Cotswold ewe w/ twins
Meet the Team
Ah I wish they were, but they're not. Still I couldn't do this without them and the many small, family ranchers who sell me their fiber. I blend, spin, dye, and weave: Huacaya, Suri alpaca (rare), Kid and Yearling Mohair, Angora Rabbit, silk, and wools specifically chosen for their uniqueness, qualities such as softness, shine, next to the skin feel, and conservation status. These sheep include, but are not limited to: Gotland, Cotswold, Shetland, Icelandic, Falkland, Merino, Polwarth, Churro, and Rambouillet. Churro from New Mexico was brought with the Conquistadors in the 1500s, and faced extinction in the mid 1900s. Less skin friendly, I use it more for table runners and the like. I hope to add Stansborough Gray from New Zealand this year. It has a shimmering glow in various shades of gray which is why it was used to make the elven capes in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. |
Steps 1...2...3...4...
Great thought and care goes into each part of the design process. Beginning with how the piece will be used, the fiber, color and texture combinations, and pattern, through the finishing touches, I want to make it beautiful and something I would be proud to own myself, as well as sell. From raw fiber to finished piece, a completely handmade piece takes more than 40 hours to complete. I use man-made eco friendly aniline and natural dyes. Both dyes use vinegar and heat to set the color. Natural dyes also require the yarn be prepared (mordants) to accept and retain the dye. I use Cream of Tartar and Alum (found in the kitchen), in place of metallic mordants that can be toxic to people and the environment. |
Products
These are unique, one of a kind, handwoven scarves, shawls, baby blankets, throws, home decor items, and yarns. While the main emphasis is on making something completely by hand from natural fibers, machine spun and man-made yarns using nylon, acrylics, and metallic yarns are also used in designs to add their own special qualities. It's fun using ribbons and unusual yarns, with the added advantage of making it more affordable.
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Philosophy
Returning to our roots of doing something completely by hand, it is immensely satisfying to feel raw fiber between your fingers, feel the lanolin, smell the land (THAT too), and then transform this dirty animal fiber into something beautiful and functional. Labour intensive though it may be, it is a pleasure to reconnect to how all cloth was once made. And ancient cultures worldwide did it so exquisitely without machines or technology. Amazing!
