Eye Candy!

Aug8

Karen in Florida wove this heirloom quality blanket on her 12″ square. One picture really is worth 1000 words! She says the yarn is “Classic Shades by Universal Yarn and Classic Solids in black. Had a hard time finding the black, told by the manufacturer that it was discontinued so I hunted for it- found some at Herrschners. Thought it was important to have the same percentage/ blend of acrylic and wool so there wouldn’t be any problems when washing.” The blanket is presently on display at her lys, who wanted bragging rights for a bit. Can’t blame them!

July

Jul4

Summer time and the livin’ is…… Darned HOT! We actually hit 102 a couple days ago. I don’t remember ever seeing that up here. We have had 100 a c0uple times but never above it. And now tho it is cooler today (94) I’m hearing thunder rolling in the not too far distance. Keep your fingers X-ed that it’s also wet. Chances for that not great, tho, I’m afraid.

But the garden is lovin’ it!

My Sweet potato experiment. Dunno if I’ll get any spuds but the plants are doing fine. I keep them under this hood for the extra warmth. Keep your fingers X-ed for us!

The squashes are also doing fine.

And there’s tomatoes getting nicely fat.

The rest is looking good, too, from the cabbages and chard to the gloriosa’s and the bee balm which the hummers just love!

I do have weaving projects going but they are all big ones and going are to take awhile.

Hope you’re having a fun and safe and not too hot 4th!

Our Summer Trip

Jun23

We’re home again. Two weeks on the road is at least a week too much! lol We had a great time and met lots of people and made some new weavers and increased the stash for some others. Here’s one weaver who brought her project to BSG to share. Love that! Also the one from last year at OFFF. Pat Cane does some extra by weaving in strands of the opposite colors to blend her triangles very cleverly together. Isn’t it lovely?! I love seeing the projects you all weave!

I made a new doll dress with squares I wove demoing the looms here at the show, too. And met another Dolly weaver who bought my pattern book. Nanette has promised to share when she gets something made for her Granddaughter! Here’s mine.

But besides the two shows, Big Sky Fiber Festival in Hamilton. Montana and Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon, we visited the country along the way. I have so many pictures I could not possibly share them all but here’s a few. What a beautiful country we live in!

On our way up we stopped at an alkali lake in Eastern Oregon. A “rain” storm and a sunset.

Then we picnicked on top of the world in Montana.

On the way back we camped in a great park on a lake near Sandpoint, Idaho.

And I almost got a photo of the paddle wheeler on the Columbia Gorge coming home, on the border of Oregon and Washington. We were in Oregon, looking back at Washington across the way. I took this out the truck window across the railroad tracks.

We had a great trip but, as always are glad to be home. the garden has gone wild with summer coming on so will have some catching up to do there and are working hard to get orders shipped out as well. Randy has looms to make and contractor jobs to do as well. But we’re home now until September…

Hope your summer is filled with fun and not too hot!

Getting ready

May18

We’ll be leaving for Nampa, Idaho on Friday so are busy getting thing organized. If you pardon my using that word in is loosest sense! Well, Himself is Organized. I’m just hoping for the best, organization not being one of my strongest traits. But I am making lists.

Meantime, I have had interest in the Baby Wolf but no one so far has claimed it. We will not load it up unless someone asks us to bring it along.

And we’re getting the garden in while it is rainy and a little cooler, giving things a good start. I’m trying some Alaskan corn this year. We never get a good corn crop as it just is not warm enough here but this one claims it likes it a bit cooler. It seems to be doing well so far! X your fingers for it!

Corn

And the roses are as lush and beautiful as ever! My deck looks like there’s been a wedding with all the petals there!

If you get a chance to come to Fiber Train in Nampa, I do hope you’ll come by and see us. This is our first year there with the looms and we are looking forward to visiting this historical city.

Baby Wolf Loom for Sale

May8

The baby has gone to a new home where I hope everyone will be happy and useful!

I am having to admit I am never going to have time to use this loom again. Himself claimed he wanted to learn, but he also did not get to it in the last year so it’s going to have to find a new home. I have used it for several projects and it did a fine job and was fun to weave on. I bought it without accessories but will include these things with the loom. I bought all this (pictured) extra so you will be getting a deal. If you have any doubts, price them yourself. Also, if you are in need of them, I have learning to weave books I can send along.

