Interviews

Crazyshot Book Review and Giveaway

Myra Wood is a well known fibre artist with an impressive array of artistic skills and talents. In fact, I’m quite amazed by all her achievements in teaching, writing books and creating. She is a huge inspiration!

*This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Myra has just released a wonderful new weaving book that I am so excited to tell you about – “Crazyshot! Creative Overshot Weaving on the Rigid Heddle Loom”. “Crazyshot” is creative overshot weaving for the rigid heddle with bold patterns and colours.

The book provides beautiful colour photo, step by step instructions and explanations. The patterns look extremely complex and yet are achieved with just one heddle and one pick up stick! There are 14 stunning projects included.

You may be thinking “this looks way too advanced for me!”, but that is the beauty of it. All you need is the basics, plus a good dose of patience and an adventurous attitude.

Let’s have a chat with Myra and find out more about her and how the new book came about.

Tell us a little about your background in fibre arts.

“I was a pretty crafty kid. My mom taught me how to sew and crochet and we made tons of Barbie doll and kid’s clothes. I continued crafting through adulthood, adding new crafts every couple of years- more sewing, quilting, embroidery, tapestry and bead weaving, tatting, you name it, always with an emphasis on creative expression. In 2003 I started teaching knitting classes at a local yarn store and within a couple years I began teaching knitting and crochet on the US national circuit for XRX/Stitches, Vogue Knitting, guilds and special events. Along the way, I taught 5 classes for Craftsy and wrote 3 books and published lots of patterns. Up until Covid, I was traveling around the US almost every month. ( I don’t miss the airports but I do miss seeing everybody in person).“

When and how did you first become interested in weaving?

“In 2012, I saw my first rigid heddle loom at a trade show and had to have one. I dove right into the deep end buying a 20” with a stand while I was there and all the rigid heddle books I could find. Needless to say, my yarn stash was already a bit ridiculous so when I found out I could use the same yarns I was ready to go. My loom arrived a couple weeks later and it’s been a love affair ever since. I now own 4 rigid heddle looms, all of which are usually warped with some experiment or another.“

Crazyshot is not the first book you’ve published, but it is your first weaving book. What was the inspiration behind the book?

“In all honesty, your Branoe class blew me away. I kept thinking about Fair Isle and Mosaic knitting and other charted needlework while I was learning. I looked for more info on Branoe and found very little but I did discover a rich history of supplemental weft weaving from all different cultures throughout time. So I started experimenting and this book is the result of combining lots of different ideas from various charted needlework. Many times my books have come out of wanting to see the book I wish was already out there.“

Something that students often ask me about is how to choose colours for a project. I noticed that in “Crazyshot” your project colours are strikingly beautiful and harmonious. Do you have any tips for those who are nervous combining and choosing colours?

“Absolutely! I love color and I’m not afraid to use it but lots of times I find myself in color ruts. Give me some blue, green, aqua and purple yarn and I’m off to the races. When I want to step outside my comfort zone, I like to take a skein of a long color repeat yarn like Noro Kureyon and match up all the solid colors I have in my stash to the colors in the yarn. The dyers are very experienced with color and often put together colors I’d never think of combining. I’ve also used variegated yarns to start with and even printed fabrics I love. Color is the most essential element for me so before I start any project, once my colors are chosen, I stick to that palette. I always say you have to love the colors together before you start or you won’t like the end result. I always start with color.“

With all of the creative pursuits you are involved with, how do you organise your time effectively in order to achieve such variety?

“I tend to get fairly obsessive about one craft at a time. I’m passionate about learning as much as possible and experimenting with all the different ways I can express myself with it.

Eventually something else strikes my fancy and I abandon the previous one for the latest obsession. Many times I’ve rediscovered my love for a particular craft years after I thought I was done with it. I feel like I have a great toolbox to work with and I love combining ideas from different crafts.

I’m so lucky to have a dedicated studio and spend my days in it from morning till night. (I told you I was obsessive). As I’m aging, I find I can’t spend the hours I used to working with my hands before they start aching so I try and take breaks and do other things like clean the house and exercise. I did say try. I spend more time reflecting and relaxing now but my wheels are always turning with new ideas so I’m actually planning another book already!“

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And now for some more exciting news. Myra has one signed print copy of “Crazyshot” to gift to one of you lucky readers!

To enter, leave a comment below telling me what appeals to you most about this technique.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO CATHY MURPHY! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED.

You can purchase “Crazyshot” in either digital or print version from Amazon or from Myra’s website.

If you would like a video course on the Branoe technique, check out my Exploring Branoe course at the Online Weaving School.

I also have some free videos on Youtube to help get you started:

Until next time…

Happy Weaving!

Weaving with a disability

by Kelly 20 Comments

Today’s guest is a very inspiring woman! Jacky is an artist and weaver from a beautiful part of the U.K, surrounded by captivating landscapes and historic buildings.

I have admired her work for some time on Instagram, where she shares wonderful photos of her artist life and her dog, Boo. In fact, when selecting photos for today’s interview, it was very difficult to narrow down to just a few, I wanted to show you so many more!

I particularly wanted to chat with Jacky on the blog so that she could share her story and experience with her physical disability and how that has impacted on her creative life.

I hope that her story will encourage you all to focus on what you CAN do, regardless of your circumstances.

How long have you been weaving? What got you interested in starting?

