Hi hi, I won't be updating this space any longer...my new blog is up and running so come and check it out!

Thanks so all of those who have continued to visit, I hope you'll come to my new place

xo

It's been a while

I do apologize but summer has gotten the best of me. I have been busy working, doing some traveling around BC and creating a few new goodies for my new shop called Dreamy Isabel. I mentioned a new blog, and that is coming, under the same name as my shop.

So lots going on. I feel sort of bad about not updating this space but I will get back to it over at the new blog which is in progress.

In the meantime, thanks for the continued visits! :) I so do appreciate all of you.

xo

Hello readers, I have been working on some new stuff, knitting, sewing, drawing and planning but nothing to show yet. I am also going to develop a website under a new name so look for that coming soon.

Anyway, I've been surfing etsy and here are some more of my favs right now, hope you enjoy!

Vintage Fabulous

Pickled Pepper Patch

13 Bees

Beggar Sand Choosers (these are measuring cups, too cute)

Thanks for visiting dear readers...I'm off to start my day.

xo

Thrum Yarn!

Thrums are awesome! We use this term in textile arts to describe the leftover thread/yarn from a project. The stuff we cut off and most people throw away, except we keep it and incorporate it into other work. One of my textile art instructors, Eleanor Hannan, had her spun into yarn (spinning done by Lisa, a classmate of mine). So cool! Imagine knitting with this? Glorious. And this is the ultimate in reusing, nothing goes to waste, the way it should be.

I'm guest blogging over at Vancouver yarn, so please check out my first post about Eleanor's show at the Crafthouse on Granville Island.

xo

Some of my favourite things

I've been so addicted to Etsy lately...such pretty things right now and lots of very affordable goodies...here are a few of my current favs:

Dress from Ouma

Organza brooches from SegParker

Pretty pendant from CrumpetCake

Vintage dress from PlanetClaireVintage

As you can probably tell I'm in a total girly kind of mood these days.

xo

PS I'm guest blogging in the next week or so over at Vancouver Yarn. Come check it out!

eeeep, wow it's been a while. My apologies. I have been busy like everyone else, lost track of the days. I have been enjoying summer here in Vancouver...lots of beachy times. And oh the ocean! I can't get enough of it.

I ordered this recently from this wonderful shop. My friend Janna has a lovely pearly collar too and I loved it so that when I found this one on etsy, I just couldn't resist.

I have more to post, and promise to do it soon. Until then, smooches dear readers.

xo

I'm really excited that all the seasonal produce that is starting to make an appearance at neighbourhood markets, very cool! I am getting a good dose of asparagus at the moment...mmm love it! I also made some mung bean and baby dill pancakes with a little mustard vinaigrette.

I'm getting ready for my next move...moving ugh. I can't wait until it's over with so I can get started on making some stuff...woven goodies and such.

xo

This week is going by super fassssst! I think because this last weekend was the Victoria day long weekend, so it was a short one. I can't really believe how quickly this month is passing by. I move again June 1st, that's why I'm really noticing because 0% of my packing has been done...that will change this weekend though. The super plan is to pack AND weave, maybe in that order. I've been slacking off the weaving and I don't like it. I have been knitting a lot so I haven't been totally doing nothing but I need to get back on the weaving path.

Speaking of weaving, this Saturday a team of us from Cap U will be participating in the Sheep to Shawl event over at the Surrey Museum. If you are in the area, please pop in. We basically have to make a shawl in about 4 hours, that includes hand spinning all the yarn and weaving (some carding in there too). Should be good times.

I'm just getting over a crazy cold where I had a fever for about 3 days straight! I'm finally feeling human again.

Other things on my mind these days: yoga and yogic philosophy, summer, organic fabrics, boleros (again), arm and leg warmers for when the day begin and ends, the perfection of indigo dye, hand spun merino, knit knit knit and visiting family and friends sooooon.

There is a Mosaic park very close to my current place that I like to visit. It's pretty to be able to walk along the Mosaic path and to know that the community came together to create such a beautiful space.

be well

xo

I've been knitting up a storm with this super soft hand spun, hand dyed merino wool...I love knitting it with huge needles. Here a couple of new goodies in the shop.

Remember when I used to take pics of my shoes everywhere? Ahhh good times. I stopped doing it mostly because my cell phone camera messed up and I couldn't upload. The whole point of the series was to take a candid shot and post right away...I think this project is something I'm going to return to but with my camera instead of the mobile phone one...hmm

I ended up scoring on some great fabric scraps so I've been making these little guys...hand embroidery and such. It's just a little series of magnets/pins that I'm making for myself, it's of all the stuff I like. I came up with a great big list to try to think about good stuff instead of all the depressing junk that's stuck in my head. Anyway they are cute and I'm going to continue making them.

xo

Just a quick little post to say hello on this Saturday morning *hello* It's over cast today here in Vancouver but warm...lots going on in the city. Got Craft is tomorrow, the Emily Carr grad show all weekend and Make it in Yaletown...lots to see, not sure if I'm going to all but I do plan on checking out some.

I'm also hoping to go for a nice walk today along the shoreline, breathe in some fresh air and meditate a little (cause that's just the type of girl I am). So hope you have a lovely Saturday as well.

Another pic above as springtime colour inspiration.

xo

I took a long walk around my hood yesterday to take pictures of all the stuff that's blooming...stuff has been blooming here for a little while now (especially all the cherry blossoms) but I hadn't had a chance to take some pics.

This first one cracks me up...rough neighbourhood

Lots of these cherry blossom tree lined streets around here, it's really pretty to walk through. I can't wait until all the flower petals start falling, it's going to look amazing.

