Knotted Pile Rug Workshop

Philip and I took a knotted pile class last month with Sara Lamb. She is a fantastic teacher and an all around nice person. Here is the progress we made in class. Phil was the star student, I think his math brain just got it and off he went. He wound his first ball of yarn in this class. I was such a proud mate!

Phil is working on a spider design.

I am working on a star design. This is how much we both finished in the class.

This is how much I completed while watching the Olympics one night.

I took this class because Sara does some amazing work with silk knotted pile. She seems to specialize in bags (that is what our samples will turn out to be when we finish them)and recently she made a really awesome hat. Check out her blog archives on September 13, 2005 to see the hat. I would like to use this technique for cuffs and collars on art to wear pieces. That way I won't be spending years completing one piece, such as a floor rug, and I'll have that lovely silk next to my skin with it's beautiful pictures in fiber where I can see it! For some reason the link isn't showing up in blogspot, so here is Sara's blog http://www.saralamb.blogspot.com/

Creative Endeavors

I have been working on the Cottage Tea Cozy in Knitter's Stash by Marji LaFreniere. It is a perfect gift for my dear Irish sister in law. Here are a couple of photos of the work prior to the fun part, the embroidery and futzing with embroidery floss, ribbon, beads and other goodies. I am still trying to work out a way to make a miniature wind chime. Her birthday is today, I am late and she will understand. She truly appreciates and uses hand made goods.

I used a single strand of Cascade 220 on size 10.5 US needles for the building of the cottage, and a single strand of Curious Creek Fibers Nakuru in Rock Grotto for the roof, shutters and door. I think I will put a hose in the backyard and another set of shutters and flowers, rather than just decorating one side. It will be seen from all sides and this is a true Irish tea drinking lady we're talking about!

You Are Gonzo the Great

"Is something burning in here? Oh, it's just me." You're a total nutball who will do anything for attention. The first to take a dare, you'll pull almost any stunt. You're one weird looking creature, but your chickens don't mind!

The Muppet Personality Test

Beginning A New Textile Collection

Saturday, Phil and I had the opportunity to be the first people to look at and purchase items from Estelle's large Textile Collection. This is the most prized piece, in my opinion, of many wonderful peices we purchased. It is Nigerian fabric dyed in indigo with sewn and tied resists. It is large enough to cover a queen size bed!