by carmen | Mar 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
Eight more spinners released into the world……some born naturals, some developing entirely new styles of drafting, but definitely all spinners. Three already have their own wheels…a fourth wheel is on the way for one and another settled for a drop spindle for the time being. I consider that a success.
It did take every ounce of strength I had to manage three hours of class, but with a ride home and two days sleep, I have almost recovered from the madness. Thanks for the well wishes. You guys are super sweet. I’m still grossly sick, Quasimodo ugly to the point of frightening small children (and squeamish adults) but I have to venture into the world today. I have not been to the studio all week and I feel lost.
I need some more wool to put the final tweaking on the scarf pattern so that it can be released into the world.
I don’t know why, but lately I only want to spin fibres with green in them. This BFL is so wonderful and spring like that I swear I can smell fresh cut grass when I put in up to my face.
This thick and thin BFL is plied with a lace weight alpaca, a soft green and gray cloud full of felted peas. The combination of green and gray is something I’ve toyed with a lot lately.
I always say I have very few needs. This is no longer true.
- I need to get better
- I need to spend more time in the studio
- I need a realistic production schedule
- I need to hear whether or not I am at Filberg this year.
And it’s pretty clear I need ALL of these to move forward. Now to make it happen.
by carmen | Mar 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
For more of these entertaining cartoons, please go
here.
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.
I don’t know why, but lately I only want to spin fibres with green in them. This BFL is so wonderful and spring like that I swear I can smell fresh cut grass when I put in up to my face.
This thick and thin BFL is plied with a lace weight alpaca, a soft green and gray cloud full of felted peas. The combination of green and gray is something I’ve toyed with a lot lately. 
