Calamity Kim

Wishing for Candyland or an Afternoon at the Fair

Spinning Art Yarn.      Washing Wool.      Dyeing Mohair.      Needle Felting. 

That's what I've been doing all week. Hasn't my life changed so much? If you have been reading along with my adventures in the last few years you have noticed how my work has evolved and changed and now I am in a very happy place where fluffy fiber has taken root in the few rugs scattered about and the glitter jars have grown dusty from disuse. The sparkle of angelina and firestar are the only things shining lately except perhaps the gleam of pride in my eye as I watch my handspun yarns drying in the afternoon breeze.

I know it sounds dangerous to put sharp pointed knitting needles in the hands of a girl named calamity but I have to report I haven't put my eye out yet, or anyone else's for that matter! I am sewing a little but this week I spent Mon and Tues dyeing wool with koolaid and Wed I took a needle felting class, so I could talk to the teacher about coming to our Surface Design Guild and teaching next year.

I will add some embroidery and beading just to give it a little more contrast and interest and will probably use this on a bag. I think the key to making a good needle felted picture is to have nicely dyed roving in variegated colors with a broad color range.

Today I am yearning to spin some Springtime Candy Land yarn but need to make some chiffon flowers for a show and a special wedding order.

Doesn't this look tempting? Don't ya want to taste it? The colors are soft and sweet like cotton candy and the mohair that is on the bobbin is also koolaid dyed. I really want to sit down at the wheel and dive into this but I have bags waiting to be lined and those flower pins won't make themselves.

So much to do. My life is busy and full to the brim with creating and learning and teaching and growing. I feel blessed with love from my friends and from you readers as well. Yesterday I opened up an email from a long time reader named Patsy and as she told me thank you for blogging,  I felt a small seed of joy burst forth in my heart and it was as good as a hug and a slice of pie. Sometimes we all need that little bit of encouragement to revitalize and jump start our weary minds. To know that at least one person appreciates what we do or share makes it worthwhile and easy to make time to continue doing it whether it's blogging or making dinner or folding laundry or whatever.

Just so ya know- I  added these photos a different way and if you click on them they should open up in a larger format- just use your back button to return to the post. I need to go get started on the flowers and once I have some to share I will be back. I have a bit of guilt for not blogging as frequently as I once did but you should know that it is because I am at a happily ever after part of my story and enjoying the art yarn experience and am planning on sewing more and blogging about it as I do.

Thanks for stopping by,

and love to hear from you!

Happy Spring!

xo, calamity kim

Color Transformation with Koolaid

The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.~Marcus Aurelius

Last week I did something I had been dying to do for a long time. I finally dyed wool with koolaid! Now, I am sure many of you have already heard of this method of applying bright and cheerful color to your yarn but if you haven't or have shrugged it off as too messy or not professional, let me assure you that the process can be controlled (my hands were orange and lime but not my floor) and the results are permanent due to the citric acid and steam setting. But most of all it was fun! I learned a lot along the way and the resulting rainbows of mohair were delightful! My house did smell like a kindergarten instead of an Australian Brothel- which has become the usual smell around here- wet sheep- and I consider that a side benefit, believe me!

The yarn can also be dyed in your crockpot with great success. It takes a bit longer but the colors are deeper and more saturated because you are pouring the packets of koolaid directly on the yarn and then letting it be absorbed instead of mixing it with water and painting it on and then microwaving it to steam set it. I liked painting the colors on as that was more controlled and less random but it was fun to try the different methods and see the results.

In fact, it was so much fun that I know I'll be doing this again, real soon. Like maybe next Monday, immediately after my husband goes to work and I can layer the dining room table with plastic and set up my bottles of dye and turn the music up and start mixing up rainbows!!

There are lots of tutorials online and all you have to do is put in a search for "dying with koolaid" to get all the answers to your questions- my best response is going to be go find some unsweetened packets of koolaid and use at least 2 to each 6 oz of water and find some wool yarn that's begging for color and have at it! I have a batch of Jacquard dyes and am going to tackle that soon but it seems serious- scarier and less forgiving than the koolaid dying which was silly and fun and made me think about rootin tootin raspberry and all the fun names that they used to use. Must be the smell that conjures up those old childhood memories of happy carefree days. I don't remember that we drank much koolaid when we were growing up- maybe that one is just taken for granted. I do know that it never occurred to me to use it as a dye, even when I was trying to get the stains off of the counter or laughing at those koolaid smiles.

There is a lot to find wonderful in these clear and bright colors and watching the transformation from blank to full blown kaleidoscope is simply awesome.

I have been working on this, too and just need to add handles and line it and then it will be ready to sell. Our Surface Design Guild is participating in an Art Show with the North Port Art Center (April 10 & 11) and I hope to have a few things to contribute. This bag is done with a pattern designed by Debra Lambert of Picasso Moon (ask for the Gypsy Bag Pattern) and used some of my handspun yarns with flowers. It isn't a picnic to knit with but it's worth the extra effort when you see the over the top stunning results! This bag ain't for wall flowers- its a diva bag for sure and everyone will notice that Spring has Sprung when you walk into the room!
Gotta get ready to run off to another Fiber Show and then the Venice Quilt Show is Sunday! So much to do this time of year and it keeps me busy and happy.

Have a Happy Weekend,

calamity kim