Rug Exploration #2

This weekend I attended a toothbrush rag rug class. This technique to make rag rugs is quick and portable.

In a few hours I was able to complete a small rug.

Weaving Rugs: starting the exploration

Rug Number One: Still on the loom.

I have started the year off with weaving two rugs. These two rugs have started an interest in exploring weaving rugs. My goal over the next few months is to design and plan to weave some rugs of my own design. I will also need to reorganize my temporary studio and set up my loom.

The first rug was woven with selvage ends from upholstery. Using this material for the weft created very interesting textures and colours.

Close up of the weft on Rug Number One.

Rug Number Two was created on the same warp as Rug Number One. The warp is 100% cotton and a lovely sage green. Rug Number Two is made of rag weft that I created from dress shirts.

This rug was woven in a Rosepath weave.

Rug Number Two

These two rugs aren't the first of my rug exploration. Last year I wove a rug with white, pink and orange wool on a grey cotton warp. I love this rug and hope to weave more rugs with wool. My past rug explorations also explored different techniques such as hooked, locker, knit and more. My braided rag rug class in 2011 at the Galt Museum  was a success and I brought numerous samples of different techniques in creating rugs.

Woolen Rug

Shadow Weave



Tencel Weft & Warp



October 27, 2011 - Braided Rugs @ the GALT!

The Galt is presenting Karla Mather-Cocks & the Lethbridge Handicraft Guilt in the exploration of the history of rag rugs. During this presentation, participants will start their own rag rug project in the braided technique.

Samples of rag rugs hand crafted by members of the Lethbridge Handicraft Guild will be on display.

Apple Harvest 2010

Apples are bountiful this year. Currently, I have made EIGHT apple pies:

And I am not even half way through all the apples!

Now to make some pickled apples!

My Favourite Thing about the Holidays!

My favourite thing about the holidays is writing thank you notes for those who made my holidays special.

I really enjoying designing and making my own personalized cards. Here are two I did this year:

This next one is especially for my dad!

12 Days of Christmas - Fibre Style

On the first day of Christmas,
my husband sent to me
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my husband sent to me
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my husband sent to me
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six sheep a-bahing,
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my husband sent to me
Seven lamas spitting,
Six sheep a-bahing,
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight goats a-leaping,
Seven lamas spitting,
Six sheep a-bahing,
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my husband sent to me
Nine shepherds shearing,
Eight goats a-leaping,
Seven lama spitting,
Six sheep a-bahing,
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten ladies carding,
Nine shepherds shearing,
Eight goats a-leaping,
Seven lamas spitting,
Six sheep a-bahing,
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my husband sent to me
Eleven yarns a-spinning,
Ten ladies carding,
Nine shepherds shearing,
Eight goats a-leaping,
Seven lamas spitting,
Six sheep a-bahing,
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve weavers weaving,
Eleven yarns a-spinning,
Ten ladies carding,
Nine shepherds shearing,
Eight goats a-leaping,
Seven lamas spitting,
Six sheep a-bahing,
Five alpacas,
Four spinning wheels,
Three wool rovings,
Two mohair skeins,
A dachshund peeing on a tree.

My husband is very generous, and for this Christmas he gave me:
12 dachshunds
22 mohair skeins
30 wool rovings
36 spinning wheels
40 Alpacas
42 sheep
42 lamas
40 goats
36 shepherds
30 ladies carding
22 yarns a spinning
And 12 weavers weaving,
Now I have a fibre farm!

"Torpedo" The Charkha

My husband and I have built "Torpedo" the Charkha from the specs from Spin-Off Winter 1996.

The box is a "Hoja de Habano" Cigar Box. Inside features wheel with orginal Dave "Pi" designs. The spindles were built from double pointed knitted needles purchased from the Loop Halifax.

The Charkha works every other day - as the hunt for a more effective drive band continues. Right now it has cotton yarn and it isn't as effective and consistent as I would like.

Dog Hair Hat

Do you have a pet that you want to remember forever? Why not eternalize your pet in a handspun item! I created this hat for a friend from a mixture of his black lab's dog hair and Icelandic Sheep's Wool. I think it turned out great! It doesn't smell dog at all! Also the great part of the dog hair/wool mixture is the dog hair gives a little bit of hairy bits that stick out!

