Relax~

Wed. Jackie and Rachel came over so we could play.
Here are pics of the process, which were fun. The paste was crumbly though, so I think I need to tweak the recipe a bit more. Perhaps find a more starchy flour? Need to think this over.

Painting with dyes-- we used fiber reactive. We plan to buy some fabric paints that are thicker.
The goal was a "Frankie Goes to Hollywood" neon splatter paint 80's tacky Fashion Bug t-shirt vibe. I think we achieved it. Relax- (Don't do it.)

Hanging to dry.


Once dry we ventured to the deck to scrape the paste off. That was therapeutic and relaxing... (don't do it). >:)

Favorite spots...



Ann & Rachel dressed up as fancy 'dogs', Eve was a photographer.


Later that evening Ezmaralda said- take that Sims disk out and let's surf the 'net so Annie obliged. They looked through StuffonmyCat.com for a bit. It makes Ezmaralda happy.

Thurs. we went to see the Reptile Man at the library- I hung out inside alone and read magazines- it was horrible. (sarcasm)
Later on I cleaned the garage, talked to Velma for a loooong time on the phone and then updated the site.
Today? Today has been odd- a detached tune-out day. I knit a bit, vegged on blogs for a bit, then updated the etsy site and spun. Laundry, ipod, dishes..... a relaxing day.

But shoot it in the right direction
Make making it your intention-ooh yeah
Live those dreams
Scheme those schemes
Got to hit me
Hit me
Hit me with those laser beams

Late Night Yarn update!

Squirrelly? I am not tired for some reason- I feel all caged and rammy. This is the yarn update I promised yesterday... All available for purchase here~
Here they are!

Nesting- with glass birdy beads!

New World~

Nuance~


Metamorphosis~ glass butterfly beads~


& On the Verge~


Off to make some tea.
xo

A Serendipitist Review~

Whitney of MissSerendipitist.com gave Material Whirled a wonderful review in her blog-

Go read it~

Thanks Whitney!

Creative Surge~!

Another post with a gazillion pictures...

Yesterday I had a bunch of energy!
In the late morning I took the girls to our library, they had a mini-carnival for their summer reading program kick-off, called Bugapalooza.
Here they are in a blur of potato-sack racing...

Once we got home the girls dug into their library books and I hit the studio.

My MIL (Hi Barb!) gave us some fantastic sheets she scored at a yard sale.
They have Kliban cats all over them.
I found this tutorial a few months ago so I decided to make myself some bags. However, in true Reenie form I had to change things up a bit. Rather than hemming each edge as she suggests in the tutorial, (effective but tedious) I made french seams. I also did my own version of a gusset, which made more sense to me. I used Paul's old jeans for straps. This is the prototype- I figured it was wiser to make one and work out the bugs before tacking a pile of them (which is what I usually do). I have enough sheet to make 14-16 bags! I will probably only make 8 though. I am not that ambitious when getting groceries. hee. It measures 12x15 with a 6 inch gusset---perfect size. The handle edge should fray out after some use. giving it a worn denim look.

Next I hit the dye room to prep some fabric. Jackie is coming today to play and make a mess. We are experimenting with some Flour-Paste Batik techniques.
Here are some shots of the first coating of paste drying....

Just some doodles to see what comes out of it.
Today we will apply the first layer of dye. I will take more pics once that is complete.

Ezmaralda made a statement today- it was too cute to not photograph. She loves her daddy!

I have 5 new yarns! They should be up this evening.... here is a sneak peek of one....

Spun from a Battman "Donna" batt!

HHHH Questionnaire~

HHHH = Hush-Hush Handspun Hootennanny Swap

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself?
I have been spinning non-stop for almost 4 years.....I consider myself advanced.

2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)?
I create all types of yarns but mainly singles and art yarns to sell in my shop.

3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)?
I have a Lendrum DT named Lenore, she is my girl. Spindles are evil incarnate and should never be approached without vodka on hand >:) or without a baseball batt. just kidding

4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don't like?
I love merino and any critter fiber. Cotton is miserable to spin. I always blend everything together so nothing is unusable.

5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)?
Why Material Whirled fibers, of course! I (we, Battman and I) prep all of our own fibers.

