Category Archives: Ongoing Projects

November 1

01 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by in Favorite Things, Ongoing Projects, Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

To be interested in the changing seasons
is a happier state of mind than to be
hopelessly in love with spring.
[George Santayana]

Autumn in Fort Wayne

I wage a constant battle with my attitude about autumn and winter. This year, I might be winning. Of course, starting November in northern Indiana with 76 degree temperatures helps. I remember 10 inches of snow on this date in 1966.

I’ve been busy working on my new Website and have decided it is like cleaning house. The more that I do, the more that I see that needs to be done. I especially am attending to broken links. I’ll have a grand opening soon.

Meanwhile I had the first cataract surgery. I’m scheduled for the second next week. This is a blessing. I already see so much better and can tell what color changes I need to make in my work.

Did I mention I invested in a snow blower? It is peculiar what excites some folks, isn’t it?

Wounded Warrior Project

09 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by in History, Ongoing Projects, Thoughts

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.
[Jose Narosky]

The Vietnam Women's Memorial was designed by Glenna Goodacre and dedicated on November 11, 1993. It is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and is located on National Mall in Washington DC, a short distance south of The Wall, north of the Reflecting Pool. Photo by Rudi Williams (American Forces Press Service).

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was designed by Glenna Goodacre and dedicated on November 11, 1993. It is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and is located on National Mall in Washington DC, a short distance south of The Wall, north of the Reflecting Pool. Photo by Rudi Williams (American Forces Press Service).

Fifty years ago, I reported in to U.S. Naval Hospital, Charleston SC and, by Christmas, we admitted one of our first Vietnam casualties. Within a year, our census doubled as air-evac flights brought us wounded Marines, Seabees and hospital corpsmen. Looking back, all I can remember was living in the moment—doing what I was able to do each day. Our hospital wards were big open rooms in stilt buildings that were left over from World War Two. I never thought about how poor the environment was for patient care, nor did I ever know what happened to our patients after they left our unit.

I was reading a novel about wounded soldiers from the recent conflicts. Their post-hospital situations were dreadful. Compound that with what I had heard on the news about veteran’s affairs problems and I was sick at heart. I asked myself if our folks had it as bad fifty years ago? Then I ask myself what can I do to help this generation who could be my grandchildren? Within days, I received information about the Wounded Warrior Project from USAA (United Services Automobile Association).

Here is what USAA had to say:

Honor and empower wounded warriors.

The purpose of the WWP (Wounded Warrior Project) is:

  • To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members
  • To help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other.
  • To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

If this issue calls to you as it did to me, Here is the LINK to more information about WWP.

Rebuilding my Website

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Ongoing Projects, Technology, Writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

I put my heart and my soul into my work,
and have lost my mind in the process.
[Vincent Van Gogh]

site map

Over fifteen years ago, a client handed me a book (Teach Yourself HTML in 24 Hours) and said, “I would like for you to build a website for my business.”

I was only vaguely aware of what a website was, and had never seen the internet. I bought a piece of software called BB Edit, studied the book from cover to cover testing my code in Netscape (I wasn’t connected to the internet), and developed a detailed organizational chart for my client’s site. He approved the chart and gave me sketches of his vision for the look and feel of the site. As I set to work, I had no clue about how other sites looked. The one I developed was very visual since I am a graphic designer instead of a technically oriented person. We put the finished site files on floppy disks and hand carried them to our web-server provider. He showed the site to me on his computer—my first glimpse of the internet. I was so excited that I was jumping up and down inside.

Since then, I’ve ridden the roller coaster of web development through all of its iterations. After publishing a number of client websites, I still use principles I learned on that first site:

  • Plan, plan, plan—work out the details and gather the resources before assembling the first page.
  • Keep the perception of the site guest in the forefront. Make it “user-friendly.”
  • Keep it simple and compatible with older browsers.
  • Document the site structure for future maintenance and expansion.
  • Test each phase during the process so, at the end, everything works and nothing needs to be retrofitted.

