Keep Calm and Weave On in June

Typically weaving with wool and wool blends is for winter months.  For sure they are winter wearables.  In my situation of thinking ahead for having an inventory to sell during the winter months weaving with wool in June makes sense.  It's like they say about Christmas...you know...Christmas in July. 

So, here I am in my home garage weaving studio with no AC weaving with wool. 

Thankfully, the mornings are cool, fans are blowing, and I am weaving away.  

And with all that is going on in the world...I'm going with this...

"Keep Calm and Weave On". 

I Felt Like Felting

I've had very little experience with felting, but it's been on my bucket list for awhile.  After sorting through several large bags of wool yarns, I came up with a basket full of scraps.

Most of the scraps were rolled into a yarn ball and were enough to make several passes on Bonda...knitting machine.  The smaller scraps were balled with bits of wool roving and made ready for dryer balls.

All of this scraping out wool was for a reason.  In the process of setting up my Home Weaving Studio, I came across a long forgotten book...The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting.

Bingo...Inspiration on page 79.

The first two practice felted pieces were light to medium felted.  I wanted the knit stitches to show as well as the felting to be solid enough to be stable.  To add more stiffness to the case, I stitched in a stabilizer under the fabric liner. 

I think the next panels of knitted wool will need hotter water in the wash cycle for at least 20 minutes.  Then after the cold water rinse to set the felted fibers I'll toss in the dryer on high heat for a few minutes.  Next will come a bit of block shaping to finish drying.  Time to go experiment.

Felting is Fun...Glad I Felt Like Felting!

My Signs of The Time

But do you really, Sue?  That is the looming (pun intended) question as I move Sue's Fiber Arts Studio from The Chicken Farm Art Center to my Home Studio Two...formerly the garage.  This sign has gotten lots of LOL's in my Chicken Farm Shop, but now it makes me feel a bit overwhelmed.  You see...this is just the Weaving Yarns.  Home Studio One is overflowing with knitting, crochet and other needle works yarn.  With the closing of the Shop my outlet for Sales of yarn and all the yarn items I make is gone, and I'm not sure how well Online Shopping of my wares will work.

As I mentioned, Home Studio Two is mostly a Weaving work space.  I'm making the most of the space and still have storage areas....it was and still is a storage space for stuff.  Thank goodness for curtains and sheets that block all that stuff from sight.  Sparrow...floor loom...is ready for a new warp and next weaving project.  I'm looking for inspiration...it make take awhile.

Setting up a Home Studio always requires a place for doing business...whether much business is going to happen or not.  It just feels better.  Then there is work space for other things as well.

Guess I best get to Work!

Garage Makeover...New Loom Room

Over the years the garage has been a parking space for about everything except a vehicle.  It has also been a source of contention as a trap/catchall for overflow from one Studio or the other.  Both of the people in our household can take just so much of a chaotic overflow before a major cleanout becomes necessary.  That cleanout happened last month....just in time for another makeover.

Due to the...hopefully...temporary closing of Sue's Fiber Arts Studio at the Chicken Farm Art Center, any weaving done on Sparrow was going to be done at home.  It will work out for the best as Sparrow and all her weaving supplies and tools took up valuable display space at Studio #10.  A big regret will be not being able to demonstrate weaving to visitors who come to the Chicken Farm.

 

I don't know how long the 'Work From Home' will last or if a 'Shelter In Place' will become mandatory or if Sue's Fiber Arts Studio #10 at The Chicken Farm Art Center will get to re-open, but at least 'The Sparrow' has landed in her New Loom Room. 

And she has two New Spring Aprons!

(take up fabric on roller)

My Sign for The Times

Sue's Fiber Arts Studio

16 hrs · 

Sorry Ya'll...SFAS is CLOSED😕for the time being!
~I will be following the 'Texas Declarations for Staying Safe'..staying🏡, washing hands, tryyyying not touching my face 🤔, and all the rest.
~Sorry no 'Take Out'~Drive Thru~Delivery' of Yarn🐑, Bags👜, Shawls👘, Woven Runners, etc.
~BUT, these days you may need a Microwave Bowl Cozie....call me...325-277-9940...curb side pickup.😷🙂

Now that the Official Closed Announcement has been made on Facebook, I will be getting busy making more Bowl Cozies.  I always have an assembly line stack ready to sew. 

Who knew they would become a best seller in my shop...not me...I started making them out of necessity...tired of grabbing a T-towel or too small potholder to take a HOT bowl/dish out of the microwave.

Speaking of Home Studio...it has expanded...again!  Partly due to the 'Do The Fivers' and mostly because times have changed so much for 'Brick & Mortar' shops...especially for Artisans.

