Month: January 2013

 

Our Anniversary month saw us wanting to change, or rather add, to our adjectives. So We booked a Kayaking Tour. Yep two non aquatic I-can-enjoy-sea-life-at-the-aquarium type people got in a kayak and ventured into the ocean. Of course we PRAYED really hard for a calm ocean and I prayed to not see any sea life lol. And you know what? People were AMAZED at the flatness of the waves! So glad we got to enjoy our little adventure in peace, and the sea lions and leopard sharks and garibaldi politely kept their distance too! wohooo!

Here is a quick video of the cavern tour. Please note that most of this video was shot upside down as the camera was hanging around my neck as I paddled, and for that cause, I muted most of the annoying sound of scraping…

We had a blast. Did some shopping (I got a cute hat), went to a ranch (I actually touched a live animal!) and an organic farm where we picked some fruit and veggies and got some advice on gardening.

   

OH! and how can I forget! We got library cards! Yay and yes we checked out books, and returned them before we left! Awesome!

 

This month saw us participating in and documenting a couple of dance concerts, which was a bit tricky I must say. I learned that I work with some AMAZING people who know their jobs and love my company just as much as I do. I am forever blessed by their willingness to step in and step up and put up with some “Ova the Shoulda Driving” lol.

 

Here is a sampler of the stylized artwork I made from them, And, as a teeny treat for reading this all the way through, here is a snippet of me dancing. Oh, and I’m not sure if this video will remain or not =-) soooooo….. watch quick!

 

So getting on with my year in review, November saw us at the Southern California Handweavers’ Guild Weaving and Fiber Festival. Wow what a mouthful! And it was truly an amazing time. My sister gamely came along with my Fav and me, and ended up spinning roving into yarn better than I did! I will say that all of us had a great and enlightening time, and if you have talked with me since, I know you had an earful about the history of fabric and fashion. Sorry lol.

We had such a great time, and sooooo much information was to be had that we have no images. yep NO images from that day. BUT here is what I have done with what I got…

Roving’s and yarns and ply’s oh my!

My first yarn, I crocheted single ply into a pattern sample. I so loved the smoothness of it. It is so chunky and hence a small skein that cant be much more. Maybe I will make a pieced blanket with it some time…hmmm who knows?

The green skein is my second and also a single ply and the pink is my first plyed yarn! Yay! It is a 3 ply recycled silk yarn I can hardly wait to use.

As you can see I have gotten better / more consistent with my spinning. I am quite proud of my orange and crème variated wool yarn. This I will also ply.

 

 

And finally, my first and current yarn spun on the DODEC Spindle Wheel my Fav and I made this holiday season. My goal is to fabricate a garment from start to finish this year. We will see how that goes. We are going to try growing cotton again this year following some tips from some of the awesome spinners and weavers from the Guild. I will be sure to let you know how it goes!

 

So this post is a bit hard for me as my highlight comes on the heel of a great sadness. Recently, I was blessed to be encouraged by an awesome man and great photographer, a gentleman I affectionately called Uncle Les.

He stepped into glory to be with God a few days ago, after having celebrated the Doctoral success of his daughter early in December. I was blessed and honored to be the photographer that evening, and yes quite a bit nervous (again lol).

I mean wouldn’t you be if you were working for one of your hero’s? I am so glad that I was able to express our love for him and his whole family.  My heart aches at their loss, as I continually pray for peace and comfort. I know what he meant to me and my husband and to our marriage. Uncle Les was a good natured man, secure enough to be tender, and about his business.

   

During a time when I was most vulnerable, newly committed to Christ, he and his wife silently stepped in and covered me, pushed me into doing what I was unsure I could, and blessed me and my husband when we wed.

I will never forget…

 

So to kick off the New Year, I have decided to do a 12 post review highlighting each month of 2012. And since this project is still fresh, I will start with December!

My Fav and I spent a lazy Christmas morning constructing a spinning wheel for my Sis. This one here came a couple days later and is mine, and thanks to some help of some really awesome people, is actually working!

  

I have yet to completely decide what color to make it, or whether it would like to be stained, or distressed or want a color wash… I do know that for now, it feels good to have it operational.

I may post some images of my yarns and threads that I have already spun on my drop spindles (and thanks for my new one Jenkins Family! You rock!) at a later date. But if you look closely, you can see some of the recycled silk I am spinning, also a gift from The Jenkins!

 

It’s the end of the year, and the end of our portrait sessions until 2013! And what a fun family to be our last/first. May you always protect each other, extend tenderness one to another, and bask in the joy God has prepared for you. May you prosper in all you set yourself to accomplish, celebrating everyday as the “PRESENT” it is.

  

Laugh often! Enjoy every day, and each memory! Make it Beautiful!