Fiber Arts Friday: Basket Weaving with Jean Johnson

Today is Fiber Arts Friday! Join me as we expand our horizons beyond crochet to focus on other interesting fiber and needle arts. Enjoy the beautiful projects and learn something new along the way. Today's featured craft is basket weaving. "Basket weaving is the process of weaving pliable materials into a basket or other similar form." Here to guide us on our foray into the craft is Jean Johnson of Color Basket Studio.

About Jean
"I’m Jean Johnson.  I live in Germantown, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee.  I am married and have two daughters and two grand-daughters. The grand kids are 12 years and 18 months and live about 90 miles away. Occupation wise I have been lucky enough (husband had good job and health insurance) to be a basket weaver.  I have been doing art shows for about 25 years.  Some in Wisconsin and some in the Midwest. When my husband retired I decided to only do one show this year and try to sell on Etsy.  Etsy has been a nice surprise.  Sales are good and people love hand made products. I collect vintage fiesta (bright colored dishes that first were made in 1936). I have a great collection of the dishes and they inspired my colored baskets. I also enjoy spending time with the family and a glass of wine on the porch with my husband."

How long have you been basket weaving? How did you get started?

"I have been weaving for about 30 years. I started with a basket kit. Made one basket and it was fun and turned out great. Before weaving I did all sorts of arts and crafts. Sewing doll clothes and outfits, crochet, cross stitch etc. After the first basket I was hooked.  Made some more baskets and gave them to friends and family.  Sold some in shops that wanted most of my money, and finally at art shows. 

I started doing the colored baskets about 10 years ago. I dye all my own reed much like you dye fabric or wool. Then I make the basket. First the bottom is woven and double twilled. The sides are up staked and the sides are then woven. The top is turned down and a rim is double lashed in place. I also make traditional basket  that are stained with a natural walnut stain."

What advice do you have for folks who are interested in basket weaving?
"To get started weaving you can buy a kit or take a class.  To find a kit you can go online to a basket supply shop. I like Noresta for good quality reed and supplies."

Behind the scenes...

Some of Jean's work...

Such wonderfully colorful baskets! So useful, too. Thank you so much for sharing your craft with us today, Jean! You can find out more about Jean and her baskets on one of her two websites or on Etsy. 

Fiber Arts Friday: Quilting with Phyllis Prom

The first Friday of every month is Fiber Arts Friday! Join me as we expand our horizons beyond crochet to focus on other interesting fiber and needle arts. Enjoy the beautiful projects and learn something new along the way. Today we will be taking a look at the gorgeous art quits made by Phyllis Prom. What is quilting? "Quilting is the process of sewing of two or more layers of material together to make a thicker padded material, usually to create a quilt or quilted garments. The whole process of creating a quilt or quilted garment also involves other steps such as designing, piecing, appliqué, and binding." Prepare yourself to see some truly inspirational quilts. Take it away, Phyllis!

About Phyllis
"I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest where my husband and I raised two beautiful children, a girl and a boy. We have 6 wonderful grandchildren. I am retired. I love to go on long drives and take a lot of photographs to use in my art work."

How long have you been quilting? How did you get started?
"I have been quilting for 52 years and making art quilts for 11 years. I had never made an art quilt before and with no art history I started making the landscape art quilts after my husband passed away from cancer. He was an outdoorsman, rode horses, and we would go on long drives on the weekends."

What advice do you have for folks who are interested in quilting?
"Find something you love to do, read about it, take classes and do the best you can do at it and it will be very rewarding. I don't just mean financially, it will feed your soul and make you very happy."

Here is some of her work...

Wow. Just wow. If you'd like to see more of these lovely quilts, check out her Etsy shop. Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Phyllis! If you'd like more information about quilting, check out about.com's info.

Fiber Arts Friday: Rug Hooking with Cindy Irwin

The first Friday of every month is Fiber Arts Friday! Join me as we expand our horizons beyond crochet to focus on other interesting fiber and needle arts. Enjoy the beautiful projects and learn something new along the way. Today we are going to learn about rug hooking from expert Cindy Irwin. Rug hooking "is both an art and a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage." You just can't imagine the beauty that rug hooking can create without seeing it for yourself. Cindy, show us what you know!

About Cindy
Cindy Irwin is an empty nester with a nearly perfect husband, two adult children, and three grandchildren. Last year they sold their farm and moved into a townhouse in Lancaster, PA.  She now has a wonderful studio with a dye kitchen and teaching space, and more time to devote to her craft.

She enjoys spending time with her family, lifts weights; several years ago, she held a national record in the dead-lift with a 265 lb. lift. She also enjoys playing tennis.

