Why I'm not weaving 8(

Every day I think to myself, "I'm going to weave today" and every day slips by without a loom being touched. It would be easier for me to weave if I could actually get to a loom. Since I closed the Weavers' Cottage in Canyon Country and moved it to Acton, my home, weaving studio and several sheds are stuffed with equipment, yarns, computers and office equipment. My life as a weaver came to a screeching halt, let's face it, everything came to a screeching halt. You read about people who are found dead because a pile of crap fell over on them in their home, this could be me!

The first thing that happened, was a 40 foot container. We insulated it, had electricity installed and a fabulous shelving system. One wall is covered with slat board to hold all the cones. There was only one problem - no room for an office and where can I put the looms and equipment? The second container arrived, a 15 footer - the office problem is solved. Once again we insulated and installed electricity.

My home is small - 1700 square feet. My weaving studio is small 700 square feet. My looms are large - a 52" Tools of the Trade (my baby) a 36" Schacht floor loom and a Baby Wolf 26", 2 48"Gilmores, a 48" Fireside, 2 48" Norwoods and a 30" Baby Norwood, these puppies take up a lot of room! Ah, we need another container - this one is 48 feet long! It has been electrified and insulated. Over Thanksgiving, we will install a double door in the side. Those big end doors are really hard to open. All the looms except for 4 will be moved to the #3 container. I will have my weaving studio back!!!

Tomorrow another building will be delivered! It will be our little show room! The Weavers' Cottage is gone but the Weavers OutPost will be born, after insulating and electricity, of course. I'm getting excited, we have the garden planned and will work on it this winter. Nine months have passed and I have received tons of email inquiries about our re-opening date. All I have to say is it would have been sooner but for the insulating and electricity - and then there is always the lack of time and money.

Soon, it will be soon.

weaving - Towel Exchange

I feel my dishtowels are a complete failure at this stage and as I don't have time to reweave them (I do have time to reweave but I do not want to!!) I will start the process of trying to save them.

I personally like a nice thin, loose weave dishtowel, I think they take up water better; these might be too loose. I also wanted to try a diversified plain weave, perhaps not the best pattern for hemp. I really can't say as I've never done this pattern before and I also have never wove with hemp. Now I have made dishtowels that have to be ironed. Good job! I will now get my iron and board out and give them a good press. Hopefully, I can find my iron and board in under an hour.

Things I have learned on this project:

Stick to patterns and yarns were you know the outcome when joining an exchange.

Start early incase you have to start over.

Don't join any more exchanges.

Weaving - Towel Exchange

This week, I have made great progress on my towels. I beamed my warp and have started to weave. It's easier to find time to weave, so hopefully, they will be finished on time.

Weaving - Towel Exchange

Finally I'm back to warping my loom. This week, I have gotten through the reed and have a good start on the heddles.

Weaving - Towel Exchange

I'm trying to work at least an hour everyday. I'm still measuring.

Weaving - Towel Exchange

I have started measuring warp for the T.H.A.T. Guild dish towel exchange. I had thought to wait until my studio is put back in order but decided that I had better charge on.  I am doing a diversified plan weave with an 18/2 natural hemp, thus doing 2 of my 2009 goals in one project.

Trails - Camping

It was a long trip home, we camped some but it rained a lot so we slept in motels too. Cell phone and internet coverage was very slim or not at all. Very beautiful but great to be home.

We drove mile after mile looking at fields of wild iris the most beautiful periwinkle color.

  No telephone or power lines here, a lot of people used this tree for their shoes when they left town.

A park where we camped one night.