Cool and Blustery

I posted last week that we were getting ready for the "Creating Community For All Abilities" Fair in Oak Ridge. Saturday morning was cool and blustery for sure, but the sun soon warmed us. We had 4 or 5 rigid heddle looms set up for the public to use and I brought my wee great wheel for people to see and to try. Carol, Marilyn, Liz, Samantha, Shirley and Paul all came to man the booth and we all had a good time sharing our love of weaving and spinning as well as a good visit all around.

Inside in the gym were various booths for the participants to find assistance.

Outside there was music, food and lots of bubbles that swirled around us all day in the blustery wind. I couldn't get a picture of the huge bubbles though I did try!

Families started showing up around 11 and the fun began.

There were several kids that wove as well, but I guess I was busy letting them turn the big wheel while I managed the wool! As things began to wind down Marilyn and Paul tried spinning on the great wheel and a volunteer wanted to try it too!

Back at the Center yesterday Patty kindly sent me pictures of Show and Tell. Patty made a scarf from Sharons stash on a rigid heddle loom.

Mark had skeins of recycled linen.

John Paul brought back some bison/wool blend from his road trip to all over.

Carol made pin cushions.

Dana made towels from 8/4 cotton.

That is all until next week! Tina for all

It's All In The Prep!

There was a lot going on in the Studio when I walked in today! Prep Work! We have a gig this weekend in Oak Ridge. It will be part demo and part audience participation. So today we had to get half a dozen small rigid heddle looms ready for Saturday. We don't know how many people will attend, but we do know that there will be 200 staff and volunteers to make things run smoothly. The event is called " Creating Community For All Abilities" it is specially planned to make crafting available to those who might be left out due to a disability. Jenny, Samantha and Judith were winding shuttles with a weaver that I have not met I'm afraid

The kitchen island that you sometimes see covered with food was covered with rigid heddle looms in various stages of prep. Betsy, Karin and Ruth were busy as bees getting the looms ready while Carol supervized. I also warped a wee loom for the Fair.

Pat on the other hand was threading the old Barn Loom with a new warp so that she can turn out rug after rug this Fall. Who knows she might even be able to get a couple done in time for the Fall Show the first weekend in November!

Now for show and tell! Charlotte brought in many towels and placemats she made with our leftovers. She is incredibly talented in doing that.

Shannon brought in her finished sampler scarf and 2 purses that she wove from fabric that is made from silk fabric!

Marie got a towel project on and off her loom in a week!

Patty was showing us what a difference the black weft stripes make in her towels. Marie calls these Lawn chair towels.

Samantha brought in some scarves she wove from the yarn she took from Sharons stash.

Phyllis was tickled pink to get this project off of the loom!

Mark made some place mats out of the warp he had left over from a baby blanket.

That is all for today, I bet we will take pictures on Saturday of the Fair! Tina, for all

After Hours

There is a new thing happening around here on Tuesdays. Marie and Patty are doing a rigid heddle class on Tuesday evenings! Patty took some pictures for me to post. Hannah is a new student and last Tuesday she got to take a scarf off of her loom!!!!

Debra is a brand new weaver as well, and she is making great progress on her project!

Diane took Carol's class last year, and she is back for more, in the after hours rigid heddle class on Tuesdays 5-7pm!

Shannon took advantage of the open studio to continue working on her project on one of the big floor looms.

That's all til Tuesday during the regularly scheduled program! Tina, for a few new Weavers!

New Warps and Fabric on the Looms

It is time for an update on some of the existing projects. Bonnie is making some lovely fabric with a multicolored warp.

Jenny was asking me this morning about the tricks for the selvedges on her placemat project. I had been weaving on it before I passed it on to her.

Marilyn is making progress on her towel warp.

Shirley and Betsy are getting a new warp on Shirley's loom.

Dana is winding a white warp for towels.

Margi is working on Christmas items to sell at the Fall show.

Carol and Liz are deep in conversation planning her next warp.

Marilyn is showing Shannon her new Inkle weaving project.

Pat is beginning to put a new warp on the Old Barn Loom.

I took most of those pictures when I walked in just after 10am this morning. Now it is lunch time and after lunch is Show and Tell!------------------------------------------ Patty brought in a scarf that she had woven from some warps she had dyed. She said that for some reason she made a lot of pink warps, so she hopes several people come in who love the color pink!

Pat brought in a long vest that she had woven and then sewn! Jenny did the fashion show for us.

Mark showed us a cover that he wove, Judith had told him it had to be interesting!

Carol brought in a couple of pieces that she had dip dyed on dye day.

Soon after Show and tell was packed away I saw that Pat was making progress on her warp! In fact by the end of the day she had it all on the back beam. I was also able to finish the sectional warp that I had been winding on the baby Macomber.

Next week these warps with be threaded and ready to go. I will continue warping sectionally one loom to my right on the Norwood with a navy warp in 8/4 for placemats. More on that next week..... That is all for this week, Tina for all