Jun 24
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

Here are the holes I punched out, captured behind a layer of thick clear plastic. Well, it made me laugh.

Gotta run.

See you in 3 weeks. July 17. I’ll have pictures.

Jun 23
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

I knew that these ideas would overlap at some point. The same patchy idea, with holes in the patches. It makes it slightly harder because there has to be something under the holes, but only one piece, the very first I put down, doesn’t have a hole in it.

We’re leaving tomorrow, but not until afternoon (the plane doesn’t go until 9:30 pm – eeek, an entire day to fret). I may have time for a yoga class and a last postcard. I know what I want to do, and it shouldn’t take too long.

According to TSA I ought to be able to bring my knitting. I think I’ll bring the first Socks that Rock and attempt to finish them. Then I may pack the silk pink/orange yarn that will become another pair of socks.

I’m saddened to realize that I find the Sock of the month club uncomfortable. I signed up hoping for new techniques and fabulous yarn. I have certainly gotten both, but learning the new techniques is not making me happy, or more proficient. Instead I feel like I am on the edge of flunking an important class, and it is making me grumpy. I had a minor epiphany when I realized I could make the heel and toe the way I knew I liked them. It goes against the idea I had to make the patterns as written, to better learn other ways of doing things. But, and it is a Big But, I knit for pleasure. I’m not trying to extend myself here, I have my hands full extending myself with the fabric postcards.

I might let the socks marinate until I feel the need to learn more or fancier knitting techniques. That would leave me free to knit on things that relax me. It won’t go bad. Although I do have to worry about moths and mice.

We’ll see.

Jun 22
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

Those of you familiar with spiders in literature will understand the effort required to keep from writing "Some Pig" in the web. Not only is the web in a hole, there are holes in the web too.

Yup, it is in a hole cut in the postcard. The miracle of wash away stabilizers for machine embroidery means many concepts such as this become completely possible.

Nope, this is one that definitely is not allowed through the mails alone – dudes – there’s a big ‘ol hole where the address part goes.

Jun 21
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

Are they still holes if  they are covered? These are sandwiched between the batik covered postcard back and the chiffon overlay. I tried calling it done without stitching, but it needed thread to make the holes pop.

I realized a couple weeks ago that not all these postcards could, in fact, go through the mail without some covering. I loved the fringe along the edges, putting this one firmly in the envelope camp. Some require envelopes, some truly lumpy ones require padded envelopes.

The pre-trip scrimmage continues apace. We have hamster care, extra keys to hand out, a ride to the airport and several eyes on the house. We’re still missing some lawn mowing, and a rental car. Sometime on Saturday my head will pop right off.

My loyal readers do please remember that I will be on vacation, as will the postcards, until I get back in mid-July. All 5 of you!

Jun 20
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

I hammered a series of 1/2" holes, then sets of 1/4" holes in between, and threaded a strip of white torn silk through all the holes. It wouldn’t lie flat, and wouldn’t get graceful so I cut the bends, and used the strips to gather the purple fabric into an interesting ruched look.

Today was the last day of school (whoo hoo!!) and I am going to bed now.

In New York, almost all the stations have gorgeous tile mosaics. Gorgeous. Colors, care – just amazing, and in Amost Every Station. And it is only 2 bucks to ride it. The subway may be the part that stays with me longest… all those mosaics.

Jun 19
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

I was staring at the pattern on the towels in the apartment we were using in NY, and realized there was a really appealing pattern of squares that would work well cut out. So I tried it.

Red Kate came with me to school this afternoon, and we made 4" shibori squares with the kids. I was so entranced with the idea, from Shibori Girl, that I sacrificed a yard of silk (and Kate donated another 1.5 yards) and made dozens of squares. The kids were amazing.

We used food grade dyes – easter egg dye, food coloring, and kool aid – so it wouldn’t matter when they got it on themselves. I brought pennies and big aluminum fake coins, big and little document clips and string. We demonstrated several different resists, using the document clips to hold the pennies in place, or tying the fabric over the coins, or making caterpillars, as well as simple folding and dipping. Then the kids went to town. I’m sorry I have no photos, but I was up to my elbows in kids and dye.

They produced all kinds of different patterns and effects, and insisted on showing Mrs Battey, and Red Kate AND me each thing they accomplished. A lot of it was quite impressive. Of course, there’s always one (or two) kids who just dip 27 pieces in the black, but most did pretty interesting stuff. Mrs Battey had fun too. I could see Red Kate having 3rd grade envy as she watched these kids experimenting.

Jun 18
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

I like the way the holes look after I’ve banged out a bunch (6, 8, 12) of (leaves, flowers) with the punches. I stitched the pieces together so they’d stay that way, and then stitched (some of) the punch-outs together to go with.

Jun 17
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

Cathy and I went into a lot pf places, and many of them had cool badges and tickets. When I looked over them all, it made a story, so I attached them to a postcard and here is a weekend retrospective.

home again, home again –

The Big City was wonderful. We had lots of fun seeing other people’s knitting, lace, fashion (FIT and at the Poiret at the MET) and art. We also managed to accomplish a lot of Assyrians with wings, a fair amount of Ancient Egyptian architecture, beat the NYC subway system into submission, and take in a show. A completely satisfactory visit.

Except – no postcards. I may be able to accomplish a weekend retrospective. I’ll resume regular postcards tomorrow.