Fall Market

The cool has arrived, at least a more pleasurable temperature. The weeks are counting down for the market days.  My Tuesday afternoons are very slow, as are  for all the vendors who attend.  Its all about exposure though, maybe one of you will just drop by and see what is available and remember that there are good things out there for you.   I've got 6 more weeks of market before the season ends, hope you will all come to see me. There are a few orders I will be working on and a few on the back burner since I have some warp and cloth on back order. I'm hoping to have all completed before the end of October, then its get busy and replenish the inventory. I do plan to clean out my basement of some unwanted, but otherwise its weave weave weave!  This weekend is filled with visitors from out of town. Should be a good time. We plan to have a good time anyway, the weather is going to be great and the fridge is stocked for party time.
Well, the weekend isn't here yet so it is still work work work till then.
Keep On Weavin'

Rainy Saturday

The weather was cool and dry at 5 am when we prepared and loaded for the market. It stayed dry until 9 am, then it was starting to rain, not to hard just a gentle almost sprinkle and it rained all the rest of the day.  We packed up at about noon and loaded all the wet canopies and wet tables into the van. The rugs did not get wet thank goodness. With both canopies up we stayed dry. Now we wonder why we didn't put them both up all the time. It worked really well and we have the room to use them.
Most people just wandered through the market to get what ever they needed and left, sales were slow to say the least.
There wasn't much else to do on a rainy Saturday so we stayed and sat around watching the rain fall and left about a half hour early.
Hope the rain leaves us for the next market day.
Keep on Weavin'

Two more months

School has started here and that means more and more weaving than ever before. It is going to be fast paced from here on till the end of October.  I have only two more months of outdoor farmers market. The weather has been perfect for vending outside. My inventory has been slowly going down, and I just have to take a lot of time and weave. I have finished an order that went on and on. I finally finished the first 18 and started and almost finished the last 15 in about 6 weeks. Now I need to get started on the next bunch of orders. They only consist of one rug per order. I also have to order some new warp for the loom and also re-warp two of the looms that are completely out of warp. I have plans to put on the brown warp first then the black warp. The black warp will be a change from having only natural warp on one of the looms. I'm anxious to get that part finished. I will be ordering a new color that I have not used before. That should be interesting. Since I will be weaving on a loom that is in an outside building, hope that weather holds until I can finish outside. Otherwise I could be wearing the winter coat and gloves out there. The building is not heated. I should be fine, weaving can work up a sweat. The shuttles are full with denim and ready for the loom. I plan on two rugs of the same fabric and I'll be making them both the same length, hopefully they will both be about 36 inches long. That means I need to get busy and weave.
Keep on Weavin'

Market News

I haven't posted for a while. To busy weaving and attending to garden and market. I've had a pretty good year so far at the market. It has been hot, of course.... it is summer. The hot weather has not stopped the farmers market faithful from attending on the Saturday morning markets. the Tuesday market though is leaving somethings to be desired. It seems hard for shoppers to make it to the market between the hrs of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. working I guess. Or just to hot to make the trip.  Last week I delivered 18 rugs from and order and this week hope to deliver 10 more. I have 4 of them hemmed tonight and should have the rest to do in the morning.  The garden is  or was kind of suffering from the heat. the best crop this year is the cucumber. My tomato plants are quite slow to ripen the fruit and most only have about 1 tomato on them..I also have the pepper plants for the salsa, but they are slow to bear and ripen also. So guess that's what happens when we never get rain.
Last Saturday we had an inch this weekend we had about 3/4 an inch so maybe it helped somewhat. It sure helped the weeds grow, I know that. should get out and pull some out. There's a whole bunch of stuff to do.. Gotta get some weaving done for sure.
Keep on Weavin'

Time to post again.

I have been busy weaving and doing farmers market booth. Therefore no time to post. I'm back today. Taking time off to get ready for Saturdays market, and the racers who will be visiting town from out of town.   I will have a lot of rugs at my booth and also some sweet treats to take along with you while you watch the Bix 7 Race, or back to your party, in Davenport, IA. Good luck to all runners, and walkers, the weather forecast is for cooler. Cooler sounds great after a lot of 100 degree days.
My weaving has been coming along pretty good for it being summer, usually I get most of my weaving done in the winter. But.. with the hot weather, I've stayed inside where its cool and got some weaving done during  this summer.
I hope everyone is having a great summer and keeping cool.
"Keep on Weavin'

