The Big Picture

Sometimes, in order to understand the big picture, you need to be aware of the finer details.

So it is with fibres and yarn.

The above images are Scanning Electron Microscope images of, in this case, cotton.

The fibre once harvested 'collapses' into a flat ribbon with a twist in it.  This gives the fibre some grip, or 'tooth'.

Silk (cultivated), on the other hand:

is much smoother, slipperier.

So by their very nature, the two fibres are quite different and will therefore behave quite differently.

Then add in the differences involved in preparing the fibres, then spinning them into yarn.

Weavers should be aware of these (literally) microscopic differences so that they have a better understanding of how the fibres/yarn will behave.  In order to choose A Good Yarn.

I will be presenting this lecture at Fibres West on Friday morning.  It's free with admission.

Having obtained these images for my use, they will also be incorporated into The Book, currently on hiatus while a beta reader completes the next round of edits.  But hopefully back at it soon, refreshed.

Reality

There are eleven copies of A Good Yarn: Rayon with woven samples (before and after wet finishing) left.  Once these are gone, I doubt very much any publication I do in the future will have samples.  In fact, I can pretty much guarantee it.

Not because I can't weave the samples or put the publication together.  I have all the equipment and even the materials to do another publication.  It's the shipping costs that are killing a 'real' book.  Every year postage has gone up, not to mention the price of the padded envelopes I've been using to mail them.

'Shipping' isn't just the postage, it's all the other things that go into getting a parcel ready to put into the mail - as I say, padded envelope, customs forms, driving to the post office (I don't have pick up or free shipping materials in Canada).  Technically I also need to have the recipients phone number if I am to do the customs forms on-line - or Canada Post won't do the pre-printed forms, so a trip in person to the post office is required.

All of these add up and I've come to the conclusion that it's time to go digital.

That being said...there are still 11 copies of this publication left.  If purchased before July 10 along with one other item, you get free shipping.  Price of AGY: Rayon is just $40 Cdn.  How about this:

just $20 - a great tutorial on how to develop any double width cloth

Stay tuned for announcements about digital publications, maybe as soon as the end of this year.

Ground Hog Day

Look familiar?  It should.  It's the state of the studio - still.  I'm beginning to feel like a character in Ground Hog Day - you know, the same day that dawns over and over again?

I've not touched the looms at all for days because it has been a repeat of warp winding, cone winding, label making, applying...

I've said it before and I'm going to say it again.  I am not going to miss doing yarn sales.  The amount of time and effort required?  The hefting of heavy boxes, standing (usually) on concrete, long hours, long drives...I'm so done.

We will still be doing craft fairs, but only in the fall.  It's not much fun driving through the mountains in the winter, but needs must.  If I'm going to use up my stash creating boxes of textiles, they have to be sold.  And the best time to sell them is right before Christmas, so....

I will have copies of A Good Yarn: Rayon and Weave a V (latter by Kerstin Froberg) for sale at Olds.  I'm also not doing publications any more - at least, not 'real' ones.  It remains to be seen if I will actually get to doing digital ones.

Mocha

This past weekend was the guild sale/demo.  Unfortunately it was rather more quiet than hoped, but a few of my 'discontinued' items found new homes so that made me happy.

On Sunday Doug went pressing and brought home the finished, finished, red tea towels plus a bucket full of the chocolate brown weft towels.  I am quite pleased with how they look but they are thicker than my preference for 'tea' towels.  They would make good 'kitchen utility towels'.  Or table runners.

In this photo you can see both sides of the cloth and the pinned hem at one end.  I started hemming last night, but didn't get very far.

However, these are close enough to done with one week left in my 'buy two items, get free shipping' offer to include them.  There are about 15 of them.

After a couple of weeks of lovely winter weather we are having a warm spell.  The bad news is that with the warmer temps comes rain.  It isn't raining yet, so I should really head to town and brave the line up at the post office.  The down side of running a 'sale' at this time of the year - everyone else is mailing Christmas parcels and the line ups are huge.

