Basket No 2 Ribbon

I designed this 2nd warm up basket to follow the 1st one. This was far more complicated because of the material I used. The design is simple basic design but the material creates the challenge.

I had to start it twice until I was satisfied how it got on, progressed and looked out. I used the ribbons I bought years ago. The ribbon is very slippery.

I could have sewn the finishing with invisible stitches. Instead I wanted something firm to keep the tall basket stand straight also at the top. That's why I used wider ribbon around the mouth of the basket to hide the finishing. It also secures the slippery ribbons and prevents them to get open and free.

VerandaRagRugs

These 3 rag rugs I designed and made for our veranda. The veranda has 30 years old rugs, which still are ok and in use. For the arriving winter we need just thicker so I made extra triplet for cold season use. I have used old recycled linen and other home textiles plus old t-shirts and LP-yarn (80% of recycled cotton and 20% of other fibers) for these rugs. 

These two smaller ones will be placed by the doorsteps. Now you have seen all the 8 rag rugs I made summer 2024 following FashionNOW trend: HallwayRagRugs, PinkRagRug. NauticalRagRug, LibraryRagRugs and these 3 ones seen in this post for our veranda.

Hilja

Two weeks ago we drove to Salla, Finland. From there I drive to Kuusamo Finland with a friend and visited a very nice lady. We were there to do some volunteer work for our siida (Sámi community & village). At one point we talked about it how people throw away and destroy old items which have at least a cultural heritage value. The conversation went to the point where I mentioned old skills like spinning and wheel spindles. That's how I faced a question "Do you want a wheel spindle? Do you need one?" My respond was: "Well, not actually, I used to have antique one but later gave it away and bought a new modern one." I also asked what she and her husband meant. And they meant this: The old wheel spindle of the lady's mother was given away 40 years ago by her mom. 12 months ago it had returned in a huge box back to them. It had been 12 months in the box (they had not opened it) in their cottage because hey didn't know where to put it or what to do with it. You can guess my mind got curious at this point. So, we drove to the cottage, found a huge box and it was filled with polystyrene foam. We dig it with our hands and finally found this beauty inside. We packed it into the car and drove back to Salla.

I had warned Him about that I was donated an antique wheel spindle and hopefully we can fit it into his car with the dogs and our bags. Otherwise I will drive back alone some day to get her home. But he was able to fit it all in and we all arrived home together, safe and sound. At home we opened the wrapping. She was quite ok but not in the condition you could spin right away.

She has faced a total cleaning and oiling plus some fixing already to her pedal so that you can spin with her. Next summer she will face more preparing when you can do it outside. 

She is very shy and such a good girl. After a week she whispered her name is Hilja (it means something like silence). Last night we were able to spin together. She is a kind girl, a bit excited about it what I do but works very well. She is my girl and is happy to have her new sister and friend Liinu in her new home. Hilja will follow me and Liinu to work when ever needed.

I started to spun merino wool with her which I had dyed by Cinnamon Webcap (Cortinarius cinnamomeus). It all goes on just fine.💚

TieDye

I made tie-dye for my grandchild as request. For the purpose I bought 2 white t-shirts. I add funny patches which I have received from a friend as a gift. These t-shirts would do just fine without any extra decoration. I add them anyway to personalize even more the t-shirts and make them easy to separate from all the other similar t-shirts which other kids would wear. In this way it is easy even for a toddler to find her own shirt.

I used natural dyes. This shade is from the legs of Surprise Webcaps (Cortinarius semisanguineus). It was a real surprise because it dyes always yellow for wool. This is cotton and looks like milk chocolate!

For the other t-shirt I used more ties and different patch for the decoration. This is size 104 cm. The brown one is size 96 cm. Tie-dye is very interesting, fun and easy!

The lilac pink shade is created by cochineal. It looks like frosty pink sugar! He said He could wear similar, so cool it looks!

The Reading Challenge No10

The Reading Challenge 2024 is here!

On 2024 I encourage you to read books in different genres. No other rules but the genre. The meaning is to introduce different kind of literature and authors to yourself. But, you can still choose your favorite one if the genre is familiar to you. Notice, you can always drop out the book if you dislike it. It is highly recommended to use second hand books, borrowed books and your local library collection. If possible, read in all the languages you can. Also, don't be afraid of to pick up a book you have already read in the past. The second round at different age may bring you new experiences. 

September 2024 theme is LITERARY CRITICISM!

It is time to read what the others read and what they have to say about it. Actually reading my Reading Challenge short book into & evaluation posts are one form of literary criticism. Because it is a relatively short form of literature I warmly recommend you to read another literary criticism from a newspaper, magazine or online. 

TheMan'sRib

In 2024 I encourage you to read specific genres of literature. September 2024 theme is drama.  For the challenge I read library item published in 1914. It is Finnish author and novelist Maria Jotuni's Miehen kylkiluu. It translates to "The Man's Rib". I am not sure is it available in English. It is a manuscript for a play and tells about the affairs between men and women; who impacts on whom and who rules in the relationship and where is the balance. It was published 110 years ago and I see it is still relevant and nothing has change. OMG! 😂