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.

New Beginnings

Yes, I've been away from my blog for far too long, and yes, this is the same warp that has been on this loom for a long, long time.  I am happy to write that this warp is nearing the end, and this possible last rug is underway.  I love the effect from the graphics on this sheet, giving a nice random effect with the colors.  This rug will be navy, the print, wine, and hunter green, it is all laid out on graph paper, the sketch laying in my loom basket for easy access.  Strips are being divided up so I don't run out of enough of a color at the other end of the rug.  The rug will have sewn hems.   

 Soon,.. a new warp, in the form of an 8/2 cotton navy warp for towels.  I have 8/2 cotton variegated blues for the weft.  I plan to keep several of these towels for my kitchen.  Although a 92 year old woman I know recently mentioned she needs some rag rugs for her kitchen, I really want to weave these towels before warping up for rugs again.  I won't allow myself to order anymore cotton, cottolin etc. until I use up some of what I have on hand. 

Louise, a weaving friend of mine, will be here two days from now to help wind a cottolin warp on a loom.  She will return to help warp the Glimakra Standard as soon as the rug warp is done and a new warp made.  Louise and I are going to help each other warp our looms.  I helped her with a couple looms two or three weeks ago, and now she'll help me out.  Nothing like good weaving friends!

Another new beginning, or rather re-new, is I'll be participating in Art in the Yard again, both in June and September, so in addition to working on my home, I need to make time again for weaving and sock-cranking.  I am way behind on getting my work done on the house due to both procrastination and dealing with life issues.  Now, though, the days are sometimes sunny, I'm feeling more energetic, the urge to spring clean is hitting me.  I'm anxious to start scrubbing walls and ceilings (all log and/or wood) then treat them with linseed oil.  After a much needed break, I'm ready to get back to work, both in and out of the studio. 

This morning I received a phone call from the Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, WI.  Could I go get an eagle that was on the ground?  Yes.  However, when I arrived, the eagle decided it would rather be in a tree than in the back of my Honda, so I sat observing it for two hours, followed by nearly another hour after it moved to another tree.  I believe it was hit by a car, as it has a slightly drooping wing.  The tree the eagle moved to is not as close to the highway, and has fuller branches so I believe the eagle feels safer, more protected.  It was still high up on its branch at 4:15 PM this afternoon.  The one thing it could not do today was hunt and eat.  I'll go back and check on it again in the morning, sending updates to REGI.  

Also this afternoon, yet another new beginning, I became a volunteer rescue driver for the Raptor Education Group, which takes in sick/injured birds from eagles and other raptors down to hummingbirds.  I was invited to come visit and be given a tour, and I fully intend to take that offer some nice day when I need to get away for a bit.       

It is nearly Spring in the Northwoods of WI.  There are buds coming out on the lilac tree, and tiny buds on my little apple tree. The yard needs raking and general cleanup, and I'm looking forward to my herbs appearing and greening up.

Most of the snow is gone, thanks to recent rains.  The snow that is left is mostly in areas of shadow in the woods.  The ice on the lake is turning gray, definitely not safe to be out on, and before long we'll have open water.  I heard a couple mallard ducks quacking as they flew over a couple days ago.  After the lakes are open, the loons and Great Blue Herons will return.

I am choosing to ignore what I heard on the radio today, the "s__w" word in a possible forecast for the coming weekend.  "Think Spring!"

Transitions

A favorite Huck variation runner.

This year, I thought I would choose a focus word for the coming year.  For 2011, my word is "transitions," which perfectly fits what is coming in both my personal/home life as well as my weaving life.

As with most people, there have been many transitions in my life, school to work; single to married; childless to motherhood; southern Wisconsin to the Northwoods of WI; wife and mother to widow and single mother; from family needs to self-determined purpose; and hopefully in 2011, moving back to southern WI, though I'm not yet exactly sure where. 

