Alabama Weaver

2012-12-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

Daisy supervises the goings-on around here and looks after the cats.

"Weaving" up dessert

2011-12-26T06:46:00.000-08:00

My best "tatin" so far. I guess I can develop a new culinary obsession! Julia Child, wherever you are...eat your heart out!!!

New Taqueté

2011-12-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

Getting the small loom set up to sample for a new taqueté project. This involves finding the four other shafts, putting on heddles and loading them up in the loom. I had taken the extras out when I was using the looms for Art Camp. Miss Lizard and I both got marooned in the weaving-shed, along with The Daisy, due to the monsoon going on outside! My yard was transformed into "Lake McLeod" within minutes! Anyway, seemed like a good time to get this done.

Another digression

2011-11-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

Warm, hearty-but-delicate soup for a cold, rainy day! I use chickpeas, leeks, carrots, potatoes, broth (I prefer beef, but veggies can use veg broth). Then, add a dash of red pepper and a pinch of saffron, finishing it off with a couple a T's of the "Tuscan Herb" oil from the Vintage Olive shop over in Mgm....just heaven. I polished off one bowl of it and desperately wanted another, but my stomach was so full....my mouth was having such a good time but the tum said "absolutely not!" Happily, this keeps nicely. Lovely with fresh, warm bread. Looks pretty, too. Don't ask for measurements! I "eyeball" everything.

Sketch pads

2011-11-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

Learning to love the sketchpad app on my iPad! At least, if I get fed up with tatting etc, I can play with that as I fly over the Atlantic. Also bringing along my little "gridded" notebook I used to plot out taqueté designs prior to working them up as drafts. Plenty to do! I shan't get bored, even though they won't let me have my knitting needles. (harrumph)

I've made up my own "set" of Knitter's Pride Cubics interchangeables by ordering tips and cable separately. Now, I get to design myself a little storage gadget for them.

Poor pups, tho. Not being able to come up with projects to pass the time on a grey, cold and rainy day, they've been attempting to chew up everything they can reach. The cats have begun coming in, which provides a little distraction until "Mom" shows up with the spray bottle and a "cease-and-desist" order. At least the cats can head for the attic...I have managed to open the attic door just enough for them to get thru, but not doglettes. #win.

The sox are DONE!

2011-10-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

Miss Liz was kind enough to lend me her legs for a photoshoot this pm, so we took off out to Cahawba to one of the great spots to take a Fall picture. If it didn't take so damned long, I'd make myself a pair, but it was two weeks of "knit-every-time-I-sit" for two weeks.

The auction sox

2011-09-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

Is Cedric astonished by the wonderful Fall colours (not really showing up well here) or is he wondering how much planning it would take to capture and chew up the needles?

There is not any pink in the sox at all, but could not seem to adjust that out of the photo. Oh well, just imagine that there is NO PINK. Yes, I am knitting in bed!

mixing puppies and knitting

2011-09-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

NOT a good idea. Am working on a pair of sox for the Fall fund-raiser the Papillon Rescue group puts on. I thought they were out-of-reach, but, suddenly, Teddy whizzes through with......THE SOX. Since he'd started gnawing on the cuff edge, no question of repair. Just toss them and start again. The deep sighs of martyrdom may now be heard. For puppies, all the world is a chew-toy. Anyway, am enjoying knitting up these things, in nice autumn-leaves-coloured Kroy yarn. Hope to make them knee-highs. If I have time, I might knit up a pair of mittens for the auction as well. So many people work so hard to save these wonderful little animals, but it takes money! So many of these little dogs are terribly sick and hurt, esp the "breeding females" who come out of mills, and the vets give as much "break" as they can, but still have to charge for treating them.

Lillian Whipple, who is a generous and warm lady, donated a bunch of her "butterfly" motif cards and we've been selling a couple of them at each auction. They brought in some nice change last time!

Will let everyone know when the auction kicks off again. There are always some nice things there and you help the people who help the helpless!

simplisticism

2011-09-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I made the word up...but it applies sometimes. Located my MIA potholder loom yesterday, quite by accident, so sat down and made myself a new potholder. Well, I needed one. Rainbow prism design for "De Colores!" A fun little break to do it and I now have this cheerful little potholder, ready for duty, hanging in my kitchen. VIVE les métiers à tisser les plus petits et ses techniques les plus simples!

I gotta get organized!