Just before Christmas three years ago I bought a little frame loom on a whim. I designed a little snowman wall hanging and was surprised by how well it turned out and how much I enjoyed doing it, and that’s what got me started on my weaving journey. I started looking more into weaving and that’s when I first read about rigid heddle looms – I didn’t know if I would be able to use one from my wheelchair, especially doing the warping, so did lots of research on YouTube, which is when I first saw your videos, which have been a real help for me. My Birthday was coming up, so I asked my family if I could have money instead of presents. I was so excited when I opened my first ever rigid heddle loom and couldn’t wait to get started weaving on it!

What loom/s do you own?

My first loom was an Ashford 16” RHL, but after a while I wanted something I could weave wider fabric on. I knew I wouldn’t physically manage to weave on a very wide loom so finally decided on an Ashford 24” RHL and I love weaving blankets on that. Last year I decided to add a 12” Ashford Samplet loom to my little ‘loom family’, so that I could practice more complicated weaving, and I love it! It’s such a joy to use and I can easily carry it anywhere with me.

What is your favourite fibre to work with? Do you have favourite items to weave?

Wool is definitely my favourite fibre to weave with. I always used to think wool was scratchy to wear, but now of course I have learned that there are so many types of wool, each with their own qualities. Last year I wove a scarf from a handspun blend of Blue Faced Leicester and Rose fibre and that was beautifully soft. At the moment I’m in the middle of weaving a silk scarf on the Samplet, I’ve never woven with such fine silk before and I’m really enjoying it so I think that will become another favourite.

You also spend time spinning and painting. You love to paint en plein air and I find your landscapes absolutely beautiful. Do you have a favourite location/s for this?

Thank you Kelly. I’m very blessed to live in the Cotswolds which is a really lovely part of the U.K., so I’m surrounded by picturesque villages and beautiful countryside to paint in. I also love painting the sea, and my favourite coastal area is South Wales. I hope to be visiting there again soon now that our present lockdown restrictions are beginning to lift.

Please tell us about your disability and the challenges it presents to you in your creative pursuits.

I’ve been disabled with a neuromuscular illness for about 25 years now. It affects all my muscles, which are very weak, and I use an electric wheelchair to get about the house. It has left me with double vision, but I have strong prism lenses in my glasses which help quite a lot.

My arm muscles are very weak too, which is very challenging when I want to be doing things, but I make sure I take plenty of breaks to rest them for a little while when I’m weaving or painting. As long as I pace myself I usually get things done, it just takes a little bit longer.

I have to take lots of breaks when I’m warping the loom, and I’m always glad when I’ve finished doing it. My husband Phil almost always helps me with winding on the warp – I have used the ‘crank and yank’ method a few times, but it is definitely easier when he helps!

You have a beautiful assistance dog, Boo. How did you he come into your life and how has he made a difference to you?

Boo is an adorable yellow Labrador, and the gentlest dog I have ever known. He became my partner eight years ago thanks to a U.K. charity called Dogs for Good, which trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities and children with autism.

I can’t take my coat off by myself, so Boo comes by my side, gently puts one sleeve cuff between his teeth and pulls at it until my arm is free, then he goes to my other side and pulls that sleeve off too.

He also picks up everything I drop, helps to empty the washing machine and picks up the mail. He loves to come to Church with me and lies quietly by my side through the service. He has a bed in the studio and always comes to lie by my side when I’m weaving, I think he finds it as soothing as I do.

Is any of your creative work available for sale?

Most of my work is available for sale in the U.K. through my Facebook page or in exhibitions. I sell some of my woven items too, mainly scarves just now, again through Facebook. I have a stash of woven fabric waiting to be made into bags and purses, but I never seem to get round to get the sewing machine out to make them – I’d far rather be weaving!

Thank you so much to Jacky for taking the time to share with us today! I know that many of you would love to follow along with her work and see what she comes up with next. You can follow Jacky here:

Facebook-
Jacky Radbone, artist
Jacky Radbone, weaving in the Little Cwtch Studio (‘Cwtch’ is a Welsh word which means ‘ a hug’)

Instagram-

Jacky Radbone

Blog-

A Disable Artist’s Journey

Until next time…

Happy Weaving!

Krokbragd Patterns Interview and Giveaway!

by Kelly 287 Comments

Have you all met Debby Greenlaw before? I hope you have, but if not, you may want to read over this post where I reviewed Debby’s first book, the wonderful “Krokbragd – How to Design and Weave”.

*This post contains affiliate links. For further information, please see my disclosure policy.

I am so excited to share the news that Debby has written and released a brand new follow up krokbragd book, titled “Krokbragd Patterns”.

I am doubly excited to announce that, thanks to Debby’s generosity, one of you lucky readers will have the chance to win a personally signed copy of Krokbragd Patterns! Entry details are available at the end of this post.

I thought it the perfect time to have a chat with Debby so that you can all get to know her a little better and find out more about the new book, so grab a cup of tea and get comfy!

Thank you for taking the time to be my blog guest today 😊 Can you start by telling us a little about your weaving journey so far?

“Weaving was my entry into the wonderful world of fiber arts. I am a relatively “late bloomer” in this area, not starting the journey until I retired in 2016 after a 40+ year career as a nurse/nurse practitioner. I purchased an Ashford Sampleit loom at a local fiber festival just to see if I would like this weaving thing . . . I loved it. That lead to a floor loom, a dye garden, a spinning wheel, and eventually knitting needles and crochet hooks!”

What looms do you have and which one gets the most use?

“I have a Leclerc Nilus 4-shaft floor loom, a Kromski Harp Forte rigid heddle, and a Louët Jane 8-shaft table loom. By far the Jane gets used the most!“

You are perhaps most well known for your krokbragd weaving. What is about krokbragd that you love?

