Studio Work…

Probably not what you think.  

Yes, I’ve done a little bit of dyeing, mainly using up the last of my frozen dyes leftover from last summer’s natural dye projects.   One of the projects resulted in 2 very nice skeins of a merino/silk yarn.  They have already been sold, but I will take a photo of them for reference since I plan to do more  this summer.

The real studio work has been the actual construction of the garden structure with no name as of yet.  It started out as a new potting shed to replace our old garden shed.  Then we thought we could do something that might also work as a summer workshop/studio instead of using the 3rd bay in the garage as such.   It has since morphed into something of a sanctuary, shop, garden house, studio….

The outside of the shed/shop/studio/little house in the Garden of Eve… still needs to be painted, it only has a primer coat at this point, then I shall have to redo the herb garden on the side of it, right now it is nothing but bare soil, begging for new plants, birdbath, place for visitors to sit. 

Some photos..

This first photo shows the side of the garage, the patio area, ( there is also another patio behind the garage facing the herb garden) and the new structure. The mulberry tree behind it is not yet leafed out, but will provide lots of shade once it does.  Color… this is telling me that it wants to be a soft yellow, sunstream. Inside I’ve chosen to go with a blue ceiling ( I love looking at the sky ) and diluted white stain on the beadboard walls.  The floor is a natural beige color.  

I’ve yet to decide on everything that will go in the space, so for now I’m using things from other places and then will replace them as I find the right things I need.  I love using old things, giving them a new life.   Right now this is what is seen on the far wall as one enters the door… bit boring, but it will change.  I’ve moved in the hired man’s bed that served as a window seat in my daughter’s room for many years when she lived at home.  Many a child, kitty and puppy slept on the bed, many secrets were shared between friends and games played. It often functioned as an extra bed for overnight guest.  Because of the fond memories, it will stay. I’ll add thick, firm padding and make a nice coverlet and pillows for it.    The two metal units on either side of the bed/seat will have some vines wrapped around them, some mememtos from the trellis used for the same daughter’s wedding.  She was pleased to see those things in there.   No firm plans for the walls yet, it will come to me as I use the space.

Sitting on the bed, this is what is seen.. For now the shelving holding fibers and yarn is just some industrial shelving from the main studio storage.  I need to see how much storage and display space I need before I know what I want to replace it with.  I’ve been going to garage sales and such hoping to find some open cupboards, shelves… something that needs a new life. 

Windows looking out to the side garden, nothing much going on out there yet.  We start on the final exterior painting this week and then start on the garden.  

Coat hooks for garden house…

While most of the larger tasks and dirty work (washing fleeces, carding, dyeing, etc ) will be done in my main studio/dye space,  due to good insulation and a source of heat,  I’ll be using this space for display of things ready for sale or to be used in projects, for gatherings, lessons,  mixed media,  beading and all sorts of smaller projects.  All thanks to a wonderful spouse who seems to be able to do it all and who loves to hammer and saw.   

 Today I sat down at the old enameled metal kitchen table to do something, glanced out the door window and saw what looked like a blizzard.  

It was really this… A shower of blossom petals from the Yoshino Cherry trees and the Weeping Cherry in bloom.. With every gust of wind, the blossoms would fly!  A new meaning to April Showers…

Studio work is on hold till I do some work on the Herb garden.  I’ve learned that if I don’t plant someting in an empty garden, it will take matters into its own hands and I’m left with a lovely invasive weed garden.

More photos as I have them…

Testing…

I know little about cameras, and so the last time I purchased a new camera, I chose it after reading through camera reviews. It never was quite right for me and I have struggled with good photos of my fibers and yarn ever since, to the point that it was just too much trouble to take photos of new things and the reason my blog is rarely updated.

Recently I purchased a new camera.  This time however I actually borrowed a camera for a couple of days before deciding it was what I needed.    I am happy with it… 

Testing the colors of my Simply Divine Samples Scarf against a red bag. 

The above scarf was made with many skeins of yarn.  Most were samples of my blends, spun so that customers can see how the fiber will look when spun up. Others where leftovers from knitting, spinning, etc.   Each was dyed and spun by me.  I used, wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, lined blends, alpaca, mohair and more…  I get stopped whenever I wear it, somebody wanting to look at it more closely.  

I actually made 2, one for myself, one to enter in competition and to sell…  the 2nd scarf will be displayed all of March in an exhibit titled Women In The Arts.  There will be other things displayed in the exhibit, my small wheel with a partially fill bobbin, the same fiber in roving, in yarn and then used in a small felted project.  Also some finished objects and some of my award winning yarn.   I’ll take photos of the exhibit when it is up…

While, I haven’t been taking photos… I have been busy working on projects.

Other news… 

A shipment of dyes arrived, I’m working on a list of colors and a list of blanks (undyed yarn) and different types of roving for dyeing… I’ll scan the dye color chart with the other info and have it up by early next week.

More From The Garden…

Rock Day went well and I was happy with sales. Since then I’ve been working on some projects while restocking on roving for dyeing (Merino, Superwash Merino, Domestic Wool blend, Kid Mohair) and other supplies.

I have quite a few fleeces to wash, but since I do most of my fleece washing outdoors and temps are frigid, I’ve been working on processing some washed fiber and pulling out fiber for some blends.

Here is a look at some of the fiber I dyed this past summer…

Carded Batts and hand spun yarn (1 silk, 1 wool) from silk and wool I dyed using Daylily and Hardy Hibiscus blooms from my garden. I have uncarded dyed fiber also available. Each batch varies slightly in shade of green, all look beautiful together. If these are not sold before I finish my current projects, I will be using them for a gallery exhibit project.

A batt pulled into roving ..

If you are interested in any of these or some of the loose fiber that isn’t yet carded, please let me know.

Studio Work On A Snowy Day…

Our corner of the Southern Finger Lakes region is enjoying a day off due to a snow storm. It has been snowing all day and it looks beautiful!  Of course I can’t go anywhere and so I had time to do some things in the studio.   A large basket full of silk tops caught my eye and I quickly snapped some photos of them… A sample can be seen in the header at the top of the page… to see more check out the Handpainted Silk Top page…link in the sidebar…

Along with taking a few photos, I’ve been playing with my new, larger drum carder and have some large batts done.  I’m labeling them in preparation for Roc Day but will try to get some good shots of them and post them here as well.

Alpaca Roving for spinning…

A very limited of Alpaca roving is available and has been posted on the natural fibers   I’ve spun quite a bit of this and it is very nice to spin…

Alpaca Roving

New Things being added….

Much of the time this summer has been spent on expanding the summer studio/workshop to twice the orignal size, pouring a new floor, adding shelving and lighting.  Trees sheltering the workshop pation were trimmed back to allow for sunshine on mild days. An awning was added for days when protection from sun, rain, leaves or feathered friends is needed.

Under this awning (I’d planned to add photos but it has rained most of the day so I’ll add them soon) I have been experimenting dyeing roving, loose fiber and skeins with natural dyes using plants from my garden.  I’ve sold quite a few already, but still have some in stock and am working on more.  I’ll be listing what I have available in the ’From Eve’s Garden’ section. 

Just one of many naturally dyed silk roving…. 

  

Mohair/wool Yarn…

Fingering and Sport weight yarns…

Per customer request, blanks (undyed yarn) have been orderd, along with easy to use commercial dyes and natural dyes and will be posted along with roving and loose fiber as soon as they are available.