What I did on my Summer Vacation - PA Renaissance Faire

We set out for a week-long adventure. The first stop was Pennsylvania. Yes, I know, when you live in Maryland how is Pennsylvania your first stop.

We wanted to go to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. I took about three photographs the entire day we were at the Faire. It was great! This was our first year attending and I'm glad we went. We ate badly, likely didn't drink enough water, and tasted a bunch of wine and mead. We saw a few shows and basically had a good time spending time with each other and watching people.

We saw magicians, jugglers, and the royal falconer with his amazing friends. This owl didn't want any part of the show. It was an excellent demonstration. Check out Knightwings on Facebook to learn more about the birds of prey.

Someone had asked about painted rocks. You can Google that one to see some of what people are doing. I think I want to put together a small painting kit to take with me to leave painted rocks at the camp sites we visit. I didn't really need another reason to go to the craft store.

Across the street from the Faire is this amazing place - Divine Swine. I'm sure I will have to walk 20 extra miles to get rid of the pulled pork we had for dinner but it was worth it.

We spent the night at Thousand Trails in Lebanon, PA. The park was almost full when we got there. The only downside for us was the club membership offer was a little strong. We got a call about a week later to ask us, again, if we wanted to save on camping by joining the club. Overall, not a bad place to spend the night.

Knitting with Bubblegum Pink

I started this project before our camping adventure last week.

During the travel times, I knit and knit.

And knit and knit.

I wondered if I would ever make it to the edging. I added this lacy edging after I had run out of the variegated yarn.

I really like the separate color for the edging. This is an original design.

I blocked it on Sunday and I'm excited to see how it hangs on the form.

Afternoon Walk Wildlife

Have you ever tried to convince a butterfly to hold still so you can take a picture? It isn't an easy task, I can assure you. I was lucky to get this single shot.

Skittish buck.

His collection of bachelor friends.

Doves in my front garden. There were three when I flushed them, but I couldn't see the third when I drove up after work.

Thunderstorms bring Mushrooms

Last week was very rainy. The ground is soaked. The mushrooms are loving it.

I took this photo on Tuesday.

And this one on Wednesday. Those fungi aren't fooling around.

Knitting Update

I've had this project on my needles for what seems a horribly long time. I decided I needed to dedicate myself to getting it finished. I carried it with me for a couple days to get the lacy bind-off done.

I lost at yarn chicken and had to bind off the last couple dozen stitches in a quick knit-two-together through back loop way to not run out before the end. Now I just need to block it.

This is some fun yarn from my Aunt Betty that I am going to work up into a simple boomerang shawl. this is a little heavier than worsted, so it will be a cushy garter beast when it is done.

I have another project on the needles and I'm thinking about what's next. Do you have a favorite pattern? Something you go back to again and again?

The Gaming Table

Our dining room table is where we eat breakfast almost every morning and dinner almost every evening.

It is just the right size for four people to join in a board or card game and sometimes those games can push the limits of the surface. In 2012 we used some parts from IKEA to make a gaming surface to help increase the capabilities of that table. If you're wondering why we don't just put the expansion leaf in the table I want to point out this is a second-hand table and we have no recollection if it came with a leaf, and if it did, we have no idea where that leaf might be now. The top measures approximately 42" wide by 47" long. We decided it was time to really expand the surface to allow for more people to join us at that table.

After taking a couple measurements, and drawing a couple rectangles on a piece of graph paper, we stopped by the home improvement warehouse to pick up the hardware I figured we would need and found everything we needed on the shelves. The original plan included a tabletop from IKEA, so the plan changed during the shopping. Not that this is a problem. This project requires a couple power tools including a drill and a saw of some type. We also used measuring tape, pen for marking, screwdriver, saw horses, extension cord, safety glasses, dust mask, an electric sander, and some shop rags.

We decided to go big with this project. I'll go over the details of how w put together a top that fits over the top of our existing table. We used four brackets to hold the panels together. These are on the underside outside the perimeter of the frame that goes around the top of the table. We don't have a carpenter's square, so I grabbed one of my quilting rulers to make sure the brackets were lined up on the join.

As you can see. I made a small error when I measured for the inner brackets. Other than a dozen holes on the underside I didn't need, it wasn't an issue. We built a frame on the underside of the top to keep the top centered on the table.

The rest of the frame was added to fully surround the table top to prevent the new tabletop from sliding around. Screws were placed every 6" so it is a little overkill. Then we moved the brackets outside the perimeter of that frame. This will prevent the brackets or screws from damaging the top of the table.

We turned it over to make sure it fit over the table top. It was a close thing, but with the weight of the top I don't think it will be an issue. The weight of the top and the general prevalence of adult behavior in my house means it is safe. I don't think I would recommend this method to families with toddlers or other young people that climb on the furniture in an attempt to visit the emergency room several times before their 12th birthday.

