Tag Archives: fiber

Gnome Palooza

A gathering of gnomes or is it a Jerry Garcia look-alike contest?

For years I have wondered what to do with all my little scraps of hand spun, hand woven wool fabric off cut from larger projects that I just can’t bring myself to throw away, then I started making these little dudes and I need wonder no more! Best part is they are a delightfully quick project so all my loved ones get a cheery fulled wool Holiday ornament gift. I have an abundance of supplies on hand to make them and bonus- I also get to utilize all those heel & toe blown colorful knit socks (that I just can’t bring myself to darn one last time)- for gnome hats- win-win, grateful!

It all starts at the bottom, a circle about 2.5″ in diameter

Sewn to a small verticle tube
The resulting gnome bodies are then loaded with a Tablespoon or so of dry white rice (for balast) and then stuffed with wool- (a great way to use up your flocks’ less than spinnable neck and belly wool)

I then use a running stitch in a co-ordiating thread, use a strong yarn or rug warp as this will eventually be pulled through the top of the hat for an ornament hanger . . .

Pull tightly shut and then stitch nose in place, using the tube seam as the gnome center back
Looks like someting I saw on an episode of Dr. Who once upon a time!
Gnome noses are made from an old nylon stocking stuffed with loose white wool and pinched and tied with sewing thread, I leave tails for stitching to the gnome body-

Hats are made using scraps from commercial and/or handmade socks (that are way past being darned for the last time) I use a serger for stitching each sock into many little hats, but a regular sewing machine or even hand stitching would work too . . .

Each sock will produce many various sized, delightfully wonky gnome hats, stuff each hat with wool, then. . .

Pull hanger loop through top of hat
whip stitch hat just above gnome nose, lining up center back seams
Couldn’t resist including photos of my adorable gnome beard and stuffing providers
I clip short a small lock of clean wool and hot glue under gnome nose for a beard/mustache effect
Gnome Palooza indeed! I wound up with about 70 of these little guys
They don’t hang around for very long though- Happy Holidays!

Upcoming Events 2019

Anne will be participating in this year’s ‘Artists Outstanding in their Field’ Event in Damascus, Oregon on August 18th and 19th, More info here 

Or check the website at:

http://www.outsideinstyleglass.com

She will also be at the West Columbia Gorge Fall Festival of the Arts on September 22 and 23rd, click here

for more info on that event. Also, check them out on facebook  here

Then, on November 2nd& 3rd Anne has once again been chosen as a participating artist on the Clark County Open studios tour, and very excited to feature her new work space in Ridgefield! More info on that event will be continually up-dated on the link below:

https://artstra.org/open-studios/

Living Traditions Festival 2017:

Anne once again participated in Salt Lake City’s annual Living Traditions Festival this past week-end to represent Scotland with her tartan weaving display and demonstration. It was a little chilly but the clouds parted and the rain stopped just in time to open the gates and a jolly, all inclusive cultural sharing good time was has by all!

Ridge was a big help and a hit in his kilt, bundling up in our woolies was just right for the highland-ish weather!

It was especially nice to have many friends and family stop by for a visit (sister Paige and Mama Marguerite pictured here)

 

Holiday Projects:

Winding down after a busy Solstice season of Holiday shows and Farm work, it was fun to sit down and work on some Holiday gifts for loved ones. It was particularly intriguing to invent this mathematically complex cable design in a cap for my eldest grandson Elliot. I used elements of classic buckle braids in mirror image, interlaced with horseshoe cables.

Messing with the chart as work is underway, I always design ‘on the fly’ it seems.

 

Close-up detail

The finished hat on the husbeast (easier to get him to hold still than to get Elliot to cooperate 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also did up a quick pair of mittens for my middle grandson, he now wears them non-stop!

I re-visited my fenceline Mittens design for this project

He’s always such a happy little camper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did a pair of Celestial themed mitts for my daughter which have been in the works for some time, I was so happy to finally get them done:

Crescent mitt under way

All Done, and fitting for a Soltsice Celebration!

cuffs feature phases of the moon, palms have little stars

 

My initial design sketch, sort of pleasing to have the original concept somewhat resemble the finished product 🙂

Sagebrush Fiber & Folk Art Fest 2016

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Evanston Fiber Bestival 2016:

Anne will be giving a hat knitting lecture/demonstration and q & a session, as well as a highland waulking at this event next weekend. She will also be hosting a vendor booth with all her latest creations, if you are in the Evanston Wyoming area c’mon out and see us! Check out the Uinta County Library Facebook Page for more information, as well as the link above.

Living Traditions 2016!

Anne will once again be making her annual trek to the Living Traditions Festival in Salt Lake City on Sunday, May 22. She will be there answering questions, selling her wares and demonstrating Scottish Tartan weaving from noon to 7 PM, as in years past. Although Anne will only be there on Sunday, The Festival runs all week-end and for more info, visit their web page  Here

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Clark County Open Studios Tour

Save the date for Clark County’s 3rd Annual Open Studio Tour!

50 artists throughout the county will open their studios to the public Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, from 10am to 5pm. Open Studios is a free self-guided tour where local artists share how, why and where their art is created. This is a unique opportunity to visit artists and artisans, get inspired and shop local.

It’ so exciting to be included this year, and though we admit this old milking barn is still under-going it’s transition to a weaving studio, there will be a warm fire crackling in the wood stove, artisanal teas, hot cider and great live music for all comers.  Join us in Hockinson!

Get all the details to take the tour and check out this year’s artists at:

http://ccopenstudios.org

studio tour

 

Columbia River Inspired Shawl

Columbia River Inspired Shawl

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What’s up at the Hockinson Studio . . .

socks & sheep 012We have added 3 new Jacob Ewes to our little family at the farm! We are so excited to welcome Megan, Carmen and Niambh to start our flock of registered Jacob sheep, a rare heritage breed that we are only too happy to perpetuate. We are hoping for new lambs this Spring and a great source of beautiful multi-hued wool very close at hand (these sheep live right next to Anne’s new weaving studio, in fact!)meganhead This is our lamb Niambh (pronounced sort of like ‘Nee-ahhv’) -upclose & personal. This photo is courtesy of her breeder Dawn Stuart of Bear Creek Farm in Bend, Oregon: http://www.bearcreekfarm.org/jacob-sheep.php

 

We are also busy setting up the 16-shaft AVL in its new home here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After the long journey from Utah we are anxious to start weaving again!

Anne & cradtheloom

Hello France!

Here is a link to Anne’s first ever French language interview, recently featured on the French knitting site PlaneteLaine by MadLaine Yarns. They have also made available a new French translation of Anne’s very popular Gaia Shoulder Hug pattern, which is free to download and can be linked from our ravelry store in English, Swedish and now in French!

We are so excited to be able to add French knitters to our world of Fiber friends!

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