Not UFO's but finished projects !!

A Weaving Studio At Last!

2012-03-04T11:32:00.003-06:00

This is the right side facing the door. Sewing machine, baby wolf loom, Drum Carder and microwave for dyeing.

Right side facing back of studio. Three windows across the back room for my Glimakra Ideal and the AVL. Yarn storage at the end.

Yarn is almost all put away, have some up north still that will move in later. The Shower curtains are the blue and white over top of the storage cubes. They were all hot pink like in the first picture. We plan on enclosing the door and back of the room after DH has run electricity to his workshop, next door to me.
We went to a small town near us and found a pretty gift store going out of business. I found a rack for my mug rugs and went back a couple of days later and bought a bracelet rack. All made of wire, dh had a point: me and plastic don't mix to well. It was nice looking but would have broken in a minute with me...
I've been working on the Baby Wolf loom lately weaving lace for scarves. Less energy and stress on the old bod, getting very close to being recovered from the back surgery.

The other kind of Sheds

2012-02-22T13:56:00.000-06:00

In this case it is a storage shed, now my studio. Finished painting, putting lower white peg board, and trim. Looking good. Now to some way cover over the hot pink insulation. I don't want to paint it, to high and I want it only to have a thin cover over the insulation. Went to Lowe's a couple of times trying to figure out what I could do, Talked with one of their workers whose mother was a weaver!
We priced out carpet too expensive, then she had the suggestion plastic which I already had thought about but black or clear? no. I had wanted foam but I can't find it anywhere that thin. Then it dawned on me Cheap shower curtains in different colors! cut to size and stapled. The $ store only had white, off white and blue. So I got blue and white. I will post pictures when all moved in. Can't wait! All my books are moved, soon cones and other misc. I have three looms, a sewing area and a dyeing area! Exciting.

Chain of Command

2011-11-13T10:52:00.001-06:00

Has the concept of Chain of command died? I Trained in many hospitals and was always taught to go to my supervisor with anything unusual first, then it traveled up the Chain of Command. I've been thinking a lot about Penn State's problems. The person who witnessed went up the chain of command and so did the Coach. Are they responsible for what the higher ups did or didn't do? Isn't the guilty one the one who abused the children?
In institutions, military, education this concept was followed, Is it wrong?

When I was an LPN witnessed someone shooting up a med in the women's locker room. Reported it to my supervisor who informed me that the person had a medical condition. Now if instead I had called the police, What would have happened to the person with the illness, me and my higher ups? This was an innocent example but could have turned much worse if I hadn't gone to the supervisor.

If I reported something or had something reported to me, Might I lose my job if the higher ups didn't take care of the problem? Just bouncing something around here. What do you think?

Good news, bad news and weird news.

2011-10-30T11:20:00.002-05:00

good news, bad news and weird news! Bad news: ah well. Surgery was postponed on Friday, abnormal EKG and a lab result. It has to be cleared by a Cardiologist. Darn I was all psyched up to get this done and over with! I can pretty much predict when the pain is going to come in my lower back and legs. 3:30 or 4 pm. I feel ok in the morning so tend to overdo or do what I can early in the day.

Now on to the good news: bought an AVL, 24 Shafts, 60 inches,computerized, with a fly shuttle and auto advance. I've been wanting one since school finished in 2008 and have been watching adds. Had about given up when one popped up on the boards. It was in PA 500 plus miles but we went Friday and picked it up early Saturday morning. Such nice people!! It was way cheaper than I expected or dreamed. She had been trying to sell it for awhile, needed her attic back and even tried to get AVL to sell it. AVL must have too many in that size or something. My gain! I'm thrilled if you can't tell!

Saturday morning we went two hours early and the winter storm came early too. Snow and freezing rain Awful driving weather. Rained almost all the way on Friday. My poor sweetie the things I drag him into. I wanted to do it before my back surgery( which was cancelled on Friday). The other date was Thanksgiving break but I thought that would be too wintery , boy was I wrong on that score! This storm broke a lot of records, so early in October.

Now for the weird news: Dave went to the dermatologist and has what they call a Halo around a pink spot. They took it off and it isn't even basal cell. Guess these come to warn us that there is something going on. So he has to go back to the oncologist. Probably a PET scan again. I hope this is nothing again, like his last PET scan 2 yr ago.

Oct wool Project / back surgery

2011-10-23T16:07:00.000-05:00

To the left is two white fleeces, one is a suffolk and the other??That are ready for the Drum Carder.

To the right is this lovely chocolate brown fleece. The Pictures below show the locks after they were cleaned. I didn't realize how much wool I had on hand to card and spin

I don't know if I'll be able to finish the brown. That is the last one that still needs to be washed, picked and got ready for the drum carder. I am unable to stand to do the washing and drum carding right now. My back got really bad back in August of 2011. Had MRI and Xrays done and I need surgery, Decompression L4-5. Now that is involving the nerve, my feet are numb, Time for surgery. It has been a problem off and on for Ten years. I've taken my sisters advice and have lots of books to read and if I get desperate there is knitting, Cotton spinning on a takli or something I can do while healing. Dave knows a fellow (80 yr old) who had the same surgeon and he was doing real well four days after the surgery!

