chiengora piece

I'm posting a pic of one of the latest chiengora pieces.
It's Lakota, the wolf, and turkey feathers and part of a turkey beard.
C

spinning from the fleece

I also wanted to post some pics of the yarn produced from spinning directly from a raw fleece. I don't pull locks, and tease them, or anything. It's just drafted directly from the fresh fleece. This has been navajo plied, which you can see in the close-up of the lovely loop-d-loop produced by this method. Yes, this loose, furry, textured yarn is what I was looking for, and I rejoice in every moment I spend producing it.

productive morning

Last night, I put up the pics of the piece on the Lillstina. What I didn't tell you was that the alpaca/silk gives a light, drapey fabric if woven properly. Well, the lovely hand-painted, hand-spun is a bit heavy, and unyielding to be THE weft for this piece. Besides, to me it looks a little Southwestern, which just happens not to be 'me'. So, I spun some other hand-painted roving (yes, I just keep hand-painted rovings laying around) and got a finer yarn, still wool, but we'll see how it weaves up.
Pictures are posted with this article. You can see the size difference. I may slip by the studio or studios today and see if I have some alpaca or silk that I can dye to go with this warp in case this doesn't suit the "picky princess" (myself).
Cherri

OH, and my grape arbor in the morning

One last pic, of my grapevine in the morning.

What's in your World?

FINALLY, a few pics. Here are pics of the current work on the Lillstina. It's a twill derivation from Ann Dixon's book. The warp is a brown alpaca/silk sett at 24 epi. The piece is about 15" wide, and the warp is a hand-spun yarn from a hand-painted corriedale roving. I'm not sure it's the right yarn for this warp, so watch for changes. Other pics are my roses.....yes, I love flowers from private gardens, but you can KEEP almost anything out of a shop.
Then there is this wonderful collaborative piece that Sue Seif is weaving. It's an alpaca/silk warp, with a chiengora weft. I spun the weft. It's Sue's dog's fur. I was able to spin a fairly fine yarn from him. He has LOTSA personality! Hope you enjoy the pics.
Sorry not to post more often, but Mom is no longer fighting cancer. She died peacefully at home on Tues. having spent time with each of her children, and Dad. My prayer was that God would be merciful in granting her a gentle 'passing', and I believe he did.
Now, I'm weaving on 3 looms, and spinning finn lamb, shetland lamb, wolf, and lincoln directly from the whole fleece(no carding, cleaning, breaking into locks, just pull the fleece into my lap, and spin from it. Ain't life Grand?
See ya soon.
Cherri

Book review - the Handweaver's Pattern Directory

As many of you know, I was hesitant to appreciate this book. Change does not come easy for some. The book is worthy of a spot on the weaver’s library shelf. It cannot replace “Mastering Weave Structures” by Sharon Alderman, nor Marguerite Davison’s “A Handweaver’s Pattern Book”, which was my fear. Anne Dixon has given the 21st century weaver a naughty little bathroom book for weavers. It’s the book you will sneak away into a quiet corner with to be aroused into weaving something you would otherwise not consider. Why would you do this, you might ask. Because the book shows patterns with pleasant lines, and a variety of colors and fairly simple to understand directions on how to create some of the weaves. There is a broad selection of patterns covered and some hand-manipulated techniques also. The fact that the weaves are in so may different colors, and that some of the ‘standard’ weaves are also shown with ‘color and weave’ effects is food for thought for new weavers and old.
Why will this book not replace Davison’s?
Davison’s book demonstrates a greater diversity of treadling options for twill variations, and she documents many historic weaving patterns like Blooming Leaf, Murphy’s Diaper, and Lee’s Surrender. Hang on to Davison, and enhance your library by purchasing Dixon also.
Why will this book not replace Alerman?
It’s goal seems to be to offer some inspiration, through color, and simple instruction. It is also more of a manual on taking a basic recipe for design, and demonstrating several ways to vary that recipe to create your own designs from the original. Alderman, however delves deeper into the basic structure of a weave. What makes a Huck weave ‘huck’, and how can the weaver come up with her/his own huck designs, without losing the integrity of the fabric. Alderman speaks the language of a seasoned weaver, an architect of fabric. It’s not what Dixon is attempting. Dixon takes the initiated weaver through the basics of how to create the weaves, not what defines the weave and it’s structure.
I like Dixon’s book, and it has it’s place on our shelves. Anne Dixon has done a nice book, and I haven’t, so kudos to her, before I ‘criticize’ the book. Let’s talk about what its limitations are. Although the book can inspire, and instruct you how to weave a variety of patterns and structures, it doesn’t go into any depth explaining the various structures. The explanations are vague, and to my own understanding, some are (ahem) different from what I have been taught. For instance, does Anne say that woolen spun yarns are made from fibers that are carded, which makes the fibers “lie in different directions”? That just isn’t my understanding of carding. “Crammed and Spaced” is variable sett weaving. Let’s just call it what it is, and keep life simple. Anne also shows some of the post-loom treatments, but now how to accomplish them. For instance, how does one hem-stitch? These are minor criticisms, however, as I think the book will tempt me into a private corner for some enchanting daydreams of weaving the beautiful tricolored hucks on p. 166, or the Danish medallions on p.159. Thank you Anne Dixon for this inspiring little book, and the time it must have taken you to put it together. You have my respect. Thank you Lisa H. for giving me the book as a gift.