6. What kind of fiber do you want to try?
I am open to anything.

7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn?
Um, dunno? I am currently working through some spinning technique books to entertain myself but have tried most of them at least once already....

8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn?
I am a dyeing maniac. Love the smell of cooking wool and vinegar. mmmmmm

9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber?
I do have the needed tools but also like ready to spin fibers.

10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed?
My handspuns go on my site for sale or to shops. Occasionally I keep one for myself. I have completed too many projects to list here, I am a tad obsessed.

11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)?
nope

12. What colors "fall into your shopping basket"? Any colors you just can't stand?
ALL colors are delicious.

13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now?
Lenore is empty right now but I have a pile of Battman batts and a pile of singles that need some loving.

14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have?
Knitting, sewing, painting, doll art.

15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about?
My girls are my world (Eve, 12 and Ann, 9). We homeschool so we spend a lot of time together.
And my partner, Paul, and my kitten Ezmaralda, I am kinda smitten with her right now.

16. Do you have an online wishlist?
Yep- on Amazon.... I have also been drooling around the Jaquard fabric paint/dye site lately.

17. Is there anything that you collect?
Wool bunnies on my floor? dust? trouble? Just kidding.... I do not collect anything really, I have things I like, but am working on hoarding issues. If I collect anything I suppose I it is fiber.

18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have? Books I like are on my amazon wish list and I subscribe to any mags I like already.

19. When is your birthday? May 10

20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality?
oh- this is hard, I honestly have no idea! I don't know anyone who is like me. Don't know if this is a good or bad thing.

21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)? I am in the Pacific Northwest, so it is never really cold and never really hot. rain rain rain.

22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself! I am obnoxiously cheerful. Even when I am moody. and chatty. and hyper-manic? and a tad distract-able, oh- that is more than one...

Favorites
favorite painting/picture(link): ooh- so many! Love love love Rex Ray! And Judy Wise, and Teesha Moore.

Candy: chocolate, preferably Hershey's, and Peppermint Pattys. mmmm

Food: Mexican anything.

Drink: Vodka, ice tea, water

Movie(s): urm, another hard one, not a huge movie buff....

TV Show(s): Love Bravo shows, sitcoms, prime time soap operas. LOVE Kathy Griffin. >:)

Book(s): I am a non-fiction junkie.

Guilty Pleasure(s): yarn, fiber and yarn.

RIP Mr. Carlin~

One of my favorite comedians, George Carlin, passed away on Sunday.

Here are some of my favorite Carlin quotes:

"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things. " Carlin

"Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established. " Carlin

"Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck." Carlin

"Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did. " Carlin

"Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that."-Carlin

"Think off-center" Carlin

Well said.

Time for Art~

Saturday I took some time and cleaned the studio. It was getting pretty bad. I set up a new table to paint on so I don't have to clean up every time I get a fiber fit.

Here it is....

I played with my oil pastels for an hour or so, just dabbled around. Still aimless but I know that just doing gets the mojo going.

Today we went to the Lake Oswego Art Festival, which was really nice. We strolled around and took in the sites and I had a nice chat with Judy Wise.

Lake Oswego has many, many sculptures downtown. Here are two Eve shot pictures of...

These are shots Eve took from the car on the ride home.
Proof that we really DO live in Portland!

That is my hand, which I was waving around in excited chatter. An accidental photo that I LOVE!

After the show we hit the grocery store and came home. We had a low-key evening... I cooked dinner and Paul played chess with the girls.

OH!

Here are two of the pastels I worked on yesterday. See anything familiar?

Green Reenie~

Honestly, I am sick to death of the term 'green'. Ten years ago the term was 'frugal' or 'thrifty'. I have always been aware of reusing and recycling things, partly because I am cheap (insert evil grin here) but mostly because I hate waste. It drives insane really.

So- the other day I realized my pot holders are hitting that scary point where they are just gross. Not even a run through the washer is helping. One pair came from Paul's gram's house when we cleaned it out, I had sewed them together to make them thicker and embroidered their edges. The others were yard sale scores with Easter bunnies on them. I know- tacky..... snort.

So today I took the girls' jean legs I have been saving for reuse and covered my nasty pot holders.
I didn't photo them before covering them (they were that gross).

