September 30, 2009

Mathmatical models for Crochet

The math is beyond me, but the crocheting possibilities are fascinating. These are not your Grandmother's crocheted doilies.

"A hyperbolic plane is a surface in which the space
curves away from itself at every point."
Daina Taimina




Then you need to see Rebecca Peapples' Beaded Hyperbolics
There is much more in their Gallery, including an on-going crocheted coral reef.
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It's too early in the day for me to take in this concept, but there is a wealth of design possibilities for beaders, crocheters and especially bead crochet,

September 24, 2009

Bead Crochet Ropes Book

My first bead crochet book, published in 2002 is going out of print. I have less than 50 copies remaining and the quote I got to reprint it was prohibitive. I'm left with sort of an empty nest feeling.

This book was self-published when there was little or no information on bead crochet as a technique. I've sold about 16,000 copies of it. It may not have reached the end of it's usefulness as it's still been selling, but I can not afford to have it reprinted and keep the retail price the same. For a 20 page, softcover book even I wouldn't pay more than $25 for it.

Bead Patterns, Amazon & Helby have some copies left (as do I).... if you still want a copy.
When these copies are gone - it's done and you'll have to search eBay or Amazon for, probably, overpriced copies.
Many have asked if there would ever be a 3rd book. At this point I really don't know. I need to finish this danged house so I can go back to creative work. I'll need to think things through this winter and see what I want to do next.
Turning 65 is sort of a milestone and I still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up. I've been a daughter, sister, student, wife, mother, linguist, telephone pole counter, graphic artist, Q.C. inspector/manager, plant maintenance manager, press operator, materials manager, warehouse supervisor, MG restorer, bookkeeper, office manager, house restorer, quilter, costume designer, knitter, beader, teacher, publisher .... and that hits just the high points. Guess I'd better hurry up and figure out the next direction to head.

Elm Ave update

Finally, something going back together. A good carpenter friend of mine made me lower cabinets when I couldn't find the very plain ones I wanted in any of the stores. Seems that here in the East everyone wants oak or other wood colored cabinets. I wanted 1940's metal cabinets but couldn't find any that fit the space or were in decent shape. This is the look I am going for in my kitchen. Must be a childhood comfort thing... you think?




This is what I started with .... all dark, fake wood paneling. Even at noon when the sun was out you had to turn on a light.









The cabinets went in yesterday and are in primer. My job is to fill nail holes and paint everything semi-glossy white.




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What a big difference it makes. Now I'll be able to wake up to the coffee in a space that is bright, clean and cheerful. I've already started painting the other two walls of dark paneling a very light gray. Both the floor and the counter tops will be bamboo.

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Now I wish I could replace my antique oak table with one of those retro red and chrome 50's kitchen table sets. That would look awesome in this kitchen.
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Cross your finger for me that we'll be able to move in before time to leave for Arizona. The water problems set us back and this is where we should have been in July!

September 14, 2009

New Neutral - mauve pink?

I was wearing this broad collar at the Bead Society meeting on Sunday and was surprised to have a couple of the members comment on it. They agreed that the mauvey, old tyme pink was sort of a neutral that could go with a lot of other colors. We shared it around and yes, it did look good with different colored outfits other than mine. Then I had a hard time getting it back as it is a comfortable necklace to wear and you tend to forget that you have it on.

It's a color that seems to show up quite frequently in my personal beadwork.
Here it is in bead crochet. Funny thing is that I keep saying that I don't like pink.

September 2, 2009

Elm Ave Update

I'm beginning to believe that this house is water witched.

The original drain system didn't leave us high and dry... one big rain and we had damp basement walls again. So back came the guys with the big equipment. They cut a hole in the floor and found lots of clay under the foundation. We now have another drain line and I have more lawn to rake out and get grass to grow. At least we're mainly in a sand hill and it's not hard digging.



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Something is moving forward. My son does great work. Both in taking things apart and putting them back together. What to do with a chimney foundation that could possibly still leak? Build a garden implement shed! Brilliant - it puts a roof over the old foundation and gives me a place to hang up my shovels. We'll also be replacing the nasty old composition siding with cedar shakes. At least this small part this year.
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Not too much inside progress as a month of keeping up with the ditch diggers, moving plants, putting them back, raking out yards of soil and re-planting grass has taken up a lot of time.
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Time is getting short if we're to get moved in before snow and time to leave for AZ. I'm also ready to get back to beading and the respite has left me ready to start creating again.