A Little of This-N-That and FIBERYGOODNESS!

Just a quick blog post today, to share a little bit of This--- a-a-and, a bit of little That.

 

First off I really want to say Thank you, again, to Everyone who visits my studio blog here. Thank You for all your Pins to Pinterest, and to those who took the time to recommend my blog to Google.

 

If you have found any of my posts helpful, take one extra moment to click G+ to Recommend this on Google, so that others can more easily find their way here as well. And, if you haven't already done so, you are more than welcome to add HeartSong Studio to your Google+ circles and/or make sure you Join This Site for update notifications.

 

Next? I'm working to make this space as user- and social media-friendly as possible, and have been working on the contents of the Side Bar. If you scroll through, anyone new here might find the most Popular Posts -- of the Last 30 Days, helpful.  

 

A few months ago, I added Fiber Favorites [my favorite artisan and fiber artist shops (have more to add, so---  I do not consider this list complete; just yet.)], My Blog List, and just recently--- the new global Visitor feature. I love seeing who all stops by from around the world.

 

New [as of today], is the Follow Me to Pinterest widget.  I've numerous boards on subjects such as Weaving, Circular Weaving, Spinning, Fiber Preparation, Knitting, Crochet, Rug Making, Darning, Homesteading, Gardening, Food Stuffs, etc. The Artisan and Craft-related boards are filled not only with examples of the end results-- I've worked hard to build libraries to include techniques, tools, tutorials, and videos. I hope you will join me there.  

Over this past weekend I created the Spool Knitting board.  This one will come in handy for an upcoming post I'm currently working on. It's a follow up to, or sister post, if you will, to the Vintage Bobbin Knitting Spool, updated back in June. ----[NOTE: I will be making corrections to this post soon. This is a Textile Mill Spool, and for some unknown reason, I had "Bobbin" stuck in my brain matter the whole time I drafted out this post. So--- Corrections Pending.]  

Though I am not on there with any degree of regularly, you can find me on Twitter as well.  I always include a Tweet when I post a new update. So, stop by for a Follow.

 

Click to go to HeartSong Studio Facebook Community Page

But most important--- If you have not already done so [I've Welcomed so many new Likes to my Community Page this year], join me over on my studio page on Facebook, where I post most often.  I share Status Updates, and photos of WIPs, etc., long before I get a particular project written up and shared here. And, you can find out ju-u-ust a little bit more about my Fossil Weaving over there.  I also just introduced a new feature recently, HeartSong Studio Tips.

Today's status update included a Declaration of Intent!

While I am currently in Sewing Mode [what with mending and up-cycling desperately needing my attention], I'm spending this week getting ready to participate in this year's Tour de Fleece. 

I am rider No. 42, on Team Nevermore Forevermore! And, while I am by no means a production spinner, I have a few ideas I want to work on, and will be posting my efforts on Facebook throughout the tour---beginning July 4th, and running until July 26th.

SPECIAL NOTE: Cheering from the sidelines is encouraged.  And, would be most welcomed. (~:

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Now, for the really FUN News!

 

It's FIBERYGOODNESS TIME---- Again.

Yesterday Suzy Brown [of WoolWench Handspun Yarns] teased us [Journey to the Golden Fleece members] with the following graphic.  We knew not exactly what it is; but, there were likely a few felines what were about to keel over from kill-worthy curiosity!

Natalie Redding [Namaste Farms] joined the last round; presenting what I understand to have been remarkable live video Hand Dyeing classes.  Her sessions filled up quickly, as Natalie has that kind of reputation. She is VERY GOOD at what she does!

Then, this morning came the official New FiberyGoodness Course announcement, of Suzy Brown's and Arlene Thayer's [Spin Artiste]: Sketch Spin Scribe.  It is described as "a seven part creative journey for fiber artists."  This is about Yarn Design.

One sweet little phenomenon that came out of the previous rounds of Journey to the Golden Fleece, was Circle Weaving. This course offers a beautiful crafted opportunity to become a Fiber Archivist, and create and bind your own Heirloom Book. [I knew it was going to be something I couldn't afford, but would likely really want! (~: ]

And as before, there will be modules and a fair amount of time to complete each yarn. There will be step by step instructions, and as always--- a wealth of support.

SO!!!! If you've any interest, whatsoever, in learning more about the artistic side of Hand Spinning and Yarn Design, NOW IS THE TIME TO ENROLL!

For now---- Everyone is welcome to join the Journey to the Golden Fleece's 
FIBERY GOODNESS Facebook group.  It's still a Public Group, filled with Fiberholics from around the world. Just stop by and say, "Hello!"

SPECIAL NOTE: Today is would be a very good day to join the group; as there is a "Hunt" afoot.  One that could financially--- be very beneficial!

