Thursday, August 19, 2010

It all starts here!

This is how it all starts...out on my front porch.
This is how I actually dye the wool. I like to to do it outside when the weather is nice. I don't have a dye room set up in my studio....what a treat that would be! On a good day I can dye about 10 yds of wool fabric... if everything goes well. This works really well as I can then go about my business at the house.


THE RESULTS!!!

This is where the fun is...Dyeing the wool. It is always amazing to see what will come out of the dye pot. The color cards are not always reflective of what you get....After two weeks here are the results. More then 25 yds of wool fabric has been dyed. Aren't the colors great! I just want to dive in and get started creating something. I am in the process of creating a new fall wool applique wallhanging. I can not wait to get started.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Weaving & Spinning

I have been working hard to finish this shawl I have had on the loom for several weeks. They are all a good idea when you start but about 3/4 of the way through you begin to wonder "why did I start this project". It will be beautiful once off and I am so close to putting on the fringe. I have been spinning for a new shawl and am eager to try this new idea. I am finally using the new Clemes spinning wheel I bought at the first of the year. It has a very Large Jumbo Flyer & bobbin and I am using it to ply my singles together. It is working great. Of course I am also trying to clean and throw out stuff...but get side tracked with creating!!! Well off for some more cleaning!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Birthday Celebration!

Today we are celebrating my mother-in-law's 80th birthday. It is a very special day as she has cancer and we pray that we will celebrate 81. Family and friends are coming from all over the country. It will be a joyous event.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wool Flowers


I taught a class at my quilt guild this week on making these cute flowers out of wool. They are so easy to do. I will be making up kits and selling them at the shop in all your favorite colors!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

New yarn--yeah!

New yarn came today and you can see it on facebook. Nice ribbon yarn in 5 colors. Would knit up fast on size 11 needles. I am going to weave a summer shawl. Well done for the week here at the shop. Going home to plant a few more flowers. Just not enough color!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Fiber..fiber..fiber!!

Samples of Pencil Rovings at the shop.

I just love fiber. No matter what other crafts I do, I always come back to the fiber. I wiped the dust off the wheel and have been spinning. I am stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to make some real novelty yarns. The key I guess is to just be fierce and don't worry about the rules. I think sometimes we worry too much about doing it perfect that we limit ourselves to just jumping in! I'm in with both feet!!!!

Friday, May 28, 2010

"Remember Me" pillow


I finally got my pillow top done. Today I will sew it together and get it stuffed. Tell me what you think.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Flowers!

My forget me not pillow is coming along. I have to attach the leaves and embroider the trendils. I am going to make some flowers out of wool strips. They will make nice pins or embellishments to a bag or jacket. I have some pretty pink I am going to try it with. Look for a picture tomorrow.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

My Pillow Weaving


Hi,

Well my pillow did not get finished but wanted to share a picture of the top anyway. I have always wanted to try this weaving with fabric. I used my felt and just started cutting. This is a patriotic time of year so wanted to do something red, white and blue. You will find it on the porch in one of our new lawn chairs. Stop by and see the collection and enjoy some time chatting on the porch. We have a lovely space hear. Yesterday we were watching the chipmonks scurry around and we have a mother bird with babies in a nest in the rafters of the porch. She was not happy that we were setting there and could not get back to her babies! Well on to finish my Forget me not Pillow.
Happy Creating!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Pillows, pillows, pillows!

Well I am in a pillow mood. I am making some new designs and putting together a pillow using a weaving technique. They both are coming out great. I hope to have pictures for you tomorrow. The weaving technique will be a class. More details to come. Well off to sew!
Anita

Saturday, May 15, 2010

It's my birthday!

I have been very lax on keeping updated here. So being my birthday I thought today was a good day to start new. Since my last post I moved the shop to Pittsfield and share and old housewith a quilt shop. It is working out very nicely. my yarns, fibers and hand dyed wools fit in great. It makes for a nice fit. Right now I am working on wool applique samples and thought designing some new pillows would be nice. Pillows are quick and easy and nice to change out with the seasons. As soon as I have one I will put a picture up. I decided to do some things for myself!!! What a great idea. so I am making a piece from the Arabella collection from Pat Sloan--Bella's Blooms. I am goint to change out some of the applique pieces for my hand dyed wool. It will look great in my living room. I need an up date and the bright colors of this collection will be great. Well off to get ready for my birthday cookout.