Ribbons, I got Ribbons!

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I was entering some things in the local Ag Expo, Washington County's equivalent of a county fair. Thursday before last I took my Icarus shawl by Miriam Felton, a pair of socks based on Wendy's Toe-Up pattern with a feather and fan leg, and a pysanki (Ukrainian) egg down to the Agricultural Education Center and somewhat reluctantly handed them over to strangers.

Friday evening I went back down to pick them up. I really expected the egg to be broken but to my surprise it appears unharmed and it has a blue ribbon (first prize) taped to the stand! The socks had a red second prize ribbon pinned to them. And Icarus? Another first prize! I'm so thrilled. It was my first lace project and it wasn't perfect by any means but it was good enough for FIRST PRIZE!!!



There wasn't a category for shawls so I entered it under scarves. There wasn't a category for socks either. I entered them under "knitted: other". Most of the other entries were gone when I got there so I don't know what I was competing against but I'm sure there were other great knits there. Next year I'll have to go during the week and see the other entries. This year I just didn't have the time.

Before I learned to knit (continued)...

...I did beading. I made many necklaces and bracelets; sold some, gave some as gifts. The photo above is a closeup of an amulet bag I gave to my wonderful mother-in-law. The bag part is peyote stitch made with Delica glass beads. The fringe is Delicas and Swarovsky crystals, and the strap is crystals and Delica in peyote stitch and spiral rope stitch. I like the geometric look of the Frank Lloyd Wright design. On the back (which I forgot to photograph) are her initials.

Below is the first bag I made using a pattern by Carol Wilcox Wells. It's also peyote stitch using Delicas and a lot of other unusual beads in the fringe. Each of these bags is about 1.5" x 2". I also made one with a Southwestern motif for my sister-in-law who lives in Santa Fe. I don't have any pictures of it because I didn't have a digital camera then.

I still get a couple beading magazines and buy interesting beads when I come across them but this another hobby I've put aside to concentrate on knitting.

Before I learned to knit (continued)...

...I learned to make Ukrainian Easter Eggs. In 1987 I took a 3-hour class at a local museum and fell in love. I still love to do this but finding the time and the space is a problem. Being a draftsmen most of my life has lead to a love of geometry and drawing geometric patterns on the curved surface of an egg is endlessly fascinating. After the class I went home and immersed myself in egg decorating. I ordered more supplies and books from Hanusey Music & Gifts in Philadelphia. I made a lot of eggs and sold some in a gift shop and at a craft show. I taught classes and had a great time turning others on to this great art form.

The eggs shown in these photos are all chicken eggs except the one in the middle of the photo above which is a duck egg. I stick to the traditional Ukrainian symbols and designs because I like the idea that they started out as pagan symbols and even though they were later given new meanings by the Christian church the pagan influence still remains.

I won't go into great detail about how they are created because Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka the Yarn Harlot) did a great pictorial about the process. I have an electric kiska (the tool used to apply the beeswax) that has interchangable points for fine, medium and heavy lines. I think one of things that I like best about doing eggs is the smell of melted beeswax. What could possibly be closer to nature than raw eggs and beeswax?

Before I learned to knit...

... one of the things I used to do was Counted Cross-Stitch. I am especially fond of the patterns by Marilyn Leavitt Imblum. The photo above is a detail from Celtic Christmas. I finished this project in January 2000 and I guess it took me about a year. It's done on 28-count (28 threads per inch) linen with each stitch done over 2 strands (14 stitches per inch).


I have another of her designs about 3/4 finished. I really should try to finish it while I can see see what I'm doing. My eyes just aren't what they used to be and this is one craft that takes really good eyesight. I loved it though and did it with great gusto, taking it everywhere and stitching when ever and where ever I got the chance.

I have several more of her patterns but I doubt if I'll ever attempt them. Her angel patterns attracted me because of the flowing robes and the serene faces, not because of any religious connotations. I'm a heathern and proud of it! I particularly like her Angel of Mercy pattern because a portion of the sales goes to the Polly Klaas Foundation. But the best in my opinion is Peace Angel. How I would love to stitch that design. If you could see a closeup of her face (which you can't on her website, I'll have to dig out the pattern) you would understand what I mean about her ability to capture serenity. It's twice as detailed as Celtic Christmas, with the face and hands stitched over one thread instead of two.