It's All Fiber

I played hooky from Tuesday Weavers yesterday to spend the day in my yard.  I mowed, weed whacked and pruned.  And then I got serious about planting.
  I started working part time at the Home Depot in the garden department a couple of weeks ago, and I have to tell you, it's just as dangerous as working in a yarn or fabric store for me.  I've spent $55 each week since I've started, just on plants.  I really need to go back and get some mulch and soil, but it's my day off from both my jobs, and I'd rather spend it away from either of them.
But you can see the fruits of some of my labors.  I planted a line of azaleas in the line of the old hedge on the right side of the house, and I planted this lovely little Pink Breath of Heaven on the left side of the front slope.  Isn't that a great name for a plant?  And it does smell rather heavenly, I must say.
  Today, I needed some friend therapy, so LouAnn and I went to lunch at the Museum of Appalachia.  We each had one of the specials, and they were delicious.  While we were eating and chatting, a storm blew in from the northeast, and it was a nasty one.  We braved the fat sporadic drops to go to the Loom House to clean it out.  I helped LouAnn change the reed in the loom, then sat outside on the Homestead House's porch while she swept the house out.  While I was sitting and watching the rain, one of the peacocks came to the porch to join me.  He eyed me warily the entire time, but sat out the rain with me.

Notice the yarn bomb on the parking sign!

  After we cleaned, LouAnn suggested we go check out Clinch River Yarn Company, a dangerous place for fiber addicts, but I'd never been.  We went, I saw, I purchased.  If you're ever in the neighborhood, it's conveniently close to the Center.  Check them out at www.clinchriveryarns.com.  The owner, Sandy, is very talented and very nice.  We spent a lot of time looking around while she spun our yarns into balls, which made my bill go up a little farther, but as LouAnn kept reminding me--and she says I said it to her first--it's all fiber!  And I told myself that I've been working so hard, I have a right to spend a little on myself.







  Just look at my treasures!  Some lovely worsted cotton-rayon-silk for a cardigan, the latest issue of KnitWear, and a pattern for a scarf I saw at the shop.  Lots of fiber therapy for the work-weary!  A lovely reason to sit on the couch, too, which I need.








I'll close with a photo of Leo drinking out of the sink.  No good reason, other than it cracks me up that he drinks out of the sink.  How does he do that?
  Don't spend time practicing it yourself.  Just have a happy week in pursuit of fiber-y goodness!
Maggie

Keep Calm and Weave On

 It was a smaller group today at the Center:  we have two weavers off traveling the globe.  And, a few others (including Carol) who were taking care of business. We have plenty to do to keep us busy!
  Marie was really happy to finish up the red table runner....today she cut the strips for a new batch of place mats.  Tina put a LOT of yardage on that loom, so there are lots of combinations that are  possible for that warp.
  Linda was able to weave with us until lunch time...about the time the other Linda arrived!  You can see all those heads in the back paying perfect attention to their projects in progress.
                                                                   
                                                                                                 

Cindy is really enjoying the dish towels on the Baby Wolf.  Right now, she's using a sunny yellow....but we also found some orange that she will probably use next! 
  Andy's warp still has one big ole "rat's nest" in it!  What a mean tangle!!!!
  We unraveled another rug for Carl to reweave today.  The header is woven, and next week he'll start the body of the rug.  Those rugs were woven to last, and they'll live on in their new warp.

  I've been waiting to see what Shirley was going to use with her beautiful warp....and here you go!  These colorful stripes are just perfect!

Christy was hard at work on her newest book mark....beautiful colors!!!!

And, one of our favorite times:  Show and Tell!!!
  Linda brought her very first "at home" warp of mug rugs.  All the same threading....different colors and treadling!!! 
  Cindy brought her towels that she has been working on at home.
  It's always fun to see those projects!!!
    Now, we're home.....more weaving projects to tackle????? 
Ah......just weave on!
Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

Road Trip

I know, I've been gone alot lately!! This past month I've been home about 8 days!! I think after this weekend, tho, I'm home for awhile! At least that's the hope!!

So, Wednesday morning I got on a bus with a bunch of other ladies, including our own Sharen, and went up to Cincinnati for a quilt show.

We had alot of rain while we were there but it didn't start until the following day so we went down to the fountain square, a couple of blocks from our hotel to look around. Someone said we had to try Graeter's ice cream. It's famous in Cincinnati and the business is 140 years old. So that was our treat for the trip!

It really is good! If you get a chance, try their black raspberry chocolate chip!

 From our hotel window, we could see the convention center where the quilt show was. Good thing it was close because the rain was pretty seriously falling at times!!
The hotel rooms we were in were nice but they were in the middle of major hotel renovations and that part was awful!! Only 2 elevators were working, hotel was full, lobby nonexistent, etc etc. Whoever planned the renovation didn't think about guests! Good thing we had a great time at the show!!

 There were a few quilts that were just fun. Like this one that I took a picture of part of. A person celebrating a milestone birthday had made it using yo-yos. Just totally fun, nothing serious about this quilt!!

