ON THE ROAD.................................

We have been on the road--again!  I love these road trips!  Going to places on my 'to do' list; visiting favorite places of years gone by!  Nothing like being on a long road trip and pulling into an unique shop or restaurant--a place where you find disasters as well as gems in the rough! 

We stopped at our Colorado house for a few days and were greeted with this view from our back deck--what a freshening view after a long drive!  and since we are here only in the summer time, we don't see snow topped mountains often.

and on the "bucket list" or to do list--Easter sunrise service at Red Rocks Theater!  Even getting up at 3 AM for the drive to the mountains is worth it!  How great Thou art!!

Then a drive to Santa Fe--a favorite on our travels--ahhh, the colors

the shapes

the lines

sight of evening rolling in

designs

breath taking views

and there is nothing like walking down Canyon Road to visit local artists

hidden gems in garden settings

bronze statues with artistic touches

the precision of the beads

sounds of wind rushing through the sculptures

and then there are the design elements

building structures

Even the mail comes in colorful boxes............................

Yes, we were on the road again to far off places but so close to the heart!

 

Happy Spinners Day!

Oh MY--If only you could touch and feel across the wires.................our spinners day was definitely a touchy feely day! All these luxury fibers right at our fingertips.

Connie had attended a Judith Mackenzie spinning workshop recently and had these fibers to show

This fiber absolutely heavenly to touch--can you imagine how it will spin?!

These fibers were from Alisha Goes Around

Soft and wonderful to touch!

 

She also had some spun fibers to show--love these confetti yarns

This is 4cable yarn with the above fibers

And it was time to treadle away...................

All different wheels

to get the fibers spun! 

Let's Sew!

It's a good day to sew--and do taxes later!  Don't we have till midnight to finish up that chore and post?  Of course, so what's on the mind is sewing and sharing good times with friends.  And there is always wonderful blocks and quilts to see!

Karen has been doing a block of the month (BOM) with this black and white theme

The first month you receive the block free and if you bring it back to the shop the next month complete, you'll receive the next block

But, if you so decide--you can purchase the block for $7.50--Karen has done excellent work

We all marveled at the selection of such small print for the fabrics

She is thinking red accents--we all agreed!

Here is Karen's smiling face with her latest creation................

a baby quilt with wonderful machine embroidered sections

and guess what--the circles are inset!!  now, that's a real feat for any quilter.

Here is Judy M (in pink) working on her Avon Breast Cancer Walk memory blocks for her fellow walkers.  Sandy, in the blue, is discussing her latest project...........

An Amy Bradley pattern--she is doing the wooden soldiers

Annette (new grandmother to be) in foreground is working on her grandmother patches, while Brenda (in Yellow) is conversing with Karen about the lovely baby quilt

Camilla came with her finished baby quilt--Topsy Turvy--she used wonderful flowery prints for this baby quilt

She is in the process of making another quilt using these colorful fabrics

And a gift for Annette's new grandbaby--from Camilla

Soft flannel--cozy and warm for baby.

I finished the binding on this charity quilt--we were admiring Sandy's quilting pattern. 

It was a good day and we don't need to worry about taxes------until later!

MAD Weave!!

Many moons ago--1984 to be precise--I was fortunate enough to share some time with a fabulous basket weaver. She came to visit our state and I played chauffer & hostess to this delightful lady as we toured the state seeking unusual basket structures. We visited numerous museums and stopped in to visit native tribes and local folks who had knowledge about this fascinating weave. This lady was Shereen LaPlantz.  Shereen is now happily weaving baskets in heaven and her legacy is continued by her husband David.  Recently, there has been talk about "Mad Weave" or triaxial weave.  In that regard, memories flooded back.........................At one time, I was conversing with a gentleman who was working on a triaxial weaving loom--looks like he got a patent too!  And the memories continue!!

Most weaving is done with two elements--

but, with triaxial you use three elements, at 60* angle. 

You can use two colors or as in this sample three colors or just one color

 

This is one of my prize possessions--copyrighted in 1984, self-published by Shereen.  There was a period of time, I taught this interesting weave at guilds, workshops and conferences.

Fortunately, there is a new publication Hex Weave and Mad Weave by Elizabeth Harris and Charlene St. John. 

Here is a photo of the back of one of my indigo dyed silk vests, using stripes of silk fabric

The variation in the fabric gives unique texture

The front panels I used ribbon and you can see how different placement gives you different looks

 

Now we have the accessibility of the internet that leads us to instruction of 'mad weave' and understanding of the uses of 3D weaves.  Just type in triaxial weave--you can even WATCH and learn!  We can thank Shereen for the research on this topic and her love of weaving baskets.