NEWS

Well, I'm back from the NEWS conference and am mulling over all the wonderful things I saw that inspired me. So much to do, so little time! That definitely could be my mantra both at the conference and now after the conference. It was fast paced trying to see all the exhibits, going to class, eating, shopping in the vendor hall, chatting with other weavers, and attending the evening lectures and fun events. The treasure hunt at WEBS yarns was a blast! And the chocolate that was served was to die for!!!!!

I had a wonderful time meeting old friends, staying up till after midnight talking, and also getting to know some new friends. Mary Alice and I became fast friends at the salad bar when we couldn't reach across to the other side to get the item we wanted. The buddy system works great in these instances!

Do I look a little exhausted here? This was the last day of the conference and this is one of my dear friends who I haven't seen since we left NJ 2 years ago. We had a lot of catching up to do.

It's been a long time since I stayed in a dormitory room. Does it look a little monkish?


The room was not too bad but it was across the hall from the elevator and the bathroom. Convenient for me but why were those woman up at 5 am taking their showers for the day! It's not often that I see that time of morning. I have to wonder what kind of person is functioning and ready to go at 5am?!!!!!! I am definitely a later riser! To make it to class by 8:30 was a stretch! My brain doesn't wake up until 10am . And with out my cup of tea, it's all over!

On the more serious side, I took a 2 day class with Jackie Abrams who makes baskets out of paper. They are bias plaiting technique. I have admired her work for years and felt very lucky to take a class with her. Her work is exhibited in shows like the Philadelphia Museum Fine Craft Show.

That's Jackie with 2 of her baskets.
Here is my meager attempt at the technique.

This is a pillow basket.

Here are the beginnings of a cylinder basket.












My mind is spinning with new ideas. I bought some beautiful yarns from HABU yarns and I am anxious to use them. I also am designing in my mind new pieces of cloth and new garments. I only hope that I get to make them before the ideas dissipate.

Weekend Inspiration

I am getting ready to go to the NEWS conference. NEWS is the New England Weavers' Seminar. It is held every other year and is put on by the weaving guilds in the New England area. It will be 4 days of workshops, lectures, exhibits, networking, meeting other weavers, spinners, and dyers, and of course the "shop till you drop" vendor hall! Yahooo00000!

I look forward to these events because it is always a wonderful source of inspiration to me to see what others are doing and to be a part of the great exchange of information that takes place. I am always amazed at the number of weavers, spinners, and dyers that are out there and we all converge for this long weekend. It is also a time to connect with friends I've met over the years and do not often see. We get caught up on each other's lives and what we are weaving now.

Discussions of warp and weft, loom brands, number of shafts, drafts, ends per inch will go on all weekend. It's like a secret coded language will be spoken! And I love every minute of it!!!

Hopefully I will have pictures to post when I get back.

I can't believe it's July!

I can't believe it's July! The summer is almost half over and I feel like I am just beginning to enjoy it. I haven't been to the beach as much as I would like and I am just beginning to enjoy our back yard and deck after planting all the flowers.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July. We had a 4th celebration on the 3rd! The painting crew who helped me with the studio came and had a cook out and then we all went to the beach to see the bonfires and fireworks.

We initiated our new fire pit by cooking s'mores. Yum!!!!!! Remember those from camping days?!






We had a lot of fun and it was nice to share this with everyone.



It's been a busy week here as we also had friends from PA come and visit. We all went to a Chinese Red Egg and Ginger Party for the baby of mutual friends. Our children played together when we lived in PA years ago. It was a great reunion but I have to say seeing them all grown up and some with children of their own brought back memories of raising them. They are now close to the age that we were when they played together. Do I feel old!!!!!!! OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!


Here they are all grown up!!!

The party was fun. The food was great! And seeing old friends was even better!!!