Dyed Yarns now ready for Duchy Square and Wonderwool 2011

I think I finally have my yarns dry for the show... just labelling left to do on those. After that, I'm hoping to;

• get my teewater fleece dyed and dried
• label commercial supplies
• finish prep on my demos
• pack everything

Dates are:

Textile Art Fair April 2011

Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd April 2011, 10-5pm Location: Duchy Square, Princetown, Devon. Demonstrations: Spindle Spinning. Stock: Yarns, Fibres, kits and Equipment. It is also possible to pick up orders during these events, but please order these by email no later than 3 days in advance to give me chance to cut them.

 

Wonderwool April 2011

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th April 2011, 10-4:30/5pm Stall Number: Carding on a Drum Carder. Location: Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Bulith wells, powys. LD2 3SY. www.WonderwoolWales.co.uk Admission: £8.00 (Under 16's free) Demonstrations: Carding on a Drum Carder. Stock: Yarns, Fibres, kits and Equipment. I have a bigger stand this year, but even so may not have everything I stock. It is also possible to pick up orders during these events, but please order these by email no later than 3 days in advance to give me chance to cut them.

Hope to see you there!

Sara x

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Wonderwool 2011 Prep: Handdyed Teeswater Fleece

Here's a teaser of my new Sea Green Teeswater fleece. It's all dyed and drying, hopefully in time for the show next week. I'm prepping a few other colourways, so do watch out for these at the show and on-line sometime afterwards.

Sara x

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Wonderwool 2011 prep

I have quite a lot of rovings dry now.


Just need to label them!
Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

DUCHY SQUARE TEXTILE SHOW.

1-2 April at Duchy Square Gallery, Princetown, Devon. 10-5pm.

I shall be there fibre and yarn stocked to the brim and doing a spindle demo... come play!

- Bye for now!
Sara xx

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Merry Go Round - Artist Inspiration.

This month's topic is, 'Introduce us to an artist whom you find inspiring or their work interesting.'

One of my favourite artists is Annemeike Mein. I love Annemeike's work, it's so detailed and delicate. Her stitch work is so considered and looks like she has drawn it onto her fabrics. I enjoy this book so much. I have been influenced by her work before and return to it again and again. I would love to spend some time in her studio!

Title: The Art of Annemieke Mein, Wildlife Artist and Textiles

Published by Search press

Year: 2001

ISBN: 0-85532-977-7

RRP: £15.00/ $30 US Dollars


Here's some more Google images, just in case you'd luike to have a look yourself.

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/
----------------

This post was part of a blog Merry go Around, where I have got together with some friends to talk about a similar subject on the same day... a nice way to meet people!

Laura at Blue Terracotta - http://blueterracotta.com/
Monika at Red2White - http://red2white.wordpress.com/
Ruth at Birdland Creations - http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/
Kim at Vilt a la Kim - http://viltalakim.com/blog
Sara at Crafts of Texture - http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Samantha at Vintage is for lovers - http://www.vintageisforlovers.com/
Mariana at Florcita - http://florcita.eu/wordpress/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent - http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Jen at Painted Fish Studio - http://paintedfishstudio.com/
Mitsy at ArtMind - http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/
Bethany at Dirksen Dabbles - http://www.dirksendabbles.com/

Sara's Texture Crafts Yard Sale - 27th March 2011

Yard Sale!

Mar 27th - Sunday 10-1pm

Find out more on my Events page.

Sara x

http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

I Spawn Addiction, Sorry!

I love getting those phone calls from customer's where they are looking for something new to try and last week was no exception when I got an excited call from Nikki at http://thehappyfelter.blogspot.com/.

'I want a wheel', she said 'And my wonderful husband has just said he'd buy me one as a treat!'

'Wow... ok let's see', I said and we started chatting about wheels and Niddy Noddies, etc. By the end of the call she'd made up her mind what to go for and excitedly ordered... it should be there by now, so I'm hoping to see lots of new spinning blog posts!

I love it when a new addict is spawned! Enjoy Nikki!!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

A Day for Berries!

My task for the day,





is to hand dye some more colour Berry. I'm going to be using Shetland and/or BFL tops and some organic Merino/Silk yarn.

I'm hoping it will stay dry, so I can pop it out on the line!
Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

New Look's Knit Fashion Extends to Socks!

