Handspun
spun from bats by Storybook Fibers
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Spin-o-rama!
Wool? Check. Spinning wheel set up? Check. Makin's for crocheted wine cozies to change things up after spinning? Check. Looks like we have a GO!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Warm Wednesday
Felt like a dying machine last night! The Corriedale dyed silvery green and lavender-gray turned out so beautifully, I pulled out a bag of my hoarded South African top to dye in those colors to spin with. (I know, I know, don't end a sentence with a preposition). This weekend will be a spin-o-rama!!
Thinking about spinning some natural yarn to list on Etsy, just in case someone who doesn't spin wants to try dying handspun. My friend, Kristine, http://www.storybookfibers.etsy.com/ used to do that for me before I got my spinning wheel. Altho, with shows coming up this fall, maybe I'd better tend to inventory first... Tell you what. If you want natural yarn, convo me at Etsy, and I'll spin some up. Otherwise, I'll stick to my game plan!
Looking forward to teaching needle felting this Saturday. Join me if you can! http://www.gardenofbeadenupland.com/
Anita
Thinking about spinning some natural yarn to list on Etsy, just in case someone who doesn't spin wants to try dying handspun. My friend, Kristine, http://www.storybookfibers.etsy.com/ used to do that for me before I got my spinning wheel. Altho, with shows coming up this fall, maybe I'd better tend to inventory first... Tell you what. If you want natural yarn, convo me at Etsy, and I'll spin some up. Otherwise, I'll stick to my game plan!
Looking forward to teaching needle felting this Saturday. Join me if you can! http://www.gardenofbeadenupland.com/
Anita
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Toasty Tuesday
Dyed four 2 oz lengths of wool last night, and three 10 foot lengths of ribbon. Wool colors: deep green, persimmon, dark raspberry and pale yellow green. Silk colors: deep gray green, dk raspberry and mottled persimmon (sprinkled a bit of plum dye on it). Put another 8 oz of wool in to soak while I'm at work so it will be ready to dye when I get home. I'll use silvery gray green and pale silvery lavender tonight for sure, and dye more mottled-y ribbon, too. Want to have lots of choices for my needle felting class this Saturday!
Mailed my wholesale account application this morning. Can hardly wait to place my first order!! Wool (probably Corriedale for needlefelting, BFL and Merino for spinning), Firestar (nylon fiber to dye and spin with wool to give a bit of sheen) and undyed yarn to dye and use for the wine cozies. Woolie heaven!
One great thing about it being so hot (and it may be the only thing), is wool dries in a flash. I put it on the drying rack outside, and I swear, it's dry as a bone in two hours.
My focus needs to be: spinning, wool for needle felting, silk/yarn for fiber embellishments, and crochet wine cozies. Remind me of that when I yell "Squirrel!"
Anita
Mailed my wholesale account application this morning. Can hardly wait to place my first order!! Wool (probably Corriedale for needlefelting, BFL and Merino for spinning), Firestar (nylon fiber to dye and spin with wool to give a bit of sheen) and undyed yarn to dye and use for the wine cozies. Woolie heaven!
One great thing about it being so hot (and it may be the only thing), is wool dries in a flash. I put it on the drying rack outside, and I swear, it's dry as a bone in two hours.
My focus needs to be: spinning, wool for needle felting, silk/yarn for fiber embellishments, and crochet wine cozies. Remind me of that when I yell "Squirrel!"
Anita
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, Again
It's time to print out monthly calendars again. A few years ago, when I was crazy busy with faux painting, I had to print out monthly calendars to keep myself organized. Could be I'm gonna get busy, and I want to be organized (buck the tradition of flaky artists) and professional.
First thing on that calendar needs to be: Homemade Market Place craft show in Old Pasadena is Sunday, Sept 18th! I thought it was Nov 26th. OMGosh, could you imagine? http://www.jillybeanpottery.etsy.com/ will be showing her pottery at the Sept show, too. I like that Inland Empire Etsy Team members will be in a show together. Go IEET!!!
Pursuing a wholesale account with a fiber wholesaler. I'm gonna need several pounds of fiber to dye and spin enough yarn for shows this fall. Exciting and scary, but more on the exciting side. Until the fiber arrives, then I'll be scared I'll have too much to do! ...just spin 4 oz at a time, that's all it takes... I'll have to figure out a daily and weekly quota so I don't wander off, procrastinating! I'll put that on the calendar, too!
I took pictures the other day when I did my solar dying. Haven't figured out how to post them here, yet. Do I need a Flickr account?
Anita
First thing on that calendar needs to be: Homemade Market Place craft show in Old Pasadena is Sunday, Sept 18th! I thought it was Nov 26th. OMGosh, could you imagine? http://www.jillybeanpottery.etsy.com/ will be showing her pottery at the Sept show, too. I like that Inland Empire Etsy Team members will be in a show together. Go IEET!!!
Pursuing a wholesale account with a fiber wholesaler. I'm gonna need several pounds of fiber to dye and spin enough yarn for shows this fall. Exciting and scary, but more on the exciting side. Until the fiber arrives, then I'll be scared I'll have too much to do! ...just spin 4 oz at a time, that's all it takes... I'll have to figure out a daily and weekly quota so I don't wander off, procrastinating! I'll put that on the calendar, too!
I took pictures the other day when I did my solar dying. Haven't figured out how to post them here, yet. Do I need a Flickr account?
Anita
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunny Sunday
As best I can tell, I've been accepted into the http://www.handmademarketplace.net/ show, November 26th, in Old Pasadena! Wowee, I'd better start spinning yarn!!
Dropping my sister and nephew off at the water park this morning. While they play and bake their brains out, Mom and I will pursue the civilized art of shopping and lunch in air conditioned comfort!
Anita
Dropping my sister and nephew off at the water park this morning. While they play and bake their brains out, Mom and I will pursue the civilized art of shopping and lunch in air conditioned comfort!
Anita
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wednesday Evening
Still haven't put any wool in to soak in prep for dying. It's been 113-ish degrees the last couple days, and it is so hard to heat up the kitchen. Well, it's easy to heat up, but physically uncomfortable therefore psychologically something to dread... blah blah blah, you get the picture!! (am I revealing all my procrastination techniques - yikes!)
In order to maintain a cool house, I may resort to solar dying. Tried it last summer, it seemed to work well. The only thing I don't like about it is I can't manipulate the color as I would working over the stove. With solar dying, the dye bath pan goes outside on concrete, dye is applied, the pan is covered with clear plastic wrap, and then you leave it alone for a few hours. Kinda like sun tea, sorta.
Colors on the docket? Rose red, red-violet, purple and mid-to-dark leaf green.
I did needle felt a couple pairs of rose buds for earrings today. MAYBE, if you're all really lucky (eye roll) I'll make a pair and take pictures to post!!! We'll be really lucky if I can figure out how to upload said photos...
Cap'n Bob is threatening to take me to Chipotle's for dinner! Ta!
Anita
In order to maintain a cool house, I may resort to solar dying. Tried it last summer, it seemed to work well. The only thing I don't like about it is I can't manipulate the color as I would working over the stove. With solar dying, the dye bath pan goes outside on concrete, dye is applied, the pan is covered with clear plastic wrap, and then you leave it alone for a few hours. Kinda like sun tea, sorta.
Colors on the docket? Rose red, red-violet, purple and mid-to-dark leaf green.
I did needle felt a couple pairs of rose buds for earrings today. MAYBE, if you're all really lucky (eye roll) I'll make a pair and take pictures to post!!! We'll be really lucky if I can figure out how to upload said photos...
Cap'n Bob is threatening to take me to Chipotle's for dinner! Ta!
Anita
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
...Tuesday...
Lots of laughter and fun at Saturday's decoupage party. AJ http://www.princesscocoboutique.etsy.com/ , Debbie http://www.abyssalgems.etsy.com/ attended as planned. Surprise,and welcomed, guest Kristine http://www.storybookfibers.etsy.com/ attended as well. I don't know what's best, crafting with fellow creative people, or all the giggling!
Debbie decoupaged up a storm, finishing several boxes, into which she'll place items from her bath and body line. AJ's curiosity was piqued by Kristine's needle felting, so I gave her a needle felting lesson. She created a beautiful red rose, and threatened to turn it into a hat for Princess Coco, chihuahua extraordinaire. I tinked around, painted a cigar box bright pink, then spent a ridiculous amount of time finding and placing flower pictures on it. ...still not done...
Corriedale wool arrived Friday. I'll be dying it after work today and tomorrow, and all day Thursday, in readiness for delivery to Irene at http://www.gardenofbeadenupland.com/ for the next needle felting class I teach there July 2. Go to her website, click on classes, to get more info. If the class is already full, ask Irene to start a list for the next class so you'll be sure to be included.
Crocheted wine cozies in the Cottage Series colors pink, green and turquoise over the weekend. Lemon/lime is staring at me, wondering when it will be crocheted. Be patient, pretty bright color! Soon, very soon!
