All in a Day

I have been enjoying my days; reading, weaving, knitting and just enjoying the weather. 

I finally started working on some socks...It took three starts on the first one before I was happy with it and twice on the second one.  These are not anything special...I was just not getting it.  The first sock...first it was too big around my leg when I put it on, then the pattern was not working, so I let it "ripen" for some time and then finally started with a new pattern.  Actually it is a very old pattern from a book I got some twenty years ago.  I like the lace pattern and it works well with the flashy yarn. 
When I started the second sock, the stripe was only slightly off from the first sock.  I decided that the stripes should be the same on both socks or way off.  I decided on way off and restarted the second one.  The color is quite flashy, and even has glitz in it, but I think that they will be fun to wear.

I have not worked on the Swedish art weave, the family wanted to use the kitchen table and so everything was moved off.  I need to get it back on and get started again.  I think I only have enough warp for this third one, so I need to get it done.

 Today, I cleared off the Baby Wolf, so I will be able to get the linen towels done.  They are a priority for me to get done.  

The towels on the PCH loom have one more, I think, I had planned for six towels, but it looks like I will be getting a seventh.  I will probably make weave with the purple and gold again.  I found more purple in my stash, so I will be able to weave a third one in that color range.  I didn't like the orange/natural weft and I don't want to do a second one with that combination.  I guess I will see how the warp holds up.

With black weft

With purple and yellow gold weft

I finished one of the bags and got the lining in it.  I need to work on the others... I bought the supplies but need to put the time in.

This past weekend I did a warp demo at the Gem Fair.  I had a good time, I hope we get some more students at the Craft House.  I also bought some fun stuff for me...A framed butterfly...one of those beautiful blue ones, a carving of the infinity knot that I use as a logo and some  shawls to cut up for top.

The butterfly looks great on the cabinet

I got my ceramic Bottman bunny out for Easter.  It is a pot with lid and a sculpted bunny on the lid.  I had a break in the lid that I repaired a few years ago....I was so upset about the break that I didn't look at it for several years.  But now I can enjoy how beautiful it is.  She is about two inches high and the detail is wonderful.

Happy Easter

May in March

I know that it is spring, but I remember my flowering pear tree looking like this in May.

All the spring flowers are out and looking wonderful.  I do love the look of this time of year.

Flowering Pear Tree

Crocus

Daffodils

Peach Tree

I am worried that the peach tree will not have fruit it when it is blooming so early, but the tree is young (this is only the second year of fruit) so I don't mind if it is just a few.  It looks so beautiful.


I have been getting some weaving done also, but not so many pictures of that.  The second pillow top from the Swedish art weaving is off and the third is started.  I am starting with rolakan on the third and I think I have unwoven as much as I have woven.  But I want to get comfortable with this structure, it makes great vertical lines.  On the second piece, I used this technique and did diagonal lines...not such a good thing.  The lines can be just as good with a simpler technique.

I have also been cleaning out the studio.  Several layers of "I'll just put it here for now" have been put away and some of the class materials have been put away instead of just leaving them stacked up on the floor.  I am pleased to see some floor space!

And I have been filing projects away.  When I finish a project I file the project sheets and samples...or at least I used to.  Now too often, I have a sack of samples and notes.  Last night I got several typed up and filed.  I will not be doing this for every project, but the ones I might repeat or that I will use in a class need to have their information in a good place.  

I have also finished some UFO's and one I just "frogged".  If I am not enjoying it, why do it?  My husband was talking about our lives and said "I maybe have 20 years, I want to enjoy them and have fun."  I agree with him.  I am not at the spring of my life, and I need to enjoy my time, love my self and have fun.  My weaving is fun...and writing up and looking at what I have finished is fun. 

At the PCH studio, I decided to weave the towel warp that I put on.  Six towels in 10/2 pearl cotton in BRIGHT colors.  I bought a kit, and am running out of one color of yarn.  Yes, I should have followed the plan instead of making up my own design!!  The light was bad in the studio, but here is towel #3 on the cloth beam.

Colors are red and blue/green in the warp and yellow/orange and purple in the weft.  I don't know if I want these colors in my kitchen...but I'm sure I can find someone who will want them.


I got together with my sisters and we are finding ways to use up materials that we have around the house.  One of my contributions are the empty cones from weaving yarns.  We covered them for Christmas...mine were pretty simple.

But I really liked the ones we did for Easter.  I did one with eggs.

My sculptor sister made the little bird that is on the top of the tree, and I did buy the eggs for the tree, but we are buying too much new stuff!

And one with paper roses.

I was pleased with them and want to keep them up for a while, even if not everyone in the house liked them.