Coffee Break Designs

Am I the Only One . . .

2011-10-07T12:22:00.001-04:00

who would prefer that Sunday be cooler rather than 83 degrees? Very selfish of me, I know, but I will be at the Coventry Farmers' Market. I'm hoping people will not forget how chilly it was this week. This is where I would post a picture of something but that's not going to happen now. I am working at the co-op, Swift Waters in Willimantic, CT, and I have my IPad. I should give it a name. Working on that.This post was because I am 1) just hanging out in the store and 2) so you know I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Been painting the shed forever now!Have a good Friday!

Picture Perfect IV or Almost The Post with No Title

2011-09-23T10:10:00.000-04:00

I'm back! Well, I didn't go anywhere, except to the farmers' market last Sunday where I sold this!

And nothing to do with the pictures I had taken because the shawl was draped on my display. But I'm still happy I reshot the pictures and happy it sold, whether online or at the market! Last post I said I would list some helpful editing programs and apps. These are great for product shots or holiday pictures or anything.

Before I got my IPad I used Picasa I still do occasionally. Picnik is also good and has a few different options but you have to do the editing online while Picasa is a program you install on your computer. They're FREE, although you can upgrade for a yearly fee for more options. with these programs you can crop, resize, brightening, adding contrast, tint, softening, even adding text.

For the IPad (IPhone, too, although since I don't own one, I won't have anything to add here) there are tons of apps. My favorites, so far, are Photo Studio HD and Pixlromatic but I use Photogene, Color Blast (turns your photo to black and white, then you rub your finger over the parts you want in color and it turns that portion into the original color), and Mobile Monet. Some versions of these are free. You can upgrade for a couple of dollars. Others cost a small amount. I like to read the reviews to get an idea of how they're working, pros, cons, is it even worth it.

Photo Studio HD is so much fun. You can make pictures look like charcoal, pencil, pen sketches, change the temperature for a warmer or cooler image, add hues, blur, various styles of photography, black and white . . . This app also allows you to control how much or how little of the effect you want in the image. Cropping and resizing are also features included. You can save the effect to your camera roll, then add another effect from this app or another one.

Pixlromatic also has features such as vignettes, hues, intense contrast, black and white, sepia. There are also overlays that feature rain drops, sparkles, halo, scratches, as well as frames and mats. They have a blog, too, for updates and tips. There is no ability to control how much of the effect you want. It is what it is. But, you can still save your image, then pop on over to another app to add some other neat things.

Now, I know there is PhotoShop. There is an Adobe PhotoShop Express app but I see mixed reviews on it so I am not going to try it now. I don't have the original version, don't know how to use it, but if you do have it and can use it well, you're probably not looking to me for any photo editing tips. But I do envy you!

Yes, it is best to try to take the best possible picture you can BEFORE using the editing tools. But sometimes you have just a little CyberShot camera and that's all you have. So next time, I will talk a little about some things I like to take into consideration when I do a photo shoot.

Picture (Trying to Be) Perfect III

2011-09-09T10:13:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone had a good summer, with a wrap-up of Labor Day weekend! I am always surprised at how, even decades after being out of school, the days after Labor Day still feel like new days, the-first-day-of-school days. Even if you are no longer attending school. Even if you are working week after week and just enjoyed an extra day off. Maybe it's the changes in temperatures of the hint of color in the trees you can no longer ignore.

Anyhow, I have learned so much from my time on Etsy, including the importance of taking better pictures. Online browsing and shopping does not allow one to use all the senses to discover products. Only the sense of sight, very important and often taken for granted, can be used. Visuals must be used to convey all other senses.

For some, this can be a skill that takes some time to cultivate. And I am still trying to cultivate that. I don't have sophisticated equipment. Just me, my Cybershot, and a flexible tripod. I love see beautiful product shots by other Etsians and I keep trying and experimenting.

Here are some before and after shots of my Sunrise Shawl. What are the characteristics of the shawl? The color, the way if feels, size, what does it do (is it stiff, flowy?), what is its size, what can you do with it? These are just some questions to ask about your product, depending on what it is.

Before After

The photo above shows how big it is, on a person. But the background - really? And the model? uh . . . The picture to the right has a less busy background, still shows the shawl on a person, in fact, wrapped around.

The picture above shows texture, but, again, the background is part of the picture and really, that's unnecessary. Sometimes it's distracting. The picture on the right displays the pattern and the fact that the shawl could be used as a wrap. Again, the background is more neutral in subject.

Above: Yuck. The picture to the right has been enhanced with a couple of layers of photo manipulation to do some of the following: color correction, softening the background, and adding some sun dots. The shawl is called "Sunrise". It is soft, handwoven in tencel (a yarn that feels like a blend of cotton and silk). The shawl is also a little bit hippie, a little bit boho (I didn't use these tags as I don't feel they ENTIRELY fit the shawl) but it is definitely casual. The photo tells a story: Sunny morning, a bit girly, enjoying this moment with a four-leaf clover (I really did find it next to me!). Warmth. Beautiful sunny morning. Pensive, quiet moment. Feeling pretty.

OK. The shawl will not make you these things, because you already are! But the pictures try to portray the feeling this shawl gives when you actually get a chance to hold it and wrap it around you.

This was a photo I had for a long time. I kept it because it gives a nice close up of the texture.

This picture, to the left, is new. I had this image in my mind when I started to put together the photo shoot. It's an experiment but shows the casual nature of the shawl.

They're not perfect and I'm still honing my skills and I have more work to do with other products in my shop. But I'm doing the best I can now and having fun doing it!

More on various photo editing programs - unless you have Photo Shop. Then you don't need my help. I don't have Photo Shop. :(

Have a good weekend!

Picture Perfect, Part II

2011-09-02T10:27:00.000-04:00

Well, maybe.

Anyway, I reshot the shawl and did some fiddley-doo magic with some apps. (Note: I think that phot apps could be dangerous if used to excess. They are kind of like all the cool fonts out there. Just because you have access to them doesn't mean you should use all of them. At the same time. In the same document. So, I hope I haven't done that. But they are just sooo darned FUN!)

These are good today. Until I learn more.

Sunrise Handwoven Shawl

What do you think?

Picture Perfect

2011-09-01T10:52:00.000-04:00

It's a beautiful warm day here in New England. I've been working on new items, finishing, washing, labeling, listing, adding things to my inventory lists, PHOTOGRAPHING. Ok, I'm not yelling. It's just been on my mind lately.

I've been having fun photographing my new things and I like the results. I think they are pretty good, for now, until I get better. And I've learned so much since I've been on Etsy.

That said, sometimes I look at some of my older photography and cringe. It's time to go back and reshoot some things.

Yes, that means I have to find said item in inventory, take off the tag, and iron it. But it's worth it.

Here is my first piece:

Sunrise Handwoven Shawl

I actually love this picture and I think I will leave it alone. But two others:

These two need work. They're poopy pictures. Stay tuned to see how the new ones come out. I'm interested, too, because I'm still working out some ideas and locations in my head.

Goodbye, Irene

2011-08-28T20:36:00.001-04:00

We got out ok from the storm. Luckily, no loss of power or trees. Two neighbors lost a tree each but I am thankful they didn't fall on any houses.

Now, witht the windows open, a refreshing light, cool breeze, a refreshing tv program that is so far away from any storm coverage, and Bon Iver tunes in my ears, I am feeling relaxed and a little sleepy.

I am eternally grateful for our safety.

Good Night, Irene . . .

2011-08-23T09:12:00.000-04:00

Seriously. Don't swing by, don't drop in, don't stop by. Go to sea. Stay away.

I'm getting ready to get ready for my first farmers' market day of the year and there's this hurricane out there, growing stronger, wreaking havoc, threatening to come up the coast. It won't make landfall here in Connecticut so I am thankful for that, there could be rain and wind. We're good. We don't need that. Send the rain to Texas.

Anyway, I am wrapping up a few projects. I've got some scarves on the loom, some fingerless mitts on the needles, some display ideas in my head. I've got to buy another ink cartridge for the printer, print out more tags, tag and properly inventory more items, put new items into Square.

Yes, it's Tuesday. Such a beautiful, cool morning. I made good coffee this morning.

Guess it's time to get to work! Maybe I'll surprise myself!

Something to Love, Some Thing to Love

2011-08-18T08:37:00.000-04:00

Good morning! One of my favorite times of the day is drinking-coffee-time-morning with the computer. It's a real time. In my world. Here is some eye candy to go along with that coffee, since I really don't eat donuts.

Carte Postale purse by Rosies Armoire

Platinum Fire Choker by Efia Fair

Broken Plate Pendant on Chain - Pink Vintage Telephone - Recycled China by The Broken Plate

Earthy Crackle Handblown Glass Pumpkin with Natural Stem by Avolie Glass

I love pumpkins, too. In fact, I just finished a pair of pumpkiny-colored fingerless mitts that need to be photographed! Today I will play pretend. Pretend it's not 85 while I take pictures.

Have a fun Thursday (or at least a low-stress one)!

It's Still Summer

2011-08-09T09:29:00.000-04:00

in the northern hemisphere, anyway.

You know this because it's August.
Because you are hot and your clothes are sticking to you.
Because you burned the back of your legs on your car seat.
Because you have to mow the lawn.
Because you really wish you could have a beer and play some tunes on the deck instead.

Heirloom Bag

And I have this little summery thing up in the shop. Very cute. Very girly.

Last Post . . .

2011-08-08T08:42:00.000-04:00

was July 6, I guess? Hm. Been kinda busy. My step-daughter's wedding. My step-son's birthday. My husband's birthday. A week up in the White Mountains. White Water rafting. And a couple of other things thrown in for good measure.

Now it is August. Yesterday the humidity felt like a blanket but I made lots of progress on knitting. My wrist aches but I'll just slap that stupid brace on and continue knitting, weaving, and playing guitar.

Here are two and a half pairs of fingerless mitts I made last week and this weekend. All with Peace Fleece yarn I got up in New Hampshire. All the colors just mesmerized me. I'm going to start the mate to the blue one today. That should finish up the green. It's a little brighter green that my monitor is showing. More toward a Kelly green but not THAT bright. I also bought a skein of a burnt orange color that I haven't busted open yet!

These will be divided between my Etsy store and at least one other store.

Happy July!

2011-07-06T16:03:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a great Independence Day! We had some fun on the Connecticut River - beautiful day, hot and sunny!

