Friday snow day

 It's still falling...

We've given Esme the day off for the snow storm.  Tennessee has declared a State of Emergency and it does not look all that nice out there.  The dogs have busied themselves last night and this morning by eating slippers and mittens.  So, I've busied myself repairing or replacing them.  A friend noted she hopes we keep power -- me too.  I've called into work because although I am a Minnesota native the South does not build roads in preparation of snow.... we've slid off the road last year on one of those twisting hills and I don't want to repeat it this year.

  basketry

I saw this method on Pinterest and thought to try it

I've got a few projects going - a plane finished for a shop order, a rope and yarn basket I've been working on, the weaving.... there is a quilt on the bed that needs several repairs.  There is also a Stanford
algebra program I wanted to finish watching... if the satellite lets us.

little clay projects I did a few weeks ago and painted.

I really liked the horse.

propellor airplane for Knitowl shop

Esme is playing Skyrim - but I expect another snow excursion later.

Turtle basket purse - experiments in basketry continued

Another experiment in basket making with the cheap sisal twine.  This is a little 'canteen' type purse with a cover and a button to hold it shut.  I used green crochet thread for both some shape stability and to cover up the rough handle so it could be carried without sticking bits of sisal into my shoulder..  It also gave it a nice 'spiderweb' or turtle shell look.  My favorite thing about it is that it sits nicely just behind my shoulder.  And although it is a little too small to hold a knitting project very well - the bamboo needles will stick through the holes and hold a washcloth, scissors and a ball of cotton yarn.  It would be a great daypack to carry a few little things along to the park or the lake.

 

A basket made from sisal twine

I've really been enjoying trying new fibers and trying my hand at basketmaking, as well - for use around our house and for the experience of making them.  Last week I picked up some sisal twine at the store - and with a medium large crochet hook and some downtime - I made this.  Each side was made flat and then it was all sewn together with very strong cotton crochet thread - then the handles were crocheted on with the yellow cotton yarn.  I have ideas for making another one with less sewing... but more shape to worry about as I go along... The material was very tough on my wrist initially.. but the results were worth it.   And - it only took one 525 yard ball of twine, which cost about a dollar... which is kind of amazing.

Baskets from Hardware store rope and twine

 I've been experimenting with what I can find for hardware store jute rope and nylon twine.  I made a tote bag out of the twine a few months ago.  The green basket here is jute rope - and it isn't quite as waterproof (I could take a hose to the other if necessary) it is sturdy and rich looking.  In the basket is a big roll of sisal twine, a bit less cohesive but lighter in weight, as well.  I will see what I can get with that.  Mark thinks plant hangers for a project out of it...

And since Esme was saying she was running out of playdresses and summer is on its way - I made this.  The white paisley fabric is heavy denim, but there wasn't enough of it to do much else with... and the other fabrics were the last bits of scraps that made something that 'sort of' went together.  The lining is a green 'hello my friends' fabric from a Japanese pack long ago, and the blue was from a friend years ago when I made matching dresses for Esme and her daughter.  It is open in the back to halfway down with a button at the back neck.  I hope it will fit for a while. 

 

The picture shows my messy studio space.. but that is part of the process lately.  

We had laid down an old piece of underlayment in the kitchen on the concrete floor to keep it warmer.  I had seen some ideas for 'wood rugs' and wanted to add some life and color to the rug.  Mark said go ahead - and some masking tape and craft paint later we get a little bit of 'different' that may not last forever but it is interesting while it does.

 I had told Mark I wasn't just looking at home dec pictures on Pinterest.. but was actually doing some of it.  So he decided I needed a picture of me doing it.. which turned out pretty good :)  This was a fun project, kittens and all...

Minion and her kitten are confused by it all...there was much shooing off of little feet and even a little bit of cover-up of tiny footprints that found their mark.