As for what is happening in the studio today?  Probably work on the next scarf on the small loom while I cogitate about the next tea towel warp on the AVL.  I think I know what I want but need to get it into the weaving software and crunch the numbers to see if the threading repeat will fit into the number of ends for a tea towel.  I've got one large and one smaller cone of the tow linen left that I'd love to see used up.  And after that?  Oh yes, the two large cones of singles 20 natural linen I 'forgot' I had...

Still lots of stuff left in the Cyber Monday 'sale' - check the Dec. 1 post for up-to-date numbers - the towels pictured above are  in the $28 category

Cyber Monday, My Way

Since I still have inventory that I would love see go to a new loving home, and since it would be nice to join in the spirit by having a sale, I am reprising my 'buy two (or more) and get free shipping' sale that I did over the summer.

What there is:

Weave a V by Kerstin Fro;berg - $20.

A Good Yarn:  Rayon:  $40

And tea towels.  These are just some of them:

100% cotton  $24 each

Red:  10

Blue:  0

Rose:  6

2/16 cotton warp with tow linen weft - $28 each:

beige/orange:  8

white/cream with natural:  6

turquoise with natural:  7

2/16 cotton with singles 20 weft - $36 each:

red:  2 ready, many more to be pressed (like maybe another 24?) perfect for festive occasions.  The pattern is Young Lover's Knot overshot translated to twill blocks

emerald green:  21 - another overshot translated to twill blocks

greyed blue/green:  11 - snail's trails and cat's paws in twill blocks

turquoise:  15 blooming leaf overshot in twill blocks

I can also burn Magic in the Water to a flash drive or CD - $25

My version of Cyber Monday will last until Dec. 15 or until stock is sold.  Items shipped closer to Christmas might arrive after the Christmas mail rush because I will only pay for the cheapest rate.  And yes, this includes outside North America.  

I also have a few 'orphans' - if you don't see a colour you want, I may have one or two left and will send pictures if you let me know what you are looking for.  

FOR ALL ORDERS, EMAIL ME:  laura at laurafry dot com

Season's Greetings to everyone - whatever you celebrate I hope it's a fantastic one.

*edited to show up to date numbers

Publication Info

I've been assuming that people already know what A Good Yarn: Rayon and Weave a V are all about.  So for those of you who do already know you may want to skip the rest of this post. Or you might want to give me some feedback on the question of digitizing the series...

A Good Yarn (the series) came about because it was apparent that too few people really knew or understood the essential characteristics of the various fibres that we work with.  So each publication in the series dealt with the fibre characteristics and how those might be affected by preparation for and spinning.  Other information such as the difference between 2/8 and 8/2 cotton was given for Cotton, various yarn counts for Rayon, burn tests and other interesting things were were included.

Then I wove samples with various types of yarn and included before and after wet finishing so that the change in appearance and feel could be clearly illustrated.

The copies were signed and numbered.

Rayon is the only title left as Cotton and Linen/Hemp are now sold out.  Will I digitize these publications?  Possibly.  With my teaching schedule curtailed, I might possibly have the time to tackle this in the new year.  It depends on whether or not there is sufficient market for it?

this photo shows the text pages, the 7 samples with the before/after samples and tassel of the yarns used

If you are looking for Su Butler's in depth look at rayon chenille, it is still available at her website

Weave a V was written by Kerstin Fro:berg and details how to create a V shaped shawl using double weave.  Instructions are for both rising and sinking shed looms.

page showing how to deal with the fold that makes the V

Cover showing rainbow shawl

Scarf with pockets woven in and small coins inserted

Weave a V is $20 ($5 shipping) and A Good Yarn:  Rayon is $40.  Buy both (or any two items, including towels - email me for pictures or read previous posts) and get free shipping.

Currently reading  Shots Fired by C. J. Box

July Special Deal cont'd

A Good Yarn:  Cotton (2 copies),  A Good Yarn: Rayon (way too many copies left - 40?) are sample packets with explanations of the fibre characteristics of each yarn.  Cotton has 10 projects with before and after wet finished actual fabric samples.  Rayon has 7.

