tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24723314623071296562024-03-05T18:46:00.497-08:00WoolynnsWool-gathering about fiber, yoga, parenting, and lifeYoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-21478945076905919462012-06-28T19:17:00.002-07:002012-06-28T19:17:26.687-07:00ImagineTrying to figure things out, as usual.<br />
<br />
Pretending that I have a career teaching yoga, acting like the professional and well-employed teacher I was in another place. The effect of a piece of technological marketing is impressive as three attempts to make contact receive three responses. Batting 1000 after 18 months of batting .02.<br />
<br />
A brief, emotionally fulfilling visit from old friends. Several of my pieces are heading with those same friends to Berlin, perhaps to start a new market for my wares. This after resigning myself to giving up felting for the time being.<br />
<br />
Nothing has changed in my day-to-day work life. Very few classes to teach, albeit with a handful of wonderful students putting me to the test. The rest of the time making coffee and sandwiches and doing dishes and taking money. At home, there is laundry, summer chauffeuring, groceries, cooking. Same bat channel... (All right, I <i>have</i> gotten the children to do some of the cooking now that I work until dinnertime several nights a week.)<br />
<br />
And yet, it all feels new. Promising, even. As though with this move to a new state, that I know inherently is right even as it has been a real struggle at times, reality is starting to catch up with wishing. <br />
<br />
Is it all a state of my mind? Am I finding contentment? <br />
And is it due to external factors? <br />
<br />
Or is it simply pretending things are different and, by pretending, finding them so.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-41979438346987181822012-06-01T08:06:00.000-07:002012-06-01T08:06:41.950-07:00Mr. Gorbachev, ... Life in my 40s in Minnesota is not as expected. Big surprise. Are any of us doing what we envisioned in our youth for our grown-up selves?<br />
I face strange choices about family vs. work vs. pursuing my true talents. I have the luxury of complaining about first-world problems and not whether the water is drinkable or whether my children will starve. The death of a good friend's 11-year-old son has knocked some sense into me about the real problems I don't have. <br />
Does this mean I've found contentment? Not exactly.<br />
I had a hard time mourning and grieving after Special K died in May. I was not near those in Michigan who could reel from this loss with me. So I picked up The Last Lecture to allow some of my emotions to come up to the surface. And in it, I did find comfort and release. <br />
I also found inspiration. <br />
Since moving to MN, I have complained about not finding my way into the yoga community here. I have sent emails and resumes. I have knocked on studio doors. I have been met with silence at best; offers to take that studio's teacher training program at worst. I have come up with reasons why there might be resistance to a teacher of my experience. I have shelved my enthusiasm for introducing Eischens Yoga to a new community. And Randy Pausch's Last Lecture kicked me in the butt and reminded me that the brick walls you encounter are there to help you discover how much you really want to do something. How hard you'll try to scale, dig under, or break through that wall.<br />
Eischens Yoga is going to make inroads into the Twin Cities. <br />
Look out, brick wall.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-45161520291035098472012-02-19T11:39:00.000-08:002012-02-19T11:39:13.123-08:00Got laundry?Back in my old version of life, back in Michigan, I taught yoga. I taught several classes a week that were well attended and had such good word-of-mouth that, by the time I left Michigan, I didn't need to expend much out-of-class effort to promote my classes. I showed up and taught. I had several private clients over the years who came to me for such varied issues as how to prevent knee surgery, how to recover from hip replacement, how to run a marathon, how to work toward advanced yoga poses. This was not a hobby for me. It was and is a passion. The income I derived was also a necessity for our family. The success of my yoga teaching allowed me to create and pursue Woolynns. I could felt, apply for the occasional art show, spend a weekend selling my handmade wares. But I did it with the knowledge I'd be back teaching my classes, seeing my clients come Monday.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am not in that life now. I forgot about the considerable hours outside of teaching required to create a yoga teaching schedule. I forgot about arriving to find only one student in class. I forgot about no one coming to the workshops. It takes time to find the venues where Eishens Yoga can take root; to reach out to the various likely communities to attract students; to promote and promote and promote. But I have also been trying to do this for Woolynns: figure out where the appropriate art shows are, apply, update my etsy store, promote, sell, ship. And in between all the research and the venue/art show hunting and the promotion, there is still the daily work: teaching, practicing, planning workshops and events, felting, creating displays, photographing scarves, cooking, schlepping, grocery shopping, laundry, and lately, the barista work that is helping put groceries on the table.<br />
<br />
<br />
It hits me finally that I am exhausting myself and with little to show for it. I need more income. I need more time. The most obvious choice is to put Woolynns aside for a while. Once I have a yoga career that can sustain itself without hours of outside work on my part, once my job at the coffee shop is not so vital to our daily survival, I plan to felt again. I have ideas for Woolynns creatively, but I also need to invest in displays, file LLC documentation here in MN, make inroads into the local fiber art community. It occurs to me what a luxury making art is when you are trying to raise a family. It requires a level of security I do not currently have. (Not that it requires wealth; we were hardly wealthy back in MI.)<br />
<br />
<br />
Years ago, I was struck by an article by a senior yoga instructor who was ending a few classes because she needed time to do laundry. It has stayed with me all these years that everything we do is important to our well-being and should be given its proper amount of time. In an effort to find balance in my own life, Woolynns is officially on hiatus. The shop remains open, the inventory is there for the buying, and the sketches will continue for future creations. But my limited resources are going into yoga. <br />
<br />
<br />
And laundry.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-63296720660075484102012-01-09T06:58:00.000-08:002012-01-09T07:00:04.470-08:00Changing the LandscapeJanuary 1st always seems like an arbitrary new year. Flowers coming up in Spring feels like the start of a new year, as does September with each new school year beginning. Maybe that's why Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) has always felt right to me. Regardless, January 1st is how our calendar places the new year. Not even timed with Winter Solstice, this "beginning" is in a dark time of year. Here in the Midwest, it means short days, long nights; frozen ground, if not a lot of snow; cold weather. Not exactly inspiring material for creating, for starting fresh. And yet, if all my yoga can guide me here, I am not the same person today that I was yesterday. I am not the same person that I was an hour ago. Every action, every breath changes me ever so subtly. I am new in each moment. I can tap into this newness at any time and find a way to start fresh. <br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I've been reading articles, journaling, having conversations about how to grow Woolynns. What direction to take. Some of it is simply getting to know Minnesota better and figuring out where my work fits in. But some of it is in the art itself. Am I really making what I want to make? Or am I recreating past successes hoping for another sale? Can I sell what I want to make? Can I make what sells? These questions right here are my New Year's Eve, my Spring, my first day of school. They are the seeds for whatever is about to grow. And some of them won't grow right away, or even at all. I intend to water them all, but I am sure I will forget some of them, unintentionally losing a possibility. It is important that I plant them even still. Time to create a new landscape.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVzyx1-1Zpp544LunON-AegZ_XucavcCx7l9byDGiUg5EPlFjuTi9hIIBPrCYooyIcyCTI-7cZxzCOZicOgda_Vk78z0if7WRp7WWw2kXkD8Q0AWKL1BZxEyHQzE64xkw03xsi22FY-fi/s1600/IMG_0990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVzyx1-1Zpp544LunON-AegZ_XucavcCx7l9byDGiUg5EPlFjuTi9hIIBPrCYooyIcyCTI-7cZxzCOZicOgda_Vk78z0if7WRp7WWw2kXkD8Q0AWKL1BZxEyHQzE64xkw03xsi22FY-fi/s320/IMG_0990.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I had an acting teacher (eons ago) who told me to throw lots of balls in the air; that way there is a better of chance of catching at least one. Watch me throw about 12. </div><div>Right now.</div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-84907759578488834492011-12-31T15:17:00.000-08:002011-12-31T15:17:54.390-08:00A year in the life ...This time last year, I was gearing up for our move to Minnesota after 12 plus years in Michigan. Mark would be househunting and starting his new MN job in January, and the kids and I would be packing up our house for a late February move. Since then I have:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>said good-bye to very dear friends and to an idea of myself based on external factors</li>
