My Corner Of The World - July 2011

It's July in Lahore, Manila, Tokyo, and Adelaide!

Time for a new edition of "My Corner Of The World!"

Have a joyful day!
Franco Rios
Sacramento, California, USA

It's a grey, rainy, dreary day here - think I'll go dress the loom with another shawl warp.  Stash busting proceeds.

cheers,

Laura

The question is, will he or won't he be exposed at the opening ceremonies of MAFA next week?

Stay tuned for the shocking story, seen only here, at your premium Weavolution channel.

Sally,

Too Much Information!

July is off and running with scandal
and controversy already!

Have a good day!

Here in the southern hemisphere winter is almost halfway along and in the Adelaide hills it is a crisp sunny  morning for the 1st day or July...think I will go and finish the threading  for table napkins for my daughter

Barb

Have been doing some spinning as well as weaving

It's almost dawn on July 1st here in the suburbs of Paris.

I'm dyeing here.  The dyepot of the moment is Chartreuse.  It seemed an appropriate colour for the hour or two before sunrise.  (It's silk, of course.  It's almost always silk!)  Next up:  Imperial Purple.

New month, new moon, new horizons -- each time I log into Weavolution (or pop over just to see which project's showing on the front page!), I come up with more things I want to do!  This morning, for example, I've been drooling over Ellen's doubleweave projects... and it occurs to me that if it's July, I still have a couple of months that I can call my own before my schedule gets busy again.  My mind reels with the concept:  gee, maybe I could actually weave something besides bands!

Grand thoughts. :-)

Ruth

As of Friday, the magic carpets of my guild are on view: http://riksvav.se/kronobergsvav/y11/juli11.html. (A few more to come, as the official opening is on Monday)

Spent a couple hours at the guild room supervising a new weaver.  While there I trimmed shawl fringes, and knotted more in preparation to wet finish them, maybe later this week.

cheers,

Laura

Here in Florida, it is hot and humid, currently we are experiencing a thunderstorm.  Today is the big day the 3rd floor loom comes home.  I am collecting LeClerc looms, I will have a CB, a Jack and a Colonial.  I tried to post my towels that I had finished but the picture was too blurry.  Will try to do better next time.

We live on 2.2 ac. w/lots of trees. We only cleared just for driveway and house. We have probably 500+ trees. I'm sad to say we will lose about an 1/4 of those trees from the drought. We are on the public water system and could drain the system and still not save my trees. We need a lot of rain to replace the water table under our property. I have seen properties with water sprinklers with green grass and  have still seen large trees dying in those green plush yards. Sprinklers can't supply the water some trees need. Please pray for us in South East Texas. We need rain.............Steve.

Drought, here in the Texas Hill Country ranchers are hauling water and food for their cattle.  Many are making hard market decisions to sell their stock early due to conditions.  One rancher I know is giving up her sheep as she can not longer afford to feed them since the grass is not growing.  Our well is pumping slower and we've switched over the rainwater to conserve the well.  No dye pots this month as they require too much water.  It's 100 degrees each day and is a good time to spend in the studio weaving.  We want some rain too!  We'd settle for a little tropical storm coming over the Gulf Coast and dropping some rain so the aquifers and rain tanks refill!

Deb, Steve I know what you are going through. Yesterday the radar showed a nice rain over us, but where was it. The air was so dry the rain was not making it to the ground. Yes, a nice tropical storm would be nice. They move water from the Colorado River to California. They could move water from the Mississippi River to Texas, if we wasn't spending 1 billon dollars a day fighting three wars we would have money for projects like this.

Michael

Former S/sgt USMC

It's a bright, sunny day in Sacramento, Calif, with expected 100F
temperature today. I think I need a plastic kayak to play on the
American River.

Here are some California Black Walnuts growing along the river.

This is a Yellow Billed Magpie, a little bigger than a Blue Jay, and almost as noisy.

This noisy red bird is the Sacramento County Fire Department helicopter patrolling the river looking for people in trouble in the river. There were over 80 rescues in the last week.

This butterfly is called Buckeye and is common in this area.

The chihuahuas are getting up close and personal with a couple of Canadian Geese that live here year 'round.

And that's my corner of the world!

Have a good day!

...with these old linen feed sacks found at an antique market in Lambertville, New Jersey. They were selling for $175 apiece.

