What?Why? Wednesday - Episode 1

The Boucle is a lie

***This post is also published on my website blog. I will be cross posting for the foreseeable future.***

When one thinks of boucle yarn, one thinks of soft, elegant, feminine. Nothing but sugar, spice, and everything nice. "The soft texture of boucle yarn adds a feminine touch to career wear without the need for ruffles or bows." -Appleseed's

This boucle yarn, however is none of those things, despite the characteristic loops.

While dreaming up this yarn, I began to think of everything it meant to be 'woman'. Our expectations are to be soft, elegant, and we are often pressured into being those things. Often we mask ourselves as those things by wearing prettier clothes, doing our hair just right, adding either a little or a lot of makeup. We further this facade through a lot of our behaviours as well. We smile and nod. We take a deep breath when interrupted, and allow the other person to finish their thought, sometimes allowing the conversation to veer and completely loose our place and therefore our voice in the matter. We apologize for taking up space. All of these things to be "perfectly feminine."

Using the coarsest top(likely lincoln long wool) in my fibre stash, I spun the loop singles. Using one of the coarser fibres (a corriedale - yes, that's a coarser one ;) ) I had in my stash I spun both the core and the wrapping yarn. Yes, this yarn is properly constructed as a boucle. This yarn, while it looks perfectly feminine, is harsh, and wiry, and scratchy, and not something you want to cuddle up to.

Speaking for myself (as truly I can only do that) I know more often than not by combination of my stature and soft features, people find it odd when I present in a way that they "just don't see in me." I'm cute, and dainty, and sweet. When I choose heavier makeup, and when I want to wear something a little out of the box for a fine boned, gentle girl. I wanted a sharp faux hawk for my wedding day, but was convinced a "softer look" was more feminine. I wanted a side shave hair cut, and the hair dresser softened it. Because someone like me is soft, and feminine... I've been dress shopping and when I choose something a little more out there, I'm greeted with that "look," the one that says "what the hell are you even trying to prove?" All of this experience has made me a bit rigid, a bit abrasive, a bit harsh. But I hide it behind a facade of soft femininity so the world is more comfortable. If you get really close you will know, but from a far you can't see it.

~Kara

Opportunity

**This post is also published on my website blog at https://www.spinheartspin.ca/blog-1 **

It's easy to bloom where you're planted if the soil is fertile, and your roots do not need to stretch great distances for sustenance.

In the summer (2019) we moved from Goodsoil (ironically named in this case) to Saskatoon. Our reasons were many but one reason, above the others, was opportunity. When you are so far removed from the greater population, the opportunities are scarce, and you have to travel frequently and often great distances to take advantage of the few that check off enough of the boxes on the rather long list of how to make the opportunity viable and not costly.

In the 2 months we have been in Saskatoon, opportunity has knocked and knocked again. I've gone and "pounded the pavement" more than once, and have multiple opportunities ahead of me to choose from. One I'm relatively excited about is the Community Arts and Artisanship Program offered at the University of Saskatchewan. Yes, more education, but one is never truly done learning, right? There was an open house this past Friday, and I was able to talk to many artist who are already on the path I'd love to follow as well. I have connections now that would not have occurred had we not decided to relocate.

I've also become a member of AKA Artist Run Gallery, and now have access to a fantastic library, as well as access to event space. Oh the things I can do with all that! There's also the chance next summer to use the gallery space as a launch pad for an idea of been sitting on for years. Hopefully I can work through my trepidations and make it happen!

A few other fantastic opportunities I've had - being able to place my fibres on the shelves of The Wool Emporium, and making a contact at the Creative Haven and lining up two felting classes for October and November!

I'm also going to be moonlighting as an aesthetician for the foreseeable future, mostly just until all these balls begin to roll quickly. I'll probably stick with it for quite a while, as it's enjoyable work! Back to the grind of mani, pedi, wax, repeat! lol Come see me at Definitely You Spa, if you need those services! Opportunity. It's plenty in the big city. I can bloom fully here.

