back and forth

New Site, New Blog

2011-03-07T07:49:00.001-08:00

I've moved! Larger space, roomier, new neighborhood.

It's my very own Weebly site.

www.copperends.com

Come visit! Comment! Enter my monthly contest!

2010-08-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

'Taming the Wire'

I'm thinking of changing my business name. Maybe that, maybe just my name! Certainly 'Sockdiva' didn't/doesn't work for many, many reasons.

Before pic.

...and after:

2010-08-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

More wrapping!

'Close to You' with Peitersite and agate, with copper wire.

I've come to the realization that a glass home studio won't be happening. So I sold the oxygenator, the torch, and will be selling a used home-made 14" saw bought on ebay to get a real rock saw that can slab my stones.

I always go back to knitting.

And it's good to know, I come back to stone and wire.

...and come back here!

Processing isn't for Sissies NO PICS!

2009-08-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

The race was Saturday. Today, it was another kind of challenge, all together.

This summer, I read Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. And as part and parcel of my idea of being more self sufficient, and lessening my 'carbon footprint' I had intended when I hatched both the chickens and quail, that they would have a good life, with protection, abundant food and water, and free ranging for the chickens, that the extra roosters would be processed as painlessly and humanely as possible, and I would, in turn, by very conscious of my choice as a meat eater.

And today was the day.

Oh, the trials of my mind! I considered going vegetarian again, I read and reread threads from others, mostly suburban and city dwellers, going through the same issues. I read responses from farming folk, that never lost touch, some impatient, others more tolerant and helpful. I saw videos, photo diaries, other blogs! I remember how horrified my own mom was when I was a young girl, and asked if I could raise rabbits for meat. And some of that young girl's logic still resides in theis rather wimpy grown-up version.

Quail are the ideal suburban flock, where chicken roosters aren't allowed. As long as you don't sell eggs or quail, you can raise coturnix quail at home without a gaming license here in CA. Compared to chickens, for the most part, quail are quiet. In the Spring, you hatch fertile eggs, and replace the older flock with new, and provide healthy protein into your diet, as well as getting eggs almost all year round (they need 14 hours daylight to lay.) Quail roos sound something like a cross between a frog and a rooster.

'For the most part' quail are quiet. UNLESS you have a bunch of young roosters in breeding season, separated from the hens. You have to separate them, or too many roos can 'scalp' a hen. The males grab the feathers on the females head to hold them still while they mount. More than 1 male in a cage with females present will fight. So I had my 4 hens with the chosen roo, and the rest of the dozen males went into a separate aviary.

Good god, I was afraid of neighbors from all 3 sides+ would be pounding on my door to make the noise stop! It's not that the crowing is so very loud like a rooster, but it happens at ALL hours in the dead of night. And then starts up in earnest at about 5:15am, and goes on for hours, non-stop. Matt started sleeping over at friend's houses. Gabbi accused me of having aliens in the backyard. And my males, that matured at 6 weeks, have been doing this for over a week. I was suffiencently sleep deprived and grumpy to follow through with my plans...

I called Sue, and she agreed to hold my hand. Sue was a farm girl, spending summers helping process birds, driving farming equipment, and all assorted kinds of farm stuff in Nebraska! She and her husband now have a farm amid orchards on the East end of Putah Creek. He farms the acreage along Tremont with a partner. Tomatoes, sunflowers for seed, alfalfa, melons, and so on. From Mace to Old Davis Road.

Anyway, Sue came with bucket, 2 sharp knives, a sharpener, and a very steady presence!! And lucky for the Blue Birchin Maran rooster, her rooster recently died, so he's spared the knife, and will go home with her. That leaves the banty roo, and 11 quail.

We do the banty roo first. I try not to think about it. He was the runt, didn't mind being held, and was adorable and fluffy. Banty roos are also known for crowing louder than their full size brothers, and although I could wait and try to do it myself later, I knew I had to follow through FAST if I was going to walk this path. So I caught the little roo, and Sue showed me that being such a small bird, if I just held his body and head like so, she would shear off his head with the branch cutter.

Urk. I did as told, and scrunched my face and looked away. She closed up the shears, and I dropped the head, and held on to the flailing body in the plastic bag. I almost panicked that he wasn't really dead, because he was flailing so, and I didn't want to make him suffer! But Sue looked in, and reassured me that he was quite dead, and told stories how her Uncle would chop the head, and the birds really would be running around without heads, and how the kids would laugh and laugh at the sight. Finally, he was 'bled out' and I skinned him on the table I had set out. Soon enough, there he was. A tiny version of what I buy and fix from Nugget. My first chicken. Quail were next.

Now Sue had given me the choice. The one to hold the bird, or the one to do 'the deed'. It's the 'deed' that's the thing. It's ending a life. It's killing something, on purpose, ending a living, breathing creature's existence. Usually it's done far away, and I can ignore the life lost when I pick up a nice package, wrapped and presented to me by the butcher at the nice, clean grocery store, or served up with delicious, mouth watering dishes at a restaurant.

I took brief karmic refuge in the fact that when I served in the house for a high Tibetan monk that had come to Davis to talk, that he had enjoyed steak for lunch... and I grabbed a quail.

The process with a small game bird was to hold it in one hand, and with garden shears in the other, to cut with the sharp end against the throat that will cut and allow it to bleed out, the blunt against the back of the neck to crush the spine, killing it instantly. I held the bird until it stopped struggling, and then it sort of laid it's head back, almost in a faint and ... I squeezed the handle. It was a horrible feeling, and I'll remember it for the rest of my life as the blades closed, and I twisted away as instructed, and the head came off. I said a small prayer, and held the body until I could feel the heart stop beating, and felt a little ill. Sue reassured me it isn't something you should ever get used to doing. You do it, because it's a job that needs to be done. And you do it, but you don't enjoy it. Ever.

The rest was just like cooking. You cut off the wings, and the legs. You peel away the skin (quail are usually skinned, because the skin is so delicate, it rips easily) clean out the cavity, and you have what looks like a tiny version of what you buy at the store.

I dreaded 'the deed' with each of the 5 quail I processed, but I fully accepted my choice by the time the 5th was done, and soon after, we cleaned up, I gave Sue 6 of the quail for her to eat with her family, and a live rooster. She gave me a hug and said I did a good job for the first time. I really needed that hug too. Then I swept the front yard, cleaned up the aviary, the waterer and feeders, and visited my remaining birds and then ate lunch (vegetarian).

I don't think I'm going to be hatching systematically, to have a quail meal or two a month like some. But I will hatch and rotate my flock every year. And I'm sure every year I'll dread the 'deed' and soberly reminding myself of where my food comes from.

Suffering at Dunnigan

2009-08-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

It started well! Jill picked me up at 6:45am, bright and early. We got there, and roadies everywhere. Most with probably 5% bodyfat, lean and strong. Dang, they looked young.

We parked, we registered, we had a long wait. Jill and I put out our trainers near Michele. I was nervous, and didn't think to eat anything. Carolyn and Anne(our injured teamates) came by to chat, encourage, and snap a few pics pre-race.

The day seemed calm, wind wise. Dunnigan is known for winds. But there were over 600 racers, and we were the last group. We were finally called, and since I was at the outhouses, I rushed to grab my bike and get in my group. There were 50 of us. Then the winds began to pick up. And I realized, too late, that I was hungry and had left my Energy bars in the van!

More waiting. Then we rolled out in a nuetral pack until the turn, 1 mile up. I had trouble clipping in, and was on the back. Fine, I usually am, and was more comfortable there than mid-pack! We made the easy turn, and it began to pick up. From 16 mph, to soon 23 mph, and my heart was racing!! But not from effort, it was from nerves. My heart was up in the 160's but I wasn't even breathing hard! I caught up to Jill, and the group took off. There was an early break, containing Ruth and Leslie, and the pack raced to catch, and we fell off the back right off the bat. I couldn't get my body to calm down. I felt nauseous! And with 15-20 mph crosswinds and rollers, and hunger/wanting to hurl, it was a sufferfest from the get-go.

Jill was encouraging! Ever optomistic, and we rotated, and worked through the course. We got passed by the pro/1/2, the Cat 3 men, and assorted fast packs, paced by motorcycles and follow cars. Occasionally, we'd hear shouts of encouragement from the riders, like, 'Good job ladies!' lol! Another, 'Lovely weather...' Hey, it helped. And so we rode, and rode.

I only had 1 bottle of water, and 1 bottle of Accelerade. I got down two gel packs, and some beans, and for a 42 mile race, that's just not enough. But I was familiar with the course, and we finally hit the final leg, 10 miles of a straight shot to the finish...and I felt/heard something big puncture my rear tire. 'Flat!' I yelled, so Jill wouldn't run into me, and I pulled off. Jill called out if I wanted her to wait, and I told her to go on, and finish. Too late I realized we had planned before that since we were sticking together, that I would carry the tube in my rear pocket, and she would have the levers and air. I was stranded. I felt my tire, and suprisingly, it still had some air, and knowing I was a light weight, I got back on and rolled for a couple miles before it went completely flat. Then I got off, and started walking. Of course, cyclists passed, but there was no SAG on this race, so walk it was. I was thirsty, and hot. Then after another few hundred yards, a racer stopped! Dave was a friend of Ruth's, and knowing he was out of contention, he stopped and offered me the tools I need to fix my flat! Saved! What a guy! So with everything I needed, I flipped my bike, and put in the new tube.

I started rolling again. I just wanted to finish, so no TT'ing it in, I rolled along at about 18mph, when another racer passed, obviously in no hurry, and I 'sort of' (because you can get dnf'd if you work with racers outside of your group) caught his wheel. We rolled at around 20mph when he noticed me, and came back alongside, and we started chatting. About racing, about Dunnigan, and it was nice to have company. Finally, the final turn was there, and we rolled up and over the overpass. He pulled ahead, and we crossed. A DBC'er along the side yelled at me, "Why did you let him win the sprint?!" and I just smiled, happy to be DONE.

I rode another couple of miles to get back to the parking lot, thirsty, hungry, tired....and the van was gone.

So I sat in the dusty, parking lot waiting for them to come back. So after not having real food for 6 hours, racing 42 miles n the wind/heat/dust, hungry, tired, exhausted mentally and physically, I was felling pretty darn sorry for myself.

Then my ride was there! Jill had ridden back, and Chris threw her bike in the van, and they drove back to to the course to try and find me. Lucikly, they did, because they picked up another stranded racer just sitting on the side of the road in a bit of a daze. They dropped him off, and as they loaded my bike, I downed my other bottle of water, and climbed in. Whew. Check that puppy of my Bucket List: Road race, DONE!!

Stats: max heart rate, 168. Ave. was 155 (!!!) Lost 4-5 pounds of water weight.

2009-07-12T20:11:00.001-07:00

Hot glass. Torching. Molten. Flame. Boro.

Still exploring mediums. And I'm not there yet. I need to take another step to find my expression. I can sell items, but it's not my 'art' yet, if that makes sense! So my next obsession is Boro glass. I'm taking a couple of classes and already dreaming of glass. And combining it with wire and stone.

And jumping head first. I guess that's just the way I roll!

....and a pic of my first marble! Boro is 'hard' glass, you use temperatures up to 1500+ degrees to work it. But it has a depth and magic and unpredictability that I'm drawn to.

2009-07-12T19:49:00.001-07:00

The new chicks on the block! I hatched them in June. 2 welsummers, 2 cochin, 1 frizzle, 2 Maran. Two or three ? will have to find new homes, since they're roosters.

AND quail! I hatched and have 20 right now. My girlfriend is going to 6 or so, and I'll keep the rest. For eggs, mostly

2009-05-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

My current obsession are chickens. Here is my old hen, maybe 5 or 6 years old, I don't know!

I have her, and two young Easter Eggers, who lay kind of a pale brownish green eggs.

Of course, being me, I want different colored eggs! And having hatched a bunch for school, I started thinking, hmmm, I could hatch some for myself! And then I started looking at egg color and breeds, and well! I'm getting carried away.

I'm thinking Black Copper Maran, Welsummer, both of which lay a dark, dark, brown egg, one like chocolate, the other more brick colored. Then a blue cochin, that lays a light brown egg. Then I saw eggs on ebay for a blue cochin that's a Frizzle, or who has feathers that go curl like crazy. Cute!

Of course, since I can only have a limit of 6 chickens, and I always end up losing one or more during their time, either from mysterious circumstances or something, if I add those 3 kinds, and in a couple of years, after attrition, I can add other breeds that catch my eye.

If I hatch them, I figure I can sell the others, if I'm lucky to have them, on craigslist.

I just love hatching chicks. I'm amazed by it every year. More and more friends are adding chickens, as part of a healthier lifestyle, and being more self sufficient, and knowing that they're getting happy eggs from happy chickens, and not those poor, debeaked, crowded, sad chickens that lay the nice, clean eggs at the grocery store.

Mine are so funny. Where I weed, there they are. At least the youngs ones. I'm crouching, and often I'll see a chicken head under me, going for a bug. I was weeding today under the Pomegranite tree, and a big black widow, the size of a quarter, fell out from an empty pom rind. I'm silently calling for my chicken to come and eat it, and within a couple minutes, up comes my red hen, and goes directly for it, and kills/eats it! I LOVE my chickens!

2009-04-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

One of these days I'll stop forgetting my sign in info and password!!

Okay, NEW BUG on the BLOCK!!

It's a Ladybug. I LOVE ladybugs.

It's bigger than the Baby bug, and has double wings, and a strap. And a rounder body, as well. It's the perfect size for my ID/credit card, my phone and my keys. And they're cute!!

2008-12-31T18:53:00.000-08:00

Looking back at 2008:

1) Met the man of my dreams on a cycling forum after I've given up on ever meeting someone; and after dating one too many frogs! (Yay!! He's a cyclist!!)
2) Joined the race team - first race will be sometime in 2009, IF I feel I'm in shape enough to do race without embarrassing myself.
3) Did my first bike tour. To Oregon for 8 days and about 450 miles. First time I've ever ridden so many consecutive days with those kind of miles! And started using/needing chamois butter for the first time.
4) Bought my first pair of cycling socks. Woot! And yes, it makes a difference...
5) Actually using a cell phone and started texting, due to my kids and bf. AND having fun with it, now that my kids gifted me with a new cell phone for Christmas!
6) Finally using Facebook, again, mostly to keep up with my kids.
7) Pursued my own vision of wrapping and jewelry.

7 is a good number. Happy New Year!

Eggplant Festival 2009 and new Etsy sections!

2008-10-05T19:42:00.001-07:00

Loomis is an adorable little town! Friendly, lovely people - we were set up in the 'wine court' and got to hear live music by talented local musicians and singers. Chatted with folks who came to browse, and we both sold things!

My new work got a lot of positive attention, but it was a bit pricey for this area. That's okay, it did make me realize I need to do all styles and levels of work. Many took business cards, and won't see anything except the Sculptural Pendants. So I'm changing the format of my Etsy site, and putting in sections for:

Sculptural Pendants

Notice the reflection on this chrysocolla cab sent to me by Desertdweller! That's my reflection on the lower left!! Grey tank top, tanned arm, and camera to my eye...wow.

Then the Eni style jewelry:

Basket Wraps:

And the Classic Wraps:

And if I really get punchy, I will do the Barbed Wire section!! Bwahahaahaha!

'Cycle17 and Overthere'

2008-10-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

Are we cute or what? lol.

I don't have to write the entry, Cycle17 did it here if you want to read about our little vacation in Santa Cruz and the ocean a couple of weeks ago...

Oregon pics

2008-10-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

Gal pal Carolyn and I. Carolyn had a radar for waterfalls!

Covered bridge in Oakridge, Or. My second home will be here someday!

Out of Eugene. Beautiful Christmas tree farms...

Along the coast. Beautiful and rugged. Riding was a little hairy in the rain and mack trucks along the Coastal Hwy.

Lava beds and lakes.

Overall it was 8 days, over 500 miles, and lots of food, and hot tubs. Didn't lose a pound. :wah:

But luckily no bears! Or Big Foots.

Stu did a great tour! Alan sang me over at least one mountain. Carolyn was an awesome roomie. We saw whales! Bill saved us from bunk beds. The Thompson Tandem left everyone in the dust. I only pouted mightily on one 80 mile day going to the coast, and then Steve and Stu saved me by feeding me ice cream, and then Steve kindly gave me his wheel to the motel. Karen and Don always found the best restaurants. Bruce led us through many a road to keep us from getting lost.

The ultimate wrapping

2008-08-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

This is it. The way I want to go. Not copying Eni, inspired by Paradigm Shift who has moved on herself, this is wrapping the kinds of cabs I like to shape, in a style that challenges and fascinates me. AND is soothing to do.

'Hidden Earthquakes'

'Blushing Dragons'

'Dark Tidepools'

Rings too!

I opened a new site for my jewelry - brand new. I even have 24 hearts already! It's at http://organicmetallurgy.etsy.com

I still need to go to an actual gallery and bring the work. I am spending an inordinate amount of time wrapping. I love doing it. BUT ~ it's the Sock Bugs that pays for supplies! So I really need to sew. Perhaps a schedule, since I tend to be a rather obsessive worker otherwise, and have wire and cabochons on the mind. :)

I've been accepted into the juried site 'Handmade Fuzion' that's supposed to go live next month. I plan to apply to 'Trunkt' when I have more rings made. I know it's not exactly the right direction, but it gets me seen, so it can't really hurt. I NEED to email some AZ and CA galleries and direct them to my sites. But first...a new school year starts in TWO DAYS!!

Wire

2008-07-24T15:18:00.001-07:00

Mmmm, this pic is just for me. It's my New Mexico, soon to be Phoenix, AZ boyfriend.

Eventually, California boyfriend!

Handsome, isn't he?

Back to crafty! I've been obsessed with wire. I did a series of bracelets and necklaces combining a couple of classic Eni techniques in one. Here's one using a beautiful Chrysocolla/Azurite cab I did from a slab I got at the Happy Valley Pow Wow last year.

BUT....I've been seeing these wild and crazy wraps at http://www.metalworkers.org/ and it talk about pushing the envelope and sci-fi looking creations! I had no idea how to start. Couldn't find anything on the net, no books, ?? So I tried on my own. Yikes! This was the result...

And then I turned back to Remy and from her absolutely amazing tutorial, and I created this. I spent countless hours, I stayed up until 3:30 am working on it, I picked it up and wrapped and wrapped even before I ate! Lol.

I think I'm hooked. I'm almost regretting the timing of my Oregon tour! Silly me. Good thing I ride, cause otherwise all I'd do is sit on my bottom doing these things...

2008-06-17T16:15:00.001-07:00

It's his fault. Why I haven't updated this blog. Okay, fine. I also forgot the blogger password again...

Anyway, this is my friend Cycle17. We met on Foo on the bike forums. Well, we've both been on there for years, but more recently I ventured into Foo and posted a pic from Pardee, and got some nice comments from Foo men. Then I commented on another thread about the woes of online dating, and he commented there, in a cute, flirting but polite way, and I noticed him. Well, actually Yoda, because that was his avatar. I called him my 'little green Foo Crush', for offering me his wheel, his seat, his tires and to be my wrench when I wasn't riding! How can a gal pass that up? So it started as forum flirting, which went to pm's, then he flew here to visit! We rode to Winters on a blustery day, then rode the American River Trail. Strong rider! He owns 3 immaculate Trek OCLVs and a Madone. Really, really good man. He's honest, open, a lot of integrity, excellent communicator (that's new!)...and cuddly. :) I'm going to New Mexico to ride there at the end of June for a few days. I'm hopeful!

He brought me this piece of carnelian from a beach in Washington. I made it into a necklace to wear since we don't see each other often because of distance.

...and he brought me Cheez Its. lol!

He also sent me some CD's of music and 700 mb of MP3 music! Cool. :)

And all along, I've finished another school year. And knitted these cuffs because I wanted to try knitting lace.

And I worked some of Nephrite's jade to make a 21st birthday gift for Cheryl, who graduated this year from Irvine!

Now, I'm sewing. I have a small wholesale order to get done, and work on some Sock Bug purses for my Etsy!! AND I'm working on an adjustable wire wrapped Eni style ring that I'll post here when I get the details worked out.

That's all for now!

Party Pardee 2008

2008-04-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

1200 riders in the foothills near Ione. Getting up in the dark, loading bikes by flashlight, driving out to ride 65 miles in the foothills. MAJOR FUN!!

I rode with my friend for the first 37 miles or so. But she is so social and friendly (unlike myself) that she likes to stop all the time, chat to other riders, hang out at rest stops, and I confess to feeling a bit antsy. *Everyone* was passing us, and she had told me from the start of the day that I should ride ahead if I wanted, since we naturally ride at different paces. So I finally told her that I would meet her at the lunch stop, and took off. Goodness, it felt good!

It was funny. As I was taking off, one mature rider commented to his companions as I passed, 'The break away!' Ha!

As I was passing others on some climbs, a young woman in racing kit commented 'Nice legs' as she passed me. lol! That doesn't mean she was admiring my well shaped legs, it was my climbing. That was fun to hear, especially from her!

The hills were daunting, but Diablo was a great pre-ride for PP. My legs suffered most in the uphills to the dam. After, the hills were higher but shorter, so I never doubted I would make it up, although there were many who walked it. Not the 'Big Dogs', they were hours ahead of me! Do those guys even notice the scenery?

I GOT A NUMBER!! That's too much fun for words. Just like the racers...I made Diane take a picture of me after the ride.

Summit Club and March Madness~

2008-03-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I'm back.

I forgot my password/email for this blog. oops.

My highlight of Spring Break was taking off on Monday, March 24, with Doug and Walt in tow (as if THEY had a choice! lol) and headed to Heather Farms in Walnut Creek. There, we were met by none other than the Bike Goddess, aka Nancy. A fiesty, tall, grey cropped hair woman that was soon leading us down bike paths, alleyways, and byroads of Walnut Creek, Alamo and Danville. Eventually, turning into Round Hill Country Club (is it still called that?) and going through the 'hole in the wall' and soon to the base of the Southgate of Mt. Diablo!!

There, Nancy told the boys to go ahead and she'd guide the 'Little One' up to the summit. That would be me. HA! But, seeing as she was a no nonsense 67 year old mentor and standing tall at 5'9", most of it leg, who was I to argue with the Bike Goddess?

So up! And more up! And not as hard as the Northgate up!! At the 1st ranger station, there was Walt and Doug trying to fix Walt's rubbing derailer. And there, I had the pleasure of meeting Bob and Mick, also of the Benicia Bike Club, who had already gone up and down, and started on the bike problem. Nancy had us continue.

Beautiful day! Perfect day! Blue skies, warm, wildflowers, the bright orange of CA poppies everywhere. Nancy was awesome. Talked constantly, like a tour guide, warning me of hard parts, letting me know of relief ahead...way cool. We soon got passed by the 'Big Dogs' as she called them, and Mick and Bob rode with us.

Now I had no intention of making it up to the summit. 18% grade?? Heavens, no. My detailed plans read clearly that it would take 6 times up to the Ranger Station, roughly spread out to once a month, for me to take on the Summit.

BUT Nancy had her mind set. I was going. She spiked me up with some Sports Beans (oddly yummy after a lot of climbing!) and we started up. Bob and Mick were dears, and allowed themselves to be cajoled into going to the summit. That would be 1 1/2 times scaling the Devil, and a summit!

It was freakin' HARD, past the Ranger Station!! Just like I remembered. A couple of times I thought it was too much, but Nancy would work her ways with me with promises of easier grades around the corner. Well, that was, before the Wall. And what a wall! It was long, relatively straight, and reminded me of driveways along the ridge, where I wondered if my car would make it up or overheat! I started up too fast, because I didn't think I would stay upright if I let my momentum slow too much. Oh, mistake. Less than halfway up I was struggling mightily, and my brain was nearing the overload stage, when I glance up.

And there, at the top, was Doug, with his camera, aimed at ME!!! Aargh!! Not again! Flashbacks of a similar struggle up Pig Hill, and another camera aimed down at me, and the same flare up of ego -'Dangnabit, I will NOT stand to have MY picture taken walking my %^@#$& bike up this hill!!'

I made it up that 18% grade, legs shaking, with Walt and Doug calling out encouragement and tips. Here's a pic that Doug sent me. Photographic proof. I really did it!!

And that's how I became a member of the Summit Club!

March Madness miles - 636.64
Weight loss - 4 pounds

Knitting Hats for Tibetan Nuns

2008-02-02T12:52:00.000-08:00

Cathy is a buddhist owner of Inner Journey in Los Gatos, and a wonderful knitter named Willow wants to have 250 knit hats for them to take on their next trip for the nuns to wear.

Lyle posted it in our listserv, and so I'm more than ready to knit! Adrienne responded and is planning to put an order in for Knitpicks Fire Red yarn, but impatient that I am, I want to knit NOW. We wouldn't order until this week, and it would take a week to get here. There is no yarn store in Davis anymore! What to do??

Duh. I spin.

I haven't for awhile, been more involved with stone and metal, and knitting gift scarves for my buds at RTH, but now it's back to the wheel.

I scrounged in my bags and found lots maroon wool!

Now, to work!

Tony Natsoulas Workshop

2008-01-27T15:23:00.000-08:00

Fun! It was an all day Saturday workshop put on by the California Consultancy for Arts Education. Tony is too cute! I remember him from TB-9 almost 30 years ago - I remember the same smile, a head of dark curls, a quick, slight body. He looks a bit different now, but he's AWESOME! He loves what he does, he's funny, he's happy. Here he is doing his demonstration. Then it was our turn to play!

We used a really groggy clay that Tony uses. It was great. Stayed moist, lots of body, strong clay. Amy and I split a 20# block. Then we made a rough oval shape, and the first exercise was making a face with our eyes closed for 5 minutes! After that, we flattened our clay on the ground and made a form out of crumpled newspaper and started our own masks. The rest of the time, that's what we did! Interspersed was a slide show of Tony's work. A short independent film in the works about Tony, information of the resources from CCAE.

Everyone's was so different! They handed out some people pictures to use, but I didn't use one. I just started shaping. I did a basic face. Then I picked it up and dropped it a few times. Tony does this to add character, and I liked that idea! Be beat up by life a little bit for wisdom. Hopefully! Then I added a crown. My idea was a flower holder. So I made a hole in the top of his head to hold flowers. Put a flower behind one ear. So he can be in touch with his feminine side. lol! Then I added a cat. I liked the doing the cat! I was thinking of Gabbi's cat. Put the cat in the crown. The cat is my favorite part.

Back to what I really do, here is a pendant I made from gift cabs from another Tony and from Brian. The boulder opal is from Tony, the bottom is petrified palm by Brian. I really like how it turned out. Wrapping the bottom with claws in that style was alot of work! First time trying it, and I like the result. It's sitting on a slab from Idaho Tony, and I think it'll be my permenant photography slab! It's perfect. Minimizes shadow and a nice light, nuetral background!

Both clay and wrapping had the same process for me: not knowing how it was going to turn out and trying to trust the process. :)

It's tempting to play more with clay. There was a lamp at Bob Arneson's house, when Nick and I went there for lunch one day, eons ago in Benecia. It was his head - all white and puntured with holes, about the size of a quarter, with a light bulb inside! I want to do a take-off on that. I'd love to do some figurative piece that doubles as a lamp!

Maybe I will play with clay again. More cats, though.

Slabbing and 2-cab pendants!

2008-01-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

Idaho Tony is the slabbing guru! He answers any question, he's way cool, and doesn't get moody! And generous, steady as a rock, and gives good hugs! With his advice, Mabel is slabbing great!! Here are pics:

Here are better pics in daylight of earlier slabs. It's storming right now!

And I've been playing with wrapping two cabs instead of one. It's more challenging, thus more interesting for me. And I like combining stones. Here's my favorite try, of labradorite and chyrsocolla:

Mt. Diablo - the first assault

2007-12-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

Mt. Diablo - I grew up under that mountain. After Cantelow, after Cardiac, there was Diablo. Here's a profile that Chris posted on BF from his birthday ride when he and Red did it with Smoooth and Sassy. Too small to read here, but you get the idea! 3847 ft at 22 miles for the peak, from the Southgate.

Well, this Saturday, I tried it. From the steeper Northgate side.

I was supposed to meet a number of TE riders in Walnut Creek. I got there early, and waited 15 minutes after the appointed hour! Did I get the day wrong? Wrong week? All possibilities for me! Lots of kiddies and parents at the park, but no cyclists. Well, after driving over an hour to get there, I wasn't going to leave without giving it a go! Surely, I could find the mountain on my own. So I hopped on my bike, and headed back out to Oak Grove, and hung a left. Sure enough, within a few blocks, there was the sign to Diablo.

Heck, I was winded before I got to the park! I was also bundled up, as per a suggestion for the descent. I stopped at the park entrance, was waved through by the rangers, and I was in!

The weather was perfect. Sunny, no wind. Here's a pic from just inside the park.

It was a great ride! I always did like uphill better than down, and it certainly was a lot of up. Previously my max for an up was maybe a bit over 3 miles at Shasta. This just wouldn't stop! Steeper parts, bits of relief. Hardly any cars, lots of hardcore riders! The kind that have legs twice as long as mine, and half my age. lol. But I kept on...

and on...

and on!

At this point, I had climbed over 3000 ft in about 11 miles. I was hungry. I was cold. Trying to trick my mind with 'just up to the next corner, and you can eat!' was NOT cutting it anymore. My mind was coming back with 'You're gonna bonk, and you still have to get down the mountain!' 'If you're too tired, you'll get sloppy, and you'll crash.' '18% grade at the Wall? HA! You'll never make it!!'

Needless to say, I stopped to contemplate, ate my Luna bar, and Mind over Me won again. She had the decency to sooth me by the remindar that riding Diablo was a goal timelined for the next 3 years if ever; and I didn't do too darn bad for the first time, alone.

The little round tower is the peak. True, at this point I knew I was ready to turn. It was only about 0.75- 1.0 miles up to that tower, but it looked a gazillion miles away from my vantage point. Better to make it safely down the mountain and come back another day!

And the TE riders? Apparently there are 2 parking lots! They went up to something called the Junction, and took the South road down. That would have been fun! Next time. There's always be a next time!

Makeover

2007-12-05T21:35:00.000-08:00

My backyard was a horror. California has a ridiculous amount of growing days, and I grow weeds best. So I made an offer for young Duran and Joe from Alaska, and friends of dd. Clear out my yard. Please! And in exchange, they get a used electric drum set, formally owned by dd best friend, Andrew, to help fund his next ink. ???

My yard looks HUGE now! It was 2 1/2 days of work for the two. I need to have these pics so I can remember what it can look like if I stay ahead of the weeds!

Very cute touches too, like lining plants with rocks and such.

Meyer lemon and heirloom roses

Compost bins and herbs. Lots of room for tomatoes!!

...and Joe, a tired Duran and dd, after the job was done.

Ode to a 14" Saw

2007-12-03T09:56:00.000-08:00

Okay, well a limerick anyway, from my good friend, John!

Diana just scored a big saw

I hope it arrives with no flaw
Then slices through rock
In a tick of the clock
Revealing gemstones too cosmic to draw

It had a few 'flaws', but thanks to Stoner, here in mid-operation, 'Mabel' is up and running!

..and that means another poem!

Usually a boat needs a dock

But not every saw craves a rock

You'll be dropping your jaw

As you look on with awe

At gems falling like wool from a flock

I am so hooked. Stoner stayed for hours, and we didn't even eat! Poor hostess am I, but we were both engrossed and unable to leave the saw alone! And then Stoner heads home, and I kept at it until 1:30 am!! This absolutely amazing rock was the Rock of the Day

Burro Creek, by the white stuff.

Then I started cutting on this small, long rock and had to keep slicing into the early morning. From the dendrite spot. That was the best spot!

The variety of Burro Creek was amazing!

I think I have to ration myself, like the kids these days and videogames! lol!

The Arizona Infiltration 2007

2007-11-09T18:28:00.001-08:00

OMG!

I have never had so much fun in I don't know how long. Serious fun. Roaring around on the back of a quad in the Arizona wilderness, miles away from pavement fun. Gorgeous agate underfoot, as far as the eye could see fun. Hanging out with a huge assortment of people that felt like family fun. Star filled skies, crackling fires, amazing sunsets fun.

Amazing sunset #3

Look, I found a pretty rock!

An Idaho fire starter...

What?! No helmets??

Yes, it's really that beautiful!!
No dd, I'm talking about the creek, not your young fella!

Look! Agate, agate, everywhere!

Tony's 50 pound prize - the find of the trip

Food! Now you're talkin' Hey, Houston!
...do these shorts make my butt look big?

...of course we have room for one more rock! ;)

One last note: On the way back, I was telling dd that I'm glad she came and enjoyed it, and got to meet my RTH friends. She stopped me and said, "Mom. They're MY friends too!"

Yep. They sure are. :)

Post last note: The aftermath!

100 Miles Weekend

2007-11-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Ta da!

I did it.

SATURDAY
... was the Foxy Worker's ride over Cardiac and into Napa county, Solano county, with lunch at Mankas Corners, and back again. Metric, while the 'hardcore' riders did 100 miles, starting in Davis, instead of Winter's. The weather was really perfect. We started riding at 7:00am, an ungodly hour, but honestly, my usual body temperature had me down to sleeveless by the time we hit Berryessa dam! It was really a great ride. Did flat out, but John was to be my bike angel of the day, and fixed it for me. As he was working on it, the 100 miler's went by, and my 'stalker' :) , Dave stopped, and a few others, and chatted. Note: I'm light enough that my flats don't hit the rim, just 'whiff whiff' on me. It went flat at the bottom at our rest stop, and I remember wondering why it was so hard climbing, and why my bike didn't seem to handle right...duh!

Once my flat was fixed, John and I 'caught' some of the 100 miler guys, and it was sort of a blast (huff puff) for me! Held on to the group, and kept 22-24 mph. That only lasted a few miles though, then they lost me on the rollers! darn. But John stayed with me, and we finally made it for lunch, with only one tandem pulling in after us.

Lunch was very good. Of course, we got our food last, and left a bit later than the group. But there were toasts, and jokes, and visiting. Then it was mostly John and I and the tandem that rode back together, although John and I did catch a few slower riders and passed, by the time we got back to Winters. And John and I chatted it up the whole way back, so we weren't exactly 'hardcore'! :) Our birthdays are only 2 weeks apart! If that's so, why is his IQ about triple mine? lol!

SUNDAY

Sunday's ride was with the Norcal riders, and Red also posted it open for the Monticello riders. My face blanched when she said that! Luckily the Fates were kind, and Mr. Really Bad Date racer guy aka Mr. First Date Butt Grabber, didn't show! Whew. :) I'm in the middle, dressed in black. Can you spot me?

Really fun meeting the online Norcal group! I knew Red and her hubby, but that was all. We took off out of the parking lot, and this other cyclist guy rides over, not from our group, and starts talking to me. ??? Asks if I work for the goverment, where we're going, weather...I repeat: ??? Dang, musta forgotten to turn of the 'weird guy magnet' when I left! Anyway, he finally raced ahead of the group, and I was engulfed by familiar new faces, and then, apparently the race was on.

Man, it was fast. 40 miles of 22-25 mph, 1000 feet of climbing. I learned that tandems are godsend to draft behind! Ah, the kindness of tandems... I learned the Monticello boys and girl are hardcore. And that Red's idea of an easy ride, isn't!! We grouped at Pleasant's Valley and Putah Creek, where I learned there would be no Steady Eddie's (what?? No food? What kind of people ARE these?!) and we were off again!

I ended up in a tail group with 6 or 7 others (that's me with the fredette camelbak) but we made it back well enough. I got turned around just once because I rode ahead up Steiger, and started down Gibbs, but the heavy traffic had me rethinking that move. Turned around, then caught sight of some others coming towards me and turned around again! Good thing, I would have missed the turn back to Vacaville! Man, my legs were beat.

Back at the clocktower, we headed for a coffee shop, ate, talked, laughed, and visited. BigBossMan and Curtis kept us entertained. Smoooth, of the Smoooth and Sassy tandem, was so funny! Too bad kb5ql left soon after, heading back to Palo Alto, he was hilarious too!! I love that nerd humor. Here's a pic of he and Smoooth comparing iphones.

I'll have to make some other Norcal rides. My goal next year is Mt. Diablo. Yikes!

Tahoe to Burro Creek, AZ!

2007-10-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words:

Okay, so the last picture is the room my brother got for us! Actually, there were 4 of us, and dear brother got FOUR rooms! I had this one, and it was , oh, probably half the size of my house! Okay, maybe not quite, but it DID have 2 huge televisions, a fireplace, a full kitchen, a jacuzzi bathtub and I got to make use of the gym downstairs and had it all to myself!!

I haven't been to Tahoe in decades, and it was absolutely beautiful. Do I have an awesome brother or what? :)

Then...back to my real life. I've had better days! Got exposed to strep, and yes, my throat feels a little off. And this happens. Busted glass everywhere. Note: Fireplace glass is not the same as woodburning stove glass.

But there's exciting news! I'm heading to Arizona for the RHT field trip to Burro Creek!! After conferences, I'm taking off Saturday in my used truck with sleeping bag, buckets, any tools I can scrounge up and a cooler of food, and heading to the desert.

Desertdweller is hosting an AMAZING rockhound field trip to hunt for all kinds of rock! About 30 rockhounds are meeting at Burro Creek Campground, AZ. 10 hours of driving for me, which is farther than I've ever gone on my own. I think I can do it one day, half fueled by Cheez Its and adrenaline. lol! Meeting people with names like Stoner, Rocklicker, RockHobbit, Sandsman1, puppie96, Mr. Pup, Rallyrocks, Beef, Baz and Freeform!

'Ruby'

2007-09-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

2 weeks ago I had ridden out to Winters, and was hanging my Dolce at Steady Eddies, when I glanced at my head tube. Then I stared at the head tube. Cracks. Two of them. From the bottom there was a 2 inch long fracture, reaching up towards a 1 inch fracture on the top. YIKES!!! A few visions of catastrophic collapses on the road danced in my head as my mouth chewed on yet another excellent Sausage Breakfast Panini cooked by Diane. (Diane is a might more generous at the grill than Eddie...) Of course, since my ~$1100 steed is aluminum, I reasoned it would indeed get me home. I rode straight to Wheelworks, where I had purchased it 3 years earlier.

However, Wheelworks had steadily gone through it's own transformation in the last 2 years, and is now filled with carbon and geared for racers. And in the translation, Specialized had recently rescinded their contract since Wheelworks now looks down their racing noses at lower end bikes: ie...mine. They sent me to Ken's.

Ken's I never loved, ever since a mtb clueless young man tried to convince me that the Fuji Ace I tried was a Women's Design bike that didn't fit my Women's sized body. They did, however, have first class wrenches that took care of the tandem problems of my ill-fated Texan venture. But I regress... at Ken's I spoke to Joe#1 (Joe at Wheelworks, demoted to Joe#2) and he almost snorted when I told him what Wheelworks told me. Apparently Wheelworks could have handled it for me, since their contract with Specialized hadn't quite ended yet. Their business dealings with Specialized was yet brand new, no experience yet on the 'lifetime warranty of frames' - mine would be the first. Joe#1 wrote out the ticket, took my bike, said he would let me know more when he did. I left without wheels.

2 weeks later: Within days, Joe#1 called. Not only were they replacing my frame, they were replacing it with a carbon frame, called a Ruby. Charge to move over the components. Okay. Midweek, they call and say it's ready.

OMG!! The bike is GORGEOUS!! It's a deep red Rubypro!! We're talking a list price $3900 level bike frame!! The wrench was kinda bored 'Can I help you,' then found out I was the one getting a new frame, then he got excited about it. First he brought out the old frame, then rolled out my bike! I think I was adequetely excited, it was BEAUTIFUL!! Then I said,'Well, don't laugh, but I baked you guys cookies!' and he smiled! Said, 'Cookies are never anything to laugh about.' and accepted them. M and M cookies using 1 cup of butter! Still warm from the oven, too.

It's a dream. Put about 70 miles in the last couple of days. Would have put more except the heat in 100+ and I don't get up early. It's fast. Seriously, when I jump out of lights, I would hit maybe 20 mph for the heck of it, and when I played with my Ruby, I hit 25mph with the same amount of pedaling play. 20+ mph on my route isn't so unfamiliar now!

So, I lost Waterhammer, but gained a RubyPro in these last couple of weeks.

I can live with that.

Bugs and tennis

2007-08-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

Changing Steven's nickname. I wasn't happy with 'Killer'... and it all became clear on Tuesday. Steven is a very kind hearted young man, and he won't kill any insects that land on the courts! And Tuesday, he kept playing, trying to step around the crickets all over the court! His new name is:
'Dancing with Crickets' , via James.

Last night, Steven and I had a battle at net, and the last hit, he nailed me right on the shoulder! I hit the ground and started laughing, and looked over, and Steven had collapsed in laughter too. So funny. All of us were getting nailed. It was fun.

Meeting my wonderful 'Waterhammer' in about 1/2 an hour. Whew. What a week!

Shasta

2007-08-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

Shasta was amazing to ride! Here's my riding buddy, Diane , near the end of our ride. We did the 1/2 metric, and added a 3 mile uphill because her friend and the coordinator of the ride said it was the most beautiful part. He was right!
It was a challenging uphill, and it seemed endless! Finally, my size was an advantage, as I could climb better and passed at least a couple of the big guys huffing up the hill. :)
Getting to the rest stop was like nirvana in paradise! Getting there was reward enough, and I confess feeling my ego chatter about how being there was a privilage open only to us climbers! HA! Of course, I knew what a weenie I truly was, because the real climbers still had 20 miles more to go where it really got steep, not the warm -up I had just done. lol!
And finally a pic of me, sitting at lunch with some of the uber cyclists who went up climb after climb for 134 miles that day! Maybe Diane and I thought we could gain some elevation through osmosis...very nice guys though, and didn't mind socializing with us plebian 1/2 metric gals!

LOVE MY SOCKS!

2007-08-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

The most talented knitter, Jeanette from NY, my very own Sockapalooza pal, sent me these socks! Of course, I can't wait until Fall to wear them! I love the foot cream too, it's too perfect of a gift and package! The perfect pick-me up when I needed it most. You're awesome, Sockapalooza 4 pal!

West side of Cantelow!

2007-07-28T14:44:00.001-07:00

So this was supposed to be the weekend of the Ill Fated Tour....(edited) : and I learn that I can do hills!

ANYWAY, I rode this morning. Did Solano Lake hill once, and

then rode down the beautiful Pleasants Valley Rd and hit the west side of
Cantelow. Just as the race team was coming down! I smiled off to the side (it really looks pretty cool ala peloton) as they came down (narrow road, and some swung wide on the turn. They were at ~35 mph, not something to get in the way of!) and got some smilesand nods back. So fun to watch. Diane went down towards the gathering group.
I waited for her, then decided to head up on my own. And up and up!! The road was loose with gravel, but I went up and thought for a while '...this isn't so bad' and then it got steeper! I saw a mature roadie up by a rail (who left as I headed up, embarrassed for having stopped??) and somehow I thought I was at the top, and I was already laboring for air and my legs were hurting , and I finally realized for the first time during a climb that I was going to have to go DOWN this up, so I pulled over too...it obviously wasn't the top. IT was the turn before the REALLY steep part! I looked up, and remembered that the last time I went down it, I seriously thought I was
going to vault over the handlebars!! My heart was still pounding, and I thought, 'Okay, I'm good. I'm heading down' and even then, I couldn't make myself mount my bike and ride down. It was scary steep!! So I *walked* my bike down that section before it sloped a bit less and seemed acceptable to get back on and coast down. lol. Down a ways, I found Diane waiting in the shade. She had gone as far as she could and was waiting for me.

It was pretty awesome, though. After yesterday climbing up to the dam at Berryessa and today, I'm getting more confident with hills. I think I can keep going on grades that aren't as steep as Cantelow, and I think I could eventually get up Cantelow with practice, as long as I didn't have to go DOWN it! That was what seriously made up my mind to not continue UP
was the upcoming DOWN if I did...

I think I'm ready for Shasta next weekend.

nicknames

2007-07-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

We've been playing tennis together for over 3 years. I decided they needed nicknames. So James is 'Pong' because he always gets the ball back. Kwo Wei is 'Hot Wheels' because he can get to any ball! Impossibly fast, and heck, he just has a nice body. Dennis is 'Stretch' because he has a huge reach at net. And sweet and mild Steven I nicknamed 'Killer' . Because once in a while, he'll have a great put away shot.