On the flip side of the tag, there was a hand-written description of how they were authentic and carefully collected, yet it was then recommended you could cut them up and recover your dining room chairs or make pillows out of them!!!

My my!  What strange marketing. 

I have a stack of 100 oldish flour sacks in my stash.  They are a nice weight canvas.  They don't look as nice as the ones you photographed, but mine are only worth about $5 each.  I paid $.50 each and I'm not adverse to cutting them up.  I've made bags of various sizes, some with my inkle and backstrap bands for handles.  I'm working on a pair of pants for DH.  The weight is just right for pants or grocery type bags.

Franco! I have news coming from YOUR corner of the world!

The World Masters Athletics Championships are being held in Sacramento July 6-17th. One of my beach volleyball teammates is competing with his father this week in some of the track and field events.

It's a highly competitive, international event. I should mention my teammate is most definitely over 60, and his father competes in the 80+ class. (And I am expecting them to bring back at least one medal between the two of them!)

Sally

Hi Everyone.

 It has been a while since I have had time on the computer to catch up. But today I got a new to me loom and I am hoping someone can help me figure out what I got. It looks to be oak or maple. light colored and heavy. 4 arness with some new to me hardware to raise the tredles and hedles.

Here are some pictures. Any ideas?

Thanks so much

Marlene

Might be a Macomber (there are some look-alikes).  Check for a plate on the castle with serial number and company name.

Laurie Autio

Thanks. I will look better tomorrow. So far only the things that move the tredles has a number on it. My dh says it is at lest 30 to 40 years old from the type of screws.

I thought it was newer.

Thanks

Marlene

Our guild shows Flying carpets at the library of Lessebo all July. See more pictures here!

Beautiful, Kerstin!  The exhibit is well named.  It's exhilarating to see all those carpets suspended, with all their surfaces and textures clearly visible -- we don't often see them that way!

Ruth

Kerstin-love the flying carpets.  What a great name, good venue and lovely rugs.  How long has your guild been doing this?  I seem to remember you posting them last year.  So glad to see it back.

Claudia

...to the flying carpets, and thought this looked like a terrific display!

Wouldn't it be great if there was something like this at a Convergence? (Last year would have been the year since we were in New Mexico, and the southwest region of the U.S. has a lot of rug weavers.)

I have to agree with Laurie it looks like a Macomber. You can find pictures of Macombers under Resources (Looms) and you can join the Macomber Group here on Weavolutions. I would not go by the screws, you can still buy standard wood screws. If you find the data plate you can find out when this loom was made.

Michael

Macomber group leader

In the exhibition there are 15 "real" carpets, one hammock, two for-fun-only (leaves and birch branches) and three mobiles (my own magic carpets). Several of the "real" carpets are two-sided - taqueté both threaded and picked-up, and there is one double-sided twill.

The national guild has themes lasting 2 years - the current theme is "something to adorn your room" and is one year old. We decided rugs would be our theme for the first year - I translated the first pages, but they got so few readers I didn't bother go on translating.

Sally, IIRC there was a gigantic (no - Very Long) rag rug being woven at Convergence '90 (my very first) - in search of a Guinness record, or something? Before the 'net... (C90 was in San José)

Very good photos, Kerstin! Thanks for sharing these. Where is the exhibit and how long will it be open?

Here is a generalized map of where to find us (ignore the upper left-hand map; Lessebo is in the lower right-hand corner on the upper right-hand map); here is a detailed map of where to find the library. (Not difficult; it sits on the main thoroughfare)

The exhibition runs from July 4 to July 29; the library is open on Mon - Tues 13 - 18; Wed - Fri 10 - 15. More about the library itself here (includes yet another view of the exhibition). If you don't read Swedish, here are descriptions of the library in various languages.

WE had an incredible first day of workshops! Even more spectacular, a Virginia West fashion show at 6:30 this evening. I have been familiar with her work (both garments and books) since my first Convergence in 1998, and to have the opportunity to see and touch many of the garments seen on the runway or in Handwoven and Weavers was one of the many highlights of a very full day. 

Sally

P.S. I got to meet sewhatsports at dinner tonight! It's always fun to meet fellow Weavolutionaries and put a face to name.

