Fiber Room Make Over

As you know, I've been working on getting the studio together.  The LeClerc loom moved to the basement today so I worked on the transformation of the fiber room.  The LeClerc loom was just too big for this room, I could not walk around it to warp it and it just was not user friendly.

So, as we moved items out of the cottage that our family enjoyed for over 50 years and sold it to a family with young kids to enjoy it . .. I brought home a couple special things. .. .the red and white cabinet that is in the studio and the retro aqua chair and smoking stand.  These two items were in my grandparents house, prior to being lake furniture. . ..so they are quite old.  The "barrel" chair as we always referred to it is a GREAT chair to curl up and read a book . .so what better chair to be in the Fiber reading room?  And, of course, the "matching" smoking stand is in here also.. . .

The cleaning bug is still with me, she lays dormant during the week and comes out on Friday night to spend the weekend!  We cleaned off the back porch, starting Friday night and power washed it and the siding on Saturday . . ..

This porch has not been this clean since we moved in 12 years ago today!

The new fiber room . . .an area to read and relax in my retro barrel chair - Thanks Mom!

The smoking stand, repurposed and some of my favorite pictures

The never ending dish towel warp  . . 490 ends . .. and I am at 350 done . .. another 140 to wind, then off to the studio!

Have a great week!

Studio Update

The studio, that we started last winter, was put on hold when summer arrived so early.  I have gotten back to setting up the studio and made really great progress while on vacation a few days last week.  The studio will have 5 looms and the triangle loom - three looms are in there, one is at my friends house and one needs to move from upstairs to downstairs.

The studio is at the point that I can actually get back to weaving!  My first project will be some "funky scarves" on the rigid heddle and some Ohio State and Michigan coasters on the rug loom.

Here are some pictures. . . .of the studio in progress. .. . mind you, I can't have the flooring until the wall is done. . .because this is a "no cat zone" . .. . so, the floor is still just cement and the walls are not painted yet, but it is useable.

Soon, the couch will move from Mom's basement to ours and the sitting area will be complete. . .then once it gets cold outside, we should go back to working on the wall.

The Cambridge Rug loom

My Desk on the left, a cabinet from the lake and some yarn storage

The sitting area, waiting for the couch.  Chair covered with "stuff" to keep the cats off!

Basket storage in the studio

Another view of the sitting area

Recently acquired loom, need to finish assembling.

The rigid heddle is in the sitting area and the 36" 4H Le Clerc will be in the middle of the room facing the door.

Each loom will be equipped with some sort of table next to it for tools, a small trash can, a pair of scissors and a bench. 

The studio will be an awesome area for me to work and also to teach classes or just have fiber friends come to visit!

Soap Making Class

What a wonderful few vacation days I have had. . . .. Soap making, studio cleaning, knitting, reading . . .and cleaning fleeces.

Last Wednesday I drove up to Allegan, MI to the MI Fiber Festival and took two classes on making soap.  While they are not perfect, I learned how to use lye to make soap . . and it was very easy.  The key is to be very careful with the lye solution and the raw soap.  Here are some pictures:

The lighter soap is a Goat's milk soap with poppy seeds for scrubbing and a fresh Raspberry scent.  The darker soaps were my first try of the basic soap, they have a bit of ground oatmeal for texture and a scent of Patchuli.

My plan, of course I always have a plan . .. .is to perfect this soap making and put the products in local stores.  Feel free to give me scent/color choices that you would like to see.

Next post, I'll share the studio pictures. . it is coming along.

Of course, I had to shop a bit while I was at Allegan - lucky for me the vendors were not set up yet. .. but I spent enough without the vendors. . .. .

Yup, I NEEDED another hoody AND another TOTE bag - LOL! ! !

Happy fibery days!
Tina