Again, I am doing this a day early so I don't forget. Where did August go? Where did the summer go? I know that officially it is summer for a few more weeks - September 23rd is the equinox - I know most people view Labor day as the end of summer in the U.S. I am afraid summer temperatures are going to be hanging around central Texas for several more weeks but I am hoping the lower 90s will make it possible for me to spend more time in the loom room. Of course, I could have wheeled the looms into the living room but . . .  I am searching for excuses here as to why I have not been weaving Tongue Out. I hope everyone continues to be productive and continue to share your progress with the group. You are all inspiring to me and I am sure to other in the group as well. Weave on everyone!

Comments

sally orgren

I could not believe my third Donat towel series – ending with only 3" of loom waste at the back, and I only had 3" at the front, for a total of 6" loom waste (on a 12 shaft floor loom!) A personal best for me. I was tying to use up the materials with good project planning, and on the darkest green, I only had a string 1.25 yards left – barely enough for a warp repair, if needed.

 

I used the Weaver's Knot, and thanks to a piece of advice from a "virtual" guildmate, I applied some glue and water to the knots before they entered the castle and active heddle area. It worked beautifully! I did not have a single knot give way. Another trick: although I tie the knots close to the ends (less than an inch of tail), I trimmed the tails to as small as I dared, before painting with the glue & water, so there was no chance the tails would tangle with each other in passing.

 

This project was too successful! As soon as the green towels came off, were hemmed and wet-finished, I ended up winding another 5 yard warp to tie onto this one for 5 more towels in yet a different colorway. I hope to have those woven by Labor Day, and then finally, maybe I can clear off the big loom for a new project.

 

(That would be approximately 17 towels from this one threading!)

laurafry

DH is beaming a shawl warp on the AVL while I work on towels on the Leclerc.  Steaming right along - fall sales happen in 3, 2, 1...

cheers,

Laura

tien (not verified)

Still waiting for Grace to arrive. The previous trucker called on Monday morning, saying they'd tried for an hour to figure out how to get her onto the truck liftgate, and they just couldn't do it.

Second trucker is picking her up today and will get her to new warehouse on Thursday. (I am thoroughly baffled why it would take two days to get her to a warehouse less than an hour's drive away, but strange are the ways of time, at least where truckers are concerned.) Once she's arrived, they'll call me for an appointment time - which might be Friday, might not.

I'm seriously thinking of renaming her "Godot".

Someday, my loom will come...

laurafry

OTOH, that gives you more time to get organized?  :)

cheers,

Laura

tien (not verified)

Well, yeah. Truth be told, I'm really not ready for her yet...haven't yet figured out how to use the jacquard design software (Arahweave), haven't translated my designs into woven pattern, haven't dyed the yarns I'll need for weft. Also haven't wound the warp to put on her yet! And my sister-in-law is visiting this week and next, which limits the time I can devote to preparing.

However, I've also invited five people over and ordered a "birthday" cake for Saturday morning, plus a bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge...so I'm *really* hoping she arrives on Friday. I'm also out of town the following weekend, so if she doesn't arrive on Friday she won't get put together until the weekend of the 19th - quite a wait!

But I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens...

ReedGuy

I remember when dealing with trucks they were never there when they said. Sometimes arrive hours later (or not at all) when everyone is home asleep. We had to work on their time, not ours. That meant loading a truck at 2:00 am (a good many times) instead of 2:00 pm  when most people of this world would be working regular hours. LOL :D  Maybe they have wider trucks in Europe.

Good luck with the delivery. :)

Artistry

Sally , those are beautiful towels !

Hope the drivers get the loom to you by this weekend, Tien!

I've moved onto the heddles with Beauty. Bit by bit:) I'm excited eventhough my studio session is short , it's way better than it was a few weeks ago :):):)

sally orgren

Glad to hear you are back on the "weaver's bench," so to speak!

tien (not verified)

Yay Cathie! Glad to hear you're getting back to weaving.

I got a call from the delivery dispatcher this morning. They're going to deliver her tomorrow. At least, that's the plan...I've heard this before! But I am hopeful. Won't believe it until I actually see her in the garage, though.

laurafry

supposed to be threading, but here I am back on the Internet.  Queen of procrastination title is apparently mine today!

 

cheers

laura

Erica J

Good luck Tien.

