One Step Behind!

I woke up this morning thinking about how hard is was to take an inventory of the items we are taking to the show last year! It was just way to busy downstairs in the classroom, so I texted Marie and we talked about taking an inventory upstairs, writing all the numbers down as the items went into the bin. That way we would hand her a piece of paper or two and she could take it from there. I got to the Center 15 minutes later than I had hoped and decided to go to the annex and pull the tubs for the inventory only to find that someone had already gotten them and taken them upstairs! I told Carol about the idea of doing a paper inventory that Marie and I had talked about only to find that they were already doing it! I grabbed my paper and went up to lend a hand.

Once we had the inventory done and loaded in the car it was time to enter it all into Marie's laptop.

Soon it was time for lunch and Show and Tell. Jenny brought a skein of yarn that she recently finish from deep stash. She combined a colorful fiber that she had had for ages with some white BFL, layering it on a blending board and making it into rolags. It feels good to use things up and get beautiful results.

Shannon finished her red and white runners and had them ready for the show. Funny thing is that the runners were sold to us weavers before they made it to the inventory! Shannon also brought in a new shuttle that is so small that it is perfect for the end of a warp when you really don't have enough room for a regular sized shuttle.

Susan brought in some souvenirs from her trip. There were a couple of skeins of yarn one was alpaca wool and the other was from a sheep that eats seaweed! Then there was this lovely scarf!

Linda brought in some rugs that feature our favorite pattern "Chicken Tracks".

Mark brought in a scarf he made for the Grandbaby who is in need of protection from the cold weather!

Right after Show and Tell several of us went outside to load the supplies we need for the booth into the waiting van and a few cars. Unfortunately, I neglected to get a picture of the loaded vehicles! I will be taking some pictures as we set the booth up on Thursday, I hope to do a post over the weekend of the booth set up and take down. That is it for today, Tina for all

Pre-Getting Ready for the Show

This morning bright and early, I hunted for pictures of the show last year that LouAnn had taken and posted. I made a little collage to fit on a page, and I printed it and brought it to Weaving. I knew that we were going to have to figure out what we were going to do to the structures in our booth this year. LouAnn was usually the master mind behind our booth, even though she told me every year that she was not going to suggest anything for the booth, she always did, she couldn't help it! Mid-morning Carol took some time to explain to the new crop of weavers how we needle weave a mistake.

At lunch time, the meeting was all about sign-ups to work the booth and sign-ups about what people were going to bring.

Carol announced that someone was going to have to be in charge of the booth so that we would know what we had to load up next week. Marie said something that I can't remember and someone else said something about winging it. I took a deep breath and said, "I am not in charge, but to do what we did last year we need 15 panels, zip ties and one foot stand, plus the hardware! But I am not in charge!" I don't think they believed me, not about the panels but about the being in charge part! Next week will be all about loading the booth pieces and taking inventory from upstairs and loading up all of the tubs that everyone is going to bring for the show. Laura brought in a really cute display piece for Christmas ornaments! We quickly loaded it up with some of them and stood back to view the effect.

Now for Show and Tell Laura finished all of the pieces she took off of the Norwood loom last month, and she showed us her favorite. She also told us that she remembered her Mother weaving rag rugs, and how remembering that brought her to weaving. She also remarked how her favorite piece was made from some of the ugliest scraps, but as it came together there was a beauty way beyond what she had thought was possible

Mark showed us a scarf he had made from Chenille that was really lovely and Judith brought in one of her successfull pieces.

Patty went to SAFF last weekend and she brought in the things she had purchased.

That is all for this week, next week will be all business! Tina, for all

Changing Colors

Here in East Tennessee the trees are starting to change colors. You can see among the green leaves a hint of red from the Maples or yelllow from the Poplars or maybe it is Oak leaves turning brown. In the Studio this week we have much the same thing going on. Whether it is a change of weft color or a new warp getting threaded, things are changing! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jenny has changed her weft from a mixture of blues to something completely different for the next set of placemats and runners!

Shirley started threading her towel warp and it is looking good!

Pat finished a yarn rug last week and this week she is starting a fabric rug.

We got our order of 8/4 cotton in and we will have these cones available for projects as soon as they are checked in and on the shelf. Laura is rearranging the shelves and filling in the empty spaces.

We had a special visitor today, Carol will be sad she missed him! Alan came by for a visit and he brought us some of his weaving books. I snapped a quick picture of Alan and Pat.

Jenny brought in a new version of the Green book that she recently purchased.

Shannon brought in a scarf she had woven from Sharon's stash, I also took an upclose view so that you could see the subtle pattern.

Charalotte brought in some pieces that she made from the thrums she takes home from the Center. She is amazing!

Patty amazed us with a Clasped Weft scarf. She admitted that it took a long time to do, but the results are really nice.

Last but not least, Mark brought in a scarf he wove for his daughter.

We are as busy as can be and the fall show is mere weeks away, we will be pulling things together from the shop and from our homes to fill our booth the first weekend in November. (More on that next week) Until then, this is Tina, for all

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