Wildflowers, woven purses and clay pot cookers

Last Saturday, we had a wonderful hike in the mountains. It looked like it could rain anytime but it didn't and everything was so beautiful and green. We saw four different wildflowers and I was able to identify all of them in my various wildflower books. For the first time, I saw a Dogtooth Violet, which is really a lily and very delicate and pretty. When we were driving home, it was pouring so we were lucky to be finished and on the way home.

We also stopped at the thrift shop and I got a wonderful terracotta clay pot cooker. It isn't one of the usual brand name ones. The top and bottom are about the same and it is the size of a loaf pan only oval. The walls of the pot are about 3/4" thick so it is very heavy. It is well made, without any markings and I really wish I knew where it came from. I'll take a photo and post it soon, hoping that someone will know something about it. I love to bake bread in these and can't wait to try it out. I wonder if the thickness of the pot will make a difference in how it bakes.

All the new bags are finished and some of the other ones are lined now. It took me a lot longer than I had expected but every one of them turned out like I had hoped. Now I am going to start on a couple of tapestry bags with inkle handles. Photos for these new purses will be coming soon also. My weaving room is quite a mess and so I will need to spend at least a few minutes straightening that out before I can weave some more. I don't really mind clutter but it comes to the point where it is impossible to work in the space.

One of the new bags I finished is constructed in a way that is different than I have ever put the bands together before and I am really excited about how it turned out. The shape is wider in both directions so that it is easier to find things in it and I think it will also hold more but yet be a smaller sized bag. I'm going to be working more with this shape in the next months. Also, I use some beads for embellishment but don't like too many because it takes away from the weaving being the focal point of the bag. I like for the beads to compliment the weaving without overpowering the beauty of the handwoven fabric.

A dear friend sent me a wonderful book this past week called Sashes, Straps and Bands by Ruth and Ralph Johnston. I haven't seen this book before but it is a real treasure and has information on warp faced twills for the 4H loom. I can't wait weave some of these sorts of bands very soon. Maybe I can warp up the loom next week and try this out.