They definitely do not have wider trucks here in Europe. ;)

Great news Cathie!

Laura, with your track record,  you'll be leaving us in the dust in no time! :)

sally orgren

Thanks to our guild Programming Chair Eileen S, we were visited by Princeton-based weaver Armando Sosa. We watched a video about his handbuilt draw loom and he described his weaving process and how he designs his intricate patterns. Of course we had a lot of questions about epi, warp length, speed of weaving, special tools used, etc.

 

 

We were treated to some wonderful examples of his work, displayed around the room in a mini-gallery format. What a way to kick off the guild year! How about everyone else? Show us what's happening at your guild meeting this month!

 

 

P.S. If you want to watch the video and read more about the artist:

www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2015/03/nj_artist_honors_guatemalan_roots_through_intricat.html

endorph

sharing this Sally - his story is really interesting and his work amazing. I would love to see it in person.

tien (not verified)

Still no loom. :-( I did get to see her, though....for about half an hour as the driver tried to figure out how to get her off the truck. After half an hour, he gave up and drove back to their warehouse, where (I'm told) they'll arrange another delivery. (Hopefully a delivery that actually ends with her in my garage!)

ReedGuy

Makes you wonder why they would send someone that can't unload it. Most delivery trucks unloading heavy lifts usually load a lift onto the truck because if delivering to a residence they have no way of knowing, unless they call, if there is a way to lift it off at the destination. Some have lifts mounted on the rear as well.

sally orgren

...my "online" loom purchase. In the mid-90's there was a weaving group on AOL. After a week of back 'n forth discussion with the seller for my dream loom, we realized the loom was in Oregon and I was in New Jersey! (I spent more to crate and ship it cross-county than I paid for the loom.)

 

We have a very long and steep driveway. When the VW-sized crate arrived, the delivery men could not get their truck up the incline, so they had to haul the 250+ pound crate up manually. They left the crate plopped in the middle of the drive way at the top. It was up to me to pry apart the crate and bring everything inside. Thankfullly, it wasn't raining and the seller sent me excellent reassembly instructions.

 

When I was collecting shipping estimates over the phone, I'll never forget one of the conversations I had. "Lady, I don't know what this thing is, but it's made out of a lot of beautiful wood!"

 

Also stunning to consider for the time: I bought the loom unseen, on trust. That was way before we could include photos in online forums! 

 

Fast forward 20 years, I still love the loom. So I hope the story has a happy ending quite soon!

Erica J

Tien,

How heart wrenching!  I just saw the photo on your blog! Fingers crossed!! 

Artistry

Tien, they will figure out away it's just so darn frustrating ! 

When I got my AVL many moons ago on the day it was supposed to be delivered the driver decided he could not drive his truck into our old neighborhood because of a sign that said " No Thru Commercial Traffic". He couldn't be convinced that it was only that street not the entire neighborhood.

I called AVL and spoke to the head person( was it Peter 20 years ago?). He had to call the delivery company and tell them that they were responsible for delivery. 

So the next day the Driver came out and wanted to put everything in the driveway, so he could get his truck out of the neighborhood as fast as possible. I said if he did that I wouldn't sign the delivery papers.

He ended up putting it in our garage.

I empathize!

tien (not verified)

......aaaaand, she's here!! (With some damage to the packaging, I hope she's OK!)

laurafry

I know what you will be doing soon!  ;)

cheers

laura

endorph

so glad she is finally home and hopefully alright! So what will you be doing this weekend Tien? Wink

tien (not verified)

Partying my heart out!! The loom assembly party starts at 11am tomorrow. I have a chocolate mousse cake on order and champagne in the fridge. Five friends are coming over to help me eat it (well, after they assemble the loom ;-) ).

:-) :-) :-) :-)

Tien

Artistry

Hooray, Hoorah! I'm sooo glad your loom has arrived! Have fun this weekend putting her together and celebrating !   Cathie

ReedGuy

Congratulations on delivery. I imagine she's been well packaged for the voyage. Your going to be busy for awhile. :)

ShawnC

Glad she's there! Hope when you unwrap her she is just fine!

Erica J

Whew! I got a ton of weaving done today! I am closing in on my texture exploration warp! I haveabout 12 more treadlings I want to try, then I'll have to see how much warp is left. 

