Out of action

I can't believe it's taken such a while to update this blog - I have picked up some work as a nurse recently which has taken me away from my spinning - however it hasn't stopped me from knitting - even in a parked car! I have managed to knit a surprise  outfit for a releative's child. It's in the post to them as I write so I can't  post pictures yet, but I will...

Phatfibre shawl revealed

   The shawl is made up of a variety of colours and fibres

 



You may remember my recent post about phat fibre boxes. Well I thought I ought to show you the results of the spinning of the January box contents.










The colours are very heathery and soft - I think the combination of adding and plying with the grey corriedale has helped them blend together,,,,







I'm going to keep this shawl I think - it's so soft and squishy. But mainly because I have no idea how to cost this item - it took around 100 hours to spin and knit, but on an hourly rate of minimum wage, the cost would come to over £600 - somehow I can't see anyone buyng this at that price....

The plus points of exhibitions

I'm currently firming up dates for fetes, shows, festivals and exhibitions that I'll be attending this year. I choose which events to attend for a variety of reasons.
 
Last year I had a stand at British Wool Weekend, and because it was profitable, I'll be there again this year. I also got to meet some interesting people and learned a lot too.
 
This year so far I've been to Craft4Crafters in Exeter and met some fascinating people there, including the ladies who asked me to spin Chow fur for them. I also met a lovely lady called Sara. She runs Saras Texture Crafts. Sara had an amazing amount of fibre for spinners and felters alike.  She was also very supportive and helpful when I met her, giving much needed encouragement to a newbie like me. If you don't see what you're looking for on Knatters Knits, then do pop over to Sara's site - she has an extensive array of goodies you might be interested in!

Navel gazing

I have spent a lot of time deep in thought recently. I'm constantly surprised at how I feel. In my 20s I was keen but lacking in confidence and didn't really know what I wanted, or where I was headed. Over the next 30 years I have become much wiser, my edges softened by life rubbing and occasionally bashing the edges off me. Now in my 50s, I find myself still with a feeling to leave my mark on the world (which has been with me since my late teens) but the emphasis now is much more in being true to myself and doing things of substance and quality.

 I am enjoying my spinning and knitting and am learning about pattern design and clothing manufacture. I have joined a couple of weaving spining and dyer guilds, and attended one a few days ago. I was able to listen to a tapestry designer and weaver whose work really inspired me. Her name is Joan Baxter and some of her work is shown on her website (although the web does not do it justice).

Joan has a particular style, which makes her work identifiable as hers, and I wondered what my style was - or do I have one at all? She has the courage to let her passion and artistic talent dictate the direction of her work. I'm not sure yet what my style is, and often hold back instead of 'going with the flow'.

I guess what I learned from Joan's talk at the Guild, was that I should listen to the voices that tell me which direction to take, and have the courage of my convictions to create - after all, I am working in a creative world now - so watch this space, maybe a particular style might come through if I let go and let the artist in me start to emerge...