New Normal

  This is the new normal, or what passes for that.  A peek inside the Studio kinda makes you sad.  We are so used to it being so busy and vibrant. 
  Carol and Alyce were planning a project this morning.

   

  Liz was working on her loom in the back corner.  You can see that the folding looms are still pushed out of the way.

  Warps still need to be wound.  Lou Ann was busy winding her next warp for her (new to her) loom.  Can't wait to hear more about her new project.

 Yeah!  Lunch time!  Ray joined us today with news from the Board.  Like many small businesses, we're finding new ways to stay afloat.

   It's like a round robin:  sharing news and weaving ideas.  

 We're even talking about a COVID-19 weaving project!!!

  Linda did a run of t-shirt rugs (shower mats.)  Her color choice for this one gave us some inspiration for our newest project.
.........more information later!!!

Make your new normal the best it can be.

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

Following The Rules

Mask?   check
Practice social distancing?    check
Need your fiber friends?    YES!

 Even the drizzle didn't stop us from enjoying some time together.
We brought our lunches and parked the cars, got the folding chairs and spent the next hour catching up with each other.

  Margi had come earlier to use the serger for one of her projects, and left as we got ready to eat. 

  Marie had items to share with the group that she has been working on at home.
  Carol was safe in her PPE mask.  (It doesn't fog up her glasses!)
  Patty brought her towels that she wove in bumberet.

  Tina had farm fresh eggs and a carload of iris that she thinned out of her flower bed!  There was also some hostas for those that needed them.


 Pat has been busy making masks for folks in the neighborhood.

Linda wove 22 mug rugs....she was contacted by a lady that wanted some for her guest room.  It seems only right to make a bunch while you have a warp on the loom!

I didn't get a picture of Betsy...her car was parked to the side of me!  I'm thinking we might need to do lunch again.  It does get you in the mood to weave! 
  I miss my fiber friends!
Happy Weaving....
LouAnn

How Are YOU Doing???

I sure do miss seeing my Fiber Friends! 

  But, they are not just sitting around, mind you!  I sent out an email asking for pictures of what they had been working on at home, and just look at the results!!!!

  Anna is weaving fabric to cover the chair bottoms for her dining room.  (I didn't tell them how long this has been on the loom, Anna.)

 
  All those t-shirts that Betsy's been collecting???  Here they are!  Look at these great rugs!  Did you know they make thirsty bath mats? 

  Carol finished sewing her strips for rugs together, and decided she needed a break.....a little patchwork!!!!  This is just ONE of the quilt tops that she has been working on.

  Jocelyn found a warp that she had dyed a few years back....but the cross was messed up!!!  That bamboo warp became weft!!!!!  We don't waste good fiber!
  And, a little painting when you aren't weaving (or writing or cooking!!!!)

  Linda used up some stash to make more hand towels.....all this hand washing means we need more towels!!!!!   (Lovely AND thirsty!!!)

  What a guy!!!!  Lou Ann bought a loom from Linda B., and Ray moved it and helped set it up at her house!!!!
  I can't wait to hear the whole story when we get together again!

(Thank you, Ray!)

Patty has been busy making masks for a local health facility.  It amazes me how many different patterns are out there!  She also decided that her 120 year old farm house was ready for a new coat of paint.  (Good use of your time, Patty!)

  But, Patty wasn't through....oh, no! 

She managed to organize her weaving tools and supplies!

  And, like Linda, Tina found that she needed more hand towels, also!  This is her stash busting thirsty towel.  Aren't we glad we're weavers!!!!

  Okay, fiber friends.....take a deep breath.  This, too, shall pass.
  Remember to:
-  keep six feet of distance from others
-  check in with friends and family
-  get outside and enjoy the spring blossoms
-  wash your hands!!!!


Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

Pot Luck???

  Today would have been our first 5th Tuesday pot luck lunch....if only we could be together!  But, we are practicing social distancing to keep each other safe!  That doesn't mean we haven't been in contact....oh, NO!  The emails and text have been flying like crazy!
  So, let me catch you up with the Tuesday Weavers!!!!

Carol is recovering from knee surgery and rehab....by moving her daughter into her new condo!  When she's not moving boxes, she's been cutting t-shirts into strips for more rugs.  We all need a supervisor, Carol!!!!

