Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful, happy and safe holiday!

Jingle Jingle Jingle . . .

Back to a short, routine-filled work week now that my husband is back to work from a four-day weekend.



I'm not done with Christmas gifts yet. Mostly done, but not yet. Above is a scarf I made for my husband for Christmas. He never visits my blog, so it's safe. Ironically, for all I weave, he doesn't own a handwoven scarf by me. Knitted, yes, but not handwoven. It's made with a merino/tencel black warp and wool/silk silver gray weft in "Six Thread Herringbone". I measured warp for two, rather short, 42", scarves, one for my husband and one, just because it's easier to measure for more than one if you're going to wind warp, thread heddles, and sley the reed.

Now, I used to think that I could just make a quick project, at least one scarf, in a couple of days. Just breeze right through. No big deal. Yes, that's generally true. For the most part. Most of the time. Sometimes.

Except, as I have learned, there's always SOMETHING. Always. I no longer believe in the breeze-through-no-big-deal-quick project.

A spring on one of my treadles broke. Thank God I have an eight-shaft loom and was only using four on this project. I couldn't find any extras yesterday, so I just borrowed from another treadle. No spring, can't use the treadle.

The floating selvedge on the left side broke at least five times. A floating selvedge is an extra thread on each side of the warp. It is not threaded through the heddle, so it doesn't go up and down with any of the shafts. It is sleyed through the reed and remains static. I wind the thread around a cork and put it in an old prescription bottle that is weighted with coins or screws, whatever. It only has to be heavy enought to be taut. You use a floating selvedge on any project other than plain weave. In plain weave, the weft will catch one edge or the other of the project and there won't be any loose, gaping threads on the sides. But other patterns, or drafts, may not catch the edges every time, leaving loose threads and a messy selvedge (edge of the fabric). The floating selvedge is the same yarn as the edge of the warp and blends right in.

I was pretty irritated about them breaking all the time. It's easy to repair and add another one on invisible but it sure slows you down.

One of the warp threads broke, too, not far into the scarf.

Oh, and this all happened while making one scarf. I never got to the other one. I'm going to cut my losses on this one. It's a good thing I didn't decide to do this, famously, a day before Christmas. ha.

But the first scarf came out well and will be under the tree later today.

I'm not sure what was up with that yarn. It's an 8/2 merino/tencel but it look a little thinner than the other cone I have. This type of yarn is usually very strong and I love working with is. I think I will make a note inside the cone to only use as weft.

Bah humbug to that.

That's over and I will probably start another project today. And practice my guitar - yay! Because I have the house until late afternoon.

Merry Christmas, all!

New Line for Winter 2010 - 2011

The Cottage series is my new line of scarves for this winter. "Cottage" because they remind me a little of a cozy little house off the beaten path, away from the strip malls, box stores, traffic snarls, and the general energy-sucking atmosphere that is our daily grind (I am not a hermit or a Luddite, clearly, but we all need some quiet downtime occasionally). It's a place where there's always a warm fire, a pot of coffee or tea, some cookies or scones. A place where you may sit on a tattered, but most comfortable couch covered in faded, patched fabric. Some striped pillows, some floral, not always matching. You will find treasures you picked up from travels to Germany and ones you found at the local flea market. Read a book. Play your guitar. Watch the sunset. Wind down from the day.

Sometimes when I was weaving some of these scarves I felt like Van Gogh off the rails. It got a little wacky and I was reined in only because crazier materials and resources simply were not in reach. Yeah. It got a little manic. Thank goodness I only had yarn. But we'll see.

I'll pick up this project again after Christmas, as I have presents to make!

Cottage on the Edge of Tinsel Town II

Cottage on the Edge of Tinsel Town I

Cottage Water Lilies at Sunrise

Cottage Water Lilies I

Tis the Season . . .

For a whole bunch of things. I need to work on more Christmas cards tonight. But, in the meantime, I wanted to tell you that for the month of December, Coffee Break Designs can be found in the newest, hippest place in East Hampton, CT, 70 Main Coffee House and Art Gallery. You can check them out on Facebook. It's just opened up and I'm looking forward to hanging out there.

Made a sale on the scarf above! So now I am making more! I really love these new scarves. They keep me interested and endlessly entertained.

This is one on Etsy from my latest set, Cottage Water Lilies at Sunset

Another view.

Wish me luck there! I have more on the loom, as well.

