Wooldancer } Inspiring the Art of Handspun Yarn

It's been a long time between drinks my blog friends, so I shall attempt a photo-a-day record of fibery adventures since April this year..
It's been 4 fabulous fibre-filled months, beginning with a most memorable moment when I became a new bird amongst the fabulous flock known as Fibre Arts Australia. You know the story about introducing a new hen into the flock: sneak her in during the night, pop her on a perch, and in the morning the flock accepts her as having been there all along. I felt right at home, made welcome by Glenys Mann, a most generous organiser, whom I thank deeply for granting me the opportunity to be plucked out of the crowd and set on my perch for an incredibly inspiring week. Albeit Awe-struck at the company I was in, the feeling of Belonging remains true, and I hope one day to be back again amongst the fine flock of Forum fibre artists, some of whom I befriended and shall blog about here. Stay tuned!




Take a pictorial tour through my Fibre Arts Australia flickr set.

There's nothing quite like last-minute deadlines to fuel momentum.. I am on the edge of my seat with excitement to have been invited to include a piece of work in the upcoming group exhibition, Design On The Edge.
The metamorphosis has begun, and I forsee many late evenings in the stars for me to complete this goal of a human-size handspun cocoon.

Do join me on Opening night Sat 14 April 5:30pm at Braemar Gallery, Springwood NSW
and hold me to my word that I will emerge unscathed from 2 weeks of mega-making workshop spree I embark upon tomorrow..
firstly, I am hosting Vilte, felt artist from Lithuania, with her 5day workshop, then I head to Ballarat for another 5day workshop with Fibre Arts Australia, this time with moi at the helm.

grab a wheatgrass & hold onto your seatbelt folks, this fortnight is going to be a ride for the books!

The new year is symbolic of turning a fresh new leaf, and it is heartening to read around the interweb accounts of the significance this time of year.. there is a special kind of energy that propells us toward, that moves us forward, one step at a time, or in leaps and bounds toward markers in life, achievement of goals, as grand or simple as they may be.

i have been shifting and renewing Beneath My Skin, excited at what this dragon year holds. As a mother to 3beautiful growing children, each a Muse to me in their own unique ways, i observe my own growth as a mother through them. Confronting, enlivening and enriching as it is, I strive to always do better for them.
this year, I resolved to make a huge life change, to live an authentic life and work with dogged determination to make a sustainable existence for my family as a creative being.. To throw caution to the wind, and to live more deeply into my life as Wooldancer.. not only as a business or label, but for all the real qualities of owning my creativity as my vocation. I have been granted such fortune during the years by taking this path, by living into the community as a wool-worker, as a designer, as a teacher, as a student, and I hold my place in this dearly. And so it is, to offer Wooldancer to those who are willing to see my work and attend my workshops, to live into my art in Daily Life as a creative person who longs to derive a supporting lifestyle for my family, propelling me forward into 2012.
This choice has come with some reservation, as the 'job' i took on, guiding & holding a beautiful space for young children as a Family Day Care Educator, as close to my heart as it is, was veering me in a direction I know in my heart is not All That I Am. It is scary to let the certainty of employment go, but I have also found that other doors are opening for my woolly pathway, one that is as warm, trusting & comfortable, enfolding my soul & spirit, holding me up with comfort that It Is the right choice to make. [I am thrilled to have been invited to teach Stage4 Textiles this term for Kindlehill High School.. a challenge I am humbled and excited about exploring; and there are Workshops, ever so many wonderful workshops!]

For some folk this choice may seem obvious. Today, society demands that we be 'other' than who we are, to work at 'jobs' that we really would rather not, had we experienced different life circumstances, or if not, to chase our tails to survive.  I have been contemplating & sketching for some yarns that 'reflect" this theme: To make ends meet, to scrape for bread and butter, to keep our head above water.. these notions are the foundations of leading a 'happy life', for most it is simply to get by and make do, to simplify for a 'sustainable life'. I'm exploring this theme for an art project that will be showing in March at Braemar Gallery. If you fell so compelled, do Comment with your thoughts about your views on what a 'sustainable life' means to you.

