Year 16, Week 04, Day One (week 750)
(January 17, 2000 was my first carving day.)
02-14-15 Saturday
46 degrees early morning with high feathers and fibers. 68 degrees in the afternoon with clear blue sky tinted with light haze. A solid breeze took away any heat one developed early morning. It seemed lighter in the afternoon. On the highest natural point in the county, which is 29 feet above sea level, is a glacier that the parks service has kept alive as an endangered species. Because the temperatures dropped well below the 56 degree frost temperatures, the glacier raced out of the top of the mountain and raced across the surrounding country side that is at 17 feet above sea level. When I headed to Mom’s house, I had to drive almost to the ocean to get around the end of the glacier. Going around the glacier was easy since all the canals are frozen and I used them as a short cut to get where I needed to be. Also because it was cold, I started a fire to warm the place up. The problem was that the flames froze. I started a second fire to thaw the first flames. Now both sets of flames are shivering beneath a blanket. This weather report is brought to you by the City Of Pompano Beach Department of Tourism.
We hit only one yard sale. It was really too cold for a lot of people to be out. The yard sale was a couple from Scandinavia. She has a wonderful accent. They have had several yard sales before. I did see something I gave thought to, but since I am already using one, I decided not to get it as I would have to store it (typical for most things you see at yard sales).
I started on my first teddy bear this week. I was given a pattern I liked and that was easy to follow and started on the crochet. Early Saturday, I started stitching the two halves of the teddy bear together and found that when I did the second half, I had turned it upside down. Legs of one was along the head of the other. I “Frogged” (from ‘ rip it, rip it, rip it’) the whole out to the first arm, and started over. I later figured out that I likely could well have just gone half way, where the legs separated, but I had already done it.
I finally re-stitched the second half of the body and started stitching it. I simply continued where the arm ended, and went down the arm, around each leg and the other arm to the end where the fabric was folded. I then used another segment of yarn to stitch both sides of the head. I then had the problem of turning the whole thing inside out so the stitches would be inside. This was stiff yarn stitched tight. It resisted every attempt to turn it inside out. I did a lot of cheating, which included using my teeth to pull on the inside. I really should have asked for needle nosed plyers but did not think of it at the moment as I was concentrating on what I was doing. Once it was turned inside out, it looked like a four finger glove for a cartoon character.
I used my fiber-fill to stuff the body of the bear. I quickly found that I was short of fill. The head was not packed near as much as I wanted it to be. Later in the day, I found I had more than enough fiber-fill available. I just did not remember where it was.
I stitched the head shut and it really did not have the effect I was after. It came out sloppy.
I added the eyes and nose, but did not quite get it right. It does have a face, though.
I spent time trying to add color to the ears, the sides of the head. Not one thing I tried, worked, let alone looked good. I finally gave up on that. I even broke a plastic yarn needle twice. I sharpened the point so I could work more, and then broke the eye. Mom ended up giving me a tapestry needle to finish my work.
Some of this early work was done out by the shed, in the sun, where the shed and fence reduced the wind quite a bit. It was comfortable until I was nice and warm.
I have good days and bad days physically. Today was a bad day for my leg. I practiced avoidance when it came to standing most of the day because of some discomfort. A couple wood working projects I had playing around in my mind was squelched as there would be too much walking around involved to get set up and packing up again.
I did not quite mind not working wood since I was working on the teddy bear project.
With the first teddy bear about as good as I could make it without a lot of work unstitching it, I instead started on a new teddy bear in bright red. I had the first half of the body done and the second half just started when I had to call it a day. I figured out a lot of things I did wrong and got ideas on how to do it differently.
I plan to work on the new teddy bear tomorrow, but hope to do some sort of wood working.
I will have to see what I actually do.
Year 16, Week 04, Day Two (week 750)
(January 17, 2000 was my first carving day.)
02-15-15 Sunday
46 degrees early morning and rising up to 68 late in the afternoon. Light breeze, blue skies. That glacier mentioned yesterday was real close to the ocean. It would have actually reached the ocean to release icebergs into the shipping lanes, except that there are a lot of bars along the beach and the “parrot heads” were busy chipping the ice off the end for their drinks. I had to drive out onto the great frozen ice sheet to get around the activities at the end of the glacier. In past years, I tried to drive to the Bahamas on the great ice sheet. Every time I got near the Gulf Stream, the Gulf balls would be flying so heavy that I had to turn back to prevent any damage to my ride. This time, I decided to go directly to Mom’s.
I made a few little adjustments on the teddy bear I made yesterday. I adjusted the ears slightly, though not enough, and I tied a ribbon around the neck. This was a plastic ribbon and I should have used a cloth ribbon. I really should crochet a tie for the bear. Maybe some other time. It does look a little better.
