The New Daily Accessory

That would be a safety pin. Adopted in the UK after hate crimes escalated following the Brexit vote this unassuming symbol is popping up in the USA to show support for minorities of all stripes, be it of color, heritage, gender issues, or religious beliefs. Here is some more information on the meaning of the safety pin. In today's digital New York Times there is also an article on the sidebar.
And if you should see a hate crime happening, here is a guide on what to do. Sadly I think there will be more of these guides needed in the coming months.

I rarely go into politics on my blog. Like many I am making an exception, an unapologetic exception.

I am hurt and mad and more than a little bit scared and I'm not going to sugar coat it. Donald Trump is going to be a disaster for anyone who believes in diversity, clean air and water, climate change, women's rights, affordable health care, equal pay and THAT just covers some of the domestic issues. I'm not going to go down the road here on just how paralyzed by fear I will be when he receives the football. I also want to say, it's not sour grapes. We've elected a lot of not so great presidents. It happens but never have we elected one so lacking in any of the skills needed to be our highest world diplomat and defender and frankly, I'm terrified. Imagine, if you will, what the world would look like today if Al Gore had taken the reins? Do you think we would have seen such a destabilized Middle East and participating in numerous wars over the last 16 years? No one can know really, and what ifs are a dangerous game. I was willing to take a wait and see stance right up until the time Steve Bannon was named to DJT inner White House circle. The reality is I wake up every morning now, hoping a way has been found to remove DJT from ever becoming President, wishing for a do-over.

I've suffered two losses this fall. My Dad (who said he would never vote Trump even though he was a staunch Republican), and my country as I know it. There are new norms coming and I'm pretty sure they aren't going to be pretty. Look to history folks, with how hate and intolerance has insidiously come to power. The swamp is not going to be drained. It's likely to become deeper and much more toxic. Coal will not come back, neither will steel. We do need change but trying to roll back instead of look forward is doomed and it may cause permanent damage to our world and our democracy in the process.

So , what to do. Get involved with local government. If you don't have time, donate. The DNC is a mess right now but I'm betting there will be lots of positive things going on there in the coming months. Heck, there are even survival guides popping up on the internet. Here is one (Love the title!), and another from our friends across the pond.

Support good journalism. Buy and read newspapers. As much as we can't stand them sometimes, reporters and journalists are a democracies best watch dogs. Freedom of the press has saved our bacon numerous times. I subscribe to a couple of papers online. It's cheap and saves trees. My picks are the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. I like diversity in my daily reading material.

The Electoral College has got to go and that should be job one. I just can't imagine how we can call ourselves a democracy when it is plain to see the majority is NOT being represented in our largest and most important election. Two times in 16 years is two times too many. MoveOn.org can put you in touch with many petitions. Abolish the Electoral College and a good one for stopping the mess at Standing Rock. Imagine if foreign oil wanted to run right through Arlington Cemetery for a moment?
Michael Moore on Facebook probably won't give you a lot of feel good moments but he has a plan and it's as good as any right now.

 I'll miss President Obama with his cool thoughtful presence. I never felt scared about a decision he might make. I might not have agreed with it, but I also knew it came from serious deliberation. He listened to all sides and our best interests were well represented. Ms. Clinton was a flawed candidate. We all know that, but I'm also betting that our country would have kept an even keel, good would have been done and we would all be feeling a lot safer.

I apologize to the rest of the world in advance for what might be unleashed.

This is how I feel. I love that you come and read here and thank you. You may or may not feel the same way and I'm quite all right with that. This is, as far as I know, still a free country more or less...

Parting shot: Truly, he was born in this country I'm sure of it!

Seriously

Go strut your stuff 

and get out and 
VOTE!

Pop-Ups and Falling Back

I can't begin to tell you how much I dislike changing my clocks back and forth, spring and autumn.  Can't it just stay one way or another?



Anyway, fall offers up some beautiful lighting with her slanting rays, especially in the morning. They caught these trees one morning as the sun started cresting the mountains. They looked to be on fire as I drove by Tub Springs.



 I just had to get some pics.

