Freshwater Fibers

Look what followed me home...

2011-11-11T14:18:00.001-08:00

Well not exactly, it was shipped from British Columbia but I am just thrilled. I've wanted a Ladybug spinning wheel ever since they were introduced by Schacht a few years ago. Recently they changed the style of the red wheel, and I don't think the new ones are as cute, so I
was tickled to find this one in a destash on Ravelry.

I am also looking for a new home for my Ashford Traditional wheel, but I haven't had any luck yet. I don't want to ship it so have only advertised it locally, and there are lots of wheels available in this town. I originally painted some of the parts teal green as part of a plan to decorate the wheel, I think I will continue with this project and list it on etsy when it is done and all prettied up.

And speaking of etsy, I have started my shop up again, and have already sold some handspun yarn and some craft supplies. Going to list more this weekend. Guess my clay vacation was restorative, but there is nothing like spinning, knitting or crocheting by the fire on a winter day.

Hard decisions...

2011-02-23T11:54:00.001-08:00

Just made a difficult decision, giving up my reserve spot at the Saturday Market. It's hard to let it go, after all those cold, miserable days at market to earn enough points to win a reserve space. And I love my neighbors, and my spot near terrific music and food.

But it feels right to open it up for some new market energy, I know when I didn't have a spot I wished some of those folks who only came to market the bare minimum to keep their reserved space would move on and open up spaces for artists who were producing work and having to set up in a different space every week! And then last year as my art underwent changes I became one of those people, setting up a minimum display and barely covering my fee and lunch costs.

So I let go, and it is out there and hopefully somebody feels very lucky to get it. It's a nice space, hope whoever is there finds it as positive as I did.

Meanwhile I am trying to find other ways to stay involved in and support Market other than selling, and I am trying to find the new directions my art will take.

Why I do what I do, and why I sell at market.

2010-12-14T14:43:00.000-08:00

"You work that you may keep pace with the earth
and the soul of the earth."

Kahlil Gibran, to read the rest go here.

And beautiful words on the marketplace, read this and think of Saturday and Holiday markets. So go buy some food from the farmers, eat some food made by folks who care, listen to a song and buy some art. And nourish yourself on many levels.

Cold and stormy weather arrives!

2010-11-17T20:11:00.000-08:00

It seems so fitting as the rain (and maybe even snow) rolls in that we are all moving into the fairgrounds this weekend to create the magic that is Holiday Market. I am feeling like it crept up on me way too suddenly, I can 't quite believe it is mid-November already. But a step outside says, yes it is.

Spent the last few days getting ready, set up the booth in the garage, got the fire extinguisher checked, located table coverings and extension cords. Holiday Market here we come! I drag myself into it every year, and leave the sweet alternate world sadly at the end. The relationships with booth neighbors, food court vendors and customers that we create in the 14 (yes 14!) days of selling is rich and rewarding. Makes the three months of hibernation seem really lonely after Christmas.

And this year, I am sharing with my daughter, and it is so exciting to see her develop as an artist and small businesswoman. Come see her lovely images in photos and cards in our booth, or check out my website to see her skills as a web designer and product photographer. And even if you don't come by our booth, come buy lovely handmade gifts and food, and support the creative talent that makes Eugene such a special place.

Seasonal thoughts

2010-11-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

The big kiln is once again being loaded at Clayspace. I have lots of pieces ready to go in this time, trying to get stocked up for both Holiday Market and the studio sale at Clayspace.

I've been running around gathering leaves to use in the clay before they are all gone. As a result my worktable has been a riot of lovely fall colors. It is fun to find yet another way to participate in seasonal bounty, I have learned to eat locally and seasonally and now it is part of my work. I am not sure how much longer the fall leaves will be available, but then I can always use the cedar and ferns and other evergreens that grow in our lush climate.

But today I am taking a break from clay and planting daffodils and garlic bulbs, thinking ahead to next spring. I hope you are enjoying your autumn day!

Pretty new website is active!

2010-10-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

My talented older daughter designed a lovely website for my pottery, check it out.

