Meanderings - Kate Robertson
Thursday, 11 August 2005
Messing with Fleece
Mood:
a-ok
Topic: Spinning
No its not my Japanese narrative yet. I decided I would put photos in a photo album so that will take time. I will write about all of that later.
I decided that its time to use up some of my silver Shetland fleeces. So I have pulled out Robbie the ram's fleece. Its fine and about 5" staple so I figured that I would lose too much waste in the English Wool combs. So I have been using the pet rake to comb out the locks. Then I will blend all the shades of grey on the drum carder.
I am also playing with fresh fleeces too. It was time to get this years fleeces skirted and see if I can sell them.
Here is Titans fleece, it is really quite nice.
I managed to start cleaning out the dye/sewing room. It is a big chore. I am reorganizing everything as I go. I decided to keep the old dresser in the spare bedroom. So I am moving the fabric back into it and looking at what I have. I may redo the storage ideas in the dye room. I am not sure how yet. I have lost the dresser surface where I stored dye solutions so I need a new arrangement for that. Maybe redo the crates or add a bookshelf or something like that. Hopefully some ideas will come to me as I clean.
Had a first last night. My 17yr old daughter went out last night to the movies with girlfriends who are diving now. I wasn't too worried as all her friends are pretty responsible but you never know what can happen. I was glad to hear her when she got home. First times with anything are hard. At least I did not stay up waiting till 2 for her. One milestone at a time I guess. I guess this last year in high school will be the hardest. Just a whole lot of little steos at letting go.
Sunday, 7 August 2005
Japanese Experience
I haven't had a moment of time to write in the last 11 days.
Our Japanese Exchange student arrived and we have had a whirlwind of activity. Here is a pic at the airport when she arrived.
Here are a few pics from the week.
The crew.... Sarah, Joe, Myself, Hiroki and Manami in Yellowstone.
Clowning around in West Yellowstone Montana
Here we are at Hillcrest High School Sarah, Kristin, Myself, Manami, her sister Suzuho and Michelle
I will post again about all our activities and my reflections on the experience with more pictures after I have caught up on my sleep.
Posted by katespins
at 11:45 PM MDT
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Updated: Monday, 8 August 2005 10:12 AM MDT
Tuesday, 26 July 2005
Japan and Coffee Shops
Now Playing: Acoustic Alchemy
2 days and counting. My student gets here tomorrow evening. I am pretty much ready, but the daughter is still cleaning her room. This having a job is cramping her time. Just like everyone else.
Last night we attended a Sister Cities Meeting held by a couple,one who lived in Japan and one who is Japanese. The filled us in on the culture, and habits of Japanese people. It was very interesting and informative. I am excited to now spend some time with this group of Japanese people. Last time it was all girls but this time there are both sexes.
It will be interesting 10 days. I do not plan to go on the Yellowstone and Jackson trips but I will be attending all the other days. There are several events in town and a trip to the INL and Craters of the Moon and we are taking our student to Grand Targhee to hike and ride the ski lift so there is plenty of time for interaction.
I have ripped out the tartan weaving but have not started again. I plan to tackle it the days that Sarah and Manami will be in Yellowstone. I want to get another warp on there in case she would like to try weaving while she is here.
The river concert is tonight. I think I will go and take the wheel again. Its such a pleasing thing to do in the evening. I just took knitting last time but it has occurred to me I haven't spun anything in a couple weeks.
I am still working on the Lace scarf. I think another 6-8" will make a nice generous scarf. I started going to this Wednesday Morning Knitting Group and really do enjoy it. Most of these ladies are not spinners so its a new group of people to socialize with. We meet at a coffee shop called Moxie Java and they treat us well. Barnes and Noble asked this group to leave so they moved to this new place and they are great. The have tables all set up for us when we get there and a sign and everything and they appreciate our business they are great, B&N can go you know where.
We got another new coffee shop downtown that is great too. Its much bigger and has private rooms and so forth. What a place. Hey if Idaho Falls would get a couple more nice places for lunch this town might not be so bad after all.
Thursday, 21 July 2005
Frustrating Internet
Finally back on line. Due to a very fickle Internet I have not been able to blog. I called tech support twice and it worked for a short while but still has times where I cannot get on. Even had a tech out here and there was nothing wrong. It worked fine when he was here. Of course the next time I try it doesn't work or works for 5 minutes. I usuall just have to try again and then it works fine. FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!!
Let see what has transpired, Yes we finally have a Dishwasher and its a beautiful thing.
I have managed to finish weaving the blue shawl and put loom and stand away. I have the Tartan warped and ready to go but have been plagued with threading and sleying errors. I have to pull out some more weft and restart.
I have been heavily into cleaning mode as our Japanese student arrives on Wednesday. I am systematically working my way through the entire house and cleaning and washing and on an on. It seems endless sometimes. If I were interested in cleaning then I would do it all the time and this would not be such a chore. But alas I find better things to do with my time.
I have convinced my 17 year old daughter to pack some old toys from her closet, so it was off to Wallmart for some totes for storing it. I found a rug for the spare bedroom that looks really nice. Had to pick up a new wastebasket and a night light for her room but we are pretty well set on that room. Now on to the rest of the house.
