Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.......Mark Twain

Saturday, October 17, 2009

I feel a felt binge coming on....

its been a while since i got caught up in a felt frenzy....today I am doing lots of much needing around home work.......so tommorow can be a studio day.....am planning on going to school in the am and doing some felting. Planning my felt project due in 2 weeks.....lots of ideas....I need to rein myself in a bit......maybe a funky felt hat. At anyrate I will take the camera and try and do some 'process' pictures.....ok back to work.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Today's Adventures






Today we handed in our basket projects....mine was a vest, not nearly as interesting as Emily's cocoon....shown here, coiled out of several wool blankets and comes complete with a zip.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

another manic....uh wednesday




And I thought market boot camp was hard.....3
full time days of school is just as intense.....but I am loving every second....except maybe the shlepping art supplies and texts back and forth. Here is some pics from yesterdays surface design class....we are working on colour wheels.....I am thinking I might put some design on my homogonous little car so I can find it in the parking lot.....the furry handcuffs that Kris put on the grill are not really my thing.

.....has anyone seen my flip flops.....i need more coffee.....toodles.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

surface design 106



have had a massively busy 2 days finishing up my sample book for this class.....I am loving it. Making alot of lino blocks and foam block with ideas always in my head to take it into garments....now onto my fibre sample book for weaving class.....

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Wow the summer went so fast. The fastest season I can remember.
And now....back at school for the first time in 30 plus years.....my brain is smoking just like an old car that has been sitting forever.....but I am loving it.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Trailer

I have finally achieved utlility trailer. At the moment it can hold the grid wall, tent and racks.....but I am hoping that once Jared gets home from working in Campbell River that he can build sides and a top on it and that way it would hold everything.
This is a very exciting addition and will cut the loading and unloading down by half which is awesome.
I am doing the poco market tonight.....hired Richy to help me....getting smarter in my old age. I am so looking forward to Cap U in September, I finished my online registrations yesterday and that was enough of a brain test.
Well, off to make the beds in the camper and load for the weekend.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

market boot camp

No Excuses.....bad blogger.....so here we go again.

This week I will be at:
thursday-port coquitlam market
friday- twillight market in whistler in front of the wesitn
saturday- squamish market
sunday-whistler farmers market

Its funny how it seems like its hard work but then all of a sudden you get stronger and lifting gridwall and boxes doesnt seem so ardurous.

this weeks dyes include lots of sundresses for little girls....some dresses for adults....lots of underpants and t shirts. I have experimented with some different colour combos and I will post pics once they are out of the wash.
As for the rest of the day....registering for cap u courses, tieing some blacks and discharging them....and of course cleaning out the van for this weekends market boot camp. I am hoping the auction fairy comes up with a utility trailer today.....then things would be perfect.

pics to follow.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

bad blogger

hmm I have been so busy! But I was reminded that i was a bad blogger......so as soon as I go to the dump, do some dishes, and wash some ts for tieing I will blog....promise. :)

Monday, April 27, 2009

Haney Farmers Market







Our first market of the season....the earth day celebration and Haney Farmers Market.
It was sooooo cold in the morning but the weather warmed up and it was a great day, we were well recieved and it was a good precursor to whistler.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Tie Dye Tshirts


Two new t shirts on Etsy today..... both 5x. I have been busy doing discharge dyes all week....these are the first 2 listed.

Friday, April 17, 2009

chocolate chip cookies

I took a break from tyeing and made some cookies.....really good recipe......enjoy.




New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies
Published: July 9, 2008
Adapted from Jacques Torres

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
Sea salt.


1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

Note: Disks are sold at Jacques Torres Chocolate; Valrhona fèves, oval-shaped chocolate pieces, are at Whole Foods.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

dyeing to share





Here are a couple of black discharge t shirts from the first batch of this method....modeled by the dilly monster....mom, can you cut my head off?

Friday, April 10, 2009

The auction fairy strikes again

I could spend a long time waiting for the Easter Bunny but the Auction Fairy shows up like clock work...pack of Budwieser under one arm and this time with a FRONT LOADING WASHING MACHINE. Another much needed addition to the staff....not sure how it will work for tye dye but for felting its a must have. So, in prep for sunday dye day with Kat, I have some whites in a calgon wash to tie tonight in front of the tv.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

spring wardrobe

So, what does a fat lady wear for spring. I am becoming accustomed to my recent weight gain and trying not to perseverate on it, after all it is a small price to pay for increasing my chance of survival by 17%....but I really would like to have clothes that fit and flatter. I bought 2 pairs of capris at costco of all places and they are actually quite nice....then i bought some baby pink skimmers.....what was i thinking??? I look like a giant wad of chewing gum so those are going back....unless i tye dye them.....must check fabric content.
On the dyeing front....i bought enough gloves,h2o2 and oxy to last kat and i into the next millenium....and some sox and some black ts. so that will keep me busy for today.
Last night looking for inspiration i found www.thaidye.com ....liking the not so hippy dyeing.

Monday, March 30, 2009

first tie dye marathon day












It was a definite learning curve....still I think I have hearts sussed out....and I am pleased with the jean jacket. And of course Kat with the steaming knickers straight from the microwave embodies the whole spirit of dye day.