OH, and--- There's a FibeyGoodness Tour de Fleece group this year.  I'm spinning for them as well!  I've got my goals set. Now, I just need to gear up.
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What's Next?

I was in Re-Org Mode for most of last week.  I needed to clear off my Sewing Tables so that I could refocus some time for sewing.  What's sitting on my Type Setter's desk at the moment, pretty much all has to do with what I'm working on; weaving-wise. I've got two warpings that I need to set up and photograph for upcoming blog posts.

Plus, I need to finish up Part One of my Spring Weaving; still on my small, and custom-painted [by Suzy Brown] Majacraft Loom.
And, what on Earth could that vinyl tubing have to do with anything Weaving? Well--- You are NOT going to FIND OUT today! (~:

There is also a little diversion that I'm looking forward to sharing with everyone.  I'm waiting for something very special to show up in my mailbox. It's coming from Florida.  Once it arrives, I can finish setting up the photos I need to show a special Hand Ginning technique.

Until then---
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Leave any questions you may have in the Comments.
Or Facebook Friends can Private Message me.

Follow me to my Facebook Community Page @ HeartSong Studio

Bye for now, and Blessings~

And Happy Weaving!

General Topics & Fibery Goodness Update

I've been pulling a few blog-related features together here, and updated the side bar to include [along with the Language Translator], the Subscribe To: widget, and Popular Posts. I'm also in the process of building a Blog Roll; all in an effort to make this blog more socially friendly.  Let me know if there is anything in particular, you would like to see.

Unfortunately, the next update-- the pending Denser Warping series Warping Option No. 1, is temporarily on hold. I've been jumping around from project to project, here of late---- getting somewhat sidetracked from completing the last Draft folder post.  This will remedied soon.  I Promise.  

That said, I trust you will appreciate how I DID get sidetracked. (~: And will look forward to the information that I can eventually share on the following topics.

One of the projects that has me waylaid, is the [eventual] GiveAway Project; for getting more Likes to my HeartSong Studio Facebook page. Weaving began last week. But, I will need to re-determine though the Number of Likes it will take. Which is good thing, actually; because the Likes on my page, are continuing to grow. Thank you all so much! I just can't move as fast, or multi-task like I used to; but--- more about the GiveAway soon, as well.

While I was working on the new companion tutorial, Centered or Offset [which relates back to the pending update], I had a major brainstorm. It's one of those ideas that makes you drop everything else you're doing, so you can focus, solely, on getting it down.  And I am in love with this new project. 

The thing is, I had this particular loom slated for yet another project, and it's been hanging along with several items all tied together--- queued up to make it happen.  So--- I re-e-eally need to get this project finished, so that I can get back to a project I'm pretty sure everyone will enjoy. 

What makes this project rather convenient though, is it may end up working quite well for putting together a subsequent tutorial, that I've already alluded to, to showcase the technique pictured to the left. You can see another example of this, above, as I played with it in the GiveAway Project. 

So, a happy twist of Fate?  Maybe. I like to think so. [That's my story, regardless, and I'm sticking to it. (~; ]


OH!  And what a fun day, when I found THIS in my mailbox!!!! Here is my Majacraft Circle Loom. All the way from New Zealand, and all decorated with Suzy Browns lovely artistry.  I adore Suzy's artwork.   I've not warped it up yet.  Too many other irons in the fire just now.  But, I will find the right project for this loom. Of that I have no Doubt.

I also needed to turn my attention back to my Fibery Goodness module course work.  As I've stated recently on my Facebook studio page, while the spinning of my Module 2 yarn has begun, and I'm currently pulling together different fibers, tools, and add-ins--- the course is not just about spinning.  It's about digging deep, and entertaining certain questions and realities; Past, Present, and Future.

Yesterday's "What if?" work ended up with me in a mood. Because it's one thing to cross out words on a piece of paper. And quite another to cross them out of your heart, and from your mind. Sometimes--- once you delve deep, it has no recourse but to play itself out.
 
And, as I commented earlier today, in the Group Two -- Module Two Thread in Fibery Goodness Golden Fleece Forum, the on-going conversation reminded of one of my favorite go-to quotes:

There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in. ~Graham Greene

Fortunate are the ones who were able to walk right through, and on to the life they had envisioned and dreamed. But, I firmly believe that said door is all-too-often forcibly shut. 

This goes hand-in-hand with my own hard-learned life lesson of never underestimating one determined person's power of persuasion over another. NEVER. It can make finding that door again, quite difficult.  And, it can take a very long time  [if ever for some], to re-open it to one's possibilities.

But!  Everyone's Journey is different.  We all come with different Life Experiences. But, there are also the Likenesses to be discovered or realized; shared; nurtured; and/or built upon. 

See? Told you the course can get Deep! (~: 

Or not. It becomes what you need or want it to be.