Still Happily Spinning,

~Kara

Bloom where you're planted

Obstacles.  Everyone has them.  You can just sit there, and lament how you have them, or you can choose to do something about it, and live out your dreams and goals despite (or in spite of) them.

My personal dreams and goals include creating on a daily basis. They include becoming known for my creations and for my knowledge. I'm working towards these every day.  But one big obstacle I face is distance.  Distance from other like-minded individuals.  Distance from places I could be selling my goods. Distance from opportunity to grow in person connections and in person communities.  This distance has a way of keeping me in the mind set that "if I were just a bit closer, everything would be better."  However, today, I'm going to start to ignore my distance from "everything".  Truly in todays world distance is irrelevant, due to the internet and telecommunications.  There's no reason for this obstacle to be an obstacle.

Bloom where you're planted.  I happen to be planted on the edge of civilization (at least it very much feels like the edge) That should not stop me from blooming.

Do you have obstacles, and what are they?  How are you planning to overcome them?


Happily Spinning,

~Kara

P.S.  You can also find this post at spinheartspin.ca where I'll be transitioning to.   I've got the domain, so I intend to use it more!

focus

It's 2018.

It's time for focus.

It's time to decide on the direction I'm going. 

It is going to include teaching. While I have one guaranteed position, I need to find more.

It is going to include writing. 

It is going to include yarn. In what capacity, I'm not sure.

Will it include felt?  And if it does, in what capacity?

Will it include dyeing?  I can't see how it won't. 

I know I will not be making yarn from raw fleece, no matter how nice it is to have 100% local Western Canadian yarns.

I know I won't be needle felting unless it's for fun.

This still doesn't seem quite as focused as I'd like it to be though.  I suppose time will tell.  And perhaps experiences this year will lead me to the right path. 

I hope you can also find focus this year, or find what it is you need this year. 

Happily Spinning,

~Kara

Christmas Eve

The air is crisp, and the sky is clear.  I know this because despite the roaring fire in the wood stove, the new Christmas jammies, husband snuggles on the couch and my certain holiday induced exhaustion (which every mother knows well!), I had to venture out to the Shedio to grab the Jolly Old Man (Santa!) gifts.  Yes, we do the Santa thing. We don't do the elf thing, but we do the Santa thing.  He brings gifts and stuffs stockings and keeps a little magic to our holiday celebrations.

We don't quite celebrate Christmas*, and we don't quite not celebrate Christmas either. We keep some of the traditions - the tree, the Santa ruse, the cookie baking, the ridiculous feasting, and enough gift giving to feel blessed, but not enough to spoil.  I think it strikes the right balance of spreading joy and love and wonder.

So, on this crisp and clear night, perfect for flying reindeer and magical Jolly Old Men,  I wish you all a Merry Christmas.  And if your holiday of choice happens to be Yule, or Kwanzaa, or Festivus, or Hanukkah, or even if you don't celebrate anything at all right now, I wish you the best of days and the happiest times with family and friends and relevant celebrations.  Love and light <3

Happily Spinning,

~Kara


*Christian Christmas

Post Spinzilla 2017

Holy cow you guys. Spinzilla week was intense.  There was life (kids activities, pedicures-given not received, my own fun times - learning my lines and practicing a play) and of course Thanksgiving travels.

I had a slow start with that pedicure and our regular Girl Guide meeting on the first day.  But I picked up the pace as the week went on, with Thursday seeing no responsibilities at all (well, except feeding kids etc...) I made nearly a whole a kilometre in one day! .94731Km to be exact! so that's pretty cool.

1036 yards out of 3 oz in one day! 

Then, the Thanksgiving travels came, and I plugged my Ashford e-spinner* into the lighter thingy in the van and kept on spinning!  I managed to get a few skeins done over the weekend, but nothing like I would have if I was at home.  But that's ok!  I love my famjam, and they are worth the fewer yards spun.

Car spun!

My grand total was 5310 yard, or 4.8km, or 3 miles!  Not to shabby, if I do say so myself.  I'm pretty sure I didn't break my record, but that's alright.  There's always next year... or next week ;)

Happily Spinning, 

~Kara~