Saturday, December 17, 2022

String things

After I packed up the gloves, which sister M. is very excited about, having seen a picture, ready to mail out, I needed a change of making.

So I brought out the painted bag of daylily cordage doings, and did a bit on the thing that might become a basket or maybe a table mat, once I decide.


I ran out of string, so I started making more, after damping a handful of dried daylily leaves


As you see, with varying success

Partly I was out of practice, partly the fiber was a bit brittle. So I left a supply wrapped in a wet towel in a plastic bag overnight and today I'll be able to do better, after I get home from the post office.

Once you start cording, you really don't want to stop. I had to, when my hands started complaining. Probably just as well, since I'm not too good at knowing how much is enough. 

My dreams were very confused last night, full of attempts to write words in Arabic and read English backwards. I think my brain is struggling!  

But it's being challenged, which is probably a good thing. I work a bit every day on the Arabic, and have trouble retaining the sounds and shapes with their meaning, but I keep reminding myself I've only been doing it for a week. A bit impatient there. No rush. I tell myself. My brain snarls that's what you think! 

Happy day everyone, try not to get into a brain fever! There's time. 



27 comments:

  1. Mine dreams were also a mess, but I can’t remember specifically mow.

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    1. Most of mine evaporate almost before I wake, probably a relief to people who don't have to hear about them.

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  2. That is so cool! Making string out of daylily leaves. What a great idea. As a kid our grandparents gave us twine to braid and weave to keep us busy and out of their hair. They in turn made a huge rope we could swing from in an old tree. All handmade from baling twine!

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    1. It's a Paleolithic idea, which I learned from Sally Pointer. This is how all early rope and string was made, using various natural fibers. I just happened to have iris and day lily available.

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  3. Can't wait to see what that lily fiber becomes. Whatever, I am liking it so far.
    Your brain is probably trying to dream process everything you are asking of it during the day. Sometimes I wish my brain would just stop trying to process things that have happened in my life since birth, obviously. I mean- it's not working! Stop!

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    1. Yes, I expect my brain is trying to catch up to my ambition.

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  4. You're so busily creative. It'll be interesting to see how durable the twine you made is. I would think that the string you made previously would have dried out and been brittle.

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    1. No, the string I made before is what I worked with yesterday, perfect condition. It lasts practically forever once damped and twined. I'm just continuing with that supply and now I need a new supply. It's very durable and you can't break it.

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  5. I've been dreaming a lot lately too and yes, I think it's Christmas-related BRAIN FEVER!

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    1. Some of mine have been funny, too. Or maybe it's hysteria.

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  6. I do not believe either your brain nor your body is ever inactive!

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    1. That might be true. I'm probably permanently making up for years of being an invalid in childhood.

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  7. I love the painted bag! And I can't imagine weaving my own cord from dried daylily leaves. You get extra points for creativity, no question.

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    1. It's not difficult, but yes, I think you have to be a hardwired maker to get involved in it.

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  8. It looks lovely. I think my hands would struggle.
    I remember when learning to balance chemical equations I dreamt that atoms were zooming past me and I had to count them as they wizzed past. They got faster and faster until I woke up in a sweat Its funny how our brains work.

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    1. I wish mine would take a break now and then!

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  9. Your brain is working hard at the Arabic. It’s decided to work overtime!

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  10. That is fascinating. Do you grow and harvest your own leaves? Not sure what we could use here.
    I dreamt I was smoking dope and have NO idea where that came from as it is not something I have done since I was very young and then only a couple of times.

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    1. Yes, these are just leaves from the daylilies and iris I have growing here

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  11. It's a shame all we dream at night is not mastered Arabic or yards of day lily cord on our chest when we wake the next morning.

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  12. Dreams can certainly be challenging...I admire your creativity with the new making and the Arabic

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    1. Stick around. You'll eventually experience a bit of the work personally.

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  13. I think I'm a bit odd in that I so rarely remember my dreams which could say something about the state of my empty brain! Don't think I could cram something as in-depth as Arabic into it - will settle for pondering how to do other things that are outside my comfort zone.

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    1. Yeah, Arabic isn't a requirement. I'm not going to start writing Field and Fen in it!

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  14. The fact that you're even trying to learn Arabic is impressive!

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    1. I do like a challenge, and this is a challenge!

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