Studio Update Two!

Another studio update so quickly???  Well, some technical difficulties were the problem.  The pictures on yesterday's post were actually from two weeks ago. . .. here are last week's studio updates.  This weekend I am spending dyeing yarn.

The cubby holes in place:

Below are the finished cabinets - Jeff just needs to mount the wall cabinets.

We have some new fun lights - two are for the track lighting above the desk - and one is just a fun floor lamp that just so happens to match the flowers I bought for the studio way back when the idea came to life.

The track lighting - just need to find a couple more to go with these two.

What are the chances that these lights match the flowers. .. just have to pick up an orange flower.

Studio tour:

Looking left as you come in the door.  The big rug loom, the 4H LeClerc kind of hidden.

Back right corner, rug loom in center, desk and lake cabinet on the right.

The right corner as you come in - the sitting area.  Need to add some lamps, the TV and a  some tunes.

Well, I think that is the update for now. . .. back to yarn dyeing.  I have 30 batches of yarn to dye and package to be ready for the knitters retreat this coming Friday at Sauder Inn.

Studio Update!

Now that winter seems to have set in, it's going to be a high of 20 today, it is time to get back to working on the studio.  If you remember, spring came very early in 2012 and we abandoned the studio to work outside. . .. well, now we are back inside.

The wall still needs to be finished to separate the studio from the rest of the basement, it is started, but Jeff is very busy at work so it will have to be "fit in" as he can do it.  So, I've decided to keep working on the bits and pieces that I can get done . .. and magically, all will be in place just waiting for the wall . .. . LOL!  We'll see how this works out.

Here is a picture of the cubby holes - aka - shelves I painted this past weekend.

I spent a lot of time staining the cabinets for the studio.  Nothing like shopping in your own basement, this is a set of base cabinets and three top cabinets that have been in the basement "kind of" being used that I have moved into the studio.

Nope, didn't even take the contents out! LOL!  That was too much work and might slow down my progress.

Next update soon, I am planning to get the things put back together and clear out all the "non studio" stuff so I can begin using it.

Probably a shopping trip to Mom's basement to get my TV and a couple lights.

Stay warm!

Open House Details

Short and sweet post, check out the new page - listed on the left - Holiday Open House. ..


Need directions?  Give us a call at 419-428-0303 or email llamaluv1@yahoo.com - put open house directions in the subject line, please

Or use mapquest - 4208 Evansport Rd, Defiance, OH 43512

See you at the farm!

Weaving Lesson

The studio is coming along, although it has a long way to go. . .we had a weaving session on Saturday.  Nancy learned to weave with the 24" Rigid Heddle and I warped the new 12" knitters loom.  Nancy made a great cotton table runner and is hooked on weaving.  Pat, Roxy and Mom were here for the day with Nancy and I.  Mom and Roxy spent time in the living room knitting while we were weaving in the basement.

I warped the 12" knitters loom with Llama and novelty yarn.  We'll see how it goes.  The loom seems a bit small and cramped to use. . .but I'll weave a few items before I decide if it gets to stay.  It is a great size for demos and traveling.

Not only do we have a Bank Holiday this week, I have the entire week off to work around home and make products.  I made a list. .. . if you know me, you know that in reality the list cannot be done in a week. .so it goes.  I decided to break it down into manageable parts. . .. ..Blackie is helping . . .she's a bit overwhelmed! Her plan is to sleep on the list.

Started off today . .on the right track . .first up . .. do chores. .. .then I was supposed to come back in the house and clean up the kitchen .. ..but that did not happen .. .but the rafters in the barn are cleaned out and the cobwebs are gone . .. . ...so much for following a list. .. .I'm not so good at sticking to the rules. . .I prefer a bit of free form!  LOL!

Off to my next task. . ..

On the Loom. . .. .

After a long day of house cleaning yesterday ... I decided to sit down at the rigid heddle loom and weave off the item that has been on in it for longer than I care to determine!  It started as a demo project at McFarland's Llama Farm Fall Festival . .. .a couple years ago. . it was a cotton warp with a handspun llama weft. .. something easy.  It was to be fabric for purses. .. . well.. . needless to say, since it's been on the loom for so long, it held very little interest for me.