We are quite a bit out of the way for most people so I am listing the shows we will be visiting this summer. If you are interested in the loom you can contact us and we will deliver it to any of these places, hopefully one will be handy for you.

Nampa, ID in May

Hamilton, MT & Eugene, OR in June

Arcata & Boonville, CA and Canby, OR in Sept. We are occasionally in Medford OR throughout the year also.

Okay, the loom: If you are interested I will try to find space to get the loom open and take more pictures.

Four Harness Baby Wolf (New sells for $1799 -2300) I want $1000 for everything but am willing to deal.

Brand new never been used lease sticks and raddle. I paid $120 for the raddle.

Boat shuttles, stick shuttles, some extra heddles, lots of bobbins. Boat shuttles run around $40 depending on size and brand. Sticks around $10 each. Mine are used but not very much. Lots of bobbins.

Several years worth of HandWoven magazine if you want them. Plenty of projects to keep you busy for years.

Spring

May8

It’s the 8th of May and the roses are in full bloom. Definitely an early spring. A little cool this week and windy but still getting a lot of gardening done. My Alaskan corn is up and growing. this is going to be an interesting experiment. It is a small corn designed to grow in adverse conditions. I think the weather this year qualifies for that! But I thought that if it is successful in Alaska it ought to produce a couple ears down here. X your fingers!

Meantime,. I have not made any progress on the demo vest. I am thinking I may just give up and do the cut and sew. At least I’d have a vest I could wear. I don’t suppose everything has to be a big challenge, some thing can just be easy, huh? And I got out my bag of squares which I think are wool or silk or…? I’

ve forgotten, only that they are not likely to be machine washable. I am putting a couple things though the gentle cycle this morning and am adding one each of these blocks just to determine what will happen. If they dont’ entirely ruin, I will go from there. I am thinking another vest. This one ought to be lighter weight, tho, more fit for cool summer mornings and evenings.

Meantime back to spring… the rhubarb is also ready! I’m not a fan of strawberries with it but I made it half and half with a couple sweet apples and it is just yummy! Tamed the Rhubarb a bit and gave the apples a little jazz. We’ve made big holes in two pies so far and I have the makin’s for a 3rd! I think I’ll wait until next week with that one as sis is planning a trip down.

Disappointment…!

Apr25

The vest was looking good! Unfortunately it turned out that I hadn’t checked the pattern, just assumed that because it was in with mine that it fit me. I don’t often have things turn out too big but this time is was waaay too big. I am trying to downsize it but it’s not going well so far. Sis suggested I finished it as is and sell it to someone of more ample proportions than me, but I wanted it myself! boohoo! Well, we’ll see. I may yet be able to make it work.

On a role!

Apr20

I was hunting something in Le Shed and found a box of demo shapes woven at fiber fairs and am putting them to work. Got out a sewing pattern for a vest and started putting shapes together. Not exactly free form but at least random. It will be another colorful bit of clothing. Got both fronts mostly together and will start on the back this afternoon. Goes pretty fast since the weaving has already been done, just a matter of laying it out. I think this time I’ll just crochet in whatever little missing bits I might need.

But first I have some shop work to take care of as someone is waiting for their looms. Go get out your UFO’s and start putting something together!

Done

Apr13

The Neon shirt is finished. I sewed the patched together and then pinned and sewed them to the shirt. Like a big applique. Then I cut out the neckline and hemmed it. Is this a kind of vest look? Maybe if it was longer, but in any case I wanted the neckline just a tince higher than the patches would be. It’s been washed and held up well.

Next project.

Apr11

Got this Tee at a fair last year, forgot which. Did not work with the yarn I had in mind so am now using this neon Simply Soft acrylic to weave on the Tiny Weaver square. It’ll be another yoke for a top. Has to be machine washable for me. I think it’s going to work. I wove the blocks and am now working a single crochet around each one. I think I will then just sew them together with an overhand stitch. Not exactly camo, huh?! Much as i enjoyed the natural covers of my last project, I thought it was time for something Bright!

Hazel Rose

My Life in the Country

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