autumn colors, CSM socks

Autumn Socks

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Autumn in the Northwoods of WI can be glorious, and the change from summer to autumn has begun. Maples are turning yellow, orange, and red, and those colors next to a stand of evergreens is stunning. In a few days I’ll be out trying to capture it with a camera.

Meanwhile, I’m having a wonderful time cranking socks in autumn colors. There is a palette of fine sock yarn colors on my shelves to fit any time of year, but right now my focus is on colors I see around me in nature, hunter green, balsam, chocolate, ginger, evergreen, mimosa, papaya, redland, eggshell, combinations of these and other colors that will blend well together in autumn tones.

In the Sept. 5th post, there were pics of a sock in progress on the sock machine, and a mid-closeup of the socks just off the machine, in a new color combination. The same pair is shown above, toes closed, scrap yarn off the hem and toes, handwashed, air-dried, and lightly steamed, now known as “Signs of Autumn.”

This pair, “Weekend at the Cabin,” has rich, dark colors, and is a favorite.

If you saw or look back at the Sept. 5th post there is a photo of fall mums with cones of yarns. This third pair is another new color combination, “Autumn Peak,” made from the yarns shown in that photo. Bright colors that not only match the colors of those mums, but in two weeks or less will match the maple leaves that are turning colors now.

As a long-time lover of shades of blue, I could not resist ordering cones of the variegated blues shown above, along with a couple large cones of solid indigo blue. 8/2 cotton mill ends that were on sale at WEBS, they will become practical, functional towels for kitchens. These arrived in the mail today, and I’m looking forward to weaving with them.
autumn colors, CSM socks, sleying drawloom reed

Autumn Is In the Air

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After splitting more wood today, until arms, elbows, and hands were sore from setting rather large diameter sections of cut wood onto the splitter, and it was getting a bit hot under the early afternoon sun, it was time to go inside where it was cooler. Time to crank more socks.

I tried what I think is a new color combination and think it’s rather nice. Two pairs were made with these colors, Medium and Large. Another pair in darker fall colors were also made and are in my “closing bag,” where I keep socks needing toes closed, needles, and scissors.

The sun is setting in the west, and there is still some nice light, a good time to choose a couple more sock color combinations to crank this evening. The colors of these mums are perfection, and I have yarns to match. Autumn is in the air!

And while there is still some natural light by the front of the drawloom, I’m going to thread more of the 15 dent drawloom reed. The warp is 64 epi so the reed is being sleyed 4 threads per dent, and every fourth dent has five threads. After more of the reed is sleyed, it’s back to the sock machine, and later on I’ll be closing toes. Pics of the finished socks should be up in two or three days.
autumn, badger, Northwoods Wildlife Center

My Nocturnal Visitor

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A couple days ago, I looked out towards the basement walkout area and saw a huge mound of freshly dug sand. This is about the third year of this, but I’d never seen who or what was doing it. That night about 9:30 PM, I happened to turn out the outside light to look out at the yard, and to my amazement, there was a badger coming out of a large hole.

I grabbed my camera, quietly stepped out onto the porch, and tried to get a few photos. I quietly suggested he pack his bags and relocate, but he ignored me and went back to his work. (I did use a software program to adjust brightness and contrast so you could see him in this photo.)

The next morning you could really see his work. He’s quite a little earthmover, having dug his main entrance (above), a separate exit, and had tried to start three or so others, but ran into roots in a couple of them.


I have a live trap, and thought about relocating him to a national forest, but the thought of having to open the trap and have my hands near what would probably be a rather upset, rather vicious mammal was not at all appealing.

Being a rescue driver for the Northwoods Wildlife Center, I don’t want to harm the badger, I’d just prefer he not dig up my yard! So I called the NWC and spoke with Mark, the rehabber. He agreed having to open the trap would not be terribly safe, and explained that badgers move into an area, dig, hunt all the prey they can, then move on to new hunting grounds. All I would need to do is wait, the badger would leave, and I could fill in the holes again as best I can. So that is the plan.

Yesterday, I stopped by Artistree Gallery, and as I was leaving, could not resist the fall mums. I love having a pot or two on the step in autumn, and before long I’ll be able to add a pumpkin. With these brisk fall days and cold nights, it won’t be long and the woods will be full of color. I just couldn’t wait, and this is such a welcoming sight when I’m going back inside after working on our winter wood.
Art in a New Yard, ArtisTree Gallery, CSM socks, Northwoods Art Tour

Sock Season

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I am gearing up for the fall and winter Wool Sock Season! I had a request to make three pairs of neutral and/or pastel socks, and they are shown in the three photos below.

“Lake Placid,” wool socks.

“Morning Fog” wool socks.


“Sparkling Lake” wool socks.

On Sept. 25th, 1-4 PM, Artistree Gallery, in Land O’Lakes, WI, will have an Open House with several artists demonstrating what they do. I’ll be there to demo sockmaking on the 1908 Gearhart Sock Machine.

On Sat., Sept. 26th, 9 AM to 4 PM, the Art Gypsies will have their annual “Art In a New Yard” art show/sale at Fir Tree Cottage in Land O’Lakes, WI.

On Oct. 2-4, 10 AM to 5 PM daily, the Fall Northwoods Art Tour takes place. Visitors are able to go on a self-guided tour of artists studios and galleries in a three county area.

Needless to say, I am really gearing up for making a lot of pairs of socks. More will be shown here at they are made, including “Up North,” “Cranberry Harvest,” “Copper Leaves,” Colorama,” “Christmas at the Cabin,” and many, many more.

In between splitting and stacking winter wood (son Noah is doing the cutting), I’m trying to get back to my looms. There is a lot to be done both in and out of Shuttle Works Studio.

northwoods winter, wood splitting

August ~ Preparing for Winter

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It’s August, and more than time to get ready for winter. We still have a bit of wood left from last winter and that is what I’m working on. Shortly, more wood will be delivered and need to be cut, split, and stacked.

The woodshed needs to be filled, along with three or four very large outdoor racks (covered with tarps), as well as the large rack on the porch. A winter’s worth of kindling for starting the woodrange fire each morning also needs to be split and stored in buckets and garbage cans in the garage to keep it all dry.

Yes, it’s a lot of work, but there is nothing so warm as wood burning in the kitchen woodrange in winter, when snow is falling, wind is blowing, and you’re listening to a weather report about the ice storm that is on its way. We have a furnace in the basement which in winter is set at 65 degrees at night, but almost all our daytime/evening heat comes from the woodburner from mid-September to mid-April.

All the wood now being cut/split/stacked will later be brought, throughout the winter, to the lakeside porch and stacked onto a large, easily accessible, woodrack right outside the door. The rack is filled two or three times a week all winter as wood is added to the range every 30-60 minutes from 7 AM to midnight everyday.

Today? I’m in jeans and a t-shirt, ear protection on, enjoying being outdoors while the sun is shining and now setting in the west. When I turn the splitter off to go stack the split wood, I can hear the breeze blowing through the pine, maple and oak trees surrounding our home.


Walking along the driveway, I noticed the last of the wild blueberries still hanging on, and the well-travelled deer path through the “island” in our circular drive (below).

I’m also keeping an eye out for a black bear that was seen by our neighbors, though I expect the noise from the splitter will keep him away. Now, time to split a bit more wood, then back to the quiet of the studio.

Postscript added Sunday, Aug. 23rd: Driving to town just before 8 AM we had a black bear cross the highway in front of us, on the way home a coyote, quite a bit closer, and on my way north, another coyote. It seems to be a wildlife day!

family, life changes

Life Changes

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Changes are taking place in the life of my family. My oldest daughter is about to start at MATC in Madison, so we were busy packing, shopping, moving, and I was in Madison again for the second time this month. My two teens have been working jobs all summer, preparing for and taking drivers license tests and buying a car. All this meant my studio time was being seriously challenged! Things are settling down now, and when school starts I will have more time available for my weaving than I have had in 22 years. I am almost retired as family chauffer.

When I returned home from Madison, I was making the “Mom” adjustment of my oldest daughter living away from home, feeling very proud of her and all she has done, but still feeling a bit sad and missing her. Yesterday she wrote she had been wakened in the morning by a tapping on the roof, and a minute later, a big crow looked in down through the skylight. Well, laughing and picturing it, I perked right up and got back to work in my studio.

On the drive home I stopped at Barnes & Noble and added “A Year in Provence” to our home DVD library, and enjoyed watching it over two evenings, and trying to see how much French I could understand. Now, I’ll be able to listen to it while working.

While I returned home from Madison, I found a package waiting for me. What in the world? I hadn’t ordered anything. AAaahhh,… it was from LaVonne Stucky, Serenity Sheep Farm, MT. Opening it, I found this wonderful little loom with “Welcome” woven in. LaVonne had found it at a garage sale, and thought it might be a nice addition to my studio.


