New Skill for a New Year

Weaving Caught my Eye

A few weeks ago, I went prowling the streets of Berkeley and found an artists' studio wherein two women shared space: one a painter, the other a weaver. I stopped, stood stock still and fell in love. My weaving class starts in less than four hours. Happy Birthday to me.

I have pinned nearly one hundred pins to my Weaving   board since this interest began and there seems to be no end in sight. Each day I find more pieces that draw me further into the world of warp, weft and warmth.

My bestie has shown me gorgeous items that her mother wove while she was still alive; I have gone through rack after rack at the second hand stores scouring for Linen and other woven fabrics. I want to touch each of them and bring them home to wrap about me while I sleep. I may never buy cotton again...

Other News-Littles Birthdays Approach too and So...

Piper will be five next month. She arrived in the wee hours in late July 2008. What an amazing little blessing she was to our entire courtyard. Flowers bloomed, trees thrust branches skyward in joy; we eagerly peeked out our windows for glimpses of her as she made her way safely in papa or mama's arms to and from their car. From the Netherlands came Oma as Piper neared her first birthday. Watching them bond brought such rejoicing and exhilaration; the six weeks was not nearly long enough. Oma's return home brought Piper into our little apartment three days a week just before she turned one and learned to walk. Here you can see Ormond gently holding her hand as she puts one foot in front of the other successfully. Soon she trotted and within a few months running took hold and we had to get creative about chasing her !~! She always minded us so beautifully and continues to be generous, compassionate and tidy...

Slowly and surely synapses closed.
She only needs one finger for balance in this pic.

At nearly five, she wants to wash her little car
before she drives it around the old stomping ground.

Tie-dye remains a favorite for all us hippies.

So I make quilts for them now that they are old enough to appreciate and enjoy the warmth and uniqueness of their special blankets. 

Piper chose the blocks and the colors; I played with layout.

Piper is first in the birthday parade of summer with a fifty by fifty inch number. I have finished the flimsy and washed the batting and backing. No problem finishing it in time, she says confidently.

Following right on the heels of Piper's special day comes Ginger's fourth birthday at the end of August. Her color choices have been in place for weeks: Red, pink, white, and purple. Here's what I have come up with for her.