What a stormy day!

Today it rained, and rained and rained! Since this morning we have been under a severe thunderstorm watch and warning and a tornado watch, and warning. At one point the winds were so strong and the rain was coming in sideways!

Here is a  picture of the creek that suddenly formed in the yard of the studio.We even had a small waterfall!

The water ran down the yard to the woods. As you can see the back yard is a big soggy mess. Thankfully we only lost one tree. It was in the woods and not too near the studio.

I spent hours at the studio working on a scarf and rug. Weaving is so relaxing expecially when one is worried. I kept expecting school to let out early but it didn't. I was worried if it did let out early that I wouldn't be able to get there.

Lastly I will show you a picture of our cat, Monty. He decided he wanted a turn in the flower box.

Linda

Another work day at the studio

It was a beautiful day here in East Tennessee. The sun was shining and it was warm. That meant it was time to get some things done outside. Our youngest son had the task of raking leaves and throwing them over the fence to the woods. All the bazillions of them.

Our oldest son stopped by and I put him to work! He pulled out a tall fence post for me. I had dug around it last week but DH and I just couldn't pull it out of the hole. Our son had it out in no time. He lifts weights so this was a breeze for him.

Both our sons and I loaded more firewood onto the log rack in the back yard. We are well on our way for next winter. The rack is full and there is still lots more firewood.

When we bought the studio we inherited some cinder blocks. We also inherited a goodly number of them when we bought the lot on the other side of our house. I wish they would all disappear!! but DH may need them when he relocates a shed in the back yard. When that job gets done I hope to send the left overs far away from here! I am tired of looking at them!

I transplanted more plants and moved a porch swing and frame behind the studio. Who knows? I may have to take a break from weaving and swing sometime!

Another thing we worked on was removing a section of chain link fencing between the studio and our home. Once that was done I made a path of stepping stones between the two yards. Now we won't have to walk out in the road to go back and forth.  All I will have to do is walk out of the basement, go across the driveway and into the studio yard to the side porch.

Sorry no pictures today. By the time I was done working outside it was time to cook dinner and crash on the couch!

Linda

The latest scarf

Whew, what a  night we had here! It was stormy, rainy and windy! Our sleep was interupted more than once when the weather radio sounded. Thankfully the power stayed on and we didn't loose any trees!

This is what I have been working on today. I wove the last half of one scarf and started on this one. I had some eyelash yarn sitting around that I decided to use.

Here it is from the side so you can see how hairy it is. I can't wait to see what it looks like after it is washed.

My DH and I are going out to dinner with friends and then we are dancing! I sure hope these new knees are up to it!

Here's hoping you have a terrific weekend!

Linda

Are you looking at me?

This is Socks. One Sunday, about ten years ago,  our son heard a cat crying. Dressed in his church clothes he headed down the hill and across the creek. There he found a tiny kitten probably seven or eight weeks old. She was all alone. Needless to say, he brought her home. About a week later my DH was up on the roof cleaning the gutters. He was smiling down at me and he asked if I had found a home for the kitten. I smiled back and told him I sure did! Then he asked if it was anyone we knew. I said yes!

She is such a sweet cat. When she hears our cars pull in the driveway she will come running to greet us. She will even walk with me to the studio and wait for me to come home so she can walk me back!

Today, as I was doing the dishes I noticed this.

A few seconds later this is what I saw. She had completely turned herself around.

Recently I hung a hay rack planter under the window. Socks decided it was a great place to take a nap!

Socks doesn't meow like other cats we have had. She rolls her R's! She has other quirky parts of her personality. She doesn't like to be held if we are walking. She also jumps at the slightest sound.

Aren't animals wonderful? They make our lives so plesant and they love us no matter what.

Linda

First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen

 I love early American history. I find it fascinating. One of my hobbies is reenacting life in the third quarter of the 1700's. Not to mention how much I love wearing the clothes! Learning and teaching others how this country got it's start is so enjoyable for me. I am not sure if it is because I am the daughter of immigrants and know how easy it would have been to grow up somewhere else or what it is that makes me love this country so much.

George Washington is one of my heroes. I even have the guest bedroom at the studio decorated in his honor. What a truly great man he was! I wish I could have known him. I have been to his home, Mount Vernon, where I have gotten a glimpse of his life but it is not the same as meeting him in person. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could go back in time and see all the founding fathers in action? Listening to Patrick Henry give his give me liberty or give me death speech would be awesome! A few years ago I heard someone reenact that speech and it made the hairs on my arms stand up!

