Watch Out for that First Step

Nothing declares the start of a project like a big pile of scrap wood!  It's my favorite part.
It says "Holy crap, I guess we really have to do this now!" Oh wait, that's what GENE says. My comments usually sound like, "Are you done yet?" or "Seems simple enough to me!" Have I told you Gene has a fearsome scowl? But so do I! ;)



Right after this shot Gene started pulling the last stair riser away only to discover there was a wasps nest on the under side. We both split pretty darn quick. He went down the driveway, I popped back into the house. Minutes later we had a plan. He would use the crow bar to pull that riser out and I would hit them with wasp killer from the porch since it would be more exposed at my angle. Worked perfectly. Whew!!!



Now that the steps and the railings have been torn off,  the excavator can do it's job. Today it will be excavating the railroad tie steps (leading to the now imaginary porch steps), and dig all the holes for the footings, lots of footings. This will be a sizable front deck at 16 feet out from the house and 25 feet running the length of the front of the house. The long run of stairs leading up to the front porch will never be seen again. We are relocating any steps to the side of the deck were the land is less steep. For now we are using a ladder to get in and out of our front door. Soon we'll just have to use the back door as construction progresses.

The air is better but the fire is not. It's jumped from CA to OR in the Klamath Basin. A little rain would go a long way right now.

I'm going to miss most of the excitement with large equipment because I have to take Robin and Pogo to the vet. Robin is having his one year check up and booster shots and the evil Pogo is going to have his nails trimmed. He's really a nice little dog most of the time, but bring those clippers from the drawer and out pops the devil.

Not much time for any fibery stuff this week. I did spend hours on pocket design, cutting and lining for a pair of cargo pants for my Mom. In fact the two leg fronts are together, but it's time consuming. Every seam needs to be sewn, then serged, then top stitched twice. I don't do well with a double needle set up and find it easier to just do a second row of top stitching 1/4" from the first. I'm hoping to get them done and a few other projects worked on this weekend. No slacking on my deck supervisory position either.

Parting shot: The watcher at the window. Nice how we put those love seats just so small dogs could utilize the backs for viewing huh?

Bring on Fall

It would seem Samuel Adams Brewery and I are on the same time schedule. Thursday when I went shopping and wanted to grab my usual 6 pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale, the store had in Oktoberfest. I asked the guy stocking where the Summer Ale was and he said they are shipping fall beers now. I said, "Go outside and tell me if it feels like summer or fall?" It was mid 80's and rising. I came home with S.A. Boston Lager. And of course on Saturday, while I was diligently working on my fall to early winter jacket, the temps were hitting the highest they have been all year. We stopped at 96 up here at 4100' + elevation but the valley got their first taste of triple digits. It was hot. The sky at dawn was clear blue and the moon was stunning.



The Panasonic camera got some amazing detail on this shot. If the mood strikes, biggify it. But I bet you want to see that finished jacket? ;)

Here you go. Outside.









And inside.





The lining is generous as it should be. Nothing worse than having a tight lining that rips after one season due to stress. This one is cotton with a hint of Lycra for give. It feels smooth and light and stabilizes the loose weave of the jacket shell nicely.

I was going to enter this in Pattern Reviews Lined Jacket Contest just because I thought it was a nice example of what you can do with Simplicity 2153 and of course, the lining that was added to this unlined pattern. It was not to be though, the rules clearly state the jacket had to be cut out on or after the start date of 8/1/12. I cut this baby out in July. Life goes on and contest or not, I am looking forward to those crisp fall days when I can slip this on and get some miles out of it. It's hanging happily on a nice wood hanger at petting and admiring level in the wardrobe, waiting patiently for it's season.

Since it was so dang hot, things dropped down a notch, to slug speed. Dogs, cats, horses, donkeys and people where all just trying to stay cool. I was going to get Nick out for a ride, not knowing if it would be a little rodeo or just a ride. The minute I headed up to the paddock I knew it wasn't the day for it. Neither one of us would enjoy it and while it might have taken any spunk out of him to ride in this heat, it would to me too. I'd rather us have a spirited fun ride instead of a slow miserable one.

I did get my rodeo moment though. I took pity on the donkeys being bothered by flies and decided to give them all a little squirt with the fly spray. OH MY! There was a lot of protest on the end of that lead rope. I can see baths are going to challenging at best. Dandy may seem good by comparison!

