Jason Collingwood Workshop in Shopiere, WI - ShowNTell Friday night

Blog posting number two from Vavning Studio, in Shopiere, WI.

On Friday night, some of the weavers came back after dinner for a little ShowNTell session.   They had various items they had made and wished to share with the others in the group.  Many of us are not just rug weavers, but skilled in creating other areas of Fiber Arts.

I thought some of these pics would be interesting to my fiber fun blog readers.

Ellen helping Juanita show some of her woven rugs

Another one of Juanita's colorful creations in shaftswitching

Ellen modeled some of Juanita's woven garments

John showed two of his newest wool rugs in twills

John had some totes and mats too, done in creative patterns

John's wonderful woven blankets, with Juanita looking on in admiration

 Judith had some wonderful free form inlay 

weaving on a scarf

Jan had some lovely rugs to share, each one nicer than the next

 Look at this great saddle blanket she made! 

I really like this rug done in 3 end block weaves

Ellen was showing some samplers 

and a fun scarf she wove with novelty eyelash and metallic yarns

And her scarf in tencil has such gorgeous hand dyed colors...

Last, but not least, are Jim and Norma Burkett of http://www.paandmasrugs.com/   Norma demonstrated how to get every last inch of fabric out of a pair of jeans.  Denim rugs are their specialty, and they are known all over for their wonderful rugs.   Norma was done zipzipziping up the jeans with a little electric cutter in no time.  The remains of what is leftover is a perfect product to market to Biker Chicks as a pair of G String Blue Jeans!   LOL

So that is what did on Friday night .... now it's Saturday night and I am pooped.  Saturday's pics are still in the camera yet.

Whew.. what a busy busy day!   It's been hot hot hot in the 90's and very humid. We just aren't use to this at all!   Steve and the dogs are hanging out in the motorhome, and started the generator for a while to cool off with the air conditioners.

It was soooo hot that the afternoon sun on the side of the motorhome caused the fridge to warm up.  We had to prop open the back of the fridge's compartment door and stick a fan inside to cool it.  Steve is going to get some small 12 volt fans to mount in there permanently.  For now it's okay and our food is safe again. 

I am crawling off to bed now, and tomorrow is only a half day of weaving, and as everyone finishes up, I am cooking them a meal to send them on their way home.

(hope it cools off!)

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Jason Collingwood Workshop in Shopiere, WI - Friday

Ahhhh just a quick blog post this morning and few pics before I start my day.  Woke up at 4a.m. to a cacophony of bird calls next to the open window of the motorhome.  We are parked right next to a bunch of thick cedar trees that are LOADED with birds this morning!   It was warm last night, so we had all of the windows open.  The noise is almost deafening, I kid you not!

In this photo you can see the cedar trees and how close we are parked.   Steve and our friend Jim are unloading a 10x20 canopy they are buying from us.  I used to use it for my fiber demos, and they will now add it to theirs they already have for their rug shows.

Here is Juanita's studio, called Vavning --- located in Shopiere, WI near Beloit, just north of Rockford, Ill.  She purchased this wonderful church in a tiny village along Turtle Creek.

 https://sites.google.com/site/vavningstudio/home

Once a year, for the past nine years, she has hosted a guest weaver from the UK, Jason Collingwood, to come to the studio and teach a 3 day workshop on rug weaving.

http://www.rugweaver.co.uk/

Jason is a very patient teacher... and helps out among each of us weavers personally after the lecture portion of the morning is done.  We are learning 3 End Block Weaves and ShaftSwitching this weekend.  I will post more pics of student's actual work later today.

Juanita is working on her large shaftswitching loom in the photo on the right.  On the left is my area, near the kitchen.  I am the "Kitchen Wench" taking care of the coffee, tea, snacks and cleanup.  Then on Sunday I will cook a meal for everyone before the leave.

We have 11 students this year (counting Juanita and myself)  and her looms all get moved to the sides, so the student's own table and floor looms can be situated down the center to work on.

This year we have three guys weaving, as well as women.  Did you know many years ago, weaving was a man's job, and the women were just in charge of preparing the materials by spinning the yarns and dyeing the skeins.  A man's profession was weaving, tailoring clothing and maintaining the looms.

Juanita's studio was filled once again with laughter and learning, fun and fibers! 

Last night we had a Show N Telll, but I will do a separate post on that.

Steve is being Mr. Handyman and doing some odd jobs and repairs for the studio.  Part of our way to pay back for being allowed to camp right here in the lot next to the studio.  Saves on hotel fees or camping fees, and lets us in close to the action.


