One for Michelle

I made another strip bag--this one is for Michelle--we are working a trade. She is making a lamp shade and I am giving her this bag. I really like this project--mainly because there are no rules and some surprising things usually happen.  I threaded this as a twill and started weaving a plain weave with it.  I then remembered that my 4 treadles were still in a pattern and really liked what happened.  I have to write it down so if I ever want to replicate it I can.  Now I think I am going back to my "Green Book".  I found a pattern that I really like and am going to make something really "Springy"!

I Don't Usually Get Two!

I don't usually get two things in a row that I like--but these I do. This is the "book" bag I made for the LaFarge Library fundraiser.  It is cotton and linen and should be great to put books in to carry back to the library! I like to make these bags, they are simple to sew and they use up a lot of odds and ends.  All of my bobbins are now empty!

This is a bag I made out of my "rug" wool.  I figured the only way I wasn't going to try another rug was to get rid of the stuff so it would not tempt me.  Its pretty big.  I think it would be a good bag for car trips, for all that "stuff" that flies about.  I may also give it away to some unsuspecting soul. 

Off to the Library

My local library is having a fund raiser for its expansion project and a friend called and asked me if I would dontae something.  So I thought of a "book" bag.  This is a bag made out of a 7"strip that is about 120" long.  It is then folded and sewn with only a couple of seams.   It is very sturdy and has a long shoulder strap making it a really perfect book bag.  I also like it because it is a great way to use up scraps of this and that.  I threaded it in a pattern called Jean Lilly but did not like the way it looked, so am just weaving it as plain weave.

New Kitchen Towels

Here they are--my new kitchen towels.  They are 16.5"x29". There were supposed to be four but I only got three for a couple of reasons.  The warp is hemp and by the time I got to the fourth one it kinda stuck together and the tension was not good.  Even though the hemp is "hairy" when it is on the loom, once it is washed and dried it is very soft.  Another reason, to be really honest,  is that I was bored by the time I got to the fourth one and decided to use the coveted whacking shears! We are replaying our kitchen counter tops--I have burned the Formica one too many times and think they will go really well. 

Just Shoot Me

So just shoot me if I say I am going to weave another rug!!!!! I have finally gotten the point--I am NOT a rug weaver.  This yardage is going to be some towels for the kitchen. They are 18x35.  The warp and weft are hemp with a little 16/2 cotton for the stripe.  I think they are going to be really nice.  I am so wanting to use the cone of hemp that I bought and these will probably finish off most of it. 

Two Things---Happy New Year

All dressed up and no place to go!!!! These two little ones paid us a visit over the holidays, they are Liz and Jim's youngest.  Every time they visit they find the same two pairs of dress up shoes and clunk around in them. Thought they looked smashing in Christmas jammies!

We have had one of those ugly over-the-sink lights for years.  A couple of months ago I saw this idea in a shop window--to the tune of $300.  So I set out to re-create it for far less.  Found the yellow egg basket in Iowa while on a day trip with some friends--$26.  Harry found some lighting stuff (he is a fan of the $1 boxes when we go to an auction) and always seems to have just the right part.  The light was $8.  So I came in way under $300.