Deadlines

Can't talk about what I'm weaving this week! Next Tuesday is our Tuesday weavers Christmas party at LaDonna's home in Oak Ridge. That's our deadline for the two projects that I am weaving right now. The first is for our gift exchange. We decided to each buy a mug and then weave a mug rug or coaster for it to give as a gift to each other. The other project was using some fairly fine crochet cotton, cebellia, I believe, either 20 or 30 to weave 2 narrow scarves. We can add a bit of our own yarn to this project. The yarn was donated to us years ago and we are trying to use what we have as a challenge. None of us have woven with this yarn before so it is interesting.
Of course, some people have woven their projects ages ago. But, not me! I have the mugrug almost woven and the yarn sits there for the scarves. It's going on the loom today. I'm using an even finer yarn for the weft, a 20/2 that I've got in my stash. That should be interesting since it's the finest I've ever woven with!!

So pictures next week.

Yesterday I went to buy a couple of poinsettias for our home. While there I asked if they had any African violet dirt. I've got a nice big garbage bag full. When we added on to our house in 1994, we totally redid the kitchen. In the process, we got 2 windows that butt out 18 inches. These have been great for plants, especially my African violets. Years and years ago I brought a couple of leaves home from my Mom's plants. They rooted nicely and have been potted again and again. I also buy plants once in awhile if the flowers are pretty.

 Here's the window by the sink. Most of these plants are so out of control that you can't see the cute little animals and figures that I have. The one plant by the faucet is a good example. The flowers are cute and pink. The plant itself is interesting. It grows and then kind of trails down and away from the pot. What I"ll do is just break off the end of it and put it in a pot of dirt and it'll re root itself.
I'm not sure what that branch in the vase is doing except maybe DH decided to try to root it in the house!

These are the other window by the desk. These are even more out of control. You really can't see many of my little sheep and rabbits or birds. Under there somewhere are some great ceramic birds that Hugh Bailey made.
Before Marta left to go back to New Mexico she brought some plants to the center for us. I got the orchid. We'll see if I can keep it going. Allan said to give it 3 ice cubes every 3 weeks. That they like to get dry. My African violets don't mind being neglected either. In fact they seem to thrive on it!
About every 3 years I have to go through all of this and re pot all of them. Looks like that's my job once the weaving projects are done!
So, heading down to the studio to tackle that challenge warp.....
Carol

Another Busy Tuesday

Food!
Not just any old food.....SHORTBREAD cookies and scones with marmalade!!!!  Lanny has been cooking, and he brought some goodies to share.  Another good reason to be at weaving on this snowy Tuesday.
  Yes, we had snow flurries all around us, but it wasn't laying.  So, come in out of the cold and have some coffee and shortbread and spend the day with your weaving friends.   Life is good!!!!

Pat is back from the holiday at the beach with the family (i.e. grandsons!) and is hard at work on the mug rug warp.  (Did I hear we need 125?)

Carl is threading that wonderful warp for rag purses, and we should be ready to start on that by the first of the year.

Ila (almost hidden in the far left) was hard at work on that beautiful lace warp, and Jim was in a deep conversation with Lanny over Center business.  I wish I had a close up of Lanny's scarves on the loom!  They are lovely to see AND touch!!!
  Tina is putting the multi-colored warp on Bessie, and Ann has made great gains on her blue jean rug.  Allan is sleying the reed on the rug warp on his loom.   (There was some definite muttering going on, too!!!)

Carol was working with Nada on her first project.  We have a new weaver!!!

Bonnie was at the warping board talking to a tangle in the threads......I really didn't want to eavesdrop!


Lanny, Tina and Carol got the display up and going at the Homespun Craft & Antique Mall in Knoxville.   Now we all need to keep busy and keep it well supplied!

But, the day was not finished until we took our annual Christmas picture:

 Now you know why we only take ONE a year!!!!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

Setting it Straight

Last week, I began with a photo of the deeply tangled warp on my loom.  This weekend's task was to de-tangle.   Several cups of coffee, a few savory words and a lot of patience later, I cut off the last awful wad of knots.  It was one of those moments when, even though the job's not done, it's on its way.

