A little chit chat and update !

February 16, 2012

After several trips to the Emergency room I think I have now been properly diagnosed and I am on the mend.  I am back to 2 walks a day with my pup's and I am not in bed all day or in pain.  YAHHHHOOOOO!!!!!

Yesterday a friend took me to have breakfast at my sister's cafe and I gifted her the latest Pine needle basket.  Last week I gifted her a couple of weaving's I did for her while I was in Georgia.  One was the diamond Celtic knot work pattern I got from Laverne's blog.  My sister loved it and the basket, saying that my weaving  just keeps getting better.  Too bad I have no inspiration for it of late.  I did manage to complete the warp that was put on the backstrap back a day before I got hit by a car on November 7.  That warp is #3 maize yellow, #10 myrtle green and #10 royal blue.  I just did simple pick ups, and the band is 32 in. with fringe and 2 in. wide.  It will probably be made into an envelope bag as the colors are wonderful together.

But as usual, I digress.  After breakfast we ran a few errands and then went out to gather pine needles.  We went to the woods where I used to live to find that roads had been paved and you couldn't even tell where my mobile home used to sit.  Bummer.  As a result most of the pine needles we gathered were green and it was difficult going as I was in sandals and we had to tromp through the woods.  Another bummer, briars and it is so warm here that the snakes are definitely already out.  We didn't see any, but were very aware of our feet.

One of the most delightful moments of the day was when we found a piece of a Pine tree on the ground with its star like blooms still attached...what was surprising was that instead of the usual brown or gold color these were the most beautiful shades of purple and lavender.  They were stunning and breathtaking.  I can't believe I didn't think to take out my camera and get a shot of it.  If I can find a shot like it on the web I will post it.

Found one.  It says on the pic that this is a Slash pine bloom.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pine+tree+blooms&view=detail&id=BB8A1652A94E02F8B1B25F8A7DCCC807E0248336&first=0&qpvt=pine+tree+blooms&FORM=IDFRIR 

Won't let me copy the picture but here is the link.  Notice that purple/lavender.

Work has taken many changes and I have a job on a technicality that went in my favor after missing so much work.  

I did pick up some needle point for a couple of days, thinking it would be physically easier and less messy in my space, but alas, I am just not fiber inspired at this point I guess.  I think maybe there is a little burn out going on here due to the fact that I was totally submerged in it while in Georgia.  Loving every minute of it of course, but maybe I am just out of steam for a little while.  Weaving has always been my creative mainstay so I am sure it will return at some point.

Meanwhile, I am the pine needle Queen!  I started another basket day before yesterday, and didn't like the results so I took it apart and then got sidetracked without trip to the woods.  I spent the rest of the day organizing and removing the tops of the pine needle sheaths.  I like to get them all ready before I start the assembling of the basket.

So for today, the plan is to start the basket over and watch a little tube while hanging out with my pup's.  Lacy is getting so old and she hasn't been feeling well of late.  Wiggles on the other hand keeps me pretty busy lol.  

That reminds me, it is time for a puppy hug...

Marsha

Update:


Steve and Dana received their pkg.  A Pine basket for him and hand knitted socks for Dana.  Both were well received and I am so proud to think of them using these pieces on a daily basis.

Just a little update!

So here we go with an update!  There are weavings that I couldn't show before Christmas because certain people were not supposed to see them.  There are also pics of yarn gifting.  Just scroll down and you will get the picture.

First, it's Wiggles, ever watchful and eternally cute!

This is the largest Gilmore Wave loom that I borrowed from KraftyMax.  Here you see it with my roommate's Christmas present on it.  She wanted a band to hang pictures of her dogs!  This one was verrrrrry long.

Here we have the first panel for a '1 skein project bag' for my weave workshop buddy.  I will make 5 of these panels, 4 for the body and 1 for the flap.  Each will be different and she wants it to open on the long side.  We decided mutually that she will assemble it so it is the way she wants it.  She is a graduate of Florida State University is how I decided on garnet with a little bit of gold.  I will post completed pics when it is indeed complete.

Now for the Christmas presents of yarn!  Here we have #10 Bamboo crochet thread.

I also received alot of cotton.  Here you see # 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread!  Lots of yummy colors.

Here we have a combination of #10 mercerized cotton crochet thread along with the #3's.  These are the best yarns for warpface weaving.  I don't have it in me to fight with hairy yarns that stick to each other and make the weaving ALOT less than enjoyable.

 

I think I am set for yarn for a little while!  I am soooooo looking forward to weaving just for the fun of it and experimenting with some new techniques.

Now for the best ever!  Here you see Crystal Pistal's custom made cotton warpface scarf.  She wanted it long and since she is in FL cotton works fabulously!  


She loves hearts and I threw in the X's and O's.  If you look close enough you might be able to see that one of the X's is made up of little x's and o's!  You might also notice that the design is only on one side!  Plain stripes on the other.  You can read more about how I discovered how to do this here!  It is my absolute best piece yet and she LOVED it!

I, unfortunately didn't take pictures of all of my completed pictures.  Somehow I simply forgot to do it. ;-{  But I am told that everything reached everyone on time and all of my family loved their gifts.  Seems to big talk was how much my weaving has changed and improved.  Merry Christmas to me.


I hope that you and yours had a lovely holiday!  Me I am actually just glad it has come and gone.  Lots of fun...lots of work and stress.  


NOW ON TO THE NEW YEAR!

Trying to warp face weave on a Tapestry loom!

I was up VERY late 2 nights in a row trying to figure out how I can get a warp face (all you would see is the up and down threads) weave on my Tapestry loom.  Usually I do weft face weave (where all you would see is the horizontal threads) which is what tapestry looms lend themselves to.

Basically I am trying to do the kind of weaving that a Backstrap or Inkle loom produce on another type of loom (tapestry).  What this means is I am trying to learn a new weave which is completely the reverse of what I usually do. 

I did get the loom warped up and I did learn a lot.  But this time the warp will not be used as the learning curve was just too great!  My heddles are too thick and not slick enough and getting the tension correct is a dismal failure. 

I also completed Alyssa's handbag weaving.  I was waiting for the mail to deliver the yarn I needed, (I ran out of what she sent me) and I guess it became lost in the mail.  At this point she has spend way too much money for this bag, so I went to WalMart and bought something out of their miserable selection and found a way to complete the weaving.  Good thing I have something of an eye for design.  Anyway, today I will be stitching the bag together.  There will pictures posted as soon as I can. 

I have also been thinking about creating a pouch bag for the little red rag rug I made.  I would be small and actually simply a pouch with a button.  Nothing fancy for finish work as the weaving itself is so rich I don't want to detract from it.

After that I have to complete some new business cards and tomorrow I will go down to the town square to walk around and see if I can give out some flyers and cards for my workshops that start at the Art Center on September 7th.  Hope I can scare up some students.

Oh yeah, and of course try to finish coloring in my recent drawing, kind of a stained glass piece, and warp up both of my now empty looms.  Whew!!!  I went from having everything on hold because of the biopsy to everything exploding on me in a matter of 3 days.  Busy Busy Busy!  So glad to have a reason to get out of bed again.

So that , what I am up to these days!  I really haven't even had much time for working my web sites, and I am completely off track with my 'Wonderful Wednesday Features'!  I think I will pick back up on that when I get a little more settled in at the Art Center.

In the meanwhile Lacy, and Wiggles and I say stay tuned, same bat time, same bat channel and we will TTYL!