by carmen | Mar 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
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I’ve worked really hard to not be a germ infested couch blob, but was not successful. When I woke up this morning I could clearly see the dead body dent of me still stuck in the couch. Craptastic.
In the last few days I have barely managed to crochet two partial hats, spin one skein of yarn and just generally pollute the household.
One good thing about this that you may enjoy is I can’t talk much. Yes. Me silent.
Whether I want to or not, I am teaching the last of this beginner class at Birkeland. Eight students and they are all doing really well. I must try to remember to take pictures of their finished skeins tonight. I also must remember to try not to look like I’m dying and maybe put some makeup on….
by carmen | Mar 23, 2010 | Uncategorized
I bought display stuff. And I just finished getting rid of some display stuff. I want to have less, but these called to me like the finest cashmere silk blend.
The boobs are kind of Jane Russell like, but I think I can work with that. Too big to carry, Mariegold just hooked up her bike trailer and delivered it to the studio. Awesome. There is a chance that these two ladies have a younger sister without the stand ………hmmmmm.
Wow, I really need to not need these. I am however excited to design something new for them to wear……
Must stop thrifting, carrying cash and being such a magpie.
by carmen | Mar 22, 2010 | Uncategorized
And this is currently in my stash, in my possession and in my studio! It has been segregated but it is still in proximity to the “good stuff”. I know, it’s not like me, but the special secret project has brought some scary stuff into my life.
“It” came out of this pile —
Thanks for helping to sort this Mariegold, I would not have been as generous with you for what to save. As a matter of fact, I think I was still looking for a match while you were separating colours.
I have to curb my urge to be a yarn snob as there are many valid and practical uses for acrylic. One of which will make itself clear in the next few weeks. Still semi-secret!
These photos should take off some of the edge of the previous pics. My apologies.
I found a sweater pattern that I think I might attempt which needs about 600g of fibre. Let the planning begin. Since BFL is my favourite base, I thought I would start with a natural and build up from that. On the left 6 – 60 gram BFL rovings and the right 10 g of dyed bamboo.
Next, a new fibre I haven’t worked with before. The pic on the left is lavender corn silk and the right is cut alpaca in greens with a bit of gold angelina
There were a few more lux items added in, Wensleydale locks, mohair locks, and kid mohair. Now with each pile at 100g, it was ready for the carder. The photo on the left is the first pass and the right is a small pile of the finished batts.
So far I’ve spun up 400g and I’m really happy with the loftiness of the single. I didn’t manage to spin it to gauge, however, I don’t think I’ll have a problem finding another design to accommodate it.
I’m thinking of taking this into a children’s design. I think the tiny pops of colour would be sweet in a little coat. I think I’ll spin the other 200g first, it really was butter soft to spin.
by carmen | Mar 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
Dyeing rovings has me thinking much about process lately. While I am applying colour to a roving, I am already envisioning how the finished fibre will turn out. After I see the finished roving I may completely change my mind and throw a whole different process into the mix.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I am never able to fully plan out a spinning project like I do with a knit project. Lately I find myself trying to create a greater depth of colour by having more than one roving per skein involved. I want subtle changes and I have spun enough rovings now to know what I don’t like.
These particular rovings have my full attention right now.
Alone, not impressive, but together magical…..Now since I’ve only used 50 grams of each for my skein, I have 2 – 50g rovings left. I have the option of repeating this…(which I love)
Or introducing a 3rd roving (solid green)
- or plying the remaining half rovings on to themselves
- or spinning a small art yarn from one and a solid from the other
How to tackle what seems like such a simple procedure…JUST SPIN IT…..
No, I don’t think I would be happy with that. Will show you the finished project.
An update on the secret project….
Hmmmm.
by carmen | Mar 18, 2010 | Uncategorized
and I will not be silent about this love. He is my new storage shelving from Ikea and he is magnificent. There is only one thing better than shelving in a studio space and that is shelving that has drawers.
Even more thrilling was that I filled it with new things, inventory being stacked up for the start of the season. It feels SO good.
Yesterday was the first full day I’ve spent in the studio for a while. It wasn’t the same without Joan. She dances. Fortunately a student dropped in and sharing the afternoon with her completely changed my focus. She was working on spinning balanced singles. I haven’t spun single ply yarn in ages. I think it’s a side effect of teaching. And for this I will always be grateful to Irene. Even if you want to spin art yarns you should still have the basics and be able to produce balanced yarn.
