Friday, June 22, 2012

Bringing in the Sheaves

On a scale of one to ten, this has been a solid eight in the busy category. New glasses, new hair cut, paragliding nationals, crazy weather and most importantly, a barn full of this years hay bounty. Instead of turning straw into gold, we turn gold into straw it would seem....



After two years of courting, I am finally on a custom hayers list. It means a lot to me too. The wait was worth it. The hay is beautiful, it rivals anything I have ever gotten in the 8 something years I have been buying hay.



 And the price was pretty darn good too. It has come from cutting to my barn in less than two weeks and has been hoover approved. Yeah!

On a side note, the same day the hay came, Robin again ripped the toe of woe nail off.
Gene picked up antibiotics, I have painkillers on hand for canine emergencies and surprisingly, after the hanging toenail came off, (other than tenderness being handled), Robin is racing around here like his usual self. It's going to be a problem though. From the original damage to the area it doesn't grow a sound nail. The toe will be removed. We were going to do it this coming Monday, but since he is moving well, swelling is minimum and no sign of infection, we're going to delay until a little later in the summer.

Now I haven't been weaving this week much but another weaver ( my Dad) has finished up a beautiful piece of weaving and I'll share it with you.



 I think the eggplant and silver is such an elegant combination.



On the sewing front, I've had a lot of fun taking a pretty plain Jane type of pattern and turning into something special. Simplicity 2191 started out as this



and went through three incarnations.

One:


Two:






Three: (apologies for the wrinkles, this had already hit the hamper when I realized I had no finished pics.)






The back stripe was a happy accident. I grabbed a piece of fabric for the front snapped stripe and then discovered I had grabbed my back piece. Head slap! But I managed to fix it all and even like it better as a design element.  I still have more I want to do with this pattern since it's turning into such a nice, well fitting base for all sorts of creative ideas.

Parting shot: Handsome Nick

12 comments:

Valerie said...

Well....gold into straw, and straw into...poop? :^)

Love the tops...you can sure riff on a theme!

Your Dad's scarf is lovely...can't go wrong with pinwheels.

Mary said...

Hay, weaving, one pattern/many looks, dogs and horses--->it's a full post. I like the last tunic top with the hanging pocket, as well as everything else. And what a gorgeous gelding!

prttynpnk said...

Now which top was for the paragliding Nationals? They are all adorable.

Judy said...

Congrats on your finding a good source for your hay. Tell your Dad that his weaving is wonderful. That's such a striking pattern and his yarn choice is a great one.

Theresa said...

Valerie, yes, straw into poop, lots of poop, but then again, it started out as lots of $. ;)

Mary, it is a full post isn't it. The detachable pocket thing is my latest favorite. Heck, get enough of them and I can mix and match between shirts! Now there would be a look. Nick is a handsome boy, and sweet too.
You'll get a peek at him when you come for a ride...soon!

Prrtynpink, I didn't get to go to the Nationals but DH did and got some flying time in. Someone has to be home to cater to the crew. Thank you on the tops.

Judy, I will pass your compliments along. It is a handsome piece of weaving and he does a fine job of fringe finishing

LA said...

I jotted down that pattern number...it looks like a keeper! I just love the look of all that hay stacked up in the shed...brings back lots of memories from my childhood!!!

mrsmole said...

Wow...a weaving dad! How cool is that? The only weaving dads I have known were ones who stood around a keg too long refilling their glasses.
Can you explain to a city girl the difference between straw and hay? Love the variety of tops and creative thinking and execution!

Theresa said...

mrsmole. It is pretty cool to have another weaver in the family!
Why yes, I can explain the difference between hay and straw. Hay is a grass, harvested for itself, straw is a stemmy by product of a grain field.
It's the wheat/oat/barley etc, stalk/stubble left after you have harvested
what you wanted.

LA, the pattern is a nice one. It also provides multiple cup sizes A-D making fitting a much easier process. Gotta love those princess seams.
The smell of the hay is wonderful too, at least in it's present form!

Long Ridge Farm said...

There is sweet comfort in both a barn filling/full of hay as well as good producers. We are blessed to have two awesome producers here. I love to see the sheep dig into a good bale. Silence other than the smacking of lips!
Pretty cool to have a Dad that weaves and well!

Leigh said...

Don't you just love it when a problem gives birth to true inspiration. I love it. I think all that hay looks mighty good too.

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

There's nothing like the sweet smell of freshly cut hay. It seems that most of our local farmers bundle in the big circle form, probably for cattle.
The pattern in your Dad's weaving is fantastic.
And you are so busy with all that sewing.
Good luck with the doggie's nail...
Susan x

Shelly said...

Love the pinwheels!