hippity hoppity

Well, we've watched videos and we've read library books and we've looked at websites, but there were still a few things that were unclear to us when it comes to warping a loom. But then we headed for Webs yesterday morning for a free loom dressing demonstration held by Barbara Elkins. Seeing somebody warp a loom in real life, from beginning to end, finally filled in the missing pieces of the puzzle!

There were few enough folks in attendance that we each got a chance to try the steps and get comfortable with how things work, but enough of us for there to be a good variety of questions. Barbara is a patient, knowledgeable, and entertainingly opinionated weaver. She is clearly tickled by the opportunity to bring some new weavers into the fold. You can also tell how much she enjoys testing out the newest and most sophisticated computerized looms Webs sells, as well as traveling to install them for customers.

I can't quite believe it myself, but now that the warping board is no longer scary (ha!), we bought some cones of perle cotton (yahoo for the Webs gift certificate in our stash since Christmas) and dove right in when we got home. We didn't get very far with the warping board because it was time for egg dyeing -- artistes at work ;-) -- and this morning's egg hunt was long and challenging, but I'm sure we'll get back to the warping process soon and it'll be full speed ahead because we finally have a clue!

Leah started cross-stitching this sweet bunny over a year ago. She's been working hard on it, hoping to get it finished in time for Easter this year, but all the other good stuff got in the way. Still, it's a cheerful project (more so than would be indicated by this semi-blurry pic taken in incandescent light at night) and I think it's worth putting up here in its current state because she has worked many hours to get it to this point. Maybe it'll be done in time for Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail in 2008!