Scarf of Many Colors

On Friday I attended the second day of the two part workshop given by Debbie Cooper for the Michigan Weavers Guild on woven shibori.  I missed the first part on the weaving when I was in Ohio for a funeral.  One of the others in the workshop was nice enough to weave my samples for me.  Between the January workshop and Friday - we were to complete our scarf and then learn Debbie's dying techniques.  I had no particular colors I was interested in so decided to do I multi colored scarf in the jewel tones I gravitate to.  A bit colorful but a great reference for some future combinations.  Weave structure was monks belt supplemental warps with 10/2 mercerized cotton.

Day 3 Indoor-Outdoor

New tree on side of house - believe it is witch hazel but need to look at my landscape plan.  I decided to use my small camera and then crop it since I cant get as close as I wanted.  The "indoor" picture was without cropping when Frank suggested I take a picture of the "dead dog"

Day 2

Thought I would try a picture of the day for a while.  Today is day 2.  I am not happy with either one of them.   The outdoor one is a house they are demolishing in Birmingham.  I need to look at it closer once I take it - I cut of the top of the window and the others I took of the house were not very interesting.  The indoor picture is of a scarf I like the pattern on.  I need to learn how to photograph material better.  It is good to have goals.

Indoor/Outdoor Pictures of the Day

Haven't gotten the camera out in a while so thought I would get it out and try an outdoor picture of the day and an indoor picture of the day.  Of course to get one picture to post you need to take more than one.  The outdoor picture shows what kind of weekend we have add.  The picture is from the "pond" in the street in front of the house.  The indoor picture is from a basket I purchased at an estate sale a month or two ago.

The State Champion!

I am the official Michigan Indoor 3KM Racewalk Champion for 2010.  Of course it was very easy - I was the only one racing that distance.  The race is usually a 3KM but this year they added a 5KM Regional Championship.   Everyone else did that distance.  Frank suggested I walk that race since it was a "bigger medal".  Too much work and since I am usually last I decided I didn't want to be out there so long.  So.....
I was able to be the winner.    You can see the results here.... http://www.pegasusac.org/Pegasus_Walkers_AC/2010_Race_Results.html

Another Encaustic Monotype Workshop

Took another workshop in encaustic monotypes with Leslie Sobel.  I believe I like this technique better than the other type.  I found the following description on the internet.


The Encaustic Monotype is an innovative, contemporary process and a painterly approach to printmaking. This process is experimental, freeing, and has been used successfully with a range of imagery and styles. The encaustic monotype combines the ancient painting medium of encaustic with the popular monotype process. Encaustic sticks (beeswax and pigment in solid form) are used to draw on a heated metal plate. The wax melts instantly and is manipulated with brushes and other tools. Absorbent paper is laid on the plate, the back is rubbed, and the image is transferred to the paper by hand.


I decided to try a couple pieces with color combinations that I do not usually use.  You can see a sample of what I did.

If I Can't Travel - At Least Read

Just finished "The Best American Travel Writing".  It is my "purse" book which is one I carry around in my purse for when I go somewhere and am waiting, stuck stopped on the freeway with the car stopped (that has happened to me), or at a restaurant by my self.

It can never be a novel - it may not be opened for a month and that to long for me to remember what has been happening.  So it is usually essays, and once and a while short stories (which I am not a great fan off but I do read a few authors.

The two stories I found most interesting were one about a delivery in Antarctica and the one with the best title "A Keilbasa Too Far", about being sick on you travels.  May you never experience it.