Technology Meets Fiber

I dyed this merino, each color separately, then spun the three colors.  I really like the texture, but the color grates on my last nerve.  So, Chiquita (seen in the photo staring at the yarn) and I are running an experiment in Adobe Photoshop.  The first photo is the sample as it looks outside on a cloudy day in Kansas City.  The next photos have colors applied over the yarn.  So, I will be able to look at the photos and choose a color to overdye the skein.

black

blue

red

teal

yellow



A Fleece for Me!

I bought a gorgeous show fleece from Marcia at The Alpacas at Orchard Hills Farm last weekend.  I carded up a few ounces straight from the bag of fleece (notice the fantastic bloom of fleece waiting to be carded!)  I dyed it straight from the drum carder and then separated it up and spun it.  Really lovely!  Thank you Mona Lisa (the wonderful alpaca who grew this beautiful coat).

Suri Alpaca - Natural Color

This is one ounce of suri alpaca fiber that I carded without washing, then I spun it, plied it, washed it, dried it on my Susan Magnolia (just about to bloom) and crocheted it!  Quick and Fun.  Beautiful fiber!

Dyeing Again

 I am getting the suri alpaca roving (from Nancy!!) ready for the microwave.  The roving was first soaked in vinegar water.

Then the roving is rolled up in Saran wrap and put on a plate and microwaved.

I was also dyeing some merino wool roving in jars.  Very easy!  It looks like a jar of yummy pickled peaches.  But, it isn't!

 After the alpaca cooled to room temp and sat all night to absorb any more dye, I rinsed it in cool water. 

I dried it over my flat leafed Italian parsley (doesn't everyone have one in their sunroom for Italian cooking?? And, roasted red and sweet potatoes??)  and palm tree.

Then I predrafted it a bit and rolled it into a ball.  Ready to spin!  This is a 2 oz. ball.  Each little microwave bun was 2 oz.  I sometimes put more in a wool bun.  But, I wanted to make sure this was cooked really good as sometimes alpaca is a bit stubborn to take the dye.

New Fancy Kitty Kitten

I just got my new drum carder!  Yeah!  I just carded a batt of silk and Merino wool.  Then, I tore it into roving and put it in the spinning wheel.

More Fiber Art

Here are photos from my projects/classes at the Jefferson City Fiber Retreat last weekend.  Wow!  I am exhausted.  I am still resting up from my purse class, hat class and spinning class.  I had great and patient instructors.  I really enjoyed meeting old (oops, I better say "previous" friends) and making new friends.

New Small Oil Paintings

With the glass and wool areas closed for a month in my basement, I've been creating little (6x8 and less) oil paintings.  Here are some (Ok, only 16 of them):