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April Oneth!

Mar31

Yep! It’s that time again. I’ve had a lot of them but I’ll tell you, I am just delighted to be having another one! I’m hoping to have several more. Hope all of you keep on having them too! So what am I going to do on my special day? Probably the same sort of things I did today, just keep on keeping on. No big plans. We’re signed up to go to Black Sheep Gathering and later to OFFF so those will be our big trips this summer. I’ll get to spend a day or two with my sister in Oregon as well. If fuel prices happen to go back down a reasonable amount we might take a trip just for fun. Not holding my breath.

It’s about time to get the garden started. I’ve planted peas, both eatable pod and shelly. That’s all so far, tho. I ought to have cucumbers starting and winter squashes, too, probably. No frost lately tho the night temps are well into the 30’s.

I thawed, roasted and canned up the extra turkey I bought in December . We had a couple nice meals from that 24 lb bird, and now I have pints of meat and turkey soup filling the pantry shelves so here’s a lopsided photo of some of the shelves. I could have sworn I had the camera lined up correctly! lol I guess I need to get out there and Organize. There’s more pints in their boxes that could be on the shelves where they are seen and remembered.

My housebound geraniums are glued to the window, trying to get out in the sun and the red one even put on a flower!

  I took this from outside the window and the yard is reflecting on the glass so the geranium has the bare stemmed maple tree superimposed on it! I think this must be an Art photo! But this is the first red one I’ve managed to over-winter. The pinks and white I’ve had for years! In fact that’s been 20 years! I’m not saying they are the same plants I brought home from my classroom at the school, but are at least clones of them! I hadn’t realized really that it had been that long. oh boy! There are some things you’d rather not think about too deeply!

Ah well… We’re onto another year of Little Loom magazine projects. I just submitted my spring ideas and will get to working on summer. Already know what I’ll be doing for the winter issue, I think they’ll like it. Sometimes these projects get pretty stressful but I usually enjoy them and it keeps me motivated.

I hope you are all keeping your looms well dusted! Like anything else, you’re looms will look their best if they are being used. Remember, I like to see your projects! Post them on Ravelry or the facebook group or just email them to me if you feel like sharing!

Well, hope you are having a lovely spring!

Nearly the end of February.

Feb25

Well, the year is already morning along toward another hot dry summer. the Weather Wizards promised us “rain likely” a few days ago! Now is just a chance of showers. Sadistic people.  Still, they’ve been wrong before, it may still give us a little downpour. Wouldn’t that be great!!

Meantime, I’ve ordered my seeds in case we get to have a garden this summer. Sure hope so as it begins to sound like there could be some shortages, California, or maybe it’s the feds, have told the central valley farmers that they get NO WATER this year. That’s going to put a serious dent in available produce. I think the numbers were something like 25% of the US produce is from that area. We have have to put up shade cloth to keep the garden from frying but we do need to have it.

Been trying my hand at overshot Weaving on the little looms. It’s an interesting process! I haven’t gotten it to work well on the QW’s but I did a couple simple designs on the Multi square. i did a little crochet and turned the two into a wrist cuff. I’ve downloaded a few more patterns from Floor looms that I want to try.

Meantime I’m working on projects for magazines and for a book I am hoping to interest someone into publishing without too much cost- none at all preferably- to me.  Its all for the Quilt Weaver looms. They haven’t had anything new in awhile. But I’m not showing it here, just in case. It’s going to be fun, tho so keep track of your looms, you’ll want to give it a try when I get it ready.

Himself has gone to cut firewood. Says he wants to have nest winter’s firewood in before this summer sets in. Understandable. One of his clients has given him permission to cut fire killed trees on her property. He can drive to it so it’s pretty easy as firewood cutting goes.

And before he left he told me there are 16 looms out in the shop for me to sand. so I guess I’d better get at it. Just wanted to let you guys know that I have not abandoned this blog again. Just finding it hard to find something to talk about! Hope your winter is rounding out a bit more interesting.

Bye for now!

New Years Day 2022… Good wishes for the future!

Jan1

I hope you all were able to welcome the new year in the way you most enjoy! And stayed safe!

Randy and I celebrated as old people tend to do!

Today I finally got my new patchwork top out and got a photo. I don’t know if I mentioned but the yoke turned out to be too short, so I added another row of squares and I think it’s much better. Not my most flattering color but I like the way I did this neckline.

Pretty slow in Trinity this time of year. We had a lot of snow a week or so ago and it’s still here along with an impressive display of icicles along the roof line. We hit our winter low this morning at 14 degrees f.  The Wizards say we are in for more snow on Sunday and Monday and then they think it’s going to warm up and rain at our elevation. That’ll be a nice mess! Well, we are still in a drought so not all bad. This last snow was pretty dry stuff. Which is nice when you have to shovel it but doesn’t add much to the water tables.

