Fiber Action Cooperative

Onwards and Upwards - the next step for Fiber Action

2011-01-24T19:29:00.000-08:00

The folks who brought you the Anything Fiber Yard Sales will have a new direction, and Fiber Action will be taking a back seat to our new endeavor. Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studio is the next step to achieve several of our objectives that we had as Fiber Action Cooperative - a public space to show and sell fiber work, as well as a space to give workshops and share the techniques that excite us. We hope that you will follow us on our new blog at
http://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/ and visit us in person at the gallery in Black Mountain. The commitment of Fiber Action is not going away entirely, and we will have news in the spring regarding the Anything Fiber Yard Sale. But Nice Threads will be the new sponsor, so you can follow our new blog to get all the updates for that event as well.
Thanks so much!

Anything Fiber Yard Sale - Just 5 days away!

2010-08-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

It's here! The 2nd Annual Anything Fiber Yard Sale this Saturday. Nearly 30 sellers, lots and lots of cool stuff to buy, resource tables and spinning/knitting circles and everyone there is a fiber person like you! See the map to the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly here and driving directions can be found here. AND if you have put it off til the last minute, there are still selling spaces available. Hope to See you there!

(Yard Sale Sellers - leave a comment with the goodies you will have to sell here or on our Facebook page)

Ephemeral textiles

2010-08-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

In the shade and the dew, two spinners have set up in my front yard. One's specialty is a gauzy silk tablecloth, on which she sits like a lady on a picnic. The other has a beautiful net to cast for lawn shrimp. Both of their beautiful spun and woven creations catch the droplets of morning dew so beautifully, but they'll be gone by noon.

(click on the photos to see details)

More Anything Fiber Yard Sale News!

2010-06-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

We are briskly renting selling spaces and the corner spaces are nearly gone. The first 18 registrants will get corner spaces, so get those registrations in soon!!
We have a new pdf flyer with a description of the event and a map to the Blue Ridge Assembly for you to email/print out and share with your friends, your guild, your mailing list. Please get the word out so we have a big crowd of fiber enthusiasts!
Even though it seems like August is a long way off, it will be here before you know it (summers are like that!) so make your plans early to be there!
Thanks!!!

Anything Fiber Yard Sale Registration is Open!

2010-05-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

You can now download the new Registration Form in a pdf format for you register for selling spaces and accomodations and mail in. The online registration will be IS UP!!! on our website. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook, and you'll automatically be updated on all the news! Comment here with any questions! Or go to Facebook to get in touch.

The Date is set! The 2nd Annual Anything Fiber Yard Sale is coming!

2010-04-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, we now have a date and a fabulous new location for the 2nd Annual Anything Fiber Yard Sale, a yard sale just for fiber. It will be held August 21st at the Washburn Center at the YMCA/Blue Ridge Assembly, just off Blue Ridge Road and minutes away from the I-40 exit for Black Mountain. This space is HUGE and perfect for our gathering of fiber enthusiasts. Save the date, and look for details to follow on reserving a table to sell your unused fiber, tools, materials and clear your closets for some new stash! Buyers should also record the date and plan to be there to buy and network with your fellow fiber artists. Many more reminders to follow! See you there!

New Fiber Classes in Black Mountain and Asheville

2010-03-14T08:55:00.001-07:00

Greetings fiber enthusiasts!

Now that the new year is begun and spring is arriving, our thoughts turn to new fiber techniques we can learn and fun classes to take!

More news! Fiber Action has a new Facebook site! Just search for Fiber Action and become a fan to be alerted for all our postings and events!

I hope that you will find a class that interests you and we will continue to offer classes in the fiber arts during the coming year, as well as our popular Anything Fiber Sale and Swap in August. We'll be back in touch to alert you to our upcoming events.

Have a wonderful spring!

