WandaWorks

Changes

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:30:53 PST

I've noticed a trend lately of a downward slide in readership and response to blogging. This has been noted in the news as well. I know in the small field of rug hooking there seem to be hundreds of them to read and our readership base is not that large.

I'd rather you were sitting at your frame or dyeing in your pots than spending time checking to see what drivel I've scribbled for you.

I'm going to start posting once a week. That's all. The post will be a bit longer.
I'll cover three topics.
Rugging and Spinning- what's up on the Welcome Mat, what I'm making, what others are making, hints or tips, class announcements.

Dyeing Wool- did you know I'm writing a weekly dye column on the Mat now, several recipes every week, sometimes I'll post one here or a video or show you what I dyed

Homefront and Inspiration - that'll include important updates about me and Paula Deen, my boyfriend, cooking, cats and what I'm making, what inspires me and such.
The one exception to this is my Make Something Everyday tradition in December. I'll post every day then.

Meanwhile you can see me daily do things like the exciting" let's look at this", give you different ways to look at and do what you love, editorialize, ask questions and answer yours, teach, give you patterns, challenges and show you incredible artists right here:

Visit The Welcome Mat

You see my boards if what interests me interests you here:

I'm tweeting some faith formulas each week right here ( you got to have faith in me because there are no pictures)

Follow @wandakerr

And of course there is always the ubiquitous facebook, I'd love to be your friend there or anywhere really and you will get notices of my tweets and blog post. I rarely post anything else there and NEVER playWords with Friends or Bubble Witch Saga. You will be safe from even more drivel.

Speaking of drivel, here is one last shot for you, just to let you down easy.
One the Mat I asked people to send in what they believed, in the style of the radio show , This I Believe, last week end and really it was something what people wrote. Not at liberty to quote these amazing beings you will have to be satisfied to read what I said.

I believe that over time our beliefs change as we come of age. The things we thought important in the morning of our lives lose importance as afternoon speeds along. I once thought it crucial to have concrete ways of identifying myself as I had no driver's license nor credit card and could not prove I was me! I believe that was true in a metaphorical way as well at that time and that's why it was so important, and of course more practically for writing checks.

I've found no better learning ground than rug hooking to incinerate the dross of my personality. I know me much better now. I know what I stand for and where I'm going and what I won't fall for. I know I want to keep on my path of self portraits, still proving I'm me apparently! I like to look at what others think they see when they look at me, both through the camera lens and via the finished product.

I know before I leave here there are things I want you to know and I believe I'll continue on finding out new things to tell you as I relentlessly explore myself.

I also believe the most important thing we can do is sit down and hook and express ourselves, no matter the idea behind it, the materials used, the skill depicted, our hopes for it, the end result or the opinions about it expressed by others, even experts. There is no greater gift to give yourself than this sacred time to be completely yourself. Surround yourself with others who wish for the same for you and themselves.

See you on Saturday with the first new style blog, oh and you will see I've reformatted my blogs appearance too. Use the menu to serve it up as you want to see it. Enjoy.

POST SCRIPT
If you can't bear for this change to happen, say so, vote with your words, comment if you're reading and want to continue in the style you are accustomed to.

I'm all for enjoyment aren't you?

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:56:51 PST

In High Sew

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:08:35 PST

I'm deep in Sewville and I'm loving every minute.
I'm sitting here WARM as toast in pants that FIT me everywhere.
I used to be a clothing designer years ago and I just got tired of not having what I needed to sew great things so I quit. WTF???? - I have my mood ways.
Fast forward 12 years:
Now I can dye and have developed many other tricks I can apply and with my new babylacs or cadilocks if you will, and a daily devotion to Emmaonesock .... I'm in dream land.
Today I made this up-cycled, reclaimed, greener than green red sweater and BTW I know it looks like something that rhymes with Mulva and her friend Delores. Man had his say so already!!

Let's face facts:
I like it and it looks good. I love the way the cashmere cuffs and collar HUG me. I took two things I wouldn't wear and turned them into something so me!
That's all that matters.
I used a very simple wool high v necked sweater and a cashmere turtleneck for fodder. I cut the crap out of both, neither was one felted. No serging - too much like everyone else. I just simply stitched a holding line along edges. Invisible. Light looking. Right looking for me.
The Jagina Monologue continues.

Man Made/ Boyfriend's back

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:18:16 PST

Man Made? I should say hand made for Man's hands.

Handspun for hands. I added crocheted demi thumbs.

I do not know how to crochet.

Oh hai! Why you taken a picture of dat?

Really, I'm shy, don't look at me, please.

Hah I fooled you. I knows I's very pretty by blue against cream.