It's after 7am here so I have to run in and get the coffee pot and tea pot going, make up some deviled eggs and get ready for the day.  She leaves me a key so I can open the studio to the early risers who wish to get in more weaving before the classes start at 9 o'clock.

Then it's time to weave weave weave!



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Mothers Day - Gushy Grandchildren Post

Yes, this is a Gushy Grandchildren Post! 

I get to post it because it was Mother's Day and I earned it. 

LOL   

Sorry to all my RVer blog readers looking for a gem or nugget of RV stuff.
Sorry to my Fiber Fanatical Friends looking for weaving or knitting or spinning.  
Sorry, it's Grandmuddah Pfun Post Time!

I woke up on Sunday morning by getting a nice Mother's Day back rub, then my coffee delivered to my bedside.  Perfectly cooled with exactly three ice cubes and big dollop of French Vanilla creamer.  What luxury!   After some lay-around time, opening cards I had gotten in the mail, my sneaky guy un-hid the hidden planters he had gotten me!

The one on the left is a begonia and some pretty purple flowers a bit like pansies mixed in the basket.  The one on the right is hanging roses!  I have never seen a hanging rose plant before!   Mixed in on top are some tiny blue flowers too.   Steve said the nursery lady told him the roses can be planted later to make a climbing trellis type bush!   So I think I will pass the roses on to Erin to plant in their yard once I am done with it here on the deck .  Soooo pretty and just a riot of color for the gazebo overlooking the river.

We got ready and headed on over to our son Dan and daughter-in-law Heather's house for a Mother's Day cookout!  I had my crockpot of calico beans along and they smelled so good all the way there.  Heather's family was there too.  They made up grilled brats and chicken and lots of nice salads and desserts.   We got in some fun time with grandchildren Mason and Allegra!  My goodness he is already 6 weeks old---

ALLEGRA                                        MASON

Grandfaddah got in some playtime in Allegra's new sandbox.  

She helped her daddy build it, and she even helped to paint it!

After our meal was done, we helped set up Allegra's swimming pool.  I hauled some buckets of hot water from the sink, to help offset the cold water from the hose.  She didn't care if it was ALL cold.  She was having fun and entertained us with her antics. Silly Tiger kept digging in the water, I think he was looking for a way to China.

Our daughter-in-law Heather posed under the tree by the fence for some Mother's Day photos.  The shadows were covering little Mason, and I tried to lighten them up as much as I could.  Heather said we know now for his baptism pics in a few weeks to NOT pose there.

It was a delightful day, and I got in my hugs! 

On Monday morning, daughter Erin picked me up and we drove down to Green Bay.  The grandchildren Chelsea and Clayton were in the back seat, and Chelsea said she was very happy to have her Grandmuddah riding in her car!  We met up with daughter Heather and grandson Jameson.  We all headed over to Colburn Park in Green Bay.   I used to take the girls here when they were small, and the girls nicknamed it "Squirrel Park" back then.  They have a great hill for sledding in the winter.  Sometimes I would drive over to the park with the motorhome in the evenings and let them play with their sleds on the hill.  I would heat up hot cocoa and make a pizza for the kids.  It was wonderful to have the motorhome there for bathroom breaks, drying out mittens, or changing wet boots and socks for something dry to go back out on the hill again.  We would stay well after dark, until the park closed at 9pm.  Then I would drive back the 2 miles or so to our house in Green Bay.  What fun!  So this park holds fond memories for our family.

Back to our picnic:

CHELSEA                               CLAYTON                         JAMESON       

Erin had picked up a picnic lunch from Erberts & Gerberts, my most favorite sub shop! We spread out the picnic blanket and had a great time.  That old red plaid stadium blanket was used for picnics way back before the girls were even born, and it's over 30 years old now, still going strong. The weather was perfect, a slight breeze, temps in the 70's and low humidity.  

The kids had a blast on the slides and teeter-totter.  Up and down and around they went on all the playground toys.  I can not think of a more pleasant way to spend a day. Ahhhhh

We took turns taking care of little Clayton, so everyone got a chance to hold him, feed him, burp him and even change him.  What fun.  We were all on Mommy Duty, and enjoyed the giggles, laughter and shouts of joy from the two pre-schoolers--- and the coooos from the baby!

The kids shared yogurt raisins with each other as a snack, 

and then shared hugs and kisses with little Clayton.  

And, of course, I got in my hugs and kisses too! 

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Motorohome Modifications - PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRIES EMS

It's a quiet Saturday around here... no Open Houses for this weekend.  Tomorrow I am very fortunate to be invited to our son and daughter-in-law's home for a cookout for Mother's Day!   I am actually really a "step mom" to Dan, though we never use that term with any of our kids.  I am so grateful that our son and dear daughterinlaw include me right along with the other Grandmothers for this special day.  Awwwwwww   I also get to cuddle Mason and play with Allegra!

