Becka’s Project Journal

I will be representing the Textile Center at the St Paul Craftstravaganza on Saturday. Make N Takes for kids and me demonstrating inkle weaving and my friend Jen with her spinning wheel. Lots of fun, fantastic shopping! Come say hi!

Also, don’t miss the new exhibit opening tomorrow night at the Textile Center. Hopefully we will have an online gallery for this one soon. It is all textiles from India from a private collection. Amazing, stunning, beautiful work, especially if you are in to embroidery.

We went to Carlos Avery Wildlife Sanctuary last week on a day off and here’s what we spotted:

Bald Eagle (in a nest)
Sandhill Cranes – at least 3, probably more like 8, but we didn’t see them all at the same time.
Coots – lots of them
Mallards- lots of them
Red Winged Blackbirds – many
Tree Swallows
Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows
Blue Winged Teals – 2 pairs
Trumpeter Swans – two of them, one banded
Hooded Merganzers – 3 pairs
Ring Necked Ducks
Red Tail Hawk
Canada Geese – hordes

See Andy’s Blog for Photos!

My new purse. Inspired by this pattern and another similar vintage Simplicity pattern I scored at a TC garage sale, although I changed a bunch of things as I went because I like my way better. Made from a piece of vintage canvas from last year’s garage sale stash, vintage trim from the thrift store and lined with a piece of batik fabric which is dark green and brown. Magnetic snap, one interior pocket. Strap is lined with cotton webbing, so it’s super sturdy.

I think I am finally going to break down and try to make some of these for a couple of local shops. I have been asked before and I think maybe it’s time. I am going to do all vintage and retro-style fabrics. I made this one up in about an hour and a half, tweaking the pattern as I went. How much do you think I should price them at?

1. What author do you own the most books by?
Anne McCaffrey. One of my favorite authors since I was about 10 years old.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?
I try not to have multiples of the same title. I have too many books already. I know we have 2 copies of the last Harry Potter book because Andy and I wanted to read it at the same time.

3. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Justin de Quincy from Sharon Kay Penman’s mysteries, Remus Lupin

4. What book have you read more than any other?
Moreta by Anne McCaffrey

5. What was your favorite book when you were 10 years old?
The Talking Parcel by Gerald Durrell

6. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
I don’t know about worst. Most disappointing was The Mysterious Benedict Society. Lost Interest: The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde. Usually if it’s bad, I stop reading.

7. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
One best? The Sanctuary books by Deanna Rayborn, several by Georgette Heyer, Jean Plaidy

8. If you could tell everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Ack. Hard to choose. Anything I have mentioned that you haven’t read.

9. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
Les Miserables

10. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
French

11. Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare.

12. Austen or Eliot?
Austen 100%.

13. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
The Great Gatsby. Seems like everyone has to read this and I managed to get by without it being required anywhere.

14. What is your favorite novel?
I don’t have 1 favorite. The things I re-read the most are Harry Potter, Anne McCaffrey, Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Guy Gavriel Kay, Robin McKinley.

15. What is your favorite play?
Midsummer Night’s Dream.

16. What is your favorite poem?
Favorite poet: ee cummings. I think my favorite of his is
“somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond”

17. What is your favorite essay?
I am not sure I have a favorite.

18. What is your favorite short story?
I don’t read a lot of short stories either. A Sherlock Holmes, maybe.

19. What is your favorite non-fiction?
I love field guides. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction.

20. What is your favorite graphic novel?
Those Left Behind (Firefly)

21. What is your favorite science fiction?
The Hawk’s Grey Feather by Patricia Kennealy, The Summer Tree Trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay (sci-fi/fantasy mix). Strictly science fiction I like Jack McDevitt.

22. Who is your favorite writer?
Just One?? I have mentioned quite a few.

23. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Stephanie Meyer.

24. What are you reading right now?
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom

25. Best memoir?
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

26. Best history?
I prefer historical fiction. Anything by Sharon Kay Penman.

27. Best mystery or noir?
And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander, Joliffe Mysteries by Margaret Frazer, Brother Cadfael Mysteries by Ellis Peters

And what about you?

Three sweaters and a shawl’s worth of yarn:

Oodles of bias tape, hem binding lace, and ric rac:

Vintage Fabrics:

Tax day means that it is time for the Annual Textile Center Garage Sale. I will be working about a gahzillion hours over the next 3 days, but it is one of the most fun weekends we do all year. We already have donations from businesses to fill two 15 ft trucks. A business called this year and asked if we could pick up three palettes of bolts of fabric. That’s a lot of fabric, people! I have 4 big trash bags full of yarn to bring in today, donated from friends. A fleet of the-best-volunteers-on-the-planet price it, organize it and we sell it at “garage sale prices”.

It’s like Brigadoon, it’s here and then it disappears into the mist! If you are in the neighborhood – come Friday 6:30-8:30 pm or Saturday 9-4 to get in on the fun! Textile Center Garage Sale

The karma of the world is seriously out of whack this week. Two organizations that I hold with great fondness were victims of petty random acts of meanness. It is not my place to share the details, but mean people suck. To the perpetrators, I don’t know who you hoodlums think you are, but I hope that whatever diety you believe in comes and smacks you on the butt!

Do something nice for somebody today will you?

(end of rant)

Spent the weekend in Chicago with Andy, his brothers and his mom, to celebrate her birthday!
Above is the Public Library building (which is now a cultural center). The most amazing glass mosaics I have ever seen covering nearly every surface (Click and you can see the photo a little bigger). I told Andy it was prettier than some of the castles we saw in France. Totally magical.
Below is us on day two of walking. We walked for miles. The weather was cool but lovely.