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~

Pre Spinzilla 2017

 So, Spinzilla starts tomorrow.  It's a good thing I have a metric butt ton of wool, right?  I'm going to start with the batts, then onto the Corriedale tops (not all pictured) and then there's some (~6 pounds) Polwarth that isn't in these pictures.  And of course, so much more kicking around....... 

Do you think I'll have enough?

           

             The batts are either Corriedale or Polwarth!

All Corriedale!

                                   

Oh! And lets not forget this silk... there's that too...  

If I'm a little bit silent for the next little while, that's why.... I'm going to try to spin as much as humanly possible between regular life stuff and the extra Thanksgiving thing happening over the weekend....

October 2-8! Here I go! 

Oh! And P.S. I'm spinning on Team Recreated Textiles Red White and Woolies!  

Happily Spinning, 

~Kara

Culture Days 2017 Spinning Presentation

Hey! that's me :)



I was invited to give a talk and demonstration at Goodsoil's Culture Days celebration yesterday. I knew people may want to see me in action, not just read, so here I am!  Hope you enjoy!







Happily Spinning,

~Kara

and she sits

Last year in August I started the big lace shawl project.   You would think I was a bit further in that 1/2 a bobbin, considering it's been a year, right?  However, as things go, things come up and take priority.  I did get a substantial amount spun at fibre week in the evenings.

And now, as life goes, other things are being placed as a priority.  So, she sits.  But truly, the things that are a priority are wonderful awesome fibre things!  At the end of September the whole country celebrates Culture Days.  It's been going on for many years, but this year finally, our little town is joining in on the fun.  There are a lot of wonderful activities planned for that day.  Old timey games, butter churning, traditional dances - both local polkas and aboriginal dances - local music, a lunch of sausage and sauerkraut.  And me! I'm doing a spinning presentation and a community felting project. I'm pretty excited for the whole thing, actually.   It's going to give me a chance to brush up on my public speaking skills, and also a chance to bring my knowledge to a broad scope of people.

The other thing that is taking priority is the WinterGreen festival in Regina! This one is a 3 day sale.  I have a goal to have a certain number of projects done in time for it. I'm really hoping that the next 2.5 months are incredibly productive.  I'm working on a line of 100% Canadian yarns, and applying a few new techniques to my scarves. I hope to pop out at least 100  pairs of fingerless mitts, and a whole bunch of Christmas decorations.  Of course a whole lot more than that too, but I'm getting a good start on it!

And with that gigantic list of things to do, I'm going to sign off so I can dye some wool today!  I have 10 kgs of Polwarth fibre and a whole lot of Corriedale to dye too.   Wish me luck!

Happily Spinning,
~Kara~

big batts

Back in the spring, I sold my Fancy Kitty Kitten drum carder.  I was very tired of crank crank cranking a manual and only pulling off 1.5-2oz batts. They were so tiny! So much effort!  I did sell it to the schools art program where they only really need tiny batts, and do smaller projects, so it fit's their need so well.  But then... I went without a drum carder for 6 months!! It was an ultimate tragedy. I love to spin from batts, it's probably my favourite fibre preparation.  Batts are fluffy and draft smoothly, and the yarn from them is always much more lofty, even if you spin with a worsted draw due to the misalignment of fibres.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'd had my hook in the water for a great big fish (read that as I posted in every buy and sell for a Pat Green Triple Drum carder) right from the get go.  But it seemed they were always just slightly out of my price range and often in USD, which with the current state of affairs with our currency would put them way out of my price range.  So, lo and behold, many moons laters, someone asks if a Fancy Kitty Tom XL would do the trick.  And while settling for a smaller, but still excellent carder was just a bit painful, I did it.  And I'm so so very happy! This things is a great machine! Many hours and 9 big batts latter, I'm excited to start spinning!  But first, to card the 6 other fleece I have that are clean.... Never ending!

see! big batts! as big as a kitchen chair!

Well, I'd best get back at it. 6 fleeces won't card themselves!

Happily Spinning (and carding)

~Kara~

So, Ashford products are pretty cool....

This is kind of exciting! I've finally taken the leap and become an Ashford dealer!  I'd been thinking about it for quite a while, and hemmed and hawed over wether Ashford was the company for me, or if one of the other fibre tool companies would be better, but then I looked around...
Ashford Traveller - check
Ashford Traditional - check
Ashford hand cards 72 tpi - check
Ashford hand cards 108 tpi - check
Ashford flick carder - check
Ashford drop spindle - check (formerly anyway... I lent it out and it's never come back. but that's okay! I'm certain its getting use!)

.... So, yeah, I'm kind of an Ashford person! I find my tools so very handy, well made and definitely fit for much use.  The Traveller got me through the Master Spinner programme. And that's a lot of spinning!

My first order will be quite a few things I've longed to try out, so I can better assist people when they are ordering, including an e-spinner and blending board.

Should you be Canadian and in need of Ashford products, please contact me!  I'm trying to figure out the best way to set it up so you can see what I can order for you, because as of right now I don't quite have the funds for a full inventory, but orders are simple.  And I'll make them as quick as I can!

Happily Spinning (and anxiously awaiting my first Ashford order!!)
 ~Kara~

On being a Master Spinner

As you may know, I'm a juried member of the Saskatchewan Craft Council.  Part of the joy of being a  member is writing self promotional blog posts for them ;) 

Please follow the link below to see my thoughts on Being a Master Spinner.

On Being a Master Spinner

Happily Spinning,

        ~Kara~

July....

It was an exciting July!  It started off with a simple week of simply getting ready for the next one. followed by shipping my oldest child off to Nova Scotia for Canadian Jamboree 2017.  Let me tell you, as much as I knew he was going to be fine, I found it hard on the heart!  It was a good thing I kept myself busy at the beach with the other two.  They swam, I spun.

I also filled the week slowly pluging away at doing a small remodel on my Daughters room, one step at a time.  Wash walls, mud holes, sand, re mud the deep holes, sand again, wash again.... Shall I go on? It really is a lot of little annoying jobs to do in order to redo a room! It was a success though!  Even if it took 2 weeks.

Of course it was Tour de Fleece, so I could not do some spinning, even if it wasn't the amount of spinning I'd have loved to do.   I had picked up a section of a fleece from Eileen at Fat Ewe Farm, and  spun it up 4 different ways.  The fleece is a Karakul fleece, and as such dual coated.  I spun from the flicked locks she had prepared, carded some of them for a lopi style yarn, and separated the tog from the thel and spun them worsted and woollen as suited them.  There was also the beginning of the 8 oz of Tencel I need to spin as well, but it was one pass on the bobbin by the end the tour. Ah well. Something is better than nothing after all!

The second last weekend brought the annual Art in the Park at Grieg Lake. I had an excellent time!  I offered a drop in class, but there weren't any takers (except the small family that thought they would have gotten off the lake in time for the second one... Unfortunately there wasn't enough time left to squeeze them in...)

Speaking of drop in classes, I've been offering them every Tuesday this summer, and I'll continue into August!  So, if you're in the area between 2 and 4 on Tuesdays, please, drop in! 

As for classes in general I've got a large line up of basic spinning related classes in August.  Please check my Events tab on Facebook! It's posted publicly, so you don't need an account to see them.  If you're interested, feel free to contact me through the blog, or through my website! (which is spinheartspin.ca) 

There is not much for time left in July, summer seems to be slipping away, but hopefully August doesn't take the same pace as July.

~Happily Spinning~

           Kara

Moonlighting as a foodie blogger - Pancakes

As you may know, I'm one of those allergic people who make cooking for them a nightmare.  But, because of those allergies, I have been experimenting with different flours and combinations of flours for a good 7 years.  It has taken me that long to perfect my pancake recipe.  
Now, if you're like me when visiting blogs for recipes, you skip the long essay preamble about the recipe and just go for the recipe.  So, I'm just putting it out here, first up. Even before the (not so perfect) picture. You're welcome!