Cindy is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, President of the Conestoga Guild of McGown Rug Crafters, and the ATHA Area 2 Rep. She is also the assistant director of The McGown  National Teachers Workshop. (She is working on learning to say no).

How long have you been rug hooking? How did you get started?
Cindy has been hooking rugs since 1983 and has won numerous awards for her work.  She is a certified McGown teacher and holds classes in her home studio and throughout the area.  Of the many creative endeavors she has explored, rug hooking is both the most challenging and the most rewarding. For her, there is nothing to compare with the satisfaction of bringing together all the elements of a finished piece: making a pattern, finding just the right colors to bring it alive, dyeing the wool and finally hooking and finishing a rug that is utterly unique.

What advice do you have for folks who are interested in rug hooking?
"Advice to new hookers: Find a teacher in your area. I have taken classes with over 45 teachers. I learn something new from each one! The McGown website has a list of certified teachers. The ATHA website has a list of guilds near you."

Here is some of Cindy's work... 

"Several years ago, I started making purses embellished with semi-precious gemstones."

"This is a wall hanging I made for my mother…she loves roosters."

 

"This rug is a tribute to my father. It is his first grade picture. You can read more about it on my website."

"My students have wanted to hook fairies for a long time.  We have been working on them in class.  Here is my fairy.  I used my granddaughter as a model.  I think it looks like her!"

"Several years ago, I met the artist Lisa Arkus at an art show.  Her work translates beautifully to rug hooking.  Here are two rugs based on her work."

"My current project is my version of Gustav Klimt’s 'The Virgin'. I am using lots of pearl embellishments."

Wow, so detailed and truly gorgeous! Are you hooked on Cindy's rug hooking? You can see more of her work on Facebook and on her website.

Fiber Arts Friday: Knitting with Sivia Harding

The first Friday of every month is Fiber Arts Friday! Join me as we expand our horizons beyond crochet to focus on other interesting fiber and needle arts. Enjoy the beautiful projects and learn something new along the way. Today we are going to focus on crochet's sister craft, knitting. Knitting "creates multiple loops of yarn, called stitches, in a line (called a row) or circle (called a round). The knitter adds a new stitch to the row/round by pulling a loop of yarn through a loop from the prior row, securing the new stitch, and releasing the stitch from the prior row." The special guest who is here to share her knitting with us is Sivia Harding. CJ, a friend in my fiber group, frequently does test knits for Sivia and I'm always impressed with the designs. I'm so excited to have her here today to introduce us to her work and the craft.

About Sivia
I live in Portland, OR, where I have lived since 2009. Before that, I lived in Vancouver, Canada, where I started my career. I design and teach knitting for a living. I am known most for my work with beaded knits, although I enjoy designing and ever-expanding list of things: lace, cowls, Moebius garments, sweaters, knitted jewelry, and accessories.

I have worked with fiber and art since I could remember. A few notable fiber events from my youth were having fiber pieces shown in the High Museum of Atlanta's gift shop when I was 14, and being chosen to attend the prestigious Governor's Honors summer program in fiber art when I was 16. By adulthood, I was a weaver, spinner, and dabbler in dyeing and other modalities, but only learned how to knit in my mid-forties. Almost immediately I began to design my own lace patterns. Now I am a knitwear designer known mainly for my work with beads and lace. I also design accessories and garments, as well as specializing in Moebius knitting. I love teaching because of the cross-pollination of ideas and enthusiasm that happens in a class setting. I am a warm and open instructor and often feel that I get the better part of the bargain since I learn so much from my students. My design work has been widely published under my own name, in many books and other collections including Jared Flood's Wool People series, and in online magazines such as Twist Collective and Knitty.

How long have you been knitting? How did you get started? 
I learned how to knit in 2000, after having done every other conceivable fiber craft... just not knitting. I learned how to crochet as a small child, then proceeded to weaving, spinning and dyeing, along with some rug hooking, knotting, etc, etc. I started in desperation, having just moved to a new place without any of my art/crafting equipment. I wanted something portable and easy (ha!). It was instant love and once I started designing, instant obsession.

What advice do you have for folks who are interested in knitting?
Go to your local yarn store!! You'll find knowledgeable, warm, wonderful folks who are just waiting to help you get started. Also, there are tons of wonderful YouTube videos available 24/7. Go for it!

Here is some of Sivia's work... 

Harmonia's Rings Moebius cowl in progress. This garment begins as a Moebius and ends in the round.

Harmonia's Rings Moebius Cowl, a cowl that incorporates Moebius with cape-like shoulder shaping.

 Flutter Front Cardigan swatch, combining the front lace panel and the cable yoke motif.

Flutter Front Cardigan, a fall away sweater with overlapping lace panels and swing shaping. The sweater has many unusual features, including the bias shaping of the back, round yoke cable motif, and a cabled gusset at center back.

