SLO Farmer's Market

My daughter let me borrow her computer so I could make a post or two. It's after 11 already so I'll keep it short.
We went to the San Luis Obsipo farmer's market tonight and a lot of people dressed up. I got a lot of great  photos that I'll download when I get home.

On the train up here I started making a beaded collar necklace. I seem to be in a green mode. Everything I design lately seems to be green. I got some more beads to add to my collar at Beverly's on Higuera St. I wish they had been on sale but you can't have everything. I got some more beading needles too. I only brought one with me and I need a back- up just in case I l ose one.

I can barely keep my eyes open so I'm going to go crawl into my borrowed bed for the night.

See You in Pismo on Halloween

I'm getting everything together for a trip out of town this weekend. I'll be painting faces along with my daughter and 2 other face painters at Pumpkins on the Pier in Pismo Beach CA on Halloween morning. It's a totally fun event and free to kids. What's better than a day at the beach? A Halloween festival at the beach!

Getting there is a bit tricky for me. First I take the train to Santa Barbara and then the bus to Santa Maria. I'm doing that tomorrow. I won't be home until next week and may or may not have computer access while I'm traveling.

So I'd like to wish you all a Happy Samhain or a Happy Halloween in advance. Spend some time thinking of your departed loved ones and don't forget to scare a kid or two.

I'm Going to Bed Early

I'm pretty tired from burning the candle at both ends, but here are some photos of the Pasadena Roving Archers  Traditional Shoot yesterday where we set up our little craft booth on Sunday. Enjoy. Of course going to bed early for me is before 1 AM. I sold some stuff. My boyfriend sold some stuff. It was good.

Traditional Archery Shoot

I went to the event today with empty pockets and came home with full ones. Somehow being an artist feels better when people are buying your work. And though I didn't sell any of my instruments, I got tons of compliments on them and some good reactions. This was a traditional archery shoot, so even though people liked the gourd drums, we didn't sell any. Next year I should make quivers. If was are going to be doing more archery events I need to have an archery mindset. We were vending at this one by special invitation, and they only let in a few vendors so that worked to our advantage. There was one man selling knives, one man selling leatherwork, a lady selling archery parts, and another man selling custom arrows. And I think we all made some money.

If you want to make instruments, check out youtube for tutorials.  There are some really good ones on there and also some pretty funny ones.

Where Have All the Followers Gone?

I find it really odd that I haven't had a new follower in months. I still blog every day. I have Entrecard. I haven't changed. I tell people about this blog all the time on Twitter, Flickr, and everywhere else I can think of, so what gives?

Have people become so addicted to 'give away' blogs that they don't have time for anything else? Or have so many millions of people started to blog that no one has any time left for following along? Maybe I should stop staring at the followers button and just get on with it. Some of my blogs have no readers at all, or if they do, no one comments. Not that I want negative comments like 'I think you suck'. Short of bribing people, which I refuse to do, I just don't know how to get more readers.

Johnny Appleseed in Pasadena.

Blogger had the hiccups for a while there and I couldn't get on.
Today was knitting and crocheting. I'm trying out a book called ONESKEIN that I got at the library. I saw it at another library a few years ago but didn't check it out. I didn't realize it was the same book until I saw the rug on the last page. I'm going to have to try that. I love spiral rugs. It's one of those mindless projects that's going to take a long time, but you can do it when you aren't in the mood for fussy patterns. It's like a knitting meditation, and a way to use up yarn that's been sitting around too long feeling unloved.

I need to start working with my drop spindle again because my friend Mike asks me every time I see him if I've done any spinning lately. He's one of the paleo guys and is into primitive tools and going barefoot everywhere. He's vegan and lives on the cheap. I'm oddly fascinated with the guy. I guess it's because everyone else is trying to keep up with the joneses and buy a flat screen TV and an IPOD and a McMansion and Mike is just running around barefooted with his drop spindle hoping someone will hand him an apple. He's like a modern day Johnny Appleseed. Last time I saw Mike he'd just hopped a Chinese Junk and ridden it up the coast of CA from somewhere in Mexico. I never know what the guy will say next.

