Overshare No. 12: Cape Cod, Too Many Spindles, and a Loom That Stayed Home
A weekly round-up of crafts, chaos, and whatever else I’m getting into
Happy Monday, Friends!
I hope everyone in the U.S. had a fun (and hopefully mosquito-free) Fourth of July.
Dennis and I spent the week out on Cape Cod — not exactly my favorite place, if I’m being honest. The long drive, the humidity, sand everywhere, the bugs… not really my scene. But it was Dennis’ birthday week, and I did promise that if we got a puppy, I’d go to the Cape. So, off we went — with Willow in tow!
This was her very first road trip, and we were a little nervous. She’s still a bit of a gremlin at times, but she surprised us and did amazing!! We took her to the beach (where she immediately ate a mouthful of sand 🙃) and brought her to a local pond for a swim. Watching her figure out how to swim — something her Newfoundland genes are apparently built for — was kind of incredible.
As for Bella, we let her stay home this time. We’ve brought her before, but she’s never been a fan of car rides, and now that she’s an elder kitty, she’s much happier holding down the fort solo. A friend checked in on her while we were away, and honestly, I think she appreciated the break from puppy nonsense.
Crafty Bits
I brought an entire bag stuffed with craft supplies — fiber, spindles, beading projects, knitting, crochet... Of course, I barely touched most of it. I did manage to do a little drop spindling and made some more progress on my Romanesque Tote — the one I started a few months ago on our Florida trip. One can never have too many options when it comes to travel crafts. 😆
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Antique Window Shopping
It wouldn’t be a trip to Cape Cod without a visit to one of my favorite Antique stores. I didn’t buy anything, but here’s a few things that caught my eye:
From top left: “Sea Witch” sign, Crazy Quilt, Cast Iron Owl Lantern, “The Quiet Woman Inn” cross stitch.
Weaving Woes
Before we left for Cape Cod, I published a new video where I chat about indirect warping my Rigid Heddle loom. The plan was to weave the Cirrus Scarf from Little Looms Magazine (Summer 2022) using two colors of Voolenvine Yarns on my Wolke base — a super soft blend of superwash merino, cashmere, and nylon.
I love working with this yarn for knitting, crochet, and weaving, but for this particular pattern, I ran into a snag.
There’s a honeycomb section in the scarf that’s supposed to have this lovely textured motif, but the superwash yarn was just too slippery — the texture wasn’t holding, and I wasn’t loving how it looked. Not all was lost, though!
I pulled out The Weaver’s Idea Book by Jane Patrick and stumbled across Leno Lace. Total happy accident. I ended up filming a quick bonus video for paid subscribers about how I’m taking this project in a new direction — more on that soon.
Also, I originally warped this project with every intention of bringing it along to the Cape… but between our bags and all the gear that comes with traveling with a puppy, there was just no room. As compact as the Rigid Heddle is, it didn’t make the cut. Alas, it stayed home — much to my dismay. Excited to get to working on it!
What I’m Reading:
I picked up a physical copy of this book last summer but hadn’t felt motivated to read it until now—and honestly, with everything going on in the world, I’ve been craving a bit of a mental escape.
I’m nearly finished, and while I am enjoying it, it’s not exactly blowing my mind. The story is pretty straightforward—centered around a shield maiden with the power to alter fate—layered with romance, fantasy, and a dose of Norse mythology (which I know very little about). That mix actually makes it feel kind of refreshing compared to your typical Romantasy.
The second book in the series was just released, and while I’m not exactly running to the bookstore, I might come back to it when I’m in the mood for a beach read.
That said, I am really excited to pick up Rachel Gillig’s new book, The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom). She wrote One Dark Window, which is one of my absolute favorite duologies—moody, magical, and totally immersive. My expectations are definitely high for this one.
What I’m Watching
The Gilded Age, Season 3 is back — FINALLY! I know, I know, I just can’t shut up about this series. I’m obsessed!
I’m trying to get Dennis hooked on it and having way too much fun rewatching the whole series from the beginning with him. If you’re into Downton Abbey or just love a good historical drama with stunning costumes and petty society drama… this one’s definitely worth a watch.
And that’s a wrap! If you’ve got anything inspiring you lately — a pattern, podcast, or show you’re loving — feel free to hit reply. I’d love to hear what’s fueling your creativity!
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I love the new weaving project you are working on! Oh and the fun of a puppy, yes there is the hassle, but that enthusiasm and sheer joy they have every single day is so uplifting! That we could be so happy and enthusiastic..lol.
My newest rabbit hole has been to dip back into cross-stitch after decades away. I enjoy it, but I am very slow at the process.
We unfortunately have a Golden Retriever who is afraid of water 🤪 but our Beagle loves it. We always go to Bethany Beach off season and it’s still hot late September, early October. In my opinion one can never have enough crafts for a vacation, you just never know when you will be in the mood for it. I was wondering about The Gilded Age, thank you for sharing. I just got through Season 2 of The White Lotus, I know I am late to the party. Just finished some EPP Pincushions and another dog is on its way to a new home. You may want to watch Katie Strachan Embroidery on YouTube, she is amazing. She works with beads and a lot of cross stitch but she makes a lot of great things, most recently a Sweet Bag with beaded tassels, amazing! Glad Willow did great for you, sometimes you never know.