Gearing Up

It's time to get serious about production for the fall shows after a very welcome month visiting family. In spring we had dye days and I painted several warps and wefts. So now I'm trying to weave them off.  The warp and weft is bamboo. This warp is greens. What looks like teal is really a darker green. 

Blues, lots of blues are what this warp is. It's not bright but more perfect for blue jeans. 

I've got 3 more bamboo warps to go. Winding the warps and wefts is fairly easy, just takes time. Then it's back to cotton. However, with several interruptions planned for this week, not a lot of weaving will happen but I'll see how much I can get done. 

Winding the skeins onto my big Strauch ball winder is taking quite awhile. Seems like those threads tangle more than I'd like. So there's a lot of work before I get to the loom. It's a good thing my cats don't seem phased by the yarn....at least not today! 

Until next week, keep weaving!!

Carol

Up Close and Personal

Lou Ann and I arrived bright and early this morning to help flesh out the "Days of the Pioneers"  Antique show at the Museum of Appalachia.   You have seen pictures of it before so here is just a view of some of the booths from my porch.

 I also happened to see "Abe and Mary Todd" over across the way having their picture taken, so I took a picture of that for you.

 Next to Lou Ann here is my partner, the little red wheel does such a good job on the porch.  For those who do not know, this wheel was made around 1860 in Mayville, Wisconsin, by the Mayville Furniture company.  It didn't give me a moment of trouble today.

You can see I have a bobbin ready to go, before I left today it was full!

 Here is the first bobbin I had already spun the previous visit.  It is waiting for me to hurry and get all three bobbins spun and plied so it can be a skein.

The wool is straight from the Museum flock, this time white wool is what I am concentrating on.  I would love to have several bouncy 3 ply skeins by this time next year.  I only spin Museum wool at the museum, so that I can say that it is museum wool, it is a thing, you know.

The morning flew by and before you know it, it was lunch time.  I ran and got our lunches and we settled in to eat.  A few minutes later, I noticed that we had a visitor.

The peacocks are always around, but we have never had one get this close.  How close do you ask?

 This close!  (Lou Ann did not feed the bird, but obviously somebody has!)

So close in fact that we could see the beautiful colors on his back,  I have never gotten such a great closeup!



Then I turned around to see a Peahen coming closer, and what we noticed was that she had 4 young chicks with her!

 She did not bring them over for lunch, but we got a really good look at them all.

Lou Ann says that she saw the hen feeding the chicks tiny bits of grass, I totally missed that!  I will be looking for them tomorrow, when we will be once again on the porch of the Peter's Cabin spinning and in the loom house weaving.

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Tina

Time

  TIME....that word has been on my mind this week for lots of reasons.

  In just a few hours, I'll be attending the memorial service for a lovely lady.  She was my Mom's neighbor when they were growing up, and had a mad crush on my uncle when she was a teenager.  She also happens to be my son-in-law's grandmother.  It's a small world.....

  This time tomorrow, Tina and I will be at the Museum of Appalachia.  Friday and Saturday will be the Days of the Pioneer Antique Show.  I love this event....I get to see lots of antiques that you normally don't see around here. 
  I have a lot of old things at my house (me included) but nothing here is pre Civil War....well, maybe the anvil and some of the blacksmithing tools.  Most of these vendors are from the northeast, and you should hear some of their stories about going into some old barns and attics.  Super cool!!!!
  I've got to check my supply of weft for the placemats I'm weaving in the loom house.  I might go ahead and cut more...just in case.  And, I know I need to wind another bobbin of the 8/4 for the hems.  There's always something to do!

  It's getting closer to time for Homecoming...time to take stock of what I'll be selling at our booth.  That means I need to get my tote bags finished and sewn!    Another thing to add to my list.
  Take some time this weekend to just enjoy your family and your favorite activities.  Time is flying....

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

We're Here!!!!

  Carol has requested that I continue our "Meet The Weaver" series....I didn't have my notebook today, so I will start again next week!!!

  Yes...we're here...not all of us, but, a respectable crew showed up for duty.  As usual, folks just got down to business.  You can see some of the Pups still waiting to be put to work!

  Ms. Ila didn't let any moss grow under her loom!  She found a lovely painted shawl warp that will be great for the Fall sales.  She estimates that there will be two shawls from this chain.












  Carol checked in with Tina about the towel warp.  The first four are finished, and she's ready to start a new weft combo for the next four.

   That's the back of Tina's loom on the left.  If you can see down a little further, you'd see that it gets lighter in color.  Marie and Linda checked the progress on the black warp....those placemats always look great!  Betsy and Polly get a chance to catch up with each other, too.

  Here's a better view of Betsy and Polly at their looms.  Polly has taken over the ever favorite Ellen's Pattern placemats with the neutral colors.  Sharon needed a break from weaving those!!!








Carl finished a rug last week, so it was time to cut more blue jean strips for the next one.  I think there might be several rugs with this batch of strips!!!!






Casey was able to join us today...work schedules sometimes get in the way!  So, she's back to weaving on her warp.
  Yes....Karin and Sharon are still working on the library database!!!  They have found some interesting publications that we didn't even know we had!!!  (Sharon was kept busy running back and forth to shelve the books and bring back more for Karin to add to the list.)
  I missed getting a photo of Molly winding a new warp for a colorful 12 shaft scarf!  I'll get a shot of it next week going on the Macomber.
  We'll pick back up next week where we left off today....never fear!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

Bit of Glitter

It's been another busy week of trying to squeeze in some weaving time but I got a warp woven and another ready to wind on.