As you know I've been taking a look at what knitwear is in the stores recently, as ideas for trends for hand knitting ideas, stitches, yarn bases and colour use. I've been keeping my phone close to me, so that if I see something interesting I can take a quick snap. Here's a photo from New Look's window display in Exeter. Initially I was looking at the floaty knit waistcoats and card is, but these socks (£6.99 from www.NewLook.co.uk) caught my eye!

I'm not sure if I'd personally wear something like these socks, but the pretty bow attachment idea could extend to other garments... What about headbands, trimmings for shawls, knit belts, or bags? Kitsch 80's me thinks!



- Bye for now!
Sara xx

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Working on My Stitchionary

While I'm knitting swatches I am also working on my Stitchtionary for my How to Make site at www.sarastexturecrafts.word press.com It's a slow progress, but fun to do... if you have any stitch patterns you'd like to share see my submission page on the How to Make Site.

- Bye for now!
Sara xx

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

A Knitted Swatch.

As many of you know I have been swatching away.


Partly for the shows and partly, just to see what patterns, or textures I can get from the range of yarns I offer. I find this useful at shows and with my own hand dyed yarns, as an opportunity to learn about mark marking and how it effects colour both on the skein and the finished knit... as well as aiding customers in their projects.


This sample is colour Parrot, from my Schoppel Wolle, Reggae Ombre range at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

I knitted up two samples from a 50g ball (25g approx each) and will keep one as is, while the other is given a felted effect.


To create my felted effect I simply put the swatch in a 40 degree wash cycle and waited. It's come out nice and felted with a minimal fluff factor, which is important for keeping the stripe as the main focus... and it also stay pretty sturdy too, which is great for projects like bags and other accessories. I know you'll love using it!

I still have some left in stock at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com but am hoping to get a new delivery soon, in time for the first shows... if not, then it will be back on the stall for Fibre-East in July and restocked in the shop before then.

- Bye for now!
Sara xx

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

March at TopShop... Knitwear Shop Report

Early March... crisp Spring is in the air at TopShop (www.TopShop.co.uk).




Knits are light and floaty, layering affairs. Something you can throw on when the wind catches you, or something you can take off when the sun kisses you.




The key to early Spring knits like this to make them interesting... it should accent your wardrobe and work with your look, because as much as we all want Summer to be here the weather hasn't quite turned yet... and most people are going to see you curled up under that knit... so it should be fab, right?

Top Shop's featured fashion look on this visit was 'American Prairie Denim', so colours of jersey, woven and knit pieces were neutral to feel crisp against the denims. Little ditsy florals gave texture in print, which meant the knitwear had to sing to make the statement work. I think it did... whilst neutral in shade, Topshop's designers have been working hard on texture through stitch definition.




It's a bit of a hand knitter's delight really... because there's a lot of great stitches out there we know we can use to make this season's handmade piece. So go grab yer knit Stitchtionary and start knitting!

- Bye for now!
Sara xx

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Finally Back On-Line

Well I should thank the Engineers firstly... their quick response time meant really I only lost a matter of hours, Friday 10am to Monday 10am. Fortunately I didn't miss too many sales, although there were a few urgent ones I couldn't take as I couldn't process payment. Very annoyed with it all, I retreated to my drum carding haven, surrounded by fluff and sparkles, while the Engineer worked away over the phone with the tech bods.

It always amazes me just how much I take for granted my internet connection in my small world of business... a back-up plan is usually a fiddly and cumbersome process, but thank you to family for coming to the rescue! It's been one of those weeks, as my printer died too, so you can imagine the lump on my head from all of the desk/head/bang moments.

Still I'm back up and running now... new printer and a hotter, than hot connection speed. Thank you to those who helped me get my little world lighting up again.

- Bye for now!
Sara xx

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Show Prep: Duchy Square & Wonderwool

I spent yesterday carding so that there is the start of a collection.


Still a bit of work to do, but here's a taster!
Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Show Prep: Duchy Square and Wonderwool Wales

At the moment I'm starting to pack my handdyed silks and carding inclusions for creative carding.


While I'm doing that today I'm going to be dyeing up some more tops and my first show yarns.

I'm hoping it stays bright out, so I can air it all on the line!

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Spinning Arty Yarns

What I love about spinning is the fact that you can go in so many directions... and for me this allows creativity. My one of my latest projects is an art yarn.

I spun a single yarn from two handcarded batts, Merino based with several inclusions (bamboo, tencel, threads etc, all found at http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/ ).

Below is a lighter photo so you can see the textures better.

Now I'm working with beads and buttons to create a bigger effect.

