Communication

Nye Beach, Oregon looking at Yaquina Head lighthouse

In 1999, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In 2005, I was diagnosed with colon cancer.  I fought it with surgery and chemotherapy for months.  Several years later I was termed "cancer-free".  Then in 2009, I found that it surfaced again and I resumed my fight against cancer.  On June 29, 2011, I entered in the Benton Hospice Service.  I am changing this blog to focus more on keeping you informed of these happenings in my life.  I have been very poor in keeping up with people who care for and love me.  I hope this will improve my communication with all of you special people in my life.  Thank you for your love.  Janette

Placemats become totes

This is a new pattern idea I found on the internet. I take three placemats and sew them together to make a tote bag. One placemat is front, second is back add handles and the third placemat is the base.  It just so happens I have loads of placemats that I have woven that are just not "right"--too big, too small, too narrow, the edges curl or something I just did not like about them. The two finished bags at the top of the photograph were made from two placemats and the bottom was made from various stash fabric, the blue base to the left is waterproof. Very fun. Now I have loads of tote bags...no just two but plan to make more.  The third one I am working on I will add pockets to from the napkins I had made to match the placemats.  Oh yes there was a fourth placemat that is now a lunch bag.  So glad to make something usable from those unusable placemats.

Circle Vest



Fabric on the loom



Well it all started with a January 2010 Threads magazine article about an easy circle vest.  I had alot of trouble visualizing it so I finally got around to making it out of fleece.  I did not like that it stopped at the waist and blossoming out.  So I thought how about a longer version.  I made it out of thin sweater knit fabric and loved the look and edged it on the serger.  Every time I wore it someone asked me about it...not the oh did you make it more of the oh where did you get that.  More of a compliment to me because it did say handmade.  So the next step was to weave fabric.  I thought I was making it for the weaving conference fashion show in June so I wanted it to yell out on the runway.  I used my friend's Romney wool from Tiffany and Brown Sheep Nature spun sport wool set at 5 EPI in a 8 shaft twill pattern and fulled the fabric.  While it dried I took a trip to Newport for some R and R.  The next day I cut it out and stitched around the outside and the armholes.  Note to self:  next one will be woven so that when the collar is folded back it looks a bit different and I will use something with a bit more drape, cotton or tencel.  Final note to self:  This was a fun project and I look forward to weaving and sewing it again.  P.S.  Too many notes to self so I did not enter the vest in the fashion show.





Waiting for fabric to dry at Nye Beach

Fabric drying at home









Karen this is for you

After a high octane coffee this morning with my friend Karen I decided it was time to get back to my blogging work....I finished the circle vest last month that has been brewing in my head for maybe years.  It is a pattern I am developing for handwoven fabric.  Here is a photograph of it finished.  Next week I will take you through the steps involved in the project.  Thanks to the tresses of  Tiffany and Patricia it has a truly delightful feel or hand.  My next vest will have the reverse at the collar I was looking to accomplish.  More talk to come.    

The year of the hat...

I say it will be the year of the hat...no not just for Easter and weddings...all year long.  Thank you Prince William and Catherine Middleton.  Check out Kate's hat designer, Vivien Sheriff.  She also says interest in hats are on the rise.  I anxiously await the renewal of the hat.  I love hats and plan to make one a month for the rest of the year.  I made the hat and purse in the lower right in March and it just does not have a wedding in it's future, it is more for a blistery Winnie the Pooh type of day for walking with the dog.  Wear a hat today and feel glamorous.     

Tabernacle Colors

I just delivered the cloth I wove for dear friends Linda and Carl.  Linda wanted a cloth to cover a serving tray she uses in the colors in the Tabernacle.  Read Exodus 26,27 and 28 in the Bible for clarity.  The blue symbolizes the human body, purple the royal Messiah, scarlet suffering and yellow is glory.  I hope they enjoy the cloth during this season of Lent and use it often in their home tabernacle.   

Happy

Today, five years ago, daughter Amy married Jono.  What a happy day!  I still see her father walking her down the aisle and it sends chills down my spine, the sheer happiness on every one's face.  During the several days of celebration in Portland, Oregon I got away for a walk and came across a delightful yarn shop called Lint in the Pearl Distract.  It was the start of Spring and they had in the window these little terra cotta pots filled with knitting kits of felted flowers from Pick Up Sticks.  I choose one to create and celebrate the day.  I can still hear my daughter's father in law or out laws as we call them...saying " what will you do with that when it is done".  Hmmm it took me 5 years but the Iris is done and it is my new pocketbook. 

Celebrate and be happy today--Amy and Jono have been married 5 years.

  

P.S.  My scarf has been found. 

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