I wish that I could get back to Sweden and see this exhibit!  I visited a weaver near Stockholm who showed me amazingly beautiful rugs that she had woven in highly original designs using shaft switching with her own device. Handwoven rugs have a long history in Sweden. Gisela's rugs are very firm and well-crafted.

Kerstin, how large is your guild? The Flying Carpet exhibit includes quite a few rugs in different styles. Even in a big guild in North America, I do not think you will find that a large proportion of the members weave rugs. Maybe you will suggest that our looms are not right for rugs!

Bonnie

Independence Day/4th Of July Holiday in Folsom, Calif. One can go to large public displays of fireworks or buy some boxes of fireworks to set off in the street after a day of grilling burgers, hot dogs (sausages) and swimming in the pool to cool off. Here we set up a lot of fireworks and set them off in groups.

Here is my brother in law setting the fuses to more fireworks. In fairness, I did my share of setting off fireworks when not taking pictures. My oldest son was setting the fuses on fireworks and then standing far from the sparks.

Here is the family and neighbors watching the fireworks here in Folsom Calif. Yes. As in Folsom Prison in the Johnny Cash song. It's a couple miles up the road. Just another spot in my corner of the world.

Have a good day!
Franco Rios

I've been on Weavolution for a while, but very quiet.

Kerstin - what a wonderful grouping of rugs and so nicely displayed!

NEWS (New England Weaver's Seminar) is next week. Tops on my list is weaving with fiber optics. I weave with weird materials so this fits right in with the copper wire and horsehair.

Here in Massaschusetts, we seem to have all the rain that the folks in Texas are missing. Want to come get some?

Weaving wise, the loom is empty, although a new overtwist wool warp has been wound and fringe tying on the last batch of gauzy silk scarves is progressing.

Happy July,

Debbie

As for our guild, there is a presentation on our main page in English. As for our "diversity", see our anniversary exhibitions (find them in the navigation bar - we made 8 different exhibitions with on the theme  "party"). But perhaps I should point out that not all artefacts are new (be they carpets or clothing...)

Speaking of carpets, rag rugs are very popular with Swedish weavers - and the Swedish "public". Rag rugs don't really have a very long history here - until mid-1800 there was a law compelling ppl to sell their rags to the paper industry. The law was not enforced everywhere, but it *was* there. The bottom fell out of the rag market when the wood-based paper pulp became more common (IIRC, the first wood pulp paper in Sweden is from 1847) - and the rag rug was born.

Anyway, rag rugs too often are seen as "the REAL handweaving" - apart from the history above, ppl tend to overlook the fact that the rags are woven, too: no yardage, no rags. Over the years, there has been written a number of books about rag rugs: in one big library database I got over 150 hits (in Swedish).

On my way to MAFA, I tripped and fell over the suitcase full of Weavolution goodies coming to MAFA with us and hurt my knee. (seeing the orthopod Monday AM)  We were only able to stay a short time because I was in so much pain, and I met Sharon Alderman, msthimble, sewwhatsports, Sally Orgren and  Deb.  In addition, I met Michele Belson from Lunatic Fringe (a loyal advertiser since the start), Cathie Chung from JOY, Eileen Hallman of New World Textiles, Inge Dam and Melissa Weaver Dunning.  I am sorry to have missed Barbara Walker. Here are some photos:

Sorry to hear about your knee but thank you for sharing these pictures. No doubt Sally will have more later. Still waiting to see Inky's new outfit.

Bummer!! I'm sorry to hear about your knee. Thanks for posting the pictures!

Have a better day!

I am sorry to hear about your fall. I hope you knee get better and you get good news at the doctor. Sally

So sorry about hurting your knee - not fun!  Hope you will be feeling better soon.....

Laura

So sorry about your knee. Get better soon.

Marlene

So sorry about your knee. Get better soon.

Marlene

Okay, some of us were weaving until nearly midnight tonight! (Sorry I haven't been better at posting!) We have some interesting structures in our 3D's of 3D class with Ruby Leslie. Included is the warp I was working on at the end of the evening. She utilized a few 12 shaft looms with a harness (set of shafts) remaining dormant, so we could weave alternate structures without having to cut off and retension. Each weaver just switched to the other harness for the second option. (That's why on the underside of the cloth around the beam you see all those floats.) A bit wasteful, but as this is a round-robin, we are trying to save time between weavers and cover many structures in that limited time. Tossing a bit of the pearl cotton is not gonna break the bank...