Saturday, 16 July 2005
Harry Potter Fever
Potter Fever.... yes I have succumbed to the habit of reading an awfully big book on a summer afternoon. Its always nice to know that the author still knows how to write after so many books. My husband Dave keeps trying to take the book from me. Like aren't you finished yet. I mean really there are only 652 pages to read. The book is a good read so far I am up to p278 and am lost in the story once more. I do take some breaks and then work on threading the loom, but its hard on the back so I go back to the book. What a couch potato I am today... At least the heddles are all threaded. There is an end in sight.
I had some old friends stop in. John Wordin and Artice Swingle who moved to Hawaii several years ago. It was so great to be able to visit with them.
I am really starting to dislike this hot weather, I really don't feel like doing anything in it. If I eat any more popsicles I think I will turn into one.
Friday, 15 July 2005
Tartan ProjectI guess its time to explain this project. Our guild got an email from a Scottish group looking for a weaver. They designed a Tartan for their Sheriff's department and needed a sample woven so that it could be sent to The Tartan Society in Edinburgh Scotland for approval. They also wanted a presentation piece woven that could be framed to be be given to the sheriff. There are no plans to weave a full tartan. Although I am not being compensated monetarily for the work I decided to take this on for the experience and the fact that I have always wanted to weave the Robertson Tartan. This will get me moving in that direction.
After several emails back and forth I was sent yarn and now am busy warping the loom.
The yarn I am using is Pendleton Wool singles. It wove up very nice in a sample I made so I think it will work well for the project. Here are all the cones.
Here is the warp being wound.
The Tartan is black, taupe, red and white. All the colors in a tartan have a specific symbolism.
In this instance, black is the color of their uniform,the taupe is the color of weathered asphalt, red is for those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and white signifies honor and integrity.
Here is a pic of the great couple I am weaving for. Tim and Eileen Cayler
I should be able to start weaving this weekend, I just need to sit down and finish threading the loom.
Knitting
Its the SciFi channels debut of the new season tonight and being an Atlantis and SG-1 addict I will be watching TV tonight. Hopefully I will get some more done on the scarf. I am ready for that project to be finished.
Posted by katespins
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Updated: Friday, 15 July 2005 12:03 PM MDT
Tuesday, 12 July 2005
Well here is my output from the weekend. There is a skein of my Shetland ewe Gabrielle, this was combed on 5 pitch English Combs, then a space dyed mohair top that was navaho plied. A skein of boucle made by adding teased mohair to two strands of 60/2 silk and then plied on itself, and some more of the beige fleece for the Elk Butt sweater for Dave.
A close up of Gabrielle's skein, she has such a nice luster.
The Dishwasher saga continues... Dave had all weekend to put the thing in and when I got home this is what I saw.
The dishwasher we bought at Lowe's was broken on the inside. The only other one was also broken. We had to order one and it won't get here till the 18th now. So it back to the dishpan and rack for awhile.
Here is my UFO that is going to get finished....
I did another tartan sample and I think I got the sett right, but no pictures of that. Its not very exciting anyways.
Monday, 11 July 2005
Back to the Real World
I just spent a lovely weekend at one of our guild members home on the Palisades Reservoir. There were lots of classes but I just wanted to spin so that is what I did.
The food was great. I do not generally like pork and I had pretty much given it up but oh this was good stuff. The best pork dish I have ever tasted. Yummm.
People were weaving on Tri-looms, trying out needle felting a picture, making baskets, core spinning, lace knitting and more. Get togethers like these are always great since you get to share and learn so much more than you do on your own.
I managed to spin some spaced dyed mohair roving and navaho ply it. I made a practice skein of mohair boucle, before I tackle the good mohair I have. I spun and plied 2 more bobbins of the beige fleece. Then I brought a long a little basket of combed shetland from my Ewe Gabrielle and spun and plied that. Oh it is so pretty. I think I will knit a lace swatch out of it. Its a small skein. Then I will decide if I want to comb more for this purpose.
I have picked up an UFO and hope to finish and sent out to its receipent. Its a Feather and Fan scarf, Its's half done, so If I just stick with it I can finish. I can manage this lace pattern.
I got the yarn for the Tartan sample I am weaving for the Scottish Group in Caldwell ID. I put a 2.5" sample on to test the sett. I first tried 20 epi and that is too loose, the yarn is packing in too easily. I am going to reset it at 30 and then see where we are. I am using singles wool from Pendelton. I am glad I decided to do a little sample first. That sure is a time saver.
Thursday, 7 July 2005
These bloomed today. lovely huh!
Its nice to see some beauty in the world after all the carnage in London. It is so sad. I was there this time last summer and have been to those tube stations. It brought it all close to home.
Plus today I found out that friend Cat Marler died this morning. I knew it was coming but it is still very hard to take. I hate cancer...
Here are the green skeins I dyed last week.
Here is flynn stalking a toy!
And Eowyn aka hot dog's favorite spot
I should be able to finish the tartan warp tonight. I have about 16" to weave. That will feel good. I haven't finished anything in a long time.
Friday, 1 July 2005
I seem to be suffering from Menopause and menstruation at the same time. This is not fun... I am having a particularly crampy period plus insomnia.
Headed to town and found these:
only .99 what a steal. I bought 2 pairs. You can't have enough little scissors if you ask me.
I took my Baby Wolf Outside yesterday and wove on the patio. Now that was pleasant. It looks nice here.
My other finds at the craft store, embellishment items on sale 40% off ribbons and tags.
Then there is the clock vellum paper. Not sure what I will do with this but it looked neat.
This is where I like to take a little break when I can.
I think the hammock might be calling to me...
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