my journeys end...

I was in the second wave of Voyagers in The Journey to the Golden Fleece  creativity course, so my personal journey started February of last year (2014 for those still writing the wrong date). It has been educational, joyful and sometimes painful.

Journaling was the hardest part for me I think. I like my private thoughts to be private, so sometimes to put things down on paper is difficult. I sketched much of it out in super secret code only I would know and I did not really share those feelings throughout the journey.

But I think some of it came may have out in my yarns for all to see.

Here they are completed in pecking order:

 Module One: The Call to Adventure.

 

 Module Two: The Road of Trials 

 Module Three: The Vision Quest

 

 

Module Four: Meeting the Goddess

 

Module Five: The Boon 

Module Six: Magic Flight

 

Module Seven: Master of Two Worlds and the Freedom to Live 

  And you can see I really like that bowl!

If I have a favorite I would have to say it is Module1 because I was breaking out of the mold. Or maybe Module 2 because I so struggled with those coils. Or maybe it's Module 3 because I managed to blend color to match a scenic photo that reminded me of Starved Rock back home. Or even Module 4 because of the challenge of layers. Then Module 5 would be a favorite because I let go of the hoarded fiber and worked the entire yarn on a drop spindle (spun mostly at work I think) and then dyed it. Module 6 Because I had two visions and then the buttons nailed it for me. Module 7  has to be a favorite because I used all my newly acquired skills to produce a Mary Poppins yarn (practically perfectly and balanced).

Or maybe it really has to be Module 8 which holds them all.

Module Eight: Imparting Wisdom

  

I think I was stalling because I really didn't want it to end but I realize all good things...blah blah..blahblah blah.

I began with a little gold in the warp and for the center of the shield.

I began weaving with Module One and wove in succession

And here she is...my golden fleece! It took just over a year but I made it! Loaded with blood, sweat and tears...and texture.

I just want to say thank you to Suzy/ WoolWench and Arlene /Spin Artiste for taking me on this wonderful journey, I can't wait to hang the certificate next to my shield!

SAORI weekend

This past weekend I drove to the Spinning Seahorse in Pensacola, FL for a fun filled weekend of weaving! Anna hosted SAORI and Beyond weaving workshop by Jennie and Cheryl from  Weavin' Place Saori Style in Folsom, LA.

There were 15 of us with all different skill levels. 

I was able to learn some new techniques and gain some inspiration. 

I also felt able to give some instruction to a couple of the new kids. Confidence growing ;)

I think the real inspiration came from the little fashion show Jennie gave us. Her garments were beautiful and had lovely drape. 

It made me want to run home and wind up some bobbins and start weaving fabric right away. 

Deb and I had brought our rigid heddle Cricket Looms and learned a trick for warping it with the Saori pre wound warps. 

When Jennie clamped the heddle to the table I went "ah ha!", that just made much more sense to me.  It was like warping front to back instead of back to front. Of course I had to see it to understand it.

Then a small station break for some triangle loom demo-ing.

I kept trying to record Debra from picassos moon but I have so much crap on my phone I had to stop and delete some pictures before I could take more. 

Sadly I had the same problem with the fashion show, not enough memory :-/

Here I are two very brief videos I managed to take with my abbreviated iPhone memory.

                                     

                                     

 

I don't think I will win any awards with my film making but you get the gist of it. ;)

As we were packing up I heard the clip clip of horses and ran outside to see this go by.

I took a walk the last day so I could take some water pictures but really, I spent most of my Florida weekend in doors. 

And of a local lady fishing from the wharf.

poncho-licious

It has been a while but I finally got on the stick and worked on that woven commission piece!


I had been weaving on it from time to time but not steady.  I had some difficulty with it because it was wool yarn on wool warp. Lesson learned, I did not enjoy the making of it. I discovered the wool yarn grabs too much on the wool warp to make smooth motions.

I had actually made three pieces of fabric. The first one was too short (faulty guesstimating), so that one I consider my practice piece. Maybe I will play around with it and some pins and see what it wants to be.

It has been a long time since I sewed a poncho (or anything for that matter), and I was feeling a little rusty and nervous. I think it had to do with it being commissioned. Pressure and all that. I had to hang it on the mannequin for a few days pinned together. 

Then I switched the fabric around and pinned it again and then mulled it over some more. I wasn't liking the stiffness but I was sure it would soften up. Just being my usual pickiness. Yep, yep I think I like it.

 Today I told my son (and myself) I am getting that poncho done dammit!!

I trimmed, pinned and sewed and then I tried it on. Perfect!  Presently it is hanging out on the porch drying after the last nice warm bath. Oh an it is not stiff at all!

I do love how it turned out! I wouldn't mind keeping it myself if she doesn't like it. I kind of have a hard time letting go of my creations some times.

Next project...duh  another Rikke hat! This one was a request. 

Now I must must must get back to my Journey to the Golden Fleece module 6!
 Fibering on Loveies!
xxoo

weaving on

It's been a busy week. Christmas is closing in and, yes I did make one more hat! OMG I am so over it now...everyone has a flippin' new one now!

And somehow it got wrapped and shipped without a picture of it...what-ever.

I have also been weaving. I have been commissioned to weave a poncho. Specific colors. Brown and black.

I have the first piece woven, or more specifically I have the practice piece woven. She wants it more black than brown so I will have to re-think it abit.

The thing about commission pieces is that it puts a lot of undue pressure on me, so I generally don't do them. Usually I make what I like, and hopefully someone else likes it too. Otherwise, it becomes too much like work. This is a special case however. It will be my first woven sale! 

This will also be my first garment.

eek!

I have been working on the Westknits KAL 2014 which I started while I was in Sarasota. I have 

been stuck on clue 2 for some time now. Brioche has been kicking my butt! I practiced, thought I got it...then I had to rip it out, like 3 times now I think. 

This time I think I have it. Of course most people are already done with theirs so the cat is out of the bag and it is no longer a mystery.

But as long as I don't lose my place I should be golden! 

A woman I went to school with recently contacted me on FB. She made a comment to me about how she loved how I stayed true to myself.

I have been mulling that over now for a week or so. Did I?? I not really sure.  I think she remembers me much differently from high school than I remember myself, I always thought of myself as a introverted dippy little artsy hippie back then. Ok so maybe I am a little bit artsy hippie dippy now too.

I'm not sure if I really stayed true to myself, or if I just found my way back :) either way, it made me feel pretty good.

as my son would say - don't knit yourself into a circle. ;)

A long long time ago...

Once upon a time, in a land far away and a very very long time ago, I was a blogger. I crafted, I lived and I blogged.

Then life changed.

I moved to a hotter warmer land, where I was uncomfortable most of the time and not very creative, and frankly not very happy. I tried and tried, but the words just didn't come, so I quit blogging.

Pause break.... ermmm, for several years. In the meantime I met some new friends, one in particular  (Debra) who helped me find my creative place in this hot warm land.  She introduced me to a new group of friends to play with.

and a new fibery addiction!

She also introduced me to this new friend. My Louet S17.

 And this new friend my brandy new Saori sx60h loom. I love them both! And anxiously awaiting my Majacraft Aura (one must need a lot of patience when ordering one) which will hopefully make it's appearance by the end of this year.

I have since moved, again  to go a new land in a higher elevation and cooler temperatures. Yet not theose frozen temps of that land of long ago.

They have seasons here. And some cold days, like today for example, was not a flip flop day.

The words seem to be coming now, and hopefully soon I will have some more words and of my creative endeavors to share with you here. 

Here's a little sneak peak - ;)