Studio Was A-Humming..........

What a fun week this has been! A retreat! Some stayed overnight while some came only in the day--everyone came with one goal in mind. It is our annual sew along to create quilts for Binky Patrol

There were fabrics galore to choose from...............

Brenda is selecting the perfect fabrics for her Binky top

Judy's studio is perfect location for this SAL (sew along).  There is ample space to spread  out fabrics and also a place to cut as Judy M is doing in the background.

Who would have thought that you could find fat quarters at Tuesday Morning?  Well, Judy M did and the price was great!  All soft pastels

No lack of novelty fabrics to use!

And some were even pieced--add a tree to your design?  Why not?

Brenda was sewing these blocks together to assemble in one Binky.

Camilla was sewing on the binding

One Binky that needed some trimming and a binding

Sandy was skillfully hand stitching the binding to make this a complete quilt of love



Around the studio were finished quilts

Linda in the processing of refueling for that extra kick of energy.....

 



On the front table was a stack of completed Binky Quilts ready to be presented to the local chapter--all from the hands of these expatchers:  Judy M, Camilla, Brenda, Debby, Karen, Annette, Sandy, Linda and myself.  And then there are the two moral supporters:  Judy C and Jane



Even a hand knitted quilt

Take a stroll through some of the finished tops and view the patterns and quilting.

This is only the beginning for 2013--we are on a roll to complete many more during the coming months.

Our non-sewer, Jane, came for the special day.  Not only was  it our sewing, gathering, assembling day, it was also

Birthday time!  And a delicious Italian Cream cake awaited as our dessert

This was Judy M's birthday month....Happy Birthday Girl!

This was NOT a birthday gift from the group, but an appreciation gift for the use of Judy's studio for the past two years!  We love being in her studio, sewing together, chatting over our problems, eating and sharing time together.  Thanks Judy!
Unfortunately, my photo of Annette and Karen didn't turn out right so I didn't want to post an unflattering picture.  We also missed two other expatchers--Judy C (Get better soon) and Debby W (hurry back from AZ, we miss you!)

Just Can't Resist.....................................!!

Oh dear, there are mysteries on the horizon and you know how I love mysteries!  But, there are also the KAL (Knit alongs) and the QAL (Quilt alongs) plus other sundry happenings in the fiber world.  Come with me on this ride along the fiber path.

There is the Business Casual Sock KAL from the design work of Tanis, Tanis Fiber Arts.  Celtic Cast blog is hosted here or in the side notes.



There is also this KAL--I'm so far behind in Downton Abbey KAL and when I went to download clue #2, what do I see but they are hosting another KAL!!  Truckee Shawlette

Then there is another KAL with one of my favorite designers--

Stephen West and his next KALs--yes, multiple patterns released.  Stephen has teamed up with Brooklyn Tweeds and you can check out the patterns Here with the first pattern up on February 8.

Not tired of sock knitting yet--so joining in on The Heartful Yarn's mystery sock pattern on Ravelry group Solid Socks--not a member of Ravelry??  Join NOW--lots of good stuff happening there!

And if this isn't enough to fill my plate--I'm taking a lesson on double knitting--from the convenience of my studio and on my own time schedule--check out Craftsy.  The class is given by Alasdair Post-Quinn and it certainly is An Adventure in Double Knitting!

If you need something to occupy your ears, check out Craftlit where we are listening to Jane Eyre and there are other goodies there to listen too as well.

 

January Spin-in Treasures

January Spin-in is always a treasure where you meet old friends, make new friends, learn new techniques, sharpen those techniques you use and of course, there are the vendors where you can purchase material treasures!

There is a challenge thrown out in 2013 for 2014 attendees.  These lovely fibers were the result of Lisa's dyepots and color sense.  Lisa owns  Dicentra Designs based in Oregon.  Lisa's fibers are always bright and brilliant in color.

These blended rovings are soft to the touch and oh so longing for the wheel.  There are blends of merino, baby camel and silk top; merino, yak, cultivated silk top; merino and tussah silk top!  These are going to be a joy to spin!

 I was speaking with Gale of Gale's Art about my dyeing method and the problems I was having dyeing silk roving.  In the booth was Rebecca Sunshine Knit Designs and she was listening into the conversation.  My silk roving was a mess! Rebecca was commenting that something could be done with those fibers, so into the hands of Rebecca these silk fibers went!

And the next day at 'show and tell' Rebecca presented me this skein of spun wool with MY messed up silk at accents!  She said this skein (which is a circle--our 2013 theme) had come full circle--from me to her and back to me!  Rebecca used some of her wool fiber to spin with the 'messed up' silk.  There is a thought brewing in my head that this skein of spun fiber must go back to Rebecca..........................what should I create for her?

Look at this wonderful skein winder--a gift from a participant!

This will go in my spinning travel bag--perfect for those spinning days away from home!

What a fun read this is!

Fiber Art Almanac from  Wildwood Press is a lovely calendar with such wonderful photos

The artists make this book/calendar a real keeper--

There is no way I'm going to write in this book! 
What material treasures I racked up and everytime I use one of these gifts, I'll think of the person who gave it to me--ahhh, fond memories of January Spin-in 2013!



And The Handspun Fashion Show..............

Each day of January spin-in there is an informal fashion show--"Come on down", it's time to present your creations.............

Handspun hat from various rovings bought at 2012 Spin-in

Finished Skein the second day!!!!

First handspun knit into a lovely scarf.................... her black/white scarf is her first handwoven (although not handspun)

Lovely cables--perfect for theme of Circles!

More Circles from handspun--great tale to go along with the knitting and spinning!

Everywhere you walk through the conference room you can see some lovely handspun creations!

Woven handspun!

Lace..................

Perfect use from bits and leftover pieces of handspun.......

Handwoven handspun (wool)

Handspun cotton in a shawl

Challenge piece

Lovely lace handspun

Woven

To meet the deadline of circles theme, knitting was done on the car drive to spin-in!

This is our over achiever--handspun, handwoven scarves and shawls

Cute little hat--meets theme challenge of circles

Another challenge met

Lots of handspun goodies to share this day

What great workmanship and style

Handspun done up in Wingspan pattern

Newbie spinner showing off her first handspun

Very fashionable

So you got some lumpy bumpy wool, this is perfect pattern

 

And this is going to the extreme to put lots of circles together!

A lover of miter squares

Another lover of mitered squares

A spinners delight--use of own sheep product

How can we not be inspired with all these lovely handspun, handknit, woven pieces!  What can they do with next year's theme? ......................................."Toot Your Own Horn"