Reenie's Recycled and Repurposed Pot Holders~

I top stitched with my sewing machine with rainbow variegated thread. The flowers were part of the girls' jeans, I didn't 'add' them.

They are super thicko now so heat will never get through them. I love them. They should last me a looooong time.

Aren't you astounded with my domesticity? I know I am.

See? aimless--

I think today I will set up a painting stations so I can start to dabble with some paintings. Or spin. Or something.

Teeny Maw Squares

My late great-grandma (Teeny-Maw), Evelyn (Eve is named after her), was a fanatical crocheter. She made me several awesome afghans. One I have yet to use- it was put away until I was 'grown'. I guess I am not completely 'grown' yet, since I cannot seem to get it out and use it.

The other day I taught myself to make granny squares and found some inspiring pillows. (blog entry here) made from them. Today I remembered that last spring when my mom was cleaning out my gram and paw's house she gave me a box of random granny squares my gram had kept from Teeny Maw (her mom). confused yet? :D

Anyway, I found this box and SCORE! Here they are! In all of their retro glory.

So I plan to make pillows from these instead of crocheting my own. It means more and each time I look at them I think of both my grams. I miss them terribly.

I leave you with yet another nauseatingly cute Ezmaralda picture- she is sleeping in my arms like a baby.

Funky Freak~

Well said Judy.

Go here and read this:

In her June 18th post Judy talks about creative people and falling into a funk and creative slump.
I have been in a slump all week- which is kinda odd for me- I tend to be a bit over-zealous and chipper. But it's been a hazy week of low mojo and depression? I hate that word, it seems so desolate. Just feeling aimless I suppose. bleh.

Quote from Judy...
"So for what it's worth I just want to chime in and say that you are among company; it is often the "price" of your creative gift and you are not a freak. Well, no, you are a freak but a wonderful, gifted freak and you will find ways to live with all your parts as you gain life experience."

LOVE you Judy!
Here is the link to Judy's website.

Another Paradigm Shift

Today we started to sniff around for properties for sale. Now we are a good 2-3 years away from being prepared to buy, but it is so, urm, bizarre? looking at real estate in Washington! I still cannot fathom that we live here. Best to get a feel of properties and areas and prices way ahead of time.

Sunday we went to Lucia Falls in WA and walked on a really gorgeous trail, sigh... the trail and falls were breathtaking. Here is the link to the park site.
I will get pics up soon, promise. The water was so clear it looked teal!

I taught myself how to crochet granny squares yesterday and I am a tad addicted.
I started some from my Malabrigo remnants and they are divine! I think I will make some pillows for my LR, inspired by these.... made by Afra on etsy. I found her(him?) via the Offbeat Interior Inspirations Flickr Pool. So inspiring! Here is her flickr site.

Next plan is to make granny squares from my handspun~ and perhaps pillows from those!

I also have a throw pillow pattern idea in my brain to sell on the site, made from one skein of my handspun and a felted sweater. Perhaps I should get it OUT of my head and into reality?

Off to snuggle with the kids a bit before crashing.

Purge purge purge~

Bad kitten jumped in the light tent when I was photographing today.
I forgot how evil kittens can be.
I named her well- Ezmaralda is a witchy name....

Been cleaning out the stash and PURGING-- and you get a chance to add my stash to yours!
There are some fun, funky and interesting items for sale, even if you don't spin!

Visit the spinning shop to see my treasures. Spinhancements-- get it? clever Battman named them. (he is so funny)


PLUS- we now sell Angelina Fibers on MW.
Really, who doesn't need more sparkle in their lives?

I am off to enjoy the sunshine- it has been averaging in the 60s here in the pacific NW, crazy for June!
I have a sweatshirt on! LOVE it here......

Tennis Babe!

More proof that our customers rock!

Tennis Hottie scarf and hat set by Marla!

Thanks Marla!

What's NEW?

Just a quick post to tell you I just updated the fiber page with some new fibers!

I updated the Material Whirled Shop with new fun yarns! I have been playing with some new techniques.

AND I put some Addi Turbo circulars up. I have have been working on some stash reduction.
Keep an eye out for some more odd but fun items!


DID YOU KNOW? We have a page that shows just our newest listed items? CLICK HERE~

Coming soon-- NEW yarns from Cherie Anne Designs and some yarns from a new spinner, Arabella!