We put the gaming top in the center and it is so much better for all sorts of games. Although, now we need about six more chairs. We tested it out with our two board game friends. We had plenty of room for Time Stories and dinner on the new table.

3 stain-grade wood panels 16" by 96" by 3/4"- $30.97 each
8 1-3/8" by 6" metal straps - $1.88 each
3 six-foot lengths of 1" by 2" lumber - $1.07 each
#6 x 5/8" screws - for attaching the metal straps- $4.58
#10 x 1-1/4" screws - for attaching the frame on the underside - $5.58
Howard's Feed-n-Wax - $7.98

We bought some wood glue, but didn't end up using it on this project.

Knitting another Dotted Rays

This is some of the yarn my Aunt Betty shared with me. I really like the effect a striping or ombre yarn will give to the Dotted Rays shawl by Stephen West so I decided to cast on another one.

Bulky knits are fun. I rarely knit to gauge with shawls. I pick the yarn, knit fabric I like with the size needles I like, and just go until I'm almost out of yarn. I don't think shawls need precision when it comes to knitting. I'm not going to overthink it or become a slave to the pattern. This pattern is one that works well when you think about shawl construction as an adventure. Once you have the basic idea down, you can just go with it.

I was only 50 grams in for this photo, so it isn't a small shawl. I had a total of 300 grams of this yarn to work with. I worked until I had less than one 50 gram ball left and bound off. The I-cord bind off uses way more yarn than you think it will, particularly when you bind off loosely. As the wedges become bigger, I used two balls of yarn at a time, alternating rows between the balls, to get the stripes to stay a little wider.

I've stopped trimming the ends of the yarns when I mend them in until after blocking. It seems they always poke out just a bit after blocking so I just wait until the finished piece is blocked and then trim those little ends off.

I love pulling the points on this shawl to open up the holes in the work. Why knit that detail if you aren't going to see?

Working with a heavy-worsted weight yarn makes this knit up quickly and you still get a great finished piece.

Big Damn Tote

As some of you may know, I'm a big fan of the television series Firefly. The single season was a great time and I was sad Joss Whedon had only that one season and one movie to tell us a small piece of the story of the 'verse and "them that choose it".

Spoonflower is a great place to find custom print fabrics to create fun projects. This Firefly themed print is one of those fabrics that makes a Browncoat smile. This is the second time I've used this print. The first time I used the Eco Canvas. This is the Heavy Cotton Twill. It is the perfect weight fabric to make sturdy totes.

I used cotton strapping I picked up at a local big box craft store for the strap. It seems a small thing, but it does speed construction. The tote is a roomy 18" by 18" with a square bottom approximately 4" deep. Perfect for toting all sorts of things.

I didn't really want to send this bag off to its new home halfway across the country but it was made as a special request. Because Browncoats have to stick together.

Walking in the Sunshine

I try to get outside most days for a 2 mile walk in the afternoon. Along the path, I come across different kinds of wildlife. This is a small structure made by crayfish living along the edge of a ditch in Virginia. They are called mud-bugs for a reason.

The deer population isn't too concerned with people. I usually get within 20 feet of them along the path. The does are usually more skittish than the bucks. This particular buck really doesn't pay much attention to people past the first look.

I saw this web a bit off the path and wanted to capture it in the sun. I didn't see the creator of this structure while I was there.

The largish beetle was making its way across the paved path.

I've counted six individual bucks that frequent the area.

The raspberries are ripening.

Row by Row: Modesto Beverly Fabrics

Next stop on the Row by Row Experience California: Modesto Beverly Fabrics. I was so happy with how this row turned out. I will admit I didn't know how much I would enjoy all the applique. Now, I know I really do prefer piecing. This row has just the right amount of piecing and applique.

I really like this block as it incorporates all the things that makes up the golden state: ocean, green valley, and majestic mountains. That sunset is pretty awesome, too.

Row by Row: Nimble Thimble

Next stop on the Row by Row Experience: The Nimble Thimble! This shop in Gilroy, CA, seemed to be a hidden secret when we parked behind the building. I was pleasantly surprised to find this shop was much bigger than I thought at first. This row leaves loads of room to add tiny quilts to tow behind your tiny camper. I am leaving the tiny quilts until I have completed more rows so I can use the leftover bits to make those quilts.

I might also use some of that space to document the shop names. I don't have a problem putting that information on the front of a quilt. There is no rule that says the label should be hidden on the back. It can be part of the design.

Charity Quilting

Last week I dropped off five quilts with the Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

Most of the quilts dropped off this time were panels, some with added borders like this one.

 Or simple panels like this one.

This easy kit came out great! This is a great first quilt project for just about anyone wanting to try out quilting.

I also quilted a couple of these panels.

I picked up a new stack of quilts and hope to get some done during the weeks ahead.

2017 Charity Quilt Count: 30