Today I should be cleaning the house but here I sit. Remember the mini series George Washington from the 1980's? It is playing on the This network right now. I wish I had caught the beginning of it! Tomorrow they will show the second half but I will be at the arts center with the Tuesday weavers.

So today, let us remember all the great men who founded this country and the sacrifices they made when they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to make us free.

Linda

Plum wore out!

Today was another work day and boy did we work! DH recently cut some trees so today he cut the wood up for firewood next year. DS helped move the logs.

I spent the day digging up plants and replanting them in better spots. I moved several shrubs. Some of them were quite large! Hopefully they will all live and the studio will look really nice in the spring.

We also made one last pile of things to be hauled off. Chain link fencing, poles, etc. Whew, I will be so glad when this is all done! Sorry, no pictures today.

Linda

And the beat goes on

So far today I am working on a rayon scarf. The warp is medium green and a dark tan. For the weft I am using gold.  When I use rayon yarn I beat lightly. I like the look and feel of it after the scarves are washed. One of these days I will make one for me! I am sorry but the colors just aren't showing up well.

I am weaving this on the Lervad loom. I really like the feel of the hanging beater. Old looms are wonderful.

Here is the gold I am using for weft. I had to go outside to get a better picture!

Max is growing by leaps and bounds. Yesterday he weighed 49.5 pounds and he isn't six months old yet! I will have to take a picture soon so you can see.

Linda

Today I have been working on..........

A table runner.  This was supposed to be a nine yard warp for rugs but as I was winding the warp I realized I didn't have enough blue. Plan B. The warp became a warp wide enough for table runners or placemats. This is what I have woven so far.

This is one of my old shuttles. I don't know how old it is.  I have never seen another one like it. I believe it was made for rags but I use it for thick yarn, too. I think it is pretty neat looking.

Right now I have warps on my Lervad, Schacht, Gilmore, Union floor looms and on my Tools of the Trade and LeClerc Dorothy table looms. Only one loom waiting for a warp. That is the Structo 8 harness on a stand. I have almost completed my goal of a warp on every loom!

Tomorrow is a work day at the studio. I have a long list of things that still need to be done.  My plan is to recruit our youngest son. I am certain he will be somewhat less than thrilled.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Linda

Here it is, up and running

Today I put the finishing touches on the Lervad loom and tweeked the tie ups. Now it is all ready to start making scarves! This loom weaves 24 inches wide. It came with six treadles but when I put them all on there wasn't any way I could get my foot on only one! They were just too close together. I decided to put a longer rod on the treadles and set two of them outside the brackets. DH cut me some new spacers and now I can use all six treadles.

With several looms warped up I can now loom hop. If I get tired of weaving on one I can switch to another one.

Today was such a breezy day! Kind of like the breezes we get in March. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and near 50 degrees! It will be nice but snow is back in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

Linda

Old shuttles

I love old things. The older the better. I thought you might like to see some of the old shuttles I have collected over the years. The one on the left was made by the Hammett Co. The dark one has wheels on the bottom. I have no idea how old the other two are. I like their interesting shapes.

This shuttle has initals pricked into the wood. If you look closely you can see them.

Today I have been getting the Lervad loom warped for scarves. The colors aren't showing up very well. The darker color is a muted green. I have owned this loom for years but never wove on it. I am really looking forward to it. This is the only loom I have with a hanging beater.  I really like the smooth way a hanging beater moves.

This makes the fourth loom at the studio with a warp on it! My goal is to have warps on all of them!

Linda

Shaggy rug #2

This is the rug I started today.  These selveges are shorter than the last rug I made.  Taking a look at what stash I had left I finally decided on using two shuttles. One of off white and the other of blue ( it has strands of white mixed in) , alternating. I think I like the effect. The blue is darker than what the pictures shows.

See the shuttle? It is from the 1800's. There is a name and date written in pencil on it. I like to wonder about the weaver who first used it. I wonder things like who made the shuttle for her. Hmmm, maybe it was a him! What things did weaver weave? What did the loom like?

The other thing I worked on today was the Lervad loom. It was all balanced in the old studio but in the move it all got out of whack. Origonally ropes were used to tie it up. I find them too frustrating. I like Texolve cords instead. It is a lot quicker to do the tie ups this way. It is now ready for a warp. I think I will make scarves on this loom.   It is such a pretty loom. It is the only one I have with a hanging beater. I think I am really going to like weaving on this one.                                                                                       

Well, that is it for today.  Hope you all stay warm. We had spring like weather for a few days but now winter has returned.  

Linda