Stranded Yarns

Craftspace

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:28:00 +0000

Craftspace

This is apparently what I am - a contemporary craftsperson. Shame I still feel like an old fashioned one... !!

Toby Christmas…

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Toby’s new scarf has been completed….

This was a total pleasure to produce..

12.5 heddle in the Ashford’s 12” Knitters Loom – 1.5 skeins of Fantasy Sock Yarn which was the October colourway.. and away I went..

The two slightly different colours work really well, when being warn, and the finished fabric is completely tactile.

I am now weaving up the September and December colourways of Annie’s sock club, as a slightly thinner scarf for me – it is in a slightly mock tartan, and knitting up the November’s wool as a pair of cable socks… what I really like about her sock club is the pattern as well as the yarn.. I don’t even have to think, just cast on.

Simplicity of Purpose

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:21:00 +0000

I have had a frenetic week. My body often in one place, my mind in another, and someone at the end of a [phone/computer/office] (delete as appropriate) wanting my presence and attention elsewhere.

I have though been on a bit of a “mission” in all of this – to clear up.

Now as I am sure you are all aware, I live in a permanent muddle – not through choice, but lack of time along with too much creativity and spirit – often means everything is left abandoned at the end of the session. When I leave this blog entry to upload, I will leave a load of mess all around the desk and the computer switched on, so I can get out of the building in time to be somewhere else.

I find this state of chaos though very disabling. So am clearing and cleaning up – all through my life – having had so much success with the email clear up last month, I have moved on to other areas of my life which have weighed me down like a sea anchor. Whilst doing so I listed to Sheila Hancock on the TV about being a Quaker – so much of what she said I could relate to, but the bit about Christmas becoming over complicated and the simplicity of the story lost – I could really relate to, not only about Christmas but in my personal and craft life as well.

I do that with my colour mixing, I become so overcomplicated in my ideas, that I loose the simplicity of the water colour wash, or the dyed wool, or when spinning or completing the watercolour very often add something else which really isn’t needed. Let the colour speak for itself without need of interpretation or interference from me.

I shall take this as my thought for the week me thinks…

Days Like These

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Very conscious of stopping blogging again. Very arrogant of me to assume that anybody even reads what I want to write, but they obviously do - because now have a load of emails in my in-box asking how everything is.

That's nice... people caring, and makes me feel good, even when I don't know the person very well. Kind words in any form help...

Then there is the reason why I have stopped blogging - everything I want to write about, scream shout, share, yell and communicate to the outer world which are my extended family, I can't.

We are concerned that it will be open forum and so used against us at a later date, so best not. Also a lot of what I would like to write about it is confidential and not to be shared, even in some cases with my nearest and dearests..

So the next question is what to write about which is neutral... craft then it will have to be...

I am weaving a scarf for Toby at the moment out of the most delicious wool possible. It has come from http://www.yarnaddict.co.uk/ her October Sock Club. Can't recall the exact yarn make up now, but it is seriously delicious to weave with. From the top of my head I think it is cashmere, merino and nylon - but will correct this when I have the label to hand.

Last night, started on the second skein, half-way up the warp and realised it is totally brighter than the first one... oohps.. but looking at it this morning... it does not matter - a Scarf in two halves... Toby will love it... I did remember noticing this subtle difference in the skeins, and why I was going to use one for the warp and other for weft... but forgot in all the chaos of last week.. note to self...

The colourway reminds me of Durdle door, the blues, violets under the surface of the sea, and the greens - so therefore this is what it should be name !!

I am also knitting one of Annie's patterns at the moment - On the Run - for my daughter-in-laws birthday.. knitting up very fast in the same colourway as Josh's Tibetan socks - same but different..

So that is all I can write which is neutral.. oh and watched Harry Potter yesterday, so think that Annie's December sock wool ought to be called Dumbledore - in honour of a wizard who knits - well likes knitting patterns anyway..

Just remembered something I could write about - the Science Museuem wouldn't let me in on Thursday cuz of my knitting needles.. but the Royal Courts of Justice were only concerned about my camera... terrorists - please note...

