My Corner Of The World - January 2011 Because of the popularity of this thread, we'll start a new thread each month! The idea is to tell us what is going on in your corner of the world. It does not have to be weaving related, but it could be. Please include a picture when you add your post. Weavers are very visual people. Please remember to downsize your photo before uploading. Be sure to tell us where you are (city, state/province, country?) This forum has members internationally. Have a good day! Previous Month - December 2010 http://weavolution.com/forum/chat/my-corner-world-december-2010-16247 Next Month - February 2011 http://weavolution.com/forum/chat/my-corner-world-february-2011-16898

Comments

Sun, 01/16/2011 - 15:40

Michael White

I would be happy for you to keep the snow up your way. By this time of the year you should have had feet of snow in Montreal. You just need to figure out how keep the jet stream from dipping down our way. Hang in there you will get snow sometime this winter.

Sun, 01/16/2011 - 18:27

bolivian warmi

I would love to warm you all with a nice picture of summery jungly Santa Cruz Bolivia but "ick" it's too hot and humid to go out!

Sun, 01/16/2011 - 18:53

graciela (not verified)

 I am looking at much snow, but in Buenos Aires the temperature, today, is 32º C, and it is raining. Beatiful place, Franco.I always read your post, they are interesting ,entertained and happy.
Now, I talk about weaving. I found this page, and I  remember you: a small loom to weav with beads. Nice works.

http://picasaweb.google.com/zensepulveda/WebrahmenLoom#
I am working in 2 ó 3 projects about gauze ( loom and backstrap loom), and 1 bag in sprang to my daughter Luciana, I   have got  always some projects because I work in one or the other depends the time, the inspiration, or the place where i am. I put two pictures with a practice of one student .

 

 

...with hot or cold, have a beautiful day!

Thu, 01/20/2011 - 21:32

sally orgren

Where is everyone — hunkered down against the weather?

I FINALLY finished the tedious 9 yards of curtain fabric in Bronson. It actually wasn't as tedious as I was thinking it was *going* to be, and it came out GREAT! Now to remeasure the windows and sew this fabric up. (Although simple looking, this design actually required 4 shuttles, 2 for each stripe.)

And thanks to Francorios' sett recommendation (on another forum here at Weavolution), I was able to rip off a quickie baby blanket, tying right onto the yellow curtain warp, so I didn't have to waste time rethreading and had virtually no loom waste for the new warp. (I just treadled for plain weave on the new project, ignoring the bronson set-up.)

The trick if you are thinking to do this is to treadle in two sticks in front of the castle so you can keep your threading order when you tie on the new warp. If you have to resley the reed, you can add the sticks behind the reed. This also helps after beaming the warp, to keep your thread order when sleying.

If you are tying on the same size yarn and have enough old warp remaining to bring it through the front of the reed, add the sticks infront of the reed so you don't have to resley, and save even more time between projects!

 

Wed, 01/19/2011 - 21:35

tien (not verified)

In my corner of the world, the weather has been beautiful the last few days - typical Bay Area winter, in the 40's and 50's at night and 60 degrees or so in the daytime.

And I have been busy on the loom:

These are samples for my entry into the Handwoven garment competition.  I will probably make them into a light jacket (and yes, I will post it in the projects section, as soon as it's done!)

Anyone else planning to enter the Handwoven garment competition?

P.S. Franco - you missed President's Day in February!

Wed, 01/19/2011 - 22:44

Michael White

Sally, Tien, Sally your curtains look great, tieing on the baby blanket was a good trick. How is "Inky?"  Tien, the colours in your cloth reminds me of dragonflies. I think my "chocolates" got eaten by the mail carrier(g) Today was a great day, temps in the 50s. I picked up 1 & 1/2, 5 gal buckets of pecans from one tree today and still did not get them all. I will pick again tomorrow. The robins pass through over the weekend and today 1000s of starling were covering the trees and grounds. Everthing is moving South, which is not a bad idea since the weather people are calling for snow/rain here this weekend.

Stay warm and enjoy your weaving

Michael

Wed, 01/19/2011 - 22:53

1gardenia (not verified)

Sally, how long did it take you to make those?  They are so beautiful.  I have six windows in my studio that need to be dressed.  Maybe someday, I will try weaving curtains. 

