Spirited Chalice ~ Painted Roving in the Works!

Ah, its Monday afternoon on the other side of a December weekend full of holiday shopping, baking and wrapping. I found myself with a free hour and it felt so good to reconnect with my roving and dye friends. Of course I'm speaking of actual jars of dye and wool roving and not people, but they are friends to me!

I'm starting to dream up some colorways for a line of painted roving which I plan to add to my inventory at Wind Rose. I'm going to document them here so I can easily keep track of what I've done. I suppose you could make up an almost endless amount of designs, but I will be happy if I come up with say seven or so that people really like.

So please feel free to weigh in. Say to me "Jenn, that one's great!" or "Back to the drawing board, friend!" I know it's kind of hard to tell while its in a pan soaking wet, but I'll be back to post pictures when it's all fluffy and dry. So really, tell me what you want. It's your opportunity to shape what goes into Wind Rose Fiber Studio. If this one passes through, I may call it Spirited Chalice. Too weird? It has that pewter goblet color filled with blush and burgundy. Ok, now I'm thirsty.

StoryCorps ~ Honor and Celebrate Life Through Listening

Today is going to be one of my fairly rare non-fiber posts. I think it's a good post for this season when we shift our focus away from everyday thoughts and turn our attention outward towards the people we love. Perhaps we even find a way to connect with strangers through giving a gift or a donation. How about this for a gift idea? ~ Listening

Now we all know people who are good listeners and people who maybe could use a little practice. I personally feel that listening is a skill that requires practice. As a fiber artist and a long time crafter, I have also practiced the art of listening. Not everyone knows this about me, but over the last 20 years, I've only read maybe five books. On the other hand, I've listened to hundreds. I am an avid listener.

Listening is a very important part of my life. You see, I can't read a book and weave or spin at the same time, but I can listen to one. I love listening! One of the great things I have discovered about being a listener rather than a reader, is that I tend to expand my mind more into areas that I might be less likely to read. Detailed accounts of history or heady discussions of philosophy that would bore me on the written page, captivate me as I listen to the same words being spoken.

Today I received an email from a good friend of mine with a link to a story. It was the story of Debbie Watterson talking to her 10 year old son about being a big brother to a little sister who is deaf. It is a wonderful story and you can find it and thousands more on a site called StoryCorps.

"StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening." Inspired by the belief that listening is an act of love, they go on to say, "The heart of StoryCorps is the conversation between two people who are important to each other: a son asking his mother about her childhood, an immigrant telling his friend about coming to America, or a couple reminiscing on their 50th wedding anniversary. By helping people to connect, and to talk about the questions that matter, the StoryCorps experience is powerful and sometimes even life-changing. "

The stories are short and it's amazing how engaged you can feel in just a minute or two. Be prepared to have your heart touched and your mind expanded. Wouldn't it be wonderful to bookmark this site and listen to one story a day; to spend just a couple minutes thinking and connecting to the lives and experiences of the people with whom we share this planet? This is something you can share with your children too.

So maybe give the simple gift of listening this year. Give it to yourself and share it with the ones you love. StoryCorps has given us the incredible opportunity to honor one another and life itself by listening. You can listen to stories and you can even record your own. "StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, creating a growing portrait of who we really are ..."

Westen Learns to Crochet ~ Step 1: The Slip Knot

Last night I attended a guild meeting and was inspired by a family sitting at my table. Theirs was a family just like mine, a mom, dad and two boys. Their kids are a little older, but they talked about all of the things they have done together, pottery classes, learning Latin and even fiber arts. Her sons learned to knit, crochet, spin and weave.

I left feeling motivated and with a renewed sense of purpose. You see, when I was a kid, my dad built wooden boats. He had a workshop with all of his power tools and projects. I used to love to spend time there; the smell of sawdust becoming one of my favorite bouquets. Deep down I really wanted to know how to work all of those noisy machines and how to make something beautiful out of wood. My dad didn't think his workshop was the best place for little girls and usually shewed me outside.

Now I'm the parent with a room full of mystery machines; spinning wheels, a drum carder, rotary comb, etc. Though my kids haven't really shown much interest, I have to admit that I haven't encouraged it either. It pains me to confess that I didn't really bring them into my craft because they are boys. You have no idea how hard it was for me to write that last sentence!

What's great is that it's not too late to change things. I don't know if my kids will embrace my world of fiber, but I do know that I can share something I love with them and that we can spend time together exploring something new. I also think that fiber arts offers some good lessons. You can learn color theory, design, all the math that goes with designing, coordination and patience. It encourages a harmony between oneself and nature. That's my favorite part.

So today I began by teaching my youngest the first thing you need to know when you learn to crochet ~ the slip knot. I've actually taught quite a few kids to crochet and this is how I teach them to make a slip knot:




First you make a "U" on your lap with your yarn. Then you cross the tail end over the skein end making a loop. Next, bring your pincher fingers up under the loop and grab the skein end of the yarn above the place where the yarns cross. Now hold the tail end in place while your pincher fingers bring the yarn through the loop and pull.

