Guild exhibit at Shaler Library during the month of May; Reminder to register for classes at Waynesburg Festival

The Butler Spinners and Weavers Guild is hosting a display of textiles at the Shaler Library on Mt. Royal Blvd. My friend and I are hanging the show and did a mock-up of the display this past week. Folks, there are some lovely pieces in the show. Our guild is full of talented people. I'm entering 3 pieces but have only photographed one, the handspun handknit linen market bag. It's a small bag but I'm sure I can fill it up at the yarn store (like I need more yarn?).

With apologies to my guildmates, here's a few shots of other pieces.....

This is going to be a great show!



And I wanted to remind folks that this is the first year classes are being offered at the Waynesburg Sheep and Fiber Festival in mid-May. There are some great knitting, spinning, crochet classes being offered for first-time crafters and this is a great opportunity to learn a new skill! Yep, I'm the spinning teacher and I'm looking forward to meeting some wonderful new spinners that weekend.

Another long gap in posts, but I'm back again

Phew! I've been dealing with family medical issues, renovation on in-laws house so we can sell it, lining up my teaching schedule and working with our guild to celebrate our 30th anniversary--where did the time go?

1. Family is all well now, and my neck is feeling much better after many visits to the chiropractor's office. A note to my friends--pay attention to neck injuries, they can lead to arthritis or worse later on.
2. Renovation on my studio is finished, renovation to in-laws' house is almost finished, yah!
3. TEACHING COMMITMENTS 2012: I'll be teaching Spindle Spinning at the Waynesburg (PA) Sheep and Fiber Festival, May 19 & 20. On May 26 & 27 I'll be in Wooster, OH at the Great Lakes Fiber Show. Saturday's class is Spinning Textured Yarns, and on Sunday I'll be teaching Spinning Knob (Knot) and Slub Yarns.
4. The Butler Spinners and Weavers Guild has 3-4 shows lined up in different venues during 2012, and one lecture planned for the fall. The first show will be held at the Shaler Library during the month of May. The remaining shows/lecture plans aren't completed yet, but stay tuned. Folks in the Pittsburgh & Butler areas might want to set aside Oct. 20 for something special.

And of course I haven't gotten my pieces for the May show finished. I had enough main color for the Color Blocks Vest in Spin Off, Winter 2011 but needed to spin up the accent yarns I wanted to use. Here's a shot of all 3 yarns and another of the swatch to test color sequence.

While I was at the wheel, I decided to ply the linen I'd spun during Penn's Colony festival back in September. I ended up with 110 yards, just enough to knit a Farmer's Market Bag (pattern on Ravelry, can't find it on the web)

Outside light source

Inside light source

In which I report on another teaching venue, my garden, and my knitting pattern revisions

New Teaching Venue
I've been going to Fingerlakes Fiber Festival for several years now. Last year, I bumped into the lady who organizes the classes and chatted with her for a bit. Sent in my applications this spring. And received word last month that all three classes were accepted! Their website is updated with the 2010 classes and there's lots of other stuff to do up there. This is a wonderful hidden gem of a festival, folks, about 6 hours from DaBurg. There's lots of wineries around, and I can tell you where the BEST Indian restaurant can be found. This is the area that inspired my Upstate Meadows batts (which are currently sold out of my shop, but more will be made soon). Come on up and spend some time in the country!

Garden
Speaking of the country, I started harvesting my garden a couple of weeks ago. Well, actually, much earlier than that because lettuce and spinach come up FAST. After the lettuce, rhubarb and peas, the garlic was the first crop to come out of the ground. And I made a garlic braid today! I'm so proud of myself! It's hanging in the kitchen right now, with some bits of dirt still clinging to the roots. Couldn't shake/brush all the dirt without losing the dried garlic leaves, which is what one uses to make the braid. Making some caponato tomorrow with fresh eggplant and tomatoes from a nearby farm, and have some whole wheat Italian bread in the breakmaker right now. Lunch is gonna be GOOD tomorrow.


Garlic braid


Garlic fresh from the garden last week


Fresh rhubarb, peas and lettuce, washed and ready to go!

My knitting patterns
Reading the always-active copyright posts on Ravelry, it occurred to me that I hadn't looked at my copyright blurb in some time. It used to read "Garments knitted from this pattern are intended for the buyer's personal use and may not be sold for profit without prior written financial arrangements with the author". And I realized that it did not reflect what I actually wanted to say. I have always been happy to see knitters make something for themselves or their family/friends from my designs. *I* know I'm not going to make a boatload of money licensing my designs, but I did want some type of control over the items made from my pattern(s) and offered for sale. After all, if my name is going to be attached to a handknit item, I want it to be high-quality and the sales handled in a professional manner--and so I want to talk with the knitter to get a feel for who they are. And I LIKE knowing other knitters, especially the ones who like my patterns LOL. So I have taken out the word "financial" in order to be clear that I'm quite happy to have folks use my patterns to make and sell items--just please ask first.