Eileen Hallman - Dyeing and Charkha spinning:

• Sat., March 27, 1–4pm: Dye a Silk Scarf with natural dyes using shibori techniques. - $45 includes all materials and instruction. (at my studio. register at http://www.charkha.biz/Instruction/schedule.htm )

• Thurs April 15, 1-4pm: Dyeing Indigo/shibori on cotton at the Arboretum (register at http://www.ncarboretum.org ) - $32 members/$37 public

• Sat. April 24, 9am-12pm: Spinning Cotton on a Charkha, at the Black Mountain Yarn Shop (register at http://www.blackmountainyarnshop.com) - $45, including supplies

• Sat & sun, May 1&2, 10am - 6pm: East of Asheville Studio Tour (free, open to the public) Map and descriptions at http://www.eaststudiotour.com)

Z
Robyn Josephs - Knitting, Crocheting, Spinning and Weaving

Register at Black Mountain Yarn Shop, 203-A West State Street/ Black Mountain, 828 669 7570, http://www.blackmountainyarnshop.com

• 1st Friday's in March - May, 6-8pm: Knit-along- Great American Afghan- -$10 per class

• Every Monday, March - May, 4-6pm: Fiber Fun-bring anything fiber you are working on for help and support-$10

• March 17, 24, 31, 4-6pm: Seamless knitting-double points and circulars-fingerless gloves - $10 per class

• March 20, 10am-12pm: Parent/child knitting; Learn to knit together-making a bookmark or mug rug - $10

• April 5, 10am-12pm: Beginning spinning- must bring a wheel or arrange with instructor to rent one- or just learn on a hand spindle

• Saturday April 17, 2-4 pm: Skein to Scarf- Using a Knitter's Loom and the knitting yarns you love, learn to weave a scarf in 2 hours! - $15 plus $15 loom rental

• Dates and times TBA: Weaving on hand made looms- We’ll make simple looms out of household items and use beautiful yarns to create mug rugs and bookmarks. I’ll bring additional small looms to help you move to the next level in your weaving. - -$10 plus material fees

email for more information: forrestwife@yahoo.com

Leslie Owens - Basic and Nuno Felting

Register online at http://web.mac.com/leslieowens (Classes and Events page)

• April 24, 2010, Saturday 10-4: Basic Felting introduction - You will make coasters and another flat felt piece (a wall hanging, runner, purse or book cover)

• April 25, 2010, Sunday 10-4: Silk and Wool for Spring - Learn the technique of Nuno felting and make a scarf with silk and luxurious merino wool.

The classes are $75 each day or $135 for the full weekend. Tools and materials are included in that price. You can certainly do just the first day, but you must have some wet felting experience to come to the Sunday class only.

Bring a friend! Felting is a social craft!

email for more information at nicethreads@mac.com

Classes at Black Mountian Yarn Shop

2010-03-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

There are lots of them, including Beginning spinning, and Skein to Scarf in 2 Hours-learning to weave using the knitter loom- call the shop, or stop in for more details. 828 669 7570

Pictured- seamless knitting-using double points and circular needles to create fingerless mitts.

Roc Day

2010-01-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

Spinners from the Asheville area gathered today to celebrate Roc/ St Distaff day. We sat and spun words and yarn.

Everyone brought something for stone soup and we shared a meal of soup and bread and the lucky spinner who got the baby in her cake at last years gathering, gifted us with this delicious carrot cake.

Gail found the baby!
Join us next year to celebrate enough yarn spun to get the weavers through the winter and find out what kind of chocolate cake Gail will bring!
Posted by robyn

Black Mountain Yarn Shop

2010-01-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to announce the soon to open LYS Black Mountain Yarn Shop in downtown Black Mountain ,NC.
Owner Donna Farrow is enthusiastic and committed to serving the local community as a gathering space for fiberists to buy and sell the best local and national brand yarns and teaching facility.
I'm excited to be a member of Donna's BMYS team.
Check back soon for opening info.

3-D felting with Leslie

2009-12-29T17:54:00.000-08:00

I spent a joyful, creative Tuesday, 3D wet felting with Leslie Owens- co-founding member of FiberAction Cooperative.
I arrived with 2 towels and lunch and left with finished pair of corridale wool slippers for my daughter.
Leslies studio is comfortable and she has a great selection of colors and embellishments to choose from.
I have wet felted before and Leslie's teaching technique and style both simplified and sophisticated the process and i was thrilled with the result.
Leslie demoed a 3D box for the coasters the group made the day before and another participant made a slip case for one of her hand crafted books so we all learned from each others discovers and mistakes.
Lunch was enjoyed on Leslie's sun filled porch.
Vitamin D, great conversation and fiber.
Who could ask for more?
Check out Leslie's upcoming class info on the website fiberaction.org or leave a comment here asking for more info.

