Yarn Bombing at Knit Stitch

This past weekend I had a fun time facilitating a yarn bombing of a bike at the Knit Stitch in London. I love that this type of activity can bring a community together and beautify!
In 2010 I facilitated a yarn bombing for the Textile Museum of Canada, got submissions from all over the world and we had several people volunteer to sew pieces together, again creating a wonderful community project.
The bike for Knit Stitch was created is for Gathering on the Green which is an arts festival that happens yearly in London.

Here are some pictures of the progress!

April Workshops at the Elora Centre for the Arts

I am so excited to be facilitating some workshops in the coming months at The Elora Centre for the Arts. I have two fun ones in April!

On April 13 from 7-9pm, I'll be teaching Absolute Beginner Knitting.
On April 22 from 10am - 1pm, it will be Creative Mending.

Knitting for Kids Class!

Classes Coming up at Make Your Mark Studio!

I'm so excited to be gearing up for teaching at Make Your Mark Studio - my new home!  
Here is a list of the classes that are coming up please email me if you need further info or would like to sign up for a class. I'm also working on a website up-date that will make things smoother and getting pictures all ready, but for now:

Thursday, May 9th 6:30-9pm.
Weaving on a Cardboard Loom - This is a beginner class that will use very simple techniques to get you weaving creatively! No weaving experience necessary - all you need is a piece of cardboard and some yarn... away you go!  
$30 click here for more info or to register.


Friday, May 10th Noon-1pm.
Knit Stitch of the Month - Making Holes, Intro to Lace. This is the beginning of a monthly noon time series. This month we'll be learning the basics of lace - making holes. All you need is some yarn and knitting needles!
$15 click here for more info or to register.


Friday, May 24th Noon-1pm.
Crochet Stitch of the Month - Single and Double Crochet. This is the beginning of a monthly noon time series. This month we'll be learning the foundations of crochet - the single and double crochet stitches. All you need is some yarn and a crochet hook!
$15 click here for more info or to register.


Monday, June 3rd and Monday, June 10th 6:00-9pm.
Make your own leggings -Leggings are a necessary item of clothing these days! In this class we will be using a bleach based formula to "draw" on your fabric, making your leggings truly your own! In addition, we'll be drafting a pattern that fits YOU and making the actual leggings! What a wonderful class.... I'll be co-teaching with Alison Ellett.
$60 for both classes click here for more info or to register.



Thursday, June 6th 6:30-9pm.
Kitchen Sink Stamps - What a fun class! We'll be learning how to print on your own fabric using very easy methods and materials that you can easily find around the home to make very interesting and modern prints on fabric! Then you can really personalize anything you sew - garments, accessories, handbags - anything!
$30 click here for more info or to register.


Friday, June 7th Noon-1pm.
Knit Stitch of the Month - The Twisted Rib Stitch. An interesting "twist" on a basic rib stitch. All you need is some yarn and knitting needles!
$15 click here for more info or to register.


Friday, June 21st Noon-1pm.
Crochet Stitch of the Month - Intro to Broomstick Lace. This is a very fun and zippy way to make beautiful lace. It uses a very large knitting needle, a crochet hook and yarn. A new and fun technique
$15 click here for more info or to register.

Tuesday, June 25th 6:30-9pm
Creative Mending - Do you have a pile of knitwear or nice clothing with small catches or holes? Garments you really love?? Don't throw it away - mend it! Come learn some creative mending techniques for your garments.
$30 click here for more info or to register.


Tuesday, July 11th 6:30-9pm
Granny Squares, Circles, Triangles... - Grannies are in - in all shapes and sizes... join the craze and get hooking!
$30 click here for more info or to register.



Friday, July 12th Noon-1pm.
Knit Stitch of the Month - Reversible Cable Stitch.  You can add this technique to a scarf, shawl or any double sided piece you're working on. All you need is some yarn, a cable needle and knitting needles!
$15 click here for more info or to register.


Friday, July 26th Noon-1pm.
Crochet Stitch of the Month - Tunisian Crochet Basics. This is a fun technique that is coming back in a big way! Also called the Afghan Stitch... All you need is some yarn and a crochet hook with a long shank!
$15 click here for more info or to register.


Saturday, July 27th 11-2pm
Freeform Crochet and Knitting. This is going to be a fun class full of creativity. You will be guided on how to use your knitting and/or crochet in a new and exciting way! Come with yarns and different sized crochet hooks and knitting needles and get ready to dive in to creativity!
$35 click here for more info or to register.

Registration info:
All classes will be taught at Boarding House Arts, 6 Dublin Street South in Guelph at Make Your Mark Studio Suite 301.

I keep classes small in order to be able to spend one-on-one time with each student. 