2011-08-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

Since I still have to go pop a pill and "sit" for a bit due to THE BACK THING, I decided I might as well get some work done while sitting. I've been "inventorying" yarns. Since I want to do some nice towels for Xmas sales when the rugs are finished, I started with my Cotton/linen supply. Last time "WEBS" had their version on sale, I got quite a bit of it. I also have some of the Louet "Euroflax" pure linen and a lot of little Lily spools of pure linen I bought off ebay. Then, of course, a few small cones of the original "Cottolin."

I am making "wraps" along a strip of cardboard, with a note about lot number and amount on hand.

This will help HUGELY my bad habit of ordering duplicates because I don't REALLY know what's out there in the workshop!

Also watching an ebay item: one of the old "tall, skinny" old Structos. I have two of these and might sell one, so will be curious if this one gets the price being asked. These are nice for weaver-manipulated bands, as they have only two shafts. They are also light enough to carry along on travels, so they are practical as well as being "collectables."

Kraking the Krok(bragd)

2011-08-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

After much sampling, fiddling with colour pencils etc the first rug is under weigh. Very odd that the sett of the sample proved wrong for the bigger rug. Same warp, same fill but the fill not, um, filling. Finally got that sorted. This is the "sunrise, sunset" variation. Next one will be greens and blues but am too tired to figure out a name for it.

Sampling

2011-08-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

Gawd, I love sampling! Strung the little Northwest Loom up and made several experiments with the krokbragd treadlings. Fun and stimulating to the imagination. The two photos show one of the reasons I love Tony Klissus' Northwest Looms 'Frieda" model. There are three different positions for the beater and the third one makes threading the reed a lot smoother, since it stays sitting up straight. No chance of ends slipping out or having to move it to see behind. I position the beater on other looms by tying it into position, but this makes it so much easier.

rugs!

2011-08-08T17:19:00.001-07:00

Cut my towels off the Macomber and put up enough warp for three small Krokbragd rugs. Threading and beaming tomorrow.

The STOLES FINALLY!!!!

2011-06-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

Finally getting back to the stoles I am planning to make for the Jonathan Daniels observance. I have settled on "Blessed are they who hunger after justice, for they shall be filled." In the drafting stage, this is coming in at a length of 111 inches, but I will know more once I get the silk samples woven. I am thinking of doing one each in French, English and Spanish. The only problem is the French, which presents having to do an "x" in this alphabet I am using ("heureux") and it's a b*****. Or, a "vache" since this is French. And I am "vachement embetée" by this whole thing. The "x" is so stylized that it inspires a "huh?" moment. or perhaps a "quoi, donc?" moment. or the classic "WTH?" moment. Hélas.

"new" Toyota gets 0 mpg!!!

2011-06-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

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!

Home again

2011-05-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

Back in my weaving-shed today for a whole afternoon before my back gave out. I got the Macomber tied back up and the towel-warp re-tensioned. Next move is to hook up the AVL and weave off my "getting to know you" warp and get something real on there. Time out to bathe two small dogs, the Pap and the Affenpinshcher with reproachful looks until everybody (including me!) dried out again. At least it's getting pulled together in there and I am so pleased and happy to be in there and have it under control.

Coming up: studio sale! Make an appointment!

Back in "harnesses"

2011-04-09T04:04:00.000-07:00

Pun intended.

Off to spend the day at the opening of the new Alabama River Region Art Centre in Wetumpka! Packing along three looms. I like to make them available to people so they can actually weave! Two little Structo's and one "Frieda." I am so grateful that friend Anne called and invited me to come along to demonstrate! I hope this really catches on over there. We need more efforts like this one around our area.

Spud and Chloe sweater yarns as sox!!!

2011-04-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my favourite knitting blogger, I got turned on to "Spud and Chloe" sweater yarn and have made two scrumptious pairs of sox! I was surprised that the bulkier yarn made sox that I can still wear with most of my shoes without needing a larger sized shoe (-;. This stuff is Merino wool and cotton blend and is cool and cozy at the same time. Definitely a "find." Kind of pricey, so I'm loving WEBS' deep discounts! I got my "Summer Sox" yarns from them at half the MSRP. Once you buy five of anything, the discounts kick in and it's almost a "free" fifth item. Anyway, for a yarn addict, it's paradise.

Pics soon of the S and C sox! Am working on a pair in a dark, yummy green!

Zeros!!

2011-04-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

I have obtained a set of size Zero needles. I am DYING to try knitting with them! I have a bunch of stuff to do first, like a couple of Easter gifts and a donation to an auction being run by the Papillon rescue, but, maybe soon!!!

