Weaving!

Weaving is becomming increasingly popular -- perhaps it is because we all need a way to use our handspun. For me, weaving is more economical than knitting (I am a turtle knitter, very slow, and always making mistakes). My expert knitter friends still amaze me.

Check out Weavolution, which is the weaver's answer to Ravelry. I'm finding this site a great way to learn, share experiences, and meet weavers in Canada, the US and from around the world. I'll even be organizing a Weavolution meet up this fall! Let me know if you would like to help organize.

I'm ottawa_fiber on Weavolution...if you join too, let me know who you are! Have a happy spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, day...

August Fibre Box is out!

Wow, what a weekend! I'm happy to say that the inaugural August 2009 edition of the Canadian Fibre Box has been left in the hands of Canada Post and will be making its way to your mail box, door step, etc. shortly!

I had a lot of fun putting this month's box together, and I ironically, I visited our BC weaver and owner of Penelope Fibre Arts in person while not having a chance to visit the closer Topsy Farms on Amherst Island, Ontario. I am looking forward to visiting them soon! Ana of Art-by-Ana lives in Ottawa, so she even helped put the boxes together! Thank you Ana.

This week I will work out how many new subscriptions may be opening up. One-month subscribers get first choice at continuing their subscription, and the remaining shares will be opened up. I'll let you all know when that is.

If you're interested in the newsletter that went along with the box, you can visit it here!

Hello! It's finally time to send out the first Canadian Fibre Box. I'm happy to be bringing you a Canadian Farm and two fibre artists this month!

We have wool and cedar blocks (to keep the moths away) from Topsy Farms on Amherst Island, Ontario; dyed locks from Penelope Fibres, South Surrey, BC; and handspun yarn from Art-by-Ana, Ottawa, ON.

I hope you enjoy this sampling of Canadian fibre and fibre artistry! Next month, we'll have yarn from another artisan, a new animal fibre, and samples of an essential product for any spinner, knitter, or weaver...

Oh yes, and one of you will find a randomly inserted skein of Apple Laine yarn, hand painted near Ottawa and making its way around North America...


Topsy Farms
Amherst Island, Ontario

I'm really happy to be bringing you Topsy Farms as our first Canadian Fibre Box fibre producer! One of things that drew me to Topsy Farms was their focus on raising their sheep as naturally as possible, caring for and respecting both their flock and the environment.

Topsy Farms is a cooperative, family farm with 5 shareholders contributing from 3 generations. From their flock of breeding sheep they had almost 1000 lambs this year, all by the end of May!

Their spring sheering results in several thousand pounds of raw wool, which they send to a traditional woolen mill in Prince Edward Island to be turned into yarn and other wool products.

Their wool is gently processed, which means you get a close to nature product which you'll find in your fibre box as both carded natural wool, dyed dark green wool and a batt. The carded wool and green wool is as you would receive it directly from Topsy; the batts were created by me from Topsy wool, from both natural and dyed wool.

If you're near Amherst Island, Ontario, visit the Wool Shed in person: If not, visit Topsy Farms virtually to see all of their products. For Ravelers, there is even a Topsy Farms Ravelry group -- Check it out!

Penelope Fibre Arts
South Surrey, BC

If you're looking for spinning and weaving supplies in Southern BC,  Penelope Fibre Arts is the place to start.

They specialize in New Zealand fleece and rovings and local hand-dyed fleece, which you'll find in this month's Canadian Fibre Box. Brenda, owner of Penelope's, has a discerning eye for colour and quality. Her hand dyed locks are proof of this! Integrate these into your spinning, weaving, or felting projects. Brenda is also organising the Fibres West event next March.

Visit Penelope Fibre Arts online.

Art-by-Ana
Handspun, Handknit in Ottawa, ON

Ana loves to knit, spin and play with colour. I am in love with her yarns, which she spins non stop, in addition to dyeing and knitting to no end. Ana's Etsy shop can be found at artbyana.etsy.com, and she will have her handspun on display at the Almonte Fibrefest in Ontario September 11, 12 and 13. 