I've decided to do something special for my birthday, which is next month. It really is just for me, as I'm not sure how well it will be received. Ahhh, my family and friends shall be at my mercy. More at a later date. (cue evil laugh)

Happy Thanksgiving . . .

to my American friends and if you live elsewhere in the world, I hope you have a great day, too!

I am trying to get a bit of work done here and hopefully begin measuring warp for more scarves, as I'll have little chance to do that before Sunday, I think. Much of today will be spent shopping for last minute things, baking two pumpkin pies, making applesauce, cranberry sauce, and a list of other chores I have.

Here are the latest in the shop:

Absinthe Crocheted Bracelet

And my new series, Cottage:

Cottage Water Lilies I

Have a safe and happy day!

Christmas in Connecticut

I'm so proud to be in this lovely treasury created by fellow Etsian and Nutmegger, Faery Moon Goddess! My Roaster Coaster is hanging out there with all the other wonderful handmades.

A Connecticut Christmas

Please give it a look and comment!

Happy Friday!

It's a cold, frosty morning here but the sun is shining and the sky is "bright and wide and blue" (reference to Patty Griffin's song "Goodbye". Whenever I'm singing that in the car and the sky is bright and wide and blue, my eyes tear up.). But I have my coffee and my knitting and I have started winding warp for more scarves. I've been doing more knitting this past week or so. Fingerless mitts and arm warmers. I need to wear my wrist brace (aka "The Club" per my husband) so I can continue to knit and play guitar without my hand constantly falling asleep and going numb.

So, here are the latest items:

SuperGirl Arm Warmers in Brown Twist

High E Guitar String

SuperGirl Arm Warmers in Raspberry Smoothie

I have fingerless mitts, too but I haven't decided where to put them Swift Waters needs more things and I think my sister of Gwynevere Creations is having an open house next month. Plus, I have more scarves to photograph.

Have a happy Friday!

Thank You . . .

for listening to me rant and sing. (big smile)

Ok, I'm still not ready for the holiday season, unless thinking about how I should get ready is ready. If you know what I mean. It snowed here yesterday but thankfully it's all melted now and I didn't have to haul out the snow blower.

I finally took pictures of a couple of pendants I made months ago. I am getting away from the mixed media jewelry, although I love it and have a few things left in the shop. I've been moving more towards just the weaving, a bit of knitting, and maybe more guitar string pendants. I just posted this in the shop today:

High E string (will be in shop tomorrow, probably)



Triple B Guitar String Pendant

Also, coming soon, another pair SuperGirl Arm Warmers.

Take care!

Maybe

Please Hand Me Another Slate and Chisel. Thanks.

I had good intentions to post a real entry today. But, alas, there goes another stone on the road to hell. Bad internet connection.

I'm working on another pair of arm warmers, posted a couple new ones in my shop, as well as another light weight scarf. Yes, I know, a blog without pictures is good for not much more than insomnia. It would take probably 7,000 years to post one picture.

But, I wanted to write something, so here it is. I'm listening to Patty Griffin's "Christina". Beautiful song.

As you will see above you, I have posted (well, I will try) a new song I wrote. For lack of other things today.

Have a good evening and thanks for reading and listening (if you did).

:)

Heard in My Head: I Can't Believe It's November

I'm not ready for this.

I had the last summer farmers' market yesterday. Not too bad, except for the wind gusts and me visibly shaking. I forgot to bring my own pair of hand knit fingerless gloves. But I did have some for sale and sold a pair!

I have just listed a pair of arm warmers on Etsy, with another ready to go tomorrow:

SuperGirl Arm Warmers

I've got some scarves but, again, I have to see what I want to go to the stores and what should go up on Etsy.

I'm sleepy today. I'll get over it.

Have a good day!

Loot and a Paperweight

Got pictures of some of the yarn I picked up at Rhinebeck last week. There is some Brooks Farm (nice big booth, always crowded, with more colorways than you know what to do with! I always get something there.). There's also Bartlett Yarns (nice, rustic yarn from Maine). Persimmon Tree Farm (great yarns and roving, great color, with and without sparkle). Swift River Farm yarn (I'm going to make arm warmers or fingerless mitts out of that. It's brown and white marled yarn.)

Some Kid Hollow (the orange and blue yarns) and Autumn House Farm (the skein).

This is an arm warmer I'm knitting from AHHH! I can't locate the name of the yarn now. But I went back to the booth at the end of the day because I loved the marled pink. It's called peach but it looks pink to me. I'll find the name. It's around here somewhere because I'm so organized (ha).

