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Sept-Trying again..

Sep28

Maybe  the internet and I will get along better today. You think?! Doc says, Yes I did break my finger. He gave me a new splint and congratulated Randy on his. He also said I’ll need to wear this thing for a month!! Trying to make apple sauce today. I can halve them with the cutting board and big knife but coring realty puts a strain on that finger so Himself will have to take over that slot for the time.  But I’ve got the first pot cooking. The Squeezo wall take care of the clean cores.

I spent most of yesterday in town what with Doctor, Chores for Himself, and my own list. Traffic was horrible, with fire hold-ups still north of town and Weaverville’s first traffic light being installed on the other end of town. Took forever to get from place to place so I didn’t get anything done on the shirt yoke.

But we got a lovely cool wet rain! It was so relaxing that I didn’t mind sitting at two road work stops on the way to and from town, just relaxing with the cool and wet and dim landscape. It was great. And hopefully did some damage to the remaining fires as well.

I’ve made and modified the pot holder. Have two more made and one test woven. It’s a light commercial “worsted” woven on the 5″ Quilt Weaver Square. So a test for both yarn and loom size. The dark on on the left is the first one I made using the 7″ and it was a little too long. I rewashed it to felt it a bit tighter and then cut it off shorter. The red one and the one on the skillet handle are both handspun felted max. You can see the pot with the apples there on the left, too.

But now I think it’s time for some lunch and by then the apples may be ready for the next step. Hope your day is moving along smoothly!

Weaving a Pot holder

Sep4

Okay, finally here’s some weaving content! When packing up the kitchen in case of evacuation I used all my potholders as packing material between breakables. Clever, huh? Yes, but I still have to cook meantime! The too thin commercial pot holder that was left  is cute but I may as well use my barehand and burn scars are not cute! I I dug out some yarns and the 3.5×7″ Quilt Weaver rectangle and wove a few. Two are Brown Sheep’s Lamb’s Pride 80% wool, 20% mohair and a skein of my own handspun, unlabeled, of course. That’s how I know it’s mine. Rosy, my spinning sister, labels hers with fiber type and yardage. Anyway, I wove two of each yarn and felted them in the washer with some bath mats. Not a good choice by the way as they incorporated  a nice bit of white fuzz onto my blocks. But as I am not after pretty with this project I didn’t let that stop me, just something to keep in mind!

So now I see that the Brown Sheep felted up nice and tight, the hand spun less so but still good. I decided that the Brown Sheep were going to be a little too small for my project and that both were still a little thinner than I wanted for a pot holder. So I sewed the smaller ones to the larger to make my holder a double thickness. Then I used a blanket stitch to sew the two pads together.

Those of you who use the original non-stick (cast iron) skillets know how hot that handle can get but I think I’ve fixed that now! I’ll tell you after breakfast tomorrow!

It’s not pretty or cute but it looks like doing what I need. It ought to be pretty fire proof too, so hopefully I won’t set the kitchen on fire! However, I think I’ll make another and make it just a bit shorter. And maybe this time I’ll go for cute as well as safety!

 

I think September is the start of Fall…?

Sep1

At least I hope so. The Weather Wizards have been speculating on La Nina, telling us we may get a colder and wetter winter this year. What a wonderful thing that would be. I’m afraid to believe it, tho because if they are wrong it is going to be just too disappointing! Anyone who has been watching the goings on out in the US west know we are drying up and burning up. Here in Coffee Creek we are under Evacuation Warning and the fire is creeping closer. We have the trailer parked in the driveway and are loading what we want to save. Have you ever had to make decisions on what you want and what you have room for? Then you know what it’s like around here these days. Not only that but we don’t know we are going to have to leave so meantime we have to go about our lives. There  are still looms to make, the garden to tend and veggies to can, he has unfinished jobs… It’s hard to pack what we need to take if we have to leave when meantime we have to live here and need those things for that! If you can figure that out!

Space station photo. I tried to mark the fires for those in the area. Not guaranteed, tho.

Here’s a picture of the fires on Aug 2 from the space station. That was before the Haypress fire (ours) got over the hill and down into Coffee Creek drainage. Since that time it’s been creeping down toward us. The canyon is filled with smoke from it and from the rest of the fires in N CA. But the fire people tell us that’s a good thing as it keeps the fires down, less oxygen for them. Also for us! But I don’t think we’re going to be able to count on La Nina to arrive in time to save us so we’re just going to have to count on the fire crews and our own resources. And your good thoughts or prayers!

But meantime…

Bread and Butter pickles from the basket of cukes.

Looking up at a Tall sunflower!

Meantime since I was disturbing the dust I decided to run all these dust collectors through the dishwasher. My, they are shiny!