<li>repainted our new place's interior when our belongings were delayed</li>
<li>assisted my oldest during a very rough transition to his new school (never before has summer break come with such relief for him)</li>
<li>watched as my youngest settled in more easily than expected, and been in awe as she denied living here ("I like gray" in response to the blue skies of a Minnesota winter)</li>
<li>experienced travel baseball (never again)</li>
<li>seen a chance to perform with high schoolers ease my middle schooler's pain</li>
<li>found one studio willing to give me a shot teaching</li>
<li>created a studio space and made lots of beautiful scarves</li>
<li>camped in the Black Hills of South Dakota</li>
<li>attended four art shows, at which my sales were dismal</li>
<li>figured out what a gift it is to live near extended family</li>
<li>watched Mark return to a happier frame of mind</li>
<li>learned how to pull shots and pour latte art</li>
<li>hosted Michigan friends on assorted trips through the Twin Cities</li>
<li>adopted a dog (a beautiful Italian Greagle)</li>
<li>seen my daughter branch out in ways we had only hoped might happen with a move</li>
<li>cheered on my son as he discovered a new passion for swimming</li>
<li>realized how deep friendships can run and how tentative it is starting new ones</li>
</ul>One of my scattered-throughout-the-globe friends wrote <a href="http://3xpractice.blogspot.com/">a piece</a> that is so very beautiful about resolutions and taking leaps and falling and starting over. This is what it has felt like. Grand and abysmal; barely functioning and laying so much groundwork; knowing I am in the right place but not quite feeling at home. Staying in touch with old friends helps and hinders. I need to move forward; I get stuck looking back. Love from my old friends inspires and sustains and saddens. Finding new friends is harder each time I move. But here I am, looking at 2012, ready to start tackling that list of Ways To Feel Like I Live Here. One item at a time. <br />
<br />
<ul><li>Follow up on people's offers: coffee, introductions, job ideas</li>
<li>Set aside a few days to finally nail down all our health care providers</li>
<li>Keep walking the dog in the big park, looking for the elusive albino squirrel</li>
<li>Practice yoga</li>
<li>Try felting a tallit</li>
<li>Create a more structured approach to Woolynns</li>
<li>Research local art fairs based upon recommendations received this fall</li>
<li>Explore our new home state in new ways each month (arboretum, Fringe festival, etc)</li>
<li>Be willing to drop a few balls</li>
</ul>Here's to a new year filled with taking leaps, falling, and starting over. <br />
Happy 2012!Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-42709985467248612302011-09-16T05:56:00.000-07:002011-09-16T05:56:01.955-07:00Four-Shot RobMoving took a toll on my income. It was clear that our family finances required me getting a part-time job of other sorts with actual money coming in. I am very capable and intelligent, but my actual work experience is not going to get me serious money in the job market. Having been an established yoga teacher for over a decade in MI, I am now unheard of with too few students and too few classes. And who wants a 45-yr-old chorus gypsy if she can't really dance anymore? <br />
<br />
Through my son's baseball team, I met Deb, the owner of a brand new local coffee shop. As of two weeks ago, I became a barista at <a href="http://www.westsideperk.com/">West Side Perk</a>. Back in June, when the shop was about to open, Deb informed me that the shop would be featuring local artists' work and if I had anything to display, I should let her know. Which got me started working on small felt paintings this summer.<br />
<br />
With my thoughts full of coffee, I made a brief sketch and then fleshed it out in detail in wool.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqoVT09IAhL8qb22gM2VsjDe6ysiAZ5p3sNrhnUgVOBgfmKK5xBUE9dtMnleA7OFMtP_6r1W2m73GgViZNQ7LSDR34vMN_OqsCdYscRtFiio4PavS-rRMH0YonCRZnTj79ZUi2cM3E4B7/s1600/IMG_0618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqoVT09IAhL8qb22gM2VsjDe6ysiAZ5p3sNrhnUgVOBgfmKK5xBUE9dtMnleA7OFMtP_6r1W2m73GgViZNQ7LSDR34vMN_OqsCdYscRtFiio4PavS-rRMH0YonCRZnTj79ZUi2cM3E4B7/s320/IMG_0618.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7HXCL8MsBgXp4il93iWU_xv-ZOYPfs6j8bipWFPIudVDRiuyA1puOmjS7lAJLkeO-QUQRcmsNUCmOBOwEqNOD3SG05IzVtnmn6HBpYB9UdXuILRnzF4NTVW4dz0kqRhxDP8LGibu7qGO/s1600/IMG_0620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7HXCL8MsBgXp4il93iWU_xv-ZOYPfs6j8bipWFPIudVDRiuyA1puOmjS7lAJLkeO-QUQRcmsNUCmOBOwEqNOD3SG05IzVtnmn6HBpYB9UdXuILRnzF4NTVW4dz0kqRhxDP8LGibu7qGO/s320/IMG_0620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then came the usual felting. Wet, soap, roll, rub. You know. But what I ended up with was far from pleasing. The wool wasn't evenly distributed so areas shrunk at different rates, the entire piece pulled awkwardly in different directions. I had a completely different being on my hands. Still vibrant and interesting, but not working as a single painting. I cut apart the pieces. I was thinking they could be a set of coasters, but the time and materials make them way too expensive even at wholesale pricing. Now I'm working on figuring out how to mount them individually. I'll keep them a set, but a set of four that can be rearranged however the lucky owner chooses. I'm calling it Four-Shot Rob, in honor of one of the regulars at the coffee shop. Guess why we call him that?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPReCPv9ncHzHJM7ljuXWddLeFJmIpIiQhxHNpv1YBXm25Ex2w3TVJVllYGwTcHZ-puuMZ6QUJcPUGp5VtT0Y0FNmzW67JG_0-lsxIXtNM9Y11rMfjRzYbk3GqMBOmopnqgS8uXKv7Oma/s1600/IMG_0983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPReCPv9ncHzHJM7ljuXWddLeFJmIpIiQhxHNpv1YBXm25Ex2w3TVJVllYGwTcHZ-puuMZ6QUJcPUGp5VtT0Y0FNmzW67JG_0-lsxIXtNM9Y11rMfjRzYbk3GqMBOmopnqgS8uXKv7Oma/s320/IMG_0983.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-28958685925389479902011-09-06T09:46:00.000-07:002011-09-06T09:46:48.849-07:00The Shawl That Had Its Own IdeasSchool has resumed for the year and I can devote more time to felting and less time to schlepping. This is not to say I've done nothing all summer, wool-wise. I just haven't blogged about any of it. So let this first post-summer blog be about an experiment, one of many I undertook this summer. <br />
<br />
Before I left MI last winter, I saw a woman in a gorgeous fisherman's knit shawl. At least I thought it was a shawl. I admired it and she let me really look at its construction. Not that I wanted to knit one like it; I wondered if it could be a template for a nuno-felted shawl. It was created like a fat T. One long piece that draped around the shoulders and hung down in front on either side, with a square attached that covered the back. I sketched it; I estimated the measurements. And then we moved and it had to wait. In July, I finally pulled out the initial sketch. I cut two finished scarves and some patterned silk material I had. I chose wool and yarns I thought might work with the colors. And I started.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-ZcpjvrEPEVdh94D3VXo5I3zp_6pDYeiYuodW-u4JurHbNoGPXm9sp2YZIDOkFfuuB5kXStxLz-9VBfnzyBpWRLim02aAXr82PH_FxKYZFsVwZRinlg6tfv2DiU3fjPHiUlSQAqANVE1/s1600/IMG_0925.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-ZcpjvrEPEVdh94D3VXo5I3zp_6pDYeiYuodW-u4JurHbNoGPXm9sp2YZIDOkFfuuB5kXStxLz-9VBfnzyBpWRLim02aAXr82PH_FxKYZFsVwZRinlg6tfv2DiU3fjPHiUlSQAqANVE1/s320/IMG_0925.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQau84Nw-YcNRbDMGDsW3-BAM5MT3z1qg9mkO9qcmBrqJe2t-K43gJZMmBPWNGpbwlZZpGknxFAYkqkug7uxqzzj_nZZm-n23ZXfsLZVHMAynQJyBnI3Fmpj6pD87t0U1xca5NKVXZUs9/s1600/IMG_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQau84Nw-YcNRbDMGDsW3-BAM5MT3z1qg9mkO9qcmBrqJe2t-K43gJZMmBPWNGpbwlZZpGknxFAYkqkug7uxqzzj_nZZm-n23ZXfsLZVHMAynQJyBnI3Fmpj6pD87t0U1xca5NKVXZUs9/s320/IMG_0926.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC-2XT6ufTAejVUT4o1Dy1j-5TeWrc9AwLHMHEqfarT4T0PHoV0xMqG0EONruTzDpvLwsNAkOaDffX-efCdcBrD1YMPEEqcjqO49ajM-3q3996Wd-dPjWrb11lhzst43h0vBy7Lh1jcfJ/s1600/IMG_0929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC-2XT6ufTAejVUT4o1Dy1j-5TeWrc9AwLHMHEqfarT4T0PHoV0xMqG0EONruTzDpvLwsNAkOaDffX-efCdcBrD1YMPEEqcjqO49ajM-3q3996Wd-dPjWrb11lhzst43h0vBy7Lh1jcfJ/s320/IMG_0929.jpg" width="320" /></a>The colors felt like autumn and fire and molten lava and turning leaves. I layed strips of chestnut wool to create seams and to add design elements on top of the silk. I thought I would use red and burgundy yarns in the process, but as I continued, the work changed. A variegated brown yarn with specks of green and gold and orange got added. Wisps of merino wool in colors of fire joined the design.