All that said aside--- time is drawing near for new enrollment in the Fibery Goodness Journey to the Golden Fleece!

I have it on good authority, that Enrollment for Group Three will be OPEN very soon! 

You can keep up to date, here, by joining the mailing list for the Newletter.

 

 

 

You are also more than welcome to join current course members in the Facebook Journey to the Gold Fleece group. It's a open group. And it's not just solely about Spinning. But--- It is all about Fiber.  Stop by and say, "Hello!"

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In the meantime,

Leave any questions you may have in the Comments. 

Or Facebook Friends can Private Message me.

 

Bye for now, and Blessings~

 

And Happy Weaving!

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Weaving and Practicing and Spinning and Journeying

What's On the Loom

And What I've Been Doing In Between

 

Living disabled can be EXTREMELY frustrating.  Especially when any or everything you do has the potential of leaving you in a period of recovery; what I call Recovery Mode (RM).  Back in the Spring, I was out early in the mornings, harvesting Dandelions, White Clover, Wild Mint, and Plantain... so much so that I ended up in serious RM, and haven't been back out there to harvest since.  Sad really, since there's been such an abundance of White Clover blooming this year. But I just couldn't bring myself to do so.

 

There were things needing to be done inside as well.  There is no such thing as Laundry Day for me anymore.  It's Laundry Week.  And lugging around damp heavy loads to either hang outdoors, or upstairs to the drying racks in front of the bedroom window to dry [where I get the best breeze], lands me in RM every darn time. I make several trips when I'm washing up the rag rugs.  I can't carry them all at once.  But numerous trips, back and forth, can do just as much damage.  And there are times when I stand at the base of the stairs, with an armload of laundry looking up--- and sigh; heavily. 

 

Running the vacuum cleaner--- I used to do that all in one day.  Not anymore.  It can take me three to four days to vacuum the Living Room, alone.  The same holds true when I eventually maneuver the stairwell, and get the upright back upstairs.... [and that's likely all I'll do that day, get the vacuum upstairs.  Running it can comes later.] It'll take 2-3 days each, to clean the bedroom and then the studio.  And that's a lot of pain meds and RM in between. 

 

I don't sew as much as I used to... it keeps me seated in the wrong position.  But then--- so does weaving! But, I've been repeatedly modifying my work table to make it easier to sit weave.  And I have a new table mat in mind, that should make it even easier. All this said, I feel the need to do what I can--- before I am no longer able. And that is frustration, with a capital F!

But let's get back to what's on my loom! And why it is currently sitting, albeit patiently, waiting for my return.

 

One reason, is having reached a place where it was time to bring an idea to fruition. One I'd been mulling over for some time.  It's a hand-maneuvered technique I've seen done on harness/floor loom weaves, and I needed to take some time to figure out how to make it work in the round. And that meant needing to stop and work up a Practice Loom.

 

I pulled out another metal ring and prepped it for weaving. And then I gathered together some tools I thought would work.  They did not.  Oh, they will work for straight weaving work, but it was much too tedious.  So---- I needed to find another way to make it work--- in the round.  And yes! It looks like I fashioned one wicked hook for deep sea fishing.... or a Horror Movie prop for mass annihilation... But, for what I harmlessly needed it to do, it worked perfectly.

 

 

But this whole bit of tool making and practice work landed me in Recovery Mode for several days.  The good news, though, is that I took a fair amount of photos throughout, and have plans for a tutorial on this technique.  I trust you will just love it just as much as I do.  What is pictured here is not exactly what I intend for my WIP, but it is the bare bones of the technique that anyone else can easily build upon.









That said, I was very close to getting back to what I consider my current Work In Progress, which has been waiting ever so patiently underneath a pretty little dust cover. It has a new Provisional Round in place, and a bit of over dyed Coffee dyed [not to mention distressed!] silk ribbon just waiting for me to weave it into place. But it is at this very point [pictured on the left], that I will work in my new technique. 

There were those several weeks in mid-to-late Spring, I mentioned earlier, when my little dehydrator ran non stop. I harvested and dehydrated HUNDREDS of both Dandelion and White Clover flower heads; for hand dyeing and the making of flour.  And I have numerous canning jars filled of Dandelion leaves [to use in making vegetable broth], Wild Mint [whose proper name escapes me just now--- ], and Plantain leaves.   

 

And it wasn't just the harvesting that did me in.  It was all the prep work to get things properly washed and then safely stored. All of it slowed me wa-a-ay down.  But I just LOVED sitting over the kettle of wet Clover.  The aroma made it well worth the effort.

 

 

 

 

I also took a break from my WIP, because my very first circular weaving [pictured in the blog header] was crying out to be completed.  And I will write more about this later.  But suffice it to say, she is my baby.  And I was desperate to see her finished.  That said, I only just added on the true final touches;  wrapped feathers and more beads.

