Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Basket Flashback

I've heard tell that LSD is the gift that keeps giving, unsolicited-trip wise. Of course, that is only what I've heard... It would have to be as all my brain malfunctions have much less illicit sources: microwaves, bad perms, a tour through post-graduate education...

My point?

Oh! yeah... I think attending public school actually gouges its mark deeper into the brain than any silly pharmaceutical ever could - no matter how groovy. (Please, stop mentally referring to me as Grandma - the correct term is "Geezer-tina, the square".)

Anybody remember these?

Photo lifted from http://www.flickr.com/photos/24337417@N07/3551598758/

Seems like a lot of people do, and apparently with some sort of wistful sense of nostalgia. I've seen them appear in magazines and vendor sites being touted as the coolest new/old organizational tool. Even to the extent that there are shiny spanking new reproductions being made to catch the imagination of the retro-chic set that don't want to deal with rust or metal labels. Hey, more power to you all.

Me? I must be the only person in the world that snapped a tendon from the force of the knee jerk upon seeing their return. Wire locker baskets!

It was one little article about how to tame your fabric stash with kitschy fun storage solutions. Never has it been clearer that one person's gentle fond memories of school gym time past can be another person's hard, sharp smack to the back of the head... memories of school gym time past.

The term "un-athletic" couldn't even begin to describe me during those far distant days of grade school. Physical Education class was a special treat. In a time before the term "athletics" PC-ed "PE" from the vernacular, I had gym class. Fifties-era styling in an off-campus remote location. Dank, dark locker rooms. The smell of wet hay that I now know to be the unmistakable aroma of aging sweat and damp concrete floors. I'm pretty sure the locker room wasn't quite the medieval cave I remember, but then again, it was in a part of the country that is still today in the grip of cute and cuddly McCarthyism. Just because no photos exist of a rack or iron maiden doesn't mean they weren't there.

So what is my point anyway?

Nothing really. I just had some post-traumatic behavior to stave off and I find whining to be cathartic.

Still and all, I always kind of liked the metal label system on the baskets. Very ... well, uhm, organized.

Oh well, crazy is as crazy does and the dichotomy of melodramatic tendencies reigns supreme.

Hook on!
C

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Two-Color Swirlies

Wow. That could be the intro to something pretty disgusting. Relax. It's wholesome.



Ok, so maybe it's a little unsettling. ;-)

I believe I've mentioned before that I love Halloween. I may have also mentioned that I greatly enjoy crocheting spirals. But something that may not be known about me is that I like to animate stuffed animals... and now it is caught on film. yikes

I thought I'd post the pattern for the hats just in case anyone else might like to play dress up with someone small and accommodating.

Enjoy


Two-Color Swirly Cap
CA Lira 2009

*Also available with chart at Ravelry*



Yarn: Sugar n Cream - hot orange, black,1 ball each (completes both hats)
Hook: size G/6, 4.25 mm
Gauge: 16dc = 4” = 7 rows
Notions: 2 stitch markers of different colors or styles
Abbreviations: chain (ch), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc), stitch (st), back loop only (blo)


Adult

Circumference: 21” - but stretchy
Height (crown to base): 8” - fits to just above eyebrows

Worked in back loop only unless otherwise specified
Worked in continuous rounds without joining
Either color can go first – just stay consistent

1) With A, ch 2, work sc, hdc, dc into 2nd chain from hook, place “A-marker” into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

2) With B, in same ch as step 1, work sc, hdc, dc, place “B-marker” into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

3) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 2 dc in back loop only (blo) of next 2 stitches (of color B), pull long loop, remove hook

4) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 2 dc in blo of next 6 stitches (of color A), move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

5) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 2 dc in blo of next 10 stitches (of color B), move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

6) Repeat step 4

7) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc in next st, 2 dc in following st (of color B)} 12 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

8) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc in next st, 2 dc in following st (of color A)} 12 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

9) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st (of color B) 18 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

10) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st (of color B)} 18 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

11) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 3 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 24 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

12) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 3 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 24 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

13) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 4 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 30 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

14) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 4 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 30 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

15) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 36 sts, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

16) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 36 sts, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

17) Repeat step 15

18) Repeat step 16

19) Repeat step 15

20) Repeat step 16

21) Repeat step 15

22) Repeat step 16

23) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off

24) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off, weave in all loose ends




Child

Circumference: 19” - but stretchy
Height (of sides): 5 ½” – fits to just above eyebrows

Worked in back loop only unless otherwise specified
Worked in continuous rounds
Either color can go first – just stay consistent
Work same as adult size up to and including step 12

13) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 30 sts, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

14) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 30 sts, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

15) Repeat step 13

16) Repeat step 14

17) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off

18) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off, weave in all loose ends

19) Repeat step 15

20) Repeat step 16

21) Repeat step 15

22) Repeat step 16

23) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off

24) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off, weave in all loose ends.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Interconnected Leaves

The International Fiber Collaborative are my kind of fiber folk - they promote fiber art, encourage amateur and professional alike to co-mingle as equals, care about the world and people in general and they "tag" responsibly having gained permission to make the big statements.

