little to say anything about the people who lived there.

I'm hoping it's just because it's early spring.

But as I walked I kept hearing this cat meowing; she did not move, sitting here in the middle of the porch and talking. Balanced by the orchid next to her, framed by the archway, in front of the gold door and above the red steps, I had to capture this.


I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Crafting Can Save Your Brain

Recap: as part of BlogHer.com's Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Wallet series, I've been talking about recycling and thrifty ways to feed our art/craft habits while pointing out the benefits of doing so. I've discussed the money-making recyclers at Etsy, the communities where recycling habits regularly happen and some of the interesting discussion there. I took you on a tour of unusual craft/art/hobby supplies places. So what's left? Maybe the most important element of all. How DIY crafting can save your brain.

Let's start with Wired magazine's Clive Thompson, who wrote a telling article about attempting to mashup a new clock: He kept screwing up his soldering joints.

Why am I so inept? I used to do projects like this all the time when I was a kid. But in high school, I was carefully diverted from shop class when the administration decided I was college-bound. I stopped working with my hands and have barely touched a tool since. As it turns out, this isn't a problem just for me — it's a problem for America. We've lost our Everyman ability to build, maintain, and repair the devices we rely on every day. And that's making it harder to solve the country's nastiest problems, like oil dependence, climate change, and global competitiveness.

Quick survey here: Did your parents own a toolbox? A sewing basket? Do you? Do you use them? Do you know how to use a hammer, pliers, drill? Sew on a button? Hem jeans? Replace a zipper? or like Thompson, solder a wire? When something breaks or is damaged, do you return it to functionality by yourself, have someone fix it for you, or simply throw it away and replace it? We've moved from a society of do-ers to a society of buy-ers; from making-do to getting-new. It's hurting us financially, it's hurting us environmentally, and here's a little secret: it's hurting us mentally.

Neuroscientists have shown that working with your hands exercises different parts of your cerebrum than sitting and cogitating.

Try to remember the day someone taught you to knit a scarf, sew a straight line, solder a wire, tool a leather key fob, color inside the lines. Any simple task that involved using your hands to perform a task. You watched what you were doing closely. You thought HARD about each step, sometimes coming up with little sayings to make it easier to remember. It took all your concentration simply to perform the task; we could not imagine being able to complete it without such concentration.

While we were fussing and concentrating and learning, our brains were doing something magical. They were making new connections. As we struggled to perform a simple task, we were growing more brain.
Stronger brain.
Better brain.
And we never knew it.

Think about those tasks we learned that you still perform. If you're a knitter, can you knit and walk at the same time? (many can and do). Imagine the strong brain connections that were formed as you learning those tasks. Unfortunately, as those connections are formed and become "routine" the brain needs to spend less energy (and fewer connections) to help us accomplish these tasks.

For each of us, continuing to learn new things, to solve new puzzles, and to remember old tasks that we've let our muscles and brain forget are important tools in saving our minds. For individuals like me, who face the threat of a debilitating brain disease (such as Alzheimer's or MS), this continued learning is one of the pathways of hope for a healthy foturee.

So next time something in your life isn't as perfect as it might have been on day one, instead of thinking "time to replace with a newer model", grab that rusty sewing basket or tool box and get your DIY groove going. Your brain will thank you.

Some resources for getting your DIY groove on:
Make both the blog and magazine
CRAFT Make's "little sister'.. again a blog and a magazine.
Lifehack.org The HowTo wiki page is priceless!
Ikea Hacker Start with the brilliance that is IKEA design and improve it!
eHow How To Do Just About Everything
Helping Handmade Classes to teach you the basics in all types of crafting. Their first classes are just beginning.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Working It in Style

A couple weeks ago, I asked what to do with a few t-shirts that still looked OK on my although they were a larger size than I am currently wearing. The shoulders hung below the shoulder line, leaving lots of extra room through the bust.

I decided to keep them. In the middle of summer, there will be days when I want clothing that simple hangs looser on my body and lets more air flow.

This is one of those shirts.

I used the last of my discharge paste and a cheap stamp from JoAnne's to stamp the front of this shirt (thus hiding the food stains that live there). After processing, I threw it in with a couple other things getting some turquoise dye.

And now I have a cool new workout shirt to wear to the gym. Which is where I headed right after taking this photo. Ain't it purty?

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Attention Artists

I heard this morning that Rob Breszny is seeking artwork for his CD covered and books. Although I have little experience with him, while reading his text several of you regular readers came to mind. I think he would like your work.

What imagery do I like? What am I looking for? I don't necessarily know (surprise me!), but I am drawn to neo-primitive, archetypal imagery that blends ancient myth and future revelation.

Sound like you? Think about it.

While checking out Rob's website, I found this amazing Prayer For You. It has several stanzas.. I think I shall read one each day (or week) and just try to take it in wholly. For example:

Dear Goddess, You who never kill but only change:

I pray that my exuberant, suave and accidental words will move you to shower ferocious blessings down on everyone who reads this benediction.

I pray that you will give them what they don't even know they want -- not just the boons they think they need but everything they've always been afraid to even imagine or ask for.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Eatin' Good

I want to blog but what I'm thinking about I can't blog; and I can't blog about other things because they're not what I'm thinking. Like wanting to talk but only knowing a secret. You can't share the secret; you can't talk.

Nah, I'm not thinking about anything secret... just some work I'm not ready to share yet.

How about some pictures instead?


This was part of our dinner the other night. The veggies start on the grill and cover most of the surface. Fortunately, as they cook, they shrink leaving enough room for the meat to cook. The spouse had pork chops; I had salmon. The veggies came off the grill with the meat and got a dash of balsamic vinegar. Remarkably, we ate most of these in one sitting. (the yams, some onio and one potato was left).

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Thrift Shops and Salvage Yards are Art/Craft Supply Stores

Recap: as part of BlogHer's Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Wallet series, I'm talking about recycling and thrifty ways to feed our art/craft habits. This weekend, let's examine Thrift Stores and Salvage Shops as our art/craft supply stores.