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpigtoCwto6ucqgpG6NaIRu3nnFMGbtQLB-MZ8p50D-7ztxWwiqlFLJ5BirEBuV8VD52JE2EvHM_Y6wpGHYPf5XD7bhetBF-_1sLoQiCVc9xxqduUNPfmjQOFl_zypqOu5POQ07jiYJGuE/s1600/IMG_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpigtoCwto6ucqgpG6NaIRu3nnFMGbtQLB-MZ8p50D-7ztxWwiqlFLJ5BirEBuV8VD52JE2EvHM_Y6wpGHYPf5XD7bhetBF-_1sLoQiCVc9xxqduUNPfmjQOFl_zypqOu5POQ07jiYJGuE/s320/IMG_0928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I let the piece sit for several days before felting. I usually do this to give myself time to feel done with the design. When I was finally ready, it took several hours of wetting and rolling and rubbing and throwing. And when I was done, it did not hang at all like the shawl upon which I had modeled it. In fact, it became clear that it required a bit of hand sewing to become what it really was: a vest with a ruffled collar.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpyJcV8o0j0Pc4SpW4Itbj-bFdGF0Q_b61bCPDeIchOeZqV63edTcF_vhOvS-_l8UHb6AV1uM0koc5xDIy_F2EfCEArNXAyeAV-XokfpItlC2L73AxXTAZTTh9gK2IEYekzzn2DIVAYJP/s1600/IMG_0960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpyJcV8o0j0Pc4SpW4Itbj-bFdGF0Q_b61bCPDeIchOeZqV63edTcF_vhOvS-_l8UHb6AV1uM0koc5xDIy_F2EfCEArNXAyeAV-XokfpItlC2L73AxXTAZTTh9gK2IEYekzzn2DIVAYJP/s320/IMG_0960.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuypatH3O1AS3FufncZ1ZngK1ov1005axpBdTDU3g2fR5lSa16TMNkz6hKnHcoeYtf1g3x4fCTmz_c9kUsc-OsdcahHG_VEn-qriDvCnqfEwKZqA3eaEaXHhe8HANZoQyR84QsU_F7fKv/s1600/IMG_0961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuypatH3O1AS3FufncZ1ZngK1ov1005axpBdTDU3g2fR5lSa16TMNkz6hKnHcoeYtf1g3x4fCTmz_c9kUsc-OsdcahHG_VEn-qriDvCnqfEwKZqA3eaEaXHhe8HANZoQyR84QsU_F7fKv/s320/IMG_0961.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9dz1uFz7FOcLhDaYz1QyYIioJ7sDIsQYnppjIm_i17AQc3LHb5GT-rPgo-7KU2mCzkQoNtO_n7FpS2oTZgxuu1gp3z_ZiLA1sp-Q35fHBlDeoj8sxRDbm1_AJvqwb-QlHqurmYM1BMsO/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9dz1uFz7FOcLhDaYz1QyYIioJ7sDIsQYnppjIm_i17AQc3LHb5GT-rPgo-7KU2mCzkQoNtO_n7FpS2oTZgxuu1gp3z_ZiLA1sp-Q35fHBlDeoj8sxRDbm1_AJvqwb-QlHqurmYM1BMsO/s320/IMG_0962.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-64868489417338416422011-06-27T12:17:00.000-07:002011-06-27T12:17:51.809-07:00If I ever catch myself saying I'll just "crank out a couple scarves" again, I should just throw a bunch of silk and wool and yarn right into the garbage. <br />
<br />
Amazing, but true, I forget this is a real process with failure always a possibility. Just because I have made so many scarves, cockiness can derail me at any time. The first time I try a new design or style is usally the best effort. I take a lot of time laying everything out. I test for readiness frequently as I felt and full it. I don't try and cut corners on the time it takes. Now, I know that the current results of my recent lack of intention (other than to build inventory) still look fine. They are salvageable. But they also had large sections of wool that came off the silk. The designs weren't fulfilled. They are not what they should have been, could have been had I really set my heart and mind and hands on the act of creation, not cranking out goods.<br />
<br />
Lessons learned here? <br />
Set an intention.<br />
Be a beginner with each new piece.<br />
Be present.<br />
Do the work.<br />
<br />
Sounds like what I teach in yoga class.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-49286415798757932852011-06-16T12:29:00.000-07:002011-06-16T12:30:27.018-07:00It's more fun to be the childSummer break.<br />
No school.<br />
Baseball games 5 - 10 times a week, plus practices.<br />
Morning rehearsals for musical.<br />
Two one-week volleyball camps.<br />
One one-week sewing camp.<br />
<br />
Somewhere in between schlepping, cooking meals at odd times, laundry, grocery shopping, and my summer teaching schedule, I am supposed to be making art?<br />
<br />
Right.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-9814670637945324342011-06-04T12:49:00.000-07:002011-06-04T12:49:46.569-07:00BeneficialIn order to get the entirety of this post, you'll need to know a couple things. <br />
<br />
One, I used to be a performer, as in I made a living onstage in the theatre. I worked a lot and therefore met lots of other actors, many of whom went on to much bigger careers than mine. When you rehearse for weeks on end and then sit backcstage with folks night after night, you develop deep, short-lived friendships. It is very different from side-by-side office space.<br />
<br />
B, I have a family history of all sorts of reproductive cancers, including immediate relatives who had or have breast cancer.<br />
<br />
Third, personal finances preclude me from helping others out financially at this time.<br />
<br />
How is any of this relevant to Woolynns, you ask. It seems fate or god or timing has brought them all together recently. At my last two shows in Michigan, I had women tell me that my square scarves would make nice chemo scarves. I had a woman ask if I could teach a workshop on wet-felting to a group of cancer patients. (I was unable to do that due to time constraints.) A friend from high school started purchasing my scarves as gifts for his friends with breast cancer, including a commission this Spring. (He also chastised me for not having enough pink scarves in stock. I've been working on that.) And then there is <a href="http://www.suzannewhang.com/">Suzanne Whang</a>. <br />
<br />
Suzanne and I acted together sometime last century. We reconnected last year on Facebook. I had seen her periodically on TV over the years as her star rose. (Go read her bio and you'll see what I mean.) This Winter she came out of the closet with her cancer diagnosis. She'd been keeping it hidden for nearly five years. Even with insurance and a good income, five years of health issues of this magnitude have wiped her out financially. Many friends in Los Angeles began having benefits in her honor to raise money for medical expenses. I wanted to help, but didn't have a penny to spare. That was when it hit me. I can hold my own benefit. Woolynns' Whang Fundraiser started on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolynns">my etsy shop</a> on June 1st. 15% of any online sales will go directly to defray medical expenses for Suzanne. It runs for two weeks, after which I will decide whether to continue it for the month or find my next benefit recipient. <br />
<br />
I know there are countless stories like Suzanne's. She is fortunate enough to have numerous friends who are coming to her aid. I consider myself lucky to be one of them, and I intend to create that sort of financial support for others who don't enjoy her large following as the years go by.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy940yTfCA73lnctBO0BvNfZ5wft9w492PTyP8m6y0mjbyWQoUEnVrvxfBYxaYxprj84K2R2qfYucc7dg971BnoAWYfD8JBTtGSxTj4BOpPAycdqhZFZ1jqeW5r25335IkS6jdzED0EDst/s1600/IMG_0709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy940yTfCA73lnctBO0BvNfZ5wft9w492PTyP8m6y0mjbyWQoUEnVrvxfBYxaYxprj84K2R2qfYucc7dg971BnoAWYfD8JBTtGSxTj4BOpPAycdqhZFZ1jqeW5r25335IkS6jdzED0EDst/s320/IMG_0709.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding to my pink inventory as directed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-78802987279026812492011-05-27T09:03:00.000-07:002011-05-27T09:03:26.667-07:00amateurs.Novice photographer meets never-modeled-but-sure-I'll-try former dancer. Some of the better results:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdq-8Wd_chyqMtkuhqLMtPzFvJ_JXYKdAbKs2xSOWVZkEzXpGsUXuHGnYWCweL3z6aGuN2LtH-CWmSrjkfkzUL084V9wUqgkZ6zgo2gnyQ-paxIP-PAec3lvPN3kch7REcCIJimEB_tF9/s1600/IMG_0760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdq-8Wd_chyqMtkuhqLMtPzFvJ_JXYKdAbKs2xSOWVZkEzXpGsUXuHGnYWCweL3z6aGuN2LtH-CWmSrjkfkzUL084V9wUqgkZ6zgo2gnyQ-paxIP-PAec3lvPN3kch7REcCIJimEB_tF9/s320/IMG_0760.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeXhJqfxTnsjt-Ng5LTQNuyGY9rjpd4JIB1TvFu6-BoVQauKXcPE4Xa35d67I4EZFs1I3k_y0u-GbJmU4cuw-oC1ts6toBM1zUoiDJ6EVlJa3IGxkWPSequr03ZkIgk6vwbQJ3N0c7R82/s1600/IMG_0726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeXhJqfxTnsjt-Ng5LTQNuyGY9rjpd4JIB1TvFu6-BoVQauKXcPE4Xa35d67I4EZFs1I3k_y0u-GbJmU4cuw-oC1ts6toBM1zUoiDJ6EVlJa3IGxkWPSequr03ZkIgk6vwbQJ3N0c7R82/s320/IMG_0726.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6_PogT1uVRyXjrx2-ceOGHKQxXyzRIRX41SSOs0EtBz2VRbKpDg7EbQM24cSh9dplwvy2LGONS1-QY5I_8Y1KxcnsYlVnSsg-WF2vwTufi5REvxundL3HAkI9PSKnehQ75UUS4ufeHtl/s1600/IMG_0742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6_PogT1uVRyXjrx2-ceOGHKQxXyzRIRX41SSOs0EtBz2VRbKpDg7EbQM24cSh9dplwvy2LGONS1-QY5I_8Y1KxcnsYlVnSsg-WF2vwTufi5REvxundL3HAkI9PSKnehQ75UUS4ufeHtl/s320/IMG_0742.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QfxugBodj0HO_YGflHkizRdeD602bTPLyH-vMbjD6KgV8gaqjrbBGys3jOg-xSCYhovmFnFxI7-5QwoDqBSsZ2OtHLSg9t0QWDWEEA4RLlSblm4T2Vi8RpB7lWwfofvabVRgdDRRPzTG/s1600/IMG_0754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QfxugBodj0HO_YGflHkizRdeD602bTPLyH-vMbjD6KgV8gaqjrbBGys3jOg-xSCYhovmFnFxI7-5QwoDqBSsZ2OtHLSg9t0QWDWEEA4RLlSblm4T2Vi8RpB7lWwfofvabVRgdDRRPzTG/s320/IMG_0754.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-64213869856227669892011-05-20T11:42:00.000-07:002011-05-20T11:42:32.913-07:00Looking for MelmacThe Bloomington citywide garage sale is going on right now. I was shopping for plastic plates and cups and flatware for this summer's beach outings. I was more than successful at that, but I had some good Woolynns finds, too. Several skeins of ribbon yarns at one sale started me off.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC7F6MdIZQaGIYk8LSIGbUSvE1tTEu08qDNozVH_iThBldFVuQ1rGErEONHS7ZUGtbIAO9P61A8_h2MvKVTOVaI5XAPbWB0n31lBf8F5r-PLU8N_i3U77qO-xWi-PAjn5HV3ri4TX5fGR/s1600/IMG_0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC7F6MdIZQaGIYk8LSIGbUSvE1tTEu08qDNozVH_iThBldFVuQ1rGErEONHS7ZUGtbIAO9P61A8_h2MvKVTOVaI5XAPbWB0n31lBf8F5r-PLU8N_i3U77qO-xWi-PAjn5HV3ri4TX5fGR/s320/IMG_0701.