Tag Archives: macro monday

other, photos

Almost a Monday …

… but not quite a Macro.

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other, sewing

macro monday

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Clearing out some back-log…

Finally got used to this super slubby yarn, but totally forgot to count stitches. You can guess the result. 🙈

Considering all the slubs, and that this cotton doesn’t behave the same as wool (cotton doesn’t block as well as wool might), frogging really isn’t an option. Guess I’ll go with the flow. Maybe start a new fashion?

music, photos

edible?

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Thought I’d liven up this Monday with a quick question. Hope nobody minds (or is squeamish). I did have it for lunch today and it was tastier than I’d anticipated.

How many ingredients can you name? (I’ve put the list of ingredients down at the bottom.)

After lunch I had the radio on low enough so I don’t hear the announcer. Suddenly something came on that sent me back to university days.

At first I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I listen to a classical station and this was choral, which they never do unless it’s from an opera or oratorio.

I quickly grabbed my headphones to plug in so I could turn up the volume, then sang along quietly. (These apartments are not sound-proofed.)

After singing the piece in the uni’s choir, I taught it at the high school my first year out of college. I also chose it for the school’s graduation ceremony.

Given all that’s going on in the world these days, I found it surprisingly appropriate and quite moving.

Maybe some of you know the poem, by Robert Frost. I’ll copy it out below for those who prefer to read their poetry. But if you’d like to hear Garrison Keillor reading it, plus his introduction, click the title’s link to go to him.

(Note: He was reading this in 2017, and goes on with other items as normal for this particular radio program.)

Choose Something Like a Star – by Robert Frost

O Star (the fairest one in sight),
We grant your loftiness the right
To some obscurity of cloud—
It will not do to say of night,
Since dark is what brings out your light.
Some mystery becomes the proud.
But to be wholly taciturn
In your reserve is not allowed.
Say something to us we can learn
By heart and when alone repeat.
Say something! And it says, ‘I burn.’
But say with what degree of heat.
Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.
Use language we can comprehend.
Tell us what elements you blend.
It gives us strangely little aid,
But does tell something in the end.
And steadfast as Keats’ Eremite,
Not even stooping from its sphere,
It asks a little of us here.
It asks of us a certain height,
So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame too far,
We may choose something like a star
To stay our minds on and be staid.

For those who’d like to hear the choral piece, written by American composer Randall Thompson, here’s a recording via YouTube.

Performed by the New York Choral Society with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Auldon Clark, from the album “The Testament Of Freedom/Frostiana” on Koch International.

If you’re still with me you deserve a big piece of your favourite cake! And here’s what went into my bowl of leftovers ~ potato, sausage, diced apples, a tiny bit of chicken breast, carrots, mushrooms, and a sprinkling of sunflower seeds. Plus the chicken broth.

And looots of garlic! 😆

other, sewing

macro Monday

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Here is the yarn of my latest effort, aided & abetted by the craft supplies section of Stitch Buffalo’s Etsy shop, all of which I highly recommend you look through!

The artisan members of the non-profit Stitch Buffalo do beautiful and varied hand work, as learnt in their native countries. Some also teach classes, in-store & online. There’s lots on Insta, for those interested.

I think it’s wonderful they can carry on with their creativity and keep their traditions alive in America, their new home, and provide valuable income for their families.

If you look closely at this photo, you’ll see a shiny, thin metallic blue yarn twisted lightly around the softer cotton. Said cotton yarn has huge slubs just to make things more interesting…

What to do with 10 balls of this magical yarn? Firstly, figure out how to work with it! I chose a 4.25mm hook almost randomly, and started doing some single crochet. (I’m using the American term – it’s double crochet in Britain.)

After not a little frustration, I put it down over Thanksgiving, then picked it up again on the weekend. I’m so glad I didn’t allow my initial frustration to keep me from working with it.

I’m getting used to it now, which rather surprised me. Those slubs really fill in most of the holes you’d see with a regular yarn, which makes counting stitches rather challenging. But the filament of tinsel-blue is showing more self-control, and not separating from the cotton as much.

Come to think of it, that means a more solid end piece, which also means something like a shrug would might be warmer than if made up in a smoother cotton yarn.

Any thoughts from more experienced Lovelies? All suggestions welcomed❣️ ❣️ ❣️

photos, sewing

macro Monday

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Am I the only one waiting for Wednesday, praying for peace and quiet everywhere?  Hm. Thought not.

Meanwhile . . . . . wish I could say I’ve been sewing or crocheting, but haven’t had time. 🤨  Well, I made time to go through Vogue Fabric‘s latest drop — their Early Spring catalog.

There’s a lovely terra cotta ponte I could use for pants, shorts, or culottes. But since I’ve still got a mountain of fleece to sew up am restraining meself.  It’s just these autumnal colours are so rarely “in” I hate to pass them by. Know wha’a mean? 😫

Lots of familial communication lately.  Love ’em all to bits and appreciate hearing from them. A good zoom meeting instead of half a zillion emails would do the trick, but not for them.  C’est la vie. 😉

So this is short but sweet today – love you & leave you. May everyone’s week be quiet and calm and full of inspired creativity!

🧶     🎨     🪡     ✂️