Christmas in Review

I finished my son's rag quilt just in time. Here it is, after a washing and drying. You can see that the ragging/fraying process is started. The seams end up with a sort of chenille look.

Here we are, with the annual reading of the Christmas story by the Cousin-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Quite possibly the best Christmas gift I've ever given him. Swords and shields for everyone!And, here's our traditional Christmas breakfast--cornmeal mush. It's delicious. Honest.
So, how was your Christmas?

I've always wanted to go to....

Reykjavik, Iceland. I know, you're asking, "Why in the world would you want to go to Reykjavik, Iceland, Kay?" I'm not sure exactly, but I can trace my desire to see Iceland back to October of 1986. That's the date of the Reagan/Gorbachev summit that eventually led to the end of the Cold War.

To be embarrassingly honest, I wasn't all that interested in the politics of the summit. I know, I was in college and I should have been more aware of world events, blah, blah, blah. What I remember about that summit was thinking, "People actually live in Iceland?! There are houses? And hotels? Who knew?" Not me, obviously.

So, ever since the fall of 1986, I've wanted to see Iceland. I want to see the geysers, the glaciers and the unpronounceable volcano, Eyjafjallajokull. Maybe someday I'll go there, although I probably won't be trying to negotiate world peace.

What places are on your bucket list?

Fluffy Balls of Fall

I was separating my gorgeous, hand-dyed roving a few nights ago, getting it ready to spin when my college daughter walked by. She looked at the basket of wool and said, "It looks like little fluffy balls of fall!" I think she captured the color and texture perfectly. I've started spinning the wool on my drop spindle. I'm still very much a beginner, as you can see by the wide range of thick to thin places in my yarn. My more experienced fiber friends graciously call that "novelty yarn".
Most of the fiber arts people I've met are online friends. They are some of the most giving, helpful and encouraging people anywhere. They never make fun of beginners (at least not to my face) and they are quick to offer advice and instruction.

Even though I'm a complete novice, I'm made to feel like a part of the "in crowd" with fiber people. They jump at the chance to talk sheep, wool, hand spindles and spinning wheels, and don't get them started on roving vs. top! Actually, I love to get fiber people started. Uh-oh, I'm becoming one of "them".

Shhh! Don't tell!

I'm working on a rag quilt for my son for Christmas. I spent an afternoon or two cutting up his old blue jeans into squares as well as cutting new flannel.

A rag quilt is made by having the seams exposed on one side of the quilt. The exposed raw edges are clipped close to the stiching. Then, the whole thing is washed and dried (probably at a laundromat) to start the fraying process. The finished quilt will have one side with traditional seams, the other will have frayed edges that look a bit like chenille.

Remind me to post a picture of the finished quilt. I hope he likes it!

Fibery Yummy-ness, Waiting to be Spun

Last Craft Show of the Year

We spent this past weekend at a Christmas craft show in Aiken, SC. It is a two-day, indoor show at the Odell Weeks Center in town. Lori and I enjoyed meeting other crafters and talking about our plans for the new year. It was a bit slow sales wise, but still a nice weekend.

Our booth space was open on two sides, so we set up a bit differently. The sides were not as tall as usual and we split the framework so people could walk through from one side to the other. One of the things we've learned from doing a few craft shows is that you never know before you get there exactly what your space will be like. Always be ready to adjust.

I don't have any more shows scheduled until spring, so I'm going to enjoy my holidays and work on building up inventory in the Etsy shop. And bake Christmas cookies.

Monday at Our House

For our homeschool lessons, we've been reading about the Jamestown settlement and the paths people took to get there. One of the books is titled A Lion to Guard Us. It is the fictional story of three children, who's father has gone to establish a life in the New World. While waiting in England to join him, their mother dies. They are taken in by a kind doctor, who then decides to take them to the New World with him.

In today's chapter, they have a breakfast of tea and biscuits. I'm not sure if biscuit means, you know actual "biscuits" or the British biscuit meaning cookie. We went with the flour, shortening and baking powder kind, served with tea from a real teapot.

Also, my college daughter had an art project due today. She was to replicate an art piece from the museum. She got a pot to paint from her professor, that was close to the shape of the original Greek vase. I think she did a great job!