Sarafina In Waiting

Chu's Sarafina is a pretty tort doe. She went to the ARBA convention in Louisville last October and won the colored junior doe class, one of the biggest classes in the breed. There is a family history in doing well in conventions; her mother Chu's Starena won the white junior doe class in a convention a few years ago and her older brother Chu's Nolan won Best of Breed in the Louisville convention.

In a local show in November, Sarafina won English Angora Best of Breed and her senior leg three days after she reach 6 months old. It was a pleasant surprise because there were more mature girls in the class and in the breed. Since that time, Sarafina has been sitting at home waiting for her chance to go back to shows again. At 8 months old, she is about ready to be competitive in the breed and on the Best In Show table.

Peg Weaving

Similar to stick weaving, peg weaving uses a stand to put in the pegs. The one at the top is more suitable for making rugs; the pegs can be put into different holes to make rugs with various widths and accommodate the size of the material used. The bottom one is more suitable for making scarves. One can choose different number of pegs to make scarves of different width.

The pegs are very similar to the sticks in the stick weaving. Pegs are usually shorter and the holes are drilled closer to the middle of the peg while the sticks have holes closer to the edge. Put the warp yarn through the holes and then put the pegs on the stand to start weaving.

Weave in a horizontal "8" pattern, same method used in stick weaving. When it's time to push down the yarn, take the pegs off the stand.

The back side of the pegs and the stand.

The front side of the pegs and the stand.

Save some yarn for making tassels, use up the yarn to finish the scarf.

Push the yarn down on the warp and take all pegs off the stand.

Cut the warp yarn from the pegs.

Put in the tassel yarn and tie knots with the warp yarn at the edge of the scarf to secure the weaving and to add beauty to the scarf.

Stick weaving is easy but the width of the scarf is limited by the ability of a person's hand to hold on to the sticks. Generally specking, 6 sticks is about the limit for a normal hand. The scarves made by stick weaving tend to be narrower than desirable.

To expand the width of stick weaving, a stand is made for the sticks and it's called peg weaving. Pegs are usually shorter in length and the holes are closer to the middle. One can make as many pegs for the stand, and the pegs can be made large enough for weaving rugs.

Stanley Celebrates Third Birthday

Birthday boy Stanley.

Stanley and his little girlfriend Olivia, almost his birthday gift.

Olivia loves big brother Stanley.

Stanley's mom Barbara put on a celebration for Stanley's third birthday. "Happy Birthday to Stanley", Papa Kevin, Mama Barbara and little girlfriend Olivia all sang.

Stanley lost his best friend littermate brother Oliver not too long ago; he was very depressed. Luckily Olivia joined the family and Stanley is happy again.

Mama Barbara is not into having bunnies; Stanley was taken to the veterinarian when he was six months old. Stanley considers Olivia his wonderful companion instead of a real girlfriend.

Another Stick Weaving Project

Weave the yarn in a horizontal "8" pattern among the sticks.

Use fingers to push down the yarn.

Close to completion, just need to push down the yarn further and to even out the distribution of the pink yarn on the warp.

The finished scarf: The hot pink yarn is a mohair blend; the finished edge is a crochet of novelty llama blend yarn.

Stick Weaving

Six sticks with holes.

The warp yarn is blue Merino, attached to each stick by threading through the holes. The weaving yarns are Angora and Merino; start weaving the yarn on the sticks in an in and out pattern of "8".

Do a few rows then slide it down a bit, still keeping the weaving yarns on the sticks; when the sticks are full, pull the sticks to let the yarn slide down to the warp.

When the scarf is long enough, pull the sticks out and cut the warp yarn from the sticks.

Tie the blue Merino warp yarns into tassels; then add some Angora tassels to match the rest of the scarf.

Happy Year Of The Ox

Happy Lunar Year 2009, January 26 is the New Year's Day of the Lunar calendar. This year is the Year of Ox. Those born in the Year of Ox are considered as:

"Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding."

An "Ox" person is also considered:

"A born leader, you inspire confidence from all around you. You are conservative methodical, and good with your hands. Guard against being chauvinistic and always demanding your own way. The Buffalo would be successful as a skilled surgeon, general, or hairdresser."

A Little Winery

An old but little winery nested in the countryside near Morgan Hill, CA.

Parking lot for wine tasting.

A little garden in the front.

Tasting room open six days a week.

Wine making equipment in the back.

California is full of independent winery nesting in countryside all over the state. Though Napa is the most well known region for grapes and wine making, one can find wineries everywhere.