Jesse Gets a Hug...

My sister passed away from cancer last spring. She had fought very hard to be here for the birth of her son's first child. Sadly she wasn't here for the birth of Jesse in August.

My brother in law brought me some of her clothes in the summer. I am using what I can, but wanted to weave three Debbie memory rugs for him, and for my niece and nephew.

I finished two of the rugs on Sunday, just on time to deliver them to my niece and nephew in the city.

I got home yesterday to find this lovely photo in my inbox. Sweet baby Jesse sound asleep under the memory rug, getting a hug from his Grandma Debbie.

Pale and Pretty Handwoven Felted Wool Rug

A new rug, not woven at midnight.. maybe I will change that habit of mine. I woke up very early this morning to finish this pale pretty rug. It is a combination of off white, cream and tan, but has an unexpected splash of colour from the patterns on the front of three of the sweaters. I just listed this beauty in my Etsy shop!

up close

a shot with the shoes, in the front porch

Recycled Wool Sweaters and a Felted Wool Sweater Rug

Last week I received the three 75 lb. bales of recycled wool sweaters I ordered from my supplier. Greyhound no longer stops here, so we had to drive to the next town over to pick them up.

Mark is very cautiously cutting the metal strapping. The bales are under a lot of pressure. It sounds as though a gun goes off when the strapping is cut. Then the bale expands and expands, revealing all the wonderous wool textile inside.

I am however finding it harder and harder to find pure wool. There is more and more  superwash wool.. I know, I know, this makes me rant.... I very much dislike superwash wool.  The way it feels when it is wet makes me wonder if it has any of the wonderful qualities of wool left in it. It feels just like acrylic...

I do have bags and bags of sweaters that I could not felt. 

My first rug woven from my new bales, beautiful purples, blues and greens!

Red Recycled Wool Rag Rug on the Front Page!!

Much to my delight one of my recycled felted wool sweaters rugs was featured in a treasury on Etsy that made it to the front page yesterday. Etsy seller, Zygopsyche was the creator of this lovely collection!

Always a thrill to see your work on the front page, getting maximum exposure!

Thank you Kellie!

My Blue Week!

We have had a sad week, we lost an old dear sweet friend! This is my tribute to him!

Midnight blue freshwater pearl, and lampwork bead necklace. Lampwork beads made by Etsy's Gillianbeads. The beads are spaced with olive green seed beads. It really is a gorgeous piece!

I love this rug, a combination of blue, brown and grey.

Recycled felted wool sweaters.

This rug is also gorgeous, I do love blue and brown together!

Handwoven Wool Rug and Swap O Rama Rama, Fashion Show and Auction

I was contacted about a month ago by a group of students from the Crocker Middle School in Hillsborough, California. They are planning a Swap O Rama Rama, Fashion Show and Auction, on Earth Day, to raise money to support the Coyote Point Museum.

"At our event students will swap used clothes, work with talented designers and artists to recycle the used clothes into wearable art, and then showcase their creations at a fashion show. After the fashion show, prizes will be awarded and a silent auction held. This letter is to ask you to please donate a prize for the fashion show or an item for the auction. We scoured the internet for people who are recycling materials into incredible items. We love that your rugs include recycled materials, and shows people how incredibly cool recycling and conserving can be!"

I have decided after a little research that I will support their cause and donate a rug to them. I am just in the process of getting a package ready to mail out tomorrow. This is the rug I am sending. I did have a hard time deciding which rug to donate. I decided on this one because the students are in middle school, grades 7 and 8. I thought these bright colours were more appropriate for their age group. 

 It really is a gorgeous rug, and a fine example of recycling used clothing!

Needle Felted Beads and a Felted Wool Rug

I was away from home earlier this week, had a bout of cabin fever as well as an appointment in the city. Always nice to get into a little civilization, lunch out with my sister and niece, and then shopping!! I went to a friends knitting and weaving shop and bought  some new felting needles, some coloured roving and a few felting books. I love earthy tones but what a treat to use some colour. 

