Yarn Shop Hop

While we were on our business retreat we had to feed our yarn addiction.  We stop at several yarn shops and craft supply stores to fill up our stashes.  There are several between the beach and the mountains so we stopped at a few of them.

Our first stop was the yarn Mecca Friends and Fiberworks in Candler.  I was in overwhelm with all of my favorite yarns and accessories.  I found some great novelty yarn to make a summer shawl project from.  I am addicted to the polymer clay buttons they sale.  They are like candy.

Next I had to go to Earth Guild the craft supply store in downtown Asheville with all the unique products for handcrafted fiber projects.  Weaving, basketry, knitting, surface design, batik, etc.  I had to get supplies for my upcoming basket workshops I am teaching.

Next we went to the Knitting Diva yarn shop and teaching center in North Asheville.  The owner is a fellow UpLeveler and we got to chat about the healing properties of knitting and yarn. I got some wonderful bulky yarns and books and a handcrafted mug with my favorite phrase 'knitting is cheaper than therapy'.

  

Finally, on our layover in Chapel Hill due to the storm on super bowl Sunday we stopped at Downtown knits in Apex, NC.  Tad a 🎉  I was in heaven!  A yarn shop and a sewing center with all latest and trendy yarns and fabrics.  The owner and her teaching staff were warm and friendly.  A nice cozy place to take classes and just sit and stitch.

I am so happy that I was able to connect with other crafters as well as learn new business concepts at the retreat.  It was a perfect balance for me and I enjoyed getting out and about with my fellow 'Crafty Diva's.'

September Spinning

September has been a very creative month.  I started out the month making quilt tops from my hand crafted fabric and making felted beads and turning them into jewelry.  All along knitted cross body bags and a sweater.  I finished off the month spinning yarn  on my spinning wheel and creating art yarn on my hand spindle.  Then dyeing and stamping silk scarves while waiting on hurricane Joaquin to disappear from the radar.  I guess I've been channeling the creative and Upleveling spinning energy of the Universe this month.

Improv Quilting with Hand painted fabric

Twelve years ago I started painting on fabric.  I wanted to design my colorful collection of fabric to use in home decor.  One of  the projects I wanted to make was quilting with hand painted fabric.  I'm not a precise sewer.  My finishing skills suck to say the least.  I'm also a perfectionist so I never let myself be totally free in my improv attempts.  This all changed this week.  I finally got that 'aha' moment yesterday when I was playing with scraps from a patchwork quilt top I made last week.  I'm not finished with this mini quilt or the patchwork one.  I still gave to do the backing and I think that I will paint more fabric for that.  But, I'm in love with this little scrappy quilt.

My process in crafting this quilt.

The patchwork quilt I made last week.

My first stack of handpainted quilts from 2003.

Scarf to Quilt

Remembering the process.  I started this last February.  After I washed them the fabric frayed on a few of them.  So, then I couldn't sell them as planned.  Next I put them in a bag in the back of the closet.  Next I made space in my studio had my machine repaired.  I was frustrated and confused about what to create next.  I picked up my neon knitting (which is pure meditation for me) and voila the idea came to dig in my closet and see what would resurface.  I got this brilliant idea, but it was too hot in my studio yesterday.  I was frustrated , crabby and zen all day.  I wanted to start stitching but couldn't make myself go in there.  I let it go.  Woke up this morning and boom started stitching.  Love it!!

The process.

My batik scarves stitched together. Now, the question is do I hand quilt it? Machine quilt it? Or both? First though the backing fabric. I'm loving it and I don't want to ruin it by over thinking.