 

Thanks for subscribing to the Canadian Fibre Box. I hope you liked this month's contents. If you have any feedback, please send me an email! Interested in being featured in a future box? Let me know! Have a great day

Christmas in August!

This week we are back from Beautiful BC and the delivery guys are happy we are here. I don't think a day has gone by without a delivery (or two or three).

So, to update on new goodies which have not made it to the online store (and may not before I go to Almonte's Fibrefest on September 11, 12, 13). So many nice things, and more to come. We have started to finish the basement in earnest to make room for stock and studio (the electrician is there today even!).

More colours of Ashford Silk Merino: Juniper/dark purple (top), Saffron/orange (3rd), and Salvia/blue (6th). $12.00 / 100g. We still have some Peppercorns (5th), Cinnamon (4th) and Mulberry (7th). More Knitter's Looms, and now a Knitter's Loom Stand so that you can weave on your feet.


Various silks from India including Sari silk, Peace Yarn which is spun straight from the cocoon, silk top, silk noile, thowster silk, and silk weaving yarns in 2/20 and 2/60.


Drop spindles, yarn gauges and an orifice hook by a Spinner's Lair from reclaimed hardwood.

The exquisite wares of two handcrafters of spindles, knitting needles, nostepindes and niddy noddies will be joining OVFA soon. These will be on display in Almonte, if not before on the website. Stay tuned for these high demand handcrafted items (that I am in love with, and have for myself already!)

Finally, next week I expect two 70 cm Jane Table Looms from Louet NA to be in stock. Apparently, it is difficult to keep them on the shelves. One will be warped and ready to go at Almonte if you are interested in seeing it!

In other news, the Canadian Fibre Box goes out this weekend. My youngest has been sick this week, which hasn't helped me prepare the newsletter to go with it, but everything is still on schedule! Can't wait to pack, seal and drop in the mail! I hope to be able to put up a feedback site by the end of next week when most of you should be receiving your packages.

Great day o'fiber

More later, but for now a pic!

More West coast adventures

Yesterday brought a visit with Brenda of Penelope Fibre Arts. Brenda and her mother started Penelope earlier this millennium, with a focus on weaving and spinning. Her shop is filled with colorful weaving yarns and beautiful fibers.

It's amazing how extensive the BC fibre community is. I can't keep track of how many groups, stores, events, farms and people Brenda listed off for me as we were talking. Wow! The most exciting part for me was learning about the Fibres West event she is organizing for March 2010.

Later today will bring visits to Birkeland Bros, SweetGeorgiaYarns, and Three Bags Full. Oh dear. What a day!

Anyways, must get back to some other work I need to finish (statistics, anyone?), but wanted to share some West Coast happiness. I have to say, people in the Fibre community are the nicest in the world. Really. Thanks Brenda!

Have yarn, will travel

Our family made it to BC in one piece, and we have a gorgeous view overlooking the ocean in White Rock. The youngest is not enjoying the time change, but other than that, I can't complain. Here's my shoulder wrap that I hope to finish. The yarn is Apple Laine...this is the yarn whose colours inspired me to learn to spin because I wanted texture to match the depth of colour. The colours are Fruit Frappe and Wild Thing.


On the flight over, I read Fiber Gathering, by Joanne Seiff. I've been dy(e)ing to have the time to read this since I got a few copies in stock. Great book, highly recommended if you are a fiberista, fiberholic, or even just getting started in fiber exploration.

For those of us who don't get a chance to travel much (young kids, anyone), or live in Canada where there is not (yet) a culture of huge Fibre Festivals, reading this book is a vicarious way to experience the festivals that bring people who love all that is fiber together.

There is a range of projects (more than 25 of them), from the most basic (apple and knitting needle drop spindle) to the more advanced (gorgeous alpaca ruana). There are also great tutorials on how to paint your own yarn, hook your own rug, and even help out at a sheep shearing.

Overall, if you are a fiber lover and a book lover, this is a book I would recommend for your coffee table. My only disappointment was that it ended too soon. The pictures were great, and I could have managed a book twice as long! But perhaps I am just greedy and should wait for a sequel...