Show-n-Tell, Ceramics and Needlepoint

Working with my hands is my meditation.

I purchased this floral and geometrics needlepoint canvas at Wool & Grace and decided to switch the original colors from pinks and oranges to blues, yellows, green and grey. I finally had it made into a pillow and really like how bright and cheerful it is.

When it comes to Ceramics, it seems I work in sets. Maybe that’s my way of improving upon a technique or maybe it’s because I get into a creative zone and keep going. The past year, I spent a lot of time hand-building different size jewelry/catchall dishes: some made free-form and some using GR Pottery Forms. I re-visited pressing real leaves into clay, but when I used a dark stain called iron oxide to define stems and veins, it bled and smeared. More practice needed.

Carving into clay that’s been brushed with slip is a technique called Sgraffito. Slip is thin colored clay that’s painted on a piece before it’s put into the kiln to be bisque fired. The slip and clay are set aside to dry. “Once the piece is firm enough and the surface is not tacky, a design or pattern can be carved through the slip and into the clay body beneath. Once the design is pulled away by incising, there is a beautiful contrast between the slip and the clay. This contrast is stronger after firing and glazing.” (source: Cindy Couling)

A new semester of Ceramics classes started and I’m trying to get back to the pottery wheel.

Hon, you know what I’m meditating on when I work with my hands? Stories, characters, plots, and words. My mind doesn’t rest!

I pressed real leaves into the clay and tried defining stems and veins with iron oxide.

I used a technique called Sgraffito, which is carving into clay that’s been brushed with slip.

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Show and Tell, Needlepoint Pillows

Hon, you know what feels great? Completing a project. Make that two projects!

The cupcake canvas flew from New Jersey to Florence and back. I bought it for my daughter when she was studying abroad and, though she finished the cupcake, she ran out of steam to fill in the background. The unfinished needlepoint sat and sat and sat, along with my partly-done dandelion canvas, until I decided it was time to finish both. It was off to Wool & Grace to decide on pillow background colors. I love how they came out!

Now it’s time to finish a market bag, an infinity scarf, a sweater, a handmade paper collage…

Related Post: Unfinished Business

Easy Two Stitch Infinity Scarf

70 yards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Stitch Infinity Scarf

Sew Handy

I learned how to needlepoint and embroider in Girl Scouts when Girl Scout badges were earned by practicing “traditional girl activities.”  My mom taught me how to use a sewing machine and, in fifth grade, I learned how to knit. I’m not sorry about learning Victorian-age  skills, though, because they provide instant stress relief and a sense of accomplishment. Knitting, especially, has taught me…

It’s okay to make mistakes.

Miss a stitch? Rip out rows. Yarn’s knotted up? Untangle it. Don’t care for a pattern? Try a different one. Sometimes, I re-start a project several times and–guess what–I don’t yell non G-rated words (click here if you want to know when I do yell non G-rated words.)

Easy Two-Stitch Infinity Scarf Directions

1. Using a size 10 1/2 inch circular needle, cast on 60 stitches. Place a stitch counter to mark the end of the round. Gauge doesn’t matter.
2. K2 P2 for 4 rows.
3. Knit in the round until yarn is almost finished, but leaving enough to rib until the end.
4. K2 P2 for 4 rows.
5. Bind off loosely, Weave in loose ends.

Finished scarf–mine measures 9 inches wide.

Show -n- Tell (more projects)

I recently finished needlepoints for my niece and nephew. Here they are made into pillows.