Feelin' blue again...

I'm working on the blues again.

More blue jean prep.  This process sure makes a mess.

I'm covered in blue fuzz ~

Finally working!

Tried and tried earlier today to post a quick update, but blogger wasn't cooperating...

Now I"m just too dang tired to even think straight, so I think I'll leave it at this.   Goodnight.

Fun at the Fort

The day starts with a cavalry drill, cannon fire, infantry and flag raising with a bugle and everything.  We had a little bit of liquid sunshine first thing this morning so the crowd was a little light first thing.  When it decided to quit spitting, the crowds picked up fast.

Infantry - they did some drills that included bayonets...  Had the drummer and everything.

This little guy was enthralled.

After the ceremony, the crowd picked up and I was busy in my booth.  Sold a buncha purses, not so many rugs.  Nobody wanted to carry them around, I suppose.

These cutie patooties came by my booth and I just had to take a photo! 

And here is. the. barn.

This is the back door.  I couldn't take the time to walk to the front for a picture.  I was alone all day in my booth, so when I had to visit the little girls room (which there was one in this barn) I had to make it quick.

Here's the view inside looking towards the front door.  Photo is taken from the point where the modern bathrooms end.  These are the facilities that are used by the campers in the state park.  They are large, but don't take up much space in this huge barn!

I could live in, 

my horses could live in, 

I could have a business in it,

and still have room left for a boarder or two!  

Drool.

Can't wait to go back tomorrow!

But I sure want to sell some rugs...

Honey! I'm home!

Got my booth set up.  It was hot. I got sweaty.  

I remembered my camera, so I'll show you some pics from the grounds.  

Not alot of spectators around yet today, kind of the "calm before the storm". 

Regular numbers are in the 10,000 people range.

Here is the American flag that is in the center of the parade grounds, 

along with the requisite cannon.  

My booth is behind this building.  It's an officers building or something like that.  Someone important lived there with their wives, if they had one, that is.  The front of it faces the parade ground.

I think this is the hospital?  

I've been thru the tour, but can't remember for sure and didn't walk up and check.

Had to keep an eye on my booth!

I believe this is the adjutants office.

All of the buildings are of stone or brick.

This was the prairie - no timber!

There are fur traders.....

A teepee or two....

and my own little, amature-ish booth!

All for now~  I will try to get a picture of the barn.... it is,

to. die. for.

I'm off

I'm off to my first big outdoor craft festival.  It is a part of the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival today, tomorrow and Sunday.  Beautiful grounds and hopefully beautiful weather.  Don't want to jinx it, but it looks good ~  which is unusual!  I would say 80% of the years there is awful weather.  Torrential downpours, tornadoes, snow, etc etc... It is South Dakota!  And they say about this state ~  If you don't like the weather, stick around an hour, it'll change!

My truck is full of stuff to craft myself a booth, and the back seat is piled high with rugs, table runners and purses.  Crossing my fingers for a good weekend :)

I've got my camera - will try to get some pictures.  There is alot to see.

Finished finally...

There have been a couple of totes and bags that needed to be finished hiding in my closet for, oh, a couple of months now.

Last night I finally got the juices flowing and finished a couple of them.  Here they are.

This is a simple tote made by knotting the fringe together.  I had a leather belt that was long enough to make two handles, and a couple of metal type accents that I scrounged from another belt somewhere.  It's kinda cute....

This bag was an experiment.  It has woven insets on the sides, so it is more boxy than my other totes.  This bag took alot longer to make because I had to weave those insets and then hand sew them onto the main part of the bag.  Doubt I'll make alot of these, just for that reason.  It turned out ok, tho.  it's got a single sling handle made from a belt.

This week is getting crazy for me ~ I'm trying to gather up all the things I might need for this craft show - It's my first big outdoor -  and finish up more rugs around all the rest of the stuff that is going on around me.    Today I must open the canopy box and figure that out and get together things for the booth, warp my loom, and set tables for a funeral at my church after 9PM tonite.

It's gonna be a long day - I should probably do some laundry too, so I have something clean to wear this weekend!  :)

experimenting

I finished up a little experiment today.
My daughter had made a batik of a horse a while back, and it needed to do something.

Somewhere I had seen the idea to put pictures into your weaving by using figured yardage.

Decided to try it with her piece.... I did ask her if it was ok to cut it up, and she gave me her permission!

It's kinda hard to see in this photo.  The design was pretty subtle to begin with and when you add the warp over the top of it, it gets even more so subtle.

Can you see the horse?  I made it into a tote and added some leather handles.  Had hoped to find old belts to use, but just couldn't find the right ones so I cut my own and here it is.  It seemed a little plain so I put a beaded accent on it, too.  The beads say " I <3 Horses"  and "Neigh".

I think it turned out ok for a first try!