Westen liked learning how to make a slip knot. He's not so sure about crocheting yet, but he kind of likes the idea of being famous here on my blog. I'll be back to share our progress and I'll be getting big brother Jens in on the action too! First crocheting, then maybe dyeing, spinning, the world!

A Loom In A Tube!

This is so cool! Really, you can buy a loom in a tube! I am so excited to share this with you!

A couple days ago I as looking at the Fibers Through Time 2010 conference information. I'm not going to be able to attend so I was basically checking out what I'll be missing. As I was scrolling down the list of vendors, one caught my eye. That one was Loom In A Tube.

After my last Telaraña Weavers and Spinners Guild meeting, I've been seriously considering making a loom just like this one. A couple of renown weavers gave presentations, one of which did her work on a loom like this. I had even gone so far as to find some instructions online for building my own.

That was before I discovered the wonderful Loom in a Tube. I just like saying "Loom in a Tube!" They have done all of the work for me. They've measured and cut the pipes. They've assembled all of the hardware. They have even included ruled ends to help me measure my warp. I love that!

OK, so they didn't make it just for me. *giggle* They made it for everyone! In their own words,

"The Loom in a Tube is constructed of extremely lightweight aluminum, with a non-tarnishing gold anodized finish. The loom features a shedding device to create 2 sheds when weaving with yarn. It can also be used for weaving with beads by simply leaving off the shedding device. A tension control device keeps the warp tight throughout the weaving process.

Each Loom in a Tube comes with an illustrated manual giving step-by-step instructions to help you assemble the loom and put on the warp. Also included are a tapestry bobbin, heddle-maker and string for making heddles."

The dimensions of the loom are as follows:
12" wide by 20" long
Maximum weaving size: 10" wide by 30" long

I just had to share this discovery with you. How sublime to have a lightweight loom that you can take anywhere and store easily. I've already ordered mine. I cant' wait to get my Loom in a Tube in the mail and put it together. I'm looking forward to many happy hours of weaving!

It's My Etsy~versary! Celebrating Two Years!

Happy Anniversary to my own Wind Rose Fiber Studio! Two years ago today I began my exploration into the world of selling online. I am so grateful to Etsy for providing a venue for myself and thousands of talented artisans. Not only did they create a user friendly site on which to build our businesses, they brought together a global community of like-minded people. I haven't just made sales, I've made true friends!

I want to especially thank everyone who has shopped at Wind Rose and even returned for more. I am so thankful for each and every one of you! To show my appreciation, I am giving 20% off on all orders today using the promo: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. Just type HAPPY ANNIVERSARY in the message to seller or send it in a convo, and today I'll refund 20% off the cost of your products through PayPal.

Thank you all so much for supporting Wind Rose Fiber Studio!

Lollipop Hand Painted BFL 2oz

Just a quick note today to let you know that I did list my other two ounces of Lollipop Hand Painted BFL in my shop. Here it is pictured along side of the Lollipop Thick and Thin Yarn I spun from the same dye lot. I think this roving would look great in a lot of different yarn styles.

My Muk Luks and Me

I think I wrote a post about muk luks last year, but I just can't help myself. This morning I was sitting having coffee with my husband and my feet were freezing. I had them curled up under me, that's right, I was sitting on my feet, and they were still cold! That's when I remembered that the best cure for cold feet was sitting up in my closet. My muk luks!

The first time I put my muk luks on each year, my feet just say ahhh! It's like greeting an old friend. The muk luks are happy to be out in the world and my feet are not just toasty, but completely comf! Yes, it is ridiculous how much I love my muk luks.

I'm actually sort of delusional about these slipper socks. Several years ago I went through no small amount of effort to design a crocheted pattern for what is more traditionally knitted footwear. In the end I designed an ankle boot like the one in this picture and a taller version that goes up to the knee. I was so proud of myself to get the shaping and the patterns just right and I even sewed on leather soles so they would not be slippery. They are the perfect crocheted version of the knit muk luks that you find at kiosks and bohemian shops usually in college towns or in cities.

I quickly made up several pairs in both sizes, but in all of my time at craft shows and on Etsy, I think I've only sold one pair. I can't be the only one who loves these can I? The public seems to be trying to tell me something. I still have a few pairs. I've given some away as gifts. I guess I'll get around to listing them back into my shop at ArtFire where I list my non-roving items. I don't really expect them to sell anymore. It's one of those times when you think people will just love something and they don't. Oh well.

I'm thinking I may give away the pattern here on my blog. It would be a fair amount of work to write it up so let me know if you want it. Does anyone out there want to crochet their own muk luks? I guess I'll wait and see.