Golden Rod Dyeing

2011-10-04T13:59:00.000-05:00

When we got back to NC I noticed a lot of Golden rod in bloom. So I gathered enough to do a skein of hand spun wool with alum and cream of Tartar as the mordant. I read up on the subject a bit more and collected just the flowers and used both of the mordants and the color turned out almost the same as this color. Sent my husband out as he was getting the mail with a bowl and scissors and he came back with an empty bowl! A hunter not a gatherer! I think the reason it is green ish is because the yarn was an off white grey color.the ties are more yellow they are of a white commercial yarn.

Found an old Spin off magazine with a Danish Tie-shawl pattern.( Spring 2008) I'm going to use this and a variegated yarn for accent.

New One of a Kind Items in my Studio

2011-09-14T09:59:00.003-05:00

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Warpology

Large Variety of Mug Rugs or coaster's now in my studio

You can buy one bear or all three Polar Bears.

New Bracelets, above and below. I can make any of my bracelets custom order too!

Click on the picture for more pictures of the items. Photographing took a bit especially with a broken tripod. I used older ones in school and didn't know there was a lock on the crank and broke the crank! ah well sounds like me a bit of a Klutz.
Danced two slow dances with my sweetie and now my left foot is numb. Guess that is all it takes sometimes. I have spinal stenosis so I suppose it has something to do with that. Dr appointment on Friday:(

New photos, old finished Mohair shawl

2011-09-01T14:41:00.000-05:00

Of course one cat had to get in the act. The one of him yawning with boredom was too fuzzy to use.lol He's my four year old studio assistant. For attention he does somersaults.

This is a hand spun mohair/ wool shawl that is woven in a V. One yard is woven with a yard of unwoven warp cut off. The warp is advanced another yard woven. Using the warp threads from the first yard as weft the two are woven together creating that V of fringe in the back! It is wonderfully cozy!

Loved spinning this mohair it was in a stash that a woman was getting rid of she had gone into basket weaving.Went there to get some fiber and ended up with a car Load!

2011-08-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

August 19, 2011

Summer Fun

This is my Summer Fun Challenge entry for the ArtFire Beadweaver's guild Challenge. I'm up here in the woods of Michigan away from my photography equipment but managed to get some nice shots with my sweeties help!. I was thinking what makes summer fun? I enjoy flowers and know that people enjoy gardening. If I had the health to have a garden, I would have a huge one. I do grow some orchids so I draped it over the one of the three orchids that are blooming and I like the picture. I usually shy away from props but I am trying! It's called Flower Garden beadwoven bracelet.

This Bracelet was fun to work on. I used three common flower patterns that most beaders learn when they start beading, Daisy stitch two variations and Nepal chain stitch. Then I thought why not over a fence, then I found some findings that I had wanted to use for awhile now. Then it all came together.

Studio of the month by default

2011-08-16T11:48:00.001-05:00

I waited until the middle of the month for a volunteer so by default it is my studio. LOL. Been busy beading.Can't see setting up the loom for two weeks and leaving the warp on all winter.

My left foot and part of my leg went numb the other day after 2 slow dances with my sweetie. That two step is a killer on my back I guess. It eased off for a bit but is back in full force today. Can't take my Arthritis meds cause it messes with my stomach. Ah well continuing saga of my crappy health. I know, play a violin in the background.

I'm kind of excited, bought a cheap ($50grand total) Apple computer a real oldie so that I can play with the JacqCad free program that is available. Won the ebay bid and got a great deal! http://www.jacqcad.com/ is the site. I took a course in college from Catherine Ellis using this program but got bronchitis and was ill for four weeks of the class. I would love to finish something and go to the Oriole mill and weave it.

Mug Rugs

2011-07-20T14:53:00.002-05:00

Mug Rugs!

All finished! not sure which I like the best. Some are kind of funky! Like the all red with a pink one. They were a lot of fun to do Next time I think I'll do a patterned warp vs just Twill. It was a multi colored warp but the end hand dyed yarns went by the wayside. Will after I get back to to my light box put them on Art Fire for sale. I'm almost out of all the colors except a little bit of blue. There isn't enough of the off white to do anything with I am afraid. Used up some of the stash, next project is towels on the 4 shaft Norwood here. Fell in love with Thousand flower pattern, Back in the 70s when I learned to weave and I think that is the pattern I'm going to use.

More finished work and more finishing to do!

2011-07-17T11:19:00.000-05:00

Second Lace shawl I've completed this summer. I'm working on a second one just like this to put in the artfire shop. They are fun this one has one pattern row to every four rows so it isn't that challenging. Feather and Fan.

Finished my 10 yard warp with 31 mug rugs now to hem! We will be in Michigan for awhile longer as Dave is getting Cataract surgery and we would like to see our Grand son before he goes to Afghanistan. Ah well best laid plans.. At least now I can go to the Michigan Fiber festival! hehe evil laugh.

Summer fiber fun.

2011-06-06T12:44:00.003-05:00

Finished this lace knit shawl just this past week. Have a second one on the needles too! I love to knit lace. No boredom with this project.

