Berlin's Whimsy

'Shear Spirit' & 'A Fine Fleece': Reviews

It seems April is a fortuitous month for fiber lovers. I had the opportunity to look through two gorgeous fiber books that were published recently. Both books tackle the subject of handspinning, fiber, and knitting but their approaches to the subjects differ.

Lisa Lloyd's book, 'A Fine Fleece' stunned me with not only its beautiful photographs but the knitted designs and patterns were exactly what I was craving but didn't realize it. It's a pattern book I'll keep for the duration of my knitting life.

The patterns are written with the handspinner in mind but they also allow for the understanding that not all knitters spin their own yarn nor have the availability of handspun yarns. Each pattern includes a photo of the project in both handspun and commercially available yarns.

The patterns are beautiful and timeless---absolutely exquisite. I especially loved this aspect of the book because if I take the time to handspin the yarn for a sweater, I don't want that sweater to go out of style anytime soon!

These are patterns that you will turn to over and over again for many years to come---they are works of art in texture. In addition, the resource page includes one of my longtime blogging friends, Jennifer of Spirit Trail Fiberworks!

The other book is Shear Spirit by Joan Tapper and photographed by Gale Zucker. This book differs from Lloyd's book in that it celebrates the source of fiber. Through warm and luscious photos, the reader visits farms from Maine to Oregon and cannot help but feel inspired to pick up yarn and needles or even take up handspinning! There are lovely projects within this book, as well.

I especially liked the Redwoods Earflap Hat.

This book is both coffee table treasure and pattern book. It's one to carry with you to page through in the sun, dreaming of visiting a local fiber farm or even moving to one yourself.

Both of these books are works of beauty and inspiration.

Softie Smiles.

Off my needles come little critters. They do feel like a bit of fancy---silliness, I guess---but when I see my kids carry them around in their pockets and tuck them into bed at night, they don't seem so irrelevant to our lives.

My son carries his little 'Bunny Foo Foo' around with him and he loves his newly knitted snail. He wants to knit one himself---perhaps a weekend project.

When these little projects near completion they provide me with a big smile, a spark of delight for my heart.

I don't know what the funk I've been experiencing is----perhaps another visit to that pity party I try not to participate in, although its allure seems inevitable sometimes. I think the most recent visit is over and I left the party with favors in the form of new plans and routines.

Sometimes I get too caught up in shoulds. I look around me and backtrack my life and the shoulds are not far to follow. I realize now how much of my creativity was suppressed all these years-----set aside for other things deemed more important for lack of a support system.

Now, I allow myself bits of whimsy here and there---even silly irrelevance. No, little softies sporting their own handspun and handknit sweaters won't save the world but they remind a couple sweet children that their Mom loves them; moreover, they bring a smile to the face of the Mom that made them.

***The little guy with the sweater is my own version of Margaret's Ornament Guy. The minute I saw him I knew I had to make one (or two?!) for my kids, so thank you, Margie, for sharing with me. Do check out Margie's 'Handmade by Me' Flickr set. Wonderful!

***The Snail is a pattern from Mochimochi. We'll probably have a whole "flock" of them soon...

***Have you looked at the entries for the Second Annual Softies Awards? They'll put a smile to your face...

Day by Day.

There are both positive and negative aspects of taking things bit by bit----day by day.

For example, I haven't worked on this quilt every day. I work on it when the mood strikes. It requires a certain colorful mindset to stitch within its theme. Even so, I've watched my stitching grow through the weeks of working on it bit by bit. New ideas form and they are stitched down, snatched from their fluid nature and colorfully trapped in fabric.

And the only way I have made it this past year was in taking life bit by bit---day by day. Now I find myself doing more forecasting and envisioning my future. It's a bit murky still. Still. Perhaps that is why my words have been hard to capture here recently----so many ideas swirling around. So much to worry over and so much to do. Frankly, I feel pretty worn out. But, I'm experienced enough to realize it's another phase to pass through and seek answers on the other side. Perhaps it's even a sign of growth that I can now look into the future... I hope so. 

Just some pretty pictures...