Keeping 9 to 5 daily shop hours for shoppers that don't necessarily shop 'Specialty Shops' has shop keepers like me making decisions to fit the 'Times'.  For me that means 'Shop Weekend Hours' and more 'Home Studio' time.

I'm good with the 'Stay Home' 'Work From Home declarations!  I love my Sewing Machine, Ridgid Heddle and Floor Looms, Fabric and Yarn Stashes, Ashford Traveler Spinning Wheel and baskets of Wool Fibers.  I will have no problem with Staying Home. 
Signing Off as...OverDoSue Working From Home!

PS...Want a perspective on how COVID-19 affects society now and in the future history books?
Here's Wendy's Sign of the Times....Popular Trending COVID-19

Wearable Arts Showcase...Another April Challenge

In an earlier post...OverDoSue's Sixth Year Sign On With AtoZ...I alluded to a number of April events and commitments.  Like the AtoZ Challenge, they too, are going to demand time, effort and consistency to pull off the Multi-April Challenges.  With that said, I am excited to announce my selection as one of the Featured Fiber Artists at the Wearable Arts Showcase.

Sponsored each spring by the Chicken Farm Art Center, the event features three out of town Fiber Artists and a Studio Artist from the Chicken Farm.  An Opening Reception is held on Friday evening in the Event Studio #1 and is continued on the next day which is always the First Saturday Monthly Show. 

As a 'Wearable' Arts Showcase the primary focus is on....well, wearables.  I do have a good inventory for wearables such as aprons, smocks, scarves, shawls, hats, jewelry, bags and so on, but I want to bring some new Spring and Summer items. 

So, that's what I have been working on with a line of small zipper pouch bags with shoulder straps, a line of Yoga/Runner Lycra Headbands, several lightweight crocheted summer shawls, and a line of Kimonos made from lightweight voile, jersey, and knit fabrics.  I will debut them later.  I'm having great fun designing these Kimonos with a SueTwist.

Oh, Okay...here's a sneak peak....

So 'Wearable'...One Size...Multiple Drapes.

Gotta Go...So many more to Sew!

Sew Little Time!

Auditions for Warp-Weave and Add-On's

My Home Studio looks 'Yarn Bombed'.  Practically every yarn apparatus, bag, bin, basket and bead container I own is open for auditioning several projects in the making.  Of course it's a major multi-tasking medium operation with weaving frames warped, jewelry table covered, and spinning wheel humming.  And in my defense...I'm not in an 'OverDoSue' mode...yet!

Do I have a planed project in mind?  Sorta!  In the 'Audition' process for using the newly spun 'Art Yarns' I decided to start a somewhat 'FreeForm' weaving.  First was choosing a warp yarn.  The gray wool skein from my first two spinning lessons worked out great for warping a 12x16 or so handmade frame. Next from the hours of practice spinning, plying and setting are 'Art Yarn' balls.

After a few rows of setting the warp and weave the fun of mixing weaving techniques of basket weave, twinning, wrapping and whatever else looks kind of funky, a few beads and buttons were auditioned.

From the baskets and bins of novelty ribbon yarns came a few shiny, glitzy additions.  It's early in the process, but I'm thinking a 'Boho Bag' may be in the making.

At this stage I should dig through the upholstery fabric bin.  Oooooh...something with a lot of texture, and maybe a piece of silky stuff for lining.

Auditioning over?  Probably not, but it's a start! 

Are you wondering what and when the finish will be?

Me too!

Studio Sign...Got Er Done...After Rose Smelling

Sometimes I have to just STOP all the OverDoSue-ness and literally 'Smell the Roses'.  Aren't they beautiful?  Thank-you Polina!  After a good long spell of smelling....I forced myself to venture into a disaster area....'Garage Sewing Storage'.  No BEFORE pictures....it was too embarrassing for one who claims to be an 'Over Organizer' and Neat-Nic!  At one time the Disaster Area was my Sewing Studio...and I'm happy to show you an organized view from 2012....

...those were the days of 'Quilt-a-Lottie' (Longarm Quilting Machine), cold winters and hot summers.

The Re-organized Garage Sewing Storage/Former Sewing Studio. 

You know how one thing leads to another? 

What I really went out to there to do was to 'Repair Sue's MadeWith Fabric&Fiber Studio' SIGN.

Got Er Done!

Now back to Smelling the Roses!

Perpetual Calendar Quilt...Never To Be Purged

At the beginning of every year I take down the old and put up the new calendar.  I use to SAVE the old calendar.  Even had/have a filing cabinet drawer for the 'Calendar Collection'.  This year, I decided not to SAVE 2017's calendar...enough!  Which reminds me...the Calendar Collection is next on the list to purge.