And then there was simply the need to Honor my place in the Fibery Goodness Journey to the Golden  Fleece, and honor the young Weaver and Spinner that once was; a very long time ago.

But no sooner did my Journey begin, in mid-February, than I ended up dealing with a major health issue, the first of March, that still goes unresolved.  Two trips to the ER, numerous medical tests and examinations later, I still struggle with shortness of breath. 

But--- Life goes on; albeit slowly. And because I missed my spinning so much [I simply can't multi-task like I used to], there was this little thing called Tour de Fleece [which is rooted in Ravelry, but migrated to Facebook, where I found my way to Team Nevermore Forevermore], that beckoned, and got me re-motivated to get back to my Module One spinning, and get my yarn completed.   


My fellow Mariners can find a link to my Module One story on the Group Two - Module One Forum Board.

[I am trying to find out how to add a Translator widget to Wordpress.  Any help from someone would be greatly appreciated!]

And you can also see my yarn, along with all the other beautiful handspuns in the Gallery of Module Yarns.
 

In just this last week or so, there's been much module-related color work and art journaling.  Not to mention, the need to catch up on course-related emails and Fibery Goodness blog posts.  And I have since downloaded ,and read my way through Module Two -- The Road of Trials.  The next part of my Journey--- is begun!

 

 

And over the weekend, I rounded up my Module One color wheel responsibilities with this exercise in color work. The happy accident is that the earth tones with which I chose to work, echo my Module One shield.  I pulled out an old 5 x 7 inch wooden picture frame from the studio closet, and then measured out and hammered in some nails every quarter of an inch, and---- Voila!  I have a miniature tapestry loom with which to brush up on and practice future weaving techniques.   Regardless the fact it is UN-round. (~: 

And while we are on the subject of Suzy Brown's [WoolWench Handspun Yarns and Fibers] and Arlene Thayer's [Spin Artiste] Fibery Goodness -- Journey to the Golden Fleece, a new round of course modules is opening up to students in October! 

 

It is a wonderful opportunity to meet people from around the world, and learn about yarn construction; blending fibers, and the proper tools to use for the desired end result.  There are also opportunities to sit in on live spinning sessions; with these leading Mistresses of Artsily Spun Yarns; and their periodic special guests. Do come and join us!

 

You can also find things related to the course and other fibery projects in the Facebook Journey to the Gold Fleece group.

 

 

And THEN---- Lest we forget! (~:  I got wonderfully side tracked by this little thing called the Warp Speed Competition.  Oh, yes. This had me busy for a good month or so. And you can read a bit more about it here.  For now--- I'm still working on a few details.  I had intended to insert a lining.  I've had the pattern pieces drawn and cut.  I simply ran out of time to do it properly.  And it wasn't absolutely necessary to the outcome of the actual weaving competition.

It is a project that I wove entirely on the large [yellow] round Knifty Knitter looms.  And that includes the straight side panel and the decorative flap.  It was woven using 2" torn strips of a heavier weight cotton gauze for the weft, and a 100% cotton kitchen twine for the warp. 

Look for a more detailed blog post on this project soon. But--- Thank you, Suzy Brown and Andrew Poad, for the opportunity to craft it.  I am waiting patiently [NOT!] for my winnings. (~:  For your loom, and Suzy's handiwork. Blessings~

~Click here for the YouTube Winners Announcement.

~And here, to download the Majacraft Tutorials.

All of this aside-- I should also comment on the fact that living with the symptoms  of Fibromyalgia [FM] can make crafting out even the simplest of blog posts no easy matter. Sometimes my fingers, brain, and keyboard struggle to communicate.  But, with a great amount of determination, and Time, in the long run--- I win out.

Lastly, and totally unrelated to any creative interruption, I have been wonderfully taken aback by the amount of International Page Views of my humble little fledgling of a studio blog.  I snagged am image the other day [the week of Aug. 25th], so that I could share a week's worth of stats with everyone.   

How can I not say, "Viva la France!" (~: 


And please note, in the right hand side bar, I have since added a Language Translator feature.  I trust this will be of help to my International visitors.  Thank you so very much.  And Blessings~

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What's next up? 

That would be the follow up to the Denser Warping series.  I promise!  My goal for this week is to get at least two blog posts [this being one]--that have been sitting in the Draft folder for far too long--polished and updated! 

In the meantime, I am continuing to reorganize, and finish up, studio projects.  And am and making notes for new ones.  I've got a GiveAway project that you can find out more about on my Facebook Studio page.  You are welcome to stop by and visit, and Like. 

 

Leave any questions you may have in the Comments. 

Or Facebook Friends can Private Message me.

 

Bye for now, and Blessings~

 

And Happy Weaving!

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