Loom cushion

 The cushion from the honeycomb weave is finished....next weave will be something with built in pleats maybe using using S and Z twist yarns!

Loom makeover

With a new 12 shaft loom due to arrive in late June, I ve had the old loom for sale for the last few weeks with no interest at all. It was pretty old, dusty and tired looking so I thought I d give it a make over. The side frames and capstans I stained, everything else I planed or sanded to get rid of the old brown stain and get back to the beech wood. It all looks rather fabulous so I think I might keep it! Ultimately if we get more space, I could use it for teaching.

 

Washed and ready for pressing

Honeycomb weave after washing. The thick wool weft moves into the long warp floats  forming the wavy shapes. It's quite a structured fabric, it'll be a cushion for my loom bench.

honeycomb weave

Some honeycomb weave on the loom, hopefully the thick beige weft will distort once off the loom and washed to become much more wavy, with successive lines almost touching...we'll see.

Two more morel locations found - its been a good year!

 

More morels and Etang d'Appy

Another nice haul of Morels yesterday....delicious!

With good weather forecast (20 degrees), Sheri proposed a trip to the Etang d'Appy in the massif de Tabe between Pic Barthélémy and Pic de Han. It's a couple of hours drive away, but not too long a walk. It's quite a popular rando and on arrival decided we wouldn't need snowshoes.

 

We made quick work of the ascent, storming up the hill passing all in our path! We had come a bit overdressed so it was hot work. On the final shoulder, where the gradient of the path reduces the snow began, but it was load bearing and not too icy so easy in boots.

The lake was mostly frozen and covered in snow despite the hot temperature, which left a couple of ducks feeling somewhat confused. The lake is particularly picturesque because it's "infinity pool" location on the mountainside and its great views to the west.

Mont Valier (home in the far distance)

Duck skating

The descent like the ascent was a bit of slog, but the wide views kept it interesting. 4 1/2 hours including a leisurely lunch with 750m of ascent and 10km distance.

Loom bench finished

 

Ski Sunday

Work has started on a new bench/stool for the loom from oak offcuts.

With snow still falling and avalanche risk at 4 above 1900m, we decided to head out on a low level tour up Cap de Bouirex. Plenty of fluffy stuff and quite tiring trail breaking. Alas as we reached the aerial the gentle snow turned to a blizzard!  We made our descent, in great snow but poor visibility, all the way back to the car.

 A brief opening in the weather as we exited the pines

snow!

Snow overnight and all day has dumped about 25cm of fine powder everywhere. Alas not enough to ski up Joubac but maybe somewhere a bit higher tomorrow. Above 1900m avalanche risk is 4, with about 60-70cm of fresh snow.

My latest weaving samples are off the loom and washed. Some pleasing designs, will probably use them to make a cushion for an oak stool I'm making for the new loom - the old one has a bench built in.