Finished Scarf

 All done with the weaving (I wanted plenty of warp left over for the fringe).

 Pulled off the loom.

 Washed and dried (though not yet ironed). It's 70" long (excluding fringe) and 6 1/4" wide. I am very pleased with how even my selvedges are- I'm getting better at that. I love the gentle color variations.

I learned one important thing: if you're going to combine different weights in your warp thread or yarn, distribute it throughout the warp. When the outside edges are heavier, the weft doesn't pack as tightly, and therefore the lighter/finer inside section gets a little crooked. The crookedy parts aren't horrible, but I did struggle with it a bit throughout.

Even though the blue/green yarn was soft and squooshy, the finished fabric isn't as soft as I thought it was going to be, so this scarf won't be next-to-skin. It'll have to be worn over a collar or turtleneck. Or it'll be a table runner. Tables rarely have sensitive necks.

Almost Done

I finished hand quilting the center panel of the Firebird baby quilt.

 What's really amazing is that I've worked on it every single evening for several hours (except on American Idol nights, and the couple of evenings that I had previous engagements) for well over a month, and I'm not sick of it. That is not to say that I'm sorry to be finished with the main quilting, but I have not grown to hate every single inch of this cloth, which is how I usually feel at the finishing line of a Major Project.

 I am going to work one random/squiggly quilting line along the center of the pieced fabric borders, sewing sort of on and around the paisley outlines. I wouldn't have to quilt that section at all, the batting is a solid piece of bonded cotton so it's not going anywhere, but I thought it might look odd to have that great swath unquilted fabric when the rest of the piece is stitched heavily. I'm not going to use the hoop for those areas, I'm just going to work running stitches, so it should go pretty quickly. After that, I just have to sew the binding (machine sewing it to the quilt, and then hand tacking it down).

 I love this design, and the quilting has been fun. If you've a mind to give this one a shot, you can order it from Spoonflower here. It's an original Cean Irminger design.

I don't know if I'm ready to start another quilted project right away (I have some class samples to knit up), but just in case, I ordered a yard of this for another baby quilt center panel. And a yard of this coordinating fabric for the border strips. Fun, no?

In the meantime, I only have a couple more feet to weave on the scarf/runner project. I'm slowly getting the hang of this! And the correct size heddle arrived, so next up will be a scarf or runner with heavier yarn. Woohoo!.

AI Season 11- Top 5 Elimination, 05-03-12

We open with a Top 5 photo shoot full of poses and candids. We're reminded that last night JLo said that Joshua was the best singer she's seen in 50 years. Does that mean that JLo is AARP fodder?

Randy is in a black leather jacket with a bright yellow YO pin. Steven is in a sparkly suit. He has a pair of pink plastic lips hanging from a chain attached to his lapel. He occasionally applies the totally superfluous fake lips to his mouth, and then spits them out. Steven is weird, y'all. JLO is sporting tight black pants with several hip zippers. Her top is tight and silvery and the cap sleeves are jewel encrusted.

Ryan is in a charcoal 3-piece suit and tie, with a teal pocket square. He announces that one kid is going home tonight, which is a startling development, I must say. When did they start doing that? He also says that Coldplay and Carrie Underwood will both perform tonight, though I assume not at the same time.

We start right in with the results. Ryan calls Joshua (weird gray tee shirt with a cowl collar and shiny buttons) down. Iovine says that Joshua's performances are the ones to beat. He gushes and exclaims and then ends with a totally unnecessary Fat Joke at Randy's expense. Look, I don't like Randy either, but that was over the line.

Joshua is safe, to no one's surprise, especially Joshua, who never doubted it.

The Fordmercial is full of fairy tale weirdness, with the kids stealing golden eggs from an unseen giant. Also unseen: Phil, for the second week in a row.

Coldplay takes the stage to sing Paradise. The backdrops are black with neon graffiti, and the piano is all paint spattered. It will not surprise you that I am not familiar with the Coldplay oeuvre- I don't even know which one off them is Mr. Gwenneth Paltrow. This song isn't horrible but it's not one I would listen to again on purpose. The audience waves glow sticks in the dark, though it's not so dark that we can't see that the judges aren't in the room.