“First, I’m drawn to the Scandinavian aesthetic. My heritage says I’m German through and through, but I think there must be some Norse hidden in there. I love the simplicity of design and the color combinations of Scandinavian weaving. Krokbragd embodies both of those characteristics.”

Your first book, “Krokbragd: How to Design and Weave” had been immensely popular. What lead you to write a book all about krokbragd?

“Simply, there wasn’t a book written on the subject. In fact, several years ago, there were very limited resources available on krokbragd. I saw a social media post that said, “someone should write a book,” and I thought I can do that!”

You are just about to release your second book, “Krokbragd Patterns”. Did you decide to write a follow up book based on the feedback received from your first book? What excites you the most about this book?

“You’re absolutely correct. I received emails, comments, and even a review asking for a krokbragd pattern book.

Hmmm . . . what excites me the most. It would have to be the test weavers. Eighteen delightful women answered my request to be test weavers for the book’s projects. Seeing my designs come alive in their talented hand was so exciting. Their feedback, enthusiasm, and encouragement were invaluable to me during the designing and writing process.”

You are blessed to live in a beautiful location. How do you most enjoy spending your days? What should visitors to your region look out for as a “must do”?

“God has graciously blessed my husband and me with a beautiful place to live, a small farm in rural South Carolina. We share our space with 21 dairy goats, a mini donkey, chickens, a barn kitty, and a playful pup! There are many routine farm chores to keep up with, along with the occasional urgency/emergency. I’ve found my nurse practitioner skills translate well to farm animals! In addition to fiber arts, I also like to garden.

South Carolina is diverse in natural beauty. It is one of the smaller U.S. states but stretches from the seashore to the mountains. It is also rich in history and historical sites and gardens.”

You can find more great weaving information on Debby’s blog, Flora & Fiber. Books can be purchased through the blog, on Amazon or in selected stores.

Purchase Krokbragd – How to Design and Weave

Purchase Krokbragd Patterns

Now, about that giveaway! To enter, leave a comment below that describes why you would love to win a signed copy of Krokbragd Patterns. If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry, I will approve it when I see it (I have to keep those spammers at bay!)

Open to anyone worldwide.

I will draw the lucky winner on the Saturday 17th of April, 2021.

THE GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER, CHERI SUTHERLAND!

Until next time…

Happy Weaving!

Sweet Georgia Podcast

by Kelly Leave a Comment

I have some very exciting news to share! This week, I was featured on the Sweet Georgia Podcast!

This is my very first podcast appearance, as I’m sure you can tell if you listen to the interview. I was really nervous about doing this as I don’t generally like to talk about myself very much, but it was a great exercise in stepping outside of my comfort zone.

Felicia was a very gracious hostess and made the whole process a lovely experience.

You can check out the podcast episode here.

Until next time…

Happy Weaving!

Interview with Thistle Rose Weaving

by Kelly 2 Comments

Today I would love to introduce you to Martha of Thistle Rose Weaving. I am a long time admirer of her timeless and classy woven pieces. I know you will find her story very interesting!

What attracted you to weaving? How did you learn?

” When I was a young teen my family lived next door to a Swedish family. Everyday on my way to and from school I would see our neighbor, Mrs. Skarstad sitting at her huge Swedish CM loom. My curiosity finally got the better of me and I knocked on her door to ask her what what she was doing with that “thing” that was in her window. After watching her weave a beautiful white linen tea towel, I was hooked. Unfortunately my parents were not in interested in buying me an expensive floor loom and my dream of weaving like Mrs. Skarstad stalled, sputtered and went into remission.
My weaving dream remained in the back of mind for many years but time and life got in the way until one day in 1997 I had the idea that if I wanted to learn to weave I better get busy and do so. Without any idea of what I was doing I bought a very old 4 shaft Kessenich loom from a tiny fabric store in Madison, WI and then ordered Chandler’s “Learning to Weave” book. I sat down and proceeded to teach myself to weave. Without access to any weaving teachers I learned via books and good old fashioned trail and error. The internet was just beginning back then and not many weavers were posting at that time.”

Do you have any other arts and crafts you spend time on?

“I also occasionally knit, spin and sew, but weaving is my true love and I spend as much time as I can working on my looms.”

How long has your Etsy shop been open? Did you aim to sell your weaving or is it something that just came about?

“My studio is called Thistle Rose Weaving – it is my way of proclaiming affection and admiration for the historical figures Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I. I enjoy the fact that I can in some small way combine two of my interests, renaissance history and weaving. My shop on Etsy was opened in 1997 as a way to sell my textiles to the public. “

Your woven pieces have a very distinct, classic and historic style. Is this something that you strive for?

“Here at Thistle Rose Weaving I delight in weaving heirloom quality traditionally inspired table linens and textiles. I try to use primarily natural fibers in all my work along with a dash of inspiration from the nature that surrounds my country home. Traditional Scandinavian weaving techniques have always interested me, I feel that classic design is timeless and blends into any decor. I strive to provide my clients with well made high quality textiles that will stand the test of time.”

What are your favourite fibres to use and why?

” Cottolin yarns, those spun with 45% linen and 55% long staple cotton fibers are my favorite yarns to work with for household textiles. Good long staple cottons that are colorfast are also a staple of my yarn stash – working with natural fiber yarns is expensive but pays off in the long run by being long lasting and beautiful. Silk or silk blends are also a joy to use when I turn my interests towards weaving shawls and scarves. “

What single item do you seem to make or sell the most of?

“I am primarily known as a towel weaver. Many weavers do not like to weave long warps of towels because they find the endless warps too repetitive. I enjoy the challenge of weaving towels with different treadlings and color change. I strive to make each towel something special. Using traditional weaving drafts and modifying them to my taste is something that keeps me coming back to my loom time and again.”

