Aldered state of mind..................

What can I say - the move towards spring has been full. I have been struck by everything around me near bursting - the alder trees speak of this with their catkins changing ever gradually to their full colour as we enjoy the 'feathers' of alder, a backdrop against the hills that are still dusted with snow and it is all about the subtleties that express the need to design....

All in one day - from alders to raspberries to cloth...

And it continued into other designs.....I have had this scarf that I purchased from the guild sale, one, because it was woven by my friend Trudi and the other because I loved the bubble effect - using cotton and wool and then felting it a bit and the cotton  bubbles up - very cool.........and it was in the back of my mind for some time when during this 'aldered' state, I also came across a print that another friend of mine had - a birch tree forest. I made a warp of alpaca and a linen blend and on an 8 harness twill, in equal stripes attempted to weave my birches. In the weft I used a linen and an alpaca and wove a couple of yards and I love the drape and the effect - a gentle bubble, but I didn't want to full it too much more as it was a lovely weight. I realize that I have been in a natural mode as far as colour and I am limiting myself with colour and technique - going for the fibres and how they react with each other. I am loving linen and alpaca together - it just works.

And spring continued to burst - we were blessed with a beautiful grandson, Cale McNie, joining his sister, Belle Emily Rose and cousin Easton Witt - what can I say, except that the I didn't think I could feel so much more joy.

Oma welcomes Cale McNie

Lots more to come and I am working on it as we speak - the student work is outstanding!!!!!