Indirubin/Fresh Indigo

2009-10-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting around to post the results of our Oct. 3 workshop, and my subsequent experiments on the 4th. In the meantime, I was frantically doing the last minute preparations for the East of Asheville Studio Tour that was all day the 10th & 11th. Finally, a time to sit & relax.

In a few words, on the 3rd we got green. I failed the Dyer's Test, a very humbling thing. I allowed the Ushida article to influence my thinking in the wrong direction. So here's the mistake I made: the article mentions a 20% solution, which is very different from a percentage based on the weight of goods. So I wondered about that, but went on anyway with the percent solution... Susan came & dyed some yarn, I had the little silk hankies I use for testing. My hankie that came out green is now bluish green, and the hankie I dyed with the frozen leaves that came out pale green a month ago or so is now pale aqua. Seems like the oxygenation is very slow, but still occurs. Susan brought the "pale green" yarn she had dyed in the earlier workshop, and it is now pale ice bluish.

Anyway, on Sunday I did the experiment almost exactly as the Ushida article says, with the same quantities of everything. I used 20 grams of leaves. I did get pale purple family colors. I presume pale because the plants were already starting to flower. So I am definitely encouraged to try again next year, with the proper proportions of everything... and at the first harvest, well before time to flower.

The photo shows a series of hankies done "the wrong way" on the left, and "the right way" on the right. These are over top the turquoise ones we did earlier. The turquoise one on the far left is one of the formerly green frozen leaves samples.

Submitted by Eileen Hallman

Demoing at the Mt State Fair

2009-09-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

I was honored to sit and spin in "the new" building at the Mountain State Fair, near the Asheville airport. I was sitting right in front of the fiber competition entries.
I spoke with and gave hands on demos to over 100 folks of all ages in my two hour time slot.

You can handle everything I brought but only look at the exhibits.

Comments made were:
"?????Did you make all that stuff?"-refering to the exhibits
"What are you making?-" they point to the fleece and the yarn and ask which is being made into the other
"Are you making string?"
"What is that?"- pointing to the fleece
"What do you do with the yarn you make?"
"Can I try" -asked by almost everyone

I can't imagine a better educational opportunity to hook folks on fiber arts.
and again, I had a blast.
Keep those fibers moving,
Robyn

Fiber Action Day

2009-09-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

The first Fiber Action Day was a blast.
Everyone got the spirit of the day and also made stuff and new friends.
We made woven journals , created intentions for the day and did some collage play .
Individually we worked on tapestry, embroidery, spinning, knitting
and eating.
See Eileen's post about the dyer's knotweed (Japanese indigo) printing on cloth and paper.
Wishes expressed for the next one are:

-to post the day a month in advance
-paper making
-fleece prep
-more eating
-book structures using cloth

Please get back to me asap as to a good day in October. Right now I'm thinking possibly the 14th.
Let's keep the fiber moving

Robyn

forrestwife@yahoo.com

Turquoise & teal/fresh indigo

2009-09-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

Time to post the wool pictures! I would call the 2 and 3-day soaks teal, not moss, but everybody has a different way of naming colors. In this neck of the woods, most moss is brilliant tree-frog green.

First photo--the original light gray Romney, and the 20 minute soak.

Second photo--1, 2, and 3 day soak, from left to right. I can't really see much difference in the 2 & 3 day soaks, and the 20 minute and 1 day are not much different either.

Everything I've read so far on the subject of fresh indigo on wool & silk is that both the turquoise and green colors are fast to both light and washing. How cool is that?!

So today we went to the Fiber Action Day at Robyn's for a little while to play. I'd read about pounding the indigo leaves, so I picked a few, big & little, and took two of the silk hankies. Robyn makes paper and has a lithopress--so we used it instead of a hammer.

We sandwiched the leaves inside the folded hankie, then folded a paper towel and sandwiched the hankie in it. You can see both the hankie and the paper towel in this photo, plus a card Robyn did with some red sage flowers thrown in. We could have gone on forever running out in the yard & grabbing more flowers, but I had to leave.