More knitting

2011-04-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

Well, the weaver is still knitting, since my back is still limiting the amount of time I can spend at my looms. Sock knitting is absolutely swell! One of the few things you can do with a "recipe" and I use "Sock Wizard" as a reference-point for getting going. Essentially, you just stick with the arithmetic! I used three "holding" needles and one "working" needle. I don't particularly "number" the needles, which I found confusing when I started out with this.

If you figure out your needed stitches, you put half on one needle and divide the other half between the other two needles. Keep going back to those numbers! I do a heel-flap with the basic knit, slip one row and purling back until I have the requisite number of rows (matching your stitch numbers) shape my heel, then pick up stitches to match the new rows, to my regular decreases back to the "arithmetic" for the two "1/4" needles and knit to the end decrease...kitchener-stitch the toes, and "VOILA!"

This "recipe" can be found in "The Knitting Harlot's" helpful and entertaining "Knitting Rules." Get it from amazon.com and it is also available for your Kindle!

encore des chaussettes

2011-02-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

the latest sox

A light shining in the dark

2011-02-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

I am grieving, heartsore this morning. A lovely, wonderful, kind and generous soul passed on last night. Cliff Foster was "my handyman" for all the time since I moved into town here and had been recommended to me...or I was recommend to HIM, by my dear friend, Christine. Cliff looked after us, making sure our houses stayed in good repair and checking by now and then to make sure "things are ok." I can remember coming home to find that a burned-out porch-light had been changed or a note saying that something needed work etc. We recognized and appreciated each other the way two people who take pride in the work of their hands do.

A few very short weeks ago, he was diagnosed with cancer. I had been wanting to go see him but my back kept me on a short leash. So, yesterday, Christine and I went by the house. It was hard to see our old friend in that frail man on the bed. I prayed all afternoon to God to either make him well or take him home and this morning I go "the phone call."

Now, here's the mystery. The light in my carport had been flickering "down" for several weeks...it's flourescent and they sort of "fade and flicker" before they go. I looked out last night and it was burning away like new and the one in the other fixture, on the same circuit, looked as if it had kicked back in. I can't help but wonder if Cliff came by one last time.

It's the sort of thing he'd do.

Goodbye, my dear friend, I know that God welcomed you in like He does with all his "good and faithful servants." You will be so very sorely missed.

SOX!

2011-02-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

I am in love the "Summer Sox" yarn and ordered a BUNCH from WEBS since they have it for half-price (thank you, WEBS!) My first pair has me so enamoured that I didn't even take them off to sleep last night (-; The yarn is Merino, cotton and nylon and has a wonderful feel and hand. the most comfy pair of sox I've ever had on MY feet!

I have ordered a book and DVD on making sox on my flat-bed machine. At present, I see doing the legs by hand and hooking the rest on there to do the "grunt work" on the foot parts.

reinventing the wheel

2011-01-28T00:21:00.000-08:00

FINALLY figured out the S&W pickup and there is an asymmetrical kitty-cat tail on the warp! Going to do the taqueté example tomorrow. I checked Nancy Hoskins' book and she doesn't even touch on this trick, so, glad we have Lillian! Anyway, did some sampling for my key book motif. I think I will eventually weave that on 16 shafts, tho, in the interest of speed, but, it's nice to know that I can show somebody how it's done if they only have 8. I love to share what I know and get other people into the joy of turning a bunch of pieces of thread into a beautiful and/or useful piece of fabric!

here it is "reflected"

Structo to the rescue

2011-01-26T19:40:00.000-08:00

While working on this learning project, I hauled out my one-of-a-kind, 16-shaft Structo and threaded it up in an 8-shaft threading. This thing is so versatile, and the ready-wound spools save one the trouble of running out to the weaving shed to make a new warp, not to mention that there are some 20 yards on each spool, so, no worries about running out of warp! I can mess up all I like.

I seem to have cornered the market on these things, having lucked into a large box-full of them a couple of years ago, all in new condition. Not too lame. Part of me says I ought to put them on ebay, and relieve some other Structo junkie of spool-envy, but, the dog-in-the-manger part of me keeps muttering "mine, mine, all MINE! So, the guilt-trip part of this is that I really feel compelled to put them to good use.

The loom is such a treasure. I think I want it buried with me.

Nahhh. Better it should go to somebody who will appreciate it as much as I do. Perhaps I shall outlast it, but, I doubt it. These Structo looms seem to be survivors.

Anyway, it's such a pleasure to use.

