Techy and Fiberly meet

New post at Fiberly One's new home

Techy and Fiberly meet

Something Funny

After seeing the Clackamas Repertory Theatre (CRT) production of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" two years ago, we subsribed to the three-play season last year, when they performed "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)," "The Fantasticks," and "The Illustrated Man." All three shows were extremely well staged and performed. So it was a foregone conclusion we would subscribe again.

Last week, the season opened with a British farce called "See How They Run." Last night we saw it, and it was hilarious! Jayson Shanafelt, who we saw in "Shakespeare (unabridged)" last year did not disappoint as Clive. Newcomer Heather Ovalle was also a standout at Ida, the maid. Then again, all the roles were very well-played in this fast paced comedy.

Though the Osterman Theatre at Clackamas Community College is an intimate venue, we have been really impressed with the productions we've seen there, so we look forward to the next two plays and what the CRT has to offer in the future.

There are still six performances. If you like a great production of a really funny play, you should see "See How They Run." Maybe we'll see you there. Oh, and if Cynthia Smith-English, CRT Managing Mirector, asks, tell her we sent you.

Picture processing

Smariek Knits asked how I get the white backgrounds on my images and as with many things in blog-land I've been slow to respond, but here goes.

I use Photoshop to process my images on my Mac. I'm ex-Adobe, so that's what I have and I know, but if you use another program, perhaps you can adapt some of the steps and processes. This isn't a tutorial on Photoshop; I'm not that good. But there are great tutorials online. Searching on Google for images and definitions for the tools, I found Photoshop Lab and SimplePhotoshop.com.

When possible try to take the digital picture against a background with sharp contrast and/or with as few similar colors as my project.


Use different tools to select either the project or the stuff around the project, then delete the background. The idea is to grab as much of the background creating an outline, without selecting too much of the content from the project. With Contiguous checked, experiment with Tolerance, choose the Magic Wand tool to select batches of color in the background. To add to the selection, hold the shift key down, click on a different section. If too much of the project is selected, reduce the Tolerance number. Once there's a pretty good outline of the project, use the Marquee to select big sections of the background that the Magic Wand.



To select the project instead of the background under the Select Menu choose Inverse.



The arrow below points to where some of the hat has been grabbed along with the background, so the Lasso tool can be used to add the little bit back into the project. Don't forget to hold down the shift key. If at any time, you do forget to hold down the shift key, you can Undo.*



Next Copy the project and paste. A new layer will be created. In the Layers window make the background layer invisible.



Using the Zooming in and using the Eraser tool , clean up any extra backgroud pixels or edges that you don't like. Crop the image to remove extra white space. Depending on the original size of the image, you also may want to reduce the image size.



My last step is to add a drop shadow under Layer Style in the Layer menu, and this is the result.


This is Evelyn Clark's Crusher Hat, crocheted from Puppy Leafy yarn on a size H hook. I needed an instant gratification project. Now what to do with the remaining 6 skeins...

*Alternatley, the Lasso tool can be used to outline the project. In my Googling, I also found another, probably more precise method of removing the background at GraphicSoft.

Looking for a house?

My mom's house is on the market in Sun City West, Arizona. If you're in the market or know someone who is, check it out.



That means, of course, that we did, in fact, convince her to move up to Oregon to be closer to us. It will be a big change for her, because she doesn't remember the ten winters spent in Denver, having been in Arizona for fifteen years.

Free FileMaker magazines to a good home

There is no dog or fiber content in this post.

I love magazines, but there is this problem of what to do with them when they're "done." Some I save—I have all issues of Threads and Interweave Knits, lots of VK and most Knitters (which are staying here). Others just get recycled like Popular Science and Entertainment Weekly, because it's unlikely we'll want reference them.

So what to do with five years of FileMaker Advisor magazines? When I had a real job, I could justify the subscription, but now that I'm mostly retired and don't even have the latest version of FileMaker, I've let the subscription lapsed. And having finally found located all 130+ issues of Threads (two years later), that I need to make room for, the FileMaker Advisor mags have to go...hopefully to a good home.

The subscriptions were spendy and much of the content is still valid, so I just hate the idea of having to recycle the paper, so here's the deal:

If you are interested, the FileMaker Advisor magazines—2001-Mar 2006—are FREE to you, but you will have to cover the cost of shipping/mailing (from Portland, OR) - by whatever carrier you choose.

