Busy, Busy, Busy

First of all Happy New Year!  
Now before I talk too much about that, there are several things that I meant to say already but never got the time to do so.  

I wanted to talk about the Markerspace Conference that happened late last November.  It was held at the library and there was SO much to both see and do there.  Everything from 3D printers, animation, trades, programming, and so much more I didn't think half the stuff even existed in Regina.  I talked to some women about their trades and signed up for a course I will be taking starting this month for Women in Trades.  I was there with the Guild and we were showing how we make stuff; from yarn to cloth and by using primitive and advanced equipment to do so.  There was one person that really sticks out in my mind.  She was there with her daughter and they had come to Canada from Nepal.  Her mom used to weave and hadn't seen anything like it since they moved here.  She was so excited to see the loom and the spindles and wheels she couldn't stop smiling and talking about what she used to make and the intricate designs and what they meant etc.  Her daughter tried weaving and got quite a bit done and took home her sample to show her teacher.  The staff at the library, who see them on a regular basis said they have never heard the woman talk nor seen her smile and they were excited that they had come in that day.  In the survey the library took about the conference, it was asked which booth was the most interesting and the majority of people said ours was the best!.  I thought that was pretty cool because there was SO much cool things there and I didn't expect the people who make string and cloth to come out on top :)  


December was a very busy month as I had a lot to finish up along the lines of Christmas gifts and we went away this year (which was a first).  I did not get done all that I needed and I'm beating myself up over that, but I have also been sick - as this time of year always brings for me.  

I worked on my quilt which I started early last year and have all the 1 foot squares sewn together.  I just need to press them and start piecing them together.  This is new for me.  I am learning how to sew.  I'm not going to talk a lot about it on this blog but the quilt has been a big project for me this year that always seems to get placed on the back burner.

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A major, major project I did last year which carried into 2014 was a temperature scarf for my Great Uncle Art.  I started this in Jan of 2013.  I recorded the high's in Weyburn Saskatchewan (where he lives) everyday.  Each day I crocheted a line corresponding to a particular temperature and colour.  At the end of it all the scarf measured over 7' long!  There was only one day in the entire year where the high was -25C.  The summer was very nice with many days obove 30C and even some over 35C! (which I didn't have a specific colour for) I seperated the months with a line of white and embroidered the year at the top of the scarf. My Great Uncle is 89 and I knew he would love this gift.   

I crocheted this scarf using Knit Picks Andean Wool and used 15 colours. And if you think that was a lot of work - what took me the longest was weaving in almost 700 ends!  Unfortunately he didn't receive this gift until March.  He even wears it all the time.  My dad told me he wore it to church one day and the Minister asked him to come up and explain the scarf to the congregation.  This Christmas he told me dad it's his most prized possession.  I know this all sounds like I am bragging but if you knew my Uncle that is just the best compliment I could receive.  I love making stuff for him because he really appreciates it.  He would rather have something handmade than a million dollars.  

Now, to recap this past year; I started off pretty good with my spindle reviews.  I have a backlog of those at the moment so - I'm not done yet!  I didn't get any further on my sheep studies but again I will try.  It was a busy year for me with Wool Judging as I was able to judge in all 3 prairie provinces!  I was able to help shear alpacas and sort their fibre and check out a couple farms and spend the day which I loved.  I taught classes all year and kept very busy with several sales and events that occurred in and outside of Saskatchewan.  I wrote up a couple patterns for hats - with a few more to come and I spun over 100 skeins of yarn!

2015 is the Year of the Sheep and I have more in store - at the beginning, I am taking a weaving course which is offered by a fellow guild member and a fantastic weaver.  I am helping promote the wool industry with All Things Wool and the Manitoba Fibre Festival and I have my Perfection Found in Nature art exhibit at the Shervin Smith Gallery.  
This is just the tip of the iceberg - I have more secrets to share - but not yet ;)


Some of my resolutions last year were completed, some were not.  I'm not going to stress over it.  This year, I am just going to live by my favorite quote from Connaught School 
 "Work hard and be nice"