Friday, March 27, 2009

updating etsy




I have an amazing score of a kzillion tubs of procion mx that I got from a lady on craigslist....woo I love deals!!!! And I have been updating etsy...suitcase #2. Here are a few of the things I listed...Atomic Viking and Im Lichen it.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

it wasnt the easter bunny....it was the auction fairy...


THIS...is a reverse osmosis water softener......omg....I am so excited.....now my dyeing will be amazing......no more calgon.....can you hear me cackling and rubbing my hands together....not only is it a water softener....its the porche of water softeners.....oh oh oh....and felting....yes felting will be a breeze too.....oh and wine.....and the list goes on....

now i just have to read the instructions......

Gotta love that auction fairy....he is kind of like Radar O'Reilly crossed with Matt Dillon only with a serious love of budwieser. Knows what everyone has and what everyone needs.....and almost every week ,post auction in a happy haze of a job well done and a few with the boys he shows up with a new addition to 'the staff'.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

yarn bombing

I have this unsquashable desire to go out yarn bombing....anyone want to come with me....out lurking in downtown maple ridge....tacky acrylic yarn and crochet hook in hand...maybe its just spring fever.....still.....

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

its a cross between origami and laundry


Kat came over today and we folded...and folded and watched the 3 instruction videos. We are reserving another day for mixing dyes and applying. Here is Kat folding a pashima....we are different enough in methods and visions that I think we will produce a truly cool collection....and now im going to curl up and dye for a bit.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Its a date!

with Good Kat from whistler farmers market. (thats glass Kat not the other one )She is coming on tuesday for a dye marathon. We have decided that in the interest of fiscal sanity and pee breaks that we will share a booth this year.....so we are doing some tandem dyeing and such. I have resurrected the patio with the exception of going to the dump with several bags and an old wooden futon that for some reason I cant explain ended up here. I am now fortifying myself with tea and diet cookies and will head out to attack the garage.....boooya. I can almost feel the workspace....i love spring.

spring fever

I ventured out in the sun yesterday and blew off the patio. I am hoping the weather will warm just slightly so i can work a bit on cleaning out the shed....I need to set up my summer work space. I have been watching the tye dye videos that magda and rob gave me for my birthday last year.....not that I want to tye dye exactly....but i do want to discharge and overdye some jean jackets. I will be so glad to see tomorow when all the brats go back to school after spring break......this enforced togetherness has made me balmy.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

caught in a cosmic loop

i have spent the last couple of days in computer land, updating sites, creating sites, linking, and doing all the little behind the scenes things that need to be done to have a fuctioning on line presence.
I have however been smashing my head against the wall trying to redeem my facebook advertising credit from go-daddy dot com.
So....i have left it in limbo for the time being as i cant get there from here.
I think i will take a stroll in the rain to clear my head and then see about finding a needlefelting attachment for the 'Brother boutique 176' sewing machine that the auction fairy brought me last night.
ok looking for something cozy to wear as i venture out in the wet world.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Saturday, March 14, 2009

spinning out loud











Day one of the art yarn spinning class for Whonnock Weavers is complete. It was an intense day with lots accomplished. There were even 2 navajo spindlers in the group who adapted the techniques to thier tools.....jeff who did some awesome yarn incorporating a pearl necklace and Marie who is doing some amazing adaptive coily plying.....

Friday, March 13, 2009

last nights art yarn




Spinning is my solace it always has been. I wonder if years ago when Mr. Allen taught me to spin in a high school art class if he knew what a gift he was giving me.....thinking of how people touch our lives, some good, some bad but each encounter leaves us richer......ok enough philosophising.

Last nights endevours are: Trudy Art Yarn , thusly named for Mrs. Atchison who is an old friends mother, she was very influential in my young life and recently a steadfast support in recovery from cancer and divorce, when she moved into an assisted living facility with her husband she gave me her scrap bag. In it was this fabric that was screaming to be spun.
And Careless Love a cornicopia of different fibres spun thick and thin and coily plied with a commercial mohair boucle.

Also as I sat pondering last night i mocked up some bird patterns....i am thinking for decorations and for brooches and just for fun.....also have pincushions in my mind.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Its official

Jared (middle child) has enlisted in the navy. I dont know whether to laugh, cry or throw up.
I keep looking above my head on the wall where the picture of my Dad when he enlisted sits. He seems to be smiling down, he would be so proud.....he should have had sons.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Do you know what is coming?

Spring, spring is coming!
Ha, and on that note I am coginating on setting up studio space in the garage again....complete with setting up floor loom (did i say that?)
Todays little adventure in order restoration involves wieghing out more fleece for the spinning workshop this weekend. Sending out web orders. Finding my table under mounds of stuff. Taking pictures.....I have a lovely nuno shawl i need to take a pic of....really would look its best on a naked model....any takers.....no didnt think so.
I also need to plan a new wardrobe, its a new season and aside from the obviously missing body bit that causes me fitting issues, I have packed on about 20 pounds, thank you tamoxifin (small price for life) so I am going to design big wearable sacs....you know, with kind of a steampunk, urban flair....ya right.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Angel of the Morning


This was fun!!
42 yards of hand dyed kid mohair core spun on a commercial mohair blend.
soft soft soft and sooo squidgy. It has the most wonderful lustre. Its truly a little bit of heaven.
2 oz
$35.70