I'm hoping to turn this into a necklace to wear at Duchy Square and Wonderwool Wales. However, it's going to be a slow process as I still need to spin and dye so much more fibre and yarn before each show! Wish me luck!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

If you would like some inspiration for your own art yarns, check out this book; Interwined by Lexi Boeger. Or find my Limited Edition Carded Batts at www.sarastexturecrafts.com/userimages/Batts--Limited-Edition(1919443).htm

Spring is coming!

These minitures made me smile.


They are just poking out of the earth... Their surrounding leaves have really overgrown though!

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Customer Photos: Bramble Hedgerow's Little Bear Called Jazz!

Isn't Jazz the cutest little bear you ever did see? Nicci used one of my carded batts (Jammin Haze... Merino with sparkle) to needle felt here...

You can find Nicci and a link to her shop at http://sites.google.com/site/bramblehedgerowbears/home. I own one of these cute little bears myself, so i do recommend watching her shop very closely!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Spring/Summer 2010: Missoni stripes!

 

Picture by http://www.glassmagazine.co.uk/forum/blog_post.asp?tid=2219

 

Monsoon window, Exeter Feb 2010

Missoni's famous stripes and zig zags are always a great way to usher in the warmer weather... a careful balance is great for thinner of fuller figures. Monsoon (oh how we adore thee for your use of texture and print) have several Missoni inspired pieces for Spring Summer 2011. Including this dress at £75.00.

Team these bold prints,weaves and knits with slimming leggings in dark shades, or black and a long cardi accenting a lighter shade of the stripe.

But what if you wanted to create your own textile? Well if we start at grass roots, then you can try spinning your own self striping yarns from rovings or tops. I have a new hand dyed Shetland range which could be good for this project at http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/ (under the fibre shop).



Fuchsias in Shetland by http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

 Both of these fibres would make excellent yarns... knitted or woven against black to create your own version of a Missoni stripe.


Sapphires in Shetland by http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

 

 

Schoppel Wolle, Reggae Ombre Yarn
at http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

 If you are more of a knitter, then consider pre-printed self striping yarns like this one from Schoppel Wolle. This won't work on a zig zag with any real clarity, but would give you a repeating stripe option as a substitute.

Or the alternative is to buy separate solid colour yarns and knit up the colours you want in the patterns you want... getting yourself a good knit stitchionary book, or one geared towards stripes will help you create your own unique look and a balance across the knit piece.

One artist I recommend to research is Kaffe Fassett, a colour master when it comes to stripes and patterns in knitwear!





I hope this inspires?

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Not So Very Far Away from Fashion in the End?!

Handspun Yarns from http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

So I was thinking about how much our lives have changed over the last 5/6 years (prompted in part by a recent conversation)... D and I have moved home a couple of times (from London to Devon as our major move) and I have changed careers, from Fashion and Textile Designer to Fibre and Yarn Retailer. In some respects it happened all very quickly and in others it seems/feels like a lot of hard work!

Someone asked me the other day if I missed the hustle and bustle of London Fashion Week and I replied 'No'... almost as a natural reflex. I didn't think about it at the time, but I did reminisce later on. It wasn't that long ago when I was in the heart of Fashion Week, helping to prep for the shows... and clothes were always on my mind. Even if I went shopping with D I'd have my note pad in my pocket just in case I came across something that sparked an idea.

I don't remember the time when that stopped... not the work, as that was a very conscious decision (I wanted to strike out on my own), but instead the fashion 'thinking'... the dedication to following trends (not that I was ever good at choosing to wear them!), the looking in shop windows and sketchbook scribbling. That sort of fizzled out, I guess because my head was now full of fibre and learning the crafts involved with it (Spinning, felting and so on). I guess my question to myself, is 'Is it really that far away from what I do now?' I mean, I do still work in the textile industry... so really there is no reason to ignore my past or my training. In fact it could be time to readdress that... who said fashion and fibre crafts couldn't go together? No-one at all!

So I thought I'd start a new form of blog post, to go along with my business and craft articles... 'Fashion Trends/Shop Reports', with the idea that I focus on Fashion Trends in relation to and the translation into)textile crafts (Felt making, spinning, weaving, knitting).

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

New Shetland Handdyed Shades at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

I have been working away on my new handdyed colours and am pleased to reveal my new shades of Shetland under my Fibre shop on their relevant pages; Shetland Hand Dyed and Shetland Hand Painted. These colours will also be available in New Zealand Corriedale, Blue Faced Leicester, Merino and Falkland at some point over the next few months.