Onward.

shopping for information

2011-01-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

Living where I do with a public library that is simply adequate for fiction, cookbooks, et al, and no specialised libraries around, I have to purchase technical books when I need them. Over the years, my two "first stops" are amazon and ebay, the latter which started out as the place to get good deals, right? Well, ebay is really going down the tubes. I thought I'd check a Photoshop for Textile Design text I wanted on ebay, and found the prices DOUBLE that of amazon.com. Opportunists trading on the public's perception of ebay as the place for bargains, I guess. Far too many people don't "shop around" the way they should.

In any case, the book is ordered "used," from amazon, and on the way.

I often wonder what graduating design-students, heading for jobs on the Avenue, would think if confronted with our hands-on methods of just 20 years ago! Sample orders and mill orders both were written out on a form, a swatch of the yarns attached and the drafts then passed around the design dept to be proofed a couple of times. This is especially important when it comes to ordering a couple-hundred-thousand yards produced. Even for the samples, an error meant wasting a sample-weaver's day or morning, meaning, the company had paid for that waste.

I guess everything is computerized now, although I would bet some "proofing" still goes on (-; Nothing is perfect and human error can still wreck something.

letters done for stoles

2011-01-11T00:32:00.000-08:00

crawling into bed at 2:25 am! I haven't propped my eyelids up and tanked up on coffee to finish a project in ages. Making drafts of the alphabet I am using for the martyr stoles. This way, I can just copy and paste the individual letters into the drafts. I've done the "blessed are the peacemakers" draft. More to come. Long, tedious project, but will be worth it. I can get the stole drafts done faster and concentrate on designing.

FINALLY

2010-10-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well, finally back to it! The little Frieda loom is threaded up for bookmarks, and I got some work done on the scarf that's on the Baby Mac. I was thrilled to death to be able to "get out and get under" to replace one of those %^#@$$%^^ Macomber tie-up pins. You'd think that, after 70+ years of making looms, they'd come up with a better tie-up system. Well, everything else about them is so outstanding, I guess I shouldn't complain, but it IS annoying the way the fall off so often.

Dressing looms

2010-09-17T07:35:00.001-07:00

Got the warp made for the bookmarks and photoshopped a picture I want to use as a cartoon. The overturned boats are found on Lindesfarne while the sky behind them was copied and pasted from a picture of the harbour at Iona. TWO historic sites in one fell swoop! Guess I need to dedicate it to St. Columba (-:

long time, no see

2010-09-06T11:55:00.000-07:00

Just not much to say after two months of being an "invalid." I have decided to warp up the small Northwest and make some more of the "cross" bookmarks for the kids and staff going on "Happening" in November. Maybe re=do the overshot one as well. There's plenty of time.

Weaving in the Mountains

2010-03-20T15:39:00.002-07:00

I am doing a weekend workshop on basic tapestry with Joan Griffen, in Charlottesville, VA. SO glad I decided to do this. My tapestry-weaving was a long time ago and I did not learn it systematically, just picked things up on the fly. Add a certain degree of insecurity and I felt like I needed some instruction, so this is perfect. Joan is a terrific teacher and the class consists of four of us: two from Maryland and one from Texas, all fascinating folks, with, happily, weaving backgrounds, so "beginning weaver" instructions could be skipped and we could cut right to setting up the loom and doing basic techniques. Miss Daisy has been behaving like the well-brought-up young lady that she is, even being polite to the cats-in-residence!
http://www.joangriffintapestry.com/ Joan's studio website.

IT'S HERE!

2010-02-26T03:53:00.001-08:00

The tapestry loom arrived yesterday, along with enough styrofoam "popcorn" to stuff a mattress.

EX-terminate! EX-terminate

2010-01-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

Herewith: a dalek (sort of) with "Kaynine" just below, being alarmed. If you watch "Doctor Who" you get it. I have been working my way through Alice Schlein's new book and this popped up when I switched a threading to a pointed draw. I think they're a hoot. I might actually weave this up for my "Doctor Who" fan friends! Of course, the lower image also has a huge resemblance to Wile E Coyote!

more shuttles!

2010-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Doing some in-depth tidying in the weaving shed, including the "unpacked" stuff that I just didn't bother with since I was moving, turned up THREE MORE AVL SHUTTLES! I keep pinching myself. I now own a total of six! SIX!!!! I think that, as I look back, that was the reason I had not completely unpacked the "large lot of weaving supplies" package..."Oh, I'm moving, so I'll just have to pack it all back up."
The other exciting stuff in there, long since "unearthed," since they were not wrapped up, but just tossed in, were a bunch of the mini-shuttles from Glimakra and Toika. These are the ones that take the paper bobbins and are mind-bogglingly useful on table looms.
Sometimes, you just luck out!
Just amazing. What a great start to the year!
And a PS. I bought two more "Easy Weavers" off ebay for the Art Camp programme. They were up for $18 each, and retail new for around $100, so I bought them. They arrived today and are BRAND-NEW, and still in the boxes!
This is a major run of luck, I think! Or blessings!!!!!!!

