Yurt work

 18.09.2020  It has been far too long since my last post and I will not go into detail, but suffice it to say it has been a roller coaster ride through the summer.  

I returned from the Tapestry Felted Traditional Mongolian Yurt Workshop in Bemidji, Minnesota on September 12.  Linda asked me months ago to do artwork depicting the steps to making felt for a Mongolian yurt.  The tapestry felting workshop (to make the felts for the yurt) was made possible with the Sustainable Sheep and Fiber Community of Northern Minnesota (SSFC) through a grant from Region 2 Arts Council.

When I arrived for week 2, Linda had me needle felt my initials on the last panel.

The first of two roof panels.  The last layer is mohair, which will peek through a layer of black and a
starry night sky.

Measuring the edge thickness.

Rolling and getting rid of excess water.

After each rolling in the field, the felt is checked, measured, rolled up and the rolling
process repeats until the proper level of felting is achieved.  

Taking the roll back to the truck for another go around the field.

I enjoyed riding in the back of the truck on a sunny day through the field of wildflowers.

I spent a couple of days spinning up some wool/alpaca batts to be made into rope.

Plying singles...

Rope-making.  Hold on tightly, Linda!

The handspun wool/alpaca turned into lovely rope.

13.10.2020 The yurt was set up for the first time at the Farm to Fiber Festival in Bemidji, Minnesota on October 3.  Jim and I camped at Itasca State Park and the weather was beautiful for the weekend.  We went into town on Friday to help to a set up in the parking lot across from the Bemidji Woolen Mills.  It took a bit of time, but once the wood frame was fitted together in the correct size the rest of the set up went smoothly.

It is bigger on the inside.

I love the finished yurt and was proud to be part of the project.  It is bigger on the inside!

Linda makes some last minute adjustments to the felt walls.

We added a starry sky to show on the inside.  

A state map with initials of those that donated wool and worked on the yurt.  Note the stars felted
onto the night sky.

A room with a view.

Flexiblity

I like the word flexible.  As an adjective it is defined as capable of bending easily without breaking, the able to be respond to altered circumstances or conditions, and ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances.  As with most things in life it's good to be flexible.  On Friday, Jim decided we would go to 45th Parallel Distillery for the five o'clock tour rather than the later tour.  It was nice (just the two of us) and afterward we stopped at Culver's in New Richmond, Wisconsin to get something to eat before going home. On Saturday, I took a class to learn about making flexible felt.  Having wet-felted before, I knew the process using wool, water, soap, and agitation to mat and felt the fibers together.  The fabric I made is lightweight and beautiful.  The process was much faster than when I made the sheep rug last year in Linda's class.  She is  Bekaz Felt Works at Anoka Fiber Works and has done extensive work to ensure student success with her tried and true felting techniques.  I opted not to add a surface treatment as in my sample because the goal was to just make the fabric.  The next time I'll be sure to plan a multi-directional design.  After I got home, we went to Minneapolis to go to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert.  They put on a good show!  We were fortunate to be in a suite with some of Jim's work colleagues.  A concert with good seats and good eats!  It pays to be flexible with one's schedule and when making fabric.

Humpty Dumpty was sporting a jaunty red, white, and blue cap.

This still is called Carl, Jr.

The barrels are made in Missouri.

Grinding stones make great tabletops.

Deb brought Mandy the bunny for a visit.  She was quite the puffball.

A power tool, pool noodle, and rolling pin are great for felting.

With the felting complete, it was time to stretch and smooth into shape.

The finished fabric blocking along with my sample.  The fabric is lightweight and just beautiful.  

Anoka Fiber Works and Amazing Threads

Throughout our marriage (38 years this year) Jim and I moved around the USA and in Germany.  Some places we liked better than others.  After Ben was born, where we lived became more important.  From 1996 to 1999 we lived in McKinney, Texas.  We lived in a nice neighborhood with lots of young families like ours and there was an amazing shop called Woolen Works.  It was a place to gather, to learn, and to experience all things fiber.  I sat in with a Wednesday group of spinners--I was the knitter.  They were so friendly and welcoming.  Fast forward to 1997 and the purchase of Louie, the Louet S10 spinning wheel...I learned how to spin and never looked back.  In 1999 Jim interviewed for a job in Minnesota, which meant another big move.  It was difficult to leave the friends we made and for Ben to change schools, but we were up for the adventure.  I continued to spin, although I missed the Texas Twisters.  When I began teaching knitting, I was able to add spindle spinning classes and later wheel spinning classes.  My attempts to start local spin ins was met with some success, but it was not until a group of women began a co-op in an Anoka yarn shop.  It was wonderful to see the wheels and the fiber for sale.  Wanting to expand, the group moved the co-op to another location and Anoka Fiber Works was born.  Talented fiber artists sell their wares (finished items, equipment, and fiber), there are classes, field trips, and most of all it is a gathering place to meet and share the love of all things fiber.

I have a couple of classes coming up at Anoka Fiber Works.  The Felted Amulet Bag is a wet-felted project.  To make the class sample I dug through my Lake Superior rocks and found a perfect size.  Last evening I worked up the sample and I am pleased with the outcome.  It's  a perfect size to wear around the neck and hold small tools or perhaps some emergency chocolate!  The class is June 12, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Wet felted Amulet Bag and the rock I used

The other project is a shawl pin with a polymer clay topper.  The samples I made are simple--a  figure (sheep), a bead covered with slices of canes, and then a wrapped bead.  Dawn gave me a couple of sticks to use and they worked well with a bit of sanding and finish.  The shiny finish on two beads is added on after baking and made for polymer clay.  It is supposed to be a satin finish...mmm...I don't think so...

The Poly Clay Shawl Pin class is on July 8, from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Clay bead covered with cane slices, wrapped bead, sculpted bead.

I am fortunate to be part of the teaching staff at Amazing Threads.  It is a great place to teach!  One of the upcoming classes at Amazing Threads is a skill-builder for illusion knitting.  Strategically placed knits and purls using contrasting yarns create a picture when viewed at an angle.  A circle is a simple shape and works up relatively quickly.  Once you learn how to read the chart it is easy.  There are some amazing examples and patterns on Ravelry of projects worked with the technique.  This class is June 14 from 10 am to 12 pm.    

Now you see it...

...now you don't.

Bobbi and Angel returned from Market recently.  It is always fun to see what is new in the fiber world.  I chose the Teggala Hat kit to make for a shop sample.  The yarn is a blend of cashmere and possum down (yes, possum down) from New Zealand.  Light and lofty, super soft, and a dream to knit with this little project has it all!  It comes beautifully boxed with the pattern and three 10-gram skeins of Zealana AIR yarn.  This will be the perfect finished project or just gift the kit.  It will be exciting over the next few weeks to see the new yarns arrive!

Luxury in a box.

I love the packaging and presentation of this kit.

Charcoal, red, and natural baby skeins.

I marked the spot for the centered double decreases and between the design repeats.
It is much easier to keep track of where I am in the design.

I am still on the circular needles and will switch to double points when the decreases get closer together.  It fits nicely and is so nice and light.  The fiber is so soft with a lovely halo.  Can you tell I really love this yarn and project?