March!

I would like to thank EVERYONE for your kind words and thoughts and prayers and blessings;) Jeremiah and I are doing fabulous at our new location...........as the wrinkles of life get their due ironing, I'm finding my place and trying my hardest to settle in with the new adjustments. I've found one thing for sure........I have 'free time' or rather, time to work, where I didn't have it before. :) As the last bits of snow fall from the sky this morning, I had some time to work on some new draft ideas............and I am liking the results for sure:)

I'm going to commit to working on my COE......I just have to send away for the info.............I've never been so inspired in all my life to create..............woo! Weavecast (I'm like two years behind on episodes:) has a wonderful episode featuring information on completing a COE and the one thing I heard over and over was that most of the weavers wished that they would have used the COE process to learn. I'm hoping to use it for just that purpose. I have thus far stuck to the types of drafts that I like.........which are mostly twills:) ......and shibori....of course:) The thought of wrapping my brain around different weave structures is thrilling!!!

So..........I recently received a request for several colors in scarves where I could pick the drafts......all with the exception of one. The first was to be a close duplicate of a scarf I sold at a show. That one is finished as of last night.......I just need to twist the fringe. The warp was orange and yellow. I wove three scarves.......each roughly 80" long......as per customer request:) ....I like them long too! One blue weft, one black (my fave) and the last a royal purple......simply fabulous! The last time I worked this draft I wove one with a taupe weft for hee ha's and have been battling the desire to keep it:)......I just may keep both the black and taupe!

Here is the way Isaac fits in his new spot too!!! I was really hoping to keep one of the looms in the living room but, as it turns out, the spinning wheels act better as decor. Both looms fit with ease in my new bedroom/studio. I have a bit of work to do to get better lighting but, that all comes with time:) The Compact is naked at the moment but, I'm planning a silk (60/2......call me crazy!!!!!) huck lace scarf soon...I just have to get the new heddles on:)

This draft is the one I worked on this morning.....I'm not sure if I'm going with a rust and gold or the blue and black.............I'm out of black tencel and it's back ordered at Webs.....I'll probably go with rust:)

Finally......I'm all ready for Christmas.......except for shopping, of course:) The tree is up and decorated! :) Jeremiah decorated the entire bottom 4 feet of the tree......it's jam packed with ornaments:) ........I think he has a creative side..........:) There is one particular ornament that he feels the need to sing to. :) I just love sitting where he can't see me and listen to his little soprano voice sing the cutest little song......man!!!!!......this kid is neat;)

Merry Christmas;) God bless you all;) Until next time;) March on!!!

I Guess That's Just Life

I will be posting again soon. I'm in the midst of a move. Sometimes the choices we make in life don't turn out as planned......or don't turn out at all. I have come to the hard decision that leaving my current residence and moving to an apartment with my son (and two cats) is best for our family. The past six years have been fairly difficult and the last two have been slightly overbearing. I think I'm writing all of this here because I feel that the stress I have been feeling has prevented me from being as productive as I can be. Some people are good 'under pressure' but, I find that I am about the worst 'under pressure'. I have been searching for a new place for about six months and finally came across something within reasonable distance from my sub job with the Post Office, cleaning jobs, and family. There is plenty of room for Jeremiah, myself, and (of course) my two looms:) One of which I will ecstatically set up in the living room area! Only time will tell but, I feel that this is what is best..............I will get caught up on reading blogs and posting as soon as I'm settled in;) Best to you all!!!

Full Steam Ahead

Ursula and I popped out to the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival this year on a Sunday............let me tell you how a Sunday with some rain was so much better than a beautiful sunny Saturday!!! We were able to walk just about everywhere with ease:) The place was still mobbed but, all in all it was very comfortable. About 3 or 4 years ago we brought Ursula's son with us and it was hard for the poor little guy because how interested is a 6 year old going to be in yarn and fiber stuff? Well, this year we brought him again as well as his brand new little brother and they were the best two kids on the planet for the entire day!!! ;) I was one happy Aunt, let me tell you!!!! ;) My friend Will also came down from Ithica to check it out. He's been spinning his cats fur into yarn............when he told me and I didn't react as others had, I think he was a little shocked:) I was so glad he got to make the treck out and enjoy the day:)

I picked up a Cricket Loom to bring home to show my beginners weaving class how a basic loom works. I'm teaching 3rd grade through JV basic weaving on pot holder looms......just so they can see how fabric is created. They are soooooo cool to watch:) Some of the kids get it right away and just take off and others have little to no interest at all. With a table of 6 kids, I had only one that had no interest..................not too bad, if you ask me;) The only problem with the Cricket Loom was that when I opened the box to assemble it, there was no hardware! Pooh! I wrote to Schacht and they graciously sent me the needed parts!!! What a fabulous company!!! My assumption is that the loom was previously assembled and then placed back into the box without the hardware. Thank you to Schacht Spindle Company for being so darn cool about that!!!