An Excerpt from my Album

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:22:00 +0000

They say pictures say a thousand words…a snapshot in the day of a SpinDyeWeaver…

Cat Bordhi demonstrates Judy Becker's Magic Cast-On

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:33:00 +0000

Knowle West people turn out to bid farewell to a local man Barry Pool | Bristol News

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:24:00 +0000

Knowle West people turn out to bid farewell to a local man Barry Pool Bristol News

Tracey has been a very dear friend of mine for many years, and sadly her husband died last week. There are not many people who leave this world who have contributed as much as Barry has to continuing and upholding a culture which has often been looked down upon with sneering and distain.

Romany stock, or Gypsies, may mean many things to different people, but in South Bristol, this term was often applied to the hardworking people who "got things done" - moving coal, milk and bread around the city. Nothing was beneath them to do, (as long as it was legal or at least vagually moral !!) and this is where my family originated, before circumstances gave them perceived opportunities and they became "elite". (The closing of the mine and the invention of the motor car, not forgetting a couple of wars in between)

To get from a) to b) you didn't have the luxury or motorised vehicles and their horses where vital to their existence, so were treated as friends (and often better than relatives!!), integral to earning a living therefore earning a place at their "table". I can remember my grandmother being sent out in all winds and weathers to sort out the horses - and she was a tiny person who looked as if a sudden draught would knock her over...

Not sure when hard graft and decent working ethos became a nasty smell, but it did very definitely in the 60s as the now socially-mobile (my parents) bought houses in the new housing estates, desperate to escape the poverty of their parents. In their haste, they also lost a lot of the values and very essence of what makes a "good person". Mine spent a lot of time re-inventing their history and atecedents. Came quite as a shock last year when I uncovered many skeletons and some still living relatives who knew about me, but not I about them.

I am very upset as I am writing this, not just because of Barry's death, I did not know him as well as his wife, but with his death something quite nebulous and difficult to describe has been lost...

I am upset because I won't pass his van and see his cheery wave which brightened our days, even for a moment. Another link with my family's myth and forklore has now gone. Very complicated emotions, all tied up with a way of life long since gone.

I am not looking at this through rose-tinted spectacles, as I am not sorry that I have relative ease from the day to day hard graft, and even though my world is a nightmare, I am not ever short of food on the table or a warm bed at night (well not as long as Pizza hut do takeaways that it...). I didn't have to worry about my children going down the pit, or my sons going off to war. I have many things to be thankful for, not least the ability to get an education and the luxury now of being able to use my brains. But as I have said before, in the haste to grab the good things, I feel acutely the sense of loss the other more simpler ways of living offered. Not least the ability to sleep at night cuz you were shattered physically.

Having said that I use the horse-trading my grandfather taught me at Priddy Fair (and other such shady places that a girl of 6 or 7 should not have attended... ooh if only my parents knew !!) almost every day of my working life... including the ability to swear... !!

Barry Pool. RIP .. Your like will not pass this way again, but I am a better person for having known you.

How to Knit - The Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:11:00 +0000

thumb cast on

Magic Loop

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:06:00 +0000

Trying to get my head around this technique...

Not being Tardy – being busy

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:01:00 +0000

I haven’t had time over the last few weeks to undertake even some of the basic tasks to keep my world running, like sorting out the washing and unloading the dishwasher, so have not even found time to blog – I am sure you understand.

This morning I found five minutes to blog, and realised that there was nothing in my world I could actually share with you – each of you personally I could share with, just not writing in an open forum where anybody could read it today, tomorrow or even five years time after it had been deleted.

I have so much news, my world is moving at a very fast and exciting pace. I am making plans, changing them, and then re-forming the jagged pieces in other shapes and moulds.

Even though I have dates when decisions will be made, I don’t have any say or power in what those decisions will be.

All in the lap of the gods…

So, as the sun has now come out… best go and take some photographs and then at least I can share my colourful world with you.

Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off, Fall 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off, Fall 2009

Not to myself this weekend, must learn toe-up technique, and also this cast-off....

Christmas Calendar 2009 ~ DROPS Design

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Christmas Calendar 2009 ~ DROPS Design

Knowle West Media Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:44:00 +0000

Knowle West Media Centre

So there is something useful eminating from the building at the bottom of the road... :-)

FRONT ROOM 2009 - Welcome to FRONT ROOM

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:31:00 +0000

FRONT ROOM 2009 - Welcome to FRONT ROOM

Lots of knitting and other textiles things happening here over the weekend... ooh time to be in Bristol me thinks...

Sequin Apron

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:55:00 +0000

I thought I would share this with everyone, loved some of the ideas behind the apron...

jane brocket: ravelry revels

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:40:00 +0000

jane brocket: ravelry revels

Hi everyone - haven't had time to blog or even think over the last week or so. Toby has had his operation on his other foot, and all has gone well, but it has been immensely emotional and draining. I think seeing his twisted ligaments through an ultrasound really brought home to me just how much damage we are fighting against - the unseen as well as the visable.

My working life has been wild, and to top it all, I have now had some serious commissions with very tight deadlines... so not being one to turn away a gift horse etc.etc. have been getting stuck in.

Novel is now half-way through, and the treatment/proposals - or whatever it is called nowadays (I head mine with Synopsis !!) has been accepted with just some "tweaking". Not destined for British screens though.. seems Canada is the new "Irish...". Still saves embarrassment with friends asking to watch... also gives me some lateral freedom when using characters...

Bringing that back to home - spinning up some super wool I dyed at the last SpinDyeWeavers workshop... blues/maroon and amber... mystical and magical ...

Tea up... and thought I would share another bloggers' thoughts on Ravelry...

Knit Nation

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:55:00 +0000

This looks something to aspire to attend !!

Malago WI - birthday night

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:17:00 +0000

Originally uploaded by Malago WI

I had a super birthday party to attend last week, it was the first year of the Malago WI.

As you can see I dressed for the occasion and managed to interract with some very nice people - and I got a pinny for my trouble...

Seriously enjoyable.

writing away

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:06:00 +0000

thanks for all the queries about my NaNoWriMo... have been beavering along over the last few days and it is panning out well.

Have some stuff to blog about - to capture your imagination - waterfalls and squeaks !!

SDW October Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:30:00 +0000

SDWOctober
Originally uploaded by StrandedYarnsUK

What a brill day, in the centre of this picture is Rosee's first handspun yarn on her new spinning wheel. I have chosen this as the central piece, because I think this demonstrates the concept and the vision of the group.

When she started in August, Rosee had absolutely no intention of learning to spin, because she loved her knitting so much, within three meetings, she has gone from being an amateur dyer, to an accomplished spindle spinner, and now a proud owner of an Ashford Traveller.

The other highlight of the day for me, was two new members both spinning away, one accomplished the other producing her first plied yarn. In fact thinking about it there were two - one lady showed me her first plyed spindle spun yarn.

We also had a drop in from some Somali tenants, and the grandmother, whilst not speaking any english, demonstrated to us her techniques for weaving from roving. Her daughter telling us that this technique used to be used for weaving houses back in their native land.

What impressed me, was with just the use of her finger and thumbs, and some nimble manipulations, she was able to produce corded thread, which closely resembled that which was being produced on our spinning wheels, having gone through the complicated processes of spinning and plying. Simples...

I do hope she comes back and shares this with us at another meeting, because it certainly was an eye-opener.

Finally, Sally went to a lot of trouble to sort out a batik session for us, which was thoroughly enjoyed. I am not sure I have actually achieved anything recognisable, but their were certainly some shapes emerging on my project bag...

What a lovely day... my world moving in a series of short journeys, and my craft journey it seems reaching a destination yesterday... I shall now pause and work out where I am going to next...

