working it out!

For the past several weeks, I have been in designing mode.  I am working on finding my "Thing".  There are tons of rag rugs and tencel scarfs out there, and they are all beautiful!  I am looking for something that can be produced in my studio at low cost, with little stress, that looks good and that will sell!  Of course, to do what no one else is doing you have to design it!  I am taking some of the Inkle loom designs I see and seeing what I can do with them on the floor looms.

On the Inkle loom, I have found that 8/4 carpet warp is at a good density at 20 epi,  I went with that number on the large loom only to find that it wanted a much denser sett.  To accomplish this I lost about an 1 1/2 inches on my project.  So, I  wound the necessary ends, and have been trying to get enough tension on them to be able to weave.  It isn't working too well, I may have to pull it all back thru the heddles and reed, tie on the extras and then wind it back on the back beam.  I am glad it is only a 7 yard warp!  Like I have said many times, I don't know if I have ever put on a trouble free warp!














On a Sunday morning, last week, Wally and I were getting ready for our walk.  I greeted my husband as he was coming back from his run.  "Hey babe, how was your run."  He replied, "Great! but...."  Knowing that sometimes he has had trouble with dogs attacking him, I became concerned. "What?" I said.  "Where you are going....." he responded, "....there is the cutest puppy I have ever seen.  I think she is a Newfoundland!"  (You may not know, but Newfies are huge water  dogs, used for rescue and they originally helped the fishermen in, well, Newfoundland, they are known as gentle giants, and to top it off are our favorite breed.  We once had one, she was wonderful!  I thought it would be too hot here in TN to have one.)

So off we go, Wally and I, looking for our true love.  We walked almost all the way to our turn around, and there she was.  If she is not full blooded Newfy, she sure is mostly Newfy!  It of course was love at first sight.  They started playing right then and there, they only pause to eat and sleep.  She is about 3 months old as near as we can tell, and weighs in at a whopping 30lbs.  She is mostly black with a splash of white on her chest and her toes.

Wally is a happy camper!  We humans are tickled pink as well.  We keep saying " I can't believe we have 2 dogs", and we are smiling when we say it!




If she takes the Newfy size, she will out weigh him by about 20lbs when they are full grown.

Scout has definitely taken the Newfy temperament.

We had a bunch of people over last night w/kids.   I have to keep Wally tied up since he is so very excited, and he would literally knock them down.

 Scout, on the other had, just rolled over for a belly rub!  She ended up going for walks around the yard with little girls holding her leash!


Happy Weaving, Tina