Next Ryan calls Hollie down (black scoop-necked leather vest, skinny jeans, very high heels, narrow pink belt, headband and curls) and Phil (long-sleeved tan tee). Iovine says that it was a critical week for Hollie- that he loved her #1 song but neither loved nor hated #2. He says that Phil is sick (news to us), which is too bad, but his song choices have been bland and that Phil deserves to be in the bottom 2 tonight. Phil looks a bit peaky onstage, but he engages in a bit of obviously scripted business with Ryan that involves spitting his gum onto Ryan's note cards, and then Ryan pretending to throw the gum to Iovine, who pretends to chew it. WTF? and also: eew!

To my surprise, Phil is safe. Hollie, however, does not look surprised as she heads over to the two (only) Stools of Despair.

Carrie Underwood is wearing a one-shouldered white toga/angel dress with tattered fabric streamers hanging from the shoulder. She's still incredibly beautiful, and she's learned a whole lot about owning the stage since Season 4. Her song, called Blown Away, is not very melodical or lyrical, and it's not in the least Country. The wind machine exposes Carrie's leg, and threatens to expose a whole lot more. The Judges are in the room for this performance. Gosh, Carrie has a new album to promote. Imagine that.

Skylar (in a bright green chiffon mullet dress and what I first think is a long black belted vest, but when she moves around, I see that the vest is really a long black scarf. She's also wearing fringed cowboy boots. In other words- she's dressed in a perfect Skylar Costume) and Jessica (dark skinny pants, and a one-shouldered, orange ruffle fest) hit the stage. Iovine says that Skylar is a fighter but she didn't quite connect with her #1 song, and #2 was pure Vegas. He says that Jessica's #1 song was a travesty, and that her dress was horrible and far too mature for a teenager (I stand up in my living room and cheer). However, Iovine loved every part of Jessica's #2 song.

Ryan asks the judges what they think of Iovine's assessment of Jessica's dress. JLo says that it might have been too much for Middle America (whereupon I shout at the TV that dressing 16 year olds up like hookers is unacceptable on the coast too). Randy allows that the dress might have been a tad over the top. But the dress wasn't enough to sink Jessica- she's safe.

Hollie and Skylar clutch each other in misery. They're Besties and it's easy to see that they're scared for themselves, but also frightened for each other, since one of them is going home.

Coldplay takes the stage again, and this song is enough like the last that I feel free to get up and fix myself a drink instead of taking notes. In my absence, the main guy (Mr. P, I presume) spends half of the song bent over at the waist, and the other half, standing up straight with his non-microphone hand floating precariously close to his nether regions. At the end, the entire place is showered with roughly a bazillion post-it notes.

The show tries to pretend that Coldplay just performed live by sprinkling a few bits of paper on Ryan, but since the stage is swept clean, we know better. Ryan says that nearly 60 million votes decided who is going home.

And that one is... Skylar.

Hollie falls apart and JLo cries, but Skylar pulls her shit together like the seasoned pro that she is, and attacks her final singout with high energy and a big smile. I thought that both of Skylar's performances were  the worst of last night, but that doesn't mean that I wanted to see her go home. By the look of things though, I think she's going to be just fine.

Thursday Tab- Merrill Fun on a Rainy Day Coloring Book

It's not strictly a paper doll book, but this coloring book from Merrill, published in 1956, had a several paper doll pages, and lots of other cut-out activities. I love the one where you curl her hair.

AI Season 11- Top 5 Performance, 05-02-12

We relive Elise's elimination, and also her organdy bed jacket. And then the remaining kids each assure us that they want to win.

Entering from the stage (for the first time in a couple of weeks), Randy is in a shiny (not sparkly) gold jacket over a black shirt. Steven is in white lingerie. JLo is wearing a calf-length, skin tight red dress with cut-in shoulders and a very low v-neck with a transparent white modesty panel. Her extensions are very straight tonight and she's actually wearing lip color. Ryan is in pewter polished cotton, and a tie. His pompadour has reached Clay Aiken heights.