Once in a great while, Fabric of Vision has a pop up after doing a little special fabric curating.
Needless to say, I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by. I added some beauties to me fabric stash.

Wool Challis

Cottons

Heavy painted stretch denim

Flannel Raccoons and Stretch Denim

There will be another pop-up shop this weekend with Out of the Blue, a store with the most AMAZING selection of buttons and beads and other small treasures. If you're in the area, its Friday through Sunday at 399 East Main Street.

Friend Cindie also added some wonderful fabric to my stash.



 She knows my love of all things foxy and gifted me with this fun fabric when we got together last Wednesday. Thank you Cindie!

I finished up the PJ run. Here are two bottoms and two tank tops. They aren't beautiful, but they are comfortable.




I also resurrected a pattern I hadn't used in a while. Indygo Junctions Retro Raglan. I love many things about this pattern but not the super wide neck. I made the collar higher and smaller and have found the love again.

Oh Look! A Fox!!

 It's been lengthen in both hem and sleeves. I liked it so much I went ahead and immediately cut another in a saved linen print. This one is a linen cotton blend and has a nice hand.

A bit of weaving has also gone on. This is the start of my Dad's prayer flag.



There just hasn't been a lot of time for this. Even an estate in good order takes a lot of time to mire through. Hopefully by early December the worst of it will be done with. Fingers crossed.

I did promise a pic of the towel warp off of the Louet Spring and here it is.



 Impressive huh?! Now I have to wash, cut apart and hem them all. And the birch bark runners need to be finished up since one of them is a gift. But hey, I gained an extra hour right? ;-)

Parting shot: Hazel dressing up as Stella on Halloween.

SaveSave

Is It Over Yet?

As a rule I don't delve into politics on my blog. I vote religiously if not always enthusiastically. I can't be the only one who thinks this election has gone on far too long?

 In any event, if I ruled the world I would shorten the election season. Nine months for the presidency, three months for all other seats.

Term limits. Frankly I think one and done would be good. Our forefathers wanted every citizen to participate in government, not to make a career out of it. The one and done rule would certainly take a bite out of lobbyists.

 Both houses should run on a simple majority. Folks who's sole purpose is to obstruct should be removed from office as they are not doing the peoples business. We send you to congress to negotiate for the betterment of your state and your country not bring it to it's knees with a stance so rigid nothing can be accomplished. Most of us don't expect 100% of all we want. We expect compromise, we expect YOU to respect each other as you negotiate that compromise and so we are clear here, we expect you TO compromise. Not go sit in the corner like a spoiled 8 year old who isn't getting their own way.

 Life is not fair, we get that, we also get that there should be a middle ground on everything. All or nothing does not belong in a democracy. Not ever. Religion doesn't either. There are many other houses for your beliefs. The houses of Government are not one of them.

Whoever wins has earned the right to surround themselves with a cabinet of their choosing. Period.
That goes for Supreme Court appointments too. To whoever lost, you lost. Pull up your big person panties and make the best of it through COMPROMISE, not obstruction.

I have no clue how to make the candidates kinder and gentler with each other and it saddens me deeply.  Maybe they should sit down with each other once a week, away from the trail, the cameras and the traveling freak show that is American politics and break bread.  Have a meal, a real dinner table discussion and end it all with a good cup of coffee and generous dessert.


Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence



and Ms. Clinton and Mr. Kaine,

you are all welcome at my table. We have just enough chairs to go around......        .

DON'T NOT VOTE!

No Matter What, the Sun Comes Up.

And that's the truth. Dogs, horses, husbands, goats, friends and even cats all need attention and give back freely. The sun comes up, you laugh, you cry, you dust yourself off and go on with the business of living. To do otherwise would be an insult to those who no longer can.  I want to thank each and every one of you, Carol, Kim, LA, Cindie, Diane, Michelle, Janine, Coco, Sharon, Louise, Valerie, Mary, Elle, Peg, Leigh, Elizabeth, Linda, Susan, Nadine and LOTL. Thank you so much for those cyberhugs, condolences, words of kindness and strength and prayers. It was so appreciated and needed. Thank you all so very, very much.