In addition to my own titles I published Kerstin Froberg's  Weave A V.  This booklet explains how to weave a V shaped shawl using double weave. It includes explanations for both rising and sinking shed looms, how to weave four shaft weaves in double weave/width and how to derive the tie up to make sure it works properly when you open the cloth up.

Magic on cd/flashdrive:  $25
A Good Yarn:  Cotton:  $50
A Good Yarn:  Rayon:  $40
Weave a V:  $20

Tea Towels (new)

This photo looks more yellow green than the towels actually are - the warp was a turquoise with natural linen for weft, so more beige than yellow.  $28 each  (16 towels)

The cloth turned out quite nice after wet finishing.  They have a nice feel with a little bit of 'scrub' to them.  Make good hand or kitchen utility towels.

I'm over the half way mark on the beige/peach/rust warp and there should be 12 or 14 towels off that warp, too. (Two of those towels are already spoken for)

Most of the towels listed on my previous post are still available although some of them are getting low in terms of numbers.  Contact me laura at laurafry dot com for details or photos.  I did not photograph all of the towels I have in inventory (like the turquoise/purple and turquoise/dk blue) ones woven with cottolin weft.

Buy two items, get free shipping continues until July 31.

Currently reading Broken Harbour by Tana French

Going, Going...Gone

Just one copy left of A Good Yarn:  Cotton...edited to say the last one just sold...

Still loads of A Good Yarn:  Rayon, Weave a V and Magic in the Water on cd (one) or flash drive.

I will be posting photos of tea towels tomorrow - life got a bit busy/complicated and I didn't have a chance over the weekend.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Yesterday I said I was going to announce a 'special' on my publications.  Traditionally I have done this as a combination Canada Day/July 4/my birthday offering.

So, here's the deal.

I have produced Magic in the Water; wet finishing handwovens.  This is now OOP as a 'real' book, but available on CD (3 copies), on a flash drive or a digital download.

A Good Yarn:  Cotton (8 copies, I think, 6 for sure) and A Good Yarn: Rayon (way too many copies left - 40?) are sample packets with explanations of the fibre characteristics of each yarn.  Cotton has 10 projects with before and after wet finished actual fabric samples.  Rayon has 7.

In addition to my own titles I published Kerstin Froberg's Weave A V.  This booklet explains how to weave a V shaped shawl using double weave. It includes explanations for both rising and sinking shed looms, how to weave four shaft weaves in double weave/width and how to derive the tie up to make sure it works properly when you open the cloth up.

Magic on cd/flashdrive:  $25
A Good Yarn:  Cotton:  $50
A Good Yarn:  Rayon:  $40
Weave a V:  $20

Normally these prices would all have shipping added.

Until the end of July (or stock runs out):

Buy any two items and shipping is free.

Since this isn't perhaps of interest to everyone:

Tea Towels!  Have I got Tea Towels!

They range in price from $24-$36 depending on fibre and weave structure.  Some are 2/8 cotton warp with cotton slub for weft - great kitchen utility towels.  $24 each.

Some have cottolin for weft:  $32 each.

Finer cotton warp (2/16 or 2/20 mostly) with fine linen weft:  $36 each.

Soooo - buy any two items and get free shipping until the end of July or stock runs out.

Note:  tea towels come in a variety of colours - let me know what colour(s) you would like and I can send photos if I have any in that colour range...

Further note:  If you are across the pond, contact Kerstin directly for Weave a V  - although she isn't having a 'sale' you'll get it a lot quicker than coming from me via snail (ground) mail.

Life, Reimangined

Once again Life has taught me that you should never get too attached to your plans because when Life Happens, you are not in control anymore.  Doesn't matter what plans you may have, other things suddenly need to take priority.

I won't go into the details of my health issues except to say that once again I am 'special'.  Surgery is required to fix the problem but because the surgeon does not consider me 'critical' the wait time could be significant.  Since I don't have any idea of when the surgery will be done and the recovery time is significant (4-5 months if all goes well) I thought long and hard about my plans and teaching bookings.

Although I was booked to teach at Complex Weavers I had to cancel at the last possible minute which put the conference organizers in an impossible position.  I don't want to do that to any other group so I have outright cancelled all my teaching dates.  This should give everyone time to make alternate arrangements in plenty of time.

Once the surgery is successfully accomplished I should be good to go again - if the cancer doesn't rear it's head any time soon.  Another uncertainty over which I have no control - except to live as healthy a life style as I can manage.

Getting old and decrepit isn't for sissies...

Thing is, I love teaching.  I love seeing the spark in other people's eyes as they get the concepts.  It is this interaction - in person - that I will miss the most.  Because I'm not done teaching yet.  There is still the internet - this blog, the Craftsy blog, You Tube (if I feel inspired to do more video clips).

There is also the Big Project from May, due out very soon.  I promised I would not do the Big Reveal until after Convergence was over.  Some of you have guessed from my rather heavy handed hints.  :)

There is also the possibility of self-publishing, which I set aside but may re-visit in the form of digital downloads, not actual publications.

With the increase in shipping costs sales of 'real' paper type publications has fallen off.  I still have 8 copies of A Good Yarn:  Cotton and way too many copies of A Good Yarn:  Rayon and Weave a V by Kerstin Froberg left.  I'd love to see them in new homes so I'm thinking of doing a Special Offer of these and Magic in Water on Cd (three left) or on a flash drive.  I will make an announcement about that tomorrow.

Contingency Plans

Warp at about the half way mark - it's slow going with needing a temple and trying to catch the weft loops that bubble up in the shed.  However, I am at the half way mark!

I'm doing four different weft colours and weaving them in rotation so that I have an equal number of each colour.  Or at least as close to an equal number as I can get.  I 'sacrificed' a yard or so weaving colour samples for the designer so I may or may not wind up with an equal number of colours.  I'm actually hoping to get 21 towels from this warp, not just 20, but we'll see.  It will also depend on whether or not I have sufficient weft because I didn't order any 'extra' of the yarn, not knowing if they were going to sell and I'd be making more, or not.  My stash of yarn is quite large enough without my buying more on spec.

I have also been doing a lot of thinking about the future.  I will turn 64 this year - I am no longer in my mid-30's - and have to face the fact that I am slowing down.  This body that I wear has sustained injury and suffered ill health - and that isn't over.  Nothing to regret, I've used my body and it has served me well.  But I cannot continue as I have been - that's just not on.

Over the past few years I have gradually discontinued doing some of the myriad things I had been doing.  Each of them brought in a small amount of income; each was necessary for me in order to pay the bills and keep home and hearth together.  But next year, well next year I can start collecting my pension.  It won't be much, but it will be every single month.  No more scrambling, watching the balance in the chequing account dwindle, wondering what I could do next to bring in a little cash flow.

So I have stopped dyeing yarn to sell.  I have stopped producing my own publications.  I have stopped (after Olds) doing yarn shows.  What is next?  Perhaps traveling to teach - that depends on my health continuing to be reasonably good.

I am throwing more effort into 'remote' teaching - blogging on Craftsy, the seminar on the Weaving Today website (link in yesterday's post), done the latest Big Project.  I have an article due to appear in Handwoven and Fibre Focus (Ontario Guild magazine) this fall.

The towels above are for a designer who hopes to market them through her store.  I will continue to do four craft fairs - until they aren't lucrative enough - in the autumn and therefore need to produce inventory for those.

And I continue to look for other ways to teach remotely via the internet.

But I still have publications to sell, so once I get home from the next trip, stay tuned for an announcement about that.

Ultimately I want to simplify my life.  All of those things I did required tools, equipment and materials, not to mention the shipping stuff in order to mail them away.  I'd really like to get rid of some of that stuff.

Anyone want an electric stapler, for instance?

Onwards We Go

The past few days have been spent on some forward planning (as the saying goes).

After sorting through all the yarn and selecting that which we would try to sell at Fibres West Doug has spent the last few days breaking the large mill cones down into smaller quantities.  I have an industrial cone winder so this is fairly painless, if somewhat boring, but makes nice tidy cones all of approximately the same size.  Much easier to price when they are all within the same weight, plus or minus.

