Archives

Solar Eclipse

May21

We drove up to Slate Mountain to view the eclipse. Haven’t been out that way in years. Nothing much has changed except that the county has recently graded the road so it’s in pretty good shape and the trees are starting to crowd the road, making it nearly a tunnel in some places. Not dangerous so they don’t spend any money clearing them back.  It’s kind of pretty and reminds us of how soon our works would disappear if we did.

Back on subject! We had a great view of the eclipse and as we were front and center for it, we got to see the whole ‘ring of fire’ thing. Pretty neat. It got a little darker, kind of like a thickly cloudy day but forget the movie thing, you are not going to impress any natives with your magic. But we had a nice picnic and enjoyed getting out in the woods again. Don’t have the right kind of filters on our cameras so they refused to see it but have a couple of stunning sun pictures. The view from up there is great, too, in spite of the rather hazy air.

Looking back toward Bonanza King on the right and the little bump on the horizon to the left is Billy’s Peak, at the foot of which is our place. It’s not as far as it look in the photo, I’m guessing maybe 10 or 12 miles as the crow flies.

This one was taken by an internet friend in Arizona. The thick smoke from the forest fires they are suffering now acted as a filter for this eclipse. Is that looking on the bright side?! lol They were not in the right line to see the full ring but I found this effect very interesting.

So we’ve had two sky events this year already. I think that’s enough! No need for too much excitement from out of space for us. Our sky event today is the likelihood of thunder showers. I’d rather like to miss those, too. But I am making a couple of weaving videos for youtube so a bit of cloudiness is good for the lighting out on the deck. Get out your looms and weave with me!

 

 

40 days & 40 nights…?

Mar29

Well, not yet.  But it’s been raining  or slushing for over a week with another week forecasted. The brighter side is that the snow level is around 4000′ which is putting down snow where it needs to be and melting it out of my yard! The daffie that had it’s shining little face pushed into the snowbank the other day is standing up brightly again out there in the rain. There’s some crocus and primroses, too, so spring is around the corner, as the saying goes.

Meanwhile, we’re using the time in the shop and on the looms. I have finished my HandWoven “Sleeveless” entries and just need to get some Natural Light to take photos. Not this week tho! lol

Hope you are seeing some springtime where you are!

The Doldrums…

Mar21

Yeah, it’s been awhile since I posted. Can’t think of anything to say these days. You don’t want to hear me whine about the weather… rain snow rain snow rain rain… you know how it goes this time of year. The sun occasionally comes out just to let us know it’s still there. I have some violets and primroses trying to add some cheer to the gloom.

But I have been working steadily in the shop and weaving a couple projects to enter into HandWoven’s contest for this year. I can’t show you those, tho. Not yet, but here’s a pic Randy took of me working at my new downdraft table. It’s done wonders for the atmosphere in the shop.

Jane Grogan will be teaching classes this summer using a 10″ square (see me sanding those looms) and also Quilting with Weaving using the Tiny Weaver set, both workshops at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair in June. She is a great teacher and talented weaver. If you are in the Wisconsin area do try to sign up for one of her classes. You won’t be sorry, tho if you wait much longer you may be too late!

My new toy

Feb28

Yep, it’s a downdraft table for my sanding!

It does a great job, too! He has been improving the dust collection system in the shop but my finish sanding has always been a problem. Not anymore! And it’s got this neat brass plate  on the front. Randy says it looks like a rodeo belt buckle but I think it adds a touch of Class!

It’s been getting a workout since it arrived, too.  I’m caught up for a bit today so get to actually use my looms! lol
And it’s a good day for it since we are getting a new storm that is supposed to drop a few inches of snow on us. We get estimates from 4 inches to 3 feet. Needless to say I’m not in favor of the latter! So far it’s just cold and windy and putzing around  snow-wise, but it’s enough to keep me indoors by the fire with a lap full of yarn. Hope you are cozy today, too!

Feburary!

Feb15

I didn’t realize how long it’s been since I posted! Sorry ’bout that! We have been busy, tho. Randy has under taken a new project for me, and maybe for sale once we get the “bugs” worked out. It’s a doll storage and clothes trunk. He calls it a steamer trunk. The first prototype gave us a clue about what we need fro the remodeled one. For instance, this one has no room for the doll.  Since I tote a couple of these with me to shows they do need a safe way to travel.

And I finally finished my toaster cover. Had a time getting it to felt. I used Noro sock yarn and I have found Noro easy to felt in the past but this sock yarn has silk so maybe that was the reason. Anyway, it’s done and I’m happy with it. I am working on one for the mixer now.