Please register in advance by contacting me using the links next to the class you are interested in or emailing me here.

Payment in full for the class is due upon registration, please check your schedule and class description carefully, registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. I also do not offer make up classes.

If you must cancel a class you have registered for, please notify me at least 48 hours in advance and I will issue you a credit toward another class.  

The prices listed are for the class only, materials are additional. I will provide a full materials list upon registration as well as suggestions on where to purchase your supplies.

If a class does not run due to low registration or extenuating circumstances, you will be refunded in full.

Doors will open 15 minutes before class and class will start promptly. Please be on time.

I welcome ideas for classes and also accept private students in: knitting, crochet and hand-spinning.

Annual Hodgepodge Farm Residency Number 1

Cal and I wearing our new cowls!

Well!  I have been back from my two-week long dyeing (and more) residency at Hodgepodge Farm for about a week now.  It was amazing and I have so much to tell...  so much, it will require multiple posts!

AMTRAK coffee is sooo gross...

This is the second time I've taken the train to visit Cal and it's a fine journey.  It can get a little caught up at the border, but an 11 hour ride is great for doing some crochet and watching movies or having a nap and reading a good book.  I struggled with my luggage though, the biggest case I had was full of undyed yarn and fabric.  I also brought a sheet of rubber and carving tools to make some stamps.  I had a tiny case for my clothes and then my backpack with all my train food and computer, books, projects, etc.  Hauling all that by myself was difficult but I got there in the end!

The red one is FULL (like I had to sit on it to close it) of undyed yarn and fabric!

It was so great to be upstate NY in August.  It was gorgeous weather, which allowed us to do most of our work outside.  We set up a dyeing station under an "easy-up" tent.  

Swimmin' Hole.

It was wild mushroom season and Smith foraged for some beautiful Chanterelles as well as supplying us with delicious Shitakes that he grew himself on some old logs.  Yumminess all around.  Also, the Swimmin' Hole was open for business and refreshing to our toes...

Wild Chanterelles - yum!

Smith's mushroom logs.

We had a few fun outings!  I finally got to visit Lagusta's Luscious Chocolate shop - deeelicious!  We also went to White Barn Farm to visit Paula's Cormo sheep and fancy chickens...  it was knit night, which was great AND they get a visit from Farmer Dave who brings an array of fresh veggies to sell to the knit-nighters.  Talk about service!  Paula was wonderful and gave us lots of advice about nature dyeing.  We got a great tour of her farm and shop!  I also got to visit with my pal Hanna - who is an amazing artist and rescuer of dogs (and animals in general)!

Lagusta's Luscious Chocolate - I can't even tell you...

Hanna, Cal and myself.

Paula's wonderful farm/yarn shop!

Cormo feeding frenzy.

Farmer Dave's Knit Night Bounty!

Speaking of animals - Slinky Malinky loved her some hand-dyed yarn, Gertie is cute as ever and the Hodgepodge Farm's chickens are curious!  My new favorite is Olivia "Livers" the chicken.  

Slinky Malinky and the big stretch!

Gertie - fine as ever!

Livers.

Lixolux was kind enough to think of our needs and sent us a wonderful package full of chocolate and fancy spinnin' fibre all the way from San Francisco.  She's been participating in Verb's Seam Allowance group - which sounds amazing!  I will be participating remotely and in spirit...

Lixolux bounty!

Cal and I also finished the cowls we started in April when she was here.  Made out of beautiful Indigodragonfly silk/merino yarn - soft.  I (finally) started and am about half way done my Crochet EPS sweater out of Jill Draper's Empire yarn.  I will be done this sweater by Sheep and Wool!

Just a little newt.

Night pigs... blurry pic, but worth seeing...

There's going to be a flurry of blog posting because this is just the tip of the iceberg!  Next post.... Nature Dyeing at Hodgepodge Farm...

Stay tuned for more Hodgepodge Farm fun!

Hodgepodge, Vendor Call Out and Various Fun!

This past week was such a fun week because my wonder-buddy Cal Patch came for a visit!  I was fortunate enough to be able to sit in on F-I-V-E of her classes!  I now have enough patterns drafted to make a wardrobe!  She is an amazing teacher and the classes were held at The Workroom in Toronto - an amazing space.  One of her students - an extreamly crafty lady herself - Austen Gilliland even wrote about her adventures in Cal's T-Shirt Making Class!

Of course we did a lot of the usual - eating cake, drinking tea and shopping for matching yarn to make matching cowls.  We had a fun time at Shall We Knit? in Kitchener and both purchased some lovely yarn by Indigodragonfly to make a crocheted cowl.  I also picked up some yarn to finally make the Coquille!  It's turning out beautifully.

I also want to make a call out to you!  Crafts people and artisans - I'm part of an amazing team that is organizing a craft/art sale for Saturday July 14th!  It's the first annual Sparkworks Craft and Art Sale benefiting the wonderful organization Spark of Brilliance.  Check out the info on the poster and sign up:

I've also become involved with another amazing team!  Farmer Fern and Friends!  Farmer Fern and his friends are puppets that teach children about the importance of gardens and plants and loving healing powers that growing stuff offers!  Please check out the Farmer Fern Blog for upcoming performances and more information....


Lastly, I'm gearing up for year two of my OHS handspinning course.  Year two of six!  I'm very excited to see all the students that I met last year and I'm geared up to get to work.  I'm very happy to be bunking with the Crafty Gardener - Andie L.  Here I am working on a (last minute) assignment on my Babe Espinner!

Goodness Gracious!

It's hard to see, but the topper to my tree is a knit sheep!

Well, it's nearing the end of the year... I haven't done much yarn-y stuff lately because of ongoing wrist and arm troubles... I didn't despair this season though! I used the opportunity to support local merchants and small artisans instead of crocheting and knitting like a kookoo for everyone on my Holiday list! It was a different approach for me (as I usually knit and crochet like a kookoo for everyone) and I liked it! So less stressful and so nice to see all the great hand made and local stuff that is out there!

Some nice textures....

At the beginning of the month I ran a Beginner Knitting workshop through a wonderful organization called, "Spark of Brilliance"! It was amazing and we had such a fantastic time. I'm going to be working with them as much as I can in the future! The lovely space where the workshop was held is called, "10 Carden". It's a wonderful co-op space for socially innovative community based organizations and businesses. WOW!
I'm going to be doing some co-facilitating with Birdeye Family Programs coming up soon! Check out these great posters! We will be working together lots in the New Year and I will post much more as the events happen. The posters are for a Kid's Community Quilt Project and an ongoing event we're calling, "Crafternoon Tea"! 

I'm working on a broomstick lace shawl!

One of the fun things about December is that, in addition to many holiday parties, Christmas and New Year's Eve, three of my immediate family member's all have Birthdays! I did get to make a little something for my 2 year old niece that LOVES bracelets. The problem is that the always fall off her little person wrists so, I crocheted fun colours around a hair elastic and made her a stack-o-bracelets! The kids at her party all dug them and she very nicely shared them with her little buddies.

This fall we have had a really great "in theory" bird feeder. It sticks to the window so the birds come right up and it's all very exciting.... we had finches, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, juncos, chickadees and SQUIRRELS! In fact, the squirrels were so BAD they kept on pulling down the bird feeder and gobbling up all the seeds for themselves. The birds were left chirruping at the window like, "Hey man! Where's ours?!".... Now everyone is punished and no one gets the feeder until we figure out how to discourage the squirrels. Especially Mocha - he didn't even care if I banged on the window and told him to get lost! They are very sneaky and bold!

Get outta here!:

All the birds now hide in the tree and screech at us...:

September was busy.... I'm back!

Me doing a demo at the Wellington County Museum and Archives!

Wow! I'm glad that things have calmed down a bit and I have time to post!

First of all I'm going to be teaching several classes over the next few months at the beautiful Greenwood Quiltery! Beginner Knitting, Entrelac, Sock Knitting and Drop Spindle Spinning! Please contact them for more details : 519-822-2790.

I will also be offering some children's classes though The Children's Art Factory. I met with Melissa, the amazing owner of this new space for kids. The space is inspiring and so much fun. I will post more when the details are all worked out! In the meantime, if you have a little one, please bring them to this creative space!

This past weekend was the Harvest Home Festival at The Wellington County Museum and Archives. It was a celebration of the history of the area and of fall! There were antique tractors, delicious pies, sheep shearing, lace making, candle making, music and wool preperation and spinning (by me).

Showing the kids how it's done:

Drumcarding up a storm:

Creepy Museum Doll:

I had a great time talking to people about the art of spinning and how wool is taken from a sheep and made into something you can make hats, sweaters and socks out of. There were many children that were so interested which made me very excited for the future of spinning! My father even got into the festivities by being pulled into a square dancing demo - he did well!

I also sent in my OHS homework. Second due date and one more to go. The October due date is sneaking up on me and I have to get a move on it!

S and Z homework before and after:

In The Grease homework before and after:

Grist homework before and after:

Next? I'm off to the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY..... I can't wait to see my friends Cal Patch, Jill Draper and Christine Eschback.

I'm taking the train down to the Hodgepodge farm and I'm so excited to watch the county zip on by! I'm sure I'll have many pictures to share.