I'M WARPED

Finally, after summer, fall and a few winter months, I am back to weaving.  It's funny that I forgot how much I love to weave.  I warped my old Union Loom with a heavy duty rug linen, and despite some tension problems, am happy with the resulting rugs.

A while back I was shopping in a thrift store in Richland Center and came across five large rag balls, so neatly folded (they looked ironed) and 'balled' up, I was unable to resist.  I also loved the quiet color combinations of beige and reds.  When I was contemplating what to use as a weft, I noticed the color of the linen warp matched so well with the color in the rag balls, I decided to use them.

Despite the dull quality of the photo below, the color combination really turned out quite lovely.  As the rags were doubled, this made for a nice heavy duty rug.

As I still had plenty of warp left on the rug, I decided to use some of the wool rug yarn that has been hanging in my workshop for years...

It was difficult to decide on what colors to use, but I think this color combination worked out well.

This is quite a long rug, and once I have 'finished' it off, I think it will be quite nice.

And on another note, I spent some time yesterday making English Muffins.  We enjoyed them with farm fresh eggs and Organic Valley's turkey bacon for brunch.

Perhaps a bit of work for just six muffins, the next time I will double the recipe.

And an added treat to start my day today...Andy had to come and get hay and Iris, with whom I have never skied, came along.  We skied along Jug Creek and had lots of fun.  She is a great little skier.  It was slippery, but we figured this might be the last chance this winter to ski.   I so much look forward to skiing the entire loop with her next winter. 

A LONG WAYS TO GO YET

First of all....

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

...and second of all, I am still hopeless at the editing process of this new camera once transferred to my computer.  I seem to be able to operate the camera on a basic level, but getting it to the right place on my computer is baffling me.  To be honest, I have been so busy prepping for Valentine's Day, that I haven't confronted the Dummies book yet.  Next on my agenda.  So for now, at least I hope it is just 'for now', these photos are way less then I want them to be!!!!!

 

I  spent quite some time making Valentine cards, loosely using the "Tangle" technique of Zentangles.  This really was lots of fun, and makes for a striking card. 

Andy built the girls a 'work table' and their chairs were in need of pads.  I told the girls, much to their delight, that I had made valentines for their 'bottoms', and they were mystified, until they opened these.

We also have been doing lessons around the story of Little Red Riding Hood on Nonnie Day...

...their own Red Riding Hood capes.

The girls also received pendants I commissioned my niece to make, and as they are so perfectly beautiful, I did not photograph them.  Once I am able to do them justice, I will post a photo of them.  For Iris she made an enamel iris and for Elsa Mae, an enamel May flower, both set in sterling silver.  Quite honestly, they are gorgeous!!

On another note, our local library is fund raising for a much needed expansion.  We will be having a silent auction in conjunction with the Lion's Club pancake supper (proceeds to go to the expansion project)...we are actively soliciting donations....

and as I have finally found time to get back to weaving

here is a wallhanging I am donating to the auction.  It is a woven background, with branches and owls appliqued. 

I am also spending this afternoon completing the warping of one of my floor looms.  I am warping with a heavy duty linen warp and hope to weave a couple of new rugs in the next couple of weeks.

It feels good to be back at the loom!!

STILL A LOT TO LEARN

I finally got the new camera out of the box!  Have been doing some studying, and some tentative photo taking.  This morning I decided to put them on the computer, only to find out that the UBS cord for my new camera was 'available separately' and I did not have it, I was a bit miffed to say the least.  Thankfully, my old cord fits and works.  

However, as all this was going on, my computer had gone back out for additional clean-up and repair, as when I got it back, things just were not working properly.  I find, at this point anyway, that I can not edit my photos, at least not as I usually did.  So the pictures on this posting are totally unedited.  I will study the manual and the book for Dummies some more, but for now, I am happy to have gotten this far.

A FEW DAYS OF WORKING WITH BREAD

Last week when my girls were here eating/cleaning me out of pesto bread sticks we decided that the next Nonnie day we would make bread sticks.  I had dough rising and ready...

Tiny rolling pins rolled out the dough, little hands applied the pesto then rolled the dough into bread sticks....

...a little left over dough just right for individual pizzas for lunch...

The bread sticks.

These girls are great in the kitchen, attentive, serious, and I know they are going to be great cooks!!!  A Nonnie's delight.

On another note, a small group of friends expressed some interest in a Bread Baking 101 gathering, and knowing it would be great fun, I bought the ingredients, set up four stations, and yesterday we made bread.

Our plan was to make sour dough baguettes, and I had prepped a quart of sour dough starter for each, had 7 grain bread flour and unbleached bread flour at the ready...(and some wine, of course)

Each at her own station,  mixing and stirring the initial sour dough ferment.

After mixing, and kneading the dough is now ready for rising.  Clean, wet dish towels will cover the bowls while rising.

As I had prepared ahead of time, bread at each of its stages for them to see, we had two warm, crusty loaves to eat along with the cheese, wine and dessert these lovely ladies brought along.

I really cannot remember when I last had such fun.  I kind of wish it hadn't happened yet, as I'd like to experience it again.  Guess I'll hunt up another interested group!