Fiber Arts Friday: Scrappy Palindrome, part 4

Due to Christmas knitting (that didn't get finished) and another project intended for a competition, progress has slowed on my Scrappy Palindrome, but I have added a few bands since November.

I am thinking the these last three yarns will be used for something else, which means that progress will likely come to a halt soon.

Anyway, at 47 inches, I think this project is about 2/3 complete.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Looms, part 3

My new Portable Loom arrived last weekend!

I meant to take photos of the unpacking process, but sometimes excitement gets in the way... She was packed extremely well and arrived safely.  :-)

As with anything that requires shipping, assembly is also required.  So I was especially delighted to find a proper Phillip's Screwdriver included... As a farmer and engineer, I have a collection of proper tools, but nothing is more disappointing than finding those tiny, nearly-useless Allen wrenches in the box...  So with a proper Phillip's Screwdriver as well as proper Phillip's screws..... I was pretty happy.

The heddles took some time to put on the frames.... especially with Wonton holding them down for me (one of the last things we did together).

But I got the 4 harnesses loaded up with heddles and back into the castle.  whew.

It also took some time to realize I had the base upside down.  But once I got that figured out, I was able to connect the restraints, break, and castle.

She is collapsible!!  Which is the primary reason I wanted a smaller jack loom...

... and everything is functional!

LeClerc does make a stand with foot pedals.  I wasn't sure if I wanted it yet, so she will be resting on a card table for now.

The next step is to learn how to warp her and figure out why I have one extra warping rod.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!  :-)

After Life?

I'm not certain that any of us know for sure what, if anything, comes after this life that we have right now.

While growing up Catholic, I was taught that there is a life after life.

I'm not particularly religious these days, but having been to the space in between, I tend to believe there is something after the life we have right now.

Whether there is or isn't.... it doesn't really matter.  Believing there is, makes us feel better.

I hope that Wonton and The Alpaca Dog are able to see each other.

Fiber Arts Friday: Looms part 2

Since deciding to add a portable loom to my tool set, I've been thinking about what to make first.

Obviously the first step is setting it up (just as soon as she arrives), but then the next first step is warping the first project, which needs some thought.... the final project determines the fabric construction, which determines the length and pattern of the warp.

Since I haven't done much weaving in quite some time, I need this project to focus on consistent beater tension and selvedges.

I don't really need any hand towels at the moment.  However they would be a perfect first project.... small and useful, but I don't have any cotton on hand anyway.  :-/

I do want to make a towel for my yoga practice, but that requires the cotton that I don't have... and determining cotton gauge is a little more difficult than wool or alpaca.  I have a specific idea for what this finished project looks like.  So this one needs some work before I can order the cotton.

I have a spool of Rayon that I bought years ago from a weaver studio sale in Albuquerque.... so I would like to use this as the warp of whatever the first project is.

I could use super-wash wool for the weft of a yoga towel, but again I don't have much and most of what I do have is now in my Scrappy Palindrome or planned for socks.

So I may start with a simple throw or scarf... I already have lots of scarves and small blankets, but they are something that I enjoy using and mixing up a bit.... so this might be my first project.

I need to think more.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Tibetan Mastiff Tuesday: Bone Cancer

Wonton (KayaKyi Annapurna), our very first and lead livestock guardian, was diagnosed with Bone Cancer in mid-August.

The typical treatment is pain management with an average life-span of 1-3 months post-diagnosis, or Amputation + Chemo or Radiation, which will typically add another month or so.

Since the cancer is on two spots in her front leg and in her lungs, we decided to focus on pain management and spend as much quality time with her as possible.

Well, this week we are at 5 months post-diagnosis.

Wonton had her 9th birthday in December and she saw another New Year's Day a couple weeks ago, both of which we did not expect.

She has a cameo in our DogumentaryTV episode and I recently saw this video of her and Gunnar goofing off from about 4 years ago.

Wonton and Gunnar have been my A-Team for a long time.  Wonton has had a role in bringing up each of our other dogs.

The other dogs know she is not well and are very sweet with her.

So we know we don't have much more time with her, but for now she still enjoys working a little and her sense of humor remains in tact.

Fiber Arts Friday: Peaceful Morning

I love it when I wake up early, feeling rested.

I'll enjoy a warm cup of coffee and the quiet before everyone else gets up.

Spin a little yarn,

and watch the sun come up.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Space

Thanks to a generous gift, I decided to add a portable loom to my set of tools.... and after speaking with Hubba, we decided it should go in my office.

My office had become the landing area for all things that didn't have a place... and other things that had outgrown their place.

So I spent New Year's Eve preparing the space to receive my new loom.  As I worked, I contemplated the idea of making space for my passions and how to organize the house to better enable these.

My office now has re-organized space for my day job, fiber, farming, dogs, writing, and my collection of cook books.

There's a wide-open, space for my new loom.... It should be here in a few weeks.

On the morning of the new year, I spent time in my freshly organized office preparing and spinning yarn and thinking about how lovely it will be to have my new loom in this space.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

A dog show friend of mine posted this photo to her Facebook a few days ago.

Earlier that day I learned (second hand) that someone I respect thinks I am a kind and good person.

It's an incredibly humbling feeling to hear when people tell others that they think you are a good person.

Obviously, I try to be good and I think most of us try similarly...  but this doesn't mean that we don't make mistakes, myself, included.  None of us are perfect.

I truly think intention matters.  If the actions are done out of kindness, the action itself matters less.

***

I remember the moment I met this dog show friend.  I was still a novice show handler.  Gunnar and I had won Best of Breed and Owner-Handled Best of Breed at a large show in Denver.  The Owner-Handled Group was after the Regular Group and we nearly missed the ring call.

I met this friend as I lined up behind her after running across the venue and into the Owner-Handled Group Ring.  She was much more experienced than I.  I was so nervous and she was so kind to me.

At subsequent shows, she always asked how we were doing and often cheered for us outside the ring.

She raises another Livestock Guardian Breed, so we are friendly competitors inside the Working Group rings... and supportive of each other in the breed rings.  I have had the pleasure of helping her handle her dogs a few times.

***

The point of making this post today is to remember our intentions.  Which reminds me of a saying I heard a lot as a kid...

May your new year be full of kindness and blessings.

Happy 2020!