I had a chance during the open studio tonight to meet some of the weavers and instructors who I have admired for a long time, like Heather Winslow and Robyn Spady. I also got to meet Kathe Todd-Hooker and see more of her spectacular pieces IN PERSON! And of course, no one can miss saying hello to Sharon Alderman if she makes an east coast appearance (and she had photos of Bob). This year's line-up was incredible, there were so many instructors that I wanted to take, and not enough space to list them all here. (But I was trying to collect contact info for our guild programming chairs.)

On behalf of all the lurkers here at Weavolution (yes, I know you are out there because many of you TOLD me so at MAFA! ;-) I thanked Kathe in particular for posting some of her projects, and also Su Butler for her starting up and responding to forum topics. I am missing a slew more of people whose posts are very much appreciated, so as I encounter you at future conferences, I will try and thank you personally, too!

However, for Weavolution to be successful, some of you lurkers will have to start posting too, or people of this caliber won't think you are interested because they aren't seeing your feedback! And it's so much fun to find out someone at the lunch table or sitting at a loom next to you has been a virtual friend and you finally get to put a face with a name! 

Sally

P.S. Sadly, Inky is naked, so wasn't able to attend MAFA this year. Stay tuned, he is slated for another adventure at the end of the week, as long as we can get him dressed in time...(I know Franco, I know—still "TMI"). 

P.S.S. This was my first regional conference, and I must give credit to my guildmate Elise E for posting photos and conference recaps the last few years about her MAFA experiences. It was because of her enthusiasm and taking the time time to post in the past that I attended this year.

Dear dteaj-

Four of my guildmates are attending NEWS next week, and two of them will be in YOUR class! Look for Gail (ms.thimble here on Weavolution) and Caroline. Also attending, but not in your class, will be Dixie and Margriet. (Margriet is on Weavo, but needs to post more of her spectacular projects.) Knowing these two gals, I suspect they are taking some sort of structure class or something with fine threads. Can't wait until they all come back from the conference and see what they learned.

Have an excellent time, and if you get a chance to post what you are weaving while at the conference, please do. We want to share in your conference excitement even if we can't be there!

Sally

Yes, please do post about conference experiences.  I had to cancel my participation at NEWS so would be especially interested in hearing about that one.  :)

cheers,

Laura

I had a wonderful surprise today. Alison was able to change her work/travel plans so we could spend the afternoon together. We spent so much time chatting and looking at things together that we never took a single picture.
It was fun seeing her after close to 2 years since we were in the same room together.
Claudia

thanks for the great post and spectacular picture.  It's so encouraging to meet weaving mentors in person.  Sorry to here about Inky though.  Hope to see him soon. 

Alaa

are great!  And I'm glad you got to meet and see at least some friends.  Hope your recovery is quick.

Alaa

Many of the contributors to the book "60 Scarves for 60 Years" attended MAFA. I wish I had known, so I could have brought my book to get their autographs!

Besides Virginia West (pages 2 & 114), I met Betsy Szkil (pages 36 & 116), Judy Rhoades (pages 16 & 84), Marian Flint (pages 30 & 102), and Mary McInnes (page 56). Melanie Taylor wove the only inkle scarf included in the book (page 38), and she was in my 3D class. As a "fellow inkler", I was bummed she didn't get to meet Inky!

Sally

Sally, MAFA sounds like so much fun. I meant to ask you if you went ahead and used the eyeglass cases that you wove some time ago and showed on your projects page.

I'm down to the last two dyed warps for shawls.  Yay!  Good thing, too, as the box of yarn I ordered last week arrived today.  Can hardly wait to start something *new*!  ;)

Great! I'll look for your guildmates. I'll try to take some pictures, too.

Yes, I will try to report back. I was so sad when I heard that you would not be able to make it. I was signed up for both of your classes. I hope you are able to make it to the east coast US sometime in the future and, of course, that your health improves.

Laverne,

YES! About 50% of the attendees received the eyeglass cases made by our guild in their conference bags. (I heard there were about 200 attendees.)

It was *very* fun when someone pulled one out and asked, "Was this your guild?" Not only could I say "yes," but oftentimes I could tell them the name of the weaver who made the fabric. Someone asked me about the structure of one unusal and strinking pattern. (It happened to be diversified plain weave, woven by Leslie Lyman.) 