Send me a comment if you want any or all of the 46 FileMaker magazines.

Royal Post

Speaking of Scotland, this is just an aside to point out that as much as we complain about our postal systems, sometimes they do "work"—just not always quickly.

On May 22, we stopped by the combination grocer/post office on Islay to mail home a box of miscellaneous things. It was a small shop and we were directed to the "post office" which was on the same counter three feet from the cash register for the store. Our one box was just a little too heavy to be considered "small parcel" and would cost double what two small parcels would cost, so we divided the goods into two boxes. Allow 4-6 weeks we were told.

About three weeks ago, or two months later, box one arrived. As we were driving back from Seattle Thursday night, I happened to comment on the fact that box number two had not arrived. Our stopped mail was delivered yesterday and, you guessed it: there was box two.

It took close to three months but we have our two boxes, which is good because Tom would have looked silly walking around with just one shoe...

Twenty five years ago

Finished Objects

Where did the week go? Has it really been over a week since I last posted? Well, at least I have some things to show for the absence.

Knitters and Bloggers
There is such a sense of community in Oregon that I have never felt in other places I've lived. It starts with the pride in the state that residents hold and extends to the desire to get together and share common interests. Combine that with the extraordinary knitting community and you have PDX Knit Bloggers, a group of knitters who met each other at Powell's when Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was in town and decided they needed to find other knit bloggers in the area. A Yahoo! group was started and on Sunday twenty-four knitters met at Knit-Purl to share stories, projects and, of course, knit. Kathy was among the first to blog about it. Monica became the official photographer having taken the most pictures, including me working on Sasha. Peggy and Mims from the Oregonian have described what everyone was working on.

Speaking of Sasha
The third time was a charm with this skirt. I bought the pattern last year in May. I started it, then frogged with almost all the underskirt done. I started it a second time but abandoned it for reasons I don't recall after just a couple of inches. A third start yielded he first section of the underskirt and, true to form, I got distracted with shinier, newer project. This past May, I thought it would be a good airplane project, but at the last minute decided it would be too cumbersome for travel. But now it is done. Yay!

Mystery Stole Clue 2
I finally figured out what I need to do to keep on track or rather, on chart. It's rather simple really—draw a dark line every 5 rows (forehead slap!). I've never been good about using row counters, or actually marking my place. That involves stopping and I'm just not that disciplined. At any rate, here's my progress on the shawl. BTW, at the PDX Knit Bloggers gathering, there were at least four others working on the stole (but only one who could concentrate and work on it at the meeting).


Convertible Wrap
Crocheting the hairpin lace panels on the loom went by swimmingly quickly. Crocheting up the loops—not-so-much. But it is done, the buttons on and April's birthday present is ready for mailing across the pond to Scotland. It will go with a picture from the stitchdiva site along with my pictures.
 





Ugly Pants
I finally got the ribbing onto the "muslin" pants. This will be the only public sighting of me in the pants. They will not leave the house unless they go out in a Goodwill bag.






Birthdays
We don't tend to celebrate birthdays exactly on the date with friends because there's always just too much going on. This year, we enjoyed John's birthday along with the nation's. Tom thought it would be a good idea for me to make another bottle poodle but he came up with the idea the third, so that was out. Instead, he did a little crafting of his own and the two liter bottle of single malt became a bottle bunny.

My gift from Dianne and John was interesting, pretty and tasty. Flowering Tea.

before

after

Multitasking

I have said I am highly susceptible to the power of suggestion, which is probably why I have so many books and a very large yarn and fabric stash. It's also why over the years I've dappled in papercrafts, beading, polymer clay and weighted weaving, in addition to sewing and knitting. I have also crocheted—but only to finish knitting.

A little weaving
April's birthday is at the end of the month and my first thought for April revolved around some Cherry Tree Hill Baby Sachet ribbon yarn and trying to come up with something I could do quickly, so I set up my handy-dandy frame that Tom made for me and set to weave a scarf. I spent a day on the project and I like how it looks, but it's so loose a weave, I just don't think it's really practical as a scarf for a busy mom of two boys, so...

Something new
Here's where the power of suggestion comes in: a year or so ago I was pointed to the Stitch Diva Studios site, where I saw a very cool skirt. It was made with hairpin lace and I toyed with the idea for a day or so, but wrested myself from the temptation...until last week, when Knitty Gritty aired a segment with Jennifer Hansen. After seeing how straightforward the technique was (having a really good presenter makes a big difference), I headed to the site, ordered a loom and the skirt pattern. As an aside, it is noteworthy to point out that the looms are made by Jensen Woodworking which is located in—you guessed it!—Oregon.

I thought I'd start with something simpler as a gift, so here is April's convertible wrap (a free project from Stitch Diva) in progress. It's Madil Apache, a wool blend ribbon from my stash. Once I got the rhythm of the process (Jennifer has a great tutorial on the Stitch Diva site) I breezed through the first two strips. There aren't a lot of patterns available yet, but the ones I've found are different and interesting, including those on Stitch Diva and Oat Couture.
 

Progress
And I'm still working on the Sasha skirt.


What to do with ugly (but "free") fabric
Well nothing is really free, but I didn't pay anything extra for it. I like Fabric Mart and was lured to their site by a "last chance" email. There were two fabrics that I really wanted, so I put them in my shopping cart, and thought "Just a few more dollars and I can take advantage of their free yardage offer." When I got the order the first thing I saw was this fabric. Did I order that? Digging into the box and looking at the packing slip, I realized that it was one of the "free" fabrics that I received even though I didn't actually receive all I'd ordered. Of course the two I really wanted someone else wanted before me.

I'm in the process of matching fabric with patterns and this unattractive fabric will make a great "muslin" for some knit pants. Who knows? Maybe it will look better as a garment, than as a flatfold of fabric.

...And there are shirts to sew for Tom...I'd better get off this computer...

Forty-nine

That's the number of years I have been in this world. Today is my birthday. A friend wrote to remind me that since it is the longest day of the year, I have even more time to enjoy it.

Tom and I just got home from a walk in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Portland, after a nice lunch at Wildwood Restaurant (I ate too much, but it was good—especially the strawberry shortcake.) In an earlier life, when I really loved to shop, this would have been a great shopping trip because, with a couple of exceptions, all the shops were small and local.

Now, one of the advantages of a June birthday is that there are three birthstones: pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite. On one of our first of many walks to come, Tom told me he thought I should have a new ring for our 25th anniversary in August. I'm really not a big jewelry girl, but he'd planted the idea, so off I went looking at rings on the internet. The diamonds didn't really appeal to me, but the thought came into my head that it would be different to have an alexandrite. I figured we'd be looking for a long while to find something since it's not a stone that everyone knows, much less has in their collection. I was wrong. Dyke Vandenburgh Jewelers had a ring on their site (and still do in their gallery) that was just what I had in my head. Thus, the anniversary ring became a birthday AND anniversary ring.

I've actually been enjoying my gift for a while, but thought I'd wait till June to share the story of my alexandrite. The wonder of the stone is that it changes colors in different lights. A professional photographer, I'm not, so I couldn't quite capture the brilliant color differences as well as I'd like, but here's a look. On the left it's purply-red in indoor lighting. On the right it's more of a blue-green in natural light.
 .

Done with the geek-stuff...for now

Warning: only a mention of fibers and dogs, otherwise this is, in fact, geek-stuff.

While trying to sort out why Google didn't find all the newer pages with Cody, I read that spiders don't particularly like frames. A lot of people don't like them, including me. But I had discovered an included script in Photoshop that would reduce a folder of images to thumbnail size and put the lot into a web page with - you guessed it - frames.

So after some manual changing of the web pages to put in my colors, backgrounds, etc. I created my own version of a content management system using FileMaker, making it much easier to update TheHudsons site.

But spiders don't like frames, so I had to figure out how to take all 1200 of the pages that are in frames and take them out. And I did. It took some significant data manipulating, several FileMaker databases and days, and learning about CSS, but it's done and I can move on to more fiberly endeavors.

The content most of the pages haven't changed, but the look has. Check it out.

Doggie Dash Update

Just thought you might like to know that thanks to a lot of wonderful friends, family and a stranger or two, TheHudsons have raised almost over $800 so far!

There's still time to support the Oregon Humane Society. It's the "Doggie" Dash because it's easier to walk and dash with dogs than say, cats or bunnies, but the Oregon Humane Society isn't just about dogs. So if you're an animal lover, please consider sponsoring us with a donation. Every dollar counts.

Donate in Tom's name.

Donate in Patty's name.

Thanks!

Weekend in San Francisco

This past weekend we attended our seventh Whiskies of the World Expo in San Francisco. Tom goes for the tastings, to check out new products and talk with the distillery managers and owners. I go to keep Tom company.