This is the new weaving project some mug rugs.

This is the warping wheel my husband Dave made for me so I can sit and warp. So much easier and it makes it possible for me to warp with my health problems. I dyed the variegated yarn on the outer part of the mug rugs. They are usually a fun and easy project.

I forget from one warping to the next how much I like using the Norwood looms

Wish they were still making them! I would love a wide 50" 8 Harness Norwood.

Add that to the loom wish list lol. Once you have wound onto the back beam and

it is ready to thread you unbolt the four side supports.The front and back beam

move so it is real easy to get in there and thread. I had the threading bench from

when I had a workshop Norwood and kept it for threading it is a great hight for

threading. I'm up here in Michigan without any of my tools, Did this last summer

and darn if I didn't do it again! Threading is simple without, I'll use a comb to

sley the reed. LOL

Blue Willow Bracelet

2011-06-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

This bracelet was made for the ArtFire Beadweaver's Guild Challenge. The challenge was chosen by by Krafty Max for being the Winner of the March Challenge! This is what she says:

Vintage China has always been something I love to look at. Our work - beadweaving - was also VERY popular when this China was made. The theme will be - VINTAGE CHINA. It can be via thecolor scheme, the actual look and style reflecting China or even something that actually encompasses a piece of Vintage China. Let's have fun and enjoy creating our designs! ~KM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first patten I thought of was Blue Willow. It has been a favorite of mine since Childhood. My father had brought back a piece of china from when he was in WWII. The story book also was an influence. There are two legends surrounding the scenes in the China patterns. I just love the scenes, the bridge, pagodas and the blue willows themselves.

My Laptop crashed so I turned to an old cross stitch pattern software program on our ancient computer to plan out the pattern. Then warped the bead loom and started beading it. I was done with two scenes and thought that might be long enough, wrong. So I had to jerry rig a way to put the bracelet back on the loom to finish it. Valuable lesson measure before you take a piece off the loom. All those ends to sew back in and use to attach the magnetic clasp. Found and added some larger accent beads in the old, old stash. Even found some beads made in the pattern of blue willow that are now earrings that will be a freebie for whoever purchases this bracelet.

Blue Willow Tree and Pagoda

Bridge with Three Men

Special bracelet

2011-04-28T12:18:00.000-05:00

My daughter likes jewelry but hasn't been a real fan of mine until recently. They changed her dress code at work and now she has to wear all black. She wanted one of my skinnier spiral bracelets in black but I couldn't do a plain black one! This one is silver and black with an additional charm that is going to be a surprise!

Also found some crystal beads in black at Caravan Beads in Asheville, NC. What a neat shop! I could spend a lot of money in that place but I restrained myself!

New Bracelet

2011-04-22T17:28:00.001-05:00

New bracelet for sale on ArtFire

Actually I finished two this one and one for the ArtFire Beadweaver's Guild. It isn't due to be posted until June 30th I'm just ahead of the game! I also posted some small coin purses and some bookmarks to my ArtFire Studio.

Getting used to a new computer Windows 7, vs the idiosyncrasies of Vista. groan..

I have a photography / Studio assistant. Star got into the act the other day. She jumped up on the table where I had my light box set up. She loves beads and will steal bracelets if they are left out.She is my Southern kitty from a rescue down here.She loves bling. My other cat Sunny is a Northern boy but the meows sound the same. LOL

Bead work

2011-04-18T11:10:00.000-05:00

Finished two bracelets, one for an ArtFire Bead weaver's challenge due next month but we will be a traveling again. So glad the tornados missed us. We did hear one a couple of days before this onslaught that hit near Raleigh. Strangest sound not quite like a train, landed in a nearby community in Canton. Luckily no one was injured in that one.

Will post photos as soon as i get off this computer and get some done!

Bead cupboard

2011-04-10T14:53:00.000-05:00

We found this cupboard at a local thrift store. My Dh just added the slide out for my bead hanks So Kewl! I always wanted to hang the hanks but didn't want them all dusty this closes and they are covered! Now I won't hesitate buying hanks of beads... uh oh Dh didn't know this aspect. More bead shopping!! The grey boxes are findings and my tubes etc are down below.

Beading frenzy

2011-04-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

I've been working on beading lately. This bezel has morphed a lot from this picture! When it is done or closer to be done I'll post new pictures. I tried a circular Spiral peyote or Cellini spiral and it was too bulky so I ended up with an embellished simple spiral instead. It looks goo together. I've done a netted spiral type thing on the bezel.

Finished this Raw Bracelet and did some earrings to go with it. I think this is the first of many of these!

CATMAN2.ORG

2011-04-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

This is the rescue where we found our cute calico retriever cat! CATMAN2.ORG

Did I bite off more than I can Chew??