I'd like to mention there were a lot of other fun things in my bag...I happen to LOVE pencils (thanks to the Potomac Fiber Arts Guild), an inkle-woven bookmark from the Weaver's Guild of Greater Baltimore, a felted sheep ornament from Palisades, and "Bleatings from the South Jersey Guild of Spinners & Handweavers," which happened to be a really cute wrapped sheep pin. Not every bag had the same stuff, and I know other guilds made donations. Hopefully someone from MAFA will post the rest of the contributions.

Many, many thanks to all hands who had a part in putting on an excellent conference for this first-timer!

Sally

This is something I normally don't do. I got this as an email from a friend today and would like to pass it on to you.

 A Great Story :

  When  I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then.  And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work..  On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned  biscuits in front of my dad.  I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at  school.  I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit.  He ate every bite of that thing... never made a face nor uttered a word about it!When I got up from the table that  evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for  burning the biscuits.  And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good  night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits  burned.  He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your  Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired.  And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times.  Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.  I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of  the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.And that's my prayer for you  today... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and  the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't  a deal-breaker!We could extend this to any  relationship.  In fact, understanding is the base of  any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or  friendship!"Don't put the key to your happiness in  someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.And PLEASE pass this along to someone who  has enriched your life.  Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."Life without God is like an unsharpened  pencil - it has no  point."

This is the gate to the City of Dharma Realm in West Sacramento, Calif. The last four days have been cloudy in the mornings about 52F temp and then warms up to between 75F and 85F in the afternoon. Which is great in the spring but this is middle of July. The tomatoes are not getting ripe and the almonds are late and more weirdness.

There is a yellow banner with red letters near the middle of the picture that is advertising the Youth Summer Camp. It looks a little out of place under the cloud cover.

The City of Dharma Realm is a Buddhist monastery. The cool looking buildings and palm trees are leftover from when the property was the El Rancho Resort along the old Highway 40. After it went out of business the Buddhist church bought the property. It's fun to see the monks in their robes in line at the Bank of America to conduct business. Or to see them waiting for the bus to go wherever monks go.

Here is a look at Downtown Sacramento below the morning clouds from about 3 miles away.

That's my corner of the world.
Have a good day!

It's cloudy and rainy here, too.  My DH commented tonight that he thinks it's the wettest July for years and years.  Better than the pall of wildfire smoke we had round this time last year, though!  :)

cheers,

Laura

This was part of the "inspiring" view I had yesterday, when shopsitting our co-op:

Lucky enough to be spending most of the summer in Douglas, Michigan( near Holland). Lots of inspiration around here and it's great to escape the humidity of Cincinnati where I normally live. Weaving everyday , seersucker samples on the floor loom and starting to sample on the tapestry loom. I'm enjoying it now before the onslaught of visitors in august which is another kind of enjoyment.
Life is very good in my corner of the world!

This subject of this artwork by a local high school student is a big clue...

Inky posing with 4 Deen looms, In the foreground, a Deen Reliant. (Why yes, Laverne, that IS a new warp on Inky...; - )

Sally

I have gone to NEWS as a visitor twice.  On Friday, I visited the vendors - and the special exhibit of international weaving in the Campus Center - found my "wish I could take it home" piece here.  On Saturday, I went back to the library building to view the exhibits put up by guilds (the map info says Table Exhibit and Traveling Library) - and upstairs for the Gallery Show (competition) and Faculty Exhibit - then, back to the Campus Center to a show of clothing. 

In waaaay past years, when NEWS was held at UMass, I attended several times - and always loved assisting in setting up the Gallery Show.  My late teacher got me into that.  This must have been longer ago than I realize, because on Friday and Saturday I did not see even one person who looked familiar (other than a local vendor). 

I really do miss weaving - and teaching weaving - but, when I slacked off on weaving activity, the space for the floor loom filled up with other things.  That's why I really need to sell the floor loom.  I will still have my 3 table looms (one 8-harness, two 4-harness). 

Ignore request - question answered.

(And I am *totally* thinking of Ellen while here!)

I had a great time at NEWS, also, though not as much gallery time as I wanted. 

I really enjoyed my classes this time.  One was an excellent presentation by Elsbeth Dijxhoorn on Textile Conservation.  She is organized and absolutely packed the talk with information and examples.  We walked away with a terrific set of handouts and (most of us) some serious concerns about our current storage practices.

