Lamb's Love Studio

Playing with my iPhone

Such a random post all made possible through two apps --typepad and art camera Took this picture with the iphone in the pasture near our ground on the river and the tweaked it with art camera -- oh and the cows were not impressed--but the looks they were giving us could be because we were eating hamburgers on the tailgate!

Spinning and keeping vigil

Mom is dying. Her 22 year constant battle with breast cancer is almost over. I had to leave home to come stay with her these last few weeks. I brought my spinning wheel. I appreciate so much being able to spin while keeping vigil. The quiet whir of the wheel comforts me without disturbing her. I can stay with her constantly, yet have something to keep my hands occupied.

On the Fiber Arts Trail in New Mexico

Today we headed North. First stop Espanola and the Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center. This was a awesome place where fiber artists buy supplies, take classes and work on projects for themselves and to sell.  Everyone was so friendly and helpful and I wished we had such a wonderful cooperative back home. I got some bargains and some Pendleton Mill ends to use for a small rag rug.  Next on to Taos and Weaving Southwest -the home of my dream wheel - The Rio Grande Spinning Wheel. The gallery was awe inspiring and the yarns a work of art in themselves organized in colorways along the walls. I treated myself to 5 skeins destined to become a woven blouse.  Then down the street to La Lana Wools - WOW - Why did this have to be my last stop when the wallet was at its thinnest!  Their naturally dyed hand spun yarns were incredible - The spinners and dyers here are truly masters of their craft. I only purchased some silk to blend with some of the fiber I already have at home- Next time I will make this one of my first stops.  Tomorrow we head for Colorado but there is a Fiber Festival at Pagosa Springs we will try to get to - more fiber goodness!!!!!!!

 

 

A fibery vacation

Dh said lets head south to New Mexico - so here we are - I did some scouting and decided to visit yarn  and fiber stores along the way.  I've made two stops so far and found some great yarn. I want to find fiber - but maybe when we head to Taos tomorrow I'll have better luck. Here are my finds so far:

 

First Albuquerque - A stop at the outlet store of Fiesta Yarns

A camera phone picture doesn't do it justice but this is a buttery soft kid mohair and merino blend 

This boucle is an interesting colorway called Australia of 42 % Kid mohair, 25% silk, 25% wool and 8%nylon

Next stop was Oodles a yarn and bead store in Santa Fe

A skein of Synchroncity 50% silk and 50% wool by Alchemy Yarns and two of Cocotte by Laines Du Nord of a 80%wool acrylic plus a small bit of kid mohair actually bought at fiesta - They all make a beautiful sea green/blue comination that is a perfect combination for summer.

 

Tomorrow we are going a little south to Madrid and then back North to Taos

Wired

MY Dh and I recently saw something on the web about how women's brains are so wired that one thought leads to another in milliseconds and never stays on one subject. I kind of think it must be true - one minute I am thinking about spinning which leads to weaving then =to crochet =to Ravelry =to my latest magazine= to beading=to clay=to=to=to =to-===========getting nothing accomplished. When I do start a project I am beset with guilt over all the other "projects" I should be working on  - Oh well - I am doing pretty well in the spending time with the grandkids dept :) 

 

 

                               

                          

Handmade Buttons

My DH says I am ADDQRP - it is his acronym for crafting attention deficit disorder. Actually I just want to make things, LOTS of THINGS. This latest endeavour comes from wanting unique buttons for my fiber creations. So out came the polymer clay, the inks, and the glazes. 

  

I like the traditional clay methods like mixing the clay colors, making canes, etc but I have totally fallen in love with making a faux ceramic button. Polymer clay is lighter than traditional clay and although there are quite a few steps there is no Kiln required.

 

 

The end result is wonderful!

 

So for two days the spinning wheel has been sitting idle while I have been on a button binge...

 

 

I finished something!

I feel accomplished -the loom still sits idle but my wheel has been going and I used my small loom to weave some art yarn into a little bag.  The yarn was a conglomeration of odds and ends gathered for a crazy batt at Camp Pluckyfluff. All types of fiber including some mohair and some locks were carded together with angelina, cut yarns and even shredded money from the federal reserve bank.  If you look closely you can see some of the money at the top of the bag.  I made the strap on my 4 peg wood knitting spool and then embellished the front with three vintage metal buttons and 2 vintage "bakelite",  I think, plastic buttons. All stiched together with a strong upholstery thread. 

   

   

  Not warped yet but definitely out of the box, assembled, and ready to go. My goal is to warp by Wednesday  I am looking forward to camp pluckyfluff less than 3 weeks away !

setting up the loom

 God is good! all the time! - I am looking forward to watching this next year unfold according to His will. Ok the loom is in the living room next to the couch - warping is next.  Didn't make it to the yarn shop - yet-anyway there are still a few hours left in the day so it is not out of the question! 

The thorn in my flesh

Ouch, I hurt everywhere and I am tired - even with 14 hours of sleep.  My brain is better today I am out of my fibrofog.  I am soooo frustrated - so much I want to do  BUT I simply physically can not do it all.   Therefore I resolve to do the basic housework and complete 2 projects in the next week - I WILL set up my new rigid heddle loom and I WILL visit Twist yarn shop and use my wonderful coupon.  Does writing "will" in all caps guarantee success -  nope!  but " when I am weak, then I am strong. "