We stayed at the Handlery Hotel on Union Square. It wasn't our hotel choice, but one chosen when the Renaissance Parc 55 overbooked and offered to pay for our stay at another hotel. We had a "deluxe" room, and it was nice. However, it was on the second floor facing Geary St and much like sleeping on the street with all the noise. Were it not for the fact that the hotel was completely booked we would have asked for quieter room; instead we purchased squishy ear plugs which seemed to do the trick. It was, however, an excellent location and the price ($0) was right.

The hotel had a comfortable lobby, where I spent the early hours knitting, till it was a reasonable hour for Tom to get up. While there I had a chance to chat with Charles South, a member of the Tisohmingo county, Mississippi school board. Seems the National School Board Association was in town (is that why we were moved?).

The better part of the trip for me is the shopping in San Francisco. We always visit Artfibers and I usually come home with something new. I do a lot of online yarn shopping, but clearly there is nothing like seeing yarns in person and Artfibers always has swatches and samples, which is the reason this year I came home with three colors of Sylph—a true red, a rosy red, and royal blue.

Of course, Britex is always a destination on our visits to the City, but without a specific project in mind, I generally don't leave with anything. It is an experience, to be sure, but a bit of a sensory overload.



Tom did pretty well, too, adding to his collection of Single Malt Whiskies and other spirits, including a Bruichladdich special bottling. (This is a pdf link)





On our return to the hotel from Sutter St, we walked through Union Square where artists were displaying their work. And there was a giant elephant staring at us from Macy*s as part of their Celebration of India.

Doggie Dash 2007

We are great proponents of adopting rescue dogs. Three out of the four dogs that have graced our family were rescue dogs. We continue to support the Nike Animal Rescue Foundation who brought us Cody and Companion Animal Rescue Effort, where we were all introduced to Miss Mandy.


When we moved to Oregon, it only seemed natural that we support the Oregon Humane Society. Normally, we do it with a check, but hearing about the Doggie Dash timed with our new exercise routine of walking, we thought we could do something more.

So that's where you come in. I'm asking you to help us support the Oregon Humane Society by making a donation on behalf of me or Tom. Your choice.

Whatever you can give will help - it all adds up! We greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on our progress.

Donate in Patty's name.

Donate in Tom's name.

Thanks.

Still knitting

I am bound and determined to finish either the dressing gown or the reclaimed traveling shells vest, but it's a bit slow going.

My trip to the hand specialist resulted in a diagnosis of "saddle syndrome"—swelling of the saddle joint of the middle and ring finger. He prescribed therapy and rest to try to reduce the swelling, before doing anything drastic like poking a sharp object into it with drugs. Rest consists of a buddy thingy that holds the two fingers together so the joint isn't stressed. Therapy consists of heat and cold and massage.

Fortunately the buddy contraption is placed low enough on the fingers that it's only a slight impairment to most motions, so I can do most things, including knitting—just more slowly.

So any new knitting projects are in my head. Lace. I want to knit more lace...

Bark!

We have come to enjoy the local morning show AM Northwest. They always feature local entertainment, so you get a chance to see a bit of a play or an musician. It's there that we saw a snippet of Bark! and being the doggy people we are, we had to go see it. And that's what we did Friday night.

The play is a musical told from the perspective of six dogs in doggy day care. The first act is raucous and the songs and dialogue so reminded us of all the dogs we have known and loved. The second act starts of on the same note, but tones down to the "poignant" moments described on the site. (In other words, if you're mushy like me, bring a hankie.)

If you love or even like dogs, I heartily encourage you to see the show in its last weekend. Visit barkpdx.com.

An added bonus is that some of the proceeds go to Dove Lewis and the Oregon Humane Society.

Really small things

It just so happens that on two different lists there were links to two different fiberly things in minature, so it compels me to share them.

Teeny Tiny Knitting
I once had a friend who only knit (no purling) and only on US size 13 needles (9mm) or larger. She thought US size 10 needles (6mm) were tiny. Imagine what she'd think of the very small knits by Althea Merback at Bugknits.

A Very Small Quilt shop
I've held a fascination for polymer clay since first seeing Donna Kato on craft shows in the early days of HGTV. I even dabbled in it at one time.

Some of the pieces that artists create are pretty awesome, like the miniature quilters storefront by Sarajane Helm. The detail is amazing.