Organic Mittlets

These mittlets are made from hand spun wool and alpaca. The pattern has cables that run up the top of the mitts. This creation was for my Master Spinner's project for level two.

Stay tuned for Master Spinner's project level three. Slated for release Spring 2009.

Colour Wheel

Currently I am working on my Master Spinners Level 2 workbook. Here is a picture of the finished skeins. Each of the secondary and teritary colours are a blend of the primary colours. I find it so interesting that I only began with three colours and ended up with 12!

Nature Socks

Hello Everyone!

These nature socks are a newly completed project. The ribbing is handspun from Fleece Artist Roving http://www.fleeceartist.com/ and the rest is knit from Lucy Neatby http://www.tradewindknits.com/ merino yarn. I created it especially for Molly at Celticswans. She makes amazing knitting needles and other needle art supplies. http://www.celticswan.com/

CRAPS!

So the story of my spinning wheel isn't a happy one. When it was transported from Alberta to Nova Scotia in January it was damaged.

AND now months later it has decided to have a new issue. Of course when you really want to spin and work on my Master Spinners Level 2 workbook, it has to crap out on me. Now I have to wait weeks for my part to come from New Zealand.

What is a multifunctionalist artist to do? Well I should be working on a table runner and sending some of my writing away to be published. No, instead I dream about spinning.

Kitty versus the Llama

Here I am ready to take the hair off of the llama! It was great fun that included: a spitting llama, a sock, and a grumpy alpaca. I can't wait to spin up something warm.

Two New Projects

Here are two new finished projects. The first is a tall ship displayed in the window of The Loop in Halifax. The owner of The Loop and I fashioned it to celebrate that the Tall Ships have come to Halifax. If you are in the area of Barrington Street make sure to check it out.

The second is my handspun handdyed handwoven jacket inspired by Chanel. I wore it in a fashion show at Fibre Week 2007.

New Mystery Project. See details next week!

I am busy preparing a new mystery project that I think will make me my millions. MAhahahhaha..... Hint. Check out my uterine blog! It has something to do with it........ And for those with the metal balls on your 4 by 4s ........ Us women will speak!.......

In other news
My art show at the Mudroom Halifax went well.

Master Spinner Level One

This is the warp from my project for Master Spinner Level One. It is made up of 100% handspun and hand dyed yarn and took over 9 months to prepare! Once I finish weaving it I will try to add a picture of the finished woven item!

Darwin's Gator Sweater

Darwin's Gator Sweater

Here is Darwin's new Gator Sweater! While wearing it, he feels powerful and sways his tail like a true gator. Beware! He is grumpy and likes to take off fingers. Pictures of his new sheep sweater will be on later once it gets green out!

Crazy Crazy Multifunctionalist

Okay I haven't posted in awhile but I have been super busy. Here is what I have finished:

• Gator Sweater for Darwin


• Sheep themed sweater for Darwin


• My Master Spinner Workbook 1 (only nine months of work have gone into this one!)


• Three woven scarfs on my new LOOM!


• Two paintings in a series of three based on spinning and weaving


• NUMEROUS writings - short stories and poems


• Participated in a 24 hour knitathon at the Loop - but I didn't make the whole 24 hours

All Packed Up

So I have all my arts and crafts and books and stuff packed up. Mostly in blue rubbermade containers, ready to go to go in the post off to the East Coast.

I think it will be months until I have everything organized. Lots of items are packed up in storage for the years until we return.

So my projects:

• Dave's Christmas gift was a success. It was a handmade woolen woven blanket. It took me over 24 hours of work. See the picture - this is when it first was put on the loom. I will have another finished photo later.


• Dave's Ex-Bosses Sweater - this is a project that is taking awhile. I can only work on it for a hour or so a night because it is sooooo heavy! I hope to get it done really soon.


• I have given up on my first novel - actually I didn't really start it more than a page or so. I have decided to start another one based on a office and a psychopath.


• I am knitting a small hat I hope to be done today.


• Hmmmmmm I think I will purchase a loom for Halifax. I want to make some more blankets for people as gifts. And maybe some more table runners.

Too many projects not enough space! This year I am going to start Christmas Production in January. That's my New Year's resolution.