A Tuesday Market

The weather was beautiful." Was" being the key word. Market hours are 3-6 and there was to be extended hours till 8 for a group to shop.. Well, at about 5 pm it looked a little cloudy, at 530 the wall of water was coming from the west, under the bridge and toward us. It was a huge windy cold rain , no fun to say the least. We were planning to stay till 8 pm but couldn't after that rain came in.  We were holding on to the canopy,and the wind would have taken it away, 3 of us were holding on and the wind blew so hard that we thought were going to fly into the air. The canopy was even tethered down as usual. What an experience. We have had rain before on a Market day but nothing like tonight. guess that will teach us to wait out a storm. The forcast was for rain later but it came early.
Even with the rain we did all right at the market,since the weather was nice most of the day.
Looking forward to Saturdays market now.. everything will be nice and dry and all that water on the lot will be gone. I've got lots of inventory ready to go, so Saturday will be fun.
Keep On Weavin'

Opening Day

The outdoor Farmers Market is open!! We are there, although a bit cloudy it is a great day for market.
Hope to see everyone get out and enjoy some fresh air and good times at the market.
Be sure to visit our booth at the lot # 70 and 71.

I've got lots of rugs, pocket purses and some other crafts that are sure to suit you, also some garden vegetables, locally grown onions, cilantro, radishes and spinach, the best of  the best , all locally grown and locally crafted.

Freight House Farmers Market on the Mississippi River , Modern Woodmen Park Lot, Davenport, IA

Getting Closer

It's Wednesday, Market starts on Saturday . We are all excited for the Summer market to begin. All we need is lots and lots of sunshine. The rain is getting to be toooooo much. It will all work out for us though. Not much stops the first day of market. We have even been there during flood. I'm finishing up my last three rugs tonight, just to add a few more to the inventory.  Also making a few pocket purses with tweedy bird on them, nothing like cramming for the last minute.
Saturday is on the way,and will be gone before we know it.
We look forward to seeing you all at the Freight House Farmers Market on May 5, 2012 we will be there from 8 a.m. - 1p.m. It is going to be a great time for all.
Keep On Weavin'

Market Getting Closer

It's getting closer!! Saturday May 5,2012 The opening day of the Freight House Farmers Market summer session begins.
I've got lots of variety for the market. I will have denim, corduroy, and lots of colors of rugs made.
I made some of those fad colored rugs for your summer decorating. The magazines are all showing the favorite colors as light green, orange and some light blues. I will have the variety, that will fit the needs of most.  I have those fun sizes , from small to extra long.
In addition to my rugs I will have the pocket purses made from the back pockets of the jeans and corduroy pants I've recycled. Also a few aprons, baby security diaper blankets, and also the big bag purses made from the top of the jeans with decorated back pockets.
Here's hoping for a nice pleasant day on May 5, hopefully no rain or strong winds off of the river.
No matter what there is sure to be a lot of fun and games for the whole family.
Looking forward to a great start to the market.
Should be lots of fun.

Nolan Helps Fill the Shuttles

Nolan Helped put the mauve and tan rug rags on the shuttles. He did a super job and really enjoyed doing it. I really needed the help and he was such a patient helper. He had fun too.

barn red rug

This is one of the last rugs I just finished. It is nice and long at 60" Barn red mix of corduroys, on brown and beige warp. Woven on my Newcomb floor loom. 3/2012.

Loom picture

My Newcomb Loom with flannel rug woven on it. This loom is named my Osborne Loom since I purchased it from a family in Osborne Il.  I haven't had a chance to weave the last two weeks. I have cut off 12 rugs and have been finishing them with the hems and getting them ready for the market. The FreightHouse Farmers Market starts the first weekend of May. That is the outdoor season market.

This Week

This Week I had help on Thursday with pinning up the rug ends. I cut off 7 rugs from the natural warped loom. Both Nolan and Lana helped pin the edges. I wish I could have got a picture to post, but you can have a hard time capturing a "galloping horse". Any way they were excellent helpers.
The weeks are passing fast, May 4 will be here soon and that means Market time. My weekends are booked through October now.

Today, I sewed the ends up on all those rugs I had help with. I took my time and then went to weave. I started a brown corduroy rug to match the one I made earlier in the week.
Next up, a denim to turn under so that I can get my place mats and other denim rugs cut off and hemmed.
I should have a nice inventory on hand by the end of April.
Looking forward to those "longer days"

Keep on Weavin'

Placemat Patience

I've finally had the patience to make some place mats, the cutting of the fabric and sewing went along as easy as always.
Since I do not have a separate loom to do narrow weaving on, I split the warp strings down the center. That means running two shuttles in opposite direction at the same time. I got two place mats done yesterday! Yeah!!  18"x13" they look great in denim.
That means I still have to make a "set" of at least four. They worked up pretty fast for me this time.
Tomorrow, I will make two more. I've got my brown corduroy cut and ready to sew. Next project, brown corduroy rugs. They will weave up fast once I get the material on the shuttles.