On the way to Mom’s I stopped at one yard sale. The most interesting thing was some live plants, mixed in with some silk plants. One silk flowering plant got a lot of attention, the people having to say “that one is fake.” I have no need to kill any more plants than I already have on my porch, so I decided not to get any plants.
At Mom’s I first set up out by the shed to crochet. It is difficult to crochet when you have a cat meowing around you, begging to be petted. She does not like to be held on your lap too often so you have to reach down and pet her as she walks around or sits next to you.
I made good headway on the red teddy bear. This yarn is easier to work with and I have had some experience on making the teddy bear. On checking the second half I was working on, I found that I modified the design of the legs. I made them shorter, and the body longer. I was glad I checked to make sure they matched.
Since I broke the plastic needle yesterday, and I had some pieces of Sea Grape wood that I had split, I decided to try making yarn needles using Sea Grape wood. Sea Grape is a fruit wood which is strong. I learned last year that I could easily split the wood which allow the piece to be as strong as possible.
I had a piece at hand that was triangular, so I split off the corners. I was after short pieces which was perfect as the corners were on slight tapers. I placed a hatchet to the wood and rapped on it with a hammer. I got about six small pieces. These were the size pieces usually thrown away for other projects.
I used my knife to shave off the corners of each piece. I made sure I worked with the grain to split it off so the shape was with the strength of the wood. I got them roughly round, which is all the knife can do. I set a couple pieces to the side for later.
When I wear down cutting disks, I hang onto them. I really had no reason for it until today, but it was just something I always did. I mounted one of those disks, about the diameter of your little fingernail, onto a shaft and used it to cut the eyes for each of the four needles I carved.
Each needle needed to be smoothed out, and polished. I accidentally bent one and it snapped in half. I then checked the other three and they bent way too easy and they broke easy too. One I know I went too thin. I made one more and cut the eye in it. I think the eye is too close to the end. I decided to work on that one some other time.
I am thinking these have to be much bigger to be of use. I will experiment some other time. I have plenty of wood.
Mom had a gift card for a restaurant we have never been to and headed off to lunch. Because of a long waiting list, that killed the rest of the afternoon. I ended up going out back when we got home, packed up everything and called it a day.
Year 16, Week 04, Day One (week 750)
(January 17, 2000 was my first carving day.)
02-14-15 Saturday
46 degrees early morning with high feathers and fibers. 68 degrees in the afternoon with clear blue sky tinted with light haze. A solid breeze took away any heat one developed early morning. It seemed lighter in the afternoon. On the highest natural point in the county, which is 29 feet above sea level, is a glacier that the parks service has kept alive as an endangered species. Because the temperatures dropped well below the 56 degree frost temperatures, the glacier raced out of the top of the mountain and raced across the surrounding country side that is at 17 feet above sea level. When I headed to Mom’s house, I had to drive almost to the ocean to get around the end of the glacier. Going around the glacier was easy since all the canals are frozen and I used them as a short cut to get where I needed to be. Also because it was cold, I started a fire to warm the place up. The problem was that the flames froze. I started a second fire to thaw the first flames. Now both sets of flames are shivering beneath a blanket. This weather report is brought to you by the City Of Pompano Beach Department of Tourism.
We hit only one yard sale. It was really too cold for a lot of people to be out. The yard sale was a couple from Scandinavia. She has a wonderful accent. They have had several yard sales before. I did see something I gave thought to, but since I am already using one, I decided not to get it as I would have to store it (typical for most things you see at yard sales).
I started on my first teddy bear this week. I was given a pattern I liked and that was easy to follow and started on the crochet. Early Saturday, I started stitching the two halves of the teddy bear together and found that when I did the second half, I had turned it upside down. Legs of one was along the head of the other. I “Frogged” (from ‘ rip it, rip it, rip it’) the whole out to the first arm, and started over. I later figured out that I likely could well have just gone half way, where the legs separated, but I had already done it.
I finally re-stitched the second half of the body and started stitching it. I simply continued where the arm ended, and went down the arm, around each leg and the other arm to the end where the fabric was folded. I then used another segment of yarn to stitch both sides of the head. I then had the problem of turning the whole thing inside out so the stitches would be inside. This was stiff yarn stitched tight. It resisted every attempt to turn it inside out. I did a lot of cheating, which included using my teeth to pull on the inside. I really should have asked for needle nosed plyers but did not think of it at the moment as I was concentrating on what I was doing. Once it was turned inside out, it looked like a four finger glove for a cartoon character.
I used my fiber-fill to stuff the body of the bear. I quickly found that I was short of fill. The head was not packed near as much as I wanted it to be. Later in the day, I found I had more than enough fiber-fill available. I just did not remember where it was.
I stitched the head shut and it really did not have the effect I was after. It came out sloppy.
I added the eyes and nose, but did not quite get it right. It does have a face, though.
