Visiting the Finches

New year means new colors, and I've been working on some new colorways! Hyacinth and Charybdis are pictured above, and you can check out Nessie in my shop.

Being self-employed means it's very easy to turn into a hermit, and I've been making an effort to get out and be more involved in art - whether it be making art, or enjoying art. I am signed up for Gift of the Heart and just received my reed bundles in the mail. This will be my first try at basket weaving. I can't wait to see how this goes...

I also managed to sneak out to see the finch exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum. I really love living close to such a great place! Sadly we weren't allowed to take pictures, but the finches are super cute. It was interesting to see them accidentally creating sounds while landing on the guitars, but I honestly was expecting the "music" to be more frequent. The space is quite large so the finches land on the instruments infrequently. From my understanding, they started with 40 finches and are now up to 70. I think a few more would probably be better.

Have you seen the finches? What did you think?

The Fiber Front

The dyepots are up and running again! I had naively thought January would be a semi-vacation, but I've been unexpectedly busy. Most of these skeins will soon be making their way to California to their new home at Yarn del Sol. I wish I could deliver this yarn in person!

I'm also busily prepping for a rather full schedule! I already have lots of events and classes planned through June. My first class of the year is toe-up socks, which started last week. My students are a wonderful group of ladies, I'm having so much fun! And it gives me an excuse to knit myself a new pair of socks, yay!

Pattern: Indi Girl Sock Pattern Generator by Amy Swenson
Yarn: Toil & Trouble Merino/Nylon Sock in Persephone

I always try to have a "fun" project in addition to my "work knitting" - even though this week's work knitting is sort of cheating since I get to keep the socks. I'd been eyeing this cardigan pattern since I first saw a sample knitted up over a year ago. I bought the pattern last June, and waited for the right yarn. Now I can't wait to finish it and wear it! I always get surprised comments and questions from people when they notice I buy yarn from other dyers, and I wonder how many dyers only knit with their own yarn. Personally, I very much enjoy the work of others, and I believe in supporting other small businesses.

Pattern: Dark and Stormy by Thea Colman
Yarn: Madeline Tosh Vintage in William Morris

If you have your own creative business, do you ever buy the work of other artists/artisans in your field/media? I'm curious!