Jo's Pride lace shawl in progress, testing the bottom-up lace motif and the shaping that will occur in the shawl body.

Jo's Pride Hooded Shawl, a beaded lace hoodie with many interesting shaping details.

Simply lovely! Very creative work. You can check out more of Sivia's work and connect with her on her website, Ravelry, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knits with us today, Sivia!

Fiber Arts Friday: Embroidery with Melissa Griffiths

The first Friday of every month is Fiber Arts Friday! Join me as we expand our horizons beyond crochet to focus on other interesting fiber and needle arts. Enjoy the beautiful projects and learn something new along the way. Last month we looked at a specific type of embroidery called cross-stitch. Today we're going to take a look at some freehand embroidery. "Embroidery is the handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins."

My friend Melissa is intelligent, vivacious, and multi-talented. She is a journalist, and she recently won a GLAAD Media Award! She's here today to chat with us about her unique embroidery projects.

About Melissa

I've lived on the west coast my whole life, with a northward trend — Juneau, Alaska, has been home for the past 7 1/2 years and for the foreseeable future. 

I'm a journalist with a penchant for feature stories (I've written at least four feel-good stories about dogs in the last year, maybe more) and sharing personal tidbits (I wrote about my elopement and fielded congratulations from relative strangers for at least a month or so after). 

Also, I'm married — we eloped, as I mentioned — and I have a small dog named Beau. 

My interests, at least of late, include decorating our apartment in offensively bright colors, game nights, drawing and, of course, embroidery. 

How long have you been embroidering? How did you get started?
My first embroidery project was a square for a quilt for newly married friends. I wasn't ready to relive the sorority days and use puffy paint (Sara and I were in a sorority together at our alma mater Willamette University), so I decided I would embroider. I practiced very little before diving into the final project and looking back it's pretty amateurish, but it got me into the craft, so I won't look on it with too critical an eye.

For me, embroidery is painting with thread. I don't follow any patterns and I alternate between brightly colored, flat, stylized renderings and painterly portraits. I hand draw on the fabric with pencil and refine the drawing when I stitch (backstitch) the outline. Then, using different stitches (satin, long-short, mostly) I fill in the outline with color and create textures.

What advice do you have for folks who are interested in embroidery?
For those interested in taking up embroidery, I recommend it! It's a really inexpensive hobby (here in Juneau, embroidery floss costs less than 50¢ a skein, or you can buy the economy packs like I have, which inspired the bright, unnatural colors) and it keeps your hands busy while you drink mimosas with friends at craft brunches — you have craft brunches, right? There are tons of free patterns for people who prefer a structured approach, but each piece of fabric in the hoop is a blank canvas to create an amazing work of art for the free spirits of the craft world.

Here is some of Melissa's work... 

You can keep up with my illustrations and embroideries at melissaleeanne.com or that plus a bunch of other stuff by following my instagram (@melissaleeanne). I take commissions as I have time. Email at melissa@melissaleeanne.com. Stitch on, babes.

If you'd like more information about embroidery, take a look at the website for The Embroiderer's Guild of America. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful art with us today, Melissa! To all of you DGs out there... LITB ;)

Fiber Arts Friday: Cross-Stitch with Brenda Black

The first Friday of every month is Fiber Arts Friday! Join me as we expand our horizons beyond crochet to focus on other interesting fiber and needle arts. Enjoy the beautiful projects and learn something new along the way. Today's featured needle art is cross-stitch. "Cross-stitch is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches in a tiled, raster-like pattern are used to form a picture."

Brenda Black is a wonderful person and a good friend of mine. I was lucky enough to meet her in my Sunday fiber group, the Rainy Sunday Knitters. Brenda is talented in many different ways, but the craft I've seen her practice most often is cross-stitch. Her work is amazing and I'm pleased as punch to have her here with us today to share her cross-stitching.

About Brenda
I grew up by Sea-Tac airport, have 4 siblings and 7 nieces and nephews. I teach high school and am an Athletic Trainer. That means I work the athletes after school, helping them with their injuries.

How long have you been cross stitching? How did you get started?
24 years. I'd been doing needlepoint and became an aunt.  There weren't many needlepoint baby projects, so I started cross-stitching for baby gifts for the nieces and nephews.

What advice do you have for folks who are interested in cross-stitch?
I was able to teach myself, but I wish the Internet would have been around as a resource. The main thing is to start simple and keep trying.

Here is some of Brenda's work...

If you're interested in cross-stitch you can find kits and supplies in most large craft stores. You can even make up your own designs using graph paper or digital tools. For more information on cross-stitch, visit the National Needle Arts Association website. Thank you for sharing your projects with us today, Brenda!