James was kidding about me putting 'Hot Sauce' on my shots; I can hit the hardest and fastest of all of us. So that may end up being my nickname, although I think 'Little Mac' fits better, because I have a huge temper and cuss when I miss a shot. :P

I miss Kerry, 'cause she's small and petite too, and she yells more than I do. lol.

Bugs and bikes

2007-07-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm...the top I was knitting, I was knitting in WOOL!!! How long have I been doing this? ack.

Sewing, cycling, and playing tennis. That's about it.

Trying to talk Nathanie into riding Cantelow and Mix with me. The Vacaville roadie went weird on me, so I ended it. Cops are important. We need cops. I know that. I just don't want to date one. Must be the vocabulary. Who wants to be 'conned' into going for an evening ride? Or facts for discussion be considered as 'ammunition'???

I'll state here and now that Cheese Its are my downfall.

I got pissy in tennis at one of the guys and nailed him twice on Thursday. By accident! I sort of feel guilty. Sorta. :) Because then I avoided hitting at him entirely, which meant for poorer shots/ bad strategy, and we lost the second set 6-2.

I'm restless. Unfortunately, I know why. Sigh.

4th of July crit

2007-07-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

This is the best of Davis!

Went out to ride with Nathanie this morning, about 20 miles. Ran into Chariot! Well, more like she caught us, chatted, then threw us off her wheel and took off....lol. Then I changed, and took off for the 4th of July Davis crit to help at the registration table. Joy! I get to register all the 1/2 Pro racers! The top racers have to show their registration card to ME (lol) and have me sign them in. Gentlemen, all. No attitudes, just nice smiles and very polite. About 90 in the field, at the hottest part of the day! Here are some more pics I took of that race:

And then, some guilty eye candy. :) In the little plaza, we have a water fountain. After the race, the men cooled off... hey, it was our just view from the ice cream parlor!

It IS about the bike!

2007-07-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

So I'm not riding down the coast with BBob and gang either...hey, horary astrology said it was a baaad idea, and I had reservations and wanted to go for the wrong reasons anyway...but I have yet another, more local goal in mind.

Connected with a nice Vacaville roadie that has agreed to be a buddy in training - (another Sag, no less) and we have challenged each other to get over Cardiac and face off Mix Canyon. haha. I might get 1/2 mile up Mix, but still. I haven't explored that far abroad, really, and since it's around his home territory, I'll be able to get more 50-60ish mile rides in, since my max known route is closer to 44-48 miles.

edit: Mix Canyon near Vacaville, California. 7.7 course from Foothill road to top. 4.7 miles of climbing, 15% average, 23% near the top. Record time shared by Johnathan Vaughters and Chris Horner(yes, that Chris Horner), 33 min 27 sec.

Knitting is a great cure for the blues! In blues! Here it is:
I had dyed the yarn for a possiblity for the Sockapalooza, but ended up using the green. So I had a skein and a restless bent.

I've been riding a lot. About 85 miles in the couple of days. Tomorrow, an a.m. ride before I work the registration table for the July 4th Downtown Crit. Then meeting Nathanie to watch the Cat 1/2/3's race and have lunch. Then fireworks in the evening with friends.

tandem for sale

2007-06-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

In a nutshell? Let's just say that honesty is easy in theory, harder to put into practice.

So no trip with the Texan. John says not to sell the tandem, that there will be other captains. Gotta love John! We'll see. It's listed.

Got back on the bike today. It was odd at first, after trying tandem sessions, but it got fun, fast. Ah, yes. This is why I bike. Bob is going to find out whether there's still room on his trip down the coast. Bob has a SAG set up! And his trip includes wine and lighthouses.

True, it'll take a baker's dozen of most likely older men to take the place of the Texan as a riding companion, but I'll deal. :)

He was nice. He tried to do what he thought was best. Can't blame him there. BUT if he had been honest earlier, it would have saved us both time, work and money. And awkwardness. I knew it didn't feel right. And I can be such a good friend! We could have just hung out and played the friend card. And talked about it. Sigh. Instead, I kind of feel burned. I DO understand he was honest, and willing to risk both situations in being honest. (Thanks, Jane!) It just sort of backfired...

Anyway, I wish it could have been more, too.

Sockapalooza, Spring Fling, and Texans

2007-05-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

I received this wonderful 'Spring Green' skein today in the mail from OnePlanet~
It's for my Sockapalooza pal! I love the gentle yet bright shades of green! It's tencil, merino. I DO have a pattern in mind. A large cable around the body of the sock.

I had a nice 'practice' for it, because here is Tater's sock that his family 'won' for him in our Spring Fling auction. He dyed the yarn with me with food coloring, cookies and his big brother (who won it a couple of years ago) and his wonderful mom. I knit on it on the playground at recess, and have to say, many kids are pretty envious of him! He just smiles and smiles.

The Sockapalooza sock will have a more intricate pattern, but the same idea. I'll start as soon as I finish Tate's socks!

BIG NEWS: The Texan Captain is flying out a week after school is out!! I am sooo excited!!
I tend to trust first emotions. Before you can over think/mess it up, and because I have the belief that we're aware of so much more than the conscious mind can be cognizant of...my first reaction was a big resounding "YES!!" and maybe some jumping up and down. We're going to have FUN. He'll be here for a long weekend - enough time to get in 3 good rides: unloaded and learning, maybe 20 miles. Then loaded and try a hill, 40-45 miles. Then maybe a loaded (ack) Cantelow/ serious climb to try with a short steep downhill, 55 miles.

I'm a little nervous meeting for the first time, but we're getting to know each other so well as friends, I can't think that he'll be anything but familiar after a few minutes. Like he said, if we survive this tandem trip, there's a 98% chance that we'll be lifelong friends afterwards! How cool is that?

Can't catch me!

2007-05-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting phenomena out on the backroads. If there's someone ahead, you try and catch them. Likewise, if there's someone coming up in your mirror, you do all you can NOT to let them catch you! In my world, mostly I exist to make weekend roadies feel good about themselves as they pass me, usually with a friendly 'good morning' as I let them pass with good grace.

Today, I was out on my Dolce, panniers 1/2 loaded (room left for a stop at Pedrick's Produce) I was keeping an okay pace, but not pushing it. Then I saw them. 2 cyclists in my mirror. I was still about 7 miles from Winters. You see the Winters bridge is 'home base' . If I get there before they catch me, I win. If they catch me before the bridge, I LOSE! I picked up the pace.

And so did they. Rats! Well, one of the things I was working on today was not coasting, and I certainly didn't: I pedaled going down, I pedaled through the turns, I pedaled for all I was worth. Okay, okay, a tail wind helped. Many miles later, and achingly close to 'base' I was doing 19 mph, which wasn't bad for being loaded down. I declared victory, as I slowed to pull onto the bridge. Seconds after I pulled over and got off my bike, those two pulled onto the bridge. 2 men, maybe a few years younger. One, I think was rather peeved that I had made it first, a small middle aged lady with panniers, and he said nothing at all. The 2nd guy, dripping with sweat and friendliness, stopped to chat. Asked how far I was going, talked about panniers, and the like. Not a word was spoken about our 'race' but oh, it was understood. lol!

I love cycling.

Tandem!

2007-05-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

She's perfect!! She was listed on craiglist, I called, next day I grabbed dear friend Emp, and we drove out about 45min. to Rancho Mureita. She flirted with his roomate, while I checked it out as best as I could, and made an offer. He accepted, and now it's here! It's a 2001 RT1000 Cannondale, in nearly new condition. It has a suspension post for the stoker too. Nice reach for me. I can straddle the bar, and if I lower the seat all the way, the pedals are just about perfect. I just wish the Captain would get his handsome behind over here to try it out... lol.

And some jewelry. Ocean Jasper. The colors and patterns in this stone are just beautiful!
The dinosaur pendant I put up at the Spring Fling was won by Victoria's friend's mom! I'm so glad she liked it. And Tate won the auction for dyeing his own yarn for me to knit into socks for him.

Dear Son can jump! He works on weekends for a photographer of mostly motorcycle races. He assists and takes pictures, and they went to Reno for a race, but it was cancelled. So they were driving back, got bored, pulled off, and the guy shot these pictures! "Hey Matt, jump!"

Of course, being the Mom, I had to buy one. And being the auntie, I think my sis bought all of them!

Ocean Jasper and a 'correction'

2007-05-08T16:27:00.000-07:00

All from Happy Valley Pow wow and Jay, the Ocean Jasper guy! Actually, they're small pieces, maybe 4# worth, but I went through all 4 buckets to pull my favorite pieces while Jay regaled me with stories from his past. I really went for the more transulcent, green OJ that I can't afford on ebay! Also some other finds I got.

Oh, here's the 'correction', just like they do in newspapers!!

OF COURSE, the Texan will be coming to California to ride with me. He's a man of his word. And I hear he's part Boy Scout/part MacGyver, information directly obtained from his female friend who fishes for piranhas. :)

1st and 2nd instar

2007-05-03T00:14:00.000-07:00

Dogs are overrated...this is my H euryalis that just shed it's skin, and beginning it's 3rd instar. After the first shedding, they were bright yellow! Missed that photo -op, darn it.

.

1/2 seem to be feeding on schinus mole (Peppertree), the rest on ceanothus. The schinus gang seem to be bigger! When I counted them earlier I had 12. Only half the ova hatched. But this is plenty for me! I'll bring them to the classroom when they're big and beautiful. We're focused on the silk worms now. Tomorrow, we look at the main natural fibers used by man, and spin a little silk! Here's a photo of one ready to molt at the end of it's 2nd instar. They're so cute!!!!

And then of course, the textile portion. My fabric stash!

Ah, Sockapalooza...I have a plan! I'm thinking for my sockee a deep blues/black in tencil merino from One Planet and do a Celtic braid color work sock. Either that, or blues/greens. To make the pattern 'pop' one skein really needs to be solid, rather than hand-dyed. Hmmmm.

I have PLANS for November! Road trip! Desertdweller is planning a rockhound trip, out of Burro Creek Campground in AZ. She's been posting beautiful rock to tempt us all to make the trip! Might drive out with Stoner or meet and fly with Stonelicker. No, I haven't met any of them.... sometimes you just have to trust life, and meet new and interesting people! It makes life rich. I have my camper. I have word out I need a tailgate. Hopefully I can borrow tools from Nick, and some camping stuff from my kids.

And I'm really thinking again of cycling part of the Pacific Coast, thanks to a Texan I'll probably never meet, but played his role to make me think of it again! I'm thinking Amtrack to San Jose, over to the coast, staying at the Lighthouse hostel, maybe going as far south as Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. Maybe Nathanie will come with me! Or Devyn, who's always up for an adventure! Or I could tag along with the Sacramento Wheelman, and not worry about getting lost and having a Sag...

To enjoy the scenery I'd probably only want to do 40-50 miles a day. Enjoy stopping for local fare, spend time enjoying the incredible land and sea, taking pictures and maybe even write my own Crazyguyonabike.

North American Wild Silk Moths

2007-04-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

H. euryalus are picky eaters! Alder, Sweet Gum, Ceanothus, privit, pluot, peppertree. Finally, finally! The little buggers started eating the peppertree. Here they are. They hatched on dd b'day!

Here's what the eclosed moth will look like:

Um, so I raise wild silkmoths.

I remember ages ago a rather rich, spoiled acquaintance was visiting with a friend of ours. I was baking. He made some snarky comment about it: in essence about domestic, mundane pursuits such as baking muffins. Yeah, if I want to eat them, I gotta bake them! What did he expect, I ask the cook to do it?? (Yes. Really.)

Anyway, if I want to play with 'wild silk' other than bombyx silk, well, I have to raise my own.

And it's just way cool. Better than television.

Babies - silkworms, chicks and Baby Bugs

2007-04-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

And the Baby Bugs are done! Now to sew for my empty-ish Etsy!

In the classroom I have 6 baby chicks, about a week old

And silkworms, a few hundred, about 2 weeks old! Spring is all over except weatherwise.

AND I've decided to learn from my previous experiences with ds being a young man, and trusting his knowledge...I leave my truck to him! Usually, in my impatient manner, I would take it in to a mechanic, say 'Fix it!' pay a lot of money and have my truck back in a few days , and not trust ds to take care of it; with no timeline, plans, of quite believing he would know what he would be doing.

Ds says he can 'easily' pull a used transmission and install it for me. And change spark plugs, change the oil, and all things like that. He doesn't trust his truck to any mechanic, because in his mind they don't bother to do anything, or care what they're doing. So do I trust him?

Yes. He was a paintball mechanic for about a year, he's always had a gift with things mechanical. And if he and Jeff, in their 'whenever' way, work on my truck - well, that would be great! It's not if I'm using it hardly at all, and it CAN be driven as is. A fitted seat cover might take care of the seating situation until I can afford $250-300 on that. And I can wait on ds and Jeff to change my transmission and stick to stock. Sigh. I'm trying....

Swarm headed for One Planet

2007-04-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a swarm that will soon be heading for One Planet
my one wholesaler who will also have Sock Bugs! Liz has been super, communicating like I do (alot and quickly!) and nice as anything. And I love their concept for their site. I'm working on the Baby Bugs now, and should get it shipped over to them in the next few days.

And then I'll need to sew for my own Etsy! The last Baby Bugs and Sock Bugs have sold, and my store is Bugless... Did, however knit these that was a take off from this picture from a Japanese book on Nordic Techniques! Of course, the book is entirely in Japanese, but luckily I know the techniques, and it's the perfect thing for leftover sock yarn.

There are 1000 participants in Sockapalooza 4!! I can't wait, it'll be great fun to see all those socks!! And to get a pair myself. I've never had someone ELSE knit a pair of socks for me.

Went to visit my cousin Peter near Red Bluff. He has and is going through one of the worse things a person can experience in this life. I admire him so much. He's way cool, too! He can do and fix ANYTHING! He has 40 acres, pet cows, and he says when the day is clear, you can see mountains all around. I only saw clouds, so I'm planning to go back and see for myself! I love living here in Davis, but the flatness ...well, I can't imagine living where you can see real mountains all around. I stayed for about 7 hours, and we managed to plant about 6 of the dozen or so heirloom tomato starts I brought for him, and we cleared the weeds in 1/2 of one of two greenhouses. The drive wasn't bad at all, about 2 - 2 1/4 hours one way. Mostly we talked and drank tea. He's so unique in my entire family, sort of like my Auntie Alice with her vineyard and homestead in Canada. Very much a self made man, he also traveled around the world when he was younger. Just a fascinating person.

My truck gas mileage was terrible! Only around 20 mph. I blame those big tires and no tailgate. Or so Dennis believes. I'm trying to list on craiglist to see if some young buck wants to exchange stock wheels for mine, get a free 'lift kit' (he just has to get it off my truck) and exchange a stock shift for the after-market short stick I have. No interest yet, darn it.

Went for a short 16 mile ride yesterday. When I got back in town, about a mile from home, I passed a large man out for a spin on his bike. You could tell he was trying to get in shape and lose some weight. I passed, nodded and smiled and kept going. I was going about 18 mph, and I glanced in my mirror, and he was there! The dude was trying to catch up! It was great! You go!! He slowed after a couple of blocks, but still. It's all good.