Are there any challenges for you in making a living from your weaving?

“The time it takes to design an item, warp the yarns, set up the loom, weave, wash, iron and finish the handwoven textile is very long. If a weaver actually charged a living hourly wage for just the labor alone, one tea towel would cost well over $75.00 or more. Most weavers are never going to get rich weaving, we would love to be able to support our family with this ancient fine craft but in today’s society that is not going to happen.”

What are your hopes and plans for the future of your business?

“I hope to keep weaving well into the future and do harbor a dream of opening a weaving studio somewhere out in the public eye where I can run an open studio. It would be great to demonstrate and teach those who are interested in learning. ”

Being based in Brethren, Michigan, what do you love about where you live?

“My husband and I moved to Brethren, MI just over a year ago. After a 22 year career in the military and a second 12 year career in the public sector my husband decided it was high time we get busy and build the farm we have long dreamed of. We moved to Northern Michigan to start our farm, Witcher Highland Cattle where we raise registered Scottish Highland Cattle. Some say we are nuts to begin yet another career but we are happy to live surrounded by the Manistee National Forrest, Lake Michigan and our beloved farm. Life is good.”

Thanks to Martha for joining us today and sharing a little of her weaving life with us! If you want to check out her beautiful woven pieces (and I know you will!) you can find the Thistle Rose Weaving shop here.

Thanks for taking the time to read, until next time…

Happy Weaving!

Interview with Felicia Lo from Sweet Georgia Yarns

by Kelly Leave a Comment

Today I’d like to introduce you to the lovely Felicia, who grew a successful yarn company from the humble beginnings of a small blog. I love Felicia’s adventurous spirit when it comes to all things fibre and how she continues to learn, explore and create. She also happens to have possibly the cutest two kids I’ve ever seen!

You have a strong interest in more than one type of fibre art. Can you tell us about some of them?

“Yes! Sometimes I wish I could streamline my making and narrow my focus to just one fibre art… but I really do love the interaction of weaving, spinning, dyeing, and knitting. If you’re going to weave, you’ll need yarn… and what’s better than weaving with yarn that you dyed yourself or even yarn that you spun from fibre that you dyed? It’s so powerful to be able to control and affect the finished object at so many levels and can open up your creative possibilities. So the things I make tend to take longer since I want to be involved in the dyeing and weaving processes at the very least. And since colour is so significant as a personal expression, I feel like the work doesn’t have my “signature” on it if the yarn isn’t hand-dyed.

And while we create hand-dyed yarns and fibres at SweetGeorgia, knitting with hand-dyed yarns is really my hobby. I nearly always have a project with me for car rides, soccer practice, swimming lessons, and Netflix nights.”

What attracted you to weaving? How did you learn?

“When I think back, I remember my parents giving me a Fisher Price toy loom when I was a kid. It was basically a rigid heddle loom and it was AWESOME. I remember weaving really thick white acrylic yarn and making a fabric that I hand sewed into a tiny purse. It wasn’t pretty, but I was so young, I just thought it was magic to be able to make something like that.

It wasn’t until I was almost 30 when I actually started to weave. It was actually my spinning teacher that gently enabled me to really start weaving. She taught both spinning and weaving at a school here in the Vancouver area. I took the spinning classes in a room that was FILLED with floor looms. It was inspiring and the itch to weave was inescapable. Originally she told me that weaving used up lots of yarn and since I was making tons of hand-dyed yarn, I just thought it would be a great way of using up yarn.

I joined the weaving class and remember learning how to wind a warp, how to dress a loom back to front, and then for one of my first projects, I wove a silk scarf from yarn that had been handpainted. Every part of the process felt addictive — threading the heddles, sleying the reed, tying onto the front apron rod, throwing the shuttle — all of it was addictive and I was always craving a little bit more. “

How did SweetGeorgia Yarns come about?

“SweetGeorgia happened quite unintentionally. It was 2004 and I was a web developer at the time and I was familiar with blogs, but didn’t realize there was a growing community of knitting bloggers until I started searching Google for information about this Rowan sweater design I wanted to knit (it’s this sweater, if you’re curious: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/audrey). Turns out there was a “knit along” for this sweater design and knitters from all over the world were knitting this pattern, taking photos of it, writing about their process, and documenting their successes and failures. And that’s when I realized that a blog was more than just a way of communicating or recording project details — it was (at that time) a way to participate in the greater craft community.

So of course, I started a blog so that I could also report on my Audrey sweater progress and random bread baking escapades. There were only one or two bread baking blog posts and then I continued to document my learning and experiences in knitting, dyeing, spinning, and weaving. The hand-dyeing I was doing caught the attention of the community and I found a lot of encouragement to continue dyeing and begin a little Etsy shop. So in 2005, I opened a small Etsy shop from my dining room table with three skeins of yarn. Now almost 14 years later, we have a team of about 13 people who help run our production dye studio! “

As a successful business woman who also has a young family, you must get asked the question “How do you do it all?” What are some of your strategies for balancing family, business and creative time?

“It’s funny because I’m asking every other mom/boss the same thing! I think I even asked you, Kelly, this same question over email! I can say, it’s not easy, but I try to keep a good balance of work and family life. Since my kids are still young, they go to school for part of the day and then my youngest, Nina, who is only three years old now, will join me for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. So I squish work time into the hours when they are at school. Then when the kids are with me, I try to be present and put my work away, but we might do things like go to the dye studio together or do some craft room tidying and tasks (they like to wind balls of yarn). I generally never work on weekends or evenings anymore and I try to spend evenings with my husband, but that’s when I also try to squeeze in some knitting or weaving time.

I’ve also discovered this phenomenon where work expands to fill the time that you give it. If you give yourself 4 hours to do a job, it takes 4 hours. But if you only have 3 hours to do the same job, miraculously, it takes only 3 hours. So, I’ve started doing more “time boxing” and giving myself a set amount of time to do any one thing and the thing has to be done within that time frame (because there is no other time to do it). So, this allows me to schedule out my week and account for all the things that need to get done. For example, filming the vlog always happens on Wednesday afternoons between 3 and 4 pm, editing the vlog always happens on Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 am, and all of that needs to happen because the vlog HAS to be published at 10 am on Friday morning. It’s kind of great to give yourself this set window to work… otherwise, editing a video could easily take 8 hours if you let it and then you’ll definitely feel like there is never enough time. “

How many looms do you personally own and which is your favourite?

“It’s so hard to pick favourites! Over the years, I have acquired a few looms including an 8-shaft Louet Spring 110 cm loom, an 8-shaft Schacht Baby Wolf in cherry, a 4-shaft Leclerc Nilus 45”, plus a handful of smaller looms like a 4-shaft Schacht table loom, a Louet 4-shaft Klik loom, an Ashford 16” Sample It rigid heddle loom, an Ashford 20” Knitters loom, and a Schacht 25” Flip loom. Oh and that’s not including two wooden frame looms from Woven Wood Goods and a whole bunch of tiny frame looms from Purl & Loop. Oh dear, when you list them out like that, it looks like a lot of looms… but I’m generally weaving on just about two at a time. And I enjoy having this “fleet” of looms (what’s the word for a whole bunch of looms?) because it gives me the opportunity to lend the portable looms out to weaving-curious friends! I love them all… ok maybe I like the Spring, Baby Wolf, and Sample It looms the best right now because that’s mostly what I’m using on a regular basis. “

What are your favourite fibre/threads to use and why?

“Silk has always appealed to me and so when I first started learning to weave, I only wanted to weave silk and everything with 100% silk. But since that time, I’ve grown to love all kinds of fibres and yarns for weaving. I love untreated wool in the way that it fulls and blooms. And I love cashmere for unrivalled softness. I’m also totally in love with kid mohair and silk and love to use that in the weft. Ultimately, I’m really drawn to the texture and feel of the yarn itself and so I consider how the textures can meld together between warp and weft to make something fabulous to feel. “

What items do you love to weave the most?

“This year I tried doing a little bit of rep weave, having been obsessed with images of it on Pinterest. But I’ve loved weaving big blankets for family and friends and also scarves and shawls. I could just play with the interaction between colour and texture for the next decade (as I have for the past decade) and still wouldn’t tire of it. “

What did you do for work before starting your business?

“I’ve had a number of career changes in my life. I started off as a community pharmacist after graduating from the University of British Columbia. And then shortly after, I transitioned into my own design business. I had started doing graphic design and web development for clients when I was still in university and so when I graduated, so slowly moved away from pharmacy work and moved towards design work. And then when I was 28 years old, I started the SweetGeorgia blog and it morphed into what it is today. I just rolled up my graphic design skills and experience into focusing entirely on SweetGeorgia. “

One of your more recent endeavours is the School of SweetGeorgia. Tell us a little bit about that.

“Yes! Two years ago, I began building an online video-based fibre arts school called the School of SweetGeorgia. The idea was to build up a deep knowledge resource of education for the full spectrum of the fibre arts. From dyeing to spinning to weaving to knitting, sprinkling in a good dose of colour theory and design content as well. The School is currently offered as a subscription-based membership that also includes an active discussion forum and monthly livestream Q&As to help support our members.

This all began when I first published my book “Dyeing to Spin & Knit” and people were inviting me to travel to teach workshops at conferences and shops all over. I have two little kids at home and didn’t want to be away from my family with all these traveling and teaching opportunities. So instead, I decided to film my teaching and workshops so that I could provide education from wherever I am to my students, wherever they happen to be. Then we can all learn and connect from wherever we are.”

What are your plans for the future of your business?

“SweetGeorgia will be celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2020 and we will be three years into the School of SweetGeorgia at that time too. Our mission has always been to bring light to people’s lives through colour and craft, and we’ve been aiming to do that through making beautiful hand-dyed yarn and fibre and designing timeless knitwear patterns for our craft community. In our future, I’d like to see us welcome more makers, weavers, spinners, dyers, and knitters to the craft community. I’d like us to use our focus on education to introduce people to a new hobby or craft that might bring their lives light and joy. “

Being based in Vancouver, Canada, what is one of your favourite places to visit?

“If you come to Vancouver, no doubt I will offer to take you to two of my favourite places — Grouse Mountain where we ski and snowboard in the winter and where my husband and I got married, and Finch’s Tea, my favourite place for sandwiches.”

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Thank you for joining me here Felicia, I know my readers will be so inspired by your story, your enthusiasm and by all you do!

You can visit Felicia by following these links:

Sweet Georgia Yarns

Instagram

Facebook

Thanks for reading friends, until next time…

Happy Weaving!

Interview with Tracy from Knit Spin Weave

by Kelly 6 Comments

Have you ever dreamed of owning a yarn shop? Tracy had that dream and made it happen!

I have known Tracy online for many years. When our children were much younger, we were involved in an online craft community, Crafty Mamas. It was a fantastic little corner of the internet where a group of women shared all manner of crafty projects and ideas. But it was more than that. It was a support and friendship group. Many of the friendships formed have continued to this day.

