What's on Your Summer Bucket List?

Artists often consult a color wheel, complementary, secondary, analogous, triads, all acceptable ways to select color combinations.

When I begin a new project, I use a simpler method. I look to nature and my environment. You too can find inspiration for your next weaving project. It's as simple as taking a walk. A neighbor's flowers, fluffy clouds in a blue sky, cracks in a sidewalk, a doorway... stop and look, notice the different colors in a sunset, a flower, a puddle. Choosing colors for your next project just got a lot easier.

Is spinning something you've always wanted to try? Have you been spinning alone and are ready to join our Saturday Spin? Do you need a little help getting the fluffy bits to come together as a usable yarn? Do you need/want more fiber or a Majacraft wheel?

We'll encourage you to finish your projects. You'll enjoy a sense of accomplishment, and enjoy wearing or gifting your hand-knit piece. You can learn proper blocking techniques, or we're happy to do it for you.

I love, to weave, but I really love to take the hand-woven cloth off of the loom, wash it and see it come to life. On the loom the cloth is usually somewhat stiff. Once through the wash and dry cycle, magically it's become something I want to wrap myself in.

Imagine wearing something that you not only sewed yourself, but you actually created the fabric too! You can easily do that this summer. We'll prepare a loom for you, or teach you how. Weave two hours at a time and before you know it, you'll have beautiful hand-woven fabric ready to be transformed into your next favorite top, vest, tunic, shrug...

What will you learn, read, do with these precious summer days.

I've read bucket lists that number from one to one hundred. They're a bit ambitious, not very relaxing or realistic. Add fun to your list, learn something new, finish a project, schedule time with your friends at Three Sheep, relax and enjoy those hazy lazy days of summer.

Wearable Weaving

It's our year for family weddings. We have a small family, so it's only two weddings, but we're so happy to celebrate, see everyone and have a reason to get dressed up and show off our handwoven creations.

This wrap was worn to a garden wedding last weekend. It has sleeves, so you just slip your arms in, give the wrap a twist and a flip and you're wearing a beautiful work of art. What I love most about it is the ease of styling. I do love shawls and wraps, knitted, crocheted or woven, but it seems like there's always a bit of fiddling with one end or the other. The sleeves keep this wrap in place. When you're visiting Three Sheep, you're welcome to try one on, you're going to love it!

Sometimes it's best to listen and allow things to be what they're most comfortable being.

It's been a busy week at the loom and sewing machine. Wanting to try out a new pattern, the loom was warped and fabric woven. It's a summery blend of linen, tnecel, and a bit of cotton chenille. The combination of threads made a fabric that is so soft and has a beautiful drape. Here's where things went a little wonky. I intended the fabric to be a top with sleeves. I planned for that, and looked forward to wearing it. This sweet piece of cloth had a mind of it's own and insisted on becoming a vest. Sometimes it's best to listen and allow things to be what they're most comfortable being. I'm in love with this vest, and the disappointment of not having a new top has been forgotten.

Looking through a kaleidoscope...

Have you looked through a kaleidoscope recently?

How delightful they are. Simply turn the wheel to reveal a colorful new pattern.

In 1816, Scotsman Dr. David Brewster was the first to arrange mirrors and objects in a tube and call it a kaleidoscope. Not just a toy, the device also was intended for use by designers and artists, who might be inspired by the beautiful patterns they could create.

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Thank you Sarah for sharing your unique kaleidoscope with us last week. I was fascinated by it's triangular design and double wheel. As I played with the kaleidoscope, the connection was made from the colored glass to the colorful cones of yarn that we use in weaving.

Turning the wheels, randomly creating beautiful patterns, unlimited possibilities opened before me for future projects. More than two hundred years after it's inception, and many decades of playing with one, I'll now be using one for it's other intended purpose.

Adding Beads to Hand-spun Yarn

It was a fun, combining silky fiber and glass beads at the spinning wheel. It was also a bit tedious as the beads were added one at at time, I don't think I'll be spinning much of this yarn, but I do love it, and know it will be just the right added touch to a future weaving project.

New Year's Weaving

I'm so excited about this new piece of handwoven cloth. I've combined commercially spun silk and tencel with silk that I had spun in my early days of spinning. The hand-spun silk is soft yellow and pale blue. As it was one of my first attempts at spinning, the yarn adds lovely bits of texture from the not so even spinning.
Have you just begun spinning, or do you have some of your early (maybe a bit bumpy) hand spun yarn? Let's use our hand-spun, wear it proudly, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating wearable art.

Treat yourself to the comfort and coziness of Cashmere and Silk

The New Year parties are sure to be small this year, but even if it's a party of one, make it a special celebration. Plan a festive menu, and include a decadent dessert. You could host a video call, have a zoom dance party, and virtual toast. Watch movies all night or see the ball drop in Times Square. Whatever your plans be sure to dress up. Sparkly wraps, and sumptuous scarves add the finishing touch to most any outfit.