And the Bag is Still Packed

Someday I really will get to unpacking it but it has been really, REALLY busy here with studio changes.

Thursday I hit home and started right in cleaning. Trust me, it had to be done and done then in prep for an exciting day Friday. A little before Christmas I decided to sell the BV loom, while I love the loom itself and it has enormous sentimental value, it simply was too tall for me to ever weave at comfortably with her 40" high breast beam. If she wasn't so large I would have found a place for her, but the reality is she's huge and deserves to be used and loved. Surprisingly I found a buyer for her, a tall young man with the weaving bug who has no qualms about monkeying with her and has gobs of room. Gene had also found another used Louet, this one an older Hollandia, 8 shafts and 14 treadles in mint condition and at a fair price. It was my big Christmas gift, I got to see pictures Christmas day. Lets also add some serendipity into it, the buyer of the BV and the seller of the Louet both lived in the greater Seattle area. Morgan the BV buyer was willing to pick the Louet up on his way down to retrieve the Barbara loom.

I happily took some cash off the price and paid for the Uhaul. It saved Gene a two day trek and that had everyone happy about playing musical looms.

So Friday was out with the old and in with the new.

The studio underwent an overhaul and it looks like I gained a more spacious studio again.

To those in the Seattle area, keep on the look out for a fine ( and terribly handsome and polite I might add) weaver. I'll end with this hutch piece I've deconstructed in yet another configuration. And there are batches of yarns there just waiting for the next post! :-)

Losses and Gains

I've missed my blog and fellow bloggers and it's good to be on the home computer!

It's just good to be back.

The trip to MA was not what I would have planned for my back east trip but I can't complain at all. My Dad went in for bypass surgery the beginning of the first week I was there and by the time I left he was back doing some weaving and getting around quite well. He drove me to the airport (although I lifted the bag in and out of the car), and looks like he is well on his way to a full and speedy recovery.

The highlight of the trip obviously was a successful outcome of surgery, but you can add a wonderful meeting with Sue from Life Looms Large for a museum day and of course, a little yarn shopping. Thank you so much Sue, I needed that day away. Oh and let's not leave out lobster and seafood, of which I had a lot of.

As life is never ever static and every happy time gives way eventually to a time of sadness. Angel passed quietly away in her sleep Sunday night or early Monday morning at home. Gene gave me the news when I made my usual morning call. It was hard for him having to deal with it all on his own. We have always dealt with this together and I don't think I've ever felt so far away as I did Monday morning.

Angel has her own special place and we'll get a prayer flag out there soon. Gene will add a little something for me to weave in.

There are some fun changes coming and I have a busy day today. I haven't even opened my bag to unpack and I promise pictures of the goings on this weekend and some of my beautiful finds in New England. I also have a Blogoversary (sp?) coming up and hope to get a special post up for that.

In Search of Winter

Well, winter seems to have abandoned us here in Southern Oregon, looks more like April out there. So far the 3rd driest winter on record, which is bad news for summer and fire season. At this rate they may call the beginning of fire season in May!

Of course my wish for snow has been fulfilled in a different way this year. I am flying the friendly skies ( tongue in cheek) to MA for an early annual visit. In fact I leave Sunday. Some family health issues precipitated the early trip.

Needless to say, it has been a frenzy around here. How to stuff everything that needs to be done in 6 short days, but we're getting there.

Gene's scarf is off the loom and came out quite nicely. Of course I haven't been able to get a snap of Gene in it, since he has been in a rush out the door every time he's worn it ( he likes it). I figured the scarf looked just as nice on this silver haired gent and he's rarely in a hurry these days unless a leash is in hand.

I'll be pulling the rugs off the BV before I go, I hope. The Louet has been cleaned and the back folded up and will await my return patiently when I get back and weaving a blanket or two.

Angel is doing okay on the Prednisone. She is eating and active but pitifully thin no matter how much food I give her. Gene will keep a watchful eye on her and I have every hope she will be here to greet me when I get back on the 28th.

Things are pretty quiet on the farm front. Mud, mud and more mud. While the lack of snow and real cold is a pain to me, for Gene it makes care easier, he won't have to worry about plowing on top of all the farm duties.

As always when I travel, I will be reading all my favorite blogs but not updating mine,

so to everyone stopping by, have a great January! I'll be back in full blogging force in February.

A Weaver's Library

I can literally trace my hobbies through my library. There are still some quilting books, ones that held good directions on techniques and those that were simply just so beautiful I couldn't part with them. In fact there seems to be so many quilt books published today, I wonder how anyone chooses among them!

