Small Talk

Sometimes you want a distraction, to get your mind off of life's problems.  Sometimes you want to do something that isn't important in the grand scheme of things, like small talk with a friend.   Sometimes, when a human friend isn't handy, I find what I am looking for in one of the many boxes hidden away in the studio.

The word for small talk in Italian is "Chiacchierino" oddly enough there is a delicious Italian pastry like cookie that you can only find in February,  in Milano anyway, with that same name.   However, you would be right to think that I am highly unlikely to find that in the boxes upstairs.

No, the Chiacchierino I am talking about we call by a different name here in the States.  Here as in England it is called "Tatting".  I found a box full of my Tatting supplies, late this morning as I was looking for something to post about.  There was a lot of false starts and a few bits and pieces, but truthfull the only major project that I had tried to do was a bonnet that mysteriously disappeared, shuttles and all, when I was about to the half way mark.

I gazed into the box and I wondered if I had forgotten how to do it?  I knew that there was only one way to find out!

I still got it!  This is supposed to be a 3 leaf clover, using 2 shuttles and crochet thread #30.  Trouble is I got carried away and realized that  I had gone passed the stopping point, so it will be a 4 leaf clover after all!

Who knows what else I am going to get mixed up in, while I am supposed to be weaving for the shows.  It seems I am getting interested in the most fiddly of crafts lately.  First Kumihimo braids, with bobbins and counter weights, then Swedish Sami bands with all that fiddly pick up.

Is there anything more fiddly than Tatting?

Until next time, Happy crafting, Tina

Corralling Wolves

  Maybe Tina can loan me some of her cattle panels.....I'm having trouble corralling the Pups.  Parker Pup was sad that he was without a warp, but, he's always happy to have his picture taken.  Sass Pup and Cutty Pup are big show-offs:  "Look at me!  Look at me!"  They are the happiest, though, when you are throwing the shuttle and creating something someone will love.

  Baby Julia tried to hide behind Ms. Emily.  She was so embarrassed that she was "nekkid."  I reminded her that she's getting new heddles and she would have to be patient.  Then, we can plan a new project just for her!  Ms. Emily reminded me that I need to get this towel warp off so I can load her new heddles, too! 

  And, in her usual sarcastic voice, Mighty Annee reminded me that these purses don't weave themselves!!!  Such a critic!

 And, try as I might, I could NOT get all these looms in the same room for a photo op.
  Just not gonna do it!

I need Maggie's Bella to herd them all into a holding pen of some kind!
     WHY????

  Schacht Spindle is having a contest....you can download the particulars here: Personal Stories Contest


  So, if you're like me, and you own a Schacht loom (or 6) or a spinning wheel or a rigid heddle, etc......, head over and check it out.

***Disclaimer:  No wolves were hurt during the photo op for this blog.

Now....about those cattle panels....do you think that would help???

Happy Weaving (and picture taking!)
LouAnn

Is Carl Here???

  He has legions of fans....everyone adores him!  Now folks are bringing their friends to meet him and look at the items he weaves!

  Carl's friend, Rae, brought two of her friends to the Center today to see him at the old loom, and browse through the woven items in the Shop.    I know for a fact that a lovely wool rug went home with one of them this afternoon!!!!

  The visitors got a chance to see the other weavers, too.  Linda had her rigid heddle with her, and we all admired her colorful scarf.












  The Ladies (AKA Shirley, Bonnie and Ms. Ila) were all busy at their looms.  We have all sizes and shapes of looms, that's for sure!

 

  Jocelyn, Carol and Lanny were busy with their projects.  Carol is threading the next towel warp, while Jocelyn and Lanny were weaving.

 
  It wasn't all weaving:  there's always some bookkeeping that has to be done.  We had a pretty good July up in the shop, and Marie got busy checking off the items that sold.  Placemats, scarves and towels, basically.  Is that our "bread & butter"???











  Sharon's getting another scarf tied on her loom.

