Table Runner’s for Wedding presents!

I finished the four table runners and had enough warp left over to make two night stand placemat things (what do you call those???).  I used 8/2 tencel, white for the warp and 3/2 perle cotton in a cream for the weft. I got this draft from one of my favorite blogs, http://weeverwoman.blogspot.com/ when you get there, click on the Thrums link. You should check out her work! She does such a beautiful job and her attention to detail is amazing. Her blog is so educational and fun to read.
Here are some picture. 
      
These are still on the loom, I can’t wait to wet finish. The picture on the left is the corner. I'm going to sew crystal’s in the middle of the four diamond (larger) shapes.
Here are some action shots…
       
Notice the  bracelet I have on in the picture… it is suppose to help with balance. I don’t know if it really works, but I have convinced myself that it does. 
Here is a picture of Louie all loaded up. You know the cloth beam is sandpaper… it really irritates my arms, so I cover them with old towels. Besides that, I really like how it keeps my warp straight and helps keep down the draw-in a little bit.
 
Once I get them all wet finished and put all the purls and crystals on, I will post more pictures.

OK, here is the table runners all wet finished and ready to go!

 

In the corners I sewed purl-ized (new word for dictionary) crystals, then I sewed glass beads around them.

 

I am very happy with the way they turned out.

Network circles 10/2 Tencel dyed with Indigo crystals

Way back a couple of months ago, you may recall that I dyed a bunch of tencel with indigo crystals. I got to tell you that Indigo crystals dyes Tencel beautifully. Very rich color. I only let it bath for about 20 min, one time and it came out a very pretty color and oh so soft. 

                                                                                                                         Now it was time to fire up Louie, So me and my Vertigo head, walked a crooked line to back of the Loom and loaded him up. I don’t know what I was thinking  “Network Circles/Vertigo” My eye’s where feeling all kind of crazy. But I “adapted” (doing quotation jester) as that is what my PT says I need to do. I have never done Network anything so, this was going to be a learning experience. Here are some pictures while in process.

                                                                                             

      VERTIGO                        

                                                                                                  

 NO  VERTIGO                        

Just Kidding! I needed to blame my bad picture taking on something hehehehehehe! Along with the two Network circle scarf's, I also made two scarf’s using a crackle structure. They came out pretty. I must have forgotten to take a picture of them. I will post some later.

Well, It Is Time To Get Back To Work!

Today I put 12.5 yards of Tencel (8/2) on my AVL. I am going to make 4 Table runners, 2 will be Wedding presents and the other two I will stash away for future present giving. I'm going to use a structure I have used before with a few changes. This time I am going to make squares of the design followed by 10 rows of plain weave followed by a narrow band of a flower looking design that I am going to sew pearls on the center of each flower, then repeat... Then I plan on finishing them with the same purls as well as crystal beads on the fringe. Sounds pretty huh! I still walk like I have been to a great party, but Im starting to feel a little better. I WILL BEAT THIS!!! no pun intended. hehehehehehe! I will post pictures soon.

Perfume makes everything better!

Wow, it seems like forever since my last post. Right after my last post, the Doctors at the wound care center tested me to see if I had an infection… I did so they ordered Kelphlex  for me errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt, Im allergic! I asked the Doctor what she wanted me to take and she said nothing it was not that bad. HUMM! Okay, Im not a Doctor. That next appointment they told me that they where going to put a aplegraft on my ankle and it should heal in a matter of weeks which would be great since I have had these 2 wounds for going on 4 years. Within a few days I began to smell a odor coming from under the wrap they put on my leg. When I went in for my midweek appointment I told them that I have never had this kind of odor coming from my leg before. They told me that I was being hyper sensitive (urgh) wrapped it up and sent me on my way. By Thursday the smell was so back I couldn't stand it. I went in for my end of the week appointment and they took the wrap off and the wound was fire red around the outside and black on the inside. I felt so sick! I told them that this is wrong, and they again wrapped me up and tried to send me on my way stating it was normal for it to look and smell like this. I wouldn't leave without the Doctor taking a look. When he got a look at it, I could see that he was some what shocked. He told me to come back and have the infectious disease doctor look at it. He took a culture and I returned the next day! The next day I was scheduled to have a pic line put in and was admitted to the hospital. This was on July 30th….. MY BIRTHDAY!!!! So I get to the hospital and they don’t have the orders to get me admitted so I wait for 3 hours in the Lobby. By the time I get to my room and they set me up in Isolation, I have not had a bite to eat so I ask the Nurse for food and she gave me a slice of bread and a packet of grape jelly. Happy Birthday to me! Ok so 3 days later Im out of the hospital and I have to go get infusions everyday for 14 days. The antibiotics made me tired and sick. I felt so dizzy all the time. So, I go everyday like Im suppose to and then go home and sleep, it just kicked my ass. About day8 Im starting to feel like Im being poisoned,I hate meds, but I feel really bad. I tell anyone who will listen that I feel really dizzy. The Doctor asked me if my ears where ringing and I said NO. He said that it is normal to feel off with the amount of meds that I am getting. After a week off of the meds I am more dizzy then before and I can’t walk a straight line and If I turn my head to fast I throw up. I go to my PCP and he test my eye’s and send me to a PT. I found out that I have Ototoxcity.
WHAT THE HECK!!!!! Vertigo, not the kind you get PT once or twice and then your ok, No, the kind that you have to retrain your brain because the antibiotics fried my inner ear. OMG!!!  Ok so I was pist for at least 8 hours. I thought that I would go home and try to weave. I could not get my rhythm, I couldn’t stand to watch the shuttle go back and fourth, it made me dizzy. I cried. I started doing the exercises and they helped a little bit.
The one thing about me is I adapt very well. I have been sick most of my adult life, but if you saw me you would never know it. I look healthy and most of the time I can make myself feel really good. Im so blessed with family and  friends that love me and Im so lucky to be able to have horses and dogs and a cat and my looms. So I have decided that it was time for one of those healing spurts. When ever I was in the hospital, I always made sure I had nice smelling perfume and lotion, Jessica McClintock is my fav. I would take a shower and put on my perfume and close my eyes and everything  was ok, at least I could smell like it was. So I bought a bottle of my favorite Perfume (I was out) and sprayed it on and decided that I was going to sit at my loom and work past the dizziness until I got my rhythm back. It took 4 hours but I got it back. Im a lot slower but at least it is a start. I went to PT today and she was amazed at how well Im doing and asked me what I was doing to make such progress. I told her I was weaving and I bought some perfume. She said she could understand how the weaving would work but perfume?? I can’t explain it, but for me… Perfume makes everything better!