After a little playing around I finally figured out how to make a round felt bead(ball). I made quite a few in between my dinner prep on my last day at my sisters. Pure fun!!

Last night I was playing around with different ideas on how to use these little felt beads. This is what I came up with, the same idea as with my pebble necklaces. Funky little blasts of colour!! I quite like it!!

This is the last felted wool sweater rug I wove last week. Kind of the same colours as the runner I wove earlier, but this one has more grey in it. I used some of the leftovers from the runner. I must say I did get some gorgeous colours in this load of sweaters.

Black, Grey and a hint of Red Felted Wool Rug

It feels as though it has been a very busy week for me. With Mark away, having to walk Tukker twice a day is an effort for me, but good for me. It does take my attention away from my work, that too may be a good thing. Give my body and my mind a rest.

This last rug I wove this week really excited me. I love the colour and the shades and tones of the grey, black and the little bits of red that intermingle through it. To me it is a thing of beauty. I listed in my Etsy shop yesterday, while it is getting views, no one has hearted it, that surprises me as I love it so much. haha, I am strange at times. I also think I should have used my felted red slippers in the photos instead of my blue Keens. 

A close up view of the rug.

Handwoven Felted Wool Rag Rug!

I have not posted for a few days, self absorbed in my work. So many colours to weave with, hard to do anything but scissor and weave.

Mark and the two younger dogs are out camping, I hope they are toasty warm and dry tonight in the tent. It rained all evening and now it is snowing, big fat wet flakes. Pretty!

I wove this rug today, I am very pleased with the colour and colour interaction, beautiful runner. Colour does make my heart sing! I know I am a little bit corny, but it is who I am.

Close up of colour and texture, so soft and thick and cozy. Great to sink your soles onto.

Handwoven Red Sweaters and Jewels

I have finished my second red rug. This one has variations of colour in it, black and grey mixed with the red. My photography skills do not do justice to the interaction of colour in this rug. Colour on colour, it gets me excited.

A close up showing colour and the soft cushy texture.

Here are two items I have listed in my Etsy shop. Both have hearts of different sorts. 

This gorgeous freshwater pearl, sterling silver, and lampwork heart focal bead (made by Gillianbeads of Etsy) is aptly named Black Cherry Bubble Gum. KritterKnitter also if Etsy named it for me this afternoon.  

Working once again with copper, I made this pair of etched copper earrings.The hearts in this pair of earrings match the hearts in a necklace I listed earlier this week.

Red Wool Rug and Crunchy Wasabi Salmon

This is the first rug I have wove this year. The first rug from my newest bales of sweaters. It is a range of reds and rusts, mostly reds. It is really quite beautiful, if I can say so myself! Gorgeous cushy, so soft underfoot.

A close up of the rug, many shades and variations of red, so soft an thick!

For dinner tonight I cooked a very simple, and easy salmon dish. I served it with blanched snap peas, and brown rice. Here is the recipe!

Crunchy Wasabi Crusted Salmon

(or any kind of fish you would like)

4 (3/4 to 1" thick) skinless salmon fillets (6 oz. each)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsps. wasabi paste (from a tube)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 to 1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

Prep:

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 400 F. Line a shallow baking pan with tin foil. Grease lightly.

Pat fillets dry, then arrange in baking pan. Sprinkle salt all over fillets. Stir together wasabi paste and mayonnaise in a bowl, then spread tops of fillets with half of mayonnaise and sprinkle with half of panko. Turn fillets over and spread with remaining mayonnaise, the sprinkle with remaining panko crumbs.

Bake until fish is just cooked through, 12 to 16 minutes, then broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until crumbs on top are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. 

Serves 4, or two if you are very hungry! Enjoy!!!

Monday!

Blustery cold winter day, snow blowing everywhere. I am not looking forward to going out. 

To my surprise when I looked out the kitchen window this morning, I saw a lake freighter heading east. Brrr!! The shipping season must be almost be at its end.

I am getting ready to list a felted wool rug in my Etsy shop. I wove it before Christmas and just took photos of it outside yesterday. Good thing I did the photos yesterday as everything is once again snow covered out back.