He mulched the potatoes with straw and now we have a crop of wheat! I can make potato bread! ;-D

Himself thinks these old games are worth a lot of money to game collectors, but I think those guys want unopened new “old”
games and mine have a lot of miles on them! I played and so did every kid that came around. It was fun but I expect I’d get Zelda slaughtered these days. If I could figure out how to hook it up to the modern TV. But it just goes to show what you can find when you start digging out dusty corners. I didn’t find my wedding rings, tho. 😦

Is it history?

Weaving content is still missing for the same reason. But there will be projects in a couple of Little Looms magazines next year so is that something to look forward too?! I hope!

Meantime get out your dancing shoes and give us a rain dance or two!

The neighbor brought her kids over for lunch.

 

 

If you smell smoke it must be summer….

Aug12

It’s another hot summer in California. No- in the western US! So far we’ve been lucky in our part but it’s getting closer and we’re not having fun. The Summer Fire, part of the River Complex, is now on our side of the mountain. There are towns on both sides of us being evacuated or burnt so we’re still luckier than some, but it’s getting hard to breath and we are starting to pack up the important stuff we need to have if/when we also have to go elsewhere. We, at least, have the 5th wheel so will have a place to live in that case, again luckier than some.

Western US

Coffee Creek is in the square, the little hand points to the area where the fire is edging down toward the Coffee Creek drainage and our way. Just now it’s about 14 road miles and moving, they tell us, slowly downhill.

Meantime, life goes on as well as we can manage. I’ve closed up the house now, the smoke is starting to settle in & they are predicting thunder storms this afternoon, not what any of us want to hear. This time of year it rarely comes with rain. 

He’s about got a handle on the water system so we do now have water for domestic use. We water the garden with a pump in the creek, being lucky enough to live near that resource. And the garden is producing. We didn’t plant a lot this spring, not being sure if we would be able to water it. But I have been canning beans and drying various veggies as they ripen for my winter soup mix: peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, whatever crosses my path really! And yesterday I made peach jam, have more of that to do, maybe later today. Meantime, I wanted to post here and then I have to get out to the shop and finish looms. 

Blackberry puree via the Squeezo! Love that machine!

Where’s the weaving content? Well, the only weaving I’ve gotten done this month has gone off the Little Looms magazine and I can’t show you that yet! But when I catch up on my chores I’ll find some to  share!

June- It’s summer fur shure!

Jun4

We’ve managed 103 already, but it’s going down again. Just 94 today as a high. Well, I like summer but I’d prefer a more moderate  kind. And add to that, we’re short water. The springs that supple the water company are not producing as they should. It’s going to take some work and, of course, some money. Haven’t run out yet but we’re all conserving like heck. I had to run the dishwasher yesterday. Even having rinsed everything, the kitchen was starting to get … Well, less that fragrent! And we were out of forks. I used paper plates that we had but really, it only saves two dinner plates, pots and pans and all the rest still have to be used. But with the heat I’ve been going to meals that don’t require much cooking and no oven & that’s helped a bit, too. Got the Air Fryer out to bake the potatoes for last night’s stuffed ‘taters. I put it away this winter as it takes up most of my available counter space and the oven works just as well when it’s cold outside.

The only weaving I’m doing is for the magazine submissions. It’s just too hot for yarning. But I’ll take another look at projects and find something to share. I may get inspired!  I found one little thing that could be of help with a project. If you need to weave a strap and don’t have an inkle or some kind of starp weaving loom you can use your square! I’ve done this a couple times. The last time I got one that’s 65 inches long. I wove it on the 12″ square. I cut my warp and rolled it up in Butterflies. Then warped the loom by tying it at top and using double half hitches at the bottom.  Once I wove as much as I could, I undid the half hitches (one at a time) and slid the whole thing up, putting the end of the weaving just outside the top nails to hold it in place. Then re-hitched the half hitches at the bottom.  Just keep moving it up like this until you have woven the length of your warp! Eaiser than it sounds! lol

 

We’ve been lugging water to the garden in buckets, but he fimally got the pump in the creek so we should be able to eliminate that job. I was reluctant to plant without it and have not got much planted. Don’t want to watch them dry up a the summer goes on. But I found I not only still have these big red poppies in the side garden but they have actually seeded a few more!

And the roses that have always (knock knoco) bloomed profusly are doing a great job this year as well. BUT… I just vacuumed, which I pretty much have to do daily, as my carpet looks almost like the deck looks under them! Himself has never figured out that walking over the door mat does not wipe his feet! It will look like a wedding out there for at least half of June!

The only other thing going on is the ubiquitous diet. I’ve managed to gain back most of the last 10 I lost this spring. I could claim it’s muscle from my workouts but my clothes tell me different!   Sis amd I had a conversation about Addictions.