I am in the process of redesigning my original site. I usually start with a detailed site map (organizational chart) that I draw in Adobe Illustrator, but this time I am assembling it in Microsoft Excel (shown in the image above). This is proving to be so much quicker and easier. It allows me to focus on content instead of construction. I’m looking forward to this project. Meanwhile, I’m studying another refresher course on Lynda.com.

Winter Class #2: Argyle Vest, continued

22 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in Knitting, Ongoing Projects, teaching classes

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Feelings are like a color chart
that God has given us.
[Keith Miller]

Charts

Eight knitters started knitting their argyle vests in the first class. In addition to using printed instructions to get them started on the ribbing and vest back, they also filled in work sheets that helped them figure their stitch and row count based upon their gauge and measurements.

In the intervening two weeks, each sent me their calculations and I updated their customized color charts to use when they knit the argyle vest front (photo above).

As I polish the instructions for knitting the front and adding the finishing touches, I am faced with my usual quandary when writing patterns. How much do I include in the instructions? Do I illustrate how to add duplicate stitch accents, work attached iCord around the arm holes, and finish the v-neck with a miter and invisible bind off? Or do I just say do it and assume knitters will look it up if they don’t know how? In a perfect world, I’d publish this using little videos in an enhanced eBook. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Keeping Up

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Ongoing Projects, Review, Thoughts, Writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Once a new technology rolls over you,
if you’re not part of the steamroller,
you’re part of the road.
[Stewart Brand]

We all have our odd turns of the mind. One of mine is a fear of ending up as road kill on the information super highway. After working more than 25 years in graphic design, I still spend as much time in training as I do designing. Software upgrades are a big part of that, and Lynda.com is my main training resource. One of my favorites there is Anne-Marie Concepcion of Seneca Design and Training, and InDesign Secrets.

Fear of not knowing enough can hold a person back from finishing a job, just like fear of the marketplace (agoraphobia) can keep some folks entrenched in their homes. A thought struck me as I was scrubbing out the toilet bowl this morning. I was doing that chore to procrastinate from working on a design job. I really enjoy my design jobs so why put it off? I realized that I don’t necessarily procrastinate because I’m lazy. I usually procrastinate because I’m not quite sure I have the right solution to a production issue. The question is, how much of my mental block is based on a misperception?

I’ve successfully completed countless design jobs over the years, but I’d just watched a video about advances in the software I’ve used for a decade. There were five more hours of lessons available. What if I missed something that would make a difference in the project? Well, phooey, I thought. If I’d waited to upgrade like other designers I know, I couldn’t even do what I didn’t yet know how to do. I simply finished the job. I’ll watch the other five hours later.

The conclusion to all of this goes back to maintaining a balance (but then I wonder if I can get a life-time membership on the training site?).

When I was hunting a “keeping up with technology” quotation for this post,
I had trouble picking just one. Here is another quote that nudged my funny bone:

If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has,
we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1000 MPG
[Bill Gates]

Blocking Hats (and attitude)

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Knitting, Ongoing Projects, Thoughts

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

, ,

Grab your coat, and get your hat,
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet,
To the sunny side of the street.
[Dorothy Fields]

I knit the hats in the photo when I designed the pattern for a lace book a dozen years ago. When the publisher shipped them back to me after the photo shoot, they weren’t in the boxes I provided for their protection. They were all crushed together in a little shipping carton. I was dismayed and chucked them into my store room.

When I was cleaning up after Christmas, I found them, and decided I would try to salvage them. I removed the ribbons and silk flowers, and then I re-blocked them by pinning them out moist on a board and with a hat form. The process worked well. The three in the back of the photo haven’t been re-decorated yet and there is one left to do. It is of white linen and will be decorated for a bride.

An odd thing happened during this process. I was dismayed all over again when I found them but, during the restoration process, I’ve finally moved past being irked. There has got to be a lesson in there somewhere.