warping the Lillstina

AAAHHHHHH, a beautiful sunny day in which to warp my Lillstina. I had to do a minor alteration in the loom to make it more functional, but am so incredibly happy now that I began warping it after midnight, and continued on well into the new day.
The warp is a 360 thread alpaca/silk yarn sett at 24epi. Originally, I intended to sett it at 36, but found it very difficult to wind on because of the texture of the yarn (the halo actually). If I find my camera, I'll post pics later.
Next, I think i'll head over to Glen Allen, and work on my tapestry.
A cartoon needs to be drawn, and that's what has held me up, but it's time to do it.
I have a different color of the alpaca silk warp going onto my 16 shaft Macomber at Roseneath, along with a linen rug warp on the small 8 harness Macomber there. That's for a commissioned tapestry.
Well, too much time on the blog, means too little time on the loom, so I must go.
Don't forget the 12shaft AVL mechanical dobby loom is for sale and looking for a good home. There was an inquiry yesterday, but she was a very new weaver and has a very nice loom. As many of you know, to begin with a dobby loom, can deprive the new weaver from really learning the basics of weaving, and the interplay between the tie-up, treadle sequence and threading sequence. Although, there are those who think a dobby loom is one of the best ways to explain the interelationship of those elements.
Of course I would see it bass-ackwards (as my grandmother used to say).
GG.
Cherri

What are the kids classes I'm offering?

This is for those of you who have asked what classes I'm offering for youth this summer.

The Visual Art Center of Richmond got theirs up on the website early, so some of them are already full, but here they are:
July 14-18
9 am - noon Weaving (this is on the floor loom) for ages 9-12
12:45 - 3:45 Tie-dye ages 9-12

July 21 - 25
9 am - noon Felting (making felt from wool; not knit and shrink) ages 9-12
12:45 - 3:45 Weaving (floor loom class) ages 10-13

Aug 4 - 8
9 am - noon Felting (making felt from wool, not knit and shrink) ages
12:45 - 3:45 Weaving (floor loom class) ages 10-13
If you would like to contact the Visual Arts Center about registering for a class, please call 804.353.0094

At the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, the classes have just gone onto the web, so you may find openings here. The class offerings and dates are different also.

July 28 - Aug 1
9 am - noon Tie-dye ages: 9-12
1 pm - 4 pm Felting (making felt from wool; not knit and shrink) 9-12 years

Aug 11 - 15
9 am - noon Tapestry weaving with a twist ( students will learn tapestry weaving)9-12
1 - 4 pm Gettin’ Stitchy We will sew and embroider projects the kids choose 9-12

If you want to register for classes at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, call 804.261-2782

loom for sale - 12H avl mechanical dobby

I have failed to mention that I am interested in selling my 12 harness mechanical dobby loom. It is an avl. Works well, and has many dobby bars, pins/pegs, and 2 peg wrenches, built in raddle and price????
HM, it's only $2000. Not bad for a 12 harness loom of any kind, but for a mechanical dobby, it's a great price.
Anyone interested? Here is a pic of the loom, and it's dobby mechanics.
Cherri

AAAhhhhh, the good life (Happy Mother's Day)

Wow, was that a great weekend? It seems like forever since I was home for 48 hours straight. I weeded my herb garden, and am turning it by hand. It's been 3 years since I've been able to do that, because of pain in my joints and tendons. We worked like dogs this weekend. We raked and burned the remaining leaves, and planted herbs and flower seeds, my husband put up a new clothes line, and a screen door for me. My daughters gave perfectly personal gifts, and I spoke with my son (who is 'traveling abroad' for a few more months).
Oh, back to fiber talk....uhhhh,.....oh, I'm spinning a lot of different fibers, setting up the large 16 harness macomber with an alpaca/silk warp for weaving a gift for my son. A commission is in the works for a client in CA., and my weaving and spinning classes are humming along. Blessings abound!
Hmmm, what's new? I have a weaving class in Mathews, Va on Wed. If you are in the northern neck of VA, and want to learn to weave, we will be working on rigid heddle looms this week. The class is from 10-4 and we will cover a lot of ground. When I last checked, there were still openings. Call Bay School of the Arts.

updates

Well, I'm in a lull. This month, I have very few dates to work. I'm enjoying the more relaxed pace. I'm running (trying to fight the obesity factor), reading in the breeze on the balcony, digging in the dirt, and of course spinning and weaving. I have measured out a couple of silk/alpaca warps, I have dressed and re-dressed the tapestry loom, I am spinning a chiengora commission, and am spinning some old english sheepdog, and in general, just chillin'.
This Thurs, I will be chatting with Julie Young of the Richmond Times Dispatch about chiengora. Apparently, it's of interest that I LOVE to spin and weave dog fur. Anyway, watch for that article in the Richmond Times Dispatch.
OH yeah, I am finishing up my spring series of weaving classes at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond this month. I have a couple of weaving, spinning and felting intensives in Richmond in June. One Spinning intensive in Connecticut in June, Spinning intensive at a residential arts center in July, and back in Connecticut in Aug for the felting intensive. i'll also be teaching about 14 kids classes this summer, and uhm, keep up with my own studio students and produce my commissions. Looks like a serious Type-A summer, whatcha think?

I think I better enjoy this lull. Well, you gotta realize that about 25% of classes will cancel for lack of enrollment. This year, with the economy what it is, I wonder if the kids classes will book heavier because parents will pass on the family vacation, and opt for a week or two of special day care(art camp) to make up for not taking the family vacation.
I'm already missing my intermediate weaving class for kids. The art center (won't mention which one) opted to not do it this year. HHHMMMM????? I've got my theories on that one.

Well, for now, I've gotta go. If you want to take a class, let me know. I'm up for private lessons. Cause you know what? All those classes aren't gonna make, and I need some new fiber buddies.
Cherri