Okay, so if you don't know how to make pancakes, here's my method:  Get out a frying pan and put some oil on it, not lots, just enough to coat the surface.  Turn the heat to medium low and wait for the pan to heat up. Once the pan is hot, scoop the batter in < 1/4 cup quantities onto it.  Watch them closely for bubbles forming.  Once the bubble start to pop (even just one bubble!) flip! give them a few minutes, but check to be sure they don't burn.  take them off the heat and repeat until the batter is gone! 

Oh, also, really mash those bananas... no lumps! or you'll get gross pockets of soft hot banana....  Unless you like soft hot banana mush... Which in that case, lump away.... I use an immersion blender to really really really mush those bananas.

Top with whatever you would like! peanut butter, jam, maple syrup, cheezewhiz..... Ok.. maybe not cheezewhiz. but you get the picture, it's up to you!

Now: the glamour shot! Isn't it beautiful?

Maybe I should stick to my day job.... spin all the fibres! 

Happily spinning (and eating pancakes), 

~Kara

Official

That's it.  It's official.  I am a Master Spinner.  I can now proudly wear that hat.  It's kind of amazing actually.

Receiving my certificate from Zach Webster.

Jan, Vanessa and I proudly showing off our fancy new certificates!
(You'll see that Jan's is way fancier, but that's because she's a keener-thats a good thing!- and had her book in before the official Olds College graduation cut off.  Mine and Vanessa's books were in by the Master Spinner program cut off that doesn't line up with the Colleges. We get the fancy diplomas during the next round of graduations) 

Legit! Too legit to quit!

Because the Olds College campus is gorgeous, and these poppies were so lovely that day in the sun.

 The beauty of being official is I now get to teach the course, and I was introduced to that step this year, by co-assisting Mary Lessman.  Mary is a wonderful woman, a font of spinning knowledge, and she has the biggest heart.  I felt blessed to be under her wing.

Level 4 class!  it was a delight assisting Mary Lessman in teaching this class. 

An evening of relaxing after a full day of assisting in Level 4

 As I may or may not have mentioned over the years of heading to Olds, I always stop in at The Fat Ewe Farm.  Eileen Wosnak has many beautiful sheep, a llama, duck and chicken and geese, and bunnies!  I picked up a gorgeous black Romney fleece and brought a friend a bunny!

I promised myself no more fleeces... but this one called to me... I actually dreamt about it... I had to go back.

Not my bunny. But he sure is cute! 

If you haven't started to follow me on Facebook, I encourage you to go over there and do that.  I've been posting live videos, and intend on continuing that practice.  The next one is going to be quite a bit longer than the first ones, as it will go over how to spin if you're broke.  No need for fancy wheels, just a stick and some wool!

Happily Spinning,
~Kara

It is done.

The past 7 years of my life are now neatly packed up into three binders and I couldn't be more relieved... Well, if I'm honest, I could be.  They could be marked, and I could have my transcript saying just how amazing the work was, and I could look at them in the Olds College library, and be proud.  But for now I'm relieved that my Master Spinner In Depth Study is complete and handed in for marking.  It's so incredibly freeing to have it DONE.

And since I've gotten it done, I get to play!! I had planned a dye week, and promptly ran out of room to dry all he fibre, so it turned into a dye day.  It's all very wet yet, but these are the colours I created, while in the pots.   

Fibre Week is coming up in just over 2 weeks and I'm incredibly excited to be taking a class with the incredibly talented Laurie Steffler.  This class is a 3 day class titled Breezy Silk Chiffon tunic/dress/vest.  I'll be learning to nuno felt, folks!  That's super exciting for me. I haven't managed to be successful at nuno felting, but I'm looking forward to trying it out!  I believe there is still some room in some of the workshops, but alas, not in this specific one...

I'm also really looking forward to being an assistant in the level four Master Spinner class!  I'm looking at this position as a good experience so I can better understand what it takes to teach the course, not just take it!  I'll cross my fingers and hope to be on the roster in the future as an instructor.

Well, I'd better get back to tackling the creation of more yarn, and cleaning the house!

~Kara

Bring it on, 2017.

