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.

Class Week at Vavstuga

Hello from Vavstuga Blogfellows,

Fall is definately in the air out here in Massachusettes. You can see in this picture taken last week that there is one little yellow tree snuggled up in the top of the picture. I plan to take this same picture every week or so as the trees prepare for winter. There is so much variety in this section that there should be a great display of color. Gary will come east the second week of October, so it should be a great time for us to explore the north-eastern states and see a lot of infamous "fall color".

Kim sent me to get a few groceries. I hope she wasn't in a hurry. I took the camera and while I realize these flowers do not look very fall-like, trust me, they are totally different than those from last month.

It has been a terrific week of weaving, linen threading and new information shared at the drawloom studio. A class is now in progress at the other studio. I have had the pleasure of spending this week weaving a beautiful piece at Vavstuga and going out to the drawloom studio for lecture times. Students in the class are experiencing making the pieces I wrote about in the blog two weeks ago.

On Tuesday it rained heavily the entire day. It was so peaceful at Vavstuga with chef Kim working away in the kitchen filling the building with the scent of Swedish meatballs for dinner, the sound of steady rain tapping on the windows, low hanging clouds socking in the village and best of all my smalandsvav progressing with only a few broken warp threads (which is to be expected, for me anyway, when weaving on a warp of over 2000 threads). I am so happy with this piece. It should come off the loom today, Thursday, and I'll picture it in it's entirety next week.
Out at the drawloom studio when I went for lectures
we typically sat at the table writing out pattern drafts, discussing the difference in the techniques being used and see first hand the variety of material that can be woven with each technique. This is just a small collection of beautiful opphampta fabrics made by Becky, used for demonstration.

Sometimes, Becky likes to get her students up and moving around to keep things interesting and help make a point. Here we are making a "human loom" to aide in understanding a loom with Damask pulleys and two harnesses. You can't say weavers don't know how to have fun :)

So, as I said, my other mission this past week or so was to get a 2,185 thread linen 20/2 (?) warp threaded and sleyed for a ten-shaft satin table cloth. It will be stunning. I am hoping to get to weave it. It is one of the widest, finest linen warps Vavstuga has had on loom for people to weave and it will be part of the upcoming "Treasures" classes through 2013 (maybe 2014), I think. I am so proud of myself because the warp came out beautifully. It is really tough for me to concentrate on so much threads, so I am pretty easy to please when it comes to getting so many of these fine little yarns to come out to exactly the number aimed for.

This week has been nuts around here for everyone other than me. Becky had her Drawloom class to teach and Vavstuga opened their 2013 class enrollment on Wednesday morning with the phone has ringing off the hook. Susan, the business manager, has been manning the phone, registering people for three days, while also handling the on-going day-to-day operations during a class week. She is amazing. After three days they are over 80% enrolled for the year (that's with 144 classroom slots - not counting "special" private events).  Have a fantastic week. I am headed to Maine after work Saturday night to see Sue Dyer, a classmate from 33 years ago. It will be a fast trip and a wonderful day spent catching up.

Back from The Hills

Hello Blog Fellows,

Denver Botanic Gardens pond - not very "fall-like"

I'm back at Vavstuga and there's plenty to do. Not a lot of weaving this week, paybacks a B. :) I have a 2400 thread, tiny,(I need to look again how tiny, I want to say 28/1) linen warp I'm getting ready for a tablecloth. Becky warned me it would be one of the worst warps I'd do while here. I'm afraid the one I'm doing for my apprentice project will be even tougher, but both will be beautiful!

There is definitely a feeling of fall in the air. The trees are just beginning to turn, the evening temperature is in the 40's, and full slate of fall classes are about to take over the studio.

It was wonderful being home for a few fast days. I flew into Denver and spent two days with the kids. The Botanic Gardens was lovely. Every season is spectacular and I'm so glad I was there for the bamboo artist's display. Thank you for a great trip girls! And Happy Birthday Tara, hope you enjoy the new door (installed by Gary and Brad while we went to the gardens and Greg worked).

My Girls

After a quick two days with kids we headed to Hot Springs for a few days of catch up at the store. I did lots of holiday merchandise review and ordering. Candles, candy, toys, gifts, yarn ...... Ho, Ho, Ho. It was great to attend a Fiber Friends meeting Friday at Pine Hills. I was happy to see so many there with their projects in hand.

Wiping bugs before movies.

Gary and I did have a fun trip to the new double screen, double feature "Roy's Twin Drive-In" in Hermosa. We watched two new feature films, with Good and Plentys and a (one) glass of wine, from the truck with sound coming over the speakers Ohhhhh, Ahhhh, (yes, it's okay to think "man, what a red-neck"). The theater is a nice summer addition to the area. Glad we made it, but the truck seats are kind of tough to sit in for two full-length movies.

In addition to reading the drawloom weaving text, Damask and Opphamta, cover to cover in the airport and on the plane, fiber work this week consisted of finishing a few block weave wool and chenille rugs I made just before going to Massachusetts.  I got to work on three different type of end finishes which I was waiting to try until after getting to take part in the Swedish Rug weaving class at Vavstuga. I was pretty happy with the results.

Mardi Gras - wool and linen rug in block weave

Same warp as above - wool weft on linen warp in block weave

 The chenille rug needs to have a fabric binding put on when I get home. I like the edge finish, but accidentally clipped the warp threads too short on one end and so have too lose an edge with which to work. Luckily, I saw a couple of rugs finished in fabric bindings at Vavstuga and know I can make this one look attractive. I'll picture it both ways on the blog when I redo it after the holidays. I'm not fond of the bowed ends the red and blue one takes on and would choose a different finish next time (or learn to do the technique more loosely). The multi-color "Mardi Gras" had the best overall finish with a simple turned under hem.

We completed the week with a wonderful smoked pork rib dinner prepared by Gary. Family and friends joined at the house for great weather, food and visiting. I hear Ellie and Gary have been enjoying the "planovers" (a new Vavstuga term)  for several meals since.

Have a great rest of the week. I miss you all but really appreciate the chance to be out east! I'm trying to make the most of it. Next time, I'll share my hand-knit sweater, only one sleeve ribbing and some end weaving left. Maybe tonight.

A Week at the Drawloom Studio

Happy September from Shelburne Falls Blog Fellows,

I had a magical week spent at the Vavstuga drawloom studio. Each day I traveled about four miles to a studio on Becky's property which houses eight fantastic drawlooms, each of which provides an opportunity to experience different multi-pattern weaving techniques. 

There is a loom set up for single unit draw in satin where you can weave anything you are able to create on graph paper. Here's my evening homework and the finished product.

There was a chance to try Smalandsvav.

Here is a Damask cloth in satin done in 8/2 cotton and 16/2 line. Beautiful hand.

How about Opphamta in 16/2 cotton warp and 28/1 linen ground weave and 16/2 linen pattern yarn.

Finally, an adorable  Damask with pattern saving lashes used to create the same item over and over easily. I only created one! This one is done in 28/2 linen warp and 12/2 linen weft.

As if all this beautiful and challenging weaving weren't enough, we also traveled into the woods several times for lunchtime picnics and even a birthday/wedding celebration complete with linen, cake, and wine served by the light of a blue moon! Life doesn't get any better.

Have a wonderful week. I have a plane to catch. It's time to go home for a week to see friends and family and catch up at work.
Happy Labor Day!