I am bringing along a pot of Calico Beans....   got them simmering up a day early in the crock pot, and will put in the fridge overnight.  They always taste better the next day.

(before you have to ask, here is the recipe)

CALICO BEANS

**warning** I am a dumper kind of cook, not a precise recipe person!!!

First, brown up some ground beef, bout half a pound, and chopped onion, and drain. Then either fry up about 4 strips of bacon, and cut or break into small pieces.  Or use those great bags or small jars of Hormel real bacon bits already made up! 

Now dump that and all this into a crock pot:

1 can kidney beans
1 can baked beans
1 can butter beans
a big squirt of ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
dollop of molasses
squirt of steak sauce
double squirt of BBQ sauce (we like Sweet Baby Rays)

season to taste
you can heat it up quick on the stove or
let it go a few hours on the slow cooker
yummmmmmmmm
some folks add grape jelly...
some folks add mustard...
some folks add vinegar...

Next week I am going out to a planned luncheon with both daughters and their kids too.  So it's more of a Mother's Week instead of a Mother's Day.  I realize that my daughters are now Mothers of their own.   They can do things with their own families on Sunday and their spouses's moms too.  I am not one of those mothers who demand a day of honor for me on the actual day.  Anytime around the day is fine! LOL

On to motorhome things!

We have kicked around the idea of getting a hard wired in Surge Protector for our motorhome.  We have two portable Surge Guard surge protectors circuit analyzers, one for 50 amp power pedestals and one for 30 amp power pedestals.  They work fine (we will be selling them if anyone wants to buy them from us-- contact me at pfundt@gmail.com for info before I put them on Ebay)   Only used a few times each, stored back in the package each time to keep them clean. New they were about $100 each.  Will sell for $50 each including shipipng.

30 amp portable Surge Guard                            50 amp portable Surge Guard

We figured before living in our rig full time, we should invest in the more expensive hardwired-in version. We have heard of folks getting power surges or spikes from their generators or from mis-wired pedestals in parks.  We don't often camp with hookups, but for the times that we do, it's nice to have the protection.   If we run the generator, we would be protected with a wired-in version.  Something the portable one out on the post can't do for us.

We did a little research, asked a few groups of RVers and finally decided on ordering the Progressive Industries EMS-LCHW50.   Of all the places we looked, the best price was at Camping World where they had a sale going on.  $255 (saved $110)   plus I looked up a coupon code for $5 off and only $6 shipping.  Not too bad.  This was ordered online at:

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/surge-protector-with-voltage-protection-hardwired-amp/9608

(both the 30 amp and 50 amp units were on sale)

When that gets here, I will take some pics of where Steve is going to wire it in our electrical service bay.

We are still going through a few things around the house to dispose of.  Imagine keeping your financial records since 1984?  Yup, I had some of those.  Also, I used to be a Real Estate Broker, so I had customer file transactions dating back to 1990!   (supposed to keep those for 10 years)    We stood in the garage with boxes of files with the shredder buzzing along until all were disposed of.  Steve took the huge compacted pile in a big lawn/leaf bag down to the woods and burned it!   Here is the start... it flamed up and then died out fast.  Not much for a paper fire.  Sigh.

See all of the wild trilliums in bloom??

Speaking of blooms, remember the doggie planter that I repainted in a few blogs back?  Well, I found some pretty African Violets to put in him!   Got him all planted up last night.  There... sooo pretty!  His head and tail are on springs so they "wobble" when you pet his head.  The grandkids get a kick outta him.  This adorable doggie planter I will take along in the motorhome.  He can ride along on the dash between our two consoles, and be brought outside on nice days too.  

It's almost noon, and Mr. Steveio is out there doing some stuff to the motorhome, and loading up some gear for next weekend.  I better get out there and see what mischief he is up to.  I think he is putting on the two Maxxair vent covers I painted last week.

Next weekend I have a weaving workshop to go to in Beloit area, so have a few things to load up.  Time to hit the road and have a nice getaway for a few days in the rig.  He can play around in the parking lot at the studio with minor repairs and upgrades while I am in my classes.   

About 6 years ago we were at the same workshop, and we had our Coachmen gas motorhome.  Steve went for a ride on our scooter to get a new filter for our generator, and drove down to Rockford, Illinois for the parts.  While there he happened to spot a pretty shiny blue Safari Serengeti diesel pusher rig and fell in LOVE with it.   Wonder what he will find this time?

Me and my Mom

THEN 

NOW

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!!

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