2011-03-30T09:38:00.000-05:00

Guess I just got tired of nothing happening in our guild on Artfire. After seeing what other guilds do in ArtFire even with the messed up guilds there it seemed time. I want our work promoted, tweeted, Facebooked or what ever! There are really beautiful woven items in ArtFire!
Yes the ArtFire guilds are messed up. Wouldn't take my pictures, can't edit them once they are there. The calendar is last years and you can't update it. Last but not least you can't use the Forums! I tried to go in and set it up, no go. So I did what all the other guilds have been doing for ages. Took it off site. I hope this works and not just me doing it all. I need all of them to help.
We have our first Studio of the month! see part below! Photo shop to the rescue

ArtFire Weaving Group: Our First Studio of The Month, April of 2011

2011-03-30T09:28:00.002-05:00

ArtFire Weaving Group: Our First Studio of The Month, April of 2011" ArtFire Studio: http://www.artfire.com/users/whatsyourbag &n..."

Blues from my artisan shop

2011-03-23T16:41:00.001-05:00

Some Blues from my ArtFire shop!

relearning..

2011-02-15T15:42:00.000-06:00

Borrowed Peggy Osterkamp's book ''Weaving and drafting your own cloth' Book #3 in her series hoping that there would be information on Fabric analysis. There is an appendix on it but I also learned that I have been winding my bobbins the old fashioned way instead of building up on the ends it is better to have it built up in the middle instead. So now I'm trying to retrain myself to wind it this way after 30 plus years... can this old dog learn this trick. I think so Just have to keep repeating it and not letting myself do it the old way.
The lace project is coming along nicely. Have the hem woven and one repeat for the center. The kitten would rather I let her sleep on me or play fetch but I did get to weaving today!

Lace weave scarves

2011-02-14T09:22:00.000-06:00

Have warped up the baby wolf with a neat lace pattern and then I'm going to pole dye them when they are finished. . Misunderstood the directions, Kept getting shaft floats. Finally everything is working well and I'm on my way. This loom was moved here and not been warped for awhile things shift and need tightening, balancing.

Wanted to weave yesterday and the kitten wanted to play, all day. She "found" her pink mousey, we think she hides it. Have to get my glasses fixed today then maybe I'll get to weave.Here she is almost asleep. wore us out too!

Back to front warping with out all the extra equipment

2011-02-04T12:30:00.001-06:00

Some looms are easier to warp from the back, like the Megado by Louet above. The method I use doesn't require the spool rack or tensioner that is usually needed for sectional warping. This method allows you to thread with your draft right side up and there is much less waste than usual sectional warping.

Equipment you will need:

Lease sticks,
Some system of support for the lease sticks (I use homemade Angel wings, more below)
A rake,
Cords from back beam,
C clamps to attach Angel wings. (forgot the C clamps in the picture above)

The first step is to wind a few sections of your warp on a warping board or reel. I usually wind on counting the number needed for my sectional beam or my EPI. This will work without a sectional beam. Most of us have this equipment vs the tension box and spool rack that is needed for usual sectional beaming. It also cuts down on waste from the spools. I do not wind the whole warp due to some of the tangling that occurs, it is just easier for me.

Next you take your warp to the loom I put the chain at the front of the loom and carry my cross over the loom to my lease sticks. I put the cross on the lease sticks. The lease sticks can be supported with cord, wood or in my case, a set of home made angel wings. If you haven't got a handy husband or wood working skills, they can be purchased at puringtonlooms.com.

Then I bring my cord from the sectional beam, through the rake attaching one cord to every section of the warp I am winding on,.

Lastly roll the warp on the back beam. At times you need open up the threads in the cross for tangles or even gently yank on the warp chain. When all your yards are wound on tape the sections.

If you really want a cross to thread from you can wind your warp with a cross at each end.

To thread after all the warp is wound on unwind the warp over the back beam and rest it on the lease stick. You can sit at the front of the loom and thread, Right side up from your draft. On this loom I take off the front beam and the cloth beam. You are ready to thread. Have fun and Happy Weaving!

Towels color or off white?

2011-02-03T12:11:00.000-06:00

Designing an unusual honeycomb pattern for towels and can't make up my mind should I use White fine with Off white for the heavy? or I have purple fine and pink heavy. It looks like; one heavy to every 4-6 fine. I've done this pattern before for some towels for myself and loved them at the time I did all white with colored weft. Must have run out of the fine heavier thread. Decisions, Decisions. I think I'll do a short warp of the colored then tie on the white off white. Hunted forever for this pattern, thought it was in handwoven turned out to be in an old Weaver's magazine. God how I miss that magazine. It was great! more advanced weaving than handwoven. Stopped getting that one two or three years ago it was the same stuff repeated over and over. This is an old piece of the material, not a great photo but these towels were used and abused.

Does computer work ever end?

2011-02-02T12:40:00.000-06:00

Like housework I do believe computer work is an ongoing thing! Found out that I needed meta tags on my web page and some updating and added photos and tweaked it etc etc. Have been working the 45 day plan on Artfire and that is how I found out that my website wasn't going into search engines much. ESO oh my. With my Step daughters help my Art Fire site gets a 99% rating on a free website grading site. Warpology not so much but some of the things they marked it down on wasn't really fair. Tripods picture didn't have a have a description nor did Artfire's Rapid Cart, Basically nothing I could control.

