The First of the Seed Poofs (nearly dispersed)
More Poofs in the Making
Gorgeous Gauzy Fiber
Archive for the ‘Fiber’ Category
More Tragopogon porrifolius Activity
Monday, May 7th, 2018Plantel Plant Trays and Zenport Ring Knife
Tuesday, August 1st, 2017I recently attended the Santa Barbara County Fair in Santa Maria, CA. When I wandered through the horticulture displays I saw a sign for free plants. Plantel Nurseries was giving away vegetable plants. I snagged a few plants-kale, chard, lettuces, and celery.
When I returned home I immediately planted them in pots. While I was planting them I got to thinking about the Plantel plant trays. The cells were smaller than those of the typical plant trays available at the neighborhood nurseries.
I visited the Plantel website and was directed to Peaceful Valley Farm Supply.
While I was visiting their site I found the Zenport Ring Knife.
This is an image of the Zenport Ring Knife from the Peaceful Valley Farm Supply website.
I thought that it might be useful when I am working on a project that has loads of binding and cutting of yarn and cord. I wasn’t sure what size to order. One reviewer stated the ring runs small. I ordered two sizes, both were too large. So, I bound them a bit.
The top ring knife is bound with a bamboo yarn and will be used for clean projects.
The bottom is bound with waxed linen cord for ease of cleaning and will be used for gardening.
Wrapping the ring makes the tool more comfortable to wear.
I am not recommending that anyone else should attempt this at home.
Using tools inappropriately can be dangerous.
I attempted to use the knife ring as instructed, but it was awkward and difficult.
I flipped the ring knife and it was easy peasy cutting. I had better control of the blade.
Even though it appears that the blade can come in contact with my hand, it does not.
I am not recommending that anyone else should attempt this at home.
Using tools inappropriately can be dangerous.
More Ants on Flowers
Friday, July 14th, 2017
Ants on a Pandorea jasminoides Flower
Noticed a few pods, so I snagged them.
Previous posts on Pandorea jasminoides pods use as an art material–
Casemaking Again
Wednesday, July 5th, 2017I am in the process of making a trellis for the courtyard wall. It will be similar to the trellis on the wall that wraps around the corner. I needed a piece of 1″ fence to use as a support for the vertical bamboo pieces.
I found a piece of fence that was to have been used in a project with cotton twine. The cut bits are sharp unless they are ground down, so the edge was taped until a border was attached.
When I flipped the piece of fence over, I noticed casemaking moths attached to the tape. For insects that are supposed to be particularly fond of animal fiber, they sure seem to show up on loads of surfaces.
Not sure if they are alive. Seeing them did remind me to try placing items that may have been exposed to casemaking moths in the trunk of the car. An entomologist that I met while hiking, mentioned exposing the casemaking moths to the heat in the car over a period of a couple of weeks. He seemed to think the exposure should kill all forms of the casemaking cycle.
I do not like killing anything, but the casemaking moths can’t seem to stay outside, away from my studio work and sweaters. Frustrating, but not the bane of my existence.
Bound Bulb Leaves
Sunday, June 18th, 2017The large draping leaves of a bulb that isn’t quite done yet, were shading some new additions to the garden. Since binding is a component of my art work, thought I would give it a go in the garden. Plan to move the bulb with the bound leaves to a different location.
This is the same type of bulb that was recently relocated from another garden space.
This is another type of bulb with braided and bound leaves.
I used jute cord for binding knowing that the leaves would eventually turn shades of golden brown.
I am liking the bound verticals in the garden. If several were together it would be more interesting. When I began converting the garden to larger drought tolerant plants, the bulb was blooming. It had numerous white flowers. Lovely flowers, so didn’t want to move it.
Wallpieces, Concrete Columns, Flax
Tuesday, June 6th, 2017While archiving project working files for the garden wallpieces, I thought it would be a good idea to have the layout image with the finished wallpiece.
I chose to switch the colors on this wallpiece. When the two are viewed together on the wall, I wanted the dark brown rope of the embroidery stitches to act as a frame.
Our the weekend our neighbor gave use two solid concrete columns.
The columns are 29″ x 8.5″ x 9″
Leaning toward building a faux fireplace as the focal on the back wall of the courtyard between the two wallpieces. Need to relocate the Cordia boissieri, Texas Wild Olive. The location isn’t sunny enough.
Need to stain the columns and perhaps even break off some hunks to give the visual feel of age. The mantel will be a couple of thick slabs of wood. Inside the “fireplace” will be snake plants to stand in for the flames of a fire.
Can’t wait to get started, but first I must finish building a rock garden. Over the weekend I removed the plants and bulbs. Today I started removing the soil and locating the irrigation system.
Harvested Flax Seed
2017 Anniversary Piece
Sunday, May 28th, 2017Each year I make a piece for our wedding anniversary. This year marks 34 years. Crazy, where does the time go???
