Some Progress

I set everything aside for a couple of days. I left it in the front room, in the way of everything. It meant I was going to get back to it as soon as I possibly could. Monday MD and I tackled the tangled weft. I am finding that MD is more into "let's get 'er done" than I am at times! It pleased me that she just jumped right in and wanted to settle the tangled web I have made. We got it done and I got a few inches of weaving done yesterday. As I have said before, I am using up whatever yarns I have around here to practice with. I want to practice with all the free stuff I have around the house before I go spending big bucks on the good stuff. I used rug weft for this one. It was some I bought from e-bay. I only spent $35 on about 7 spools. I think these spools will last me for a while. Although with my silly calculations (you know...me all thinking I knew what I was doing) I may tangle more than I actually use. The tangled stuff will be used for stuffing pillows or something.
At any rate...here are the newest results:





Sunday we went to YD's B/F's Dad's memorial. I hadn't met him yet. I so wish that I had. There was standing room only in the church, and such beautiful things were said about the man. My daughter was devastated at his passing. He was the gentle dad that she really deserved in life. I am so grateful that she had a chance to live with the family. She knows now that all father's are not ugly.
The little town where they live is the kind I wish I lived in now. It is a kindly little farming community where everyone takes care of everyone. It's a beautiful little place.

I'm going to go and do some more weaving. I am addicted!
I hope all is well with you!

It's the 9th? Really?!?

My how times flys when you are having fun!
I haven't stopped practicing. I kind of jumped the gun a little again. I decided I was better at this than I really am. I have to make that one word a chant. Practice, practice, practice.
I just went ahead and started warp for five yards, 30" across. It's rug warp, so fairly thin (string-like). First mistake I made was thinking I needed 825 lengths give or take a few. Where the heck did I get that number??? There are only 320 holes/slats in my heddle. Well, I cut all those lengths. I was saying to myself as I was measuring them all out on my warping board, "I know why people like to weave, this is very soothing, very meditative." I liked it. Going around and around 825 (give or take) times.
I put labels on this picture so you could see what I am talking about. If you click on it, you can actually see the words!

Then when I went to dress the heddle, I realized the err of my ways. Had to laugh at myself. Gung-ho doesn't look good on me. I need to pull back my reins a bit and READ. MY. DIRECTIONS. What a concept, huh?
I proceeded with my dressing. I managed to tangle the threads. I mean TANGLE. I got it untangled just in time to find out that I was winding the warp on going in the wrong direction! Geez! Then I found I really couldn't get this warp on the warping board without two or three extra hands.

So, late last night I said good night to my loom and went to bed. It may be a few days before I can get back to it. There's too much to do in the meantime and there are fewer people in my house right now. MD has gone off to her friends house, about a two hour drive from here. Apparently, they need her help to pay bills there. I want to wish them luck. She paid for very little here.
Bad news we got was my youngest daughter's boyfriend's Dad passed away Sunday night. My daughter felt horrible, because she was the last one to talk to him. She went in and said good night and a half hour later he was gone. She is having to grow up a little bit now. Seeing death has a way of doing that to you. She is being very supportive of the family, doing everything she can that they are too emotionally drained to think of. I am glad she is there. They really need her energy right now. Her boyfriend just went through back surgery and is in more pain than I know. He was very close to his dad and is just devastated. At least he was able to spend some good quality time with his dad the last few months.

Results of Practice Session #2

Whew! What a weekend this has been for me. Oldest daughter's 30th birthday on Monday. I made a dinner for her that I thought she would like, then cheated and bought NY Style Cheesecake. YUM!

Are you all sick of listening to the crap about Sheen and his Goddesses? I'm so over it.

Middle child has been cleaning up the backyard. Today she and her friend took several loads to the dumps and recycling yard. I can see dirt! She still has a ways to go. It took us years to collect all that crap. I don't know why I let it go. I think the depression helped.
Speaking of which...isn't it amazing what a bright and sunny day will do for your spirits? Not to mention your energy? I cleaned the kitchen and living room farirly thoroughly yesterday and today. That felt good. That and finding space in the backyard. I guess I am going to have to plan a rather large BBQ for this summer.

So the practice. I finished up that project I had on the loom last week. I left fringe on it and tried to different ways of finishing off the ends. One way I tried was half reading it from the book and half making it up as I went along. The other end I just tied the fringe in overhand knots. I like them both. (but I still need lots of practice)
Anyway, pictures. Oh yeah! And I got a new (to me) table for the loom through our local freecycle site. That site is so cool! Pictures: