Days 176-177: Now what?

I just couldn't take the sweater project, so I broke my rule on finishing one major project before starting another. I started working on a bulky yarn project (so it will go much faster than the sweater that I am fighting with) and it is all a solid color or rather a varied skein (so I don't have to deal with my worries over color coordination). The issue with this one is that the world is sorely short on great looking fashions for super DUPER bulky yarn, so I am working out an idea of my own which may not end up looking that super. I am going to give it a go anyway. Don't worry! The sweater and I haven't actually broken up for good. I will get back to it for sure! I just needed a break.








Also I have been working of felting flower pieces....here is an array of ideas all struggling to dry out in the humid HUMID WON'T STOP RAINING FOR DAYS AND DAYS weather we have been having.



I pinched the inner pieces with a clip to give them shape while they dry.



I also added some beading and a clip to my flower from felting class. I am now completely DONE with that one!







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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 175: It never even occurred to me....?

It never even occurred to me that yarn color combinations would look so different outside in the sunshine than they do inside. I have just started the second half of my sweater, and I knew I needed a few rows of my original plum color as I was short just a few rows. I bought a fifth skein of the plum color, finished up my first half today, and ended up deciding to add a few rows of the plum into the base and ending rows to make the project work (we were out of the brownish color at the yarn store....DRAT!). I was happy enough with the spontaneous "design element" until I started working in my plum coloring outside at the kids' soccer....hmmmm. Are these really the colors I picked out? Then I second guessed myself, and yet, as I am working on it here at home, it looks just fine....or as I intended. Any thoughts?
I don't really have to commit until it comes time to doe the joining row after the weaving......but that is a lot of knitting to just set aside. I can always return to the yarn store and purchase 5, YES FIVE, skeins of another color for contrast....like a gray or black. I originally picked this brownish color as it went toward the purple a bit, but now, I just am really doubting the combo.



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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 167-169: Wet Felting Fun and Knitting Progress

I took a wet felting class today to make flowers....and VOILA!





What is even better, both kids went with me and had a great time as well! Thanks as always to StevenBe for hosting great classes! I see myself messing around more with this process in the coming weeks.
The teacher mentioned that felt has a memory, so shape it to dry. It struck me as clay also has a memory. Until I came to terms with this fact of physics, I always had warped clay tiles from picking them up before being leather hard. I would have bendy corners. Now I can have bendy flower pieces taking advantage of the same theory.




I think all art has a memory. At least it is the intention of most artists to speak through their art.

I also knit like a fool the last three days and have managed to start my second color for my sweater.





I might be able to finish this project by the end of next week?????




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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 166: Are we there yet?

Just as I am rounding the corner on one part of my pattern, I started thinking about the journey.....and wondering where "there" is, and do we ever really know it when we are there, or is it more after we have been there already and can look back on it with clarity?

I am some twenty-odd days from the halfway point on my 365 day goal, and I am still not sure what it is for. I know I just want to work toward something as I am a very product oriented person. I know I love learning have tried to explore the path or paths as they come. I have lived a slower and more intentional life since January of this year. I have tried to listen more....to those in my family, my friends, myself, my inner self....
I have done some new things to make use of the talents I still have while not stressing about the strengths that have passed and are passing....I am finding other things I did not know were there at all....

Why is it that cats always seem so wise? I would bet that my cat knows why the pattern is written with the sweater in four pieces with seams on the shoulder instead of just continued knitting a solid piece over the shoulder.....but he isn't telling. He knows where it will all end up....hopefully not in a big ball of twine and yarn and unhappy knitting disgrace....but he keeps his thoughts to himself (unless of course he thinks I am late filling his food dish, then he tells me ALL about it) and let's me meander along the path blind and wide open.

Are we there yet?

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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 164-165: Trunk Show with felted treasures, and small everyday pleasures

I attended a trunk show last night hosted by Steven Be at his Minneapolis store with felted imports from Kyrgyzstan. Check out this company with wonderfully detailed hand work in felting....www.aizadaimports.com

I bought a hat with a lovely rose imbedded rather than attached....









I also bought a flower pin with very rough felting....I was drawn to the organic look and semi-crusty feel....




The kids and I visited kitties for a nice morning of simple pleasures....I love baby kitties!!!!!




And finally, the last two days have yielded some knitting progress....not so exciting, but progress....



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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 163: I didn't set out to knit this much.....

I really didn't intend to be knitting this much, but no sooner did I finish one fairly lengthy project....here we go again.

I bought a Nicky Epstein book called ENCHANTING COLLECTION that was based entirely on her use of Aslan Trends Yarn. There isn't one pattern inn there that I don't intend to make, and this one is at the top of my list. I even bought the yarn when I bought the book, and I have a general rule to keep the stash to a minimum by buying yarn only a project at a time. I have spent the last several weeks beating back the free yarn I scored in my swag bag, and now I am officially making projects that call to me in my sleep! If you are a knitter (or a crochet lover), and you haven't become acquainted with Nicky's vast arsenal of great patterns and design work....get thee to a library immediately or computer immediately! Your yarn life will be forever changed.









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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 161-162: FINITO!

I just finished my last stitch on my shawl, and I pray that tomorrow may be a slightly chilly day so that I may sport it comfortably all day.




Last night, I went to hear Carmina Burana performed by the Minnesota Symphony, and was treated by a bonus I didn't know was on the program.....Copland's Appalachian Spring....two of my all time favorite pieces on the same program....and I had never heard either of them in their original form live. I took my daughter, and we met seven former students there. I really enjoyed watching a group of kids that "geeked" out to partake in live orchestra music.....somewhere along the way, I was really blessed to get to see them go through their musical journeys! To top things off, I reconnected with my oboe professor from my college years who still is principal oboe for MN Orchestra. My daughter treated meeting him like she was meeting a super star, and with the beauty of his playing on those two pieces.....I think he is a super star!

Sometimes my music life continues to peak in above the comings and goings of everyday life.

As for knitting, I spent several hours fringing this beauty, and here are the photos to prove it! Shawl, FINITO!!!!









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Jerri Neddermeyer