Craftsmanship

I have been reading Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell. First she looks at why we like cheap and curiously enough how we undervalue things that are inexpensive. In one study it was found that students reported their full cost pain killer substantially more effective than the same painkiller with a lower price -- so we gravitate toward these deals and then we do not appreciate the product.

Then she looks at some of the underlying costs of this drive to the lowest possible price one of which is a devaluation of craftsmanship. For those of us involved in producing beautiful quality crafts products that will last for years and survive to be handed down this poses some extra problems. Of course I think this tendency is a problem for all of us, and for society, but for those of us who are going the extra mile to use craftsmanship to create beautiful functional joy, it is a more immediate problem.

And then there is the problem of sewing machines. As I said earlier mine died -- almost but maybe not quite completely. It was cheap and it died young. Because I am not now willing to repeat my mistake and buy another equally cheap machine I have resorted to borrowing my mother's. A used machine she was given the first year of her marriage, which means in stead of a two year old machine, I am using one in excess of 50 years old. Quality and craftsmanship can really pay off in the end.

Anyhow although Cheap provides no answers, the book poses some difficult and important questions about sustainability and quality, questions I think are especially important to those of us for whom producing quality crafts is a lifelong habit and a matter of pride and joy.

Autum Haze

Whole quilt front.

This is the first of a series of four seasonal quilts
-- obviously given its title it is a celebration of the autumnal season.


Last weekend I
exhibited it in a quilt show held by the Santiam Scrappers.

In a day or two it will make its journey to the home of its new owner -- hopefully I will not need to borrow it back when
I work on the quilts representing the remaining two seasons.
Detail of the back.

Fall Colors

I have been trying to take a photograph everyday -- not a great photograph, my plan is simply to take at least one photograph everyday. What with digital cameras, there is hardly any reason not to take a few. I have been pretty good about meeting my goal -- except for the downloading and processing parts. I know I missed one day when I scratched my eye while working on the evil hedge, but I have taken several photos almost everyday. I hope over the long haul my photographs will improve and perhaps more importantly I will learn to really see what is all around me.

Knitting for Me!

I have been working on a knitting project -- an old project. Of course when I pulled the project out after a hiatus of about 9 months I decided to re-knit it. Mostly I enlarged it just a bit. The yarn is soft the pattern is very stretchy but I do not want it all stretched out. Of course since then I have wondered if I made the correct decision!

The yarn was something I bought on deep discount from Webs, a closeout as I recall. I chose the yarn because it was a good price and the jewel tones were so lovely. I am really fond of these kind of tones.

I love the cute little star shape that is exposed when the ball of yarn nears its end.

I am not exactly sure about the design of this sweater. I have begun with the back. It is one of the first things I have knit with seams in ages and ages. It is a modified 2x2 rib with baby cables. It is relatively long and has a tiny amount of shaping at the waist. I do not remember what I had originally planned for the front. At present I am thinking about a gentle V neck. And as for the sleeves I expect they will have a bit of shaping, but that is for another day.

Quilt Show

Here are a couple pictures of my quilts hung in a local eatery.