We had some snow yesterday.  My husband and I went snowshoeing.  It was so lovely in the woods.  More snow on the way for Friday.  Youpi!

Chantal

Thu, 01/20/2011 - 02:13

Aunt Janet (not verified)

Sally that is lovely fabric.  It would look great in my kitchen.  I have some handwoven from India fabric in those same colors, without the lace to put up in my kitchen.  Yours is more crisp and elegant.  Love the baby blanket, too.  Thanks for showing us.

Thu, 01/20/2011 - 15:56

sally orgren

Response to #58, "How long did it take..." 

I actually wove the majority of the last 5 yards in 2-3 evenings. The yellow stripes were slower (with alternating shuttles) than the white Bronson areas. It was 24 epi, balanced in 10/2 cotton. (And I was listening to Janet Evanovich, Finger Lickin' Fifteen.)

Thu, 01/20/2011 - 16:05

sally orgren

...will be coming soon. I think the next goal for me is to try and capture him naked—this warp has been on waayyyyy too long. And I think he needs a bath, his lower pegs (that stick out of the travel bag) are a completely different color than the rest of him!

Rest assured, there IS major travel in his future.

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 03:03

debmcclintock

I find it hard to believe I actually witnessed this but I saw an old loom used as firewood tonite. Our innkeeper showed us this nice piece of shaped maple scrap he was putting in the fire. He casually said "it was an old loom that had been in the attic of the farmhouse". After I recovered from the news he explained that he had used a nice part of it as a stair railing but the rest had made nice firewood scrap. Needless to say we only put logs in the fire the rest of the night. I'll let someone else burn loom parts. Lift your shuttles in honor of one less loom tonite.
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 21:12

icecharm (not verified)

I think I just died a little. Burning a loom?!!! You might as well throw a few books on there as well, make the horror complete.
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 22:22

debmcclintock

In our historic manuscript study group you hear about barn frame looms having been burned for firewood in the past. I never expected to live that moment NOR was it on my list of things to see! Sniff sniff!
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 23:06

Michael White

The nuts are coming down everywere. I picked up 65 pounds from one tree. I pick the nuts up from 5 trees , the other 12 trees go to the deer, squirrels & wild hogs.

 

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 23:15

Michael White

I took the nuts to be cracked today. Now I just have to pick out the meat and ship some to friends and freeze the rest.

Michael

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 04:16

rigidheddlewea… (not verified)

0_o

Horror is right. That's up there with kicking puppies and drowning kittens.

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 15:51

Michael White

I was not going to weigh in on this but I guess I will add my two cents. Over the years people have offer me dozens of looms. Some I have pass on to other people and some that where "junk"  I just said no thanks. A barn loom is in most cases very large and most people now adays do not have room for such a large loom. So you offer it to 3-4 people everyone says no thanks. So what do you do with it? I will let you answer that question. Years ago a friend run a  foundry,(David Gordon, Athens Boiler and Foundry)  he knew that Cheryl wove and offered her some industrial looms and other textile equipment, during  the time when all the mills in Georgia and the Southern US were closing down. We thanked David and said, no thanks.  So they all got melted down. I took my son to watch the last pouring at the foundry a few years ago when David closed down the foundry. He could not compete with the overseas foundries.

Michael

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 16:08

francorios (not verified)

Thank you Michael for that perspective on old looms. Sometimes the old gear just needs to go away.

Have a good day!

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 16:17

francorios (not verified)

Thu Jan 20 2011 7:26am Walking through Sacramento Capitol Park on the roadway that bisects the park at 13th St, across from the Presbyterian Church, I heard the little birds chipping their alarm calls. I looked up and saw two large hawks (Red Tail?) sitting in a tall tree. That was not the reason for the alarm. As I looked up a falcon flew about 10 feet over my head and landed in the tree next to me just off the road. As I tried to get out my phone camera for a pic the bird hopped to the next branch and pounced on a pile of leaves in the fork of the tree (squirrel's nest?). Then it flew away in southeast direction with some kind of small rodent looking thing in its talon. Then another falcon flew overhead in the same direction after the first one. I did not get a good look at the coloring but the silhouette was falcon shaped. (When I later checked bird references I found it was probably a prairie falcon or maybe a peregrine falcon.) I looked up and the two hawks were still up in the tree. I had heard there were falcons Downtown and this is the closest I've ever been to wild ones. I think of falcons hunting with a swoop and a great capture on the wing. Now I know they are opportunists as well. It happened so fast I would have walked right past it if I did not look up because of the little birds and their alarm calls. One of the reasons I like using public transit for going to work is to walk through the park in the morning. Have a good day! Franco Rios, Sacramento, California