 This is Marie's new towel pattern:  8/2 cotton warp with handspun indigo cotton weft.  LOVE that pattern!










   Not weaving, but, doesn't that look yummy!  Hey, Jocelyn!  There's no better way to bake cornbread than in an iron skillet!  She has posted some of her paintings on Facebook, so I know she's staying busy.

  Linda is weaving a table runner in the Butterflies In Clover pattern from Handwoven.  She texted me a little while ago that she's warping her Inkle loom....she's a busy lady!

  Bonnie attended the cobweb broom class earlier in the month.  These are her two brooms ready for spring cleaning!!!













Sorry, Betsy!  I can't get this picture turned the right way!  But, you can see all the placemats that she hemmed from the warp she wove at the Center.



 








 Sharon has been very, very busy!





 These are her towel warps.





 AND, she did a little indigo dyeing, too!!!!

 Tina has been spinning and knitting!  That crocodile scarf is just too cute!











-Patty has been making masks....and she's ready to return to her little corner of the Studio.

-Liz wants some more 8/4!

-Marilyn has reorganized her shelves in her loom room and weaving with her granddaughter.
 
-Me?  I've been going through my fabric stash and washing up some for possible projects.  I just got a subscription to Heddlecraft, and I have been working my way through the issues.

Our next 5th Tuesday Pot Luck is June 30th.  I am looking forward to that already.
Happy Weaving.....and stay safe!
LouAnn

I saw this on Facebook, and it sums up how I feel right now.

Keep Calm and Carry On

  Regardless of what is going on in the world, weavers just keep on keeping on!!!!

  Case in point:  more yarn!!!
And, you don't even see the 24 cones of white 8/4!

Ah-ha!  There it is!  The white yarn will be going on the Leclerc counter-balance loom.  We set it up for lots and lots of placemats!

  It looks like Marilyn is giving Alyce an Inkle loom lesson. 

Ray is in the process of planning his next warp for the Studio loom.  Wonder what he has in mind?????


















  Betsy is winding her warp:  looks to be about twelve yards!  What do you have in mind, Betsy?

   Patty decided it was time to cut off her roll of placemats (there's still plenty of warp left on the loom!!!)  These can be hemmed and taken upstairs to the shop.

  Marie and Shirley found room on the shelf for all the new yarn cones.  Threading is on-going for Linda.

 




  Weaving friends!!!  The best!


Happy Weaving!
LouAnn



p.s.  Thanks to Marie and Sharon for today's pictures!

MARCH Right In!

  What a great way to start off the day!  Cut that warp of placemats off of that loom!!!! 
  Laura then got busy serging the raw edges for the hems.  She has her work cut out for her at home this week.  Then she needs to start thinking about her next project!













  Betsy is trying to decide what to do for her next project.  She and Marie were working on drawdowns on Marie's tablet this morning.  Strickler is always a good resource!
  (Note Pat's handwoven vest in the background!)

 
  Spring is full of beautiful colors, and these three ladies set the stage today.  Margi, Peggy and Alyce are at different stages of their projects:  Margi is trying out different colors and treadling for her mug rugs.  Peggy is finishing her threading, while Alyce is weaving away on the Pup.












  Bonnie, Sharon and Liz kept the back row humming along.  Shawls, scarves and placemats are being woven on these looms.









 Tina provided technical assistance today for Carl's loom.  The cords needed some attention!










   Carol is often called in for technical help!  Susan is warping her loom for her second warp.






  Carol got called in for more help this afternoon.  Carl is still having trouble with this loom:  it seems I put a thread through the heddle on shaft 5 when it should be on #4!  (I'll be fixing that next week!!!)
  Pearl is still weaving on her lace warp.











   Remember a couple of weeks ago when Ray was hanging the rugs in the stair well????  Here they are!  Patty and I got a chance to admire the workmanship.










  After doing some sample weaving, Marilyn is ready to get going on her placemat warp.














  Linda finished her "temperature" project on her Cricket.  Each color change represents the temperature of each day in the year she was born.  We decided it would be fun to compare the temperature range of another year.
  Great job, Linda!!!!!

I'm sure we'll see lots of temperature changes this month.....March can be fickle in East Tennessee!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn