Remembering Rennie

Our best girl came to us in 2005. Amberlove Good Live. It was a great life.

Tully was totally blindsided by this little imp who took over the house the moment she stepped in the door with her big yellow duckie. The stuffed toy was as big as she was, and a constant companion all her life. Rennie was beautiful in every way, stunningly beautiful and a truly happy, gentle, playful soul. She was a one person dog (and I was her person)... although she loved Tim and Auntie Leslie and had her collection of human friends... but she was totally connected to me. And I was totally connected to her, which makes this ever so painful that she is gone.

Rennie came from Roseanne Schweigerath of Socorro New Mexico, and traveled by car from show to show, passed along the way until Tim and I met her at Anne Pickrell’s home in South Orange NJ. This trip solidified Rennie’s LOVE of travel. She went everywhere with us. She loved the yellow MINI as much as Tim and me.

Early on, we (Tim, Tully, Rennie and I) snuggled in our beds. When something went bump in the night Rennie charged up the stairs to protect us all from harm as we laid there wondering what just happened. She had taken over! Poor Tully never knew what hit him.

Rennie never got over sucking on her “Mommie”, her fuzzy bed that she dragged everywhere, and presented as a treasure to anyone who greeted her at the door. It was a prize possession. I had to make her a second one so that I could wash one, while she had the other.

Rennie ruled the roost. She demanded respect and love and attention just about 27/7.  As she got older she got more vocal, just as most post-menopausal women do! HA. Her barking could mean:

1. I need water

2. I need to go out, but you better wait for me because I am coming right back in again.

3. I am hungry (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

4. I need a treat, NOW... we had a large supply of mini treats available at all times to assure the desire.

5. I want to go to bed.

She and I spend almost every hour of every day of her life together. She was my baby and I was her human. It was always hard to go away without her. She would stop eating if I was not around. 

I had to be very careful, if she was upset with me she would eat something of mine.... anything paper that was left in her range. And she loved sponges, oy! Underwear! Always a worry. If there was a flaw, it was that.

Rennie was almost always at my feet or parked in a hallway with me in eyesight.

These 12.5 years have flown by, and the fourth Gordon (after three boys). It amazed me how different it was owning a girl. She was a surprise and a delight, the fierce protectress of our home. I have Gordons almost continuously from 1995 to 2018. 

Our fondest memories are the vacations we took to Maine and Vinalhaven. She was in her prime and so extraordinarily lovely. 

I miss the company in bed at my feet. She was so happy she she finally got to sleep in the big bed. 

I miss the "talking".

 I miss the really quick out to do business and right back inside again because she wanted to be with her "peeps".  I miss brushing her beautiful hair. I miss giving her a bath and watching with delight as she ran all wet about the house. I miss the "Mommie antics".  I miss seeing her on the sofa curled up and comfy. I miss here following me every where I went. I miss her bursting into the bathroom to see what I was doing. I miss the paw slaps when she wanted her kibbles snack at night. I miss her love of cucumbers and the KP she did as we cooked. She was the "veggie dog" - lettuce, carrots, cucumbers. I miss making sure that I did not leave anything out for her to chew. I miss traveling with her. I miss everything about her every day.

Pandemic Times

Huge changes in my life. In the fall of 2018 a dear friend convinced me that it was time leave Staten Island. It was a good home for almost 40 years, but my weaving addiction was taking up all the room (and then some) in our tiny 2-bedroom 1950s brick ranch. 

My husband and I landed in a 1910 New England Farmhouse with TWO studio spaces in the "city" of Rockland, Maine. Culture shock to the "nth degree" We each have the space to settle into the next chapter of our artistic lives with no excuses! 

We had the great good fortune of having a little over a year in this glorious MidCoast Maine town before COVID19 hit everyone between the eyes. We met wonderful locals along with weavers, beekeepers, retirees and expats from Boston and NYC. It's an interesting melting pot here on a much smaller scale. 

We had to close our little AirBnB rental until the pandemic is under control. It's something we miss as we had great fun meeting people from all over the world. 

As we practice living in the moment I have gotten back to weaving and experimenting on the looms after the huge transition of moving to another state and a new way of life.

Gotta get back to winding my next warp. Onward.

Weaving still.