Here's a quick one, before I get kicked off and/or have to go make dinner. I just finished four new scarves this past rainy Sunday! I am now dressing the warp for four more and have plans for another four after that! I'm so happy to be rollin' again!

Green Lakes Handwoven Scarf

Thanks for stopping by and sorry I've been lax in posting - busy and technical difficulties! I've got busy times for the rest of the week so have a good one!

I'll be posting another scarf of the series next week! mwah!

What a Show!

2011-06-09T09:03:00.000-04:00

Warm temperatures, but not hot. check!
Sunny weather. check!
Great show! check!

Gardens, Gallery & Gifts was great this year! I did really well, and ended up right next to my weaving teacher, Erica Dwyer of Hampden Hills Alpacas! It was so wonderful catching up with her. We exchanged lots of ideas and will make plans to go yarn shopping together some time! Erica raises alpacas and has some beautiful yarns for sale. She also survived the tornados that hit western Massachusetts. She, her family, and farm are ok but severe damage is just houses away. I'm so happy she's ok but those tornados are devastating.

Mish Mash - baby alpaca yarn in one of many beautiful colors by Hampden Hills Alpacas

I'm going to make fingerless gloves with that yarn. The many colors coordinate with my Cottage line. Here's a new scarf:

Cottage Feisty Skies Handwoven Scarf

We'll see if I can come up with more photos of the show.

It's June, It's Time for Gardens, Gallery & Gifts!

2011-06-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

The 2nd annual Gardens, Gallery & Gifts is upon us this weekend and I am proud to be a founding member of the group that started this art show.

And now mild panic is crawling under my skin. So much to do. On the other hand, it's like this every time I do a show or the farmers' market. I swear I could have 100 years to prepare and still not be ready. I just had another idea the other day. So today I am going to do it. I'm hoping it will be the start of a new collection for me. I can only do one for this weekend's show, though.

Cottage Feisty Skies

This is a new scarf listed on Etsy. I have a couple more (need to prep my inventory for the show) but they are not up yet. Yeah, I have lots to do . . .

We had a great weekend. We took a ride out to Greenport, NY overnight on the boat. What a great time.

Overhead: "Now THAT'S what I'm taking about!"

That was me as we walked into the new tasting room at Greenport Harbor Brewing Company. Wicked good. And we brought back a growler of Havre Rouge. It's been gone for days.

Alright. Coffee is being consumed. Blog is being blogged. Ideas are fomenting. Mental checklists are having pileups in my head. Time to go. Have a great day!

It's a Destination!

2011-05-23T14:11:00.006-04:00

2nd Annual
Gardens, Gallery & Gifts Event
Saturday, June 4th- Sunday June 5th, 2011 ~ Broad Brook, CT

Gardens, Gallery and Gifts is a two-day event housed in a gallery, a garden room, a historic barn and multiple outdoor tents - all showcasing the work of 20 talented Connecticut women-artists and artisans. On display there will be fine art paintings, drawings and woodcut prints, woven wares, gift baskets, handmade herbal soaps and other products, painted glassware, beautiful jewelry, hand-dyed and painted silk scarves and clothing, nature photography, pottery, handbags and so much more. This exhibit will also include a tour of a house with a modern outdoor kitchen, a wine tasting event, and a half acre of grounds with unique garden art. Local musicians, including a professional soprano based in greater Hartford, CT, are also scheduled to perform at this event.

Come hear the sounds and enjoy the sights of this wonderful show: it is the only one of its kind held in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, CT - a country town with a formal flair!

The show will be held on June 4th and 5th from 10 – 4 at 310 and 312 Rye Street in Broad Brook, CT 06016. Admittance is free. Please follow the signs for parking. There will be an area for handicapped parking.

Visit us at: http://www.facebook.com/gardensgallerygifts to learn more about each woman-artist.

Roaster Coaster Handwoven Coaster Set in Morning

2011-05-11T08:56:00.001-04:00

Roaster Coaster Handwoven Coaster Set in Morning, a photo by coffee break designs on Flickr.

Another addition to the Rasoter Coaster Coffee Mat collection. Working on more today!

It's May, It's Sunny, It's Spring

2011-05-03T09:38:00.002-04:00

No, I didn't just wake up, although I do feel as if I am waking up from a fog.

My father-in-law passed away on April 11. We were up at the Soldiers Home with him for a week. Then a quiet Easter. Why does that seem like it was weeks away . . . ?

But here are a couple of new things I have posted. They are very loosely woven, airy, and comfortable!

Cast in Hemp and Quince

Cast in Hemp and Buttercup

Ahhh. I feel better now that I've blogged. More weaving and gardening today. And playing guitar!

Something I Love

2011-03-24T09:20:00.002-04:00

I love forms of mixed media. I love clip art.

Collage sheets (I LOVE collage sheets)

Transparencies

Paper

Beads

Charms

Ribbons and lace

Tiny picture frames

Glitter

Doo Dads

Thingamajigs

Whatchamacallits

Those shiny things

That stuff that no one knows what to do with

That stuff nobody knows where it came from

However, all this stuff won't fit into the hours of the day that I'm supposed to have (gee whiz). So, I haven't played with my fun stuff in a long time. I'm not ready to give it up so I am not destashing. I still like to visit them from time to time. Plus, I think that, somehow, they feed my other projects.

Some of the jewelry I've made is on sale in my shop. Here's one piece.

Mystery Bird Necklace

Check out my Sale page for more items and free shipping!

Poor Blog

2011-03-18T08:35:00.002-04:00

Dear Little Blog,

I'm sorry I have been neglecting you. I'm so happy to see you and know that you are there but sometimes I don't know what to say. I think about you often, though. And I'm usually not for a loss of words, but those words don't often make sense.

Maybe I'll give it a try though (*bling!* That's a light bulb going on.)

I'm happy that I sold a set of my Roaster Coaster this week. I have more to put up and another set to throw in the washer/dryer. We'll see how those come out.

This is new in the shop. I have a blue set of Cottage scarves that are ready to take off the loom. One is off, having been trimmed, embellished with a flower and washed. It's probably dry now and read to be ironed. Three more to go.

Cottage March Awakens

Air Elements

2011-03-09T08:55:00.003-05:00

I made a treasury on Etsy (a curated list of items in some sort of theme). I think they made it much easier nowdays to make one. I must have gotten a whiff of spring - grass, a breeze, dirt, and sunshine. It made me think of breezing off into the air. So here is my first treasury.

Air Elements

Roaster Coaster Handwoven Coaster Set March by coffeebreakdesigns

2011-03-04T14:24:00.001-05:00

Roaster Coaster Handwoven Coaster Set March by coffeebreakdesigns: "Roaster Coaster Handwoven Coaster Set March Ever HopefulFrom coffeebreakdesigns Spring colors, spring flavor! It’s a set of two matching handwoven mats in fresh greens, with a bit of brilliant blue sky and buds in pinks, lavenders, and oranges. For you coffee mug. Or keys. Or a candle. Protect furniture surfaces from scratches. Add a little homey touch to your workspace.

This is for a set of two mats.

Mixed fibers including cotton, wool, linen, rayon.

May be machine washed and dried.
Measures approximately 6” x 5” (not including fringe)"

Marketing Through Colors: Prefixes

2011-03-03T12:26:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting read on writing descriptions for products. I hope it gives my brain a little nudge.
Marketing Through Colors: Prefixes

Eye Candy

2011-03-03T08:09:00.004-05:00

I've been seeing some amazing yarns around. Here are some of my favorites. I'm inspired.

Handpainted Soft Rayon Chenille Yarn Banana Boat

by Yarntopia

Rhapsody Corespun Bamboo Wool Art Yarn

by Adriannemae

Twirl Storybook Hand Spun yarn

by Storybook Fibers

Handspun Art Yarn no. 2 Happiness

by Primdollie

Happy March

2011-03-02T15:15:00.003-05:00

I hope!

The weather is slowing turning here. Very slowly. But we've had a tough winter so any day in the 40's is a pleasant surprise! Here is some color for the changing season, a couple of additions to the Cottage collection:

Cottage March Ever Hopeful scarf

Cottage January Hymn Scarf

Here is a nice fluffy mohair wrap if you're feeling cold and need to snuggle

Evening Echo scarf

And finally, 226 yards of merino/tencel yarn I finished spinning last week or so. Not sure what the plans are for this. I should just keep spinning. Lord knows I have the wool.

Tip-toeing Tentatively into Spring

2011-02-17T09:05:00.005-05:00

"Toeing" looks like it's spelled funny. I spell-checked and it's right. Isn't it weird when words look weird to you sometimes? It's a teensy bit jarring, but only in the way you take a second look when you see someone wearing stripes and plaid. Only, the word is correct and stripes and plaid is usually not. Unless you're April Cornell.

But I digress. Well, no I don't, because now I'm thinking about coordinating colors in stripes, plaids, dots, coffee cups . . . You see what happens to me???!!! ugh.

So, I am so proud of my new line of Cottage scarves. These are a transition from winter to spring, a time when spring teases you, then it snows again. So, you want to love all the pinks and greens and blues, but sometimes you have to grab the chenille and wool. A little frustrating but it makes you love the new seasons even more.

Cottage Hothouse Flower in a Pink Tuxedo

Look for more! I will be selecting yarn and winding warp for more today.

Happy Friday

2011-02-11T08:16:00.003-05:00

Here are the glass pieces I made on my birthday last month at Greenwood Glass Studio, a paperweight, a couple of flowers, and a blown vase.

Stretching the glass to make the stem for the flowers.

Blowing the glass for the vase below.

I love this part of the morning: coffee and the computer. I also have to remember to pick up a Valentine's Day card and a little something. Have a good day!

Let's Make This Work!

2011-02-09T08:36:00.002-05:00

That's just me giving myself a little pep talk. I've got a good internet connection this morning, so I have to make the best of it before it collapses. So full of ideas and inspiration, so little time (and distractions).

I'm burning up the loom again with more of my Cottage scarves. These are transitional, into spring, with some wool and a little more cotton, but still a great miscellany of textures and colors. One is done but still on the loom. Here is #2:

And I finally did my first open mic at 70 Main Coffee House and Art Gallery in East Hampton last Friday! It was great! I was so nervous but I did it! I played three songs, a cover of "10 Million Miles" and two originals, "There's You and Me" (the first song I ever wrote) and "Shiny Girl". I can't wait to do it again but I need to practice more covers (get BETTER). I have one new song I just finished last week, too.

This is my new Ibanez I got for my birthday.

