Monthly Archives: January 2009

Dyeing, Family

De Colores

Posted on by Jean

My cousin and baby are still doing well.  I think it’s remarkable that they’ve been able to keep her from going into labor this long.  In a few more weeks everything will be in the clear and it’ll be safer for little Isabelle to make  her appearance.  I’ll keep you updated.

When Joe was a baby the De Colores song would settle him down instantly when he was upset.  That was the first thing I thought of when I was trying to come up with a title for this post.  Whenever I hear that song it reminds me of the days of rocking my youngest.  I really miss those days. 

Last weekend I went to Webs for Barb Parry’s dyeing class.  On top of it being a great class, I got to make a weekend out of it with Kim (Woolen Rabbit).  I brought my camera.  I even brought it to class.  Did I take any pictures?  Nope.  Kim and I have met up at least ten times.  Do we have one picture of us together.  Nope.  Next time, Kim.  Next time.  This was especially nice because it always seems like when Kim and I visit, it always feels rushed because it’s usually when I’m visiting my family up in NH.  This was relaxed and quite and a real treat. 

The class was a blast.  I got to meet Judy from Smatterings, Cindy from CindyKnits and some others and I learned a few things that didn’t click before, so many thanks to Barb. 

This was the same fiber dyed in short stripes along the roving (left) and then in long stripes.  When drafted, it’s amazing how much different they are:

We played with colors ourselves.  Here are a couple that I did.  Barb is mailing the others because we ran out of time.   SO MUCH FUN!

Weaving, Woodworking

Green Warping Board

Posted on by Jean

Thank you all so much for the well wishes for my cousin and the baby.  So far, so good.  Isabelle is growing more each day and Kayla is hanging in there.  I’ll keep you posted.

I did a green thing today.  I used the old parts of my loom after installing the conversion kit.  Look what I made!  The three oak dowels were less than $10.  Not bad, eh?

Knitting

Sweet Sleeping Babies

Posted on by Jean

My cousin isn’t due until April but it seems little Isabelle wants out now.  Kayla’s water has broken so it’s just a matter of time but they are trying to wait as long as possible.  My cousin is young so that’s making this even more difficult for her.  Please say a little prayer.  The preemie hats and booties that I knit for Preemie Project were mailed to her on Friday.  Little did I know I’d need them for my own family.  I asked my aunt to give the other two sets to the hospital.

Finally got a picture of the neighbor’s baby in Helena that I knit at the beginning of December.  While my neighbor is on maternity leave I’m showing her how to knit so she brought the baby over in her Helena so I could take a picture.  How sweet is little Maggie????

I want to remind you about  class that Barbara Parry of Foxfire Fiber  is giving at WEBS  on the 25th. Kim of the Woolen Rabbit is going to join me and we’re going to have a blast and make a mini vacation out of it to chase away the winter blues with lots of color.   So call WEBS, sign up and come have a good time! 

Animals and Nature, Knitting

Hat Drive Total

Posted on by Jean

I finally drove up to Countrywool in Hudson yesterday to pick up the hats and afghan Claudia had.   Some of her students and customers knit them and they’re awesome.  Imagine trumpets, confetti and streamers.  Our total for the hat drive is….. 227!  Mostly hats, some mittens, some scarves and one huge warm throw!  You all rock!  Thank you so much for supporting this endeavor and feel free to send me hats as long as we live here.  I’ll get them to those that need them.

Speaking of salivating.  Here’s Lucky and Aggie this morning while waiting patiently for their slice of turkey bacon.  We told Aggie to get in her bed.  Lucky does what Aggie does.  Since he’s deaf he depends on her to show him what to do.  It’s funny because his bed is right next to hers but he evidently thought that he had to get in the same bed with her in order to get his half of the bacon.

Dyeing, Family, Weaving

Maybe it should be “Nova Scotian Lamb”

Posted on by Jean

I love history.  Especially family history.  I’ve been working on our family history (mostly my paternal grandmother’s line) on and off for about 20 years.  It all started with Gram’s stories about John Allan (my 7th ggreatfather).

If I could have one wish, it would be to be able to go back in time and meet my ancestors.  When I was stationed at NSA I used to take weekends and head to D.C. to do research in the Library of Congress and National Archives.  I have to say the help of the internet and sites like Ancestry.com sure make life a lot easier.

You might remember my find that I’m the direct descendant of many of the Mayflower passengers.   That was a shocker.  Even more so when I found out Gram knew it but never told me.  She only ever talked about our Scottish Heritage.  She was very proud of it.  My ancestor of choice for the last year has been Gram’s grandmother, Margaret E. Fraser Campbell.  She came to America in 1882 and was married to Lemuel Saunders Campbell in Boston in 1885.  After the 1920 census I couldn’t find them and it really bothered me.  I looked everywhere.  I knew they both immigrated from Nova Scotia.  I met a 3rd cousin by way of Lemuel once removed through Ancestry.com.  His his ancestor is Lemuel’s brother.  He gave me a bunch of church records including Lemuel’s parent’s marriage record from a church in Bear River, Nova Scotia. 

Anyway, I was talking to my aunt a few months ago and mentioned my obsession with Margaret.  She surprised me by telling me that they had lived in the Ossipee area.  When we went up over Christmas I asked my grandfather about it and he drew me a map.  Dan, the boys and I set off to find it.   This is the beautiful house that my 3xgreatgrandparents lived in:

On the map Gramps also showed me where a couple of Margaret’s relatives lived!  As soon as I got home I went looking through the 1930 census.  Finally.  I found the missing link to connect Margaret to the John and Ellen Fraser in  the 1891 Canadian Census that I thought might be her parents.  One of the relatives Gramps led me to was Margaret’s youngest sister, Marion.  Marion was the key I needed to link everything together.  They were from McLennan Mountain in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

 Here’s the mind blower.  I started researching the area and found out that McLennan   Mountain had only been founded a few years before John Fraser was born.  Three Fraser came to Nova Scotia just a few years before John’s birth and started the Presbyterian Church there.  Now… get this.  The brothers came to Nova Scotia from THE ISLE OF MULL!!  I’ve been there!  Not once but TWICE!!   What are the odds?!  Is it any wonder I teared up every time we had to leave Scotland?  I definintely bleed plaid.  I’d definitely like the weave the tartans of Clans Campbell and Fraser.

Speaking of weaving, I played with the loom last weekend.   Here’s my first sampler.  I still need to finish it but I think I’m ready to move on to towels now.

Knitting

The Last of the Prizes

Posted on by Jean

I’ll post a grand total once I get a chance this week to get up to see Claudia at Countrywool and pick up the hats she has waiting for me.

We did the drawings last night and in order to get them up here, I’m just going to load up the winner with the prize. If I know the link to your Ravelry ID or your blog off the top of my head it’s linked below.   I’ll try to get the packages mailed out tomorrow. Definitely by the end of the week.  The winners are:

Marta: Socks That Rock Crayon Colors

Heather: Vesper Knit & Tonic

Tammy: Socks that Rock Firebird

Kimberly: Vesper Meteor

Norma: Happy Feet 

Sarah: Socks That Rock Nodding Violet 

Carol, Jenna and Nancy: Stitch Markers Set

Suzann: Socks That Rock

Elizabeth: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride 

Amy:  Secret Life of a Knitter Book

Suellen: Stitch N Bitch Book

and we have a new prize that goes to Tammy donated by Jennifer at Blue Stocking Yarn: