Folly Cove Fiber Freak, a blog by Leslie Wind

Cable Needle Rings?

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:34:00 +0000

Sterling Cable Needle Rings

OK, NOT for wear for cocktail parties. You probably just want to save them to wear while knitting socks or other small projects. These adjustable ring/tools are about a needle size 2.
As I am still mulling over the final design they are not on my website yet.
Blog On!
Leslie

Makin' the Fiber Scene at Slater Mill

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:14:00 +0000

Tomorrow I get to spend the day at Slater Mill where they host the kind of fiber events that can only be enjoyed at an historic textile mill. This photo, from a similar knitting event there shows my friend and fellow teacher, RoseAnn Hunter, teaching a rugs from fabric workshop. I will be showing my work and teaching mini one-on-one shawl pin workshops, my favorite MO.

Blog On!
Leslie

Wow, Did You See The Knits On That Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:04:00 +0000

I have always loved Broadway shows. I am also a huge fan of the TV show Glee. So when I heard about the upcoming new TV show, "Smash", I was determined to watch it and positive I would love it. Just like Indian food on Cape Ann, there is so little of it around that I enjoy with gusto even mediocre fare. But what I did not expect was the knitting fashions which were special in their design and color choice. Within the first few minutes of the show(easily watched online), Debra Messing's character, Julia Houston wears a fabulous froth of a scarf that makes me wonder if she will ignite a whole new flurry of knitters. So Monday night at 10.00 on NBC tune in to see the knits and hear the music. After only one episode it is too early to judge the plot.
Blog On!
Leslie

I Can Spin!

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:26:00 +0000

It is a guess on my part that I do not need to clarify that I am speaking of wool and not exercise. I have had a wheel for a few years but never made the time to really focus on learning how. My staccato efforts proved more frustrating than fruitful. So it was that I found myself at the MA Sheep and Wool Show with my wheel and a promise to myself to spin. Saturday evening I brought down my wheel to the screened in porch of the bed and breakfast. The sun was setting and chipmunks were shuttling about the yard. i had finished up the last of the fiber I had brought with me and took out a baggie passed to me that morning by Carole from Foster Farm. Not having much experience with different fibers I pulled out some fiber and tentatively started spinning. For whatever reason I felt like I could enroll in the spinning Olympics and win! I wanted to call her and make sure I had more than the baggie's contents to keep the magic going. Judiciously I waited until next morning. I can't explain how the texture of the crimp when drafted felt so fulfilling. Add to that the shift of the color as it stretched and twisted in the process. Once home I quickly found online sources for all things spinning. I found The Knitters, Spinners, Weavers House Cleaning pages to be a good source for used spinning wheels. Going to the fiber festivals I was able to bring home my weight in roving.
This is the first creative pursuit where I allowed myself a learning curve without castigation. Just the doing which I found calming in itself was enough. That the resulting yarn was imperfect was of little matter. No joke, I carried balls of my new yarn and showed it to cashiers in the supermarket or anyone who stood still long enough.
Since then my spinner's trance continues with no slacking in sight.
Blog On!
Leslie

Stitches South Booth 333- 335

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:41:00 +0000

Off I go tomorrow to Stitches South this time sharing the booth with Sanguine Gryphon! I am sure that by the end of the weekend I will be determined to revamp my wardrobe. I met Gryphon at Stitches Midwest. I walked up to her and asked if I could photograph her on the leather banquet in the coffee. She had on the most amazing dress. Am I as organized as I hoped? Well....not really. But I do have a bunch of cable needle rings made up and some shawl slides. I will post pictures of both upon my return.
Blog On!
Leslie

Snow Angel

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:20:00 +0000

The surprise April 1st snow will give way to pansies within the next few weeks. This was taken at the doorstep of my friend Martha's home.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stop & Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:37:00 +0000

Well, actually in the supermarket early Sunday morning. I walk in to see a bunny, a clown and a manager (man in suit I am guessing) talking. How could I resist the moment? I did volunteer to be the bunny in the future.
Blog On!
Leslie

Enough With the Worship of Perfection!

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:49:00 +0000

Perfection is a ballerina balancing on one toe of her ballet slipper on the point of a pyramid. How long can she hold that pose and why is perfection a more credible state? I ask this from the view point of someone who has undermined myself by being self hypercritical, surely a tactic that undermines energy and confidence. Often I come upon an old piece of jewelry that I have made that I felt missed my goal. Holding that piece I realize that it was a step toward a design that was beyond my original idea. Now, as I expand my creativity into new directions I wish to validate all honest effort.
Blog On!
Leslie

A Shanty House Warming

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:27:00 +0000

With Cameron's Restaurant now closed, Three Sheets has nowhere to sing until we find another pub to host us. In our third week as nomads I decided that I could host the group and make it a low key house warming/ Shanty singing night. And so I did. It was not all I had envisioned it would be but it was. That it happened is what is important. And I would love to do it again in better weather when we can sit outside instead of being crammed into a room that seemed large until everyone showed up.
Blog On!
Leslie

Stitches West here I Come

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:10:00 +0000

This coming week I head to CA for the biggest Stitches yet. This is thanks to Intwined Pattern Studio. As a company that sells knitting software they don't need tons of room to show off their product. All I need is a card table, a chair or two plus my tools and shawl pins, of course. This is a long way to go so I am "bare bonesing" the display. And forgoing my clothing fantasy. At Stitches East I met Gryphon. If you knit her site is a treasure chest. I saw her first at the hotel coffee shop. As you can see from the photo her outfits were inspiring. I wish she gave a workshop in Wardrobe Organization and Style.

Blog On!

Leslie

Greeting Card from a Man Who Knows Women Who Knit

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Illustrated by Teresa Burns Parkhurst for oatmeal studios
shows a point of view I wish I had come to earlier in my life. Although there are no scars on anyone, I would have a lot of sweaters, scarves and hats
to show at this point.
"Forge our swords into knitting needles"
Blog On!
Leslie

Shawlette by Darcy Knotty Knitter, Slide by Me

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:37:00 +0000

I have Darcy to thank for the motivation for this new idea. She made me this mini shawl of the most scrumptious yarn. The size didn't need much to keep it in place so I thought up this slide. I am making many versions to take to Stitches West. Nothing like having thousands of knitters pass by your booth and offer their honest opinion to know if you are on to something....or not.

Blog On!

Leslie

My Work at Vogue Knitting Live! Booth #1500

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Thank you Chris from http://www.myfavoritethimble.com/ for making space at your booth in Americas Hall 1 at the Hilton in NYC. Chris said to mention that there are two halls on two different floors so make sure that if you get there you see the whole show.
There is nothing like the creative energy at these shows. First there is the array of fantastic fiber arts products. It is not uncommon for me to develop an interest in something to which I was previously indifferent due to seeing a display. Then there is the endless parade of creations on attendees and show personnel as well. As I like to say, "This is the only situation that you can fondle the garment of a stranger and not end up in jail!"
Check out the show's site at http://www.vogueknittinglive.com/
Blog On!
Leslie

The Balsams Grand Hotel Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:15:00 +0000

It is only fitting that my last post was about RoseAnn's and my time at The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel and my next entry shows our return trip to that amazing place. In between I have changed, by my own choice, much in my life. This is not the first time in my life I have felt like the last person in the line in a game of whip. This memory is from my grammar school days at the Whitman School in Brockton, MA. The game starts innocently enough by forming a line of kids all holding hands. The leader starts running with the line snaking behind. When the leader stops the line swings in an arch. Whoever is the last person is moved at speeds usually beyond their ability. Any sense of control is gone. I have moved from a house I had lived in for more than thirty years, changed my viewpoint of my business that I have carried for over forty years and updated a sense of self that is older than both the previous attitudes.

Here are RoseAnn and I in the Ballot Room at Dixville Notch, NH, the first reporting precinct in the nation. The wall is full of mostly black and white photos of political dignitaries. The Balsams in general has an historic feel to it but this room feels like the hub of all that.

Blog On!

Leslie

Back from The Balsams!

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:10:00 +0000

RoseAnn and I just returned from almost a week away. The bulk of that time was spent as artists in residence at The Balsams Resort in NH. Never having experienced anything quite like this I am thinking now of how I could be better prepared if the chance comes around again. So much about it was over the top. Just to sit out on the porch with that "Edenistic "view and watch the parade of hummingbirds is magic. It took me a few days to figure out how to control myself in the dining room. With the possible exception of a wedding or other special event, I have never encountered food of that calibre.

As artists in residence we were available during the day to demonstrate. We also chose to teach and found that several of the children were quick learners. Sorry to say that I missed photographing Conner's red wool rose complete with leaves that he made as a pin for his mother.

I split my time between making ornaments in bronze and copper and a crochet project with the yarn I had won at the CGOA Professional Day.

My next post will focus on the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild meeting where we taught.

Blog On!

I'm Moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:11:00 +0000

And to this house although it does not look like this anymore!

For more than half my life I have lived in my small studio in Folly Cove. I put out an open sign, made jewelry and waited. I forgot about the days of open ended time where I could experiment and not feel the pressure to have something "saleable" by the end of the day. All that changed at SPA in Portland Maine about four years ago. Now held in Freeport, the event continues to be a high point for New England fiber enthusiasts. Motivated by my time there I have expanded my line of shawl pins and added my Cable Needle Necklaces, Flame eyed yarn sewing needles with much more to come as soon as I redo my site. RoseAnn Hunter and continue to expand our traveling for teaching. The above left photo shows examples of our "Wire and Wool Jewelry Class" that combines simple techniques from both our disciplines.

With all this in mind, I realized I needed a bigger place so I could host workshops. Ideally it would be walking distance from the Rockport train station and from the shopping area of Rockport itself. As I finish redoing the house I can focus on making all this happen. Not being open except by appointment frees up energy for new directions.

Redoing a house is a new experience for me which involves many decisions some of which I may have to live with for the rest of my life. I knew there would be some I might regret but never the choice of this house which fulfills all my criteria. I will let nothing undermine the joy I feel in this new beginning.

Blog On!

Leslie

MA Sheep and Wool Here I Come

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:10:00 +0000

I love this show! I love the fairgrounds setting that has a Brigadoon feeling to me. I love that I get to visit with Judy from Ball and Skein and spend two days in the company of her gorgeous yarn.

The above photo shows my new shawl closures. The Button and the Trillium designs need either a YO or picot to button through. The other two designs are made to slip through a knitted or crocheted garment as long as the needle size is around a 6 or larger. These closures represent my trend toward designs that do not require a separate stick.

Blog On!

Leslie

My First Yarn Crawl

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:51:00 +0000

This past Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I basically lived at Coveted Yarn in Gloucester MA, a mere 15 minutes from my house! Needless to say the view was outstanding. I am referring to the shop's plethora of amazing yarn but also the the parade of fashions I witnessed made by the "crawlers". My favorite item was a scarf in progress that was double knitted in two different variegated yarns using a simple graphic design. Carol, the genius knitter, sat on the couch as we clustered around to watch her knit down a row complete with commentary.
The only downside was my table was less than three feet from the overflowing candy bowl. I took on the job of refilling it throughout the four days. I did my level best to make sure I was needed for the task.
Many thanks to Rob, Laurel, Astrid, Magda and the rest of the crew for a woolly warm time during the raw, rainy crawl. A special thanks to Courtney at the Seed Stitch in Salem, MA for putting this all together.
Blog On!
Leslie

Odessa ? - Feb. 25, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:50:00 +0000

The minute you let a pet into you life you know this day will come but you don't know when. I had scooped her up from a colony of feral cats living nearby in a state park. I picked the calico because she was pregnant and Odessa because I strongly suspected she was her mother or a least her aunt. The year was 2001 and my own mother has just died. That brought the count up to three cats, a nice normal number.
Today I had to put her down. It is a surreal process. Having done this before made it easier. Having had both parents and a brother die reframed the perspective. Knowing that I had brought her in to live an easier albeit more confined life helped.
How we deal with loss says a lot about us. I think I lived avoiding loss for a long time. I now see that cheated me out of things and people I truly would have enjoyed had the fear of loss not overshadowed the potential of joy. So in this moment I am surprisingly OK. In this moment....
I have jokingly said that the reason God did not make dogs and cats to live as long as parrots is that no one would get married. Each pet comes into our lives to help us through the time we have together. How lonely a journey it would be without them.
Miss you my Dessabella.

I Love Collaboration!