 This choice, for my pursual of a sustainable creative life, is partly due to you my dear friends, who read and follow snippets of my journey as Wooldancer.. with the warmth and enthusiasm I have felt. For if not for your encouragement and continual support with all my endevours, i would not be (wool)dancing to my own rhythm. A heart-felt Thank you.

Shifting again, and rightfully in grey, The 2day Vilte workshop has sold out, as has the 3day Beyond The Surface workshop.
Thanks to those of you who have enrolled. This will be a special experience. Stay tuned for more wonderful woolly workshops with Wooldancer!
xoMichelle

Happy New Year my woolly wonderfuls.. I have enjoyed a breathtaking summer break with exciting news to share.. I have had the pleasure of conversation with Vilte, an acclaimed feltmaker from Lithuania, who is traveling to Australia during March to hold a series of her Poetic Felt workshops. I am tickled pink to be organiszing her 'Sydney' trip, where she will be holding 2 workshops in the Blue Mountains.

I have long admired Vilte's textural yet sheer nuno felt, poetic expressions that conjur a deep connection to natural fibres.. As you will read in the link above, Vilte's language about the process of making felt is enchanting and intriguing. Her workshops will be nothing short of a remarkable and enriching 5days!


For participants seeking supplies, I have taken a dive into my extra-special Wooldancer stash & put aside some very special longwool English Leicester fleece, coloured fleece, polworth & finn wool and lovely creamy 18micron merino wool top. I will also have some silk chiffon and paj available for the materials list. Let me know you would like to reserve a bountyful-bundle upon booking your place.



Beyond the surface: fabric manipulation in making nuno felt dresses : 3day





Vilte will assist you in creating your very own sheer silk/felt dress of your own design.. imagine!

To Book: 
Australian participants: 
Bank Transfer is preferred, email: wooldancer [at] gmail.com for details.
Overseas bookings available online

Time for a freshen-up of my online presence, I have been tinkering with new designs lately.. both wearable yarn patterns (above designs now at The Nook, Leura) + a  new image-redesign, with a cute new website, product tags and yarn labels.. & in keeping with all things fresh & new, I thought I'd re-open my studio webshop with a little teaser:
Polworth.. the finest fleece from a fellow handspinner's own flock. These uncarded locks are extra-special.. with a long staple due to an extended shearing season. If you like to spin with soft buttery locks and lurve textural yarns these shimmering bring rainbow-coloured locks take the cake, and are now available by the ounce.
I also popped up new workshop bookings for the next 3 months in Lawson. If you fancy learning to spin yarn or dye fibre, now is the season!

Next up, SPIN CAMP with the amazing LEXI BOEGER, the infamous PLUCKYFLUFF.COM in which
we spun, we plucked, we fluffed till the clouds came down from yonder & sprinkled their star-dust upon us :

Some of the wild new yarns that spun their way into the world during Lexi's recent visit.. I can't believe a month has passed by since Sydney Pluckyfluff Camp. It was the MOST wild, intoxicating, enthralling three days, connecting with a friend from distant shores, finally meeting in the flesh and soaking up the beaming creative energy. My heart goes out to each and every beautiful lady who each contributed vast gobs of love, colour and creative beauty & took the opportunity to learn from and revel in new ways of working with yarn from the master Revolutionary.. and to you Lexi, sweet spinsista, such a privilege to hang in my hood with you as one of my family xo unforgettable
You can view pix of the Sydney Spin Camp on flickr and in the Pluckyfluff album on my facebook page.

I am thrilled to be offering a new extended 5day workshop with Fibre Arts Australia. The forum is well-known for highly experienced textile arts teachers from Australia and around the world, who gather for 5 days of inspiring creativity.  It goes without saying how excited I am to be involved in offering my chosen craft & art skills as an educator in this wonderful environment.