In the whole scheme of things, I would not call myself a quilter, but I do love quilt shops and fabric. After making my first quilt—for Tom's parents' golden anniversary, I gained a new respect for quilters' and swore I'd never make another, but I did—Tom's aunt's 80th birthday.

Date Night

It's not that Tom needs a cooking class, but he enjoys cooking and people, so when it came to deciding what to "get" Tom for Christmas, I chose a "Date Night" class at Sur La Table in Portland's Pearl District because of the menu: Roasted Fennel Soup with Pernod Cream; Dungeness Crab-stuffed Halibut, with Citrus Beurre Blanc; Artichoke and Lemon Orzo; and Grand Marnier Bread Pudding with Candied Orange Peel.

It turned out to be a great choice. Not only was the menu delish, but we prepped and cooked with some nice people—Tom and Kelly, and Matt and Jan. It was the other Tom's 40th birthday present, and like my Tom, he is the primary chef in their household, while Kelly is the baker. In contrast, Jan doesn't bake (except for boxed mixes) and Matt doesn't cook. The experience paid off because our meal looked and tasted great.

Jessica Benedetti, the chef, was an excellent teacher, along with the kitchen assistants. I think it's something we'll probably do again.

I've been tagged, too

Liana at Sew Intriguing has tagged me. What haven't I rambled on about myself?

1. I'm adopted. If you've checked out the pictures of my mom, you've probably sorted that out for yourself, but now it's been said here. I was two weeks old at the time and my parents worried because they were low on gas on a holiday, but it all worked out in the end.

2. Which brings me to: I'm an Air Force brat. Born in Formosa (better known now as Taiwan), I arrived in the U.S. at 6 months. Daddy was in the Air Force for 23 years and was retired as a Chief Master Sargent at age 40. Who knew about the cumulative affects of red meat and cholesterol (and smoking) in 1970?

3. I sang in choirs from fifth grade through high school and cannot read a lick of music. I sang second soprano and my crowning achievement in was to make the high A in the Hallejah chorus. I was also second alternate soprano in the McGregor's Beggars. Second because I can't read music, but I was cute and a senior, so this was my only chance.

4. I don't belong on a bicycle. At age 6, when learning to ride somehow I fell off and ended up in emergency with a cut between my left index and middle finger from the spokes. (I then used the scar to always tell my left from my right.) At age 21, I was riding into the sun, looked away briefly and ran into the back of a parked truck with something very sharp sticking out the back. That resulted in six days at the Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado.

5. I met Tom because I am a rotten salesperson. My second job post-Colorado State was working for a Manufacturer's Rep firm (Atari and Texas Instruments, among other esoteric things) as a computer sales person. Apple II was firmly entrenched and I was 22 without a clue. A new manager was hired and called one Sunday to was asked if I wanted to be a "merchandiser," (the unspoken words were "You're cute, but you're not making us any money.") Sure...what's a merchandiser? I was told to be at Atari, in Sunnyvale, the next day. Tom was a trainer and was coerced, cajoled, harrassed, into doing a short training session on the Telelink cartridge (if you know what that is that will really dates you.) "There's a really cute girl from DK named Patty Richards." Tom's first thought from the name was "Tall, blond, wine drinking, woman who likes cats." Boy was he wrong. We'll celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in August.

There you have it.

The rules:

• Someone Tags you
• You post 5 things about yourself that you haven't already mentioned on your blog
• You tag 5 people about whom you'd like to know more

So if they're game, I'm tagging KnitnListen, readysetmom, Sharon Sews, Cat Fur Studio and Marnie Talks.

Another weather report

Yesterday morning a local weather person said, "There will be some snow tomorrow morning, but nothing to make a big deal about." Boy was she wrong. I let Cody out at 6am and it was beginning to snow. By the time we got Tom up around 8am, there was probably an inch accumulation. Turned on the television where all programming has been interrupted to cover the weather (and ensuing traffic issues.) Good thing being snowed in isn't an issue for us.


Cody is an intrepid little dog. He found a path that didn't take him up to his barrel chest in snow. Luckily his stature is only influenced by the dachshund or he'd have been dragging.







Mandy does not like the snow. She circled the patio trying to find a place where there wasn't any, then headed for the door and was rather put out when I made her stop so I could get a shot of white snow on black dog.






It is pretty, though and the snow makes great snowballs!