Winter Storm

I know, it doesn't look like much but we got about 3 inches of snow on Thursday afternoon. They predicted it, we didn't believe them. We'd had rain for at least the last week, over 6 inches of rain. Flooding everywhere, especially in people's basements. We're fine. We're up on a hill so the rain never bothers us. Thursday afternoon it began to snow like crazy! The  roads should have been warm enough to just melt it all but it came so quickly the roads were covered and traffic was crazy. 

 I guess it started about 3pm. By 4pm, a branch in the neighborhood probably hit a powerline and at least half a dozen homes in my area were without power. DH and DD spent several hours trying to get home from it all. They did stop at a pizza place and got a to go order. We scrounged for batteries and enough flashlights to take care of us that evening.
It was hard to get a picture of the snow coming down, but let me tell you, it was briskly falling!

 Everything was done by 6pm but the damage was done. Over 8,000 homes without power in Knox County. The good thing was that the temperature only went to the mid 20s so we were fine Thursday night. Then the waiting for power.....and looking for a free wifi restaurant that was open. We ended up at DH's office, watched TV in the waiting room Friday evening and got home that night to lights on!! We'd been without power about 28 hours. Long enough for a small bit of snow!!
They keep clearing the trees around the power lines but there's always somewhere that it doesn't quite work and a branch hits it and all the houses from there to the end of the line are dark!
What's crazy is that apparently just less than an hour away in Oak Ridge, they didn't have any snow or at least it didn't stick. You just never know.

So, that put me back a full day on work!!
As a result, nothing's woven, but we're getting closer.
The baby wolf has the waffle weave towel warp on, ready to tie on.

 The bath towel warp is on Thelma but nothing's woven yet. I do have bobbins wound, tho.

 That last jacket order warp is ready to go on Nilus. Hopefully I'll get it on today.

In East Tennessee you never know what the weather will do. If you don't like it, wait a few minutes, it'll change. By yesterday we had 50 degree weather again. Snow's almost gone.
Here's hoping we'll have plenty of time to work on projects before the next "big" snow hits!!
Until then, I'll be in my studio with my TV providing non live programming for background entertainment for the day!!
So, keep weaving!
Carol

Kathryn and Lillian

This week has been an interesting one,  I was halfway thru threading the Hollywood placemat warp on Kathryn, my 8 shaft loom of unknown make, when I noticed something.  It was something I had been expecting to see, but it was surprising just the same.  I have been having trouble with shafts 1 and 2 hanging 1/4-1/2 inch above the other 6 shafts.  I had hoped that changing back to the metal heddles might have made a difference, but alas, it did not.  This is what I noticed halfway thru the threading.....

I have taken the picture from the back of the looms so that the light hits it.  You can see that  shafts 1 and 2, on the right are indeed about 1/4 inch above shafts 3 and 4.  Hmmmm,  I went with plan B, which is to ignore the first two shafts and rethread using the next 4 shafts.

 So essentially, I have a good 6 shaft loom instead of an 8 shaft loom.  I am sure I will be able to find some good projects that I may have overlooked before, thinking that I just had to use all the shafts.

 Oh, I also removed the overhead beater that I had rigged up, and replaced it with the original beater that came with the old girl.  Sometimes, I just need to leave things as they are, and not try to "improve" them!

Here we can see that these shafts while not exactly in line are much better that the before picture!  I finished up the threading, and tied on to the front beam.  I checked the tie-up of the treadles,  and she was ready to go.  Now,I just need to get some fabric strips ready to weave and I will be able to get some placemats and runners  that will match the incomplete sets I was left with after last years shows.

I had woven placemats in a dark fabric, in a light fabric and in a medium fabric.  The medium placemats sold, as did all the runners.  I also sold 1 light colored placemat, which left an odd number of those on hand.  I believe I will first concentrate on completing the sets that I have, light and dark, and then I think I may do some runners in a hit and miss fashion, combining all three values.  It will take a little sampling to get it how I want it but I think it will be worth it.  One more loom ready to weave!


