Good Things Are Headed Our Way!

August 8th will be my 3 year anniversary living in Gatlinburg. Since moving here I have found some wonderful friends that are very creative and inspiring. After talking with them about needing some extra income, we decided to put all of our skills together and form a Co-Op of Fiber Artists, Smoky Mountain Colors . Each of us have a passion for the fiber arts, and though our talents over lap, we always end up with a very different and individual result.

Please visit our Etsy shop and our Facebook page to see our new items. We plan on having hand dyed with professional acid dyes, natural hand dyed, including indigo and woad, wet felted items, blended fibers, hand woven garments and accessories and much more. Right now we have some beautiful, hand dyed, handspun and natural dyed yarns.

This is our welcome and what we are about.

Welcome to Smoky Mountain Colors! We are a Co-Op of fiber artists, each with years of dyeing, spinning, felting, carding and knitting experience. We live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and are inspired by the colors of the mountains, the local people and the legacy of the Appalachian women that came before us.

I look forward to sharing more about the co-op and I really appreciate you taking the time to check us out.

Blessed Be

Starting this post I first has to say that I totally love spinning. It was wonderful spinning on a drop spindle and it's wonderful spinning on my SideKick. With that said, I have to admit that I wish I could spin as well on the wheel as I do with the spindle. LOL. But, like the spindle it will take time to get the feel of it and get comfortable. The photos below are photos of the first three bobbins I've spun. The blue/purple is the very first bobbin, the one behind it is the third. The pic below that is the second bobbin. Both dark colors are a Colonial that I had for felting and the light color is a Merino that was given to me.

Previously I have posted about the workshop that is happening at Smoky Mountain Spinnery on Feb. 18th.  I have a few pics to share that will give you a better idea of the Nuno Felting (the instructor) and 2 Handed Fair Isle, if you are not familiar with them.

We will be working with aran weight yarns so you will be able to get our hat project if not done, then almost finished. I will be available on 19th from 11-2 to help anyone finish it up.

In closing I just have to  acknowledge how grateful I am for all that's been going on in my life and the lives of my family and friends. The women in my life are strong in the face of their tests, and the men have stepped up and showed themselves to be the father's, husbands and friends that were and are needed to their families. I have a hope and expectation that wonderful things are on the horizon. Dreams do come true, yes it takes persistence, commitment and focus, but the journey to achieving the dream is where you find the substance. Learn who you are, learn about those around you and believe that every step is guided and has happened for a reason. Wonderful things come in all packages, and from unexpected sources.

Schacht Sidekick

Today has been the best day ever. I haven't had a day like this in a long time. The weather around East Tennessee was perfect (for me) a little warm, cloudy skies and light rain. So cozy. And after I taught a crochet class, look what I brought home.

Many of you that know me, know that I have battled with getting a wheel for a long time. I had been waiting for the right one, well we met. I love the Matchless, and will probably end up with one of those down the road, but today it's all about the Sidekick. I have spun all afternoon. So combine the weather, hot coffee, and spinning and I'm in heaven.

One the previous post I put out the information about the felting and fair isle classes coming up on the 18th. I wanted to post some pictures of what would be made in the felting class a long with the instructor.

I hope that you can join us for our workshop. We are planning on having a lot of fun. If you are interested or would like to reserve your seat, please contact me at knittingsatori@gmail.com.

Thanks so much,

WORKSHOP NEWS:

I'm so excited about this. On Feb. 18th, 2-5pm I'm teaching a beginning Fair Isle class. In the morning we are having a Nuno Felting class, here is the info for you. Come to the Smoky Mountains for the weekend and enjoy the mountains, fiber and learn something new.


Fair Isle, Two Handed Technique
Instructor: Saundra McBride

Learn this beautiful technique in an afternoon. By using two balls of yarn and your own color choices you can now add a whole new level to your knitting. If you have avoided fair isle knitting because you thought it was complicated or hard learn, this method of 2 handed fair isle will surprise you.

We will cover the basics of 2 handed fair isle, yarn choices, color choice, pattern/chart reading and creating your own fair isle charts.

In class we will be starting your first project. Supplies will be provide and included in the fee.