 On the other hand this person made about 3600 paper pieced pieces for the wallhanging that this is just a part of. I can't imagine how long it took her to make it!! The effect was gorgeous.

 There's a quilter in Japan that has been making pieces that are separate and then joined with tabs or something, a unique play on how to make a quilt. We're so used to it all being one big piece but now there are quilters that are making separate little quilts and joining them somehow. This quilter had done a bunch of redwork pieces, completely finished, almost placemat size but then she joined them with yo-yos, lots of yo-yos! I really liked how she took a pattern and tweaked it to make it her own.

We got back Friday evening, heads full of ideas and suitcases filled with purchases from the vendors. Now to find time to make the things we have on our new to do lists!! Hmmm, if I weave like crazy this morning, maybe I can find an hour to cut out a project? or at least find all the fabrics in my stash to complete......
Until next week, I'm staying home to weave! and maybe find a couple of hours to finish a project or two so that I can start some of those new ones that I've added to my list plus find time to go out and enjoy the wisteria that's about to burst open and my lilacs that seem to have been happy with winter and will bloom as well in the next few days!!
Spring is here!! I hope it's coming where you are as well!
Carol
 

Making Hay While The Sun Shines

  I'd love to tell you that I have been weaving up a storm, but that wouldn't be true!

  After cutting off the first six place mats on this warp, I'm working on the second one.  But, to be truthful, I haven't woven on this for a few days. 

  We finally have been having some great weather, and I've been outside mowing and cutting back some of the wild growth.

  But, before I could even mow, I had to pick up sticks out of the yard.  This is the second load I collected from the front yard. 

  There is probably a third load to collect, but that had to wait.  (I was able to mow the front yard yesterday!)

  I fed the first load through the chipper and got this wonderful mulch. 
  But, before I can work on the next load, I have to work on the chipper....something is hung up in the chopper blade, and that means I get to open up the shredder.  I located my manual, and that will be my project this morning.  (Oy Vey!!!)  It's a good thing I'm good at following directions!

  As I work in the yard, it's so much fun to see the wonderful spring plants that keep coming back year after year.  I love Trillium, and these Virginia Bluebells are always welcoming sights.  And, I noticed yesterday that my lilies of the valley are starting to shoot up. 
  Storms are on their way this afternoon, so I'll get some weaving time later today.  But, for now, it's back outside to the yard and flower beds that need lots of attention.  You've got to make hay while the sun shines....or at least get some yard work done!
Happy Weaving (and gardening!)
LouAnn

Baby, It's Hot Outside!

Blueberry bushes and an artichoke

 Remember last week, when we were all lamenting the lateness of spring?  Wasn't it just two weeks ago that it snowed?  Well, when the gods want to punish you, they answer your prayers!  It's 84 outside right now, too hot to plant a garden but that's just what I did today.
  Two weeks ago, some dear friends who garden for a living brought me two beautiful blueberry bushes, and those guys needed to go in the ground today!  So, I plowed up the garden I'd made three years ago, tilled it four times, added garden soil and tilled it again.  I bought six different tomato plants and some peppers, and put them in the ground, too.
  The rest of the garden will be from seed, and won't go in until tomorrow.  I need to cool off and take a shower!  Whew!  Someone stinks around here!

Lots of tomatoes!

No weaving this week, just a lot of work and some serious knitting.  I'm about up to the elbows on the hot pink sleeves, and started a new little number.  Several years ago, a man donated his late wife's collection of Harrisville Shetland yarn, and I got six cones of lavender.  I've made a rug with some of it, but have plenty left.  I got this issue of KnitWear, a new knitting magazine that I love, and here is a pattern using that very yarn.  It's a simple cable twist all over, a pattern I can look at once a row and keep going without further reference.  Not quite t.v.-friendly, but not bad,  Great for the front porch and a frosty adult beverage in the evening!
  An update on Lee's Surrender on Bertha:  After I got everything tied on and tied up (sounds racy, doesn't it?), I found two threading errors in the tabby rows.  I was too tired to fix them, so they'll be waiting for me next Tuesday.
  Until then, Happy Spring!
  Maggie

Sometimes, It Takes A Village

 As Carol wrote in her blog yesterday, she spent the weekend at Fiber Forum at Arrowmont.  She brought her woven sampler for us to see today at the Center.

  Then, it's time to see how much we can get done while we're at the Center!
  Carl was hard at work on the next rug in the re-weave project.
  Maggie launched into tying on her warp once the lease sticks were removed.  Andy is still working on her tangle.......

.....Christy and Cindy worked on the tangle, too!

 

  Allan went to Bonnie's loom to help out with her warp.  She's all threaded and got wound on today.  Of course, there was a tangle!!!!

Marie got her strips cut, and started in on her runner again.  I thinks she's about ready to change prints!!!

  And, no Tuesday is complete without a weaver under a loom!  Someone has to tie up the treadles!

