Tag Archives: experimenting

Experimenting, part 2

Ikat

Even my weaving is an experiment. I really should be “sampling,” but I just go all out, so weaving is not the refuge that it usually is. I took out all the weaving that I pictured last week and started again. It seems to be going better this time around. I’ve decided I’ll complete the first section and then make a decision—cut off or continue.

Giving up?

I told myself that I would experiment with this for three months, so giving up is not a good option. However, I could go back to only rectangular shapes until I have a better handle on what is measured on the ikat board and what actually weaves up. Hmmm…

What I’ve learned this go-round

Detail-center

Weaving

Detail

Woven

Section-1

Woven

One of the things that I’ve learned is to try to center the next pick with the one before it. That means forgetting those marked warps and trying to weave the design according to those. By centering the wefts in this way, they make the shape they’re supposed to make. On the left is a section woven in this manner. Now, that doesn’t mean they’re as good as I would like, but an improvement over the bottom picture–which I took out.

Dyeing

Yellow-yarns

Trying all of those WashFast colors that I have is another experiment. After my initial disappointment, I’m really liking the colors. I’ll put them all in a pile and take a picture soon. Also need to make sample sheets, since the samples that I received are dyed at different percentages. Above are two yellows. The skeins are WashFast and the ball is the yellow from my usual dyes. The new yellow has a greenish cast, although not as severe as in this picture. Below is an adjusted picture. Not much better after all….just believe me!

Yarns-adjusted

Photo adjusted

Ikat Dyeing

More on this later, but experimentation here also. I’m not even dyeing the other tied sections until I decide the fate of this piece.

Experimenting, part 1

quinoa Experimenting with one thing after another seems to have taken over my life. They seem to be in these categories: food, weaving, and the to-do list.

Vegan????

I’m experimenting with food in an effort to eat more healthfully, not that it was too un health, but there’s room for improvement. Also, my doctor said that I might consider a vegan diet to help with inflammation—you know, the arthritis thing. I’m investigating veganism, but I’m not sure I could give up cheese and eggs. And that one cup of coffee in my espresso every morning.

New foods Boca

This week I have tried polenta, quinoa, and meatless crumbles. I have to admit, each of those was quite tasty.

  • I made a pot of pintos with onion and Ro-Tel tomatoes and served it with polenta.
  • Meatless crumbles
  • I had the quinoa with stir-fry vegetables (I meant to add some leftover chicken, but forgot). Actually, the only vegetables used were green onions, mushrooms, and snap peas. I think that’s what they are—no peas inside, just the flat pod itself.

    Verdict

  • I actually liked the quinoa. For something so tiny (before cooking, you have to rinse it in a fine sieve), there was a little crunch to it. I’ve heard that the popularity of quinoa here has made it difficult for poor people where it is grown, to afford it now. Of course, there seems to be a difference of opinion even about this.
  • The polenta was pretty good with the beans, but next time I think I’m going to used coarsely ground cornmeal instead of the instant polenta.
  • The crumbles were great with a little spaghetti sauce and whatever else you want to add. Boca crumbles

I’m not sure I can keep up the pace on trying new things. Maybe just one new thing this week.

Have you tried a new food lately? I’m looking for ideas!

Just because

cactus My Christmas cactus seems to prefer blooming in January. Here’s one of the blooms.