Greetings from “Selma Handwovens” and the studio assistant, Miss Daisy Dog.

Why do I weave? Growing up, it never even occurred to me that this was something I would ever do. At my college, the Home Ec department offered weaving and I wasn't even curious. Odd, then, that I end up with it's being one of the things that most defines my sense of myself. From the time my dear friend, Carla, took me upstairs and announced that she was going to teach me to use her loom so that I wouldn't waste any time while she was away and I was looking after her cats, I was hooked. Then I enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Textile Desigh. There was a long, dry spell where I did not weave and thought that part of my life was over. Then an accident that could have left me crippled for life, but, instead, left me recovering, had the effect, as these things often do, of bringing my life back into focus. I needed to go back to weaving.

Another thing is that I have always needed to work. You need to make a meaningful contribution to your world by working at SOMETHING! That is just the way I see it, anyway.

Today, I own my “dream looms:” a Macomber and THREE AVL looms. Something I never thought I would have. I have a room full of beautiful yarn. How blessed can you be?

Now, when I spend the day in my workshop, I feel a peace and joy at the end of the day.

I am so grateful.

Friday, June 3, 2011

"new" Toyota gets 0 mpg!!!

No, no wheels or doors.  Many people don't know that Toyota started out manufacturing weaving and knitting equipment for the industry.  They added home knitting-machines for a few years, and the cars came later!  I am thrilled beyond belief that a KS901 has turned up in Birmingham and I am buying it! It even has all the extra gadgets.  This was my first machine and I loved it.  The KS901 is still one of the best out there.  Aside from that, I'm used to it.  SOOOOO, the Studio, which is, of course, a perfectly fine machine, will go back on ebay.
I made a POT of money with that machine when I lived in NY!  Aside from free-lancing for designers, and teaching, the textile company where I worked decided to go into knitted fabrics.  Since I was the only person in the design dept with a knitting-machine, I got the gig to knit 3-yard samples of all the yarns they wanted to put into work.  That thing paid for itself a couple of times over!  
I am picking it up today and very excited about it!
Posted by at 6:35 AM

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