Yesterday I spent the day in the studio organizing and getting ready for some new warps. I dressed the Cricket and started weaving a fun scarf using cotton and eyelash yarn. :) Here is a picture.

I have a little work to do on the selvages but, I'm amazed at how much I'm enjoying weaving on this little guy:)

Finally, this is a shot of towels I'm working on for my little sister. Her theme is blue, orange, and white as her and her husband are huge Gator fans........and super silly:) I recently wove her a scarf with orange and blue..........she gets like a little kid..........claps and jumps up and down......and I'm sure wears the scarf every day:)

Well, I'm off to wind some warps for some orders:) Until next time!!!

Decisions Decisions

I very well may be the worst person in the world to make a decision. I've been playing with some color ideas for the turned taquete. During this year's trip to the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival, I stumbled upon Just Our Yarn. I walked into their booth because of the beautiful delicate lace work that they had displayed. I quickly squished as much yarn in my hands as I could and noticed a sign that informed of 30/2, 20/2, and 60/2 silk and tencel........all I had to do was ask!!! Ask?! Yeah!!! The owner produced boxes from under the tables. Well, I have made a decision!!! I knew exactly what I was looking at in that box 'o color!!! These are my selections for the taquete pattern.

I believe I will be using the brown in for the warp and the yellow for the weft. AND.....I really hope that they look the way I'm imagining once woven. My original idea was to have an 'A-B' type alternate color warp....using red and purple with a golden yellow weft. I'll have to see how the varigated brown will look in its place.

This skein is varigated 60/2 silk.....ummmmm.....yeah......that is some seriously fine stuff right there. I'm planning a huck lace scarf for this beautiful wonder:)

The only thing I'm waiting for to get started weaving again is that treadle cord. I'm feeling some serious withdrawal!!!

Tah Dah!!!

Hooray!!! I think I'm happy with it! ;) Now for the middle of the scarf design:)
Tomorrow is the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival!!! I'm not sure that I'll sleep a wink tonight:)

Taquete and My Brain Itches

I've been playing around for the past few days on and off with this original damask pattern. I was informed by Lynnette that converting this pattern to turned taquete may be ideal so naturally I have read everything I can get my hands on about turned taquete. I've yet to weave this particular structure (I'm a big twill fan) and am really impressed with what I've been finding. First......thank you so much dear, Lynnette;) I think this is going to be a lot of fun;)



I'm happy with this one but, wanted more more of the weft to shine through.





This is the back.



This one is closer to what I'm looking for but, now I need to devise a plan to tie down these really really long floats in the warp.........I'll spend some more time designing these and see what happens:)




I think I would like to take the curls on the bottom of the 'flower' and use them as a fill in type of pattern on the body of the scarf then use this motif on both ends with the points pointing toward the fringe. I do although, have a feeling that I will be sampling before weaving the scarf to test the hand.

In other news, I'm twisting the fringe on the chenille shibori scarves and am planning some overly bright colors........which never quite turn out the way I intend with cellulose fibers. I like the whole Christmas aspect....should be interesting:)


My darling sister-in-law and dear friend and I took the kids pumpkin pickin. They had so much fun. I don't quite think that they got the concept of actually picking the pumpkins. I think that they thought we were just walking through a field checking out pumpkins. :)

Much like his mother, Jeremiah feels the need to be 'extreme':)

And now......the examination of this pumpkin......will it be the one?!


Finally, I was tagged by Hilary (who is such a doll....thank you so much, dear, for you kind words about my weaving;) to give 10 random facts about me.....so, here I go:)

1. I am a Christian.......and if you told me that 10 years ago I would have laughed for hours.
2. I have a wonderful relationship with my wonderful son.....who, by the way, is a wonderful person:)
3. A three year old playing drums does not bother me in the slightest.
4. I am terrible at making decisions..........for example.......what's for dinner? I never really know.
5. My New Year's resolution for 2009 was to become more organized..........I've made significant progress:)
6. I can't lie.
7. I'm a hopeless romantic.
8. I have my septum pierced but, seldom wear the ring out. (Septum is the middle of my nose....kinda gross but, it's been there for 13 years.....I figure why take it out?)
9. When I run up the stairs I get happy for no reason and feel the need to clap. Must be something about the sudden change in elevation.
10. I can spend hours in silence.

Ok.....so some of it was probably a little too much information but, it was fun:)

Here are my tags:

1. http://dustbunniesundermyloom.blogspot.com/
2. http://weeverwoman.blogspot.com/
3. http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/
4. http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/
5. http://lilquiz.blogspot.com/
6. http://rdl-artequalslife.blogspot.com/
7. http://skiingweaver.blogspot.com/
8. http://shirleytreasure.wordpress.com/

I'm not sure if I can do just 8 but, I think most of the other ones I read have been tagged. ;)

Lippincott Bluegrass Festival

Today is my second show this month:) I have a booth at the Lippincott Bluegrass Festival at Lippincott Manor in Wallkill New York. I'm really excited about this because not only do I get to hang out outside all day and talk to people about my textiles but, I get to listen to music:) After Applefest on Sunday I realized that I sold a third of my inventory. One of the totes with handwovens had enough room in the top for me to store other items in it. I'm really hoping that I have another wonderful event today:) I have the car all packed and I'm ready to hit the shower:)

Well, I tried to upload the flyer but, for some reason Blogger doesn't like it:) Here is the website with the information:)

www.lippincottmanor.com

See ya!