I also felt Laura Fry efficient weaving my diamond twill today, after changing to a wool boat shuttle, thanks to an article in The Journal (published by the UK Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers).

Artistry

2 hours in my studio so far today, that's the longest stretch I've been able to do! Hooray! I will take a nap ( ah!) then if the stars align, I'll go back for more:)

laurafry

Cathie, don't push too hard, too soon.  Better to take smaller steps and not exhaust yourself...(ask me how I know!)

I'm chugging away.  Considering I'm just six months out from surgery, I think I'm doing pretty well.  This morning I finished the towels on the small loom, cut them apart and serged them, ready for wet finishing.  I had hoped to wind the next one, but I need to pick up a young friend who is going to help get my front flower beds tidied up, just in time for winter.  I didn't have the energy to tackle them earlier in the spring so the house has been looking tatty all summer.  :(  

cheers,

Laura

Artistry

Laura you're wise, after working I slept much longer than I expected! Slow and steady is going to win the race for me :)

Glad to see that you and Tien are doing so well after your surgeries :)

tien (not verified)

I think the photo says it all....

(The other person in the photo is my friend Dave, an electromechanical genius who not only led the assembly team for Amazing Grace, but built a dolly for Emmy (my 40-shaft AVL) as well. Note his exceptional taste in tie-dye - his wardrobe is actually better than mine!)

More details (and lots of photos!) in my blog:

http://www.tienchiu.com/2015/09/please-welcome-amazing-grace/

http://www.tienchiu.com/2015/09/hello-world-4/

Erica J

Very nice Tien!!! I think you have been brainwashing me though.  I actually found myself looking at the AVL Little Weaver today!

I need to get my Ashford 8 shaft cleared of,  so I can transfer the warp from my LeClerc 8 shaft,  which needs to be wiser than 9". I was very sleep deprived when I thought a bash only 8.5" wide was a good idea!  The up side is,  I am finally get this cool warp woven off! Sampling done, now to decide on one treadling! 

 

Erica J

Laura,

Does my starting technique look familiar?!

If you want to know wgat I did, why, and a load if great weaving tips, buy Lauea's Efficient Weaver video from Interweave!

 

ShawnC

Lovely weaving, folks! Tien, so happy for you! Can hardly wait to see what more comes from Grace.

 

Shawn

laurafry

not sure why this is sideways but here is another Mocha towel warp...the last in this series. 

Artistry

I like lashing on too Erica , plus Laura's " The Efficient Weaver" , very good.

so many talented people here!

Tien, WOW! WOW ! and WOW! I'm so excited for you! She's gorgeous, all shiny and new! what fun you're going to have with Amazing Grace! Love the handwoven sign! just a great pic of you , Grace and friend Dave. Talk about friends, yours are golden:)

I'm going to the library today to pick up some books on tape to listen to( well, sort of, I always lose my place, lol ) while weaving. I'm looking for suggestions ! I really like suspense, spy, mysteries. I like authors like John Grisham, J.D.Robb etc. I also like authors of different genres, Jodi Piccoult, Ann Patchett, Lisa See.

I'm  adding more warp on each side of Beauty. I decided to change the sett from 8 epi to 10 epi. Using 12/9 cotton seine twine, and the weft will be bundles of Vevgarn and Alf yarns. While threading the heddles, I realized I hadn't beamed the loom yet, whoops! I think I need a spray of Rustoleum, too funny ! 

I hope to get an hour in today:)

 

Nassajah (not verified)

they're all so stunning!  I always hope to end with the least amount of waste also, but usually weave until I can't get a good shed.  I'll have to try the method you mentioned to see if I can have as little left as you.

laurafry

20 towels in the washing machine, nekkid loom, so a place mat warp will go on next.  Not enough day left to make firing up the AVL really worthwhile so dressing the small loom and prep work will finish out the afternoon.   Tonight is guild AGM and tomorrow taken up with mom and her medical appointments.  Getting old is not for sissies.   :-/

cheers

laura

Artistry

Laura, you're amazing! What  and how much you get accomplished is inspiring ! 

