Ice Broken and on a Roll

What a difference it makes in the weaving life when you don't have to punch the clock!

Even with 3 days of travel/away from home, and a couple days of visiting with kiddos, I have this much done up- mainly on the new loom.  I have a hard time 'getting started' on new projects and tools.  Now that I have broken the ice on this loom, I think I can keep a steady flow of items coming off of it.

I purposefully installed this loom in my living room.  I can turn on netflix and get something done instead of gravitating to bed in the evening.

I have my original Union downstairs- where it's gloomy and uninviting- that needs a table runner warp woven off.  I must get a denim rug warp put on that one!  The end is in sight and I've done some strip prep that goes on that warp today.  We'll see how long it takes before I get going in blues again.

The Newcomb down there has plenty of black and white stripe warp on it, so no excuses there, either :)

Now just to keep the momentum going...  Only two more days of my own before I get to go back to the regular grind.

It's gonna be hard to do.

But...

I've got a new goal to work towards. 

Announcement coming in the near future when all the details get ironed out!

All for now,

JULIE

Inaugural Warp

After nearly six months of procrastination, there is a warp on the Blue Union Special.

I will be weaving table runners on this warp.  In the process I found out about this loom....

* No crank on the sectional beam!  How could I have missed that?  I cobbled together a little something to get this warp on, I'll be making something permanent at some point :)

* Shorter than my other Union.  No standing at this one- I'll need to find a stool or chair in the proper height.  A regular chair table is about 2 inches too short for me. 

* It's not quite 'square' and looks like it's been like that forever.  There are wear spots that shouldn't be there.  Seems to be weaving a straight weave, tho, so will analyze that as I get some of these first runners off the loom.

* I've lost a couple of heddles in the process- rusting has weakened some of them.

Other than that, it's been pretty straight forward weaving.  On the second runner already.

Today is the first I've had alone and unscheduled since my last workday on Saturday.  All the kids were home at some point, just not for long.  I've taken some vacation days and will have myself an 11 day break.  Five days left!  Not sure what all I'll get done, but there is quite a list of possibles :)

The other day I took a moment to finish the ends on a couple of rugs that came off the Newcomb awhile back.  More procrastination.

This one is a yellow and white chenille,  turned out kinda cute!

And another chenille in an ugly green that was improved by the black and white warp this loom has on it. It's actually quite pleasing now.

The weather is cooperating with the urge to weave.  It has decided to be winter.  Cold and some snow.  My Arizona daughter was a little shell shocked while she was here for the 5 days she was here. 

It's been a weird time ~ It never did feel like Christmas despite the activities at work, the kids being home, going to a Christmas church program, etc.  I never did put up a single decoration or bake any of the normal Christmas goodies.  I didn't even wrap or open a single gift. 

I'm going to try a New Years resolution.  I want to weave for "a little bit" each night before I go to bed.  I've been catching myself thinking it's bedtime shortly after 6 PM>  Way too early even with my 4 AM wakeup alarm.

I need to do this, for more than one reason :) 

All for now,  JULIE

Get out the parkas, kids!

I had to dress up the Cooper dog this morning before I sent him out for his morning constitutional.

Didn't help much~ he turned around and came right back in.  I let him out in the garage to pee on the tires there.  Aren't I a softy?

Here's why -

Winter is back :(  I took this pic after it quit snowing. The wind is still blowing like nuts and it's a cold one out there.  We've had it too good so far this fall.  We had a skiff of snow a couple times that melted off right away, and last week I think it got into the 70's one day.  Not that I've been out in it much.  Been working the same crazy overtime hours.

I have been picking away on a quilt top. 

Needed to create a little.  For my sanity.

Finished that up today- I think -  Not sure if I'll put some borders on it or not.

It's all scrap materials that came from one of the two totes of material I have around here (other than rug material... that's another story)

This is the 3rd red white and blue scrapper that I've done.  I think I finally have a handle on the reds and blues :)   I'll have to study a bit and see what color ways I have and start looking for the next top to do.  Goal is to reduce those scraps to nil if possible.  I've really not done much purchasing of material, I really don't know how I accumulated so much!  I had a big start from the BOXES of materials I got from the ex's grandma.  I think she liked red and blue.

All for now,
Julie

PS... I won that Thanksgiving box decorating thingy at work!  My turkey box got me 25$ worth of Britton Bucks -- I bought groceries!