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 20:29

QuakerWeaver (not verified)

Highlights in my corner of the world this month include the start of a Fiberworks enrichment program after school one day each week and a chance to get together with friends who meet monthly as a creativity circle. The luxury of having time to be creative, sharing laughter with friends as we share projects/tease out new solutions to stuck places in both our art/craft and lives, and watching young people get jazzed about dyeing and felting and braiding...it's been a delightful month so far and I'm so excited about carrying a new commitment to using weaving as a way to connect with friends, old and new, throughout the year.

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 22:29

Jerri S

In my corner of NJ, the far northwest corner, almost where NY, NJ and PA meet, it was minus 3 degrees this morning. Ok, I can do snow, even cold, this is after all, NJ. But minus 3 kinda got into my bones. BRRRRRRR.

I came home from work, and went out to "water" the rabbits; they live outside on a covered porch. In the winter, since the water bottles freeze, they get their water 2-3 times a day in little bowls or cans.  Miss Crankypants, who real name is Charlotte, has recently started biting. She has always growled a bit, she's not very social, but since the fall, she has been boxing when I reach in the cage, and she snuck in a good chomp today.

It's bunny behavior mod time, which is a bit of a circus. I have to put the training collar on the dog so he won't try to snack on the bunny, then convince her she needs to sit on my lap and tolerate petting. Otherwise, when it's time to clip her fur, she'll be impossible. At least she'll keep my lap warm:) 

After that, some weaving time: cottolin warp on the Baby Wolf for dishtowel exchange.

Mon, 01/24/2011 - 04:24

francorios (not verified)


Sacramento Weavers and Spinners Saturday group met on 1/22/11, above you can see some spinners with their wheels and Linda has her loom. I took drop spindles.

The Guild is currently developing an alternate, supplemental meeting time for those who are unable to attend the regular, weekday meetups. Meetings are located at the Arcade Library and are from 10am - 12 noon. Come with your ideas on how to shape this group, or simply to enjoy the company of fiber folk!

Feb 19, 2011
March 12, 2011
April 23, 2011
May 21, 2011

Arcade Library
2443 Marconi Ave
Sacramento, CA

http://www.sacweavespin.org/saturday



This is the rep weave Linda is working on. It's not just spinning at the Saturday meeting.

See you next time!
Have a good day!

Mon, 01/24/2011 - 13:35

debmcclintock

Good point Michael I've seen several rotten wood looms that could not hold a warp. Unfortunately this one that was burned was in good shape and part was used for a bannister. The remainder was burned. We just need to make sure folks know that we are weavers and have networks that can help find homes for working looms. In this case I only see these folks once a year and found out after the fact. The reality is that it can still happen!
Mon, 01/24/2011 - 13:37

debmcclintock

Good point Michael I've seen several rotten wood looms that could not hold a warp. Unfortunately this one that was burned was in good shape and part was used for a bannister. The remainder was burned. We just need to make sure folks know that we are weavers and have networks that can help find homes for working looms. In this case I only see these folks once a year and found out after the fact. The reality is that it can still happen!
Mon, 01/24/2011 - 14:01

whiteoakgrandmother (not verified)

Here in the land of repurposing, I have heard of but not seen a loom turned into a smokehouse, and another turned into a chickenhouse. Neither of these still exist or I would get pictures.
Mon, 01/24/2011 - 15:48

graciela (not verified)

Very nice, and not very difficult to make

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindas/3566647944/in/photostream/

 

Mon, 01/24/2011 - 16:38

steve104c (not verified)

Very simple design but works. I'm going to make a little wider heddle and see how it works. Great to give as gifts to anyone who cratfs. Thanks for the info.
Mon, 01/24/2011 - 23:43

debmcclintock

Ah, that is great!  I love the visual of a loom chickenhouse!