Their first project culled volunteers from everywhere to make a fiber cozy for an abandoned gas station. Love that. Totally missed that it was happening but love it all the same.

Their current project is a giant tree exploring human interconnection where the individual leaves are made by... well... individuals. A community of individuals. How great is that?!

The call for volunteers asked for a leaf shape made in some form of fiber and just about any technique as long as it is 5x7" in size. Leaves are always a fun motif to explore and since I am working hard to make my own stubborn statement in this world by only producing crocheted art, my leaf is a lacy, open-work crochet kind of thing.

Here is my leaf for the tree project in green thread featuring stick figure people holding hands as the leaf veins. I blocked the living daylights out of it with undiluted fabric stiffener straight from the bottle.



I even got a little carried away decorating the mailer:




Hmm. Would have looked brighter on a white envelope in a room with sunlight. ;-) Probably should invest in some white mailers since this isn't the first time I've doodled on a package.

Anyway, to see my humble little leaf posted at the website (always a treat for me -maybe less so for other people?) just click on over. I'm seven down in gallery 11.

Do yourself a favor and make sure you check out the other galleries of leaves. Incredible work on display.

The assembly photos are mind-blowing. So many volunteers and craftspeople working so hard together.

Good causes and public messages make me happy. (hum to the tune of John Denver)

Hook on!
C

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Fiber Postcard Book

Many, many moons ago (but not quite a millennium ago) a challenge was presented in the pages of Quilting Arts magazine to make a book of fiber postcards.

Oooooo. You don't know how much fun that sounds to someone who loves to crochet little vignettes. Then again, maybe you do. One shouldn't assume. ;-)

I started on the project and between fits of giggling with glee I started increasing the level of detail in the cards to the point that I managed to zoom past the deadline date without really noticing. After that, enthusiasm waned a tad, but I kept at it - honestly I did.

For a while anyway. :-}

Things came up, hurricanes came down, and finishing the postcard book came across as perpetual back burner material.

Until now!

Dum-da-da-daaa!

"Postcards from Home"



Even went insane and decorated the spine...festively.



Fluorescent orange dingle balls. ahhhh.

I'm not your sugar skull wearing, chalupa-image jewelry creating type gal, but I love that kind of stuff. Especially the chandelier drops. You know, the kinds of things that a self respecting Tex-Mex maiden and modern Latina is told she should be embarrassed to admit she has draped on her festive inner child. My response to that simply has to be, "My head, you get out of it!"

So a mere 3 years later, my fiber postcard book is done.

Now to other pursuits. Maybe some of these postcards will be revisited as prints and/or larger stand alone works. The possibilities. Squeal. A dignified squeal, but a squeal nonetheless.

Answering a challenge is always a good source of inspiration as well as a fantastic chance to grow as an artist. Even if deadlines still elude you (ahem), challenges are no pressure, no risk and always fun.

And that's why a stubborn, stead-fast crochet maven that owns the dustiest sewing machine in creation subscribes to a quilting magazine.

Expand the borders, explode the possibilities!

Hook on!
C

Friday, May 1, 2009

Window Cat Family - revised for humans to follow

I keep forgetting that people just can't read my mind. Thank you to KittyDobson for pointing out the confusion inherent to the instructions for the window cats posted here previously.

Yikes!

Apologies, y'all. It was one of my first attempts at writing things down and I'm still figuring out how to do it smoothly and with some elegance... or at least not littered with editor foibles.

I am always open to questions and editing suggestions. Seriously. Please let me know.

Here's the revised version: (free PDF availabe at my section of the Ravelry store)



Window Cats

C. A. Lira 2008 (rev 2009)

Note: crochet thread size 10
hook size 9 (1.75mm) (1.25mm)  oops - apologies

Wider Window Cat - finished height 1 3/8”
1) ch3, slst into 2nd ch from hook, hdc in 1st ch worked, ch5, slst into 2nd ch
from hook, hdc sc into next ch (3rd ch of ch5) , ch2 t   yet another correction thanx KAT
2) sc in sc of previous row, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in next st, ch2 t
3) skip 1st sc, sc in next 4 sts, sc in turning chain of previous row, ch2 t
4) scdec (include 1st sc), sc in next 2sts , scdec (include turning ch of
previous row), ch2 t
5) sk 1st st, (scdec) twice (include turning chain in 2nd dec), ch2 t
6) sc in each of 1st 2sts (including 1st sc), 2sc in next st, ch2 t
7) sc in each of 1st 3sts (including 1st sc) , 2sc in next st, ch2 t
8) sc in 1st 5sts (including 1st sc), 2sc in turning ch, ch2 t
9) sc in 1st 7sts (including 1st sc), 2sc in turning ch, ch2 t
10) sc in 1st 8sts (including 1st sc), 2sc in turning ch, ch2 t
11) sk 1st sc, sc in next 8sts, ch2 t
12) scdec (include turning ch), sc in each of next 5sts, scdec, sk turning ch of
prev row, ch2 t
13) sk turning ch, scdec, sc in each of next 3sts, scdec (include turning ch),
do not turn
14) ch12, hdc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, 2sc in next ch, sc in each of
next 7 chs, going up toward head sk last 2 Rows of body, slst to next st
on side of body, end off