While it has been a sad time, it has not been an idle one. I cleared my Dad's loom of the 12 yard cottolin towel warp we put on so many months ago. He did get to see the 11 lovely towels that were woven. Pics next post.  It is only fitting that his prayer flag warp be put on his loom. Gene and a friend moved it back down for me since I decided to give this special loom the best weaving space in the house. The two little wolf looms are upstairs now.



 This pic was taken in process, but now everything is all tied on and up and it's ready to weave.



 The pattern is going to be a twill and plain weave on 6 shafts and treadles. Something different and while this warp is shortish, if I like the pattern it might be recycled to the next warp. I had forgotten how time consuming tying up a countermarche loom can be!

The sewing salon has seen some action in the last weeks. I needed the absorption sewing can provide. The picking and choosing of pattern and fabric. I implemented my idea of using the Grainline Scout Tee pattern but changing the neckline to mimic some of the other patterns I like. It worked out well and I have my different necklines with the nicely drafted armhole and sleeve. Yeah!
First up is a fun sheep linen cotton print. I grabbed the neckline from an Indygo Junction pattern, the Urban Tunic. I only had two yards of each fabric and that collar is wide and on the bias.



Next up I used the Esme neckline. I love this Scandinavian print. Foxes!



 Dark blue has been showing up a bit more in my wardrobe, so a pair of navy linen pants made it out of the sewing room too.

leg detail

 I ordered some organic cotton knit fabric since the Phoebe Pants pattern (Tina Given) worked out so well for knit PJ's. I was able to get two bottoms, one tee and two tanks cut out for sleepwear. in 3 different knit patterns.

The Baby Wolf has seen it's share of weaving also.



 The birch runner run is 3/4 done. I found some ombre wool in stash for the second one. It goes from cream to grey to beige and a deeper brown and then fades back to light again. Kauni was the name of the yarn, light sock weight and is working perfectly.

I think that's all I have for right now, but it is good to be back and blogging and catching up with everyone else's blogs! At some point at the beginning of October, Blogger dropped all of my watched blogs. I have tried to reassemble them all back, but honestly, I am sure there may be a few I have forgotten. If you remember seeing a blog here that is no longer present PLEASE let me know. I know Margaret & Helen isn't added back yet.

Parting shot: Cuddler's extraordinaire.

Sadness and Relief

I've been gone a good while from this blog, but other matters where much more important. This is not going to be a happy post nor a long one. Yesterday, October 13, 2016 at 7:30 in the morning my dad died of stomach cancer.  I spent the last few weeks, putting his estate in order under his directive, watching football, talking politics and doing for him whatever earthly assignment I could to make his last days meaningful and letting him know how much he was cherished and loved. The nurses of both the Rogue Valley Health Center and from hospice made his last days comfortable. It was sadness and relief I went through yesterday. Grieving for my loss and at the same time so relieved he is not in pain any more.

Richard Conover Chamberlain III 8/5/1937 - 10/13/2016

Today I'm going to take stock of my sewing room, pick through some fabric, think about life, cry some, sleep without worry of the phone ringing, watch the rain. Tomorrow I'll again pick up the reins and start stewardship of my mother. She'll be moving into a smaller place right in the main manor building, there are finances to see to, belongings to pare down. It's all pretty clean and tidy, bless you Dad, for that final gift, I'll get her through it. Promise.

The Old Dump and Run

It's an age old story! You get busy and the blog languishes a bit. That's life. My Dad hasn't been feeling well and for the last number of weeks I've been making more runs down to town to lend a hand where and when needed.

We're also getting anxious about getting wood in, doing some heavy equipment work on the driveway and gearing up for winter. We need rain. We can't cut down dead trees with chainsaws when we are in extreme fire season. The risk is far too great and the rain is proving to be a bit late this year. So putting up wood for the winter will be a hurry up and wait affair. I have seen a fox though, on the deck and the raccoon babies have been cut free by their Momma. The not so little pirates were on the deck by themselves last night. No sign of Mom I could see but I'm betting she was near. Just two nights ago all four where out dining on sunflower seed by the almost full moon.

I have lots of things in process on the looms and not much weaving to show. Nick is going to get a warp on this weekend for a run of turned twill towels. Say that 3 times fast!