Thrift Stores:

Wool Sweaters:

Felt It: As I showed last fall with a sweater into felted purse post you can find a colorful wool sweater, felt it, and end up with great felted materials to craft with. Green Kitchen's son used a similar idea to suggest his mom make a Sweater Apron. Check out her photo-tutorial. Betz White makes charming wonderful designs with these sweaters.

Reknit it: With new yarn for a sweater costing somewhere between $25 and $150 dollars (depending on size, material, and pattern), it's always nice to know that you can visit the thrift store, find a great sweater hanging on the rack for $2-5 dollars and simply recycle the yarn. Even better if it's a white, cream or neutral colors that you can die to your dream color. Andrade wrote this fabulous tutorial on thrifting yarn to get you started. Her initial advice is:
The key is to concentrate on quality so you'll be happy with the yarn after it has been unravelled and washed. Think of all the sweaters people receive as gifts that are never worn because they're too hot or the wrong color or the wrong size -- sometimes those sweaters end up at the Goodwill.

Things I look for when sweater shopping:
*) serged seams (avoid!)
*) fiber content and quality
*) color/dyeing potential
*) gauge

Other Clothing:
Check for buttons on shirts/jackets/vests; I've found some fabulous sets of buttons on items for $1-3! These are buttons that may sell retail for $1 or more each! Wool shirts are perfect for making gorgeous stuffed teddy-bears.

Elsewhere: Many shops will have yarn, fabric, notion supplies stocked somewhere. Plus consider equipment: a blender for paper making, pasta machine for polymer clay.

What supplies/equipment have you found at a local thrift shop?

Salvage Shops:
As part of my (ahem) research, I recently two local salvage shops in the bay area: Urban Ore and Ohmega Salvage. If you live in a smaller, rural area these might not be as easy for you to find.. but search out similar businesses wherever you live. Both were formed with the idea of keeping reuseble materials out of the landfills. Urban Ore is a lot more eclectic in it's offerings; Ohmega Salvage sticks strongly with architectural materials.

But what did I find? You can check out the set of photos that documented the day. An easy source of glass for any type of project, plus lots of tile (whole squares, broken bits and shaped pieces) for mosaic work. Stair spindles that can be quickly turned into candle sticks, plus the evidence of standard art supplies and notions.

Don't forget to look for inspiration when you're then. I spotted this gorgeous bracelet and realized it was safety pins and beads with wire holding it into a bracelet form.

I haven't made it to the East Bay Depot for Creative Re-use since they moved to Oakland. No excuses.. simply no time. But for any avid crafter, this type of store is the place to find.

So you don't live in the East Bay? What are you to do? Homework. There is an avid thrifting community in Portland, Or. that occasionally publishes a brochure detailing shops. I'll bet that similar groups thrive in many urban communities. If you live in a smaller rural area there are still likely places you can find. I used to live in an Ohio county that had more horses than people. I still knew where 3-4 great thrifty stores could be found.

What I'm getting at here: This isn't like going a big box store with a shopping list. What you can do: learn the resources you have in your region (don't limit yourself to your neighborhood, stretch out to resources within a couple hours). Visit them a few them and get a feel for what you might find. Eliminate the places that don't look like they would help you much, but the ones with great potential? Visit them often. Get to know the staff and let them know what you're interested in. Leave a card if you can; managers love to know who to call when they suddenly receive entire rolls of unprimed canvas and 100 tubes of acrylic paints.


I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

HeartStrings: Scrappy Quilts for Charity

Not much time for chit-chat this morning. The weather is beautiful and my garden has been calling my name out loud! Digging, trimming, hauling, taming... all those good spring activities pull me outside and away from the computer.

NOT to mention that I've got an assignment today to write on using thrift stores and recycle/salvage yards as art and craft supply stores. (yeah, I'll repost that here this coming week). Wish I could find the link to the article on finding sweaters to unknit. I thought I saved it to del.icio.us .. but still can't find it. Anyone? (I know.. talk about last minute!)

To give you something to hold you over while I'm working my butt off outdoors, thought I'd point to a worthwhile project for some of those quilting scraps you may have: HeartStrings participants make scrappy string quilts for people in a variety of circumstances, from Project Linus to the survivors of the lastest distaster.

Now I love the string quilts, and will likely start (again) putting my own assorted scraps and pieces to work making squares and tops for this project. With all the weather-related disasters that have already befallen states this spring, I've got a feeling that lots of people will be needing them.

So go vist this blog and if your garden isn't quite ready for your attention yet (like you're in the midwest and it's either flooded or under inches of snow...) maybe spend an hour or so working on some HeartStrings.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Refashioned Blue Jeans

I have 2 pair of jeans of that fit me. That's all. Two pair I bought on sale at Ross because my old jeans could not be worn in public anymore without a threat of embarrassing me. When I bought them, I did not spend a lot of time, thought, or cash making the decision beyond the "they fit in the waist and hips" check.

Because I'm still working out, although I'm not at my ideal weight my body is still changing shape. Pants, especially, give me a couple months of wearablility before it's off to the thrift store. This is not the time for $100 perfectly styled jeans, though I hope I'm nearing that "final size" option.

Whatever. The current 2 pair of jeans have been a little less than my ideal. (note, next time spend just a little more than 10 minutes looking for jeans).

First, when did they stop making jeans out of just cotton? Heavy, soft, delish denim seems to have disappeared for me. (OK, maybe I could go a little more upscale than close out stores and find the real thing? I hope?). Everything is part ramie, part cotton and with a bit of stretch.

Second, I want my jeans DARK. Dark, dark, dark. Neither of these pairs were. They were a medium fade that looked as if I'd owned them and worn them for atleast 6 months. While it wasn't an unattractive look, it didn't really make me happy. But Ross had nothing in a dark, dark all denim jean. And I had been about to be arrested for indecent exposure.

Third, after a couple washings, they felt a little too short. There wasn't that subtle break on the shoes that I expect in pants of the proper lenght. Forget completely wearing them with my Danskos. (thank you SusanW for writing that we jeans in two different lengths to go with our shoes!)

So last week I decided to upgrade my jeans just a little.

While I couldn't do a thing about the fiber content, I DO know how to dye fabric and vat dyeing is the easiest thing to do. I already had some navy dye. So I took scissors to hem to give myself more length and treated my jeans to a swim in some deep blue chemically treated water.

