So...Fixing Things

A few weeks ago, I posted about a making a few bags. This one is one of my favorites:



But there were problems with construction. I learned a few things, one of which was (is?) that my machine will not sew through 6 or 8 layers of this leather. The sewn attachment of the handles was, to put it mildly, sad. It was ugly, really: skipped stitches and several rows to hold where one (if done properly) should have been sufficient.

What to do? Why, learn something new!



Rivets! I cut the handle off, and reattached it with rivets on each side of the hardware. Voila!!! and Yay!! This bag is fabulous now: a bit large for everyday, but there are times....when one needs to carry everything and anything. Next? Try the same thing, a bit smaller. I knew how to rivet, and I would practice.

On this bag, I became a rivetting fool. If two are nice:



then three must be better:



How about five!



Oops. A bridge too far.

All repaired now, and back to three:



So, this bag is canvas and leather, with a woven pocket:



It's a really nice size, I am happy with the construction, and I like the overall look of it. Now, to weave yet another pocket (!) and make one in all leather. And have my machine looked at, and learn to use it properly. It all takes time. Nice to see there is progress though!

So what else have we fixed around here? Spinning wheel:



Yep. I bought another wheel. I really just needed the base, to replace my old base that is worn out from years of use. Yep. I wore out a wheel. Some people proudly claim how old their wheels are, but mine? never make it that far. I use them, and use them up!

The older Lendrum base is well traveled, has gotten ricketty over the years. It has been broken and repaired more than once, has been dropped (yikes!) and gets loaned out and then loaned out by the lendee and the upshot? sad, and wobbly.

So I bought a replacement. I really just needed the base, but now I have a few extra heads and bobbins, and the lazy kate to replace the one that went walkabout. It spins so smoothly! Granddaughter learned to treadle too, and I had a wheel to use while I was visiting for the week. I put it to good use:



Spinning in the early mornings, on the back porch, while the sun comes up. I managed to fill a few bobbins:



It is a fast smooth spinner: so much less wobbly than my old one! And then? Something Terrible Occurred:



Yep. Another wheel This is a Crisp Tyrolean Saxony, made in the '70's, the maker long gone. It was a bargain, too good to pass up, and at this point, what's one more wheel? Besides, I had a chair. One. That did not have a wheel sitting in front of it. I fixed that.

I am going to have to divest myself of something someday. But right now, I am having fun with these new toys.

What other fun did we have:



Tea parties (say cheese!), and ballet lessons:



There was b-ball:


(will have to grow into that ball), and sometimes? we just like to "sing":



How can we not sing? What's not to like? :)

Me? Off to the UK this afternoon. Classes, fiber festival, and some traveling north to the Orkneys and.. North Ronaldsay! Wish me luck!

Oh Happy Day

Much has been happening here. Weaving upon weaving, at least 3 nice fabrics off the loom, all in one week! I was on fire. First was the tussah silk:


This is many several lots of spindle spun silks. I started in May of last year with this:


there were a few trips:




Plying, using a cork from (ahem) a wine bottle as a nostepinne (any port in a storm):


Spinning and plying continued through the year, in airports, on planes, some even at home, on wheel and spindle:










I varied the entertainment by changing colors, often, and without regard to what goes with what. But it was all tussah silk, and I knew if need be, I could over dye the lot. And does all this spindle spinning pay off?



Yep. Tweedy colorful, silk fabric for a shirt. Sett at 40, woven with a red cotton 32/2, it's a year of travel, conferences, family gatherings, weddings, shows, camps, and demonstrations made tangible in fabric.

The second fabric I spoke about last post: 2 ply handspun cotton, and the third fabric I had to keep under my hat until the baby shower could happen:



Yep, another cotton blanket: this time in colors of the coast of Florida, to remind the new mother of her own mother, who likes those beaches:



No surprise now, the blanket went off to the shower in time. The new mother has the blanket in plenty of time before the baby comes.

But speaking of babies coming! The baby boy who owns this blanket and sweater:


was born this morning! Oh Happy Day, happy birthday baby boy, may you end the day (or the week, no pressure) with a name! even though you came a month early. You came on my father's birthday! a happy day, and a good day to come into the world. Welcome, welcome, and happy birthday, oh Happy Day!