My Midwestern Adventure- Part 3 (Indigo Dyeing)

Sample pieces show us 'what's possible'...

                                   ...and supplies are laid out on each of the tables.

                                                Becky begins her first handkerchief.

                                  Tightly wrapped rubber bands are a popular choice...

                 ...as are wooden clothespins (already blue from previous dips in the dye pot).

                                    I used glass nuggets tied with rubber bands...

                                   ...and rows of running stitches on this silk scarf.

                                 An intrepid (and gloveless) classmate first soaks...

                                     ...then submerges his folded and tied project...

                ...into a mixture of pre-reduced crystal indigo, thiox and soda ash.

                                        A drying rack displays our dripping work.

                    Instructor Diane Corson helps a student unbundle her cloth...

                                                             ...et voila! 

                                       The rack begins to fill with wonderful things...

                          ...and the best part is watching as green turns to blue!

                                Back in our hotel room, I document the night's labor. 

                                 I think the unexpected 'arrows' on this one are fun.

                                                      "Which way do I go?!?"

                           My finished work (a little rumpled from the suitcase...sorry).

                                   

My Midwestern Adventure- Part 2 (South Dakota)

The North Country Fiber Fair...

                                         ...featured yarn in beautiful colourways...

                                            ...and dyed fiber in nearly every hue!

                                                                 Wool fabric...   

                                           ...and patterns for making hooked rugs.

                                                         Unique felted items...

                                          ...and rovings made from exotic fibers!

                                                  Tracy Miller, dog trainer...

                                                       ...gave an interesting...

                                               ...and fast-paced presentation...

                                    ...of her personalized herd dog training methods.

                                   There was also plenty of well-lit space available...

                              ...for quiet spinning,  knitting or catching up with friends.

                              Some of the fiber was just too irresistible to leave at the Fair...

                              ...(and, after all, I did have new pottery that needed cushioning!) ;)

                                                Items that were new to me?

                              Blended karakul/medium wool roving, grown in Minnesota..

                       ...and a super soft and intensely-colored wool, silk noil and nylon blend.

                                               Next time: indigo dyeing!

Wonderwool Wales 2014-Booth Photos- Part 2 of 2

More glorious yarns...

                 
                                        ...and a stylish fiber-use 'show and tell'!

                          A happy reunion with another 'Feltfull' friend, Pat Johnson...

                             ...(shown here with Pearl Taylor in front of the IFA booth).

                                                           Luscious silk dupioni cuts...

                                  ...eye-catching scrims and finished felt squares...

                                           ...gauzy, hand-dyed fabrics for nuno felting...

                                     

                                             ...and shimmery threads and velvets...

                                                ...plus truly wonderful displays...

                     ...all filled the booth of the charmingly named 'Oliver Twists' fiber company!

                                   Jenny Barnett's adorable miniature garments...

                                           ...really brought out the little girl in me...

             ...and the IFA booth was chock-full of felted goods to admire...

                                                          ...and to desire!! :)

                             Delicious organic "nibbles" were tasted (then rapidly purchased!)...

                                                ...from Wil's Smokehouse...

                       ...and as we left the festival at the end of a long and very special day...

                                        ...we bid a fond 'farewell' to this beauty!

Wonderwool Wales 2014- Booth Photos- Part 1 of 2

                                                     
                                           We saw Alison Murray's Giant Textile Dragon...

                                   ...and True Style Lab's shockingly lifelike needle-felted creatures...

                                                      ...angora bunnies...

                                  ...and Guto the Whippet's up-cycled dog wear.

                                  There were gorgeous linen threads and boucle yarns from Namolio...

                                            ...adorable sheep (of course!)...

                                 ...and luscious merino rovings from Nunoco.

               We met lovely Welsh men from the National Wool Museum...

              ...and 'oohed and aahed' over ceramic bowls made expressly for knitters by Wendy Fowler.

                                     I attended the event with my darling friend, Pearl...

                           ...(shown, here, chatting with fiber artist, Jenny Pepper).

                               There were oh-so-many booths featuring gorgeous yarn...

...and I absolutely drooled over Mr. Groovi's super sleek and functional felting tables!

                                  (Good thing they come with built-in drains!) ;)

                              I also was quite 'taken' with Jackie Lunn's lovely booth...

                             ...and with the intricately screen-printed felt of Lindsey Tyson.

                                      As with all good sheep and wool festivals...

                               ...fiber textures and colors were the event highlights!

                                      Next time: more booth (and animal) photos!