a Card Idea

Recently one of the nuns celebrated her 50th year as a monastic. I had hoped to make her a special card for the occasion, Onida, on the other hand, had other plans. She thought she would offer some help in the creative process resulting in the loss of approximately 12 rows. I keep telling her she can’t knit with her teeth. This put me a bit off schedule, but I am determined to finish the project …..belated, but offered, still, with love.

To achieve the look and size and fit the space I needed I had to modify the pattern, by knitting only the middle panel only. Lace weight yarn was too thick so I chose cobweb weight cashmere from Colourmart. Trying to find knitting needles small enough was a little more difficult. I had a size #00 pair that still did not lend well to the look I wanted so I ended up using some short blocking pins. I just glued some wood beads on one end of each to prevent the work from slipping off. Working with this small size of pins and weight yarn presented obvious visual concerns, which were resolved with good lighting and high magnified reading glasses.

Once finished I will attach this piecework to the front of a handmade card, either by tacking each corner with string, or finding an adhesive that can be easily removed from the fabric so that the knitted piece can be separated from the card itself and either displayed as a small wall or window hanging, placed on a dresser or small table as a doily, or even used as a marker of sorts. I will use a cardstock in a colour that will allow the piece to display nicely, or use a coloured mat on white cardstock. If this turns out as I hope I will knit, smaller, less ambitious lace swatches and create novelty cards to be sold at the monastery to help with their building fund.

Dixie Dingo

Currently our home is busting with a flurry of joyful activity by way of our new addition to the family/pack. Onida, a Native American name which translates to "the one searched for", is a Carolina Dog or "Dixie Dingo". Still considered as “pariah” this breed is currently being established and just recognized as a “rare breed” by UKC. Onida’s mother was a capture from the Savannah River area, her father is only a generation or so removed from the wild and we can recognize some characteristics and/or personality traits that reflect their pariah existence.

These dogs have a very interesting history. They were originally kept by Native Americans, their skeletons have be found in local burial grounds, so since my dh is Native American and we live in South Carolina, when it came time to consider bringing another dog into the family these factors were given thoughtful attention. We wanted a dog that could tolerate the local environment, especially since dh spends so much of his time on the rivers and swamp in this area, the Carolina dog seemed like a natural choice.

It has been 16 years since we have had a puppy in the house and while I am still a little anxious about doing everything right to provide a happy and safe environment, watching a lot of Cesar, the 'dog whisperer" and Victoria, from “It’s me or the dog”, even before bringing Onida home has been very helpful.

The few weeks Onida has been with us she has proven to be a very fast learner. She only had to be reminded twice that outside was the place to go potty and has mastered all the basic commands (come, sit, stay, lie down, roll). Training is a pleasant experience for both parties….I wish I could take all the credit but a good part of it is due to her desire to please. She took, right away, to the other members of the family, though we are currently working on taking care not to get too enthusiastic when playing with the cat or rabbit. She thinks Crispin, the rabbit, is an ambulating chew toy, she doesn’t try to hurt him; it’s just that those ears are so tempting. She had also taken a real interest in fibre crafts and has tried to help me with several of my knitting projects which has really put me behind and why I have not had time to post here. While I appreciated her interest We have decided that her talents lie elsewhere, like retrieving balls, and sticks, digging up roots, hiding in the bullis vines, maneuvering tall grasses, herding the chickens, etc. and of course, those she has proven especially talented at, looking cute, bringing a smile to everyone's face and helping us all start our days with joy, reminding us of God's many blessings, which can be found in a furry face.

Good-bye to a Dear Friend

Friday we, my husband and I, had to make a very painful decision to help our dear friend end her suffering. Mika was a loved part of our family for nearly 16 years. We adopted her from our local Animal Shelter as a pup. Because my husband and I do not have children we were one of those pet loving couples who treat their furbabies like children. Not to mention our respect for all God's creation.

Mika enjoyed camping and hiking but she especially loved anything to do with open water. We enjoyed many years canoeing the rivers of South Carolina (the Enorree, Elloree, Wateree,Edisto) and since we live so close to the Congaree swamp we spent many an afternoon enjoying the treasures this beautiful swamp offers. A few years ago when chronic pain from Fibromyalgia, herniated disc and other congenital back defects limited my participation in these activities, Mika continued to accompany my husband on weekly trips that I could not take. Her departure has been especially hard on him.