Old friend gets dusted off!

2009-12-17T06:26:00.001-08:00

Well, not too much dust, since I keep the looms covered when not in use. I am threading up the Macomber to do some towels. Such a treat to be back to one-on-one with that loom. There is nothing like the feel and sound of Macombers! They're so solid and work so smoothly and reliably. I DO have to say that I am not a fan of the tie-up system, but that's just a quibble, since I can't think of anything that would replace it. Macombers, being built so that you can either do delicate, fine yarns, or wham away at the thickest of rugs if you like, need the extra strength involved in the way the lamms and shafts are engineered, so, whatever my quibbles, the tie-up system is still 'way ahead of whatever would be in second-place.
I remember trying to make a rag rug on my Schacht, which was my first loom and having to "sandbag" the thing to keep it from "levitating" across the floor a couple of inches every time I whammed down the beater!!
If you are looking for a truly great all-purpose loom, you can't do any better, and there are second-hand ones out there at great prices these days. I paid all of $1000 for mine,: 48" with 8 shafts and two beams...plus room for two more shafts. Not bad at all. The "Baby Macs" are a great deal, even new, and easily packed up to take along to workshops etc. I like to take mine out to the back porch on nice days and weave outside! Also a very solid loom!
Well, guess this is a "mash note" to my Macombers!

IN (VIRTUAL) PRINT

2009-12-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

My article for "Weavezine" went live on Tuesday. VERY exciting for me! Thanks, Syne, for being such a great editor and admitting me to "the ensemble" where the company I keep makes me feel quite privileged!
http://www.weavezine.com/articles/baa-humbug

dove

2009-11-30T16:57:00.000-08:00

New idea for bookmarks in Taqueté. This won't be going anywhere as a "project" so, up for comment. I have the warp ready to go and will start dressing the loom for this tomorrow. Crossed fingers. I have no idea where the imagery is coming from, except just all the iconography stuck in my brain over the years.

Silk

2009-08-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you, little worms.
I LOVE silk. I've been weaving up some bookmarks to sell and to give as gifts and just enjoying the look of the silk woven up. I've been using 20/2's yarn and I like the way the sheen on it catches the light and looks so pearlescent. the finest I've used is 60/2's and, it has its' own pleasures, but the slightly thicker yarn seems to have a nicer response to light. Right now, I am doing some "gifties" since I am using one of Lillian Whipple's drafts. No time to dream up an original, test it etc, since this was kind of a last-minute idea. One thing I'd like to do during "downtime" in London is draft up some more 8-shaft designs since I can pop one of those on and weave while I am watching tv in the house. I have one set up with a double-weave "fiddle-around" warp on it.
Also have to say what a pleasure the "Northwest" Looms are. Tony Klissus builds these to order and even builds the crate for shipping. They are so well made, work so smoothly...they're just a delight to use. I am always amazed that he also sells them for so much less than the "biggies" like Leclerc and Schacht, etc. Definitely a "find."

Art camp weavers

2009-06-12T04:42:00.001-07:00

One of the wonderful things about teaching kids, and just "turning them loose" as I like to do, on the prepared looms is the work that comes out of it. They have a "no-holds-barred" approach to their designing. They will grab anything, from regular yarn to a piece of old lace and slam it in there! The results are sometimes astounding. Of course, often, "Miss Nancy" has to perform what I have come to think of as not so much a "finishing" as it is a "rescue operation" but they are just fun little things.

I always come away from a week with the kids having my own ideas of what "works" shaken up in a good way and start thinking in terms of what sort of outrageous stuff I could put into some of my own work!
Pictures here: http://web.mac.com/carlowville707/Site/art_camp_1_2009.html

Peacemakers sampling

2009-05-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Sampling is under weigh for the "Peacemakers" design. I love sampling. Even though sometimes the actual weaving turns out to have only a nodding relationship with the original draft, it's fun to work through the "fixes."
This has a way to go, but I am very happy with the initial sampling, in that the lettering "works." I love the alphabet, which I found in one of the cross-stitch collections I ordered. It's one book just of alphabets! I need to do something about the borders and selvedges.

the virtual sampling

2009-05-11T00:07:00.001-07:00

I got one whole "verse" done. I don't know if I will put the whole Beatitude on here.

