Tote that tote

Since I have now met my goal of rugs for my fall show, I have warped up the Hammett for totes.  I did get the log cabin placemats woven off the Newcomb.  They're very pretty.  I have the Newcomb warped for more placemats, just plain weave this time.  But back to totes.

I warped the loom at 27", because I wanted to make a nice big tote.  I used thinly cut strips to de-bulk the weaving, and wove the first one at 49" on the loom.  Let me tell you, folks, that was one BIG tote.  Too big.  Way too big.  I took the stitching out and turned it back into a rug.

Tonight I un-sleyed and unthreaded several inches off each side of the warp, so I now have a 17" wide warp.  Tomorrow I'll weave a piece off and see how it does.

The rage right now is messenger bag type totes.  But some of us still like the over-the-shoulder type.  I'm thinking about an adjustable strap.

Another question I'll need to resolve is how to deal with the bottom of the bag.  I really like to put a piece of plastic in the bottom, to shape it, but that means lining the bag.  It's always a challenge to make a quality product that holds up but takes minimum hours to make.  I'll think of something!

Log Cabin again

Well, it's placemats in Log Cabin this time.  I put a 12 yard warp on yesterday, got my first four done today.  Log Cabin is an humbling pattern.  Others may throw the shuttle without much forethought, but I have to stay tuned in when weaving Log Cabin.  And that's not necessarily a bad thing.  It's a kind of meditation in itself.  Becoming immersed in a pattern certainly makes the time fly!

I also dressed the Hammett yesterday.  I absolutely HATE having both looms naked.  I thought I would get to rugs on the Hammett today, too, but ended up sanding my staircase for the greater part of the afternoon.  This is something I've been putting off for a few weeks.  Finally got it done today.  I've been keeping company with paint samples pretty seriously now for a couple weeks, and will try to get to the paint store tomorrow and get started on this project with some primer for the stairs!

Interestingly, I finally decided the colors I want on my walls are the grayed colors: blues, grayed sea green, purples, brick red.  When I got to the point of agreeing with myself that yes, these are the colors I like, it struck me that these are the colors I gravitate to in my woven projects, too. Duh!!  Some people have to be hit over the head.  We'll see how I like them on my walls.

Shades of Roman

Truly, the fact that I was actually IN Roma in the past month has nothing to do with making this fabric.  When I saw my friend's Roman shade made with her own quilted fabric, I knew that's what I wanted for my doors.  So it really was in the planning for a while.

This is 10/2 unmercerized cotton, warped at 24 epi.  I have 3 different colors of weft, two of which are shown below.  Besides these laid back, I think, colors, I have one of a royal blue weft that fairly cries out for discipline.  It will be a challenge to find paint that complements and tones it down some.

This pattern is Five After Eleven Check from A Handweaver's Pattern Book by Davison.  The unwashed sample is on top, the washed on the bottom.  Fabrics on the left use 5/2 Pearl in a dark green.  The ones on the right use a cotton/linen slub carried with a 10/2 slate green.
Now I need to sit down with paint chips and make some decisions.


I'm also weaving small rugs for stock for my fall show.  And, now that I have the Roman shade cloth off the loom, I'll be putting some noodling time into what's going on that loom next.

Long time away

I can't believe I haven't posted since November of last year.  Life has been very busy.  I haven't been able to weave much, but am getting back to it now.  I've taken 9 rugs off the Hammett and will have another 4 or 5 off this week.  Also got the tea towel warp up and running on the Newcomb.  I like the colors.  I'll try to get a photo posted of them this week.  It reminds me of peppermint ribbon candy - purple, green and white in a variety of stripes.  It's nice to have both looms warped and ready to go.

Preparing for another show

My second, and final, show of the year happens this weekend at John Burroughs School in LaDue, in the vicinity of St. Louis. It's called the Unique Boutique and is billed as an art show/high end craft show. This being my first time there, I don't really know what to expect. I will be taking rugs, and also quite a few painted warp shawls.

Amazingly, next weekend is Thanksgiving. Time is running, running, running, and so am I. It's been a busy year, and getting busier.

I haven't continued to paint warps ahead as I had planned. I had all I could do to paint warps as I needed them. I'll have to see how the winter goes after the holidays. I may opt to weave some bigger projects for family.

Thinking time and Gallery update

I finally got around to inventory, of sorts, on my remaining stock and it looks pretty good.  I don't feel I need to immediately rush to the loom and make more rugs before the Unique Boutique show the weekend before Thanksgiving. I do have my new Peaceful Oceans warp on and am looking forward to seeing how that turns out in all its different planes of weft.

We have wonderful fall weather - cool, crisp, breezy days and cooler nights.  I love it.  Autumn always makes me thoughtful and is a good reassessment time for me.  Since my personal life duties are gaining ground all the time, the time I have for weaving gets shortened.   So, I'm going to section warp the Hammett with 50 or 60 yards of rug warp and work it off as I can this winter.  I like having long warps on that loom.  I'll be weaving Pendleton rugs (5 doubled ends per inch) and blue jean rugs (10 single ends per inch).  I will just re-sley the reed when I want to change rug type.  Of course, I will wait until I have a cloth beam full of rugs to cut off.  I will lose maybe a foot of warp doing that, but much time-lier than rewarping completely.

I have also updated my rug gallery.  These are not all the rugs I have.  I will be taking more photos and putting them up as I can.

Back from Best of Missouri Market

Got back Sunday night - unloaded Monday morning.  I have to go through my stock, take inventory, and take photos of the rugs I have left to put in my galleries.  SO, at this point, the rug gallery is NOT accurate.  I'll try to get photos of available rugs up in a week or so.

I did get the rest of my new painted warp beamed today.  Things are very slow right now. I'm still tired from the show.  It was a good show, though.   Hot in the afternoons, but lots of people and everyone was in very good humor.  Sold lots of rugs.

On the gardening scene I dug my sweet  potatoes this afternoon.  Below is a photo of the crop, plus I confess I dug a few hills last week that aren't included in the photo.  Not bad for a 5 ft. x 5 ft. 12" deep raised bed.  More than a bushel, and that will be plenty for us!