VavStuga Basics Class, Part 3 ~ Handwovens

Wool blanket warp using Swedish Tuna wool, doubled.

After the blanket warps were made and beamed, we could choose to weave on either the red or blue warp.  As tempted as I was by the red, I chose the more calm, peaceful blue, shown above.  For weft I used a muted blue (see Part 1 for photo of blanket in progress).



Blanket after fulling.

A bit closer, and showing fringe.

We were shown how to twist and tie the fringe, and later than evening I stayed up quite late to finish the fringe on my blanket.  The next day, fulling was done, by Becky, using a washer and dryer.

I always say weaving should be used and not put away, and now that these photos are done, I will use mine.  I had to wait, though, because if I had put this blanket down on my bed, I would never have gotten the cats off of it!



Weaving of two other students, using color for weft.

The next weaving I did was the two block, 8 shaft damask in broken twill, using single linen warp, 2 ply linen weft.  Other students used contrasting colors (from the warp) for their squares.  I decided to go for a more traditional look, almost tone on tone, so my weft choice was just a shade or two different from the warp.  This also makes it more challenging to photograph, especially at night, using my phone, after dark!  It definitely needs more spritzing and pressing, since it had thoroughly dried overnight near my woodstove.  A cold mangle has become very high on my Wish List, or should that be Need List?


My traditional look damask piece.



Towel warp.

Next came this cottolin towel warp, 4 shaft, straight twill threading.  We used 8/1 tow linen for weft.  I liked the brighter green and red, it made me think of Christmas, so I wove it using a bright green tow linen, which highlighted the green (and red) in the border, and the other warp colors toned the green down a bit.  A new weaving friend in the class wove hers in bright red. 


My Christmas towel (brighter in person than in this pic).



Towel hanging just left of my kitchen sink.

You can't tell from this photo, but this towel is hanging from a small section of tree branch, cut, trimmed, and fastened to the cupboard with a screw.  I'll have to put a few photos up of different parts of my home, which has been described by visitors as "unique."

Warp for a tablecloth.

My last piece of weaving was this small tablecloth, 8/2 Bockens, both warp and weft.  I was the last person to start weaving at the beginning of the week, so I was the last person weaving at the end of the week, as I had to wait for a loom to be free.  Not to worry, this gave me a bit more time to browse through VavStuga's amazing library. 


Finished small tablecloth, just fits the island in my kitchen! 

I started this piece at almost 11 AM and had been told shuttles would be put down at 3 PM whether we were finished or not.  I really wanted a finished piece, not a sample, so likely wove faster than I ever had.  I finished at 2:50 PM, ten minutes to spare, Whew!!!    

My pie plate, by potter Anne Appel, goes well with this cloth.

I think this piece turned out very nicely, except in my haste to actually finish this piece before we had to stop weaving, I forgot to put the "light sections" in as in the warp.  At home, if I make a mistake in warping or weaving, I always stop and fix it as I don't want to look at my error forever.  This day, though, I had a time crunch and decided to just go with what I'd done.

I had to laugh when I had woven several inches and then noticed it.  Becky walked over, I said, "I forgot..."  She said, "I thought you did it on purpose!"  Then I flashed back to the beginning of the week and talking about designing symetrical and asymetrical warps, laughed and said, "oh that's right, I was tired of all that symetry!"  (Not!)  Every time I look at this piece, I recall my error, ut still, it's nice as is, and I can always weave another.  Meanwhile, I will enjoy this one!



New weaving friend Diane, of St. Paul, MN.



Myself, out on the warping porch.



Weaving my tablecloth.

Flying home, I kept thinking what a great week I'd had.  Two months have gone by and I still feel exactly the same way.  I had heard from other students that things run on schedule, and they did.  I don't know how else you could get all of that in five days!  I'd heard (online) from at least four other weavers, and all said I would have a wonderful time there, and so I did.

Becky is a wonderful instructor, very knowledgeable, clear explanations and demonstrations, and has more energy than anyone I've seen in a long, long time.  And, the handwovens she kept pulling out, whether for this class or future classes, are fascinating.  If you are interested in Scandinavian weaving, and traditional methods, this is a wonderful place to learn. 

Susan, who has a smile that lights up a room, is there keeping everything running smoothly, answers questions, and at the end of the week, takes care of your purchases, bills, and ships anything home you don't take with you.  