Reasons to sample

2009-05-07T06:08:00.000-07:00

I started sampling the "Tree of Life" today and right away saw where I needed to re-do the draft: the "fruits" looked like somebody sat on them. SOOOOO back to the drawing-board where I re-adjusted the whole thing. I guess I could sit down and fuss with the ratios, but I am such a visual designer that I kind of prefer the hit-or-miss version. Maybe I will sit down and do some math at some point. I also need to fix some more draft errors. Sometimes "sleeping on it" helps to see where the errors are happening, whereas, continuing to stare at it means you miss more of them.
Anyway, there is so much to be done this week, I don't know if I will get to the second round of sampling. right away.

The Big Rock-candy Mountain and little butterflies

2009-04-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

the "butterfly" and he's going to live in the "butterfly capital!"

The "Big Rock-candy Mountain" is AKA "Pearl Paint."
If you ever lived in NYC, and were an artist or art student, Pearl Paint was THE "candy store." Five floors of every art supply item you could imagine, and some you hadn't, plus studio furniture and some little fun things! I used to spend all my Xmas and birthday loot there.
Well, they have branched out and there is one in Atlanta, so, since it was cloudy and chilly, making it ok to leave dogs in the car, "Mom" took the plastic and hit Pearl Paint! I wisely made a LIST so that my impulse buys were "contained" and I just got some small items that looked like fun, like "artists' trading cards." The idea is that you create something small and trade with others. Well, to heck with that...I will make something
small and sell it! (Not the dog, of course!)
Also picked up some blank cards so I have a reference for ordering of the 'net in future, but the BIG DEAL was great blocs of grid paper for graphing out weaving designs. Lovely stuff.
Today is heading for home. Yesterday's storms would have been on top of us all the way to Birmingham so we stayed put. Also needed to finalize Cedric's adoption.
Oh, of course, the real aim of this trip was to meet an adorable Papillon who was at one of the rescue organizations' foster homes. We hit it off right away and Daisy seems ok with the new family-member so, stay tuned for more on this.

they're done...sort of

2009-04-02T08:53:00.001-07:00

Finally got the bookmarks off the loom! Now I need to put gel on the fringe ends and cut them apart. The threads are very fine and I just don't want to fuss with tying them off.
Maybe next time.

And one for the Bishop!!!!

Drafting and Lillian Whipple

2009-04-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I went to such lengths to go out to Texas was Lillian Whipple's workshop. I have Asperger's Syndrome ("disorder" or whatever) and my little "Aspie" brain needs to either get my hands into something or SEE it done and/or have somebody hang over my shoulder for a bit saying "Yes" or "No."
I told Lillian that, rather than weave samples, since I have done most of her published sample-drafts already, I'd like to concentrate on drafting. Since coming back, I have to fight the impulse to just sit around and draft all these lovely motifs I have floating around my head!
I've been scanning charted designs from needlework books and Nancy Spies' "Here Be" series. This saves me the "busy-work" of copying them on to a grid myself. Then I can write in the shafts on the printed copy and draft away!
Taquete, when you get into more than two colours, makes me think of a little loom-controlled tapestry technique.
Lillian is just one of the most gracious and generous of weavers, and the chance of taking a workshop with her is NOT to be missed! If one comes your way, GO FOR IT.
Pictures to come!

Abelard

2009-03-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

My little furball of a toy poodle is gone from my life. "Abbyabby"died in his sleep and it will take a long time to stop missing his feisty little self, if I ever stop missing him. He was such a sweet, trusting little guy who had a lousy first half of his life. I am so grateful to God that I was able to make the second half of his little life one filled with kisses, cuddles, good food and care, adventures and friends. I know you aren't supposed to give your dogs table tidbits, but, you know, when they pass, I am happy about every little treat I gave them that made them feel like special, special members of the family....which they are.
Abby, my "Babby" wherever you are...wait for the rest of us and keep watching out for things back here. I will miss you so much!

the taquete variation

2009-03-17T06:37:00.001-07:00

I decided to change the peg plan to "true taquete" and like this better. The Dukagang interpretation is nice, too, so, what the heck.
Fun to play with the variations!
click to enlarge.

the 2009 bookmark

2009-03-10T14:41:00.001-07:00

Work in progress: this is the "dukagang" treadling. Includes the threading error...now fixed!!!

some of the Xmas scarves from last year

2009-03-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

some of these are still "hanging around"

I should have sampled!!!