Yesterday I noticed (finally I guess), a big wasp/yellow jacket nest growing on the corner of my barn under the eaves. This morning, in the almost dark after feeding and armed with a long shooting can of hornet and wasp spray, I took care of that nasty business. Thankfully it is outside the barn not inside near the hay. It was located hanging high directly over one of the tie areas for the horses. Those wasps just get crazy around late August/early September. I'll be adding some yellow jacket traps around the property this year too as it seems a banner year for them. Don't bugs feel the heat? Seems the hotter it gets the more active they get.

Parting shot: Stella, cool, calm and photogenic as always.

Two Feet High and Rising

Finally, a real honest to god winter storm. This is what we usually get in early January.

Talk about a delay! The forecasters were spot on with it too. The flurries started yesterday afternoon right around 3:00p.m. The wind gusts were hitting close to 40 MPH and the temps stabilized at the mid 20's. I'm not gonna guess what the wind chill made it feel like, but at 4:00 both Gene and I went out to blanket up the mini's before they got too wet or cold. He baled and went back to the house, I stayed out to do last minute checks, feed and snug up my barn and tractor as best I could. It felt good having the new little stall barn close to the hay barn. Worse case I can hand carry hay to it, a portion at a time. Also it gives me great piece of mind knowing they have a fairly secure area to brave the weather. From the tracks around the paddock this morning I would have to say, they did stay in the shelter a fair amount of the time.

The view at 8:30 p.m. last night on the last out for the dogs.

This morning I was greeted by two feet of light powder. The high winds had laid down over night but they are still skulking around waiting to wake up and blow through the day. Bob the tractor was, as always, dependable even though we were going through drifts well over his chassis. On mornings like this his steady diesel hum is soothing and appreciated. He coos that we can get through anything should we have to and I believe him.

Stella is happy I had the foresight to go round up stray and lost Timmy's. When the snow is this deep we don't allow her to take them out. There is nothing so heart wrenching as seeing her cold and shivering, barking and crying in the snow looking for those damn balls. I learned that lesson last year.

Robin on the other hand is perfectly fine with a warm bed and nylabone. No human intervention needed.

Today, I'm going to hang out and watch the snow fly, a little weaving, a little sewing, a little cooking and certainly some ball tossing.

Parting shot: Look into my eyes. You are getting sleepy. Now toss the ball, toss the ball, toss the ball

Finally an Empty Loom

Yes, as promised, here is the Delta, free of her 9 month burden of the 20/2 pillow case warp. Fraternal twins! I could not torture myself longer and just cut them off without any additional hem weaving.

I am very happy with the results though and the cases are soft, drapey and I can hardly wait to change sheets this week and put them on!

The diamond pattern shrunk as expected and made a soft crepe like fabric. I wish you could all feel the hand on these. I only did a very light pressing. I suppose I could have gone hot with steam and starch for photos but it seemed silly. These are not meant to either look or feel like a cotton percale case.

Now, I would make changes. As I have said before, 20/2 and I just aren't going to meet again for a while and certainly not in something that is 25 inches wide. Next round I will use a 10/2 or 12/2 unmercerized cotton for warp. The second thing I think I will do is NOT weave the hems. I rather like the idea of the woven body of the case with a pretty commercial cotton fabric hem. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is the hand woven fabric doubled is rather heavy and the other is, I just love some of the prints I could go with. I also think this arrangement could extend the life of the case itself. Most cases wear at the hem folds. If the fabric gets worn I can easily replace it and save the woven pillow body.

Now pretty much sewing, weaving and knitting is at a standstill. This is one of the worst colds I think I have ever had. Slow moving too. I had made a Dr.s appointment before the holidays for next Tuesday and Boy, am I glad I did. I should be a stunning patient dragging my red eyes and snotty nose in for a check up with a new to me physician. :)

Parting shot: Please, please, PLEASE Pick Me Up!

What Ever Happened To....?

Since my weaving time has been cut out due to a wrist sprain ( left one and I'll no doubt live), I figured I would catch you up on some weaving that has been done!

Remember the alpaca/linen/mohair warp that was on Hannah Hollandia when my folks came to visit? Well, I decided it was too open and weak for a long scarf, but it would make a fantastic and artsy short little collar type scarf/dickie and that's exactly what I did with it.

I folded it over, left the ends (although some do need a bit of trimming), did a loose knotting, found a vintage button that my Mom had actually saved at one point and there you have it. It feels softer on your neck than I ever would have thought too.

Some of you readers might remember that my Dad received some very fine silk while he was visiting and spirited it up to his bag to make a scarf when he got home. He did indeed do just that and what a beautiful scarf he made!