Yardage can be added to my resume. First project, 50 yards for a huge sectional sofa to be shipped overseas. What an experience and lesson in endurance. The project reinforced my endless patience. I found at the end that I still liked the fabric. A Good Thing. My chenille stash seems to grow, no matter how much I weave with it. I must keep on it so it doesn't multiply on the shelves. The guild season is almost upon us. I look forward to catching up with fiber friends and the craft fair season that follows. Back to the loom.

It's been a rough summer for way too many

A member of one of my guilds, who had suffered too many personal losses too close, sent out this ... and I share with you...

---

I wonder what the other side will be when I have finished weaving all my thread.

I do not know the pattern nor the end of this great piece of work which is for me.
I only know that I must weave with care the colors that are given me, day by day,
And make them a fabric firm and true which will be of service to my fellow man.
Sometimes those colors are so dark and gray I doubt if there will be one line of beauty there.
But all at once there comes a thread of gold or rose so deep that there will always be that one bright spot to cherish or to keep and maybe against its ground of deepest hue it will be beautiful.

The Warp is held by the Master’s hand;
The Master’s mind made the design for me.
If I but weave the shuttle to and fro and blend the colors just the best I know.
Perhaps when it is finished He will say, “T’is good” and lay it on the footstool at his feet.

—Author Unknown

Hey, I know this person...

Been a while...

Been weaving a lot this year! Participated in my first swatch exchange with Jockey Hollow Weavers... it was Ms and Os. What an interesting assortment of swatches from similar drafts and inspiration. Baby blankets in Ms and Os and towels. Participated in a doubleweave demonstration at the NYGH and Staten Island Handspinners and Weavers. Did a new website for the SIHW. Getting ready to start some area rugs. Excited. Here is a link to Nancy's blog... may she rest in peace!... weaversouth.blogspot.com

Brilliant warping tip!

This is a terrific video for how to use a tensioning device with front to back beaming on a floor loom. Thanks to "rigidheddleweaving" on YouTube.

The Crocuses are up!

Spring is here, and so are the flowers. It's been a long, hard winter. Busy with work, finally. Been knitting again.... a vest, socks, another vest from Tess Designer Yarn (from stash). Pinwheels on the loom. A tapestry workshop to get back to. Not enough hours in the day.

and for a giggle....

enjoy.

Wool - A Journey Through Time

Cabin Fever - Winter 2015

This has been a WINTER, depending on where you are, a BAD one. Being in NYC, really can't complain as much. But it's been hard.

Bright spot in January was Vogue Knitting Live at the Marriott. Another fun gathering of the tribe. Met up with old friends, met new ones. Found a new toy... an Ablet 3-Tier Ababus Row counter. I actually found the clasp difficult to use, so I put in on a chain around my neck instead. It works great for keeping track on rows and design repeats. Treated myself to a skein of Springtide Farm cashmere and made myself a pair of fingerless gloves that have come in very handy this cold winter. The pattern: L'Oreal's Cashemere Fingerless Gloves, design by Hatie Clingerman.

Fell in love with the Blue Heron Yarns Opal Leaf Vest Sock Plus 80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon in a lovely Pansy sp colorway. The yarn is lovely, the pattern looks good but the instructions are very sloppy, patching together a couple other patterns. You really have to know what you are doing to make this. Knit the back panel (which is from a scarf pattern). Then pick up stitches and cast on more to knit sideways to make the sides. This is a work in progress. Motivated by the cold to get it finished and put it to use.

On the weaving front, just finished 2 cotton baby blankets, white warp for both. Changed up the WEFT white and pastel for one and yellow and bright multi-colors for the other. What a difference a colorway makes!

The BEST part of February was my Online Tapestry Weaving Course with #RebeccaMezoff. I am finally learning how to use my Mirrix Loom (12" weaving width). Taking baby steps learning basic tapestry techniques, and weaving from the back in a very disciplined approach.

The online course is at my own pace, it is a combination of videos by Rebecca with specific techniques in small sections along with PDF downloads and many links to other instructional videos on YouTube and inspirational links to tapestry artists' websites. You submit photos of progress which are graded, and you email questions which are promptly answered. The fun part is the closed Facebook group where other participants post images of what they are doing.

Meanwhile my Glimakra waits for me to finish warping the next project...

but have to stop now and work on my taxes.

Would rather be weaving! Can't wait for spring.