 The project is from the Jan/Feb issue of Handwoven. I loved the marled yarn effect, just didn't like how the black and white muddied the colors and wanted a lighter version. This is what was found and on sale at the time to boot!



I think the lighter marling will make for a better pop of those crayon colors. This is a 7 yard warp and I'm starting the sett at 18 epi since this yarn runs at 1900ypp. I think 20 epi might be too stiff. We'll see.

Up in the salon, fall sewing has started. Two long sleeve tunics made it out last week.





 I had an epiphany working on the sleeves of the Esme ( red floral) tunic. They can be a bit of pain to set. So, there I am thinking that maybe I could frankenpattern the Scout tee armsythe and sleeve onto the Esme, when I realized it would be MUCH easier to just adjust the Esme neckline to the scout tee. So from now on, the Scout Tee shirt pattern is really my "block" which I work most options from. To that end I ordered a second paper copy since my original taped PDF version is tattered and messy.  I have some nice fall fabrics in fun prints just waiting for time and inspiration!



What a sweet raku piece I found in a local floral and statuary shop! It makes me smile every time I see it. Our hummers have left although we are getting some as they migrate south or just down into the valley for winter. The feeders here stay up well into late fall/early winter. You never know when a straggler might need some fuel to make it last bit down to warmth!

Parting shot: Pogo doing his best Yoda imitation.

4 Now 4 Later

Yep, another Schacht loom has landed, this time a Baby Wolf, 4 now 4 later. A wider replacement for the Gem II. At 26" weaving width this is a perfect bridge width  to the larger looms.



 Schacht considers this a portable loom. I have to say, it's pretty heavy. I couldn't move it to a workshop by myself, but maybe someone younger and stronger could, although, I'm pretty strong.  This beauty was ordered through my LYS, The Web-sters. It saved me some cash (which I spent on a castle tray and extra reed), to have it shipped there and I picked it up within minutes of it arriving. It was carted right out to my car and the carton just fit into the back of the Subaru. Whew! The loom fit and finish is as nice as you can get. The maple Schacht uses on their looms is some of the best quality I have seen. Clear beautiful furniture quality. And it is certainly easy to use. It took me half a day to do a careful job of installing the castle tray and getting the heddles on, all the tie-ups etc. In under 3 hours I had him warped and threaded with a 5 yard warp in a nubby silk noil yarn for a couple of birch bark runners.



 The main weft is a lovely handspun wool from a fellow blogger. I'm thinking one of these runners should really be heading back to her.



 The one that stays will become a wall hanging.

The long carriage bolts on the front beam have been replaced with carriage bolt knobs like the back beam has.



That allows for the front beam to be removed to thread since I warp back to front. It made a huge difference in comfort and speed. There is a barrel nut in the beam, so you have to set that correctly when replacing it, but it is a small price to pay for the better access. I will probably switch the plain bolts for knobs on Fiona the wolf pup since the set up is the same. Oh and the new loom's name? Why Shrek of course. :-)

I'll be participating in Spinzilla again this year with the Web-ster's team and give some cotton roving a whirl on the wheel.

colorway:Tex-Mex.

Of course I have ounces and ounces of some wonderful wools too should cotton be a non-starter for me. This beautiful fiber came from the Etsy shop of Robin Edmundson.

The Hogwarts towels continue



with the bronze and blue of Ravenclaw. I might not get a Hufflepuff since that warp is looking pretty close to the end. We'll see since I do love their colors and their mascot. A badger!

And speaking of badgers, a double gauze fabric adorned with them and made into a Grainline Tee came out of the sewing salon last week.



A few things hit the cutting table and some linen pants are almost done. It was a slow week up there with all the excitement of a new loom.

The fall garden is full of California Fuchsia (Zauschneria) and various salvia's.



 It's all a wonderful chaotic jumble at this point and I smile every time I walk by it all. Of course once fall really sets in there will be a reckoning for my lazy ways with the garden this year, weeds will need to be pulled, some things cut back etc. But not today!

Parting shot: The magnificent seven.

Spike, the resident alarmist, keeps watch.