The results were not as dark as I might have wished, but they were not unacceptable. The 5% lycra in this fabric was not going to accept any dye, and the ramie and cotton would accept dye at slightly different rates. Still my jeans were now visibly closer to the dark side.

They also had 2 visible lines that showed where the old hem had been: the bottom fold of the leg and the surface stitching line for the old hem.

We are so lucky to be living in a year where embroidery detailing is HOT on jeans. Well, lucky that it's hot and that I have a sewing machine with a number of decorative stitches. I found a thread in a color similar to the decorative stitching on the hip pockets, ran through my menu of decorative stitches and played for just over an hour.



A simple line of straight stitch right along the bottom of the hem firmed the line. Next I chose one of my favorite utility stitches (it's a zig-zag meant for sewing in elastic). My foot has a center-of-stitch mark, which I kept over the faded hem lines. Because the decorative stitch itself moves to both sides it nicely obscures the faded line below. Filling the gap between these lines with more decorative details turned this stitching into a planned part of the design, and stopped the eye/mind from thinking: those stitching lines are hiding something.

If you would like to do something similar to your (or your kid's) pants, I'll share a couple hints:

use more dye than you think if you want it dark, dark. I used the suggest 2 TBS of dye, but I think double this amount would have for a much darker result. (BTW, the top photo is more accurately the final color of the jeans).

use simple decorative stitches with a short repeat when camoflaging "flaws" in the clothes. Let the stitches fool the eye.

if you use a long decorative element (like the leaf in the top image) start and stop it near the inside seam. Leave a small gap rather than trying to fit the elements together.

if your machine does not have fancy stitching, note that this same technique can be done with all straight stitch, or simple zigzags. Varying the stitch length, stitch width (for zigzag) and thread color would all produce fantastic results. More lines of pure straight stitch could make a great statement here.

play with this. Have fun. Remember these are just jeans. One reason to do this is to have fun and use the clothes to express a little of yourself.

I'm Not Alone in Refashioning My Jeans:

Last summer, Katrin at Sew-Mad needed to repair her jeans she ended up "pimping her pants": A colorful bit of backside (which I think emphasizes a very nice backside!) and patched knees!

Sew Funky gave her favorite jeans a bit more life by turning them into capris.

While not jeans, Nikki Shell took some cute yoga pants that didn't fit right and refashioned them into a great pair of spring pants! Nikki, btw, is the hostess of wardrobe refashion!

If refashioning is beyond your jeans, check out Flickr's Denim Surgery group for lots of ideas on reusing, repairing, recycling, revamping your denim.


I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

I Love...

One of the writing prompts I keep is a list of things. What I'm grateful for, my life rules, and today's prompt:

What I Love (the little things):

A puppy sigh
Black tank tops
Sesame oil
Quick smiles
Fresh warm tomato slices
Sleeping in the sun
Sashimi
A good sweat
Polar Fleece
The contrast between cold, soft grapes and hard, salty Manchego cheese
Laughing Out Loud.
Baseball games
Red
Someone combing my hair
Talking with friends
My Zen Stone
Black Olives
Singing
Giggling with a friend over an inside joke
Encouraging Twitters and emails.
Fun necklaces
Catch
A soft breeze
My baseball cap
A dog sleeping against my side
Bright eyes
V-neck t-shirts
Vanilla (manila) mangoes
Ear lick from Katy-dog
Tivo
Thunderstorms
Crispy cookies
Hair swinging against my back
Soft yarn
Sun dried linens
Firm mattresses

Have you noticed? Many of these things are based on senses... the touch, smell, taste, sounds, sights of LIFE.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Have You Said Goodbye?

This week, one of close friends is dealing the sudden diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (suddenly this is everywhere!) in a frail mother who likely will not survive the week. She had not speaking much to her mother these past months, hurt and angered at some behavior from her parents.

Friend told friendB, friendC that just last week she decided to give up her anger. You cannot judge the righteousness of her anger, as you do not know the circumstance. We can all applaud her maturity for freely letting it go. I'm sure we can imagine how the news of her mother's illness would have been received differently if it were piled on top of bitterness.

Instead of simply shock and deep sadness (and I know, simply seems so inappropriate here), Friend would be dealing with mountains of regret for time wasted. Eventually, she would have had to try and reconcile her anger and her loss in the void of a motherless time.

Thankfully, she's going home with atleast a little less baggage to carry.

Which leads me my question. If you have one or both parents still alive, have you said a hearfelt and meaningful good bye to them yet? Have you spoken the words you want them to hear before they die? If you were get a phone call saying a parent had passed in the night, would your soul feel at peace or would you still have regret for unspoken words.


I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Will I See You CraftCon?

FYI: I am part of the panel: Social Networking Toolbox

Applications are now live for Craft Con (formerly known
as Craft Congress), happening April 4th through the 6th.

Brava Theatre in the historic Mission District of San Francisco will host
Craft Con 2008. This unique business development conference will bring together over one hundred key individuals from the independent/DIY
craft and design community. Crafters from across the globe will
take part in this exciting opportunity for debate, discussion, and
knowledge-sharing in an effort to explore and shape the
DIY craft movement.

The cost of attending the event is $150/person, which
includes a tour of San Francisco April 4th, meals and sessions
April 5th and 6th, and a gala event the evening of April 5th where
conference attendees will get to experience the unique culture of
the San Francisco arts scene.

*Topics for discussion will include:*
* Business:*

• Profit Models,
• Legal Structures,
• Alternative BusinessModels,
• Getting Published

*Philosophy: *

• What Does Handmade Mean?,
• The Politics of Crafting,
• Crafting Green

* Workshops will include:*

• Project Management, Product Development and Broadening
• Your Base,
• Seeking and Retaining Sponsorship,
• Computer Social Networking Toolbox,
• Real Life Social Networking Toolbox

*Movers and Shakers to knit up a red carpet for:*

• Tina Barseghian, Editor in Chief of Craft Magazine and author of "Get a Hobby";
• Faythe Levine, creator of the film/print project Handmade Nation;
• The Girly Show;
• Jeanee Ledoux of Honeydoux and "Abode a la Mode: 44 Projects for Hip Home Decor";
• Extreme Craft.