The little loom now sits on the table with my business cards and brochures. LaVonne and I know each other from the “Take Peace,” (Tasha Tudor) yahoo group. Thank you, LaVonne, for thinking of me, you are a wonderful friend!

Knowing I should focus on one area, I am instead busy working on three things, cutting & sewing more colors/strips for the rugs, making socks, and tinkering with the drawloom. Tomorrow I work at Artistree for four hours and will see what has been happening there. They are asking for demonstrations on Friday, Sept. 25th, for Colorama Weekend, so will volunteer a sock machine demo if needed.

It feels so good to be back in my weaving studio, and now, back to my cutting table.
organizing, paper blizzard

Organizing the Paper Blizzard

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Yesterday afternoon was spent taking photos of socks, uploading pics, and updating my 1000 Markets shop, and now need to make and add more weaving and socks. The gallery needs more, too, plus an upcoming art show and the Fall Art Tour.

Today, I’ve finally decided I’m long overdue to organize the paper blizzard that seems to have enveloped my life,… business, school, bills, community, church, etc. I’m between weaving and sock deadlines, so this is a good time to tackle this project.

I hate paper, hate dealing with it, probably from years of working in an office and with files. In some areas of my life I’m quite organized, but the rest? It’s past time to bring order to those areas, too. I’ve either reached the age where I don’t remember things as well as I used to, or I’m so focused on one area of my life (fibers) that I’m shutting out too much of the rest, probably both, hence the need to organize. All I know is, I don’t want to leave my kids with a mess.

Yesterday, I updated my calendar, worked on new lists of all I need to do including upcoming commitments and plans for next year, and began putting new systems into place for dealing with paper as it comes in or is created.


Today, file drawers were emptied out, and hanging files and file folders put back in place ready for current paperwork. Purging of paper has begun. A four drawer file is now in the studio and being put to good use. It’s not attractive, but very useful. This project, taken as a whole, feels overwhelming, but a small amount each morning will be very manageable. I’m looking forward to getting this much needed project completed.

What does all this have to do with weaving? My business and weaving files are growing, along with study group newsletters and more. This area of my life is in good shape, and I want it to stay that way.

Oh yes, I stopped at a new (to me) thrift store today and brought home two sheets. My oldest daughter is moving away for two more years of college and has requested a rug with blues in it. Today I found a navy blue sheet along with a blue floral. I need to choose more sheets from my stash for her rug and get it woven, then when I go downstate to the WI Sheep & Wool Festival, I can drop it off to her. I’ve earned a break from paper, it’s time to go cut and sew strips!

studio time

Investing in Your Future

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I love quotes. They catch my eye, and at times I find something that really speaks to me. This morning, while checking in on Twitter, I found Clint Watson (clintavo) had posted a quote and link, passed along to you here…

“Every hour spent with your artwork is time invested in your future.” ~ Lori Woodward Simons, watercolor artist. http://links.fineartstudioonline.com/links/126.

Lori Simons has started a new art blog there, and I plan to check in on it often. I have a couple others, including Ancient Artist, that I enjoy reading. Though I am a weaver, I find a lot of good information and ideas on art sites that I can apply to my work/studio/time. In her post she mentions starting a 20 hours a week in the studio challenge, and how it was re-posted (or re-tweeted) and has become a movement.

It’s not that I don’t have regular studio time, I do, but I want to be even more deliberate about it. It’s too easy to be distracted by family, friends, computer, and so on. There are days/weeks when I spent far more than 20 hours a week in my studio, and occasionally we all need a break. For myself, I want to be more aware of what I am doing, choices I’m making, and work even more toward my goals.

As I write this, I’m thinking, are you crazy, do you know what the next two weeks will be like? Yet this is exactly why this particular quote and post spoke to me. It would be so easy to blow off any time I could make use of. Not the choice I hope to be making.

For those of us who weave and sell some of what we make, studio time really IS an investment in our future. For those who weave because they enjoy weaving and want to learn, the same quote holds true. Time in the studio weaving and learning increases your knowledge giving you more to build on. Wherever you fall, growth is a goal.

freeform knitting, handknitting, handspun

A Change of Pace

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Yesterday, I took the day off,… no weaving, no cranking, a fair amount of sleep as I was still quite tired from the weekend. Last night, with no toes to close, I picked up knitting needles and handspun yarn, and decided to knit a cushion cover. With only a 1 1/2″ sketch as a guide, it was entirely freeform designing, albeit very simple. I just wondered if I could do it and come up with something even remotely acceptable.

