TT22 and Linda are sending their warmest holiday wishes from Iowa!
Shortly after TT22 arrived in the Driftless Area, the snow set in … time for Linda to take TT22 on a test run …
Linda is experimenting … for the cute Christmas basket she put 8 random hexagons of her pretty wool together (2 rows of 4 hexagons sewn together, then closed along the short sides to form a tube. Sew the tips on one end of the tube together to shape the bottom … it’s a 4-hexagons-in-the-round basket). Then, full the basket and let it dry over a small wooden square. Santa surely seems to be pleased!
Best wishes from all of us for a joyous, peaceful holiday weekend.
(Photo credits: All photos by Linda Canton. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)
Congratulations! Linda Canton in Iowa will be our last TT22 host this year, for December.
Linda and her husband Dan live in the very unique Driftless Area of north-east Iowa. She writes about herself “We are an off-grid family, living in a fixed up timber-frame barn (well, still working on it). We are both recently retired (mostly … I substitute as a bus driver), and loving it.”
They share their home with “pandemic puppy” Tex (he just turned 2), a Texas Heeler who keeps them on their toes and outside, hiking their woods and trails. Linda’s comment on the photo: “He barely tolerated the photo session…can’t you hear him thinking – you gotta be kidding, Mom …”
Linda on the topic of hobbies: “How long do you have? Fixing up old places (a turn of the century Norwegian log cabin, our barn/home), cutting wood, stacking wood, hauling wood, burning wood (just kidding … we heat with wood), spinning fiber, knitting (see my favorite felted mittens from last year), making braided rugs, sewing … learner of much, master of none. But it sure is fun to try!
Some of Linda’s handspun yarn.
Linda’s favorite knitted, felted mittens.
Linda and her husband love fixing old places, including this Norwegian cabin.
About her pin-loom experience and plans Linda writes “Never used a hexagon loom, have tried to buy one, but they are (always) out of stock! Popular buggers. I do have an old 2 inch and 4 inch Weavette, along with a pile of squares. After reading a Little Looms magazine, I have set my sights a bit higher than acrylic squares … What would I like to make with the TURTLE? Don’t know yet … make some hexagons and see what shapes I can put together … a hat? Mittens? A sweater? I’m excited to see what I may make! I certainly have lots of yarn …”
TT22’s adventures of living off-the-grid with Linda, Dan, and Tex this December will be shared here on the blog … stay tuned!
(Photo credits: All photos except title are by Linda Canton. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)
Here we are … 2022 is coming to an end … there is one more opportunity to host TT22 during the final month of the year, December !
If you are interested and available to “entertain” TT22 for a month, please leave a comment in the comments section below.
No hexagon weaving experience necessary … anyone who wants to weave hexagons is welcome.
Signup is open now, and will end Thursday, December 1st, at 6 pm US CDT. I will contact the new host and make the announcement shortly after I hear back from him/her.
If you would like to know more about how this challenge works, please see the plan.
Meanwhile … In case you’re wondering why we’re running a little bit late … TT22 is currently on a 4-day cruise, visiting Catalina! TT22 and Charleen want to share this photo with us, and they write “The tile and the turtle card were two things we purchased on Catalina, and the towel animal is something that the cabin stewards make for the guests and put in the cabins. Tomorrow we’re going to see Ensenada …”
Photo credits: All photos are by Charleen Rice. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
TT22 traveled all across the States (again) to California, where Char’s Liquid Amber tree provided the proper autumn welcome.
Char had not woven on a hexagon pin loom before, so she and TT22 spent some quality time watching the instructions video on YouTube together, after which the first hexagon – using the pretty yarn that October host Chris had sent along – was a breeze.
She writes: “It was so much fun making hexies that so far I have made five more, with a start on the sixth. I have a project in mind to use them in but want to make a few more hexies before seeing if it will work.”
It looks like the November team is off to a good start. Well, we all know that this is because Saphire is supervising! Keep up the good work, and have fun!
(Photo credits: All photos by Char Rice. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)
Congratulations! Char Rice in California will be our TT22 host for November.
Char lives with her husband and certain feline pets (see below) in southern California.
Her very broad crafting skills and interests include working with beads (wirework, off-loom bead weaving and a little loom work), and she knits (mostly lace, aran, and fair isle), weaves (she has a floor loom, rigid heddle, and a plethora of smaller looms), and braids (kumihimo). She also likes to travel and is interested in photography, fresh flower arranging, and rose and Epiphyllum gardening.
Char says about herself that she “[has] been interested in fiber arts for quite a while but didn’t really learn and become interested in weaving techniques until I was in college.”
8-Shaft waffle weave study, worked on Char’s floor loom.
Meet Rella, Saphyre, and Kori … the dedicated guards of all things fiber and wire.
An example of Char’s tapestry work.
Char continues her father’s passion for collecting and growing Epiphyllum plants.
Travel impression from visiting Catalina.
A walk in the neighborhood.
Asked if she has worked on TURTLE looms before, she answers “Not yet but will be this month!” She plans to make “something having to do with fall and/or flowers.”
You can followChar on Ravelry, but TURTLE mascot Charlene (yes, she’s so proud to have a namesake!) wants to be in the picture, so we’ll probably do a blog or two this month, right here …
Meanwhile …
TT22 is currently on its way to California … October host Chris put TT22 to work one more time before packing up, to get enough hexies for this adorable table runner (Chris is not only speedy in court transcription, but wove up a weaving record with this one!)
(Photo credits: All photos except title and last are by by Charleen Rice. Last picture by Chris Thornton. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)