To apply, visit our website and fill out the online
application by March 23rd!

For more information visit:
www.craftcon.org

Click here to see photos from last year's event!

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

To Do Thursday

Mental notes for myself...

To Do Thursday:

• Reduce email inbox to 0. Archive, answer, or file as a Google Doc. In some way get it out of the inbox.
• Work on notes of social media tools for artists/crafters.
• Workout at gym.
• Vacuum the whole house.
• Dust the first floor.
  
• Walk dogs.
• Twitter/WomenWhoTech set up.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

I've forgotten to blog about my weekend in Pajaro, haven't I? The photo above was taken as we were getting ready to leave; I managed to snap this before just before the bottles went to recycling. There is something about the transparency and reflectiiveness that I like.

About the weekend? It was wonderful! Good friends spent time together.. really spent time together. Lots of sewing, lots of conversation, lots of walking on the beach. If you ever get the chance to go away with good friends for a few days do so.

I still need to finish writing about Caffeine Panic. But that's a whole 'nother story.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

We're feeling hot, Hot, HOT

Over at BlogHer, Kristi Sammis asked us to define.. or redefine HOT.

Seriously -- there are all kinds of hotness. Hot can mean sexy, beautiful, edgy, attractive, interesting, powerful, creative, smart, funny... The definition of "hot" is vague at best, and that means we have the freedom to make it our own. So let's.

For the March Good Health-a-thon check-in, let's do it. Let's plan to be TOTALLY HOT this summer.

Which means (and forgive me, I love numbered processes!)...

1. Defining "Hot." What makes a woman hot? When you think about some of the "hottest" women you know, how would you describe her attributes?

2. Picking one or two of those attributes you feel you want to enhance in yourself.

3. Figuring out a way to measure your progress, and selecting dates (or events) for performing check-ins.

I am SO playing this game!

One of the quoted bloghers already has a "Hot By BlogHer08" button (which I might steal) and that seems both an do-able date and a great venue to show off my hotness.

So what do I consider HOT?

#1. Hot is confident. It's standing up straight, looking someone in the eye, speaking out, and being sure.

#2. HOT is attractive. NOT in an "I want to look like that" kind of way; more in an "I want to sit at a table and talk with" kind of way. A person-magnet. Beyond charismatic, this is an individual who you just know has something to say you want to hear! HOT is community-building, bridge-building, sharing.

So, how do I want to be HOT BY BLOGHER 08?

A. I have several projects I'm trying to develop. All are in the shadows, competing for time and attention. They are worthwhile activities. By BlogHer at least one (I hope two) will be pushed out of my head and into the world.

B. I will continue to work on my balance and stability so I can confidently walk head up. Being able to trust my body will let me relax and share my thoughts. Besides, I know that 3 days of non-stop activity is exhausting. I need to be the best shape ever to survive it without falling asleep half-way through the unconference.

So what do you consider HOT? How do you define it? And if you choose so, how will you be HOT by Summer?

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Telling the Universe

I believe that when I tell the universe what I want, she provides me with what I need. The trick is always to recognize what she providing and know she has my best interest at heart.

So once in a while I write down a series of things that I want. No particular order. Some possible, some unlikely. I let the universe know what's on mind. And if you happen to be able to help with a thing or two here, I'd appreciate it.

#1. A 30 hour day with 22 hours of sunlight. OK, it can cloud over for an hour in the afternoon so I can nap.

#2. Someone to take some simple head shots of me. I've never liked the posed photography studio looks, but I am desperately in need of photos. Desperately. I'm about to resort to more "me in the bathroom mirror" shots.. and look how bad those appear!

#3. Inspiration for new business cards. Do I want moo cards? Something more professional? Both?

#4. A real choir to sing with that isn't 15 miles away and meeting on the same night as other commitments of mine.

#5. Some good books on tape. Recommendations. I'm thinking inspirational, growth, self-help, sci-fi, mystery, classics. OK, maybe everything but history and westerns.

#6. A light athletic shoe with tons of support for my wobbly feet. Currently I'm wearing Ryka's; they weigh 1.4# ahd have a sole about 1" thick. Is there something lighter and thinner that keeps ankles from pronating and feet stable?

#7. A work schedule I can stick with. Do project A on Monday; part of B later Monday, etc. OK, that's called self-discipline, a calendar and a to do list. At times I think it would be easier to just go away somewhere to work for a while, but I find myself sitting in coffee shops people watching, which isn't any more productive than swinging on the deck.

#8. The courage/discipline to step beyond the inspiration phase in projects and get to the production phase. Ah, discipline. There's that word again.

#9. A great comedy movie. Something really light and simple and fairly brain-dead but not insulting. I rarely like Will Farrell or any of the former SNL folk. But I need me some giggles.

#10. Courage. Or belief in my self. Both. And discipline. I can see a bright, great future ahead of me when I grow these in myself.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

I Move on Spurts

I move on spurts of concentration and energy right now.

It seems that I am never home. When I am, I'm playing catch up with responsibilities, chores and stuff. Reading, sewing, cooking, petting the dogs.

I sit down to blog and remember: there are photos in the camera I should download first; there was some interesting observation I made, but I wasn't home or near a computer or a piece of paper and it seemed to slip away.

What was it I did today, again?? And what about would anyone care to know about?

So instead of doing what I know I should: just brain dump for a while and trust that something worthwhile is in there, I move on to a distraction that keeps me from getting closer to my writing brain.

My bad.

I'm toying with the idea of committing to blog 365 just to insure that I show up at the page every day. I need the discipline to say: from time A to time B I am just sitting here. I have writing prompts, I have ideas, I need time. I probably have time, but don't use it wisely.

In my life today: I'm reading Younger Next Year for Women (about exercise and health), I'm going to my final choir workshop for the winter, hitting the gym for a 1 hour workout, walking the dogs, going out to supper.

Somewhere in here I need to work on scheduling out panels for a conference, search out dinner venues for a conference, research a craft article for BlogHer for tomorrow, mop the floor.