This is done in a light silver grey and gold. The warp was the silver silk, the weft the gold and the pattern is a snowflake design from Twill Thrills if memory serves. I didn't want to show it earlier since this was a part of their annual holiday dessert party and the scarf was given to the person whose name was drawn from the hat. Since it has gone to it's new lucky owner I felt it safe.

I was sorely tempted to send a lot of paper scraps with my name on them believe me!

It's interesting to see the different styles of weaving isn't it?

Now the shuttle throwing is out for a week or two, but sewing is not. I've been busy on gifts which I can't show and getting my ducks in a row for when I can start on some sewing for myself again. I've made use of some sales both over the Internet and locally. The medium weight denim (with a tad of stretch), is earmarked for pants.

The lovely 100% silk grey and white daisy print is for a blouse. The black that is next to it is some old fabric I had that is close in weight.

I will make a test blouse before I cut into that silk since there is none to spare on a mistake. In fact, I will have to make the blouse collar-less, which is fine by me. I'm also opting not to do the sleeve cuffs as I don't really like them on short sleeves.

The Heather Ross Kokka fabric has yet to decide what it wants to be. I have some options but haven't settled on one. The scene on the blue is The Owl and the Pussycat. I just love it.

I think I can thread this up without problems.

Its a town day today, the sleigh needs to deliver this down to the lovely ladies at my favorite store, The Webster's.

There's stocking stuffers for critters to get and I suppose I will have to decide on a holiday feast pretty soon. I'm thinking tenderloin. Parting shot: Fodder for Gene to Photoshop no doubt as he too might be thinking tenderloin!

Fibery Goodness

Yesterday I plopped myself in the car, free of chores and animals and headed on over to Grants Pass for the first ever Fiber Mania. It didn't hurt that my weaving oracle and fiber supply maven Cindie was there and I knew just what I wanted from her booth. I had come with a plan AND limited cash. I know how weak I can be and no one mentioned an ATM on site so I was safe! Cindie has posted some great pics of her booth on her blog, although boy. she must have been exhausted. It was busy when I got there and even busier when I left.

I am terrible about taking pictures of events, and have none to show of some of the other lovely booths. Let's just say there was a ton of yarn and fiber, maybe two ton. A lot of it Alpaca or Alpaca blends. I saw a silk/yak blend and a silk/camel blend that were fine and lovely and would have been fab for weaving. There was an amazing jade green alpaca yarn that would have looked nice done as something in the bedroom, but I resisted. As much as I love the color, I have a stash that makes fine shopping too and I am still thinking out my white on white year of weaving for 2011. Then there was that lovely angora blend, in snowy white and believe me, I am planning on using it for something in one of my projects. The gal is local, Raspberry Farms, and her yarns are just all gorgeous.

So what did come home with me? Well, the adorable ladybug pin cushion cup that Cindie had on her blog a bit ago. When I saw it, I knew I as going to pick it up, a wonderful Lo-Lo bar of all things good and natural to keep my skin from drying out and cracking this year.

I already tried it on my heels and elbows and I'm in love. The scent is Red Clover Tea and it's heavenly.

Who among you could have resisted this little sheep, with her sweet face and fleece locks?

Not me. I wish I had a string of them up, they could be my counting sheep! This one is serving as a fan pull since I am always looking for the narrow little chain in the dark of the bedroom to adjust the speed.

She came from Lion Gate Designs & farm.

Last but not least is a book I have been keeping my eye out for, and it's quite timely since my thoughts are traveling towards woven fabrics more so than individual items.

I have all of Malin Selanger's books (I think), except for her swatch collections. I can't afford the originals but this book, now out of print, took 15 from each color series and reprinted them with the drafts and at $20.00 was a find.

The fabrics all beautiful and inspiring, as is all her work.

It was a perfect day and a very nice fiber event. I hope it continues to grow, but not too much. Sometimes things do get too big. For a first year it looked like attendance was very good. I know I'll be adding it to my yearly calendar!

Parting shots: Yin & Yang

What's Sewing On

When I bought the additional sewing machines, the second question (the first question was how much) from DH was about where in heck I was going to put them. I can see he had visions of me colonizing another area over to fiber. Certainly wasn't going to be in my loom room, which I love just as it is. Open areas, dogs and pins don't make for a good match, especially with a youngster who feels the need to troll the floors for anything interesting and nothing annoys me more than having a cat lie on my sewing. I told him to never fear, I had a space which I had colonized a long time ago that was just perfect.