Yes, and in my opinion sugar is more addicting that heroin, at least it is for me.  And much easier to get as well!  
Yeah, Good point. I would not have any idea how to find that or be able to afford it, either. No problem with sugar. Maybe the feds ought to add it to the list! Can you see them going after C&H? lol Hershey bars being peddled on dark street corners & school grounds! A dealer standing outside the WW & Tops meetings. Boggles!

It does boggle but it’s really is a hard addiction to shake. I guess I’m goiong to have to go back to salads only. Seems to be the only way I can keep losing. And I got so close to my goal. Well, my first goal, I still have more to go. Always something to look forward to, huh?!

Have a great day!

Weaving pictures

May24

My kitchen curtains. I’ve been asked about them and it seemed like a good thing to talk about.

 

I was inspired by an article in Hand Woven magazine, I’ll have to try to find that as I can’t  remember off hand. It was about weaving pictures into your weaving. I wove the squares using the 10.5″ Quilt Weaver and some fingering weight yarn. That gave me an open kind of grid.

I guess the next step was finding and charting the pictures I wanted. I have an old wood bread box and a couple of wooden hamburger presses, that have chickens painted on them. I have a collection of chickens- glass and ceramic- in shelves so went with chickens.

So I made cartoons using these painted chickens as a source.

I can’t seem to find the sketches for the hen and chick cartoons. I did make a cartoon, for the hen at least, I just made up the chicks and eggs.   But then I pinned the cartoon under the square and started weaving though the grid.

At that point, I decided that they needed a bit more. More definition, I suppose, so I did a little embroidery, too. This looks kind of rough close up but looks fine hanging in the kitchen window, (She said, patting herself on the back!)

So then all that was left was doing the rest of the panels and fitting it to the window which required a couple of blank squares.

What you do next would be a personal choice. You need a way to hang it. You can weave a pocket for threading the curtain rod, you could use clips, keeping in mind that it will stretch and sag between clips. You could use a commercial fabric bias tape for the rod pocket. I chose to use the previous valance as it was already on the rod, so the woven panels were just added below that pocket. I put the hen between the chicks and the fighting roosters when I assembled the squares. You know- Mommy protecting the kiddies.

But however you do it, let your imagination have a go.  You might want to try using one of the larger Multi looms to weave your grid. It would give you a finer set, your curtain would probably be denser but you could also weave more detail into your pictures. You could opt for x-stitch for this, too. I only have three other curtains in my house. The bathroom curtain is purely decorative as the glass is not clear. I had a collection of shell necklaces. So I strung them on a rod and used that for the bathroom. A commercial lace valance in a window that faces the driveway in the LR and a blackout curtain in the bedroom to deal with the neighbors porch lights are the other two. I could make my own for the LR. I may even do that and use the Multi to try out my ideas.

I have a couple more kitchen projects first, however.

 

Just some thoughts about…

May21

…how one might go about designing a project. I found a photo in my files, from a – is it called a boardwalk? Walkway? Anyway, something with walk in it, where designers show off their lastest ridiculous creations. This one is made up of diamonds and I think may have potential for something a person could actually wear. The hem could be left with the short flippy diamonds as I sketched in the left photo or cut flat into a normal hem. The diamonds are a little bit of fun. I didn’t much care for the flappy things on the bottom or the heavy cloggy shoes. I think she’s wearing a scarf with it, which could work but would not be necessary. Of course that may be the neck line/collar.

The next step would be deciding what size loom & yarn to use and then how many diamonds would you have to weave. I’d probably go wth the 7″ at first. The smaller one might actually be better for fitting but that would mean weaving a lot more of them! A light yarn, washable since it looks like a summer dress. Actually you could go thought your stash and use a variety of yarns, just keeping the washability the same. That would give it the feel of this designer dress in assorted prints. You could play with textures as well.

After that I’d do what I always do for clothing. Find my sewing pattern, the one that fits me and use it as a guide. I’m going to have to play with this! Not sure I have the figure for this sort of dress but on the other hand it could make a nice tunic as well.

What do you think?

      

I made this blouse, which was quite popular but sizing is tricky with the bigger looms. That’s where the smaller ones come in handy. I tried this with the Tumbling Block but, tho I got a fit, it was rather short and blocky. Not the same look at all. I tacked that antique collar on as it was kind of a dull color I thought it might add a bit of interest. By the way, that’s not a stain, that’s my shadow taking the photo. Do I pay attention to detail?! lol

This sketch has no figure shaping. I would be relying on the elasticity of the fabric for that, which could be a mistake! The first one also has a low neckline so the other one would be more like the original. The neckline could be easily adjusted, tho. Just some playing around. The arm skye on that 2nd one did not quite work out. ;-D

Some thoughts about weaving…

May17

Yes, really!  I discovered there are some weaving things I can talk about. Take this loom, for instance. I had Himself make this one last year, just for curiosity’s sake. It’s a 12 in Multi, but in Quilt Weaver set and nails. I used it to weave a bunch of different bulky Yarns. Here’s a photo of the loom and the pieces I wove on it. I have yet to do anything with them but it will likely end up as an afghan type project. They are woven just like the Multi’s. The only down side, I guess you could say, is that you either drag a loooong bit of yarn to weave though or you have at least one set of ends to weave in if you use a shorter bit to make it easier to weave. It didn’t turn out to be a really big problem either way, and your choice will depend on the yarn you’re using or personal preference. No, it’s not on the web site but if you think you want one, just ask and he’ll make you one.

