Three years ago, "L" came to the studio with no weaving experience, newly retired, and with a lot of free time. You may remember that she said she didn't want to weave, she just came to help.
It wasn't long before I had a big rug to weave, and I needed her help on the other end of the loom.
She cringed, but she stepped up to the challenge, and it was just the first of many, many huge rugs that she has helped me make. She was pretty much a natural at it, and we are now a smoothly oiled machine working together on 7' wide rugs.
This week, she has been doing a weaving demonstration at the Washington County Fair.
She is very outgoing, and sociable, and there is NO ONE she can't carry on a conversation with.
Just sayin'.
After her first "big rug" with me on the Toika, she started weaving sock rugs. She caught on quickly, and since then has woven just about everything there is to weave in the array of rugs from Crazy as a Loom.
She has two looms at home, and she has made some dish towels, some scarves, and some awesome framed studies in black and white. Her own creation, I might add.
She has mastered this antique barn loom as well.
This loom is circa 1700's. Here is the braking system. There are little "knots" in the stick, that catch in those holes.
On the other end, the stick is holding the beam still in bigger holes. When it is time to advance the warp, she has to go back there and turn that beam by hand.
She has worked hard for three years, and she is definitely a bona fide weaver. I am proud of what she has done, and she should be.
Not to mention that she hates cats still, LUCKY THEM.
And she has single handedly made it possible for me to play hookey while having my head rearranged, taking care of everything at the studio, including 5 pesky cats.
And the best part is that she has become one of my best friends, someone I can always count on, no matter what.
She may blush, but she has a heart as big as they come.
The infamous "L" is really apprentice extraordinaire, Lois, a very special person.
I think you've graduated, girl.
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