I needed a couple of solid black tops for my booth but that's an awfully short warp so I added 3 vests to my length. Still a short warp but I didn't plan to weave a jacket right now.

So the vests are glittery. 

The first one has kind of a raspberry/grape look to it. It's very hard to get a good picture with my iPad but this gives you an idea.

Lavender is the next color.

Gold glitter is the best but the picture is much duller than the real fabric.

They'll all be good additions to my booth in October.

I have been trying to finish up some handwork on handwovens in the evenings (now that I've finally caught up on a month of newspapers), I was crocheting the edge of a jacket and doing well last night when Belle decided to snuggle awhile. She even snuggled cradled next to me with my arm holding her by my side. Then Meg showed up. Belle moved down to my lap and Meg went to her favorite spot, up by my neck. It's a good thing the chair reclines so I could adjust my position to suit her. I ended up doing some sudoku while they were happily purring.

I hope you can click on the picture to biggify it and see their cute expressions. DH took the picture and posted it on Facebook. I'm not smart enough to know how to download the picture from facebook so just took a picture of it on my laptop.

The cats sleep a lot of the day. They're not impressed with the loom when I'm weaving. I think it scares them some. I won't try to fix that! They can continue to sleep while I weave each morning!

Since it's quiet right now, I think I'll go put a new warp on the loom. It's going to be a cheerful green. Hope it looks good in a picture.

Until next week, keep weaving!!

Carol

Delayed Post

I did not post on Friday,  I was away from it all.  I was at a Knitting and Spinning Retreat that is connected with the "Just one more Row Podcast" Ravelry group.  Usually my Daughter comes with me, but this year I was flying solo.  I was a little nervous about it, but I went anyway.

 Into the Wool Fiber Retreat is held just about 1.5 hours away from my home sweet home, so I am considered a local!  This is my third year and although I still have a problem putting names to faces, I at least recognize more faces!

The Retreat is held at the Lake Frances Retreat Center in Crossville, TN.  It is a rustic camp, usually used as a Gymnastic camp, but the  staff is wonderful, and the Pavillion is one of my favorite places to spend the day.

 I got to camp on Thursday afternoon, and after checking in I claimed my space and set up camp in the Pavillion.  Some people hang out in the dinning room, some people hang out on the wrap around porch, but I love the Pavillion.

People circulate between the hang out areas, the classes that are offered and the skill sharing sessions.  There are also special events like the "Sock yarn and the Fiber swap", the "Fashion Show", the "Iron Spinner" and the bonfire to name a few.  I mostly spent my free time in the Pavillion from early morning until bedtime.


I had taken several projects I was ready to get finished, or to get going again.  One of them was a pair of sock that I finished the first hour I was there.  I took a scarf that had fallen by the wayside and my travel sized bobbin lace kit.  I was able to get back on track and to get the scarf about 3/4 done, and  I got several inches done on the lace inset I am working on.  I am very please with my progress, and I hope to keep it going!

There was a small market where there were 2 opportunities to purchase, yarn, project bags, fiber and accessories.  The first day I did not buy anything, but the second day I did my part to support the fiber artists that were there.

I met people from all over the US at the retreat, there were even a couple of ladies from California, my home state.  Texas, Florida, Ohio, and of course several locals from less that 3 hours away.  It is a fun and varied group, and you will always be able to find someone interesting to talk with.  I took a 2 hour "Reversible Cable Scarf" class and it was great!  I learned so much!

Next year the retreat will be on the last weekend in September, and I hope I will  be able to go.  I know I will need to bring warm hand knits to keep comfortable with the cooler fall temps that we will probably have that week!

Until next time, take a break, relax a little, and breath deep, Tina

Memory

  Well.....my memory isn't what it used to be!!!  Just stating a fact!
  I got the four 4 yard strips made for the handles, and got them woven into the piece, and then wove the next five inches.  Time to braid the four strands, right?
  Uh-oh!  For the life of me, I couldn't remember how to make the 4 strand round braid.  (I wouldn't even venture a guess as to how many of these I have done!!!)  So, out comes the handy reference:  200 Braids to twist, knot, loop or weave.  That was just the mental boost I needed!  Once they are woven back into the bag, it's clear sailing.  But, boy....did I feel like an idiot!!!!
    I'd like to make one more tote bag for the Fall shows, and I hope I can keep my wits together just long enough to do the handles on that one!!!

  I've been meaning to get my spinach and lettuce planted for the last few weeks, but I still had some work to do on my pallet garden.  I used the hay from my failed experiment to stuff the bottom two pallets (this is 3 pallets high.)  I mixed the good, rotten hay with my leaf compost and Tina's goat berries for the top layer.  Then I added a thin layer of potting soil.  They were predicting rain by early this afternoon, and I knew that this would be the perfect day to get those seeds planted.  I finished just as the rain started to fall! 
  We're getting just what we needed:  a slow, steady rain!!!  Yeah!

  Now, I've got to get these postal receipts logged...something I cheerfully forgot.  It's got to be done.....

  If I get it done quickly (3 months worth) I can weave this afternoon.  Sounds like a plan.

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn