The Creativity Cave has been finished in the downstairs of ACE. It is a clean quiet place to have classes, studio time, workshops, and group gatherings. I am still working on some set hours, but right now I am there most afternoons Tues-Saturday from 1-5 working on something. If scheduled classes aren't in session and the light is on anyone can come down and use the space to work on a project.

This month we do have a beginning Rigid Heddle weaving class on Saturday, March 22 all day. The Cave will be open only to students of the class. There are still two spots available if you would like to join us.

We have an open group gathering on Thursday's from 1-4. For this month, our focus is sock knitting. Anyone is welcome to join us. You can bring your own items and just knit, or let me know if you need direct instruction and I'll get you started with an easy free pattern for the price of purchasing your yarn and needles from me.



There will be a calendar posted at the top of the stairs and I'll try to keep information up to date on the fallriverfibers.com web site. You can always email fallriverfibers@yahoo.com or call ACE at 605-745-5173 most afternoons if you have questions.

 Hello Friends -
Sorry it was so very long between posts. I returned from Vavstuga and began focusing on weaving, stores and adorable grandchildren. I am now trying to create a weekly schedule to maintain the blog and website as to have some fiber interaction with friends and family.

 A couple of announcements first - tell all your friends and family about the Black Hills Fiber Arts Fair coming in April. There are many wonderful classes with many openings still available. Take a look at the web site and sign up soon. http://www.blackhillsfiberartsfair.org/

I have two spaces left in the upcoming Rigid Heddle Weaving class next Saturday, March 1st. Give me a call to get signed up 605-890-2750 or go out to Community Education of the Black Hills to sign up. http://www.communityeducationclasses.org/ProgramDetails.aspx?ProgramID=15020

I am currently working to create a new learning, working, sharing space in the "lower level" of ACE Hardware. I hope to have formal and informal classes led by myself and others. There is plenty of table space, floor space, light and a coffee pot. Hours will be announced in the next few weeks, as soon as the space is finished.

New items and equipment arriving daily at the store. Triangle looms for quick shawl and blanket making, novelty yarns, and spinning fibers from Malabrigo and Darn Good Yarns sari silk. Fun Stuff!

Home for the Holidays

Vavstuga Tree

Happy Holidays Blog Fellows,

I am pleased to report that I and my lovely new woven goods are once again located in South Dakota. I apologize for the lapse between blog entries. But, as you have heard before, the Internet connection was not always my friend when I had time to blog. A couple of my favorite followers wanted a blog-style end to my journey, so I am home obliging.

I had a whirlwind of a final five weeks. Three classes came and went from Vavstuga, and I was given time to weave many projects. On my last day we had a celebration of all the items I wove over the past six months. Each was representative of some technique or use of materials that I had not experienced prior to my Vavstuga apprenticeship.

At the final Vavstuga celebration of the year, there was a wonderful soup and salad lunch made by Becky and Susan, complete with fresh baked bread. Past apprentice friends, Mary and Sarah were able to join us for a terrific holiday party. The meal was finalized with a cake made to commemorate one of my most stunning items, the wool smalandsvav mounted on a fleece. Creative and delicious.

Gary flew out to Hartford, Conn. on Friday, the 14th. He and I headed east Saturday afternoon, amassing over $90 in tollway fees. I won't miss that feature of east coast travel. This trip was a little different from our relaxed summer vacation ride east. This time we hustled across the 2,200 miles of blacktop, and saw only interesting sites visible from I-90 or its adjacent gas stations.

We were pleased to get to stay with my brother John and his family for a night in Brookings, SD. The timing was perfect for a quick look at his new "big green machine" and dinner with the family.

We headed through the worst snow of the trip toward home between Sioux Falls and Chamberlain. By the time we reached Wall, it was dry earth and blue sky. We made a quick stop to check on Tom and Georgia in Rapid City. Then, pointed south to home, where a fun greeting awaited me as I drove through town.

Tilly at two days old.

In a couple of days, we will be on the road once again to see the newest addition to the Slagel clan; Matilda "Tilly" Jeanne. I can't wait to experience the "new baby" smell and hear her call me "Grandma"!

Becky and Susan with Nordic Mittens

A great thank you goes out to my Massachusetts  friends and mentors, Susan and Becky, for all that they shared with me over the past six months. I am sure to hear their voices in my head as I work through the many projects I have planned.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

A "Falls" Thanksgiving-

A November evening.

Happy November Blogfellows,

So sorry that it has been three weeks since the last post. It has been so busy here at Vavstuga. We survived the hurricane/flood scare unscathed in Shelburne Falls. Several of the students who have been here since have told stories of house fires, downed trees and weeks without power. The past few weeks my thoughts have often been on those who are still recovering from a 24 hour storm.

Additionally, two back-to-back weeks of classes have left me exhausted but inspired by the many beautiful projects that people created while here and eager to learn and weave more during my final month.



Here, we are all busy threading for an upcoming class while the current class is weaving away in the next room. Becky really got a kick out of this threading station built for three. She's all about productivity! My kind of woman.


I am trying to have as many finished projects as possible upon my return.These pillows are an example of how I used some some samples from the drawloom experience. A local seamstress took my work and some Scandinavian decor pictures I provided and turned them into functional pieces.

Rosepath is a new technique for me. I have several ideas for items I would like to make in the upcoming year using this technique. This green and gold piece will hopefully become a back strap for band weaving.

My current project is a 150 cm wide overshot table cloth with over 2000 32/2 cotton threads (that's smaller than dental floss for you non-weavers). I have made about six inches of progress in two days. I really hope to have a breakthrough today while the building is quiet and peaceful. I am confident this expanse of warp will become an heirloom tablecloth and I have three more days to prove it :)

It's not all work here at Vavstuga. Becky and one of her fellow bandsmen entertained weavers at the end of a long week with an impromptu music set. Hopefully, it won't be the last of her music I hear this month.

Happy Thanksgiving !

Storm's a Brewin'

Golden behind the house

Hello Blogfellows,

I am afraid I have little new in the way of textiles to show this week as all of my  Rep projects, except for the two pieces I shared last edition, are still on the looms at the studio. However, I thought I'd better drop a line in case it is a while before I can send out another entry. This little town is positioned to get a terrific a storm over the next 48 hours. Hurricane Sandy is slated to hit only about two hours southeast of us and we are expecting a fast eight inches of rain from the north. Our local emergency management team has issued a 'state of emergency' for the area and we are not to drive cars in town today, school's canceled etc..... Power outage seems to be a given, it will just be a matter of length of time. Current estimates range from two days to two weeks. I have accumulated all the suggested items to withstand the power outage and I am up on a hill outside of the flood zone. Unfortunately, Vavstuga is right on the river, so we will be closely watching the water levels the next couple of days and hope there is not the devastating repeat of the flood that hit a little over a year ago.

Going-

Going-

Gone - almost

Since I have no textiles, I thought I'd throw out this set of pictures of one of my favorite tree's fall transformation from the last week. I would guess it is indicative of how all the trees will look once the coming winds and rain have their way.

No better spot for this job!

Here is the view  from the threading project I worked on for a couple of days last week. What a terrific spot to get to work. I wish I had a loom out here in the dining room. The threading is for a lovely 8/2 cotton tablecloth that will be a project for a class later this year. It's a 100 cm, so a bit larger than normal.

This little guy flew into the studio when the door got left open for a couple of minutes. I guess he felt all the warmth and magic coming from within and thought he'd like to join us. The yellow sign on the shop across the river reads, "Gifts of Nature". How fitting.

Have a wonderful end to October and keep the east coast in your thoughts this week. Our neighbors are in for a rough ride.

October in New England

The street where I am living

Greetings Blog Fellows,

Happy Fall from New England. I'm sorry it's been so long between posts, but my computer doesn't always want to connect to the Internet when I have time to compose.

16/1 linen table cloth in 10 shaft satin

It has been a wonderful few weeks here, aside from a bit of a lingering cold. A class has come and gone and while they were here for Basics, I had the fantastic opportunity of weaving a 16/1, 2300 end, linen tablecloth. It is still on the loom, so I'll try to remember to show it when finished. I think it is a true heirloom piece. If not an heirloom, it offered a lot of learning experience and I don't think I cried once.

A side trip to the Ben and Jerry's Factory, Vermont

Gloucester, Mass

The "Cottages" of Newport, RI

Gary came out to visit for a week. We traveled all around northern New England. It rained nearly the entire week and we were both a bit sick with various stages of my cold, but we had a blast anyway. We experienced many new places, listened to music on the wharf, attended Halloween dinner theater in Salem, and tried several new craft brews. What more could one want?