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But then, the really good find. First, you have to know that last night I began laying out wool on a hand-dyed piece of cotton scrim in beautiful shades of gold. I picked merino wool in copper, yellow, fuschia, and violet. And then I got stuck with where to go with it. But this morning, I came across this wool yarn in all the right colors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTRwJmM-TF0_OCY8puFcODjXoQAbLD9n6rUcTO3jU6jr058aDvKVAdniRVovDDxgaq-Pxfbeqpsof8RNP8dkasfLvaw5rXRE2Lyfx_BOzeMelb296S-l2gCaQcAMb2NwO8M1keXXOdABe/s1600/IMG_0700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTRwJmM-TF0_OCY8puFcODjXoQAbLD9n6rUcTO3jU6jr058aDvKVAdniRVovDDxgaq-Pxfbeqpsof8RNP8dkasfLvaw5rXRE2Lyfx_BOzeMelb296S-l2gCaQcAMb2NwO8M1keXXOdABe/s320/IMG_0700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1D26fdsd2ScoGX_4YyQhnM2prBVnbBmMdqXfTr3vW1_87NY1HHFCzsleUTYrCfojWF6WVbc-W5m4Tp8-4PEfc5fbzGJUUXoOcxS722ejnflHgp01Ii9V0eiuoT8JujVfB0IDeL7PNrnP/s1600/IMG_0699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1D26fdsd2ScoGX_4YyQhnM2prBVnbBmMdqXfTr3vW1_87NY1HHFCzsleUTYrCfojWF6WVbc-W5m4Tp8-4PEfc5fbzGJUUXoOcxS722ejnflHgp01Ii9V0eiuoT8JujVfB0IDeL7PNrnP/s320/IMG_0699.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cannot wait to get back to laying this out.</div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-59344328635485679732011-05-19T06:17:00.000-07:002011-05-19T06:20:28.401-07:00Preview part I or Shooting Heads and ShouldersHere's a taste of what will be listed on etsy soon. (The photo shoot with a real live person, and all the new big wraps, had to be postponed.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ENdtpKyE3doE9UQxOV4BPe8R2RQGlwkY_bwr-O6knM2rvJ0uSD08TFC9dOJ4A1nrrjMfGU0xVoqZ4Wa4p0UjUk6y8ymVU4DjptGflNzqrYLfVxvmQ7aLh4Ug9DIiOt57bTbv1b00UYpM/s1600/IMG_0644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ENdtpKyE3doE9UQxOV4BPe8R2RQGlwkY_bwr-O6knM2rvJ0uSD08TFC9dOJ4A1nrrjMfGU0xVoqZ4Wa4p0UjUk6y8ymVU4DjptGflNzqrYLfVxvmQ7aLh4Ug9DIiOt57bTbv1b00UYpM/s320/IMG_0644.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tried for a cobweb scarf. Not how it turned out, but still lovely.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWVnpFDIMXlsfXulUuTu7QeJDHg1tCP4yLhHVG_SmpOmJm6mlW7dQKBjSvsCT70Yt7T2m8wEYrDDkFEB_VTxOR_e-vU2ffGQ-aUXpL31pxqPce8S1gDUoC9JiGXdTQ6_gPaDilUMvDC3n/s1600/IMG_0655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWVnpFDIMXlsfXulUuTu7QeJDHg1tCP4yLhHVG_SmpOmJm6mlW7dQKBjSvsCT70Yt7T2m8wEYrDDkFEB_VTxOR_e-vU2ffGQ-aUXpL31pxqPce8S1gDUoC9JiGXdTQ6_gPaDilUMvDC3n/s320/IMG_0655.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subtle Spring</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RW1rV0w5dfvmSrhyhf2JHGEhSzHftRuWhfwaeOUfracqaAfS8ttHMICPZ6s9uxhPqnQRvy7LD2EyC0HMvXYNeOXXWNb1Wqo-UM7q0Dh2Ib5BXmy4zfSHCH1vEbECSNe2tA3skERH_x-T/s1600/IMG_0661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RW1rV0w5dfvmSrhyhf2JHGEhSzHftRuWhfwaeOUfracqaAfS8ttHMICPZ6s9uxhPqnQRvy7LD2EyC0HMvXYNeOXXWNb1Wqo-UM7q0Dh2Ib5BXmy4zfSHCH1vEbECSNe2tA3skERH_x-T/s320/IMG_0661.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Own</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnDUI3GTBGS4AHFhsjyisIc-tr1z5paCyRjQDF6aDcxYigygM3bZqtJz-hUSlpNuqO2Ix_Uad1pnkUPWWKILZ2LROHXV9JO0CsR4TDSkAwlAi5jYFsjj3jM-W7liqRMvrLDz4kA6n9zlw/s1600/IMG_0667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnDUI3GTBGS4AHFhsjyisIc-tr1z5paCyRjQDF6aDcxYigygM3bZqtJz-hUSlpNuqO2Ix_Uad1pnkUPWWKILZ2LROHXV9JO0CsR4TDSkAwlAi5jYFsjj3jM-W7liqRMvrLDz4kA6n9zlw/s320/IMG_0667.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any name ideas? I love this. It leaves me speechless.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTc35Xzr9mZqJrKxE4qQzjrXxb9kkHgiFYU3a5w9m4JFXd7CRRg1XFz6r1YtQyUghSe1zIhnfNmfjbHEgeh62pxcROaY-sGFidiMe4isjCRXPYQXFFauBlOur6RxQexmRckbqGfQuL34X/s1600/IMG_0672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTc35Xzr9mZqJrKxE4qQzjrXxb9kkHgiFYU3a5w9m4JFXd7CRRg1XFz6r1YtQyUghSe1zIhnfNmfjbHEgeh62pxcROaY-sGFidiMe4isjCRXPYQXFFauBlOur6RxQexmRckbqGfQuL34X/s320/IMG_0672.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of "Speechless"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy55qoE6LZeZWmaxe-keHlhuFJ427OhOy-Rd8DcfX7W8yTpPSC3MCWJ6W51OmUh8UMnoUPzZ95kjQXejXD3zknx1-aNfJTK3b52xjYI_txjnYwa-_gDy2c7exJ3C-bYg8DOvSgwcIkk6HC/s1600/IMG_0674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy55qoE6LZeZWmaxe-keHlhuFJ427OhOy-Rd8DcfX7W8yTpPSC3MCWJ6W51OmUh8UMnoUPzZ95kjQXejXD3zknx1-aNfJTK3b52xjYI_txjnYwa-_gDy2c7exJ3C-bYg8DOvSgwcIkk6HC/s320/IMG_0674.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sepia</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrMgXoJwFbbqBawKyDkC-bXIqXDfsIKP7_MSh8yaeWkkQ2rtdDa1q2ZCxE2jEWSy0_z1xIV2JuE8tvA-VSmpxzzc1P2da6pHRqVRytEzC3NyEhwl4DE7hX0eVAI7rQDHz1rCGT6fXmpTU/s1600/IMG_0682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrMgXoJwFbbqBawKyDkC-bXIqXDfsIKP7_MSh8yaeWkkQ2rtdDa1q2ZCxE2jEWSy0_z1xIV2JuE8tvA-VSmpxzzc1P2da6pHRqVRytEzC3NyEhwl4DE7hX0eVAI7rQDHz1rCGT6fXmpTU/s320/IMG_0682.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is on pale green hand-dyed gauze. (I didn't dye it.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-62882070327493768382011-05-10T18:18:00.000-07:002011-05-10T18:26:44.576-07:00Spiritual Wool-gathering Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was told white, mostly white. I showed a sketch to my sister-in-law and she approved the simple floral design on the white background. I laid the wool very thinly, entirely covering the white silk chiffon so it would shrink but remain fairly flat. And it looked beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34xzmD2GWb92JRCAOZjsS8jey6dT7TpIrqjLNkM9lnXDpQRCYO_ilYQ3j4GczvZotvfvZei-FFYdAqG8SxmLJYETcab8-Ig_4Bl5OVO63a5ygovrlvlWda9_wbtcVlosiyiyXU1MIMxjn/s1600/IMG_0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34xzmD2GWb92JRCAOZjsS8jey6dT7TpIrqjLNkM9lnXDpQRCYO_ilYQ3j4GczvZotvfvZei-FFYdAqG8SxmLJYETcab8-Ig_4Bl5OVO63a5ygovrlvlWda9_wbtcVlosiyiyXU1MIMxjn/s200/IMG_0590.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyArC82XVIX0eerof8DGB0_gfNaFVCKQBJsJnE4Q51oZUIzFfuX6Ei3kPkz8ojUV22_GTpvKGhJr-omMveI3GqB3MF6BooyXpH3yYWYUJQafWQbtnddmOIoaWr9RKbVfLR6xgVlD9EfpUU/s1600/IMG_0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyArC82XVIX0eerof8DGB0_gfNaFVCKQBJsJnE4Q51oZUIzFfuX6Ei3kPkz8ojUV22_GTpvKGhJr-omMveI3GqB3MF6BooyXpH3yYWYUJQafWQbtnddmOIoaWr9RKbVfLR6xgVlD9EfpUU/s200/IMG_0592.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I felted it. It was still beautiful, but my 90" piece was now 53" long. Too short for a clergy stole.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2l0mFuFeO73dTLi0cwsXv7zgwUeEoybTIEPdYKqehbaDFKIu33SeNSGq4IP73jV9TX4gyG_nkZLCs2KZNzE6gQjN7Zqt_ol2JJ5ALS_k8e4A18Pd8mK4q0h5YfmHAAgRvF9_MRPMGXdo/s1600/IMG_0606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2l0mFuFeO73dTLi0cwsXv7zgwUeEoybTIEPdYKqehbaDFKIu33SeNSGq4IP73jV9TX4gyG_nkZLCs2KZNzE6gQjN7Zqt_ol2JJ5ALS_k8e4A18Pd8mK4q0h5YfmHAAgRvF9_MRPMGXdo/s320/IMG_0606.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So I'm trying again. Instead of one long piece, it is two pieces side by side with additional chiffon cut into a curved neckline. Same design. Much more white. I'll felt it tomorrow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFhZEe7aMq7EH4qVVu00WvOAnnm8Qy5K-cF8DOkmubLEt2HyLIOHXZeureFCwKXQ0Zq4aHYzhso4Fal16TkikhPngPrGCViOCTmwNFuXzHjHNBUBBiNhFckXmXeNJA7rIRcBpiNph7j2M/s1600/IMG_0614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFhZEe7aMq7EH4qVVu00WvOAnnm8Qy5K-cF8DOkmubLEt2HyLIOHXZeureFCwKXQ0Zq4aHYzhso4Fal16TkikhPngPrGCViOCTmwNFuXzHjHNBUBBiNhFckXmXeNJA7rIRcBpiNph7j2M/s320/IMG_0614.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-56570264545508449722011-05-02T07:43:00.000-07:002011-05-02T07:43:24.424-07:00Spiritual wool-gatheringArt and religion. A longstanding combination. I've been asked to venture into felting prayer shawls by my rabbi. The idea appeals. I did some homework and learned that there is a prayer to be said and detailed instructions for tying off knots in the four corners. I have a few designs in my sketchbook. But the first actual commission to come my way that mixes religion and art is for a minister's stole. A friend of my sister-in-law is about to become a pastor. Different homework teaches me different measurements, no prescribed prayer or blessing. We have settled on a design. My requirement for myself is that I do not create without having the right mindset. This piece will be for sacred work. It doesn't matter that it is not my religion. Sacred, spiritual, blessed. Find that space in my heart and in my soul. <br />
Meditate.<br />
Pray.<br />
Felt.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-44033755972618318312011-04-21T13:01:00.000-07:002011-04-21T13:01:16.359-07:00CrazyBack in Michigan, accessory stores would ask to sell my scarves, but not much ever sold when I tried to do that. MaryLiz, the owner of <a href="http://leonandlulu.com/">Leon & Lulu's</a>, which is about the coolest store in the world, would hold artists' markets four times a year. I did several and always sold a lot of stuff. I asked her whether she would ever consider carrying Woolynns and she very honestly said no. She said part of why my things sell is I am there with them. I explain the nuno felting process (thus the prices) to people. I encourage them to buy the right piece for them, not the most expensive. MaryLiz explained, rightly, that without that added attention, most people would look at the tag and walk away. In her giant store, that is likely what would have happened. <br />