I am coming to the end of the Baby Blanket warp on Lillian, my 4 shaft Burchard from Berkeley.  I had started to finish up with a bright blue one, in fact I had woven an inch or two of the blanket, when I got a call for the brightest green I had on hand.  I quickly un-wove what  was on there, loaded up with a green called "Grass", and got to work.  I am about 3/4 of the way thru the blanket, and I hope to finish that sometime this weekend.

This week I also got some spinning time in.  I have almost completed the first 2 oz bobbin of the multi-colored Polwarth that I had received from my Daughter for my Birthday.  I have just two more finger roving sections to go.  I am spinning this in a true worsted style.  I have never before been able to really stick with it thru a project before.  I am always trying new techniques throughout most of my spinning projects.  I have never been quite sure of the best way for any given fiber.  But this time, I am sticking with it!  I will not slip into my semi worsted, semi woolen sameness!  It is taking forever, but I will persevere!

I took this picture a couple of days ago, so I am a bit further along than this.  I really like the singles I am getting, they are fine, and well, worsted looking.   I can't wait to get the second bobbin spun so that I can see what it will look like as a finished yarn.

That is it for now from my Studio,  I hope you are all having as much fun as I am.

Until next time, Happy Weaving, Tina

Warm & Cozy

  I'm out of the wet & cold....but if you take a closer look at that weather map captured at 12:27 p..m., you'll see that we are smack dab in the path for some cold white stuff!
  They've been talking about this system for a few days, so we had plenty of warning.  I even planned my morning errands around getting home early.  But, that still meant that I had to drive in heavy rain on the interstate....not my favorite thing to do!  I think the real problem will be in the morning when all this rain we've had (and whatever snow we get) will freeze.  I'm not planning on venturing out tomorrow til much later in the day!!!

   But, I'll have to unload the car, and load the two Wolf Pups up to take to the Center.  This Saturday, I'll have another four folks to lead on their weaving journey.
  Here you see Susan and Debbie.....this was during the threading part of their warp.  That's Tina in the background.  She was there to lend a helping hand as we wound on warps.  Thank you, Tina!!!!

  Sandy and Julia got their looms threaded and wove their scarves, too.  We were hard working weavers this weekend!!!!!

 

 It was tough being around all that weaving....and not getting to weave!  So, when I came home, I started in on my placemat warp that has been neglected for awhile.  Ah....heaven.  I had woven three scarves in less than a week, so I was ready for something different.  And, this does need to be woven off so I can try something new.  I guess this is my "winter white" warp!

 

   And, here's the promise that winter will NOT last forever!  I have several clumps of daffodils looking as though they are going to bloom any minute!  I just hope they ignore that white stuff that's coming this afternoon.

Happy Weaving!

LouAnn

 

It Was A Gray and Rainy Day

.....not to be confused with a "dark and stormy night."  But, it was rather gloomy outside here in East Tennessee.
  Inside the weaving studio at the Center, it was rather quiet today, which was great for Maggie.  She's on her last 100 threads for the Lee's Surrender!
  Lanny got his warp threaded, through the reed and tied onto the front bar.  It looks like he'll be ready to weave next week.  Carl was back on the barn loom just weaving away!  A warp thread broke this afternoon, which means that it might be a good time to call it a day.  He'll deal with that next week!

  If you look closely, you'll see the rod making the last round on the back of Bonnie's loom.  That means that she is on the last shawl of this warp.
  Pat went back to work on the black placemat warp.  We'll miss her next week at our Holiday Party/Potluck while she plays with her grandsons!

  Tina played tour guide for some visitors.  It is pretty amazing to walk down the stairs and see the room full of looms!    That's Susan Sweetser on the right....the Craft Center President (and brand new weaver!)
  Later, Tina and I did a quick carpet warp inventory to see what colors are in short supply.  It's time to get another order together!

  Roz swung by the Center to start working on the table looms that still have mug rug warps on them.  It's time those warps were woven off and finished up!  She's been staying busy volunteering with one of the local schools.  She has them weaving, too!

 Part 2 of Carol's class was taking place in the Potter's Studio.  Can you guess what had their rapt attention when I popped in????   Tromp As Writ

  They were looking dazed at lunch time....lots of information!!!!