I didn't know about the meta tags because our class never got that far. We got bogged down way earlier than that what with a book that was no good and the teacher wasn't familiar with the new Dreamweaver. Not to mention the computer illiterates in the class, whoops just mentioned them. It has been awhile since I used that program but it came back to me fairly quick. Even code isn't as frightening as it was in the beginning. The Teacher was a real character in that class, he was retired from NASA wrote instruction, job duties etc. Quite the hacker for a 70 year old guy. Off the record taught us some hacking tricks.

Finished scarf

2011-01-20T14:11:00.000-06:00

Finished the first of the scarves in deflected double weave. They took quite awhile due to the blue in the scarf. I found the right blue at Great Northern Weaving in Kalamazoo and replaced the middle blue with a more vibrant color. Course this was between being in Pentwater and Clyde. Started them in Clyde went to MI, came back six months later and started again. Yes this is driving me nuts...Started the felting process last night and wasn't happy with it, so back in the washer it went and now it looks great! These turned out very double weavey lol I know not a word but these are more separate layers than the shawls I wove.

Spinning Spinning

2011-01-04T13:05:00.000-06:00

Finished two bobbins of Michigan wool on the columbine wheel. These Bobbins hold about three times what my regular wheels bobbins hold. Amazing. I will definitely use this wheel for plying from now on. The wool isn't the greatest, rug quality for sure but it is spinning up nicely. Needed to get the bobbins empties for the two spinning activities this weekend! Roc Day or St. Distaffs day on Saturday and spin meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Wikipedia says" 7 January, the day after the feast of the Epiphany. It is also known as Saint Distaff's Day, since it was not really a holiday at all. In many European cultural traditions, women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas. The distaff, or rock, used in spinning was the medieval symbol of women's work. Often the men and women would play pranks on each other during this day, as was written by Robert Herrick in his poem "Saint Distaffs day, or the Morrow After Twelfth Day" which appears in his Hesperides"

Spinning is so relaxing. My good wheels are here in NC so I tend to do more of it when we are here for the winter. I do have a wheel up North but it needs repairs, Whoops two wheels up north, one is for sale in a local Antique store. Wheels and looms tend to multiply or breed. I had four with no intentions of getting more when a girlfriend moved and had no room for her Green columbine off course I'll store it for her! LOL Reminds me of John Deere Tractors but I see they now come in pretty colors at Royal Fibers. Filled my Niddy Noody three times! Wonder if she will sell it to me?? Well back to winding skeins.

ArtFire and misc

2010-12-31T10:48:00.001-06:00

Dec NC snowstorm

Haven't much to show for myself. Been suffering with misc rashes and doped on Benedryl. Plan to weave a little today despite it! We are in a winter wonder? land? It is 52 and sunny today so it shouldn't be around too much longer.

Well I took the jump and went Pro in ArtFire. They had a promotion and it was higher than the last deal but I thought I'd better do it before it goes up anymore. Did a collection called Warm and Wooly that got high marks and I've already been in Handmade news. Have to keep promotion up so that I get some visits.

Off to weave!

Christmas will soon be here

2010-12-20T10:30:00.000-06:00

These Christmas stockings in Overshot are still available in my ArtFire shop.

Or for the Wine lovers out there. These padded wine totes woven in Bedford cord

in White and black or purple and turquoise.

Polar bear project done!

2010-12-04T12:54:00.000-06:00

As much as I tried they didn't come out at all the same they are all individual bears! Which is good they don't go in groups in nature only to raise baby polar bears then it is just mom and baby.They were interesting to make. If I were to make more of these critters or others in the book I would use velveteen for the feet and ears.The leather was difficult to work with on a sewing machine or by hand. And I would use a larger size chenille even doubled this was a bit on the skinny side but I got it for a dollar a pound so I can't complain. On to spinning fiber for the next project. I am glad I had a rug loom to weave this on it really needed the heavy beat.

Polar bear construction, sewing fun

2010-11-26T11:18:00.000-06:00

First Polar Bear!

I've been sewing! The first one resembles a polar bear! lol. I'm sure they will all have their own personalities. The fabric was woven over the summer on my rug loom as it needed a heavy beat to weave. The most fun part is attaching the leather feet and ears! The construction was like a puzzle to figure out. The last two bears are put together better than the first. Now to finish sewing the feet, stuffing and embroidering the faces.

This is the sewing machine raiser my DH, sweetie that he is, made. It sits on an old antique school sewing desk. That our late friend Pee Wee LaRue had and gave to us. An OT suggested it to decrease my neck and back pain. It works great! Another great tool I found is to cut that clear tubing they have a Lowes or Home Depot, put a slit in the cut piece and it fits around your sewing bobbins. It keeps those ends from tangling with all the others and becoming a mess. Are those threads trying to mate or what??

Percolated art work

2010-11-06T11:16:00.000-05:00

Took a Surface Design Class back in 2008. Had some subtly designed fabric from wallyworld, that I dyed using stamps and silk screening. I took the darkest dyed piece, probably the first and used that as the center. Then cut all the rest in four, to piece around it. Now the fun starts, I need to go thru my beads and threads and find what I can use. Found three embroidery threads that work well with it. The class was with Suzanne Gernandt and it was wonderfully freeing. I would definitely recommend her classes.