An odd little cabin at Weirs Beach, NH

Honey-Comb Rep in cotton and linen

Rep in cotton with mini-string weft

This past week, after Gary left, I was kept busy for several days beaming and threading looms for the upcoming Rep class at Vavstuga. But, I was rewarded for my efforts with getting to weave two beautiful runners from the selection of projects and a Saturday trip to the NY Sheep and Wool Fest. in Rhinebeck, NY. I have heard of this event for years and jumped at the chance to get to attend.

Susan hard at scutching flax

the Zinzendorfs

Becky, Susan and I had a three hour seminar on raising flax and producing linen with hands-on practice.  We had to leave Shelburne Falls at 5:30 AM to drive the 2.5 hours for the class. When we finished the session we unanimously decided to get off the fair grounds as quickly as possible. It was a perfect fall day and there had to be 1/4 to 1/2 million people attending the Festival. Elbow to elbow people and strollers. Luckily, the interesting Zinzendorfs, who wrote, The Big Book of Flax,  made it worth the trip to hear their stories of understanding how to grow and use flax in the United States. After dismissing the idea of eating at the bursting town of Rhinebeck, we finished our drive home following a delicious, uncommon lunch at the "Fork in the Road" diner outside of town.

Fall at the Bridge of Flowers

A new group comes today for the Rep weaving class. The week will fly by for me as I work to be helpful around the studio. I hope you are all having a terrific, magical fall! Get out and take a walk before the snow flies.

Maine Road Trip

Happy End of September Blog Fellows, 

I have returned to Shelburne Falls from my quick road trip to Maine. It was fun taking in all the changing foliage, quaint little towns, pristine lakes and a few fiber shops. 

Iron art on the Bridge of Flowers

Not to mention time spent getting reacquainted with an old friend. Sue and I spent our day going to an Organic Farm and Garden Fair in Maine. We left her lake house and drove about two hours where we parked in Unity, Maine and bicycled four miles to the fair grounds. The Maine bike coalition was having a promotion to encourage biking. So, we took advantage of an excuse to get some exercise and save a couple of dollars.

It was a gorgeous day for a ride and then a couple of hours spent walking the fair grounds which had everything from vegetables and animals, to hemp products and build-your-own composting toilets.  We only made it to about 2/3 of the fair before heading back to pick up dinner - a real Maine treat! Fresh lobster, corn on the cob and salad.












After leaving Sebago Lake on Monday morning I took all small roads to return to Shelburne Falls. It took about nine hours to get home, twice the time of using the Interstate. But, it was so much more pleasant.

Harrisville Designs Mill

I drove to Harrisville, NH where there is a mill and loom manufacturer. Sadly, the place is closed on Mondays. But, I did get to see a lovely town full of old brick buildings. As I traveled down the road in New Hampshire I passed a little highway sign pointing out  that The Fiber Studio was just ahead, so I detoured up the road to visit the place. Nestled back among a half dozen houses is a totally restored old barn with two inspiring floors of yarns, looms, wheels, buttons and beads. Here is a link to their website http://www.fiberstudio.com/ . Funny how it was hidden off the highway, no town or commercial center in the area at all.  It has to be return business and word of mouth that keeps this place going.  I bought a couple of pewter buttons for Nordic mitten making and went on my way.

About an hour later I was passing through the small town of Antrim, NH thinking the name sounded familiar. Just as I was about to exit the town I saw a sign on the side of the road that read "Wool Room" and I remembered a conversation with a Vavstuga student about a little shop with a charming older woman who taught spinning and knitting. So, I turned down the single lane country road and drove a couple of miles to the shop of Anne Hennessy. It turns out Anne is one of the knitters featured in a new book, 10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters. She is "the wise woman" in the "Find Yourself a Wise Woman" chapter. She said wise meant she's old and has been around a long time. After my encounter with her, I think a wise woman is like fine wine! Needless to say, I had to buy the book.

So eventually, after a warm fresh-made calzone in Keene, I headed for my little bedroom in Shelburne Falls. Where I unpacked, read my new book, and fondled my latest off-the-loom blanket while wondering what the next week would bring.

Enjoy your fall weekend. Too soon snow will be flying.