This weekend I hope to play a little with video taping myself in the garden (again for a planned series of pieces). And learn more about video editing on my Mac. Get the Mac to find the internet (sigh..), and sew a quilt top for National Quilt Day.

Yeah.. So I'll probably be blogging at 5 am or 11 pm. We'll see.

Now where is that camera with those great shots??

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Why I am For Obama

It was nearly four years ago. A young senator from Illinois was giving a speech at the Democratic National Convention. While I did not waste my time watching the whole fiasco, the reaction to this speech ran through the internet like wildfire.

Links to it popped up like dandelions on a spring day.

I listened once. Then again.

My pulse quickened, my breathing became shorter and more shallow. Small adrenline squirts were activated because my soul and my brain were excited.

Excited with the possibility of hope.

I was sold at that moment on the idea of this man one day becoming president.

And it was not for me that I was excited. I am a child of the late 60s, early 70s. I remember (vaguely) the sense of hope that JFK created in his presidency, though he died when I was in 6th grade. I recall the hope for a better world that Martin Luthor King held out. I remember believing that Bobby Kennedy offered a chance for world peace and Malcolm X a hope for racial reconciliation.

That was my youth and my time. We know it all disappeared.

Hope was replaced:

for hostages held over a year in a foreign land;
for gas lines block long;
for positive images of young boys skating on ice into history;
for the tearing down of walls;
for the ending of governments;
for a stained dress;
for sensationalism;
for cynicsm.

When I first heard Barak Obama speak, I thought: this is the person who can energize a generation. A generation that has been disenfranchised. A generation without the hope that I had at their age. A generation that appears completely engaged only in their own survival and destruction.

To get these young people pulled into the fold that is the citizenship of the US, we need a vision. Professor Kim said it most clearly when she wrote:

I think the response to Barack Obama reflects the hunger that Americans have had for an inclusive vision that acknowledges the mistakes of the past and looks to future in a positive way. There are a lot of questions about how one gets there.

I see in this man a chance for inclusion.

I see a chance to bring the young Americans back to being active participants in their government, in their society, in their future. I have high hopes for these youngest of citizens. I don't want to let them down; and I don't want to let them off the hook.

May we find a leader who pulls them into the process with vision and hope and who does not then replace it divisiveness and vitriol. Who does not lose another generation.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Zodiak-Whacky

What's in store for me this month? More adventures, I'm sure...

Phyllis wrote:

YOU are a beginning a “dynamo” period! Mars, the planet of action and sex appeal is transiting your sign for the coming 2 months, energizing you to initiate some important new beginnings and activities. This is a terrific time to take innovative steps to promote yourself, to assert your needs and to let others know what you’ve got cookin!

Be courageous, Cancer. And remember to use self-respect and self love – not irritability or reactivity – as your motivator. That will help you use Mars’ energy proactively and avoid the unnecessary squirmishes Mars sometimes ignites.

INSPIRATION/EDUCATION are also highlighted this March. Many planets are gathering to shed light on ideas and activities that bring meaning to your life. It’s a wonderful month to TRAVEL, take a class, or learn something new. It’s also a good month to TEACH or PUBLISH something that demonstrates your expertise. The New Moon on the 7th can help you get started with a new idea that blossoms over the coming year.

The 13th and 15th and 27th-30th are also expansive dates, terrific for communication and meetings. The 16th and 17th might reveal where an idea or relationship needs more pragmatism in order to actually work out.

RELATIONSHIPS are active and exciting all through 2008 as Jupiter, the planet of expansion brings heroes, inspiring connections, and over all fascinating folks to your doorstep. PARTNERSHIPS AND MARRIAGE are also likely for many Cancers this year, too. March might bring people from far away into your sphere, or someone who has something significant to teach you. Be thoughtful between the 4th and 8th as decisive energies might spark a make-it-or-break-it showdown with a significant other.
Be honest and courageous about what you really want. But genuinely consider other’s points of view, even if they are different from your own. In that way, you might discover a whole new way to conduct a relationship. Alas, if a difference between you and another just can’t be resolved, your relationship could end. Again, use self-respect and self-love to assert yourself, not reactivity. You don’t want to push someone away unnecessarily.

SEX can be special this March, especially between the 1st 13th. Use the ultra-romantic energies on the 8th and 9th to really connect with your beloved.

JOINT FINANCES could also be taking a decisive turn, especially the first half of this month. Mercury can bring ideas, negotiations and contracts that involve loans, your partner’s finances, taxes and insurance. Venus helps you attract what you want from others.

CAREER innovations come to the forefront around the Full Moon on the 21st. The new steps you might be deciding on there might necessitate changes in 2-3 other areas of your life. The active energies in April will help you figure it all out.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Out with the Moon..

Today the moon enters it's final phase before becoming a "new" moon. Astrologer KT suggests that this phase is when we can:

let go of outmoded habits, possessions, relationships or anything else that might be preventing us from moving on to the next phase of life. Acknowledge what you're releasing. Recognize how it has benefited you in the past, but accept that those days are gone. Then let it go. When you start following the Moon's rhythms, you'll find that this is a very natural way to organize your life and bring yourself into synch with the cycles of nature.

I love this idea of cycles.. of spending part of a month finishing things, letting them go and clearing the decks so that a phase can begin with the new moon.

I'm going on away for 4 days with some friends beginning this afternoon. I am almost certain that this will be the last time I go on this particular retreat. So I will spend these days acknowledging the relations for what they have been and for what they are. Then release my expectations for something different. I'm not quitting the friendships, just quitting this weekend. I think I've grown away from it.

There are other ways that I've started to release those things that hold me down: old clothes, never-to-be-completed UFOs, home decore items that just don't work.

Things won't be finished by the new moon.. there are still phases to go..



I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Communities Build By the Web: Hello Spiders

(reposted from BlogHer)

Spiders is a face-to-face knitting group that is connected online. As they explain:

In April of 2005, two friends and knitters attended a Yarn Harlot book event in New York City and met a few friendly knitters. Those knitters realized they all had knitting blogs, and connecting through wonder of the internet, met up with a few other knit-bloggers at a Teva Durham book event. That small group decided to start knitting together on Fridays at The Point. We'd bring a friend now and then and the group would get a little bigger. A Husband-of-a-Knitter called us The Spiders (we knit and we're on the web - duh!) and the name stuck.