This year I used hardware cloth and self striping sock yarn to make 35 squares, one for each year. Each square has the same background stitch of gray yarn. The dots of the code are in orange and the dashes are in yellow.
Left side was original design.
Right side is the stitch layout used for each square.
Detail of 2017 square and how the piece is attached.
Square for each year of anniversary bound together.
Completed and framed piece.
Chalkboard paint and purple chalk application for an aged appearance.
Usually I make my own frames. This year I ran out of time so I purchased a frame. The frame is too deep for the piece. Also, it was difficult painting the frame. The glass was fixed in place and could not be removed. I taped it up, but the internal frame that holds the glass in place was white and could not be painted. And it could be seen. I used a black permanent marker on the glass. Definitely not good craftsmanship.
Making a frame with the proper depth will be necessary.
Placing pieces in frames, rather than directly on the wall changes how the pieces are view. I like the idea that you can see and touch the pieces, but a bit of protection might be in order. It has been difficult keeping pieces free of dust and in some cases insects.
Framing pieces, if done properly, just might give the feel of artifact. Need to think on it and make some frames for some of my work in progress. Live with them for a time and then decide if framing is a good for the work.
Courtyard Wallpieces
Monday, May 22nd, 2017Over the weekend I made two wallpieces for my courtyard garden. The wallpieces will break up the wall while acting as trellises for vines.
The wall has a step design that makes it difficult for spacing. I tried equal spacing between and around the wallpieces, but the edge of the right wallpiece hit a step in the wall that visually wasn’t working.
I moved the pieces to 3 feet from the corners. Still didn’t feel right.
I am leaning toward placing the wallpieces centered with the wall steps. In the center of the wall is a Cordia boissieri (Texas Wild Olive).
It is small now, but should eventually fill the space.
The wallieces were made using simple Bargello embroidery stitches. Materials List–1 inch fence (41″ x 31″), coconut fiber rope, and sisal rope.
Safety when working with fiber–wear a respirator, gloves, and a long sleeve shirt.
Coconut fiber is beautiful, but it is extremely prickly, dusty, and dirty. This is part of what I swept up.
Again With the Casemaking Moths and Possible Easy Solution
Wednesday, May 10th, 2017I am in the process of cleaning and clearing my studio in order to have enough space to begin a new project.
While cleaning my work bench I found casemaking moths.
Casemaking moth in a small bowl of cold wax test pieces.
The casemaking moth is in the center on the penny bound with wool.
Finding the casemaking moths brought to mind a recent conversation I had with an entomologist. I specifically asked him how to address the casemaking moth problem.
He said that an easy solution was to put my work in the my car. What would that accomplish? One of the ways to kill casemaking moths is to use heat. He also recommended tossing the stuff in a plastic bin with a few moth balls. I don’t recall which moth balls he recommended, naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. I would prefer not using chemicals.
But, it never occurred to me to use the heat in the car. That would be an easy fix, especially since most of my work will not fit in the freezer.
He mentioned that his wife had success killing an insect infestation in the wood horn of a recently purchased used saddle.
Previous Posts
Casemaking Moth Damage–Alpaca yarn embroidered on harware cloth.
A Perfect Environment for Moths
Would the interior temperature in a car kill moths?
American Veterinary Medical Association
The AVMA credits–Jan Null, CCM; Department of Geosciences, San Francisco State University,
for creating the estimated vehicle interior temperature chart.
Alternatives, A Washington Toxics Coalition Fact Sheet, Clothing Moths-Prevention and Control by Jennie Goldberg states–“High heat (in excess of 99”F for one week) will destroy all life stages of the moth.”
It appears that the interior temperature of a car will kill moths.
Need to perform some tests to find out for sure.
It is Not a Pod…
Sunday, March 19th, 2017I am currently staying with my sister’s family in an old farm house in Maryland. When I took my morning walk, I noticed something odd. The fir trees at the edge of the property had what appeared on first glance, some type of pods.
When I took a closer look it became clear that the “pods” were made by insects.
So, who made them?
According to the Penn State Dept of Entomology it is the work of the bagworm moth,Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth).
“This insect is most easily recognized by the case or bag that the caterpillar forms and suspends from ornamental plants on which it feeds. The bag is made of silk and bits of host foliage. These materials are interwoven to disguise and add strength to the case.”
The illustration is from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources–Backyard Farmer
It is unfortunate that the bagworm is destructive. The structures that they build are so beautiful. Apparently, it would be a good idea to remove them from the trees to prevent an infestation.
The description of the bag incorporating the surrounding material brings to mind Tinea pellionella, commonly known as casemaking moths.
Casemaking moths are very small. If you are not looking for them or not aware that they even exist. They can be mistaken for a bit of lint.
They are definitely not something I want in my home and studio since I am using natural fiber in my work.
Casemaking moths ate a large portion of the fiber stitchwork of a work in progress.
The photo was taken with my iPad. It is difficult to capture something that is so small,
but it is an example of a red case.
Casemaking moth that was found inside one of my garden clogs.