I know you will love getting to know a bit more about Tracy and how she followed her dreams…

I would say that you are a classic “hands won’t stop” kind of creator. You are proficient in many types of fibre arts, which was the one that started it all for you?

“Knitting. My mum is a knitter and my Nan was a fabulous knitter. I was very close to my Nan as a little girl and I have very strong memories of her and her knitting. I was knitting at 5 years of age. Mum says I very quickly outstripped her skills and was knitting lace by the time I was seven. I learned to crochet when I was 7. We had immigrated to Australia and like many who came from the UK my parents had a hard time settling in their new country. They had decided to go back to the UK but didn’t want to go without seeing some of Australia first, Which is how I ended up in Gladstone, Queensland living in a caravan park. Another little girl was crocheting clothes for her Barbies and she taught me. My parents eventually came to love Australia and we did end up staying.

What attracted you to weaving? How did you learn?

Like many children I had done weaving with paper and had played with cardboard looms. Weaving as a serious interest came after I had learned to spin, I couldn’t knit fast enough to use all the yarn I was producing so I took up weaving. I went on a road trip to visit Bella Head who had a shop and studio in Adelaide and bought a wheel then loom. Bella gave me a little lesson on the wheel but mostly I learned through Interweave and YouTube videos.

How long has your shop Knit Spin Weave been open? Was it always your dream to have a shop?

Knit Spin Weave is in it’s third year. As a teenager I wanted to make my living from knitting but making money from hand knitting wasn’t a very secure income. I ended up going to College and getting a Bachelor of Education. I spent years teaching in the Northern Territory before coming back to South Australia to live. I was a stay at home mum and I took up knitting again, looking for a way to finish something. Raising a family is never something you can finish. Cleaning a house with seven children is never something you can finish. Knitting you can finish and get that satisfaction of completion.As my youngest was growing up and Centrelink were encouraging me to look at my future employment options. I knew I didn’t want to return to teaching. I didn’t have the passion, time and energy to devote to the children I would teach, so I started to think about my options. I took up a part time job which wasn’t an ideal fit and ended up with an emotional breakdown. My confidence of returning back to the workforce was severely shaken. My self worth plummeted and I had a mental crisis. About the same time, Peter my husband came out of work, Peter got shingles and a family member was diagnosed with breast cancer and we had a fire that destroyed our shed. Life just didn’t seem to be worth it anymore. I was pretty much rock bottom. The good part about being rock bottom is there is only one thing left to do and that is change.
The idea of the shop came from the ashes of my life. I was sitting in the studio and Peter came in and told me the insurance were paying us out in cash. He said, you can have half, what do you want to do with it? From nowhere the idea came, I’m going to open a shop. Even though the tough times I have never regretted that decision.
I know I am in the right place for me. I knew it as soon as I had taught my first customer/ friend to crochet and she told me about how tough life was for her at present. As she left I knew I had done something good that would make a difference in another persons life. Being creative is so important to us as human beings. I really think we need to do it for our mental well-being.

You have what many people today would consider a large family. Do you find it hard to balance business and family? Do you have any coping mechanisms to share?

Yes, it is hard to balance. I often feel selfish in having followed my dream. I especially feel guilty about my two youngest as I haven’t spent the time with them that I did with my older children. Peter is now the stay at home parent. He does the main part of the parenting. He’s the one the kids turn to for a hug and tell their troubles too. At times I feel resentful but I try to remember I had the privilege of that with the older children and it’s now Peters turn.The biggest thing I have learned is to let others help. My older children all care for the younger ones. My 16 year old son takes days off school to care for his 11 year old autistic brother. The older children all pitch in. I’m very proud of all of them. I feel incredibly blessed by the wonderful people my children are.

What are your favourite fibres to use and why?

Wool is my favourite. I love the feel of it even the strong wools. I love spinning it from raw fibre or from prepared fibre. It’s so forgiving to weave and knit with.

What single item do you seem to make the most of?

Shawls. I love knitting lace shawls. I don’t wear them. I have a rather large stash of them which made me ban myself from knitting any more. Knitting lace is mindfulness for me. When I knit lace I have to focus, I can’t let the monkey mind play or at the end of the row I am punished by the pattern being out.

There are a variety of classes running at Knit Spin Weave. Do you run the classes yourself? Do you find that your students inspire you?

I run the classes myself. I don’t have enough income to pay anyone else, plus I love teaching. I love guiding others to learn and being part of their journey. It’s a huge privilege to be someones first knitting teacher. We can all remember the person who taught us to knit.

What are your hopes and plans for the future of your business?

My goal right now is just to pay myself. After that I do dream of opening a second shop in Adelaide as the kids get a bit older and start moving to the city for higher education. The online shop is something I got dragged to kicking and screaming but it does pay the bills. I try to limit my time online as it cuts into my creative time.

Being based in South Australia, what is one of your favourite places to visit?

Bundaleer Forest. I love the peace of it. When I need to get away from it all I head out there and walk under the Maples. I take my small frame looms out there and sit and weave. Weaving on small looms is like adult colouring books for me. No one really gets to see them, they don’t really have a purpose or use. They are just pure mindfulness, meditation and connection to a higher being for me.”

Thank you for sharing with us Tracy, I’m sure this interview will be an inspiration to many!

You can find the Knit Spin Weave shop at:

Shop 5/266 Main North Road, Clare 5453

There is also an online shop here

And a Facebook page here.

So, how about you? Have you ever dreamed of owning a yarn shop? Or perhaps another creative business? Let me know about it by leaving a comment, I would love to hear what your dream is!