Breadbox, soy and another dream knocked out

2007-04-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

I had a mundania brainstorm, looking at my empty crockpot in my teeny tiny kitchen, on the teeny tiny and crowded counter. I had baked bread, and there were a few left. I pivot in my kitchen, rolls in hand, and there it is! Empty, shining and ready to be used! My crockpot! Now, my boulots and baquettes go in there too, and I love it! No more rock hard bread the next day, it's pure genius!!

I've discovered that the crafty world's best spinners share their yarn porn here, on Fiber Fridays! And so inspired, I spun up some soy silk that I got on ebay, and navajo plied it. Navajo plying is perfect for my kind of spinning, which is pretty thin. I don't have to worry about bobbins of different length, it really has a very nice body to it that I like. Very textural.

And, the end of my Recumbent trike touring dream. I went to visit with Betty Jane this morning, a cheerful, sweet cyclist that is the owner of a Greenspeed. She generously let me take it out for a spin. And I did. And it was one of the most uncomfortable, longest, uneasy rides I have ever done! It was low, low, low. True, I could roll over anything, and didn't have to worry a wit about hitting something and losing control of my bike. On the other hand, I felt like a very slowly moving target! My neck started hurting right away. I felt as if I were in a continual 'crunch', and was uncomfortable the entire time. I felt vulnerable and weak, versus 'Bring it on!' attitude I get on my Dolce df. (Not the wisest attitude, but one certainly feels alive!)

As soon as I started down Frontage, I thought this ride would last forever. A 30 mile ride would take hours and hours and hours...the endless ride. I kept trying to sit UP, because I didn't like leaning back.

Sigh. At least it saves me a $1800 it would have cost me for this toy.

Next!

Oooh, oooh. Also, signed up for Sockapalooza 4!! Fun, fun!

I can't believe I did it!

2007-04-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

I bought myself a white truck.

From a super nice man named Jeff, I LOVE my truck!!

It has only about 12K on a rebuilt engine. 6K on a new transmission. New clutch a year or so ago.

Has a few 'gremlins' as a 15 year old truck would. The left clicker goes bonkers every once in a while. The bench seat needs a roll of duct tape (I hope to put in bucket seats) It has AC on off or full on. (Matt's going to take care of this) . No tailgate.

Pluses are: it has an alarm. It has a detachable face music thingy. (Never heard of that before!) It's manual, 2WD, shortbed, and WHITE!! He was asking $2700. I bought it for $2400, cash.

Of course, like my dearest Mom, I can only drive it with a pillow. Or else the bench seat gets in the way of 2nd/4th gear. lol.

I LOVE MY TRUCK!!!

blue...I want white, but it's red...

2007-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Why am I not on my bike??!!! Wah!!

I think I have this teacher timing thing all wrong. I stay on my feet to teach, and when MY Spring Break/Winter Break/Summer Vacation come, I finally let relax, and I get sick. I missed my ride last week, because that's when my sinus' exploded into a sneezing fit. Never really recovered, and yesterday it became all to clear I was going to miss Party Pardee...so I'm blue, bummed, and a bit depressed.

and I want a white truck.

But there's a red one with all of my other criteria that I'll be looking at soon in Yuba City. I don't know how it drives though, it's a 1986. I like the pre-1989 because they're smaller by 20" or so. I could spend a couple thousand more and get a newer truck, but I don't really NEED a newer truck, since I honestly want it to haul used coffee grounds. And the occasional bike or two.

And I still must ride my bike as much as possible, yes?

a truck for me

2007-03-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

I know exactly what kind of truck I want.
-white
-2WD
-regular cab
-no more than $1700
- low mileage
-good condition
-Toyota

There have been 2 this last week on craiglist that I missed. But mine will come.

nl and I are going to ride American River on Sunday. Tomorrow I drive to Morningsun to trade tomato heirlooms with my tomatovillians group. Today I finally bought new shoes from Roger and am getting my racket restrung. Otherwise, Dennis would probably buy me a pair himself, he gave me such a hard time Tuesday night. Also, I'm trying to get it restrung at 55 instead of 58 for more power/pop.

I've decided that for someone to really know me, they should see me on the tennis court. And not be scared by my 'inner caveman' as James so aptly put it.

colors and playing the morning away

2007-03-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

I bought this yarn from mysticalcreations.etsy.com. Notice it's not linked? It took over a MONTH to get to me!! They lost my order, the resent my order, they did add some nice stitch markers (even though I don't use stitch markers) so anyway....it's beautiful in the skein. Just as beautiful in person.

It's 100% silk. I think soft. NOT! It was dyed in the skien, and it has a very hard hand, and stiff.

So, being a spinner of many years, I decided to respin it. Pull out the hard, thicker areas (it is a bulky) and even it out and soften it up.
Here's the result.

Another thing one notices, is the colors, mixed, are dull! Respinning, the colors were vibrant and gorgeous, individually passing through my hands. But in a skein, and knit? Bleh. Really. Ack. Now what?

So I pulled out some merino/mohair black roving. I spun a fine single, and plied the darn stuff with it.

Better! The colors jump out now. So I frogged my clapotis that the yarn was intended for, and knit up this:

It's still darker, but if I play with the thickness of the
black, it should help.

And that's how I spent my entire morning! Didn't get tomato plants in the ground, didn't get to school to clean the aquarium, and didn't clean, sew or do much of anything else.

And now, I actually have to spin all those singles up, probably purchase more unless I can find ....oh. Brain blip. I could ply it with thread! Black thread.

My Brain gets a cookie today. I'm joining a knitting guild. They have a wonderful list of charity knitting opportunites. So I started obesessing about finding a pattern. Then I thought I should go to Borders and buy more books. I get 25% today for being an educator. But biking and my lazy self didn't mix, and then I thought: internet! Yep, found the cutest little ear flap hat.

Oh, well, since my 'want to spend ' reared up again, I to go to the yarn store to buy yarn. Of course, I have TONS of yarn, but none are really acrylic/washable/soft for babies and premies. Okay, I found red. That may still work, but THEN I remembered soysilk. According to this site
it has all of these incredible properties. Superior ventilation compared to cotton. The drape and beauty of silk. Softness of cashmere. Bacteria resistant qualities?

Does Paypal count as money? Anyway, it's also a charity write off (note to Brain: post it in blog for IRS proof of items made and sent to said charities) and I'm buying some lovely colors in soy fiber on ebay that I've had my eye on. Sigh. I know. I could buy the fiber and dye it at half the cost, and gosh knows I have dye out the wahoo, but I'm distracting myself enough these days!

I'm supposed to be working on my wholesale order of Sock Bugs (11 of them!) that I haven't started. I should plant my poor baby tomatoes and weed some more in my endless battle with bermuda grass.

But it's my weekend!! Oh, and tomorrow I need to ride. I'm so lazy. Really. I'll probably only do 34 miles tomorrow. I managed 50 last weekend! I'm supposed to building up, not down. Sigh.

OH - and told ds if the guy does not want to part with his '79 truck for less than $800, let it go. I know the 'engine purrs' according to Jeff, but it gets cruddy mileage, it's a longbed, very old, and it's RED.

Up and down and up and down...

2007-03-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

So much thinking for my poor head!

I tried to really think about what I wanted. And the way my Etsy was running before I tried to sell wholesale was...perfect!! I was happy, I created when I wanted to, and it was so much fun to sell on Etsy, and get convos and feedback. I LOVED it!!

And, as wonderful as wholeselling and thinking of my Bugs in galleries was, the actuality was, well, stressful! The idea of large orders of up to 15 or 20 bugs that would need to be cranked out in even 3 weeks was overwhelming in my current life, it was crazy! So many things would have to be set aside to fill these. Lapidary, wire wrapping, tennis, cycling, gardening and my beloved tomatoes!! Oh, and work /friends/family...

So... I decided to back out of wholesale, save the one or two I'd already contacted. I've lowered my prices 20%, and sent 25% coupons to the 9 customers that bought them at the higher price.

Here's back to the good 'ole times!!

Tour of California....and a ring

2007-03-02T23:49:00.000-08:00

Omer Kem from Priority Health. Yah, I took the day off to watch the cyclists zoom by in 30 seconds!! It was awesome. I watched it online through a live cam until they came off Cardiac and were headed across the flats. Then I took off on MY bike, and headed for the overpass. About 150 others had the same idea! I got a rail to sit on, perfect view! And for nl, here's the leg shot...

After they went by, I got back on my bike, and back home to watch them finish the race in Sac.

Oh, if only I could be in 4 or 5 places at the same time! It was between seeing them at Stevenson Bridge, at the sprint downtown, where I ended up, and at the end laps in Sac.

Oh yes. And the ring. Not a bike part, the kind I make. Went to a customer in Alaska!

Usually content, until...

2007-02-17T22:37:00.000-08:00

...until I read things like this , and then I question my choices. Of course, then again, it could be because I have ds's cold. Headache, aching everywhere, tired....which means I'll be missing my ride with nl tomorrow. Dang. Last week we rode 34 miles, the week before 38. I was going to ride today, the perfect day! to Solano Lake, for around 44 miles, and a little bit of hill work. Aargh!!

We need to work on some hills to get ready for Party Pardee April 7th.

I ordered the jersey!

...and sit here sort of wishing I had a captain and a Greenspeed tandem of my own. Sigh. It'll pass.

I listed by first Sock Bug and Baby duo! Jancy and Baby. This is so much fun! I'd like to list one duo a week, and then 3 or so Sock Bugs, of 2 Sock Bugs and 4-5 Baby Bugs. In the best of all weeks! Right now, I haven't started tomato seedlings, cleared out the old beds, composted, or weeded, or worked on my tax packet. Or made any jewelry!!

Just not enough hours in the day. The only day during the work week I have free now is Friday. All other days are taken! And late evenings, I sew. The house is getting neglected again...

Sock Bugs and their Baby Bugs!

2007-02-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, there's this amazing artist, Yvonne Palermo . She makes silver and glass pendants, she has pics of Travis Barker on her site and in her jewelry, and she is infectious!! She ordered an orange Sock Bug, and loves her! So she wants me to get into galleries! How fun is that? And she had all kinds of ideas...and this was her idea that I worked on this weekend.

The Sock Bugs from now on will have a hidden loop, and the Baby Bugs will have a snap strap, so the Baby Bugs can piggyback on the Sock Bugs! How fun is that? So you can have your sock and iPod too! Or something like that.

I'm so excited about this. Also, Yvonne suggested a label on the Sock Bugs, so each Sock Bug will have a hidden label that says 'An Original Sock Bug by Sockdiva' on it. Here's a hanging view, and a Baby Bug portrait:

Oh, and I finished my Clapotis. I love the drape, and the color has grown on me, after much feedback from girlfriends. I'm wearing it now, and it'll probably stay there until Spring!

(Hi Amy! I think you're the only one that checks my blog. How are you doing? Miss you on Craftser!)

2007-01-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

So I'm knitting on my clapotis...but I am a bit disappointed with the blue I got from handpaintedyarn.com. A very different blue. Very much an indigo, light denim blue. And not too soft. Someone got too carried away in increasing the intensity and color saturation when they worked on their yarn pic!

I may overdye it green. Or purple. Or a blue.

...and a Baby Bug. Just because.

You know Baby Bugs make the world go 'round.

I'm back to forth!

2007-01-19T10:11:00.001-08:00

Went back...now working on the forth. I love you, Mom!!

I've made and sent all over the world over 100 Sock Bugs!! I still don't tired of sewing these. Every one is really unique putting together the combinations of the gorgeous fabrics I get to spulrge on at the quilt shop.

I can't wait to be walking somewhere; anywhere! And see someone with one of my Sock Bugs, knitting. I love seeing blogs and pictures of Sock Bugs at work. If often don't know about it, until someone posts me and says 'I saw it here and wanted to check it out...' that I get to see! I love it.

Ah. I'm knitting again on the Clapotis. I'm not really happy with the yarn I chose, so I ordered a novelty boucle from handpaintedyarn.com. Here it is: Oh, I wanted some bright raspberries or bright, bright red. But I guess I'm feeling I'm supposed to be more sedate at my age. I truly expect that attitude to fly out the window when I reach that magical age of 50 in a couple of years. lol.

2006-12-21T23:22:00.000-08:00

I usually keep this to crafts: but my mother's passing overwhelms me. So I create because when I sew, I'm closer to her. But I can't write. Maybe soon.

polymer beads

2006-10-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

How cool! This is what luna2005 has done with the polymer beads she got from me. She did them for an exchange. I'm sure I'll be flirting with polymer again soon!

2006-10-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

Labradorite. I used my saw!!! I slabbed up this big rock (softball sized) that I bought last year and has been sitting outside like any old rock in the garden, and it was this labradorite. It was so fun to see the slabs shine! Mostly golden, and flashes of blue and orange.

Then I slabbed my $$$ astrophylite rock that I got. This is from that. Pretty nice stuff! I'm not sure how well it would really sell, but I like it!

And although the color isn't too good in this pic, this is my newest love of a rock, and that's the Mexican Lace Agate. This is from a rough end cut that I got on ebay. How cool is that?? And the rock wanted to be cut in a classic oval. Huh?? But I conceded my freeform preference to it's wishes.

and a pendant from an ocho geode half I shaped from the Rock Shop. Titanium crystals too.

YES, I'm working on Sock Bugs! I have fabric for 4 large ones, and 6 Baby Bugs.

I'm thinking the pendants really sell best in person. Golden asked that I bring what I'd done to work because it was her last day as a student teacher, and I was thinking just she would buy, because I was still making them for everyone else, but I ended up selling 7 at lunch! I only had 4 left... and they really don't sell well online.

Interesting; Golden is a very hip, young person, and she said she'd never seen anything like them! I always though wire wrapping was EVERYWHERE, but I guess only at places more 'mature' people go to.

So I may just hope to sell them in person at the Davis Art Show next December if Margo and I get in!

Fun at the Rock Shop

2006-10-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

So I've been having lapidary madness. Went back yesterday after work and picked up more tumbled rocks to play with! Here is what I've done...

Top left is Fluorite, below is blue lace agate.

Middle two are OJ

Right is a very dark 'goldstone' in green. It's actually glass with copper inclusions.

Then the next morning, I couldn't resist playing more! So the left are chalcedony, the top from a rock I picked up in the SMS rockyard, below is way cool, a tumbled $.50 rock, reshaped.

The the top middle is a small crystal formation I sawed in half (and getting entirely drenched in oil in the process on my new/old saw) and below is a chrysacolla reshaped tumbled rock. This has more color than the original, acrylic coated rock! And the right was a crystal fragment, in the $.50 basket.

You see, Lydia at work thought that Margot and I should have a 'jewelry show' at work, after we kept bringing our new finished pieces to lunch. In fact, she already bought this one!

So I'm doing a number of smaller, less expensive wraps, from my tumbled rock finds to bring to work, and then what remains to list on Etsy. It's fun! I'm doing very high cabbed, rounded stones. And playing with new stones, softer stones, and the like.

Here's the crystal nub, wrapped. I'd like to have 12 pendants to bring to work.

