Fresh Fabrics for Spring

I went on an artist's date (a concept espoused by Julia Cameron) the other day to one of my favorite fabric shops and came back with this armload of fresh inspiration. Some of it will be handspun into my signature Ragamuffin yarn, and the rest will likely end up in a quilt or apron.

Jacaranda Blossoms

Jacaranda Blossoms, originally uploaded by confections.

The jacaranda are in bloom in San Diego, California. Lovely sight!

Handspun Art Yarn

Handspun Art Yarn, originally uploaded by confections.

This handspun art yarn skein incorporates mohair and Cotswold locks; it is a combination of tailspun and corespun techniques. I used a commercial merino core yarn and plied the singles yarn back onto itself for a super bulky skein.

Rapunzel at Peet's

Rapunzel at Peet's, originally uploaded by confections.

Rapunzel is my portable maple spinning wheel made by Gord Lendrum in Canada. She has been my faithful companion for close to fifteen years. I acquired her in a trade with a fellow fiber artist.

Since she folds and is easily portable (not that I fold her most times--she just rides in the back seat buckled up for safety), she likes to go to cafes for spinning sessions.

This Saturday, a friend of mine and my sister and I had a retreat-style day: high tea, yarn & book store romp, artisan bread sandwiches, and lattes and spinning at Peet's in my neighborhood.

Rapunzel was joined by her cousin, my friend's Lendrum named Penelope. I also had my Mother Marion kick spindle in tow--her name is Hepzibah.

We always create a stir when we spin in public. Men are fascinated by the mechanics and physics of the wheel, and women of the fibery persuasion recognize the magical madness of wool fluff turning into yarn. Kids are always curious about the spinning wheel.

If you haven't already tried it, take your fiber arts to the cafe next time you go.

New Regency Dolls

New Regency Doll, originally uploaded by confections.

I recently bought two new Regency dollies from upallnightstudio. I had gotten ones for my two sisters for their recent birthdays and had to have one for myself. I bought an additional one in memory of my Mother, who passed away on Valentine's Day. She would have loved these dolls.

My Mom, My Baby Brother & Me, 1956

My Mom, My Baby Brother & Me, 1956, originally uploaded by confections.

When I was five, my Mom and my Godmother (Great-Aunt Onie) took a roadtrip with my baby brother. We drove from Pennsylvania to Indiana to visit my Mother's only sister, Margaret, who was newly married and expecting her first child. This portrait was taken in my aunt's living room during that jaunt.

My Mom passed away this year on Valentine's Day. Aunt Margaret turned 87 years old yesterday, May 8th. Belated Happy Birthday and Happy Mother's Day, Tante Margaret and Mutti!

Courtesy of Old World Shoppes on Etsy.

Kool-Aid Dyeing

In my spring cleaning adventures, I discovered some old packets of Kool-Aid that I had bought to use to dye fiber. A good friend and I had done a bit of this in a weaving and spinning class a while back and had since moved on to other dyestuffs.

I dyed two small bumps of wool fiber and a small skein of merino yarn and had lots of fun. I used a Ball jar dyeing technique which is a lot less messy than my usual handpainting approach. I'm looking forward to spinning these up.

Mother's Day Tribute by Etsy Old World Shoppes

Courtesy of Old World Shoppes on Etsy.