I pull out this quilt at least once a year. It was made by the Dishwasher’s great Grandmother Lola and many others. They all signed their names in perfect chain stitch.
It is a marvel. I can identify a few stitches but most are new to me. I’ve been studying on it. Trying to figure out how some of them were done but I have a feeling many of them were made up as they went along. Compound stitches. They stitched along and thought maybe they’d add this one to that one and see how it looked. They used superior thread because none of it is damaged while some of the fabric has frayed badly. Some one’s pants or jacket. I’m certain not one bit of the fabric used was bought for the purpose of making a quilt.

Still stitching away on my own re purposed fabrics. I’m almost done on one. Machine stitching it which goes pretty fast. The other, my boy, that will take a while. I’m definitely hand stitching that one.
My hands are very busy.

I pull out this quilt at least once a year. It was made by the Dishwasher’s great Grandmother Lola and many others. They all signed their names in perfect chain stitch.
It is a marvel. I can identify a few stitches but most are new to me. I’ve been studying on it. Trying to figure out how some of them were done but I have a feeling many of them were made up as they went along. Compound stitches. They stitched along and thought maybe they’d add this one to that one and see how it looked. They used superior thread because none of it is damaged while some of the fabric has frayed badly. Some one’s pants or jacket. I’m certain not one bit of the fabric used was bought for the purpose of making a quilt.

Still stitching away on my own re purposed fabrics. I’m almost done on one. Machine stitching it which goes pretty fast. The other, my boy, that will take a while. I’m definitely hand stitching that one.
My hands are very busy.

this pink thing is a foulard. a headscarf I’m knitting. i was half way through and wondering at how long it was taking me especially since the needles are enormous when i realized I’d dropped a stitch way back at the beginning of time. oh lord baby Jesus. i had to tear it down to that last dropped stitch because i don’t know how to pick it up without tearing it all out. this is why god granted us patience.

the stitched face thing is a stitchery I’ve been working on (and mostly off ) for a long while. I’d printed some mathematical formulas on it to stitch and then threw the whole thing in a teapot to stain and when i sat down to do the stitching the formulas were gone. so. tea staining actually removes ink staining. for those of you who were wondering.

and the doll. i made her years ago. i think I’ve made one for every little girl I’ve ever known. my little Rastafarian dolls. this is the last of them. she seems very comfortable and amused watching all this brou ha ha. (sp?)

The blue elephant was a quick study. something I’d been thinking about. a blue elephant like Rachel’s cake in Rachel getting married. this is the second stitchery inspired by that movie. the first is still in progress as i stitch and tear and stitch and tear my way through to the end.

there are more ideas pouring in every day. this morning’s idea was of vessels. knitted or crocheted and maybe felted. long tall skinny vessels all standing along side each other. this isn’t a new idea it’s just bubbled up to the surface like it and others do from time to time when the pot is on full boil like it is right now.

this pink thing is a foulard. a headscarf I’m knitting. i was half way through and wondering at how long it was taking me especially since the needles are enormous when i realized I’d dropped a stitch way back at the beginning of time. oh lord baby Jesus. i had to tear it down to that last dropped stitch because i don’t know how to pick it up without tearing it all out. this is why god granted us patience.

the stitched face thing is a stitchery I’ve been working on (and mostly off ) for a long while. I’d printed some mathematical formulas on it to stitch and then threw the whole thing in a teapot to stain and when i sat down to do the stitching the formulas were gone. so. tea staining actually removes ink staining. for those of you who were wondering.

and the doll. i made her years ago. i think I’ve made one for every little girl I’ve ever known. my little Rastafarian dolls. this is the last of them. she seems very comfortable and amused watching all this brou ha ha. (sp?)

The blue elephant was a quick study. something I’d been thinking about. a blue elephant like Rachel’s cake in Rachel getting married. this is the second stitchery inspired by that movie. the first is still in progress as i stitch and tear and stitch and tear my way through to the end.

there are more ideas pouring in every day. this morning’s idea was of vessels. knitted or crocheted and maybe felted. long tall skinny vessels all standing along side each other. this isn’t a new idea it’s just bubbled up to the surface like it and others do from time to time when the pot is on full boil like it is right now.

this pink thing is a foulard. a headscarf I’m knitting. i was half way through and wondering at how long it was taking me especially since the needles are enormous when i realized I’d dropped a stitch way back at the beginning of time. oh lord baby Jesus. i had to tear it down to that last dropped stitch because i don’t know how to pick it up without tearing it all out. this is why god granted us patience.

the stitched face thing is a stitchery I’ve been working on (and mostly off ) for a long while. I’d printed some mathematical formulas on it to stitch and then threw the whole thing in a teapot to stain and when i sat down to do the stitching the formulas were gone. so. tea staining actually removes ink staining. for those of you who were wondering.

and the doll. i made her years ago. i think I’ve made one for every little girl I’ve ever known. my little Rastafarian dolls. this is the last of them. she seems very comfortable and amused watching all this brou ha ha. (sp?)

The blue elephant was a quick study. something I’d been thinking about. a blue elephant like Rachel’s cake in Rachel getting married. this is the second stitchery inspired by that movie. the first is still in progress as i stitch and tear and stitch and tear my way through to the end.

there are more ideas pouring in every day. this morning’s idea was of vessels. knitted or crocheted and maybe felted. long tall skinny vessels all standing along side each other. this isn’t a new idea it’s just bubbled up to the surface like it and others do from time to time when the pot is on full boil like it is right now.

