Fabric for cotton towelsI finally got word that I will indeed be showing and selling my work at the Gallery on the Green, June 9th, 9:30-4:00 pm. It's a day long juried arts and crafts on the green. Depending on the weather, I plan on bringing a loom for demonstation as well. Typically, it's super hot and humid, and worse the following day for the annual Road Race. I always feel sorry for those runners trying to make it up the steep Gallows Lane.So anyway this means that I will be working like crazy to get as much work done in time for the show. I plan on lots of placemats, towels, and ... Read More »
In Sheep’s Clothing Fibre Arts Studio is Open!
After 10 years at the Wool Connection, I am going it on my own! This all started because I still wanted to continue teaching weaving and selling looms, so now I have the whole thing, knitting yarns, bamboo needles, great pattern books from very cool companies like Maggie Knits, and Ella Rae. I plan on getting in the Maggie Knits yarns as well, as J. Knits, gorgeous, wools, mohairs and silk all beautifully hand dyed. I also am carrying a gorgeous aran weight kid mohair and a machine washable dk weight merino from Sublime, with really lovely pattern books.I just got in great ceramic buttons for ... Read More »
New Ashford Wheel Magazine
This is the new issue of the Ashford Wheel Magazine. It actually came out sometime in October, but I'm just getting around to this now. The Wheel for those who don't know, is a yearly publication by Ashford. (world known for their spinning wheels) It features articles about spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing and so on. In the beginning it was a black and white newspaper style publication, but now is available in subscription form in a beautiful glossy magazine. I've enjoyed the magazine for many years in all its versions, so I'm especially pleased with this issue that my felted totes were ... Read More »
Woven Tote Bags, my happy accident.This past spring I was playing around with double weave twill. I actually was working on a fabric not shown in the above picture, but that fabric led to the tote bags that you see. First I planned on making a lap throw. Fine. I was using the direct warp method, and was just about finished when I realized that on two of the 8 shafts, I had run out of heddles. Fine, I could start at the other end and add the 3" additional warp. Wouldn't you know it, I was short heddles on 2 of the other shafts on that side! Undaunted, I figured a wrap would probably be better ... Read More »
Handspun Hand Crocheted PonchoBeth Ann stopped by the Wool Connection, the knitting store where I work, and was wearing this wonderful poncho that she spun and crocheted. As Beth Ann told me, the poncho was a happy accident, she couldn't find the rest of the cashmere she worked in the top, so had to work other yarns in to blend in and finish it with. She used shades of a silk blend for the rust/green colours, and finished it off with a yummy alpaca. Ellyn my co worker couldn't keep her hands off it, it was so soft. Of course Beth Ann found the rest of her cashmere when she was done! ... Read More »
Llamas and Alpacas, more fibre friends from the Sheep and Wool Festival
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Jacob Sheep at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival I adore Jacob, one of the first raw fleeces I ever worked with was Jacob. I love how you can use their fleeces in so many different combinations of colours. You can seperate the colours, or blend them. Plus they are so unique looking.The Festival was fun as usual, lots to look at. I was dissapointed however in that at 10:00 Sunday morning the main gate was out of maps, and I missed the sheep to shawl since they moved it clear across to the other end of the fairgrounds, and of course that was the last place I stopped at. I got to see the weavers ... Read More »
Litchfield Borough Days
Litchfield Borough DaysIt's hard to believe that Borough Days was already a month ago.( September 10) Borough days is held once a year rain or shine, but we have always been so fortunate to have great weather. The Historical Society has all types of demonstrations, from spinning (me), a potter, wood working, lace making, how to dress in the 1800's, to musicians, stage coach rides, a military reenactment, and so much more. It's a wonderful day, with children the center of it all. I have been demonstrating for the last 13 years, and look forward to it every year. The image above is of Paula ... Read More »
Woven Inspiration Everywhere!I love it when I see woven things in everyday life that have nothing to do with cloth. Art thought I was nuts taking pictures of the different screens at the quarry where he works, although he helped me move screens around and held them up for me. He likes to say that he "breaks rocks for a living". This is one of my favorite ones, although I really could have taken so many more. I had spent an afternoon taking pictures at the quarry previously, and the best picture I took was one of the last, a screen. I went back, explaining to Art that I wanted to do a " series" ... Read More »
High Fat, Low FibreThese little cuties are only one hour old. Their Momma surprised everyone with a nice healthy litter. ... Read More »