I've shown up in my studio everyday this week for an hour :) Still putting the warp on Beauty. I'll get there:)

today is Tapestry Study Group ! I'm going with my small Mirrix. I plan on warping it to use as a sampling warp to accompany my larger tapestry.

laurafry

Cathie, you are doing great, even if it might not feel like it.  Everyone tells me I am ahead of the curve but it still feels like it is taking forever. :-/.  But i have almost as much inventory for the fall sales as I think I need...just a few more place mat warps.  If I get the shawl warps done that will give me better colour selection, but really, they aren't totally necessary.   Show fees have been paid, hotel rooms booked.  I am about as ready for the shows as I can be.  :)

i am, however, trying to get 'ahead' on next years inventory because I am, finally, serious about doing another book   I will be meeting with a designer to get feedback on format and what I will need to do regarding illustrations (photos, drawings) and firming up layout   Next year will be...challenging...as I try to dump the contents of my brain onto paper!

i figure about a two year project, in all, but it will satisfy my desire to teach without my having to actually get on six am flights and sleep in strange beds   ;)

it is probably premature to share this here and now, but after faffing around, will I, won't I, for two years, I finally decided that if I am going to do this, I'd better get off the pot, so to speak, and just do it!

i will post updates to my blog when appropriate for anyone interested  http://laurasloom.blogspot.com

cheers

laura

tien (not verified)

Oh yay, a new book from Laura! That will be wonderful. Let me know if you want an introduction to my publisher - though you would almost certainly make more from self-publishing!

I'm en route to Philadelphia right now for Schiffer Books' annual Author Picnic. Tomorrow will be seminars on book marketing, Saturday is the actual picnic. Sunday I fly home.

laurafry

Self-publishing is a gamble, mainly because a single person doesn't have the marketing arm (or access to book re-sellers).  Right now I'm looking at digital (or print-on=demand options) so that I don't have to have hard copies sitting around for years (or the debt involved in producing them) and I can have as many colour photos as I want.  :^)

Control freak?  Moi?   (hanging head) Sadly, yes...

cheers,

Laura

Artistry

Ah, Laura, you're doing another book ! That's great news for all of us !

Tien, have fun at the Author Picnic, I imagine you'll meet some interesting people there !

i did get the warp on the Mirrix today :) now for the heddles and everything else, which I may be able to complete at Fiber Friday at our Guild .

sally orgren

Still working to clear off looms between deadlines. Here is what I am working on with the leftover warp from my Scandinavian weaves class (Norma Smayda: Blended Draft of Rosepath & Monk's Belt.)

I plan to turn this fabric into pocketed shuttle holders to hang on the wall, backed by canvas.

tommye scanlin

I've been at a retreat center since Sept. 1 and am leaving tomorrow.  I've posted to my blog each day about my time here, most recent was tonight:  http://tapestry13.blogspot.com/2015/09/lillian-smith-center-i-miss-you-already.html

I would encourage anyone who's interested in what time away at a retreat could do for their creative practice to consider it, whether at an "official" retreat or by going away somewhere for a few days of contemplation and creative activity.  I've found it to be life-changing for me.

Tommye

 

Erica J

Not much weaving thus far this week. But I did avert disaster by not rethreading my loom. I thought I neede to for my next weft faced drafts, but I didn't have my book handy so I outted sround with some other things. It was a good thung, because Nanc5 ahoskins shows you how to weave 3 shaft krokbragd on 4 shafts threaded in straight draw! So i just need to tie on! Yeah!!

I really enjoy my voyageur Sally. I'm curious what the widest with you can weave on yours 8" seems the max, unless I am using most of the heddles. The metal heddles take up a lot os space when pushed to each side. Any advice would be much appreciated! 

Laura, I am excited for you! I am also so glad you decided to share your decision with us!

Happy weaving!

Artistry

Sally , beautiful and practical !

Tommye that's a great idea! I could take myself to Michigan for a week of Designing hmmmmmm .....

And now, it's off to work I go, Beauty is waiting :)

sally orgren

I keep about 100 heddles per shaft, and go full width, often 15". The trick is when threading, instead of pushing the unused heddles to the edges, just leave some "empties" between the regular threading. That way, if you have an error, an empty heddle is nearby.

Another idea that never occurred to me until last week, when I loaned one of my Voyagers to a new weaver...just drop the unused shafts out!

The Voyagers are little workhorses in my household.

Erica J

Thanks Sally! I thought that might be the answer, but wasn't sure if the empty metal heddles might abraid the yarn, probably silly to think that! :)

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