I has siamese colour sense, very vogue.

Some people are getting too old to have cold hands, Man let the goodness of pure wool heal your aches.

The bextest (isn't that the bextest word?) part of this yarn for me... I plied it with a sweater sleeve I deconstructed to knit an edging for same sweater which will now be a vest for The Man.

Speaking of men, do you know what my boy friend said yesterday?

You'll want to look out for that...

More Black Please

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:42:37 PST

Adding more black to my stripes made me satisfied.

Jagina Jornalogues

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:42:22 PST

My Day by Day project laying where it will live. This was taken yesterday and since then I added some shapes and took out some thicker white stripes to add more thicker black. Johnny Cash has taken over my mind....
The thing is I could have gone quieter than the floor rug for this or banged you on the head when you stepped into the door. Thought I might as well prepare you for the rest of the scene! Head banging it is!

Jagina? you say?
Thank you Man and Jean for such a great name for my journal this January.

Spot Dyeing in RHM a video demo

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:57:30 PST

tweetly-tweetly tweet tweetly-tweetly tweet

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:32:07 PST

If you want to you can follow me on Twitter where I'll posting a recipe for dyeing every week

No photos- just directions, I'm calling them "faith formulas"

Look for @wandakerr

Felt and Rug

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:19:54 PST

Talia came and we wet felted and dry felted to make her this garland to hang on her door. I know you want one Matt.

Cool eh?

Day by Day Rug is coming along very nicely.

It is so totally an early jammies and couch cuddling night. I'm going to indulge right now!

See you later!

Day by Day- building a rug

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:32:07 PST

The daily practise of hooking is one of the way's I can hunker down and survive dark January. I learned to hook in January 1997 and it has SAVED my life ever since.

Here is the Day by Day January Journal progress:

I'm about to bust out some background!

January Journal Project - Day by day

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:10:02 PST

Here is the concept, much changed from its inception. And the start after a false one.
(This sounds like a a copy of God's diary as he created man, then revised and perfected, made woman.)

Learn to Dry Felt

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:38:01 PST

Once a month on The Welcome Mat we get a free pattern to have our way with.

This time we are going to step outside our boundaries a tiny bit.

In two weeks I'll be posting a video class on the Mat on how to dry felt or as it is sometimes called, needle felt. We will make a 3-D snowman/woman and while doing this you will develop all the skills you need to create any dry felted object.

You will need tools though, hence the two week wait.

You will need natural roving, don't get top, if you want a white snowman/woman. I encourage colour expression here so explore the possibilities with what you have on hand if you wish.

You will need orange roving or yarn or even wool felt or fabric for the nose and some black roving or yarn or fabric for coal.

You will need dry felting needles #38 stars or triangles get 6 in case they break. If you want a holder for the needles a pencil shaped one works best.

You will need a foam pad, pretty thick, at least 3 or 4 inches or a dry felting brush if you wish, I always use a foam pad.

To find these tools in Canada, you can go to Gemini Fibers and materials too.

In US you can go to Joggles for tools and Joggles for materials

In Britain you can go to Texere

Or your local fibre shop may well be able to satisfy you.

The rest of the things you will have close to hand, a pin, a darning needle, old fine knit felted sweater to cut up, very small branch ended twigs.

I hope you will join us in this fun endeavour. Dry felting is great to combine with rug hooking, it's all woolly!

You can see the two Wandaworks studio classes on video here and here to see what needle felting is like and what you will make.

Are you wondering why I'm telling you about this when you are not a Mat member?

I suggest you sign up for a free month, join the class, learn something new and see the wonderful changes that have taken place there since you were last visiting or a member.

There are more and more value added initiatives each month.

And as a bonus you can join in to our January Challenge during your month trial period- Day by Day, a geometric journal.

Let's chase the winter doldrums before they even get close!

Make Something Everyday #31 Conclusion

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:58:58 PST

Inspired by a Globe and Mail review I tried o make Turkish pizza or pide as it is known.

I had a few things to overcome, it needed to be gluten free and I'm still earning to mix my own "flours".

And I lack authentic ingredients.

It looks kinda pretty doesn't it, even this shape brings new joy to eating the pizza.

Inside:

roasted chicken

sweet onions

fire roasted red peppers

kalamatas

green pepper

feta

I would have thrown on some oregano if I had been thinking.

I served it with a greens including mint and cilantro and tomatoes and blood orange balsamic vinegar soaked sweet onions. On the side we had garlicky tzatziki and hot sauce.

I think sme one was having a prank though because as i shook the hot sauce jar the lid flew off and I pretty much got that #### on everything.

Truly a hot mess!

We also ate cucumber and red grapes along with the other things.