Tue, 01/25/2011 - 15:56

sally orgren

Unexpected snowfall today, with predicted snowfall for tomorrow. And we have already exceeded our typical snowfall amounts for the whole winter in many parts of the state. It's not even February yet. Argghhh! If you live in the Midwest or the South, you can stop sending us your leftover precipitation anytime now. ;-)

Back in October, I posted some photos on this forum from the Rhinebeck Meetup and my little Structo loom with a Monk's Belt warp on it. After traveling a bit for demos, I wove the warp off in December and in February, one of my guilds is doing a program on making eyeglass cases from handwovens to be donated to the regional workshop weekend (MAFA) goodie bags this summer.

I sewed up two prototypes, and this is the second one. (Thanks to our two "Leslie's" at FIH for researching this and putting the program together!) The pattern can be found at About.com, and I reduced it to 83% to fit the width of my finished warp and the narrower profile of contemporary glasses. 

What is everyone else working on?

Wed, 01/26/2011 - 14:11

kerstinfroberg

Mikael, can it really be, er, profitable with 8 roosters ;-)?

When we had 3, they were forever fighting... and the hens got off laying with all that going on all the time.

Wed, 01/26/2011 - 14:55

graciela (not verified)

Michael, it is a beautiful place! I imagine : Cheryl with her loom,  looking at sunset. You and the burro are fine in the photo.

Wed, 01/26/2011 - 16:29

francorios (not verified)

Michael,

How fun! We want to have a place with animals!

A burro sounds like a good farm animal to have.

Have a good day!

Wed, 01/26/2011 - 16:32

francorios (not verified)

Fog downtown Sacramento

Okay Sacramento, you can turn off the fog now! I'm getting tired of waiting for the morning muddle to burn off in the afternoon. Have a good day! Franco Rios Downtown Sacramento, California
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 18:18

weave2 (not verified)

The curtain fabric is wonderful and well worth the time and effort.  Thanks for the great visual of how to tie on a new warp--it helps greatly.

Wed, 01/26/2011 - 19:23

Michael White

Profit, what profit? They are no ladies so the boys get along ok. There is this thing about too many guys and not enough girls to go around....... end of story. Both Cheryl and I have degrees in poultry science, at one time we raised 80,000 broilers every 5 weeks. For 5 years I was the hachery manager for Quail International, hatching 11-15 million birds a year. Cheryl wants to get some layers, but I know who will be doing all the work. Been there , done that. If we do we will keep the boys and girls apart.

Wed, 01/26/2011 - 19:56

Michael White

We do get some great sunsets. In Cheryl's old studio she had windows looking North and West. In her current studio she has windows looking North and South so she does not get to see the sunsets from her studio. Someone decided I needed a burro. I want to give the horses hay a couple of months ago and here was the burro.Someone dumped him in our pasture. At one time I looked after 22 horses, 3 alpaca, 1 llama, 8 pair of peafowl, 2 black German shepherds, 1 white German shepherd and 1 cat. over the years foxes got most of the peafowl, coyotes got the alpacas, llama, 1 horse & lighting. got 2 horses. I got some of the coyotes. So now I have 7 horses, 1 burro, 2 peacocks ( 1 blue & 1 white) 8 Amrock rosters, 1 black shepherd, 2 cats and 15 large gold fish and 1 wife. I am looking to sell some horses and looking for a young redhead...

Y'all stay warm or cool depending  on what part of the world you are in. 

Michael

 

Wed, 01/26/2011 - 21:54

steve104c (not verified)

Michael, Is it easier to take care of a burro than a horse? I've heard it is. My sister-outlaw, when she was living here in Texas, owned a equestrian center. Housed dozens of horses. She told me some of the things she did in taking care of the horses. She and her daughter( my niece) own 3 horses. Not interested in a horse, but maybe a burro(donky). We are allowed 1 horse per ac. I assume a burro is in the horse family and would be allowed............Steve. PS Cloic is a big problem with horses, even deadly and burros don't have that problem. Tell me something good.
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 23:26

francorios (not verified)

Rosvita,

How are the ponchos coming along? Got a picture you can share?

Have a good day!

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:33

Michael White

Franco, animals are fun but also a lot of work. When you have animals your whole life revolves them. It is not like dropping a dog off at a kennel so you can go on vacation. I am not a horse person, a burro like a horse does two things in life. Eats and dumps. Alyse's children and step-children are all grown up and are living in other states. So that don't ride, Alyse and I no longer ride. So the horses just eat and dump. Good for the garden.