Lollipop (2oz/116 handspun yards)

Hello and Happy Friday to all. Just playing show and tell today. I spun my Lollipop Roving into Lollipop Thick and Thin Yarn.

I thought my hand painted roving was a little over the top in the color department, but now that it has been spun up, I'm loving the colors. The green looks so nice next to the purple and the cherry and it's so soft!

I think I'm becoming addicted to spinning thick and thin yarns. It' very fun and I just love how light and lofty they turn out. Lollipop anyone?

Lollipop Hand Painted Roving

Here's a couple ounces of hand painted Blue Faced Leicester. I just made this yesterday afternoon. It's along the lines of what I may start to offer next year in my shop. I do think I went a little wacky on the colors with this batch. I don't know what gets into me sometimes!

So I named this fiber Lollipop because it kind of reminds me of candy. I think I'm going to spin at least a couple ounces of it up in a thick and thin. I dyed 4oz so if anyone sees this post and really loves it, I'd be happy to make a listing at Wind Rose for the other two. I'm planning on selling my painted roving at $4 per oz for BFL and Merino.

Now I just have to design a few colorways that are less wacky. That should be fun though; play time in the dye kitchen!

Oh, One more thing. If I have any felters reading this post, I need your opinion. I was wondering if you would like a variegated roving like this one only in a variety of skin and earth tones. It would mean buying 4oz of roving all in one piece with probably five different useful colors. What do you think?

Stuck At My Desk Post

I'm just kind of stuck at my desk right now, but I have been giving some thought as to what I might explore for next year. As each year comes to an end, I start to think about how I might make the next one even better. What new products can I add to Wind Rose Fiber Studio? What are the fiber artists looking for?

Right now I'm thinking about making a line of naturally dyed roving. There would be more cost involved, but I think people like having the option of buying a product that has been dyed with ingredients from nature. I'm also contemplating offering hand painted roving in larger lots, say 3 or 4oz. I may play around with different dye methods. Lastly, I really want to do more spinning. I love spinning yarn and sometimes it takes a back seat to my other work. I want to move it back up as a priority. I think spinning is good for my health. Nothing makes me happier and more at peace.

Just sharing my thoughts...

Spin, Park, Pinch, Draft, Repinch, Climb

Yesterday I taught my mom how to spin with a Top Whorl Drop Spindle. First of all, it's just fun when someone you love is interested in something you love. It's just a big love fest!

My mom was actually pretty easy to teach. She doesn't think of herself as a fiber artist, but for as long as I can remember, she has sewn, done needlepoint and I don't think there is a pattern she can't knit. Last year alone she knitted upwards of 20 hats for charity; a project she started in the summer and finished by Christmas.

In short, my mom knows more about fiber than she thinks she does. It's very easy to talk to her about weights of yarn and twist and that sort of thing. And spinning, like a lot of crafts, isn't really hard to understand, the challenge to to convince your hands to do what your brain commands. It's all about training those muscles to do something new and unfamiliar.

Every so often my mom would have to stop and think about what to do next. "Should I spin? Draft?" I realized that the easiest way to get her hands to accept these new motions would be to create a rhythm. A simple list of actions she could repeat to herself as she spun to help her remember and to get the muscles in her hands performing in time.

Spin ~ Park ~ Pinch ~ Draft ~ Repinch ~ Climb

Spin ~ Well this one is obvious. Spin the spindle of course. We discovered that my mom is a natural counterclockwise kind of girl.
Park ~ Hold the spindle in place by resting it between your knees or under your arm. Whatever is comfortable. It's just to keep it from back spinning while you work with the fiber.
Pinch ~ Now the hand you used to spin the spindle trades places with your drafting hand pinching the fiber to keep the twist from traveling.
Draft ~ Now your drafting or fiber hand is free to draw back on the unspun roving, creating that perfect drafting triangle.
Repinch ~ I think I may have invented a word here, but basically you are just switching your hands back to their old positions. Your drafting hand now pinches at the same place that your other hand was pinching to keep the twist from traveling.
Climb ~ Now you can slide the pinch of the drafting hand back over the fiber that you just prepared and allow the twist to climb or travel up the drafted roving.

This method of spinning is often referred to as the Inchworm Method. It's a great way to learn. My six word mantra (spin, park, pinch, draft, repinch, climb) is definitely simplifying things, but the goal is to create a cadence to which your hand muscles can learn to respond. As time passes, your hands will just naturally take over. The more you spin, the more your fingers will learn about the even feel of the draft and the natural tension and travel of the twist.

Right now my mom is on a plane flying back home to Virginia. I can just see her, with her drop spindle, and her lips mouthing the words; spin, park, pinch, draft, repinch, climb.

Related Post: How to Spin With a Top-Whorl Drop Spindle

It's December!

It's December 1st so I guess it's official ~

Happy Holidays
from
Wind Rose Fiber Studio!