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Tripping

Well, we’re home again. OFFF was very …er… interesting this year! That big storm coming in from Alaska arrived just in time to dampen our spirits. Well, those of us unused to those volumes of rain, that is, and especially the gale force winds! The upper Oregonians just put on their designer waders and kept on shopping! lol We did a pretty good business, tho I was sometimes convinced that shoppers just dropped in the get out of the blustering wind and driving rain and stayed to get interested. Which was fine, but in the end we had to fold up what was left of our tent and crawl back into the 5th wheel. The wind got a little too strong and was tearing us up. But we’ll be back again next year!

After the weekend we headed out east ion hopes of visiting Yellowstone Nat’l park if it was not buried in snow by that time. We didn’t get there as you all know by now that everything National got shut down by out dilatory congress unable to made compromises and losing votes by the bucket full. But I try to avoid political discussions so will skip over that here. We did see a lot of eastern Oregon, had a nice two day visit in Pendleton, visited the woolen factory and left some $ there then went on the view several museums and art galleries. Went on into southern Idaho finally getting ahead (or was it behind?) the storm and into mostly clear but still Very Windy weather. Beautiful country but boy am I glad I was not a pioneer! Those people were either crazy or desperate! I’d have stayed in Ohio! lol It would have been awful country when viewed walking at the side of a covered wagon. But we went on though Pocatello and into Utah. Salt lake was very interesting. Salt Lake City is just too big for me! But it got worse for those poor pioneers!  Getting around that huge salt lake and then into the Bonneville salt flats and on to the 40 mile desert. It’s a wonder to me that any of them made it to California. Bonneville salt flats My window needed cleaning, the sky was quite clear and blue and the white… it really is salt… went on for as far as you could see. Those mountains are miles away. That place that looks like a blue hill there at the end of the mountains is really a mirage.  The salt was quite flat and there was no real water.

And then there was this. I think you’ll all recognize this little girl. And the piles are more salt. There were many of those piles. mortons

Well, we traveled on across Utah and into Nevada. This was our first trip though norther Nevada but, really, Nevada to tourists, is Nevada, no matter what part you’re in. Well, except for Basin Nat’l monument off Hwy 50, maybe. Took this one on the fly. The last guy cracked an Indiana Jones bullwhip over the last cow just after I snapped this.  It’s going to be hard to see detail at this size. I’m going to print this one up big and frame it. nevada cowboys

The story I started off to tell was of meeting another weaver at a way side park in southern Oregon.  She saw our tire cover on the trailer with our logo and asked about the looms. I took her into our little travel home and showed her mine. She liked them and ended up increasing her loom stash there by the side of the road! I hope you are enjoying your new looms, Cindy! I think that was so neat. It’s also nice to know that people do see that logo after all! lol

But now we’re home and after filling orders it’s going to be firewood and putting the garden to bed for the winter. hope you are staying warm!

What I’m weaving now.

Scarves. Hooded scarves, in fact. People keep wanting to buy my samples at the shows so I figure if I weave a few to sell, nobody will offer to buy them again! lol But if they do, I’ll be ready! Here’s some squares for one.

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I’m working on the third one now. The one below was the first one & used the triangle loom and some Blue Sky Alpaca and some rainbow colored mohair.

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The third one is  using the same alpaca but I dyed this one which was plain plain.  The color was called Toasted Almond which sounds very nice but to me it just looked a kind of pasty grey. So I got out my kool aid and gave it some help. I think. Anyway it’s keeping me busy while we get ready for  OFFF. The Green one is finihsed now and I’ve still got a few more squres to weave on this last one. I have more yarn but I think that’s enough for now.

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Canning season.

Yes, tomatoes and peaches are getting ripe but today I an making bacon bits. Finally got that frozen three pound block of ends and pieces cut up into ‘bits’ and in the skillet. They’ll render for the rest of the day and get canned tomorrow.

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I may make a peach pie later on today so it’s nice and warm for dinner! These are just a few I picked to relieve the branches a bit. May need a few more for the pie. There’s plenty but a couple more days won’t  hurt them.

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And so I did!

early peach pie

Best of Show!

Not mine but the creator belonged to our little WAL and this is the dress she made with the 4″ Multi Square loom.  Monica says, “Thanks to Hazel’s HazelRose instructions I won a blue ribbon and Best of Show for the woven dress.” in their state fair.  Congradulations!

Minica Rose Blue ribbons.

Class Loom

This is the class loom. there are 18 of them but more can be made if you might need them. They have a 3 1/2″ weaving area and the nails are spaced at 3/8 th inch. They come with instruction for weaving diagonally. You can get them with or without the weaving hooks.

These small looms are very suitable for children. They are small and quickly woven so the children can finish a square in a reasonable time, before their interest can wane. I have a few projects for making their own toys that I will include with the looms., my grandson models one popular project.

In the samples below, the upper one is woven with a double strand of worsted yarn and the lower with a single strand. Bulky hand spun is also a good yarn for this loom.

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End of WAL

The Weave Along is finished and was a great success. I think everyone enjoyed it and  they turned out some wonderful projects. I think it even converted a few new weavers to the  craft! Here’s a little overview of some of the projects. If you didn’t finish your project, it’s not too late! You missed the drawing for the little prize, but we’d love to see your dress!

All projects 2All projects 3

Look what I found…

I was looking for a certain yarn, which I did not find, but look what I did find. Must have been stashing these ‘practice’ pieces in this drawer for a long time, but had forgotten about them. Don’t know how long they’ve been gathering. But it looks like a project. A creative one. lol Hummm wonder what I can make of this mess! There’s some interesting things here.  Wonder if I can remember how I did it and what it was supposed to be for. Nope. Just start again.

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The Weave ALong at Ravelry is going along great. There are some very nice doll dresses being completed. If you have not joined yet, there is still time and we’d love to see your version! Meantime, here’s a little hint on assembling small squares faster and easier, in case you haven’t run across this method yet.

A couple of ways to assemble rows of blocks, no matter what size. There are less ends to  deal with  this way, which you’ll love!

1. Lay them out in the pattern you want.

2. Sew or crochet them together the longest way leaving no extra apace between the blocks.

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3. Sew or crochet them together the short way, squaring up the corners.

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