Michael

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:41

Michael White

Steve, I am not a horse person, horses have problems from the tip of their tail to the top of their heads. I will not go into all the problems. yes, a burro would be allowed. There is nothing good to tell you about horses unless you want a lot of work. See my note above to Franco.

Michael

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 14:15

Aunt Janet (not verified)

When our neighbors went on vacation last month somebody left the gate open and their burros went on expedition.  We neighbors went out looking, but we live in mountainous forested lands, and we didn't know where to look.  I thought they only had two burros, but now there are three.  Maybe they picked up another on their sojourn.  Glad they made it home ok.

We have to limit our livestock to the three cows, pasture being the limitation there, a dozen chickens, which have to be carefully housed.  We can't let them out at all, even in the daytime.  They have daylight in their coop yard, and we feed them weeds and sometimes chop grass for them to brighten up the eggs, but if we let them out without guarding them the fox and bob cat will have 'em for lunch.  I also keep a few angora bunnies for fiber.  Wish i could keep a flock of sheep, but mountain lions would love that, and I just don't want a dog.  Besides, my shepherd friends tell me it is cheaper to buy the fleece and meat from them, than to try to raise them myself.

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 16:25

sally orgren

Please allow me to grouse yet again about all the snowfall we are getting here in the Northeast. Have you heard of hand-tossed pizza? Well, this is hand-tossed snow! And a yardstick was too short to demonstrate how tall the snowbanks surrounding my driveway are becoming. I had to resort to a ladder. More is on the agenda for Friday-Saturday. If I wasn't so tired from over 2 hours of shoveling this morning and facing work deadlines until 5, I would be out cross-country skiing today!

 

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 16:44

suzyhok (not verified)

Beautiful curtain fabric --- but no wonder it is so great... you were weaving to one of the most comical authors, Janet Evanovich.  Her characters are such a hoot!  I haven't read 15 yet but have greatly enjoyed all the other 14!  Books on tape... something I haven't tried while weaving.  What a good idea!  Thanks...

Suzy

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 18:56

Michael White

Cheryl wants a Jersey cow, but that is not going to happen. Again I get to do all the work. I let the chickens out during the day, the horses keeps the foxes away and so far have not had any problems with birds of prey. No bob cats or mountain lions here. My neighbor down the road says we have a brown bear. I have been living here since 1984 and have never seen any signs of bear even when I had bee hives. We do have bear, bob cats and panthers here in Georgia for not here. Every now an then a bear will make its way into Atlanta and on to the 6:00 o'clock news. We did the sheep thing when Cheryl was spinning. I would shear them (two) in the spring and Cheryl would shirt them, then wash and card the fleece. She sold her wheel a number of years ago. Not enough time to spin and to weave when you have to work full time. Buy your fleece or rovings let the other guy raise the sheep. We have a friend that has sheep and chickens. She is aways fighting the fox, coyotes. She wouldn't shoot them.  

Michael 

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 19:46

EvaHall

I just had to share with you the aurora borealis.

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 20:02

francorios (not verified)

Eva - that is beautiful, where is that? My lovely wife's uncle brought us a lot of pictures of the aurora borealis from when he worked on ships and boats in Alaska.

Michael - I understand about the daily care of livestock. Back in 1980-1981 I worked on small livestock farm where we raised animals and vegetables for a conservation center housing about 150 people. It was heaven for a city boy from L.A. who could only read about small scale farming.

Then from 1999 to 2009 we were in the showbunny hobby. Dozens of rabbits to care for. We would take our vacations at rabbit shows and pay people to care for our livestock while we were on the road.

We're enjoying the freedom of no chores right now but plan to get back to having livestock when my lovely wife finishes her degree in Education.

Have a good day!

Thu, 01/27/2011 - 20:59

sally orgren

Eva, your photo is beyond SPECTACULAR! I have never seen them myself, but I sure hope to someday. It just gives me GOOSEBUMPS viewing it. Is this a "normal" view in your part of the world, or an extraordinary display?

I wouldn't mind shoveling EVERY day if I got a show like that every night.

And Michael, watch out! With all the snow up here and your warmer Georgia location, you and Cheryl might just have some bi-peds migrating down to join your Noah's Ark collection. (I am thinking your creatures must have it pretty good...)