There are the horse books, some I've had since I was a kid, most newer. Many things have improved in regards to care and training for our equine friends. There are decent veterinary references for all of the species we have in the household. There are titles on decorative and faux painting, building, wildlife and hundreds of books with foxes in them, which I have collected for many many years. There are the knitting books, a healthy dose of them I might add. There are even some classics that I revisit once in a great while. That area needs work. There are ones I've missed, but that is a post for another day.

Finally, there are the weaving books. It's a small section. I am surprised at really how little is out there compared to many other fiber arts. So I thought I would share the few books I absolutely love, either for patterns, inspiration or techniques. There is no particular order. All listed are treasured and I think well worth their purchase price. Some, are out of print. I'm not going to do links, I'm sure you can all go to Amazon or e-bay on your own if you are interested.

The Big Book of Weaving by Laila Lundell (techniques, patterns, inspiration)

A Handweaver's Pattern Book by M. Davison (P)

Doubleweave on Four to Eight Shafts by U. Arn-Grischott (P,T)

8,12,20 An Introduction to Multishaft Weaving by K. Wertenberger (P,T)

Mastering Weave Structures by Sharon Alderman (T)

Weaving Overshot by D. Sullivan (P,T,I)

Rep Weave and Beyond by J.Tallarovic (P,T)

Weaving Designs by Bertha Gray Hayes (P, I)

Weave a Weave by M. Selander (P,I)

Swedish Rag Rugs 35 New Designs & Happy Weaving both compiled by Vavmagasinet

(P, I)

This list is by no means complete. I have some wonderful books in Swedish and some of the standard 8 shaft draft books, but these books always seem to offer me something delightful every time I open them, which is a lot!

What are some of your favorite weaving books?

Flashing the Looms 2010

Okay, this is fun! Meg over at Unraveling might have just started a nifty New Year's Day tradition.

Here's what's in the weaving stable as of today. I did not take photos of the Woolhouse Carolyn or the little tapestry pipe loom, but you've got the workhorses

here.

The Louet Delta, with Gene's scarf on it.

The Thought Products Barbara V with a run of rag rugs

and last but not least the Murphy Counterbalance loom with a little bit of prayer flag warp left on that I've decided to weave off.

It all would have been up on the eve of the 1st but blogger was being fussy about downloading pictures.

Mojo

Well, with all the hubbub around here since Christmas, I was beginning to feel like the weaving mojo was taking a vacation. I took pity on Gene the destroyer of all things knitted and woven, and decided to make him a scarf. A sturdy one.

I had been looking at my stash, and mohair was out, some merino and alpaca was out, mostly due to color, but it isn't really up to the abuse Gene wrecks on his wearables.

Low and behold, like Cupid with an arrow, Dona at Websters made a passing comment about the new Crazy Zauberball yarn I was looking at for socks. It was simply, wonder what it would look like woven.... Can you see the light bulb going off?

Well, it did. Sock yarn is tough (75% wool 25% nylon) and this sock yarn has long color changes that don't repeat. What an interesting warp it would make indeed. I chose the colorway Submarine. I only needed some weft and found that in lovely skein of Mountain Colors Winter Lace, colorway Wild Horse. Geez, even the name was perfect!

So Sunday I measured out the warp got it on the loom, threaded, sleyed and then

re-sleyed. 10 epi was just too open even for me and not having the grab of a mohair or fuzzy yarn, it just wasn't going to work.

I went up to 15 epi to maintain the warp patterning and got to work on weaving in earnest yesterday. I was so grateful for bifocals using that 15 dent reed I have. I've also made a mental note to avoid using it if at all possible.

The kitchen rag rug runner is almost done on the Barbara V loom. I want to try weaving some baling twine after I'm done with it. I certainly have a lot of it.

The sweater knitting is coming along, I have about 6 inches done on the front.

On farm news, we've had a little nuisance snow, the temps have been normal for this time of year. Juno got locked in the basement by accident. Gene left the door ajar, then went and closed and locked it. Last night at feeding, no Juno. I checked all the trees she usually gets stuck in, calling out in the snow storm and then back tracked to where

I had seen Buzz hanging out. Ever faithful Buzz, waiting by the basement door, and there peeking out a window, Juno. Curiosity and cats, need I say more. ;-)

Some Things You Just Can't Fix

No matter how much you would like to.

