Baa Baa Black Sheep
Black Sheep
Keeping with my creative interest in textiles this month, I visited the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this past weekend. Seeing the wool from its source, is way cool. There is something I love about milling around people who live in the country and love nature. Many think of nature as flowers and trees, but animals is where this fair is at. Shepherds brought their young lambs to sell, vendors sold spinning wheels, fresh wool, all the tools needed to card and spin, as well as homespun yarn.
Sheep make almost pleading sounds when crowds gather around them. They stay in groups and allow themselves to be herded by sheep dogs. Their hair is very warm and is shorn yearly.
Sheep Shearing Event
A different world, that is for sure. Surrounded by a sunny sky and the sounds of fiddle and celtic harp music, this was truly an enjoyable day!
Read more at: Playing.
Confessions of a Textileholic
You know who you are, you textileholics!! We love the feel, color, and visuals of fiber, can’t get enough of it! Does anyone who isn’t one of us understand? I sincerely doubt it, but let me try to explain. It is sensual almost sexy to touch the silky fibers. Bumpy, oh, that yarn is so fun to just feel, knitting it is a pain, but the finished product, so many colors, so variegated, so, so bumpy!
And then there are the different stitch patterns we can make, oh lordy, how fun!!
So many different yarns are available. One of my recent favorites is the homespun sari silk yarn from Nepal. Recycled fiber from women across the globe is knit into a garment. Good energy in that.
Knitting has been done for centuries by men and women around the world, for warmth, comfort, consoling, love. Knitting my own sweaters and for people I love makes me mindful of what we wear, what keeps us warm. Someone spun that fiber, sheared from an animal or cut from a plant, put thought into dying it, and is offering it to you to make a garment full of love. Us textile lovers knit stitch by stitch thinking, laughing, gazing, and remembering who it is from and you it going to. Love that.
Creative Journey: Searching Through my Stash
Cotton yarn
Next month I am going to embark on my first Creative Journey Month of 2013 and explore Textiles.I have sewn since college, knit since I was 8, and love the feel and look of textiles. I am in the throws of organizing my fabric studio, perusing my stash. Numerous fabrics and yarns from travels, relatives, shopping expeditions, and who knows where I got everything? The colors alone are so addicting!I think of the textiles in my fabric studio as my palette, almost like paint. What should I make? Sometimes it is sad to use a fabric or yarn, it is like letting an old friend go.
May 1 I start on my adventure, can’t wait!
Batik cotton
cropped pullover
Sweaters are Cozy
Love the colors on this yummy, soft sweater jacket.
I have been perusing my fabric and yarn stash. I have finished several projects, bought some cute cotton fabric for little girl skirts, and started to clean up for the new year, a great feeling!
I finished my pastel knit sweater jacket made from hand dyed mohair, silk, wool yarn in happy pinks, blues, soft yellow and mint green. Who says pastels are just for spring? I feel that a high key palette makes for a pleasing and uplifting feeling.
I also finished a patchwork velvet and silk Asian style evening jacket.
silks and velvets in a long evening jacket
This has been so much fun!
Read more at Bread Month
Cool Stuff Online
Ok, just so you know, my go to, absolutely favorite social media site at the moment is Pinterest! I love the way I can keep track of images I like on the web! Recipes, artwork, clothes, you name it, I can keep a visual record of it! I have found such talented people making art that I can hardly believe it! Check this image out:
Embroidery
I discovered this totally creative artist, Izziyana Suhaimi on Pinterest. She sews on drawings, how cool is that! I love the combination of thread and graphite. So beautiful!You can find more photos of her work and her blog HERE.
Happy Pinning!
And follow my pins on Pinterest! Look for Joye Schwartz!
Inspiration Thursday: Cotton
cotton plant
Lately I have been spending a lot of time in my fabric studio, well, in between setting up my new boutique, blogging, errands,…..And I am falling in love again with cotton. It is almost spring and then summer(wish, wish!!) and cotton is the ideal fabric to sew, knit with and wear. It is natural, soft, can be dyed to bright wonderful colors, and can be used for shirts, diapers, sweaters, pants, dresses, quilts, and on and on. One disadvantage is that is needs to be ironed if you don’t like wrinkly clothes.
Batik cotton
Cotton yarn
I was amazed at how many fabrics it can be made into. Here are a few from fabric.net:
Diaper Cloth is a twill, dobby or plain woven absorbent cotton.
Dimity is sheer, thin, white or printed fabric with lengthwise cords, stripes or checks.
Drill is a strong twilled cotton fabric, used in men’s and women’s slacks.
Duck is a heavy, durable tightly woven fabric. Heavy weight drill is used in awnings, tents, etc. Lighter duck is used in summer clothing.
Flannel cotton is plain or twill weave with a slight nap on one or both sides.
Flannelette is a soft cotton fabric with a nap on one side.
Gauze is a sheer, lightly woven fabric similar to cheesecloth. Is also made in silk.
Gingham is a lightweight, washable, stout fabric that is woven in checks, plaids or stripes.
Lawn is a plain weave, soft, very light, combed cotton fabric with a crisp finish.
And there are 15 more. Such a versatile fabric, love it!
Read more at: Autumn Leaves.
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