<br />
I thought about her words often. It may have been the best business advice I could have received. So when looking for places in the Twin Cities, I have been looking first for stores selling locally designed clothing. Then I need to meet the owners and see if they really sell the pieces or just work the cash register. I need to see how large the space is. I have been doing my homework and I am pleased to introduce the first shop carrying Woolynns here in MN.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.susanmetzgerfd.com/">C'est Fou</a> is in one of several renovated houses on Grand Ave in St. Paul. It is part of a wonderful shopping district with independent businesses, restaurants, bakeries, etc. The owner of C'est Fou is Susan Metzger. She designs all the clothing and includes alterations in her prices. You will not leave her shop in something that doesn't fit you perfectly. All the accessories are by Minnesota artisans. The day I brought some pieces over for her to check out, she found herself unexpectedly busy with two women who were going to Scotland this summer and wanted a few new outfits, clothes that would travel well and weren't from a department store. A little something special, in other words. Susan allowed them time to browse, but once they began trying things on, she showed each one how a little tuck here or there could change the entire drape. She pulled sandals out from her shoe store so the women could envision summer (never mind that it was 30 degrees out for a high that cold April day). She added belts, necklaces, offered to change a sleeve. In short, she was clearly there to make these women look good, not to make a big sale. Exactly what MaryLiz was telling me I did for Woolynns.<br />
<br />
I left seven scarves and three bags at C'est Fou last week. Susan says that they already get much attention from customers. The shop certainly shows them off well, and they are definitely being seen by a new market. It is all I could ask for so soon after landing here in the Twin Cities.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-67344925980608813402011-04-09T12:56:00.000-07:002011-04-09T13:11:00.155-07:00All in a couple days' work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4fnkgAqXApsi4T2mG0sAVkjSt0ZNZGZRVj43TGxj82B7vXJgroBsbXBm1hBaYWDWX1B2k_JY70h70k6I-vJFpnuJoCeJ_6NseQ-DsgzJTE9MIbZyTzRDvpPctaObLlHkKA4LhIpqJu2c/s1600/IMG_0535.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4fnkgAqXApsi4T2mG0sAVkjSt0ZNZGZRVj43TGxj82B7vXJgroBsbXBm1hBaYWDWX1B2k_JY70h70k6I-vJFpnuJoCeJ_6NseQ-DsgzJTE9MIbZyTzRDvpPctaObLlHkKA4LhIpqJu2c/s320/IMG_0535.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used to keep my sketches and inspirations in a drawer. That will no longer do. A trip to IKEA, a power drill and some anchors (and some culling of scraps that I no longer remember why I kept), and now I have an idea board on the wall my work table faces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkyNcm6eIJwkczyDzbI5_kv3IX6rB7N7AiVn1xF24v3Fm6OO_DcCSaof4F_HkRmgirypDCaxe7_WQOuIRh4YTYS867wx2_JDKxDmmYdbpzMHtSkvPO4aGKiU8Kt4-AYNrgBqiVby-Ad8G/s1600/IMG_0523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkyNcm6eIJwkczyDzbI5_kv3IX6rB7N7AiVn1xF24v3Fm6OO_DcCSaof4F_HkRmgirypDCaxe7_WQOuIRh4YTYS867wx2_JDKxDmmYdbpzMHtSkvPO4aGKiU8Kt4-AYNrgBqiVby-Ad8G/s320/IMG_0523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plastic floor covering from Lowe's and some indoor/outdoor duct tape and the carpeting is now protected from water. Finally, I set out some materials and start back to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZODbul3z-KIbM_eWM6tJgpdhfkfEdLe8DjZGcEDIkmQa_OMgYZikLPLKiFgnzNgsKMBM-zgeoF-y5sQ6fH6PF29n-qOASNp7zOJyi2sZn6882K2FfT2H4pb8WmtqkVrqE5o4KTRiGrpA/s1600/IMG_0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZODbul3z-KIbM_eWM6tJgpdhfkfEdLe8DjZGcEDIkmQa_OMgYZikLPLKiFgnzNgsKMBM-zgeoF-y5sQ6fH6PF29n-qOASNp7zOJyi2sZn6882K2FfT2H4pb8WmtqkVrqE5o4KTRiGrpA/s320/IMG_0525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtuIGMbjgB-4ss-APUQm65frizewFS7CoFAOIIB4HVYlQKk2gAexxEBFzpF3Wz-YLrrEqRtcVNYRCNDV9OzN6qJc7jbwuLmpyqgJhUXSs8THjqDv8yPGgns77EL3q5ThnqI-xkqaZSIPO/s1600/IMG_0524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtuIGMbjgB-4ss-APUQm65frizewFS7CoFAOIIB4HVYlQKk2gAexxEBFzpF3Wz-YLrrEqRtcVNYRCNDV9OzN6qJc7jbwuLmpyqgJhUXSs8THjqDv8yPGgns77EL3q5ThnqI-xkqaZSIPO/s320/IMG_0524.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmIXYv4LnTx846fVk3BlOzUsmIM3YvmT9CadfytV8SjsCG9lws0JlKPIf1U-67aTJx6u7O3FpkxbsyK3SSqKfNM0pKVurCwjdN9mO_q1ugzwIxtqtMY0v_4AkghMrleMl7PVp8rvhVzIi/s1600/IMG_0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmIXYv4LnTx846fVk3BlOzUsmIM3YvmT9CadfytV8SjsCG9lws0JlKPIf1U-67aTJx6u7O3FpkxbsyK3SSqKfNM0pKVurCwjdN9mO_q1ugzwIxtqtMY0v_4AkghMrleMl7PVp8rvhVzIi/s320/IMG_0527.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTJw-xpwwvNZRr0LXcwZSwAGfEjzdaK5bE2SpYfoI2FbcEzo_deSq8UiGf-VSWFA7JLjmrAy33Ld8mF_5AXA5mH_Mjm1TJzsIiipEtasG0Fr_Ey3HMlCuB9laxNICOd2iod-U-WOss_7z/s1600/IMG_0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTJw-xpwwvNZRr0LXcwZSwAGfEjzdaK5bE2SpYfoI2FbcEzo_deSq8UiGf-VSWFA7JLjmrAy33Ld8mF_5AXA5mH_Mjm1TJzsIiipEtasG0Fr_Ey3HMlCuB9laxNICOd2iod-U-WOss_7z/s320/IMG_0526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The skinny forest is not an original idea. Sometimes, to move into a new skill (felt painting here), I take someone else's design and see if I can make it in wool. This was from a photo of a mass-produced painting for sale in a catalog. Don't worry. I won't sell it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qmiffjhR4b_vVPDvgkOxSxKRLxVY33XsLdQRC5vU25kMOGqryfNLY6UGXhii3bTLeIiYnSgZy3qxlhrhWH0SK3lF3GX0nDgeuLpEHgGRLmSoGpfb7emHEvA8lB1fd0Lz7QdqimK84gI8/s1600/IMG_0528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qmiffjhR4b_vVPDvgkOxSxKRLxVY33XsLdQRC5vU25kMOGqryfNLY6UGXhii3bTLeIiYnSgZy3qxlhrhWH0SK3lF3GX0nDgeuLpEHgGRLmSoGpfb7emHEvA8lB1fd0Lz7QdqimK84gI8/s320/IMG_0528.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drip dry after felting. It is a good thing I know by now not to judge them when still wet. They are never as nice when you first hang them up to dry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHuMP-Rre1566wmBsyucSIOe4uVkpEvJEu-9V1sxN2T0OV51ViFgobSI27xUCef17cex910XXdX22TJBMhIo0CCV81bmi6EVn18sdh1ZbO7XX4bYhDyrLVtlw1nkXRlaSkAt9MO7_oR-2/s1600/IMG_0529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHuMP-Rre1566wmBsyucSIOe4uVkpEvJEu-9V1sxN2T0OV51ViFgobSI27xUCef17cex910XXdX22TJBMhIo0CCV81bmi6EVn18sdh1ZbO7XX4bYhDyrLVtlw1nkXRlaSkAt9MO7_oR-2/s320/IMG_0529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A crinkle scarf trying to push its way toward a muted Spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxJYtan_5g3F9AbLE4mN9U0-N2se9rsTlqOpQMo47KmYmc-TiayCS0RbLLhOnzfbvpQN5OH-DnHEx3Vy5XGCpPKrg38DMfxHAO5NehrfQ0IWEVwBEXad8WREZI3HbwHKquW_Ah7DA5Uiz/s1600/IMG_0533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxJYtan_5g3F9AbLE4mN9U0-N2se9rsTlqOpQMo47KmYmc-TiayCS0RbLLhOnzfbvpQN5OH-DnHEx3Vy5XGCpPKrg38DMfxHAO5NehrfQ0IWEVwBEXad8WREZI3HbwHKquW_Ah7DA5Uiz/s320/IMG_0533.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yarn and wool become a scarf, a necklace, a belt. Your call.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoJXgMCJnKyNDLluJkdUyPh1zgCcn6ubEDFRi8y4sl7Oa3lMPSi3HjTLtZWTcZmF6uLsYOwAdaPoj3f-f-R1x734oyOBsk0KUf7G6y67PrBNU_jTnV8WGVUasGOq4omsG_me4ja6MxSJb/s1600/IMG_0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoJXgMCJnKyNDLluJkdUyPh1zgCcn6ubEDFRi8y4sl7Oa3lMPSi3HjTLtZWTcZmF6uLsYOwAdaPoj3f-f-R1x734oyOBsk0KUf7G6y67PrBNU_jTnV8WGVUasGOq4omsG_me4ja6MxSJb/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Skinny Forest felt painting for my studio.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It feels really good to be back at something like normal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-28772829105901027072011-04-03T14:01:00.000-07:002011-04-03T14:01:35.146-07:00Social Being<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am waiting for inertia, like Elvis, to leave the building. Previous moves always included a failsafe way to find a daily community. College, work, mothering-related groups, children's schools. This one is harder. I don't know my children's schoolmates parents since we are no longer at a small private school. I am having a slow time finding work teaching yoga. I don't have any work other than the self-directed kind: unpack, rearrange, help children settle in, locate the necessities of living in a new place (schools, library, grocery stores, medical providers, etc.). Oh, and felting, which is also solitary and self-directed. It isn't as though I didn't know this was coming, but living in reality is a bit more challenging than preparing for that reality. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the meantime, I found the </span><a href="http://www.textilecentermn.