Funny how art works sometimes, it has to simmer or percolate for awhile. I've been thinking about this since I made the cloth but loved them and didn't want to cut them in 2008. Then they were lost up north for awhile and since I found them this summer I couldn't wait to cut and piece them.

This one I did in 2008 in class; there is stitching, rust dye, stamps, painted dye and hand embroidery on it. Both of these were just junk pieces of material. I found the above at Habitat for Humanity in Asheville it is upholstery fabric. I used junk material because I had no idea how any of this would turn out. I had done a color wheel warp quite awhile ago and found purple and orange were an interesting combination. The piece that I will be working on next is purple, yellow, orange and some red tinges. Guess is was a phase I was going thru! This one I can take my time on and really embellish to my hearts content! The next piece is cotton material and will be easier to work on besides.

Powerless sewing

2010-10-27T20:03:00.000-05:00

I am not much of a seamstress I will admit it. I would almost rather do any other weaving function than finish or sew my handwoven. Was hoping that lessons at college would help but instead it just reinforced the fact that I don't like to sew. Even with a good machine, We bought a baby lock sewing machine when our first one died after DH made tents on it. Sewing today and yesterday on the place mats that I wove over the summer. Thank goodness tomorrow I can return to the loom or the warping mill.
Purchased two neat books. The first is called Devore by Anne Fields. Just what I wanted, I get the concept but just needed more information pertaining to weaving fabric that you burn or Devour with chemicals! Looking forward to trying it when I am able to get the chemicals. The second is a monograph by Robyn Spady on Handwoven Decorative Trim. There was an article in handwoven years ago on Passementerie trims that fascinated me and this looks so interesting! This one I can start right away as I have the warp and some cords that I can use and a naked loom.

I have a new weaving helper named Lovey, she is a calico about 8 months old. Into everything!

Yarn, Thread, whatever

2010-10-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

Bringing back to NC a couple of yummy yarns. A nice blue mercerized cotton, a puke green I needed for another zoo animal and all the zoo "polar Bear" yarns. Also some polar bear fabric, table runner fabric and two rugs . Productive summer! Now to start sewing, The polar bear will be a real challenge to sew for me anyway! The place mats will be easy in comparison.

Baby it's cold outside

2010-09-20T11:55:00.000-05:00

Been in the 60s for about a week now. Time to move south again! I was hoping to get my white fuzzy material finished for the polar bear not sure now if I will have time. Had grandchildren this weekend so no time for weaving there.... I need to get on a better weaving schedule. Have decreased my Facebook time but seems like something else always comes up to delay or postpone my time at the looms. Did find some nice shiny blue yarn for some scarves I have on the loom down south that combined with some shinny thread will work nicely for that project. They are deflected double weave scarves in purples and blues.Two looms are naked oh no! The Norwood up here is going to stay that way until next summer, thought it was moving south but there won't be any room for it. The baby wolf is going to get warped when I return south maybe more scarves??

I will wear purple and weave!

2010-09-14T11:23:00.000-05:00

Love this quote from Handwoven Weaving Today "... One older woman came up, with aid of her walker, and watched us intently. I asked, "Do you weave?" She answered, "Till the day I die." None of us could have said it better." that will be me with the walker! Bought my Dobby loom in anticipation so I won't have to crawl under the loom to tie up treadles.

Grandkids were here over the week end. Allie needed to sit with me while I wove and pull the beater back. Both girls are interested in weaving, guess it skipped a generation. This warp is finicky or I would have let her do more, With my jerry Rigged system on it. It helped a lot to have her help, I could go to the back of the loom when she pulled the beater back and added a metal bar for weight and the selvedges are much better. Then we had the youngest grand child for a night and day, he was really good without the others influence I guess.

Not sure if I can get this warp woven off before we leave for NC. There is no room in the van for the loom I know this. Oh well. One poor offer on the house. Will have to try again next summer.

Jerry rigged weaving again.. or is that Lois Rigged?

2010-09-05T14:01:00.000-05:00

Darn got all done winding, threading, sleying the loom, many inches woven and found that a bout of warp had fallen off the warping board I had them hanging on.. Was wondering why it turned out to be only 15 inches wide when I'd planned for 17 inches. I sleyed then threaded, front to back and wound it on toilet paper tubes Thank goodness i'ts only 3 yards or I would haven't tried it. Put the tubes on the spool rack with weights and finally large hair clips In the front I wove a dowel stick in to tie the warp on..So far so good the selvedge on the right is a bit wonky but that will be cut off anyway when I make the polar bear. Picture is before! I think the camera is going to be put away until it is off the loom. lol.

Rug finished!

2010-08-11T12:35:00.001-05:00

I like the colors on this rug. Made a happy accident at the end and just left it in. Next rug I may use the accident for designing.... Have completed a lot of weaving this summer. The place mats and now the rug. Next is a warp in white for material for a polar bear pattern is from a neat little book called: " Weaving a Zoo" by Amy Preckshot. It needs a heavy beat so the Glimakra will be perfect for the project. Warp is wound just need to wind on, thread and sley. So muggy here.. Have another open house on Friday so much of my time will be taken up with cleaning again. If I could just spend more time weaving and less on this computer?

