ETC 5TH Monday SALE! August 31

For today, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, lots of items priced at just $5 in my shop,

Cordovas Studios, in honor of the fifth Monday of the month.

Click here for the Five Dollar SALE section.

Click here to view all of the Etsy Texas Crafters teams 5th Monday listings.

$5,$5, $5!

What I Did on My Summer Vacation: Take 2

After doing Gucci little dog sweaters earlier the summer, I could not resist reverting back to Shawls, this time the One-Skein-Wonder Shawl from Knitters Review with revisions by me. I had spun dreamy merino and bombex silk roving from Capistrano Fibers and then plied it with coral merino and silk Ashland Bay roving. Much time sitting at Buckies for two or three hours a day during my Encinitas stay let me finished it out there. A walk down the street took me to a bead shop where I found just the beads to embellish the hem. (Oh, the bead shop, now there's trouble. I can see more of that in my future, but that's for later.)

I couldn't resist digging out my cafe-au-lait shawl I made last fall from multiple other handspuns to use in my photo shoot. It will be up in my Etsy shop soon.

Cintia's Fun little Etsy shop

Cintia has been a long-time customer of Cordova Studios, at least as long as the five months we have been open. She started buying my destash churro yarn for her "hippie slippers" then. Ordinarily she was handspinning much of the fiber. I decided to check out her shop. Besides slippers there are fingerless gloves, felted items and handspun yarns. Recently we did a trade and I ordered some slippers. As it turns out most of her slippers are custom for a perfect fit. You can choose colors, embellishments and styles. Here are mine! I love them! Can't wait for chilly weather to wear them. Oh, and I couldn't resist sharing the precious felted baby booties.

New Toys

I have danced around art supplies and painting and sketching for years. While out here in Encinitas I have been re-inspired by Liz, Martie's friend, who sketches and paints in her journal with precious results. I love to journal and have recently renewed that practice. Liz shared some of her inspiration from Jane Lefazio who has a great blog of her work and workshops. I couldn't get to Rhino Art supplies fast enough here in Encinitas to buy some new toys. Jane L. lists her favorite materials in Danny Gregory's book, An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers. Sooooo, now I have my practice sketch book, my for-real-with-watercolor-paper sketchbook, water-soluble crayons (very exciting), selection of art pens, good sketching pencil and a kneadable eraser. I am promising myself to sketch something this afternoon right after lunch at the Fish Market, assuming I am not in a food coma on my blowup mattress in the library. (more on that in a later post).

Oh, and not to worry, I have also ordered 4 varieties of Moleskine notebooks from Amazon. I am officially

committed.

Oceanside: Esther Krinitz exhibit and then the weekly Market

I've been hearing about Oceanside for about 15 years from my Santa Fe friend, Louanne, who has a place out there. Yesterday I finally got to visit Oceanside with Martie and her friend, Barbara. First was a stunning exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art: Esther Krinitz's embroidery and stitchery work portraying her family's tragic story as Polish Jews persecuted by the Nazi's.

Then it was off to the weekly Market full of glorious produce, flowers, and even funky clothes. Barbara had to have some tasty heirloom tomatoes to take home. Martie snagged a great dress.

Going back up that way again to see Wally and Louanne's place as they are out here for 6 weeks. What serendipity!

Point Loma Sport Fishing dock, San Diego

This was our view as Martie and I ate our fish sandwiches at a little cafe right on the docks. We drove straight here from the airport. Even as we finished we were planning our next stop at Buckie's, that would be Starbucks, in Encinitas. You will find us there most afternoons sitting, sipping and knitting and just generally basking in the glorious California climate.

Off to Oceanside today. More on that later.

Over the Wheel gang capers

Never dull, Never! Second Saturdays at Sassy Spinster with the Over the Wheel gang never disappoints. This Saturday I sat spinning next to John, outfitted in Wranglers, a nice white shirt and worn cowboy boots, who was quietly spinning his Angora goat roving. He tells me he then weaves it into shawls on his Baby Wolf loom. He wanted me to teach him how to make better fringe. The first shawl he wove went to his daughter-in-law, as she gave him one of her kidneys a year ago!

Big Bob is seen at his wheel retrofitted for spinning rope fiber. Harland, seated, retired MD, knits socks on two circular needles. His darling little wife, Virginia, was not there this month as she was off hang-gliding, or something equally scary in Colorado.

Lynne chats with the canary that Virginia gave Susan. Seems Virginia rescues and then breeds the little singers. Bring her a cage and she'll bring you back a canary!

Lunch was down the street for homemade Mexican food this time. Will try the great from-scratch desserts at the new cafe next time.

A Peek at what's coming for Fall

Trinket got booked for this shoot by Images by Eliza. I am working on these wacky little dog sweaters to market on Etsy and to my fellow fans of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Ruffles are on almost all of the ones for girls. The red and rust one could be for a little boy. I'm having a grand time snorkeling through my stash for color and texture combinations. More to come soon.

It just needs to get COOLER.

100 degrees plus here in Dallas today. Ugh.

Next time we are going to work on Trinket's smile.

ETC First Monday SALE! August 3

20% off everything in my shop, Cordova Studios. Sale begins at midnight August 3rd and ends at midnight the following night, August 4th. this includes sale items and Destash stuff.