Since that Spring of 2005, through more chance encounters, friendly introductions, and the beauty of the knit-blog community, our little knitting group has blossomed into a circle of friendship. We are proud of the way our group of friends has grown organically through existing friendships and our blogs. While we came together to knit, we now come together as friends.

There are 21 Spider's blog listed at the site. Check them out!

An Abundance of Lisa blogged about the Spiders recent annual trip to Marie's. While they were there, each member swapped one hand-knit sock with another. The photo showing a circle of pointy-toed, sock-happy feet in a variety of colors is fabulous!

Blue Garter is a charter member who now lives in Portland, Or. Which means, she missed the trip to Brooklyn, but took her own trip to Madrona and a class with Nancy Bush (who writes fabulous books about knitting socks). I [heart] Nancy Bush's work and thus love this description:

Nancy is just as enlightened and patient and down-to-earth as you might imagine, and she is also taller. Picture a towering benevolent queen in sensible neutrals with pockets conveniently located for stowing balls of yarn, radiating a halo of knitterly wisdom through the yarnovers of her exquisite cobweb of an Estonian lace shawl. Add spectacles and an abundance of woolen-spun hair the color of her skirt. I didn’t bring my camera, so that will have to suffice.

Gleek.net has the full run-down of the Spiders get together.

Methinks there are a couple physics majors in the crowd. Why?

Physicsknits is one clue. Read about the two patterns she has published in the Spring issue of Interweave Knits.

Then there is Schrodinger Knits. Which makes me think about Schrodinger's Cat... but I don't see anything about quantum mechanics on her blog, so maybe it's just me. But Schrodinger (the knitter) did let the cat out of the bag about how this group organized their exchange. I had never heard of this site before, so I'm sharing: Elfster. I may just have to organize a gift exchange so I can play here!

It's fun to read about real life groups that share their togetherness on the web. This next weekend, I'll be out of town with my f2f group and writing about the experience next week. Imagine me "unconnected" for the better part of 4 days!

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Links for 2/24./08

A quick post with a couple links you might totally enjoy:

I spent almost an hour yesterday scrolling through the archives at On My Desk. This is group blog where artists share photos of their work. Quite literally: if you are an artist, what's on your desk? Curiosity with a touch of voyeurism.

BlogHer Fashion editor Susan Wagner suggested this week that one major fashion mistake many people make is to look too plain. She suggested that we dress up our t-shirt and jeans with a distinctive "signature" piece of jewelry. This knitted beaded cuff is on my shortlist of signature pieces to make.

But first... I've got the keys picked out; I've melted the holes in them. I have to make a necklace similar to this one! Except mine will dangle from a leather cord.

Finally, for your Oscar-night entertainment, you can print out your own ballot, vote early and see if you agree with the Academy.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

I Need A Mac Guru...

I need a Mac Guru.

If you know somebody who could help, would please have them email me? I'll give you the specifics:

A couple weeks ago, I was generously gifted a G4 mac tower. I have equipped with the appropriate, but reasonable, "toys": keyboard, mouse, flat screen monitor (on sale for $100! W00T!), card reader, FireWire for transferring multimedia, and a Hawking USB wireless adapter. The tower was configured for ethernet connections to the internet and no "airport" (is that it?) but our modem is a different floor than the machine and I'd rather not move it up to the spouser's office. (I'm sure he doesn't want it up there either).

Now the problem:

I have configured the USB wireless and it is receiving signals clear as day.

The system doesn't know it exists and will not connect to the internet.

The "create a new network" does not give me the option of saying "connect through this wireless adapter".

I'm clueless what steps to take next and frustrated almost to the point of tears, breaking things or avoidance. Not what you want to feel after such a generous act. NOT the "great fun" everyone has been promising with this machine, though it is beginning to be a little fun to play with. Heck, I thought the big challenge would be getting used to using a keyboard and mouse after 12 years of laptops! (and yes, that is a BIG challenge).

BTW, since I've been a long-time windows worker, I know to close a program by clicking on the icons in the upper right of the screen. Why did Mac think that clicking the upper left is so much more "intuitive"? It's not. I'm looking that THOSE type of challenges more as ways to grow strong connections in my brain (challenge that gray and white matter! make it strong!).

Still, I'm curious by the decision. When I close a book, I close it right to left; when I bookmark a page in a book, I move from right to left. Why was it "intuitive" to close from the left? You Mac afficianoados chat amonst yourselves and let me know.

And if a guru somewhere can get my mac talking to the internets.. I'll be forever grateful. For now, I'm gonna stop whining and sign off from my Vista (sucks rocks)-platform laptop.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Clothes: Keeping Only What Fits or What Still Has Life?

It's approaching the end of winter.. approaching, I'm not saying it's here yet. The ornamental stone fruit trees are blooming, the days are getting longer. The end of winter is approaching. Which means I'm going through my closet and meager collection of the clothes beginning to decide what I keep and what I get rid of.

I am NOT one of those people who saves clothes for years even if I never wear them and they don't fit. I can imagine using something in the next 6 months or it's passed on to someone who might.

And here's my dilemma. So far it's been easy to get rid of pants when they get too large: they start falling off my butt. But how do I decide about t-shirts and tops?

I have about 6 x-large stretch cotton t-shirt that ARE too big on me. The shoulder seams drop 1" below my shoulders and it hangs loosely over the bust. The shirts, probably because of the stretch, hang loose but do not hang like sacks. My 100% cotton t's have been relegated to night shirts or the

Do I keep them?

My argument for keeping them: those days when I'm working outside, when it's hot and I want something further away from my skin. The argument for giving them away: I'm not wearing that size anymore. And someone who IS wearing that size could use them.

What about the dresses and jackets that hang more loosely?

So what's your take? I suspect everybody will say that keeping the looser fitting clothing (if it does not hang like a sack) can do no harm.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

I [Heart] Felt

Last week I received a preview copy of I [Heart] Felt by Kathleen Taylor. While I felt (technically full) all the time (using thrifted sweaters), and while I knit (though not nearly enough), this is the first time I've sat down to look at a book about knitting and felting items.