Well, l Himself has mentioned a couple times that there is a cake mix and a can of frosting in the pantry, so I guess I’ll go make him a cake.  Hope your new years day is going well and that it continues to be well throughout the year! If we all do our best to stay positive and friendly and safe I’m sure the world will be able to recover.

Be kind, be positive, be safe! And do lots of weaving!

Merry Christmas, Happy new Year, and also happy anything else you celebrate this time of year!

Dec23

I don’t have to  be “Dreaming of a white Christmas” this year. It’s already white and the Weather Wizards tell us we’re going to have Nice nice new snow on Christmas day and it looks like, the whole week after! Delightful, since we have no travel plans this year. Staying home by the fire! But my poor Tennessee Red cedar doesn’t seem to like Trinity winters. It broke away from it’s support. I think it may need a cage until it can grow a thicker trunk.

 

We’ve been working like crazy in the shop this month. I did not plan well. Those of you who’ve had to wait for your looms know this. I really didnt’ expect the new fine sett to be quite so popular! But I think we have just about got it done. The last one goes out tomorrow, then no more until after the holiday. And of course, in the middle of this rush, the Loom maker got sick and then with the snow storm the power was out for three days! One of the special woods that was ordered decided it didnt’ want to play. Randy had to make those looms 3 times before he got one to do what it was supposed to do. You would not think a lovely board could be so troublesome!

I finished up the last weaving projects for Little looms Magazine and actually did a little knitting making my mini dolls new Christmas outfits during our evening movie. I was asked why the green theme. I had to admit convenience, it was handy! lol

And I did actually finish the patchwork shirt in the previous post. after I fulled it became apparent that the yoke was too short. While I was looking for the yarn to weave more squares, I lucked out and found just the right number of already woven squares in that yarn! I promise to get a photo wearing it, one of these days when there is a little light for pictures.

But meantime…………………

     

 

December Oneth already!

Dec1

Hasn’t improved things, I’m still behind and still losing things. Story of my life lately. Bah Humbug! Finished the 4″ square Christmas sweater for that Brazilian ladies’ yearly JAL. White on white just doesn’t work. So after 4 tries I went to a pale blue back ground and finally got a good photo. Even made a file especially to put it in.  Computer tells me this file is empty. Cannot find that picture anywhere on this perverter machine! Not going though all that again so too bad. I do have a picture of Piper wearing it, tho.

I’m mostly working on the stitch patterns for the continuous weave looms. So far mostly the 7″, both regular and fine sett. And finishing up some magazine submissions. And I have to make bread today. There’s stuff in the yard and flower beds that need some pre-weather cleaning up. It May happen. And the ravens are hanging around in the neighborhood today, being noisy. Not common here, wonder what’s up with that.  They have been before during fledgling season but I told them to come back Nevermore!

Okay, with that I guess I’d better get the laundry started and the roast ready to go in the oven. Hope your December is starting out more cheerful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov25

I hope you are all enjoying this day and are finding many things in your life to be thankful for! There are so many things we tend to take for granted that, when we think about it, are not granted to most people on this planet. As much negativity, quarreling, and tragedy as we have seen these last couple years, there is still a brighter side to our lives if we can look for it.

I hope you can all find the bright side today and give thanks for it, no matter who or what you credit that to.

I am thankful for all of you!

Even in Death Valley there’s life and Beauty.

 

Winter work…

Nov6

It’s November even tho with temps in the 60’s as high and the lows just in the low 40’s it doesn’t really feel very wintery. Well, except for the rain and gloomy skies. And gloomy husband. He doesn’t do well in continual darkness and besides has jobs that need to be outdoors in dry weather so that’s adding to the frustration. I’m fine tho it worries me a bit that it’s not getting cold. We are still picking pole beans and when I cut greens yesterday there was a bee buzzing around in the borage. Not normal winter conditions for these mountains. Well, I guess we’d better start getting used to the “not normal”. They are suggest a vague possibility of some snow on Monday. Not holding my breath!

But meantime, with the WAL coming to an end, I got out my cardigan project. My favorite orange sweater is wearing out. When even Himself notices it’s sort of ratty condition I guess it’s time!  So I’ll be weaving 12″ squares for some time. I’m reusing a frogged knit sweater that turned out to be a bad idea, mostly a bad fit. And I have another one that is in line for frogging as well. I guess I’d better stick to weaving! lol I balled this yarn up but it hasn’t been washed before weaving with it. I’ll find out if that’s a good idea.

