Ummmm......

  " Lemme esplain. No, there is too much. Lemme sum up."
   Since August I have moved, had kids start school (3 of them in high school), had a nasty flare up of my gastroparesis, been diagnosed with advanced degenerative disc disease in my neck, and had changes in my duties and partner at my day job. I have not had much time to weave except for the little purses, which I can do at work during my lunch time. Once I finished my beach mat (yeah, I got it done. I haven't taken any pics yet), I had to leave my loom naked so we could move.
   But now things are a little less crazy. The chiropractor working on my neck made the gastroparesis go away, we are happy and (mostly) unpacked in our apartment, and I'm getting used to the new work partner. Oh, and I have warp for some viking twill linen towels tied on to the loom and ready for weaving.
   Let's see if I can post again this month, with pictures this time! Cross you fingers, but don't hold your breath!
   P.S.-Can you name the movie I quoted at the beginning?

Too cute not to share

Warning: This blog has nothing to do with weaving. If you don't like that, tough noogies. This is my blog and I'll put on it what I want.
   I was getting ready for work this past week, brushing my waist-length hair in the bathroom, when I noticed Baby Girl was actually up before noon. (Bedtimes pretty much go bye-bye during the summer at my house.) She asked if she could braid my hair for me. She had to stand on the toilet so she could reach! It was really cute, and she did a pretty good job too.
   Baby Girl is my youngest, my 10-year-old, the child I was pregnant with when my world fell apart and I found out what betrayal feels like. My last baby. She will probably be the last to leave the nest, and that day can take forever coming.
   If she wants to send me to work with 20 pony tails in my hair, I will probably let her.  Before I know it she will be too old, in her mind, to play with Momma's hair.

I have a new toy!

  The Husband and I were at Goodwill last Sunday, looking for a computer desk for him.  I was looking at some exercise pants and he wanders off.  When he comes back, he says he found something I would love.  He was right.

  So far as I can tell, this Singer was made in Italy, some time after 1934.  This sucker is all metal, comes in its own cabinet, and WORKS.  I had to buy a pin to hold to the thread spool since it is missing, but is otherwise in excellent shape. I can't wait to use it!
   Ga-head, ask me how much. Ga-head.
  $30!
  Goodwill is an awesome place.

I'm not at work, nyah, nyah, nyah!!

  I am off today and tomorrow, so I am actually able to get some weaving done.  I haven't been able to do a whole lot lately, and not just because of work stuff.  Depression is a bit of a problem in my family and I've been having a round of it lately.  I am getting better, though, as shown by the fact that I have gotten some weaving done and have started some new things!

    Isn't that just the cutest little thing?!  I got it from http://ruthsweavingprojects.blogspot.com/2011/06/little-bags.html, but she weaves hers around cardboard. I didn't know how that would work with the pins you have to use so I thought to use this:

.....which I got from.....

It's a little cooler that they deliver IV meds in at work.  I saw it and thought, "That'll work", took it home, and went after it with a pocketknife.  I didn't do a bad job at sewing the zipper in either.
   I also FINALLY finished my sampler band.

    The big loom is in a slow process of being warped with a 30 epi project that is the complete width of my loom, 32 inches, i.e. lots of yarn.  Lots and lots of yarn ends.  I ran out of heddles.  Can you hear the reluctance to work on this project?  Warping a loom is the least favorite part of weaving for me, so I will be very glad when I am done with it and can just WEAVE.
    I can't quite believe it but I have been weaving more than I've been reading.  And I read A LOT.

It's a Textural Thing

  I was thinking on my drive home the other day about how much of a place texture has in my life.  And I don't mean just the weaving thing, although I do go for the softer yarns, like wool and alpaca, but also food and what I wear. 
   When I was a little one, I had a blankie with a silk edge that I liked to rub on when I was going to sleep.  Then the blankie was taken away, and I started playing with my hair. I twirl it, I twist it, I rub on it when my hands aren't doing anything else.  And I have a lot of hair to play with.  With which to play. Whatever.
   One lady at work calls me Twiddles. Because I still do it.
  Also, there are foods I won't eat because of their texture. Coconut, for example, and shrimp. There is just something about how it feels in my mouth that makes me refuse to eat it. 
  Now, I know it's not just me that is like this. What won't you eat because it feels icky?  What do you like or do because it makes your fingertips happy?

I was in Heaven today

  Otherwise known as the Arts and Crafts Festival of Fairhope, Alabama. I love when Artsfest rolls around!  They have everything and anything you can think of there.  Including lots of people, from all over the country.  I saw a couple of weavers, one was busy with a customer so I didn't talk to her, but the other is Vickie Vipperman of Kingston Springs, Tennessee.   Her website is here,  She had some very lovely things.
   Another person I talked to was an oil painter by the name of Harry Jarman, and this painting blew me away.

    It's just some eggshells!!  But his use of light is AMAZING! One of his other paintings won Best of Show.  I bought a little copy of a painting he did of a half-peeled lemon. You can see it on his website here.
   I am going back tomorrow, too, with the kids. The first day I go by myself so I can see what I want to see.
   So, yeah, no weaving really done today. But I still have 6 more hours before I have to go to bed.

Life is busy

   So very busy!  I have almost finished weaving the rag rugs, and will need to start thinking about what to do next. I am thinking either cottolin towels for my kitchen (if the cottolin ever gets here!), or beach towels/mats for my Etsy site. I have not yet made either before.
  I have several bands I'd like to show y'all that I've made.

   These are some of my first inkle bands, so don't be too harsh.:) And here is my "sampler" band.

When I am done with it I'll take some more pictures so you can see the patterns clearly.
  Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!