This is my first guitar. I play alternate tuning on this one. I wrote two songs in open G.

Long Time

2011-01-31T13:41:00.005-05:00

New year, new attitude? Not sure yet. Lots of things are up in the air. But for now, I have a couple of new items in the Etsy shop. Plus I'm still having slow internet issues, which is FANTASTIC.

Roaster Coaster Be Mine set of two handwoven coasters

Small Heart Handwoven scarf

The coasters are cotton burgundy and pink. Not just for Valentine's Day. They're nice if you like a little dark red/burgundy with a touch of pink. But they would make a nice gift with a mug and some hot chocolate and decadent candies.

Small Heart is my first try with bamboo. It's a heavier gauge (5 stitches/inch) bamboo yarn, good for knitting, too. But I had it laying around and thought it might make a pretty scarf. It was nice to work with. The sett I used was 12 but it could go lower. By the way, it's Farmhouse Yarns, Bonnie's Bamboo, a local (Connecticut) spinner.

My birthday was January 20. I did some more glass work and got a guitar! I will have pictures tomorrow, as this is taking forever with the images. Anyway, for my birthday, I wanted to try doing an open mic. Didn't quite work out, as the place was closed, despite having listings in the Hartford Advocate every week. Silly me. I tried to call and only got the answering machine, which didn't surprise me. But I was really, happily surprised that all my friends came out to hear me! So, we went to Eli Cannon's, which was such a great a great hangout back in the day, and still is. I had a great time with my friends.

So, I will be trying it again this Friday. I sold a scarf there in December. It really exists. I've been there. People answer the phones. I just need to get there early to sign up. I'm not even as nervous as I was last time I ALMOST went. I just need to do this already. So, depending on how many songs I can sing, I'll do one cover and one or two originals. I'm writing another song but it won't be ready by then.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-14T15:26:00.002-05:00

Hello, all! Just digging out from a big snow storm this week. The snow drifts are high, the roads narrow, just like the winters I remember in upstate New York.

Here's a couple of little things I recently put up in the store:

Roaster Coaster in ROYGBIV

Roaster Coaster in Birch

I need to begin another project but it's Friday and I don't get much done on the weekends.

Have a good weekend!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T15:25:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful, happy and safe holiday!

Jingle Jingle Jingle . . .

2010-12-21T07:55:00.005-05:00

Back to a short, routine-filled work week now that my husband is back to work from a four-day weekend.

I'm not done with Christmas gifts yet. Mostly done, but not yet. Above is a scarf I made for my husband for Christmas. He never visits my blog, so it's safe. Ironically, for all I weave, he doesn't own a handwoven scarf by me. Knitted, yes, but not handwoven. It's made with a merino/tencel black warp and wool/silk silver gray weft in "Six Thread Herringbone". I measured warp for two, rather short, 42", scarves, one for my husband and one, just because it's easier to measure for more than one if you're going to wind warp, thread heddles, and sley the reed.

Now, I used to think that I could just make a quick project, at least one scarf, in a couple of days. Just breeze right through. No big deal. Yes, that's generally true. For the most part. Most of the time. Sometimes.

Except, as I have learned, there's always SOMETHING. Always. I no longer believe in the breeze-through-no-big-deal-quick project.

A spring on one of my treadles broke. Thank God I have an eight-shaft loom and was only using four on this project. I couldn't find any extras yesterday, so I just borrowed from another treadle. No spring, can't use the treadle.

The floating selvedge on the left side broke at least five times. A floating selvedge is an extra thread on each side of the warp. It is not threaded through the heddle, so it doesn't go up and down with any of the shafts. It is sleyed through the reed and remains static. I wind the thread around a cork and put it in an old prescription bottle that is weighted with coins or screws, whatever. It only has to be heavy enought to be taut. You use a floating selvedge on any project other than plain weave. In plain weave, the weft will catch one edge or the other of the project and there won't be any loose, gaping threads on the sides. But other patterns, or drafts, may not catch the edges every time, leaving loose threads and a messy selvedge (edge of the fabric). The floating selvedge is the same yarn as the edge of the warp and blends right in.

I was pretty irritated about them breaking all the time. It's easy to repair and add another one on invisible but it sure slows you down.

One of the warp threads broke, too, not far into the scarf.

Oh, and this all happened while making one scarf. I never got to the other one. I'm going to cut my losses on this one. It's a good thing I didn't decide to do this, famously, a day before Christmas. ha.

But the first scarf came out well and will be under the tree later today.

I'm not sure what was up with that yarn. It's an 8/2 merino/tencel but it look a little thinner than the other cone I have. This type of yarn is usually very strong and I love working with is. I think I will make a note inside the cone to only use as weft.

Bah humbug to that.

That's over and I will probably start another project today. And practice my guitar - yay! Because I have the house until late afternoon.

Merry Christmas, all!

New Line for Winter 2010 - 2011

2010-12-16T08:25:00.005-05:00

The Cottage series is my new line of scarves for this winter. "Cottage" because they remind me a little of a cozy little house off the beaten path, away from the strip malls, box stores, traffic snarls, and the general energy-sucking atmosphere that is our daily grind (I am not a hermit or a Luddite, clearly, but we all need some quiet downtime occasionally). It's a place where there's always a warm fire, a pot of coffee or tea, some cookies or scones. A place where you may sit on a tattered, but most comfortable couch covered in faded, patched fabric. Some striped pillows, some floral, not always matching. You will find treasures you picked up from travels to Germany and ones you found at the local flea market. Read a book. Play your guitar. Watch the sunset. Wind down from the day.

Sometimes when I was weaving some of these scarves I felt like Van Gogh off the rails. It got a little wacky and I was reined in only because crazier materials and resources simply were not in reach. Yeah. It got a little manic. Thank goodness I only had yarn. But we'll see.

I'll pick up this project again after Christmas, as I have presents to make!

Cottage on the Edge of Tinsel Town II

Cottage on the Edge of Tinsel Town I

Cottage Water Lilies at Sunrise

Cottage Water Lilies I

Tis the Season . . .

2010-12-08T08:24:00.004-05:00

For a whole bunch of things. I need to work on more Christmas cards tonight. But, in the meantime, I wanted to tell you that for the month of December, Coffee Break Designs can be found in the newest, hippest place in East Hampton, CT, 70 Main Coffee House and Art Gallery. You can check them out on Facebook. It's just opened up and I'm looking forward to hanging out there.

Made a sale on the scarf above! So now I am making more! I really love these new scarves. They keep me interested and endlessly entertained.

This is one on Etsy from my latest set, Cottage Water Lilies at Sunset

Another view.

Wish me luck there! I have more on the loom, as well.

I've decided to do something special for my birthday, which is next month. It really is just for me, as I'm not sure how well it will be received. Ahhh, my family and friends shall be at my mercy. More at a later date. (cue evil laugh)

Happy Thanksgiving . . .

2010-11-24T08:51:00.005-05:00

to my American friends and if you live elsewhere in the world, I hope you have a great day, too!

I am trying to get a bit of work done here and hopefully begin measuring warp for more scarves, as I'll have little chance to do that before Sunday, I think. Much of today will be spent shopping for last minute things, baking two pumpkin pies, making applesauce, cranberry sauce, and a list of other chores I have.

Here are the latest in the shop:

Absinthe Crocheted Bracelet

And my new series, Cottage:

Cottage Water Lilies I

Have a safe and happy day!

Christmas in Connecticut

2010-11-22T09:08:00.002-05:00

I'm so proud to be in this lovely treasury created by fellow Etsian and Nutmegger, Faery Moon Goddess! My Roaster Coaster is hanging out there with all the other wonderful handmades.

A Connecticut Christmas

Please give it a look and comment!

Happy Friday!

2010-11-12T09:04:00.007-05:00

It's a cold, frosty morning here but the sun is shining and the sky is "bright and wide and blue" (reference to Patty Griffin's song "Goodbye". Whenever I'm singing that in the car and the sky is bright and wide and blue, my eyes tear up.). But I have my coffee and my knitting and I have started winding warp for more scarves. I've been doing more knitting this past week or so. Fingerless mitts and arm warmers. I need to wear my wrist brace (aka "The Club" per my husband) so I can continue to knit and play guitar without my hand constantly falling asleep and going numb.

So, here are the latest items:

SuperGirl Arm Warmers in Brown Twist

High E Guitar String

SuperGirl Arm Warmers in Raspberry Smoothie

I have fingerless mitts, too but I haven't decided where to put them Swift Waters needs more things and I think my sister of Gwynevere Creations is having an open house next month. Plus, I have more scarves to photograph.

Have a happy Friday!

Thank You . . .

2010-11-09T14:13:00.005-05:00

for listening to me rant and sing. (big smile)

Ok, I'm still not ready for the holiday season, unless thinking about how I should get ready is ready. If you know what I mean. It snowed here yesterday but thankfully it's all melted now and I didn't have to haul out the snow blower.

I finally took pictures of a couple of pendants I made months ago. I am getting away from the mixed media jewelry, although I love it and have a few things left in the shop. I've been moving more towards just the weaving, a bit of knitting, and maybe more guitar string pendants. I just posted this in the shop today:

High E string (will be in shop tomorrow, probably)

Triple B Guitar String Pendant

Also, coming soon, another pair SuperGirl Arm Warmers.

Take care!

Maybe

2010-11-04T18:10:00.000-04:00

Please Hand Me Another Slate and Chisel. Thanks.

2010-11-04T17:58:00.002-04:00

I had good intentions to post a real entry today. But, alas, there goes another stone on the road to hell. Bad internet connection.

I'm working on another pair of arm warmers, posted a couple new ones in my shop, as well as another light weight scarf. Yes, I know, a blog without pictures is good for not much more than insomnia. It would take probably 7,000 years to post one picture.

But, I wanted to write something, so here it is. I'm listening to Patty Griffin's "Christina". Beautiful song.

As you will see above you, I have posted (well, I will try) a new song I wrote. For lack of other things today.

Have a good evening and thanks for reading and listening (if you did).

:)

Heard in My Head: I Can't Believe It's November

2010-11-01T14:04:00.004-04:00

I'm not ready for this.

I had the last summer farmers' market yesterday. Not too bad, except for the wind gusts and me visibly shaking. I forgot to bring my own pair of hand knit fingerless gloves. But I did have some for sale and sold a pair!

I have just listed a pair of arm warmers on Etsy, with another ready to go tomorrow:

SuperGirl Arm Warmers

I've got some scarves but, again, I have to see what I want to go to the stores and what should go up on Etsy.