Ryan tells us that tonight the kids will each sing one song from the 60's, and one from Brit Pop. Tonight's Guest Mentor is Steven Van Zandt (I don't feel quite comfortable calling him Little, firstly because I think he's older than I am, and secondly, because he isn't). SVZ is in a shapeless purple jacket and coordinating babushka. Ryan says that SVZ is charismatic. I don't think Ryan knows what that word means.

#1. Hollie- River Deep, Mountain High.
I & SVZ are not sure if this is going to work for Hollie. I agree with them.

Onstage, Hollie is wearing a short sparkly shift with an allover sort of geometric pattern of tan, peach, and cream. Her chain earrings hang well below her shoulders. This song is not one of my favorites even when Tina Turner sings it. There's not a whole lot of melody to it. I think Hollie is doing okay, but it's still not a very good match for her voice. She's more relaxed than I've seen her, and she seems to be enjoying her own performance, which is nice to see.

I am surprised that all three judges loved it.

I do wish Phil would stop making those stupid damn faces every time the camera goes by. The head tilt, squint and sneer are really starting to annoy me.

#2 Phil- The Letter
I & SVZ bicker a bit over Phil's general style, with SVZ saying that it's not the Miss America Pageant, and that artistry also matters.

Phil is wearing a khaki green shirt over a gray tee, and he's playing the guitar. This is another song that I don't love (and I came to loathe it during the lead-up to Season 5 when Chris Daughtry's audition of this song was played constantly in the commercials). But Phil is doing his patented growly/bluesy/raspy thing with it, and it's very good.

The audience goes crazy. Randy gushes, JLo doesn't know the song (seriously?), and Steven thinks that Phil got away with skipping the melody altogether.

Phil's cute hometown girlfriend is in the audience.

#3 Skylar
I & SVZ don't like Skylar's first song choice, and they talk her into Fortunate Son.

Skylar's outfit is nearly indescribable (literally- I don't have the words for many of the individual components). She appears to be wearing a white on white striped short rayon dress topped by a black sort-of- Heidi vest with a line of sparkly white diamonds marching across the stomach. There's a sparkly, fringed shawl apparently sewn to the waistline, and she's wearing glitter boots. Oh, and her huge metal earrings look like they weigh a ton. The whole thing is even uglier and less flattering than it sounds. Speaking of sound, her voice is not pleasant here, it's kind of screamy. But girlfriend works the stage like a pro.

JLo talks for a long time without saying much of anything, Steven likes the boot scootin', and Randy name-drops CCR. None of the judges mention the actual singing.

Joshua and Phil are going to sing a duet together for the first time. This should be interesting. Phil is wearing the same outfit that he had on earlier. Joshua is in a heavy black wool jacket with wide black leather lapels (I mean really wide). The sleeves have long leather cuffs. And by long, I mean at least 10"- they go from above the wrist almost to his elbows. They're singing You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling. They start out on stools, and Phil's opening solo sounds a little off. Joshua just sings his portion at first, and he sounds fine. When they sing together, they sound okay. Phil eventually warms into the song, and of course Joshua goes to his Fantasia Place by the end. Afterwards, Phil throws an arm around Joshua's shoulders and Joshua instantly pulls away, like he's been burned. It's a very weird overreaction. He continues to look uncomfortable, edging away from Phil every time he gets within touching distance.

Steven babbles about the guys singing into each others' eyes (you know that Phil and Heejun would have done that), JLo laughs, and Randy says something.

#4. Jessica- Proud Mary
I & SVZ both try to talk Jessica out of Proud Mary, but they end up supporting the song choice.

Jessica is wearing a very short, very tight white wrap dress with a heavy metal semi-circular necklace , a vest made of many drapey chains, and a big ring with chain fringe. If I close my eyes, Jessica sounds fine, but unfortunately I don't close my eyes. Watching her try the Tina Turner Strut makes me really uncomfortable (in a Toddlers & Tiaras way). It feels wildly inappropriate and it reminds me of just how much of a child Jessica really is.

Steven and JLo both love it. Randy says that the voice was fine, but that the performance was not up to Tina  Turner Standards. Yikes, I actually agree with Randy.

#5. Joshua- Ain't Too Proud to Beg
I & SVZ both dance in their chairs to Joshua's rehearsal.