The second set were with Bhakti Ziek on Photoshop.  It was the best brain candy I've had in ages.  Bhakti was unflappable as we floundered through our multiple programs and computer issues to the pleasure of that AHA moment and freedom.  I have been using very similar techniques by hand in Fiberworks but having the shortcut and extensions will be a delight.  Rarely do I chortle out loud in a class, but that was me, chirping along, by the end.

Cheers to all the teachers, the exhibitors, and especially to the folks who dedicated years  to getting it to come together.

Laurie Autio

My guess at Inky's location will be Solvang in California. The windmill and the danish flag indicate that. ( I am also danish, though I do not live in Denmark)

Michael, Thanks for the inspirirng story. I think I've had to eat a few burnt biscuits lately. Keep safe..........Steve.

arrived in the mail today.  Great reference book - every guild should have a copy.  Serious spinners/weavers of wool should also have their own copy, imho....

Cheers,

Laura

Eva, I *wish*! I'd make a bee-line to Village Weaving and Spinning and say hi to John!

This windmill is actually located in another large Danish settlement in the Midwest. The windmill was purchased, dismantled, moved, and restored in the 1970's - 80's in Elk Horn, Iowa. (But we also visited the Danish Immigrant Museum, and read about Solvang, CA.)

Celebrate The Ordinary: Naan and Raita - This Naan is a ten inch diameter leavened flatbread from India/Pakistan, cooked fresh when I ordered it. Raita is seasoned yogurt sauce/dip from the same region. This raita has thin slivers of cucumber too and is cool from the chiller. I order it carry out and go to wait for my train. Tear off pieces of naan and dip it in the raita, then eat. Wash down with cool water from my water bottle. My Lord leads me through the valleys and canyons of the city. He leads me to dine on bread and yogurt. He cools my throat with water. He sustains me all the days of my life. Cost is $1 for naan and $1 for raita at India Grill 7th and L St in Sacramento Calif. A simple pleasure is priceless.

Have a good day!

Does this high school artist happen to be in Kansas City Missouri?

Have a good day!

Yes, Inky is still in the Midwest for location #1, but that's the famous Chicago Picasso in Daley Plaza. (Chicago, Illinois for those not familiar with Amercian cities.)

The shot below was taken a little closer to Kansas City, Missouri. It's from the campus of Truman State University, located in Kirksville, MO. I was really surprised to learn they have a fiber department within their art department, and actually teach weaving! (Where do I sign up? ;-) Because it is summertime, the looms were not in use.

Today my corner of the world is no longer what it used to be. Yesterday a bomb exploded in the center of Oslo, and even though I live 1200 km further north, it is stil the country I live in. The bomb went off only a few meters from my youngest daughter's studio office, and she usually walks by that place every day around the same time. Luckily she is here with me for a few days. Seven people were killed in Oslo, and a few hours later a man went hunting with a machine gun for  young people at the summer camp of the labour party. The camp is in an island, and 84 of them were killed.

This is all so overwhelming that a lack words.

Eva

Eva,

I've been reading about this here in New York. My heart goes out to the victims' families and to you and everyone who is living through this inexplicable hell.

Carie

At times like this it is hard to know what to say. I am glad your daughter is well. My prays and throughts are with you and the people of Norway.

Maybe someday we will live in a peaceful world.

Michael

Eva - this is a tragedy - I was so sorry to hear about this.

Laura

Eva, I saw your message before hearing about this tragedy on the news.  Norway is one of the places on the planet where these things have always seemed impossible.  There are no explanations for such acts, and there are no words to contain the sorrow they cause.

They're holding a special mass tomorrow in Paris in support of those touched directly by this drama, and in solidarity with the people of Norway.

There are things that should never happen.

Ruth

I was in transit to EWR (Newark) to board a United flight on Tuesday morning 9/11. I saw things I never thought I would see in America, let alone seeing the Towers go down in person. It was chaos. 11 years later I am typing this from an airport gate waiting to board a flight. Time heals.

Sally

Sally, I apologize for correcting you. It will be the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I am a professonal firefighter, for 30+years now. I cried when I heard and saw that we had lost 343 brother firefighters, thousands of occupants of the Twin Towers, Pentagon and the people in the planes used in the terrorist attack. This world is full of crazy people and nowhere is safe from their evil acts. We can only hope that when we venture this planet that God will let us live one more day to give him thanks......Steve.

