Madeleine L'Engle passes away, 88 years old

[helen99]

I first met you (or more accurately, your books) around 1963 when I was meg's age. You were one year younger than my mom. You should look her up now - you had a lot in common and she loved you too, as I did.

My favorite recent quote from you (after you saw the movie they made of your book and an interviewer asked if it met your expectations) was, "Oh yes! I expected it to be bad, and it was!"

You were quite smashing when you were young, you know. And you stayed beautiful all your life.

Comments

[silverbromide.livejournal.com]

Oh no! That's so unfortunate. I mean, i guess she was about ready (being 88 and living in a nursing home and all) but... I realized a few months ago that she was still alive and was grateful. Well. One fewer person who publicly Understands Things. Wah.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

She's one of the few people I know of who died of "natural causes". (whatever that means). Not cancer or heart disease or some kind of freak accident. Just "natural causes".

I hope that somehow I can die of relatively painless "natural causes" before anyone has to put me in a nursing home. Either that or tesser the heck outa here...

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

And, hopefully, dozens if not hundreds more who will one day publicly Understand Things, because of her work.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Is Jim still interested in making hand looms? If so we're interested in getting one made...

[silverbromide.livejournal.com]

Sure! What do you mean by a hand-loom? If you mean an inkle loom, he has one cut already and could assemble and finish it this weekend. If you mean something like a lap loom or tablet loom, you guys can talk about it in person.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Actually an inkle loom would be a fine place to start since he already has the pattern. How much does he charge for one of those?

I also want a larger one, though, that I can use to weave more than just belts and bands. I'll find a pattern and post it here.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

I can't find a pattern for the one I have in mind.

Here's a link to a huge one - while I'd love to have one like that, maybe it should be scaled down so it fits in a car, through the door, in my room, etc...

http://www.cvmt.com/construireUS.htm

Here's a really simple one: http://www.hallnet.com/build.html
I wouldn't mind that one except i'm afraid it would slip around

I dunno - something very simple to build, which is transportable, but does a little more than belts

http://www.spinnerschoice.com/Kromski%20Rigid%20Heddle%20Looms.htm

The above are really cute but I don't have the pattern for them

Here are some pics of all kinds of looms (the Tabby looks schweet), but I have no clue how to make them.

http://www.craftdesigns.co.uk/

The 1105 foot-power loom looks pretty cool, but I don't think either Jim or I should start with that one. It is a goal for the future... The Tabby does look really sweet, though...

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Actually this is the exact page for the loom types: http://www.craftdesigns.freeserve.co.uk/weaving.html

I'm ordering the plans for the Tabby. It will probably take a while to get here though - coming from the UK I think.

[silverbromide.livejournal.com]

Okay, so you'd like him to make the loom from the plans you're ordering? I'm sure he'd do that. Will talk to him tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll get him on the inkle loom. Thanks!

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Well, depends on how much effort it would take and if he'd be ok with making something like that and how much it would cost and such. It'll be well after CtT that the plans even arrive (the order form is still sitting on my table at the moment - they don't seem to have automated ordering on their page).

[silverbromide.livejournal.com]

Okay, he can't find the tools he needs for the inkle loom, but will get it to you as soon as he can. This one is walnut and maple (i believe) and is larger, and it can be converted from card to inkle. He doesn't have the cards or the heddles (or whatever the strings are called on an inkle loom) but we can make them if you want. He'll charge you $65 for this one because it's mostly done already; it's usually $90.

If you haven't already sent the check--he has plans for a tabby loom floating around somewhere. If you trust "floating around somewhere" and have no preference on particular plans, he can use that. If you'd rather get your loom in a timely(ish) manner, want that specific tabby loom, and have already sent the order, then... well, nevermind. :o) I can't tell you prices about this one; he'd need to talk with you himself.

If you like, he also has plans for a 4-treadle table loom--or rather, he his own plan formulate from several plans (one of which was copied from the one i learned to weave on) and you could order one of those, and i could teach you how to use it. It's really not that complicated, but less portable than a tabby loom may be. Not totally un-portable--my instructor uses it as her demonstration loom--but not throw-in-a-bag sort of portable.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

I haven't sent the check for the plans yet, so if he already has his own plans for aloom that you are familiar with, that would be the best one to use. (The 4-treadle table-loom that he put together from several loom plans). That one sounds good.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

It doesn't have to be the tabby - that was just ballpark for size and portability , but a little less portable is fine. Sounds more versatile.