Weaving progress

2010-08-05T15:43:00.000-05:00

Place mat warp is all done. Can't finish them until I get back down south. So sad, lol not. When I put the white in the warp I was wondering what would happen with it when it got woven. The first samples were not good, white was in there too much so I resleyed a total of three times ended up with the version above. With these summer and winter texture patterns it peeks out and turned out really cool.

Back at work on the rug, it is at the end where I had to add on warp, ends broken and the tension is wacky in places oh well more than half finished. Then on to weave polar bear fabric.....

Disgusted with Walmart's purchasing policies

2010-07-23T12:57:00.000-05:00

Went to our local Walmart yesterday. No Peaches and cream only the Lily brand from Canada. When I asked the women that worked in the department they said "Oh they changed brands" I said "This from a company that brags they only sell from the USA" One of the salespersons made a face and shook her head at me. This store still has it's fabric section which is a surprise to me because in NC they are all gone.I just emailed Walmart to protest you can see it below. If I don't start hearing from other crafters that they have changed I will quit shopping there. In NC they sold Sewing machines for 2 months with no thread in the store, it had moved and the Fabric section was gone.
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This USA brand from NC is no longer being carried in my store and Others I have heard. You brag that you sell from USA but you must have got a better deal from Canada and Lilly brand yarn. Between this and your discontinuance of Fabric at almost all of your stores, I may no long shop at your stores. Unless I start to hear better things from other crafts people.
------------------------------------------ end Rant.
Sorry was just so disgusted when I left yesterday I still have a bad taste in my mouth. No disrespect to Lily Co. Just Walmart. I was a fairly loyal customer even with the fabric removal, No longer.
Lois aka Fibernut

Weaving progress

2010-07-05T12:10:00.001-05:00

The colors didn't photograph very well. Having a lot of fun with this summer and winter 4 shaft 4 blocks from Donna Sullivan's book.

Color is a wee bit better in this one. this is a texture weave in the book. The yarn for weft is Red heart worsted weight warp is a 5/2 from NC.

Rug hasn't progressed much too much cleaning and going through junk. Selling a house is not fun!

Knitted Dishcloths

2010-07-05T12:03:00.000-05:00

Actually have had time to weave and knit some. The weaving isn't quite photo ready, not off the loom yet. But I have been knitting some dishcloths one is from last summer, the others this summer.

This one I finished in June 2010

Last years cloth 2009

Finished late June 2010

I use a knitting pattern book and put a border around them. I like to use fancy stitches that I haven't done before. I'd like to do the flower like pattern with a green back round sometime it would be pretty in that also.

Stand still

2010-05-26T08:27:00.000-05:00

Weaving and crafts are at a stand still. Cleaning and de-Junking to try and sell the house again.

Old but now finished projects.

2010-05-04T11:39:00.000-05:00

Three finished scarves! The ones above are in log cabin weave and variations. With cotton warp and cotton and chenille weft, so soft.

This was an experimental felting project, the ends just never worked right. Finally came up with an idea to edge it with beads! Very happy with the results.

Not UFO's finished towels!

2010-03-30T15:42:00.000-05:00

This towel was done using Alice Schlein's new book "The Liftplan Connection" it's my favorite of the two I wove using that method. The 2nd picture is the front and back it was hard to decide which to use they were both kinda kewl!

This is Spiderballons I left the Warpology weaving on it so I could remember what not to do! lol

These are my Plaited twill designed towel from Bonnie Inouye's book "Exploring Multishaft Design" didn't realize as I was weaving that the warp floats on the front would be weft floats on the back, Should make a very absorbent towel. The last pictures are from the same book, my designs. Actually it was the first towel woven! It's another plaited twill. I used this book in the past and the weaving was done as samples this time I wanted something to show for all that weaving and I need new towels!

The picture below shows the back and front of the Towel again very hard to decide which side was best asked my husband and he couldn't decide either!

This blog worked it got me inspired to start weaving and beading again. Two beading projects are also in the works. We have only one more month to go here in NC and I can't decide if I want to start another project on the loom or not. Get started then have to leave it to go back up north again. Pray the house sells!!

Weaving, beading and creating more UFO's

2010-03-23T19:47:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why I never thought to use the small zip drive on the computer that drives my loom. It worked! I really thought that computer was shot but the zip program came up with no problem! So I am weaving the last towel with a pattern I did from "The Lift plan Connection." This one uses overlay's in photo shop. It is turning out really sharp looking and will post pictures when it is off the loom.

Started working on my beaded watch and beaded bag they should be great to work on in the evenings. The watch is sort of Art Deco style. The bag is going to be in my favorite color purples.. I know better than to start two at a time but I've been putting it off all winter. I am unable to bead for long periods or knit with such fine weapon needles so I guess that is my rationalizations... The needles are 0000 size very fine. UFOs here I come.

2010-03-17T16:50:00.001-05:00

Use two of these to wind my pirns for the end feed shuttles. One on my index finger and one on my thumb. That way I can wind them tight and not burn my fingers off!

Weaving is progressing I got the first design from the "Lift plan Connection" completed now I am going back to the computer and design my last one.This one was using the balloons they put on picture with saying in for photos, then I added legs and turned them into spiders. lol.It's done in basket weave and plain weave. Wish I had a longer warp but I was afraid I wouldn't have enough of the dark turquoise to complete the towels. I think the next will be more of a blue color way or weave more like the material that I wove my shawls except scarves. hmm must ponder on that one.....

Weaving, computer rant.

2010-03-12T11:29:00.000-06:00

Life like weaving doesn't always go as planned. The Warpology weaving turned out weird, larger letters? finer thread? don't know. But I kind of like the above design. It was those balloons used for photo's so you can put little conversations in the photo but It needed something so I turned them into spiders it is woven in basket weave for the spiders and plain weave for the back round. Kind of abstract. Next design I am going to try for larger objects and I want to try photos.
Right now I copy a CD on my lap top transfer it to our desktop to burn a small floppy. The Cd's aren't the same. Tried a transfer cable and took it back to the store three times for a total of 55+ miles. It finally worked but incredibly slow and wouldn't just transfer my small file, wanted to transfer the whole program. Gerrrrr
Now what? buy a external small floppy or throw in the towel and do it like I have been doing?

Towel weaving etc

2010-02-24T17:19:00.000-06:00

This Blog is working I'm finally weaving again. This is the second of my designs of plaited twill and you can see the program that drives my loom to the right in the picture. This is a neat design I used a bumpy yarn ( spell check didn't like my other word) For weft and can't wait to see it washed and see what it does! The program selects the shafts to lift. I do all the rest, fill out the draft in the weave program, throw the shuttle, put the warp on the loom and thread it! So yes it is still hand weaving. I think the most user intense weaving I have ever worked on was a Jacquard loom. Once it starts running it is easy it's all the work before hand and trouble shooting during the run. That was at the Oriole mill in Hendersonville NC for school. I decided quickly that a Dobby loom like this one in the picture is enough for me! I like treadling and throwing a shuttle. 'Course a good working fly shuttle would be nice. This loom is just not wide enough to require one, I have one and promptly removed it.

Plaited Twill

2010-02-13T14:22:00.000-06:00

Plaited Twill

This is my first braided twill or plaited twill design. I'm using Bonnie Inouye's book. and have two done.

One of my shaft is sticking! It's driving me nuts. These towels are for me but I don't like mistakes. Shaft #11 Behave!!

Sley and not the ride on kind!

2010-02-08T12:10:00.000-06:00

Done sleying had it almost done yesterday but it was supper time and decided to finish this am. Used my favorite tool a walking(reed hopper) sley hook. It is so kewl, since I use Bifocals sleying the reed got to be a chore, not anymore! Once you get used to it, can fall apart if not handled right, what a marvelous gadget. Believe it or not I found it at a garage sale of a long time weaver, the family didn't know what it was and I grabbed it! Amazing really I can't even explain how it works. I'll tie on and do some plain weave then it's to the PCW ( fiberworks)program to plan my first towel using Bonnie's book. It has my loom driver so that's what I use. I took a workshop from one of the authors a long while ago and loved her so it was my first choice in programs.

Towel project

2010-02-06T16:22:00.001-06:00

Threading is done now this picture is at the halfway mark. I'm warping up my Megado computerized Dobby loom then I'm planning to use Bonnie Inouye's book "Exploring Multishaft Design " with each towel a different design.Should be fun. I've done chapter one before and dipped into some of the others. So the first design will be out of chapter 2, Plaited twill's. Next is Curves then designing in the lift plan. On my wish list is Alice Schlein's new book designing with dobby and photo shop can't remember the correct title right now.. She is coming to Asheville Next month so I'll buy it and have her sign it then. Can't wait, I learned Photoshop elements in school That will tie in with Bonnie's book real well too.Will check to see if there is a weave along on weavolution for her book that would be kewl... I had hoped this blog would get me re motivated and I think it has worked. I'm getting excited about weaving something again. Sometime inspiration and motivation goes when you are ill. That sinus mess I had sure slowed me down.

Sectional beam, another photo

2010-01-31T15:21:00.000-06:00

Here is the clamped down version of my warping method, the Lease sticks could just be tied on but I have a handy husband! Now to thread. If I would just get off the computer!

Winding on Warp, cat help

2010-01-29T13:38:00.000-06:00

This is my latest sectional warping method without the bobbins and sectional rack. I wind it on a Warping mill then transfer it and beam it on the back beam. For fine threads back to front has a lot less tangles and I use small bouts. A picture of my helper cat too. He likes to get up there and knock off everything that is up there you should see my floor! He also likes to sit on the Dobby box and look out the window.

Intro

2010-01-02T13:51:00.000-06:00

I have another blog but it is very miscellaneous called Fibernut's place.This one will be just finished items, woven beaded, tatting or whatever project I have finished. Maybe this will motivate me! LOL need that since face book addiction started.