Monday Morning

One of the things I do on my personal blog is write on Monday about what is going on what I am thinking and intending for the week. I thought that might be fun here. Over there I use a framework and I think I will use something like it here, but not the same one.

Right now I am...
In my kitchen drinking coffee, from the mug my Mother-in-law gave me. I have a fresh lemon and rosemary infusion scenting the air.

In Video Production...
I have one more section - the results - to work on for the green skein video I mentioned in the chatty podcast and then some minor edits. I am hoping to have it live on Wednesday. Shooting will begin on the New Mystery Spin video this week! I am really curious to see what is in the box!

On the Wheel...
Actually, right at this moment nothing but I am working on some test skeins of Corriedale Wool for a friend who will be knitting an Aran sweater. We are working together on this as a gift for (not telling) and I have spun an oiled 2-ply Spun Z-S, next is an oiled three ply Spun Z-S, then both again but Spun S-Z, then one (whichever she is leaning towards liking best) un-oiled. I am making her one oz samples to swatch and compare. This project will be fit in around other things.

On the Loom...
Will be a blanket, I have decided to weave and waulk a wool blanket, partially as a get to know the ins and outs of this loom, partially as a demo piece for The Rare Breeds Show at Garfield Farm Museum.

In the Dyepot...
More self striping yarn!

Papers and Bolts...
This week I need to send in the application for another show and get in contact with the guy who runs my farmer's market.  I also really need to update the Etsy and Square Stores!

Who I am watching... 
Mina at Knitting Expat. Grace at Spin Weekly. Rachel at Wool N' Spinning. And Kate at Milk Thistle.

Ducks in a row

That is what I am working on this week! Getting all my ducks in a row for this weekend's show. I am really looking forward to Spring Treasures this weekend at the Waukesha Expo!!! I have two new videos in the works and some organizing and labeling to do. I also need to make new tablecloths!

Spring Treasures
Waukesha Expo Center
Saturday 10-4
Sunday 11-4

See you there!

We will see you there

We are pleased to announce that we are getting things ready to go for:

Spring Treasures Craft & Art Fair
Saturday February 18 10am-4pm
Sunday February 19 11am-4pm
Waukesha Expo Center - 1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha, WI

 

See you there! ~Julia

 

The Start of A New Year

You might be thinking I loaded the wrong photo to the blog or that I meant to be loading this photo of the hearth-side cooking to I did in December to a different blog. Nope. It is right where I wanted it.

I have a lot of pot going at anyone time, as most of us do, I am using this photo here today to illustrate that and to talk about the start of the new year. Which for me is like the preparations for a big meal right after a different feast. I have lots of clean up to do from last year, my studio is in such a state you might run screaming! I have new pots to put on the fire - or to eliminate the metaphor - new projects and ideas to get rolling on, new show applications to get filled out, new locations to check out, new ideas to grow and expand into! I am bursting with enthusiasm! But - to return to the metaphor- not a lot ready to show you, the outside of the dutch oven is not particularly exciting no matter how tasty the contents are.

It is time to roll up my sleeves, dig out the studio, fill out the forms, check out the... you get the idea... I am off to work.
~Julia

The to-do list before the Show

I have a terrible habit of starting projects and then getting called away. When I come back is were the terrible part comes in, I don't always finish the project I was working on, sometimes I do, sometimes I start a different thing. Then I get called away... Are you noticing a pattern?

So before this weekend's show, I need to clean house of partially done projects. I have embroidery kits, crochet hook cases, knitting needle cases, and project bags. I also have to print out the instructions for the felting kits (more in this post) and add them to the kits.

I have some beautiful new skeins and weaving to inventory and tag. (This sounds quick but it actually takes quite a bit longer than I ever give it and I really don't want to put it off until Friday or worse Friday night!)

I have to either finish making the new tablecloths, they are a bright blue knit and are giving me some trouble, or buy Holiday tablecloths.

I want to pick up a small tree - we have some beautiful wooden and beaded ornaments to offer this time! - to show these off.

I want to do some dyeing in larger lots and maybe do some more embroidery skeins.

I also need to make a few more fascinators and vessels.

Okay, well looking at that, I really need to get off the computer and get to work.

Julia

The show

On Saturday I will be at:

I will be at the Jackson school location.

Harbor Market - June 2

It rained! All day! But people came and enjoyed themselves despite that. Here is some photos from the prep work and then from drying of day (Thank you mister rain!)

In the works.

Blended wool being removed from Carder.

Un-dyed single on the wheel.

Upcycled sweater project - really enjoying some clothes rescue this spring.