 I also need to get in gear and start making my pocket purses and aprons for the market. Only two more full months until the market season starts. Yippee! I can hardly wait for those warm days and markets.
I'm also planning to do some gardening when the weather warms up. We have to eat, you know.
I may even have some extra tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and onions for the market this season.
Sounds like a great salad to me.
I'm off to sew that corduroy, that needs to be ready to weave by next week.
Keep on Weavin'

Rugs and Loom

The pictures included of the rugs speak for themselves.  All made this winter. The pictures of the loom are of the Newcomb Studio Loom actually this one is owned by my Mother, Betty. My loom is the same model.  We took this loom to the Great Mississippi Valley Fair for the week. Enjoyed showing the weaving process and we had many people stop to ask questions and see the actual process involved in making a loom woven rug. ( As you can see it was in August.)  The only way to move the loom is to have at least 4 strong backs and a large trailer to transport it. We did it!  Fun times weaving @ the fair and now at home.

Pictures of my rugs and loom

Feb. Warm or Cold?

I'M trying to get into the weaving mood.. for some reason the warm weather in February just isnt normal. At least for Iowa. Today it is snowing, Weather forcasters said snow in late afternoon but guess what...it is snowing at 7:30 am. Ha Ha,
I have all shuttles full and ready to weave. So I should be at the loom now. 
I've got my application and pictures turned in for the Farmers Market. So in a month I should be ready to place all my rugs in the van and be ready for the May opening of the market.
May 4 will be here soon.  I can hardly wait for opening day. Bright sun and lots of vendors to visit with, and plenty of shoppers seeking the new products of the market.
Nolan helped with the weaving last week. He is only 4 years old but has plenty of patience to help me  get some shuttles filled. It was suppose to be nap time , but of course, he explained, "He was not tired".
His twin sister Lana, of course was tired, since she napped after having a jumping on the bed opportunity. Sleep,  is what SHE really needed.
I've made a few more denim rugs with some length to them. They are around the 50"-65" length, also a few in the 40"-45" range.  Next plan is the denim with some stripes, I think yellow and maybe some with red stripes.
I have noticed a lot of new decorating ideas with black and white. I have plenty of white and black fabric to get cut and sewn. How about some black with white stripes? Or white with black stripes?, Or maybe just a few solid white rugs and a few solid black rugs? They all sound like my next big projects.
Keep on Weavin'

New Year Weaving

I've got one full tote box full of new rugs now. I'm happy about that, it means I have a start on the new market inventory.
I have a bunch of pockets off of jeans and cords.  So, soon I will work on decorating pocket purses.

Friday I managed to get an apron made. That has been on the schedule since last fall. Finally done and tagged for sale.

I hope to get some pictures of my work posted soon. I just haven't found the time to do that yet. I may need some assistance getting that accomplished.

I found a new use to get some more of the jean seams recycled. I'm keeping it a secret until I can get more than one finished. i want to put in some pictures of them as well, once I get a couple of sets made.

So, I will be working on weaving rugs, making pocket purses, aprons, and my new idea.

I haven't got my three rugs a day made yet this month, but that is soon to happen. We have snow and winter weather predicted for next week, so I will hit the loom and sewing machine hard and fast.

Keep on Weavin' !

HANDMADE

ALL of my rugs are handmade by myself. All cloth is hand cut with either a scissors or rotary rag cutter.
Then sewn on a sewing machine into a ribbon of cloth.
After that, I weave on a four harness Newcomb Loom.

You can see pictures of this loom in earlier posts.

I have three looms that I use, all three with different colores of warp on them, one with blue and smoke blue, second with natural warp, which is a little off the pure white, and third, beige and brown warp. That is what I have on the looms now. I mostly have blue and natural on the one loom, I like that combination and have it on the loom more frequently than the two blues.

Each rug is unique , I want to say that each is different in its own way. Although I try to make at least two from the same bunch of fabric. This only happens if I have enough material to make two, since sometimes there is only enough to make one rug.

Keep on weavin'

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I've begun to cut and sew again after the holiday. I first pulled out the flannel, now I have some browns, and blues to weave. The rugs should be nice and soft, being out of flannel. I finished the brown corduroy rug I had started before christmas. It hasnt been measured so I'm not sure of the length. It is probably about 50 inches long to just estimate. Last night I pulled out the black and tans, I'm getting it ready to sew, the process is going to be long since there are several different shades of black. The tan is also several different shades so I will also have to sort after cutting. I have a lot of work ahead of me, I plan to still have over 100 rugs ready for the Farmers Market the first week of May 2012. I have about 6 new rugs made to date. They are still on the looms so they are not finished. I will have to cut them off the loom and hem, measure and tag them for market. Having a warm/cold winter. We haven't had a good snow yet, today it is kinda flurrying nothing is sticking, so no sledding for us.The sun has actually come out. Well, I should get to weaving, my goal is to weave at least 2 rugs a day till the first week of May. I hope it happens.. maybe I'll do 3 if I don't have anything else to do.;^). Keep on Weavin'