I knew it had been awhile since I last posted here, but was stunned when I saw it was March 1st!  Where do the days go?

So this is a quick update.

March 2015 – On March 7th, the Art Gypsy exhibit at Nicolet College Art Gallery closed, the woven shibori scarves and screen were picked up and taken to Artistree Gallery in Land O’ Lakes, WI.

April 2015 – A tooth abcess, which had spent six years coming and going, reared its ugly head in January, and for 3.5 months I was in increasing pain and taking 4 antibiotics over those months, finally admitting it was time to have the tooth removed.  I’d fought it for a long time but knew I was not feeling well and it was getting worse. Soon after the appointment I realized I as feeling well again, thank goodness!  Very little weaving was going on during that period (after the screen was finished), or much else.

After I was feeling better I was able to finish up a scarf that had been ordered, get it dyed, and sent off.

I was very pleased with the results and I believe the customer was, also.

A phone call had come that my father was being admitted to the hospital, and I was on the road two hours later for the five hour drive south.  After four days in the hospital (Influenza B and a touch of pneumonia) he was released, feeling very weak, and I stayed to take care of him, fifteen days, I believe, then home.

Earlier in April, I had applied to adopt a little dog, mixed breed, that no one else seemed to want as she has secondary epilepsy.  I picked Keda up in Green Bay, a slight detour on my way home. Then came a few weeks adjustment for both of us.  Her meds was also adjusted, and things have improved.  She is a sweetie, but can be stubborn.  So I now have a little companion in the studio where she hangs out in her bed, or sometimes under the rolling cart.  At least she has stopped barking at the loom with each depressed treadle!

May 2015 – Back home, I was able to weave again, back working on woven shibori scarves, indigo dyeing, and trying out ideas. This time a 4 shaft Monk’s Belt threading, and 8 treadles tied up for a couple variations.

Do you remember the little sample I made awhile back, with a free-stitched dragonfly on plain weave?  It was time to do it again, on a scarf.

There will be photos of this scarf and two others in the next post.

Before placing the handwoven scarves into the indigo vat, I “test” it with small cotton PFD swatches.  The indigo on handwovens does not come out the same as on these swatches, but it gives me an idea of where the vat is, so I can estimate how long I want to leave the scarves in, and how many dips.  Right now, the swatches are just a little unplanned collection, but they will be used in making small items, even piecing a few.  Stay tuned!

I may have written about being interviewed late last summer or early fall, by Nancy Camden, for a segment on Wisconsin Life, on Wis. Public Radio. It was finally aired on Wed., May 27, 2015.  If you are interested, you can listen to it here. (http://www.wisconsinlife.org/story/weaving-life)

In my studio, view from the kitchen. Photo by Nancy Camden.

The next blog post will be along very shortly!  I’m back in the studio, have a lot of weaving to do, as well as  preparing for the summer Northwoods Art Tour (http://northwoodsarttour.com), and more to write about and share here.  Life is good!