Anita
Debbie decoupaged up a storm, finishing several boxes, into which she'll place items from her bath and body line. AJ's curiosity was piqued by Kristine's needle felting, so I gave her a needle felting lesson. She created a beautiful red rose, and threatened to turn it into a hat for Princess Coco, chihuahua extraordinaire. I tinked around, painted a cigar box bright pink, then spent a ridiculous amount of time finding and placing flower pictures on it. ...still not done...
Corriedale wool arrived Friday. I'll be dying it after work today and tomorrow, and all day Thursday, in readiness for delivery to Irene at http://www.gardenofbeadenupland.com/ for the next needle felting class I teach there July 2. Go to her website, click on classes, to get more info. If the class is already full, ask Irene to start a list for the next class so you'll be sure to be included.
Crocheted wine cozies in the Cottage Series colors pink, green and turquoise over the weekend. Lemon/lime is staring at me, wondering when it will be crocheted. Be patient, pretty bright color! Soon, very soon!
Anita
Friday, June 17, 2011
It's Friday!
Wow, think I have a dye-the-yarn hangover. One of those happy-artistic-manic things, that leaves me pretty well wiped out the next day. But you should see all the beautiful yarns!! What's that? I need to take photos and post in order for you to see? Ahem, well, I'd better 'fess up right now: I am terrible about taking photos and posting. Hmmm, maybe that can be my 3rd quarter resolution, take pictures and post. ...we'll see...
Date for the trunk show in San Diego has been changed to August 6th.
Started crocheting a cottage pink and natural wine cozy last night. I felt very excited to be working with one of my new colors. After dinner, however, my husband feel asleep in my crochet chair (the recliner) and that put the kibosh on my crochet for the evening. Maybe I need a dedicated crochet chair. :-)
Decoupage party tomorrow!! Two of my fellow Inland Empire Etsians will be joining me for cut and paste fun! Looking forward to lots of creative ideas and giggles.
Anita
Date for the trunk show in San Diego has been changed to August 6th.
Started crocheting a cottage pink and natural wine cozy last night. I felt very excited to be working with one of my new colors. After dinner, however, my husband feel asleep in my crochet chair (the recliner) and that put the kibosh on my crochet for the evening. Maybe I need a dedicated crochet chair. :-)
Decoupage party tomorrow!! Two of my fellow Inland Empire Etsians will be joining me for cut and paste fun! Looking forward to lots of creative ideas and giggles.
Anita
Thursday, June 16, 2011
In the Dye Pot
I always go a little crazy when I get a new shipment of yarn or wool, especially if I get to dye it. I have all of my Cottage Series colors dyed for the wine cozies, wine sleeves, wine insulators (if anyone has a suggestion for a name, please tell me!!). Pink, aqua, light turquoise and lemon/lime. The colors will be paired with natural, and embellished with hand dyed silk ribbon, AND the Swarovski crystals that just arrived (Bob handed me the FedEx box this minute!!)
Okay, I go a little crazy when I get a new shipment of beads, too. Gotta go rip into the box and glory in the sparkle!!
Anita
Okay, I go a little crazy when I get a new shipment of beads, too. Gotta go rip into the box and glory in the sparkle!!
Anita
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
It's Heating Up!
We've been spoiled with moderate temperatures here in the desert so far this June, so yesterday's high of 108 was something of a shock. Makes me dread July - September... But! I'll be inside under the a/c, spinning and crocheting by day, dying wool and yarn by night (cuz it's too hot to have the stove going during the day).
Three other Inland Empire Team members who attended the June meet-up: Dana http://www.curtiscollectables.etsy.com/ (so cute little hair bows and flowers), Tim http://www.heartistics.etsy.com/ (fine wooden jewelry, intricate work), and Tanya http://www.re-purposehistory.etsy.com/ (bits of kimono and obi silks used in jewelry making, very striking!) That wraps up the attendees!
My Knit Picks order arrived yesterday. Took a lot of self control to put yarn in to soak so as it will be properly prepared for dying. Tonight, after work, it's gonna be a dye-fest, baby! I'll have all day to decide what color(s) to use.
Three other Inland Empire Team members who attended the June meet-up: Dana http://www.curtiscollectables.etsy.com/ (so cute little hair bows and flowers), Tim http://www.heartistics.etsy.com/ (fine wooden jewelry, intricate work), and Tanya http://www.re-purposehistory.etsy.com/ (bits of kimono and obi silks used in jewelry making, very striking!) That wraps up the attendees!