Mental Health Day

Yesterday, up at 5am to catch a ferry to catch a train to meet a friend and drive 1.5 hrs to the Fuller Craft Museum and return by midnight. Whew! But worth every moment. The Fuller has two amazing exhibits... Game Changers: Fiber Art Masters and Innovators, through Nov. 23. If you love fiber and art, don't miss it. http://fullercraft.org/event/game-changers-fiber-masters-and-innovators/ The work was inspiring and magical. Beyond creative. And in a smaller scale [ http://fullercraft.org/event/small-expressions/ ] Small Expressions thru October 5 The museum is a magical setting with unique building and lovely pond filled with lily pads. Take a day, and go.

Just received "The thread's course in tapestry" by Mette Lise Rössing

Published in May 2013, it consists of 140 pages divided into 3 sections: technique, cultures and theory into practice. Lots of terrific illustrations and photos of tapestry techniques. ISBN 978-87-995744-1-4. available at www.billedvaevning.dk. Recommended by Rebecca Mezoff in her blog. What a delight to thumb thru the book and find a post-it® note on page 93 in the author's hand indicating a correction in the text... "A Navajo saddle blanket is a twined weave." (not twill.)

Donald John Mackay (Harris Tweed Weaver)

Just got my newsletter from Weaving Today with a link to this lovely video about Donald John Mackay (Harris Tweed Weaver) - by Martin Koddenberg Donald John Mackay lives on the Isle of Harris in Scotland and produces the much sought-after, hand-woven Harris Tweed. When in 2004 he was able to secure a deal with Nike he played a key role in introducing Harris Tweed back to the mainstream market, where it is now available in numerous fashion lines around the world.

Donald John Mackay (Harris Tweed Weaver) - by Martin Koddenberg from Martin Koddenberg on Vimeo.

Moving On a stop-motion video from Ainslie Henderson. Created as a music video for British rock band James and tells a story of life and death through characters depicted with yellow yarn. Sad, wonderfully done. (via Jason Sondhi)

Card weaving



How to wash alpaca fleece and prepare for spinning

This informative video is on YouTube

Many thanks to the all_things_structo blog.. there was a link to an amazing video about Chanel's iconic tweed... beautiful...

Inkle Workshop in February 2014

I am excited about Inkle, and about the Staten Island Makerspace. In February I will be teaching a workshop: Build your own Inkle Loom + Learn to weave on it!

Two 3-hour session workshops Sundays February 16 and 23

1 to 4 pm

SI MakerSpace Members $85* Non-members $115
Materials fee: $15
Ages 12 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
No fee for children with a paid adult, but parent/child team must work on one loom together. Class size is limited to 12 students (or parent/child teams). Minimum 4 students.

Session one: Intro to weaving/Build a loom/Setting up the warp and heddles

Session two: 3 hour weaving intensive; creating patterns and designs, how to cut off and remove a finished piece.

Inkle weaving is a type of warp-faced weaving where the shed is created by manually raising or lowering the warp yarns, some of which are held in place by fixed heddles on a loom known as an inkle loom. Inkle weaving was referred to in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. It was brought to the United States in the 1930s, but predates this by many centuries in other countries. The term "Inkle" simply means "ribbon" or "tape" and probably refers to a similarly structured woven good that could have been made on different types of looms, such as a box-loom.

Inkle weaving is commonly used for narrow work such as trims, straps and belts.

Class Goals:

Our first goal will be to learn about weaving in general; different types of weaving, types of looms, weaving vocabulary (ex: what the heck is a heddle?) and the processes involved in a simple weaving project. Then we will build looms out of wood. This is a very easy woodworking project and you will take home your own loom which would easily cost $75 to $100 to buy. After the looms are built, we will learn how to set up the warp and heddle yarns and practice making our own straps or belts.

LINK TO SIGN UP

*Members use promotional code inkle25 to get the discount.

Any questions please email db@simakerspace.com or call (718) 273-3951.

Have you heard about ARM KNITTING

this from the Wall Street Journal... thanks to Carol A for sharing

Schacht Variable dent reed

Cruising thru my email today, came across this....Schacht Variable Dent Reed. Way cool! The latest and greatest thing in the world of rigid heddle weaving is Schacht’s new variable dent reed. Now you can mix and match dents in your Schacht Flip or Cricket loom. An assortment of rigid heddle reed sections in a variety of dents which include 5 dpi, 8 dpi, 10 dpi and 12 dpi can be inserted into the special rigid heddle frame for different setts within the same reed. Check out Schacht’s handy chart to see the number of reed sections available with each model. The Variable Dent Reed is a great tool for creating different densities in a fabric as well as using thick and thin yarns in the warp. How fun! Let the creative juices flow.