The yarn is a thick ‘n thin slubby handspun I spun perhaps a couple years ago, shades of gray with small areas going from cream to dark brown. The skeins range from light grey, to medium, and a couple a bit darker. I had originally planned to knit mittens, the kind where you knit pieces of fleece in for additional warmth. But, the idea for a cushion top would not be pushed away. I’m using the medium tones, and plan to combine the light and dark in another cushion, although I expect the difference to be rather subtle. I have about 2″ or so left to knit later this evening, and need to think about the back. Another freeform knitting design? Or just plain stockinette? We’ll see.

The reed I requested Sunday evening arrived in the mail today, and I’ll be opening it up in just a bit and getting the new 15 dent reed sleyed and the warp tied on. Then upstairs to finish knitting the pillow top. Oh yes, there will be a 3 pair sock wash yet this evening, too. Must get them drying on the wood rack. How quickly they will dry I don’t know, as it is only 60 degrees here (outside) at the moment with breeze and rain showers. Where is our July weather?
Northwoods Art Tour 2009

Summer Art Tour Postscript

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The Summer Northwoods Art Tour is over, and I am resting today and making notes of ideas for the Fall Tour. I’ve also been thinking back to so many wonderful conversations I had with visitors to my weaving studio.

There were people who had never seen looms or a Swedish drawloom before, and no one had ever seen a sock machine until they day they visited here. Three weavers, visiting at different times, came to visit the studio and had questions about their looms and were looking for advice. One woman who stopped by does bobbin lace, tatting, and conducts orchestras at Broadway plays in NYC! It was great visiting with each of them, and I’m already looking forward to the fall tour.

The first thing visitors notice when walking through the door is the unique log home we live in, built by Joe Hovel. Stripped tree trunks hold the upstairs, upstairs; branches support shelves, and everything, EVERYTHING is wood, all ceilings, walls, and floors. Many also noticed the rosemaled plates in my studio, that I painted close to 25 years ago.
I had basically left everything where it usually is, countermarche loom in front of the window, now set up for weaving rag rugs. When I finish this post, I’ll be back working on that first rug. Luke, 12 years old, gave this loom a try and put in three or four rows of sheeting strip. He has borrowed two of my Harrisville frame (lap) looms to give weaving a try this summer.

When I make socks, I always set up between the two looms, as in the photo above, so lights can be plugged in nearby, and a loom bench is handy for cones of yarns. Everyone enjoyed seeing and hearing about the looms, and were fascinated with the sock machine. Several sock knitters (who knit with circular or DPN) went out the door muttering, “I have to get one of those sock machines.”


The drawloom was almost ready to weave on, but I could only find 8 and 10 dent reeds that were not being used on other looms, so rather than re-sley and tie on again, I decided to leave the loom as is and order a 15 dent reed. Sara von Tresckow of Woolgatherers wrote last night the reed was packaged, addressed and ready to go this AM, I should have it Wednesday.

The Gallinger rug loom was placed in a corner, and the shelving unit full of sock yarns was pulled out to brighten things up with some color. The main purpose of this bit of rearranging was to give people more room to walk and move around in, and it worked well.

On Friday, all but two pairs of socks sold, and Saturday AM those last two went out the door. Four towels were purchased, too. Now I know to have a lot more socks made and ready, and I’ll have more weaving on hand, too, in the fall.

“Art on Main” in Three Lakes, Aug. 9th is next, then “Art in the Yard” in Land O’ Lakes, Sept. 19th, then the Fall Northwoods Art Tour, Oct. 2-4. These plus the gallery and online shop will keep me busy for awhile. Approximately 35+ of my brochures were taken by visitors, business cards, too, so there may be a few phone or email orders coming in. I don’t have an exact count, but would estimate I had 65+ people here over the three days, which I’m told is very good for my first year on the tour.

In three days or so my weaving studio will again have “business” weaving as well as “personal” weaving (drawloom), both where I can learn, explore, try new ideas and techniques, and always do the best work I can. I’m looking forward to new adventures in weaving.


Keesha came home this morning and seems a bit tired from three days being boarded out. Keesha, like Kylie, came to us through a Keeshond rescue group when the family who owned her had a two year old daughter who was allergic and they had to find a new home for her. We are so happy she is now here with us. Happy, friendly, and a great watch dog, she barks a warning when anyone comes comes into the driveway or walks into our home. Today, Keesha occasionally gets up, walks around and whimpers, perhaps worried and wondering where Kylie is. There is no way to help her understand what happened, only love her even more.

Studio Life of a Weaver, Spinner, Dyer