  There's always time for show & tell:  Eiko got a chance to show the two bamboo scarves she just finished at home.  Lovely!

  And, Christy brought in the "spinning chair" that she found in an antique shop in Louisiana.  Tina was buying it from her.  Be sure to take a closer look by clicking on the picture!

  Thank you, LaDonna, for the wonderful homemade bread!  It was yummy!  In fact, Carol was lucky to get a slice before it was all gone!

That's it for today....maybe we'll have sunshine later in the week.  But, it's always "sunny" in the studio!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

Two Exhibits

Last week I didn't blog because I could not figure out how to add pictures. DH spent all week trying to figure it all out. I should be writing tomorrow but if I wanted help, I needed to do it tonight. So, we finally made it work using google chrome. I hope I remember how I got there next week!! This is the weirdest thing. We tried everything, foxfire, HTML, etc etc. Nothing worked til now. I'm going to write fast so it hopefully publishes at the end of this!!!

So, it never rains, it pours. I've been a member of the Art Market Gallery for a very long time, since somewhere in the beginning of the 80s, after the World's Fair in 82 but a couple of years before they moved to the Candy Factory in about 86. The Candy Factory is on the World's Fair site but the city decided to sell the building for condos so we had to look for another location within the last 7 years or so. One of our members husband is a bit of an entrepreneur and he bought our current space. He gives us a pretty good rent  as well because he wants to stay married!

This is the 30th year that they've been in operation and they had the about 9 of us that are still either current members or members that still pay their dues but don't exhibit. The Knoxville News Sentinel did a nice story on it in today's paper and my jacket is on the back page. Not bad, I'd say! I couldn't be there when they interviewed several members on Tuesday. Right, I was up at Norris with the Tuesday Weavers! That's when  Channel 10 was up there interviewing us for the segment on Live at Five at Four!

 I do like the way the color of my jacket sort of lights up the wall. I don't usually show darker colors in exhibits. I really like to weave bright colors and this sea blue one just makes me smile. There are a couple of rugs in and near the exhibit as well.

 These watercolors are by inactive members. I hadn't seen the artist in the picture at the bottom for at least 20 years. Now that she's retired from teaching, hopefully she'll become active again. I love that picture. So much better in person, she covered the base of the background with something like tissue paper to give it texture.

 And who can't love Hugh Bailey? His animals are always a huge hit. I was there working on Thursday and his pieces all had sold signs on it. He talked about how he was at work at UT and Betsy Worden and Martha Jane McDowell came by and asked him for $5. He gave it to them and they said he was now a charter member of the Art Market. Betsy passed away several years ago and we inherited her looms at Norris. I know they'll be showing pictures of warps on there soon. Andy's working on one right now! Tina and LouAnn have plans for the other one.

 Back in November while we were at  the Foothills Craft Guild, they talked about an opportunity we had to show at the Fountain City Arts Center. I think this used to be a library but now it's a great space for arts in the neighborhood. I never seem to get my act together enough to put things into shows like this but this time I just signed the paper as it came by the table and later we found out we could put 5 pieces in the show! I've got mannequins and work to show. We set up on Wednesday and the opening was Friday evening. I took a picture of my pieces, the 3 clothing pieces and the 2 rugs. I know, they're kind of dark but I wanted something that would be cohesive.

Saturday morning I got a phone call that my solid black jacket sold to a lady in Germany. She'll pick it up later in the month and I"m to bring something to replace it with. I didn't really show the jacket off well this time. Might do it next week now that I know I can post pictures! I'm working at the Arts Center on Wednesday so I'll take my camera and get good pictures. The lining is kind of fun, not at all subdued.

So that's my shows. Yesterday we finally celebrated our daughter's birthday shopping and eating around town. During the night it developed that I must have gotten food poisoning because I was sicker than I"ve ever been before. I still feel like a wet noodle tonight.
Here's hoping that I"ll feel better by Tuesday when the Tuesday Weavers get back together. We've got the second part of the class I'm teaching about beginning weaving structures, how to read Handwoven, do drawdowns, etc. Ended up with 12 students and am so glad that the response has been positive.
That's one of the reasons I like to go to weaving conferences, to keep my knowledge fresh. There are alot of things I still don't understand. I plan to head over to Midwest Weavers Conference in Kansas in June. Yup, take preconference and everything. There are several classes that look very good!! Hopefully someone from here will go with me to help the time go by quickly because it is kind of a long drive!

