Busy for the summer!

My teaching responsibilites are on a limited basis now for the summer and that gives me more time to be at the shop. I just purchased 5 new wool fleeces that I will have washed and then decide if I want to dye them or work with them in the natural color. Touching the fiber has gotten my spinning desire going again and I brought my wheel to the shop. I am setting up on the porch with my glass of lemonade and it is very relaxing! I get into such a rhythm that I can put myself to sleep...haha...I have started a yarn and fiber group the second tuesday of the month. Last month I had one spinner come. She has ignited the spinning laying dormant in others in the group, including me. It will be interesting to see if anyone brings their wheel in June. Off to the porch and my spinning.

Tunisian crochet

Hello,





Well, once again I have gotten behind in my writing...oh how time flies. Since my last post about TNNA I have been doing Tunisian Crochet. It was something I learned there last year. It has finally caught on at the shop and two weekends ago I held two classes. It is such a fun and easy technique. One lady I have spoken with from the class already has her scarf done. I will be holding more classes on this technique and posting some pictures of projects you can do with it.

This past weekend I was able to attend the Pittsburgh Knit and crochet festival. It is always energizing to see so many beautiful yarns and fibers! It was exciting so see new funky and glitter yarns. Those who know me, know I love to glitz it up! I had the pleasure of meeing Steven Berg from the Yarn Garage! What energy.....I am currently working on a project using Plymouth Yarn's Joy Prism. What fun....it's like knitting with a ribbon instead of a yarn but it is very easy. I can't wait to show off the finished product. I was pleased to meet a lady who does really cool things with the continuous weaving method. This is something I do and you have seen the looms in the shop. The pieces were very wearable and stylish! Of course there were so many yarns....and yarns....and yarns....of every kind and color! My head is just spinning right now as so many projects are going through my head. Look for some of these new yarns and projects to show up at the shop!!!!

New Things From TNNA

I had such a good time at TNNA in Columbus, OH. There was so much to see and so many different kinds and colors of yarns!!! I took some really great classes and met some awesome people. Deciding what not to buy was the big question. I had my list and started down each aisle. I did pretty good until I hit aisle three. My list suddenly got longer as I took in all there was to see. By the end of the first day I was exhausted and my mind was on overload! When I got back to my room I laid everything out on my bed and sorted what I had done and what I still wanted to do the next day. I am happy to say that I did not go overboard but there will be plenty of new yarn and rovings to look at over the next few months. I am looking at stocking looms and spinning wheels in the fall. If you have an opinion on this I would love to hear it. It has been awhile since I designed a new Baltimore Album in wool so have been working on that. There will be some in wool applique and I am trying some in needlefelting to see how that will look. I am excited and have only just a short time to get so much done before returning to my teaching responsibilities in at the end of August!

Jordana Paige Trunk Show

I am so excited to bring this trunk show to my customers. www.jordanapaige.com I love any kind of purse or bag and ones that have multi-functions are even better. I also like to find those that are of high quality without costing me an arm and a leg...so to speak :-) With the Jordana bags I feel I have found just the one! The trunk show will be at Anita's Homespun Treasures http://www.anitashomespun.com/ from March 30-April 9th. You can view all the styles and see the color cards. Orders will be taken and if you attend the Bag Party I am hosting on April 2 and place an order there you will receive a 10% discount. In addition if you listen to the "sales pitch" regarding these gems you are eligible to place your name in a drawing for a $10 gift certificate. So if you love a party then stop by on Saturday....demos, tips & discussions will also be going on.

New Yarn!

Superwash yarn is finally here. Great colors from Malibrigo. Rios in 10 different colors. A worsted weight yarn...210yds per skein. It is so soft and the hand-dyed look is just fabulous!

It all starts here!

This is how it all starts...out on my front porch.
This is how I actually dye the wool. I like to to do it outside when the weather is nice. I don't have a dye room set up in my studio....what a treat that would be! On a good day I can dye about 10 yds of wool fabric... if everything goes well. This works really well as I can then go about my business at the house.

THE RESULTS!!!

This is where the fun is...Dyeing the wool. It is always amazing to see what will come out of the dye pot. The color cards are not always reflective of what you get....After two weeks here are the results. More then 25 yds of wool fabric has been dyed. Aren't the colors great! I just want to dive in and get started creating something. I am in the process of creating a new fall wool applique wallhanging. I can not wait to get started.

Weaving & Spinning

I have been working hard to finish this shawl I have had on the loom for several weeks. They are all a good idea when you start but about 3/4 of the way through you begin to wonder "why did I start this project". It will be beautiful once off and I am so close to putting on the fringe. I have been spinning for a new shawl and am eager to try this new idea. I am finally using the new Clemes spinning wheel I bought at the first of the year. It has a very Large Jumbo Flyer & bobbin and I am using it to ply my singles together. It is working great. Of course I am also trying to clean and throw out stuff...but get side tracked with creating!!! Well off for some more cleaning!