     

But today I have to finish up a batch of apple sauce and sand a couple looms as well. The sweater is going to take awhile to finish.

  And there’s enough apples  left for a pie.

 

Last Week….

Nov3

Looks like I was mistaken about the enduing date! The WAL will end on Wednesday November 11. That adds a couple more days for those of you who need a little more time to finish! Go! Go! You don’t want to miss a chance at this prize!

The last Week of the Anniversary WAL. It ends Monday midnight. that gives you 5 1/2 days to get your red bird finished up. Remember, you don’t have to make anything of it to qualify as a finisher, just need to have the chart woven and assembled. Of course I’ll be delighted if you do manage to get it made into something so try for it! How about adding a waist band and making it a Hostess apron for your Thanksgiving get-together?! A  little old fashioned maybe retro!, but I remember Momma wearing her prettiest aprons for those festive occasions when she had to be in the kitchen as well as in entertaining guests and family. But in any case I hope to see a few more finishers getting a chance at our BIG PRIZE!!!

A few pieces woven on the fine set. the lacy bit used the Croquette. It’s about the size of #30 crochet thread, I think. Has a bit of metallic sparkle which never shows in photos.

Post a comment to let us know how you are getting along with your project!

WAL week three already.

Oct27

Turns out week three is half gone and I am already late post it. Well, you all either have most of you weaving done and re starting assembly or you are already putting it off and are probably not going to finish. You know who you are! How many woven UFOs have you got?! I’ll bet 99% of us have at least one. But now you’ve got an investment in yarn and time, you may as well finish and have something nice to show for it, right? So if you are behind, get it out and make another go!

 

 

Yeah, I have a few, too. But I manage to finish two projects for this one knowing you were all watching me! I’m watching your guys, too!

Well, this weeks prize will be a couple of my books. I haven’t decided which yet but I’ll pick a couple that I think most people might be interested in weaving. But again, post your comment here to be in the drawing!

 

Sharing a nice letter from a weaver!

Oct26
Jody gave me permission some time ago to share her little story with Weavers here. I know exactly how she feels about weaving on the loom and I know a lot of you feel the same way but it is really nice to hear you say so from time to time. I hope this WAL has inspired some of you to dust off your looms and enjoy this relaxing and creative craft once again.
“Hazel please forgive me, but I must tell you a  story about your looms.     I don’t know when I purchased a 12” loom from you, maybe 2 or 3 years ago.   I really can’t remember, but I had such a great time in the evenings making these wash cloths.   I loved them and I loved weaving them.  You would not believe the number of wash cloths I had made.   I gave them to my daughters, to friends as Christmas gifts in a basket of goodies.   One of my friends absolutely loves them for her facial wash cloth.  Well anyway, I ran out of steam as it turned out as I was making them day and night.  I put the loom back for a while.  
Jumping forward to this past year.   My husband and I had decided to move up closer to our youngest daughter–she is 42 years old.  I have been working on our house, downsizing, packing away things to make the house a bit more appealing to prospective buyers.   Well a year ago this past August I fell–ouch—I am 73 and have strong bones praise the Lord for that, but they tell me I had very deep extensive bruising and it would take a while for me to get back on my feet- maybe about a year.  I was tickled when I finally could get up and start accomplishing some cooking and cleaning and packing again.   Me being me has to have a project of some kind going.   I decided the perfect thing would be to make some more wash cloths, besides all mine were looking pretty sad.  Well, I searched high and low and could not find my 12″ loom.  😦   So I thought okay I know it is here somewhere and since I can’t find it I will order another loom.   I saw you had the 14″ so I ordered that thinking WOW that will give me a larger size to create larger cloths.  So I ordered it.  When it arrived I immediately started making cloths again.  After making a half dozen or so I decided that these were a bit too large for what I wanted.   Finally I gave in—I told my husband, the best way for me to find my 12″ is to order another 12″.  haha.   So I did.  I was as excited as a kid on Christmas day when my 12″ arrived all safe and sound.   I immediately sat down and started making wash cloths.   I don’t know why, but all my worries go away and pleasant thoughts dance through my head as I weave.   I have several rigid heddle looms, but they are a bit awkward with me sorting and packing, but this little loom is just the right size, easy to move from room to room and so relaxing.   No, Hazel I have not yet found my other 12″ loom, but  that is okay as it will show up one day.  In the meantime,  I have this 12″ to keep me relaxed and happy.  Thank you for sharing this craft and thank you for being so prompt in sending this wonderful product.
Take care and may God bless you and yours,
Jodi”
This dishcloth is mine, just an illustration of the kind of weaving Jodi was describing.