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:35:00 +0000

This project started with a call from Mary Lou Nye concerning a necklace to be made by Judith Wright, a fellow member of the Cape Ann Artisans. It was to be a gift from her book group for Elizabeth who had just graduated form Acupuncture school. My part was to make a charm of a book that would hang from the back. Mary Lou explained the reason behind the idea. Having used Kanji symbols in the past I suggested the symbol for healing on the cover. Judy just sent me the image this morning of the finished piece.
A collaboration feels like passing the football to the quarterback. You have to have faith the the player makes it to the goal post and you all get to share in the victory.
Blog On!
Leslie

My Mother, The Car*

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Please believe me when I tell you the following account is completely true.
I have been driving my mother's Toyota Camry since her death in 2001. Not too long after that I was offered a part in a Community Theater production of Nunsense 2. Since my New Year's resolution was to say "yes" to all good things offered me I accepted the part even though
I knew it would be "another growth experience". Two months and a few performances go by. Nan Webber, the director of Theater in the Pines, has cut out the roller skating portion of my part upon seeing me at dress rehearsal wearing a habit and clinging to every piece of scenery I could reach. The first night I did have that dreaded freeze moment where you can't remember your lines and it feels like an hour has passed but it is really only a few moments. Take away the fear of killing myself. Take away my fear of not being able to recover from a mistake onstage.
Now I am loving this! And I am amazed at that.
Heading out to one of the last performances, I decide to try a self help technique I had recently read in a book entitled something like "What To Say when You Talk To Yourself". The book maintains that speaking out loud processes thoughts differently than just running them in your head. In my amazement of how much I am loving this I also realize how much I have missed by letting fear and insecurity rein me in. So from my house to the theater I let it rip in the car to my Mother how angry I am at her critical and destructive style of parenting. I mean, I really let it out! At the parking lot I turn off the car and remove the keys. The car responds with lights flashing, horn blaring and locks flipping from "open" to "lock" furiously. Nothing short of starting the car again stops the cacophony. Turning off the engine results in the same response. Sitting in the car with the engine running I think through my options. I have to be inside the theater pronto. And then I realize what is behind this: my tirade. Out loud I say, "Alright, I'm sorry">
I take out the keys. In silence I walk to the building . It never happened again.
Yesterday I am heading home from errands and notice the odometer as I pull into my driveway. Seeing that literal milestone got me thinking back and realizing how far I had come in many senses of those words.
Blog On!
Leslie
* Please visit My Mother The Car to read about this weird one season TV wonder. It was like Mr Ed with a car instead of a horse.

The Lobster Pot Christmas Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:42:00 +0000

I live on Cape Ann, so it makes sense that the city of Gloucester boasts a Christmas Tree built from layer after layer of lobster traps. This past Saturday was the Middle Street Walk which ended with the lighting of this tree. There were the usual political speeches and Three Sheets to the Wind sang a few songs before the lights.
As you can see from this photo below, the lobster pots are stacked like pieces of cake with lobster boys hanging in between the traps. Each buoy was hand painted by the kids at Art Haven .
There will be an auction at a later date featuring these one of a kind buoys to help support Art Haven.
Blog On!
Leslie

My Top Three Favorite Christmas Events

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:34:00 +0000

Of all the events Three Sheets to the Wind does, the Christmas Open House at Lowell's Boat Shop is one of my top three favorites. It's not just that it is an historic site (1793) or that they serve the best corn chowdah I have ever had or that this working boat shop becomes Santa's work shop for the weekend. There we are singing among dories in progress.
Rumor has it that the group has been invited to sing for the spring opening.
Blog On!
Leslie

BASD Shawl Pin Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Here is a collection of shawl pins by the Boston Area Spinners and Dyers . Yesterday afternoon's workshop was held at Carol McClennan's house which was the type of home that made me feel instantly comfortable. It also fueled today's desire to clean my own.
I have two favorite parts to teaching. The first is the look on a student's face when she completes a project that expands her self definition. The second part is when they take out shawl and sweaters that they have made to test the new creations. Many times the student who complains about not getting something perfect the first time pulls out a garment they made that stops me in amazement. There is nothing I can say to ease their concern for not getting their pin perfect right away. So I use the momentum to (re)give the talk to myself. Knowing the price of perfectionism doesn't always mark the bill "paid in full".
Blog On!
Leslie

Fancie Purls and Pine Hills.

noreply@blogger.com (Folly Cove Fiber Freaks) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:18:00 +0000

RoseAnn and I have been teaching in Plymouth this past week. We did two evening events at Fancie Purls and one afternoon at Pine Hills. Anne at Fancie Purls went beyond the call with wonderful goodies. And when did she find the time to make those cookies! It was hard to concentrate with all that beautiful yarn around.
Taken at Pine Hills, this photo
shows RoseAnn's newest variations on the heirloom rugs: wool ornaments that are shirred, beaded and stitched.
Blog On!
Leslie