We discovered a tumor about a month ago on Mika's back hip which grew so fast and for the past several weeks she was in tremendous pain that could not be relieved with Rimadyl and Toradol together. Even homeopathic treatments offered no hope and at her age surgery, even if indicated, was not an option. These past few days were so hard watching her struggle to get some kind of comfort, she did not even want to lie down and would just stand in one spot until fatigue forced her back down. She would fall trying to manage just the few steps outside our front door and would need assistance to climb back up them.

Last Sunday dh took her on her last boat ride. He took great care not to cause any physical strain and considered not taking her at all if not that those outings were all she lived for.

With the vet's assurance that allowing her to continue the way she was, even for a couple days, would only cause more suffering, and that all other options were exhausted, DH lay on the vet's exam room floor with her as she quietly slipped away. Now we focus on the good times. How she would open the tent door at the crack of dawn and you could hear her splashing in the river before anyone else stirred. I remember the time I planted pansies only to find her behind me unearthing and throwing those just planted in the air. How she would pull the hair ties from my hair and toss them in the air and delight in catching them without fail, standing at the front of the canoe as if she were guiding the group down the river..... I am trying to take comfort knowing that God does not create just to throw away and I believe she is now running, chasing deer, or swimming a nice cool stream with other furbabies that have gone before her.

Good-bye my dear friend.

Collie Coinpurse

Several years back on one of my visits to the monastery I was brushing one of the dogs the nuns care for, a collie-mix, and as I emptied each brush I wondered how well it would spin. I brought it home and my first concern was whether this particular fibre would be best to spin in the grease because of it’s texture. It could be less manageable, tricky at best. Because it is a finer fibre, with little crimp it took some getting used to spinning. I had to spin it tighter than I am used to and I was not totally happy with the results, some places were over spun, but even more disappointing was the mud colour, void of anything resembling luster. So before investing too much time into a larger project, I have in mind to knit or weave an icon scarf for the monastery, I decided to try a smaller project, hoping after it is washed, the fibre, would offer something promising. In addition that particular dog that yielded the fibre journeyed beyond this life unexpectedly. The nuns acquired two more collies and have been bringing me fibre after each brushing, so I wanted to make something from the previous dog exclusively, before blending with the others.

Spin-off magazine featured an article on spinning dog fibre several months ago, which included a pattern for a beaded knit coin purse. I thought this would be something they could find a use for that would remind them of their recently departed companion, or it could be good practice. The biggest obstacle was stringing the beads. Because of the incongruity of my first effort at spinning this kind of fibre there were places where passing the yarn through the beads was a real struggle, still, as with any handspun yarn, it knitted very nicely despite the diversity in gauge. It’s amazing how yarn now matter how inconsistent seems to fall into place nicely when creating with it. The finished project was slightly biased due to overspinning but once sewn together, a zipper in place and blocked it kept it’s correct shape, not too bad for a first effort, but the real test, washing. It was amazing how much dirt came from approximately 50 yards, my guess, but what was so pleasing…was what emerged. Beautiful, unexpectedly soft, fibre.

I am constantly awe-inspired by God’s great wonders perceptable in fibre arts. How can anyone not contemplate the animal that offered it’s fibre and the miracle that is each animal that He gave for our use, and care.

Charities

'Tis the Season when we are constantly reminded through flickering lights, seasonal music with religious overtones, lighted candles, ringing bells, red kettles and white bearded men in red suits, even program specials on television, that promote "Peace on earth, good will toward man", that it is better to give than receive, and Charity is a virtue that should be observed all year.

As a fibre artist, what better way to use my God given talent than to help others? Google "knitted charities", as I did, and you are offered various links including the ones found at the left side of this page under the heading "Making a difference through Knitting". Unfortunately even the best intentions can become calamitous, especially if not researched well beforehand, as I found out recently. In this particular instance what I thought, especially as an animal lover, to be quite sapient, how clever to find an organization that provide people in need animals to better their financial and environmental situation, can, in point of fact, have some rather worrisome obscure concerns.

