Herb Sale

May 12th was the Herb Society of America Philadelphia Chapters annual herb sale. I was at it two years ago and had a wonderful time. I was not able to get to it last year, but got there this year. It was a gorgeous day that we got to see friends from the last time we where there and of course meet new ones.

The herb sale is held at an art museum and school. So every year the pottery school holds a sale the same day as the herb sale. I like to see if there’s always next year.they have any flower pots for sale (which they do) to plant one of my new herbs in. How cool is it to purchase a piece of pottery and then be standing next to the artist in line for the sale to start. She was so humbled by us taking a picture her with me, that was just to cool. So thank you Diane for making a beautiful piece for my eucalyptus.      

I have said this before you need to get to this sale early, if not you will be way in the back of the line. We get there between eight thirty and nine in the morning. By about quarter after nine the line is fifty people long or more and ten o’clock the line is going around the corner. So if you plan on going you should get there early or if you don’t mind standing in the back of the line. You can come on by later.

 

The sale its self is a decent size, with almost any herb you can think of. I even got soapwort this year (yes). Many deferent types of lavender, mint, basil, thyme, rosemary, scented geraniums and that's of the top of my head. They also offer a lunch a herb class and flea market area, plus they have antique rose as well. So there is plenty to see and purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

This year I only got a few herbs rosemary, eucalyptus, soapwort, comfrey, roman chamomile, cat nip (which Tucker already ate), lavender and mint – rose scented geranium (I thought it was strictly rose scented, but not bad to say the least). And after about twenty minute to a  half hour you are left with this. Not much left, well there's always next year.  

Seedlings

 

Just a quick post on my seedlings. They are doing very well this year, I’m going to have to transplant some of them they are growing so well. I was able to harvest some cotton last year. The green cotton to be exact, so I didn’t have to buy and seed for the green. I did get brown and white cotton. My understanding is that the white cotton is a short season variety and I should have that cotton by August. We will see, below are so pics of the seedlings.

This is the Cotton  

This is a mixture of herbs both dying and eatable plus some flowers.

                                                   This is a mixture veggies

Chickens

This past weekend (Saturday to be exact) one year ago is when we got our chicks to start egg production. This past year has been a real learning experience,we did have some losses especially overwinter (fox). Now we are looking for laying hens to increase the flock. The picture to the right is the little guys last year,they are now a year old and can be called Hens and Roosters.

 

 

I did go to the sale on Saturday, but this year they had very little.There where no chicks at all, they did have  chickens but I couldn’t examine them. So I decided not to get anything at that sale. But I am still looking. To the left is a picture of the chicks all grown up. This was taking in the fall of last year so they weren't laying any eggs yet.

 

 

 

So how about those eggs you may be asking. Yes they did start to lay eggs about four weeks ago.Since they are new to this they aren’t all laying regularly yet. But that will come with time. As you can see they are the blue green color they are supposed to be. What I wasn’t expecting was the peach color or the speckled. We have gotten about three dozen eggs from them thus far. But as I said earlier they aren’t all laying and the one that just started aren’t on a regular schedule yet. So in a few more weeks everyone should be laying. When we get more hens we should get two to three dozen of eggs a day.

 

I thought it would be fun to have a picture year in review I hope you enjoy it.

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Canvas Weave

I was looking through one of my weaving books on loom controlled lace and I was intrigued by canvas weave. I know you are thinking of a tent but that’s not the type of weave I’m talking about. This weave structure is used to make Aida cloth, so in reality if you cross stitch or do needle point you could make your own Aida cloth.

This is a very simple weave to create and works on the principle of basket weave. With the exception that there is a tabby stitch on the out side of the basket weave. The tabby is your grounding stitch and the basket weave creates the lace effect.

Another advantage with canvas weave is you get a doubled thread in the ground weave for even more textural interest. The double thread is unavoidable in true canvas weave so you need to plan accordingly when you are designing a piece with canvas weave in it.