Eva,

I pray for your country. I am sad for the losses of life and the injuries. I pray justice will be handed down to any and all persons who are responsible for this awful tragedy.

Have a better day!
Franco Rios
Sacramento Calif. USA

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Such a deal I found at the neighbor's yard sale and at the thrift store in last couple of weeks. I bought this bag of fiber stuff for 75 cents at the neighbor's yard sale. It looked interesting and so I grabbed.
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All this stuff was in the bag. The papers are pattern notes for knitting and crochet items. Some round crochet patches that probably would be for some kind of blanket. A big handful of embroidery floss. A small knitted swatch. Also some cross stitch needles. A knitting needle, a crochet hook.
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Also in the bag was a couple of hairpin lace frames! Which is why I bought the bag when I saw the frames sticking out. So now I am closer to trying out the craft of hairpin lace which is on my "to-do" list. I bought the six sided peg frame loom for 25 cents at the yard sale. I found instructions for the six sided loom on the internet.

I bought the clipboards for 49 cents each at the thrift store to turn them into little weaving frame looms. I like using old clipboards because they are inexpensive, the pressboard is very sturdy but cuts easily with a hand saw.

Two dollars for all this stuff! Like I said, such a deal!

Have a good day!
Franco Rios
Sacramento Calif.

You did good! I love thrift shops and yard sales. Just look at all you can find. And you are helping other people by taking this stuff off their hands.

 If any one is in Il and needs a loom there is one on ebay right now for $20.00 dollars! it is a big floor loom. There is another on there for less than 150 that I think is in PA. I got mine and it is too far away from me but someone should need a loom.

Have a better day and good thoughts are going out to all in Norway. What a bummer.

marlene

Thank you all of you for your kind thoughts. I find some kind of consolation in the fact that the terrorist was cought, and this morning I  hear that the police has arrested another six persons.

My daughter is still shocked, she has heard from friends who passed the bombed area in Oslo only minutes after the explosion, and they took pictures not knowing what had happened.

Eva as a former Marine S/Sgt, Vietnam vet, I will tell you the people that die in war know peace. It is the people what live that know no peace. Even now everytime I hear of a young person dying it bring tears to my eyes. What a waste of life. You never forget.

Maybe someday we will know world peace.

Michael 

Thanks Steve — yes it will be 10 this fall. (Posted by a tired traveler.)

Eva,
I thought of you the minute I started reading the news coming from Oslo. My heart goes out to you. I am so glad your daughter is with you and not in Oslo.
Claudia

Nice find Franco! I remember a conversation, what seems like AGES ago, in the backstrap group about those hairpin frames. Come back and show us what you make.

What a great idea for a weaving guild show!  The carpets are spectacular.  Thanks for sharing.

On Sunday, Oscar and I made Pupusas, which are like thick corn tortillas with a filling of meat or cheese. Oscar made the corn masa (dough) and I cooked a filling of chicken, onions, and a little tabasco sauce. I made balls of masa and tried to shape like I saw on video but the masa was sticking to my hands. Oscar suggested using corn flour on my hands and that helped a lot. We cooked the pupusas in cast iron skillet. Pupusas come from the region of El Salvador and are supposed to be 3000 years old. But I can assure you these were made fresh a little while ago! Not bad for a first try!

Have a good day!
Franco Rios
Sacramento, Calif.

Just home from helping a new weaver beam her 2nd ever warp, and first warp on her new-to-her loom.  Left her with the job of threading to do.  :)

cheers,

Laura

Hola Eva:

Me conmociono la noticias de Noruega, y tanto a ti como a tu familia y por supuesto a todo el pueblo Noruego mi mas sincero abrazo y todo mi cariño, por lo poco que conozco son un pueblo con una gran sabiduria y a esto hay que responder con MAS DEMOCRACIA. Mucho animo y un beso enorme,

Cris

I recently received my first order of Fox Fiber yarns - the 18/2 size in a variety of colours.  Since I've heard that the colours can change with repeated washings I wove a sample, cut it in half and ran one half through the washer 3 times.  Here is the picture showing before and after.

in the amount of dye loss.

Michael

Laura,

I have heard that the colors can darken.  Is that what you found?  I assume the sample on the left is the unwashed one.

