Mandolin

On By CarynIn music

I’ve been holding back some of my holiday gift money and keeping an eye on the marketplace. I like small instruments and have been eyeballing mandolins. Then one came up that was for sale in the next town over, and looked to be in good condition, so I bought it.

Photo description: face of a American Conservatory bowl back 8 string mandolin
Photo description: bowl back of the American Conservatory mandolin

The seller put me in touch with the previous owner, who had purchased the mandolin from a man who was clearing out his Dad’s house. The instrument had been his grandfather’s and had been sitting in the top of a closet for years. It was made by Lyon & Healey, back when they made more than harps, somewhere around 1890.

I tuned the mandolin, and it keeps pitch well. There are no cracks, and the tuning pegs hold. Absolutely amazing for an instrument that is over 100 years old.

Throwback Thursday: eye wreath

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In October of 2016, I painted ping pong balls with irises and pupils and glued them on a wreath frame decorated with short lengths of dark red glittery ribbon and mounds of black netting to make a Halloween decoration.

Photo description: front view of eye wreath made of ping pong balls and ribbon
Photo description: closer side view of the same wreath

This was a short-lived wreath. In storage the acrylic paints rubbed off the ping pong balls, and the hot glue released its hold. And while it was interesting to play with different iris colors, it didn’t take long for painting that many ping pong balls to get tedious. If I were to do it again, I would look into making the eyes more realistic, maybe with some clear epoxy, since the true impact of this piece is achieved on closer inspection. There would be fewer eye balls as well!

Raccoon

On By CarynIn Wildlife

In the snowy landscape of the last storm, the trail cam picked up the image of a raccoon.

Photo description: night vision view of a raccoon standing on a bench behind the coop

Raccoon spottings have been few and far between.

Sizing

On By CarynIn Craft

I find knitting and crochet patterns for clothing items very frustrating. There is the whole sizing issue – just making more rows or making the pattern “bigger” does not mean it will fit right when you’re done. Putting hours and hours into a project and then have it not be a useful item is defeating. I’m working on a circle vest, because I like vests, and they are generally easier to fit than items with sleeves. Up until this point I have followed the pattern by LazyTCrochet, checking fit as I went. I used the largest version XL, and added the “Plus size” extensions, which are a joke.

Photo description: circle vest crocheted with hand spun Jacob’s and Teeswater wool with color variation, NOT my pattern

Fitting for multiple body sizes is hard. Most designers add rows and call it “good.” Frankly, there are more body types than XS-5XL (this particular pattern went from S-XL). Arm circumference, bust size, height, arm length, waist size, shoulder to hip, are all so individual. I could flail and complain about pattern designers, but I think it is the crafter’s duty to know their body and learn how to make adjustments to fit. For me, patterns are starting places, they just have to be. For this vest, I’m going to add more rows in the same style as the rest of the vest, not only to balance colors, but to get more coverage. I did purchase this pattern, but it wasn’t expensive (warning sign), but I won’t be purchasing from the designer again.

Wild bird roll call

On By CarynIn photography, Wildlife

As we sat iced in and watched the birds eat seeds, I took pictures. I managed to get shots of most of the menagerie. The iNaturalist app helped me with identification.

Photo description: red-bellied woodpecker hanging on a suet feeder
Photo description: orange-crowned warbler sitting on a snow covered seed tray
Photo description: dark eyed junco eating seeds on the ice
Photo description: mourning dove eating seeds on the ice
Photo description: female downy woodpecker on a suet feeder
Photo description: Harris’ sparrow eating seeds on the ice
Photo description: Carolina wren sitting in a seed tray
Photo description: white winged dove eating seeds on the ice
Photo description: American Goldfinch in its winter colors eating seeds

I did not get photos of the titmouse, or the blue jay, or the crows. The jays and crows kept their distance, but the titmouse were all over the feeder, so there wasn’t really a reason they did not make the roll.