This particular organization in question promotes itself as a caring group, and on that part I have no reason to dispute, through your donations, they gift a family with an animal that can, and quite possibly will, help meet a more immediate need. Visiting their site you can view a nice slideshow of little children holding cute little baby animals, smiling with captions that include such wonderful, positive and affirmative words like "hope, blessings, disaster rehabilitation". I have no doubt that this organization has indeed accomplished just what they publicize. I remember being very excited when I read about their "Knitting Basket" program that offer fibre animals to households that by spinning, weaving and or knitting the fibre these animals produce they are ablthemselveshemeselves out of poverty and on their way to financial independence. How can there be anything wrong with that? But there is more to the story. If you look more toward long term you begin to see some real concerns, like land management, veterinary support and adequate housing. I suspect this particular organization has helped many families and I am not suggesting that they aren't doing what they feel is best for all concerned, the animals as well as humanity. Nor is it my intention to pick on them, suggesting they are the only organization that does not address these concerns. I am only trying to illustrate our responsibility to ask questions, research and take care where we direct our hard earned monies, resource and good intentions. And when I investigated this is what I found:
Animal rights vs. Livestock Donations
More Hype than Hope
Why giving a goat for Christmas hinders those in Poverty
Critics urge charities to give up the goat

Crispin and Melangell

I thought I would post this picture my dh took last night, of me and our new furbaby, Mr. Crispin ProudNeck. We are still getting to know each other but I think he is beginning to see me in a better light. Instead of associating me with the daily brushings alone, he now recognizes that I am the one who offers him those yummy apples, turnip and mustard greens and no longer tries to run from me every time I approach him.

Isn't that the sweetest face? And his fibre, though he is not yielding much just now being that we are approaching winter, is, as you can see, absolutely gorgeous. While our colouring, his hair (fibre) and mine, very nearly match, I could never hope to match it's softness.

Crispin Proud Neck

Every year for the past 6 or so, I look forward, with great anticipation to a trip to Asheville, for two special reasons, colours and fibre. The last weekend in October, when God's glory is evident in the colours of his creation the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair takes place in Asheville NC. The view alone is worth the trip. The trees are out in their most colourful dress which lends to a normally mundane 2 hours inside a car, something I usually dread and find most painful, a fuel for creativity. The mountains in all their glory distract me from the pain, and the excitement of gathering with other fibre enthusiasts and their fibre animals finds me all but enjoying a most physically unenjoyable ride. Unfortunately for EM, who was driving, it was raining, which did not make the drive for her very pleasant. Still we were all smiles the closer we got and forgot all about the negative components of the trip once we arrived.

I had been saving, a good part of the year, for my planned purchases. Living in the south we are hard pressed to find natural fibre sold in local stores let alone spinning and weaving supplies. So once a year we get to participate in a fair where fibre vendors from all over the nation sell their wares.

Over the years I have pretty much stocked up on the essentials for my various crafts but I always enjoy finding good buys on natural fibres in various stages of needs, from raw to spun and dyed. Beside the odd tapestry beater to replace the one dropped and broken during the demonstration at our local State Fair, and the occasional good deal on spun dyed linen and or wool my favorite purchase was Crispin.

Since I had to give up my spinner's herd of angora goats, earlier this year due to my concerns over shearing them with my physical limitations, which was making it harder over the years as the goats put on more weight and my back pain worsened, I thought I might try a smaller fibre animal. I decided on English angora rabbits. I had enjoyed house rabbits as a teen and a young woman, so beside the obvious concern that their long fibre would need addressing, I feel confident that I should be able to create a healthy environment for them. I decided to start with one, get the feel for how many I would physically be able to manage and also to afford more time for bonding and training him to sit still while I brushed to harvest his fibre.

I came home with a 4 month old chestnut buck. We are slowly getting to know each other. He has so much more to get familiar with than I obviously, especially with the other furbabies in the house, namely Mika our 14 year old dog, the queen of all she surveys, and Kiki, my lovable male cat who is such a sweetheart I just knew there would be no problem with him. I named the little guy Crispin then later gave him the rest of his name "Proud Neck" as he has a habit of posturing, as most rabbits do when they are ignoring you, by sitting with his back to me he won't even turn his neck to glance in my direction as if to say he has no use for me and the horrid brush. Still I feel sure as time goes on and expectations are realized, boundaries are set and wills have been broken :-) we will all get along just fine.