Joanne

Laura, is the fox fiber the natural cotton colors?

http://www.vreseis.com/

If so then I don't any dye is involved. It is the cotton's natural oxidation (might not be proper word but you get my meaning.

Joanne, here's more words around the darkening
http://www.vreseis.com/colordeveloping.html

The yarns are not dyed - these are naturally coloured and they darken with repeated washings.  :)  Yes, the lighter one on the left is the before, the darker one on the right is the after.

cheers,

Laura

I thought the one on the left was the washed one which had the dyes washed out.

Michael

That's what is so fun about the naturally coloured yarns Sally Fox has worked on - they actually darken and there are no dyes involved.  :)

cheers,

Laura

and I'm weaving a brilliant red.  Gotta get me some colour somehow!

Great red! One of my favorite colors.
Claudia

Laura that is awonderful red! I love the color and sure hope some day to be able to get close to making something that good. Thanks for shareing.
I live with two guys that do not understand about my interest in weaving and although they are supportive they just don't really care a lot. So I just had to share this news with you all because I know you will understand my excitement.
I sold m y first piece today! I went to the Farmers Market to sell the squash and eggs and of course took the rugs and Mug Rugs I had made to sahare with my friends and maybe sell something. And I did . The rug I liked the least, a multi colored linen one sold to a lady that wants to hang it on a wall!.
I am so happy. Thanks for letting me share.
Marlene in Oregon where it is hot! today.(80)

Good for you!  Income is always great.  :)

cheers!

Laura

Laura, that red is amazing!  (I'm also impressed with how versatile that Wall of Troy pattern is -- it looks surprisingly different with each little variation.)  It's a cool, dank, dark, dreary day here, too, and that Red warms the heart.

Ruth

and I wish I could say it's dark, wet and dreary here in Jordan. In fact, it's about 100F, sunny and almost clompletely breezeless.  I ould love to have some rain, but this is our dry season. So, unlike Laura my need for color comes from the need to see something other than brown and green. 

Red, purple, blue and the warp I'm currently making in a burnt orange, seem like excellent choices.

Beautiful work, Laura.

Alaa

The sun has actually managed to find a few breaks in the clouds here, so we're hoping it will be encouraged to hang around for a while.  This weekend is a 'holiday' weekend, too.  The red is almost done - about one yard left to weave.  :)  Next warp will be softer colours and I'll be using some of the 18/2 Fox Fiber naturally coloured cotton for weft.  

cheers,

Laura

Finishing July in Sacramento Calif. This month has been wonderful weather wise. Average temperatures in the 80F-90F range which is about 10F degrees lower than average. This is the Tower Bridge which carries traffic from the old US Highway 40 over the Sacramento River into Sacramento toward the State Capitol. This is a drawbridge, the center section lifts up for larger boats.

Just upriver from the Tower Bridge on the West Sacramento side is a building called The Ziggurat, which is inspired by the stair stepped pyramids of the ancient world. On the right is the steel and glass tower built by the Calif State Teachers Retirement System (CALSTRS). The trees and grass are part of a parkway along the river being developed by the City of West Sacramento.

Looking upriver from the Tower Bridge, you can see the docks at the Old Sacramento district, which has been renovated to highlight and conserve the older architecture. The biggest boat, the Delta King, is permanently docked and serves as a floating restaurant and hotel. Upper left of this picture is the edge of the CALSTRS building.

Smaller boats carry passengers on tours downriver into the Delta toward San Francisco or recreational boats can travel upriver toward Colusa and Chico Calif.

The bridge is the "I" Street Bridge. The upper level carries vehicles and the lower level carries trains over the river on the old Calif Highway 16 route. It is a swing bridge, the center section rotates to make a clearance for boats to pass.

That's my corner of the world.
Have a good day!
Franco Rios

For many years my 4-H kids and I spent a week living at the cal State Fair in Sacramento. The city is so pretty with all the trees but usually very hot! Glad you are having a good summer. Is the Farrols Ice Cream parlor still there. So much good food in that town.
It is cloudy and cool,65 ish this am in Oregon. The falcons that nest on the cliff across the street from my house are very noisy this am so something must be close to the nest. They will dive boom us as well go to the mail box when the little ones are in the nest.
Have a good Sat. everyone
Marlene