Rumpel and the Frog – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we share our WIP's: explorations in corrugated ribbing, punch needle, and more.  Next, Rumpel shares her Sagittarius-stargazing with us. We investigate sky-objects, globular clusters, and even some great Latin root-words. Want to hear about a super massive black hole or peek through new "windows" into space? We also confirm that the Sagittarians in our houses are both creative and strong-willed. Tune in to hear all this and more, plus Frog foraged for some great patterns and gifting ideas to go with it all.  To the stars.....!

In this episode, Rumple and the Frog work on finding their balance at this hectic time of year!  Not only do we discuss the pros and cons of holiday gift knitting, we also reflect --at last!-- on our successes and challenges at this year's New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York. And, since we were in Rhinebeck under the sign of Libra, we also decided to explore the constellation of Libra itself.  Frog shares what she’s learned about astronomy and astrology, and Rumpel has foraged for a lot of neat-o stitching projects related to Libra. So tune in, grab your stitching and join in as we ponder the age of the universe and hatch plans for future stars to explore.

In this episode we're crossing over to crochet! Hear all about Frog's journey as a beginner crocheter.  She'll tell you all the ways in which it was both a struggle and a success to approach crochet from a longtime knitter's perspective. She'll also share the many happy byproducts of this journey: tutorials uncovered online,  great beginner project suggestions, and even an accidental review of about, well, a half dozen types of crochet hooks. Sheesh! Plus, Frog attempts to stump the Rump with some questions regarding tension, blocking, and cotton fibers. Meanwhile, resident crochet expert Rumpel shares her recent forays into research and designing in 3-dimensional shapes. Cool!  We even have a podcast episode and a newly released crochet pattern book to share with you.  Are you ready to cross over to crochet? Join us!

Well, hello again! We're back and thrilled to launch Season 4 of the Rumpel and the Frog Show with our awesome new theme:Move Over For Making. We know it's been a while, but truth be told we really needed to take deep--and at last unmasked!--breath in order to get some perspective.  In the time away we've explored what truly motivates us, what sparks our creativity, and what it takes to make objects joyfully at this point the pandemic. In this episode, we'll talk about the new jobs, work spaces, plans, and craft forms we have discovered in the past few months. Plus, we will explain that while we remain rooted in fiber crafts and folklore, we have also grown beautiful new branches in printmaking, embroidery, drawing and more. Most importantly, we believe we have our priorities in good order as makers, moms, and podcasters. So, join us this season to hear how we're clearing our minds and our desks of the clutter that was blocking our creativity. It's all about our maker-lives this season. So outta the way, you obstacles, and MOVE over for making!

In this episode we wrap up our season for you, just like a holiday present!  We begin with agreeing on the delights of mulled wines--'tis the season after all--before moving on to mull over the year. We reflect on our favorite finished objects, fibers, and techniques from 2021.  Plus, we revisit last year's Fiber Resolutions!  Tune in to see if we stuck to those or not.  We also share a new set of Fiber Resolutions to guide our intentions and our making in 2022. Oh and yes, we also did do our homework to provide some 30-minute or less projects and resources for you last-minute holiday crafters out there! Most importantly, we thank you all, dear listeners, for your continued engagement with the Rumpel and the Frog Show. We will be hibernating a bit this winter, but we'll be back soon with more stories and more stitching in Season 5 of 2022! 

In this episode, we forage for some itty, bitty, crafty cuties! Need some gift ideas or embellishments? Ornaments or wreath decor? Gift tags or stocking stuffers? Or,  maybe it's just that your December-brain can only handle the teeniest dose of crafty creativity?  Tune in to hear all about Rumpel's tiny crochet and Frog's micro-knits.  We found some amazing collections of patterns to inspire you in small, hour-long doses of stash-busting stitching. So, grab your hooks and needles and find an hour or less to make some little delights with us this season.  Plus, we tried our hand at a few of these and have much to share about our process and our results in both knit and crochet!

In this final episode of the Witches and Stitches series, we are delighted to really dig in and share our WIP'S and FO's.  It's been a while since we've had such a good long talk about our fiber-y processes! Next, Rumpel shares her newfound familiarity with familiars, or witches' spirit companions.  Tune in to hear about their origins from Classical Antiquity and their evolution throughout time. Plus, Froggie shares a little lesson she calls "Connecticut Witch Trials 101," in which we learn some choice bits about the long and troubling history of witch trials and witch panic right in our own backyard.  It turns out that the events in Salem are just one chapter in a much longer tale; a tale that our own state of Connecticut begins and ends.  Well, how 'bout that! Finally, we have a teaser for the micro-series planned for two episodes in December. Listen to the very end of the episode to hear all about it! It will definitely be a little bit of fun!

In this episode, we explore the association of the broom, and flying upon one, with witches.  But even more importantly, we interview a modern broom maker, Paskalini Savopoulos, who works right here in our region. Want to learn some broom-ish vocabulary words, hear from a passionate maker, and discover the modern status of this age-old craft and its community?  Curious about the not-too-distant leap from other fiber arts to the art of tying brooms? Then please tune in as we dig into some sweeping generalizations and make future, crafty plans with the proprietor of Vagabond Spun.

In this episode, we continue to play word games, share WIPs, celebrate FO's, and explore more stitches and witches! We begin with a Rhinebeck review from Rumpel, who returned from her fiber-y pilgrimage to Dutchess County with quite the haul of books, tools, fiber and more. Then, Frog explores her next question about witch iconography:  what is the point of that black pointy hat? Tune in to hear what she learned about pointy toppers and their appearance throughout history on mummies, nobility, sorcerers, outcasts, and more.  Plus, this time we suggest some last-minute, spooky projects to crochet in a jiffy to make your Halloween look jaunty!  We hope you are stitching and find this bewitching!

Hold on to your pointy hats! A whole series on witches, witch craft, fiber, and folklore!  What more could you ask for this Fall?  Here at the Rumpel and the Frog Show we have some burning questions at stake (see what I did there?) about everything we ever wanted to know about witches, their craft, and how it might relate to ours.  We plan to take these questions wherever they lead us throughout the whole season. Rumpel begins with a historical overview of good witches and bad witches:  which witch was it? Tune in to to find out!  Next, Frog explores the iconography associated with witches, too.  Plus, we warm up this episode with our WIP's, a fun game of word-association, and some swooning over the yarns we've been stitching with.  So, here's to a season full of witches and stitches!