Gentle Sara, apprentice at VavStuga, took care of our breakfast each morning, worked on her big loom, weaving wide lace curtains, and still had time to chat a bit or answer a question.

The loom/school space is wonderful, filled with countermarche and counterbalance looms, a great library, wonderful warping equipment, the shop is close by in another part of the building, and accommodations are upstairs.  

Lunch and dinner, served on the porch overlooking the river and scenic view, were delicious!  At each meal, the table is set with completely new handwovens, amazing!  And how I wish I'd kept my camera with me at all times.  There was a lot of laughter and stories told over those meals.  After lunch we would have 20 minutes or so to go for a quick walks and dash into local shops and galleries.  

We wove from 9 AM to 9 PM, with time out for lunch and dinner.  After dinner, we would go back to our looms and weave until 9 PM.  Then, running up to get a jacket, some of us would go out for a short walk, just to be outdoors for a bit, get a little exercise in, then go up for more chat, perhaps some knitting or weaving on a bandloom, then rest up for the next day.

I have to add, the lighting in VavStuga class area is wonderful, something I need to have someday.  I say "someday" because I will likely be moving at some point and will not be adding a lot of fluorescent light fixtures now in my weaving studio (what is really a good-size living room) wood ceiling!  But that lighting is also on my Want/Need/Must Have List.

I had a package sent home, with three new books, Becky's "bead" tie-up system for my countermarche, five tubes of cotton, a threading hook and a band knife (both made locally), along with a few other bits & bobs.  And, a bandloom was shipped to my home, something I had wanted for a good 16 years or more since seeing once in a Glimakra catalog and a photo of something similar in an early issue of VAV.  How nice to have been able to do a bit of weaving on one before making a purchase! 

The bandloom will likely be appearing soon on this blog.  VavStuga can be a very dangerous place to someone, like myself, with no weaving shop within a couple hundred miles.  All those handwoven curtains that week made me want to go home and weave curtains and valances for my windows, and of course, I'll need tiebacks (bands!) for them.  That's my story, and I'm sticking with it!  

I am back weaving at home now, incorporating a lot of what I learned as it comes time to use it.  I am so looking forward to September when I will be back in Shelburne Falls, attending the Basic Drawloom class.  Meanwhile, I'll be here, weaving and learning. 

(Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with VavStuga, except as a student and customer.  I did check with Susan before using interior photos.)     

VavStuga Basics Class, Part 2

Entrance to VavStuga Shop

I had an early morning flight from Madison, WI to St. Paul, MN, where I briefly met Diane, another student that week, before we boarded the flight to Bradley Intl. Airport in CT.  From there, we shared a shuttle van ride to Shelburne Falls and VavStuga, giving us a chance to chat and get to know each other a bit.  Arriving an hour before we could go into the building, we "hid" our suitcases and set off in search of dinner at a small local cafe.  When we returned, we took our belongings up the flight of stairs to our "home" for the next few days and settled in. 

The space is decorated in Swedish style, simple, comfortable, and very welcoming. 


Upstairs kitchen for students.

The kitchen is an open, very pleasant space.  The coffee pot was almost always on, as was hot water for tea or hot chocolate.  Though all our meals were provided that week, there are classes where they are not, so the kitchen has a stove small refrigerator, and a microwave for preparing meals.

Breakfast was brought up around 8 AM by Sara, the current VavStuga apprentice, and we all sat around the table (seats 8) together.  When we were finished, we were welcome to go down and begin working, or browse through books in the school library.


Sitting area.

The sitting area has two comfortable Swedish chairs, and a bookcase filled with Swedish weaving books and magazines.  Handwoven curtains adorn the windows, and a beautiful old Swedish rep weave rug is on the floor.  We couldn't believe we were walked on it daily. 


Glimakra bandloom.

When we arrived there was a Glimakra bandloom between two bedroom doors that we were welcome to weave on anytime.  Susan came up and gave us a demonstration, and a couple days later, this second bandloom (above) was brought up as well.  Before I left for home, I had ordered one as I had wanted one of these small looms for 16 years or so, since seeing one in a Glimakra catalog as well as in an early VAV magazine. 


Single bedroom.

I had been assigned the very pleasant single bedroom.  Each bedroom had a duvet and cover, and this room also had a beautiful coverlet as well as a handwoven blanket.