I Love My Library

I went to return my books today and found some more craft books to bring home. I got a good one on collage and some on knitting. I read some at the library too, but didn't want to bring too many home. I find at times I absorb enough just by flipping through the books. Others have more complicated techniques so I need to bring them home for a closer look.
With the price of books these days don't forget to check your library before buying. That way you know exactly what is in the book if you decide to order it.

Right Angle Weave and Atlatl Darts

Last night I started some seed bead earrings in right angle weave. So I continued on with that this morning. I'm having a lot of trouble keeping the super slippery polished stones inside the woven bands. So I can either resort to epoxy to hold beads to stone face, or I can switch to a rock with more texture so things won't slip around. It's discouraging when you don't get the results you want, especially when the work takes a lot of time. I haven't given up yet but I did need to take a break. So I worked on my atlatl darts instead. I have to get all the bends out of the reed. That is done by heating the shaft a bit at a time and bending it the way you want it to go.

Right now I have a serious case of the afternoon drowsies. I think we should get to take a siesta like Mexicans do. Seems logical to me.

Back to Crafting Today

I was so busy at the archery range yesterday that I never got around to doing any beadwork. I was way out of my comfort zone trying to straighten 12 foot long reed shafts over some Sterno for my atlatl darts. Then Sal and Guy helped me finish my berimbau. The wire under tension on that thing is a little scary. Diane sat next to me all day making beaded necklaces, so I was seriously wanting to drop everything and do some beading but I ran out of daylight before I ran out of projects. So today I already started a necklace with black seed beads and colorful glass tube beads.  I'm about done with the beading but stopped for lunch. But I need balance in my life, which means getting some exercise, so I'm about to walk to the grocery store. Hopefully I'll get back to my necklace later this afternoon.

Pasadena Archery Event Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'm going to Pasadena for the monthly Paleoplanet archery and primitive crafts gathering. So I have my hands full figuring out what to take. I need to work on my atlatl darts, and some beaders are coming so I need to take my bead boxes. Also I started a berimbau last month and hopefully I can finish that tomorrow if the man teaching me has time to help me. But he's teaching how to make a basket quiver. Which reminds me I need to take my basketry stuff too. Whew! And that's just the stuff I need. That doesn't include the food and chairs and tables and other stuff. I'm tired just thinking about it.

Today I worked on my pink knitted hat.

And I need to figure out a birthday present for someone I'll see tomorrow as well. And I want to go to bed early so we can leave early in the morning. And it's 10 PM already. Ack! I better get off this computer and get organized.

Three Hats

I finished 3 hats today; go me! One is crocheted in gray wool. One is knitted in camo green Paton Classic Wool., and the other is knitted in acrylic yarn in bands of pink and yellow. If you'd like to place a custom order make sure you put your name in the pot so I have time to get it to you for your special occassion. Reasonably it takes about a week, because I have so many projects going at once and holiday crunch time is upon us! My hats fit 22" heads in general unless someone requests something bigger or smaller. There really is enough stretch to fit most adult heads and hairstyles.

Camo Hat

Right now I'm working on a Wool camo hat in Paton's Classic Wool. It's got a rolled brim. I've wanted to do that style for a long time now and I really like the way it's coming out. I definitely want to get some more of this yarn next time I have some cash I can spare. This hat is going to the archery booth craft event if I can get it done in time. It will be mostly men, who wear mostly green, brown, and earth tones.

Chemo Caps Always Free

If you need one for you or a loved one, email me at Pigglewiggins (at) gmail.com. and let me know your favorite color. Also, do you prefer solids or stripes or anything goes. Make sure you tell me if it's for a child, teen, or adult so I get the size right. And I'll need a complete address to send it to.


And if any of you are in the Anaheim area I also accept donations of yarn and knitting and crocheting supplies, as long as they are from a smoke free environment. That way I can keep the caps coming, and you can get your closet cleaned out of all the yarn Aunt Martha left you. And if you could never figure out that new fangled knitting loom, I'll be happy to have those available too. That way I can put the local teens to work making hats as well.

