Memorial Day

Shopping in the basement...

I have warped the loom with a wool/silk yarn for a shawl. Just plain weave, moving quickly. Was not the intent, just is. That is OK, have to finish the story cloth, some pot holders, and a baby blanket are in the planning stages and a few other things as well. It is pretty neat though. I love looking at a loom threaded and you see warp threads and fabric. It can slow me down sometimes because I stop and look and touch, lightly dragging my fingers across the width of it in amazement. I am doing something people have been doing for thousands of years and it humbles me.
Last week I was searching in my basement "store" for something to bring to the farm to spin on shearing day. In so doing I came across this fleece that I made a mental note to come back to. Come back I did. It is a romney fleece from Watson Farm, from shearing day 2006. It is washed and ready to process. I also found my Indigo Hound wool combs, hackle, diz, and accessories. So for simplicities sake I may just use the wool combs out on the deck during the early evening hours and make little "birds nests" ready to spin.
I love when I am on a hunt for something in my stash and I get sidetracked by other finds that I have totally forgotten about. It is like a little shopping trip, "new stuff". I am trying to work from stash this year and so far not to bad. Well, there was a trip to Web's for 8/2 weaving cotton, Brown Sheep bulky for a felted bag,some Araucania Nature Wool just because and Austermann sock yarn with Aloe Vera and Jojoba oil in it. Should be interesting. But that has been it this year, so far. I think I am allowed one fall...Seven months to go.
The temperature is rising quickly. It is 11:30 AM and the thermometer reads 91.9. OK, that is hot. Have a great day and thanks for reading.

Spinning At Watson Farm

Saturday was spent at Watson Farm on the island of Jamestown, Rhode Island with some of the members of RI Spinning Guild, of which I belong to. One of our members helps run this farm with her husband and we are invited yearly to his event. We spin, talk, laugh, watch the shearer and keep track of the fleeces as we demonstrate and interact with the public.

A Celebration of the Arts

Saturday I spent the day at my church with my 40" Harrisville loom demonstrating weaving. In the next photo you can see my loom on the back of a pickup going on holiday for the weekend. It was a great day with many people stopping and asking questions. Some people had no idea what I was doing or what I was doing it on! I had decided on making a "story cloth" of 8/2 cotton in plain weave, a story of the my church community. This cloth will be made of pieces of cloth, natural fibers, jewelry, beads, ribbons, trims, etc. I asked that people please prayerfully consider what they would like to include in the cloth. What might they include that would represent them or someone they love. They could bring something meaningful, like a piece of fabric from a special garment or strips of a favorite fabric. I warped the loom at the church the night before until 1:30 AM. That was an experience. I was humming, whistling, close to talking to myself. I was alone downstairs while others were upstairs hanging paintings and photos and art in general made by the members of the church. I finally got it warped and decided to send a few picks in for a header but I had no tension. Needless to say I was sick. The loom appeared or the friction brake appeared to be not working. At home over toast at 2 AM looking through the Harrisville booklet, the photo showing the brake peddle and it's cord looking somewhat in a different position than mine...I still researched friction brake issues and purchased sandpaper on my way back to the church the next day. Also on Hi,It"s Terri I read about live-weight tention. Looks interesting. Something one uses instead of the brake on the loom. But not enough information for me that day to use...But back to church I go armed with some things to try. The first being to re-route the brake cord...it was the problem. The loom had been in the basement apart. I tried to find a smaller loom to use but there were none close by so the next best thing was my second loom. I have two looms, both 40". One a Macomber and the Harrisville. So I quickly put it together, quickly being the operative word. It was arranged that someone with a truck would come for it as I said. So now it is back home and I am awaiting more additions from people who now have more of an understanding of what I am doing so I can finish it. It will then go to the church with a journal of who and what people gave and it will live on the Communion table and belong to the church.

A book was mentioned in the program Art and the Bible by Francis A. Schaeffer. Looks interesting and will read it but one of the thoughts was encouraging. "Being in the image of the creator, we are called upon to have creativity. In fact it is part of the image of God to be creator or to have creativity."
"He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers." Exodus 35:35 I think that is so cool , written so long ago.
Here is my Amy. She agreed to a photo shoot and her eyes are just fine. Look at that white face. She is a sweet girl.
Ah, my flowers are beginning to return. I found these white bleeding hearts as I was roaming around my winter weary yard. Maybe now I will be able to get out and do some work . It is actually May 1. It is so nice to look out and see green, grass, leaves, and flowers. Yes, green is good right now isn't it.
Have a great day and thanks for reading.