Other than that I am in high production mode trying to make tons of lovely stuff for Holiday Market and Clayspace's Holiday Sale.

How to make lots of pieces and still keep the joy? That is the struggle with craft production. But there are moments when it is all worth it even during these crazy weeks before the holiday rush.

Kiln firing, woo hoo!

2010-10-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

The big kiln is firing and all of my recent pieces are in it. Can't wait to see the results, kiln opening is on Thursday afternoon!

Find me on facebook

2010-09-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

Cool doings this Saturday

2010-07-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

So not only am I finally making it back to market with some new pottery, I will be joined by my daughter with her AWESOME photography. You can check it out here, but she is updating her website so it may not be up yet...

But it was really fun to go down to the Saturday Market standards meeting and get such a warm welcome for the next generation. What a cool thing market is to make her feel so welcome. I get warm fuzzies just thinking about it, although I don't think I need any more warmth as it is supposed to be pretty toasty down on the park blocks!

Oh and this Saturday is my birthday too, how cool is that?

New work went out in the world

2010-07-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

It's been super exciting finally showing my new work at Saturday Market, and after two lovely Saturdays I am darn near sold out! I am eagerly awaiting the unloading of the kiln tomorrow, and have to get back in my studio and work hard. It is so inspiring to get feedback and have people respond strongly enough to my pieces to want to take them home.

I've gotten tons of great support in this endeavor, on the first day I was selling many of my friends and teachers from Clayspace came down to show their support. And Awesome Market manager Kim Still took photos to include on the new products page of the Market website, and then wrote about all of us new work in her market blog!

So although I have been apprehensive totally going into a new direction, it has been so rewarding. My clay work is from the heart, it is playful and gives me a chance to really live in the moment. I'm having a blast!

I'm a market wimp.

2010-04-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

After the last few forecasts, and the hail this afternoon, I won't be at opening day. Aside from not wanting to get soaked and freeze, I hardly have anything to sell as I have been spending all of my time playing with porcelain instead. A handful of scarves left from Holiday Market and some new purses and that's 'bout it for my booth at the moment.

I think I just need to get in gear with clay and get approved for a new medium at market, since nothing is happening on the fiber front except for procrastination!

Commuting in Eugene

2010-03-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

Had an interesting traffic jam on the way to work at Clayspace today

These turkeys were way more interested in impressing the females than moving out of my way

The amazing thing is that this is within Eugene city limits!

Reinvention

2010-03-11T10:00:00.001-08:00

Here's what came out of the kiln

It's amazing what happens when you work from your heart.

The last piece is porcelain, and a little too delicate to photo well.

What's keeping me distracted lately.

2010-02-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

After thirty years of crafting in fiber -- painting and dyeing, sewing, spinning, knitting, weaving, crochet, batik, even beadwork and embroidery...I felt like the well was dry with my artwork. Intending a little vacation from fiber, a little break to refresh my creative spirit, I signed up for a pottery class at clayspace with Ellen Davidson last September.

Well those of you around me already know what happened, instead of a break I fell head over heels in love with clay and have been forcing myself to try and keep making fibery things for market sales. I managed to dye and sell about 250 silk scarves at Holiday Market, and am sewing away on some fun cotton bags for spring at Saturday Market.

But here is where my heart is

This is the big kiln being loaded at Clayspace, to be fired this weekend.

And these are a couple of my pieces in the kiln

The reddish brown ones are handbuilt stoneware, from the excellent class by Ellen Davidson.

And the whitish piece is porcelain, from my class with Katie Swenson.

These are all covered with glaze, ready to be fired to cone 10 in the big gas reduction kiln at Clayspace. I can't wait for the kiln opening this weekend to see how they turned out. You have to have a very zen approach to ceramics, after you get it this far there is a time to just give up your expectations and see what comes out of the kiln. It is definitely a leap of faith. If any magic happens with my pieces, I'll post pics!

Meanwhile I do love sewing, and am having fun with bright fabric making cotton bags for spring market days. Saturday Market opens April 3rd!

Before and After

2009-11-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

Magic happens at the fairgrounds this time of year, we entire a huge open cold space, and transform it with our booths into a holiday village.

Here is my space at the beginning of load in day

And here it is the next day:

Come see us at Holiday Market!

Look what I got at the Farmers Market

2009-07-01T19:32:00.001-07:00

Made strawberry jam and triple berry jam. So yummy I wanted more and at Tuesday market - no strawberries! Season is almost over, had to drive way out to Junction City to get some more. Success, and one last batch of strawberry jam to end June. It's like summer in a jar when I eat this in the winter.

Of course the cool grey rain seems like a million years away on these sunny 80 degree days! Ahh, summer in Eugene, gotta love it!

All sock yarn and roving now on Etsy

2009-06-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

View my etsy store at the right and click on the picture to see the last of my handpainted sock yarns and rovings for sale in my etsy store!

Come see me at Saturday Market for hand dyed silk scarves!

Only look if you have a twisted sense of humor...

2009-05-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

This is not granny crafts

Morbid crochet

The last weekend for yarn at Saturday Market

2009-05-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, May 16th will be the last day I display my handdyed yarn at Saturday Market. After that I will list it on etsy and if you see something you like I can bring it to market for you to pick up so you don't have to pay shipping.

Wool prices have gone up as the economy has slowed down, and I am not willing to raise my prices to keep up.
So for now you can get some great bargains on handpainted yarns at market, and on etsy.

Electric Skein Winder

2009-05-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

It's a Fricke electric Easy Winder. Winds two yard skeins. Bought it last year at Black Sheep Gathering, and would prefer to sell it to someone here in Eugene, or who is visiting Black Sheep, as I don't want to disassemble it and ship it.

For more info visit Fricke

Shoebox lazy kate

2009-05-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

In spinning discussions on Ravelry I mentioned the free, or almost free lazy kate with tension brake that I learned how to make out of a shoebox at a workshop. As a disclaimer, this is not original to me, but I was asked about it and so I am posting pictures and info here.

What you need,
a shoebox
a pair of 14 in needles, somewhere between size 4-7. (I got a pair of 5s for 99cents at a thrift store for this project)
a length of cotton string
a tiny binder clamp

Here is a picture of it assembled

With your needles poke four holes for them, and two holes for the string. Tie a knot in the string at one end and thread it through, and put the little bitty binder clamp on the other side.

And here is a photo of it in use

The yarn here is on drinking straws, they are the same dimension as my drop spindle so I was able to slide the spun yarn right onto them. I have also used this with bobbins from my wheel, just make sure that the box is deep enough and the holes are high enough for the bobbins to turn freely.

I have also used it to hold small cones of yarn while winding warps for weaving. This is a very versatile little lazy kate and has helped me out many times. Happy plying!

Roving now listed on etsy

2009-04-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I know I have been promising it for months, but I finally got a selection of my hand dyed rovings listed on etsy. Just click on the little box to the right to be taken to my shop.

There is also some undyed wool, both superwash merino and non superwash wool (for felting!). I will get organized soon and post some links to great dye tutorials if you have been wanting to play with it. Now that the weather is getting warmer it can be a terrific outside activity!

MOM you're weaving again!

2009-04-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Yes my daughter can be excused for sounding so suprised, after all I think it has been almost two years since I warped my loom and got anything woven. But here it is, Ta-Da, with an almost completed rag rug out of some cool hemp and organic cotton scrap fabric that I got from a local manufacturer. It's a creamy terry cloth, which I plan to weave with a variety of colored warps, starting here with peach that I had on hand.

Hopefully I should have a couple of these this weekend at Saturday Market. The forecast sounds lovely, 70 maybe. And my dreaded "real job" finished yesterday so I feel free as a bird to create and enjoy.

What an amazing opening day...

2009-04-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

It seemed like the whole city of Eugene turned out for a warm sunny opening day at the Saturday Market. The food court was impassable as I waited in line for my first market food since December. Very fun to be part of the community celebration.

