ART YARN

I have tried many different media in which to express my creativity.  I think the fact that I have an urge to do this is a given.  Even when working with something like metal.  I’m using this as an example, because it isn’t a medium that I have a natural feel for.  But if you put the tools in metal in the same room as me, sooner or later I will gravitate in that direction and start making something.

I think buying a spinning wheel and learning how to use it has been an absolute catalyst in my life,  and it has changed how I look at my life.  Yes, that is quite a bold statement!   Absolutely true though,  because I now live according to my creativity.  When I create yarns, or when I help to make a new spinner in my classes.  I am living by what I love doing, and that is a blessed place to be.

Auto ply super chunky thick and thin merino

Hyper texture. A huge array of wool, silk, fabric scraps, thread, to make a crazy batt to spin just how it presents itself.

Pastel coils resembling little seed pearls.

Bulky squishy super coils with all the colour

Loose and wild Masham locks in a tailspun yarn. Currently being woven into a scarf.

Inspired by Laburnum trees in bloom. Silk rods, yellow silk, shetland and felt inclusions. Textural joy.

Beautiful Teeswater tailspun on a Corriedale Core. Wisteria now lives somewhere in Maine with a happy new owner.

thks

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Wisteria Tail Spun Yarn

I’ve been wanting to spin this one up for about a week now.  I dyed the long Teeswater locks, and gosh, they were so gorgeous with their lilac tips and shiny green ends, where they were to meet with the green Corriedale that I was going to use as a single ply base for the tailspin. And then the kids got sick… and then I started sniffling too.  And sniffles turned into the flu.  And still those locks were sitting there, calling me.  But now we are all feeling sprightly again, and I got to turn my concept into reality.  So here it is:  Wisteria, Teeswater and Corriedale tailspin.  I’m a little bit in love with this decadent yarn!

 

I’m about to post this on etsy – come and see some more art yarns at http://www.etsy.com/shop/clovetree

Spinning a tree

The yellows and the greens really reminded me of Laburnum trees – and I really wanted recreate the idea of the tree in yarn.  And make something with amazing texture.  This art yarn is a heady mix of silk rods, yellow silk, felt inclusions and uncarded Shetland as well as some Shetland Llanwenog cross breed.  Never knew I’d become as versed in talking about sheep, but then life is full of surprises!

So here is my take on Laburnum – and I’m loving the process of spinning a tree!

Back again!

It has been ages since I’ve been here.  I have been exploring the world of wool, and I’ve upgraded to the new Aura spinning wheel.  And now I can spin however I like.  Keep an eye out for some gorgeous art yarns.  I’m about to go and play with some hand dyed silk rods, shetland and hemp with occasional bits of silk maybe…  I’ll post some pics when I’m done.  These are the silk rods pre and post dyeing, and for now I’m just planning to use the green, but of course I might change my mind.  I want to spin a tree.

 

Honeycomb Jumper Pattern

It has taken absolute ages to check, double check and write this pattern out, without any typos.  But at last, here it is.

In the mean time, I built myself a whole new website and shop for my patterns:  clovetree.org is where you will find all my available patterns now.  There’s more to come too.  Hats, wristwarmers and a little wraparound top in Angora.

Wool of the day.

What a day!  (week?)

 

Did my first craft fair in ages, and decided to show some of my handspun and hand-dyed yarns along with my felted goodies.

Of course colour is my first love, and I had a blast dyeing, mixing, re-dyeing, dip-dyeing, splashing, pouring and spinning.  I discovered the trick of core-spinning and Navajo plying my yarns – a process that makes my poor old spinning wheel groan under the strain of super-chunky yarns.  So, I will have to look into some new spinning accessories.  It seems to me that my growth as yarn-maker comes with a price-tag… every time. (Groan!)

I’m particularly chuffed with my handspun silks.  The graded colours are lovely, random and the silk just sings.  Very difficult to photograph silk’s secrets – it seems to throw light at my lense, although the naked eye doesn’t quite perceive the silk in that way.

I’m contemplating selling these on Etsy.  What do you think?

 

 

 

Photo’s, rain and philosophy

Today has been a fascinating day, full of learning new skills, turning acquaintances into friends, talking, talking, whilst the rain’s drizzle couldn’t dampen spirits, or the dreams that will come true if there is enough support around.  Yay for good people.

 

I’m also doing an online photography course at the moment, but it has not taken my full attention for one reason or another.  So back to basics – looking at colour, contrast, proportions and texture.  What is the story behind the picture – is it obvious?  Well, this one has a lesson – 4 year olds don’t stand still for too long!  I know it’s a bit blurry, but I love it.