Fee: $85

For further information and or reserving your seat please call (865) 436-9080

and

Nuno Felting Instructor: Sallie Stamps Swor

Are you ready to learn an exciting fiber art technique and walk away with the most gorgeous piece of wearable art? If the answer is yes, then this is the perfect class for you. This workshop will teach the fine art of Nuno Felting, one of the oldest methods of creating non-woven fabric. It involves taking wonderfully soft pieces of hand dyed roving (wool that has not yet been spun) and a feather weight silk and combining the two together. You will be using your own love of color, soapy water and gentle pressure to create a beautiful and completely unique scarf. Everything you need to create this scarf will be provided. Just bring your own artistic spirit. This is one piece you’ll never want to give away. Come join us to learn a new art and have a fabulous time!

Class fee: $125 (includes all supplies)

Please call us for more information and to reserve your space. (865) 436-9080

Knitting, Stuff and More Stuff

Finally I have pictures.

Last year I bought some beautiful sport weight hemp and made soap pouches out of it for gifts. Well while I have been on this washcloth kick I remembered that I had some left over so off to the stash I went. And I had just enough for this washcloth. It's my own pattern and I will post it soon. Well actually I'll post it as soon as I figure out a way that I can either add a page or start another blog for just my patterns. (any suggestions or help in this area would be great appreciated). I'm going to name this washcloth pattern after one of my students. LOL. She'll know it when she sees it.

Then in an email from Knitting Daily I seen this book. I had to have it even though I had promised myself I had enough knitting books to last me a life time and I wouldn't really purchase anymore for awhile. I just had to have this book. I have a lot of family members that are very much into Eastern culture, martial arts and Eastern Philosophy. Knitting them kimonos will be the perfect gifts for them. I can't wait to pick one and get started on it.

Back in the Spring I started another Fair Isle Felted bag. Well finally I got off my ass and finished and got it felted this week. It didn't turn out as nice as I had hoped, but that's what I get for getting in a hurry.

here it is before felting

Now I have to pack a few OTN projects to take to Tennessee with me. The kids and I are leaving in a few days for mom's. Hopefully I have some quiet days of knitting in the Smoky Mountains ahead of me.

Blessed Be

No Title, Just Stuff

Back before I left for TN. I felted the fair isle tote I was working on. I bought handles for it and they looked TERRIBLE beside it, so I thought I better go ahead and get a picture of the Over Felted Bag on the blog. Yup 3 extra minutes came make or break you sometimes. It's not un-usable though. I still plan on finding some handles that will go with it. What happened was when I was felting it, I got side tracked by an upsetting call from the EX. By the time I was off the phone the damage had been done and my bag turned into a very tightly felted fabric. Actually it went from tote size to handbag size. LOL. But I will save it. I'll get those handles and probably give it away because it reminds me of that damn phone call with Mr. X. The good news is while I was in TN a box of wool came from Elann.com with the yarn for my next fair isle bag.

On to better things. I finished two more hats for the Dulaan Project and 2 Squares for Project Compassion. The hats I used two different wools. Lion Brands wool and Patton's Classic Wool. I don't know if you have ever used the Lion's Brand wool before, but in my opinion the Patton's felts so much nicer. Maybe because I'm just use to it. But, I made two more of the Felted Toddler hats and the one made from the Classic Wool looks so much better. My squares I used Debbie Bliss DK and let me tell you that yarn is a pleasure to work with. It feels so good.

My socks are coming along. Cross your fingers but I'm hoping to have them done next week. I figure that gives everything that will interrupt me time to do their thing and I can get on with the important stuff, like knitting. LOL.

It has been a crazy few weeks. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. I think I would have went nuts if I hadn't had my knitting, my knitting friends and my knitting blogger friends. I hope that we as a knitting group next take for granted the power that we have to help each other, even those that we have never met face to face, still have such an important place in the well being of each person they contact through the blogs. I really love you guys, you're the best!

When Ever Bag

Are you ready for a couple of pre felted pictures? LOL. I am just about 2 rows from finishing and I thought I'd get some pre felted pictures. Right now I'm planning on purchasing handles for it.

I am hoping that the random changes in yarn will add a little something to the bag after it's felted. Of course there is the possibility that after the felting you won't be able to tell. LOL. That would be funny. But this is just a fun bag anyway.

Some private life news. I am only sharing this because I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers. My EX, is acting up again. Without going into all the long ugly details, he is stirring once again and it making life disruptive and up setting for me and especially the kids. We will be fine but it looks like we might have to go through some more ugly before we get there. Life is just like that sometimes.

Blessed Be