Another years gone by. Another year I've neglected the blog, tried again, and got caught up, and forgotten. Another year of attempts and fails and successes.  I figure if I just leave it here, it'll be right where I left it, and I can find it again easily enough... I hope for 2017 I find that flow I had in the beginning.  Where I was excited to share and didn't find it terribly repetitive.... Perhaps it's felt repetitive because at 6 years into the Master Spinner program everything feels very .... already done.... sample this, spin that, this one'a a 2 ply, that ones a cable,  knit a swatch, weave a swatch, final project. 10 yards, 10 yards, 10 yards...  Over and over again. Monotony is tiring.  And boring. And maybe it's not boring to you, dear readers, and if it's not, I'd love to know! I'd hate to get your hopes up seeing a new post only for it to be the same old same old "Here's yet another sample...."
But do you know what 2017 means to me? It means the end of the monotony! I'm nearly done the spinning and knitting for my In-depth Study that will grant me a beautiful certificate saying that I officially know far to much about yarn and fibre!  I haven't recently 'taken inventory' but at a guess, I've got 4.5/25 yarns left to spin (4+ ounces each, so I have enough for swatches) and  50/125 swatches to knit and crochet. Then all the testing and writing.  So, yeah.... There's some work to do. But come June and I walk across that stage, I'll be singing from the roof tops.  That stage will be over. And on to the next one!

So, time to buckle down, get the work done, and on to the fun stuff!  But not before a small nod to the year that was...

You know, a lot of folks had a pretty awful 2016.  Lots of divorces, lost and passed family members and serious illnesses.  Yes, the passing of so many celebrities and big world changers has been a sad note here and there.  However, as I see it, it's the inevitable.  Our Heros, Icons and Idols, are all aging. They are all hitting that precarious age where nothing is guaranteed.  I suppose I'm just a bit to logical, but don't take that to mean I don't have a heart. I feel for those families and those who have found solace in their existence and works.  And of course there are the wars.....  I'm sure I could go on.  Loss of human life, no matter the human (because we all impact other some way or another), is tragic. My love and light to those who feel impacted by such tragedies.
I have to say I've been fortunate in those regards, and I count my blessings every day.  Comparatively I've had a pretty good 2016. My family has been healthy and happy. My work has been published again.  Not once, but twice, in PLY magazine. I've made some new contacts that I hope will bring me (and them!) more successes in 2017.  Despite my news feed on Facebook, reassuring me it's been a bad year globally, I really can't complain personally.  So now it's time to get back to the yarn, and back to the new year.

Happiest New Year, I hope it's as amazing as we all hope it will be!

~Kara

gotta take a selfie.

Over the summer, I participated in craft swap on Craftster.org.  It was a trading card swap.  Each participant was to make a whole bunch of their own trading cards that represented their own image. Instead of putting an actual picture on mine, I chose to do a self portrait in needle felting.  As well, a while back I did a self portrait in yarn as well, so I wove a little flag out it and used it on the card as well. I used Pixelmatr for Mac to edit the image until it was what I was thinking it should be.  Here's the end result:

Pretty close likeness, if a bit cartoonish... More practice I guess!

Happily Creating,

~Kara

The in between things

You know, I have to be honest.  I'm really, really, really looking forward to September first.  The kids head back to school on September first.  This week has been full of everything and nothing all at once. The everything: kids needing this/that/the other, school supply runs, new pets, general house maintenance that keeps getting interrupted due to the kids needing me.... The nothing: fibre fun!  I've not made a single thing in the past week.... Did you know it's next to impossible to lace knit when your kids are all over you? Both literally and figuratively... But, I've got some pretty pictures of things I've made in the past few months heck, lets make that in the past year... So I'll share those, in hopes that I can remember what it's like to make things! ;)

This fibre is called Loons on the Lake, and was a part of the Heritage Spinning Box.   It was on 100% merino top.

This one has no name. it's just pretty... still on the merino top base... 

This is a swatch that is intending to show that this yarn would be suitable for a pair of adult socks. The fibre blend was 80%cotton 20% nylon (faux cashmere nylon).  This was for one of the assignments in the Level 5 work book of the Master Spinner program.

This one is a 50/50 blend of merino and baby llama! It's so soft! 3 ply.

See, I have been up to lots... just not lately... ;)  10 more days!!!  10 more days! 10 more days!!!! 

Happily Spinning,

~Kara