A new year is almost here

As 2019 winds down and the roaring 20's rush in I'm reminded of all the blessings of the past year.  Lots of ups and down with family illnesses and with God's grace everyone is still here and fighting the good fight.  Sometimes it takes events like these to remember what's really important.  I feel so blessed going into 2020 and I hope you are as blessed.

In a few more days my little vacation of sorts will be over and my shop will be open.  I always worry when I close shop for so long, I sure don't want to be forgotten.  The only way for me to get time off is to close so it's my only choice.  I did manage to get some things done in the shop while I was off.  Not as much as I hoped but I do have a couple new tools that will be available and I've worked on a couple looms I don't get made often.

For Christmas my DH purchased me a spray system for my treadle looms.  This is super awesome because it takes days to get a finish on those the way I have been putting the finish on.  There will be a learning curve of course and I have to figure out how/where I'll be spraying finish.  I think the RV building (we do not own an RV) is a good place.  I'll watch some videos and see how others accomplish this task.

I hope you all (talking as if I have more than a couple followers 😁  I feel blessed to have you all! ) had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you the Happiest of New Years!  I am ready to get back to work so I'll see you all very soon!

Handywoman Christmas

Each year I try to get a few sets together for the holiday's.  Sets are a great way to give your favorite weaver a gift that will include many fun weaving items.  This year will be no different.

I'm working on a few inkle shuttle boxes, these will be packed with inkle shuttles for a reduced cost all packaged up in a little box. 

I'll also have several of the tiny tapestry loom sets available.  These will come with yarn and a bag.

And of course I'll have a few baskets shuttles available.

Be sure to keep a look out as these go super fast and are limited.  

Handywoman has broke her elbow

So when you think you are on your way to getting caught up and you trip and fall....yep I did.  The worse part is I broke my elbow so I'll have to work with a cast on.  Rest assured, I've broken my elbow before and I am able to work with a cast :)  so your orders will go out.  Thank you very much!  I do have to close a day or so just to get my cast on, but I'll be reopened after that.
Sorry to be so dramatic...:)
Happy weaving,
Janet

Getting caught up.

I'm trying to get caught up.  My Dad is healing from his latest surgery but it's going to take a bit of time.  Unfortunately longer than we'd hoped.  See they found cancer (early stages) on his lung when doing some scans and he needs that taken care of before it spreads.  They will not start radiation till he has healed from the aneurysm surgery.  Because it was the size of a baseball it's left a large gap and it's taking a long time to stop draining.  Not sure it will without more surgeries.  The other problem is he has a leaky valve in his heart which should have been addressed first..but...such is life.  So we have our hands full but I am working everyday. 
I can run more than one machine at a time in my new shop so I can get more than even my brain can keep track of done at the same time :) 
Keep my Dad in your prayers for me if you will.  We really need that guy :)
May you all be blessed,
Janet

Shop is open

Finally today my shops are open and orders are already coming in.  I thank God I wasn't forgotten about after that lengthy close!

There is one thing.
My father is having surgery on Wednesday and it's rather serious.  Family are starting to come in tomorrow and I'll need to pick them up from the airport.  Then I'll be returning on Wednesday to get back to work and I am working on orders today.  I promise to get your orders out as quickly as possible.  Prayers for my Dad are very welcome. 

Thanks,
Janet

Shepards Pie

2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 lb ground lamb (or hamburger if you prefer)
1 large onion chopped coarsely
2 oz mushrooms sliced
2 carrots sliced
2 tblsp All purpose flour
1 tblsp tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/2 pint beef or lamb broth
1 1/2 lb peeled potato cut into large chunks
1 oz butter
2 1/4 oz of milk
2 oz cheddar cheese crumbled
salt and black pepper

Heat half the oil in a large pan and brown the meat over medium to high heat.
remove meat from pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Turn the heat to low and add the remaining oil.  Gently fry the onion, mushrooms and carrots for 10 minutes.or until softened.  Stir in the flour and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.  Return the meat to the man and add the bay leaf.  Pour in the stock and bring to the boil,  then cover and simmer on low heat for 25 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375.
Cook the potatoes in lightly salted boiling water for 20 minutes or until tender.  Drain and leave to stand in colander for 2 minutes to steam dry.  Melt the butter and add it and the milk to the potatoes and mash till smooth.
Spoon meat mixture into a 3 pint casserole dish.  Remove the bay leaf and check the seasoning.  Cover with mash potatoes (I like to pipe it on :) ).  Sprinkle cheese over and bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbling and golden.  Serve immediately with green vegetables.

