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Snowflakes Ribbon Christmas Card

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Braided rugs

I have 3 braided rugs made by my Grandmother, Amanda Virch, about 50 years ago. There's a small brown and beige one in our bedroom hallway. It's in good shape.

The other two are badly worn and I need to make some tough decisions.

One is in black/red/multi 3.5'x5' and is badly worn. It has sentimental value, since I've had it for 50 years myself. If I spent an evening sewing it where it's split, it could go in the basement hallway and be shabby. But it's a little mildewy.

The third rug is a problem. It's big, about 5' x 8' and was originally from Uncle Ken's Manhattan apartment. I got it in 1990 when Ken died, but used it only for a year before we moved to a house that had wall to wall. I believe I may have used it in the garage office for 10 years. Then I lent it to the Historical Society, where I think it really looked nice. However, it now looks like it was vacuumed with a lawn mower!! The center wool has badly deteriorated and has simply shredded. Some of the other fabric is in bad shape, and there are lots of splits.

I decided to remove the center and I just threw that part in the garbage. But what do I do with the rest of it?? Is it worth reconstructing the rug? I have no use for it in this house. Did I mention that not only is it mildewy, it's full of dirt and dog hair. Not at all nice to work with.

 

What should I do??

 

historical aerial photo

For my Kripalu Workshop

Etsy :: Conversation - Kripalu Workshop.

by Crispinaffrench profile shop contact Dear Margaret, I am looking forward to meeting you and helping you to welcome your 60th year. How nice! The sweater you made looks lovely and will likely be useful for our work together. I would recommend washing it, by itself, with your usual laundry soap, in warm wash, warm rinse and drying it in a warm (not hot) dryer. Mohair tends to felt really 'hard' sometimes binding the front and back of the sweater together and getting very dense. Even if this happens to your sweater we can use it in places. If you stay away from hot/cold temperature shocking of the fibers I think you will get a nice soft texture. Thank you for your nice email. Sincerely, Crispina ffrench 4 September 2009 9:04pm EDT

Crispina, I have been a fan for a very long time (and own one of your throws).I am thrilled to see that you are offering a sweater workshop at Kripalu because, if all goes according to plan, this is where I choose to spend my 60th!! birthday. I'm writing about the sweater that I'll be bringing with me. I knit it from terrible itchy mohair,when I was 16 years old. I've attached a photo. I had already decided that I would felt it down and make something useful out of it, eventually, but this seems like a perfect opportunity. My question: does this sweater appear to be suitable and should I try to felt it before I arrive? Thanks, Margaret Conover, Stony Brook, NY 4 September 2009 4:56pm EDT

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead (1901-1978)

Hemingway said:

The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day … you will never be stuck. Always stop while you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That way your subconscious will work on it all the time. But if you think about it consciously or worry about it you will kill it and your brain will be tired before you start.

Norwood School Science Fair, 1990

BNL Science Fair, 1989

April 15, 1852

April 15, 1852

from THIS DATE, FROM HENRY DAVID THOREAU'S JOURNAL by Henry David Thoreau

What a novel life, to be introduced to a dead sucker floating on the water in the spring! Where was it spawned, pray? The sucker is so recent, so unexpected, so unrememberable, so unanticipatable a creation. While so many institutions are gone by the board, and we are despairing of men and of ourselves, there seems to be life even in a dead sucker, whose fellows at least are alive. The world never looks more recent or promising - religion, philosophy, poetry - than when viewed from this point. To see a sucker tossing on the spring flood, its swelling, imbricated breast heaving up a bait to not-despairing gulls! It is a strong and a strengthening sight. Is the world coming to an end? Ask the chubs. As long as fishes spawn, glory and honor to the cold-blooded who despair! As long as ideas are expressed, as long as friction makes bright, as long as vibrating wires make music of harps, we do not want redeemers. What a volume you might [write] on the separate virtues of the various animals, the black duck and the rest!

What a novel life, to be introduced to a dead sucker floating on the water in the spring! Where was it spawned, pray? The sucker is so recent, so unexpected, so unrememberable, so unanticipatable a creation. While so many institutions are gone by the board, and we are despairing of men and of ourselves, there seems to be life even in a dead sucker, whose fellows at least are alive. The world never looks more recent or promising - religion, philosophy, poetry - than when viewed from this point. To see a sucker tossing on the spring flood, its swelling, imbricated breast heaving up a bait to not-despairing gulls! It is a strong and a strengthening sight. Is the world coming to an end? Ask the chubs. As long as fishes spawn, glory and honor to the cold-blooded who despair! As long as ideas are expressed, as long as friction makes bright, as long as vibrating wires make music of harps, we do not want redeemers. What a volume you might [write] on the separate virtues of the various animals, the black duck and the rest!

And I have met 5% (2) of them

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 40 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?