photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Give me a butterfly, a bee, a ladybug, a dragonfly any day, but spiders…. eep… the closest I like to get to spiders is at the end of the  ‘pick up the spider and take it outside‘ tool  in the photo.

It’s even better if it’s my husband who is the one picking up the spider and marching it outside. erg.

Have you heard about the spider silk tapestry that is on display at the  American Museum of Natural History?

Two artists, Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley, have worked out a way to put spiders (special big honkin’ ones in Madagascar- they are big enough for people to eat them. erg.) into a harness (!) and milk the silk out the spider’s spinerettes like milking a cow. (The mind boggles).  And, yes, the people who were putting the spiders in the harnesses got bitten. Which is saying a lot, as the spiders are at least 4 inches across. erg erg erg.

The spiders have to be caught and kept away from each other because they’ll eat each other if they are given the chance. Nice.

So,  1 million, 63 thousand of these boogers were caught and ’silked’ to create the strands of silk to weave the spectacular tapestry that is one of a kind.  It took almost 5 years to spin the sticky, light, soft and highly elastic, golden colored strands of protein.

Every single thread in the tapestry is made up of 96 single strands of spider silk!

Not ONE strand was broken in the weaving! wow….

Will it ever be done again. Nope.

Here is the link to the press release: spider silk tapestry

I was pleased to see a pic of the loom, but have been frustrated by not seeing how the spinning and weaving were done.

Here’s the youtube video about the tapestry:

There is also an exhibition about the silk road coming soon… it looks fabulous.

Have you ever wondered exactly how  a spider spins silk? Now you know…..

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Photos copyright Jennifer Tan, used with permission.

I ‘met’  Jennifer a year or so ago when she commissioned me to make her daughter a one of a kind spool knitter and then asked me to design and make some 2 peg spool knitters for ‘Gosh Yarn It’.  It’s been fun to see Jennifer growing her business and when she got in touch with me again a couple of weeks back, I asked her if we do do a profile of her and ‘Gosh Yarn It’ for Hankering for Yarn.

So, here we have it: Jennifer Tan and ‘Gosh Yarn It’:

1.  How did you come to create ‘Gosh Yarn It.’?

I sold my own crocheted creations for years to private clients, for weddings, and at shows.  As I began to teach more, I needed quality tools for my students.  Everyone wanted a beautiful, useful tote and case, too!  I began selling some tools and totes as a designer, and then expanded into a full online shop.  I wanted to support artisans and purchase from them in stead of from larger companies as much as possible, offering products that were different from what you might find in a local yarn shop.  My father-in-law came up with the name!  I then opened up Etsy shops to sell my own creations and patterns.  I also sell my patterns on Ravelry.com (my ID is “gyi”).

Photos copyright Jennifer Tan, used with permission.

2. Do you have a favorite product or aspect of all that you do and make with and for ‘Gosh Yarn It’?

I really love Tunisian crochet hooks and drop spindles.  Both fiber arts are my favorite, and I truly enjoy using and selling beautiful tools.

Balancing the business and the creatives ends…always a challenge!

Teaching is the most rewarding part of what I do.  There’s nothing better than seeing someone leave a workshop with a new fiber arts skill.  Some people email me pictures of their creations later, and some go on to teach themselves.  I love it!

I have been designing and crafting fiber arts for around 17 years professionally.

Being surrounded by lovely yarns, colorful fibers, and beautiful tools always makes me want to try something new!

Photos copyright Jennifer Tan, used with permission.

7.  Are the fiber arts your main focus?

In my life, fiber arts is a main focus.  I also homeschool my three children, teach university classes, do custom aromatherapy blending, officiate weddings, perform and teach flute, and teach a variety of holistic pregnancy/baby courses, such as prenatal yoga.

Photos copyright Jennifer Tan, used with permission.

8.  What is your favorite way of getting your work out into the world?

Word of mouth!  Between Ravelry, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, people are connecting and communicating more than ever.  Being referred by someone is always better than paying for advertising.

9. Does where you live influence your work in any way?

Absolutely!  I live in Northern California which is full of fiber artists.  Being near guilds and wonderful yarn shops is a bonus!  I am inspired daily by the incredible beauty that surrounds my home…a creek, garden, trees.  There’s nothing better than hanging freshly dyed and spun yarns outside near the avocado tree, artichokes, and apple tree!

10. Where can people buy your work?

Fiber arts tools, totes, patterns, books and accessories: www.goshyarnit.com My crocheted/knitted/handspun items and aromatherapy: www.tlwoldc.etsy.com My naturally dyed fibers/yarns/silks and homeschooling supplies: www.syrendell.etsy.com

11. Do you maintain a blog or website? If so, what are their urls?

My blogs:  Gosh Yarn It! www.goshyarnit.blogspot.com Syrendell www.syrendell.blogspot.com

12. Do you have a crafting or arts community that influences you and is important to you? (online or ‘real life’).  Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

Although I belong to a variety of guilds and groups, my favorite arts group that I connect with is the Griffin Dyeworks Dye & Fiber Retreat group.  I attend their annual retreat and get to learn about natural dyeing, as well as teach classes, and learn everything from sprang, to lucet, to kumihimo!  It’s the nicest group of people, and we share so much with each other.  www.griffindyeworks.com

Photos copyright Jennifer Tan, used with permission.

