Roc Day--Louisiana Style!

We are traveling back to visit several of our 'old' fiber friends in Louisiana.  It is the traditional Roc Day or St Distaff Day held January 7th.  Distaff or Roc was the spindle used to spin flax or wool fibers before the invention of the spinning wheel in 1533.  The flax was wound around a short staff known as the distaff, which was fastened at the woman's waist by her girdle or tucked under her arm.  When women visited each other, they often carried their distaff and spindle with them to occupy them as they chatted.  It is sometimes called 'Roc' from the German word rocken, which describes the spinning apparatus. 

Pulling pranks was common during the olden days and we still do those light hearted pranks these days, as the photo shows!  Dear friends, Mary & Mary Lynn, are enjoying their conversation while young spinner does her best to create havoc!

Distaff Day was originally celebrated in England and other European countries but in our country we encompass all nationalities as represented by Chotima from Thailand-spinning away on her Magacraft wheel. 

Her spinning fiber of choice is this blended merino wool/silk blend from Weaver's Corner.

This is her latest finished scarf--an overshot with silk warp and handspun wool/silk weft--lovely lightweight and absolutely beautiful!  The pattern is Star of Bethlehem.

Such fine work!  Not only is she an excellent spinner, she is an excellent weaver!

Okay, it's not handspun, but this fabric on a bolt speaks volumnes for outstanding weaving!

It was a small gathering with a few vendors, but the day wasn't a lost cause--many to speak with and see what was going on their wheel.

A delightful smile--always!  Cecile!

What is Saori Weaving?  "Saori is an art of weaving by hand that is dedicated to free expression and self-development for everyone, regardless of physical or mental ability, age, or artistic aptitude. Saori weaving is pure improvisation from the heart, with no premeditated pattern in mind. Colors unfold, designs emerge, and beauty blooms directly from the genius of each unique individual working in harmony with loom, thread, and the spark of the moment. Saori is a profound inner journey, yet we can enjoy it socially, working alongside others. We can also create clothing, bags, tapestries, and many useful items that can be appreciated by all. Saori is fun, and anyone can do it!" from the website of Saoriworcester

Warps come prepared for the loom so Albion is tieing on the ends to pull through another warp for Cecile to weave on.  This is a simple operated loom with only two harnesses.

We visit with Bev from New Orleans who is wearing a lovely shawl--she generously shared the free pattern.  The shawl pin is an added attraction.

An effective use of multi colored yarns such as Noro or as Bev used Lion brand’s Amazing yarn.

 Charkha??

Thirsty handspun brown/green cotton towels by Chotima.



A good use of handspun wool--fulled and ready to wear!
It was a good day to visit with old friends and make new friends in the fiber world.



Adding Color to the New Year

The Westside Weavers group gathered and spent the better part of the morning discussing our holiday activities.  Several of the members had taken journeys to other parts of the country

Scharine took a camping trip to Big Bend, Texas and also journeyed into Mexico where she found these brightly colored textiles.  We thought most likely these textiles were woven in central Mexico.

But, ahh the bright colors that pop!

This small piece brought back fond childhood memories of the old serapes that we purchased.  She had also bought several larger rugs made from cotton with the same bright colors.

We met in the home of Betty, who is a wonderful jewelry maker.  All around her house you see marvelous bead collections.

Connie was showing more of her wonderful textiles that she purchased on a recent trip to SE Asia.  This was a small handbag featuring ikat woven panels.

We all marveled at the packaging for the items she bought.  This was a basket filled with spices.

This indigo dyed silk piece was a marvel--goose-eye weave structure with ikat design.  We discussed whether this was printed or stamped on after the woven fabric was completed.

 

This silk ikat piece was packaged in the woven basket with a saying and a small orgami bird was added as a prize.

Rosemary gave herself a felted gift from the hands of Chad Alice Hagen. 

Penny showed her 'sample'!  Some sample!  It was large woven rug, linen warp set at 4 epi and the weft is core spun wool--some on jute, some on cotton cord.  Great rug!
Okay, meeting adjourned--let's eat!

RESOLUTIONS--NOT!!

It's January first once again and as most will make some sort of resolution to begin their new year, we are NOT going there!  It isn't that we will not keep resolutions (it's always a mind set anyway), it just means we are being lazy...........................But, we did finish up the 'old' year with at least one project.

The Advent Scarf from Ravelry was 24 days of knitting a different lace pattern each day--well, of course, there was no way we could do all 24 patterns.  And if you have been reading past blog posts, you will see that we ran out of handspun and just added white to continue.  And then the other day, the scarf hit the dye pot--to make the scarf sort of uniform.

The idea - we must say- it was a clever idea; but we think all our ideas are clever :-)  -was to drop the scarf into dye--doesn't that make everything better?  Going through the dye containers we found small amount of blue.  Most of the blues were depleted during the November dye day.  Okay--this has got to work , right??

To our eyes, this Advent scarf looks very cool!  Okay, so it isn't quite uniform but it is said (by whom and how often, we don't know) that all shades of one color work together.  Yes, it looks great and now we have a lovely scarf to wear on a cold day.

The new year always brings time to clean out the closets--okay, must fess up here--had to clean up the sewing room and put things away before Christmas as we had to use the room for sleeping.  It's amazing what you find when you put things away into bins that haven't been open in months!  We found these handspun silk singles that were natural dyed many moons ago--looks like we never finished winding them on bobbins.  Okay, that's a good thing to do while watching bowl games.

And we found The Teddy Bear!  He wasn't hiding too badly--just covered up with odds and ends of other 'stuff'!  He's knit from bits and pieces of hand spun wool, natural dyed--ain't he cute??

Oh for goodness sake!  Hidden behind the chest was the bag containing this hooked rug--hate to say when it was begun, but it's also handspun and dyed wools--okay, we pulled it out and now we can finish up the last few inches.  Why didn't we finish it up in the first place?  Go figure!!

And looking for a requested book for a friend, we noticed our lazy animals lounging in the large split oak basket--Okay guys!  wake up!  it's time for you to come out and play--all handspun, some handwoven, a few knit!  Wonders oh wonders--the things you finally see again when you clean up a space!!
Okay, no resolutions here, but we are working to finish up some UFOs--that's a good thing!

The LULL

Yes, it's that time again- anticipation followed with the big celebration, then the New Year.  We are in the LULL.............................................

To cause to sleep or rest; soothe or calm.

2. To deceive into trustfulness:

v.intr.

To become calm.

n.

1. A relatively calm interval, as in a storm.

2. An interval of lessened activity: a lull in sales

 

There isn't time to begin a new project or time to finish an UFO--we are just in the waiting period till the clock strikes midnight on December 31st and we charge into a new beginning.

 

Thank you my friends for visiting my blog.  Thank you for just being you.  We'll be back soon with new adventures, new themes, new thoughts, different UFO's to save for 2013.  Onward we go....................................

Weaver's Party!!

Our weaver groups are partying hardy!! One last blast before we close out the year.  It's a merry time of the year--a chance to let our warps hang down and not worry about finishing that little bit of hemming.

Scharine, Ryukyu Heritage Textiles, is showing off her latest commission.  She is wearing one of her lovely woven shawls.

She has a Japanese ancestry and is learning the ways of the old world.  This piece is to be used with a chess set--light silk fabric.

Our hostess for the day, Tracy owns Lone Star Loom Room/Nordic Studio and has recently returned from a two year stint in Singapore.  She welcomed us to her new home.  Everyone had to see her studio space and view what's on the loom!

Computer driven Megado loom by Louet

Towels at their finest!

Her movable loom bench by Walter Turpening is not only function but a work of art. 

And on the loom in her bedroom--wonderful hand painted warp.

Two members, Karen and Gerry, admire the work.

These wooden weight hangers sure look prettier than water bottles!

Okay, enough of that stuff--let's head to the gifts to open!  Our group knows each other so well we went to paper bags years ago to hide the identify of the giver.  Every gift is a winner and no stealing allowed!!

Fall Birthday Celebration!!

Oh Happy Days! It was a great day for celebrating--fall birthdays and the holidays too. We were delighted to enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our hostess Linda (December birthday girl) and Brenda brought not one but two cakes.

Here we have Sandy (with coffee cup in hand), Debby (stitching away on her quilt) and Jane (September birthday gal).  Rose, whose birthday is in November was away attending her brother's funeral.  We send our best wishes to Rose and her family.

Jane, next to Judy C and Karen working feverishly on the binding of her French Braid quilt.

Karen and to her left Camilla (our expat 'mother--she keeps us up to date on activities and locations)  Thanks Camilla!!  Welcome back to our fold after a stent in Mexico.

Linda, our hostess was stitching on her gift for granddaughter--a soft mattress to fill a generation handed down doll bed.  What a marvelous gift!

Annette with her sewing station all set up--ready to sew on her latest top.  Annette was our 'treasurer/gift buyer'.  Thanks Annette!  We always enjoy seeing your smiling face!

Annette is so organized with her sewing plan.

And here is the finished block.......................

Brenda is beaming for two reasons--she is learning how to use an early Christmas gift from hubby--a rotary blade sharpener.

And the second reason for the big smile--a new granddaughter expected Spring, 2012.  Brenda is planning her baby quilt with this selection and pattern.

Camilla is stitching down the binding on this quilt for her church--love the colors.

Oh my!  what is this lovely creature?  French Braid in all its glory!  What wonderful color choices.

And the artist behind this masterpiece is Karen!  Good job Karen!!

A nice quilting choice too.

Brenda has finished her French Braid--smashing!!

Debby's quilt--nice pleasing colors.

Do we have good quilters in our group or what??!!  Thanks to Sandy and Judy M.

Look what was found in the back bedroom--what a lovely quilt!

This was found on the back bed--just waiting for the final touches.  Doesn't matter if it's a birthday celebration, a Christmas party or just plain gathering--any day spent with this bunch of ladies is a good day!