Im back!!!!

Ok, so it has been a while since my last entry. I have done some interesting thing from which I will download some pictures in the next week or so. With that being said, Ive been having a blast with my horses. My big Ol Simon is in training and is doing nicely. I have ridden at least 3-4 times a week for almost a year, my 33 year old horse has survived colic for the 4th time and is doing well. I moved my horses to a new ranch and we are all so much happier. Last year in February I was lucky enough to get a mini horse. she was in bad shape because she has cushings. The nice lady that had her loved her so much but was giving to much medicine to her which was almost as bad as not giving her any. She has been on the right dose for 10 months now and it thriving. Her name is Pumpkin, and she can pull a cart. She has brought so much joy to my life. Here is a couple of pictures of her ...

Here is another one of her in one of her Halloween costumes

She is soooo cute!
Well now on to my latest weaving project, Im in the process of putting on a 58" wide blanket. Im making it out of verigated blue, brown, and camel colored cotton. Im doing a waffle weave so it will be extra warm. I will post picture tomorrow. It is taking for ever to get it all loaded on my loom but im getting there. Hopefully I can thread the heddles tomorrow and start weaving.

DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I finally finished the throw!!! It is 43 x 78.

I made it with 3/2 cotton warp and weft. 16epi 16 ppi. I got the yarn from Yarn Barn.

I started out using a long shuttle from LeClerc  but it was way to light to get it all the way across the warp. I would throw the shuttle and it would launch right thru the middle of the warp over the cat and land with a crash on the ground. After a few times it really started to piss me off so I decided to use something else. Back about 6 months ago I saw these “Vintage” aka really old and sorta broken down shuttles on ebay. They where fly shuttles, 2 of them each with a wooden bobbin. When I received them they didn’t look as good as the picture but they where “Vintage”. Anyway, I had to repair them because the wood was broken on the side and would catch the yarn if I was to throw it. After sanding and filling in the wood, I tried it and it worked really good. There is a knack to using this sort of shuttle without causing damage to your poor little hand, as the point, and I do mean point, is a metal point which hurts when it hits your hand. I got real good at avoiding the point and learned to really like this “Vintage” shuttle.   Well here is the Throw!

 

Here is a more up close picture!

One more!

Im not sure what I am going to next. I have a couple of things on my list.

1. I was thinking about making some rugs out of bailing twine. Depending how big the bail is and what kind of hay it is determines what color the twine is. I have blue, yellow, orange, yellow, and black.

2. Saddle blankets. Im looking for a good structure and pattern for that, if you have one you want to share I would love it!

3. I have some ideas for some Spring color scarf's.

Once I figure out what I am going to do I will post it! Thanks for reading :)

Half way done with the throw! Still riding my horses everyday!

I have made it through the half way point of the throw and it is looking lovely!

Last week, Tuesday, I had a friend over to teach her how to use her new (very old) sock machine. She did great and caught on way quicker then I did!

I have been riding my horse Sophie everyday now and she is getting really nice to ride. She has been unbroken  for 12 years and I finally feel strong enough to ride her. My friend Chelsea started her for me to make sure she was safe to ride and then I got on and never looked back. I can’t tell you what a thrill this is for me. I have waited so long to ride her. We both where ready! here is her picture.

Sophie and I

this is my Horse Moondance!

And this is my Horse Simon!

Sophie and Simon. Sophie is Simons Mom!

This is Moondance and Sophie giving each other a little loving

  

I know riding horses has nothing to do with weaving, But I thought I would share anyways!

I finally started weaving the throw!

The Weather has been so nice here in Sunny California, that I have been riding my horses just about everyday! Today when I woke up to the sound of Louie my loom saying "so about this throw, we going to do this thing or what?" Then my body said "why yes we will be happy to sit today out because muscles I didn't know I had are feeling a little discomfort". So I got started on the throw. It is going to take awhile ... not just because Im sore from horseback riding for 10 days in a row, but because it is wider then my wing span, so I have to do a little slide move to beat the shuttle to the other side. Hummmm, is this really easier then riding a horse? Well anyways, here is a picture of the boarder. I will post more when I have something more to show you... but tomorrow is suppose to be another sunny day....  High Ho Sliver! Or in my Case "High Ho Sophie or Moondance or Simon"

Happy New Year Everyone!

New Project for 2011, A Throw!

I have decided to make a really pretty throw for my Niece. Her birthday is in May, so I think that will give me plenty of time. Just Kidding, It won’t take that long.

I have all the yarn on the sectional beam and now Im off to thread the heddles. The structure I am using I got from www.handweaving.net for 16 shafts. It is a sort of scalloped look. I am using 3/2 Perle Cotton White for most of the throw and at each end I will accentuate the structure with with 3/2 cotton the color of a fresh Green Apple. Her room is decorated in pleasing shades of celery, apple, and sage accents and white. She plans on buying a chase lounge for one of the corners of her room and I pictured her sitting there on her lounge chair snuggled up with a good book and the Throw her Aunt made her. But until then… I better get started!

This should cover my entire wing span. Who knows! This just may serve two purposes… One; I get a Throw for my Niece , Two; I’ll get a little upper body workout!  Well here I go…

Thanks for reading my blog. I never thought someone would read it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

EMMA THE ELF!