rockpool candy

USA tour - month one - part two

So from tree looms attacked by squirrels and natural leaf doilies on frosty mornings to our favourite place in the world. The Adirondecks.

 

And then pumpkin carving with our buddies before flying to Portland.

 

The population of Portland prides itself on keeping it weird. A tradition that they seem to have perfected. Way too weird for me - and I never thought I'd say that. But if it means we can eat Voodoo doll doughnuts and laugh ourselves stupid over mimosa cocktails with our buddies at breakfast, then it was fun.

And then of course. We (hopefully) broke the world record for the biggest crochet hook.

 

We made a basic web out of yarn we'd spun from wool. We went for texture and lumps and bumps, navajo plying it badly for extra texture. (There's me and Jimbo)

 

Then we used the hook. (That's Laurie of the CLF.)

And crocheted the outer part of the web.

 

Yes I am gurning as I strain to lift that darn thing. That's a genuine sweat being broken. But we did it!

Next  - the Coast Starlight train to Oakland.

Before surrendering to the beauty of Yosemite.

 

Marvelling at Lake Tenaya.

 

And crocheting and knitting my fugly sock on lake Tahoe. 

More in a few days.....

USA tour - month one

So what has the first month held?

We began in Chicago. Cold, cold, cold Chicago.

Were we hung with our super-talented friend Ann and her gorgeous partner Henry.

Ann is like one of the Bagpuss mouse organ mice - (no I don't mean she's small with a twitchy nose)- I mean that she finds the tiniest of unloved artifacts, adds a wee bit of her magic and "Ta Da!" creates pieces that make your hear swell. She's especially good at tiny books.

And they have a VERY photogenic dog, Hammond. He looks like a renaissance painting on their couch.

So from Chicagee we drove: for three days.

Across country. As the trees turned.

To North Tonawanda. Where we met one of the most interesting blokes you could wish to meet.

He works the last wurlitzer music roll punch machine in the world. And that's what he does, makes new music rolls for carousel wurlitzer organs.

I collected little punch holes from both the machine and a nearby block to use in my paper making residency at the end of November.

So then on to Niagara Falls - it had to be done.

Ok, so here's one of the water. 

I'm beginning to realise that I don't take pics of all the stuff other folks do. I like machines, paper, wood textures and leaves. They excite my brain way more than a picture of me in front of a scene. I can see me in the mirror anytime. But a shiny metal optical viewer! Ooooooooooooo!

And so to St Lawrence. Canton.

Where we worked with the students to create natural graffiti.

 

 

 

And installed tiny pieces of crochet in natural environments.

 

And built a neolithic-principle loom.

with squash weights.

And wove successfully.

we even printed using crochet. 

I'll post more in a few days. As I'm going out of range of wifi again.

S'later

Mountains and lakes, oh my!

Last week I was lucky enough to have a whittling lesson with Jimbo www.jimbosfrontporch.com
What a gift! I've already spent many a happy hour on the shores of Lake Tahoe, sun on my face, snow on the mountains around me, knife in my hand, creating my own hooks. This one is a piece of lake driftwood and termites have carved it's surface in patterns reminiscent of the wood carving on Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay (google it!) just across the lake from where I carved this.
There's talk of jimbo giving official crochet hook whittling classes. As soon as he does, I urge you to sign up pronto. For his company as much as his teaching. You'll not regret it.