Here I am again, at last

Yes, I am still here and still doing some weaving. It was a great thing to be doing at Riverside for eight hours while Doreen was having back surgery two weeks ago. Much better than trying to read. She is now in Rehab and hopefully walking again by the end of the summer. I am looking forward to having her back(pun) in the shop.

So what am I weaving? Not a great deal, too busy, but I did start a couple of afghans. One uses the four by six loom, five colors of yarn, and several textural patterns. The other has four by four pieces surrounded by two by six pieces. This makes a pattern that has a quilt look. Quite nice.

The most satisfying creation was inspired by a shawl that won 'best of show' in the Handwoven May/June 2010 issue. It is called Spanish Moss Shawl and is very lovely. The square pieces are joined by crochet. I used a skein of Jojoland Tokyo, a lovely yarn, which I joined my way since I do not crochet. I did it more loosely than normal and the shawl drapes softly and looks great.

My supply of looms is low but I have two of the bakelite four by four looms which sell for $75. Doreen is bidding on more looms for me and the molded plastic four by four looms will sell here for $60. We still are able to get a limited number of the rectangle looms and all three sizes sell for $45 each. The textural pattern books also sell for $45. For a time I had trouble with the way the price has gone up but then I thought of the money women have invested in all the sizes of needles they 'need' and decided that looms were not all that pricey. A weaver could get along with just one size loom though havin all five is nice. I know..

I would love to see you and your woven items. Come in and sit and share. Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart. God Bless Us All. Elaine

Spring

The weather this week is supposed to be very "spring like" and I can go for that. I really like the snow but enough is enough. Tomorrow is St. Patty's Day and I want to get some pansies for the store. They are my favorite flower. Doreen usually puts them in the ground at the condo but they will be in pots out here. Speaking of Doreen, she is making progress slowly but we are encouraged that within the month she will be up and going. It has been a long, hard struggle with more than a few set-backs. Would like to have her here for our second year anniversary in April.

Did you see the new issue of PieceWork? There is an afghan on the cover with a four-by-four Weave-it loom. What a surprise! Inside there was an article by Robin Hansen
that told the story of the looms and also gave the directions for warping and weaving and some info on the looms themselves. She told of speaking to Licia Conforti who brought the looms back into use but has now got out of the business, Buxton Brooks, which she had started. It is too bad that she is not providing the looms any more because I am running out. You can still get them through ebay but the price has gone through the roof since the magazine came out. I hope that within a couple weeks they will come down to a reasonable price. I no longer have any two-by-two looms to sell, just my own that you can use here at the shop if you need a few to complete a pattern. They go very fast.

I am trying to finish a cover for a laptop computer. It is very pretty but one of my "weavers" brought hers in the other day and I was blown away. It is extra-ordinary in color and interest. She even wove in some silver thread to add some more sparkle. I would like to take a picture of it to show you. I will not be putting pictures on the blog until Doreen is back in the shop to do it for me..

Time to get busy, the plants need to be watered and the trash needs to be taken out, and I may leave the door open for a while if it is warm enough. Be of good cheer and keep smiling, the world needs our smiling faces. As always, Elaine

It has been soooo long

I know, I know, January is almost gone and I have not given you any advice. Before I go further, I am truly sorry but things have been a little complicated around here. Doreen has had a lot of trouble with her right knee and can not have surgery until the 12th of February therefore I have not been able to do all the things I normally do here at the shop. We have had so many good friends help me out with their coming in and giving knitting advice when neither Linda nor Lynne are working. They have made it all possible for the store to keep open during this period of time. My family have been very helpful with careing for Doreen while I am at the shop. Hopefully a month from now will find us back on track at home and in the shop.

I have been doing some weaving with the acrylic yarn we carry and I have a baby afghan done enough for you to see how it weaves. I am also using it for a piece of cloth that could be used as a placemat or even to be made into a purse. It is fine to weave with and the textural pattern, sunken diamond, is very pretty. I am going to use it for a rubic cube purse. It is a neat pattern. Will have it pictured on the next blog.

My thoughts of late are centered on Doreen and her pain and inability to get around. It would be great if she could get up and work on the computer or even be able to knit, it just isn't happening. The pain and frustrations are so bad that she even does not sleep well which of course, leads to more of the same. Keep us in your prayers and thoughts. I still keep smiling and hoping that the days go swiftly. Come in to visit and show me what you are weaving. Love to you all, Elaine