More yarn

My sweet sister gave me a gift card for Knit Picks for my birthday. I have been really excited about it and have been agonizing most of today over what to get. Originally I had thought I wanted to buy a kit to learn Fair Isle knitting, but I changed my mind after looking around for a while. Once I got to thinking about it, I decided this was a good chance for me to test out some yarns with new and different fiber content than what I have previously used.

I bought a few skeins of lace weight yarn that I plan on using for weft in weaving. And a bought some more skeins for knitting hats (that I will most likely end up selfishly keeping for myself.) And I also bought a skein of merino, alpaca and silk that I plan on using to knit a scarf...also for myself. :D

I know, I know, I'll have to sell things eventually. But right now, I need to get a handle on how things work and all that jazz. And I can't very well go around selling all of my tests right? That makes my selfishness justified...Almost...haha. Anyway, when I have an actual budget set aside for buying yarn specifically for projects to be sold, I won't keep everything I make. Also, we agreed that I'm not going to be using weaving to make money with. It's pretty much for my enjoyment. (What a blessing!)
Ceramics...that's a different story. I plan on makin' money off of that. I've been thinking a little about it and considering how I want to run my studio. I don't think I really want to make entire dinnerware sets to sell. My instructor said he did that for a long time and he ended up getting out of it because, basically, he got sick of making the same thing over and over again. And customers just wanted to add to their sets not try new and different things. He said if you can be successful making different things, then you're set because people will want you to do new things. I'd like to make small sets...As in like a set of 4 mugs, pie plates, etc. Or maybe use the same glaze or surface decoration but not have the shapes match.

Anyway, back to yarn. I truly am excited about all of it. :) It will be fun to plan projects for each skein. For the lace weight I'm planning on using it just in the weft...Possibly in a mixed warp, but probably not. (It scares me too much) I bought one in green that will go really well with an olive green Tencel I have, one that is sort of an aqua color that will be pretty with a navy Tencel I have. (Love Tencel!!) And I got one that is variegated in fall colors that I plan on using a rayon warp with. All of my rayon cones are in natural colors which will go really nicely with the colors and tones of that skein. I can't wait to hold them and feel them!! AAAAHH!!! Oh dear. When did I become SUCH A NERD?!?! Oh well. At least I'm in good company.
~JoAnna

So little time!

I haven't been able to weave much lately. I've been too busy with school. I'm working on another round of projects that are due next week. Yuck. About all I've had time to do is knit a little here and there. I'm working on hat # 7 from the yarns I bought. Mom gave me some more yarn for my birthday so that's stretching my yarns a bit further. I'm hoping to be able to sell some of them at the craft fair coming up next(?) weekend. I can't actually remember when it is...

I was telling my husband the other day that I usually have about 4 or 5 weaving projects in my head at the same time. It drives me crazy because I can't get them all out! I had this idea for a scarf or a table runner using a dark plum purple (almost brown or black) and a dark orange and red. I also have some lovely 20/2 cotton in a royal blue that I have been wanting to try weaving a scarf out of. I wound off some warp when I was at school in the spring and it was also 20/2 cotton in a lovely teal. I only wound off a few pairs of the teal because I wanted it to be an accent stripe for the scarf warp I have on there now, but it turned out to be too much thinner. (A fact I was not considering at the time) So I've had it sitting in my stash for 8 months.

I've also been thinking about making a scarf set based on a book that I'm reading called Dune. (I think I mentioned this project) Yes, I keep saying scarves, but they're my favorite thing to do because they're quick and easy and you can wear them. I love things I can wear. :) Also, I like to show off a bit by wearing and accessorizing with my handwovens. Can't help it. haha. Anyway, the scarf would be a navy blue with a sandy brown. I was thinking I'd do it in a log cabin pattern. I've never tried log cabin, but it's just color and weave. It can't be that hard. :)

As for other projects, I'm really fascinated by Fair Isle knitting and I REALLY want to learn how to do it! I think mom and I are planning on trying to learn how it works over my winter break. I didn't feel confidant enough in my knitting skills to attempt to learn how to do it on my own.

I'm always finding inspiration for colors and patterns everywhere!! Now if I could just get them out of my head and onto a loom or some needles...
~JoAnna

Stumbling...A favorite past time.

I don't mean actually stumbling and falling. A friend told me about this site: StumbleUpon.com go here and start stumbling! Anyway, I thought I'd share some of the neat things I've found.



I love this. It's fun to see a weaver from another culture.





I LOVE the colors in this one! I wouldn't normally think of putting a teal/aqua with orange, but it's beautiful. Perhaps I could use colors like this for a weaving project...




I love fibers and textiles in all their forms. I love the shapes of these lamp shades(?) I suppose that's what they are.




I wish I had this on a t-shirt!! So cute!




As a former dancer, this speaks to my heart.




I want to hang out here! The colors are wonderful! It makes me want tea...haha




I want to make this hat. :)




I would love this for my kitchen!




I love this because it's abstract and random. It's still a quilt but not what you would traditionally think of.




Isn't this a cool idea?? They call it a vertical veggie garden. Good for an apartment. I should make one!




This is called "Free form knitting". I think it's beautiful. Go here to see more!

Anyway, I get sick of not having any color or pictures, so I thought I'd post some. :) I love looking at photos on Stumble for color ideas. It can be a really good inspiration source.
~JoAnna

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! It's my golden birthday. The day your age and date of birth are the same number. 23!!