Fall Classes—Schedule for Sara Jane’s Yarn Shop

09 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Ongoing Projects, teaching classes, Thoughts

≈ Leave a comment

Education is not preparation for life;
education is life itself.  
[John Dewey]

The photo shows the projects that I will present in classes on Saturdays this fall and early winter at Sarah Jane’s Yarn Shop. The classes include The following:

  • Heirloom Counterpane Pillow
  • Textured sock and mitten set that emphasises gussets
  • Twisted-stitch mitts/mittens
  • Jacobsburg mitten that emphasises chart reading for texture and color patterns
  • Unfinished project class where we solve problems and get projects finished

For more information, download this printable PDF file.

Mouse Tracks Shawl Pattern

26 Tuesday Apr 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites, Ongoing Projects, Writing

≈ 2 Comments

Alexandra drew her shawl closer about her
and stood leaning against the frame of the mill,
looking at the stars which glittered so keenly
through the frosty autumn air.
[Willa Cather—O Pioneers]

See it on the public side of Ravelry

Finally, I have a pattern for sale online as a printable, electronic file (PDF). I have about ten more almost ready to sell, and many more designs lined up behind those. Here is a brief description:

This variation of the vintage neck scarf pattern that crosses in the front through a channel to hold it closed includes strategically placed increases/decreases to lengthen the shawl in the back, and intermittent short rows to provide flare. The lace patterns (the diamond edge and the mouse prints neckline) are inspired by patterns in Gossamer Webs by Galina Khmeleva and Carol Noble, Interweave Press, 1998. This pattern includes instructions for altering the length of the shawl.

Yarn:
• Sport weight, sock weight, jumper weight, or fingering weight
• 11 oz (312gm) or
850 – 900 yds (780m – 820m)

Needles:
• Straight or circular (the shawl is knit back and forth)
• U.S. Size 2 or 3 (2.75mm or 3.25mm)

Every row of this shawl is charted. Garter stitch and a small amount of 1×1 ribbing are the basic techniques used throughout. 10-page PDF pattern

To order the pattern, select this button:

Knitting Rainbows

17 Thursday Mar 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites, Ongoing Projects

≈ 8 Comments

Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit,
and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit either.
[Elizabeth Zimmermann]

Kim Kulasa, member of the Dayton Knitting Guild, emailed a photo (upper left) to me of the shawl she’d finished using a pattern I designed. She showed the shawl at the guild meeting and inspired Mary Habeeb to knit one. Mary is proprietor of A Good Yarn in Greenwood, Indiana and produces dyed yarn, fibers, handspun and knitted items.

The original Mouse Tracks Shawl is shown below as I blocked it. It features Russian-style lace at the neck and lower edges, a neck scarf closure, and shaping. The neck edge curves gently to lie flat. The depth widens so that the shawl extends down the back to the waist. I plan to sell this pattern online as soon as I finish another shawl using red alpaca. It will photograph with more definition than this black one. The black yarn was handspun by my daughter Ellen, Shepherd’s Moon.

Persistence

10 Thursday Mar 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Ongoing Projects, Thoughts

≈ 3 Comments

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not… nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.
Genius will not… unrewarded genius is almost legendary.
Education will not…. the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
[Calvin Coolidge]

I met Theresa Miller at Meg Swansen’s knitting camp about fifteen years ago. She was with a group of knitters from Dayton, Ohio. We all became friends and I’ve been attending Dayton Knitting Guild events ever since. When we lost our Theresa several years ago, her daughters shared yarn from her stash with us. Mine was green and white.

Theresa loved intricate designs and two-color knitting so I decided I’d design a sweater pattern that she would have liked to knit. I’ve been working at it off and on ever since. There has been a lot of starts and stops, raveling and unraveling. I frayed Theresa’s yarn so badly that I bought Brown Sheep Nature Spun sport weight in the same colors to re-knit it. I started at one side of the yoke with a waste cast on, knit the bodice pattern, right sleeve and neck band, then picked up the live stitches and finished the left sleeve. While I worked, I left an opening at the lower edge of the yoke. I picked up stitches (288) around that opening and knit the body of the sweater down. While I persisted, I carried fond memories of Theresa’s kindness in my mind. Last week, I finished it. May I present Theresa’s, sweater.