Wyoming Breezes

holiday welcome stitched in 1986 May all those gathered  under your roof and around your table  have a Merry Christmas

Statue of Liberty holiday cross-stitch stitched July 1986 Counted cross-stitch was my craft of choice in the 1980s and 90s. A few holiday pieces are framed and hanging in my apartment. The holiday Statue of Liberty design commemorated her Centennial. The pattern was published in a craft magazine, and I stitched it on 22 count navy Aida cloth in July 1986. close up of stitching with ruler She is one of three holiday pieces I stitched on 22 count cloth. holiday wreath stitched in 1992 The second piece is a holiday wreath. I had planned to stitch a wreath for each season, but for some reason that did not happen. close up of stitching with ruler Another holiday picture stitched on 22 count Aida cloth can be found here . I haven't done any counted cross-stitch in years. I enjoy it, but my eyes aren't what they used to be.

Scissor cases on display October 2015 Last week, the sewing group that meets at the Lander Library made cases for storing scissors. The cases are made from two 8.5 x 11 inch pieces of coordinating fabric and a piece of fusible interfacing. Each case holds three pair of scissors, two on one side and one on the other. It was a fairly quick and fun project. My case is the fourth from the right, the purple fabric with yarn balls. I didn't follow the directions very well, so mine has a curved pocket on the inside. The tutorial for the cases can be found here .

I dropped some paperwork off in Fort Washakie on Thursday, and while I was there, I snapped some quick photos of the Fiber Guild exhibit with my phone. In a previous post , I showed the items that I submitted for the exhibit. Lorre Hoffman did an awesome job of displaying the variety of items that were submitted. Guild members are talented in a variety of areas - spinning, weaving, felting, sewing, knitting.  I am pleased that the Guild was invited to host an exhibit in the Frank B. Wise Business Plaza and hope the members will consider another exhibit in the future.

Tissue fragments placed on silk scarf and ready to be spritzed with vinegar water. Did you know that silk can be dyed with tissue paper? I didn't, but it can easily be done. Last week, I joined the Lander Sew Sistas at the library for the fun activity. JoAnne brought the materials, and everyone else brought spray bottles, plastic bags, paper plates, vinegar, a take home container, and a creative nature. Tissue paper shapes prepared and place on the silk scarf. JoAnne explained the different techniques that could be used and distributed the supplies to the eager group. Some ladies planned and precisely placed the snippets of tissue paper; others haphazardly arranged the bits of color on the blank 6 x 24 inch silk scarves. Jeni V. and Mary H. placing the tissue on their silk scarves I was in the haphazard group. I added more bits of color to one scarf and less to another, as I wanted to see the difference. Nancy sprays the crumpled scarf in the take home cont...

Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest 2014 Riverton, WY Saturday was a long day, filled with wonderful fiber goodness, conversation, and fellowship. Fremont Fiber Arts Guild members gathered Friday afternoon to set up tables and assist vendors with their displays for the biannual Fiber Fest on Saturday. Five vendors displayed yarn, notions, roving, and other fiber goodies, and on Saturday six guild members demonstrated their crafts: wheel spinning, drop spindle, twining, crocheting, knitting, cinch making. Bea R. and Sheri H. help assist two new knitters In addition to giving demonstrations, guild members worked with those who had some prior knowledge or a particular craft but were struggling with a concept or a project. Laura B. leads a demonstration in drop spindle Several men attended the event and seemed to enjoy trying the drop spindle and rug twining as well as observing the wheel spinning demos. Although the crowd seemed smaller this year, the event was well a...

Twining on the deck September 2014 Temperatures have been in a state of flux the last few weeks as Autumn creeps down the mountainside. It can be 80 F one day and 50 F the next. I usually start the day with the house closed and fling open the windows and doors by mid-day. I added a down comforter to my bed about a month ago, and in another month, I'll probably start using the flannel sheets. Recently, I've been trying to twine outside as much as I can. The lint and strings can be easily swept off the deck, and I can enjoy the gentle breezes. All too soon, it will be too chilly to twine or to knit outside. How do you like to spend Autumn afternoons?

Before I began blocking Susan's doilies (see yesterday's post), I decided to practice her techniques using the doily I knit last year for the County Fair. My efforts last year, resulted in an 11.5 inch doily, but using Susan's blocking circle, I was able to block it to 13.5 inches. What a difference more blocking has made. From this: 11.5 inch blocking 2013 To this: 13.5 inch blocking 2014 I am much happier with the doily now. Seeing the difference the blocking made, makes me eager to knit another doily soon.

Sheila contacted me last week and asked if I would block her mother's last set of crocheted doilies. Susan's health is quickly failing, so I gladly accepted and spent about an hour with Susan learning her blocking tricks. Susan has laminated circles for blocking the doilies, which I brought home with me. I began the process on Saturday. Readers may remember that I purchased some of Susan's gorgeous doilies and posted about them here .

It has been a long time since I've done any twining. However, since I'm going to demonstrate the technique at the Fiber Guild Fiber Fest in October, I thought it might be wise to make a couple of rugs to refresh my skills. My fingers and hands fell into the rhythm with little difficulty. Normally, I sew the strips together as I twine, but a sewing machine might not be too handy to use during the demonstration; thus, I'm making this rug by connecting the strips with the slit and loop method. This method speeds up the process but also creates more bumps and knots in the rug. Older posts on twining and the rugs I've made can be found here .

I've visited and knit with Susan S. several times in the last two years. At every visit, I admired her beautiful, crocheted doilies and her knit blankets. My readers may remember the pattern that Susan agreed to share with me and with you. Sheila mentioned recently that her mother was willing to sell some of her work: I was thrilled at the opportunity to own some of Susan's works of art. I wanted larger, white doilies for the center of my kitchen and living room tables. Sheila selected a couple of doilies she thought I might like but also suggested I look through the entire box of doilies. Oh my, I was in heaven! From that box, I selected three other doilies and came home with these five beauties: The doilies range in size from 20 - 22 inches in diameter. Thank you, Susan and Sheila for allowing me to become the guardian of these works of art!

Leonard and I have a lot in common - trying to learn something that is beyond our grasp. For Leonard, it is knitting; for me, crochet. I enrolled a class and completed the assigned "homework" ; however, the instructor cancelled the second session and eventually the third session was cancelled, too. It was probably for the best, as the hook just did not "fit" my hand like knitting needles. After that experience, I added a single crochet to a hand-knit hat. Working with the awkward hook took me several hours - much too long to make me even hopeful that I will master the skill. I'm sure a child could have finished in less than half the time it took me to add the edge. I may attempt crocheting again, but today, I understand Leonard. What skill has you baffled?

While Marilyn and I visited at a lot of quilt shops on our trip, we also browsed antique shops. Marilyn was looking specifically for old beer signs for her husband, and I searched for vintage linens. Call me old-fashioned, but I use scarves on my nightstands, an antique buffet, and an antique dresser. I found some wonderful pieces for very reasonable prices. It was the six-inch crochet on each end of this linen scarf that caught my eye. Even though the piece had some yellowing, I knew the $8.95 price was a steal. After a good wash, most of the yellowing has disappeared, and the scarf fits the buffet nicely. Because of the two doves, I think this scarf was a wedding gift. The linen and lace are in excellent condition, so it was probably only used for special occasions. This scarf has a delicate edge and minimal embroidery in the corners. The untrimmed edge is the fabric selvage. It fits the dresser well for $2.95. I love this embroidered and cutwork piece (detail sho...