Autumn Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Autumn Reflections
Originally uploaded by jillyspoon

This to me - is - Autumn

What a Girt Brill Day

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:47:00 +0000

The October day of the SpinDyeWeavers went down amazingly well. One of the members brought along a Batik vat, and this was the first time I have ever done this – with cotton that it is, I have done silk dyeing before… and I have made a project bag. Not sure how it will turn out, as I wasn’t very generous with the wax, but I will be happy !!

I also was given a nickname – which I am happy to take on board as mine… I was told I looked like a muppet behind the counter, and then it was decided that I ought to be named Red from Fraggle Rock…

I have come home, looked this up and I accept the renaming with love and gratitude – Red I have now become !!

According to the website, she

Fraggle Rock freaks, gather 'round. Red is here for you!

This energetic Fraggle Rocker knows where she's going

and what she wants to do! And Red never stops moving,

except maybe when she's asleep

So fair enough… !!

Photos of the day and dye production later, now I need to sleep, nope… actually off to do some spinning and chat to my son.

It is really very special and precious to be in the presence and company of so many talented and creative people…

Success all around...

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:41:00 +0000

I know I wasn't going to blog anymore about the grief and I am not....but I just wanted to post a quick update to say I seem to have made some really quite lovely headway, and just want to thank blogger land for this... I don't know how many people have had a hand in this, but I have had an incredibly "positive" response.

We have managed to sort out where my "private" details are emerging from and systems are being put in place to stop that.

Ravelry have assisted in sorting out housekeeping, and I can't thank them enough for this, the personal touch was very much appreciated. So I can now carry on business as usual.

The person who accidently put all my crafting contact details onto a public searchable data base as owner of a particular craft business, has now revisited her error, and has taken me off.

This has all be done in responses to my blogs of the past few days, you are amazing detectives thank you so muh, it has really restored my faith a little...

I feel I can now delete without guilt, and get on with being me !!

cheers mates...

Interweave Book - A Closer Look

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:31:00 +0000

A Closer Look with Rita Buchanan

I came across this ebook on the Interweave site this morning, and would highly recommend it for new and even more experienced spinners.

A Spinner's Questions is also worth adding to your library.

Best wishes
Shani

Part Quatre - Last Post...

noreply@blogger.com (Shani Phethean-Hubble) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:27:00 +0000

Not literally, but figuratively - I promise this is the last post I am intending to make on the subject of the grief I am getting, normal service will be resumed thereafter...

------

I received 24 emails which I consider to contain the "whitenoise" I am so upset about - since 10.00 pm last night and 8.30 this morning - I received about 10 of my friendly ones, or notifications. A pretty random selection of moaning, but there are threads and themes in what they are asking... so I thought I would share them with you here.

If you are one of those who have posted them - fine, please be aware that you did, and don't trouble me again - I have taken no offence, but I am not happy about the collectiveness of all of this.

4 - requesting details about Saturdays' Group meeting (SDW), who have been responded to previously, and told that there are no spare places. These four would like an exception made for them, as they know someone at a previous StitchnBitch I used to be involved with, and this is how they have got my personal email address.

I am sorry - there is nothing I can do about this - we are struggling to balance numbers etc.etc. with space and management of the group. I am powerless to assist and this isn't about eliteness. If things change, I have your details, I will contact you. So please stop emailing me on a weekly basis.

8 - requesting details of alternate craft groups/evening classes etc.etc. in the area - each struggling with a particular issue ie their life is too full, they have kids, they need the craft to be available at 11.22 on a Sunday morning, otherwise their life will be destroyed.

Each either wants to learn to knit/spin/dye/weave, and they have been given my details by... a variety of sources.

I am so sorry to hear that you are struggling with combining life with craft. I empathise and understand, but the local authority/libraries contain all the information you need, not I. Could I kindly, and not in an inflammatory way whatsoever, suggest that you express your frustrations to the local adult education authorities so that they can understand that there is a strength of feeling about all of this.

I would thought suggest that whe you work out what is on, as it is a scarce resource, and perhaps remodel your life around that timetable? rather than trying to make it fit in with your world.

