Thursday, November 12, 2009

NEW! Free Weaving Drafts




I would like to present our first free pattern, The Four Pettled Flour, just in time for those special holiday projects. This is a draft for a WAL (weave-a-long) for Weavalution, but I wanted to offer it to all our fans. It is a 4-shaft draft and is 36 picks which should be a fun challenge to most.

For the sample, we used a green cotton warp with a white cotton weft. Over the next week, I will be making a table runner with the pattern for the WAL with red and white weft and a doubled green warp. Just enough Christmas colors to make you puke. I might even top it off with silver bells!

The pattern was created by my very talented partner and husband, CJ Bloomer, to be used by anyone in any medium as long as it is not for profit. All we ask is that if you use it, include a link to the draft and make sure people know it was made by CJ Bloomer of Silver Wheel Yarn. Then leave a comment here so others can see your finish project and hear what you think.

Yes, we know the name is weird, my husband has a funny since of humor.
Enjoy!



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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Self- Promotion Month



According to a blogging friend October is Self-promotion month. This sounded like a good idea to me, so I think I will help everyone to get to know me, Traci, personally.


1. Who are you?
That's a deep question that I'm sure I'll spend the rest of my life trying to answer. However, I'll do my best with what I know now.
Professionally I'm a designer of fibers, but I'm also a keeper (and passer) of ancient knowledge. I like to call it "experimental archeology."

2. What is your artistic passion?
I hand select all our materials, allowing me to create one-of-a-kind works. Each piece has been designed to bring out the natural aspects of the fibers and highlight what makes something beautiful. It isn't just the whole item that is beautiful, every single fiber is beautiful. That is why my hand weaving is unique. I don't just have pretty yarn that makes something pretty. I will always take that extra step; pick that perfect skein; or learn that new skill, that will make the work breath-taking beautiful.

3. Why did you get into art?
I wasn't born into it, nor have I been doing it "as long as I can remember" like some will claim. I am self taught. As a teen, my hobby was collecting random skills, many which still serve me today. Fiber was one of those skills that I took to like a fish to water. "One day I woke up and knew how to knit. The next, I woke up and knew how to spin. The next, I wove. Now it's my heart's song and I wouldn't know what to do if it was no longer my life."

4. How do you inspire yourself?
I am a prodigal daughter of the Appalachian Mountains. That quest to "come home" and find my lost heritage is my inspiration. The characteristics of natural fibers and how my technique and skills can display them; that inspires me.

5. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years.
In five years I want to be supporting my family with my craft, have shows in the US and abroad, and be THE premiere weaver in Kentucky.

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