2009-03-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Well, now I need to "rescue" the 3 yards of 60/2 silk warp and put up one of 20/2. The 60/2 was just TOO fine to show the motif up nicely, especially since, in order to get the width I wanted I had to add a lot of "border" that kind of overwhelm the motif, so, back to 20/2 which will still make a lovely little bookmark.
Good thing I like the whole warping process!!!!

confirmation bookmark

2009-02-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

the 2009 confirmation bookmark's warp is on the loom and ready to go. I have never woven this narrow on the dobby loom, so we shall see. I don't know how the heck Lillian Whipple handles that 240/2 silk. Handling 60/2 was as close to spider-webbing I ever want to deal with. Hope it turns out looking exactly like the virtual sample.
Hope the Confirmands like them. I have warped for 10...9 for them and one for the Bishop.

Just when you think it's safe.....

2009-02-27T07:27:00.000-08:00

One - hopefully-last, more kink. The auto-advance not creating the picks per inch I want....couldn't get it to do less than 8. Not good. I moved the bolt on the back AA shaft down to middle, after looking at some pictures in the manual, and tightened the cables and all seems well.
Then the block holding the tension-arm weight in place cracked. AVL is sending a replacement asap and I am holding it together with a C-clamp in the meantime. Minor problem, at worst. Lucinda mentioned that, at the time they did my loom, they were having some "quality control issues." Well, every company does at some point and their stuff is so great, overall, it's hard to quibble.
Can't wait to get the new workshop dobby. Wish it would be in time for the Texas trip, but, since they build the compu-dobby per order, this is just the way things go. Nice to know mine is hand-built for me!!!!

Which one next?

2009-02-25T04:55:00.001-08:00

Well, shall it be the birds or the shells?

Cahaba Lilies

2009-02-25T04:35:00.000-08:00

Working on a taqueté of our beloved "Cahaba Lilies" It involves getting the colours as basic as possible. On the bottom is the original photo, on the top is the first try at getting it into a "taqueté-friendly" form. I will "lose" the leafy background...maybe.
It's times like these that I wish I had a Jacquard loom. Well, perhaps someday.
In the meantime, with 40 shafts, I can do quite a lot. the trick is drafting it correctly.

PS: Local wool

2009-02-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

Keep it natural, kids!!!!!
Also, for those of you who don't know this, check out this Selma lady's new farm with sheep, goats etc. She started out doing goat-milk soaps and lotions (available at Mark's Mart and from her directly):
http://tinyurl.com/2nl3tl
check out her blog as well
http://oldesouthfarm.blogspot.com/

Land o' cotton

2009-02-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

well, I have ordered green, brown and red! Cotton seeds, of course. Not many people are aware that cotton can be grown to be other than white. White being the more commercially-desirable version, that's what we see out there, but there is a growing trend among the "organic" crowd to experiment with the "antique" plants which produce different colours. Pretty nifty. Furthermore, the colours get stronger when the stuff is washed. Double-nifty.
So far, I have only spun wool, but, once I get this stuff up and picked I guess I will learn to spin cotton. I was also thinking that it would make a lovely "flower arrangement."
Now, this is all assuming that I can get it to grow. I have never raised cotton, but, hey, I come from a long line of cotton-farmers, so, hopefully, I have a genetic disposition for it. Hopefully.
I cannot WAIT to get out there and get the garden ready to go!
In the meantime, here's my favourite spot to order the spun versions:
http://chamomileconnection.com/
the photo is from my seed source, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange:
http://tinyurl.com/d7y4r8 Go have a look.
BTW, I cannot recommend "tinyurl.com" enough. It reduces long, unwieldy URL's to manageable size and I have found them to be 100% reliable.

How does your garden grow?

2009-02-17T08:50:00.000-08:00

It's getting to be planting season so fast! I have to get this all ready before I take off for "Tejas!" Which means that I need to have it ready to plant when I get back.
I am trying to get a "Kitchen Gardeners' Club" started here in town. If we get enough interest, it would be a great way for us to help each other with this. Even if you just have containers, you can grow SOME veggies. WIth the price of produce going through the roof (I paid $4 for a CAULIFLOWER recently!!!!), it makes a lot of practical sense.
I might plant some dye plants this year. Maybe not. I am not to into dyeing. But it would be fun to show the kids. I'd also like to make a little patch of coloured cottons!

auto advance woes

2009-02-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

well, now it's the auto-advance.
Sooner or later, I will get everything in sync!

'REAL" WARP FOR THE AVL

2009-02-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

OK, I have the AVL threaded up for the 32-shaft "Ivy" taqueté design.

In and out of the studio

2009-01-30T19:51:00.000-08:00

Pix related to my work, including a shot of the Weavers' Cottages in Canterbury, England. Once the homes and workplaces of Huguenot weavers, now a pub. Shots of the Jacquard class at AVL, and, of course, my own workshop,

2009-01-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

A couple of "art camp" summers. Highlights!!!

TOUCHDOWN

2009-01-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

My AVL A-Series is up and running!!! After fiddling with the e-lift installation for a good three weeks, off and on, anyway, it finally kicked in. I spent yesterday putting on a warp and threading, then took the whole thing for a "test drive" today. Some problems with the auto-advance, but easily fixed. I wound the pirn correctly on the first try and am getting the hang of the fly-shuttle.
It is just heaven. Now I have to thread up for my taquete designs and see how they REALLY look.
I think I will start with the 32-shaft designs. Not that I'm chicken! I threaded the whole 40-shaft array up and tested it out with a pointed-draw and will fiddle around with that for a bit.
Yay!

Wyverns!!!in Taquete

2008-08-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

Taken from Nancy Spies’ lovely needlework designs, “Here Be Wyverns” - an old, old term for dragons and fantastical beasts.

Fun to draft.

For 32 shafts.

I think I overdid the “blur” filter.

These might be worked up as bookmarks

A Stole for my friend, the Deacon

2008-08-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

When my friend, “Deacon Joanie” saw the “Brooklyn” design, she asked me if I would do a stole for her with a “tree of life” on it. Deacons wear the same stoles as priests, but draped over to the side. I did one based on the tree in the “Brooklyn” design, then I saw this one, a Shaker design.It just seemed so lovely, so I drafted it out. I was up until about 3 A.M. in a fog of delight. So far, so good, but, as ever, the “proof is in the pudding” so I won’t know until I get the samples woven how it really is going to work. I am thinking about some other motifs to add to it. I am going to design a little cross for the part that goes behind her neck that is in the same style as the tree.I wonder if I will EVER exhaust the design possibilities of this technique? I guess the next step for me is to try FIVE colours and also blending. DEEP BREATH. AND I need to get the elift working on my 40-shaft loom!

A New Structo

2008-05-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

And, I DO mean "New!" It even came in the original box!

Well, I didn’t mean to do it, but this was just too good to pass up. I just got it in and unpacked it. BRILLIANT! I think I ended up paying just over $200 for it. Can’t beat that!

Summer “Art Camp” is creeping up. I really need to go get the warps finished and get over there to dress looms.

IF I can stay out of the garden! Went over to the nursery yesterday to pick up some potting soil and came home with two pear trees and a Tea Olive.

Sic semper.......or perhaps “sick” semper?????

What a WEEK!

2008-02-28T17:46:00.000-08:00

Well, this was quite a week! Alice gave a terrific week of teaching and I can’t wait to get home and play around with my dobby looms and put some of what I’ve learned into practice. Also can’t wait till the next time I get my hands on a Jacq! It was wonderful sharing the time in class with such talented weavers. Nice also to be out in Chico, CA, which is a town full of warm and friendly people and VERY familiar flora. Only downer is the cold I have to travel home with, but you can’t have perfection all the time.

My sample was done toward the end of the last day and there were broken warp ends to deal with, but I am pleased with what I did. Will post pix of AVL in a later update.

AVL workshop with Alice Schlein

2008-02-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

Hey, Kids!

I am out here in sunny, but chilly, California at the AVL workshop with Alice Schlein and about to get my hands on the new "Jacq3G" Jacquard loom! It is SO coo! It actually fits in a room without having to take the ceiling out and you don't have to mortgage the farm to get one! Still kind of pricey for my blood, but you never know!

The workshop is great and Alice is a super teacher or her ideas and techniques. I will have pix etc posted on the blog when I get back.

SHe's going to do a seminar on this at Convergence, so, if you are going to that, don't miss it!!!! (I am spending my "Convergence money" on this workshop)

Anyway, we spent yesterday learning how to convert Photoshop files to weaving files and that is worth the entire trip. I have been quietly working on "translating" some of this to my dobby programme. It's a different ballgame, since you aren't doing pictures, but I'm working on it!!!! (-; Anyway, next time I get some time on a Jacquard, I will be ready to boogie!

Northern California, which is where Chico is located, is so much like our part of the world, it boggles the mind: graceful architecture, magnolias, Live Oaks, camellias, nice people, GUYS WHO OPEN DOORS FOR YOU!!!..all they need is some moss!!! hmmm, maybe I'll bring some out next time I come this way and hang it in the Live Oaks!

PICTURES TO COME!!!!