VOLUNTEER!

The simple act of giving of one's time is so valuable--there is no monetary price that can be placed on that. Volunteers are the life blood of any organization and so this Sunday it is our chance to give of our time and talents to a worthy event. We are heading to the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show. But, first we attend Cowboy Church, led by Christian Cowboys.
We are all cowboys or cowgirls here. The service is filled with lively music, hand clapping, praise, prayers of thanksgiving and a brief message.
We are off down the hall to fulfill our volunteer time at CHH Contemporary Handweavers of Houston location in the large hall. We pass numerous FFA members who are practicing their speech for competition. We also pass tablescapes, set up by FFA members in another competition.
In the large arena you can watch as chicks hatch from their eggs.
See and pat rabbits of all breeds.
Walk through the breed barn.
And since it is Tejano day, we hear the music of various Mariachi bands--this one a woman's group.
In the hallway, waiting and practicing is another group--their music floats through the air with uplifting trumpets.
Ahh, we finally arrive at our destination--the spinners and weavers area. This organization is dedicated to showing their craft and to educate the public about weaving and spinning. Someone is in attendance every day, three weeks the livestock is ongoing. It takes the dedication of volunteers to make this happen.
This stash of brightly dyed wool brings many questions about how you do that....
On another table is the happenings from Alicia's wheel efforts.
Blaine, our faithful leader for today, is wearing his handwoven vest--up close and personal view of the pattern.
On the right is Blaine at the loom chatting with a visitor. Alicia is at her wheel, up front and center. In the background is the table laden with handwoven and spun items for display.
Denise is trying her hand at the tapestry loom.
The basket of wool sits at her side.
Blaine assists Beth as she learns how to begin a new shed to inlay the wool weft.
The curious crowds lean in for a closer view or understanding of what is happening. During the week, hundreds of school children will walk pass and receive a brief glimpse into the world of spinning and weaving.
It is only one way we as volunteers educate the world. The Houston Livestock and Rodeo show is totally run on volunteer time and talents--where do you volunteer?

Expatchers Always in Action!!

These photos are from late February meeting as well as March Birthday luncheon. We are never quiet for long--whether it be our mouths or our fingers--we are always ready for action! Brenda came bearing patchwork from her mother's fingers--this is Trip around the World that needs just one more row to be called complete. The pieces are cut and heading to the machine.
Brenda also showed Mother's Flower Garden, that her mother is doing by hand--even the pieces--no template for her!
We are using up our flannel 'scraps' to make Binky Patrol quilts. Even those small strips can be incorporated into a comfort wrap. Here Judy is showing hers while Brenda compares her size--just one more strip is needed to call it complete.
These 6" four patch blocks combines with solid 6" blocks will make the perfect Binky.
We are ready to sew!
At our March Birthday luncheon, Judy had a stack of finished and quilted quilts--just need to stitch the binding. Here is the BOM barn quilt that Karen will give as a gift.
Detail of quilting stiches.
Usage of 6" four patch with 6" plain blocks--add a pretty pink backing and binding--
Nice quilting stitches lend texture to the softness of the flannel.
Another Binky ready to stitch down the binding--little handwork to complete on this quilt that Debbie used Minkie fabric squares alternated with flannel.
This is a close-up of Linda's Kitchy Stars quilt (pattern from Connecting Threads) using 30's theme fabric.
Judy did Bush Berries quilting pattern, which shows nicely on the soft yellow backing.
Karen had finished her Montana Log Cabin quilt top for a Colorado friend. This quilt used pre-printed animal blocks and Karen added log cabin effect to give a rich look. The backing is a dark suede look brown--perfect!

Karen also showed this small wall hanging that used templates--great visual for her wall!
As usual our 'food committee' supplied a delicious lunch fare so our mouths were also active as our fingers have been.

Visit to Skyloom Weavers

Although it was a cloudy day, it was the perfect day to visit Penny at her new studio. Penny, along with her business partner and BFF Peggy, have ventured into the world of marketing. They call their business Skyloom Weavers. Penny is smiling proudly in front of her studio. Take a step into her world.........
Marvelous warmth surrounds you, from the wood floors and walls to the fiber abounding around the studio. On her large floor loom, she is busy weaving away on her latest design.
The large triangle loom sits in the corner by the window. It is dressed with her very first handspun wool yarn! What lovely natural colors. This shawl will be a keeper for Penny.
Other triangle loom shawls grace their presence in other sections of the studio. Here are two luxury pieces just waiting for the perfect wearer.
Other shawls wrap these mannequins with color and happiness.
Penny and Peggy dye their own yarn; some of which is handspun. Each unique color has an intriguing name. Some are dyed with chemical dyes while others are natural dyed (two on right).
These are one of a kind yarns. Buy two skeins if you like them; most likely you will not find another quite like it again. Penny and Peggy are enjoying their adventure into the creative dyeing world.
This art yarn is perfect for just that accent to a collar, sleeve cuff or small scarf.
Penny's studio is located on acreage which gives her the privilege of raising animals. Here is a pen of 'Mos' or angora goats.
Llama roam in another area--curious as one presents the camera. Stand those ears up, boy! and do not spit!!
We have come not only to visit with Penny and view her studio, we have also come for llama 'berries' or poop! Okay, there is a story there--right! We have a friend who also lives on acreage and has a deer infestion. They are not allowed to eliminate the deer, which eat all new growth. Upon learning that llama poop was a repellent to deer--the rest is history! Scoop a little from one friend to share with another. In fact, Penny's llama yielded two large bags of berries (and we didn't work hard at collecting either)--now, we'll see if it works. Penny says, "I've never seen a deer on my property", so maybe that's a good sign.
We tour her property in her little 'rover' vehicle--her tubs are springing forth with new growth. Tansy in this one....................not much natural color from this though and hard to get rid of!
This is the beginning of new madder plants--lovely colors will come from these plants and roots. Another bin has the beginnings of cotton plants (for spinning) and marigolds (another great color producer).
A perfect day and visit with Penny in her studio--all days should be this good!

CREATIVE GENIUS

There is a little creative genius in all of us but some have more than others. One such person is Dottie, who was hostess for our March weavers' gathering. Dottie opened her home this week to share not only delicious lunch but also a view inside her creative genius. Dottie is most known for her lovely decorated Ukrainian Eggs or Pysanky. Each symbol and color has a meaning for those who enjoy and collect these art pieces.
Yes, Dottie does each and every one of these--creative genius and artistic touch!
These are her 'special' ones.
Her centerpiece in the front room contains wool hooked sheep
and the mantel in her family room shows off framework with wool hooking in progress--she is definitely a 'hooker' of creative genius!
She also captures facial features with her adorable hangings, using some of her handwoven fabric strips as tassels.
Dottie is not the only one in this group with creative genius--Rosemary shows off her woven needle cases that she needle felted sari silk strips for decorative features.
Antje, ah Antje! what creative genius she is! and waste not, want not is her motto--using up bundles of indigo ikat cotton threads from SE Asia to use as weft for her 'rag' rug.
A variety of blues on a background of white cotton warp--threaded for bird's eye off set of the middle--genius! It is a nice cushiony rug.
Scharine comes with her woven scarf, using her pretreadled loom (just recently purchased). She is also using sari silk for weft along with some rayon thrown between rows of sari--just touch and enjoy the feel; the drape is fabulous! A runway piece for sure.
And her small table mat is just as fabulous! A new weaver in the making.
Ah, what creative genius we surround ourselves with--maybe some of it will rub off and get our 'juices' flowing again!

Finally--OFF the Loom!

Yes, finally! After weeks or (dare we count months), ten yard warp has come off the loom. Taking the scissors to that last little bit of warp and snip, snip..............
Pulling out the lengths of woven fabric is a great satisfaction.
These are handspun cotton weft towels--look at the prewashed look now.......indigo dyed cotton
brown cotton & green cotton from own garden, colored cotton from Texas Tech labs....................
Now, give a look after washing--plain or tabby weave--gives a pattern called 'tracking'.....
Now, a nice pile of towels sit ready for gift giving--all hand hemmed, washed and folded.
But, the only problem........................................................the loom is empty again!