Most of the felting items I've seen, while practical and perfectly serviceable, have been - must I say it? - a bit boring. I know, you can point to many projects that aren't so it's just my impression. Still. It was my impression.

Now? I'm grabbing my sticks, looking for colorful wool yarns, and jumping onto the knit-and-felt bus! As Kathleen says in her foreward:

I want felted bags, and slippers, and potholders, and hats, and mittens, and decorations. I love the look and feel of felted items, but knitting is not only my passion, it's my comfort and my refuge. And when the knitting is boring, the results are boring.

What's the cure for all this boredom? Pushing your felting to the extreme. Don't be afraid to knit with finer yarns and smaller needles; to strand novelty yarns with wool yarns for great new textures; to experiment with barely felted cable stitches that keep their definition; to expand the design possibilities with felted Fair Isle and intarsia; and, finally, to finish projects with folk-art touches such as beading, appliqué, and needlefelting. All of these are great ways to jazz up your felting, as you'll see in the following chapters.

After all, it's so important to explore color, texture, and embellishment. Take yourself, and your knitting, beyond boredom to fun and fabulous with the projects in this book.

Just plain have fun.

The projects in this book are stunning! Lots of felted purses (sigh), adorable hats (I can't wear them, but I could make them as gifts, right?). Kathleen even discusses lightly (very lightly) felting cabled sweaters to keep them from stretching out of shape! There is a felted project (or three) for every knitter who imagines they might want to try it.

This purse made everyone who saw my copy exclaim "Oh! Cute!" This alone is reason to get the book.
What are other bloggers saying about this book?

The CraftGossip Blog is giving away their pre-release copy to the commenter who begs the nicest leaves the best reason.

I'm Knitting As Fast As I Can appreciated that Kathleen used easily obtainable and affordable yarns for all these projects.

Heather at DIY Life loves that :

it includes complete instructions for how felt from the ground up, with all the information a person needs to go from knowing nothing, to being a confident felter.

Before I forget: Kathleen has her own blog.


I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Barrel Cactus Up The Wall

Barrel Cactus Up The Wall
Originally uploaded by darinhercules

Testing the ability of posting blogposts directly from Flickr. So far, I likey!

A Love Letter to My Body

BlogHer is premiering a new separate topic area today: Body Image by encouraging us all to write a Love Letter to Our Body.

Dearest Body of Deb,

I haven't told you recently - ever? - that I love you. You make me possible yet I take you granted. I'm sorry.

In the past I have felt disdain for you. You were thicker, taller, shorter, skinnier, fatter, weaker, tighter, looser, lighter, darker than I desired. You were out of control; too slow or too fast in responding. At times, I could not trust you.

In the past I have felt betrayed by you: You have poor eyesight and bad blood fats. You have a brain that did not respond well to the female hormones you created. You have allergies. You have tendons that tend to inflame.

Still, in 55 years, 7 months, and 14 days you have never stopped being there for me.

So, today I celebrate your better qualities and make promises to you:

You possess a brain still capable of learning new things. I promise to challenge this capability with physical and mental tasks that make this brain grow and live!

You possess strong bones. I promise to provide you with calcium and the weight bearing exercises to keep these bones strong.

You possess strength. I promise to continue challenging that strength.

You posses energy. I promise to give you 8 hours rest each night to restore this energy.

You possess health. I promise to champion your health with the foods and medications that make it possible.

You possess a voice. I promise to use it for good. And to sing every so often to make it happy.

You possess a heart. I promise to fill it with joy and caring.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Mark Your Calendars

My life has been permanently altered by my association with BlogHer. I've been open about that in the past and I'll remain committed to their passions and ideals in the future. This year, the big BlogHer Con will be held in San Francisco July 18-20th. I hope you consider making your way out here to join us. Last years con in Chicago was days of total energy and love.

However, if you're living of the Mississippi and just don't believe that you'll be able to make it, there is still hope. The BlogHer Road Show will be hitting the streets in October, making 6 stops from Boston to New Orleans. Surely one of these places is close enough for you to consider coming by and saying hi!

From Kristy Sammis:

BlogHer's Reach Out Tour Dates Announced

In October of 2008, BlogHer is launching its first-ever road show! For those members of our community who can't make it to the annual event (and for those who can but simply want MORE), this year BlogHer will be bringing the conference to cities down the Eastern Seaboard and into the South.

Each city stop will include a full-day conference and cocktail party. Programming will vary slightly from city to city, and you're welcome to come to as many cities as you like!

Registration will open in March, but for now we ask you to mark your calendars:

Boston - Saturday, October 11
DC - Monday, October 13
Nashville - Thursday, October 16
Greensboro - Saturday, October 18
Atlanta - Tuesday, October 21
New Orleans - Saturday, October 25

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

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Big Things

Proof of life: The spouser and Katy (where's Jake) during our walk at Pt. Pinole on Saturday. (hey, someone had to take the picture.. and that someone would be me!)

Yesterday I claimed to be busy with several things that have distracted me from blogging. Yet I know you can't know if those big things are staring mindlessly into space and picking ticks off the dogs or something more enterprising.

So I'm going to give you a tiny glimpse of some of the big things (without actually telling you about the big things..)

Big Thing #1. Is a project I have mentioned before I want to undertake. It will involve a number of artists and crafters and require about 25 hours work a month on my part (unless I can farm some of it out). So I need to do the research so this sound so pretty that someone will be willing to pay for it. Does it sound pretty yet?

Big Thing #2: Is a talk and/or article. Has an audience. Needs research and a wiki. I'm about 2 hours into what will probably be about 20-40 hours work.

Big Thing #3: One friend describes this project as the meaning of life. Another calls in a revolution. I think it's quite Buddhist in nature.. though I'm not a Buddhist (hmm.. should I be? could I be?). I hope to get it live in about a week or so (really wanted it before Valentine's Day, but I don't think that's realistic anymore). Will take time to set up and then most of it should be fairly automatic. It's the setting up part (which is way outside my comfort zone).