My patron saint, St. Melangell, left Ireland fleeing an arranged marriage and to devote her life to God. She was found praying in a field by a hunter and his dogs as they chased a rabbit, seeking shelter in the folds of her dress. The dogs would not approach, even with coaxing from the hunter. When questioned she explained that she had lived as a hermit for 15 years devoting her life to God and when it became evident to the hunter, who owned the land, that she was committed to God, he gave her a piece of his property to build a monastery. I have asked St. Melangell, who's churches in Wales include rabbit sanctuaries on the grounds, for help in understanding Crispin's needs so I will have some expert guidance.

It all began...

My first real introduction into the world of Fibre, other than my mother's attempt to teach me knitting as a young girl, which I quickly became quite bored with as more important interests kept me busy, began at the beginning of the new millennium. I happened to catch a television show on spinning and weaving, thought how neat it would be to learn, and if I was going to learn I was going to start from the beginning. I fell in love with each new fibre experience, from goat to coat, hard, fast and have not looked back.

This includes caring for a small spinner's herd of angora goats as well as spinning, weaving, knitting, felting, natural dyeing and more. If you are interested I invite you to read an article I wrote for Country Side magazine that illustrates how I began My Fiber Adventures.

Unfortunately I live in an area where my excitement for fiber arts is not shared. It is really too hot to enjoy wool articles and where there is no need, there is very little interest. So for awhile I had to be content in being the lone participant in my fibre adventures. My dear husband encouraged me but beyond that his only interest is in the occasional hat, slippers or other articles of clothing that I make for him.

After teaching myself to spin a loom almost literally fell into my lap. I got such a good deal on it I could not refuse and so with the help of Deborah Chandler's book, "Learning to Weave" I began to do just that, learn to weave. I decided to join an online discussion list for weavers as an attempt at some kind of contact with others who enjoy working with natural fibre and met someone who I found, to my delight, lived, not only in the same state but the same town. Finally someone to share my growing love of fiber with. We met offline and have become fast friends.

My fibre sister and I have done all that we can to promote interest in fibre art here. This includes demonstrations to a local knitting guild, library, yearly demonstrations to our state fair and the occasional private lessons. While we do get encouragement in the form of positive feedback about how nice it is that someone is still creating clothing as it was done in the not too distant past, still these comments quickly turn to how little time they have to devote to spinning or weaving. Even when they ask for private lessons and it seems as though we may have enough interest to start a guild they soon either grow board or find they don't have the time to keep the interest up. So we keep demonstrating, educating and hoping.

Together my fibre sister and I have spent many a Sunday afternoon experimenting and exploring other fibre activities such as natural dyeing, felting and I have even picked up knitting again. Once the needles were back in my hands I found that like riding a bike, it all came back to me nicely.

During one or our yearly trips to Asheville NC for SAFF, the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, I saw a beautiful Orenburg shawl and vowed then and there that my goal was to become talented enough to create something that wonderful.

My first attempt at lace work was this mohair shawl that I created on a triangle loom, which is a story in itself.

The triangle loom was a gift from my husband. I awoke one Nativity eve to the sound of tap...tap...tap... and after lying there for several minutes, listening, curiosity got the better of me and I went to the source to find my dear husband on the floor nailing hundreds of little finishing nails into a triangle loom he had built. As usual he waited almost too late, the eternal procrastinator, one of the things I have learned to love about him. I felt sorry for him so I joined him and together it was finished around 6 am.

The mohair were a gift from my goats who continue to offer me wonderful fibre to work with. The darker stripes in the shawl are a result of dyeing the mohair in black walnut hulls. I was very pleased with the results and even received a 1st prize ribbon at that year's fair. But now I am ready to try my hand at lace knitting, I can only hope my talent matches my enthusiasm.

Before attempting to knit lace I have to spin the yarn for my new project. Last night I started filling my bobbin with lace weight mohair. The trick being how much twist to put into it to produce a stable yarn without the pigtailing, which is a real problem trying to spin so thin.

I managed about 22 w.p.i. and this adventure begins....