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!

And Now the Rest of the Story.....

Happy Monday Blog Fellows,

Walking Brooklyn Bridge

It's has been a whirlwind of a weaving week here in Shelburne Falls. But, I'll share a bit about that in a moment. First, I'll finish up on the week of Gary's visit and yes, he did indeed eat the fancy pastry in Times Square.

W1AW Building

After our wonderful three days in New York City we headed back to Massachusetts via the Amtrak and our parked car. I went to work Saturday and Gary drove to W1AW, the national Ham Radio station in Connecticut, which he knew was closed but wanted to see anyway and had small hopes that some hammer would be there to visit with him. All he got was a picture.
Sunday we left for the part of the trip I had planned and it all revolved around hands-on history villages. Does that sound like an elementary teacher or what? On Sunday we drove by way of Quabbin Reservoir to Old Sturbridge Village. 

Quabbin view

Quabbin was created in the 1920's-1930's to provide drinking water to Boston. Which was wonderful, unless you lived or were buried in the area to be flooded. Apparently all the decision making was done in Boston, so the locals from the three towns to be affected had very little representation as they couldn't attend the meetings. Over about a 15 year period the towns were relocated along with all people (dead and alive) and the valley was indeed flooded and still provides millions of people in Mass. with drinking water. Pretty interesting and very beautiful.

Old Sturbridge Village farm

Old Sturbridge Village is one of the country’s oldest and largest living history museums, depicting early New England life from 1790-1840 with historians in costume, antique buildings, water-powered mills, and a working farm. osv.org.  We spent about 4.5 hours there and saw most everything, but could have used more time another day to absorb more and read more. 

Publick House Historic Inn room

Because this was a history tour, I booked a room at The Publick House Historic Inn,  publickhouse, established in 1771. We had dinner in the pub (which has been added on but looked very realistic). We had one of the original handful of rooms. It was funny, literally, how crooked the floors were going up the stairs and down the hall to the room and in the room. It reminded us both of the Black Hills' Cosmos Mystery area, cosmosmysteryarea.

Thomas Oyster House

Schooner

Terry in Birthday sailor suit

On Monday we concluded our history tour at Connecticut's, Mystic Seaport,  mysticseaport . It is an 1800's seaport village with historic sea vessels, craft shops, demonstrations and a working ship restoration facility. We cruised the bay and walked and learned for about 4.5 hours. We decided that 4.5 hours must be our learning, walking, looking limit. We  found our simple modern motel and then tracked down a wonderful seafood restaurant on the wharf. 

Gary with tug boat :)

Tuesday morning, I took Gary to Hartford Airport and got to Vavstuga at 1:00. The sheep and looms were waiting for me.

Barbros daldrall

It was such a wonderful week of weaving. Tuesday we did some planning of projects for the upcoming week plus began talking about my incredible apprentice project. I assembled a new, fresh out of the box Glimakra loom and put on a project that was already beamed and ready to weave. This lovely red and white piece is called Barbro. It is an overshot in 32/2 cotton for the warp and tabby and 16/2 cotton for the pattern weft. I had a couple of setbacks and it really didn't feel like I had any rhythm until about 3/4 of the way through, but I am very happy with the finished piece and it was another wonderful learning experience. Additionally, this past week I made a cheerful plaid table cloth in 16/2 cotton with matching apron fabric, 16/2 warp with 8/2 weft. While it is simple plain weave, I really tried to work on a consistent beat, to avoid striping in the weave, and I also worked on techniques Becky shared to make color changes that are less noticeable. It was a fantastic two weeks of east coast sites and new weaving challenges. I'm eager for tomorrow, when I get to go out to the draw loom studio and begin weaving there for several days in preparation of the upcoming Drawloom Basics class. Have a great end of the month. Can you believe fall is nearly here? 

August 26th Bridge of Flowers over the Deerfield River

Off to The Big Apple

Hello Blog Fellows,    
 I have returned from a week of sightseeing and attending national tourist attractions. Last Monday I needed to pick Gary up at the Hartford airport in the evening, so I spent the day buying a new pair of comfortable, yet stylish shoes and walking for five hours at Historic Deerfield, a mid 1700's town with many buildings and museums open to the public. Guess what? Even though the shoes felt comfy, they shredded my feet just in time for five days of walking. New shoes will do that. 

I made sure to get to Hartford airport in time to pick up Gary and we stayed the night in nearby Windsor. Then, we caught an Amtrak train first thing in the morning to New York City. Here is the view from our hotel window right above Times Square.

We spent the first evening on a bay cruise that went all around Manhattan .

View from Empire State Building

The next day we toured the Empire State Building and then walked back to our hotel in the rain to clean up for our evening on Broadway. We went to the 7:00 showing of Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We followed it up with a light dinner at a nearby pub and a yummy decadent pastry at an outdoor table in the middle of Times Square. 

Thursday we headed for a subway ride south, where we took a ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. After satisfying tours of both and a stop at a beer garden we walked on to the financial district, and the oldest wharf area in NYC, which now is shopping and restaurants, but there was some old cobblestone to walk on while getting into the nearest pub. We went to Ground Zero, but only saw the new towers under construction as you had to have tickets to get into the memorial. It didn't cost anything, but tickets were assigned in advance. Another time. Hopefully, the memorial will open up to the general public in the future when the towers are finished. 

Ship restoration project at the old wharf area.

Tune in later in the week to find out if he indeed ate the pastry.