7 - advising me of a local good cause that is going to end if I don't get involved in someway with saving it, and could I bring it to the attention of the lovely lady (2 said that honest...!!) who runs that new craft group SDW, we have tried to catch up with her at other things - two said at the StitchnBitch last week, but she wasn't around.

Now those who know me know I "aint" lovely - but I - me - see me jumping up and down - am the person who runs the SDW, and I was at that particular meeting of the stitchnbitch, so you couldn't have worked too hard at identifying me.

Sorry - four of you have obviously really extensively used the premises you are so concerned about, cuz you hadn't even noticed the deadline was on Saturday. This might be wild guesswork on my part, but perhaps you have taken your kids there in the last couple of days and been woken up to that fact that you are loosing a vital local amenity, but it has suddenly dawned on you it is going to affect you as you have nowhere to park your kids...

I would suggest you get a life, join one of the campaigns already set up, or start your own, either way don't park your social guilt on me.

That leaves 4 - I think... mainly asking if I could offer some personal tuition in knitting/spinning/whatever, as they can't fit in with any other time that is on offer within the community. They could though fit me in on..... and if I could give them a ring, or I email them with my phone number they will ring me, cuz they know I am busy... They are not able to afford to pay me, because they have no money for a variety of reasons, and can't afford guild membership/evening classes and anyway these are not on at the time they are available oh and could I arrange to lend them some equipment. One has asked me to travel to just outside Devon once a week, cuz she knows I make that journey and it would fit in nicely with my visit to my son.

They all tell me they have found my details through the Guild Memberships. I gave permission for my details to be available in these three guilds, to which I belong, because I thought it would be information retained within them for member's use only. Please said members - contact me if you want, chat to me, that is the point of the friendship and keeping in touch, social network... but if you are giving out personal details to random strangers, I think you will find you are breaking data protection and your guild could be in trouble.

I have written back to each of these five to find out from which guild or member they were given so much personal information about me from. If I am able to ascertain accurate information as to the sources, I will be making a formal complaint in writing to the Guild(s) themselves, to make them aware out of courtesy.

This begs the question, do I carry on with my memberships of those now?

The last one - a pretty mean and carping ramble about a customer complaint they have with the company I own, which goes on for pages - I gave up scrolling down... anyway.. they are going to do terrible things to me and this is my last warning before they report me to trading standards...

I don't own a knitting company or a shop and never have. I haven't got a clue who you are, and I don't recognise the details of the company you have purchased from, or what you have bought. I seriously doubt the substance of your complaint, and you need to prove some financial loss or damage before you can take someone to court and succeed. You also have to prove that you have mitigated your losses in someway... so using your best afghan carpet and sweater to mop up the blood from your finger, caused by the staples in the packaging, really isn't going to go down to well as a claim of loss. Try using a tea towel and sticking plaster like everybody else..

-------

I think that about covers it... but as you can see there is a common theme, and I am quite depressed that human nature can be this way.

Explains a lot about the world I think.

So I am asking one and all, before you send off a complaining or enquiring email in the next few days, ask

a) does the person you are writing to, actually own that problem?

b) is the tone in which you passing over the problem - offensive, rude or curt?

c) am I going to add to the quality of that person's day, or blow their mind? - which am I trying to achieve?

after these little checks, if you still want to send off the email - make a mental audit of how many were passing the problem from your shoulders to that other persons.

if the email is coming my way - please I know you are busy, but so am I, incredibly so, I am now working 22 hour days in total to fit everything I want to do and need to do in...so don't ask me to do anything at all for you, unless it can be fitted into my normal existence. The best advice I can offer is to rejiggle your world to do it, and if you can't then let it go..

I have been self-auditing emails for the last couple of days, and it is amazing how few friendly and constructive emails I send, most are just in response to above, or quite curt ones requesting info - this I am intending to change.

Lets make the world a brighter place - one day at a time... one email at a time... If you can't say something nice - then don't say it all....

hugs everyone....