My Knit Picks order arrived yesterday. Took a lot of self control to put yarn in to soak so as it will be properly prepared for dying. Tonight, after work, it's gonna be a dye-fest, baby! I'll have all day to decide what color(s) to use.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Spin-n-Dye
Really have to get the perfectionist out of my head so I can get going on the peach yarn order! I'm going to use BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) (pro: lester) wool, and Flamingo Pink and Persimmon dye colors. Thinking I'll need to crank up some tunes to spin by!
Ordered business cards today. I usually design and print my own, but I forget, then don't have any with me. Seems unprofessional, so, commercial business cards.
Having lunch with my sister tomorrow, a rare treat. I'm going to take her to the original Las Casuelas Cafe. If for some reason it's closed, we'll tool a little farther downtown and eat at Las Casuelas Terraza. http://www.lascasuelas.com/
As promised, more members of the Inland Empire Etsy team that attended the June meet up: Kat: http://www.casadirosati.com/ and Amy: http://www.dogwoodandpoppy.etsy.com/ Haven't seen their work in real life, but I loved their enthusiasm and professionalism. What they make is bound to reflect their attitudes, and photos of their work on Etsy seems to prove it!
Ordered business cards today. I usually design and print my own, but I forget, then don't have any with me. Seems unprofessional, so, commercial business cards.
Having lunch with my sister tomorrow, a rare treat. I'm going to take her to the original Las Casuelas Cafe. If for some reason it's closed, we'll tool a little farther downtown and eat at Las Casuelas Terraza. http://www.lascasuelas.com/
As promised, more members of the Inland Empire Etsy team that attended the June meet up: Kat: http://www.casadirosati.com/ and Amy: http://www.dogwoodandpoppy.etsy.com/ Haven't seen their work in real life, but I loved their enthusiasm and professionalism. What they make is bound to reflect their attitudes, and photos of their work on Etsy seems to prove it!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Special Orders
Received several special orders last Saturday. One I will try to fill today - needle felting 10 small black flowers. I also need to spin a moderately bulky yarn to dye light peach, with wool to match, so my customer can knit a cloche hat, then embellish it with a needle felted flower. If ever I get a photo of her completed project, I'll share it with you. Sounds way cool!
I'll be having a fiber embellishments trunk show at Bead Gallery http://www.beadgallery.org/ in San Diego (Scripps Ranch area) July 9. By then, I'll be happy to escape a day or two of desert heat! Would love to have you stop by if you're in the neighborhood!!
Anita
I'll be having a fiber embellishments trunk show at Bead Gallery http://www.beadgallery.org/ in San Diego (Scripps Ranch area) July 9. By then, I'll be happy to escape a day or two of desert heat! Would love to have you stop by if you're in the neighborhood!!
Anita
Monday, June 6, 2011
1st Blog Entry!
Hello all!
After finally finding where to click to post (sigh), here I am.
Met up with several members of the Inland Empire Etsy Team (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California) this afternoon. It's great to have faces to go with Etsy shops. We're planning a craft show for Oct?, Nov?, Dec?. Will keep you updated as plans come together.
Tara and Crystal, who I met Saturday at Garden of Beaden http://www.gardenofbeadenupland.com/ while teaching a class (they were doing a trunk show there) were able to join us for the I.E.Etsy Team meet up. Super cool stuff, love their style. Tara: www.etsy.com/shop/lulumaxjewelry Crystal: www.etsy/shop/vintagefairyfinds Will list the others from the meet up soon, as I don't want to inundate ya'll with too much info first blog out!
FYI: I'll be teaching needle felting classes at Garden of Beaden this summer. Go to their site and click on classes for a schedule and more info.
TTFN,
Anita
After finally finding where to click to post (sigh), here I am.
Met up with several members of the Inland Empire Etsy Team (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California) this afternoon. It's great to have faces to go with Etsy shops. We're planning a craft show for Oct?, Nov?, Dec?. Will keep you updated as plans come together.
Tara and Crystal, who I met Saturday at Garden of Beaden http://www.gardenofbeadenupland.com/ while teaching a class (they were doing a trunk show there) were able to join us for the I.E.Etsy Team meet up. Super cool stuff, love their style. Tara: www.etsy.com/shop/lulumaxjewelry Crystal: www.etsy/shop/vintagefairyfinds Will list the others from the meet up soon, as I don't want to inundate ya'll with too much info first blog out!
FYI: I'll be teaching needle felting classes at Garden of Beaden this summer. Go to their site and click on classes for a schedule and more info.
TTFN,
Anita
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