News Release

Tomorrow night, Oz and I are invited to
a reception honoring the University of Kansas nominees
for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Churchill Scholarships.

The University of Kansas sent out a nice press release today.
You can read about it here ~

This is what they wrote about Grant:

Grant Denton Wille, senior in political science and Spanish, plans to study law to prepare for a public service career focused on immigrant advocacy and working with Latino populations. As a student whose interests include boxing and fly fishing, Wille seeks challenges that not only test physical endurance but broaden his perspectives in working for change. This summer Wille plans to raise funds for immigrant support in Spain by racing in the Mongol Rally 2009 across Europe and Asia. In summer 2008 Wille walked a 450-mile trail across northern Spain, following a medieval Catholic pilgrimage trail. After he had returned to KU, Wille observed that the walk made him aware of the need to establish ties with other human beings in order to change the world. He has volunteered as a teacher of English to native Spanish speakers in Spain. In Lawrence, he tutors residents learning English as a second language through the Project Bridge volunteer program at KU. In addition, Wille has tutored in college preparatory programs in Lawrence’s middle schools. He regularly volunteers with American Red Cross blood drives. He is a member of two national honor societies, Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, as well as the national political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha. For the past three years, he has practiced with the Haskell Indian Nations University Boxing Club. His college jobs have included working as a stocker in a local grocery and as a construction team foreman. He is the son of Oz and Marianne Wille and is a Lawrence High School graduate.

Licorice Kitty

Licorice Kitty needed a new outfit. I couldn't use this lavender wool for any of my felt hats and I think it works well for a doll dress.

Happy Friday

The Ravenna Satchel Intarsia piece is felted and dried.






I'm starting with the right side for needle felting since I'm left handed. Needle felting is so much fun...Kind of like drawing with yarn. You can see that I've added an outline to the orange flower and some details like the green balls. I will be done with this in no time!

Today is Andrew's birthday and we have been invited to his birthday dinner. How fun!

Pumpkin Kitty

I've been sewing some fall dresses for my knit cats for Pam Carvalho's open house in 2 weeks. I found some crazy colorful sweaters at the thrift store and used one mod sweater for a new dress for Pumpkin Kitty. The little white bunny is in the photo for reference to show you that this cat is really round and big! I just love how this cat turned out.

Ravenna Satchel

Ravenna Satchel, originally uploaded by marianne_66047.

I've been knitting the Ravenna Satchel this week. The intarsia is a challenge for me but I finally finished knitting the front and side pieces with all the colorful intarsia late last night. When my husband Ozzie returned home from a week long business trip and saw what I was working on he asked if I was knitting a curtain. :) Very cute, but no. It's going to be felted and made into a large bag designed by Marta McCall. My tuxedo kitty is showing it off to you. The kitty is about 22 inches long for some reference on the size of this piece. Tomorrow I plan on weaving in all the loose ends and felting it. The rest of the knitting is pretty easy! Just large black rectangles which will also be felted and then the whole bag will be sewn together.

A sweet day with Pippi

My youngest niece, Pippi, had a day off from school and while her Momma was at work I tried to do my best to spoil her rotten. We spent the cold rainy morning playing inside. Pippi spent a good deal of time trying to teach her old auntie a new song about a squirrel with a nice brown coat and great eyesight. I can't even remember the lyrics now!



After the rain and hail storm, the sun came out. We went out for lunch with my girlfriend Hilary and then had a great time at Shaake's Pumpkin Patch.



We had a great time running through the maze, jumping in the many mud puddles and riding the tractor out to the patch to find the Great Pumpkins! These photos are in my front yard where a have a few pumpkins from my little patch in the backyard.

Autumn Kitty

Happy Thursday

Made from a previously loved wool sweater, Japanese cotton fabric for lining, 7 inch zipper with larger toggle. I love these new zippers I found at Designer, Linda McGehee's online shop.

Some beautiful handspun

From North Star Alpaca

I want to show you some handspun Alpaca and Merino Wool yarn I got in the mail this week because I won a Cria naming contest.

I love knitting with Alpaca yarn because it is so strong yet soft. The merino has added loft to this handspun. Maple sells her yarns on Etsy. I often use Alpaca to knit the details on my plush cats.

Thank you so much, Maple! Give Astra a hug for me.

Letter to the Editor

I was going to show you photos of the garden but it has started raining and our yard signs have gone missing; so you get to read this letter to the editor written by my husband instead.


To the thief or thieves who stole the Obama and Boyda campaign signs less than 10 hours after I placed them in my yard: I was hurt and angry that someone would try to deny my freedom of speech in a matter that is so critical to the future of our country. I was tempted to replace the signs and then bring them in each night. However, I'm not really interested in playing a game of cat and mouse with cowards like you who steal signs under the cover of darkness. I am, however, making $50 contributions to the Obama and Boyda campaigns in your honor. I'm sorry I don't know your name(s) so I could give you proper credit. I hope that you will benefit in the coming years from the improved economic and world security conditions that will result as these two public servants work to undo the damage done by the Bush/Chaney administration with the acquiescence of a lap dog congress. I also pray that you will someday understand that the freedom we enjoy requires that we respect the right of others to express opinions that we may not agree with. It’s only through mutual respect and cooperation that we can hope to overcome the excesses of the past few years that now threatens the economic and physical security of our country and the world.

~ Oz Wille

Happy Rosh Hashanah

Here I am at my Grandparents' backstep in Chicago holding a sprig of purple flower. Photo was probably taken in 1960.

Although I'm not Jewish, I like to celebrate the Jewish New Year because it feels like the new year starting for me. It is a new school year for the many children in my neighborhood and for my two sons in college. New projects have started and are piling up on my work table waiting for me to come sit down and sew.