My bedroom window, complete with handwoven curtains and a beautiful Japanese maple just outside, in full glorious autumn color.



Another bed, with handwoven coverlet and blanket.



A beautiful handwoven rag rug.

At the other end of the warping porch was where we dined.

A delicious lunch and dinner were served daily at the far end of the warping porch.  At each meal, the table was set with beautiful handwoven table linens, changing at each meal.   

The Bridge of Flowers, with the entrance next to VavStuga.

The Bridge of Flowers is a most pleasant way to cross the river on your way to shops and galleries.  It was November, so there weren't too many blooms left, but I've seen photos taken in summer and it is beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing it again in September.


Looking across the river.

If you followed the reports of damage in New England from Hurricane Irene, you may have seen the flooding here.  There are videos on YouTube.  



The rear of VavStuga as soon from near the entrance to the Bridge of Flowers.

Susan told of being about a minute before being evacuated from the building with the very real fear of never seeing it again.  Though the retaining wall stayed in place, most of the backyard, up to within a few feet of the building, was washed away.  Thankfully, the building was untouched, the backyard has been replaced, and hopefully this will not occur again.

Part 3 will be of my finished weavings and a bit more of what I learned at VavStuga.



VavStuga Basics Class, Part 1

VavStuga in Shelburne Falls, MA, Nov. 6-12, 2011.

My journey to VavStuga began nearly a year ago.  After 20 years of putting my life on hold for husband and children, I now had an empty nest and decided,... It Is My Turn!  I would now focus on my weaving and fiber interests, and a very real need, hunger, to learn new methods and techniques.

My paternal grandparents emigrated from Norway, so I have long been drawn to things Norwegian/Scandinavian, including weaving.  VAV Magazine had long been an inspiration as were my growing collection of Scandinavian weaving books.  It seemed to me the best way to merge my weaving and the need to learn would be to take classes at VavStuga where traditional Swedish techniques are taught. So I called, paid my deposit, and waited nearly a year for this class. 

My dream was to take a drawloom class at VavStuga, but I found out that first I would need to take their "VavStuga Basics" class, required before taking most of their classes.  That was fine, I had no doubt I would learn a lot, and so I did.  The class was Nov. 7-11, 2011. 

VavStuga classes are taught by Becky Ashenden, and Susan Conover, her business partner, keeps everything running smoothly. 


Becky Ashenden



Susan Conover



Wrap samples.

Monday morning began with a table covered with dozens of tubes of cottolin, a rainbow of colors, and we were to experiment with color, stripes, symetrical and non-symetrical designs.  Two looms were warped up with the group favorites. 

After the "wraps," we were off to the warping porch, with warping mills, cone/spool holders, large electric ball winder, and more.  We took turns working on the blanket and towel warps.  A blanket warp was used to demonstrate warping with a trapeze.  With no extra hands at home to help warp looms, that is next on my "must have now" list.



Wool blanket warps on two looms, threaded for twill.

My first weaving at VavStuga was a blue & green blanket, also my first time weaving that wide with wool.

My blanket, in progress.



Tan and black cotton tablecloth warp.



Blue and white cotton tablecloth warp.

Looms were beautifully warped!



Next came threading all the looms we would be weaving on,...



...followed by weaving.



Weaving completed and off the looms.



In one week, each student completed a blanket, a towel, a small tablecloth, and a two-block 8 shaft weave.  If anyone had time and inclination, they could also weave a floor mat (bottom, center in pic above).  I was the last to start weaving and the last to finish, completing my fourth piece 10 minutes before we were to put shuttles down.  Whew!  One evening we made braided fringe on our blankets, and the next day they were fulled.  All other pieces were serged and brought home to finish hemming.  Photos of my completed pieces will be in another post.



L to R:  Becky, Janice, Maggie, Jody, Amanda, Diane, Nikki, Margo, and Sara (Becky's apprentice).

I wish I could say I have photos of every technique and new-to-me thing I learned that week, but I do not.  Rather than be distracted by taking even more photos, I wanted to focus and hopefully be able to remember what I was seeing and doing when I returned home.

Parts 2 and 3 will be up this week.  A drawloom class?  I will be back at VavStuga in 2012 for Basic Drawloom!

We Miss You, Mom



Ruth Jean Perry, seated in front, with her family.



