To Dye For Workshop

I cannot begin to express how much fun my yarn painting workshop was. I think it has spoiled me from dyeing by myself. The excitement of the students, their use of colors and the results were perfect! I was amazed at the color combinations. They were incredible. It was interesting to see the unique yarn colors that could be made by primary and printer colors. I need this group of women to get me out of my "autumn" palette. I loved watching the thought process of everyone as they tweaked their colors. It was so exciting. Here is a link to some photos. I will share mine when I can get them downloaded.
I have to admit to being nervous. When you are doing a workshop for pay, you have so many "what-ifs". What if the dye doesn't set? What if I forgot some crucial information? What if everyone is disappointed in the workshop? My Michael was available in case I had to use one of my "lifelines" and "phone a friend". It is so nice to have a family that enjoys the joy that my fiber gigs give me. My Michael seemed as excited as I was and of course, Ben just accepts that this is mom's thing! I don't ever want to have the attitude that, "this is my thing and I will do it whether you like it or not". My greatest joy is the joy that I share with them when I am good at something. They are my first priority.
There will be more classes this fall. I am so blessed to be able to do what I love. Thank you God!
Knitting progress--Not a lot of knitting time this weekend, but a business meeting at church allowed me to be able to work on my new Trenna shawl. I have 8 rows left on my Autumn's Glory. It is now at over 600 sts per row. I hope to do more tonight. I hope to have it finished before the 4th of July holiday. I hate it when projects get to the non-portable stage.

Ready to dye!

I am ready to dye! I went to the Arkansas Arts Center to set up for my workshop tomorrow. I am nervous and quite giddy with excitement! It will a lot of fun. I have been told that there is a waiting list, so it looks like there will be another one soon. It really is an easy process. I can't wait to see the delight of the students over their hand painted yarns. I will post pictures, Monday!
I want to show you a goody that a friend made me--
It is a yarn bell. Beth, my friend the potter, made it. You put it over your ball of yarn and thread the yarn end through the hole in the top. It keeps your yarn ball from rolling all over the floor. I love hand made gifts. As an artist, I know they are gifts from the heart. She is Betlamb on Ravelry, a very gifted potter and pottery instructor. She teaches at the Arkansas Arts Center. If you have always wanted to take a pottery class, you need to sign up for one of hers.


Knitting Progress--I now have 29 rows to go on Autumn's Glory. I had to add 9 more rows to the pattern, so I have completed 19 rows since my last progress report. It looks like I will not be able to finish it this weekend, as the stitch count on each row is over 500. They are very loooooooong rows.

Two meetings this week.

I had 2 meetings this week. The first one was to the Arkansas Arts Center. They want me to teach a class on hand painting yarn this May. I am excited about it and yet, scared. It is always like that with me. I like my little box. I feel comfortable in my little box. I have a hard time making myself get outside that box. I am so content to just sit at home and write my pattern books. I am great one on one, but a group scares the bbbb-boogers out of me! I am not one who gets up and speaks. I was never comfortable in front of a group. I see all these people and my brain and my tongue don't connect. I have notes and they go right out the window!!
The hard thing about teaching is presuming that a student knows certain things. When you have been doing something so long that it is just natural to you, you presume that it comes natural to others. I was asked that question today at my second meeting, the local "Chicks with Sticks" group at the Children's hospital. How did I get from knowing how to knit and crochet, to writing books. I really don't know! It was a long progression. It started at my maternal Grandma's feet watching her crochet, then a childhood friend, Janet Dycus, teaching me to knit on the steps of Rose City Elementary school, then led to making things for my Barbie, hats for my family, my stepmother-in-law teaching me the correct way to purl, working for Leisure Arts, and then writing instructions. I have always looked at it as a gift from God, a path that He laid out for me. This ability has been a great blessing to me, to my family, and to the ministries that I have been privileged to support. I don't take my talent for granted for one minute. I am still enamored with the way that something so simple as yarn, two sticks, or a hook can bring such enjoyment and create such beauty. I am so blessed to have a job doing what I love! Thank you, God.