Good!

Later on after some restlessness and roaming around I sat down with my sketchbook and got scribbled ideas for my Day by Day Rug by trying out the three shapes I choose on a few backgrounds. We are to use these three shapes each day. The sky is the limit... as I typed this I realized one could use shape for sky parts another for land and the third shapes for foliage.

I also drew up 10 or 12 designs for clothes because I'm back to designing and sewing, but only for myself at this point.

As a special treat I spun up a batt I ordered from JazzTurtle!

Esther, thank you! I gotta love a girl who sends chocolate and a bonus batt!

It really turned out well and softened up my hands beautifully.

Tomorrow I'll ply it with something wonderful and thin.

This post concludes make a thing a day but I'm toying with the idea of doing this for year! I'm mad I tell you stark raving.

Oh I've also begun a weekly practice of tweeting dyeing recipes.

Why not follow me so you can get the recipes on the fly?

My name is wandakerr there.

Why life is worth enjoying!

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:08:20 PST

Make Something Everyday # 30

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:34:52 PST

Gotta make two was my motto today. I'm so revved up and excited about how well the way the new subscription service works for the Mat. I know it will free up scads of time I can apply to creativity.

With my excess energy I decided to make corn tortillas from scratch.

I did not have a press but used my most handy tool. My body.

And two cutting boards. I stepped on them. I'm for hire.

I was surprised how well they turned out because after dry frying them they were dopplegangers for cardboard.

A little rest with a dampened towel as directed and as you can see they folded up like an origami masterpiece. And best of all, they were delicious.

Last night we watched The Beaver. I finished the sleeves, they should be called a hug because that's how it feels to wear them. I want to add a cuff so tonight I'm picking up the cuff stitches and knitting in the round.

On the Mat January is our Geometric month. We are celebrating with our Day by Day journal challenge.

You can now join the Mat for one month if you wish for only $5. It would be great to have you join us in our challenge. We have so much fun and wonderful encouragement when we do these. Our criteria is very expansive but interesting as well, no hooking necessary, only creating in any medium.

Our free pattern and lesson coming up is dry felting a snowman. It is so much fun to see the personalities coming out of these wooly creations.

Here's to creativity of all sorts, go out and get yourself some!

Make Something New Everyday! #29 pillow

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:20:14 PST

Today I mastered my Imagine serger ( YIPEE!) and made this pillow. I love pillows shaped like this! They fit me just right! And I also really like seeing all the fabrics together, it's for the spare room ensemble but it looks and feels good on the couch too.

This pillow is highly overstuffed and there is nothing better than that is there?

I think because I've got myself all done with my making and I'm ready for big changes on the Mat tomorrow... oh did you know we will be off line for part of the day? Don't fret I'll send you a note letting you know when we are all set to sign in again....

I think this seems like a good night for a walk to the movie store... I wonder what we'll watch? Well truthfully I might not "watch" much because I'll be spinning but I'll be listening!

On note about watching my serger came with a video which I watched while I sewed and now I'm convinced this machine will do everything, including walking the dog and making dinner!

I can't wait to have it entirely under my control.

I just had a thought pillow is a really stupid word... where did it come from?

Here is what wiki says about pillows generally

I believe I might be on my way to assuming the shape of a pillow that has the hair of Paula Deen..... how are you doing? Press the speaker icon and hear how dumb it sounds, do it about 4 times...

pil·low (pl)

1. A cloth case, stuffed with something soft, such as down, feathers, or foam rubber, used to cushion the head, especially during sleep.

2. A decorative cushion.

3. The pad on which bobbin lace is made.

v. pil·lowed, pil·low·ing, pil·lows

v.tr.

1. To rest (one's head) on or as if on a pillow.

2. To serve as a pillow for: Grass pillowed my head.

v.intr.

1. To rest on or as if on a pillow.

2. To assume the shape of a pillow.

[Middle English, from Old English pyle, from West Germanic *pulw, from Latin pulvnus.]

pillow·y adj.

Now that explains it!

Make Something Everyday #28

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:10:26 PST

Just in the nick of time!

I've finally caught up with myself. Posting on the day I make!

Tonight I made this with my Serenade.

And then I tried out my Imagine serger for the first time, OY.

I had some thinking to do.

The serger requires no tension dials, nor threading of loopers or even threading the needles either in the conventional sense.

I feel like I've gone from a Model T to the Starship Enterprise!

Sad little example isn't it?

I console myself with the fact that I'll have plenty of labels for my clothes where I'm going to spend the rest of my twilight years.

