As an "outsider" using upcycled home textiles in my artistic weaving, I especially enjoyed this letter from Paris. Thanks for taking us along on your textile adventures @franklinhabit.bsky.social! 😘

#One red leaf standing out was the inspiration for one of my recent handwoven art works. However, the leaf transformed into something unexpected on the loom. 1/2 #BlueSkyArtShow

Yeah... I started the day by dumping out my bin of tiny fabric bits and proceeded to sort them by color so it will be easier to incorporate them into a new project. I sure hope it works out like I am envisioning. The things we do for art! 🤪

Currently reading "The Fabric of Civilization How Textiles Made the World" for the second time. Interesting how something most people now take for granted has had such an impact on history, culture and exploration around the world.

Whether you love weaving yarn tails into your knitting or hate it, here's a helpful tidbit that we jotted down in our Knitter's Notebook this week. #knitsky

New Year, new linear study project on the loom to get me rooted in my daily weaving practice. 🎉 #BlueSkyArtShow #NewYear #weaving #dailyartpractice #folkart

Getting ready for the new year by washing the latest batch of rag rugs to come off the loom. #BlueSkyArtShow #Holiday #handwoven #slowliving #sustainableliving #upcycled #homedecor #ragrugweaving #southernliving

For me, the last week of the year is all about wrapping up loose ends, at home and in the studio. I spent much of Thursday and Friday hemming and hand stitching a batch of freshly handwoven rag rugs. #BlueSkyArtShow #Holiday #handwoven #weaving #upcycled #sustainablehomedecor #slowliving

Intermarché’s viral ad is a sweet reminder this holiday season that creativity and compassion go hand in hand. www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/12/inte...

I think I upcycled about a dozen old t-shirts to weave this "Trail Mix" rag rug. It's always fun to see how the colors worked out after I pull a rug off the loom and this one did not disappoint! 😍 #BlueSkyArtShow #OpenHouse #handwoven #folkart

"Almost Home" was one of my favorite weaving projects of the year. I like the minimalist composition and I feel like I've finally solved the technical issues I was having with both tapestry weaving and working with upcycled fabrics. #BlueSkyArtShow #OpenHouse #upcycled #folkart

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that it's been so long since I cast on a knitting project I forgot where I put my yarn winder. I circled my studio like a kid playing I Spy, but finally found it. 🤣 Can you find the ball winder? #knitting #knitsky

It's always nice to see the representation of textiles in the art world.

Cozy up with our featured knitting pattern of the month. #knitsky #knitting #sockknitting

It's been awhile since I read "The Fabric of Civilization How Textiles Made the World" by Virginia Postrel, but after watching this interview with the author I just pulled it off my shelf to revisit.

A little sad to part with this CPW because it's really fun to spin on, but it was time for me to thin the herd. Glad it found a good home. #canadianproductionwheel #fiberarts

A little bit of sparkle on the leaves to brighten up what's been a rather gloomy week. I've already started sketching ideas about how to represent this blingy foliage in my weaving. Can't wait to get it on the loom!

I wonder why I'm having trouble getting any work done this morning. 😹 #cats

Find my handwoven scarves at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art through December 23rd. #artmarket #slowfashion #tuscumbia

Today in the journal I'm crossing over the liminal space between the noise of the world and the calm of home with a handwoven piece called "Almost Home". See how many squirrels 🐿you can find in my inspiration photo. 🤣 #weavesky #folkart #ragrug

I spend a lot of time thinking about waste as I use discarded home textiles to weave pieces of art. Listening to this program made me determined to double down on my efforts to minimize the amount of plastic that comes into our home.

Today's journal entry is an artistic Saturday Escape. This is my experiment in Finnish style raanu rug weaving. The piece is inspired by nature, but I give it my own twist by using upcycled fabrics from the thrift store instead of natural dyed wool. #stunday #folkart #textileart

My "Wish" for #BlueSkyArtShow, handwoven with salvaged home textile fabrics on cotton rug warp A #Small dandelion fluff floats through the air carrying its seed to be planted in the earth and your wish to be manifested by the universe.

Today in my journal... I'm hiking along a well-worn path in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska and sharing the inspiration for my recently handwoven, rag rug tapestry called "Steep Creek Trail. What could be around the next curve?

Hand stitching the label onto a piece of artwork is how I quietly add the last bit of love before introducing my art more publicly. Like the rug it's attached to, I make my labels with discarded home textiles. #upcycled #slowstitching #creativereuse

Need a creative pick-me-up? Come into the studio for a virtual visit and I'll show you what's been making me smile lately.