 Next, I threaded those untangled threads through their 1-2-1-2 heddles while watching fat, fluffy snowflakes swirl outside and listening to NPR.
  I chose my sett, 20-40 epi, and slipped in the reed.  Last turned overshot project was 24-48, and I found it a little dense.  I want these curtains to be a little softer.  I found a threading error and needed one of those super cool replacement heddles.  Love them!

I know there must be a tool to help thread the reed from back to front, but I don't have one.  I have to tie up my loom like this.



And this is where I left off yesterday.  I had to pay attention to the house for a while, herding all the snow drifts of pet hair into the garbage and cleaning the floors.  I wish I could photograph the lovely way the shiny wood floors reflect the Christmas tree lights, but I can't quite get it right.  Trust me, it's beautiful!

Unfortunately, not all things can be as lovely.  My dirty little secret about my turned overshot warp is its behind:  one crossed-over, rumply, out of whack back.  This is what happens when I don't follow the rules and I make up what I'm doing as I go along.  If there was more information anywhere on turned overshot, I'd follow it, but there isn't, so chaos ensues instead.  Of course, this also illustrates my inability to count my warp threads when I get excited about a new project, which is what that wad of yellow is doing on the far side.  I'm going to go back to Laura Frye's blog to find her video on how to tie on vinegar jugs to weight supplemental warps.  That's next weekend's job, though.  It's back to pickled beets and strawberries for me this morning!  4,000 jars down, 2900 to go!
Have a great week of weaving!
Maggie

Getting In The Spirit

What to my wondering eyes should appear but two little helpers under my loom!!!  Such muttering going on!  "She can't get under the loom!"
"Yes she can, but she can't get up!"
"What did you do with the Texsolve?"
"I thought you brought it!"
"I can't reach the harnesses!"   mutter, mutter, mutter
  Hey guys....that will have to wait a bit.  Let's finish up the project on Julia (the Baby Wolf) so I can get my scarf challenge on, then we'll get Mz. Sally going, OK?
  Mz. Sally has a placemat size, multi-colored warp which is threaded in Italian Diamonds from Davison.  This will be a fun project when it's up & going.

But, for now, we need to finish up this warp so we can dress it for the scarf challenge.  Tina wove off some mug rugs for her family gift exchange, and there's a little bit still left.  I have been wanting a chatelaine for my i-pod, so I'm weaving a double mug rug, which will do the job just fine!  Then all I'll need to do is twist some carpet warp to make the cord.  I think they'll be enough left for one more mug rug when I finish this.  The warp was wound using up lots of little cones of left over thread.  And, it just keeps on going!!!
  I think the weaving has been good therapy....I still can't weave more than 5-10 minutes at a time, though.  The funny part is that it is the "beating" which gets to me.  With overshot, you really need to beat firmly,  and that really jars my arm.  I'm sure the right hand beats are much tighter than the left handed ones!  But, today, this one comes OFF the loom so I can get my scarf on!!!!

Nothing would do but the guys had to have a Christmas picture made with Rudy and Dolph.  This year I'm just using the Alpine trees....there's no way I'm wrestling with the 12 foot tree!!!  The guys didn't seem to mind.
  Not such a bad way to spend a rainy, gray Saturday.
Hey....Bucky!  Tromp!  Where did you go?  
OK....gotta get busy.........
LouAnn

On my Looms Today!

Today has been a very full day. 
I am getting the house ready for decorating this afternoon.  It took me 2 hours to get it in good enough shape for us to tear into the tubs of decorations and make the festive changes that we do this time of year.

That done I moved upstairs to the studio, where I am spending my time between several projects.  One is  the Baby Blankets on both Lillian, and on the Mira 45 that hasn't quite gotten totally dressed for the occasion yet.

This is the scarf project that is really taking the most of my time today.  I can't show you the other side til after the reveal.  I would love to get both of them woven off before the party mid December, but it has been difficult getting the loom to cooperate.  I believe I will get to finish one at least.