I'm sleepy today. I'll get over it.

Have a good day!

Loot and a Paperweight

2010-10-22T08:37:00.004-04:00

Got pictures of some of the yarn I picked up at Rhinebeck last week. There is some Brooks Farm (nice big booth, always crowded, with more colorways than you know what to do with! I always get something there.). There's also Bartlett Yarns (nice, rustic yarn from Maine). Persimmon Tree Farm (great yarns and roving, great color, with and without sparkle). Swift River Farm yarn (I'm going to make arm warmers or fingerless mitts out of that. It's brown and white marled yarn.)

Some Kid Hollow (the orange and blue yarns) and Autumn House Farm (the skein).

This is an arm warmer I'm knitting from AHHH! I can't locate the name of the yarn now. But I went back to the booth at the end of the day because I loved the marled pink. It's called peach but it looks pink to me. I'll find the name. It's around here somewhere because I'm so organized (ha).

And finally, a couple weeks ago my husband and I went to a little fair in Riverton. There was a glass studio, Greenwood Glass, there in an old church. We went in to see the beautiful glass ornaments, candle holders, even a chair! The owner, Peter Greenwood, asked if we would like to try making a glass paperweight or flower. My husband said, Yes, she would! So, I did! Peter walked me through the process and I made a paperweight! I just picked it up yesterday. I learned that glass must be annealed (a process by which the piece is slowly cooled. Otherwise it could explode due to internal stresses caused by rapid cooling <--- definition is partially from Wikipedia, partially from Peter, and partially from my husband.) It was ready the following day but we had to work around our schedules it have me pick it up.

Here I am cooling the glass with air. This is to be able to work it more.

And here it is!

New Stuff

2010-10-21T09:35:00.006-04:00

Hey! Thanks for listening to my songs. I appreciate that. Nothing today, so you are safe.

However, I do have a couple of new items to share:

Barcelona Jewels

Blue Skies Fingerless Mitts

Knit with Kid Hollow yarn. The next fingerless mitts I make will be shorter on the fingers. They will be better for playing guitar, I think. I thought it was a good idea. If you want to play or take pictures outside, these will keep you hands warm but your fingers free.

These two pictures are the same scarf, not in any store yet. I may take it to a B&M. It's a Barcelona but with squares of yarns in purples, aquamarines, brick red (dark), and teal. The yarns are tencel, tencel/merino, rayon chenille, alpaca/silk. Interesting and I've been thinking about this design for a while.

Thanks for visiting and have a sensational day! hehe!

You Are.wmv

2010-10-19T10:10:00.000-04:00

Rhinebeck!

2010-10-18T16:03:00.004-04:00

The New York Sheep and Wool Show in Rhinebeck was wonderful again this year! Beautiful weather, a bit breezy but not freezing and snowy/rainy as it has been. I guess we've been lucky these past couple of years - gorgeous blue skies, brilliant golds, oranges, reds in the trees . . . ahhh. I was so sorry to see summer go but days like that make it worth it.

Ouessant sheep. Very tiny and cute. They look much like Shetlands.

I remember this guy from last year. A Karakul ram. Beautiful and like a big dog. He loves attention.

Nice rack. Beautiful horns on this Angora ram. From Apple Rose Farm.

An angora. Shy but curious.

A Karakul ewe.

My latest creation from yarn I picked up at the Kid Hollow booth. I LOVE their mohair, too. Unbelievable colorways.

My cat, Lucy, loves to lay on yarn. This is a Shetland, silk blend - the yarn. The cat is a calico mutt.

Lucy laying among some of my loot.

The two balls of yarn are mohair from Kid Hollow.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . .

The Heat is On

2010-09-24T14:28:00.003-04:00

It's 90 today. It feels good, though.

I've done very well at the last two Farmers' Markets - so well that my loom is on fire again, trying to build up inventory for the next date, October 10, and for the stores and Etsy! I'm almost done with three today. Here is one:

Northern Lights tencel warp. Blues, greens, purples.

Northern Lights warp and olive chenille.

Barcelona scarf that sold at the last market.

More from the Barcelona series that sold or are residing at some stores.

In addition to weaving, watering the lawn and doing laundry, I also practice my guitar. Here is a song I wrote, for your listening pleasure - or not. I'm still a beginner, but that you if you listened!

Faith (Prayer to Myself)

Whoops

2010-08-12T08:00:00.004-04:00

Seems that somewhere between my last post and today I wound up in

Barcelona!

Casa Batllo, by Gaudi

Palau Musica Catalana

Frieze by Picasso

La Boqueria

Just five days and a very last minute thing! I'm very lucky my passport is ready to go!

I am working on my fall line. Here is something that is off the loom now. I am in desparate need of more yarn, though! I hope to get more this week or early next!

Ages ago . . .

2010-07-22T08:23:00.002-04:00

I started a blog. July has been busy with the Fourth, vacations, birthdays. And I am ready to get started on the scarves for fall. Yes, it has been one hot summer and nobody wants to think about scarves, or anything else, around their necks. I love the hot weather but it is not good for selling scarves. Still, I have to begin now because these things take time.

No pics yet. I am winding black warp. Tencel. I haven't decided 100% what draft I will use for this series. That will be finalized today.

Visit My New Line in Housewares

2010-06-14T18:56:00.004-04:00

Roaster Coasters handwoven coasters, aka mug mats.

Pitsachio Green and White

Red, White, and Blue

And I will be taking a couple of them in gift boxes to Swift Waters.

I'm sending a couple of sets out to the stores, so what's left will go up on Etsy. I already sold a few at GGG and the farmers' market. I'm working on more colors.

And this is a gorgeous red and white cotton/linen kitchen towel that needs to get up on Etsy already!

Slacker . . .

Two New Enviro-friendly Scarves

2010-06-09T07:30:00.003-04:00

My Stripe Hemp Handwoven scarf is now in the shop. It's made of cotton, but mostly handwoven of organic hemp.

This is Loud handwoven with soy silk, a byproduct of the tofu manufacturing industry. It's bright redpinkorange, but very soft. It feel like a cross between silk and a well-worn cotton.

And now for something completely different: I started teaching myself to play the guitar a few months ago. I put a link up to a couple of videos I made (in the sidebar).

More Photos from GGG

2010-06-08T07:28:00.007-04:00

More photos from this weekends Gardens Galleries and Gifts event in Broad Brook, CT.

My housewares, Coffee Break Designs

Our wonderful helpers, selling cold soda and plants!

Nancy Masters and her husband love old cars and trucks. Check out Nancy's paintings.

Home staging, party planning and catering are one of the many things Donna can do for you at Master the Details Half the event was on Donna's property - gorgeous perennial gardens!

Primitives by Priscilla Clesowidi

Lola Rae Work by Michele Muska. Purses, jewelry, work with fabric - gorgeous work!

Painted silk scarves by Liena Dieck

Photography by Dot Drobney. She took these pictures!

Success is . . .

2010-06-07T08:05:00.007-04:00

Dodging rain, thunderstorms, and two days of tornado warnings (I'm in Connecticut, not Kansas, Toto, so two days of tornado warnings is rare, indeed.) and a great turn out for the first annual Galleries, Gardens and Gifts.

Special Effects painted wine glasses. "The women we used to be, wish we were, will never be!"

Amber Tortoise Creations

Enjoying wine and beer tastings and food samples

My housewares display

Some of Cathy T's Landscape Designs

Some more of my tent

More pictures tomorrow!

Facebook | Gardens Gallery and Gifts 2010

2010-05-27T09:27:00.000-04:00

This is what I'm working on this weeke and next! If you are in the East Windsor or surrounding areas next weekend, come visit!

Facebook Gardens Gallery and Gifts 2010: "Gardens, Gallery and Gifts is a two day event showcasing Connecticut artists and artisans.

Stroll through beautiful perennial gardens with lushly planted containers to enjoy along paths and entry ways. Enter a cozy art gallery housing oil paintings of flowers, landscapes and vintage vehicles. Stop in to view amazing floral arrangements staged in a contemporary home decorated in rich colors by a home designer. Shop in a rustic barn showcasing artisans’ specialties from painted glass wares, gift baskets, hand-woven wares, stunning jewelry, floral photography, unique one of a kind handbags, painted primitives, pottery and more. Top it all off with a glass of wine during a wine tasting feature held on the outdoor patio.

This two day event will be held on June 5th and 6th from 10 – 3 at 310 & 312 Rye St. in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, CT, 06016. Please follow the signs for parking. There will be an area for handicapped parking.

Admission is free!"

New at Coffee Break Designs

2010-05-13T07:50:00.003-04:00

A couple of new handwoven kitchen towels in the store. I have a few more housewares to add.

May Handwoven Kitchen Towel in Blue

May Handwoven Kitchen Towel in Natural

And now I will begin my next project. I'm thinking shawls. Any thoughts?

May is Hemp Month

2010-05-10T08:06:00.005-04:00

Ok, I have no idea whether it is or not. But I did make some of these for the upcoming Garden Gallery & Gifts show, June 5 & 6, in Broad Brook, CT.

All made of hemp and cotton.

This red one is at Swift Waters.

I also made some guitar string pendants. They are just sitting in my studio, waiting for me to put them on chains and put them in the store.

This one, however, did make it over to Swift Waters. I like the ball ends.

So, I actually have been busy lately with weaving, planting the garden, and playing my guitar. I've learned "Sweet Lorraine" by Patty Griffin, of course, sounding nothing like her and still working on better strumming. But I'm loving it!

Am I Blue . . .

2010-04-06T10:06:00.002-04:00

Cast into the Deep Blue Sea

Very! This blue soaks your eyes. I love it.

What To Do When . . .

2010-04-01T07:33:00.008-04:00

You see that you have woven something (or made anything, for that matter) and you aren't satisfied with the way it turned out?

I tried a simple modification on one of the scarves I made last month. I wanted to weave a thicker yarn at regular intervals at the ends. I counted the picks (number of times I threw the shuttle for the weft), added the thick yarn, counted some more, and added it again. This is a loosely woven scarf. The sett (space between the warp yarns) is wider. But I also controlled the weft spacing in the way I pushed the beater (to make the weft yarns tighter, or in this case, looser). The latter is, apparently, not constant. I tried and it looks good but when you add a more striking contrast, you really notice the difference.

Or, and this may shock people who know me, I could have counted wrong because I didn't bother to write down the numbers. "20" is easy to remember. But so is "15". And "30".

Anyway, the contrasting design was not symmetrical and it drove me nuts. I don't know if it would have bothered anyone else. I like asymmetry but some people don't.

If you bake a cake and it comes out a little lop-sided, what do you do? Add some more frosting (and who doesn't like more frosting?), make some frosting flowers (or buy some). Drop some Red Hots all over it. Maybe even add some of those little paper umbrellas. I would probably do all of the above and add gumdrops to boot. See! You won't even notice that it's lop-sided. You'll just be amazed at all the neat stuff I put on it.

Ok. It's cake and it would have tasted good even if it had slid off the plate, without all the extras. And it was probably for your family or friends, who would love you no matter what the cake looked like.

But a scarf? Not so much. So, after composting (ok, not LITERALLY composting, just fomenting design ideas), I decided to add a crocheted flower one one end and extra fringe on the messed up design area on the other. Let me amend that: it wasn't really messed up. Each end looked good independently. They just bothered me together.

It's still asymetrical but in a more planned out way. Which, ironically, works better than something that happens imperfectly asymetrical on its own. I'm not sure I like that logic (or lack thereof).

Anyway, and more importantly, I like the scarf.

The Rain, Change, and Waiting for Yarn

2010-03-31T08:52:00.003-04:00

Poor planning means I'm waiting for a box of yarn to arrive. I am weaving towels for Indigo Lily. I sent a set of four red and natural-colored ones out last week. Now it's blue and natural. I am amazed at the price I had to set for them. The yarn was $41, then there is my cost, so I hope people will find them beautiful enough to buy. They are very large, though, 30" x 16". They could be used for a mat, as well. Sorry, I wanted to get them out asap and didn't take pictures. I will have pictures of the blues, though.

For spring Bubblegum

Swift Waters in Willimantic is closing temporarily to move up the street. Opening day is April 14 with the GRAND Re-OPENING on April 17. The new location will be 866 Main St., downtown Willimantic, CT. If you are out and about there, be sure to check out Cafemantic. Excellent lattes! Third Thursday, the monthly street fest, begins in May!

And the rain has finally ended here in New England. Many schools in the southeastern part of the state are closed because of river levels and flooding. A measure of devestation used for flooding are the Connecticut Floods of 1955. Thankfully, this isn't another one, but states of emergency have been declared in some parts of the state.

So now that it's drying up, it's time for me to take more pictures!

Spring is Taunting Us

2010-03-10T08:46:00.004-05:00

Here are some scarves from my new spring line I call Cast. The texture and look of the scarves remind me of nets.

A self-portrait wearing a New Shoots scarf and a guitar string pendant I also made (I have to say that I really love that and wear it all the time).

I have more that I will be posting this week. Right now I am waiting for an order of yarn so I can complete the last in this series before I move on to some towels that are requested. I love making these scarves and hope to make more next month.

Yesterday's Post Was Lame

2010-02-24T08:08:00.002-05:00

I know. Sorry. Anyway, here are my latest two:

Lava Sun and Shadow Handwoven Scarf

Lava in Teal Handwoven Scarf

Yes, I seem to like that wind-blown effect.

I am now working in royal purple cotton for some loosely woven scarves for spring. Actually, I am on my third of five in all purple, but I'm thinking that the next will have a greenish teal weft. I played around with it a little and didn't like the results at first. But colors in weaving have a way of taking me by surprise, in a wonderful way. We'll see.

Getting tired of winter. See ya soon!

Still Here . . .

2010-02-23T18:07:00.001-05:00

February is moving along fast. I'm working on spring scarves and playing my guitar.

Let's see how much I get done . . .

Silent Movie

2010-02-09T08:17:00.005-05:00

Here is a scarf that is new to my Etsy store, but not newly handwoven.

Silent Movie

The warp is silk, wool, and a metallic blend yarn. The weft is mohair. I wove this a few years ago (maybe three?) and it was living at Swift Waters in Willimantic. It's beautiful and classic and the silk and mohair have a sheen naturally found in those fibers. The metallic blend yarn gives the scarf a little sparkle an interest but is not overpowering. The yarn is handpainted and very high quality.

The mohair gives the scarf a lovely, slight halo (little fibers fluffing out) but it might be a little scartching for wearing directly around some necks (mine included). I have to be honest because I wouldn't want someone to buy this, then have it irritate them. Some people aren't bothered by the mohair, though. Either way, this would look beautiful draped around the coat collar of a gray, tan, or black coat.

I have to take more pictures of another scarf today (we are getting more snow on Wednesday) so I will be posting another new scarf in the store later!

Say Hello to My New Friend

2010-02-08T08:24:00.003-05:00

It's beautiful. I love it. It's an Ibanez, acoustic/electric.

I'm posting this for my mom to see - for everyone else, too, of course, but she's very happy. I played a long, long time ago, when I was about 10 or 12, so this isn't exactly a random, out-of-the-blue thing. I just decided to pick it up again and start all over again. I basically forgot nearly everything I ever learned.

I have a photo shoot to do today, mail out an order, work out at lunch (tired from the game last night - good game!), working on my next set of spring scarves, and practicing!

You Might Want to Look Better Naked, But Why Not Wear a Scarf, Too?

2010-01-29T08:01:00.003-05:00

For selective coverage, of course.

You might try January Rose, for instance.

Or try it with Toasted Almond Coffee.

Happy Friday!

Good Weekend!

2010-01-18T15:10:00.002-05:00

Ok, not much to report on the weaving/creating scene. However, I did work on my business taxes and I think that caused me to have heart palpitations all weekend. (I'm not really finished yet, although I thought I was. However, my husband will check my work, ask me how I arrived at these conclusions, and I am unable to answer. I don't know what I'm doing, although I have all my own numbers. This is a topic for another day. ugh.)

I am back to doing work today but this weekend we took a little day trip out to Litchfield county, hit a winery, Connecticut Valley Winery (excellent Chianti, which we coulddn't try, as they were sold out, excellent Raspberry Wine and Black Bear Wine, which is their port), out to Litchfield, the town, where we watched the end of the Syracuse - West Virginia game (I was born and raised near Syracuse, so SU basketball is a given for me), and tried a new (to me) beer called Winter Bourbon Cask Ale - AWESOME! Slight vanilla aftertase but not sweet. I'm on a hunt to find it. Then a bit of shopping.

Yesterday we had the family over for football and - hey, what do you know, an early birthday party for me! (It's on Wednesday) My husband wanted to surprise me by having my mom come in from Syracuse but she couldn't make it. That was nice of him, wasn't it?

Sorry there are no pictures, again, but I am slowly getting back on track after the holidays, my husband' vacation, his foot injury, the taxes - ugh.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T08:55:00.002-05:00

There are two ways of looking at it - it's been a bit of a bumpy ride so far into the seventh day of the new year. My husband, after being on vacation for the previous week and me not being able to work as much as I'd like, is finally back to work, but not before tearing a ligament in his ankle. He slipped on ice while shoveling snow. Not the way to start the new year.

On the other hand, what's the new year but a continuation of your current life, a date on the calender. What did I expect - fireworks, a clean slate, a sudden explosion of energy?

It's like every other day, week, month. I'm not happy, not sad. It's a state of mind and I am ready to push forward.

It's time to work on my goals for the month - increased inventory and working with a group of like-minded women who are trying to make our businesses succeed. I first met with them on Tuesday night and we have so much in common, despite our varied experiences and small businesses. We are planning an event, "Gardens, Galleries, and Gifts", for June 5 & 6 in Broad Brook. Exciting and a new challenge for me.

So I have (vague) goals (but goals nonetheless) and some opportunities that have popped up, so it's all good!

Inspiration

2009-12-23T09:25:00.005-05:00

Evening All Afternoon

Pantomime

I sold my Evening All Afternoon scarf this week. This was made on the same warp (yarn going the long way) as Pantomime but using different colored wefts (yarn going the short way, or horizontally).

The idea for these scarves came to me as I was watching CPTV, our public channel here in Connecticut. It was early in the morning and the alarm went off so I watched a bit of tv before I got up. I have no idea what the program was or who the artist was and I think it was in Spanish. Basically, the program showed some beautiful wooden tables, plain, but maybe they were made of salvaged wood. Then there was an exhibit that showed cubby holes cut out in walls, found objects from drug war zones in central America placed inside (shoes, I remember), and a sheer fabric placed over the hole. Very haunting.

But at some point there was a painting or a door, which appeared to have been painted red but was weathered to shades of gray. The weathering followed the wood grain and I was struck by this image the most. Sometimes I become absolutely mesmerized by images. It can be a little unnerving to be so captivated by something, to try to remember it and burn it into my brain, then try to figure out how to translate it into something. That's what happened that morning. I would have honored the artists and their work by naming the scarves after them but I could not find out what the program was.

Hence, the two scarves above. It was a fun project. I'd like to do more. These things sometimes have a way of taking you down a road that you had not expected, giving you food for other ideas or changing your current ideas and plans due to technical challenges or my own limited abilities at this time. Or sometimes, as you move forward with an idea, you meet with new ideas, much as you would walking down a path in the woods or in normal interactions with people, music, books. And I feel like my head is going to explode.

Note: always carry a writing instrument and paper with you.

Merry Christmas! And even if you don't celebrate, it's still a day on the calendar, so have a good one!

Sleepy Moon Soap Open House

2009-12-12T07:47:00.004-05:00

Are you going to be in eastern Connecticut today? Stop by Sleepy Moon Soap's Open House, set in a charming cottage on beautiful Baily Farm in Franklin, CT. Candles glow and a wood burning stove set the scene to smell all the delicious soaps, try some mulled wine, and tasty goodies. Do some holiday shopping for soaps, silver jewelry by White Crane Design, Lu Lu Design handmade handbags, Dot Drobney photo cards, and my scarves! Handcrafted soaps make good stocking stuffers, gifts, or use everyday for extra special pleasure! Winter will be there to answer your questions. She also gives soap making lessons!

Visit the link for more information on today's event, which runs 11 - 4, or information on soapmaking classes and where to buy Sleepy Moon Soaps.

OMG - It's Snowing! (Um, it's December)

2009-12-09T09:14:00.005-05:00

Newly listed yesterday! Wishing in Colors Muted Fingerless Mitts. Here's another picture:

Yes, it is indeed snowing here. The roads are bad. The schools are closed. I did go to the gym and worked out with, like, five other people, but I am back now at my favorite time of day. Morning coffee and the computer. Ahhhhhhh.