I’ve been looking through my mess of recipes. Recently I found this little book I made 4 years ago. According to the back I made 10 but I think that’s a lie. I think I meant to make 10 but made maybe 5. Or 6. They all had the same recipes and pictures but I think I used different papers and doo dads for each one. Each recipe’s ingredient list was folded up and sealed with a wax and ribbon. The pages were made from waxed dipped burlap. I really enjoyed making these. I love this one I kept and actually cooked a recipe from it last week. The Thai Shrimp Bisque. Yum.

It’s almost Thanksgiving and one thing I am especially grateful for this year is that we’re not hosting dinner here. As much as we’ve enjoyed it through the years, this year I’m just not in much of a party mood. Plus I’ve been eating like it’s Thanksgiving all year now that the Dishwasher has discovered the joys of cooking. And how do you top last year’s almost burning down the studio? I say we stop while we’re ahead and go have dinner at Dad’s. Also I’d like to vote for having Duck instead of Turkey.

I’ve been looking through my mess of recipes. Recently I found this little book I made 4 years ago. According to the back I made 10 but I think that’s a lie. I think I meant to make 10 but made maybe 5. Or 6. They all had the same recipes and pictures but I think I used different papers and doo dads for each one. Each recipe’s ingredient list was folded up and sealed with a wax and ribbon. The pages were made from waxed dipped burlap. I really enjoyed making these. I love this one I kept and actually cooked a recipe from it last week. The Thai Shrimp Bisque. Yum.

It’s almost Thanksgiving and one thing I am especially grateful for this year is that we’re not hosting dinner here. As much as we’ve enjoyed it through the years, this year I’m just not in much of a party mood. Plus I’ve been eating like it’s Thanksgiving all year now that the Dishwasher has discovered the joys of cooking. And how do you top last year’s almost burning down the studio? I say we stop while we’re ahead and go have dinner at Dad’s. Also I’d like to vote for having Duck instead of Turkey.

I’ve been looking through my mess of recipes. Recently I found this little book I made 4 years ago. According to the back I made 10 but I think that’s a lie. I think I meant to make 10 but made maybe 5. Or 6. They all had the same recipes and pictures but I think I used different papers and doo dads for each one. Each recipe’s ingredient list was folded up and sealed with a wax and ribbon. The pages were made from waxed dipped burlap. I really enjoyed making these. I love this one I kept and actually cooked a recipe from it last week. The Thai Shrimp Bisque. Yum.

It’s almost Thanksgiving and one thing I am especially grateful for this year is that we’re not hosting dinner here. As much as we’ve enjoyed it through the years, this year I’m just not in much of a party mood. Plus I’ve been eating like it’s Thanksgiving all year now that the Dishwasher has discovered the joys of cooking. And how do you top last year’s almost burning down the studio? I say we stop while we’re ahead and go have dinner at Dad’s. Also I’d like to vote for having Duck instead of Turkey.

Getting ready to go VOTE!

in between sewing and knotting.

Here the first “winter” necklace.

The idea came quickly and so did the execution. My kind of project.

The second one, the one I’m working on now is another story. There has been plenty of hooking up tearing out and gnashing of teeth. I think it’s almost done.

Yay.

Getting ready to go VOTE!

in between sewing and knotting.

Here the first “winter” necklace.

The idea came quickly and so did the execution. My kind of project.

The second one, the one I’m working on now is another story. There has been plenty of hooking up tearing out and gnashing of teeth. I think it’s almost done.

Yay.

Getting ready to go VOTE!

in between sewing and knotting.

Here the first “winter” necklace.

The idea came quickly and so did the execution. My kind of project.

The second one, the one I’m working on now is another story. There has been plenty of hooking up tearing out and gnashing of teeth. I think it’s almost done.

Yay.

What to do while waiting for the bomb to go off.

Make a freeform peyote bracelet. Or two. This one looks much better close up like this. The color variation in the beads is not as visible in real life.

Learn to crochet and make granny squares just because I can and also I’m dreaming of making this blanket one day. And I’ve made a beautiful neck piece I’ll post a picture of some time.

Make a quilt with all those mouth watering fabrics in my blue suitcase.

Also make this for dinner maybe.

What to do while waiting for the bomb to go off.

Make a freeform peyote bracelet. Or two. This one looks much better close up like this. The color variation in the beads is not as visible in real life.

Learn to crochet and make granny squares just because I can and also I’m dreaming of making this blanket one day. And I’ve made a beautiful neck piece I’ll post a picture of some time.

Make a quilt with all those mouth watering fabrics in my blue suitcase.

Also make this for dinner maybe.

What to do while waiting for the bomb to go off.

Make a freeform peyote bracelet. Or two. This one looks much better close up like this. The color variation in the beads is not as visible in real life.

Learn to crochet and make granny squares just because I can and also I’m dreaming of making this blanket one day. And I’ve made a beautiful neck piece I’ll post a picture of some time.

Make a quilt with all those mouth watering fabrics in my blue suitcase.

Also make this for dinner maybe.

New necklace in the shop.
The Monkey King. Magical being from China said to have helped bring and translate the sutras from India. Sweet, smart, good little Monkey.

It’s my gettin’ ready for Fall necklace. Even though Fall doesn’t arrive here until sometime in November or December. For me personally, fall has already arrived. I’ve quit sewing summer things and am already sewing for warmth and looking at richer darker colors.

The studio has transformed once again. I’ve gotten rid of my girly daybed and made more space for my massage bed and yoga mat. I’ve once again organized all my stuff. Defining and refining.
I’m feeling very organized.

And full.
The Dishwasher is on a tear. Making cakes now in addition to heart stopping delicious meals.