Working Hard

I knew it had been awhile since I last blogged but I didn't realize it was a whole month. In that time, I have been weaving away like crazy and getting a lot done. Not to mention that we bought a condo. It isn't going to be done until the end of January or February but we did make a decision. It is in a 3 story building and our unit faces the Bridger Mountains so we will have a wonderful view from the balcony and all the large front windows. I'm excited and wish that we didn't have to wait so long to move and be settled already.

A couple weeks ago, Jess and Cory came for the weekend and took lots of photos...Over 400! Most of them were of the weavings but Amigo snuck into the light tent while we weren't looking and started posing so Jess had to get a few shots of him. As soon as she sends me some, I will post a few here so you can see what I have been doing. It might be awhile since they are totally redecorating their house and don't have the time now. We had a wonderful time together but the weekend went by way too quickly. We didn't even get all the food eaten!

On the 4th of July, we went hiking and saw a pair of yearling moose. This is only the second time we have seen moose since we have lived in Montana so it is still a big thrill. Unfortunately I had left my camera on the kitchen table. If I carry the camera, it is almost certain we don't see a thing and every time I forget it, we see something exciting.

I am still weaving inkle bands of handspun yarns of various beautiful colors to sew together to make bags. My first bag using the bands and one of my small tapestries turned out great and so I now have another one to put together and this one I will use myself. It seemed a little silly that I am making these wonderful bags and I carry this ratty purse around so I decided to make one for myself. Then I finished the weaving for another bag that is in deep greens and reds which is one of my favorite color combinations so I can't wait to finish it either. The last one I am weaving on now is another one with a tapestry of a mountain sunset on it. Tomorrow I would like to go out and find some special linings at a really nice quilt shop here, Quilting in the Country. It is out a ways, as the name suggests but the shop is in a little old carriage house and she has a beautiful cottage garden around it, not to mention a fabulous collection of fabrics. Then I will head to the bead store and get some semi-precious gemstone beads for them. In 3 weeks, we are going to visit Gabe and Amy in Olathe, KS and I would like to have these 3 bags finished so I can start on new ones when we return. I am having more fun with these bags and every one I do, I get more ideas for the next ones. I need to weave some more tapestries for another batch. That part takes the longest because I have to draw and develop a good design for it and then the weaving takes awhile.

This area has the best thrift stores and Howard is pretty addicted to checking them out frequently for some treasure or other. Last week, he came home with a beautiful wood soprano recorder for $1.50. I have always wanted to learn to play the recorder so I was excited about it. I have been practicing this past week and I really love it. Although, I am torturing the poor thing, I can tell it has a wonderful sound. Usually the cats all hang around in the room that I am working in but I can clear the place in a big hurry when I start to play. I want to learn to play early renaissance music.

Sorry for the long break and I am going to try to write here a little more often. And maybe even have some photos soon!