Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Yarn Along..


re • claim: To bring into or return to a suitable condition for use, as cultivation of habitiation.

This warp.
Currently on the Saori Loom -

Reclaimed, thrifted, recycled sweater, and hand spun yarns.
A complete conglomeration of deliciousness.

The use of salvaged materials frees me.
This cast aside yarn is getting a new life.

There are no expectations.
A little bit of this..a little bit of that..

No fears or hesitation.


Which leads me to Craig's List.
Gosh I love Craig's List...

So I stumbled on this little beauty this past week.
A barely used Schacht tapestry loom (with stand).

YES!


This is the first weaving I made on her.  It is ready to come off the loom, but
there is still warp to be advanced so I am weaving another before I take this one off.


Weaving tapestry is incredibly fun!
This was woven with all reclaimed fibers...Sweater bits, yard sale finds,
and estate sale yarn.  

Reading:


Completely lost in the beauty and history of the Bauhaus weavers..

~

Joining Ginny




Sunday, June 28, 2015

Little Wren, Big City..



Yesterday I had the honor of teaching a companion class at the
David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh during the 

The companion classes were hosted by the lovely 
Society for Contemporary Craft for folks who were attending
the convention that were 'non-turners' of wood.


I ended up taking the long way around to the craft room
and stumbled on some beautiful roof top green spaces.


We had a wonderful time weaving some mug-rugs
with my  'Found Object Kits'.


Thank you ladies for a most wonderful afternoon!
Safe travels to all who were visiting from out of town!

Wishing you many more happy 
weaving projects..

~




Sunday, June 21, 2015

Infinite Nature


 "I thank you God for this most amazing day, 
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, 
and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, 
which is infinite, which is yes." 

~e.e. Cummings


Yesterday I had the honor of teaching a natural dye class
 at the beautiful Winnie Palmer Nature Center.


The display table of natural dyed samples for the students.


Lots of mixing, dipping, stirring, rinsing..
more rinsing...

and 

we did it..


.. a rainbow of colors..

There were rockets.

Literally.

It was the airshow and the Blue Angels flew over head.

Thank you ladies for a most amazing day.
May your spirits leap and soar as you continue to find rainbows.

xo

~




Monday, June 1, 2015

Weave all the things...



This past weekend I spent two days at the Society for Contemporary Craft 
teaching a DIY weaving workshop.


We made picture frame looms and created a custom wall hanging.
Students learned some basic tapestry stitches and how to 
source and use reclaimed fibers.

So. Much. Fun!!!


A few samples of their gorgeous weaving..
(top: Lauren, left: Amy, right: Finn)

Thanks to the amazing students who joined me for 
a fun and inspiring weekend!

Keep on weaving...!!

~




Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Yarn Along...

Collecting.

Winding..


Reclaimed fiber makes me happy.
Vintage yarns, yarn from sweaters, vintage cones..

This collection is for a DIY weaving class I am teaching
at the end of the month.



Dyeing the colors of spring..

'Printemps'

Brilliant green leaves, redbud blooms, peachy maple tree tips 
ready to pop..

Library love:


Reading 'The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee" ..

Just cast on the "Ardent" by Kallio knits.
So much for those UFO's..

~

Joining Ginny

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Yarn Along..



Slowly chipping away at the unfinished object pile 
of knitting projects (UFOs)

Adore this scarf pattern by Janina Kallio
~ Terrain~


Knit with some of my naturally dyed yarn:
Golden rod over-dyed with Indigo.

I find myself impatient for the Queen Anne's Lace
and Golden Rod to come this year...


Reading some lovely natural dye books from the library.

Trying hard to finish the UFOs before casting on something new.  

Knitting on a 3 year old wrap from hand spun now, but 
couldn't resist casting on the Moto Vest by Shelli Westcott.
So simple and chunky yarn..
Looking wonderful from all the 
Woolful podcast chatter...

I said trying right?

~

Joining Ginny

(PS - Ellen .. If you are out there.. can you please send me an email? I can't seem to email you with the address I have  xoxo)

Monday, April 27, 2015

Color study


"I love to study the many things that grow below the corn stalks and bring them back to the studio to study the color. 

If one could only catch that true color of nature - the very thought of it drives me mad."

~Andrew Wyeth~



I've been wanting to try natural dyeing with daffodils since last spring.

So this year, I gathered...dyed some super soft
merino/silk (non-SW) and..

well..

off white.

Re-gathered, gave the yarn a second trip through
the dye bath and ended up with the above.

A creamy yellow beige.

Not what I was expecting, but then that's 
what I love about natural dyeing.  You never
really know what will come from the dye pot.

~