Ruth Jean Perry, high school graduation photo. 





Ruth Jean Perry, wedding photo, October 2, 1948.



Ruth Jean and Olaf J. Helgestad

This is a small tribute to my mother, Ruth Jean (Flint) Perry Helgestad.  She was diagnosed June 22, 2011, with pancreatic cancer, told she had three weeks to live, and to go home and call hospice.  This was a shock to her, my dad, and my sister, brother, and myself.  My dad had been caring for her for the past couple years, primarily because of never-ending pain from shingles several years before.  After the diagnosis, I went to visit for a few days, returned home for a week or so, then went back.  My dad and I cared for her around the clock until she passed away very early on July 22, 2011.  It was her wish to be at home with her family.

Mom loved her family, her home, grandchildren, and new granddaughter, Hazel.  She was a talented, creative person, loved watercolor painting, crocheting, photography, gardening, and genealogy.  I am sharing a few photos here of her work.  She loved getting new painting books, and I expect those shown here came from patterns (so I am not able to attribute them to designer), but it gave her great pleasure to learn.

I like to think perhaps my creative bent came from her, and ability to work with my hands, from my father.

For 20 years or so, I would often pick her up and drive us to fabric shops, yarn shops, art/craft shows, and to towns like New Glarus, Mineral Point.  We had wonderful days out together, with lots of talk and laughter.  Then I had to move away, and for 20 years have missed those good times, except when I drove down to visit.  I had hoped after moving back, we would have more fun times together, but it is not to be.  I miss our frequent phone conversations to catch up on family and what we had each been doing.  Life has become emptier without her, yet has now given me the opportunity to spend time with my dad.  We miss you, Mom.  I thank God you are at peace and no longer in pain.  I will love you forever, and never forget you.  



A favorite watercolor.



She also painted with acrylics, painting birdhouses, ornaments, and Christmas balls.



Even the shed received her gifts, she could see this from the dining room and kitchen windows.



She enjoyed crocheting pillows with fine cotton.  Ripple afghans (not shown) were also a favorite. 

In addition to losing my mother, there have been other losses over the past 13 months.  I wrote of losing my pet cat Mokey last November.  In mid-December 2010 I lost Mitzi (below), then in October 2011, Muffin, followed by Keesha about three weeks ago.  When you have lost your husband and your kids are grown and gone, your pets tend to become even closer companions.





Mitzi, lounging by the woodburning range, her favorite spot in winter.




Muffin (left) and Moses, napping.




Keesha, summer 2011.

 I am looking forward to the New Year, and spending much more time weaving.  I plan to get back to blogging somewhat regularly, with my first post of 2012 about my week at VavStuga in November.  If we don't lose power from the snowstorm and wind, I hope to have that one posted tomorrow, January 1st.



Another Long Good-Bye

As I write, I am at my parent's home, helping my father care for my mother, who is in the end stage of pancreatic cancer.  She is weaker each day, and tonight asked me to pray to God to let her die in her sleep.  She is ending her journey in this life, and close to beginning a new one in the next life.  We are on a journey, too, in letting go of someone we love.  Though life has its blessings, at times it is hard.  We are taking this one day, one hour at a time.

Eventually I will be back in my studio, I'm just not sure when, so hope you will check back occasionally.  In the meantime, I hope you are all weaving and doing your creative work.  To stay awake all night, so my father can get some sleep, I look in on Facebook, blogs, and websites.  Take care, everyone.

Sock Season in the Studio

A few weeks ago I was asked if I would like to take part again in "Art In The Yard" with the Art Gypsies, and would I please demo on the sock machine.  On Saturday, June 18th, the Art Gypsies will be celebrating the Summer Solstice outdoors at Fir Tree Cottage, in Land O' Lakes, WI. 

People really enjoy watching a sock machine in action, and will stand for 25-30 minutes to watch a sock being made, often asking questions the entire time.  Although most people have never seen an antique sock machine before, occasionally an older person will recall one from their childhood, and tell me a story about it, always fascinating to hear.    

I'll also have socks available for purchase, and this is something I accept custom orders for, particularly if they are for someone who's feet are not my typical S-M-L-XL, or they want particular colors.  These demos always make for a fun day.    