As I mentioned before this is very simple to weave and very quick. My goal on this piece was to have just a subtle variation with the colors, which I achieved. But I also got a little extra texture element the neutral threads are just the slightest bit thicker. Which give this piece a perfect effect.

The book I was talking about is Handwoven Laces by Donna Muller and covers many other lace structures. This last picture shows a close up of the piece

Lace Days

A little over a week ago I had the advantage of going to Lace Days in Lafayette NJ. This event was put on by the Lost Art Lacers I had a wonderful time. They had displays of lace, try your hand at lace making and supplies galore. I was able to get some new books and bobbins, plus some other things that I needed to continue with my lace exploration. This was a small event but still packed with a lot to see. I was even able to meet up with some friends so all in all it was a good day.

 

This was the show its self to the left is where you can get all the supplies.

 

 

 

 

 

That would be me really examining some bobbins.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                             

Micheline, Lynda and myself I look horrible by the way. I look much better in person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the try your own tables.

The Weavers Studio Doubleweave

I had recently purchased the book The weavers Studio Doubleweave by Jennifer Moore. This book is packed with information for the beginner and intermediate alike. A very well written book covers the basics all the way up to more advanced doubleweave structures.

The book begins on giving you suggestions on how to warp your loom for doubleweave, then moves on to a sampler which covers ten four shaft double weave techniques. From there Jennifer go’s into more complicated four shaft and works up to eight shaft techniques.

The sampler includes two separate layers, folded (doublewidth) cloth, tubular, color and weave, stitch cloth, stuffed horizontal ribs (Pique), quilting, top layer laces and doubleweave pick-up. There are also several variations of some of these techniques.

If you are a visual learning person you are in luck, Jennifer also created two videos that covers chapters three and four of the book, which is the sampler, so if you would like to have your own private doubleweave class that’s one way you can go. Both videos are step by step like you are in a classroom setting, in your home. A very excellent way to learn a new weave structure. If you have the book the videos are not essential since all the information is in the book, but they are a nice addition to have in your weaving library.

After you finish your sampler then you move into different applications of what you just learned and start to create sample items to use around the house or give as gifts.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to explore the endless possibilities of doubleweave.

Seeds 2011

 

I have been waiting on posting my seed inventory, because I’m still waiting for some seeds to come in that are back ordered. Since there not here yet I will just post about them any way.

Since I have a lot of seed left from last year, this year I could have a little more fun and get seeds that I haven’t got for one reason or the other. I got a lot of heirloom fruit and medicinal seeds this year. With that I got new dying herbs, a mix of veggies some I have had and some new, cotton and a new beet (to me any way) called a mangel. A mangel is a very large beet that can grow up to twenty pounds. While the beet is young you can use it for the table or let it mature and then use it for animal fodder. I got it for the animal fodder, but of course I am curious what it tastes like so I will have to try some while they are young.

This year has been hard with the winter weather, so I hope that I will be able to get out in the garden at a reasonable time this year. This years goal is also to start raised beds, I would like to be able to get working on them next month so I can plant the early crops in April. We will have to wait and see on that one.

Below you will find the list of seeds I got this and hopefully the rest of the seeds will get here before its next winter.

• Blueberry
• American Current
• Elderberry
• Goji Berry
• Hawthorn
• Hardy Kiwi BO
• Quince BO
• Tea BO
• Pink Banana (fruit bearing)
• Mammoth Red Mangel
• Red Romaine Lettuce
• Yellow Bedstraw
• Dyers Broom
• Indigo (you need new seed every year)
• Fullers Teasel
• Opium Poppy
• Red Foliated White Cotton
• Sea Island Brown Cotton
• Cosmic Purple Carrot
• Cossack Pineapple Ground Cherries
• Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
• Golden Pascal Celery
• Hopi Blue Dent Corn
• Large American Flag Leek
• Red & Yellow Cheese Pepper
• Viroflay Spinach
• Pink Stuffer Tomato
• Principe Borghese Tomato
• Large Leaf Cilantro
• Tall Deluxe Mixture Snapdragons
• Bird and Butterfly Garden