Family Living Center (weaving)

We have been assigned as assistant site leaders with another missionary couple at the Family Living Center for several months now.  We do 8 demonstrations of skills the people needed when they lived here in Nauvoo.  I'll tell you about them one at a time.

Weaving:

Elder Knudsen fell in love with the looms when we first arrived here and he has really learned the trade well.  He makes some really beautiful rugs for the sites and also for missionaries to take home as a souvenir of their mission.  It was the men who did the weaving in old Nauvoo so that's the way it's done now. 

 

He's also gotten really good at re-stringing them.  It takes a couple of days to do it and not many missionaries take enough interest to learn how.

 

There are two floor looms - one is 30 inches wide and the other is 38 inches wide.  These pictures were taken when he re-strung the big one.  It has 18 miles of string - 19 sets of 24 strings.  Here he is loading a set of 24 strings in the middle.  Elder Schkrohowsky is turning the warp head.  (He and his wife are from Boise).  He has to turn the handle 70 times for each set.

 



 

 

 

Here are some pictures as they progressed.

 

 

 

 



It's loaded.  Now comes the hard part.  They have to individually pass each thread through the eyelets in the heddles one at a time and tie them to the strings that were left from last time. 

 

 

 

Then they tie each set to a canvas.

 

 

 

When they get all the sets finished, they're ready to weave again.

 

 

When they finish several rugs, they unload them and the sisters tie little knots all along both edges so they don't unravel.

 



 

The sisters also keep the shuttles loaded.  We cut fabric into 3 inch strips, sew them all together and wind them on the shuttles.

 

 

Here's a finished rug.

 

 

 

And runner.

 



 

 

We also make beautiful shawls on a triangle loom.  It's pretty cool - as you weave one side it also weaves the other side, and you finish in the middle.  Then you add fringe  along the edges.

 

 

Before we came, only site leaders and assistant site leaders were allowed to weave on the floor looms.  But you know Elder Knudsen - he loves to teach.  So now, he teaches anyone who wants to learn (Elders that is)











 







Noah's Ark at the Log School

Old Nauvoo uses only old fashioned, usually home made decorations or something made from the awesome plant materials found in the area.  I had to show you this Noah's Ark that was displayed at the log school during the Christmas season.  I think it is made of what we used to call "teasles" but I don't know what their real name is.  It is just the cutest thing ever.

 

 

 







 

 

 



 

And there was also a cute little group of caroling  ?????

 



 



Nauvoo Nativities

Sorry I haven't written for so long.  It seems that when they say that it slows down here in the winter time, they only mean that not as many people come to visit.  We've actually been a LOT busier - I think someone just doesn't want us to get bored so they keep adding things for us to do.

                                                           I LOVE NATIVITIES! 

They are my very favorite part of Christmas decorating and we just happen to be living in nativity heaven.  They are everywhere.  There is a beautiful one at the Nauvoo Visitor's Center.

 

And outside the temple.

 

 





And some around town.

 



 

Some of the sites have them.

 

 

 

 

We even had a LIVE nativity.

 

 

But best of all, there was a display of 160 nativities from all over the world that people in the community provided.  I've never seen so many all in one place before.  There were big ones, little ones, simple ones, fancy ones & silly ones but they all show love for the Savior.  I wanted pictures of all of them but we were short on time and Elder Knudsen thought I got more than enough pictures.  I'll see how many I can show you.  It takes forever to upload (or download - or whatever you do to get pictures).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK - I guess that's enough.  Aren't you glad I didn't make you sit through all 160 of them?  I wanted to give you an idea about how different they all were.  But I do have to show you a couple more.  The nativity at the site where we are assistant site leaders, The Family Living Center, has a nativity made out of rope. 

 

 

When I first saw it I asked Elder Knudsen if he could make me one.  What a question - OF COURSE HE COULD!!!  In fact - it took him a lot less time to make them than it took me to dress them.  It's my favorite of them all.  What do you think? 

 

 



 



 We wish you all the Merriest Christmas ever and remember that Christmas begins with Christ.  He is the reason for all the good in this world.  We are grateful that He guides and directs our life and hope that you will allow Him to do the same for you. 

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS