Author Archives: vairarenbeth

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About vairarenbeth

Just another person on the planet earth. My name is Claudia, but I am also known as teacatweaves, and teacatweaver. An escapee from the corporate grind, my husband and I are in a new phase of life. Now I read, weave, spin, urban hike, knit, make bread and pasta from scratch, and discover new and exciting things to my heart's content. One sweet dream is a reference to the Beatles - "...Soon we'll be away from here, step on the gas and wipe that tear away. One sweet dream - be true..."

A Lot of Tea and a Little Sympathy

Posted on May 4, 2012 by vairarenbeth

Having been a tea fan since birth (literally, my mother has this documented), I was not so sure that I would be able to feed my tea house addiction in Arizona.  After all, the pickings were pretty slim and mostly … Continue reading →

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Fibers Through Time 2012 – Playtime in Phoenix!

Posted on April 22, 2012 by vairarenbeth

Fibers Through Time 2012 is a conference held every two years by the Arizona Federation of Weavers and Spinners.  It is mainly comprised of workshops addressing various fiber arts (weaving, spinning, tapestry, basket weaving, among others), which are held over … Continue reading →

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Fiber Friday with teacatweaves

Posted on April 20, 2012 by vairarenbeth

No time for the wicked, weary, bashful or brazen!  Fiber Friday – facing our WIPs (works in progress) head on… After having finished a sample and getting feedback from the study group, I continued with a one-color version of the … Continue reading →

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In Search of Acacia, or Caught in the Thorns

Posted on April 16, 2012 by vairarenbeth

I am not a morning person.  And I have been able to indulge in my slow-moving attitude through the winter months.  But with April has come spring weather and an earlier sunrise. Quails, Flickers, Desert Wrens and all sorts of … Continue reading →

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Turning the Page – in Arizona…

Posted on April 7, 2012 by vairarenbeth

Road trip!  This time it was an opportunity to take an overnighter to Page, which is about a five hour drive from home.  Back in the 90’s Denny and I had headed up 17 North, visiting the south rim at … Continue reading →

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It’s all about the horses – Fiesta Days Parade in Cave Creek

Posted on April 3, 2012 by vairarenbeth

I love horses.  You can find me at the paddocks whenever we go to the race track, checking out those beauties up close.  One of the first movies I remember vividly is National Velvet.  Shadowfax in Lord of the Rings … Continue reading →

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“Our sky..with clouds in such a hurry to be somewhere else…”

Posted on March 29, 2012 by vairarenbeth

Alexander McCall Smith, who is responsible for the quote which is the title of today’s blog, is quite a prolific Scottish writer.  The 44 Scotland Street series is just so wonderful.  I realize that books fall into uncountable categories – … Continue reading →

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Ants are NOT my Friends

Posted on March 27, 2012 by vairarenbeth

Ok.  Dry desert heat and all.  Six months and the first encounter with unwelcome multi-leg visitors, not a bad stat.  But really, why can’t ants just follow the rules of my-space-versus-your-space?  I knew it was pressing fate – it was … Continue reading →

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Guinness Lace

Posted on March 22, 2012 by vairarenbeth

It had been years since I attended a St. Patrick’s Day parade – the traditions were kept up with making Grandma Creegan’s Irish Soda bread and making corned beef and cabbage. But this year we skid-addled to downtown Phoenix and … Continue reading →

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Waiting for the Train

Posted on March 8, 2012 by vairarenbeth

Ever since I can remember, trains have been a source of fascination, comfort and excitement for me.  Growing up New Jersey, my childhood home was two miles from the trains that routed through Newark.  Open windows on summer evenings fused … Continue reading →

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