Being an avid fiber artist, I was just curious as to if anyone was working on any projects at the moment? Figured it would be fun to see what someone else was up to.

 

My latest two projects are spinning a mix of Merino and Silk that I had dyed a medium blue into a very fine threads to knit into stockings for my daughter, and a batch of very soft Jacob short that was dyed in greens and spun into a medium-fine strand that will also later be plyed and then knitted into stockings. At least it gives me something to work on while waiting in lines and really makes people wonder. Gotta love it.

 

Anyone else?

not I...I have no clue when it comes to this stuff...I'm a computer geek and a photog/restoration artist...and I dabble in heraldry. Meg and Dunc raise silk worms and are the fiber arts King and Queen here.

Wow...didn't know they did the silk worm thing....something else I would love to get info on. Hope they have a good hotel there in OK, so when they finally get some time I may be able to pick their brains on some of their stuff.

 

Eventually my goal is to go back to simple living and living off the land. And of course it would be great to be self sufficient before the whole 2012 thing...but that is another story....

We have, because I lost count some time ago, over 30 looms varying in size from a two harness Art Craft loom to large/heavy powered floor looms and just about everything in between.

Thats not counting rigid heddles or that type and we have NO POT HOLDER LOOMS!! Thank the Heavens!

 

Spinning wheels right now are four, one is mine which is a Castle wheel, well over a 300 year old lady from Perth Scotland.

 

There are always some sort of projects going on and one of the large floor looms has baby blanket warp on it right now.

 

The silk worms are on a fast count down into cocoons from over 5,000 worms.

 

Now I'm a beginning spinner so some types of fibers are just barely understood but Jocobs and few others I know pretty well.

Silk is my favorite.

Due to Meg's instructions I left off making designer yarn/thread in less then a half an hour of learning and started making true threads.

 

Do you use natural dyes?

What loom do you use and do you use a wheel or drop bobbin?

What I would give to have met you all years ago! Sounds like you have quite a great set up...jealous on that wheel from Scotland too! Lucky dog!

 

I haven't worked much with silks, as I am just experimenting with stuff I can buy already processed, but I would love to learn more of the processes involved. Silk is most wonderful. Getting ready to start working with linen too.

 

My primary skills are with herbs (cooking, medicinal, dying, etc) and do a great deal of dying myself, but unfortunately due to lack of space, haven't anything set up as of yet. Friends of mine donate the fiber already naturally dyed for my current two projects.

 

I am working on getting a spinning wheel for Yule (he needs a great deal of hints and prodding LOL), and have been using drop spindles of varying sizes and weights for most of my projects. Great for taking to the doctor's office or other places of great waiting periods. LOL Great way to get people interested as well!

 

As for looms, I have only an inkle loom at the moment that makes approximately 5-6 yds of trim at a time with tablet weaving. I have been looking into larger floor looms, but unfortunately will again have to wait until we gain more space. One of the reasons why I am hoping all goes well this Spring.

 

So I work on smaller projects, some costuming, butters, and bees and just try to be patient a little longer. Would love to hear how the castle project is going too!

In the forum Around the Cauldron is a Kitchen med's topic that I haven't finished and if you want to add to it or any one in the site please feel free. We don't stand on protocol as some web sites do.

 

Flax is very different and falls under a different set of handling rules. I'm not good at keeping the fiber moist and still able to spin too. Still learning.

 

We've got several inkle's around here too, great looms!

 

The castle project is a story in it self!

Yes, flax is a bit more of a booger to work with, but can still be enjoyable. I just keep a bowl of water handy and spin in short lengths. It gets easier with practice.

 

So when and where are you going to share the story?? Always a sucker for a good story at that!

Many sections and chapters are scatted through out the site.

Images are also here and there of the purposed architectural bits and bobs.

Not being elusive nor trying to be a pain but what part would you like to hear about?

 

This one of our larger floor looms with a partial warp on it,

Beautiful loom! So do you and Meg spin all of the wool that you use to warp with? Seems like that would be a ton of spinning (although I too have the crazy notions to do just that!)

 

As to the Castle stuff, just wondering if I had missed more current photos and such. Working this morning on catching up on most of the older posts. What phase are you in? I have seen your tenative plans and such, but wasn't sure if you were further than grading the soil and such.

 

Thanks

No we buy much of what she uses as warp and thread. What we spin is reserved for special projects. We just don't have enough time to spin all that and I'm not so much of a spinner yet, slow and too careful.

 

That loom is 7 foot by 6 and has a low castle with 8 harnesses and two back beams. We are thinking of adding another castle to it when we can.

 

Our castle and house hold stuff was put on hold due to her sons illness.

I'll try to add new photos as soon as I can. The manual slide show on the other pages has not been updated in some time and needs a entire over haul. I'm working on the Portal page now trying to get it back into shape after the server crash not long ago.

We're in the stage of putting one rock on top another and Meg has said repeatedly if she ever hears that again she will kill me and bring me back to and do it all over again!

 

Meg's favorite loom its a Mighty Wolf brand, those are tea towels she has warped on the loom

 

and her wheel.