Our featured knitting pattern of the month, the 4th Ridge Pocket Scarf, has landed in the shop. You can get just the pattern, shop.thechillydog.com/b/4th-ridge-..., or save by bundling the pattern and ad-free video series, shop.thechillydog.com/b/4th-ridge-.... Happy knitting! #ShowMeYourKnits

If you're a traveler, you may have enjoyed looking back on a sight similar to the one that inspired one of my latest handwoven art pieces. Read more in my journal post. #travel #abstract #ocean

Handstitching hanging pockets on the back of my handwoven art pieces is not my favorite part of the process, but at least today I can do it on the sunny front porch and listen to the wind in the leaves. #mindfulness #sustainableliving #slowstitching

I'm about to cut a handwoven, beach inspired artwork off the loom so I can begin the lengthy finishing process. First I do a handwoven edge which takes about an hour on each end. Then the tapestry is washed. I'll tie in my maker's mark. Finally I handstitch a hanging rod pocket and the label.

Today in my journal I'm sharing the inspiration behind one of my handwoven art pieces. Enjoy! #upcycled #art #inspiredbynature

Ahh... it's a perfect day for rug washing. I'm sure painters have some special process for finishing a piece of art, but I bet it doesn't involve a warm water soak in the bathtub and hanging it on the front porch railing to dry 🤣. It's great to be a weaver!

This big (approximately 42"x28") rag rug tapestry got pulled off Grandpa's loom today. It still needs to be washed and prepped for hanging, but overall I'm pleased with it. It's version 2 of a piece I wove about a year ago called "Almost Home".

Color, texture and creativity. Some potential artistic inspiration for weavers and other fiber and textile artists.

Trick or treat! Our $5 knitting pattern of the month has landed in the shop. This one is for anyone who loves tricky looking colorwork but doesn't want do anything tricky. It's all mosaic knitting so you only have to manage one color at a time. What a treat! #knitsky #sockknitter #knitting

A quick video about color theory by my friend Heather at @eweeweyarns.bsky.social. If you like the socks in her lesson, the pattern happens to be my $5 pattern of the month and you can get it here, shop.thechillydog.com/b/cubicle-so.... #knitsky #socktober #showmeyourknits

Bubbles and ripples on the water during last weekend's kayak expedition. I can hardly wait to translate this into my weaving! #BlueSkyArtShow #Relax #stunday #WheelerWildlifeRefuge #findyourflow

Morning meditations and intentions. #nordicforestrituals #madeinfinland

I've been nursing a foot injury for the last couple weeks, so it feels especially good to be standing at the loom again. #weavsky #handwoven #weaving

I'm pleased to carry on the Finnish-American rug weaving tradition, but also not afraid to take a slightly different path than my ancestors. #art #textileart #folkart #weaving #handwoven #tapestryweaving #ragrug

Just dropped a new video series and this one is all about decreasing and increasing stitches in your knitting. It's perfect for knitters who want to learn the mechanics of inc/dec as well as those who want to know more about inc/dec slants. Get the course ► shop.thechillydog.com/b/decreases-...

In the studio today I'm comparing two versions of the same concept and the one on the left is my winner. Always learning. Always improving. #handwoven #ragrug #folkart

If someone had told me I would likely be earning less than $2/hr for my work when I started teaching knitting and designing patterns I may have made different life choices. 🫤 #knitsky #knitting #knit #themoreyouknow

Just pulled this rag rug off Grandpa's loom and I'm quite pleased. Now for the big decision. Fringed ends or narrow, woven bands? What do you think? #folkart #ragrug #handwoven #weavesky #sustainablehomedecor #finnishamericanweaving

Get ready for your next knitting project with over 4 hours of video instruction demonstrating dozens of cast on methods. You can find our cast on course in the shop at shop.thechillydog.com/b/cast-on-co.... #knitsky #knitting

Things are looking up! It seems I have my tension issues under control and after I finish this test rag rug I'll get back to my scrap-estry weaving. #rugweaving #handwoven #handwovenrug #tapestry #ontheloom #fiberart #folkart

Jessica spent 50 hours completing this blanket for Susan. "From the top down, the organization is one of kindness and caring, respectful of the piece and the loved one who began the project. Now we have a beautiful family heirloom for the next generation." — Susan

I changed the sett (warp thread spacing) on my loom and really like the fabric. However, it changed the angle of my threads, making the tension uneven. 4 inches of weaving on the right side of the fabric is 4.5 inches on the left. Carefully removed the warp for repurposing and am trying again. 🫤