So, I decided that rather than waste the warp. .. I would cut some warp threads from one side, make the piece a bit narrower, change to weavng with navy cotton rather than llama . . .and make it a table runner. .. I started weaving late last night . .and had 15" done by the time I went to bed.  (That's probably longer than the llama part that I did originally). 

Here is a picture of the table runner in progress:

I will post finished pictures as soon as it is off the loom and the fringe is twisted.

I AM WEAVING!

For those of you who know me. .. . .this title seems a little funny . . . you're thinking. .. "Of course, you're weaving" . .. .well actually I seemed to have taken many months off from weaving - not really sure why . . .then I was poking around on etsy.com and ran across a store with the most beautiful woven scarves - talk about inspiration. ... these are beautiful!  Then to find out they are woven using 16/2 bamboo yarn. .. . for those of you that are thinking "16/2" .. what the heck . .. this refers to the size of thread. . I say "thread" because this is about the size of heavy sewing thread. .. .there are 60 ends in every inch. . .. this is very fine weaving. 

If you would like to see the scarves that popped me back into weaving mode. .. go to http://www.loomonthelake.etsy.com/ or http://www.loomonthelake.com/. . ... Lynn's weaving is inspiring!

As for my current weaving . . .I finished warping some chenille scarves and just need to tie the fringe and wet finish them. .. .here is a picture on the loom. . ..these are woven at just 12 epi and go quickly.  

The colors are a bit washed out in the picture, it is a chocolate brown, a chestnut brown and an olive green with a nice sheen. 

Once I have them wet finished, I will post a better picture.

So, what's next on the loom .. . .. well. . .many, many projects are fighting to be next. .. more chenille scarves? A chenille/llama scarf?  A chenille/novelty yarn window pane scarf?  Or, a cotton scarf inspired by Loom on the Lake. .. .   Maybe some dishtowels - lord knows I have enough cotton to make one for everyone I know! 

Debbie and I did go through my coned cotton stash and pick out the beautiful "jewel tones" shown below. .. that might be next . .....check back to see. . ...

Happy Weaving!

Rug Weaving Class

Diane and I went to a rug weaving class yesterday in Battle Creek, MI.  The instructor is my friend Kathy Berlincourt - from the Warped Weaver Studio.  This was our second adventure weaving with Kathy.  Last year Diane and I wove some selvedge rugs which came out wonderfully.  This year we wove with rags.  Diane wove a tradition hit and miss rag rug.  The warp was multicolored and the look really changed based on what color weft she used.  I tackled a log cabin weave.  With the log cabin weave, you can alternate weft passes and make it appear as if you have blocks or checkerboard looking areas.  It was quite fun and sorta messes with your balance when you look too closely.  Here are a couple picture of my rug:

This close up really shows the detail.  It is actually woven in a plain weave but the placement of color in the warp make all the difference.  There is a solid stripe down each side.

I am putting the weaving aside for a few days - I need to get some yarn packaged and priced and I need to get my samples braided and my class notes ready to teach a Kumihimo braiding class on Tuesday.

Have a great week!

WEAVING ! ! !!

OMG ! ! !  Now that I have this "new to me" rug loom warped and I started weaving a set of placemats and a table runner. .. .OMG! how I have missed weaving!  Typically, I weave very fine thread items on my 22" harrisville.  The Harrisville loom is half warped with some chenille scarves.  Although, I don't think I will become a full time rug weaver.  . . .the instant gratification is awesome!  The rag strips weave up very quickly.  Below is about 5 minutes worth of weaving!

The table runner and placemats will be about 16" wide finished.  Have not decided the length of the table runner yet.  I would anticipate, however, being completely done weaving the entire set by the end of the evening Wednesday.  I'd weave it all today, except I need to clean the barn before our "big" storm and we're having company for dinner.

From one happy, happy weaver .. . .have a great day!