Interview with Mirrix Looms

by Kelly 7 Comments

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Claudia Chase, President of Mirrix Looms. You may be aware that I am quite taken by the tapestry looms available from Mirrix and have one on my Wishlist, as I discussed in this post.

Photo credit Williams-Prior Art + Design

When did you first become interested in weaving? How did you learn? What attracted you to it?

I became interested in weaving when I was nine or ten. I saw a rigid heddle loom in the home goods department of Macy’s! My parents bought it for me for Christmas. I was hooked. But that was cloth weaving and it would take me many years to realize my passion was actually tapestry weaving. That happened when I was pregnant with my daughter Elena. There was a tapestry course being offered in San Francisco, CA (United States) where I was living at the time. The class seemed more like a gathering of women who wanted to weave together and not a lot of instruction seemed to be happening. They were also doing some natural dyeing and it struck me that although the onion skins were cool maybe the heavy metal they were using to fix it was not the best thing for my pregnant self. I attended two classes. I learned only one thing: I loved tapestry and I was going to master it on my own.

When did you decide to start a business and how did you settle on a name?

I designed the loom with a friend because I wanted a high-end very portable metal tapestry loom. A metal loom existed called the Hagen but the smallest size was 24 inches and I wanted something really small that I could throw in a bag and haul wherever I might go. I didn’t want to miss any opportunity to get in a few weft passes. I also wanted a loom with a more sophisticated shedding device along with excellent tension. Our prototype was ten inches wide. Sometimes life just happens and the next thing I knew I was in business manufacturing portable metal looms. The name came from the joining of a Greek and Italian verb to mirror or to wonder. I just added “ix” at the end and Mirrix was born!

Photo credit Williams-Prior Art + Design

Mirrix looms are quite unique in design and aesthetics. What influenced your decisions on materials and style for your looms?

I wanted to use metal because it is much stronger than wood and one of the biggest failures for small wooden tapestry looms is they cannot withstand the stress of tension and in any case most of them don’t even have a tensioning device. There were a couple of other metal tapestry looms out there and folks were making their own out of copper pipes. I wanted a loom with an easy to use shedding device, perfect tension and portability. We took some old ideas and some new ideas and came up with what we think is the perfect portable tapestry and bead loom.
How many looms do you personally own and which is your favourite?

There are fourteen looms in my studio at this very moment with various stages of tapestries on them. I am always experimenting for new kits, new products and new ways to weave so I need a lot of looms. My favorite size changes over time. For a while I was weaving tiny tapestries on the 5 inch loom. I guess I was looking for intimacy. Currently I am working with all the smaller looms. But I have a lovely piece temporarily in repose on a twenty-two inch loom, which at times has been my favorite size for tapestry. It’s small enough to easily move from space to space and it’s large enough to make a rather substantial tapestry. In the past I have stated that if I could have only one Mirrix Loom it would most likely be the 22 inch loom. But then again, I really do love those smaller looms that peopled my original vision. I would also want one of the smaller looms. Gosh, deciding which one would be quite the dilemma. There is a reason why folks collect multiple Mirrix Looms!

What are your favourite fibre/threads to use and why?

I use wool and silk almost exclusively. I am fascinated with weaving with our hand-painted silk yarn and ribbon. Combining it with wool is magical. For warp I use wool, linen and cotton depending on the project. For about ten years I dyed fleece and the spun it in to yarn. I do hope to get back to that someday because it made my tapestries totally mine.

What items do you love to weave the most?

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with working on smaller pieces. They are little, tiny comments on life and happen quickly so I can move through one a day. In the past I have woven large pieces which take weeks or months to complete. That requires an entirely different mind set. I find lately that I find myself more attracted to the smaller pieces because I can move through a design or color problem much more quickly with small format. I know I will be ready to go back and do a large piece very soon.

What did you do before your weaving business?

Photo credit Williams-Prior Art + Design

I wove tapestry before I began the loom business. Before that I wrote and published poetry and worked as an editor. I had founded a poetry magazine back in the day. My interests range from verbal to visual. I believe I have a healthy dose of ability in each.

I love that your looms are manufactured local to you and at Sunshine House. Can you tell us a little about Sunshine House and how this wonderful collaboration came to be?

Sunshine House provides supported employment for people with physical and mental disabilities. Making a loom is a complex process and the managers there do a fantastic job matching tasks to people’s abilities and setting up work stations to help people with different abilities be successful. It’s a wonderful place and allows people who may not be able to get employment elsewhere to work and to be a part of something truly good.

What are your plans for the future of your business?

We want to continue doing what we’ve been doing all along. We have created a rhythm for doing business whether it’s finding a new audience to developing new looms, accessories and projects. It’s careful and determined. We don’t rush into anything because we want to make sure we are always taking Mirrix in the right direction. Thus far, we have been so lucky with our choices. We do have a new product on the horizon which will allow lightening quick warping of the Mirrix which will both accommodate new weavers but also assist seasoned weavers who want to instantly throw on a warp for sampling or otherwise. We have been working on this new accessory for a year now. It has just survived market testing with flying colors so we are ready to launch!

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in learning weaving?

Start slowly. Sometimes people get into their heads that they want to weave something very complex or very specific and they get frustrated when their skill level doesn’t match their expectations. Weaving is a skill that can take many years to develop. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and start with the basics and you’ll be way more successful. Giving yourself a strong foundation of weaving skills is very important!

Thanks to the Mirrix team for a marvellous insight into your looms and business!

I wanted to add that another thing that really appeals to me about the company is all of the excellent instructions and tutorials you can access on their blog and Youtube. These are people who really want you to succeed in your weaving and I just love that.

