Spin Therapy

I'm taking a break from washing fiber this week and doing a little spinning.

This was created from all the bits I saved from cleaning the carder.

No plan- no stress.

Loving the fluffy messiness of this.

I'm trying to relax and not try too hard.

Sort of meditating I guess.

Endless Mountain Fiber Fest 2016

On my way up to Maine last month, I made a quick stop at the "Endless Mountain Fiber Fest".

I was greeted at the very first barn by this cute guy.

There were so many talented, creative women there, showing off their wares.

So much fiber!

Loved all the sweet critters.

Picked up a few supplies, but most of all gathered some much needed inspiration.

Karen

Hanging On By A Thread

Six years ago I went through some major health issues and spent the better part of a year traveling back and forth to Cleveland Clinic. I had a tumor and a section of my left lung removed. While all this was going on, I was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease. They did a biopsy of my thyroid and was told that there was no cancer, so I didn't think much about it as the lung issue was priority at that time. Other than taking a pill each day to replace the hormones that my thyroid wasn't producing any more, it didn't seem like a big deal. Boy was I wrong! As time went on I developed more and more symptoms related to the Hashi's. Most days I can barely get out of bed. I live with constant pain and exhaustion, brain fog and head aches,weight gain and skin that looks like I'm 90 years old. I feel as though I am "hanging on by a thread".

Since I don't go out much these days and I have no energy, I spend a lot of time scrolling through Pinterest. I search for inspiration and hope each day that I have enough energy to be creative in some small way. The following are some photos of my latest attempt at creativity.

Hanging On By A Thread

Necklace made of gray linen thread crocheted over a string of colorful wool beads.

The thread (Wolverine 20/2) is from Belgium.

The beads I hand felted a few years ago during a visit by my friend Odile Gova or  Woolly Fabulous, as she goes by in the art world.

I'm very pleased with the end result and so excited that my spark for creating is returning little by little.

I hope to share more of my creative journey with you as I adapt to living with Hashi's.

Thanks for listening and best wishes as you battle your own struggles in life.

Keep hanging on!

Love

Karen

Simple Jute Cone

I had a request for one of my cones.

Karen

Imagine

My word for 2015 is IMAGINE.

 I never imagined I'd be spinning my own yarn.

Carded wool with bits of silk. 

 Imagining what I can create with this.

I imagined some beads made from Anita's pink hair.

 I will string them and hang them from her photo.

 A lid cover made from a my hand spun wool and silk yarn.

 I trimmed it in some really beautiful locks that I bought here.

www.hermanhillsfarm.etsy.com
Herman Hills Farm

Check out their fiber…it's gorgeous!

Imagination.

 Imagining.

Fiber

Thanks

Karen

Beach Pebbles And Silk

Silk Fiber

 White Beach Pebbles

 Organic Shape

 Natural

 Unconventional Crochet

One Of A Kind

karen 

Sari Silk Yarn Baskets

Sari silk yarn makes lovely plant baskets.

They really dress up the plants.

karen

Stinging Nettle Fiber

Who knew that this amazing organic fiber could be made from the Stinging Nettle plant.

 It's a bit difficult to crochet with as it's not as smooth as most other fibers and has no stretch to it, but it has a great rustic look and becomes softer the more it is handled. I am pairing it up with these lovely chunks of quartz to make a wearable earthy art piece.

 On my work table.

It's my current work in progress.

karen

It Is What It Is

I've decided that I'm not really interested in the acceptable standards of spinning and other fiber arts.

I love what I'm doing and how it makes me feel, so I don't really care if it's right or wrong.

It just is and I love it.

 When I first started spinning I fought the spinning wheel in an effort to make "perfect yarn".

The more I spin, the less I fight it, and now have developed a flow that keeps me in a state of ZEN.

 This little basket or "hat for Jack", is a combo of spun wool and textile strips.

I managed to get a balanced twist, but the overall look is a bit uneven.

Jack hates the camera, so his photo is blurred since he was on his way out of the room as I took it.

 A quick peek at my finished scarf that I was knitting.

It's actually prettier in person.

The color combination and texture of the fiber is quite lovely.

I'm off to card some wool.

Have a great day!

karen