It's raining tonight after a couple of very pretty days in Knoxville. It was 70 yesterday, quite a contrast to the blizzard they had in Moose Jaw and all over Saskatchewan and probably Manitoba as well.
I'm so glad I leave down here in the south!!
Here's hoping I"ll feel better tomorrow so that I can get another warp on a loom, this time the baby wolf. Until next week, keep weaving!
Carol

Now That's Better!

I made Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas Breakfast.  I made a double batch and did it all by hand.  They were really good!  I had posted about them on Farmsteadstudio.blogspot.com, but I neglected to update with a photo of them once they were done.  By the time I remembered, they were long gone.

Yesterday, I started to get a longing for homemade bread.  Over the years I have made mountains of bread, big mountains of bread.  Since it was our day off, I put my mixer to use and whipped up a batch!   I think however, that I had grown accustom  to the easy life.  I have, in recent years, used a bread machine that I rescued from the thrift shop to make bread.  I also have gotten used to buying a loaf from the store more often than not!  In fact the bread machine is tucked away in an upstairs closet!  I didn't feel like going upstairs to get it, so I instead, used my mixer, which can handle such things, though I hadn't done that very many times, and not in recent memory.

I pulled out an old favorite recipe and got to work.  I did not notice, however that the dough was not quite firm enough until it was too late!  I also got impatient and popped the loaves in the oven before they were ready.  The results were disappointing!  So disappointing in fact that I refused to take a picture.   I think you can imagine the bricks that resulted.

This morning, I started again.  First thing I mixed up the dough, even before I went out to feed.  I set the oven on low and nested the dough bowl above it on a rack so that it would not touch the surface, just receive the beneficial heat.  I set the timer for 45 minutes, and went out to feed.

Once I came in from the barn, I set to work on a list of all the weaving related things I need to get done in the next week or so.  The list is long.  My goal is to get all  my looms loaded and in working order before the month of January is over.  I know that I still have to do the weaving, but having all the looms loaded will be a huge plus in this Studio!

I had already wound a warp for either the Cambridge Rug loom or the 8 harness loom I had been having so much trouble with, I decided to use the 8 harness, so that I could see if the problems had been resolved.  I will only use the first 4 harnesses, and If I run into trouble with harness' 1 and 2, I can rethread using 2 of the other harness.   The warp that I had wound, is the Hollywood Rug warp, cut down to placemat size.    Since I did a warp chain for each of the three colors, the only way to tackle this baby is front to back.

 I began by putting all of the different color warp chains on the lease sticks, in no particular order.
Then I started with the first bundle on the right.  I began loading it into the reed, following my chart.  This first color is the most important, if I mess it up, I will have some rethreading to do.  It went on fairly easily until I realized I needed a few more threads to complete the placemat!

About that time my timer went off, and I went downstairs to the kitchen to check the bread in it's first rising.    Hmm, I thought, it looks pretty good, maybe it is ready.  Then I remembered the bricks from last night!  I set the timer for another 15 minutes, and went back up to wind those warp threads I needed.

 I ran across a new weaving blog the other day, weavingforfun.blogspot.com , I learned a couple of new tricks from it in just a few minutes reading.  One of the tricks was using sock loopers to control a warp chain.  So I tried it out, I am sure with a thicker chain it will be much more impressive!  The loopers hold incredibly well!

I chained this baby off just as the timer went off a second time.  This time I was satisfied that the dough had risen quite enough, and it was ready for a good old fashioned punch down!  I divided the dough in half and let it rest a few minutes.

Already it even smells better than last nights batch.  After those few minutes I formed the dough into loaves, and placed them again in their cocoon of warmth.




I covered them, and set the timer  for 45 minutes and returned to the 8 harness loom, ready to finish the first color and move on to the next one.

The next 2 colors went on easily, and before you know it I was done!

