Mothers

 Mothers are mothers whatever specie they are....

This mamma was grooming her baby - I tried to get a picture of the tongue working, but it was too fast!  This was my Mothers Day photo on my personal facebook page.  I think it's cute!

Not alot of weaving happening.  Lots of chores and spring projects going on that I'm trying to help with. 

I did finish up a batch from the blue tablerunner warp recently and took pictures finally.  Not much uniqueness here, I'm doing more patriotic and some denim to match the denim rugs in inventory.

The last is a unique one, made from fabric salvaged from a bed skirt and pillow shams donated from someone at some point.

I have about one more group to go on this warp.  Then? 

Maybe something in reds....

All for now,
JULIE

Springtime push

Living on a ranch/farm, spring is the busiest time.

I've been spending almost all my time helping do things like feeding, hauling hay, fixing fence, etc.

Last Thursday, I was one of two drivers to bring some cow calf pairs home to pasture.

Yesterday my afternoon was hauling hay.

We have babies and their mothers to keep an eye on now.

They are so adorable... Especially when they start romping around with their tails in the air.

About 20 more left to come over at some point. 

There is still snow in the coulees and ravines, but the grass is greening up.  It's not growing enough to take care of the the mamas nutritional needs, so we feed hay, some grain and today introduced beet pulp.  Cows eat alot when they are feeding babies!

I had a small show last Saturday and did OK,  one large and two small transactions made the day successful.

I've been weaving sporadically.  While experimenting, I stumbled onto a patriotic theme and they turned out so cute, I'm going to do multiples of these.

Two large shows in June puts me right before the 4th of July so I think these will be a hit!

I actually sold both of these on Saturday....

All for now,
JULIE

No weaving, again...

Once more I'm a frustrated weaver....

Last week winter came back.

South Dakota was closed for 2 1/2 days.  

When it finally stopped snowing, this is what my pickup looked like.

We had been steadily melting the record amounts of snow from winter, meaning we had leftover snow and LOTS of mud and muck.

Add 18 + inches of wet heavy snow and we were looking at more muck.

Then yesterday it RAINED.  All day.

So now we are VERY soggy :)

Because the road to my loom was soft, and this newest snow wouldn't be around much longer anyway, there is no reason to try to push snow to get there.  It would just make a bigger mess of the road. 

The snow is almost gone on the road, but I'm going to give it a couple days of sunshine to try to firm up.

Instead I've been once again prepping fabric strips.

I had picked up quite a haul of fabrics from a trip to where my son lives, as well as a box of goodies from Hillary.  I also have blue jeans to get processed.

I have a vendor event next weekend (27th).   I have plenty of inventory without worrying about producing more between now and then.

And today, we saw the sun shine.  Things might be finally looking up.

All for now,
JULIE

Where is spring?

We had finally begun to feel that spring was here. 

The snow is disappearing.

The mud is abundant, but spots were starting to not be liquid.

But this is happening now.

These are the herd bulls this morning.  Black, except for today :)

Hardy animals, it's just difficult for us to take care of them in these conditions.

I've finished the striped tablerunner warp.

Thirty four different runners of varied lengths and colors.

I promptly put on another warp for runners. 

This time in blues.

I put only 65 cranks on for these -

I should be able to find enough fabric to use this up.


Also ----- someone gave me a loom.

More later on that!

All for now,
JULIE

Tablerunner warp

As soon as I wove off the full wide warp that took too long to do, because of weather issues, I put on this warp....

It is comprised of natural and stripes of rust, heather and brown.

The plan is that it is neutral enough to work with many different wefts and I need to bolster my tablerunner inventory.

Some on this warp are...

Seven finished on the first batch that came off the take up beam.

Mostly in the tan, brown, yellow colorway, and now moving into some greens.

Yesterday didn't get to weave much as I was helping my brother in the cattle yard.  We sorted yearling calves into two pens, heifers and bulls.  Went well as soon as we figured out how to get them out of the pen... they figured we were in there with them to bring food, so they were bent on staying by the bunks.  Too tame, LOL.  We were trying to drive them out, but when we figured they would follow us into the alley, thats when they cooperated.

Yesterday I received notice that I was chosen to participate in a juried show coming up in June.  Arts in the Park - Aberdeen SD.

I have 3 shows confirmed. 

April 27 in Lake City SD... small local show for my local peeps.

June 1 & 2 at Fort Sisseton SD - One I've been doing for a while that is a good fit.

June 15 & 16 in Aberdeen as mentioned.

So I have 2 shows in June that will be big ones - 

Must weave!

All for now,
JULIE

Weaving again!

After the big dig out,

and the weekend craft show...

I finally got to do some weaving yesterday. 

Still have warp left of the wide variety.

Not sure I will do this width again,

at least not until some time passes... :)

The width causes issues on the gears at the take up beam - I have found that I need to remove each rug and retie on with the warp between each one.

A lot more loom waste than I'm used to.

Plus the higher price point may not fit in the markets I attend.

The booth picture I try to remember to take at each event.  I splurged and went with a double space, 10 x 20.  Glad I did :)

Coop went with me to the barn yesterday.  He went exploring and when I called he popped up on top of this huge drift.  He had a good look around and then slid down the vertical face.  Funny pup!

Currently on the loom is an all blue denim 38" wide, hopefully enough warp left to get to 10 ft long rug.  I'm about 3 foot in, maybe get it woven this afternoon?

All for now,
JULIE

Maybe spring is coming?

Yesterday my brother and I worked our way to the barn where my loom is.

He was worried that with the warming weather, flooding would come and get into the barn/office area.  Has happened before and with the copious amounts of snow the melt water wouldn't be able to flow away.

Considerable time was spent on getting through the road.  Pictures are on my phone - I really need to sit down and move some over to the computer.  But not today!

Here's a picture of the front of the building.  I was on top of the drifts that are thru the gates/unloading area.  I walked up and over!

Looking west over the pens on the south side of the building.   We were going to attempt to dig to the last pen and in to the building where the water was pooling.

Here's a picture my brother took from where he was seated in the loader.  That's me manning the shovel.  We got it dug out so there is an easy path for the water to take.  Next few days I will be checking throughout the day to make sure the water is running easily through here.  It had a good start yesterday.

It's crazy how a person acclimates.  The thermometer said 34 degrees.   I had my coat off while I was working - at least where I was sheltered from the wind.   We are hoping for a gradual thaw.  We have alot of snow that needs to melt.

While I was there, I couldn't help but tie back onto the take up.  Last rug was over a month ago, and if I remember right, I cut off and left as the weather was crappy.  We walked away and the weather worsened, so things were left as is - even buckets of water by the front door where I had watered my horses in the last days while they were there.

I have a vendor event this weekend - I will be staying with my sister and will be gone Friday thru Sunday, so no real weaving until next week. 

Can't wait!

All for now,
JULIE