This and that

I really have no idea what I've been doing. When I sit and think about it, it's all a blur. Seems like all my time has been consumed with going to doctors and working. But have 4 days off coming up so that is good.

The 12 pick color sequence is coming along nicely. Slowly but nicely. I really love this pattern.

I was having a bit of trouble beating down the middle portion so I stuck a rag under the offending warp ends like so...

... and problem no more.

This is the latest inkle band. Not loving the colors but what did I expect seriously. That's what I get for not just ordering some nice 5/2 cotton online and using the boring stuff from the craft store instead. I think I want to do one in wool next time anyway.

Messy art:

We played with air dry clay and learned about pinch pots. These are easy and probably the first thing you learn to make in pottery. Here is a little video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReRCcDGMQNQ
Next week, when the pots are dry, we will paint them using acrylic paint and a gloss varnish. Of course not everyone followed directions and did pinch pots... including me. Here's my little guy

I might make a little art doll out of him or something. I like him.

A little video to make you smile. Love this!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqKY1iQHgCc

Happy Valentine's

Messy Art - Well, today being Valentine's Day, we made,... you guessed it, Valentines. This is simple ... I just folded 12x18 construction paper in various pinks and reds into fours. Then you cut along the open side of the folded paper in the shape of a half heart, unfold, and you get two hearts.

We decorated with tissue, sequence, magazine pics, anything you want really.

 

This is my model for them. Found the old lady in a magazine. I told the kids that was a picture of my grandma. They believed me, ha ha!

Here are some from the kids:

I ordered a shorter temple for the tap on the big loom. I'm probably not going to weave wide pieces anymore so I figured why not. The temple I've got is 24" at it's shortest. I may sell that one, don't know yet.

I had help with the threading which is the part that hurts my back to do. Jerry was very good at threading! I told him he would make a good weaver.

I supervised and passed him warp ends...

And of course the top supervisor was there to make sure we didn't have too much fun.

It was really nice to have help. Threading can be a lonely business. We listened to Bruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town while we worked.


Looked out the kitchen window this morning and saw that one of my little tree orchids had bloomed. I love when this happens. It's so spontaneous and unexpected. A treat for sure.

In the studio

I'm a bit behind with posting. Been sort of busy and have been trying to play catch up since our staycation. Even when I didn't go anywhere, I fell behind. Pathetic, really.

On the Kessy... I am working on this tapestry/runner for a dear friend of mine in N.C. who is going through a very rough time right now. But she will come through it with flying colors, I know. This piece will be 12x48" and will be ready to hang. I'm keeping in the Fibonacci spirit of things with the pattern and plain dimensions. The pattern will be done in a straight 2/2 twill, 12 pick color sequence. I didn't know how I wanted to do the design as far as color was concerned, but I think choice A on the left is more interesting. The piece is sleyed and dh will help me with the threading tonight.

On the inkle... I've started this little band as a test piece. I love the way the navy and yellow look together and was surprised when I did. The pattern calls for doubling up on yellow in two of the pattern threads, but I wanted to see what it would look like with light green and yellow instead of two yellow. No big deal really. You can't even tell there's any green in there. So instead of double yellow, I may try double purple just to give it a zing on the next one.

Someone is angry at me because I'm not getting up and getting him snacks. Look deeply into the glass... you'll see him. Oh brother.

Tea time

I love love love when I have Saturdays off! My daughters and my BFF get together and go yard sale-ing on those Saturdays. Scored a candle stick that matches the lamp I got on the last yard sale expedition and a very cool little tree for $5. Then it's back to Che's nifty apartment for tea and pancakes :)

On the weaving front ...

I cut the sampler off the loom (accompanied by a glass of Chardonnay... I always toast the cutting off of anything) and started the finishing. I twined and then started to go with a longer twist tassle and changed my mind.

Instead I decided on a 3 in. plain finish. Here are photos:

This will come in handy as a reference on all the different techniques. And it's kind of pretty in a weird sorta way. So it's over my work table as my guide. I've started warping Big Kay for the actual rug. It will be periwinkle and salmon and I'm calling it "Stilt City"

Late March

While eating eggs the other morning, I decided it was time to break out the rigid heddle loom. This is some warp and weft sample choices to see how they might work together. The warp is assorted cotton yarns. The weft is this incredibly soft acrylic yarn (Bernat Softee Baby). Scarves should be soft on the neck...end of story. I'm also throwing a gold sparkle crochet cotton into the weft mix. All of the yarns are from my stash. There's no real rhyme or reason to placement of warp colors. I just sort of shut my brain off (not real hard for me to do) and let go.

Sunny side up scarf!

This is a sample piece that I'm weaving on the big loom. The pattern is from Marguerite Porter Davison's book... the triple draught bird's eye. This is very dainty weaving for me. I'm used to doing big hunking rugs. But I'm having fun with it.