My New Toy

WOO HOO !!!!!!!!

Check out my new toy! I got it at the woolfest today-it was either that or a new refrigerator--who needs food??

Its a Louet Jr.

scroll down for the rest of the fibery fun-I still haven't figured out how to get all my pictures arranged correctly-but enjoy!

Fiber Arts Friday

It was definitely Fiber arts Friday today! I went to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson. I took a class from Vanessa Kessler on dyeing yarn and fiber. It was a great class-we learned a lot and had five really nice class samples to take home with us. There was a lot to shop for after the class and I did some serious damage to the checking account-oh well---I go back tomorrow for a spinning class-and again on Sunday for a plying class-I'll be "spun-out" for sure. (That gal in the pic is Vanessa-she wouldn't hold still to get her picture taken)

I was able to squeeze in some fiber-time-and had fun. I had to do the tedious picking of the VM out of my "Gracie" wool-but got 5 ounces done to play with. I took the idea of the "canning" method from the video on Alpaca farm Girl's Fiber Arts Friday group. I used two packages of Kool Aid for each jar-black cherry, orange, lemonaid, lemon-lime and berry blue. The berry blue seemed a bit "wimpy" for color, so I added a few spoonfuls (after adding water) of the black cherry to it. I added a cup of very hot water to each jar-a glug of vinegar and shoved an ounce of wool into each. I poked them down til saturated and then added more water-about an inch from the jar's top. I put them in the pot with water and brought it to a rolling boil then turned down to simmer for 45 minutes(or so). I let them cool overnight and took them all out and rinsed them this morning. All but the blue came out great-the blue is varigated blue/purple--but its ok. I have them sitting outside on the lawn chair to dry. I'm not sure what I will make with these, yet, but I can just enjoy looking at them for now.

forgotten fur

I have found that procrastination and my "swiss cheese" memory gets me in more trouble...last year I got a lovely old mink stole from a friend to cut up and make into teddy bears. I put it off for a while-hung it in the back of my closet and proceeded to forget all about it. Last week my friend e-mailed me to say she'll be in town (she's from North Carolina, I'm near Milwaukee, WI) in October. She wanted to know if she could pick up the bears then. HA! HA!!!--I had to fess up to her about my "sometimer's" disorder and needed to know how many bears to make. I've got 4 to do and PROMISED to have them done by October. So now, all other projects are on hold til the fur stops flying. It wouldn't be so bad if I sewed them on a machine-but these delicate little beauties have to be totally sewn by hand, and turned and stuffed very carefully. I am looking forward to seeing how well I can live up to my promise-and just how these little guys will look. I'll keep you posted. And really, I think I might get a little spinning done in between....we'll see!!!!

Fiber Arts Friday's Teddy Bears

It never fails. When I decide to start a project It seems I have to finish off something else first. This time it was because of the wayward stick pins. I can't, for the life of me, find my two altoid tins full of pins. So... in order to use the pins holding the red and blue pieces together, I figured I might as well sew them up first. I was then able to sew up the little guy I just cut out. I started to stuff a few of the pieces-but as usual, life got in the way and they are at a standstill. For now.

I hope to get them finished as soon as I rearrange my sewing corner, move all my 3 year old grandaughters toys, and the bins of wool to opposite sides of the living room, clean the house, run errands, yada, yada, yada......My kingdom for more fiber-time!!

In a moment of weakness-I reached into the mohair bin and just grabbed-and whatever came out would be the next bear I would make. I was inspired to make one because of the teddy bear club I belong to-Good Bears of the World-(we give bears where they are in need) Anyway, I brought the supplies to club last night and got started, drawing and cutting. I forgot my pins, so

I couldn't pin the pieces there. I'll get to that later this weekend. Now-I have to drag out the sewing machine and dust it off. I needed this project like I need another hole in my head. Oh well,

idle hands...blah blah blah....

Oh, by the way, a big thank you to Katy for the bunny, alpaca smackdown--I was the winner of the skein of alpaca yarn--I"m on pins and needles til it gets to my door. Woo-hoo!!!!!