Making Rag Rugs

For the past 5 years I've spent a week demonstrating rag rug weaving at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. I use my Swedish loom - Glimaakra.  It is all pegged together and can easily be taken apart.  I also bring a smaller table loom for the children to practice on. They are eager to learn!  (Photo by Ray Cronk)
	Material cut into 2" strips for rugs.  We use only new materials.  Mr. Bear loves to help.
Our Leclerc loom set up for table runners.  Ms. Boots doing her inspection.
	Mike setting up the Leclerc loom for Jeans rugs. It was a little cold in the studio that day. Using the spool rack and the tension box, he is able to tie the warp directly to the back beam.  This saves hours of work and provides a uniform tension.

Just about finished with another rug. I love the colors!

Wool Work

	"Melanie" provided the fleece for Beverly's sweater - it was the previous years cutting.  Janet (left) is the shepherdess.  I washed, combed, and spun "Melanie's" fleece into yarn.  Then hand knitted the sweater.  The colors are natural, there are no dyes involved.
On a winters day not far from our kitchen cook stove a white lamb's fleece is drying.
	Hand dyed lambs wool and kid mohair drying.
I'm only able to weave the delicate yarns - such as the hand spun kid mohair - on my Swedish loom.
	Snug as a bug! Mr. Bear checks out the new cat basket I just made in wool roving.

At Shows

Received 1st prize at Remsen in the "Hand Crafted - Original Design" Category.  (Photo by Jerry Waskiewics)

At Home

	Mike does a little wood working around the house.
Love those Autumn Colors!
	The ridge behind our house is a nice place to sit and take in the Autumn colors.
Taking the dogs for a walk on our drive - the greyhounds love the snow.
	Lis' favorite Spring flower - the Lady Slipper. They are all around us!
Was lucky one day after a summer rain and took this one right out from the front door.
	Spring thaw on the West Branch of the Oswegatchie. It's a short walk from the house and our favorite river to kayak.
We enjoy observing the wildlife around us.  I think he was posing for us!