But this week I am scrambling to get more done. I have the farmers' market on Sunday and I hope that will be a good holiday shopping day. I've got some ideas for stocking stuffers that I am working on. And scarves. And fingerless gloves.

Here is my latest, which made its debut at the market last weekend. I was lucky to be at the computer last Sunday morning when a cancellation came up and a table was available that morning! Last minute, but good!

Nordic Tribal In Black and White I

I have another black and white, version II, and one more in earth tones I dropped of at Indigo Lily that already sold!

Working on more! I need to get more off to Silver Circle Studio and Indigo Lily!

Happy December

2009-12-02T09:30:00.006-05:00

Garden Path scarf

Coffee Cream scarf

Wishful in Gray Fingerless Mitts

No Christmas tree yet, but maybe next Sunday, after Matt gets back from hunting.

No Christmas shopping done yet. That will happen. Eventually. Before Christmas.

Lots of weaving! I sold somethings at Indigo Lily, a shop in Colchester, CT, so I am making more to drop off on Friday. I can't believe it's Wednesday already!

If you are in the eastern Connecticut area this Saturday or next, you might want to drop by Bailey Farm in Franklin for Sleepy Moon Soaps Open House event, from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Winter, artisan soap maker, will host this event, offering such lovely seasonal scents as Mistletoe, Cinnamon Sugar, and Pomegranate Black Current. I just bought Sandalwood Rose at the last farmers' market. Visit the Sleepy Moon newsletter for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T13:16:00.002-05:00

Still on the slow dial up for now, so it takes 8 times as long to do anything.

The pumpkin pie is done, even though my husband went out and bought one after I told him I was making one (I ALWAYS make one. I think I even made one when I was going through chemo) and mine are very good. There are two pumpkin breads in the oven because there was so much pumpkin left over. The pie and bread are made from pumpkins I bought from a local farm.

The cranberry tangerine relish is in the fridge and is VERY good. Lots of things done but lots more to do tomorrow! We are having 12 people over, so that's nice.

Even though I am crabbing about this stupid dial up connection and my husband is being so surly lately I do have to be thankful for my health, my friends and family, I live in a nice house, have food and live in the greatest country on earth.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And for those who are in other places that don't celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful day!

Patience . . .

2009-11-17T08:47:00.006-05:00

It may be a virtue but I'm running pretty low on it these past few days. Back on a slow internet connection until . . . whenever. We'll see.

However, I will post my latest here:

Magenta Palette scarf

This scarf was fun to weave. The warp (yarn going the long way) is tencel in jewel tones. the weft (horizontal) is a wool yarn from Koigu, which has so many handpainted color combinations. It's a beautiful yarn and I'm glad I had some to use in this scarf.

Today I'll work on things to take to Swift Waters tomorrow.

Boston!

2009-11-12T09:17:00.006-05:00

I took a little trip up to Boston with my husband early this week. It's only an hour and a half from us, so just a little jaunt! He had business and - I didn't! So I walked the Freedom Trail, which is a really great way to see some of the famous and historical sites around Boston. I'd

walked it before but it's always a fun thing to do.

You love his beer but remember that Samual Adams was a patriot and a signer of the Declaration of Independence!

Granary Burial Ground, where you will find the tombs of Ben Franklin, Sam Adams, Paul Revere, and many other patriots

A pew at the Old North Church

Memorial Garden on the Freedom Trail. Each dog tag represents a life given in the Afghan and Iraq wars

Dog Tags

Salutation Tavern and Green Dragon Tavern plaque - sites of the planning of the Boston Tea Party and the early yearrs of the Revelution, respectively.

Paul Revere Mall

Paul Revere

And, my latest scarf, Kancamagus Highway on a Teal Day, listed Monday and sold by the time I got back from Boston! I was going to save it to send to an open house at Sleepy Moon Soaps in Franklin, CT but thought, I'll list it for now. Glad I did!

New Handwovens and Jewelry

2009-11-06T10:13:00.002-05:00

Coy Flirt Earrings

Call Me Citrine Necklace

Toasted Almond Coffee Handwoven Scarf

HallowThanksChristmas

2009-11-05T08:10:00.005-05:00

The holidays shouldn't really sneak up on me. They don't. I see them out tof the corner of my eye, but I'm over here, la la la, playing with my yarn, listening to my music, daydreaming, and POOF! They're in my face. I'm just sayin' . . .

Here are a couple of holiday-ish things in my shop:

Remnants Thanksgiving Notecards

Blank notecards with a handwoven piece on the front, set of four.

Little Red Reindeer Ornament

Very sweet framed glass ornament, embossed with one of the eight tiny reindeer.

Slacker Blogger

2009-10-27T09:18:00.007-04:00

But it's been a tough week - a tough month. Granted, I don't always make things easy on myself. But my husband has been traveling out of the country for the past week and a half, which is cool. I can handle that. I got lots of work done. For two weeks before that he was mad and not talking and I don't know why, so I just cried by myself every day. Anyway, our car was broken into last week, window smashed and the gps stolen. On Sunday I did the farmers' market by myself - fine, I've done that before. But on the way home I went to the store and backed into some guys (smaller) truck. Just a bump, mind you. His headlight cover had a small crack in it and there was a faint scratch on the bumper - the painted part.

I apologized and he was mad. I don't blame him, but dude, I'm sorry and what do you want me to do? Slit my throat? Here's the insurance card.

So, I have to tell my husband that when he gets home. He already knows about the broken-in-car incident. He's so tired from 13 hour time changes and travels to three countries. I'm tired, too. I will have to plan something very special to break the news.

On the other hand, a woman came up to me at the market because someone told her I was "the weaver" there. She gave me a bag of bobbins, a bobbin winder, a cone stand, and some shuttles. She wasn't weaving anymore. I asked her how much for this and she said, "Nothing. Enjoy them." And I almost cried (big surprise). I'm speechless. What a good, generous person.

What a confusing month.

Now for some eye candy, because nobody wants to look at a huge block of text.

Here is my latest scarf from mohair I bought at Rhinebeck from Kid Hollow Farm. I made two and I'm keeping one for myelf.

Evening Echo Handwoven Mohair Scarf

Note to self: brushed mohair is very difficult to weave on a regular loom. I think you need a rigid heddle loom. But I'm glad I didn't know that first because they did come out beautiful!

My Treasury (on my blog)

2009-10-15T09:17:00.006-04:00

I was going to try to make a treasury today on Etsy but treasury time and real life time (waiting for openings to make one) are worlds apart. So, if I happen to be at my computer when there is an opening, great. Meanwhile, I'm making my own here, in honor of the New York State Sheep and Wool Fest this weekend in Rhinebeck, NY. Enjoy!

The look of love by Honey Tree

Autumn Hollow Drop Spindle in Lacewood and Bloodwood

Sunlight Lincoln Locks 1 Oz from Hackberry Studio

Handspun yarn - Autumn Sunset - 114 yards Corriedale X from Springtree Road

Nostepinne (yarn ball winder) by Wood Elements

cotton handwoven colorful scarf by Mireloom

Organic Pumpkin Pie Marshmallows by Have It Confections

If You Are a Red Sox Fan . . .

2009-10-12T08:19:00.003-04:00

. . . cue funeral dirge . . .

I'm sorry. (I'm really bummed.)

Ok, enough of that. We must move on.

I sold this on Friday! "Gossamer In Pink" knitted wire and bead bracelet.

And made this on Saturday! I'm calling it "Gathering" (I'm almost 100% sure . . .). I'll be listing it on Etsy later. It's beaded wire, knitted.

The Latest

2009-10-08T09:59:00.005-04:00

Big Red Plaid chenille scarf

Big Red Plaid

Black Carnival handwoven scarf

Somber Festive Handwoven scarf

Tags!

2009-10-07T08:13:00.004-04:00

I need tags for my scarves. So sad, I don't put tags with my company name on my handwovens. I have some but they are white and I'm not sure I want to put white tags on everything. I think I'd rather have the tags match more closely the color of the finished product.

Then I think I'm being too anal and should just go with black.

At any rate, I'm a little tee'd off at myself for not taking this more seriously. I'll get on it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

On another note, the farmers' market this past Sunday was a great success! I sold my favorite scarf along with a couple of others I love (I love them all . . )

"Lost" was my favorite.

"Postscript Weekend" That's my dad as a young man in the picture.

"Iris"

"Outside My Window"

"Gold Diamonds"

And with that, I'm off to make more!

Let The Chenilles Begin!

2009-10-01T12:57:00.006-04:00

I just dressed the loom with a striking black and red chenille yarn. The chenille scarves have begun! No pictures yet. However, here are more pictures of a set I finished this week.

Lost handwoven scarf. Tencel and merino tencel.

Lost handwoven scarf

Lost handwoven scarf. Yes, I was feeling very sad that day.

Fiona handwoven scarf. Tencel.

Fiona handwoven scarf.

Fiona handwoven scarf

Black Like My Heart handwoven scarf. Tencel and alpaca/silk.

Black Like My Heart handwoven scarf.

Black Like My Heart handwoven scarf (same bad day).

Lost is in my Etsy store and the other three will be sent to Silver Circle Studio, Swift Waters, and Indigo Lily.

Yes, I Am Still Here

2009-09-30T08:19:00.009-04:00

Working, working, working! And loving it! The Farmers' Market (September 20) was a great success for me. Great weather, lots of traffic and sales. It was so good, infact, that I never got a chance to leave my booth to go check out all the rest of the fibery goodness at the market!

Buffy was a hit. I thought she would be shy - sometimes she runs to the corner of her cage when I bring new people to meet her. But she just check out her surroundings (hay - check. water - check. food - check.) then sat right down and enjoyed all the attention, pettings, even the dogs who came up to see her.

Just got set up in the booth, now relaxing.

Nice picture of Buffy in the afternoon light. Photo by Dorothy Drobney.

Some of my knitted and crocheted cuffs and bracelets (on a beaver pelt, with antlers). Photo by Dorothy Drobney.

More items on display, including some stitich markers from Gwynevere Creations (my sister, Shannon). Photo by Dorothy Drobney

Two week old baby angora bunny a couple of booths down from me. SO CUTE!

This is my latest handwoven scarf, Lost I think it's one of my favorites.

I'm back at the market this Sunday, for Squashtober Fest! And I'm still cranking out more scarves this week for Swift Waters, Indigo Lily, Silver Circle Studio, and my Etsy store. Stay tuned!

Coventry Farmers' Market this Sunday!