And finally, a couple weeks ago my husband and I went to a little fair in Riverton. There was a glass studio, Greenwood Glass, there in an old church. We went in to see the beautiful glass ornaments, candle holders, even a chair! The owner, Peter Greenwood, asked if we would like to try making a glass paperweight or flower. My husband said, Yes, she would! So, I did! Peter walked me through the process and I made a paperweight! I just picked it up yesterday. I learned that glass must be annealed (a process by which the piece is slowly cooled. Otherwise it could explode due to internal stresses caused by rapid cooling <--- definition is partially from Wikipedia, partially from Peter, and partially from my husband.) It was ready the following day but we had to work around our schedules it have me pick it up.

Here I am cooling the glass with air. This is to be able to work it more.

And here it is!

New Stuff

Hey! Thanks for listening to my songs. I appreciate that. Nothing today, so you are safe.

However, I do have a couple of new items to share:

Barcelona Jewels

Blue Skies Fingerless Mitts

Knit with Kid Hollow yarn. The next fingerless mitts I make will be shorter on the fingers. They will be better for playing guitar, I think. I thought it was a good idea. If you want to play or take pictures outside, these will keep you hands warm but your fingers free.

These two pictures are the same scarf, not in any store yet. I may take it to a B&M. It's a Barcelona but with squares of yarns in purples, aquamarines, brick red (dark), and teal. The yarns are tencel, tencel/merino, rayon chenille, alpaca/silk. Interesting and I've been thinking about this design for a while.

Thanks for visiting and have a sensational day! hehe!

You Are.wmv

Rhinebeck!

The New York Sheep and Wool Show in Rhinebeck was wonderful again this year! Beautiful weather, a bit breezy but not freezing and snowy/rainy as it has been. I guess we've been lucky these past couple of years - gorgeous blue skies, brilliant golds, oranges, reds in the trees . . . ahhh. I was so sorry to see summer go but days like that make it worth it.

Ouessant sheep. Very tiny and cute. They look much like Shetlands.

I remember this guy from last year. A Karakul ram. Beautiful and like a big dog. He loves attention.

Nice rack. Beautiful horns on this Angora ram. From Apple Rose Farm.

An angora. Shy but curious.

A Karakul ewe.

My latest creation from yarn I picked up at the Kid Hollow booth. I LOVE their mohair, too. Unbelievable colorways.

My cat, Lucy, loves to lay on yarn. This is a Shetland, silk blend - the yarn. The cat is a calico mutt.

Lucy laying among some of my loot.

The two balls of yarn are mohair from Kid Hollow.


Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . .

The Heat is On

It's 90 today. It feels good, though.

I've done very well at the last two Farmers' Markets - so well that my loom is on fire again, trying to build up inventory for the next date, October 10, and for the stores and Etsy! I'm almost done with three today. Here is one:

Northern Lights tencel warp. Blues, greens, purples.

Northern Lights warp and olive chenille.

Barcelona scarf that sold at the last market.

More from the Barcelona series that sold or are residing at some stores.

In addition to weaving, watering the lawn and doing laundry, I also practice my guitar. Here is a song I wrote, for your listening pleasure - or not. I'm still a beginner, but that you if you listened!

Faith (Prayer to Myself)

Whoops

Seems that somewhere between my last post and today I wound up in

Barcelona!

Casa Batllo, by Gaudi

Palau Musica Catalana

Frieze by Picasso

La Boqueria

Just five days and a very last minute thing! I'm very lucky my passport is ready to go!

I am working on my fall line. Here is something that is off the loom now. I am in desparate need of more yarn, though! I hope to get more this week or early next!

Ages ago . . .

I started a blog. July has been busy with the Fourth, vacations, birthdays. And I am ready to get started on the scarves for fall. Yes, it has been one hot summer and nobody wants to think about scarves, or anything else, around their necks. I love the hot weather but it is not good for selling scarves. Still, I have to begin now because these things take time.

No pics yet. I am winding black warp. Tencel. I haven't decided 100% what draft I will use for this series. That will be finalized today.

Visit My New Line in Housewares

Roaster Coasters handwoven coasters, aka mug mats.

Pitsachio Green and White

Red, White, and Blue

And I will be taking a couple of them in gift boxes to Swift Waters.

I'm sending a couple of sets out to the stores, so what's left will go up on Etsy. I already sold a few at GGG and the farmers' market. I'm working on more colors.

And this is a gorgeous red and white cotton/linen kitchen towel that needs to get up on Etsy already!

Slacker . . .