My Pandemic Secret Weapon- Cary Quilting

 I like many others have exhausted my usual arsenal of coping devices during this pandemic and political season.  The combination of increased work and life stress and limited opportunities to socialize and commiserate in person has been exhausting.  Top that with my long loved husband being a conservative Republican.  Oy Vey!

But this post is one of gratitude for the big and little things that get us through. Like Cary Quilting Company. As my interest in stitching developed, this store was a lovely distraction. In the worst of lockdown, you could order a bag of scraps, fat quarters or whatever and pick it up curbside.  This was such a treat to have a bag of surprises to grab and take home to play with.

Within this happy space is my primary destination.   Just digging through this bin during my lunch hour on a discouraging day at work was my remedy many days.

Scraps are sold by the ounce.  I found when too down or tired to craft, I found satisfaction just washing and ironing them.

This store has been a lifesaver for me. Both visiting and playing with my scrappy treasures.

Thankfully I  have moved beyond just ironing scraps.  The staff at the store helped me pick out fabric. I am making a quilt for Riley's birthday. 

This long ago pieced and forgotten throw has been hand quilted and bound.  Need to work on those mitered corners though.  Thank you Cary Quilting for getting this weaver through a season of despair.

 

We Are Not Okay

 I refuse to write "in these challenging times" and my ability to spoon out an encouraging platitude or two is exhausted.  Things are not fine, may not be fine anytime soon.  As we have been told "it is what it is."  Most of us have questioned our coping abilities but the overall situation we are in has been described as a crisis, extraordinary, unprecedented, historical, a castrophy, a hot mess and a dumpster fire.  If you aren't struggling to find your equilibrium you aren't paying attention.  Those thoughts prompted this.

As you can see, my design process is a rough one.  An idea, a basic plan and rudimentary sketch.  The beauty of wedge weave for me, is the ability to let it develop intuitively on 

the loom.  I love the distortion and the serendipity of not knowing how it will morph when off the loom.

This tapestry is a wool warp with linen and handspun newspaper.   The sett is variable, meaning the newspaper is woven at 8 ends per inch and the linen is woven at 16 ends per inch.  This is really easy to accomplish on the Mirrix Saffron.

I purchased an 18 inch rod at the hardware store to extend the Saffron to 18 inches.  This finished tapestry is 17 inches by 5 inches.

I am so excited to see the profusion of lovely goldenrod on the side of the roads here.  Such beauty and promise.  I dyed a batch last weekend and have a pot bubbling now.

Be well my friends and remember. 

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."

Gandhi