I'm not feeling very wordy today, so I'll just share a few images. That's "Fancy Feet" up there, showing off. We're not sure if Fancy Feet is a male or female Silky Bantam.

The afternoon light has been wonderful lately...

This ball of yarn always makes me smile.

Nuno Felt.

I had never heard of Nuno felting before today. By chance, I came across this beautiful scarf, and was immediately smitten with its unique look. I googled Nuno Felting and came up with the video featured here. Oh, the possibilities are swirling now!! I'm taking a whole new look at my children's silk play scarves (!).

"But we don't know how to make anything."

When I picked up my kids from school yesterday, I was presented with a permission slip for an annual overnight field trip. The parent's cost for each student is $100. I gasped a bit at that. Though I've never needed a scholarship for my kid's school activities before, this time I glanced at the scholarship portion of the form which stated that scholarship money was very limited due to the other options students could pursue...

I was pleased to find those other options. Students are encouraged to work to raise their own field trip money. Opportunities consisted of positions at the upcoming school fundraiser ($5 per hour) and students must interview for the each position, babysitting parents' children during the event ($5 per hour), writing thank you cards ($5 each------hmmm, I'll sign up for that one!!), and more...

It also included the option of making items to sell to parents and community members, as well as offering up your services for bidding. I loved all of these ideas, especially the school's aim to provide opportunities for students to work their way towards the field trip rather than just handing out scholarships.

When I mentioned the option of making items to sell, both of my kids whined in unison, "But we don't know how to make anything!" My son added for more effect, "Yeah, I don't think anyone's going to want to buy one of my doodles!"

I told them I disagreed and we went on to discuss all of the things they know how to make... I reminded my daughter of her drawing skills and that we could transfer one of her drawings onto fabric and embroider it and then use that piece to make a bag or some other item. For my son, I mentioned our handspun yarn and how well he can now knit. I also reminded him of his expert origami skills and how lovely a miniature crane looks on a handmade card. We're just starting to get into felting and I told them of all the things that can be made out of felt. We discussed painting and drawing and mini-quilts and hair accessories... and the list went on and on.

In the end, I said, "Yep, I guess you don't know how to make anything, huh?!"

*******

And on the topic of creativity, I know you've probably read it before, but Amanda's book The Creative Family is absolutely lovely. I highly recommend it. There are a number of reasons I personally liked it but for other readers I feel that her ability to encourage everyone's creativity is impeccable. She provides basic activities that are easily obtainable, but more than that, they are presented as a jumping off point for each family's creativity. She also describes the creative atmosphere each of us can create and nurture in our own households. Sure, I know how to sew and knit and many of the other projects within the book, but I still loved reading it because of the "atmosphere" of gentle creativity and parenting the book evokes-----it's like joining a wonderful community of mothers and families from within her words. At $10, it's a steal, too.

Fiber-y Goodness.

We attended a small, local fiber festival this past weekend. I haven't been to a fiber fest for almost two years and I forgot how much fun they are. With other crafty-related experiences behind me, I noticed this time especially how much I enjoy the crowds at fiber festivals. I find the people at fiber festivals as very good natured, down-to-earth, and extremely friendly.

We visited the booth of a local fiber store and my daughter fell in love with a needle felted horse kit. Soon, we'll attempt needle felting---maybe a summer project. My son took a turn on one of her spinning wheels and he marveled at some of the handspun yarn (now that he's a knitter)!

My children's favorite part is visiting the animals. A particularly soft alpaca won my daughter's heart and practically made me want to run away to the nearest Alpaca farm. I think an alpaca could win my heart pretty easily, too!

Of course, there were other fiber animals and they enjoyed a lot of attention, too. I realize how much of a sensory person I am. My crafts are often just as much about the texture and their tactile nature than about the end product.

And remember my post about smells? I found myself attracted to a corner of the event center that featured a local lavender farm's products. It smelled so heavenly! Lavender seems to be a popular crop in this region.

I grabbed information about another fiber festival in my state at the end of September and I look forward to visiting that one, too! I can't miss this much goodness again...