Onstage, Joshua is wearing a navy blazer whose white sleeves have narrow blue sparkly stripes, over a royal shirt with robin's egg facing (a color scheme that I like to call Ex-Nun). He also has a huge yellow daffodil in his pocket. He's doing The Temptation's version of the song, and it sounds just fine. He's even dancing a little. Of course, this is Joshua, and Joshua simply cannot resist the Jacob Lusk finish, which ruins the whole thing for me.

Steven admires the sleeves. JLo gushes (though she does not mention GOOSIES!). Randy compares Joshua to Terence Trent d'Arby, which I think he means as a compliment.

#6. Hollie- Bleeding Love
I & SVZ remind Hollie to sing to just one person, and ignore the rest of the audience.

Hollie is seated on a piano. She's wearing an oddly-ruched black halter dress with a very long transparent overskirt. How long, you ask? Long enough to be draped and arranged on the floor below Hollie, who is still perched up on the piano. I don't know this song, but I like it. Hollie sounds good and this melody suits her voice and style very well. Afterwards, she slides down to the floor and gathers up her train.

Steven and JLo love it. Randy takes forever (and drops Simon Cowell's and Leona Lewis's names) before finally getting around to saying that he loved it too.

I am pretty sure that I just saw Pam Beesley's old fiance Roy, in the audience. Is he on another show now?

#7. Phil- Time of the Season
I& SVZ both think that this is going to be good.

Phil, with guitar, is on a stool. He's wearing a black long-sleeved tee. He removes one of his earpieces right away, so I wonder if there are sound troubles. This is far more laid back, softer, and much more melodic than Phil's usual performance. I do believe I'll be purchasing this one for download tomorrow.

JLo likes the mellow vibe. Steven says that Phil sang it well. Randy says that Phil showed, and this is an exact quote: A lot more less energy. There is the whiff of Faint Praise hanging over all of the comments.

Jessica, Hollie, and Skylar are going to sing a trio, but first they imitate each other (and Jessica has to force a smile when Hollie trots out the runaway vibrato). All three girls are wearing the same things they wore for their earlier performances. They're singing Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher, and though they sound okay, this is not a stellar performance.

Steven says it was a weird arrangement, JLo says it was cute (Cute? Baby ducks are cute! tm Annie Savoy). Randy: bablebabblebabble

#8. Skylar- You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
I & SVZ make Skylar ugly-giggle with their arguments.

Skylar has changed into a floor-length, one shouldered toga dress made from a snakeskin bed sheet. Do I even need to add that it has a white belt and a mullet hem? She wanders past a couple of prop people smooching on a bench as she sings. And, oh my, this is really nasal. I think she maybe should be singing in a lower key. This is Skylar's worst performance on the show.

But of course, all three judges love it.

#9. Jessica- You Are So Beautiful
I & SVZ are worried that Jessica will sound like Muzak.

Jessica is sitting on the floor, surrounded by candles. She's wearing a gold and purple dress (at least I think it's purple, the stage is pretty dark so it's hard to tell) with a floaty high-waisted skirt and a cris-cross bodice. She's doing the Joe Cocker version by way of Whitney Houston. Her voice sounds rich and full and lovely and I like it, except for some overdone runs at the end.

She stands up and we see that she's barefoot. Ryan brings her very high heels over, and Randy makes a nasty joke about Ryan wearing them before declaring the Judges universal love for Jessica.

#10 Joshua- To Love somebody
I & SVZ don't like Joshua's first song choice, so they talk him into The BeeGees. Joshua runs off and learns the song in 15 minutes (he'd never heard it before... sigh). He wows them.

Onstage, Joshua is wearing the same jacket as he wore in his duet with Phil. He's also wearing a drapey cowl neck tee, like the ones Colton favored. He starts out more subdued than usual, but of course the vibrato and screech quickly take over. Joshua and this song are both exhausting.

He looks very smug as he gets yet another Standing O from the judges.

Tonight's Best:
Phil #1-2
Hollie #2

Tonight's Worst:
Skylar #1-2

Almost Great Except for Excess Notage at the End:
Joshua #1
Jessica #2

Who's going home tomorrow? It could be any of them.

More Wordless because tonight is American Idol, and I'll use plenty of words then

Wordless Weaving