-(((((((()-

step by step

and then it was Easter

and everything was in bloom!

[----]

I was really tired of the unruly dangling shafts of my George Maxwell floor loom,
so I finally decided for a change and ordered new ones - they have a nice sturdy metal frame
and I also splashed out on some new texsolv heddles!

It was well worth it - weaving is so much better with the new shafts!

o-oo --- ooo- o -- -o-- o-oo --- --- --

I had the seat of these Danish chairs re-woven in paper cord by a talented weaver friend
- thank you Tony! -
You can find her website here

...and I also finished a sample scarf on the newly refurbished George Maxwell loom,
just to make sure it worked ok. And it does!

one proud aunt

my niece is going to be a weaver, no doubts about that!!

the law of buttons

states that:
"no matter how many buttons you have, you will never find six of the same when you need them"

turmeric

Adele is a very active girl,
and this comes with the usual load of washing to do.
Sometimes a woollen pullover can get stained. So what do you do?
Dye it with turmeric of course!

I know turmeric is not as colourfast as I'd like but it's not going to be a problem,
she will grow out of it before it can fade significantly (I used no mordant)
-- but it was the only thing I had ready at hand! --
the result is a really intense colour, I am very happy with it.

This is more or less the procedure:
- dissolve the turmeric powder in lukewarm water
- bring to the boil for at least 30' then leave to cool
- when the dyebath is at room temperature add the object you want to dye
(this is very important especially when dyeing with wool:
it doesn't like sudden changes in temperature - it might felt)
- let it rest (I usually leave it to soak overnight)
- bring to the boil and let it simmer gently for 40'
- leave to cool
- rinse gently (for my last rinse I added a splash of vinegar)

( light breeze )

pink magnolia

ombré dyed petals!

that curtain

I am pretty sure it happens to all weavers;
you walk into a cafè because you need a herbal tea or maybe even a hot chocolate after a nice walk
and while you  are enjoying the surroundings...
(I love these little places that seem to be frozen in time
- this one specifically in the '70, with its tiles and wood panelling)
...BANG! textile alert!
This time it was the curtains, usually it's the tablecloth, but it can be someone's coat or jacket,
anything really, even the upholstery of the chair I am sitting on...
My relatives and friends know it and sometimes you can hear someone say
"please stop staring at the napkin".

Anyway, this nice pink number has a lovely block pattern, with a very subtle change in colours.

in a blur

b & g

favourite colour combination by Josef Albers

/\^/\^

pics from last weekend up in the mountains! 

<::::>

After a dreadful and long flu - almost a month! - I am so glad to be back to the loom;
the weather is helping my mood a lot, it finally stopped raining and we are experiencing
really warm temperatures and blue skies. Is it going to last?