Carolina Fiber Fest, antiquing and the latest projects.

 My MIL is in town and has been catching up on knitting and crocheting projects that she has started over the years.  I thought she might like to check out some new threads and patterns for when she's done, so we went to the Carolina Fiber Fest in Raleigh, NC.  Lot's of stuff to drool over.  So much that I really didn't get any pictures.

This is a beautiful warp from the Triangle Weaver's Guild

Sir Walter's Lacers

 After the Fiber Festival we headed for lunch before heading back to the fair grounds for the antique show.   When we parked we saw that there was also a dog show going on and the ones out happen to be German Shepards.   We watched for a few minutes before heading inside to the antiques.

Overshot Blanket from VA early 1900's

Grace finished a blanket she's been knitting on for a couple of years.  It took her so long because she wasn't very excited about it.  After she was done and the rest of us commented how much we liked it she started a new one out of purple superwash wool and has finished 1/3 in the past few days.  She can be fast when she's motivated.

This is a embroidered biscornu I designed and made for my mom a few years ago.  She had it hanging on the wall when I went over for her birthday so I took a picture.

I finally started a new inkle loom project.  This isn't the best lighting, but it's usually evening when I think to take pictures.  I want to start making more trims.  I could have made this with floss size thread, but used perle cotton size 5 and the weft is six strands of floss.

I made little bags for my sister in Korea and my niece at collage. I love making these.  They are quick and you get to practice free motioning.

I am also working on finishing two projects for a challenge from Aby Dollinger at Aby Quilts.  She runs quarterly challenges and the current challenge is to finish UFO's.  She may be running this again next quarter as well, so check her out and get in on it!

Say Goodnight, Gracie...

An Inkling of an Idea

is the name of one of my Pinterest boards.  I love my little inkle loom but have not done much with it at this point (too many projects).  For a short time I was volunteering at Common Threads, an organization that uses it's talents to support local charities that help the community.  They are very dedicated ladies who work hard and have a passion to help others.  It was great working with them.

Due to things outside of my control (most things are lol, although that's not always bad :), I stopped going to the shop although I did bring a project home to finish up.

This project has taken forever!  It was a night mare to warp.  This was a great design however I just could not get the ending right!  I  was most intricate design I have worked on so I kept messing up my string placement or I would put a string in a heddle when I wasn't suppose to or I would leave one out.  I was just a nightmare.  I suppose to because I put pressure on myself to get it done ASAP so I could get the loom back to Common Threads, not that anyone else was using it.  This never works out for me.  My husband always just the term "slow is smooth and smooth is fast", you'd think I'd get it by now!

I was using an older, handmade inkle loom.  My small inkle has two tension points, one for getting the warp taut and the other for getting the tension just right.  I always think of a violin.  The larger pegs for getting it in key, the smaller to getting it at just the right pitch/frequency.  However this piece only had the peg for getting the tension to about where I wanted it. When I would adjust it to make it taut is was always crooked and annoying. 

I have finally finished this project.  Because of the side that is messed up I will not be able to do somethings with it that would make my life easier.  I am currently looking for easy projects using 3" wide small strips.  Will let everyone know how that turns out.

I feel I should sign off on my post but can't think of anything that I really like so I think I will use random sign offs from famous people until I think of something sensational, although I hope that doesn't get me into any trouble over copy right issues *yikes*.  Think of it as a tribute to great sign offs.

Dora Fromer...Good Day!

We finally got our tree up...

... last week.  It isn't straight, but who cares, it's up :).  Two days later we put the star on, hehe.  I was looking at the tree and thinking how pretty it was this year even though it was just kind of thrown up here and there when I decided to take the picture, so you get an imperfect house picture in the process.  

We watch all versions of "A Christmas Carol" each year, along with "It's A Wonderful Life".

  

(the Alastair Sim's version of "A Christmas Carol" is the best)

At our Angier ASG Sew Inspired meeting we made fabric tree stars taught by Ann Burgin.

Fabric was adhered to poster board using double sided fusible web.

12 - 1/4" strips where cut for the stips.  6 strips are woven as below.  You do this again for the back of the star. 

 It's hard to tell in this picture, however you have the two woven strips set together (offset 45 degrees).  

In this picture you can see the layers better.  The top middle piece is the top layer and the two pieces on either side of it are the bottom layer.  These will be folded around the top center piece.

Here you see the finished fabric star and one woven from 1/4' basket reed.  Two more strips were added for this one.

 Part of my 

While the kids grandmother was down we went to the famous "Southern Supreme" Fruitcake Factory in Bear Creek, NC.  I was never a fruitcake person and only knew that you give them to people you don't like!  Well I found out that's the Walmart version and that some people really do like fruitcakes, lol.

Inkle Weaving

I did a band a while back and I loved the results.  It is a pattern by Sally Orgren.  I really admire her work.

I haven't done any weaving since I started working at FindXDesigns quilt shop.  I've been there long enough and with changes that have been made I will have more time  to focus

 a little on weaving.  

My Peacock loom is half dressed for placemats so I am using this blog to help hold me accountable for finishing them.  I am setting a goal for mid-January.