Things are cruising right along here in the studio! Getting items made, labelled, and soon post to the web-stores. Some of you may have noticed that I was accepted at Harbor Market this year and will be at Garfield Farm Museum's Rare Breed Show and at Westosha Market! Looking forward to seeing the new location there. My dates for these shows is to the the right.

Excited about the coming Season!~Julia

The connections you make

 One of the greatest treats for me as an artisan is to have someone show me how they took something I worked to create and used it for their own act of creation. I love chatting with people at the markets and shows, and of course hearing that people appreciate the work I do, but seeing the joy others get from working with my products to make something unique to them. So far I have only have two ladies show me their work, I have had people stop by to tell me how well recieved a gift purchased from me was.

Trust me, the craftspeople you see in the markets want you to not just buy our work we make, we want it to bring you joy, we want it to enrich your life. If it is a finished good we want you to love using it and remember why you brought it, who you were with, the beauty of the day and the experience of meeting the artist. If it is a supply, ingredient, or tool, we want you to use it, to touch it and have all those memories, to make with it or to make it into something that carries all those meanings with it.

So the next time you find yourself at a craft fair or farmer's market, stop by and tell them you liked the product or art work you bought, show us what you made, tell the farmer the tomatoes you bought at the end of the year made amazing tomato sauce your family enjoyed all winter, tell me your sister loved the shawl you bought her, or how much your baby enjoys crawling on the blanket. I won't be sitting there thinking "I hope she buys more" all though if you want more I won't stop you! I will be glad to know the energy, love, and work I sent out into the world is appreciated.

If you bought a skein or roving from me, I would LOVE to hear about what you made, how you liked the yarn, and what you learned while working on it! So a big thank you to this client for stopping by last week wearing the hat she made from the skein of grey scale yarn she bought two weeks before. You absolutely made my day and the hat looks great!

~Julia

In the studio, in the market

This is in process, I got this really, really dirty Cotswold fleece and after washing, picking, and carding it I started to spin it. It still had too much lanolin for me to be comfortable with so I stopped at a single and washed it again. It came out great. I am considering dying it now and plying it as a boucle or spinning the rest of the fleece and deciding then.

I have been working on a blind breed study with the ladies of my spinning guild. This one was fun to spin and knit. I am still not sure what breed it is but, it will make a great sweater.

This is another breed in the study and is soft and full.

This is a fun picture. The yarn is from the breed study, I am making it into a nice welcome mat. The sleeping cat is Racer, he is good company and well mannered enough to know that the yarn and roving is NOT a cat toy.

My both at the Westosha Market showcasing my new woven scarves. Also hats, hand-dyed roving in natural and acid Dye and some jewelry! That's Melanie in the back, she runs things at the market and is absolutely great with help and ideas.

Here is some of mine and some of Dad's amazing woodwork, he really knows how to let the wood speak for itself, shining the story of the life of tree into a functional bit of artwork. The crochet hooks are a dream to work with!

Very one needs a friend, someone to keep you company, talk you through the troubles in life, be there for the great things, convince you to let good of that which causes you no end of stress, inspire you to craft more and be the you you're meant to be, and watch your booth while you grab a lemonade or run to the bathroom. This is one is mine. Thank you Resee for always being there when I need you.

Notice the lemonade!

Some changes

Washed Cotswold wool

... and comes out the other side much cleaner and opened up.

Then I card it up.

Fluffy batt waiting to be spun.

The wool enters the picker...

I've been trying to decide what the right direction is for me as an artist, a businesswoman, and a Mom.  Hopefully the changes I am making will bring me closer to my goals. Check out the new market site. I'll be posting more show date as soon as they are confirmed.

busy as a bee

 Last month we made a few layout changes! I did new blue table covers and I really feel that this new layout works better and is more inviting! I also demonstrated spinning all day which really had people coming in to talk and learn.

Here is what is new in the studio! I have been dying up a storm!  I have a 12 step color wheel going here - ready for tomorrow's fair.

My son - I mean assistant - hard a work. Of course I sold more while he was asleep, in front of the cash box, than while he was awake trying to actually help. I plan on borrowing Mom's lounger chair for him and letting him sleep in comfort tomorrow. He has been working hard as football season has started and having him there is nice, even when he is asleep. I am mean and wake him up if I need to use the restroom.

Show Day!

A bit suddenly it seems I am off to my first show day of the season.  This is a craft fair at a friend's children's school.  Stocker Elementary in Kenosha Wisconsin!  See you there! here is a tasty yarn picture.

Some pretty yarns all packed up.

I am feeling a bit unprepared as we have not figured out which phone to buy so I can't yet take credit in person.  Hopefully, it will be a good day anyway!

Julia