Creative 365: Days 93,94 & 95 Fabric Painting and Spinning

Over the last couple days I have been teaching another summer Space Odyssey Art Camp, the second of two camps I had this summer through the community education program I participate in. It's been great fun! However, it has kept me from the computer and getting posts up of what I have been doing in between.  I spent some time spinning and painting, and today I am settling in to stitch for awhile before heading off for another afternoon of teaching.

7 or 8 recycled fabrics and recycled wool and cotton yarns reclaimed from a scarf

I think this is my mind's way of saying "Get in the woods!"

Peacock Feathers

Creative 365: Days 91 & 92 Spinning and Stitching and Contemplating

Next week I plan on doing some more fabric painting.  I took a few pictures at Rasmussen Woods earlier this spring and I've finally had some time to sort some of them. They've given me some fresh inspiration. (That and the new jars of paint I recently picked up with a whole lot of juicy greens and bright, fun floral-themed colors!)

I started stitching "Walking the Cat" as well this week. I am having a hard time getting excited about it. I think it is too early to be thinking about end of October designs! Once I get going it will move along as I really do like the design. 

The new website is finished! CM Designs  I am really pleased with how it looks. Far more consistent than the old site, and an easier web address to remember!

And, as expected, more spinning!  

This one is 2-ply, using the same fabric throughout, a heavier cotton that was a table cloth in a pretty buttery yellow with pastel, abstract shapes throughout. I ripped it into strips about 1/2" each and plied those with two different colorful yarns, alternating about every seven yards.  One of the yarns was recycled from a scarf I pulled apart, the other two tangled bunches I rescued from a local thrift shop.  100 yards total of this one!

This one is really unique. There are eight different fabrics in this one, so there are a lot of knots and loose threads tangling throughout. I plied it with a multi-colored yarn that was a wool blend in a scarf. I just love the texture in this one.  85 yards.

I probably won't get to much the rest of the weekend as the family has plans involving lots of food, campfires and miniature golf games. (weather permitting! raining AGAIN)  So I guess my seafood pasta salad creation will have to suffice for Day 93!

Creative 365: Days 87 & 88, Spinning, Painting & Burning

The sun is hiding today, so it wasn't a very good day to snap pictures of what I've been working on yesterday and today! So I took what I could, the rest will have to wait until tomorrow and hopefully the appearance of natural light!

I have been, you guessed it, spinning. I finished this 90 yard skein of 3 ply fabric yarn, made with many different fabrics, all recycled/upcycled from remnants and clothing that I cut apart. It's very earthy and autumn-y.

I also finished ( I think) a set of 4  8" x 8" quilt blocks. I painted all four after doing some stitching with rescued wool needlepoint fibers and attaching vintage mother of pearl buttons, some that I harvested off of the clothing I cut up for the fabric yarn, and others that I have found in my second-hand store travels.  And then just to add something different, I ripped holes here and there and burned the fabric. 

Tomorrow? I think it will be a photographing day, and if it is raining still and overcast? Stitching and coffee. 

Creative 365: Days 85 & 86 More spinning

I went rummaging around in the studio for fabric and fibers, looking for the tubs of stuff that I saved knowing one day I would have use for the bits that weren't big enough for anything else! Found them, and this is what I've done with them.

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Five recycled cotton fabrics twisted with various fibers, man-made and organic, most also recycled . Spun on a top whoral drop spindle.  

The yarn on the right is also done on a top whoral drop spindle, all recycled cotton fabrics and organic fibers.

 I have also been working diligently on "Pumpkin Stacking" and hope to have it completed over the weekend if not sooner! Right now though, the house is in serious need of groceries.

And coffee!!

Creative 365: Days 83 & 84

As if I needed anything else to try out! My new addiction....I received my drop spindles in the mail yesterday, and so I have been playing. Lots!  With strips of cotton fabric (very very thin) and other bits of fibers, mostly wool and cottons, some silk, I started spinning with my top whorl spindle.  The first attempts were pretty pathetic, but by the time I got to the red/blue mix, I had gotten the spin down and I'm pretty happy with the results! I have some vintage wooden bobbins, the big ones, and I intend to wrap this funky highly textured-knotty-recycled "yarn" on them.

The little card was first one I did, and I didn't get the twist right on it, but I kept it anyhow as it has this really highly textured and looseness to it that I liked.  I intend to try and spin some of my own yarn as well once I get my hands on some wool roving. 

Also made some good progress on the newest cross stitch design as well. 

There is something to be said for rainy days!