The master bedroom closet. It's huge! The house plan had originally called for a smaller closet and a small master bath and hall bathroom since they would back each other . Let's be real here, the amount of real estate I want or need for my daily washroom rituals is very small. I don't feel the need to have yet a third bathroom to clean, nor do I spend a lot of time in that room. But a big roomy closet is always useful.

I took it over long ago when I had many more clothes than I do now. Most of my stuff are items that prefer folding, not hanging like skirts, dresses and blouses. In fact, with the removal of all the coats I seem to have started storing (downstairs to the coat closet where they belong and some to Goodwill), I had a ton of room. Room I could close off from snoopy sniffers and feline nappers. Hence the additional sewing area was born.

It works quiet well too. And only steps away from the original sewing area still in use.

I have a few shelves empty for fabrics, a decent cutting space, a nice long shelf DH put up for me, and good lighting. You might even recognize some of the fabric.

I found another pattern and immediately thought of the orange mixed wool fabric for the back yoke panel on the little sleeveless jacket.

Coupled with some lovely wool I've had for years, I think it will work.

This is the latest sewing project, a little work frock in a fine wale cord and I've had that pattern/fabric combo around for quite a while too.

Over the weekend I made a paper pattern from a top my mother bought me during her visit that I love. Then I copied it into fabric.

The original is a heavy french terry cloth, the copy also french terry but not near as nice in weight or quality.

This is a big problem with internet shopping of fabric and we are lacking terribly in this area for fabric stores. Any suggestions of good internet fabric sites for clothing fabrics is very welcome!

A little weaving has gone on too. I've been working slow but steady on the pillowcase warp and finally, all the prayers for Prayer flags are written out and cut into strips. I'll be weaving those up today I hope. They need to get done and out to the folks who have requested them and I refuse to start another warp until they are.

For Parting Shots, A Duo of Diligence.

Pine Trees

Well, let me tell you that tying up 11 treadles on a countermarche loom with a puppy and cat as helpers is time consuming. Even without the "helpers" it took some time. My Dad puts his Louet Spring up on buckets to do the tie-ups and I think I'm going to try the same thing with Hannah Hollandia next time around.

Hey Baby Delta is just too heavy to consider it.

The towels are in process and so far, I'm pretty happy with the pattern.

I am only going to do the border on one edge. I want these to be working towels and I think the pattern at both ends with the floats might render it less sturdy.

We'll only know after a hot wash and dry how it all works out. The organic cotton shrinks like crazy, so while it appears sleazy right now, it won't be once finished. The only bummer is I have to share the temple between this warp and the pillow case warp. I need another temple in this mid-range 22-30 inch size. For now I'll make do.

Stella has graduated from the baby bed (crate) to the big girl bed (ours). She is not yet an accepted member of the Bed Tack Gang, but she's carving out her little niche inch by inch and bad acting growl by growl. She's a noisy little sleeper, lots of moans and little grunting sounds. It makes Gene and I giggle. I have also found a way to play ball in the morning without anyone having to hear the loud rubber ball bounce around.

While I was organizing the studio buffet, I can across two large felted balls that I've had since I took a dye class at the Webster's.

They are perfect and once I'm done with the game I pull them up and give Stella her little not stuffed zebra. It's just too slimy right now for a picture, trust me on this.

On farm news, the weather has been surprisingly cool. The highest temp this past weekend was 62 degrees F during the day. It RAINED yesterday, most of the morning and part of the afternoon. Temps never got any higher than 55F and Gene started Rube up to take the chill off of the house. Summer will be swinging back through later in the week, but it looks like cool nights from now on.

Dandy cut his left rear lower leg and while it isn't deep it's a pretty angry looking wound and we are flushing it daily with cool water, keeping it clean and applying antibacterial agents. It obviously stings. He holds the foot up tight while I'm working on it but has never offered to strike out with it, even when I had to give it a good cleaning out when first discovered. He's always the gentleman. Yes, the doled out treats are truly deserved.

No bear sign, but I am vigilant as we start moving into fall. The raccoon has visited once or twice and left empty pawed. We saw the most beautiful fox trotting down our driveway Saturday afternoon. He trotted into the barn to see if there was anything of interest and then trotted out in a typically foxy manner. It's sad to see my early morning dawn get later and later. I'm back to the hat and headlamp routine and have made a point of making a lot of noise when I head out the door.

Summer, like August, is waning. There is so much frost on the trees this morning that they look flocked for Christmas. I'm hoping for a long crisp fall, promising a good cold snowy winter. The dogwoods are already changing color. Stella's puppy summer is almost over. I've enjoyed it. So too, has she.