2009-09-19T08:58:00.002-04:00

I will be at the Coventry Farmers' Market this Sunday 11 - 2. This week it's Fiber Twist featuring all things for knitting, crocheting, weaving, and spinning, including fiber animals! My little Buffy, an angora rabbit, will be there. Stop by, say hi!

A New Venue

2009-09-17T12:44:00.003-04:00

I'm now at Silver Circle Studio in Putnam, CT, aka The Quiet Corner! This is a new gallery, open less than a year. It was one of the places Matt and I stopped in while we were out there for the day. I remember being very excited about it and loving the jewelry and handmade books. I'm not sure why I didn't approach Carly about putting anything in there. Maybe I was being too shy (it happens) or I felt I had enough on my plate or I thought I would do it later. I guess all those things went through my mind. I'm a terrible marketer of myself sometimes. Anyway, it was suggested to me by someone I know from the farmers' market that I check it out. Carly said she had heard about me from someone else. I went out there yesterday, talked terms, and left two scarves there. I'm very excited and up for the challenge of providing for a fourth venue.

Now that I've gotten a production plan, that is.

I'm at the farmers' market this Sunday. It is Fiber Twist - fiber demonstrations and fiber animals. I am proud to take my little Buffy, who will be on display in all her fluffy goodness!

Remember 9/11. And Scarf Weather is Here

2009-09-11T08:34:00.010-04:00

Please take a moment to remember September 11 and pray for our country.

It is scarf weather, at least for today. Rainy. Cold. Dreary. Nobody likes scarf weather, except for me. Oh, I'd rather have sunny and warm weather, too, but I'm busy building my inventory!

Yesterday was trying, however. I was the yarn whisperer. My warp got all tangled up. I can't blame it on the cat, who shall remain nameless, who has slept on my warp before . . . It was my fault. I was trying to do something my way as opposed to doing it in the proper, more methodical manner. Therefore, I spent much time untangling it and showed an amazing amount of patience. I only wanted to throw something (the phone) once. But I didn't. Good for me. Because then I would have had to explain the broken phone and the hole in the wall, hence, only compounding things.

Outside My Window tencel and merino scarf

Scarf in diamond pattern with tencel in Mountain Stream (blues, teals, and tans) and black weft (for one of the b & m stores)

Spice Diamonds in tencel (sold)

Ruby Diamonds scarf (sold)

Gold Diamonds tencel scarf

Black Diamonds tencel scarf

Cabernet scarf in tencel and merino

And I'm still making more!

Hey, Hey, More Scarves

2009-08-30T18:02:00.007-04:00

Keep on keepin' on. I have this mental image of my loom smokin' away!

This is the first of the Fire Combo yarn I bought the other day. The warp (vertical yarn) is the Fire Combo

Here I am ready to begin the second scarf. I experimented with a red-purple weft for a few rows. There is a hint of an earthy purple in the weft but I think this was too much. For now. I may try it on the third.

Here is the second. I decided to use a black weft. Very dramatic. It looks like a tapestry.

Which demonstrates how colors can be picked up, blended together, or play off each other. Always fun.

And here is my new favorite, Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout. It's a good thing.

Yarn!

2009-08-27T08:39:00.004-04:00

Yes! I went up to Webs yesterday to pick up more yarn. I'm working on my line of tencel scarves. It was so difficult to choose what colors I wanted because I couldn't buy one of each! Color in weaving is different from combining colors in knitting, I feel. The very nature of weaving patterns allows the use of more analogous colorways on the one hand, but can also be used to blend colors not ordinarily used in, for example, the clean layout of an advertisement. Even the subtle use of a very bold color in an otherwise subdued piece can change the mood of the woven piece.

It's just so dad-burned fun.

So here is my selection:

Fire combo (reds, oranges, golds), Gray Blue, Black, Spice (on top), Gold, Mountain combo (blues, greens, ochres), and a skein of Glitter (orange, burgundy) from Yarntopia

I am currently winding warp with the Fire combo - yay!

I am very happy to have sold a couple of scarves this week. One is new and one I've had up for the winter:

Snow on Wood scarf

Ruby Diamonds scarf

But this is new, also, in the shop:

Cabernet

I retook pictures of this chenille scarf and I'm much happier with the way they turned out:

Saddleback scarf

GRRRRRRRRRRR!

2009-08-20T16:42:00.004-04:00

In an attempt to clear some things off my to-do list, I decided to go use the drill press and drill holes in some things. I hadn't used it in months. Maybe even last year. I was going along, but the drill bit kept sliding up the drill-bit-holder-thingy (yeah, I know - can you hear trouble coming?). I'm wondering if I'm missing another part. You know, the one that keeps the bit tight and straight? Who knows. Anyway, the drill bit is now stuck in the holder thing.

And I broke the drill bit.

And I can't get the drill-bit-holder-thingy to open up.

Great.

I'm so freakin' happy and cannot wait to tell Matt. Of course, I could have waited to ask him how to use it again, but he probably would have wound up getting testy even before he finished showing me what to do.

I'm so p.o.'d. No neighbors around to help now. So, I'm having a beer, and being all testy myself.

Anyway here is what's on the loom now:

It's tied on to the warp from the previous scarves. I'm making three, almost the same. There is a slight variation to the diamond pattern in the second one. I should have enough red warp to finish the third. It's such a rich, ruby red. There will be one for each of the stores and one for Etsy.

And I will be taking a trip up to Webs next week for more yarn because I need more tencel for these projects. Really I do! I know I never need an excuse to go to Webs (unless I am flat broke) but this time it's real!

Still Here!

2009-08-17T09:06:00.004-04:00

It's been over a week since I last posted, I think. Matt was on vacation last week and sometimes when your DH is on vacation at home, it can be a little like babysitting or being on call. Not that he didn't have anything to do (building a stone wall, getting together new gear for the upcoming moose hunt next month, cleaning his guns, mowing the lawn) but I never know when I will be beckoned. Plus, with the hot weather I did want to make sure he was well-hydrated.

On the other hand, when he was working on the wall, it gave me concentrated time to work on my projects. Here are my latest pieces:

Fall towels in gold, burgundy, and cayenne.

The first in a series of diamond twill scarves, on 8 shafts.

Diamond Jewels

Hemp and Henna Blogs

2009-08-09T13:14:00.004-04:00

My Hemp and Henna scarf is in Lil Fish Studio's blog. The scarf and I are so happy. Than you, Lil Fish. Check out her beautiful felted items, especially all the little acorns, just right for fall!

This morning Matt and I went to the range. I shot the Henry and got a couple of bulleyes. He bought a Browning .30-06 Medallion yesterday for the big moose hunt. I shot that, too, one, with the last bullet. A beautiful gun!

It's Up!

2009-08-04T08:49:00.001-04:00

My feature in Kathy Crabbe's blog, Soul Reader is up! Enjoy and thank you, Kathy! Click here to read.

Featured Artist!

2009-08-03T07:51:00.006-04:00

I am one of the featured artists on Kathy Crabbe's blog Soul Reader, highlighting the full moon in Aquarius on August 5. As each full moon enters one of the twelve signs, we are influenced by the characteristics of that sign; it's challenges and lessons it offers.

Kathy is, literally, a soul reader, and has helped many people, including artists, uncover their gifts and talents. She can be found at her blog, Soul Reader, at Kathy Crabbe, and at LuLu Design.

Fiber Frolic

2009-07-29T09:18:00.008-04:00

I am left to my own devices this week (he he he). Theoretically, I have 24 hours each day to play with fiber, collage sheets, findings, beads, buttons, doo dads. Well, there's the gym. And sleep. And eating. And I have to mow the lawn sometime when it's not raining or it hasn't just rained.

Anyway, here are some fun things I have been working on lately. I picked up a couple of ounces of TuckerWoods Farm roving from Mocha's Fiber Connection at the farmers market a couple of weeks ago. It is a llama, mohair, silk blend. It's wonderful to spin. The llama and mohair are long staples (length of fiber) and I can easily spin them very fine, almost as fine as thread. I have finished one bobbin and have started the second. I will then ply the yarn from the two bobbins (twisting them together the opposite way) to create a 2-ply yarn. This will make the final yarn a little thicker and it will balance it out so it doesn't twist up into your worst nightmare.

Roving from TuckerWoods Farm

One bobbin spun

I haven't decided if I will knit or weave with it. I have to see how many yards there are. You need many more yards to weave a scarf than to knit one. I'm thinking a knitted lacy scarf will be beautiful.

I also had some cashmere I picked up at the NYS Sheep and Wool Show in Rhinebeck last year. That show (insert moment of reflection here) is going to be another topic but I am already very excited about it. It is my Mothership.

Handspun cashmere

I've also begun my second set of September Lace towels. This weaving falls under Swedish weaving, patterns that originally came from Sweden and have their own set of threading and harness set up (more on that another day). I have listed two in my store on Etsy.

August Handwoven Kitchen Towel

September Lace In Blue and White Handwoven Towel

Four Years and Counting

2009-07-27T20:23:00.010-04:00

So, I thought this would be easier to write about. I have no problem talking about it but I don't bring up the subject up all the time.

Four years ago yesterday, July 26, at 9:10 p.m., (yeah, I remember the exact moment) I got a call from my surgeon - a call I was sweating about all day. He said that the lump he had taken from my breast was malignant.

I was 40 and had just had my first mammogram the month before. They saw calcifications on the image, took it again, said it was probably nothing, but sent me to get a sonogram. There was a lump. The surgeon could see the lump on the sonogram and we scheduled surgery to take it out. He said it was probably nothing but the surgery would confirm or deny that. I guess, because of my age and the fact that it was my first mammogram, to serve as a baseline for future exams, it probably was nothing.

I wasn't so sure. Sometimes I think you know the truth deep down inside. You can't explain how you know. Some will say you are just worried, over-anxious, which is to be expected. And you wonder, too, if you are just being a hypocondriac, for heaven's sake. But something deep inside is saying, no. And it's strangely calm, too, at that point. A least it was for me. Not content that I was right, but not screaming in panic. Yet.

After the surgery, another surgery was needed to take out the lump (a lumpectomy) and to extract some lymph nodes to see if the cancer has spread there. If cancer cells move to the lymph nodes, they will move throughout the body, as fluids from the entire body pass through the nodes.

I don't know why then, but I also knew that cancer cells had spread to the lymph nodes.

And they had. I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer.

I was numb at first but really, my main thought was, "Ok, now what do we do? Let's do it."

