Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Hues to you!

My studio is brimming with color despite the backdrop of frigid and snowy weather outside. I frequently struggle with the yin and yang between the desk and dyepot with multiple projects and deadlines in both areas. Welcome to a glimpse of what has been cooking in the studio this week. Some freshly dyed lengths of silk ribbon...

I just finished my part of a collaborative this week which was challenging but rewarding. Although the volume of yarn was nominal the work lay in the matching. I ran tests on each sample first before commiting the beautiful one of a kind skeins to the dyepot. I wanted the finished skeins to mirror the original samples with the one variable that the samples are a white base yarn and the finished skeins are a gray base. The yarn is from my CVM/Romeldales.
I will share more when the project is complete...the small butterflies atop the skeins were the original colors for me to match through natural dyeing. Accomplished!
On a personal note, I had promised a skein of sock yarn naturally dyed by me for a business associate. She wanted pink so she could knit a pair of socks for her and her baby girl. My camera didn't do this justice but it is a lovely coral pink with subtle variegation. In the mail and on it's way.

Nothing wasted, for fun, I put a large cotton scarf into the after-bath from the sock dyeing....yummy, warm pale coral...

The indigo vat simmered along so I could alternately dip skeins, scarves and tests I needed to run.
Here's Luna behind the indigo oxidizing tub...clueless to my efforts but happy!

All three dogs spend time with me, although Kalie eyes the door in hopes it will open and free her for a run!

Sidney loves the studio. He is quiet old now and doesn't need too much entertaining, he just loves to be amidst the action with nothing asked of him! This is the perfect place!

A customer arrived yesterday with 3 pounds of her hand-spun yarn for me to dye. She has posed a challenge for her color choice and I look forward to it!
I am half way through a large custom dye order...more color to burst forth soon!

7 comments:

  1. Wonderful skein and ribbon colors! You've been busy. :-)

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  2. Oh beautiful colors! They all look spot on. I hope you have some of the fantastic coral/rust when I get back east.
    What's not to love about critter pictures and especially Sidney pics. Something so wise and wistful about old dogs. Dignity.
    Big furry hugs to all, I hear a warm up is on it's way!

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  3. Anonymous9:12 AM

    ... how fortunate you are!!

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  4. Just wanted you to know I nominated you and your wonderful blog for a Stylish award! :) LOL, you can view it and grab it off my blog, when time allows. I know how busy you are. We're snowy and cold. I guess it's our turn for some winter weather. Hope you all have a breath or two of spring.

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  5. Thank you all for your compliments...and I do feel so very fortunate to be able to follow a dream and a love (other than my DH)at least 4 days a week!
    Now, Theresa! You trickster! Thank you and I will be doing the requested charge...kind of fun actually! Stay tuned...

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  6. I'm still waiting for you to reproduce the gorgeous "Rooster's Comb" that you called a "mistake" but I saw as perfection - sadly in a one-off!

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  7. aww... Sidney! I would love to trek out that way again this spring for a knitting/fiber day. I will never forget my first visit - holding one of your chickens - who knew they were so snuggly??

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