Here is the rug that my DD is working on.  She wasn't able to come this week because I was off setting up the booth at the craft mall, and I obviously forgot to take the camera, since I didn't post any pictures!  I need to stop by there soon and pick up a hat and scarf that I left there.  I will get some pictures then so that you can all see what we are excited about.  I think that Carol said we have 60 pieces in our booth. 



Some of the proceeds will  go to the weaver if it is a personal item, some to the mall, some to Tuesday Weavers, to help pay for the booth, and some to the Building fund here at the center, we seriously need more room, everyone does! 

Well, I better get back up there, that scarf is NOT going to weave itself!

Meet Max

This has absolutely nothing at all to do with weaving but that is ok, right? I have been looking for an LGD for some time now. For those who don't know, an LGD is a livestock guard dog. Last winter my son saw a wolf at two different times near our home. That is too close for comfort. While I think wolves are beautiful animals I wouldn't want one eating one of my little goats. I have two Nigerian Dwarf goats and a Nigora. Kami, the Nigora is a cross between a Nigerian Dwarf and a Angora goat. She is so soft! I am looking forward to spinning her wool.

Max is nine weeks old. He is a Great Pyrenees. He may be little right not but he will get very big. I got to meet his parents and they looked like they are great farm dogs.

I asked some of my friends to help me pick a name.  I have had Bear, Snowball and Zamboni offered as suggestions. One of our sons suggested Clifford as in the big red dog. He started out small, too!

Well, here he is! Isn't he just the cutest thing? So far he is doing his job. He hasn't let the goats out of his sight since he got here. Looks like he is starting out on the right foot! Well, um, paw.

Linda

da

Off the loom! and on!!

Woke this morning to be a bit of snow on the deck and windshields of our cars. Maybe we'll get more snow this winter? It's gone now..

What a week of family and friends on Thursday and then a bit of shopping on the weekend. Yes, I was one of those at Joann's at 6am on Friday and 7am on Saturday! Got to be early to get the good deals. Plus, I was getting mostly things for my sister who lives in Canada. They could sure use a good Joann's up there!! I'll take her things up with me when I drive up in summer but boy, got some great things that she needed. Half price and then 20% off on top of that! Not too shabby! Also, I've got her Christmas and birthday presents for next year already. She got an Ott light from me for this Christmas that I took up in summer and she sure enjoys the better light when she sews!

So on the bit of time that I had for weaving......I got into that handtowel warp on the baby wolf. Waffle weave is addicting especially if you have the treadles lined up so you just walk up and down them. The rest of that warp just almost wove itself! There are 3 towels that have the weft changing throughout for a plaid look and then 2 that I wove with that colonial blue and one with the tan color.  They are washed and ready to hem when I have a bit more time!

I got an order for a dress during the last show. It needed to be a fair bit wider plus she didn't want as much color in the middle, more black on the sides so I altered the dimensions a bit and put just 3 1/2 yards on the loom.  I decided to just weave the one dress on the warp. That's about the shortest warp I've put on in years! This morning I wove a few inches so I could take a picture of it. I'll try to finish weaving it this afternoon and then it will be ready to finish!

Next on that loom will be our weaving guild project that is due Christmas but there are still a couple of weavers who haven't gotten the yarn so maybe it'll be done by next Christmas. We never set a deadline so we're fine! Also I'll be starting the 2 challenge warps that our Tuesday weavers decided to do that are also due, Dec 14!!! at our Christmas party. I think I know what I"m doing. Those warps have to go on this week as well.
What with interruptions of all kinds, we'll see how it goes!! At least with the mug and mug rug challenge, I just have to weave the one little mug rug and can cut it off and re tie the warp. The scarf challenge will have to be completely woven since it calls for 2 scarves.
This afternoon I'm dropping by the antique and craft mall in Farragut to see how Tina and Lanny are doing setting it up and am quite excited about that. We've got over 60 pieces that we've gathered to make that tiny booth look great! Hopefully the shoppers will agree with us!!
Carol