the balloon bag has travelled far and wide this week. just not in front of a camera.

Only two days until I have a block of time to do weaving.

how are you counting down to Christmas?

Proof

Proof that you can use 100 inches of inkle band weaving for a coaster. complete with bead embellishments.

wow. with the lack of posting you might think I had taken a year off of weaving.

Not so.

I was weaving instead of writing about weaving.

I wove with bags. I wove with balloon bags and then I wove with...(drumroll please...) balloons. Yes, twisty stretchy balloons. I even won a blue ribbon for my effort. Don't worry, I will try harder next year.

I also wove bands, and in October 2011, I made a coaster with 100 inches of inkle band. Why you ask? just because I could. It was so much fun, I made A SECOND ONE TO MATCH.

Now I suppose you want proof. (sigh) let me find my camera.

nametags

Here they are! each and every person at the Minnesota Federation of Weavers Guilds and Fiber Artists annual retreat had a personalized name tag, suitable for use as a bookmark following federation!

Federation was great, but this week, for the first time in a year, I do NOT have to make any bookmarks!

too busy

Why yes, I would rather be weaving than blogging. With the approach of the 2010 Minnesota Federation retreat, I am a bit behind in all the things I am doing: weaving all 54 nametags, preparing to teach lettering on the inkle loom, weaving two potholders on the inkle loom for the exchange... but with a minor warp in the space time continuum (should be easy for a weaver) I feel confident, that I will NOT still be weaving at 2am the morning I leave. And no, I am not the least bit delusional.

Here's a peek

these are the green nametags. our theme is color, so all the nametags are different colors.

here is the orange warp, over half done. getting there...

and here are my nine nomi looms, ready to attach a book and sell! Whoot!

Not bad for a couple of months. I will try to take a photo of all of the nametags together. they should look very impressive!

Finished!

weaving the second panel of the first cotton baby blanket

three finished baby blankets

close-up of the weaving

I am finished with the baby blanket marathon. Still waiting for the birth, but I haven't checked since last nights storm...

Final tally is seven baby blankets. four made with acrylic yarn, easy care, lightweight, and inexpensive, three made with cotton yarn I had on hand, and no, I did not use it all. Four of the blankets were given an inkle band binding on two edges, custom made for the project.

Back to the busy season...

the busy season

My busy season has hit with full force. that said... I have been weaving. not on the little, easily warped inkle looms. No, I have been weaving on the baby wolf, and more precisely, I have been warping the baby wolf.

I am on my third warp in less than a week. I am on a deadline, imposed by the impending labor of a good friend.

I should document the lightening treadle action and my nearly faultless threading. But that would take time away from the actual weaving...

I will try to remember to take photos of the finished projects, 3 off the loom, and one woven, one still just warp. but that will have to wait for the day after tomorrow... a classic busy season day.