Change in dates for summer workshops!!

Due to my brothers death, I've had to reschedule the 3 summer workshops/classes I'd previously scheduled. Folks who had already registered were kind enough to help me choose new dates, and I'm hoping the new dates will allow some of you to attend now.
Register early by email (carol [underscore] mcfadden [at] verizon [dot] net) or phone to reserve your space. Payment can be made via Paypal (I’ll send you an invoice once you’re registered) or personal check. At this time I’m not able to accept credit cards. Payment in full is expected three days prior to the workshop.

Spinning Woolen vs. Worsted Yarn

Did you know that the preparation of your wool affects the type of yarn you will produce? That there are different methods of drafting your wool to achieve either woolen or worsted yarn, and variations of these techniques? We’ll be preparing our own fiber from washed fleece, and talking about the traditional uses for both types of yarn. Students should be comfortable spinning on either a wheel or spindle.

Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel (don’t forget oil, hook & extra drive band)
--Handcards/minicombs, if you have them (one pair of each will be available to share)

July 31, 2010—12:30 to 2:30
$35 includes materials and handout


Spinning Textured Yarns

Ever wonder how tweed yarns are made? Don't know what to do with that ounce of angelina or dyed silk waste you bought at the last fiber festival? In this 4-hour workshop, we’ll address these questions and more. If you have a fiber you've been wanting to try, bring it along too! We’ll experiment with it if there’s time. Students should be comfortable spinning on either a wheel or spindle to make well-constructed consistent yarn.

Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel
--Handcards if you have them (one pair will be available to share)
--Niddy noddy and hang tags to wind off and label sample skeins (optional)
--At least 3 bobbins for your wheel; spindlers bring a storage method so you can wind off yarns as you make them
--Spare drive band, oil, any other “tools” you usually carry when spinning
--Please bring your own lunch; coffee/tea/water will be available

August 14—10:00 to 12:30 with 30 minutes for lunch
$60 includes materials and handout


Spinning Colored Yarns

In this 4-hour workshop, you will learn how to put multiple colors in your spinning without buying handpainted roving. We'll explore different carding and spinning methods to achieve mixed-color yarns and space-dyed effects and discuss the results and their uses. Students should be comfortable enough with a wheel or spindle to make well-constructed consistent yarn.

Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel
--Handcards if you have them (one pair will be available to share)
--At least 3 bobbins for your wheel; spindlers bring a storage method so you can wind off yarns as you make them
--Spare drive band, oil, any other “tools” you usually carry when spinning
--Please bring your own lunch; coffee/tea/water will be available

August 28, 2010—10:00 to 2:30 with 30 minutes for lunch
$60 includes materials and handout


Hope to see yinz guys soon. Notice of August Saturday spinning day will be coming in your email soon......

The second of my summer spinning workshops

Spinning Colored Yarns

In this 4-hour workshop, you will learn how to put multiple colors in your spinning without buying handpainted roving. We'll explore different carding and spinning methods to achieve mixed-color yarns and space-dyed effects and discuss the results and their uses. Students should be comfortable enough with a wheel or spindle to make well-constructed consistent yarn.

Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel
--Handcards if you have them (one pair will be available to share)
--At least 3 bobbins for your wheel; spindlers bring a storage method so you can wind off yarns as you make them
--Spare drive band, oil, any other “tools” you usually carry when spinning
--Please bring your own lunch; coffee/tea/water will be available

July 10, 2010—10:00 to 2:30 with 30 minutes for lunch
$60 includes materials and handout

Payment Information
Register early by contacting me through this blog or on Ravelry (I'm feistywoman) to reserve your space. Payment can be made via Paypal (I’ll send you an invoice once you’re registered) or personal check. At this time I’m not able to accept credit cards. Payment in full is expected three days prior to the workshop.

Did you notice I was gone??

Due to a sudden bout of laryngitis followed immediately by a bout of bronchitis, I've been down for the count for 2 weeks. As soon as I got strong again, it was time to hop a plane and head for Charlotte, NC to celebrate my wedding anniversary with DH. I'm back and catching up with work, my Etsy shop, SWA business and COE work. Did you miss me?

Interesting item about the local news media in Charlotte. A snowstorm blew across the entire east coast while I was there and the following morning the local tv station was having a great time scaring the local populace into staying indoors all day. I can understand that the city is not prepared for salting the roads or plowing. But to tell people not to go out because the water dripping off store awnings is refreezing on the sidewalk, and you will probably slip and fall and go to the hospital in an ambulance is not journalism--it's scare tactics calculated to boost ratings. C'mon guys, wouldn't it have been more responsible to simply tell folks to be careful?

I'm also happy to report that the number of spinning students who are signing up for my classes has increased tremendously. I'm so happy that I can pass this skill on to others who are smitten with the magic of making yarn to their own liking. It's just such a kick to see the sparkle in someone's eyes when they 'get it'! That excitement is my drug of choice and much better than any silly street drug I could buy. You guys rock!