I also mailed my application to Circle Craft for their craft fair in November.  Breath held, fingers crossed, etc., that all goes well with that.  It's a significant investment in terms of cash outlay with no guarantee of selling enough to recoup the expenses of doing the show, never mind getting paid more than a few pennies per hour on my labour.  :-/

But I make way more than I can possibly use or gift, so selling is required.  Even if it is just cash flow that allows me to keep on weaving...besides, I have this stash that doesn't seem to ever diminish...

I also received an invitation to teach in the Seattle area and since I'm booked there in April of next year I suggested tagging on to that trip.  We'll see if that works out or not.

The thing is, there are no guarantees.  Workshops fail to fill.  Books fail to sell.  (Anyone want A Good Yarn: Rayon?  Got lots.)  Shows fail to bring in enough customers who want to buy your stuff.

But I can't do anything else than what I do.  Weave.  Write about it.  Teach it.

Fingers crossed. 

Continuing the Red

one end of the studio - red on the loom and on the mill

the other end of the studio - red warp in the bucket, red being rough sleyed on the table, red on the loom

The only problem is that I'm running low on red to go with the cones of cotton flake from Lynn's stash.  While I might be able to wind warps, there won't be enough for weft.  And so another yarn order has been sent in.  It won't get here before I leave, but it will be by the time I get home.  And then it will be full steam ahead?

In the meantime I found some medium value blue which will be 'ok' with the cone of blue/purple/green cotton flake and started winding that.

The red warp on the AVL is almost finished - the plan is to get that off the loom tomorrow and then concentrate on the towel warps on the Fanny.

The suitcases are out, ready to be filled.  My ledger is almost ready to take to the accountant.  Just waiting to see if there are any more bills that need to be paid before the end of the month.

And if you haven't already participated in the poll, I am looking for feedback on what my 'next' Big Project ought to be.

I must be mad thinking about doing another book, but this time it will be digital (if I do it at all) given how much postage rates have risen and are threatening to go ever upwards.  I fear Canada Post may become as extinct as the do-do bird in a few short years.  By which time I really hope 'they' have a matter transmitter - that actually works.

Digital files are well and good, but textiles really need to be handled.  Speaking of which I still have a few copies of A Good Yarn:  Cotton and far too many copies of A Good Yarn: Rayon left.  Good idea to buy now before postage rates go up again, typically mid-January....

Official!

It's official.  The webinar is written, tweaked, proof read (thanks Cindy!) and the technology tested.  Thankfully, the technology is fairly intuitive and I didn't have any problems downloading the program or understanding how to use the control panel.  The headphones (thanks Allan!) worked beautifully and Laura Esposito from Interweave said the sound quality was good.

We will have a final 'full dress' rehearsal on Monday, but the date for going live is...ta-DAH! - next Wednesday.  For details of how to register click here.

A note of explanation.

This is not a live video feed.  The presentation is in the form of a Power Point presentation with live voice.  Questions will be accepted during the presentation.

The topic is A Good Yarn and will discuss fibre and yarn characteristics.  Illustrations similar to the above will be part of it.  For those of you who may have not have seen this photo before, it shows two qualities of cotton yarn.  The top skein is ring spun 2/8 cotton.  The bottom skein is open end spun 8/2 cotton.

Even though they are both about the same grist (diameter) and both are made from unmercerized cotton, they look and behave quite differently.  If you buy one expecting the other, you will be disappointed....

Part of the seminar will address why they are different and how they are different.  They will make fabric of similar but somewhat different qualities....

Some people have commented that they won't be able to view the presentation 'forever'.  On the other hand, if you attended a live presentation of this topic at a guild meeting or conference, you would only get to see/hear it once.  With the webinar, you will be able to access the presentation as often as you like for 3 months.

When the internet was first conceived, I don't think anyone dreamt of the way the technology has grown.  To be able to take a class remotely, at your own convenience (you don't even have to attend the live presentation, just sign up and listen/watch when you want to), seems like a small miracle to me.

So while the format may not be ideal for everyone, I notice that there is a growing movement on the internet for more classes similar to these.  With more young people who are internet savvy coming into the craft via rigid heddle weaving, this approach seems like a reasonable way to embrace these new, younger people into the craft.  For us oldies, the experience of signing into the webinar was relatively painless.   If *I* can do it, so can anyone else!

This morning Laura E and I discussed the possibility of other topics that might work in this format.  If you have any suggestions, remember that it is a Power Point presentation - i.e. slides, no video - I am open to hearing what they might be.

PS - I've been told that the presentation, once taped, can be purchased into the future, not just next week.  And you still get 3 months to view it from the date of purchase.  You won't be able to ask questions live unless you sit in on the live presentation, but I will answer questions by email.

(Any errors in this blog are mine - check the link or the blog post on Weaving Today for details about system requirements, etc.)

Out On A Limb

Antheraea polyphemus, a.k.a., a "giant silk moth."

I am going to go out on a limb here and give a little more information about the webinar I am scheduled to do for Weaving Today later in August.

The topic is A Good Yarn and it will present information on fibre and yarn characteristics.

It is my belief that, in order to make good choices, weavers need to understand more about the inherent characteristics of their materials.

If a weaver does not choose wisely or well, they may be disappointed in their results.

So I have spent the last few days upgrading the Power Point presentation that I have been giving to guilds and at conferences to make it more eye appealing for its debut on the internet.

The above photo is one I took this morning to illustrate the silk page.  It is one of the silk moths native to North America.  No, it is not a Bombyx Mori, from which we get 'cultivated' silk.  But that is not the only species which spins a silk cocoon.

My contact at Weaving Today is out of the office this week, but is sourcing some other photos for me and I will be putting the finishing touches on the presentation before I leave again in August.  I want this wrapped up before I go so that I don't have to worry about anything but how I do the presentation when the time comes.  :)

As soon as I get the go ahead, I will post the registration information here.  If you have already taken this topic from me, you might find this a good refresher with the added benefit that you will have unlimited access to review it once it is posted on the website - for 3 months.  Always wanted a re-wind on life?  This may be your chance!

Currently reading Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb

Birthday Bash Special

Debi mentioned in a comment that she wasn't sure she liked the selling part.  Well, I don't much like it either but I learned a long time ago that until the product is sold, the job isn't finished.  Doesn't make a bit of difference if you are building the very best mousetrap in the universe if no one knows you're doing it or how to get to you to purchase it.

So I've learned to grit my teeth and do the marketing part of the job.

As part of that, from time to time I offer package specials.  With the holiday week coming up including three very important birthdays (well, I'm stretching the definition of week a bit!) I'm once again offering a very special deal.

July 1 through 7, purchase all three of the A Good Yarn titles - Cotton; Rayon; Linen and Hemp - and receive for free a flash drive with the pdf version of Magic in the Water.

Price for this package is $220.00 Canadian including shipping within North America and $250.00 Canadian outside of North America (with North America defined as Canada and the United States).

Since I'm leaving July 8 for Boston and NEWS, I am not extending the offer through my own birthday as I usually do.

Happy Birthday Canada, the United States and.....moi.

Payment may be sent via Paypal to laura at laurafry dot com or email me and I'll send an invoice, letting me know your location.  VISA/Mastercard charges will be billed in Canadian dollars and the exchange rate (if you are outside of Canada) done on your monthly statement.  Send your phone number and I can call you for your credit card number if you prefer that payment option.

Soapbox Rant

I did several things in high school that have stood me in good stead as an adult.  Law 11, was one.  Office Practices (where I learned how to do double entry bookkeeping) was another.  And interestingly, English 12 where I learned how to read for editorial slant.

Editorial slant doesn't just apply to editorials in newspapers and magazines (or verbally on talk shows), but also to advertising.

We were taught to identify emotional trigger words and meaningless claims such as 'more doctors recommend Camels'.  More doctors than what, plumbers?  :-/

As for emotional trigger words, how about that lovely advertising chestnut 'anti-microbial'?

North American media has focussed on our fears and amplified them by touting things like disinfectants and anti-microbial soaps.  (Don't get me started on scented products!)

We have been encouraged to buy (usually expensive) anti-microbial this and anti-microbial that with the end result that we are breeding super bugs.  We learn to deal with adversity by dealing with adversity and our immune systems are being so overly protected from bugs/germs that our immune systems don't know what to do when they encounter diseases.

So when the new bamboo rayon yarns first came on the market with claims of being anti-microbial, I dismissed that information as being irrelevant as to why I might choose to work with that particular yarn.  Industry does not include that feature in its standard testing for fibre characteristics, so I didn't include anything about it in A Good Yarn: Rayon.  So far as I can discover, rayon - from whatever source - is no more nor any less anti-microbial than any other cellulose fibre.

When shopping for any product, try to filter out the emotional trigger words and focus on what is proven and pertinent to your choice.

Stepping off my soapbox now...

Change of Pace

With dwindling inventory of the colours that most appeal to me it was time for a change of pace.  Decided to do a more 'neutral' warp instead of the pastels or mid-range values I'd been playing with for the past couple of weeks.

So here is the warp (or half of it).  Kahki, a dusky plum, a touch of 'gold' and one of the variegated yarns.  These are not 'my' colours but so far I'm really happy with how they look together.  The weft will be a mid-range beige about the same value as the 'gold'.

The first copies of A Good Yarn: Rayon went into the mail today and the listing is now live on Art Fire

I also sent a box of Rayon to Atlanta so there will be copies of Cotton and Rayon available (in limited quantities, of course) during my trip.  First come, first served.  :)  I will also have a few copies of Kerstin Fro:berg's Weave A V for anyone interested.  If you are in TN, do stop by and say hello.

I'm still dealing with the last minute administrivia that came my way this week - registering for the PST being one of them, getting my application (resume and reference letters) ready to email and finally placing my yarn order.  I didn't worry about getting that in earlier this week as it will arrive while I am away and Doug will have to deal with it.  But I do want it here when I get home so that if I can possibly get started weaving the samples, the yarn is here ready and waiting for me.

Time will be very precious all during the rest of this year and there won't be any to spare - or waste!

Going Public

On Friday I sent out email notices to the people on my contact list.  A couple came back as undeliverable so if you thought you were on my contact list and didn't receive notice, email me. (laura at laurafry dot com)

Today Staples is supposed to have the copies ready to be picked up.  I'll go up there after massage to pick them up.  Tonight I will number and sign the covers, write out the mailing labels and tomorrow Doug and I will drag everything up to the guild room where we can use the large tables to spread out and assemble/package the copies.

Wednesday AGY: Rayon will go 'live' on my Art Fire site

By not supplying a three ring binder and flip-flopping the sample pages, I've managed to keep the package small enough to qualify for small packet status for delivery outside of Canada.  This is a significant savings in terms of shipping so I hope people will bear with me and straighten out the pages when they get the package.

For Canadians, the cheapest rate is expedited parcel - no small packet category within Canada.

Working From the Stash

I've been trying really hard to work only from my stash and not buy more yarn.  Unfortunately I am running out of the colours I want to use!  It isn't that I don't have yarn - they just aren't the right colours.  :(

But I wound this warp today and have a blue/pink one ready to wind tomorrow.  Not sure I'll beam the warp tonight as I've put in a pretty full day already.  It was just that much of it wasn't weaving.

The fabric for the designer and the proposed article for Handwoven are both in the mail.  My accountant is open this week so I'll drop my papers off to her tomorrow, and file my sales tax form.

Other than packing, and maybe collating AGY:Rayon, that's about it for the stuff that I really wanted to do before I left.  So I feel able to just go ahead and enjoy playing with colour with these towel warps.  It's actually been good to force myself to only work from the stash because I have wound up using some combinations I wouldn't have used if I'd had different coloiurs readily to hand.

And now it's confession time.  I am also drawing up a rather large order of yarn for AGY: Linen and Hemp.  No doubt I'll toss a few of the colours I'd rather be working with into the mix.  So, for all the stash reduction I've accomplished I will be growing it even larger than what I've used up....

My name is Laura and I suffer from SABLE....