Friday, February 20, 2009

Summer and Winter Eight Shaft Christmas Tree Pattern

The Summer and Winter Christmas trees which were my first project on the Louet Jane loom have been washed, pressed and cut up. I have just slipped one into the card stock to give you an idea of how they will look. They need a little something, something I think, so I’ll be adding some shiny embellishments before I mail them in December, but hey, I’m pretty much ready and only 10 months early! I’m thinking of adding seed beads as ornaments or perhaps a gold star to the top, not sure yet.

This is the draft for the cards which uses 8 shafts and 14 treadles, so it's perfect for the table loom.
Now onto what’s new in my studio….move over Lily Louet…it's seed time!

On the 15th we started our seeds. We put in 12 varieties of heirloom, organic tomatoes and surprisingly many are already showing leaves. I’m especially proud of these seedlings because I saved the seeds from last year's crop, only purchasing 2 new varieties to try out this year. We have also started onions, eggplant, peppers and Italian kale. We basically eat a Mediterranean diet, so these plants will be the basis of our food for the summer. My sister gave me a few heads of hard neck garlic last week and I thought what the heck and planted them too. Unbelievably they are inches high already, hopefully the snow will leave my garden soon, so I can bung them into the ground. I planted my real garlic crop last October, so if these grow it'll be a bonus.

My husband rigged up this great seed table using his saw horses and a square frame to hang the grow lights, so we’ll be fooling Mother Nature and turning the lights on for 12 hours a day to get a good head start for planting out in April.
WEAVING WORDS
The English word subtle is derived from the Latin word subtilis meaning finely woven.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such gorgeous trees! I love them! The goose eye variation of S&W is my favorite -- and I really love S&W pick up. The card stock is just perfect. Very elegant. Made a vow that I was going to be ahead of schedule (somehow) this year, and you are the perfect inspiration. I am coveting those cards!!

And seeds seeds seeds!! You're a woman after my own heart.

Speaking of which, thank you so much for your warm comment on my blog today. I felt it all the way over here.

xoxo
Jane

Bruce said...

Wow! You weren't kidding about getting a head start with your garden. What do you use as a planting medium? What temperature do you keep the nursery? I'd like to put my onions in, but the temperature drops below freezing on most nights. I can hardly wait to get my tomatoe seeds into some dirt, but I don't want to lose them by planting them too early. What a coward I am.

Life Looms Large said...

The Christmas trees look great - and that card stock is beautiful! Thanks for including the draft!

They would be fun to add ornaments to....and you still have all those months before Christmas! I'm impressed!!!

I'll count your garden as another sign of spring - which is eagerly anticipated around here!!

Sue

Sunrise Lodge Fiber Studio said...

Boy! You've really got it together having Christmas cards ready in February!!! :) They look beautiful and I would love to see what kind of embelishments you use on them;)

Every year my husband and I plan a garden.....it has yet to happen:) We live in the Catskill Mountains and it's very rocky! Best wishes with that garden!

bspinner said...

Your cards are beautiful. Thanks for including the pattern. Mind if I ask where you got your card stock?

Anonymous said...

where is the card stock from?

Life Looms Large said...

I'm pretty new to my weaving software....and new to blocks actually. (Although I just read a few articles, and I think I'm starting to understand them.)

Anyway, I was wondering if there was a way to just take the tree drawdown and put it in my software without recreating the whole thing there. It seems like it's a JPG file on your website. I think I need a WIF file?

Or, I understand if you don't want people downloading it. I don't mean to be pushy! I just really like trees!

Thanks!

Sue

Leigh said...

I love those S&W trees! Very interesting that you used the O's treadling and how it turned out. I will have a to add this to my list of things to try.

We had a new member join our guild and he showed us some of the Christmas cards he weaves every year, each being a variation of an evergreen tree. I need to join in this lovely tradition.

Lynnette said...

I'm glad you like the card stock. It was labeled for use for photograph inserts, but works well for this project. I am embarassed to say I bought it at 'WallyWorld' (WalMart) during the after Christmas sale!

skiingweaver said...

Oooh, for a larger yard... Someday. I love the sound of your garden! Fantastic! My Aunt Ruth is my tomato and broccoli source - I'm sure she's started her seedlings, too...