Wednesday, May 31, 2006

My very own exhibition!


This past January when the Richmond Public Library called me to say that the jury would be happy to let me exhibit, I almost went through the roof.
So for the past 6 months I've been steadily working at it.
Here's the brochure for my exhibition that goes up at 7pm on Friday.
I shall be at the Richmond public library all day on Friday.
Here's the link http://www.richmondpubliclibrary.org/events/artists/062006/kashyap.htm

Jone 6th: WHEW! All done. Opening night was great fun. I saw some folks from my old spinning guild & talked my tail off! AND I met Mira from the Panera knitting group (the kind I don't seem to find in Alexandria...). She's expecting a baby in August & looks lovely!

Lisa: thank you so much for your kind comment. I do hope you have the time to visit the exhibition.

Monday, May 29, 2006

COLOR AHOY!! More from the dye pot...




I've dyed up some more superwash. Superwash 100% Merino, Superwash Merino/Nylon ( to knit up in KOIGU-like patterned socks - shown in the long row above) & plain superwash Wool/Nylon - below, most of which shall be going up on my Etsy shop in 48 hours or the 1st & 2nd of June.
LOVE the colors!! Could take a bite out of these :)
FREE SHIPPING for a minimum of 2 purchases if you mention my blog.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

LESSONS IN SIMPLICITY.



Many master weavers would say that this ridiculously long piece of textile was a well...long mistake.
1. Intended to measure a 6 feet warp but ended up doing 12!
2. The yarns that I chose for weft gave anything but clean edges (which I love).
3. I wove the weft very randomly.
4. Changed my treadling sequence randomly (from 1/3, 2/4 to 1/2, 3/4)

However, as I sat weaving the never ending project in the studio, 3 feet into it, I had a 'moment'. This is what I strove to acheive in all my projects as a student of architecture- beautiful simplicity.
2 colors & 3 textures. And whimsy. Eash time I look at this textile, I'm taken back to every project I ever did in grad or undergrad when I could finally take a step back & say 'I think this'll do'.
The warp was a poppy red mercerised cotton. The weft was a rayon flake in a grey/green/blue & a red (same color as warp) nylon blend that was much thicker. You don't see the thread but you DO so the texture it creates!

Friday, May 12, 2006

The lusciousness of it all!


This weekend I dyed some Superwash sock yarn with Nylon. The colors came out stunning. And the skeins feel sooo silky!

Free shipping for the month of May if you mention my blog.

More to come from the dye pot this weekend.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

The Maryland Sheep & Wool Pilgrimage.

The shawl above knocked me off my feet. Every single yard of lace weight in there was hand spun on a spindle! Click on the image for a better view. I think it won best of everything cos it was covered in ribbons. Apparently the winner spun specific lengths of colored yarn so she didn't have to stop & join anywhere. It was gorgeous. Ofcourse there was no touching allowed.

I want to knit a sweater like this! All thick & thin (worsted to bulky). It looked so beautifully textured. I love how it ribs. The size was for a young person.

Some lucky booger's ma or grandma handwove this entire beautiful blanket for them & then put adorable crocheted animals on the border!

This was a kind of cloak/poncho/shawl (?) Amazingly detailed felted work & needle work on it!

A hand spun sweater. I tried to get a detailed shot so you can see the different kinds of yarns used. The colors were natural & lovely.

The weather was gorgeous & I could barely stop myself from jumping all over the fiber goodies! I stuffed my face with strawberry ice-cream & country style french fries & my car with giga tons of delicious raw fiber to spin.
OK. Enough about me.

The kaleidescope shawl in particular almost caused me to pass OUT! If Anne Grout (i think) of State College, PA had been present there, I would have fallen at her feet & begged her to take me in as a pupil for life.
Another favorite of mine was the hand spun thick'n'thin sweater in cream & dark brown.
The rest were fabulous too.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Renee knits with my yarn.




Renee, a talented Canadian photographer & fiber artist had purchased yarn from me some time ago & sent me pictures of what she made with them. Right now my head feels swollen the size of a water melon! I love the bead-work she incorporated in the scarf first from left!

Renee’s very unique photography may be viewed at enchantedcottage.etsy.com
I admire her composition.


Friday, May 05, 2006

SOCK 'EM SENSELESS!


More sock yarns & lace weights from the maw of the dye pot.
This time I decided to leave some of them in their 'painted' states. I love the stark contrasts.
The rest are here. Free (domestic USA) shipping on all yarns if you mention my blog (end of May only).