BLUE TOE SPINNER

It's been nearly two months since my last post.  I haven't done anything fiber related, except thinking about it.  I haven't been to any weaving or spinning guild meetings.  I didn't even participate in Dye Exchange this year.  I didn't have the energy to get it done.  I did go to Three Wishes and buy some yarn, but it is still sitting in the bag. Is it me or does anyone else ever wonder what their legacy will be.  I sometimes wonder if I am making good use of my time when I spin or knit or weave.  How am I benefiting the world by creating pretty things.  I have been overwhelmed by the happening around the world.  Japan, Libya and such.  I can't do anything personally to help these situations, and it make me feel as though I'm unsympathetic, useless and unfeeling.  But, then I think of cultures that struggle to every day just to live and make ends meet, yet in their spare time they use their hands to create beautiful textile works...

This was my final project for my beginning weaving class.  It was woven with sock yarn as the warp and cotton boucle for the weft.  I learned that I didn't get the warp tight enough, so the middle of the scarf sags.  So, I learned about the importance of a tight uniform warp.  But, I still really like the scarf.  Then, I twisted the fringe.  It is very fun to wear.

Merry Christmas to all and remember the reason for the season.  Call your parents and/or children or other people you love who tolerate you and your quirkiness.

Last night's Woolpack meeting we had a discussion about how to spin "fat" again after we have learned to spin "thin".  These as some of the tips I thought were useful. Switch hands to spin, (if you draft with your right try drafting with your left). Increase the whorl size on your wheel. Spin from batts instead of roving. Don't draft at all with your second hand. Concentrate. The down side to spinning "fat" is you don't get as much yardage from your fiber, so you may need to buy extra fiber for a project.  Oh, darn.... For show and tell, I showed them my new books. Vampire Knits A Sorcerer's Cookbook Learning to Weave The Handweaver's Pattern Directory After class Bakti showed me her current weaving project.  A room full of looms...what's not to love!  It was a fun evening.

I only have one more weaving class with Deanna at Three Wishes, then I will be turned out on my own.  I will need to have some place to keep learning.  So, I joined the Weaver's Guild on Thursday.  Kathrin Webb was the guest speaker.  Beautiful weaving and dyeing and a really fun presentation.  I hope I will be able to keep learning and keep having fun.  Here is what I have done so far. This is the first project.  Guess what I discovered when I washed it.  Yes, that mystery yarn was wool., and it did a little shrinky-dink thing.  Oh, well it is still interesting looking and I have to keep it because it was my first project.  This is the second project.  Very fun and I think very pretty.  Here is the other end.  I warped it all by myself.  I am iching to start a project on my own loom, and I will be able to soon because I got new cables for it.  The leather ones are shot.  And I should be getting...

I've been taking "Beginning Weaving" from Deanna at Three Wishes .  After 3 lessons I have produced my first sampler.  It's a little rough, but I learned alot.  And that is what I am trying to do, is learn.  I was really worried about warping.  However, I found it quite fun! It hasn't been finished (wet finished).  I really enjoyed the color combo I used.  I have been inspired to produce something to honor weavers.... ...... ENJOY!! 

Great Basin Fiber Art Fair!!!  Utah State Fair!!  Yes, this is deep-fried chocolate covered bacon!!!  Yum-o!  Hand-made chips!!  Guild Demo Booth!  Fiber entries!!  My first eBay purchase from Sweden!!!  They sent it in a cheese box, isn't that a kick?!!! My Swedish bobbin winder.  Isn't it cute!!

This is my vacation week.  So far, Mumsy and I visited the grand babies, before they go to college.  (just kidding, they are 5 and 2 but it has been a while since we visited.) My honey and I have been working on the house, fixing gutters, swamp cooler, moving furniture, filing years of paperwork.  Fun stuff. We had puppy class this week, too.  Snowy is really doing well!! She sooo has the instructors goaded into thinking she is the perfect pup.  But, she is learning to obey better. I'm getting excited and ready for the Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair .  And the Utah State Fair is setting up, too.  I don't have anything to enter.  All I did this past year is the Retreat Exchange and it is in it's new home.  Every year I hope to have some thing to enter and every year slips away from me.  I will get it done next year.  I will have weaving to enter too. I PROMISE!!!!

Please don't forget to support the fiber arts, by participating and visiting the fairs. http://www.greatbasinfiberartsfair.org/ and http://www.utahstatefair.com/public_area/

I was so looking forward to Guild meeting. It was the meeting where I was going to thank the outgoing officers and welcome the new officers. In my haste to get the last minute stuff done...with an arm load of stuff...missed the bottom stair, twisted my foot and broke it. I tried to go but it was too painful to walk on so off to Instacare we went. I missed everything. The best part of being President is the retiring part. Dang it all!!

Thank you so much for all your kind comments and encouragement. I've been looking through the weaving book and magazines and I am pretty frighten by all there is to learn. But, it's a process right, everybody starts at the same point, right? Here is the fully spun and plyed fiber for Mumsy Retreat Exchange. I think it is pretty cool looking. I still hope nobody is peeking. Here is "daddy's" fan club.

Wonderful things can happen when you go to Three Wishes to borrow a ball winder, and take a super supportive husband, to whom you mentioned an interest in learning to weave. Then you find a beautiful but very lonely loom. This is the loom that wanted to go home with me. Mumsy was there for the whole process of adoption. It was a very special moment. I think Kristine was as excited as me. She was very cute. There it is at home in its soon to be craft room. Ted is investigating. According to the Harrisville website: The model 22/8 is designed for the weaver who wants the versatility of eight harnesses, and yet they are practical enough for sample work and experimentation. Today I learned what harnesses and reeds are. This loom uses "snap chains" and easily folds while fully warped. It has 10 treadles, about 600 wire heddles and castle height of 42 inches. Of course, I had to buy two "Handwoven" magazines and Deborah Chandler's Learning to Weave book, as...

This is the new pup we adopted in January 2010. She has been an active participant in all of my spinning and knit projects. She looks tiny, sweet and innocent... ...but she isn't tiny or innocent anymore!! But, she is terribly sweet. And very active.