The studio this winter has been a space of waiting, of endless potential, and the quiet stillness of projects left in stasis for entirely too long. This is in counterpoint to the chaos of teetering piles of fabric and stacks of boxes; the detritus of a reorganization to make room for the new heater now promising unprecedented ease of use for my space that has been previously frustratingly difficult and slow to warm in the winter months.
Which is to say that slowly but oh so surely, I’m back! There is a basket full of sewing by the ironing board, and another stack by the sewing machine: bags and cowls and towels all destined for the shop. There are a myriad of bowls and baskets on the shelves, all holding colorfully coordinated yarns waiting in the wings for future projects. There’s a shawl in the final stages of finishing that has been waiting to go to its home for over a year. There is a large tote of fiber and yarn, just waiting for the camera! So you can expect a February shop update for sure, after which I have every intention of regaining momentum to do monthly updates.
This shawl from the Birth warp is full of custom detailing and accents reflecting one woman’s journey in motherhood. Braiding and twisting of the fringe is in process.
The studio is always of space of many different creative cauldrons bubbling at the same time. All three looms are in various stages of being dressed with yarn. Dye experiments accumulate, and yarn is gathered in fits of inspiration.
Eleanor (the 8 shaft Leclerc) and I have begun weaving on Plant Witch, a woven collection of extra long staple supima and rose viscose that will house two shawls full of accents and intention and likely some neckwear or accessories as well.
Plant Witch: supima cotton and rose viscose with accents of mustard linen/mohair and maroon cotton.
Plant Witch is an homage to the cycle of growing things and those that tend them.
Maggie (the 8 shaft Gilmore) is waiting for me to finish threading Bequeath, a warp that is a meditation on the alternations of despair, anxiety, and hope that I experience as I look at the world and the climate crisis that is our legacy; that my children will be facing throughout their lives.
Bequeath is a mediation on the anxiety, despair, and hope attendant on the climate crisis we face.
Bequeath: what world are we giving our children and our children’s children? How can we work to mitigate and repair this broken earth?
Granny (the 4 shaft Schact) is dreaming of doing some tapestry work and a warp of traditional overshot patterning with non-traditional yarns! I’m looking forward to it! Like playing on a blank canvas.
After that… well. We’ve got naturally dyed yarns to look forward to on Queen of Pentacles, a mix of luxury yarns for an ode to nourishing children with your body (#normalizebreastfeeding!), starry night tea towel and accessories, and so much more! I’m really, like really!, looking forward to seeing this cloth come together.
Hand dyed Silk Nettle from Saltwater Rose Threads
Who loves purple? This collection still needs a name. So if you’re a fan of purple towels and accessories, let me know!
A collection of luxury yarns in pinks, blues, and purples awaits being woven into an homage to the body nursing fosters between an infant and parent.
Naturally dyed cotton skeins for Queen of Pentacles #weavethetarot
First Star I See Tonight - a collection of handwoven tea towels and accessories.
Meanwhile, in the land of written words, I’ve realized that I haven’t updated this blog in two years, and that I have a backlog of at least 5 years worth of projects to share. My goal for this blog is to have an online repository, a gallery, a retrospective of my work and all the thoughts and words I associate with those applications of color, yarn, and pattern. So, over the course of the next year you can expect to see past projects highlighted in this space until everything lives online here. I hope you enjoy revisiting my earlier work as much as I enjoy curating the record of what my hands have made.
From my family to yours: may you stay safe and healthy as we continue to navigate our changing world with just as much grace as we can muster.
Thank you all for your patience and for following my journey with cloth and string. Here’s to more beauty in the world, one thread at a time. And if you welcome me into your inbox with newsletters and blog updates, thank you so much for sharing your space with me! If you don’t, you can do so below!