Late follow-up on Renegade Craft

Didn't buy much (and somehow spent beaucoup bucks not buying much, go figure), but got some tips, inspiration and something for a wishlist. Talked with some felters who also do recycled felting (felting and repurposing wool sweaters etc. for other projects), which led to some ideas for needle felting. They too have had limited success with just the roving, and recommended using roving on a fabric base (i.e. as an applique).

Embellished knitting needles are on my holiday wishlist.

Had a very awkward moment with a "shower art" display. The 7-year-old repeated some very R-rated language seen on one item — she had no idea what she was reading/saying, but everyone else around her did! :( I'm not a prude, but it seems worth considering not having EVERYTHING on display at an event that draws a fair number of families.

American Craft Council comes to SF later in August. It's been a fun season thus far.

Renegade crafters

The girls and I are going to the Renegade Craft Fair today at Fort Mason. It's a beautiful day today and I expect we'll have a great time.

Searching for the impossible?

So one daughter now has a tote bag with monkeys. And the other one, bless her heart, wants cockatiels.

I have a soft spot for 'tiels. The best pet in the world was Pee-wee, my cockatiel, who lived 11 years and died when my older daughter was not quite 6 months old. Younger daughter has seen only photos of Pee-wee, but she is enchanted by the sweet-faced bird with the delightful yellow crest.

Unfortunately, it's not the most common bird in popular culture. You try finding an iron-on pattern with a cockatiel. (If you find one, please let me know.) You'd think it would be a more common image — quite honestly, I think they'd be fun to stitch. Especially that crest.

The search goes on.

Not too early to think of Christmas

I've started the new job and in short order discovered that there's an annual holiday crafts fair. Woohoo!

On a related note, I ordered (and just received) blank potholders, placemats and bandannas. Maybe I'll embroider the potholders in pairs — you never need just one, you know. Bandannas ... I'll figure something out. Oh, I have some muslin and iron-on interfacing — bookmarks! Maybe add a bit of beading, too.

What I'm doing between jobs

Said goodbye to one job yesterday and will start a new one tomorrow. What to do today? Embroidery! Got Sublime Stitching's Monkey Love transfer and am doing a totebag for the older daughter, who loves monkeys.

I guess I really ought to see if I have brown floss, though.

Inspiration

I need a new idea.

I've gotten the coolest embroidery transfers from Sublime Stitches (@sublimestitchin on Twitter) and even Aunt Martha's, and have been working the dish towels. But I've grown weary of dish towels. I want to stitch something that someone will see besides me.

Napkins and placemats are one thought. Totebags are another. (Yes, I do have a felted bag to make — maybe I'll work on it tomorrow! — that will be embroidered.)

What I miss are the projects I did in my early teens, back in the dark ages — jean jackets, chambray shirts, worn-out jeans and cords. Big, elaborate things that rivaled Elton John's "Madman Across the Water" LP cover. Things that flirted with the notion of "wearable art" before working-class kids ever heard the term.

Kindred spirits

My daughters are not particularly crafty. Oh, they dabble in something or other, now and then; but mostly because they want to try what Mommy's doing. They are easily bored and move on to the next thing.

Which all made today that much more of a treat. Was at the girls' school track meet today and ran into an old friend from high school. One of her daughters spied my project du jour and practically whispered in awe, "Do you do embroidery?" So we spent a good part of the midday over dish and tea towels, me demonstrating and then letting her try her hand at it. She was such a sweetheart and was having such a good time, she wanted me to tag along with them after the track meet. :)