Beaming the Warp

The warp threads are pulled through the reed in clumps of four.

The warp here is about to be wrapped around the back beam.

I am working at the weaving shop where I bought the loom in order to receive help with the workings of a different loom...my new loom.  I have previously used the rattle to organize the threads for warping but now I am trying a new system which is using the reed which smoothes out and organizes the threads much more completely.

the warp being wrapped onto back beam...a long warp

Winding the warp and setting up the Loom

Weaving is quite a good occupation for learning patience.

It takes careful working away at keeping threads sorted,

keeping equipment in order, and backtracking if the count is off or 

there is somehow a snarl in the works.

All in all its another good life lesson.

If everything goes well, its an experience in making order out of chaos.

There are times in life when this seems especially important..

Just quiet steady work, going step by step.

Below Zero Outside...Houseplants Inside

Weaving times...a new loom from Sweden

detail of pillow

Two handwoven pillow covers I recently finished

My new loom from Sweden/ Glimakra Julia loom

I have been busy setting up my new loom at the weaving workshop, 
Color Crossing in Roberts, Wisconsin.
I still need to finish winding the warp, threading the heddles etc and eventually getting it home.

Color Crossing in Roberts, Wisconsin
(My loom is much smaller than this one)

Houseplants in Winter

Drawings during Silent Reading Time

After recess and lunch at school, we have a time when the children simply do some quiet reading.

    Its a very peaceful beautiful time that is difficult to capture but extraordinarily pleasant to experience.

Sun and a tiny bit of Snow

The snow is certainly minimal for January but I occasionally needed my mittens.  "Refreshing" would be a word I could use for this kind of activity. "Chilly" would be another adjective. The sunshine was pleasant, even lovely.

Mississippi River bluffs looking north toward Minneapolis and Lake St. Bridge

Edo Pop: the Graphic Influence of Japanese Prints

There's a wonderful exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Minneapolis Institute of Art: seeing as you are drawing is an amazing experience.