 

Bulky Multi

I’ll do some exploring and find more weaving things to talk about. If you have any ideas, add them in the comments or send me an email! I need  help! lol

 

Is it spring or is it summer?

May16

Well, It’s May but it’s warm, some say hot, and sunny.  Flowers are blooming like it’s their last chance! I hope they are wrong about that! We did have a little thunder storm yesterday. Right over head so rather startling! We even got a bit of rain, not enough but it was wet. I heard they got a small fire in southern Trinity. 

It has been a gorgeous spring. The State Of California says the whole state is Officially in a drought condition. That’s not good, but comes as no surprise. I have no weaving to share because tho I have been busy at it, what I am working on is for the magazine submissions which I’m not suppose to share just yet. But if you get a chance to see the Spring Little Looms magazine you can find my last project in there. The editor suggested it and I managed to get it done.

But I have some pretty pictures to share, the iris are doing a fabulous job this year! And a couple of peonies, a dark fuchsia tree peony and a single with a visitor! Hope you are having a lovely spring, too!

          

 

 

Trying again…

May6

Not only am I not techy, I think I have the Anti-techy gene! But I’ll keep trying! I think I have figured out how to do this… maybe.

It’s springtime so we are doing all those springtime things, garden, cabin, jobs for Himself, garden, project writing for me, spring cleaning, garden… lol You know how it goes! I have several projects going on the looms and am trying to Organize, Wow! That’s a huge word for me. Always has been but even more so these days. I just find that I really don’t want to, I just want it to all go away and leave me alone! I guess most of you can understand these days. Mostly I’m okay as long as there is no deadlines. You’d think that at my age the only deadlines I’d have would be those I give myself but that hasn’t worked out for me for some reason. Probably goes back to that word- Organize. Should have taken care of that a couple decades ago. Ah well… Time to quit bitchin’ and get on with it.

Garden seems to have come up most in the above list. Climate and weather warming up early so naturally the gardening bug hits. Still too early tho for most things. Got peas growing- slowly it seems to me. If they don’t hurry they’ll get caught in the big heat before they’re ready. And the tomato plants are outgrowing their temp pots before it’s time for them to go in the ground. I think that’s going to be next week- ready or not!

The iris are blooming up a storm now. These were the first ones but there’s more colors now and the morels below were a bit of a surprise! I think I counted about 26 of them in the lawn. I don’t plan on cutting them. They’re welcomed to do their thing. Everything seems to be blooming  very abundantly this year even tho we are in a drought, the state tells us. I guess fire weather has already impacted some parts. It’ll be here soon, too. Meantime yard and woods are all blooming and lovely.

Weaving is making progress, too. Have several projects done or in the works for publishing and have started swatching for my cardigan.  I have a bunch of nice wool, I’ve knit and frogged a couple cardigans already and am now determined to weave another one like my raggedy orange one. I over fulled (felted!) my 2nd swatch. Too much time elapsed after the first one so didn’t remember what I’d done to get that one perfect. Got another square woven so will try again today. Once I get that right I can get an estimate of how many squares I’m going to need. I still have another knit sweater I can frog if I need more yarn.

Been playing with pattern stitches for the Quilt Weavers. It is more difficult to get them for that loom than for the Multi for a couple reasons. One- it is woven diagonally and it is a much larger/wider set. The diagonal edge needs special attention so that it stays woven to make a selvage edge.  That leaves less room in the center for the arty work.  And a lot of stitches are lacy which makes the sett even more important. Too loose and you have no definition, it just looks a jumble. Too tight and the opposite makes your lace disappear, makes it look solid. And the tightness is partly the yarn you use as well as your tension and stitch. Does that help make it plain? lol

Here’s a couple. Lacy but not very stable. Both using a heavy yarn. They’d very likely be more stable once stitched together, but both need some work.  My cardigan uses a  simpler pattern. More a texture stitch than a lace.

The right is the fulled one, the other woven of frogged knit yarn, unblocked. I’m going to try machine fulling it as I think that’s what I did to that first one. Should have taken notes, hummm?

Well, I think that’s enough for today I need to get some work done. Have a lovely day!