  Yes.....knitting!!!  Harriet got a quick lesson from Roz.  And, I did overhear something about socks!!!!  Guess that will be next on the agenda!
  Meanwhile, LaDonna was weaving away on her rigid heddle.....she finished the scarf that was on it by lunch!






  And, throughout all the activity, Tina just worked away on the coverlet repair.  Now.....that's concentration!!!!

  I missed getting pictures of Linda L., Sharon H. and Betsy....so sorry!!!  I'll do better next week.  But, I did find that pesky missing thread on the napkin warp.  Of course, it was right in the middle!  That means I'll be threading next week!!!!
 
Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

More cats

Today is a holiday here in Canada. The August long weekend. This is the view out the window of the room I'm staying in. Too bad the wind's not blowing but I love seeing the red and white.

So last week I finally got to see 2 of the kittens my sister hand raised last year. Just to recall, here are a couple of them a year ago May when we flew up here to visit.

What a difference. Bear is big and such a sweetheart. She's fast and very agile. She was one that would not have survived more than an hour or so if my sister had not gotten them. Now she's one that is confident and playful.

As big and normal as Bear is, Zorro is huge. He's got to weigh 20 lbs!! He is the most tender hearted. Of course, because he has long hair, he sheds! My sister is highly allergic to cats, but these have wriggled their way into her heart and they are definitely all hers!!

The quilt is one my sister made. She's got lots of ideas and does a great job making them.

So what have I done this week? Not much of anything. I have spent time with family and finished a few of the handwoven pieces I brought along. With Mom not here now to care for, it's been such a different time. We're not controlled by the need to have her at dialysis, etc. It's just different. Sure would have loved for her to be here, but glad her need for dialysis is over.

I'm up here for awhile yet. Driving up 2000 miles to be here, it makes sense to be here awhile. I can't weave, but you can. Throw a few shots for me, ok?

Until next week,

Carol

International Flavors

   It has been the summer of discontent around here.  No weaving mojo, and no time to do anything about it!  I think my Friday blog posts have reflected that!  Sometimes, I must admit to rushing around trying to do something blog worthy, which is not good for my creativity at all.
      However, for the last couple of weeks you may have noticed a different tone, a bit of enthusiasm even, returning to my creative time.  It has caught me by surprise, really it has.  I  thought I was creatively stagnant because there was so much going on, and that my joy in weaving was being squashed because I just didn't have any time to devote to it!
   It turns out that I was just plain bored to death with it!  I have begun to doubt I will ever be a production weaver.  I couldn't even make it through 120yds of baby blankets, 40yds of bread cloths, or 16yds of the same placemats without losing my enthusiasm.  I may eventually find something that can hold my attention, but then again, I am not trying to fill a booth at the fall shows by myself.
  The first thing that peaked my interest as you all may guess, was Kumihimo braiding.  As I told you several weeks ago, it literally did a ninja move, and crept up on me in the guise of kids friendship bracelet set from the thrift store.  It wasn't until I had the little foam looms loaded that it dawned on me what I was doing!
   I borrowed a real Kumihimo loom that I knew was getting little use in the weaver's annex at the Center, plus some really fine shiny yarn, and the rest is history.  I purchased some Tama bobbins to get the full experience, the sound they make tapping against the loom reminds me of wind chimes somehow.

Here is my latest braid, I found this 20 bobbin pattern on You tube.  There is a woman, in Russia I believe, that has made a couple of videos for You Tube and this was one of them.  I believe this one may be my favorite so far.  Once complete, this will become bracelets for the fall shows.


(Be sure to click on the picture so that you can see the braid up close.)