We are waiting for the official word from blood tests and biopsies, but it is a fore gone conclusion. Angel Cakes has lymphoma. Prognosis, 2-6 months maybe a little longer

if she responds to Prednisone therapy. Angel isn't a particularly old dog. She's around 10ish. In other words, one of the youngsters. I've been blindsided on this one. Well, not really. Somewhere in your head, the first time you cuddle that new puppy, you know sooner or later they are going to break your heart. And then we happily forget all about that and just get down to the joyful business of falling in love with them and living with them.

We have the opportunity to make sure we enjoy our time together. We can target all the stuff she loves to do, like goat herding ( her way) and walks with Gene. Special little treats and extra attention. We have time for some good-byes. They are our good-byes. I'm not sure animals have the capacity to know beyond a short time that it is time. Those contemplations are for another day. Today, we're all here and that's enough.

The Cranky Post 2009

Well it is apparent that 2010 is right around the corner and like most everyone, I am hoping it will be a much better year for so many people. For the most part 2009 wasn't a bad year. I had numerous blessings to count and the universe was generous to us in many many respects. But before I can truly put 2009 to bed, I need to go over some things that either bugged the crap out of me or made me very happy to see. Here goes.

1. The Party of NO. Saying No and offering up tax cuts isn't working. It's silly and childish and you really need to get over it and come to the table with constructive new ideas, for yourselves, your party and the country.

2. To the Party of Yes, find your courage. If you are the majority and you want to lead for god sakes you better find the balls to do it. No one is happy with a weak party, no matter how good your ideas may be. Maybe you should all go back and read Lyndon Johnson The Senate Years.

3. To Clothing Manufacturers: Good grief, it's almost 2010 and can you all make this the year you get together and standardize clothing sizes for women? Seems you can do it with men reasonably well, but I am tired of picking up size 10's that fit like 14's and 14's that fit like 8's. I have a few other suggestions for you too.

a. Does every pocket on every vest or jacket have to have a zipper? They are simply uncomfortable as you pass a naked cold hand into a pocket. They catch on knitted gloves and mittens and always make the pocket seem too small to be of much use. Stop putting them in sweaters too.

b. Stop putting Spandex in all my cotton tops, in fact stopping putting spandex in sweaters too. Some jeans it's okay in and I like it in yoga pants, just a little, but nothing beats 100% cotton.

c. Please, stop designing everything for the young tall slender teen with a naval ring.

I look like a frumpy old lady because most of what you make to fit me is frumpy. Simple as that. And while I'm at it, most of what you offer is so poorly made it would look frumpy on that teen too.

d. Polar fleece is a nice, but does everything now have to be made out of it. In winter when you are most likely to be wearing it, it makes static like no one's business. I really do prefer wool for all my winter gear, without zippered pockets.

4. To All Manufacturers. Please, American made. I drove myself nuts this year trying to buy American made or at least mostly American made. It was ridiculously hard. In fact it was impossible.

a. Packaging, I know you can do better.

5. To Our Government, you have to do something about trade agreements with China.

Why are we still doing so much business with a country that poisons our animals and kids? I know it's a difficult problem on so many levels but we have to start somewhere.

Maybe we could start paying them back so we aren't so beholden to them.

6. To the Philadelphia Eagles. I have always believed in second chances and I am sure football fans around the world think you guys rock for giving Michael Vick one. Myself, I just cannot find it my heart to be so generous. Thank you for making any Texas team viable to root for.

7. Pet stores that sell puppies and kittens from mills instead of adoption and featuring needy animals right from your own local shelter. YOU should be ashamed of yourselves for the pain you cause thousands of animals every year. This should be the year we take away all licenses to sell live animals as retail merchandise. That goes for pocket pets too.

8. Prisons and youth programs that are rehabilitating needy animals and the incarcerated at the same time get two thumbs up. Nursing homes that have resident pets also get my heartfelt thanks. You can add good programs that bring the disabled time with horses, dogs and cats. Library dogs for kids to read to, Dogs for the Deaf, dogs for our homecoming veterans etc. All good works.

9. Climate change. Can we straighten this mess out once and for all. Both sides seem to have tainted the science and it's criminal. Period.

10. Whatever did happen to just the news. I don't want your opinion or analysis especially offered in a factual context. Just give me the facts. I have a mind, I can use it. If you think we should all be better informed then maybe the information should be better and more precise.

11. Fiber folk and blogging, a great first year for me. Thank you so much for stopping in and commenting, reading my blog and sharing yours. It's all been wonderful.