I was so happy to be finally returning to some normalcy.   Weaving again, even if for short periods and slower.    It takes me longer to weave an item and so I nibble away at the inches carefully. I was on towel number four of seven when I noticed an ache in my right shoulder that radiated to my top of my spine.    I stopped right away and used an ice pack and some advil.  Next day I felt like a truck had run over my shoulder  and now the pain radiated down the outside of my bicep to my elbow and down into my wrist. No, it's not frozen shoulder, but nerve imp ..read more

 When I start something new, I usually weave some towels to get use to the changes. New dobby on the loom, so more towels.   This is a 16 shaft twill and basket weave, most likely from Handweaving.net but I seem to have misplaced the number. It drove me crazy looking for threading errors! So I have declared there were none.... 8 yard warp of Venne cotton and all wefts used for the 7 towels will be linen. This is 9/2 French linen from Brassards. The reverse side is darker....a mirror image. It’s good to be weaving again, even if for short periods. If my back starts to make its pre ..read more

To close out October (where did the month go? ? )  .... some spinning show and tell for you.  This pretty fibre came from  "Beesybee Fibers" on Etsy. They have some gorgeous colour ways and quick shipping.   It was a lovely spin up with very high quality fibre.  This has a fine micron wool blended with silk.  Some other colours may have fallen into the shopping cart too.   Oops... ? All washed up and some were made into cakes for convenience.... and a skein as it's a classic.  Now that I'm back weaving, I'm spinning less but enjoy the time ..read more

 Today, my Spring loom hit the road in a comfortable ride to its new home about 2-3 hours drive south of us here on Vancouver Island.   It was hard to feel sad when the new owner, a lovely lady and friend, was so darn excited! Here's the loom in her little nook, and photographed from outside.  Looks cozy huh?   Her start began 16 years ago in October 2008 when two large boxes were delivered and I began to set her up.  She came pretty well trussed up! Louet does things very well and even use combinations of very heavy cardboard with sections of wood for strength ..read more

For Sale: 12 shaft / 14 treadle Louet Spring 90cm (35 1/2 ”) Loom This small but mighty countermarch loom is a real little workhorse ! I have woven everything  but rugs on this loom; from light laces to shawls, scarves, towels and table linens. You can use just 2 shafts, 4 or 8 or more and it will grow with your weaving experience. Its small floor 'foot print’ makes it ideal for smaller homes and spaces, and it does everything the larger floor looms do.  Louet’s beautiful craftsmanship and well thought out designs makes for easy warping. It features a floating breast beam for th ..read more

 I have another spinning show and tell for you!   I bought some pretty roving from a UK company called Fellview Fibres.     They have consistently beautiful colorways and quality fibres to spin up. A real treat for the senses. This roving colorway was inspired by the illuminated manuscripts from various ancient abbeys such as Lindisfarne and the Book of Kells.  Carol has three or four colour ways in this series but this one appealed to me for its softness of yarn and color. The truth was it was a bit of a challenge to spin as the fine merino and silk liked to stay ..read more

 I thought I would share some of my hand spun efforts. It was all I could do for 7 months so there will be a few more posts to come as well. A fine merino with a dash of silk.... from Aurelia Fibers, which I believe is now closed. ? Total yardage is 399 meters or 439 yards.  Total weight is 192 grams or 6.7 ounces. It was a lovely spin up and I quite enjoyed it. I wound them into cakes using my nifty new ball winder.... I love it!  Today is the Fall Equinox and the official start of Autumn, pumpkin season and all things to do with spinning, weaving, knitting....   ..read more

Some time late last year I bought a painted silk warp from Carr Park Artisan's similar to this one. It was 200 ends and 6 1/2 yards long.   Not really wide enough and not really long enough but I loved the colours!    Also, it's *silk* , the princess of natural fibres! I knew the 16 shaft draft I wanted to use as it has the beautiful effect of playing with colour and make them appear to flow and shift.  Draft #78116 at Handweaving.net /  designed by Ingrid Boesel in the Thrilling Twills Collection. Picture 'borrowed' from Carr Park Artisans   I dug deep in the ..read more

 Trees in our area are either showing signs of drought stress, or starting to turn early.   Since we had some generous rainfall, it must be the start of Fall. The sunlight comes in at an angle now and there's a golden glow, and the nights are cooler.  Having said all that, we are going into a few days of summer heat again.    Its all about change... Speaking of which, there are a changing of seasons in my weaving room and I undertook the last tie up on my Spring.   I took my time and listened to my back and grateful it was only 8 shafts and 8 treadles ( and not th ..read more

  Sitting at a waterside seasonal restaurant called Jiggers, waiting for friends to join us and enjoy a meal together.    We've been taking a much more relaxed time of things lately!   As luck would have it, we all chose fish and chips and it was yummy!   Next up is the surprise crop of young green beans, that Hub grew in a pot behind the shed by chance !   He says there are many more beans coming along....  I have been spinning steadily for the past six months and once they are off the niddy noddy, they got tossed into a bin.   So the day arrived to w ..read more