I know, I know, I need to sew!! I'm finished two Sock Bugs, then I need to make a bunch of Baby Bugs.

That's my plan.

Saw madness and Rock

2006-10-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

First, some cabs I've wrapped since class:

I LOVED this cab - now a woman has purchased it in Castro Valley for a friend. What a good friend! I used Remy's tutorial, and it's a neat tutorial.

And my first gold wrapped. I thought the flash off the gold was cool! I like gold better than I thought I would. It's softer to work.

I've been going crazy with ebay and saws. I NEED a saw capable of cutting jasper and agates, so I'd been bidding on 10" saws, and I won one! An old Highland park monster of a saw, coming to me from Florida. About 1/10th of the cost of what new saws cost today, and these old aluminum cast ones last forever!!

Now there's a 16" saw for pick up only in Sac that I'm eyeing too. Good grief!! I've turned into a tool maven! The 'T' gene has rubbed off on me!

I came back from tennis at around 10:00pm last night, and went nuts on the Genie. Hours. It was fun! Here's the results:

The left is a recut Rainforest Jasper I wasn't happy with, the next is an Ocean Jasper, and the 3rd a red/black jasper from my stash. They'll be wrapped soon! Margot and I are now meeting every Tuesday to wrap together.

YES! Wire Wrapping Newbie and rebirth of Lapidary Bug

2006-09-30T23:57:00.000-07:00

Margo and I took a wire wrapping class in Sac. It was awesome!! We did it! I know I really s**ked at working wire, figured that metal was ex's domain, but HA! This was fun. I brought a number of my cabs, and used this black metalic cab (cannot remember what it is, other than I got it from Oregon and it makes a black sloppy mess of my machine when working it.)

I'm so psyched. Of course, I want to make a gazillion more, and me being me, want to buy an 18" Lortone slab saw and a 10" trim saw, build a shop, go crazy buying rock, and bend silver all day long!

Way fun. I have over 30 cabs that I made when gas was cheap, weekends were free, and I could drive to Mather AFB and play rockhound with the awesome Sacramento Mineral Society folks before my skin rebelled.

Skin has recovered endless hours, day after day, in cold water. Now I miss it.

Of course I don't have time.

OT: It's getting cold enough I'm thinking of wood burning stoves, sweaters, and off the road, back to the gym. (The Thursday racing guys had a major crash. Pres. Dan Sh. has a skull fracture and bruised brain: I just heard that Michael J. has 7 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and fractures in his sternum and scapula!! A bolted down spinner sounds pretty good right now...)

Brightly it glows - sock yarn

2006-09-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

yep, yep, I think this could glow in the dark. Took forever to rinse too.

But what awesome socks they'll be! Peaking over ankle boots, under a swirly winter calf length chocolate brown skirt in the Fall kind of awesome.

Next dye time, I'll dye some of this for myself to knit up! My feet won't have a chance to be cold. This color must have the super power to draw heat from the very Earth, it's so bright! So sez I.

my turtle and the 'Earth' Omiyage Co-production!

2006-09-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

This was too cool. I got 'my' pouch from beckarahn! She did a fabulous job embellishing the pouch. If you look closely, you can see the bee charm and leaves on the strap! I love that detail. There are so many details, it's hard to take it all in! Lunarium did an amazing job with the beads for this pouch. The colors, the shapes, the beads for the cord that slide(!!) and the little round ones that look like berries. Such a unique piece of wearable art!
I know the original purpose of the copro was to offer it in all of our shops at the same time...but I very, very, very, very seriously considered just keeping it for myself to look at...

My newest addition to my family. My winter turtle from amysbabies. How cute is he? And she's just added some costumed ones. Her ladybug one is impossibly cute!

My turtle sits on my sewing machine to keep me company while I sew.

When I was a kid, I collected marbles. I loved my marbles.

I was wondering why I kept making more and more beads. And then it hit me. This is WAY BETTER than collecting marbles!! I keep them in a bag on my dresser; it's my grown-up version of a marble collection!

It's tempting to sell beads in a bunch like this, in a handsewn bag, and call them 'Better than a bag of marbles...' I can't seem to stop making them as it is.

And on a more personal note: A wonderful, wonderful woman, very close to me, recently passed away. She was adventurous, strong willed, funny, intelligent, clever, all those things that made her a 'best' friend in so many ways. Years could pass between visits, and we could just pick up where we left off. We hit it off from the start, and we even planned to travel together when I retired. Now she's taking a trip where I can't follow. I miss her terribly, and I will love her always. Rest in peace, Mom T.

Not bunnies again!

2006-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

Not just any bunny, of course, but German angoras. (and/or Giant). I lost dear Bodhi not long ago: he was over 4, and the lifespan of these gentle giants aren't very long. I hesitated getting another, but Bodhi's keeper during the school year, as his job as a classroom bunny, really wanted a rabbit for her new room...so she asked me to help find one. This pic is from MFO Rabbitry in Sac, which may not be in existance anymore (at least their website isn't!) But I loved this pic. (I lost Bodhi's pics on a hard drive that crashed and never recovered...argh! But I have lots of kid's drawings of him I've saved!)

These babies are from Bungalow Farms where the wonderful Bodhi came from. She has wonderful, healthy, sweet bunnies in Sacramento, in her backyard, besides being the registrar for the IAGARB or Internation Association of German Angora Rabbit Breeders (thank gawd for the acronym). She has two that are possibilities for us. A chinchilla hybrid, 4 months, and an 18 month German doe.

Of course, me being me, I immediately think of ways to have an indoor bunny...I think after Woody lives out his life (my hyper terrier dog that thinks cats and bunnies are chew toys) I will clear out the downstairs enough to add a bunny. Litter train her, and then I'll have super stuff for my compost, and more wool to spin!

Whew. A plan.Without a plan, I would have come home with a rabbit for sure!

Norcatt Tomato Testing, 2006!

2006-08-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Sounds official, doesn't it? Basically, it was a group of hard core heirloom tomato affecionados, meeting in the park with the task of tomato testing and grading over 80 varieties. YIKES! We had 5 tables covered with tomato varieties. We ranked the flavor from 1 to 5, 1 being 'I HATE it!' and equated with grocery store tomatos; to 5, the best.

Our youngest, and very discriminating tomato taster! If it was based on amount eaten, Sungold was the best, with Momotaro. Yeah, I know. Both are hybrids. :-)

What was so interesting is when two of us grew the same tomato and how different they looked and tasted. Here is Brad's Berkeley Tie Dye (top) and my own. His was much greener, and more defined patterns. However, mine was prefered for taste.

Some highlights were Bruce's Tomato Sorbet, Debra's decadent brownies, Annie's darkest of dark Black Zebra tomato, all of Brad's eyecandy toms, and the perfect location and weather. I can't wait until next year!

...more beads

2006-08-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

I have so so so many beads. I love to buy beads. I love to string beads. But with so many options, I have a hard time commiting to a piece of jewelry without a lot of 'suffering' (unlike fabric: Bonzai!!!) And as much as I really like my polymer beads, I was not happy with the photos. So, I changed it up again! I strung my polymer sets with some of my beads added!

I'm much happier with the way it presents, and the pictures are more fun. I'm keeping the price the same, just more beads for the buyer to play with!

I tried taking pictures outside in the morning light, in the late afternoon sun. Uck. These are the ones I like, and it was just on my bed with a flash!

Here are some I recently finished and posted. Hopefully it will help crafters see the beads in their own creations more easily.

And I'm working on more Sock Bugs. I really like this one. His name is Spooky, of course!

Titancia magic and my wonderful son!

2006-08-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

Titancia (from Etsy and Craftser) did this awesome biz card for me, for my Winter Knitty 'Covet Corner' ad. It's really cute, and fun, and will be perfect!

And even though this has nothing to do with Etsy or cycling/tennis, my dearest and best son put this in for me today! He's so handy. He cut the holes perfectly, did an awesome caulking job. He's 19, and those Taylor genes are in him through and through! He's never caulked or tried anything like this before. I did the grunt work of cleaning off the old caulk, and bleaching the slight mildew behind the old, nasty wall surround that was there. Isn't my boy the best? His very sweet gf was there to lend a hand as well. Thanks, guys!

AND I'm wanting a trike again. For touring. For climbing, and descents, and cruising. I sold my Amos wheel to go towards that. I know I wanted to pay off certain things FIRST, but I may just pay certain things to a certain point, before I weaken and get this. No more being blown into traffic from huge gusts of wind. No more fear of rough road on fast descents. I WANT ONE!! I could so ride the CA Coast on this! Cardiac? No problem...My only concern is if my back can take it. My back loves a df bike. Not so happy in chairs. Next summer, I'll go test ride one and see. In the meantime, I can dream...

spinning and dyeing! and adding sock yarn

2006-08-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

I'm finally back to spinning and dyeing. I haven't liked the way Jacquard does with crockpot pour method dyeing, which works great with food dyes, so I'm handpainting yarns and fibers. That's fun!

Here's some merino and tencel fiber. I LOVE this soft, shining stuff.

And my handpainted sock yarn. You'd think in 'Sockdiva's Shop' this would have happened earlier; but the whims of creativity had otherwise! This is superwash merino. Can you tell I'm big on practically every color in the dyepot?

Etsy changes: I removed the pendants that had nothing to do with socks. And I WILL try to make stitch markers, but out of those little sock beads, rather than simple slices. So bigger than the slices, and like M&M's. Even though it's much more work, I'll put the same price. Hmmm, might need another sock cane from clayartist!

Biking: Rode in Napa with nl! Here are the stats:
Mileage: 40 miles
1 flat
Buzzed by too many cars to count! Trucks were best, sedans were worse.
1 huge breakfast for lunch in St. Helena
Potholes, hills, not that many cyclists!
Headwinds - 20 mph

More beads!

2006-07-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

I think I'm reaching an end to my obsessive bead making streak! I'm actually spinning another rainbow skein, and ideas for new yarn colors. And the fabric is beginning to call to me again...all good.

I love the metallic clays, and the transulcent clays. I'm also playing with some beautiful little canes I got from clayartist!

Some of the details have me in awe, when they emerge as I play with them and they 'grow'...she's amazing.

I'm thinking of just offering loose beads rather than pendants on cord. I like the idea of having some in supplies. I'm also going to post them in the Wire Jewelry forum, for the diy.

Smoothie recipe:
1/2 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
Ice and water to make it slushy. Add Rainbow pearls. YUMMM!

burned beads, soft beads, hole-less beads, and Convection Oven woes

2006-07-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

So I've been pretty much, well, obsessed, with polymer beads! First day back, I made some 75 beads. Then I burned 1/3 of them in my toaster oven. Holy toxic fumes, Batman!

So I went to Lowes with my gift certificate and bought one fancy, if bumped and dented, convection oven on special for the whole gc. I brought it home. It didn't work. I took it back, and bought the cheap-but-new-in-the-box one. (Did I mention this is all in my ds' sports car with paintball skull decals in 100+ weather? I got tracked by CHP both times...me, the mom, putzin at 60 in the slow lane...heh heh). I now have a small oven that works, and $10 on my gc...

Cheap that I am, I did get an offer the next day from Freecycle , but alas, too late. I mean, I *could* return it, but I've reused this darn gc about 1/2 dozen times for various plumbing and assorted exchanges, and I feel guilty about it... it works, it's here, I don't have to drive in this Dante weather.

Here's one of the swirl beads that I made into a quick pendant.

I've put aside canes for now in the heat and having fun with swirl beads. I sit down to try one idea, and next thing I know, a couple of hours have passed, I have a dozen uncooked beads on my tray.

Sarah Shriver was right about fussing with the bead. It makes a HUGE difference in the final product. I'm still working on that. Made by hand or not, Sarah manages to make them as perfect as possible, and that professionalism shows in her work.

Heck, I'm still working on erasing fingerprints without distorting the whole darn thing...but I'm getting better!

Here are some raw beads that are slated for fussing...I still haven't gotten the skill of making 2 exactly alike, but I suppose in polymer it's not expected....but a gal can try.

UN-bead related, nl and I rode at 6:00am this morning trying to beat the heat. It didn't work. It was hot at 6:00am! Also a 'spare the air' day, tractors and trucks kicking up dirt in fields....
Stats: 34 miles
1 iced tea
passed by too many roadies to count
beaned by one dragonfly

Latest Obsession: Polymer beads!

2006-07-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

I just had the BEST workshop with Sarah Shriver, held in lovely Mendocino at the Mendocino Art Center. I haven't been able to stop playing with clay since...

Here's the coast at the Mendocino Headlands, straight down the road from the Art Center.

Here's Sarah doing a demo. There were 8 of us, in the jewelry studio. She was relaxed AND meticulous, and funny, informative, supportive.
I'm hoping to take her Celtic bead class this Spring at MAC too.

Lesson #1. As bright as my Skinner blends are, using the primary colors results in BROWN!! Duh. Yes, I was a Design major. Yes, I teach a color wheel class with my students every year. I dunno; I didn't realize how quickly canes can shrink!!

Evidence here, on my weekend's results...

Too much fun anyway! My first job is to make beads for my students to add to my thank you cards.

Here are some that I tried, although I'm going to start over, since I've decided to make holes *before* instead of suffering my power tool phobia! The ones on the right are a blend I did using the same method from class, using a very tight part of the color wheel! I'm trying to make a matching sock cane. My goal is to perfect my skills and offer polymer jewelry with sock beads! The ones on th left are from the primary canes from the workshop. Most are Natasha beads, one is a method Sarah showed us.

I just love working with the clay! I guess it's lucky that Knitty got delayed, and I get to indulge myself in my latest obesession.

Yes, I've finished clue#2 on the Mystery stole, and am still knitting on Clapotis. I should have 3 sets of hands...

Clapotis fever!!

2006-07-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

SO I'm a couple years behind the times. I know everyone in cyber-knitting land was doing a clapotis. I honestly thought it was some kind of South American poncho, or a scarf with pockets/poncho thing: not interested in that! But from my Mystery Stole wanderings, I clicked on Clapotis and saw the real thing. I read the intro. I had visions of myself with red lipstick, little black dress, sitting in a cafe in France, sipping a latte...well that was IT! I had to knit one.

But what to do about the yarn? It asks for something close to worsted: but reading around, some have used lace. I had lace weight. I had lots of handpaintedyarn.com lace weight. But I didn't really want to knit with something that thin. I didn't want to spend *more* money on yarn when I have so much....so this is what I did.

I chose two skeins of lace weight, just slightly different. And then, laboriously, set one on my swift, and added more twist to the single ply on my Louet. Talk about tedious!

At the end of one skein, I was no longer adding twist, as much as I was simply transfering it to the bobbin.

There was no way I was going to go through 850 yds of another skein!

So I figure forget the counter twist. I'm just going to ply the darn stuff, and set it. Theoretically, it should be fine.

Here's the result. I haven't set the twist in this pic, but it set just fine! I have a slightly barberpole, varigated fingering yarn! It should be very nice as a first clapotis.

I'm sort of waiting for handpainted.com to get more Malabrigo merino worsted weight. I have my heart set on a deep forest green clapotis at some point...

