2011 It's Not Just for Looms

In fact, I would bet all the weavers have other fiber pursuits besides weaving, like spinning, knitting, crochet or sewing! I know I do. So weight in, what other fibery pursuits do you have or want to have in the new year?

Here is my inventory of fiber tool goodness (madness?) going into 2011.

Four working sewing machines, three of which are Singer's. The 401A, the new little Featherweight and a give-away, a vintage 1970's Genie complete with mod flower decals. Who didn't want one of these as a teenager in the early 70's?

The last is my Bernina, the go to machine for fine or knit fabrics and fun decorative stitches. I have renewed my love affair with this machine after the slip cover sewing incident. The Morse 4400 Fotomatic is not pictured here because it is not in working condition. The foot pedal is downright scary electrically and a new one needs to be ordered before that baby can be up and running.

A most useful White serger. Those stickies identifying the thread number and path have been a godsend. My Dad put them on when he adjusted it and I've kept them in place.

The spinning wheels are a herd of two, the little Schacht Ladybug

and the Timbertops Leicester wheel.

Both wonderful spinners, although there may be changes in the line-up in 2011.

In farm news, the snow has been pushed aside and while we have a lot of it, getting around the farm has improved. Good thing too since Bob the Tractor is laid up in the barn waiting on a new water pump. Gene has been staging two bales by the gate every day for me with his pick-up. The water pump can't get here fast enough!

Other than that it's been pretty low key. I would like to say I have been a whirlwind on the fiber front but the truth is we both have been sick with flu and colds. Gene is feeling a bit better but the head cold that came to me also brought a case of pink eye and it's been downright miserable.

Since I haven't been taking any pics the last few days, I'll leave you with this parting shot: Jack, waiting for the "helper" to finish up so he can get weaving.

One Good Green Deserves Another

Some of you may remember the painting of the bathroom last fall. Now green is my favorite color and I fell in love with it all over again doing that bathroom. Over our long winter of mud I craved it. I bought green cups, green fabrics and yarns showed up. Certainly green clothing is always coveted. So it was no surprise to anyone when I whispered in the dark one night that I think I should repaint the bedroom green. Gene only half heartedly mentioned I just repainted the bedroom last year. He knew there was no stopping this freight train. The paint chips and samples arrived in short order, the gallons followed and then my trip back east. But as soon as the house was in order he knew it was coming. I had been assembling brushes and rollers. I told him I was going to do it in one day, a marathon painting session and that's what I did. It started at 6:30 in the morning and ended when my dear husband pried the roller from my hand at about 7:00 in the evening. While he didn't paint, he did all of the clean up.

So, without further ado I give you the green room.

While it was sunny yesterday it was cold and windy as I put pictures up and got everything back in order.

This cabinet is French and mid 18th century. Made of Pear wood, it is well over 8 feet tall. All my bedroom linens are in it. The triple walled stove pipe runs up through the corner of the bedroom. The little Morso Squirrel stove use to be in this room, but it heated us out, so we dropped it down a floor into the living room.

The Ladybug spinning wheel has been getting some use. The cushioned bench works perfectly here and is just the right height for this wheel. The dogs love having that little hidey hole in it. Fabrics are in the two side cabinets.

The sewing center is small but adequate for my needs these days. I'd like to put a shelf above the serger area.

I'll close this post with the Cheddar Cheese biscuit recipe since a number of you asked.

Here goes!

1/3 C butter

2 1/4 C all purpose flour

1 1/2 C shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I've been known to add a bit more)

1 Tblsp sugar

1 Tblsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 C milk

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9 inch square baking pan melt butter in oven (3-5 minutes). Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine all ingredients except milk. Stir in milk just until moistened. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface: knead 10 times or until smooth. Pat or roll dough into a 12x6 in rectangle. Cut into 12 (1 inch) strips. Dip each strip into the melted butter in the pan, fold in half and place strips in two rows in the same pan. Bake 20-25 minutes until lightly browned. Eat warm