Rounded Window Cat - finished height 1 ¼”
1) ch3, slst into 2nd ch from hook, hdc in 1st ch worked, ch5, slst into 2nd ch
from hook, hdc into next ch (3rd ch of ch5), ch2 t
2) sc in sc of previous row, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in next st, ch2 t
3) skip 1st sc, sc in next 4 sts, sc in turning chain of previous row, ch2 t
4) scdec (include 1st sc), sc in next 2sts , scdec (include turning ch of
previous row), ch2 t
5) sk 1st st, (scdec) twice (include turning chain in 2nd dec), ch2 t
6) sc in each of 1st 2sts (including 1st sc), 2sc in next st, ch2 t
7) sc in each of 1st 3sts (including 1st sc) , 2sc in next st, ch2 t
8) sc in 1st 5sts (including 1st sc), 2sc in turning ch, ch2
9) sc in 1st 7sts (including 1st sc), 2sc in turning ch, ch2 t
10) sc in 1st 8sts, 2sc in turning ch, ch2 t
11) sk 1st sc, scdec, sc ineach of next 5sts, scdec, sk turning ch of prev row,
ch2 t
12) sk 1st sc, scdec, sc in each of next 3sts, scdec (include turning ch), ch2 t
13) sk 1st sc, scdec, sc in next st, scdec (including turning ch), do not turn
14) ch12, hdc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, 2sc in next ch, sc in each of
next 7chs, working up toward head sk last 2 Rows of body, slst to side of
next Row on body, end off

Window Kitten Kitty - finished height 1 ½”
1) ch3, slst in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch (first ch worked), ch5, slst in
2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch (3rd ch of ch5), ch2 t
2) sc in 1st sc of previous row, sc in each of next 2sts, 2sc in next st, ch2 t
3) sk 1st sc, sc in each of next 5sts, ch2 t
4) sk turning ch of previous row, scdec, sc in each of next 2sts, scdec
(include turning ch of previous row), ch2 t
5) sk1st sc, (scdec) twice (include turning ch in 2nd dec), ch2 t
6) sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in turning ch, ch2 t
7) sc in 1st 3 sts, 2sc in next st, sk turning ch, ch2 t
8) sk turning ch, sc in each of next 6sts (include turning ch), ch2 t
9) sk 1st st, sc in each of next 6 sts, do not turn
10) ch12, sk 1st ch, 2sc in each of next 3chs, sc in each of next 7chs, slst to
body at end of Row 9, end off



Enjoy
Cecinatrix

Friday, April 24, 2009

Tying knots and the burger as art.

I can't believe that this is the way my brain works.

My cousin owns and operates this fantastic burger joint. The Litty Bitty Burger Barn. Check it out if you're in Houston - really. This isn't just a case of familia shilling for the blood. Place has crazy mad good reviews from all media.

Anyway, commercial aside, this past Christmas I was inserting the little crochet motif/ ornament that I put in my outgoing X-mas cards and when I got to the one earmarked for them (not him and the burgers - him and his partner) I realized that they must have a logo that I could play with. Always on the edge of being bored = always looking for a new challenge. I checked the site and stole acquired a copy of the logo.



Hell. Easy peasy. So I thought.

It was already too late to finish one for Christmas (yeah yeah yeah last minute as usual - do you mind? - I'm telling a story here!) but maybe New Year's Day?

Well turns out crocheting decent looking siding with a star-accommodating hole in the middle of it takes me forever. Got it done though and in time for Jan 1st thank you very much (yes,of this year!)


Of course, I probably should neglect to mention that I only just sent it to them right before Easter but who am I trying to impress by hiding my flaws?

Anyway again, I like the way it turned out, modest woman that I am, and didn't even notice it was crooked until I looked at the picture just now. Got so tired of trying to make the cursive slipstitch embroidery legible that I put the thing in an envelope as soon as it was finished all those months ago and never looked at it again. That is until Easter snuck up on me and a surprise Auntie visit reminded me.

Still constantly lingering on the edge of the abyss that is boredom and still desiring a challenge-ette or two, I thought maybe I'd try making a 3D one. Just the idea of stuffing a little burger into a little barn makes my problem solving mental machinery start to grind its way back to life.