As my son passed the nearest ATM the line was a block long, with people getting their hard earned money out to support local crafts and food. Many cell phone calls were overheard with "It's gorgeous, I'm at the market, come downtown!" And people did, in hordes. Happy spring weather, hooray for market finally being here - everyone was all smiles! Sales weren't bad either, and I am now looking forward to many warm summer markets to come.

But today our early spring is returning to gray and normal, cooling off with rain in a day or so. I have to retreat inside and finish warping my loom. I promise to post picture when I get it done, as yes I really do need to make new items to sell.

My new space!!!

2009-04-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Ahaha, there it is! Yes it looks like a patch of cement, but come Saturdays beginning this month that spot is MINE! Those of us who sell at market know how many days of waiting in line and setting up here, there and everywhere it takes to earn a reserved space at Satu rday market. So when market goddess Vi called and said I had finally earned a space I was ecstatic! After a confirmation, I had to run downtown and do a happy dance and take this photo. So it looks like a bare cement square, but on Saturday when the park blocks come alive with music, food and art I will be there.

In case you can't recognize the bad photo, it is space 117. It is up against the stone wall on the right as you face the stage. Near enough to hear the fabulous music, but tucked back a bit for sanity. Last year the neighbors were Glenn and his fabulous glass and Donna with Rainbow candles.

So what the heck am I selling this year? Since I have been working a "real" job since Holiday Market ended I haven't had time to make anything. So I have whatever yarn is left over from market, and some of the silk scarves that were holiday gifts for so many folks.

I also have some roving left, which after April 15th I will try and photo and get up on Etsy also. It is all hand-dyed superwash merino

A yarn update, prices have increased a lot for the blank wool I dye, so I am not sure if I will still be selling it. So what I have now may be all there is.

I am also trying to get my loom warped and weave some more rag rugs, I sincerely doubt that will happen before April 15th. (yes, my alter ego is that of a tax preparer. Hey, it pays bills.)

Yarn all over the house...

2008-11-19T22:21:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for Holiday Market, I stopped to take a few photos of the way yarn has taken over the house.

The manual skein winder has moved into the kitchen

There is yarn on the counter waiting to be wound

The electric skein winder has taken over the office

notice the computer chair full of yarn...

The sink is full of dyed yarn after rinsing

Which then is drying on the deck

Somehow this needs to all get skeined and labeled, and loaded into the fairgrounds this Friday for the opening day of Holiday Market.

Pass the coffee please. And ignore the dirty dishes and laundry while it all gets done.

Everybody loves yarn

2008-10-13T05:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to hug it.....

Bulky crochet hat pattern

2008-10-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

This is more of a recipe than a strict pattern, it is easy to adapt to different size yarns and different sized heads. For this hat I used Bulky weight yarn and a size P hook. Skein was 125 yards, I used a little over half of it.

Stitches used are chain, slip stitch, single crochet and hdc (half double crochet).

Chain 4, join with a slip stitch. Chain 2, work 7 hdc around ring and join with slip stitch.

Chain 2, 1 hdc in joining stitch, 2 hdc in east stitch, join with slip stitch.

Chain 2, 1 hdc in join, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat 2 then 1 around circle, join.

Chain 2, 1 hdc in join, 1 hdc, 2 hdc, repeat around and join.

Continue in this sequence, adding one more hdc before doubling up until circle measures 6-7 inches across. This will form sort of a bowl shape. Then work even until hat is desired size, this will make hat shape. I usually stop when it measures 9 inches from center to rim. Single crochet the last round, joining with slip stitch. Weave in ends.

Optional ideas, if you like the ridges around the bottom of the hat in the photo just crochet in the back loops the last couple of rounds, then turn inside out when done. Sometimes I do the last round of single crochet in a contrasting yarn.

To use a finer yarn and smaller hook just use the same method of increasing, doing 2 in each stitch, then 2 and one alternating, then 2-1-1, then 2-1-1-1, etc. until the top is 6-7 inches across. Then work even until hat is desired size. Once you learn this pattern you can whip out a hat with any yarn without a pattern, and it is a great way to use a one of a kind yarn.

Have fun!

Organic yarn

2008-10-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

All of the ebay organic wool yarn is sold, Thanks so much to everyone.

I'm a terrible blogger, been working much too hard trying to dye tons of yarn and silk for Holiday Market. Hope to have some pictures soon. But I will try and post the hat pattern I have been promising later today.

Organic yarn for sale at wholesale prices

2008-09-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

I am clearing out the last of my stash of commercial organic yarns, so that I can focus on my own handdyed yarns. Visit my ebay listings, where you can get organic cotton and organic wool yarn at wholesale cost or below. These aren't auctions, just buy it now listings so you can get the quantity you need. If you want more than a couple skeins, please contact me for a corrected shipping quote as the ebay calculator doesn't work well.

Go here for Yarn Bargains!

Wheel has a happy home!

2008-09-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

My kiwi is off to a happy home, right here in my neighborhood! Thanks to all who asked about it.

Happy spinning!

Kiwi for sale

2008-08-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

I've gotten several inquiries on this wheel, so I am putting all the pictures in one place. I am asking $250, plus shipping if necessary. It will weight about 18 lbs. in a box with packing materials and the extras, so calculate shipping via UPS or the post office from 97405 to your address.

It comes with the high speed adaptor kit, a couple of lbs. of wool to play with (the grey I think is romney, but I don't remember for sure, the white is commercial wool that dyes lovely colors if you want to try that). Both are combed rovings with a long staple length ready to spin, and easy to learn with. I am also including the book The Whole Craft of Spinning, and it has the original paperwork from Ashford.

Also comes with three bobbins (I will wind off the yarn on the bobbin in the photo). It also has the lazy kate that came with it, visit the Ashford site to see a photo as I can't find it right now. A thorough cleaning of my fiber space will uncover it so I can include it! It is the metal two bobbin one shown just below the Kiwi photo at the site, not the fancier tensioned 3 bobbin one below that.

The wheel has a hand rubbed wax and citrus finish on it, no shiny varnish. So it could be stained darker, or painted, or kept as is. I have kept the drive band loose when not spinning, on both the regular one and the high speed kit, so they are in good condition.

Here's a fun link to a Knitty article about spinning on a Kiwi. I would prefer to sell it to someone in Eugene so that I don't have to dissassemble it, and they don't have to reassemble it. All the instructions are there, but I bought it assembled from Woodland Woolworks and would love to sell it that way if possible.

Tie dye memories

2008-08-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

My daughter did a tie dye project at school this week, and as we washed it out and took off the rubber bands I had a great time remembering when I used to produce and sell tie dye. This is a photo of some things drying on my backyard clothesline when I lived in North Idaho.

Back then, the best tie dye ever came from here in Eugene, I remember when a Eugene Saturday Market vendor had a booth at the craft show in Sandpoint, I daho -- all of the artists were wearing tie dye by the end of the show!

Back then it was also sort of a secret how to fold certain patterns, I remember when I learned how to do the spiral fold -- whoo hoo! Remember, this was a LOOONG time ago.

Now thanks to the internet and tons of books, it's all out there. Here's a great link with how to fold different designs. And this is the best site for all kinds of dye info. Have fun!

okay, that was a downer

2008-08-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Now for something completely different -- Silliness

not so much fun

2008-08-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

I usually try to keep this blog to fiber fun, it's supposed to be about great dye jobs and fiber equipment and goodies. But I have an event I feel the need to share...

On August 8th my dearest friend passed away from cancer. Carol SinClair was just too light of a spirit to keep here anymore I guess, but for all the sisters and friends still here we are missing her dearly.

Carol was an amazing artist, she used feathers as her medium. I posted a couple of her recent weavings with feathers here. She was a member of Northwest Artists co-op in Idaho, here is a photo of her in the center of the meeting.

But those are just facts. Those of us lucky enough to know her enjoyed her warm heart, generous spirit and wicked sense of humor. We love you Carol.

I'm an official yarnie

2008-08-07T22:13:00.001-07:00

wow, I am officially a yarnie on Ravelry. I have my own page here with my yarns listed by type, but I have some work to do in order to get all the varieties I dye up there. But now rav folks can add my yarn to their stash, flag it, etc.

Have you read the official statistics, over 150,000 users, about 30,000 posts a day. Wowza.

more rainbows

2008-07-23T12:24:00.001-07:00

Just some more pretty pictures of what I have been spinning lately. So much fun.

And a visit to Devil's Lake on the Oregon Coast, here is where I got to spin:

fame and fortune

2008-07-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, while I was away on vacation (go figure) I was the Etsy Store of the Day on Lime and Violet's blog, check it out
Scroll down to see my stuff!

And of course I have a whole pile of roving and yarn ready to list on etsy, but not there yet -- so if you are interested check back later this week after I catch up on things.

spinning rainbows

2008-07-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Ever since I learned to spin I have wanted to make a rainbow yarn with long color repeats, hooray I finally got to do it! This is a loosely spun single, about worsted weight, that I plan to crochet a hat out of. The color should spiral into the next. I'm so excited with this process, I have already spun another bobbin, and want to do another one today too. This is so much fun, I'ts getting me up in the a.m. and can't wait to see it come together.
Oh, and look what followed me home:
It's an Ashford Joy, that I got a great deal on ebay, even included the carrying bag. I am so excited to have truly portable spinning, my kiwi fit into my car okay, but with the folding wheel and bag it is so easy to take with me. And the range of ratios gives me more options without changing the flyer.

She was a little dirty, it has taken several times over cleaning her but now the finish gleams. And I had to fix the drive band, it had been left in place so long it was all stretched out. I bought a new purple one, but we were able to cut and refuse the old one so that is on there for now.

So sadly, my sweet kiwi will go downstairs for now, next to the dusty loom. Not ready to sell it, it was such a sweet first wheel.

My best handspun yet

2008-06-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally feel like I might be getting the hang of spinning, this yarn was sooo exciting to work on from start to finish. First I started with a yummy red roving, this was one of my superwash merinos, that is dyed in rich red with shades of fuschia here and there

Then I quickly spun this yummy pencil roving from Loop. It's a black alpaca, with just a bit of dyed black merino in it. Red and Black, wowza, especially with the slight color variations of the red shading from deep red to fuschia red.

I ended up with 8 oz. of a really nice balanced worsted weight alpaca/merino blend. It will go in my etsy shop soon, but I have to admire it for awhile first.

Black Sheep Gathering, the happy afterglow....

2008-06-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

I'm still sort of in a wooly delirious state after the last three days at the Black Sheep Gathering. Friday I went just to wander and shop, and took some great advice from Ravelry folks to listen to the judging. I learned more about spinning in 30 minutes watching entries being judged at the fiber show, then did some happy shopping (more on this in a minute) and got an advanced education in a couple of kinds of sheep breeds by listening to the judge of the wool show. Definitely going to plan on more time on Friday for listening to this next year.

On Saturday I had to work, but had a lot of fun talking with BSG goers who wandered down to Saturday Market to visit.

Sunday, back at the fairgrounds, more time looking and lusting, and shopping. I fell totally in love with a little brown Shetland sheep, we locked eyes, it came over to me -- that sheep would have gone home with me if I had any yard to put it in! We don't even have a lawn to graze on, all decking, and I think it is against city ordinances too. Darn it all anyway.

Shopping: I bought lots of Alpaca roving to dye, and the picture above is my new best friend, an electric skein winder from Fricke. So fun to meet the folks who made it, and great to take it home with me and put it to work the next day. When I realized I had a 5000 yard cone of bamboo waiting to be skeined so I could dye it, well the price of this tool became no big deal.

My arm will be so much happier, and it even counts so my skeins will be more accurate! Hooray.

I have to say, between workshops, demos, shopping, judging - there were several times I wanted to be in three places at once. Even though I am lucky enough to live in town, I think the folks who traveled here to Black Sheep were luckier, they were just here to enjoy and didn't have family and work pressures. Next year I want to take my tent and just stay all 3 days! Well, maybe go home and shower.

For those of you who were redirected to this new blog site, sorry for the inconvenience. Certain technical concerns made the change necessary. If you hang around, I do promise to post more often.