OH. And I finished both sides of Clue #1. Hopefully I'll have time to knit when I'm in Mendocino taking my polymer kaleidoscope class!

I'm IN - Mystery Stole 2006

2006-07-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

I jumped into Mystery Stole 2006 ! This is the very first knitalong I've joined, and I've finished one side of clue #1, and took off my provisional casting and am doing the other half. I'm using kettle dyed lace yarn from handpainted.com in 'Sunset' and really like it.

Here's a close-up. This is the best way to tackle one of these lace stoles! A not-overwhelming part at a time!

I'm using #4 needles. I always knew that yo's are a favorite of mine, so I'm really enjoying this!

All is NOT lost, merely delayed!

2006-07-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

Amy replied right away, and was so nice! They merely ran out of time to properly review stuff, so it'll be in the fall issue. I hope they like it! I made them to fit one skein and one sock in progress, to carry with you anywhere, not really to hold too much more. Oh well! I'll have to wait 2 more months to see what happens!

But I feel so relieved too. Before I checked my email, I was so upset, I stayed up until 3:00 am reading this biking journal on Crazyguyonabike.com. And then I got a call from nl at 7:00am to ride, since we were fuzzy on whether we were riding or not after watching the July Crit downtown. So I went! She had to be back by 11:00 so we did a 30 mile loop, which included a pastry for me, and coffee for her at Konditeri. (YUM) And came back to find the nice post from Amy.

Feeling better, here are some pics!

These are earrings I bought on Etsy from loopityloopglam. I absolutely love them. She was having a sale, and in my weakness for earrings, even when I'm trying to save, I couldn't resist. She has such cool stuff. I WILL treat myself, if my Knitty.com review goes well!

Here's some yarn samples I got from The Fuzzy Bunny. I really want knitters who think of handspun to think of Etsy! She did a really great job, they're so cute.

Here are some Baby Bugs. They're so much fun to make. Matt brought his girlfriend, Kristyn over on 4th of July and was remembering the one I made him when he was small. It's probably still around here somewhere!

Okay, now I'm off to look for fabric for Annakat's SuperSized Sock Bug!

Crushed!!

2006-07-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

So I get this post from Knitty.com that they want to review my Etsy. I send them a Sock Bug, Yarn, a Baby bug and so on. And I tell people, spend tons on supplies and sew and spin like crazy: and the issue finally comes out, and I'm not there!!!

????

I'm pretty depressed about this. I have no idea what happened. I emailed Amy to find out what happened...

Betty's Home!

2006-06-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

She's back where she should be! $75 later, she has a new tension knob, tuned up so she purrs, and runs perfectly!! And I swear NEVER to take a screwdriver to her again, and start fiddling (I thought I saw some lint stuck in the tension dials. Really.)

That's an unfinished baby bug next to her. I made it to a 3rd page in my Etsy shop! First time!! I'm very excited...

Sewing.....NOT~!

2006-06-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

My beautiful Singer is in a hole-in-the-wall 'Singer Service Center' in Sac being fixed. 'No problem, easy' says the guy. 'Ready by tomorrow'.

I go back 3 days later, and it's out-sourced to 'Frank' who was the previous owner, and he'll have to call me when she's fixed. AACKK!!
I need it NOW. I have a pile of fabric to be sewed!

Oooh, here's nice. I stopped by my favorite quilt shop, Pincushion and they're having a fabulous sale! I bought a TON of fabric. Gorgeous/bright/fun fabric! And I used my resale license for the first time. Woot. I'm going back Saturday to see if they put out more stuff.

Other stuff: Rode 40 miles with nl yesterday, then played 2+ set with the guys. 'Bounce, Hit' works!

Ack! My Knitty.com review is coming up too fast!

2006-06-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

So here's my wonderful problem. Knitty.com is reviewing my Etsy for their summer issue of Extremeties. AWESOME!! But one family emergency, a slightly burned out teacher (me) and my usually artistic distracted randomness, my Etsy goals are not being met!

Here are the things I have been doing. First is a pic of my part of the Lunarium/Beckarahn/Sockdiva coproduction. Mine is the upper right. Theme: Earth. The upper left is Beckarahn's, theme: Sea. And the bottom boldness is Lunarium!

Before I could make myself sew, I had a polymer clay obession! This is the result from my custom cane from clayartist. I asked for sock canes, and she made two. This is my favorite! I love it! So now I sell stitch markers. I spent hours searching for all things polymer clay, my usual obsessive uploading of information. So now I have lots of clay that I bought on sale at Michaels, joined a local forum, I signed up for a class for Kaleidoscope canes at the Mendocino Art Center in July with Sarah Shriver . I have visions of selling intricate kaleidoscope and mosaic jewelry out of polymer clay with socks as a theme. Really. lol.

Then before I could get myself to sew, I had to shop. This is my uber-cool find for my sewing corner. A magnet board! It was around $10 that I picked up in the housewares part of Ace Hardware. It's a metal sheet, with these tiny, powerful magnets. I meant to hang paper patterns and such from it, but I had a small pair of scissors in my hand when putting up a pattern piece, and BAM, the scissors flew out of my grip, and hung there like a trophy. 'Aha' moment, and I started putting all the sewing accessories scattered on the surface of my sewing machine, and put them up too. I also bought a new pair of scissors , and a strong pair of reading glasses for when I'm trying to handsew with black thread in the evening.

Fully satisfying my distractions, I'm working on my first batch of Sock Bugs. I hope to have at least twice this in time for July 1st.

Wish me luck!

My space (not that one)

2006-06-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

Frightening, isn't it? This was the space I was working in, on all things Etsy. My sewing machine was in another place, surrounded by storage things in the garage conversion.

I'll never have a reputation of being a neatnick. I'm random and scattered, and more artistic than neat.

Bless my dd for telling me she needed my computer, which she declared was the 'family' computer, and she wanted to load a game called 'Guild Wars' that she had bought. Uh hem. And I was to go where? To do my Etsy thing? This is a small house. Maybe 1200 square feet of 3 pack rats. Need a close-up?

I probably spent more time reading forums than anything else, sometimes. Needlessly checking my Etsy every 15 minutes... then spinning for a few minutes, switching to origami, switching to omiyage, switching to packaging, switching to penning new ideas.

And my dd was kicking me out?!

Blessings in disquise.

I looked around my tiny abode, and although nothing looked possible, I saw my favorite window with new eyes, born of necessity.
Move some empty aquariums, some boxes of dd papers and supplies, some lapidary rock, shift things a bit, and ta da!!!

MY SPACE. I moved up my most precious old Singer sewing machine from my dearest momma, a spool holder that was my Grandmothers from the laundry room, where it held leashes, tools, and misc. junk, a low table to use as a cutting surface (before I had to clear ds's stuff to put my board up to cut things on the low table downstairs) and I'm by my plants, my daughter's art (a winged heart from my dd for my last birthday) my Joy, and it's the Best Space ever for my Etsy! Sure, sure, I should have finished putting things away before I took a pic, but it'll end up like this on a regular working basis anyway...

I have much better light, which will let me sew at night, which I wasn't able to do before.

My wheel is right there. I can talk to my plants while I work.

It's the best ever. I'm so happy. And the timing is perfect, right before my summer vacation -

I LOVE IT!

Handspun vs. Handpainted

2006-06-06T01:32:00.000-07:00

While at my dye workshop, I had dyed 100% alpaca top right next to a skein of 100% alpaca fingering yarn.

Here's the comparison. On the left is the fingering yarn, on the right is my handspun.

Pretty interesting, yes?

(This is what I did instead of report cards...)

The fingering yarn is 1.65 ounces, and came to 174 yards. My handspun came to 160 yards and is 4.10 ounces! True, I spun it pretty tightly, thinking socks, but what do they do to commercial yarn? Puff them up with some mysterious lightness? My handspun feels dense.

Here's a close up of a strand (ala Vogue Knitting!) I found I really knit loosely. According to my stitches, the commercial fingering is DK, and mine is worsted. Heh. I knew my handspun would work as sock yarn! Call it sport at least!

Next: the swatches!

My handpainted commercial yarn.

& ..........

My pretty heathered handspun! More organic.

I like both, just very different effects.

Last pic of the day? The koolaid auction socks!

Coloring my World at West Valley Alpaca

2006-06-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

I've been looking forward to this all week!! Today, I got to drive out into the country, and take a dye workshop with Pat at West Valley Alpaca in Esparto. There were just 3 of us. Michelle from Oroville, Kaye probably a Bay Area gal, and myself. We met in the shop, where we were surrounded by all things alpaca. Pat sells it all! Yarn, fiber, Ashford spinning wheels, kits, buttons, Jacquard dyes, needles, alpaca bears, books and more.

Here's a close up of some of the amazing alpaca things, for sale and inspiration! Pat is the best kind of teacher. The kind that you can ask any question that comes to you, without feeling self conscious! She had all kinds of samples to show us of skeins; dyes over different natural colors, knit and woven samples to see the resultant patterning from handpainted yarns and fiber (the focus of the workshop) and books. Oh, and she had tea and cookies for us too. :-) After a general intro talk that included safety, we were ready to get started! Just outside the shop is a big open barn, with a large plastic covered table, and jars and jars of dye. The mad scientist in me began to bubble up...

Here's the dye work area. Any color we could possibly want, and the whole set-up, just ready for us. I loved that part! It was really nice to see how streamlined and efficient her working rhythm is, from years of hand painting yarn herself. I found this particularly valuable!
Here's my classmate carefully applying dye with a syringe. Me? I did the pour and pat method. Pour it on with a cup, and pat and squish it around with my hand. See that coiled red/purple colorway to her left? That's mine! Because there were just 3 of us, and I didn't bring a lunch because apparently I can't read, I dyed 3 different projects, plus a handful of silk cocoons to play with later.

Here's a shot of the dyepot. The two large coils are fiber, the top is a skein of local grown alpaca. I need a second kitchen...

Talking about locally grown alpaca, here's a newly shaved resident! Pat and her husband are very careful breeders. They only sell their animals locally, so they can be availabe to help if needed with vet recommendations, advice, and so on. I think that's very cool. You KNOW they really care about their animals!

"Hey, you lookin' at me?!"

And ta da! Our amazing results of the day! Pat says there are some that take her workshops more than once. I may be one of those! It was $35 for 4 hours, and you get the company and inspiration from other fiber artists in a beautiful setting, and you get to shop, and you don't have to clean up afterwards!

I am one happy camper! All right, NOW I can do report cards...

My Auction and an 8 year old boy

2006-05-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

This year for our school 'auction', my donation was to kool aid dye some yarn with the winning child, and then knit it into a pair of custom socks.

This is the result! He started out carefully painting, and changing colors. At the end, he up-ended all the cups on top of the skein!

We used cherry, grape, lime, grape, and strawberry. I gave him a choice of packets, and next time, I may just put out the primary colors and more concentrated as well. Also, do it directly in a crockpot to 'cook' at school, rather than muddying colors by transporting it home. But it was fun! Thank goodness for the chart in Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks so I can figure out how much to cast on. The yarn is Knitpicks merino Color Your Own.

Here's my latest skein that I'll be putting up soon on Etsy. I'm also inspired to spin some sock weight yarn to put up. Or use!

Knitting Book! My hat's on the cover!!

2006-05-26T02:55:00.000-07:00

YES! Barb sent me the mock-up of her new book. That's my hat on the cover!! Woot! Hey, even Amazon doesn't have an image yet....

Barb's my tomato buddy. Not just any tomatos, heirloom tomatos. Names like 'Berkeley Tie-Dye' and 'Haley's Comet' and 'Purple Cherokee'. We didn't know about our knitting connection at first. She just posted on one of the tomato forums if anyone would be willing to knit samples for her book. Me, me! Ah, and many a knit project was born...

If you want to read a little more of what Amazon does have about this new, not yet published book (and it's not been an easy road to publication, folks, trust me!) look here. I know publishing is old hat to Barb, but I'm tickled pink!!!

Annakat, KnittingGuru and Felted Flowers

2006-05-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, I'm adding links! Annakat is an opera singer now law student, a BIG sock knitter and adventurer of life, now chronicling her internet dating experience. KnittingGuru has many tips on knitting, and is a fellow Etsier! Go have a look!

Here's my newest play: Flowers. I have done knit ones, and just am not taken by knitting little things with lots of needle manipulation. And then I pulled out my crochet hook. FUN! Usually, anything bigger than a flower, I mess up completely in crochet, but flowers are perfect.

AND my yarns felt. Of course it should, being wool and mohair, but the way things are processed, you never know. The felted one is the rose. I'm using my own yarn leftovers, spun singles. I need to dye more fiber for flowers! I'm thinking of putting flowers on an omiyage pouch. Lots around the top.

And I must make one of those bunny head ponytail elastic thingies...the idea keeps jumping up and down like a true bunny in my head for attention...

Bugs, Yarn, new ideas and waking up late...

2006-05-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Ah, yarn soothes me!

What a day. I woke up late for work. Big deal, the first time in 13 years of teaching. It's because I was up until 2:00am plying this yarn!! Pretty, isn't it? It's Volcano. Well, Volcano Sunset, because I added pinks, not just reds.

So I get to school before class starts, but late, and my boys are so anxious to get inside, they try to break in with a stick. A stick broken off in the lock: hence, my key no longer works. Ack.

It got worse. Tantrum child, truant daughter, writing samples, and the final touch? I've been exposed to Strep. 13 days left of work...

I've been wanting to do hair ties. When I had a wonderful Japanese student, years ago, the mother gave me a lovely little delicate fabric flower hair tie. I still use it, it's my favorite. Hand stitched. So I'm thinking a bunny head and collar, on an elastic hair thing. Maybe in pairs, for $10. I need to make sure I make plenty for next Easter too!

Summer. I need to make more and different omiyage, more spinning, and perhaps knitting some of my crazy idea scarves with handspun. I have one idea of felted flowers. The idea is fab, but I don't like knitting little flowers....eh. But it IS an excuse to buy another book.

James and I held the 1st court yesterday again Steven/Kwo Wei and Karey/Dennis. I didn't play too badly! Now to finish another Sock Bug.

2006-05-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

This is what I'm working on. Not 3 but 4 Sock Bugs! I don't think I can do much more. It takes me 2 or 3 days to look, ponder, and figure out fabrics and colors. I can't rush it. I look, place fabric, and if nothing speaks, I go away and come back later. I also can only do it in daylight, because it's the only time I can see well enough the true colors.

Yay, big sis bought me lots of fabric! I'll get it next weekend.

Here's Volcano and my rainbow roving, ready to spin. I've been a busy gal!

Lunarium had the best idea! She does polymer clay, her etsy pal Beckarahn does beading and ruching, and I do omiyage bags. So Lunarium suggested that we do an unofficial coproduction. I enlarge and create 3 bags about the size of a small purse from each of our fabrics. Then I send it on to Lunarium. She creates beads, unique to each bag and sends it to Becka. Becka beautifies the bags with Lunarium's beads and more fabric. Tada! Then we each receive one of the bags, to sell or keep. How much fun is that?!