Handywoman Shop is moving

I wanted to give a bit of an update while I rest a moment from packing.  :) 

We have been planning to move soon but we found the perfect place a couple years earlier than planned.  I had just taken off a month to work on the wish list and during that time we found our new place.  The house is much smaller so I have to get rid of many things but the shop is super large and is air conditioned.   So I was only able to open for a couple days to let people purchase their wish list items I completed and then I had to close shop up again to pack.

I've been packing now for 2 weeks and have barely started the upstairs.  We close on August 7th so the house is full of packed boxes and it's getting difficult to get around.  Many trips to good will and many items to sell.  I think this is the largest move we've ever done and it's to another city so we can't just take a truck load at a time to the new shop.

I do see packing nearing an end but I am not looking forward to packing up my workshop.  I'm just getting too old for this :)

I hope to see you all soon.  I'll let you know when I'll be open as soon as I figure that out.

Thank you so much for your support and patients.

My best,
Janet

P.S.  Here is the new shop...no the RV isn't ours, this is a picture from the for sale listing .....

Strawberry Sheet Cake

This cake taste like summer time, bursting with strawberry flavor.  Perfect for sharing!

Strawberry Sheet Cake
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook time 25-30 Minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

Cake Ingredients
2 cups self-rising flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup veg oil
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup mashed sweetened strawberries
1 small box of dry strawberry jello

Strawberry glaze frosting
1/2 stick butter softened (real butter)
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup mashed sweetened strawberries

Instructions
Mix all the cake ingredients together and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
while the cake is baking, make the glaze.

Mix together all the glaze ingredients until smooth - add more sugar or strawberries as needed for a spreading/glaze consistency.   Mix the glaze well to be sure before adding more sugar or strawberries.
When cake is completely cool spread icing over cake.

Store in refrigerator, cake is best after 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Another Reproduction Treadle loom

I think I like this combination as much as the maple and padauk combination.  The walnut with the maple looks so rich don't you think. 

Here she finally is, finished.

7" sampler Rigid Heddle looms

I had so many of these requested on my wish list page that I took the month off to make them.  They are super time consuming to make.  The heddles and all the loom parts take several days to cut out but I got each one completed as well as a couple extra.  Here is the hoard :)

A new Handywoman Tapestry / Hand Loom

I've been wanting to make these for sometime but someone I admire very much made them and he did a beautiful job.  I seen others made them as well but to me his were the best.  I decided not to make them as I didn't want to compete with such awesome skills and because he made them.  But then he retired which is great for him indeed but for the weaving world it's rather sad.  Anywho.... I decided now was the time to try and make some of these.    It took sometime to decide on the design and how I was going to accomplish this task and try to make them as nice as his and well...... I think I did it!  Here is the very first one.  This one is 6epi but I have 8epi ends and base ready so there will be one like this but at 8epi available shortly.  I've ordered some super nice wood and will get a few ready soon.  This one is ready and for sale but there will be more I promise!  There is one more tool that goes with this set but I forgot to finish it so I'll do that today and get a picture of it.  It's a "My Everything Stick" that is a little larger than the inkle version.  

Updated with pictures to include both epi's and the My Everything Stick I had forgotten to take a picture of. 

New Charkha Spindle Shuttle

Someone asked me a while back if I made shuttles to fit the book Charkha spindles....and I said no...but I'd look into it.  So first of course I had to get myself a book Charkha...

Of course a girl can't have too many fiber tools and well this is so kewl!

Then I made my first shuttle test ....

I found someone who would test it, and she's GREAT!  :)  she gave me her critiques ( in a super friendly way even though I do have rather tough skin).  Then here were the resulting improvements....

And so now there is a new product in the shop!!!