Embroidery on a T-shirt

I think I've been to Joann's 3 days in a row, and twice on Sat. Now I'm thinking of going back today and getting a bathrobe pattern while they are still .99.

Yesterday I worked on my embroidered t-shirt. I'm finally beginning to like the way it looks. I switched to a different kind of embroidery floss. I think it's called pearl cotton. Still from DMC but thicker than the floss. After testing the one skein I bought on Sat. I decided I really liked it and so I bought 6 more colors yesterday. Unfortunately my embroidery stitch dictionary is a library book so I'll have to return it soon. I know I must own some, but all my books are packed away in boxes because I don't have room for any more bookshelves. My bookshelves all have craft bins on them. Haha.

patterns and knitting and crocheting oh my

I couldn't resist going to Joann's today for their .99 Simplicity Pattern sale in search of costume patterns I'd seen a week earlier. Sadly and probably to be expected, many of the patterns were sold out already. So I will try another Joann's over the weekend perhaps.

I'm glad to see vests are coming back in finally. I used to wear them quite a lot and after a few years I realized no one else was wearing them anymore. And if you like to do patchwork, vests are very useful formats for that. The pattern in the vest is Simplicity 2866. It has a vest with ample flat areas where patchwork or embroidery could be added. It comes with five seperates. Just using that one pattern alone in 3 colors would give you quite an autumn wardrobe suitable for work and casual nights out. It has a jacket, pants, a vest, a jumper, and a blouse.

I did work on a new knitted hat in my favorite Patron camo yarn. I crocheted a tam out of this same yarn and now I'm knitting a beanie out of it. Too fun.

Knitting Crocheting and Gourds

With my next craft booth event just around the corner, I suddenly realized I needed to get cracking with the hats. So I started another one in gray wool that is crocheted and I also worked on a girly hat that is so far dusty rose and yellow stripes in knitting as well, alternating between one project and the other so my hands wouldn't get as tired.

On Oct. 25 we'll be at an archery shoot in Pasadena and will have our craft booth set up with bows, arrows, and my crafts. It's down in the arroyo by the casting pond so if you think you'll need directions give me a holler.

I also worked on putting a finish on some of my gourds, and did some more work on the gourd basket. I painted the interior black and put a clear finish on the exterior of the gourd. Next I'll do some weaving with unusual yarn. It's all coming together bit by bit.

Upcoming Projects

Here it is Wed. and I'm so restless. I overdid the knitting yesterday. Today both wrists hurt.
I did my work before my play today and got the Tiki T-shirt listed on Etsy is my http://www.spankytease.etsy.com shop. Then I did some networking in the chatroom. But then I realized what a beautiful day it is and I want to go outside and take some photos.

Here are some things I have on the back burner: A shirt with HTBD on it for my belly dance troupe Hypnotic Trance Belly Dance. I should do a line drawing of a belly dancer for it too I think or a logo or something.

I want to make a tiny circus hat and a tiny witch hat and more Steampunk inspired crafts. Still waiting for those plans to gel.

I cut out another applique cat picture, this time with cats in witch hats.

I can hear my boyfriend sawing in the garage. I bet he's working on the knife handles for some knives he's putting together. He bought the blades but he needs to put the handles on them. Which is still a lot of work.

I could really use an extra $100 this month. I'm feeling the pinch.

Is it Knitted? Is it Crocheted? Does Anybody Care?

Today I almost finished the olive hat I'm knitting. For a while there it looked like it would be too small for an adult, but now that I'm about 2/3's done it does look like it will have enough stretch to fit an average sized adult.

I'm always trying to get people to be aware that knitting and crocheting are not the same thing and to be able to recognize the difference before they make a purchase. So I'm a bit dismayed that some Etsians have chosen a shop name with the word Knitting in it when in fact they sell Crochet. When I asked one of them about it she said the word 'knit' has a better ring to it.  I'll have to agree it's hard to find a word that rhymes with Crochet. Maybe two words like 'crochet all day' or "crochet for pay". At any rate, as needlecrafters, let's not add to the confusion. I don't know what other knitters and crocheters are doing, but I know it takes me a lot longer to knit something than to crochet it, and that is reflected in the price of the item.