Damask....Ah Ha Moment....Now Taquete?

Ok. So since the weather has been changing, I now have some more obvious time to 'play' with some designs that I have stored in my head:) Damask, in particular, has been a favorite of mine to look at and I really feel the urge to use my loom to create tapestry like scarves and shawls. I don't want anything too heavy as I really like the feel of tencel, bamboo, and I would eventually like to switch to silk for my finer works. I am still in the learning stage though and I hope to always remain in the learning stage. The damask pattern that I have been toying with, I like but, I lose a lot of detail the more I stretched it out. I was a little frustrated but, certain that there was something that I could do.

The picture above is a little small but, the piece all the way to the right is a 4 point twill threading, the middle is a 5 point twill threading, and the one on the far left is a 6 point twill threading. To get a true satin/sateen I would have to use the one on the far left. To be honest......I lost most of the detail and am not about to dress the loom to weave something I'm not happy with. As small as this item is in the picture, if I used a sett of 24 epi, we are looking at that image size at a little over 13". That is a lot of detail down the drain. There are REALLY long floats too:) Not good. Sooooooooooooo I think that today I'll take some time to convert this damask item into a taquete. That way the long floats will not be a problem. At this point it's just a matter of finding out if I lose just as much detail. I have a feeling that I will be sampling for this to make sure that the fabric will be suitable for a scarf/shawl. Boy! This is fun! ;)

Damask......Starting to play

Here is what I've come up with so far. I think what I would like to do is make this so that it covers a large section of the fabric.

Sooooo the next step is to 'stretch' it out. I think I'll be playing with documenting how I find this process. Right now I have this whole pattern @ 62 ends. Well, if I use a yarn sett at 24 epi, I will only have a piece about 2 1/2" wide. Sooooooooo now I have to stretch this out;)

On another note. I was at Applefest in Warwick New York this past Sunday. It's basically a street fair with lots of food and vendors. They were expecting 35,000 people. I was quite pleased because I sold 1/3 of my handwoven inventory! Not too shabby:) I'm certainly one happy girl:) I really like to take notice of what pieces people look at the most. Everyone seemed to be very interested in the pieces that take me the most time in designing. This makes me shine from head to toe!!! I'm thrilled that my favorite pieces are noticed:) And the best news? Two of the Waves and Water shawls went at the same time to two different people!!!! And!!!! They were priced as they should be for the time that they took me not only to design but also to weave:)

I think I'm going to look into getting my Certificate of Excellence. I'm sorry to say that I'm only on episode 15 of Weavecast. I can only listen when I clean houses and I have about 5 different programs that I like on itunes. This particular episode was so inspiring because it talked of how you could push yourself forward in hand weaving and use each technique in the completion of the C.O.E. Well.....I'm inspired and I'm thinking that I would at least like to take a look. I didn't go to college for hand weaving/textiles. I only studied for a short time with a wonderful European woman who wove in the womb:) She was in her 70's when she first shared the art with me and I, still to this day, admire her for her studies. Other than that, I'm book/experience taught. Has anyone else out there started the C.O.E.? Is anyone out there interested in doing this too? :)

Damask.....Can I Do This?!

I just love a friend of mine's selection in scarves. She always has these intricately woven damask patterns in fine threads. They look so elegant! Paisleys, damask patterns, flowers, and wonderful rich earth tone colors. I'm pretty sure that I would need to use a draw loom to obtain the patterns in her scarves but, then again..........would I? I mean.....I do have 32 shafts that I can 'play' with. I'm sure I can figure something out. I really enjoy taking images and weaving them into the fabric.......couldn't I do something similar with satin as opposed to twill? Hmmmmmmm. I could possibly get softer lines? Hmmmmmmmm again. Well, it's worth a try, I guess.

Here I am in hour #2 playing with a damask pattern that I think I like. I uploaded it into Fiberworks and I'm now getting the image on the number of shafts so that I can tweak the draw down and tie up.

I did something similar for the star scarves, Polka Dot Scarves, Pine cone Towels, and Gingerbread Towels. I'm just hoping my mind is thinking right that I can use this 'half' profile in a straight draw for satin. I guess we'll see:)

In other news......something I forgot to write about. The cord that my treadle attaches to on the Megado broke. :( I had ordered a new one but, had to wait until this week. So..........I will be able to warp the Megado once again and see how my 'playing' really turns out. :)