I'm over the halfway mark on the current warp so it is time to get the next warp designed.  This warp will be two shades of beige and the fine linen from Lithuania will be woven on it.  I think the two cones of linen will finish off one warp, although I may run out.  In that case I have some other fairly fine linen I can switch to using, or I could complete the rest of the warp with one of the 2/16 cotton yarns I'm trying to use up.  If that is the case, I will adjust the tie up so that there are fewer interlacements.   The linen is finer than the 2 ..read more

  Yesterday the auction for the copy of Handloom Weaving Technology closed so last night I listed another copy.  (Allison had 3 copies in her collection.) Not all of the books are getting bids, and eBay automatically re-lists them.  Right now I'm letting the listings stand without change in hopes that word will reach that one person who wants that book. The challenge these days is that the cost of shipping has increased exponentially, especially to the US (given Mr. Trump pulled the US out of the postal agreement - just in case you want to know who to blame for that huge incre ..read more

  The guild auction begins to 'end' today as the first lot of books I listed reach the time to count up and see what has sold and what is left.  I think I took 5 days to list all the books so each day will see the final count for that day's listings.  eBay says they will automatically re-list anything that doesn't sell, so the auction will continue for at least another 7 days beyond this current offering. I'm really hoping the above two books find good homes.  And I'd like to remind US bidders that the prices you see for the upset price is *Canadian* dollars and therefo ..read more

  Blurb is offering 20% off of books on April 21 and 22, 2024 if you use the coupon code "FLASHAPRIL" Books have been on my mind more than usual the past few weeks as I sorted, inventoried, put values on, then listed the guild books for auction on eBay. As I looked at Allison's carefully collected library, I thought about why she would choose the books she did.  Some of the books are 'old', some I remember when they were first published.  Some I own - or used to.  Over the years I've culled my library on several occasions as I ran out of space to keep them.  ..read more

  Selling sets, only, of these two titles There are two more copies of Allen Fannin's book Handloom Weaving Technology.  I'm just waiting for a few days to see if the one copy sells or if I look elsewhere to sell those. There are a few more gems in the last batch of books I've just uploaded, so I hope they can find new homes. eBay automatically re-lists any titles that do not sell, so I will likely leave those up for one more round.  Whatever doesn't sell, I'll have to try somewhere else.   I either have most of the books Allison had, or already sold mine as bo ..read more

  There are some 'treasures' in amongst Allison's books.  Like this little handbook.  While I am not really a spinner, even *I* know about Mabel Ross and the contributions she made to the world of hand spinning.  This little coil back book is in good condition and if I were so inclined to take spinning seriously, I'd likely buy this one for myself. Likewise, if I were still dyeing, I'd probably buy this one for myself, as well.  I seem to recall that dyers consider this book very useful.  This copy is really in 'like new' condition, although I've been 'conserv ..read more

  If you love books and you love fine textiles, you will absolutely *love* this book.  Plus it was signed by Mr. Larsen to Allison when he was in town for the ANWG conference in 1997. I was given a copy in celebration of achieving the master certificate from the Guild of Canadian Weavers by my mentors.  I confess I have never actually read it - yet.  Every time I open it, I become entranced by the astounding textiles that Jack Lenor Larsen chose to profile for this delicious publication. There is one copy listed in the guild eBay auction.  But, there are other books ..read more

  I have just finished listing the next books for the guild auction, including this one by Allen Fannin.  It is the first edition of the book and there are 3 copies.  The new listings should appear in a few hours. One copy was Allison's personal copy, and as I was examining the book prior to writing the description, I discovered a letter from Allen Fannin to Allison tucked into the back of the book.   Allen rarely if ever signed his books.  He said that if his signature on a book added value to it, he only wanted to do it for those people who had helped him prod ..read more

  Yesterday I received the contract for the first of the articles I agreed to write for School of Sweet Georgia. I had been mulling over what I wanted to say for a couple of weeks without coming to any conclusions, but the night before I thought I'd found a good opening. Generally my opening sentence is like the thread that Hansel and Gretel (in some versions) used to make their way through the woods to find their way back home.  For me, it's the thread I follow to reach where I want to end. Once I'd signed the contract (with a slightly earlier due date than we'd originally discuss ..read more

  After a week of delay I finally got to the loom this morning. I discovered a 'problem' with the threading, but nothing dire enough to scrap the warp and re-thread it, especially when I'm using a colour that isn't going to show off the design all that much.  There are some angles where the design doesn't actually show at all.  It's like 'damask' - dependent upon the light shining differently on the warp and weft to be seen. The motif is large - what is showing here is the end of the first towel and the first few picks on the second.  Mostly what you can see is the tail e ..read more