And  I’ve been ‘inventing’ clothing patterns for the little 6″ American Girl dolls, too. Those are such fun, fast and easy, even with tiny needles and yarns. You can find those on Ravelry, tho there aren’t many posted yet. I have a couple of knitters working furiously testing my creations! lol

And I have gotten a bit of canning done as well.  Bean soup! And I don’t know why this blue line is here…aauugh!


But in the meantime… The snow is starting to melt tho we keep getting threatened with more, none has fallen recently. But it’s cold! The wind keeps it icy in spite of the bright sunshine we have today. Hope you all had a Lovely Valentines day and are looking forward to spring. I see a few bulbs starting to push up some green!

Winter?

Jan17

 

They say we are going to get some snow after all. So far all we have is frost and ice. Treasure Creek is starting to ice up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and my deck is growing crystals!

I think that’s pretty neat! But… I am staying indoors as much as possible and working with the looms and knitting needles and warm fuzzy yarn! I hope you are staying warm, too! If you need a looms, check out my Etsy store for some bargains. Hazel’s Creations

Weaving the Norwegian Slippers

Jan14

I saw this done with knitted squares and of course thought right away, I can do that with the looms! And I can. Sis made a pair that turned out nicely to fit her. I put mine in the washer and went away to cut put soles and they felted up to the maximum and look nice but do not fit me. Too small. The pair i made using the 3.5″ loom are also tightly felted and child size but I don’t know what size. They are about 5″ long. I used some squares I had in stash so the “pair” don’t match. But now I know what they will do, anyway.

I used the 7″ square loom. for the largte ones and the 3.5″ for the small ones.

A New project

Jan8

Well, now that the holidays are over and things are more or less back to normal, I’ve gotten out the lovely, huggable alpaca yarn I bought at the Fiber Mania in Grants Pass, Oregon this past November and am weaving some replacements for the Hooded Scarves I sold there. I don’t usually sell my weavings but people kept asking and I decided that I needed to make some new ones to show at the fiber events anyway, so I gave in to a couple gentlemen buying wife gifts. lol
I’m weaving this one on our 14” tri loom and assembling them side to side. I have not yet decided if it will have a fringe. This hand spun alpaca seems a little fragile and I don’t know how a fringe would handle being washed. I may leave it plain or maybe crochet something.
I’m using an old fashioned stitch called fagoting to assemble the triangles. It give the scarf a bit of a lacy look while still being plenty warm. Because this is a thick & thin soft yarn of varied color I wove a plain weave, letting the yarn show itself.



I use the needle to hold the loop while I adjust the length of the stitch.

Once it’s blocked ( I block most things after assembly) it will look something like this.

AD: Christmas spcecial

Dec6

Free Shipping on some orders
Order between now and December 10th and if your order is $100+ I will refund your shipping! Continental states only.
Questions? Email anytime!
Also I have heard from weavers in other parts of the world that they would like to buy a loom but that the shipping is prohibitive. It is very true for most of our looms, I cannot deny that but the small Flat Rate Priority Mail shipping box will hold several loom sizes and the cost is $13.45 US to any place I have shipped yet. I understand that some postage rates are going up again soon so I thought I would post this list of looms that will fit in this box. I wish I could offer free shipping to you but I’m afraid that is prohibitive for me, as well. But here is a list of our looms that will fit in the small flat rate box. I tried to think of all the combinations that will fit but email me if you have any ideas.
The cost of the flat rate box within the US is $5.00.
Happy Holidays!
Hazel
http://www.hazelroselooms.com

3.5” Tiny Weaver Square
3.5” Tiny Weaver Triangle (Unfortunately, not both)
2” Multi Square
4” Multi Square
2×4” Multi
2×6” Multi
4×6” Multi
4” Multi Square & 2” Multi square
4” Multi Square & 2×4” Multi
2” Multi square & 2×6” Multi
2” Multi square & 4×6” Multi
2” Multi square & 2×4” Multi
4” Multi triangle
http://www.hazelroselooms.com

Apple Pie Season!

Dec1

I finally got the last of the summer’s tomato crop (in the freezer) canned up and faced the buckets of apples waiting in the washroom. Got one pie in the freezer and am about to get the second one int here, too. Then the rest will become applesauce.

Haven’t done any weaving but I have been making looms. Not quite the same but needs to be done. Have to go to town tomorrow to pick up my stuff at the LYS and see who won the doll and her wardrobe that we’ve featured there this summer. And I’ll get my hair cut on the way home, I’m getting downright shaggy!
Hope your preseason chores are going well!