I was looking through you tube videos to get more braiding ideas, when I stumbled across a video that showed Swedish Sami bands.  This is a weaving on either a Swedish band loom, or a backstrap type of device.  Of course there was someone who had taken it a step further and used their Inkle loom. (I have one of those!)
      I had just this week, cut off a very dissappointing project.  You know that project that just had too many strikes against it.  It was in fact, one of those projects that I had thrown onto the Inkle loom to have something to blog about.  The yarns were wrong, the width was too variable, and I had messed up the pattern.  (Three strikes and you are out!)
   I scoured the library at the weaving Center on Tuesday looking for more information about this type of narrow band weaving, and I came up empty handed.  I went back to You Tube and found a woman that had several videos, and she also had several books out.  Susan Foulkes is her name, and after a little searching I found a copy that I could download for a very reasonable amount.  It is a very basic tutorial called "Sami Band Weaving".   I looked through the book and I really liked the Swedish patterns and bright colors that were used.
      I chose my pattern and and yarns carefully.  this time I used a 8/2 cotton yarn that I have in several colors that would work for these patterns, though maybe not as bright.   I also thought that 8/2 might stand up a little better in the weaving.

 The repeat in this pattern is fairly short so that I can see where I am going, and I am less likely to get lost.  Once woven, this band, I believe,  I may turn into bracelets too.

I thought that I didn't have enough time to be excited about my craft.  I was wrong!  I work on these two different flavors of weaving in odd moments throughout the day, first thing in the morning, before the sun peaks over the ridge, (listening to audio books or podcasts) while I am waiting for the dryer to finish tumbling, while I am talking on the phone, while the grand kiddos are here working on their crafts, while dinner is cooking, in short, just about anytime.  From a Russian woman weaving Japanese braids to narrow Swedish bands

I am sure that it helps that both of these projects are in the living area of the house and not up in the Studio, which is a little warm this time of year, but I know that expanding my weaving creativity, by adding International flavors, starting with  a Russian woman weaving Japanese braids to narrow Swedish bands,  it is possible that more flavors will be showing up in the upstairs Studio s well this Fall, as the temperatures moderate.

Until next time, Happy Weaving, Tina

Recipe

Chocolate Cherry Cake (from Karen-In-The-Woods)
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
3 eggs
1 can chocolate frosting

  Lightly beat eggs and gently mix with the cherry pie filling.  Add to the cake mix and mix by hand until all has been incorporated.  Pour into 9" X 13" lightly greased pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
  Cool for 5-10 minutes.  I used a large pronged fork to poke holes in the top of the cake.  Drop the frosting by large spoonfuls on top of the cake.  As it softens, start to spread it on the cake until all has been covered.
  ***You can see the holes in the picture.  The frosting "melts" down into the cake!!!   YUM!
 
  I was thrilled to share my birthday cake with my fellow weavers....I guess you would call them my weaving family.  I have today and tomorrow to finish up my month long celebrating....it has been tons of fun!  And, to top it off, tomorrow night is a Blue Moon!  What a way to end the month!

Happy Weaving (and celebrating!)
LouAnn
 

Totally Tuesday

  I apologize for the lack of pictures in today's blog.....lack of content, too!  I spent time counting thread groups for the napkin warp, so I was otherwise engaged.  After all, it's time that warp got threaded and wove!
  But, you can see we had lots of chances to catch up with each other, and do a little weaving, too!

  Karin was back with us today....she's doing much better after her fall!!!  Although Tina is looking at books in this picture, she spent most of the day doing coverlet repair.







Lanny was busy with his placemat warp.  He's really getting it done!  (Folks are still raving about his shortbread cookies!!!)










  Marie was upstairs and downstairs this morning.  (She did a heddle count for me this afternoon for the napkins....thank you!!!!)  Betsy and Sharon were on task at their looms.  In fact, Betsy finished the rug she was weaving.

  Carl had finished the rug he was working on, and needed the strips cut for his new rug.  Christy stepped in to help out.

Betsy and I celebrated our birthdays this month, and today we had cake!!!!  (Chocolate Cherry Cake from Karen-In-The-Woods' blog.)  This was all that was left at the end of the day!!!!


  Also, a BIG thank you to Bonnie for vacuuming the Studio at the end of the day.  It's amazing how much lint we can kick up!!!
  That's all for today folks.....I'll do better next week!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn