Dip, dip, dip - dry....

By the way... this is the first puppet I ever made. I was maybe 5 or so...

Lock Washing

I started washing fleece for my hand-spinning programe.  There are several different kinds and the students have to decide, based on the end use of the wool, how to wash and prepare the wool.  Some of it, I washed in a bag in the sink and some I lock washed.  


Lock washing is my new favorite way of washing fleece.  It's very time consuming but also very meditative for me...  basically, you separate the greasy fleece into individual locks then dip each lock into very hot, soapy water, rinse in hot water and lay flat to dry... 

The Set Up

At first, I kept burning my finger tips in the water, then Boomer gave me her surgical forceps. They sound scary but are really just small, tightly locking tweezer-y things.  I could grab onto the wool and tightly lock it and dip away without burning my fingies or having the lock fall apart. The whole purpose of lock washing the fleece is to keep it all organized as far as the tip of the lock vs. the end that was attached to the sheep. 

Washed and Drying!

Now I have a whole pile of different fleeces all washed and ready to go! Romney, Lincoln, Corriedale and some Merino - maybe some other stuff too!

Bags-o-Wool!

I'm getting ready for my Hodge Podge Farm Residency too!  Lots of natural dyeing will take place as well as some weaving. This will kick off a new body of work for me!  Well, actually, I'm hoping a class I'm starting tomorrow will kick it off!  It's an Abstract Quilt class.  I'm going to get all surface design on that quilt!  I just can't decide on a theme....  hmmmm.....


I have a Granny Square Class coming up at Greenwood Quiltery that will be a blast!  Get in touch with them to register!


OH!  The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is amazing and everyone should sponsor a donkey there!

A Sheep Friend for the Donkeys

Boomer Brushin' a Donkey

November (already!?) Classes....

Here are some classes I'll be teaching in November and some to look forward to....
Oh, and please use the "follow by email" feature to get all my updates!

First of all, I'm so excited to be working with The Children's Art Factory! I will be teaching classes exclusively for children! Check it out:

Monsters! Aliens! Creatures!
Can you think of a funny monster? A scary alien? Maybe a silly creature!? Come and have fun with pompoms, felt, googley eyes and other fun materials and make that monster come to life! Ages 6 and up! Sunday November 6, 12:30–2:30pm.
Just drop-in for Monster Mayhem! If you need more info please email: alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com.


Beginner Knitting for Kids
You can make all sorts of things if you know how to knit – want to try?
This class is for those of you who have never knit before and want to get started. We will learn the knit stitch, the purl stitch and how to cast-on and bind-off. Ages 7-9. This is a three-week class, the dates are Tuesday November 15, 22 and 29, 6–7:30 pm. The cost is $60, which includes all materials. Please register by emailing: alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com.


Making Yarn with a Drop Spindle!
Hey Kids! Do you want to make your own yarn! Want to learn about sheep?
Using a drop spindle, you can learn to spin your own yarns! Inexpensive to start, this is a great hobby! Ages 7-9. This is a three-week class, the dates are Wednesday November 16, 23 and 30, 6-7:30pm. The cost is $60, which includes all materials. Please register by emailing alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com.


Also, keep an eye out for these fun workshops and crafting days coming up at The Children's Art Factory:

The Community Quilt Project
Hey kids, would you like to help us make a quilt? This is a creative group project that brings happiness to our community. We are calling on kids aged 7 - 12 to join us in making quilt squares. You can embroider, do applique, needle felt, paint - anything you want to make your square unique. Then, we will sew them together to make a quilt that will be displayed at the Children's Art Factory and other public places around Guelph! The quilt will ultimately be donated to a not-for-profit that helps children and families in our city. Participants will make two squares, one finished as a banner and ready for hanging at their home, the other will be for the Community Quilt. All materials will be provided. Ages 7 - 12. Thursday, December 29th OR Wednesday January 4th from 1-3pm. $25 per child all materials included! Sign up by emailing: alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com

Crafternoon Tea
Are you a crafty momma? Knit-star? Is crochet your thing? Perhaps even an embroidery lover? Maybe you'd love to learn but just don't have the time?
Join us for Crafternoon Tea! A time where you can work on what ever your crafting desires may be while your tots are only steps away working on their own little projects.
Starting in January 2012, we will be offering this crafty group for tots 2 1/2 - 6 years old and their parents! The cost will be $25 which includes hands on supervision and all the crafting supplies for your little one, tea for you, and, if you need a project to work on, we will have kits available too! There will be help and instruction in knitting, crochet and embroidery available. Please keep an eye out for further information on this group which will run bi-weekly from 1 - 3pm starting in January.

I'm also excited to be teaching some classes at the lovely Greenwood Quiltery this month too! (click on the link to contact them for more info and to sign up):

Sock Knitting!
This is a two-part class where students will learn the basics of sock knitting. We will be working on four needles from the cuff down. Please know how to work on 4 needles, read a pattern, cast on/off and be available for both classes. Thursday November 3 AND Thursday November 17, 6 – 8 pm. $35 For both classes; materials additional.
Contact Greenwood Quiltery to register.


Drop Spindle Spinning
Entranced by handspun yarns?! Give it a “whorl”! Using the drop spindle, learn to spin your own yarns. Inexpensive to start, this is a great portable hobby!
Saturday November 5 AND Saturday November 12, 6 – 8 pm. $35 for both classes; materials additional. Contact Greenwood Quiltery to register.

Dutchess County Sheep and Wool AKA Rhinebeck

Oh boy! Did I have a great time with Cal Patch and Jill Draper and all the other lovelies at NY Sheep and Wool Festival this year!

Since there are so many blog posts about how amazing the event is - I'm going to say it with pictures!

Cal and I in our finest - Day 1.

Cal and Chris from Into the Whirled!

Cal spinning in her Spinning Guild's booth!

The first tea and scone.

Cal doing some Saori Weaving - I am obsessed...

Cal and Jill!

A sheepy terrarium...

In our finest - Day 2.

Testing out HAND TUNED crochet hooks at the Willette's booth!

Award winning Cotswold Ram.

This is a close up of his gorgeous fleece.... ahhhh....

A funny sign.

Judging some Angora Goats.A toasty pile of Shetlands.

The next two pictures I love because the sheep look so smart.

The next few pictures are especially for Sel et Poivre. She really wanted to see the new Hodgepodge Farm chickens. The first picture is of the "older girls" roosting - notice the black blob under the branches? Those are the "new girls" (well one is a rooster!). They are not welcome to hang with the big kids just yet. The bottom picture is just of the newbies. Two hens and (what was supposed to be a hen) one rooster. He has a very teen-aged and crackly "cock-a-doodle-doo" going on.

In other news... there is still availability in some of my classes at Greenwood Quiltery - check them out for info.

Also, I'm going to be starting to teach at the most amazing new art space for kids! It's called, "The Children's Art Factory" and they are amazing. Some really great people and some great ideas! I will keep everything posted! In November, I'll be teaching Beginner Knitting and Beginner Drop Spindle Spinning for kid-os ages 6 - 9! I'm also going to be doing a Monster Making workshop there in a few weeks - I'll post more very soon.....

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.

Late Summer...

Things have been busy and I have been enjoying my late summer. I have sent in my first assignments for my Ontario Handweavers and Spinners Spinning Certification (that's a mouthful)!
I've taken a fabric dyeing class with Alyssa Light which was really amazing. Great to meet her and learn some new techniques. I also got to take a little vacation with some fun gals. One of which was Andrea Lehnen!

First things' first. Spinning homework. There are all sorts of rules of presentation and extra little things that you have to remember from way back in May when I actually took the course. It took a while to actually get all the elements all together, labeled and mounted in the correct format. I'm expecting the rest of the assignments to go a little smoother now that I know what I'm doing!

Here's the first assignment - Colour Wheels on fleece and yarn naturally coloured white and grey. Mounted in a sensible way with all the recipes:


This is my text message to Andie L it says, "OMG! I'm about to stick everything down and I'm scared!":


Here is the final presentation:


Second assignment - Colour Gradation using fleece and yarn in white. Labeled, recipes, a made up special code for dyestock use and how everything was done. I liked my gradient but it was a little subtle. I called it "Pear" and it looked almost like I had used a plant dye.:


Here is the final presentation:


Now I'm working on my September assignments. I've been spinning at home by myself and have felt a little lonely about it. Although it's really not spinning that you can take somewhere. I guess I'll have to arrange another little hang out with Andie L!

This dyeing class I took with Alyssa Light was so great! She's a fun person and great teacher. We learned a bunch of resist dyeing techniques. The class was held at Greenwood Quiltery (where I'll be teaching loads this fall, I'll keep everything posted here). It was great to learn about dyeing cellulose fibres and I made some pretty neat patterns. My fave was the shaving cream technique. You spray shave cream on a surface and add ink. You can swirl the ink around using a stick or brush then you lay your fabric over top and allow the dyes to soak in. When you remove the fabric you have a really neat marbling effect.

Resist:


"Parfait" dyeing:

Shaving Cream:


Finally, the getaway! The great Canadian Cottage Getaway! We had a great time and saw so many inspiring things, got to relax and regroup!

Ducks:


Fun-times:


Nature walk (the Birch was sparkly gold, which doesn't really pick up in the photo):