This year my life will be full of transitions, some having already begun.  After 31 years, I am learning to live alone again.  After a rather lonely start, I now find I like having no schedules other than my own, and now creating a new life for myself. 

You may remember this fall I was working on the exterior of my home.  Now, work has begun on the interior, with major decluttering, to be followed by scrubbing, oiling log walls and wood ceilings, and hopefully refinishing floors.

With the new year, and with help from a daughter staying for another two weeks, I have begun decluttering and letting go of life as it was over the past 31 years,... family, homeschooling, community activities, and so on.  So far, letting go of things has been easier than I'd anticipated.  I am busy letting go things I will not need in my new life, and loving the empty spaces created from each cleaned out room, closet, drawer, and box.    

I do have my priorities straight,... I am keeping most of the looms, weaving equipment, spinning wheels, yarns, fibers, fabrics, and of course, BOOKS!

I've gotten a preliminary quote from a moving company; they will do an in-person visit and quote when I'm closer to putting my home up for sale.  Occasionally I go online to look at house listings in the towns I am considering. 

I want so badly to have weaving/studio time, but am trying to get as much done as possible while my daughter is here.  If I can make a LOT of progress now, I'll be able to work in weaving time very soon.

New "slim" Christmas tree with garland lights.

Evenings, I'm still enjoying my Christmas tree, while looking back at 2010 and ahead to 2011 and all the changes in store.  I've also been setting new goals for myself and my weaving.  While I will continue to weave towels and runners, at least for awhile (stash to use up), I'll also be venturing into a couple new areas of weaving this year. 


Long-loved ornaments with happy memories.

The New Year 2011 is here, and I am looking forward to many positive changes!

There have been some beautiful snowfalls coming down the past few days, while I've been recovering from a bout of bronchitus the past few days.  To keep myself occupied during endless bouts of coughing, I had three new books and two magazines to read or browse through.  I had ordered "Woven Shibori for Textural Effects" by Stacey Harvey-Brown and "So Warped: Warping a Loom for Weaving Tapestry" by Kathe Todd-Hooker with Pat Spark, and they arrived, giving me a way to keep fibers in my days, even if only in print.  But, DOING NOTHING was starting to make me crazy. 
 

I wasn't feeling up to a couple more complicated knitting projects I have to finish, but thought carding wool was something I could do sitting there, ginger ale, meds, kleenix at hand, head feeling a bit "foggy," and feel like I was accomplishing something.  I went through two bags of washed fleece, pulling out and carding the locks that had held nicely together. 

There are now 88 white rolags and 126 cream rolags waiting to be spun up into yarn.  I still have perhaps another half-day of handcarding the remaining white fleece.  Both colors came from the same box of fleece.  At the moment, I do not recall the breed, but it is medium+ in length, perhaps a Romney X.   

There are also two clear blue trash bags fairly full of more fleece that did not stay in such nice locks while being washed, waiting to be drum carded. First, though, the drum carder needs a thorough cleaning to remove bits of rather bright colors of Merino, having been loaned out to a family wanting to learn and do some wet-felting.  

Knowing it had been awhile since I had done any maintenance on my beautiful Michael Wilson cherry spinning wheel, I decided Sunday afternoon to dis-assemble it, oil the wood, treat the leathers, and oil the moving parts when re-assembled.  It's a pleasant, meditative process, and nice to know I am taking good care of a beautiful spinning wheel.  This would also make for easier spinning and treadling as well. 

Now, I will enjoy turning these rolags into 2 ply yarn for knitting.  

As sometimes happens in life, things don't go as planned, and this was certainly true for November.  I had finished staining the house, sheets were washed and ready to slice & dice, and I was feeling optimistic about getting a lot done over the next few weeks.  

On Nov. 14th, Mokey, 18, diabetic for 2-3 years, suddenly went downhill, in the morning could hardly stand, then began having seizures.  I called the vet to say I was bringing him in to finally have his life ended.  He had seemed fine four days beforehand, walking his "chickie" (a small chicken Beany Baby) around three times that day, meowing loudly, and having a great time.  Though I knew the end was coming, it was still a bit of a shock at the suddenness of his decline over less than 24 hours. 