Because I'm off this week (I start my summer job next week), I've just been relaxing, trying to organize my place for another move (yes another one, in June) and clean up from the end of term craziness. I've also been reading, warpped up my mom's bday present although I'm struggling a bit with some tension issues...it'll come, and sitting by the water watching boats go by--> this last one is one of my favourite things to do.

I'm really inspired by Vancouver's natural beauty although I have decided that I probably won't stay living here after the program...it's just not the place for me. I'm glad I came here, I attend one of the best textile arts programs--one that still teaches weaving and not just surface design.

I think I was at a time in my life where I did need to live somewhere else--it was sort of on my 'to do' list but being far from my family and friends is really difficult even though I've made some good friends here. I sort of end up feeling alone a lot of the time, even though I'm not really.

Anyway, one last thing, I'm also trying to get organized so that I can stock up my esty shop with more textile goodies and not just cowls and scarves...I have some embroidery I'm working on and also hope to weave some stuff to put in there as well.

Be well.

xo

Shibori

I don't think I posted about my past shibori project (Japanese dyeing technique involving resists)...this was my final project. I really struggled with this one because to be honest, I don't like shibori so much. I can respect it's history and how people spend their lifetimes mastering the different techniques of shibori but I just searched for a look that I really liked...so I settled on pole wrapping which is essentially wrapping the fabric around a pole (I used a tube with a large diameter) using string and scrunching the whole thing up so that areas are resisted. You can dip dye the whole thing (and I do have samples of this) but I used thickened MX and directly applied it with a brush to the areas I wanted. The cotton jersey was dyed beforehand in mineral vat dyes. I then made this bolero wrap out of it. I actually like the design of the wrap and hope to make more.

Although I probably won't use shibori in the future, in retrospect, it was fun learning about it and pretty amazing what people do (like the wrapping of little rice kernels, hundreds wrapped individually to create a sort of small circle).

Good times.

xo

A Couple More Projects

Meet my nephew...he inspired this reverse applique...I hand dyed all the fabrics in different depths of shades.

This next project was a group collaboration inspired by the artist Christo and Jean Claude. Our group wrapped a balcony on campus with fabric...I think it looks quite elegant. It stayed up for a week, then we "unveiled" the balcony and it was reborn!

I'm working away on my portfolio at the moment so I'm off to finish that. Happy Friday!

xo

Sunny Tuesday

It's so nice and warm (and sunny) here in Vancouver...I went for a nice run this morning.

Here is some more of my work as promised:

The above picture is of yardage that I made. The project was for 3 yards of repeat pattern with 3 different layering effects. I hand dyed the fabric this cool grey and then printed a flower motif in the gray scale. I then hand dyed a warm grey and printed more flowers that I then free motion appliqued onto the fabric. It's sort of hard to see in this picture but I liked the way it looked draped. I'm not quite ready to cut up this fabric but when I am I see a nice skirt in my future :)

This was one of my weaving projects (actually these 3 pictures are). I created a series of 3 scarflettes. These are hand dyed soy/cotton and organic cotton. I then wove them into different patters. They are also lined with hand dyed linen/rayon.

I have more to post but I think this is good for now. Thanks for visiting, hope it's sunny and warm where you are :)

xo

First Year Textile Arts Finished!

Yup, first year is all done...I had my last class yesterday. It does feel good but mostly I'm just tired and feeling like I'm coming down with a cold. I think I've neglected my body over the last couple of months because of school so I'm excited about getting back to my routine of running and such.

I have lots of pictures to post but I'll leave you with one for now. This is of my final weaving project. It's made out of 100% soy silk that I hand spun, hand dyed and wove. Soy silk is really dreamy, it's a bit hard to work with but it's really beautiful.

Ok, time for tea.

Eeeep it's been so long since I updated this little space...I have a good excuse, this is my last week of school and I have 3 big projects due and last week I had final exams...anyway it's been busy and I haven't had much time to do anything other then school work. With that being said, I do have quite a bit of new work to post in this space but that will have to wait.

In the meantime, I have been dreaming about tapestry...I need to do more tapestry and I think that's what I will be working on this summer along with some new goodies for my new etsy shop. Last night I dreamt of studying at West Dean or Aubusson after I finish at CapU but I don't know...that would be so cool.

I'll leave you with this lovely tapestry, The Hunt of The Unicorn--one of the most famous tapestries. Love.

you need buttons?

Most people in Vancouver are quite familiar with Dressew...and their aisles of buttons, zippers and other notions...that place pretty much rocks!

I went there looking for buttons for a weaving project I finished (which I will post pics of soon). The hardest part is deciding--I look confused (cause I am).

I'm sitting at a local cafe right now, having a really great cup of coffee and people watching (and blogging of course).

Happy Sunday!

xo

PS thanks bella for the pictures :)

some new goodies and a llama

I had a lot of fun at the fiber west show in Abbottsford...I ended up getting some fleece to spin (soy, organic cotton and pima cotton) but also picked up some already spun organic cotton, bamboo and soy silk. The bamboo and soy silk I plan on using for my warp in an upcoming weaving project.

I also hand dyed some more yummy organic cotton and knit up some scarflettes...these are perfect for spring and summer...they are so soft and nice and bright.

And finally my llama friend that I made at Fiber West, isn't he sweet? He's super soft too.

Off to write another art history paper...happy Tuesday dear readers.

xo

New Shop Is Open!

Happy Saturday dear readers, So I just returned from Fibre West out in Abbottsford, it was really great. I attended a talk by Ruth Jones who is a kick ass tapestry artist, and making a living at it which is amazing. I have some pictures but haven't uploaded them off my camera yet...they had two llamas there, they were SO cute!

I also wanted to announce that my new etsy shop is now stocked and open for business...I do plan on adding more over the next few weeks.

It's sunny here in Van-city so I'm out roaming.

xo