8 year old Connor won my 'teacher auction'! Every Spring my school holds a Spring Fling, and part of it is a silent auction. My 'donation' was to koolaid paint some merino sock yarn from KnitPicks with the winner then knit a pair of socks from the yarn he/she painted.

Here's whats on my wheel now. I'll ply it tonight, and have something to put on Etsy tomorrow.

I love doing this. And to think I was thinking of stringing tennis rackets for a 2nd job! lol.

Muses can nag too....

2006-05-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Here I am, spinning away on my lovely pinks and baby blues, with another light, happy, Spring rovings next in line and I hear her/him.

'Orange. Yellow. Black.'

Huh? I ignore her/him. Heck, I ignored her/him 2 dye pots ago. See, I already have a red zone skein on Etsy, and it's been there for a while. So in my current pot, I did a rainbow, thank you very much. The voice gets louder.

'ORANGE, with yellow, red and black. And ply it a lot. And call it 'Volcano'!'

Rats. Not only is my dear Color Muse getting louder, she/he's getting very specific. Humph. Stock picks and lotto numbers I DON'T get. Color ways, parking spaces, and and green lights I do. :-) Can't say I'm not loved!

2006-05-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

More yarn porn. I really love to spin!

I'm so freakin tired. really did too much today. Went to bed at 2:00 am last night, got up at 7:00 am to go to work. NOT an easy day. Had to call a parent twice (lies and stealing) and even that was hard. The phone # on the emergency card is a fax number, the other I could only leave a message, and writing to her email address got returned. Sigh.

Anyway, got home at 4:00pm. Then went for a 16 mile bike ride with nl into the wind. Rode straight to my sister's house, where I gave my nephew a hair cut (his hair is black, thick and grows as fast as kudzu.) Got home in time to scarf a frozen burrito, then out to the courts to play with my gang. Dn and I beat Cr and St 6-4. Then: fireworks! From the Davis City day. That was cool. I love fireworks! We sat on the service line and enjoyed a front seat show. We played until the parking lot cleared out, then rode 3.2 miles back home in the dark, getting back at 10:00pm (with lights and day-glo vest of course.)

I'm beat. But I did manage to finish and put up Brittany: Lunerium got her mini-Fawkes!

I'm so glad she liked it. It was 'made' before I started. I knew the fabric, I knew how I needed to change the pattern, I knew it would be special. He was a very cool bird, I have to admit. I like it, when things 'create' themselves, and I'm just the maker. Sock Bugs are like that. Yarn colors are getting 'clearer' to me too.

2006-05-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

I'm still spinning away, although I'm making Sock Bugs too. At this point I don't seem to be able to make more than 3 SBs every weekend. I don't even want to really know how many hours it takes me, with the handstitching, and everything!

I'd like to just focus on yarn and Sock Bugs for Etsy. I'm beginning to sell yarn! Wahoo!

Should try some merino, besides thinking 'socks' and wool/mohair blend. Dying the fiber is the most fun, to see what I'll end up with.

Summer vacation means full time on Etsy. Make patterns for 'Everything But the Needles' kits.

flip flop

2006-05-13T00:49:00.000-07:00

Ack...I don't see anyplace to put things IN a sidebar. I fail at this. I need dd to help me out. Sigh.

So I get a convo that says the yarn is lovely, but will I please just make Sock Bugs?? So funny! I went into a 'spin' because of Davidsdoll saying that she was on a yarn splurge and she liked bulky fun yarns. SO I spun. And now I get a convo to sew. So I start sewing, and then a new buyer comes and buys the Skittles skein!

What to do? :-)

long time no me

2006-05-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

At least here. I have a livejournal I've been keeping. Mostly, I've been spinning for my Etsy.

And biking, and worrying about my mom. Oh, and work. And getting dd to go to school. And waiting for ds to get a job.

I spend 3 or 4 hours every night working Etsy, but it doesn't feel like working; cause I'd do it anyway. But for some reason. I'm not selling yarn as much as my Sock Bugs. And I want to sell yarn, because I like doing it. I may take it to the local yarn shop later this summer, if I get too much in my shop. My latest plying fun is from littlepenguins way like this:

Hey. I'm liking Blogger over my livejournal! If I can create a ring link on here, I'm switching!!

OUT with the banana chips and yogurt raisins

2005-12-08T22:55:00.000-08:00

Dang. Back up to 112 tonight. I added 3 pounds with adding banana chips/almonds/yogurt raisins to my salad lunch. Back to a small handfull of almonds. And ONE bowl of dinner, not 1 and 1 more small bowlful. No more late night meals.

Kinda want to stick closer to home Saturday, as tempting as a ride in Napa is. I tend to prefer Amtrak and mass transit as opposed to driving 1 hour there and 1 hour back. But I might. Then 42 or 64 miles? I'd probably do the 42 option; I could do that by riding to Solano Lake and back though. AND do tennis in the am.

AND I'm not sure I'm into riding now. Major brrrrr. Might as well take time off and focus on tennis until March Madness, and get that 'need to get out and ride' feeling again.

Still...a field trip to Napa. Carpooling is good, starting on the bike at 10:00am. I'm very tempted. Very. I think I need a few good rides throughout the Winter, yes? How much longer will it be clear, without fog or rain?

Leaning to riding...

scary

2005-11-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

I've decided, for at least today, that dating is inhumanly scary. Yuck.

I've decided to just be and spare myself suffering.

Saw way too much TV in Concord, and saw a marathon of 'make-overs' where they took these 20 yr reunion women and changed their clothes, their hair, their make-up. And what do I do? Go off and buy some make-up. I mean, I don't have foundation or anything. But wondering if I should try...but then of course, no matter what I put on my face, I still look wrinkley and old. That's the way I AM at this point. Seeing all this 'age defying' foundation stuff is sort of laughable, but I was buying make-up too.

I'm fit, and so I suppose part of it should be to look your best, and these women did look better. But it could have been the glow of confidence? Or blush? I find myself conflicted (again).

Rode errands for about 10 miles, walked the dog for 1 mile, but that doesn't exactly seem like exercise. Exercise is 40+ miles on a bike. Even when I rode with Nathanie on Monday and we did 30 or so miles along the American River trail, it didn't feel like a work out at all. Just sort of a nice outing and visit.

Eric did post a pick with me in DBC pics...I hate my profile! You can see a nose and a jowel. Sigh. Yeah, with this attitude, I should be solitary. Really. That is the basis of the disbelief of why someone would love me, thus the doubt I ALWAYS had with Nick. My own superficiality, apparently. I know I'm one of the best teachers, and a darn good parent and friend. That isn't based on 'looks' and apparently, mating IS. Therefore, I am screwed.

Prince

2005-11-16T22:03:00.001-08:00

So I'm playing doubles. Dennis and I against Kwo and James. Dennis sails one over the fence. Most of the gates are locked, so we keep playing. I barely register a couple walking by, close to the high school building (we're on the end court right there) and Dennis says, 'Maybe they can get our ball.' I say, 'sure' and so he and James call out. They say sure, and the guy does this funny mincing step saying outloud 'ha ha ha ha' and I'm thinking, 'whoa. weird' and then the guy calls out, 'Hi Diana!' It's Marcus! Funny. ..thus not weird, merely 'Shambhalaian'

Why walk around the high school? Aren't there better places to meander with a girl? Just sayin...

Oh, and we led most of the time, they caught us at 5-5, then won the set 7-5. Dang. I MUST keep my eye on that darn yellow fuzz!!

Hills and weight and tennis

2005-11-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

Hills are fun. Hills are easier now that I've lost a bit over 20 pounds. I can drop Paul on a hill, even though he's a much stronger rider thanme. That was fun. But I lose steam on those long flats with a headwind. That's when it's not so fun. And I think, 'shit, I still have 20 miles to go, and I'm TIRED and I wanna nap and my butt hurts'

Future vacation: Newk's Tennis Camp, and the I want to go to his Fantasy Camp with a bunch of the old champs. Woot! That would be fun. About 2K for a week, but it includes lodging, food, and 4-5 hours of instruction a day.

Can you imagine 40 years from now, hitting doubles and eating meals with Federer and Nadal? Kinda like that.

Gabbi started a myspace for me. Unfortunately there are very few my age, mostly the savvy young kids, BUT this way I can see what's really going on with my kids and friends. Especially after they move out. boo hoo.

Empty Nest

2005-11-06T22:39:00.000-08:00

DD wants to move out when she turns 18, so she can share an apartment with best friend who is living at home with crazy mom and grandma. So, really, in 2 years, I'll have an empty house! It's kinda lonely these days with ds out on his own, and dd is out a lot too.
HOWEVER, I have lots of possibilities. Galdownunder, the ever interesting Bike Friday Lynette is going to 'rent' her way around, and even though the timing is off, wouldn't that be fun! I could host Shambhala practionars, cyclist that need a place to stay, it could be way fun! And interesting. I could work on my (hopefully) emptier house, and live as simply as I wish. I would stay in my tiny room. Of course, I can do some before I pay off the mortgage, most likely afterwards. Sigh.

1) Fix back room. Repaint, refinish wood floor, use closet as storage, but add a big empty cabinent from Ikea for guests, with clean sheets and towels, ready for whoever.
2) Fix outside on the side, with leak free/rat free storage, and extended fence.Probably 3-4K.
3) Empty downstairs into storage (or dd's stuff somewhere/anywhere but here!) and tile myself, like Pat's floor. Paint over turquoise to more golden wash. Change heavy rectangular wood table for round. Set up for possible retirement tutoring space. 2K (I'll do my own labor)
$$$$$
4) Fix dd's room as a nice sitting room with adjoining patio/greenhouse through french doors. Also replace all windows with double pane. 10K
5) Seriously redo bathroom, with a real tile tub, etc.. 6-8K
6) Redo kitchen. Open up with a counter instead of a wall, add a full pantry, open into #4 with french doors to extend my tiny front room. Have marble counters, new cabinents, refloored, open to downstairs with an arched space instead of a door, etc.... 65K

#1-5 are very likely. #6 if big time dreaming.

weight obsession

2005-10-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

Last few days I've been searching for and reading forums/blogs about obesity. I think I have a skewed body image after losing 20#. I didn't think I was fat at all, until I saw that pic of me in lycra on my first club ride. And now, I really obsess way too much over food. I'm ALWAYS hungry. I'm hovering at 110-113. I still have a middle-aged tummy. I think I'll be an apple unless I get it to 107-110. But my legs look like sticks. I like that my arms went thinner, but my legs don't look like they could get me up Cardiac. I had trouble Saturday riding over to Solano Lake. I had no power. Of course, I'm still not healthy, but bummer.

So I read blogs of obese people that also obsess about food. I worried that I had another late night meal. But then I realized that it had been 8 hours since I last ate.

breakfast: 1 piece of cinnamon toast
no snack
lunch: 1 cup cooked broccoli with dressing, one pumpkin muffin with walnuts
snack: toasted pumpkin seeds, maybe 20, while I cooked.
dinner: 2 bowls of chicken chow fun, with (gasp) Chinese sausage (lopchong sp?) (YUM!! loved it growing up, totally greasy and processed meat) Also, a banana/strawberry/blueberry/soy smoothie.
late dinner (ala Hobbit): salad with Romaine, tomato, Kimchi, dressing.

Meditated on Sunday. Got lots of hugs, saw Lyle, Mary Y, Helen, Becca and Ramin, Henry, Bill. Carey was there. The Bill T. who's posted said 'hello' to me. It was nice. No Prince though. Which is probably a good thing. I really want to try Miksang, but I'll have to wait until after retirement. Maybe take it before my tour, and travel with a light weight digital camera, and have a Miksang travel diary!

So anyway, since I'm logging, this is my weekly schedule:
M: Spinning class with Brenda, 6:00-7:00. Weight machines, 15 minutes. (I totally forgot tonight! I guess I needed time off...)
T: Tennis, 7:30-9:30 with Dennis, Steven, James, Kuay, Carey, Katy, myself
W: Tennis with Eileen, just rallying for an hour.
TH: Tennis, 7:30-9:30 with Dennis, Steven, James, Kuay, Carey, Katy, myself
F: spin class, 9:00 -10:00 with Kady. Weight machines, 15 minutes. Pig out on chips/dip/sweets/wine at 'Pool Club' shooting pool and hanging out with Sharon, Alan, Michael, Rick and sometimes Sue.
S: bike, 35-65 miles
Sun: meditate at Center, 9:00-10:00. Work at Birch from 10:30-1:00.

In the summer, I bike a whole lot more, and skip the gym. Usually, 100-130 miles a week. Next summer, I want to make Cantelow a regular thing, and take on Cardiac. Really.

Got lots of great sock yarn from Knitpicks! I finished socks for Chariot, Emp and HP. Almost done with Jessie's. Need to still knit:
Socks for Mom, Marie, Trish, Cheryl, Meg.
Scarves for Sloan, Anthony.
Arthur gets a gc for Amazon.

Need to start on Kanga/Snow's payment sample scarf.

Ack!

touring on my mind

2005-10-23T22:05:00.000-07:00

REALLY REALLY want to tour. Down the Pacific coast. On a trike. Ride from my door, up through Napa, up to visit Nick and Amy at Fort Bragg, then down the coast as far as Moro Bay or Santa Barbara, then take Amtrak back to Davis. Or something like that.

I think if I can ride Cardiac, I should be able to handle any hill. The trike comes after I pay off the house. In 5-6 years. Until then, next year my goal is Cantelow to warm up in March, and then Cardiac. Then get to Napa and around, with the club. Maybe in 2 years when dd is 18, do a summer tour with the club.

May or may not find someone to tour with me. And also on my upright until then. If I don't meet someone, it's a solo tour!!

so that's my plan, and I'm sticking to it.

too tired to bike 65 miles...

2005-10-21T00:10:00.000-07:00

I decided not to bike on the worker's ride. It was counterclockwise around the mountain, stopping for lunch. 95+ miles from Davis, 65 miles from Winters. But I've been sick two weeks, and still not completely well. So I called N and maybe we'll just ride to Winters or Solano Lake on Saturday.

Played better. Steven and I actually took a set from James and Cary. 6-5. Then I got tired, started forcing my shots, and hitting long or in the net, and Steven blew some really easy volleys that should have been put aways, and we lost important points that way too. Another girl, Katy, came today. Used to take lessons before me with coach. Hasn't played in a long time, but is all arms and legs and athletic. It'll be fun. Nice to hit with someone different, and like Dennis said, I'm not the only girl. Although I like that too. :-). It's more balanced this way, and I actually get more competitive with other women playing too.

I'm going to get my hair cut tomorrow! Blunt doesn't work, when my hair is so fine and thinning, so I'm going for the short layered with long tendrils. Got lots of Japanese hairstyle pictures. I'm glad. I'm even missing Kady's spin class for a haircut. And I'm planning to go to meditition on Sundays too. Maybe one day I'll meet an appropriate Shambhala Warrior to be drawn into my life.

Still would like a trike to tour with. After I pay for my house, that would be a super gift for myself!!