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Textile Center</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in St. Paul, getting lost more than once on the way. (Not knowing how to get places is my least favorite part of moving.) A beautiful space housing many classrooms for weaving, dyeing, sewing; a small studio currently housing an exhibit of art dolls (that were extraordinary); a library that was closed; offices; and a small shop. I browsed, picked up brochures for summer camps for my girl, and purchased something to dispel the inertia: a book called </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1000 Artisan Textiles</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (Quarry Press). From clothing to accessories to household goods to wall hangings to 3-dimensional art, it is a feast for the weary textile artist. Something to inspire and challenge. It has me ready to pull out the sewing machine and learn more about garment construction rather than continue plunging into seamless felted clothing without a basis for my attempts. It has me ready to try a felt painting. It has me ready to make another hat, another purse, a pillow, a bowl. In short, it is getting me interested in the days ahead.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Is it enough? Of course not. It isn't as though I am all alone. A friend of a friend took me out for a wonderful evening at the theatre. A couple of old friends (one from MI and one from high school) are also here, though I have yet to see them in person. And we have family here, too. But it is the daily community that I am wanting. I'm someone who knows her bank tellers by name, who chats with the other parents at a small school, who commiserates with the grocery cashier. I am a very social being. But it seems wool and silk are about to become my new best friends. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am more excited at the prospect than I would have expected. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hello, fiber.</span>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-42890654387510602722011-03-21T12:57:00.000-07:002011-03-21T14:11:59.199-07:00Getting it togetherHere it is in all its not very classy glory. (Mind you, I am posting these having just read a blog by Team EcoEtsy on <a href="http://blog.ecoetsy.com/2011/01/bus-tips-lori-keeping-it-all-organized/html">Keeping It All Organized</a>. I am nowhere near that. Yet.) My new Woolynns Studio has all the essentials so far. Big table, solar wrap, boot tray, buckets, wool, silk, yarn, a variety of heads, and a fresh paint job. All that is still missing is plastic under the table so I don't ruin the carpet. Notice the big window. I get to see outside while I work!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5_OCgxV0QhuyfPsddYVM_F6ZoXta57Pap-2YSZJOqxQ3t7PVHANYfAFmmV-6mdQxhiQD9ycxk6giA2By_QnHkkjRxVTwKMJDKP-6eJf2GFFoK0Whwd53TGnwKEr-zqCSuRwJ3fICVnYL/s1600/IMG_0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5_OCgxV0QhuyfPsddYVM_F6ZoXta57Pap-2YSZJOqxQ3t7PVHANYfAFmmV-6mdQxhiQD9ycxk6giA2By_QnHkkjRxVTwKMJDKP-6eJf2GFFoK0Whwd53TGnwKEr-zqCSuRwJ3fICVnYL/s200/IMG_0399.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heads on a ledge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzOlCCYtBdDoc3OdOyv9pQQ5zK23Rg5WpIQ4yRUKgGgaxB2Cri6Fv2ZIK6NXQYruA8yYd5egFw4OUeeKDeUrr3kZHmBGPiSGsGS_xr56f7j1XZM57LTgZn_fFXaMY8zcG1kCbJlQhYBkN/s1600/IMG_0401.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzOlCCYtBdDoc3OdOyv9pQQ5zK23Rg5WpIQ4yRUKgGgaxB2Cri6Fv2ZIK6NXQYruA8yYd5egFw4OUeeKDeUrr3kZHmBGPiSGsGS_xr56f7j1XZM57LTgZn_fFXaMY8zcG1kCbJlQhYBkN/s200/IMG_0401.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkam9sONOZK4mKjlIugfoPoJJuqcyCUS3KoTQ-kZ8XFJwwkZrj_FBXewFXr7tIXASNvQUhK6aKbpkBCephhhv4WcQ0FMvt4iKXJRUIYdQyav73eciueYbHspyZtRXS7NSD5f2t2efhGDRn/s1600/IMG_0397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkam9sONOZK4mKjlIugfoPoJJuqcyCUS3KoTQ-kZ8XFJwwkZrj_FBXewFXr7tIXASNvQUhK6aKbpkBCephhhv4WcQ0FMvt4iKXJRUIYdQyav73eciueYbHspyZtRXS7NSD5f2t2efhGDRn/s320/IMG_0397.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiber, fiber, everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8BVE7yv2PYobvtYw1gB16hODtJrYu5LVPzJV5tA2QrVgKSzBUium4kkb3N2abFYvODfSysp-83H2wHGsvZ7Ka7VQgoGWTfi3V1YXkBaikgsz6lZ2SSjvOhajWBhXUxe3HmuMyS0M20cv/s1600/IMG_0402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8BVE7yv2PYobvtYw1gB16hODtJrYu5LVPzJV5tA2QrVgKSzBUium4kkb3N2abFYvODfSysp-83H2wHGsvZ7Ka7VQgoGWTfi3V1YXkBaikgsz6lZ2SSjvOhajWBhXUxe3HmuMyS0M20cv/s320/IMG_0402.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The goddess of creativity and a laughing head to oversee my work</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-74431650498299357932011-03-09T09:15:00.000-08:002011-03-09T09:15:57.950-08:00The heads are out.Four mannequin heads and one neck and shoulders are unpacked. Boxes surround me, but far fewer today than last week when we unloaded the moving truck. After several years of creating in a cold basement with a halogen lamp brightening the concrete floor and walls and allowing me to see the actual colors of wool and silk, I now have a studio of my own. During the moving truck delay, we managed to paint both upstairs and down. There are windows lighting up my felting space. I have overhead lighting and I have heat. I also have carpeting, so I am playing with ways to protect the floor as I do my felting thing. If we weren't renting, I'd rip it out and put in cork flooring. But no. Must not destroy carpet with soapy water.<br />
<br />
We are still without internet. I sit at Starbucks, taking a break from unpacking, and use the connection here and sip a latte courtesy of one of several Starbucks gift cards we were given before we left Michigan. I want to post photos of my felting studio in its stages of readiness; poop brown paint and wood paneling becomes sunny yellow walls; boxes to the ceiling turn into shelves of bins containing wool and yarn and silk; heads appear on a built-in ledge archly overlooking the chaos as it settles into stability. Sadly my photos are on my desktop and I am blogging from a laptop. <br />
<br />
I have missed the deadlines for summer art fairs. Given the stress of this move, I'll have to accept that this is for the best. I already have a commission once I get my life in some sort of order. And I have so many sketches I want to bring to life. I can see the possibility of creating.<br />
<br />
Soon.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-89205942979644950792011-02-11T07:44:00.000-08:002011-02-11T07:44:00.655-08:00Art Night<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's ignore the fact that I am not comfortable teaching large groups of children. Let's pretend I didn't volunteer at a school to which my children do not and never did attend. And let's skip past the fact that I will be moving in less than two weeks and could have backed out of this gracefully. Last night I found myself at a local elementary school for their second annual Art Night. Lots of local artists and musicians of all kinds performing and creating ways for children to explore art and music. I was the felter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK928s3lMkt91w1T-LItvYAXR8g5GL7bDH-pNd2xUXD984KhluVNxsBFoQgajlUwR3v5PVXMCS6Hv20xe2EyR0pJICLzEAZ0pN2TYff2PX4UJ6EGoA4ea0SJBuBfHBhYJVnsUQNXmLb30Q/s1600/IMG_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK928s3lMkt91w1T-LItvYAXR8g5GL7bDH-pNd2xUXD984KhluVNxsBFoQgajlUwR3v5PVXMCS6Hv20xe2EyR0pJICLzEAZ0pN2TYff2PX4UJ6EGoA4ea0SJBuBfHBhYJVnsUQNXmLb30Q/s200/IMG_0278.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Simple, no?</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simple project:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Take two pieces of yarn, one of each color.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Make a twisty-twirly.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Roll it into a ball and tuck in the ends.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Put into a nylon stocking and dip in warm soapy water, squeezing and rolling and pressing until it starts to make a ball.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remove from stocking and continue rolling.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rinse.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">String on a piece of yarn.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Voila: Felted earth necklace.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seemed easy enough. Then I realized I was going to be doing this by myself? And keep all these children moving? And keep the dry table dry? And keep the needles out of little hands? At my daughter's Waldorf school, you can tell a child to make a twisty-twirly and they all know what that means. Many of them have felted. They all are comfortable with a needle if you thread it for them. This was a public school event where felting is probably still pretty foreign. Every step would need hands-on instruction.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And yet this blog is not about the challenge of the evening or even ultimately about felting. It is about my youngest, my Sophie girl. Both my children are artistic but it is Sophie who is passionate about it. She keeps journals of drawings. We have two boxes of her carefully wrapped sculptures ready for the move. And she loves felting. For the past few years, she has begged to help at art fairs with me. She loves to set up the displays. But the artist within her shares residency with the anxiety-ridden. At almost 10, Sophie is extremely uncomfortable in large groups, even if those groups are of people she knows. She has a terrible time speaking to grown ups. She can't leave my side to explore at a big event, not even to find the bathroom. Lest you think she is being manipulative, after these sorts of events she will often go home and throw up. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So when Sophie begged to be my helper last night, I was nervous, but she persisted. Figuring she could at least help children with the twisty-twirlys, I consented with great misgivings. Sophie and I unloaded my car of its bags of yarn, soap, pots, buckets and set up for the activity. She moved desks with me, laid out a large plastic tablecloth, and couldn't wait to take over the task of mixing slurry (a soap mixture) with warm water in containers. She separated all the yarn for stringing so they were easy to get. She suffered through a reception for the presenters (where she snarfed a brownie and an M&M cookie). And then she helped me teach our two high school student volunteers how to felt an earth ball. (The two unexpected helpers became essential to the evening and I was grateful to have them.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And They're Off! Sometimes in twos and threes, sometimes alone, sometimes in large groups, children arrived. Sophie and I and Kelly and Julie twisted yarn, rolled up balls, demonstrated the wet process, threaded needles, salvaged earth "pacmen," tied necklaces. We worked non-stop for two hours. At one point nearly twenty children were working. No break for a drink or bathroom visit possible. I realized Sophie was wearing the nylons on her arms at all times so as to grab a ball of yarn, peel the nylon off her arm and hand the thing back to its owner to take to the wet table. She emptied containers of cool water and remixed the slurry. She twisted and twirled. She checked children's progress. All without saying much of anything. Several more talkative children tried to ask her questions, but she would quietly smile and continue to help them with seldom a word. I am sure she was a real puzzle to many, but she was efficient and pleasant and had a great time. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When it was all over, Sophie helped clean up and carry everything back out to the car. I was exhausted, somewhat stressed, and yet again realized I should not work with large groups of children. But Sophie was joyous and telling me stories of this child or that. So I asked her if she thought the children had a good time. She said, "Yeah. Why?" I realized that if my terribly anxious child could find a way to have fun in what was not her element (crowds of strangers) by focusing on what </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> her element (felting and teaching other children), then maybe I could let go of my stress about the evening and find enjoyment in being the mother of this surprisingly determined girl.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dKr5UJR6p0z9wFQ7yYww1aKStkTKapDNbnl6-tc4kMKDJCflgn6_Sir28KZ4cHEuer9hAg059Kzvc2CEt3qCTf4rP97DbmWUoUfcfmBjnghTo9hVBFz1n1dN2K5-hw6nY-RUlu01oqxS/s1600/IMG_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were both starving when we got home. It was late and she needed to get to bed, but all her excitement had to come out finally and she talked non-stop as she got ready for bed. I was proud of her for finding a way to be there and be true to herself, and I could tell she was proud as well. After a quick sandwich and drink, it was bedtime. At 11:30, the inevitable "I don't feel good," followed by vomiting in bed, with all extra sheets packed for the move, of course. Instead of telling her no more helping, it's too hard on her, we talked about making sure any food after a big potentially stressful event is food that is easy on the stomach. And she once again wished she didn't experience stress this way. But she also was still happy to have gone. And I was happy she could be with me in a new way. I love my girl, but that doesn't mean my extroverted self always meshes easily with my introverted daughter. Last night, we both found out we could work together as partners. And it was beautiful, throw-up and all. Peace on earth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dKr5UJR6p0z9wFQ7yYww1aKStkTKapDNbnl6-tc4kMKDJCflgn6_Sir28KZ4cHEuer9hAg059Kzvc2CEt3qCTf4rP97DbmWUoUfcfmBjnghTo9hVBFz1n1dN2K5-hw6nY-RUlu01oqxS/s1600/IMG_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dKr5UJR6p0z9wFQ7yYww1aKStkTKapDNbnl6-tc4kMKDJCflgn6_Sir28KZ4cHEuer9hAg059Kzvc2CEt3qCTf4rP97DbmWUoUfcfmBjnghTo9hVBFz1n1dN2K5-hw6nY-RUlu01oqxS/s320/IMG_0275.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-85156947413725593942011-02-07T17:04:00.000-08:002011-02-07T17:04:56.745-08:00Two weeks and countingI took that marvelous thing called The First Sweater I Ever Knitted over to my friend Mary at <a href="http://www.skeinsonmain.com/">Skeins on Main</a>. Mary is a knitter beyond compare and she showed me how to steam and block TFSIEK into shape. Now I have a wonderful sweater to wear in my new abode in Minnesota. I think it will be my new version of a house coat, given how cold this winter has been. <br />
<br />
Moving proceeds. M found a house for us to rent in MN. Our current house has a buyer and is in the poorly named process of a short sale. We know what schools the children will attend. Two weeks and we go. How is it I've packed 97 boxes and there is still so much all around me in our house? Who put all this here?<br />
<br />
Phone calls with friends near and far, getting me ready, encouraging me. My dear friend KK is a few months ahead on this path of reinventing in a new locale. Her words of wisdom and sense of humor and empathy are a necessity. Thank god, she is a regular writer of email, and of her own blog <a href="http://3xpractice.blogspot.com/">Unterwegs</a>. My teacher/mentor/guide/heart KT told me she thinks my job in this lifetime is to reach as many people in as many ways possible as I can. She called me exceptional, and then we brainstormed ways to spread the kind of yoga we practice and teach, as well as figuring out what to do about all those other pursuits of mine.<br />
<br />
Feels like an all new adventure, but it is really a continuation of what I've always done. Introduce myself, my work. Find outlets for it. Meet people who enjoy it. Do more. Woolynns, yoga, music, theatre, parenting. The only new part will be the location and the people I encounter. And then that will make everything both new and the same. <br />
<br />
Exceptional. I am moved by the thought that KT thinks I am, but really, who I am just seems normal to me. I hope Minnesota thinks so too. Then we'll all be fine. And a new group of people will have healthier bodies and nice scarves.Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-63716790179813946102011-01-21T11:17:00.000-08:002011-01-21T11:17:18.415-08:00Minnesota ... BrrrrrrrAs I write this, it is 0 degrees in the Twin Cities. I am not there. Yet. It is a balmy 18 degrees in Michigan where I still live. Wind chill brings it closer to zero. I am prepping for our move, helped along by a cold snap here. I have found Handmade MN, a great blog by Minnesota etsy-ers. I am almost finished with my first ever sweater, which will get worn daily I'm thinking once we move. (It is creamy white wool, now knit into a short version of the Einstein coat for all you knitters. Photo coming upon completion.) The knitting is how I pass my time during those showings when I have to vamoose, or before my classes while I wait for students to show up so I can sign them in. It also helped pass the time on our 14 hour drive to MN over the holidays ... and then back again. All my wool roving and Woolynns paraphernalia has been boxed up, though the rest of the house awaits packing. I have so many ideas, I am bursting to felt something. That creativity will help on those first isolated days after we move. At least I hope it will. It has been a long time since I moved somewhere new and started over. But why do we have to start over in February?Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-56143839124775146062010-12-22T04:56:00.000-08:002010-12-22T04:56:59.645-08:00Change with a capital C<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last time I wrote, I was inspired to start creating seamless garments. Since then, I have done two holiday shows, had a Black Monday sale on Etsy, learned more about pricing retail vs. wholesale, and generated a list of all my new projects that is a mile long (and so exciting to contemplate making). And then the news we'd hoped for came.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My husband got a good job offer ... in Minnesota. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you don't know what living in Michigan is like right now, think grey and depressed. We'd been in a recession long before the housing crisis. I have watched so many friends lose jobs, or pick up the pieces when they survived a devastating layoff and had to take on their former colleagues' work for no additional pay. Savings starts depleting and the credit card debts still increase. Stress levels are high wherever you go. Because of that stress, my yoga classes are still well-attended. And somehow my scarves are still selling, but only to people for whom cutting back means not going skiing in Banff this year. But M's job has been untenable, and my work is not enough to keep us here. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a little over eight weeks, our family will uproot some pretty deep roots (we've been here over 12 years), and set some new roots in very cold soil near the Twin Cities. The children will be fine eventually. My husband is better and we haven't even gotten there yet. I am somewhere in between. My yoga career flourished here and I found a new calling working with fiber. I have a large community of support for both fields. I know I can start over in MN and it will come together over time. And best of all, we will finally be near a large contingent of family, both my husband's and mine. (My MIL has already started mentioning art fairs to try and get into this Spring and Summer.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anticipation mixed with sadness.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wanted</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a better job situation for M</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">economic improvement</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">new house</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">new schools</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">renewing old friendships</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">extended family nearby</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">meeting the yoga community</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">finding the local handmade community</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">great restaurants</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bluer skies (literally as well as figuratively)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Missing</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Waldorf community</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">yoga community</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">all my mamas and babies I've been blessed to help through that transition </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">friends</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">cousins</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">our shul and Rabbi </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Leon & Lulu</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Namaste yoga</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my teacher in Honor, MI</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When someone states a truth about you so obvious that you balk at its correctness, you know you need to work with your resistance. Long ago, my yoga teacher told me I don't like change. I thought about my life in theatre with several jobs a year. I thought about moving cross country more times than I can count on one hand. I though about my willingness to change colleges, change careers. I knew he was wrong, and I argued in my head with him for weeks after he said it. Then I realized he was right; I don't </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">like</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> change. But having done it all my life, I am good at it. I look at my deadline for packing this house up after M leaves to start work and I know I can do this. I look at starting over at 45 and I know I can do this. I look at my children and see how much help they will need leaving the only place they've ever known, and I know I can do this.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And after I'm done, I can pull that list of Woolynns projects out and start on that.</span>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472331462307129656.post-56711515096485576682010-11-08T07:52:00.000-08:002010-11-08T07:52:42.353-08:00SeamlessThe first felting workshop I took was creating a seamless purse. I remember Margarida explaining how we would use a resist and layer the wool roving around it. I also remember my mind balking at the explanation that there was "a front and a back to the inside and a front and a back to outside." Working three-dimensionally stumped me for a few moments and then, looking at a sample of a finished purse, suddenly it clicked. When I chose to make a second purse a month later, I told Margarida I wanted to put a pocket on the inside. She looked skeptical until I explained how I would do it. Once she saw that I grasped the process for construction, she let me do my thing. (I've been carrying this purse for almost three years now.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo1VuefyvsoBST0VbjPQjUkffc4c412PoycWCV_lnwsDwCLuQZE3jlgadqok6L_gb03POQ9ah7f-hYeAthvXvlt7YK_UIEby6ghqv5Cb7LwZ6PdoqDCLg5cS0vdgs6h72JBeVc0svRPGk/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo1VuefyvsoBST0VbjPQjUkffc4c412PoycWCV_lnwsDwCLuQZE3jlgadqok6L_gb03POQ9ah7f-hYeAthvXvlt7YK_UIEby6ghqv5Cb7LwZ6PdoqDCLg5cS0vdgs6h72JBeVc0svRPGk/s320/IMG_2462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purse on left is second effort; purse on right is first.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Since then, I have made a few more seamless purses, but have been content to mostly work with silk scarves and wraps. I have found that what interests me most in making a scarf is how it lays. Can I get the silk to become a shawl collar? If I lay the wool this direction, will it cinch in at the waist? Inceasingly, this has led me to look into making seamless clothing. The fiber artists I'm drawn to are doing long coats, little bolero jackets, dresses, vests, even theatrical costumes. I've been sketching out a dress and a skirt I want to make and I know I have the mechanics down generally. So it was time. As much as I want to make that skirt, I knew I had to start smaller. I decided on a vest. <br />
<br />
I took a sleeveless top from my closet and measured it. These projects shrink about 40 - 50% from the inital size of the design. So I added 40% to the length and width and to the armhole openings. I was so focused on the construction that once I placed the silk around the resist (a big piece of bubble wrap cut to size), I realized I had no design in mind. I rummaged through my wool and finally decided on a pattern of purples framed in black sort of like stained glass.<br />
<br />
Laying out the wool for the back side came first. I added yarns and wisps of silk hankie to offset the solid sections of wool colors. I have long learned that, once felted, mulitple colors can still look flat. Then I did a little wetting down and brief felting, so I could flip it and lay out the front of the vest. At this point I didn't know if it would remain whole and become a top, or if I would cut it and make it a vest.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfntKVohaVOqCC7vwlstpvEJv3xH5NnXQcZq6TV5frgWd_eKdDpryiJST-LtHo1fYZ3tuSY29jYrUdzG_Gsfhrng49RYANHsmg-7uY0sDwrF7KSj0wQJM2Gp6u92UgSthY9633Jk2vsMY/s1600/IMG_3321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfntKVohaVOqCC7vwlstpvEJv3xH5NnXQcZq6TV5frgWd_eKdDpryiJST-LtHo1fYZ3tuSY29jYrUdzG_Gsfhrng49RYANHsmg-7uY0sDwrF7KSj0wQJM2Gp6u92UgSthY9633Jk2vsMY/s320/IMG_3321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibi8lRuo32Xn1o3fb3MTdTjV-266kTrM4rWr74vHq0VArftx7XpvAMQfMqAFBxJv98Yx97l6AQclWrnlQNw1bkFAdjgt-L4iZ_C3vcijyg6N8fVbLSA1Bvr_YXI52lKPtQegauYV9XDXas/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibi8lRuo32Xn1o3fb3MTdTjV-266kTrM4rWr74vHq0VArftx7XpvAMQfMqAFBxJv98Yx97l6AQclWrnlQNw1bkFAdjgt-L4iZ_C3vcijyg6N8fVbLSA1Bvr_YXI52lKPtQegauYV9XDXas/s320/IMG_3322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I rolled it all up and rolled and rolled and rolled (periodically re-wetting it down and rolling from the other direction). Several hours later, I removed the resist and began fulling it. The rolling allows the wool fibers to migrate into each other forming a solid piece of fabric. The fulling is how it shrinks and becomes felt. I rubbed the entire vest by hand against a textured board (think washboard) until it no longer stretched anywhere. It quickly became clear that I should have used a 50% increase in size, but I was still hopeful it might fit a small adult. Fulling took a long time, rubbing in different directions to control the shape. But finally it was done. I hung it up to dry last night and took some entertaining self-portraits so I could display the finished product. Yes, it fits me, but barely. My nine-year-old wants it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aVVSicQFyxw2Q10chT7LcxmTbwJuELgnGd-CARDSS-QkhDPeSo0DI2VTT6pNhhLj9MoerMKOoBL9XvyyDA2nvWQaGlLfslT0cT-z4Zt1L0FqNTag5S1-j8pQj9CD8dGbeB-b5_DFwgGr/s1600/IMG_3325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aVVSicQFyxw2Q10chT7LcxmTbwJuELgnGd-CARDSS-QkhDPeSo0DI2VTT6pNhhLj9MoerMKOoBL9XvyyDA2nvWQaGlLfslT0cT-z4Zt1L0FqNTag5S1-j8pQj9CD8dGbeB-b5_DFwgGr/s320/IMG_3325.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Am8D0Gstfe5o3lOm0OS4hyphenhyphengOeaPab7-kEnwKPAI3U83OGzDS6FFuHBV7LdKyufKzbZdWYfRJlmVqw2W78kswzm75A6UM_m58NPBZWsgh2a3mWscrUfQa7BWR9Wzd85-g9i6lVcsLkHrm/s1600/IMG_3328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Am8D0Gstfe5o3lOm0OS4hyphenhyphengOeaPab7-kEnwKPAI3U83OGzDS6FFuHBV7LdKyufKzbZdWYfRJlmVqw2W78kswzm75A6UM_m58NPBZWsgh2a3mWscrUfQa7BWR9Wzd85-g9i6lVcsLkHrm/s320/IMG_3328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdsX2LmL9i2KrTyM85evBLa54rCg4CmF5P0_3NbtbyL1B1BH6_4dKkZoWBMHtwQ1wCv54706xObOe8zPS61pD52WzoQff04uY7QXh4Qmh1AzVwjM2VMrjjtFElh4R6aMq5MAFYtVA25v7/s1600/IMG_3330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdsX2LmL9i2KrTyM85evBLa54rCg4CmF5P0_3NbtbyL1B1BH6_4dKkZoWBMHtwQ1wCv54706xObOe8zPS61pD52WzoQff04uY7QXh4Qmh1AzVwjM2VMrjjtFElh4R6aMq5MAFYtVA25v7/s320/IMG_3330.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yoga Mom with a thing for fiberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14979937524443804831noreply@blogger.com0