Mokey was very special to me.  When he was younger, anytime I was working with paper, he'd come up and lay right in the middle of things.  If I was ill, he'd lay closer and closer until he was up against my side, until I was feeling better.  Now, another pet friend has moved on, and is missed daily.

I waited about a week and a half before visiting the animal shelter.  I was not looking for another Mokey, that cannot be done, but there are always more cats needing home, and I decided I could take in one more.  Now, it's not like there are no other pets at home, Keesha, 10 is still with me, as are four other cats, Muffin, 18; Mitzi, 16; and Mycah and Moses, 5.  Explaining that I was looking for a cat that could easily live with a dog and four other cats, I was told which cats would be good, and which would not.  I watched the various cats and kittens, then left, having decided not to do this in a hurry. 

Though I was quite determined not to get another orange/white cat anytime soon, I noticed "Henry," who, of course, was orange and white, and begging to be let out and petted.  Just then, a woman came in who was very interested in him, brought him out to hold him, and clearly he enjoys being held and petted.  I went back to observing the other cats.  Then for a little fun, I turned the seven kittens loose in the room, my goodness, all that energy!  Knowing I would not want to be quite so watchful 24/7 with a kitten getting into everything (fiber and otherwise), I put them away after enjoying their playful antics.  I spent a couple days considering another cat, but on a third visit, she had quite a different temperament from the previous visit which didn't bode well for the cats at home. 

At that third visit, I noticed Henry (above) was still there, asked at the desk, and was told the woman who wanted him had chosen another cat.  Out came Henry, for some petting and cuddling.  Putting him down, I watched him go from door to door watching other cats, alert and curious, but not aggressive or even assertive.  Then he'd jump back into my lap for more cuddling and petting, then cruise around the room again.  Before leaving I filled out an application and said I was interested in Henry.  I was told the board would be looking at apps again Monday AM and they would call.  Early this afternoon I received the news that they were given a very positive report from the animal hospital, and could adopt any cat or kitten I would like.

Henry, now "Milo," will be picked up early tomorrow afternoon and taken to the animal hospital to be tested for FIV/FIP, and if negative I'll bring him home.  He is scheduled for front de-claw on Thursday AM, and come home for good on Friday morning.  I'm hopeful that with his bit more laid back temperament, he will fit in well here with the pet family I have.  I'm looking forward to getting to know another feline personality.  Now, back to my spinning!  

Back in the Studio Again!

Today, I am back in my weaving studio!  I began with a bit of rearranging and dusting, followed by tensioning the rug warp on the Glimakra Standard.
Checking through sheet strips already cut and sewn, colors were pulled that
will work for this rug, now piled on the warp beam (away from my cats).
Then I searched through my considerable sheet stash, pulling more of the colors needed.  The first rug had a teal emphasis, this one will focus on wine/navy/green, with lesser amounts of other colors used in the striped warp to pull the whole thing together. 

I've set up a table in the Studio Annex (my upstairs living room) where I can cut and sew strips, work on quilts, along with other uses.  I'm cutting these sheets now and later will set up my sewing machine and stitch them together.  Then, folding the joined strips in half, I'll fill three or four ski shuttles so I can begin weaving this rug tomorrow.  
  

After weeks of working on the exterior of my home, I am happy to report I was able to finish staining my log home.  Why is there snow fence next to the house?  The porch floor isn't dry yet, and I need to keep Keesha (and myself) from walking through wet stain! 

There are a few areas where I'll need someone, in the spring, to go much higher on a ladder than I am willing to go, but for the most part, it is done.  It took three 5 gallon pails of stain, and there is a fourth one waiting for spring.  Now, it's time to begin sanding, staining, and finishing the storm windows!