To find out more about Mirrix, you can visit them at the following places:

Mirrix website

Instagram

Youtube channel

Interview with Goose Nest Weavers

by Kelly 8 Comments

Today I have the honour of interviewing Jessie from Goose Nest Weavers. I first came across Jessie and her husband Lemuel on Instagram. I was instantly smitten with their beautiful images of old looms, stunning weaving and the fact that this husband and wife team are sharing the joy of weaving, faith and life together.

They have inspired me in many ways and I’m sure you will find them equally fascinating.

I love that you and your husband work and weave together. Which of you started your weaving journey first, and how did it all begin?

I began weaving after I was encouraged by a dear friend to give it a try. I bought a small loom and struggled to learn pretty much on my own. After I retired from my job, my husband and I found a really super school where we could spend a week at a time and have personal instruction. We began at the beginning and not only was I in love with the entire process my husband turned out to be a natural at it too. As a small child my Mom had a friend that was an older lady that made rugs for the community on a loom that went back in her family for several generations. I watched her and itched to be allowed to try. I was 10 at the time, so thank goodness she knew not to allow me any where near the loom. Nearly 30 years later after the lady’s death I now have been able to acquire that loom and that was our first antique loom.

Goose Nest Weavers is a wonderful name for a business. How did your business start and what was your inspiration for the name?

Naming the business was easy. We live in a rural area and over the years there have been small villages that have come and gone. We have a small farm and on the property there was once a small settlement that was called Goose Nest. It has become sort of part of our identity now too. Hence, the only proper name it seemed to us, was Goose Nest Weavers.

To be totally honest we are probably the worst business people in the world. We do some custom work on order but as you well know the time required to begin and follow to completion a hand weaving project is time consuming to say the least. So once you have made people aware that an overshot coverlet is not an on demand kind of thing, that there is probably a month or more involved in producing it , the folks that want to go ahead are the fuel for the creative fire. I really get a buzz from folks that see and understand and appreciate the product as well as, the process.

You and Lem weave specifically on beautiful antique looms. Was this a conscious decision for you?

As I explained I had acquired our first barn loom and after very carefully taking it down and numbering and labelling all her parts I quickly realized that there was very little that I could transfer from my knowledge of the modern loom I had been working on. So I set to looking for a place where I could gain the expertise that was going to be required. I guess you could say that we chose the old looms.

We went to study at the Marshfield School of Weaving. The prime reason being that there you work on 18th century looms. It was the best thing we could have done. The folks there walked us through a project and at the end of the week we were feeling very confident. Kate Smith the director of the school has been a great resource for the looms. We have acquired several from her. Most of them came from someone’s barn or attic.. They look like a pile of sticks when we first see them. We bring them back to Lem’s workshop for some TLC and before long they are up and functioning again. Currently we have four old looms that we are weaving with plus one new loom. There are about 4 or 5 more that are waiting to be given a good cleaning and be put to work.

Have there been any challenges or difficulties in working with old looms?

Oh you know, these “old ladies” are quite the characters. Sure there are tricks and tweaks that you have to acquaint yourself with each. Because they are generally pretty old, we have several that are now more than 200 years old, they have been built with a combination of woods, each species reacts differently to temperature and humidity, the “Girls” can be temperamental.

We do our best to keep everything environmentally on an even keel. But, that being said there is nothing more satisfying than sitting down to spend time with a piece of equipment that has become like an old friend and allowing her to glide through a job just as she has for the past two hundred years. You can very nearly feel all the hands that have asked her to work for them over the centuries guiding your hands. We were told early on that looms have a feminine nature. As you move your hands and feet to get her to do your work it is very like dancing with a lovely lady. So it is imperative that you treat her as you would a “lady”. I must admit it seems to work the charm.

Do you have any favourite fibres or threads?

We both prefer natural fibers, we use a great deal of cotton and linen in conjunction with wool in several weights.

What items do you love to weave the most? Do you have a favourite weave structure?

Lemuel enjoys weaving heavier projects. He especially enjoys making rugs, either the traditional rag rug or we have become acquainted with a Venetian pattern that dates back to a weaver in the 1700’s.

I prefer making household linens. Towelling and blankets. However, my all time favourite is Overshot and Summer & Winter coverlets.

What did you and Lem do before your weaving business?

My goodness we have been jacks of several trades. Lemuel worked with his family on the family farm and when his health dictated a change he had his own business as an Equine Dentist.

As the wife of a farmer I worked on the farm too, while working as a medical office receptionist and later as a letter carrier for the Postal Service on the side.

What plans do you have for the future of your business?

Go slowly. Enjoy what we are producing. Make sure that what we are asking the looms to produce is something that we will proud to put our names on and be associated with for many years maybe generations to come.

We have become aware of several 18th and 19th century weavers that worked in our community. Once folks found out what we doing they have brought us their family treasures to share with us the skills of the generations of their families. We want to be producing coverlets and rugs of a quality that will allow the folks that own them to pass them down their families with pride.

Do you have some advice for those who are interested in learning to weave?

I would say don’t worry about starting a business. Allow yourself to fall in love with the craft. It requires a steady hand, the time to do a thing properly. If you will do those things you will find that there is so much that artistically you can explore. Color, texture, fibers, more and more.

Find someone who you can depend on to mentor you. I’m old school and a real person is good for me but you younger minds can probably make the internet work for you. The craft of weaving has been around since before the pyramids and the process is essentially the same, the only difference is that the creative spark that you have is yours alone and it can make a very big impression if you set it free.

You can visit Goose Nest Weavers on Instagram
and
check out their Etsy shop.