I'll have socks available again (and sock machine demos) at both the September 24th "Art In The Yard," when the Art Gypsies celebrate the Autumn Equinox, and again Saturday, October 1st when the Lake Country Weavers & Fiber Artists will have their annual sale at the UCC Church in Eagle River, WI, during CranberryFest weekend.  I will also have weaving for sale at both of these events.

This particular color combination is one of my favorites.  I name each pair of socks, sometimes coming up with a name and choosing colors to fit the idea, other times starting with colors, making the socks, then choosing a name.  This particular pair was called "Signs of Autumn," for the color of the fall sky and brilliant colored leaves.


Detail of "Signs of Autumn."



If you've watched this blog for very long, you'll recognize this rug.  I needed photos for an application I was considering sending in, so took the rug out onto the lakeside porch for a quick photo.  Both the hummingbirds and I are enjoying the flowers in this hanging pot, so I thought it would be a nice addition to the photo.

Up until a few days ago, I was enjoying these blossoms on my dwarf apple tree.  Once the heat arrived, the flowers disappeared.  I am hopeful there will be a few apples again this autumn, if the deer leave the tree alone.  Last fall, while staining the house, I had to remove part of the fence around a small garden area so we could try to get the lift around to the front corner of the house.  I was undecided about the fence, it was quite unattractive, though it did keep the deer out.  Having injured my knee before I was finished with the staining, I left the fence half up, half down, over the winter.  This spring, under cover of night, deer mowed down the tiger lilies and chives that were coming up.  I'm going to remove the rest of the fence and either replace it with something better, or wish the tree luck!

It was a long winter, and with an empty nest, was feeling more than a little lonely after living with husband and children for 32 years.  I am aware I have much to be thankful for, and when spring days and sunshine arrived I was feeling much better.  This banner spoke to me one day, and it now hangs near my home, and I see it everytime I go in or out.  Enjoy Life!  And that is what I am doing!

A Tech-y Step Forward

I'll be back soon with fibers and photos.  First, though, I've had a bit of a new learning curve, by choice, to deal with.  

It started with a phone call from the Raptor Education Group (REGI) in Antigo, asking if I could check on an eagle that was down.  In that phone conversation came the request that if I would be driving down with the eagle, could I call as they could probably meet me part-way.  Call???  I no longer had a working cell phone.
   
A couple days after the call from REGI, I stopped in to look at Verizon cell phones, wanting one that would be good for a couple years.  That day, after years of very basic cell phones, I bought a new Verizon Thunderbolt HTC.  I've picked up the basics of my new phone, and am also sure there is a lot to learn yet.  I also signed up for wireless internet, and though there is a limit on the amount of data I am allowed per month on my computer, I am enjoying something faster than dial-up!  

I also decided to purchase a new laptop computer as my desktop computer is seven years old.  I'd asked for Microsoft Office (home edition), and am finding the new Microsoft Word more challenging than the old version in my desktop computer.  I haven't yet peeked at Excel, Power Point, and anything else that might be there.  One step at a time.

I've had a landline since moving up here, and dial-up internet for 16 years or so. Homes less than five minutes from where I live have had high speed internet for years, and for years, I've begged Frontier (and before them, Verizon) to make high speed internet available here. Each time, they declined.  In one week, I'll be calling Frontier to end my relationship with them.
 
The outcome of all this?  I have a cell phone again, about to be my only phone.  The phone has unlmited data internet access so I can use it to check Facebook, Twitter, news, etc.  This allows me to save the computer internet data limit for things I need to do or research on a computer.  Camera and video capabilities are also nice to have on-the-go. 

Bonuses of the new phone, laptop, and faster internet speed?  I am spending far less time on the computer (no waiting long periods or going off to do other tasks while waiting for pages to load in), which will give me more time for weaving, making socks, and working on the house.  The new software opens up all kinds of possibilities.

I'm starting to think about weaving software, and considering WeavePoint.  Any opinions?

P.S.  What happened to the eagle?  When I arrived, despite a slightly injured wing, likely due to collision with a car, it flew up to a tree.  I observed it from 10 AM to nearly 1 PM that day.  Checking in on it again the next day at 1:10 PM, it was still sitting on the same branch.  At 3 PM, it was gone.  I searched nearby trees and the ground, but did not see it again.  I wish it well.  As a result of that call, the Raptor Education Group has a new volunteer driver.