www.silverwheelyarn.com

~
~
~
Things have been absolutely crazy around here. Certainly a lot to be thankful for and plenty to be hopeful for. I'll start at the beginning.

Starting off. I want to welcome all the new fans from the Herald Leader to the website. A few weeks ago I wrote an essay about my values and was honored to have it published in today's newspaper. I'm kind of shy (which is a rare thing) since this whole thing is a little overwhelming for me. I'm not big on attention, but this was an important subject and it was easy to write since it was all from the heart. For all you un-local friends, you can find my essay here.

We have for a long time been thinking of finding our own house, one with a little land where we could call home for a long time. Well, we just may have found that place in Pulaski Co. We are smack-dab in the middle of the whole home buying nightmare and quickly approaching the dreaded appraisal. There isn't a whole lot of homes out there, which translates into not a whole lot of homes that have been sold to compare this one too. Thus, I'm scared to death, and will take any happy thoughts/prayers that anyone will pass my way. However, I do have faith that we will end up where we need to be when the time is right. I just have such lovely visions of fiber animals frolicking over rolling hills while we weave in our new studio. *sigh*

Last week we happily received our acceptance letter from the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen. We are very honored, especially since we were accepted for both our weaving and my spinning. We look forward to all they have to offer us and we have to offer them.

Just a quick last note. We have our eye on loom number 4 right now. (I know! We're crazy! Looking at looms while we try to buy a house!) Can't believe how these things get me to voluntarily surrender my home, money, and time, but there all just so wonderful and 60" means I could start making actual bolts of hand woven material just like I've always wanted. EEEEEE! It makes me gitty!

Hang in there, friends, spring is coming. Be good and be careful.
~
~
~

I would like to present our first free pattern, The Four Pettled Flour, just in time for those special holiday projects. This is a draft for a WAL (weave-a-long) for Weavalution, but I wanted to offer it to all our fans. It is a 4-shaft draft and is 36 picks which should be a fun challenge to most.

For the sample, we used a green cotton warp with a white cotton weft. Over the next week, I will be making a table runner with the pattern for the WAL with red and white weft and a doubled green warp. Just enough Christmas colors to make you puke. I might even top it off with silver bells!

The pattern was created by my very talented partner and husband, CJ Bloomer, to be used by anyone in any medium as long as it is not for profit. All we ask is that if you use it, include a link to the draft and make sure people know it was made by CJ Bloomer of Silver Wheel Yarn. Then leave a comment here so others can see your finish project and hear what you think.

Yes, we know the name is weird, my husband has a funny since of humor.
Enjoy!



-------------------------------

According to a blogging friend October is Self-promotion month. This sounded like a good idea to me, so I think I will help everyone to get to know me, Traci, personally.


1. Who are you?
That's a deep question that I'm sure I'll spend the rest of my life trying to answer. However, I'll do my best with what I know now.
Professionally I'm a designer of fibers, but I'm also a keeper (and passer) of ancient knowledge. I like to call it "experimental archeology."

2. What is your artistic passion?
I hand select all our materials, allowing me to create one-of-a-kind works. Each piece has been designed to bring out the natural aspects of the fibers and highlight what makes something beautiful. It isn't just the whole item that is beautiful, every single fiber is beautiful. That is why my hand weaving is unique. I don't just have pretty yarn that makes something pretty. I will always take that extra step; pick that perfect skein; or learn that new skill, that will make the work breath-taking beautiful.

3. Why did you get into art?
I wasn't born into it, nor have I been doing it "as long as I can remember" like some will claim. I am self taught. As a teen, my hobby was collecting random skills, many which still serve me today. Fiber was one of those skills that I took to like a fish to water. "One day I woke up and knew how to knit. The next, I woke up and knew how to spin. The next, I wove. Now it's my heart's song and I wouldn't know what to do if it was no longer my life."

4. How do you inspire yourself?
I am a prodigal daughter of the Appalachian Mountains. That quest to "come home" and find my lost heritage is my inspiration. The characteristics of natural fibers and how my technique and skills can display them; that inspires me.

5. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years.
In five years I want to be supporting my family with my craft, have shows in the US and abroad, and be THE premiere weaver in Kentucky.

.................