A heck of a deck

 I apologize for the lack of a before image but it should be known that we began the impromptu project based on the lack of stability of the previous deck.  It came down slowly because we found some less than Bob Villa approved methods for propping parts of the deck up.  The car port is now a structure beside the deck, not something that the deck leans on.  Likewise, the deck is now bolted to the side of the house instead of leaning on it.

 Along the way of cutting, we discovered a couple of chipmunks living in the woodpile.  These guys seemed pretty confident about running back and forth from our new pile of wood to the pile that was the previous deck.  I offered them a couple pieces of banana which allowed for a quick photo.  The bananas were gone the next day.  As well the chipmunks stuck around a couple of days and then seemed to disappear.  Not sure if we scared them away or they are expecting more bananas.  Time will tell.

The project is finishing up nicely; now not just a set of steps but also a very sturdy platform!  AB roughed out the railing and I made a couple of planters out of scraps.  Expect a post once it is truly finished and we are having our first sunset watch!

Because we felt like it

I hope that this will be the beginning of a very beautiful partnership. The item being displayed is one that AB and C have created in collaboration. C's use of knitting and felting (a.k.a.- darn, I put my wool sweater in the dryer)are combined with AB's woodturning skills. He also chose the appropriate pink ivory wood to coordinate appropriately. I am a little slow to post this object on Etsy due to its sentimental value as well as my pure love of many things pink. However, this is a collaboration that I do hope will continue in all colors and sizes. Most importantly it is all hand made. Please enjoy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolwood

Lets see about Etsy

My current task is to get advertising!

Not always an easy task as an artist who really just wants to "make" things.
Today I have newly posted some items that I believe are great explorations of materials and have a sense of humor. I believe that dressing everyday provides an opportunity to explore one's self and to investigate the beliefs of others.

The New York Times recently had an article on scientific research that discovered you could improve your ability to focus and learn by wearing a white coat that you associated specifically with a doctor's coat. If you believed it was a painters coat, you didn't improve as much as if you firmly believed the coat was a doctor's. Your chance for gained focus only increased if you actually wore the coat.

All very impressive signs that what you choose to wear can matter and if you pay attention you never know what you will discover.

Enjoy!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolwood

Wearable Woolen Wonders

I am slowly getting acclamated to my new northern home. I can say that my favorite thing so far is the public library system, where I am currently posting and the joys of having free books and movies is awesome. In fact my second day in town I went to the library to get my new card. While most of my life is still in boxes, I have begun to unpack things that are gnawing at me. I have had a box labelled Etsy just waiting patiently for me to get active on. So this post will be the first of those that attempt to discuss the merits of the hand made object. The one featured here is a hand-felted spectator. While it is covered in wool; I expect that it can be worn year round. All the wool has been given a technique related to shibori- in this case, no dye was used, but instead where there were ties, the wool held the shapes. I then hand sewed the felt pieces to a very sturdy headband.

Finished cherry and maple travel mug

I can't wait to drink my coffee and not ruin the nicest gift EVER!

Coffee travel mug

AB's gift to me was to turn a wooden coffee travel mug. In the first image the cut sections of cherry and maple woods are being turned on the lathe using his new wood chuck from Santa. In the second detail photograph the work is getting a final finish with polyurethane, and a light steel wool scrub.

A first sock

About 9 years ago when I first learned to knit, after completing what was a sort of awkward washcloth, I decided on a first project. I journeyed with the two women who taught me to knit to a very nice yarn store and purchased 4 skeins, two in navy and two in fushia. I believed as I carried my new yarn out the door that I was going to make a pair of argyle knee length socks. And so, after a fairly miserable attempt at that, the yarn was turned into a gnome hat and some other wonderful object. Today I can report that I have completed one sock. Soon I hope to report that I can make a pair that resemble each other enough to be worn in public. After knitting one, I believe I understand the structure well enough to begin more complicated stitches and perhaps one day color patterning.