If you have ever wondered what to make with your art yarn, this is your chance! Experienced art yarn spinners, come & extend your textile art-practice. If you are interested but don't already spin, that's part of the course too! Come spin, play with yarn: knit, crochet or weave, and immerse yourself in this exciting fibre-arts retreat. Read text below for course description & Enrol here!
 

Journey Threads: the Art of Yarn : 8 to 14 April 2012
  
[ Yarn: story; personal narrative; a journey expressed in thread ]

Handspinning is an ancient textile skill currently enjoying a modern revival. The expressive nature of fibre and the dynamic energy of spinning yarn allows for thoughts and emotions to be captured in yarn as it flows through your hands. In this experimental workshop we shall consider the creation of yarn as an act of artistic expression. The very process of hand-spinning reveals the makers’ blueprint, or story, in thread-form.

In this workshop we focus on creative yarn making, in which expressive handspun yarn becomes a focal point in the production of a wearable item. Yarn, fibre and threads meander, intertwine and connect to each other using basic handwork methods: knit, crochet, or weave. The finished piece will become “Homage to Self”: a personal narrative spun into a wearable item.

This course is catered for all levels of experience. The beginning of the course will introduce students to the skill of spinning on a spindle (wheel spinners welcome), and will cover fibre choice, preparation and structural techniques. Experienced students will gain an extended skill-set in improvised technique. Yarn Design (colour, structure, texture) is an important part of the process. Emphasis will be on the process of discovery whilst learning new skills, often leading to surprising outcomes.

A personal narrative will be interpreted into the finished wearable piece. For example, ‘Homage to your Heart’ may be a soft & flowing loose knit or a heart-shaped armour made with knit roving & embellished with handspun crochet. The story you represent in both the threads and the finished piece will be your own creative expression.

Playing catch-up now..
Last week I had the pleasure of collaborating with friend and artist Susie Dereau on a work for an exhibition which is now showing at the infamous Gaffa Gallery, Sydney.

Animal Collective Nouns is a bi-annual exhibition created by the Noun Collective, and features a diverse talent of artists working in a range of media. I was thrilled to have a handspun yarn included in the show. Our collective noun is "A Skein of Geese".

 I spun this using naturally coloured & rare wools: Polworth, Gotland, Blue Faced Leicester, Alpaca and added some Goose feathers for good measure!  This photo details Susie's stunning Oil on Linen paintings.

I wrote and article about it for a new blog 'Spin Artiste', dedicated to the art of creative handspinning, and am more than a itty-bit chuffed Arlene published it today.. woot!

If you are around town the exhibition is definitely one to see, and the jewellery designers' in Gaffa's shop Stirling are amazing to boot!

  I have just uploaded my first two listings to the Australian handmade online market, Made-it. It feels great to be part of an online handmade community on my own shore.  Now I can post my southern-hemisphere (winter) woolly wares on Made-it, 

 while my northern-hemisphere (spring/summer) range hang out on etsy!
For those of you who are savvy in reading about changes with my website cart, this is part of the process. I'll keep you posted.

  

Now I can be across the seasons on the two sites, and i confess it will keep me sane.. as making summer neckwear during the brisk chill of winter is challenging.. when all i want to crochet are snuggly woollen sleeping bags! [mental note.. stand-by for snuggly woolly sleeping bags OTN (on the needles) ] hmm.. i'll have to spin me a river to make enough yarn!

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A quick update on Wooldancer outlets:

The Nook Arts & Crafts Co-op, upstairs 133a The Mall, Leura NSW

* Fri 16- Sun 18 July: Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Woolcraft Shed 3, next to main gate.

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Clicky the linkys, or come visit me for loads of woolly yarn & fibre products not listed online!

I hope to share the warm fuzz with you soon,

Michelle