current projects

This weekend Ive been working on a pewter snowflake, but it is not working out so well yet... so I put in some time on these veil pins topped with birds. They are inspiring- what next- acorns? shields? I know! how about little ships!?

Beautiful Dogora Scarf

I did a scarf out of the borzoi

fur I spun and it turned out

great!

Here are the photos. what do

you think? I am going to do a

couple of nicer photos with a

better setup.

Dogora!

I finished the borzoi fur I was spinning. After the yarn is spun, then it has to be washed and hung in skeins with a heavy weight on them in order to set the twist, and since my shop is rather cold it takes several days to dry out. I use the metal window sash weights we found in our walls when we remodled our kitchen, they are perfect for that!

I am not sure what I am going to make out of all this. I am not sure I have enough for a scarf, so I will probably make a few small items, picture frame, key chain, or maybe a knitted hat.

If anybody has a long haired dog, please save me your brushings to spin! I am ready to spin more different breeds. I really want to try Alaskan Malamute, and Berniese Mountain dog. Online they call this Cheingora, but I think I like calling it Dogora, especially since I read about the 1960's movie of the same name in the Godzilla vein. Cant wait to watch it. Attack of Dogora!

And now for something completely different

I made a loom today! I had the plan in my head and I knew it was just going to be a simple loom, similar to a tapestry loom. I wanted the width to be adjustable so I put it together with bolts with wing nuts and made the short sides longer than the sample I made, so I can add extra holes later, and weave wider panels.

I have been spinning dog fur and I have had the idea of making scarves out of the fur for people as keepsakes to remember a favorite pet. Dog fur or rather some dog fur is really angora- like in its softness. I just finished spinning several skeins of Borzoi fur. I did a test sample on my new loom just to see how it worked, and it went well. I will try weaving a scarf in some dog fur yarn on my new loom soon!

1 project winding down two more starting up

I finished the 200 fishplates for the Baronial banquet saturday, now I have to file off the knob where I clipped off the sprue, and project done. I may ask for some help finishing polishing the sprue off.

Then I did a load of work on Maxine's new garb for baronial banquet. this is the sketch. Her birthday is the day before the banquet, so we are bringing her freind Stevie, and we will have a lovely time. the under dress is a paleish blue, with grey wool cuffs and hem panel, edged with cream color ribbon. I will be sewing small pearls into the center of each diamond. and the headgear will be a challenge. Rus-style with dangling pearls at the temples. If I get to it I will make some red shoes too.

Mongolian boots are another project I want to put some time in on. I am still undecided if I am going to use poodle felt, of if I am going to figure out how to felt sheep. my last attempt was such a failure I am scarred, or maybe just scared.