  Barbara was able to join us today, and it's always fun to see what's new on the looms!

  Then, back to that tangle again!  And, Bonnie joined in to help out.

  And, this was our prize for being such good little weavers today:  Ms. Ila made us cup cakes!

YUM!

It's a group effort....what can you say????

Happy Weaving,
LouAnn

Southeast Fiber Forum Conference

I love conferences! You learn something every time you go. There's such a vast amount of weaving knowledge out there to add to our brains that it's impossible to learn it all, but we keep chipping away at it and hope to acquire just a bit more each time we go.

The conference was this past weekend at Arrowmont. Arrowmont's in Gatlinburg, one of the meccas of commercialization, not exactly a place you'd want to go to for improving your knowledge of weaving. However, there's a tiny oasis among the shops and "museums".  It's Arrowmont, a wonderful school for crafts. At Arrowmont, you don't realize you're in Gatlinburg. You're in a place that surrounds you with opportunities to learn! I used to go there for spring classes every year until we adopted our DD back in 87.

This is the third time SFFA has had their conference at Arrowmont.

This year I took a class with Karen Donde on Turned Beiderwand. The class was 2 1/2 days long. It could have been 5 days. So much information, so little time, so much to thread, weave, figure out....

I tried to take some pictures but I missed alot!

We all wound 2 warps before we got there. One warp we wound onto the back beam of our looms and if we had a second warp beam, the other was wound onto that one. I only have one beam on my ashford. So, the other warp had to be positioned and then supported with a weight so it wouldn't move while we threaded the 2 warps at the same time. Yup, 2 sets of lease sticks and all!!

Karen ended up helping several of the students at times, making sure they knew what they were doing!

 Christy took the class with me. Her baby wolf worked nicely. Note the weights she has on her second warp..

 I did snap a quick picture of my loom while I was still threading the warps. The only thing is, I forgot to snap one while I was weaving. So, once the warps are threaded and tied onto the front, you have to do something to be sure that that second warp is as tight as the first one for weaving. In order to do that, you have to divide it in sections and hang weights on it. We used water bottles that we hooked onto the sections of warp. It did look interesting, all those bottles on the backs of our looms. Of course, you could weave just a few inches before you'd have to go back and adjust the bottles down again. As long as the weights were the same and hanging from the back, not resting on the floor, you were fine. I did have a bit of problem with one side of my warp. Somehow the weight didnt' work so great there but I wove it off anyway.

 Karen helping a student with his warp. If you hadn't ever threaded a loom with 2 warps before, it was rather daunting!

 I mostly weave clothing that I sell. Our class assistant has bought probably about half a dozen of my pieces over the years. I consider her a friend, more than just a client, even though I only meet her at shows. This past fall she decided she wanted to learn how to weave as well so she signed up in the 2 year program at Haywood Community College. So now she's weaving and I suspect one day I'll buy something she wove when she gets into the Southern Highland Craft Guild as well!

 Oh, just noticed, you can see the bottles hanging from the back of her loom. The long term solution would be to get another back beam. Yes, you can get one for the baby wolf. They're not that expensive. Someone in the class had one. It does add depth to the loom but she sure could weave quickly! Only problem with the weave structures we were doing is that she had to change the tie up underneath the loom quite often. They all did. However, once the sampling's done, you wouldn't need to re tie everything, just weave it off!! Something to consider!!

One of the draws for the conference is that you have a keynote speaker. This year it was Jason Collingwood. He also taught rug weaving there. Of course we've all heard of his father and knew that he was now teaching, taking over from his Dad. Well, I'd never heard him speak before. What an interesting life! He showed us pictures of the studio where he weaves and explained how it all worked. I enjoyed his speech as much as any I've heard in a long time. Incredibly informative!

 The other highlight of the conference is always the fashion show. I tried to take a lot of pictures but the models kept moving alot and it was hard to pin them down..
Here's our fearless MC for the evening, all dolled up courtesy of the vendors, including the feathers in her hair!

 Diane Totten's class sent a representative from them all pinned up in things they had woven and crimped. Very serious fashion show this was!! We did some of this gathering  of handwoven fabric 2 years ago when I took Catherine Ellis's class on woven shibori...

 I don't knit but this cape was awesome. I think she may have spun the yarn too. I don't remember but it was gorgeous!

 Our instructor sent her assistant onstage with a vest she'd woven. I like the blocks that were created in the weave.

 This person won a bag of roving at a previous conference and this is what she did with it....how cool is that?!

 

I won a skein of yarn that has angora in it. Ever soft!! Now I have to think of something to make before the next conference, if I choose! I'm thinking of ideas of what to make. It's not that big a skein so maybe some overshot.....hmmmm...
We all left Arrowmont exhausted but our heads full of new ideas to try to incorporate into our weaving lives. I'll take my samples along tomorrow for all the Tuesday Weavers to see and assess.
Until next week, hope you find time to weave!!
Carol