What I sent to PhatFiber today

I just watched Jessie's Phatfiber youtube video showing off the contents of the February box, and I sure do appreciate her rave for my contribution of the pictured Chocolate & Roses merino sock yarn I submitted for the Romance & Chocolate theme.

The PhatFiber March theme is "Celtic" which brings cables and aran sweaters to my mind. In honor of cables, today I sent in a knitting pattern from my files* for a pair of cabled wrist warmers, and some sample reelings of two luscious Katsara aran/worsted-weight yarns, Fjord and Valhalla, which are perfect for fisherman-style sweaters and yummy cabled scarves.

*The knitting pattern, which was given to me last year in a guild swap, was originally written by Delia Rau and posted on Ravelry a few years ago. Delia's pattern is entitled Irish Hiking Scarf Armwarmers

Is oatmeal a color?

My loom has no warp on it right now. I haven't been weaving on it lately, other than my thin wrist cuffs.

This was a silk-blend shawl-scarf I wove late in 2007 and it sold pretty quickly in my Etsy store, priced at $62.00. It was dreamy light weight and tightly woven on a fine mixed warp with a fine silk weft. I later discovered I may have priced it too low.

I admit to a psycho-fetish for fiber quality and interesting colorplay in my textiles. There's a place for beige and simplicity, but it is easy to buy that anyplace, and I see no reason to make things by hand that are common, "consumery" and bland. And that brings me to oatmeal and a rant about color: I wish Americans would be more adventurous! We wear oatmeal, we furnish our homes in oatmeal, and when we feel bold, we throw in a dash of blue. Red is a wild statement for us. Women who wear turquoise and purple are suspected of being a tad nutty. When you go to France, as an example, you see COLOR. A green coat. Orchid boots. Chartreuse scarf. Here in America, we like to blend in with our black shoes, brown bag, beige coat. Muddy tweed scarf. Blegh.

Can't we all just have more fun?

Is a design successful if no-one purchases it?

This is one of my favorite creations from 2008 that nobody purchased, so I kept it and am glad now that it didn't sell. I won't make another one, not only because it bombed on Etsy, but because it took me forever to make and I doubt I'd have the patience to repeat this.

Both times I've worn this, it has elicited positive comments from people, either telling me it is stunning or asking where they can get one. That comforts me, because it was a blow to my ego to get zero reaction to it when it was listed on Etsy.

It has a huge lapis briolette wrapped in stainless steel, stainless steel hand-turned coils and steel wrapped glass beads to create the chain. The blue steel plays wonderfully off of the stones and beads.

Philosophical Question: Is a design successful if no-one will pay money for it?

A favorite thing I created in 2008

This is my Ruffly Scarf from my 2008 collection. It is made with dip-dyed silk chiffon and painted merino wool roving that is nuno felted, sandwich style, with the silk. These are sold in my Etsy boutique, one in rich blue and brown, one in mossy greens, a yellow version, and this popular pink one. The needle-felted flowers are like fluttery nasturtiums.