After six skeins, a great Americano and a photo shoot, I was completely spent. That’s what inspirational company does for you, or me. When I got home there wasn’t an artsy thought left in my head. I really felt I could rest on the laurels of my completed work (even though I have a lot of deadlines coming up and by deadlines, yes I mean shows).
New designs are like a drug, a redux of an old design gives me the same feeling. The scarf pattern is coming along nicely. It is on its third incarnation so I’m confident that it is doable and it’s an intermediate rather than an “easy” design just to give you a bit more of a challenge.
I’m off on a secret mission today with Pearl and Cara. Can’t talk about it yet, but it involves a large public space, spinning, needle felting and general fibrey goodness. Teased, tempted? Stay tuned for more.
by carmen | Mar 16, 2010 | Uncategorized
….I mean pattern. I am completely crabby and without sleep. Nobody’s fault but my own, but I started this thing at knit group last night and just couldn’t stop…
The new hand dyed is alpaca and silk. It has a beautiful halo as well as a soft sheen. I’ve started on my 2nd sample and am thrilled to finally have a scarf pattern out the door. Now obviously this makes the crabbiness short lived, however I can definitely feel the weight of being sleepless, even in my new design elation.
This wool is perfect for this project. Stay tuned for the finished design. I’m putting the kettle on now and settling in to the home office. No studio today. I have tea, the space channel, the cats and plenty of room to move around. I’ve also been hoarding the new cashmere/silk that I spun 6 oz of and I just don’t think I can give it up. I think I’ll play with it today.
I hate that my house is so clean that I don’t want to go to the studio. Perhaps the two part Star Trek TNG that I am stuck on may have something to do with that.
by carmen | Mar 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
I need to stop spinning rovings. Too much else to do, put the pretties keep calling to me.
There are bobbins with bits of fibre in every corner of this room and I’m going to spin them all together before I go to bed tonight. It’s going to be one weird skein of yarn. I’m starting to be known for that.
I received an awesome email from Jan and her friends all sporting toque made from MelonHead handspun. How times have changed. The photos used to be of folks wearing hats I have knit. Who am I kidding? It’s exciting to pass the torch and see others rock the creative.
Jan also knit her sweater as well….as I said, rockin the creative.
by carmen | Mar 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
John and I passed quietly into 47. It was a lovely birthday. Thanks Kim for making it such a fun day and evening. There were several Caesars for me and everyone else chose their own poison. The first barbecue of the year went off without a hitch and well I can’t say much more.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. It was sweet of you all to remember and I’m sorry if I didn’t call everyone back but we were so in the moment and just taking in the day. I even found time before dinner to finish all the rovings.
Forty seven, not so bad…I think the fibre keeps me young.
by carmen | Mar 13, 2010 | Uncategorized
Jennifer and I had grand plans for our vacation that involved petting animals and then robbing them of their fleece, driving, ferries, yarn shopping and even more. Wow. Who in the fibresphere would not consider that the best holiday ever?
Reality is like a cold glass of water being tossed into your face. Things like, bank account is dwindling…. is this the best time to spend a wack of money? John reality check…what are you going to do with all the fibre you already have? And my favourite…the true dampener…just really shitty west coast weather. So we had a fake vacation in Steveston and spent days doing this….
This would be a snapshot of 7lbs of BFL treated to the kindest handpainted care a roving could ever have. And BTW, it was probably one of the nicest vacations I have ever had.
I realize that inventory building would not generally be someone’s idea of a holiday. But when you spend it with like minded fibre folks, it is a frackin great vacation.
by carmen | Mar 6, 2010 | Uncategorized
Off to the bank at the last hour. Filed and paid evil bill. Then suddenly noticed that the sun was shining and people were smiling and the world was good. And that this is in my front yard.
I feel…..light, responsible and satisfied. And my jury pieces are back. My wonderful babies have come back to the nest. Oopsy…one of those babies was sold. Which reminds me, I need to call Jean. Since it was meant to be her yarn, I never let myself get too attached.
I’m thrilled to have the scarf back and want to take some proper photos of it on the mannequin tomorrow. Will see what the results of the jury are. I never expect to get in to any show. I don’t expect everyone else to be as enchanted with my work as I am…My rose coloured glasses are never too far out of reach.
I treated myself to an evening of sweater knitting…Just a baby coat. I’m not crazy you know. I’ve finished the back and one side of the front. I’ll finish the other side before I head off to bed and save the sleeves for tomorrow. Pics to follow.
Yes. Calm….good….even applied for another show to fill the gap in my schedule. Good times.
For more of these entertaining cartoons, please go here.
