This is my Fancy Kitty Drum Carder handcrafted by Ron Anderson.
I am so in love with it. Should I marry it? Is it a boy? My Lendrum spinning wheel is named Bella Luna. She is light, easy to carry and makes me feel so happy when I sit with her and play. This drum carder is still brand spankin new and never been used. What? How long have I had it? Well, a few weeks if not a month by now and there he sits, sad and alone, patiently waiting for some attention. I am surprised by my lack enthusiasm but ya see, it all started to go terribly wrong for me when I realized I needed to know more about the science of batt making and I ordered some books from Amazon. Oh, back up- first I started making chiffon flowers to sell at the Fiber In Show. Then I got sick as a dog and couldn't do anything. Then I went to the Fiber In Show and bought batts and roving dyed by Rocket Girl and now, finally I am ready to make some batts!
Actually, I am still reading.
Learning about what I will get if I add fibers in certain ways.
Who knew there was an art to making a batt to spin from?
Well, I am so new to all of this I couldn't possibly have guessed.
My eyes are starting to shimmer and sparkle with tears of happiness as I learn more and "get it".
My friend Kim Perkins has been making the most beautiful batts I have ever seen and I have been buying them and spinning beautiful yarn from them.
Not too proud of myself- am I? I smile to myself as I write this because I am not sure I can fully express with words the joy that this has given me. I have forsaken sewing and embroidery and all that I love so dearly to spend time learning this new thing and I am glad. It is worth the time and effort and I am learning so much and I feel excited about each new day and what I may discover next.
Isn't that great to feel excited about something and want to do it all the time? Instead of the same old, blah, boring craptastic stuff- here's this new thing that has all but taken over my life and house as I delve into it head first with arms open wide!
So, when I started spinning some pencil roving recently I missed the exotic beauty and sense of mystery I had been experiencing with Kim's batts. It felt too easy! It felt boring. I kept looking down at my feet wondering when I would be finished...how much longer? I had not ever felt that way before and I am definitely going to ply that pencil roving yarn with something interesting.
I love all the locks, sparkle and unusual fibers mixed in to art batts.
I enjoy seeing it emerge into yarn.
I am just digging this.
With all the felting, needle felting, knitting, crocheting and batt making going on I have really been neglecting the sewing room and I am trying to decide on how to split up my week- several days devoted to sewing and several to housework and shopping and then the fibermania.
Too bad it's so warm here or I would totally put together an outfit featuring something spiffy like this.
Can't you just imagine?
It takes more than a hard set of felted balls to wear this out in public! Well, maybe to a fiber event like the one coming up on Oct 3rd. It's the International Felt Day and here at Felt United they are urging feltmakers to join in the celebration by putting your felt out there on display. The theme for this year is a slice of the color wheel from yellow to red.
I didn't know that the United Nations had made 2009 The International Year of Natural Fibres but here is more information all about it. I love their website- its gorgeous and full of great information about natural fibers and how it keeps millions of people all around the world working and contributing to the global economy.
Fiber makes the world go round, baby!
I gotta go make some batts...
Love,
calamity kim