Plus person life stuff like taxes and annual doctor visits that suck life outta a day.

Really, doesn't sound like I'm living a great life with wild possibilities in the future? I can't wait until I can share more with ya.

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

I'm Fine, Really...

It has been pointed out to me that my normal amount of bloggarhea has been greatly curtailed as late. And a query if my health (mental or physical) was causing it made me decide that I must make a more concerted effort to update y'all on my life.

I'm busy. So I sometimes forget to blog. Sorry.

Let me use today as an example:

• I woke up too early: 6 am. Came downstairs, got coffee, checked email and websites, made a couple comments, fed the dogs, took a bath. It was then almost 9 am.
• Grocery shopped.
• Walked the dogs.
• Hung a load of clothes on the line to dry.
• Went to the gym at 11 am. Worked out. Left said gym at 1 pm.
• Drove to San Francisco to see my friend Sarah who gave me an old Mac! (Yes, you read that correctly, she gave me a Mac!). Over the Bay Bridge, down 101 and 280 and out near the Ocean.
• Walked from her apartment down to the beach to look at the magnificence that is the Pacific Ocean.
• Walked back up the hill to her house. (remember there was earlier this 1.5 hour workout). It has phased me not at all, as I am a lean, mean, kick-ass fit woman!
• Drove home through Presidio Park, over the Golden Gate bridge, through Marin to the San Rafael Bridge to Richmond and home. A perfectly pretty round trip!
• And now I'm home checking email, checking websites, commenting on a few, remembering to blog.
  
• Next: dinner, a soak in the tub and most likely a early night to bed.

Tomorrow is bringing a roofer, a workout, and a night with friends. Who knows what else??

I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Concentration

intention for the day: Avoid distractions. Fine-tune Focus.

I've noticed that much of my day can be determined by my mood the instant I awake.

The days that I wake clear-headed, excited about some project, just plain happy - those are the days that unroll at least the way I envision them or better.

The days that I wake tense, tenuous, fuzzy-brained - those days I struggle to find words, find focus, be productive at all. The day struggles along in fits and starts that accomplish little.

I'm starting to recognize those days and create plans ahead of time to deal with them. If I'm lucky, I can spend those days cleaning up, winding up projects. There are times when there isn't any choice: I must do bookkeeping, writing, or some detail work. Then I break the job down into very small segments of time.

Often a period of good aerobic exercise will increase concentration times. So a long stint on the elliptical (and some weight training for focus) is in my plan this morning.



I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Tee Shirt Teaser

I know.

Don't faint.

I'm going to be writing about quilting. (but not my own).

My friend, Roberta Deluz, has written a book that will be published by C&T this month. And I'm thinking this is a book that many of you may want in your library. Why? Roberta can help you design a t-shirt quilt that doesn't look like all dull, boring t-shirt quilts we've been making low these many years. The book is called: Terrific Tees

The photo here is a detail of her first T-shirt quilt which contained a number of shirts won during years of doing the Bay to Breakers race. Yeah, Roberta is a little compulsive. She designed and appliqued all those SF scenes... and pieces all those variable flying geese. But don't let that scare you away from the book.

Take a look at the preview page from her book. Those quilts on the right hand side:

The purple one with the hearts is a fund-raiser quilt for the RELAY FOR LIFE. Roberta makes and raffles off a quilt every year during the race; this was one. There are (I think) 6 t-shirts in there, but they blend with the piecing perfectly. Don't they?

The dark blue square quilt? T-shirts from a boy's time in softball.

The black one with her "signature" "insane amount of appliqued feathers border"? Commemorates years spent at Cotton Patch's now defunct Brown Avenue Quilt Show.

Wouldn't making a quilt with design be so much nicer than simply sewing together squares of t-shirt fabric and having to tie it? The book will be available after 2/14/08. Go bug your LQS to order it. I've seen it... it's fabulous.

oh, and no.. I do not have a quilt in the book, but I am working on a quilt based upon her technique.

Image credit: C&T Publishing,

also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.
T-shirt Quilts,
RobertaDeluz
quilting
C&T Publishing

Are You Wearing Red Today??

My intention for the day: bring joy with me.

Are you wearing read today? I am. That's because today kicks off American Heart Month and so today is National Wear Red Day. It snuck up on me, or I'd warned you about it sooner. (this silly changing months on Friday! Who thinks of that?).

I am regularly upset that we women will stand up and loudly encourage and advocate for women to get their mammograms. Yes, breast cancer is prevelant and scary. Yes, if you die from it, it's painful and horrid. However, breast cancer is not even in the top 5 causes of women's death.

The #1 killer of women of heart disease. Yet do we stand as loudly and say: Get a blood test! Know your cholesterol! Know your risks!

No.

Why not?

I've said it before. When my father had his quadruple bypass surgery, I was 35. I went into my family doctor and requested a lipid profile. He thought I was too young to worry about it, but agreed that a baseline test would be a good idea. While my baseline cholesterol was high - about 265 - what concerned him most was that my HDL - the good kind of cholesterol- was lower than he had ever seen. It was 18. It should be over 35.

Diet and exercise increased it eventually to 19, but I never broke the 20s without medication. And nobody seriously thought that a pre-menopausal woman really needed medication. I argued for a while and convinced every doctor I had to keep me on something.

I currently take the lowest doseage of Lipitor. Last test was not where I would like my cholesterol to be, but I was below the danger line. More importantly, my HDLs were up to 65. That's where they went as soon as I started using meds, and they have high since then.

In my case, taking action early and being an advocate for my own health means that I did not have the heart attack that was likely awaiting me in my late 40s-early 50s. Would it have been mild and a warning or deadly? We'll never know.

Recent reports are showing an ever increasing number of young women having strokes and heart attacks. NOT young like 40.. young like 25-30. YOUNG. In many of those cases it poor diet and lack of exercise; they can reverse the damage they've done to their bodies if they start paying attention today.

How about you?

Do you know your risk of heart disease? Do you know your numbers? Are you doing what you can to be heart-healthy?

And are you wearing red today?



I also blog at: Deb's Daily Distractions where I blogged about February's horoscopes, and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.