Not that I didn't get upset. My brain would scream, "I have CANCER!" and it would shock me. I could barely say the word at first. As if saying it, acknowledging it out loud would make it too real, too devastating, as if it would rip me to shreds. One time I was laying down outside with my bunny, Sadie, looking up at the clouds. I thought, when I was little, I used to look at the clouds and I was fine. I watched the clouds last year and I thought I was fine. Now, here I am, watching the clouds again but I am not well. I have cancer.

After my lumpectomy, I had to wear a drain called a Jackson Pratt drain (wow) under my armpit. It removes blood and other fluids and needed to be emptied two or three times a day. It was very uncomfortable, as I could only sleep on my back and used a pillow to prop up my arm when I slept. Plus, when I moved my arm too fast, OW!

Anyway, my husband is a very nurturing man inside. He's also an engineer. He drained my drain for me every time, even though I said I could do it myself. And he wrote down the date and time he emptied it, plus the amount and color of said fluid. I still have the paper:

9-1 1:40 p.m. 20 cc opaque bright red

9-1 3:35 p.m. 30 cc opaque pinkish red

Even though such information was not required or even suggested by the doctor. But it is good to be detailed.

I had a wonderful oncologist at Hartford Hospital, Patricia DeFusco. My first appointment with her was extremely informative. Of course, she had gone over my records. Then we discussed options. She took a bunch of blank paper, went over each line of my pathology reports, and wrote down, as she explained, each test, each result, what these results were compared to other results in this type of breast cancer, my treatment options and survival rate and non-treatment, if I so chose - wrote everything down, answered my questions and wrote those down, too. This doctor is incredible.

Because whether you want it or not, you become more knowledgeable about your disease than you ever wanted to, in the briefest amount of time.

Here are a couple of fact that threw cold water on my face (in my words).

I will never be 0% free of never having cancer again. I've already had cancer and I am a woman with breasts. This doesn't mean that I will get it again. But the percentages of survival rates for no treatment vs. chemo vs. chemo/radiation, etc. decrease the more treatment you get. But it is never 0% again. Probably never was, obviously, for me.

But I felt fine. I have cancer and I feel fine. You're telling me that this chemo will make my hair fall out, make me sick, give me mouth sores, etc., etc. It was like learning all over again that I had cancer.

But I got over those and just wanted to start treatment already.

I had four months of chemo followed by 12 weeks of radiation. I cried because my hair would fall out from the chemo. But I decided that I didn't want to deal with clumps of hair falling out, so I shaved it off. As soon as hair started falling off my body (yeah, all hair, except my eyebrows and eyelashes - that would come later with another chemo drug), I made a lunch date with two girlfriends. One helped me shave off my hair and then we met the other for lunch. Oddly, I felt better after the hair was gone.

Here I am, bald. I could have made a wig out of my cat, Winnie's, fur.

The plusses of being bald include less time getting ready in the morning. Really, it was just a matter of choosing which hat to wear that day. Also, since all the hair on my body was gone, shaving was unnecesary. Yeah, I know. I would never chose to be bald, but if that's the way it's got to be then you have to find something good about it.

That was ok. After two months of chemo I was changed to another drug, which is standard protocol for my cancer. This one did make my eyelashes and eyebrows fall out. There was a brief moment in time when my eyebrows were perfectly groomed, just as neat and thin as I wanted them. That didn't last. I really hated that look. I think I looked strong without hair. I had cancer and I was tough. But no eyelashes and eyebrows PLUS no hair? I looked like an alien.

Of course, it grows back. My last chemo treatment was in January. This picture was taken that following April.

I would see people out in stores, total strangers, who would recognize that I had cancer and come up to me and say, My sister went through it and she's fine now, keep it up. Or, one woman who looked at me and said, I know what you're going through. I had it, too you will get through.

People at work would say they told their church group and they were praying for me. That still makes me cry. That total strangers would pray for my health is so incredibly touching, generous, and kind.

Thank you.

I hope this didn't upset anyone. It's not meant to scare but to inform. I just want women to get checked. Check themselves. Ask questions. Don't take vague or non-answers for answers. Take a friend, a sister, your husband with you if you need further tests, just to have someone there for support and because it's better to have an extra set of ears to listen to the answers. Take notes. Have questions written down when you go.

Don't be afraid. It was unusual that I was diagnosed at age 40, but not so rare. You can ask me questions if you like or visit these websites (and there are many more):

Susan G. Komen For the Cure

American Cancer Society

Network of Strength (formerly Y-Me)

These sites have information as well as message boards with which to meet others and ask all kinds of questions.

I really have been weaving lately and spinning! I will have more pictures up on that very soon!

How I Spent My Weekend . . .

2009-07-22T09:59:00.013-04:00

I feel like I’m back on track again. I’ve been doing quite a bit of weaving and jewelry making these past few days, with a little exploration and lawn-mowing thrown into the mix.

Saturday was my husband, Matt’s birthday so we all went down to Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington for a tasting. It’s also where we were married last September. It was a beautiful day as we sampled wines then went over to Mystic to shop and have dinner.

The back wall at the edge of Jonathan Edwards Winery.

Ryan, Christina, Matt, and Sean at Jonathan Edwards

Christina, me, Matt and Sean at Jonathan Edwards.

On Sunday Matt and I took one of Matt’s assistants, in from China for some work (also his first trip to the US), to Old Sturbridge Village for the day. Lots of fun. I love history and learning about daily life in the past.

The church.

They later took these two oxen out and plowed a field.

A beautiful rooster

This chicken made a shallow hole to roll in the dirt, dusting off bugs and such.

The potter, one of the many crafts and tradesmen demonstrating at the village.

Matt and Zheda walking on stilts. It's one of the games available on the path to play with. You won't see me on the stilts because I was wearing a full, flouncy skirt and I didn't feel like getting all tangled up and breaking a leg. Yeah, I'm sure some daring girls tried it back in 1830 . . .

Matt and Zheda playing the Les Graces or the Flying Circle game. Hold two sticks and throw (and catch) a wooden circle to each other. I did do this and caught a few myself!

Ok, very cool - they were dying yarn, from sheep in the village, right there with materials such as madder, osage, cochineal, and black walnut.

And spinning and weaving demonstrations.

Here are two skeins I bought from the store there, made and dyed with osage and cochineal dyes on site.

Busy, Birthdays, and . . . Beer?

2009-07-16T09:06:00.008-04:00

Well, no beer yet. Of course there are festivities on the horizon:

Today is my step-son's birthday! We'll be having a little dinner and cake here and then he will be off continuing his birthday celebrations, I am sure. He's a great, I want to say kid, but he's not! Anyway, he could probably set up a great, stylin' party for you, if you wanted. Happy Birthday, Sean!

And then my husband's birthday is on Saturday. One of his favorite birthday celebrations would be to go on his boat, but it looks like it will rain that day. Plan B has been requested and I am awaiting some suggestions from him.

The boat I like to call Locked and Loaded but it has no name. I took this picture last weekend when we were at Mystic.

On the business front, I had a great day at the Farmers Market last Sunday! Thank you to all who stopped by. I got a couple of custom requests and lots more ideas. Plus, a beautiful, warm, sunny day helps, too!

I put this in Swift Waters last week and it sold already!

And I dropped this off a couple of days ago.

AHHH! Must get to work! I love it!

Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade

2009-07-14T12:06:00.005-04:00

I cannot believe it. I never thought this would happen. I made the Front Page on Etsy!

Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade

Coventry Farmers Market!

2009-07-11T10:07:00.003-04:00

I'll be at the Coventry Farmers Market tomorrow. Looks like it will be a nice day.

I have a special for all Friends of the Market: tax on anything you buy from my booth tomorrow will be paid by me!

Stop by, get some fresh fruits and vegetables, sample some delicious blueberry treats and see what your local artisans have to offer.

Drop by and say hello!

Christmas in July at Etsy!

2009-07-07T15:28:00.002-04:00

I am running a Christmas in July sale, July 8 - July 22, with free shipping on select items in my store, Coffee Break Designs!

No, I don't want to skip summer and all the other wonderful holidays between now and Christmas. It's just a little sale to say thank you to my customers, old and new, big and small, and beautiful, all!

Loaded

2009-07-07T08:48:00.008-04:00

Not me! I've put a bunch of things in my shop this past week. I just got a request for some placemats from my sister-in-law and I'm working at Swift Waters tomorrow and I'm working on another crocheted flower necklace to take over there.

July Handwoven Towels in Stars and Dots

April Handwoven Towel

Handwoven Remnants Note cards in Yellow and Magenta

Silk Stainless Steel Handwoven Bookmark

Little Birds on a Branch Blank Journal

On a Wing and a Prayer Bubble Necklace

Fun in the Quiet Corner

2009-07-01T07:00:00.010-04:00

Putnam, CT. It's one of our day trip places, along with Litchfield and Kent, CT in the northwest part of the state. The very northeastern part of Connecticut is also called "The Quiet Corner". I think it may be a nice way of saying there's nothing up there. But it really is nice with big farms, lots of camping, small villages, antiques stores and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Paul Newman's camp for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.

Matt and I spent the day in the antique shops, mostly for laughs. Of course, the first place I stopped by was the local yarn store, Woolworks Ltd.

The man sitting ouside was taking a nap, I think. I'll bet his wife was in there shopping.

And now for the goodies:

Thank you, sir, may I have another!

Oops! I mean, can I have another ice cream! And please use the paper cone covers!

From the 40's. I think this was just the way things were with postcards.

Um, ok.

I saw LOTS of these lovely, jeweled fruits. Gotta say, the old waxed fruit is looking pretty good.

Note to sellers. It's good to have lots of stuff but please don't use those flourescent orange price stickers.

I love this but it was $185.

This is disturbing on many levels.

Lots of fiber!

Um. Ok. A box of rice . . .

. . . from the 40's. That's $10.

One way to raise money to pay for all your new Cap & Trade taxes!

And finally we ended our trip at the local coffee shop (really local, not Starbucks, although I do love Starbucks!). This place was so cool! Lots of comfy couches and chairs, little corners to read, tables to play board games with your friends. Sorry. The name eludes me, but you can't miss it in town.

Here is the always photogenic Matt.

And the two of us!

New Stuff and Happy Friday

2009-06-26T08:13:00.004-04:00

New crocheted flowers for your hat, purse, blouse, jeans, whatever! Soon at Indigo Lily!

And, since I cannot seem to upload any more pictures (!) that's all for now. But there is more.