We just had a craft exhibition at our local gallery for almost 2 weeks. I had a couple of handwoven blankets on display and was really impressed with the displays. A call had gone out to crafts people to submit items and the response finally became better. What was displayed was a lot of textiles, including knitting in very fine lace, very big lace from 2″ roving, to mitts and a very fine cotton table cloth. Felt pieces included a coat, shawl and purses. Some crocheted jewelry along with fine silver, glass items and hand made monkeys and elves. Along with the fibre stuff, was a great amount of wood work. There were crib boards, jewelry boxes, benches and very ornate tables from burls. Wood is fibre too. The major metal were flowers made from horseshoes and reinforcing steel. They were really unique. I demonstrated some hand spinning and some weaving so that the gallery could be “manned” for a couple of days.
Along with this exhibition was a craft symposium with guest speakers from Vancouver, Halifax and Calgary. Having these people talk of their work helped me to confirm that what I like to do, am compelled to do means I am on a good path. I met some nice local artisans as well, but we had little time to talk to one another. The energy level was high.
I have a new customer who is a nice new felter and is busy buying my roving to make more items. She is passionate about what she is doing and experimenting with all she is doing. She is basically self taught and likes checking out the internet. I am impressed with her efforts. I also have a friend who bid on and “won” a nice hat block for me. I hope to have time to use it soon. It is a lovely plain block.
I took some soap to my naturopath today which she will check out to see if it can be used. One of the sample soaps was an olive oil soap with no scent so should be fine. My husband uses it as he has been having some skin problems. I will make some goat soap, no scent for them as well. Although unscented soaps have been requested, I find that they will sit for a long time while the scented soaps are being bought. People like a bit of fragrance and aroma. My soaps are very mild, long lasting and varied. I very much enjoy making them.
The yarn I chose for the latest weaving project is a very slippery rayon/nylon blend and as it is weaving up, not very soft. I am planning a scarf and will see how it goes, but it might become something else once it is done.