Here you can see my nuno felted scarf getting fancied up, a little Serenade, a little Embellisher (what a relief it was to operate this old friend!)... these 2 new Babylock things make me feel like whining a little and sucking my thumb. Time to go to bed and stop trying to figure out new inventions.

Make Something Everyday #26 and 27

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:36:13 PST

Whew holidays and company sure throw a spanner into "make something everyday". I do make but can't always post.

On the 26th I kitted out this dry felted snowman as a cowboy.

In January on The Welcome Mat we will be making dry felted snowman, it is our part of our monthly pattern and plus a bonus comprehensive , start to finish construction video lesson!

We will also be starting our January Journals, this year titled Day by Day. if you are not a member it is a great month to join, not to mention our yearly free class coming in February.

And the 27th I continued to knit on my gift for Erin, a set of Sleeves... so you can read at night in bed and not freeze your shoulders and arms off.

Wood heating women of the world unite!

Make Something Everyday # 24 & 25

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:18:47 PST

I spent the day making tons of food and serving it all to my family. So nothing was really made to be shown here. But I was the master of ceremonies at an archery contest

There is a movie I made of this but it is being released on HBO in February.

Owen won the contest. Improving the gene pool in every way! We welcome that.

Today I made a rocket out of a pop bottle and a half and some sand, cardboard and duct tape.

We all did!

I loaded it on a rocket launcher

I pumped

And finally I pumped enough.

I raised my foot and stomped the release

Lift off and a shower all at once!

Landing spot? Wokingham!

That's some stomp!

Make Something Everyday #23 Stove porn alert

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:52:49 PST

Today I made the parts of a Scottish Breakfast my family loves on a special occasion. We will be have a nice Christmas breakfast tomorrow. They would love it daily but I'm no fool and because I don't live near a Scottish Bakery so I have to make the parts myself.

On show here are the potato scones. They are not really scones but that's what they are called. All you do is add about 1 and a 1/2 cups of flour to two pounds of boiled and mashed potatoes.

Traditionally they are triangular in shape and dry fried, no fat. But I like to make patties and fry them in butter one side.

The other thing I made tonight for this feast was square sausages, not sausages at all but made of mince or hamburger as we call it. With coriander and nutmeg, water and bread crumbs added, they are a delightful treat with a really nice flavour. And I don't make them square but also round for expediency.

Going to wrap some gifts now!
I wish you all happiness and joy with your loved ones.

Make Something Everyday! #22

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:02:21 PST

Today Santa Came EARLY!!!
I used my virgin brand new Serenade sewing machine and made triangles that turned into rosettes to decorate my very plain curtain, I'm so in love with grey just now I can't see enough of it!

Make Something Everyday #21

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:04:54 PST

I made a dress up skirt for my little table. It has the tree on it and it looked pitiful!

I had the bullioned overskirt so I just made the flowing on the floor under garment. I think they might call me to work in Stratford in the costume dept. any second.

It especially looks ridiculous because my tree and my house just don't suit the fancy but you know what? I'm gonna glam it up!

If you look carefully to the left top corner you can see Rabbit and he is wearing his Christmas turban.

Although it is rude to lift up someone's skirt I had to show you how Birdee has taken up residence under the table. She is giving me quite a look, she thought no one knew.

OH OH #2

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:14:14 PST

As I was dyeing last week I had a mishap, the first of its kind.

Lovely turquoise dye all strewn abou the floor.

That's what I/64 tsp looks like when it gets tapped into the measuring cup but jumps like a pole vaulter right over the edge of the cup to land some distance away on the floor.

I'd like to tell you the safest and most effect way to clean this up.

First vacuum the area about a foot around the area, working your way toward the epicenter.

Suck it up last.

You will be left with a smear of dye that is still dry.

Get several damp cloths, I use paper towels.

Again work from about two feet out and go towards the center, change your cloth frequently.

You will be shocked out far out dye particles are and can't be seen.

Do one last wiping.

Don't try to recover the dye.

It isn't worth it.

Even if it is part of a jar, it is just too easy to aspirate.

Making Something Everyday #20

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:04:41 PST

Today it's a little secret that looks like this:

I got lots done with the help of the TV, I somewhat ashamed to admit.

It is very very soft Suri.

Lovely and warm and alpaca... and yes Mary had a few problems like laying right on the ball and gathering up the rest of the yarn to tuck under her chest.

No harm was done to the knitting.

Mary is in contact with her sponsor.

Make Something Everyday #19

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:11:27 PST

Today it was spinning day!

I was feeling way to scattered to start winding something up so I settled for embellishing my pre-felts for my nuno scarf. I'll be adding them to the bottom edges in random patterns.

I was gilding the lilies.

Going way over the top, but I love it!

I can't wait to get it done and start wearing it.