I know that this looks a mess, but once the heddles are threaded, and I have tied on to the back the lease sticks will come off, and it will all lay straight.  I may reinsert the lease sticks using the harnesses to find the "cross" before I  wind on.  I haven't done that before, but it sounds like it might be a good idea!

The timer went off again, so I went to check our progress.

That is looking a little better, but I think I will turn on the oven and set the timer for another 10 minutes, before they go into the oven.  Once they were in, I set the timer for 35 minutes, and went back to the Studio to start the threading.  While I was threading I began to smell the aroma of fresh baked bread wafting up the stairwell and all through the Studio.  I went back down when the timer rang, but I let it cook another 5 minutes before I brought it out.  I was so hungry, but I was going to wait it out until the bread was cool enough to slice.  I was going to have some warm PB and J for lunch, there would be no substitutes.

About that time Dear One came home to bring me the laptop, so that I could do my blog posts.  Yeah!  He had a couple of things to take care of before he left, so that he was here when I make my 1/2 sandwich.  Once I was sure that it was divine, I asked him if he wanted a tiny bite.  He was delighted to sample!  He took a huge bite, most of the 1/2 sandwich in fact!  I don't know what else I was expecting, do you?  He agreed that it was wonderful bread, and we decided that bread was not evil, and we were going to embrace the carbs from hence forth!  (At least the home made Whole Wheat ones!)

Now, back to the loom.  I began to thread from the front of the reed, but it was a little awkward, so I switched to the back of the loom.  I haven't progressed very far in this next picture, but I intend to finish the threading and begin the winding on today.

Today has been a productive day, 2 beautiful loaves of bread, a loom threaded and getting ready to wind it on.
Now that is better!

Until the next time, Happy Weaving, Tina

P. S.  Don't forget to watch us on Live at Five at Four if you are in the WBIR viewing area!

Craftsman or Artist?

  Carol Larsen of River's Edge Fiber Arts posted this quote on Facebook.  I'll admit that it did make me stop and think.  Which am I?

   I have spent the last week or two getting ready for the class I'm teaching this coming weekend.  The class came about because we are always getting request to have a weaving class on the weekend.  Those of you who weave know that you can't do it all in a weekend......OR could you????

  So, I set my parameters:  one project that could be done in a weekend (a day and a half) and I thought that a scarf in plain weave would fit the bill.  A scarf in cotton would not require a lot of fussing, and it would be forgiving....it won't felt or snag or slip around.  We're even using 8/4 carpet warp....the step-child of the weaving world!  It's strong, and it comes in lots of colors.  For weft, we'll be using cotton flake, which is soft and has lots of texture.

  I played around with the sett for the scarf:  the first one was done 10 e.p.i.  After wet finishing, it was pretty compact.  So, the next one I set at 8 e.p.i. and I liked the hand of it much better.

  Then came the fun part:  writing the handout.
Since I think of this class like a boot camp, I didn't want too much drivel.....just the facts, ma'am!

The more I typed, the more I realized that weavers have their own language and unique way of doing things.  I went through the missive and started highlighting the weaving terms, and decided that we'll just learn by doing....just like when I taught kindergarten.  (Actually...that's MY learning style!)  We'll learn as we go.

 Now....we all know that these folks will have a long way to go after they finish Sunday afternoon.  But, they will get to experience the different steps of the process.  And, except for wet finishing, they'll have a scarf finished for show & tell.  (Fringe twisting will probably be done on their own time, too!  But, we'll learn how to do it on Sunday.)  This class is not a substitute for Carol's class on Learning to Weave at the Center on Tuesdays, but it will allow folks the experience.  Then they can decide if they want to continue.
 
  As I wove the sample scarves, my mind was busy planning other projects I want to do this winter and spring, and I'm ready to get back to the rug loom for more rugs and tote bags.  There are so many things I want to weave, it's hard to prioritize the projects in my mind!  I just keep jotting down notes in my weaving notebook for future projects.
  So....what does that make me:  laborer, craftsman or artist?  Well....this weekend (and the next) I will be the teacher.  Or, maybe that should be the Sharer....I will share my love of weaving with some new folks.
What about you?
Happy Weaving, etc.......
LouAnn