Tag Archives: knitting

Surprise and Prize

Last month while listening to a podcast at While She Naps with Abby Glassenberg, I learned that Abby would be giving her listeners an opportunity “to recommend great stuff you’re enjoying right now.” Listeners could record a message on the While She Naps website (technology – so cool!) and on Dec. 4th the podcast aired. To my surprise I was one of the people selected for inclusion in the podcast. I talked about Barb Owen, owner of How To Get Creative, who is someone I find inspirational and encouraging. Barb is a multi-talented artist and author who produces fun projects video on YouTube and offers special membership classes on her website.

Abby was joined by guest co-host, Stacey Trock, and the entire podcast was filled with great ideas from suggested reading, tools and notions, websites, blogs… I could go on but instead I’ll encourage you to check While She Naps out for yourself.

During the podcast Abby drew three names to receive prizes and I was one of them! My prize arrive a couple days ago and as you can see by the photo, the prize was a” Welcome pack” from Spoonflower. I have used Spoonflower for fabric printing in the past and I’m looking forward to again (included in the prize – Spoondollar credits).

It was so nice to be able to contribute to Abby’s Community Episode podcast and exciting to have won a prize on top of that! Abby’s entire website is a great resource for anyone interested in sewing, quilting, and so more more.

When a Yarn is More Than a Yarn

Not too long ago after spending some time (quality time!) walking through the wonderful exhibits at Visions Art Museum, I went for a stroll through the verandas at Liberty Station and noticed a light and airy shop that had yarn, beautiful yarn. I walked in and was greeted by Sara, the owner of Apricot Yarn. I told her I had just been down the walkway to VAM, she asked if I was a quilter and I said that is where I started but then I had to confess; I’m a fiber artist who can’t knit and can only crochet a chain! Then I asked Sara if she carried roving. She said “No, but maybe they would in the future.” As I was drooling over a skein of thick, rich multi-colored wool and a beautiful knitted cowl neck warmer made from it, she added… “Some people use that to do felting.” I said “I do felting!” I’m now the happy owner of that gorgeous skein and YES, it can be used for felting!

I’m remembering that my grandparent had spinning wheels and probably card brushes as well, but I never thought anything about it when I was growing up. I think my cousins have the spinning wheels now.

Anyway, it occurred to me that in my dusty dancing shoe box there was a suede brush… So I cut several, approximately, 8″ lengths of the yarn in the colors I wanted. Laying them on my design table, I raked the suede brush over the yarn. Combing one piece at a time worked best because there wasn’t a card brush or carding surface underneath. Now you may be thinking that’s a lot of work when a person could just buy roving, but I enjoyed every second of touching the yarn.

I must note here that, of course, this project is not for anyone with wool allergies. Also, using the proper carding brushes would be a plus because I think there would be fewer tiny fibers escaping and proper carding would have made the fibers felt together even better. I made one felted soap and love how it turned out. They make a very fast project and nice gift and if you are planning an art bazaar type sale they may be a good item for that. When I have the proper equipment I plan to make more and try some needle felting too. If you’re a yarn lover I would encourage you to check out the Apricot Yarn shop; Oh, and if you are or will be in San Diego, they have classes too!