I spent time trying to add color to the ears, the sides of the head. Not one thing I tried, worked, let alone looked good. I finally gave up on that. I even broke a plastic yarn needle twice. I sharpened the point so I could work more, and then broke the eye. Mom ended up giving me a tapestry needle to finish my work.
Some of this early work was done out by the shed, in the sun, where the shed and fence reduced the wind quite a bit. It was comfortable until I was nice and warm.
With the first teddy bear about as good as I could make it without a lot of work unstitching it, I instead started on a new teddy bear in bright red. I had the first half of the body done and the second half just started when I had to call it a day. I figured out a lot of things I did wrong and got ideas on how to do it differently.
I plan to work on the new teddy bear tomorrow, but hope to do some sort of wood working.
I will have to see what I actually do.
Year 16, Week 04, Day Two (week 750)
(January 17, 2000 was my first carving day.)
02-15-15 Sunday
46 degrees early morning and rising up to 68 late in the afternoon. Light breeze, blue skies. That glacier mentioned yesterday was real close to the ocean. It would have actually reached the ocean to release icebergs into the shipping lanes, except that there are a lot of bars along the beach and the “parrot heads” were busy chipping the ice off the end for their drinks. I had to drive out onto the great frozen ice sheet to get around the activities at the end of the glacier. In past years, I tried to drive to the Bahamas on the great ice sheet. Every time I got near the Gulf Stream, the Gulf balls would be flying so heavy that I had to turn back to prevent any damage to my ride. This time, I decided to go directly to Mom’s.
I made a few little adjustments on the teddy bear I made yesterday. I adjusted the ears slightly, though not enough, and I tied a ribbon around the neck. This was a plastic ribbon and I should have used a cloth ribbon. I really should crochet a tie for the bear. Maybe some other time. It does look a little better.
On the way to Mom’s I stopped at one yard sale. The most interesting thing was some live plants, mixed in with some silk plants. One silk flowering plant got a lot of attention, the people having to say “that one is fake.” I have no need to kill any more plants than I already have on my porch, so I decided not to get any plants.
At Mom’s I first set up out by the shed to crochet. It is difficult to crochet when you have a cat meowing around you, begging to be petted. She does not like to be held on your lap too often so you have to reach down and pet her as she walks around or sits next to you.
I made good headway on the red teddy bear. This yarn is easier to work with and I have had some experience on making the teddy bear. On checking the second half I was working on, I found that I modified the design of the legs. I made them shorter, and the body longer. I was glad I checked to make sure they matched.
Since I broke the plastic needle yesterday, and I had some pieces of Sea Grape wood that I had split, I decided to try making yarn needles using Sea Grape wood. Sea Grape is a fruit wood which is strong. I learned last year that I could easily split the wood which allow the piece to be as strong as possible.
I had a piece at hand that was triangular, so I split off the corners. I was after short pieces which was perfect as the corners were on slight tapers. I placed a hatchet to the wood and rapped on it with a hammer. I got about six small pieces. These were the size pieces usually thrown away for other projects.
I used my knife to shave off the corners of each piece. I made sure I worked with the grain to split it off so the shape was with the strength of the wood. I got them roughly round, which is all the knife can do. I set a couple pieces to the side for later.
When I wear down cutting disks, I hang onto them. I really had no reason for it until today, but it was just something I always did. I mounted one of those disks, about the diameter of your little fingernail, onto a shaft and used it to cut the eyes for each of the four needles I carved.
Each needle needed to be smoothed out, and polished. I accidentally bent one and it snapped in half. I then checked the other three and they bent way too easy and they broke easy too. One I know I went too thin. I made one more and cut the eye in it. I think the eye is too close to the end. I decided to work on that one some other time.
I am thinking these have to be much bigger to be of use. I will experiment some other time. I have plenty of wood.
Mom had a gift card for a restaurant we have never been to and headed off to lunch. Because of a long waiting list, that killed the rest of the afternoon. I ended up going out back when we got home, packed up everything and called it a day.
I see several opportunities to work on the teddy bear this week. I may be able to finish it quickly. I don’t have far to go to finish the crochet and the stitching should be easy. I have figured out a number of tricks since I finished the first teddy bear and will give them a try when I get the chance.
We have a turning club meeting this week and I hope to go to it. I have nothing new to show off as the past few weeks have not gone as planned. It will be fun to get with friends and hopefully learn something. I do hope to do some real wood working next weekend.
I will see what actually happens next weekend.
I see several opportunities to work on the teddy bear this week. I may be able to finish it quickly. I don’t have far to go to finish the crochet and the stitching should be easy. I have figured out a number of tricks since I finished the first teddy bear and will give them a try when I get the chance.
We have a turning club meeting this week and I hope to go to it. I have nothing new to show off as the past few weeks have not gone as planned. It will be fun to get with friends and hopefully learn something. I do hope to do some real wood working next weekend.
I will see what actually happens next weekend.
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