13. Do you have an all time favorite piece that you designed?

One of my first crazy-handspun yarns (I learned how to card a crazy batt and make the yarn at Camp Plucky Fluff www.pluckyfluff.com) was so unique, but also didn’t have a lot of yards.  So, I Tunisian-crocheted it with a size U hook into a scarf!  I never wear it, but have it on display at home.  It’s precious.  It got featured for a couple of seconds on the DIY Network’s Uncommon Threads when I appeared on the show.

14. Is there a project or product  that has ever flumoxed you and just refused to work out?

Still flumoxed by knitting socks…I think it’s just a mental block!  It’s my goal to make my children all socks, so it will be a fun challenge to take on.

15. Is there anything that I have missed that you would like to share with the readers of Hankering for Yarn?

We are offering free shipping on all US orders during August when you use coupon code AUGUST during checkout at www.goshyarnit.com.  Lots of items on sale!

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Now, this may not seem to be all that important, but believe me, for MANY reasons, it is VERY important.

You’ll be hearing about this a lot in 2009!

It’s really expensive to maintain a herd of fiber animals!

B U T- here’s the great news!

You can help support a lovely fiber farm  in a truly concrete way,

AND you get a luscious treasure from your goodness…..

Read all about it at: Hudson Valley Fiber Farm Co-op

Image source: Original drawing by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright and not to be reproduced without permission

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When I was in Portland at the Knit and Crochet Conference , I met a kindred spirit who is doing fabulous work with silk, wool and other natural fibers: Lisa Horner of Purple Lotus Fiber Design. (doesn’t click through yet, sorry)

Lisa dyes ‘Gourmet Art Yarn’.

Rats…. a picture does NOT do it justice….. ah well… imagine great lusciousness!

Lisa doesn’t have her website up yet, but her yarns are available at the most wonderful store:

Abundant Yarns in Portland OR. Wonderful wonderful wonderful!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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Over the years, lots of great friendships have been formed because of a neat list on yahoo-

the International Freeform group….

Usually on the Friday evening of a conference, the freeformers will get together and it’s always fun….

There’s Bubbly Bonnie and me and darlin’ Pirk!

And gorgeous Myra and wonderful Jorel in her galaxy vest and marvelous Mel wearing colors that she doesn’t usually work with (but it turned out great)

And then we grabbed Margaret and said, “Get into this picture!”

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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One of the people on the freeform list is Beth Boshears. Beth’s bundle of joy and a real sweetie.  It was great fun to finally get to meet her…. and oh no! I didn’t get a pic of her!

Beth blew me right out of the water when she handed me ‘an apple for the teacher’ when she was taking one of my workshops.

It’s wonderful! Look at this…..

It began it’s life as a glasses case, but Beth has re-purposed it by embellishing it with gorgeous crochet, beadwork and embroidery.

And, she’s done the smartest thing inside it:

Isn’t that clever? she’s attached the scissors and needles and bobbins with magnets.

I love it. Thank you Beth!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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I arrived in Portland on Wed night (Sept 10th) and took the light rail transit into the city from the airport.

I managed to get myself turned totally around, so got completely and frazzlingly lost.

Everyone I asked for directions sent me in a different direction.

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……… dragging 2 suitcases around Portland at night is not fun!

Eventually, 3 very wonderful young Goth teenagers got me going in the right direction, and then a lovely young woman who was attempting to sign up voters helped

(come on people! You gotta VOTE!)

(I’m Canadian, and we’re in the middle of our own election, and you bet I’ll be voting…. people ~died~ so we can vote!)

um, please excuse that rant…. (but DO vote, ok?)

Anyhow, I FINALLY arrived at the hotel, thank heavens!

On Thursday, I took a workshop-

usually I am teaching in all the slots, so never get to take workshops, so this was a huge treat for me.

The workshop was Myra Wood’s self publishing class, and it was brilliant.

Myra is a genius and a delight and totally fabulous.  Here’s her website: Myra Wood

I taught a workshop in the afternoon, and had camnesia the whole day, so didn’t get pics. Sigh.

On Friday, I met up with my friend, Karen Whooley  (Karen’s blog).

I showed Karen how easy it is to spin with tiny support spindles:

It was such a treat to see Karen really Get It……

Wheeeeeeeeeee! and she took home yarn she had spun.

It’s a pity that the gentleman who took the pics for us didn’t stick around to capture the look of joy on Karen’s face as everthing clicked into place for her.

YAY  Karen!

The thing about spindle spinning, especially spinning with tiny support spindles is that you can get so much spinning done when you have a couple of wee little spindles in your bag.

Bring them out any old time, and away you spin!

Bliss.

This is one of the joyous and serrendipity moments of going to conferences.

Trading knowledge with your friends, and keeping  traditions and heritage crafts alive.

Bliss.

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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Michelle Snowdon of Wooldancer creates the most incredible  freeform, wild and woolie magical batts and yarns.

yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

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I have been spinning up a storm this past week…..

Here’s some bombyx silk that I’ve spun up and am spool knitting like mad with to finish a project for workshops I am teaching in September.

Spin spin spool spool….

spin some more

spool some more…..

(As I get  things completed, I’ll upload pics. Right now, there’s a million half done projects all in a flurry of studio whirling!)

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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It’s a spinning (of the yarnie kind, not bikie kind) challenge that is taking place during the Tour de France bicycle race.

Here’s the link: Tour de Fleece 

You’ll have to hurry to catch up to the front runners  er, spinners…

Have fun!

and definitely watch ‘The Triplettes of Belleville’ while you’re spinning. It’s a delight.

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