No. Haven't done it yet. It's on my list of fiction fantasy projects that someday I will do dagnabit! But it started me thinking about the burger as sculptural fiber art.

Ed Bing Lee is a fiber artist that uses a modified macrame technique to make the most amazing art. His super-sized burger was the piece that introduced me to his work and style:


From edbinglee.com, ahem, unofficially.

Fantastic ain't it? The topic, the mastery of technique, the colors - love it all. After enjoying its aesthetic and the warm creative place it has landed in my heart I noticed that this burger is art with the capital letters in the curly font. Craft art, fiber art depending on which of the seminal industry magazines you peruse, but art nonetheless.

Yet if you spend any time on line looking up crocheted items, you see the ubiquitous crocheted-burger-as-toy. Not art, but crafty toy. That's craft - with the small be-thou-ashamed-to-say-elsewise lower case letters in puny subservient font. You know, craft as dirty word. Don't necessarily know why, so I looked online for some examples I could pilfer (gotta love the google) for a compare and contrast.

Uhm. Okay. I get some of the lack of love. There are some fairly un-burger looking crocheted burgers out there. (But then again, there are also a lot of un-news posts out there too - un-news in the sense that they are not even remotely true.) I'm not going to steal and paste any example photos of the Nessie burgers - freedom of speech, self-esteem, sharing - all good things, Martha. But there are some really well done crocheted items for view that I am going to talk about.

Big burger of technical delight:


Photo lifted from Steph Chows.blogspot.com
(cyber-neighbor of complete stranger variety)


the teeny tiny burger of awesomeness:




and the art to wear burger of mind-blowing-dom:





What is the difference, art v. craft wise?

Is it the genre?

Sculpture beats art garment and firm beats soft sculpture?

The time commitment?

Tying a bazillion knots in waxed linen thread by hand certainly takes an excruciatingly longer amount of time than tying knots in yarn with a crochet hook.

Material?

Waxed linen thread has a sleek firm texture with a gently reflective quality. Yarn (even the industrial acrylics that are so very affordable) has a matte surface that imparts a fuzzy tactile squishiness on the finished objects.

Complexity?

Knots are knots, but more (lots more) does equal harder.

Name? Gallery representation? Publications? Personal aesthetic? Intention? Commentary? Social impact?

Probably.

But when the day ends and I lay snuggly in my bed, it doesn't matter what the world calls my work or my art genre. As long as I can close my eyes and dream dreams of juggling knots on a hook, I know I'll have spent another day actually alive. That is more than enough to keep me going. Uncharacteristically, there is nothing more I have to say on the subject.

...today.

Hook on!
C

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Notebook antics.

I was in my notebook attaching the rejection letter to the first project page (yet another attempt at keeping things organized) when I saw the sketches that started the whole thing. It sounds arrogant, but I sometimes really like the sketches. It just isn't all that easy to reproduce them in thread. I thought it would be fun to see how things progressed:

Call for entry topic was: "With or Without Water".

First idea that came to me:

A "water is life" thing.

I envisioned a river-scape teeming with behind the curly stylized wave side of the figure and the sered, cracked fissures of a dried lake bed under the stylized skeleton half. Didn't draw it in because I couldn't figure out how to make the dry lake bed look like it was approaching the horizon (remember - no art training at all). So I started on the figure to see if I could at least get her to where I wanted.



So the skeleton is more of an outline than an empty cage form butI liked it. So much so that I didn't want to ruin it with color work on the waves. So I made another one.



This second thread sketch/prototype, as I like to refer to them, also served to see if I could repeat the figure satisfactorily. Ever have trouble making the same thing look the same way twice? sigh. I do.

I make my prototypes out of white thread so I can see all the stitches clearly (never try to use black or navy for this purpose unless you have a police-grade search light in your working space). Usually I then switch to another color for the final product and for this one I was going to use a blue body. I tried several variations on small test swatches and didn't like any of them. The white body made the blues in the curls pop. So I stuck with white. Glad I did. When it came time to make the heart/wings the white makes the figure stand out better against all that green.

The skeleton half of the body could have been made of that linen brown color that was used for the heart/wing background loops. I didn't think that the black lines alone wouldn't stand out enough. So white it was for that half too.

Next choice was black or white background for the photograph?

Dramatic but hard to see the edges of the wings/heart.

or


see the edges but loose the "haunty" feel.

Ah, White is more of a standard for these things (I think) so that's what went in despite the crap-tastic-ness of the photo quality. I know better, but I did it anyway. I swear by everything that isn't blurry; next time, professional photographer!

So that's how a faint little sketch becomes a final crocheted project in my little corner of the universe. This was fun. No one ever hears about how the design decisions happen along the way. Only my cats if I happen to be talking aloud. Hmm. Who knew?

Hook On!
C