Later, at home, I tried pounding the leaves with a hammer. I need a lot of practice with that method to have it come out as nice as the lithopress.

We did learn 2 important things--the older the leaf, the better. The smaller, younger leaves gave green with the barest hint of blue. And it takes a while for the blue to develop.

Submitted by Eileen Hallman

Turquoise with fresh indigo

2009-09-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I was an accidental but willing participant in a fresh indigo experiment at the Projecto Anil in San Salvador. One aspect of the experiment was to quantify the difference in strength between Indigofera guatemalensis and I. suffruticosa. (The guatemalensis turned out much stronger.) I showed up in time to strip leaves from the plants; the studies were all done on silk with the juice of fresh ground up indigo leaves. The silk dyed turquoise! Later the same year I had the great good fortune to take a fresh indigo workshop with Rowland Ricketts III while he was artist in residence at Arrowmont. He grew some Polygonum tinctoria, also known as Japanese indigo, and we used the fresh leaves.

So finally, this year I got seeds in time to plant, and had a decent enough crop to do some experimentation of my own. I ordered some habotai silk hankies from Dharma Trading and invited some friends over. In 2 sessions, different days, different friends, we got some interesting results on silk and wool.

This technique is SO accessible--anybody whose mother will allow them to use a blender can do it!
1. Grow indigo. I got my seeds from J.L. Hudson.
2. About mid-July, harvest the plants & strip the leaves from the stalks
3. Optional--weigh the leaves & your fiber.
4. Put the leaves in a blender with cold water. Blend on high for a minute or so.
5. Strain the juice into a bowl
6. Put your silk into the bowl for 3 minutes for turquoise (wool may take longer). If you want green, leave it in overnight.
7. Remove your fiber, rinse, dry.
8. The juice & pulp can go in the compost
9. Clean up, & you're done!

Gradation study--we started out with the assumption that we'd need a 4:1 ratio of leaves to fiber. This is based on reading Dorothy Miller's book and Buchanan's Weaver's Garden. 48 grams of leaves were put in a blender with about 4 cups of water, then the juice was strained into a bowl. The silk hankies were put in one at a time for 3 minutes each. We did 8 hankies, 3 grams each. The 4:1 ratio is a great starting point--I wouldn't go lower, though.

I'd frozen some leaves--they gave a very pale green.

I left a hankie in overnight and got a light mossy green.

Photo: Gradation in the middle, frozen leaf samples on the bottom, overnight sample on the top.
Stay tuned for the wool samples, staying in the bath 1, 2 and 3 days.

Meanwhile, sign up for my "Perennial Indigo Vat" at SAFF, http://www.saffsite.org/ where you can see the samples in real life. It will be the morning of Saturday, Oct.24. Sorry, that's too late for a fresh indigo class--the second harvest will have come & gone. This class covers how to make and maintain an indigo vat that you can hand down to your children & grandchildren. The vat is perennial, not the indigo...

Posted by Eileen Hallman

Fiber Action Days

2009-09-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

Wednesday September 9
10am-9pm
Montreat

Please join in creating community support for what I dream will become a Fiber Action Community Space.

Bring whatever fiber projects you are working on, want to work on, learn about and never see again. Spin, scrapbook, weave(any loom you can bring), knit, card and book arts, surface design, dye, embroider, sew.
Gather at 10 to circle and share intentions.
We will make simple woven books to record our journey.
The rest of the day is open time to learn, teach, share, inspire, explore and possibly walk in these beautiful mountains.
Teaching can include almost any fiber art-spinning, knitting, crochet, book and paper, surface design, small looms (inkle, cardboard, triangle, frame, weave-it).
I have tools and supplies to share in addition to what y’all bring.
There will be soup bread and salad and tea and water and you can bring your own lunch and something to share if you wish.
Suggested donation $20 minimum- more if you use my stuff and eat the lunch.
Please don’t stay away due to cost-call me-

LETS exchange also accepted.
Come and go as you wish.
I’d like this to become a monthly event and we can discuss further dates and times.
Please call or email me for more info, and to RSVP and get directions

Robyn Josephs
828 202 6206
forrestwife@yahoo.com