At the time this quilt was made, I owned a commercial embroidery machine which stitched out 4 monthly designs at a time.  I have used them on many different projects, including aprons and birthday projects. 

The Perpetual Calendar Quilt has hung in all of my Home Studios through out the years since it was made in the year 2000.  Here it hangs in my 'Garage Studio' in 2007.

 

Time for it to hang in a different Studio...

....Never To Be Purged!!!

What I Make With 2017 Leftovers

These are my leftovers...a very small selection of them.  I worked very hard to use them up in 2017, but I can hardly tell that I made a dent in them. 

Thank goodness they aren't Turkey leftovers...I could never throw them out.....

....however, they are useful for warming leftover Turkey and Dressing...Bowl Cozie.  Then there is the leftover Giblet Gravy...great on a Baked Potato, and the Baked Potato Bag?   OMgoodness...best baked potato ever. 

 Look what my Vintage Leftover Fabrics have become....Ditty Bags.  Although they are not for use in the Microwave, they could be used as a lunch bag for a left over Turkey Sandwich...sealed in a zip lock baggie, of course.  I'm going to use mine for small needlework projects....except for the ones that will go to Sue's MadeWith Fabric&Fiber Studio 14.
 

It's back to work for me!  I have more leftovers to Microwave sew up.

What have you made with your Leftovers from 2017?

Window Sill View...It's Sew Fallish

There are several Owls perched on my Home Studio's window sill, and as you see this wise white owl watches over a mason jar of buttons.  I've found that a window sill works as a perfect perch for a number of things.  Besides being decorative, the miscellaneous sewing collectibles, buttons, threads and bric-a-brac are within reach when needed.

For some reason Owls give me the feeling of Fall and Winter.  Perhaps it's because the Great Horned Owl...like the one on my window sill...begins setting up it's territories in the Fall.  They mate for life, and in the Fall begin their courtship with a lot of loud hooting....then they set up tree housekeeping.  By January they take turns keeping their eggs warm and incubated.  So there ya go...a bit of Owl ornithology.

 

Most likely my sense of Owl Season can be traced to them being a popular subject for Fall holiday decorations in everything from scrapbook papers to Halloween hooters to Fall fabrics.  Ah ha...now we're on to something!  And right below the window sill and several rows of thread spools lies that 'Something'.

Auditioning Fall Fabrics for SusieQ Apron/Smocks.

I must admit though....beside the Owl inspiration...the big push to Fall Fabrics came from my Serger.

It's all about changing Thread Color and making the most of that color change!

Right Serger Sewers?

Tool Bar...Download for June

Betcha thought this was about a new Tool Bar App!

I wish it was...I'd be stringing $$$Bills instead of Beads!
 

As it is, this Tool Bar lineup has the potential to perpetuate Beads to Bucks!  Let me explain...then you will know why this is my first download for June.  June 1st fell on a Thursday,  two days before my biggest $$$Day...or potential for...at The First Saturday Event/Show/Sale.  It happens on the first Saturday of every month, and as a Studio Artist at The Chicken Farm Art Center, I make the most of the days before getting Sue's Fiber&Fabric Studio #15 ready for that Saturday.  So there you have it...my excuse for not kicking off June on the first.

 

And...here's why it's taken me until today...the 12th...to post in June.

Home Studio Re-Do to make room for Jewelry Tool Bar!

Now I must get busy at the Bar!  July 1st is on a Saturday! 

Cheers June!!!

P&P's From Texas Wildflower Fabric Stash

The wildflowers are blooming throughout Texas and in my Home Studio's Wildflower Fabric Stash!  This is a coveted stash!  Texas wildflower fabrics are hard to come by and when you find them...they are pricey...usually because they are top quality fabrics.  So, when I dig into my stash, I make the most of it...specific projects and use every little scrap.  Here's what's bloomin' in my Home Studio for Sue's Fiber& Fabric Studio.

 

Pillow Cases

Potholders

 

 

 

Home Studio Tuesday Tour

Tuesday Tour of Home Studio...Window Shelf Collection

Having TWO Studios is working out quite well for me.  For the first three days of the week...Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday...my Home Studio is where you will find me.  That leaves Thursday, Friday and Saturday as designated days at Sue's Fiber&Fabric Studio.  One of my daily must do's is posting on Sue's Fiber&Fabric Studio's Facebook Page.  It's part of letting everyone know about the 'Daily and Weekly Specials'.

 

 Like these from last week at Sue's Fiber&Fabric Studio

Thursday Threads

Finally Friday Final Markdowns

Scrappy Saturday

 

And this week at Home Studio

Monday Made to Match

Tuesday Tour of Home Studio...Collection Closeup

 

To be continued on Wordless Wednesday!

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