I'm sure a lot of people don't care if a hat is knitted, crocheted, macrame'd or netted, but it makes a big difference to me, both historically and by the way it looks. The Create TV show, which should know better, has a commercial where a carpenter is holding up a quilt and saying how he really loves Create TV because he's getting the hang of quilting. Only it's not a quilt he's holding up, it's a crocheted afghan.

Appliqued Cats

I've been working on some quilted pictures with cats. I didn't want to do typical applique, choosing instead to do blanket stitch embroidery around all the shapes. Once again I've managed to pick a project that is probably so labor intensive I'll never make a profit on it, but other than that, it's turning out really well. Then that inspired me to start another one for Halloween. So I went to my favorite quilting fabric store, meaning to get 1/2  yard of brown fabric, and ended up getting 23 different prints in half yard cuts. Ack! I'll use them all I'm sure, but I'm trying to live within a budget so I can take the train to San Luis Obispo for Halloween. And they won't trade me train tickets for a quilted scene.

Hats For Inspiration

Pagan Pride LA 2009

I took my knitting with me to the Pagan Fair. As we were driving there my boyfriend looks over and says, "You knit hats?" Now I must have knitting at least 50 hats since I moved in with him. And he knows crocheting hurts my wrist. Sometimes I think someone took him and left a changling in his bed.

That Crazy Etsy Chatroom

I can't believe the weekend is already here. It's 1:17 AM before dawn on Sat. I haven't gone to bed yet. I was working on the cat scene until I was too tired to do a good job of it, then I signed onto Etsy to see what was up in the chatroom. The first hour was male bashing and then we had a bit of a good chat, then the girls that always post the obscene stuff came in and that's when I decided to leave. Etsy does have a policy that mature items are supposed to have a banner to protect them from people that get offended, but it doesn't seem like they police it much. I guess it's funny to some, but it just gets old. Theoretically our customers come in there, and they may be shy little old ladies or women with children sitting on their laps. The point is you never know who is reading the screen when you put a photo on it.

Quilting Fever

Today I remembered the postage stamp quilt I started a while back. It seemed like a good use for the smaller scraps I'd created in those 3 quilting projects I started yesterday. So I made a new 2"square template out of some fine sand paper. Sandpaper keeps templates from sliding around. I wish I could find my clear plastic ruler. I had to make do with a school ruler with a metal edge.

I also used some Heat-n-Bond in tiny bits to keep the cats and bushes on the fabric until I get it stitched down. That stuff isn't meant to be sewn over so I didn't put any large patches of it.  When it comes time to quilt it I didn't want it gumming up the needle on the machine. I didn't get to work on my Whacky 9 Patch at all but I'm going to go over to Flickr now to see if others are making the 9 patch. I bet they are. If you ever want to find examples of the type of quilt you are planning, you can look it up on Flickr or Google images to see what else is out there.

Also before I forget one of the main pattern companies also has a nice redwork pattern out for the holidays in their current catalog. Redwork is typically red thread on a white background. Very elegant looking and fun to do if you like hand stitching as much as I do.

Got a Treasury

I whipped up a fashion treasury on Etsy if you want to take a gander. Remember they only last a few days. I named it "The Long and The Short of It." Unfortunately it's 3 AM now and I really must get some sleep.

Halloween Decorating

It's officially the first day of October. Let the Halloween decorating commence. As you saw in my last post I made a Halloween themed keyholder for my front hallway. Now I can hang my keys up instead of playing 'where did I put them this time.' I want to make some Halloween gourds too. I got an idea at Michael's only their version is carved from a foam pumpkin. But I want to use a hard shell gourd, cut it out so it looks like a cage, and put ravens in it. Not real ravens of course. And I should finish up my gourd witch doll that I started for the Zombie Nanner Gang.