Art Yarns, Necklace, & Wet Felting Projects

It has been a very busy week here at DecidedlyDifferentDesigns !

I have washed 3 fleeces, dyed locks, roving and fleece and spun quite a bit of art yarn this week. AND, then yesterday I got an idea for a rug, so I started that too! I love being busy!

This is some of the yarn I spun this week. It is all core spun and plied. All hand dyed wool. Lots of locks! I love locks and I think that lock spun will be my signature art yarn, because I fell in love with it on the first skein.

Here is a bulky yarn of Mohair Angora and wool, spun separately and then plied together. At first I didn't think I would like the dark grays and blacks of the Mohair, but combining it with natural white wool really looks very nice, don't you think?

I had a small length of this yarn left after spinning, so I have decided to wear it as a necklace! It has beautiful light shades of pink and green, and it is lock spun. I love it and I will be wearing it out to dinner tonight. 

The blue circles in the background are part of the rug that I am making. I am needle felting this rug. More photos on this fun project next time. 

I also have an idea for a large wall hanging, so I am going to work on the prototype this afternoon. I have it on a piece of black plastic, with a towel on top of the plastic, and then bubble wrap. Finally I will cover it with Tulle and it will be ready for wet felting! 

Yes, I always have 3 or 4 projects going on at the same time! I call it creative chaos! 

Have a fantastic creative day!

Dyeing Lock Spun Yarn on the Stove with Food Coloring

I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend! 

Last night I lock spun two huge skeins of a super soft, white Leicester cross wool, and this morning I hand painted them in gorgeous colors of purple, blues and greens. I love dyeing! 

 One skein has been pre-wet and is soaking in a vinegar bath. I will leave it to soak for about a half hour or so. I will then remove it and gently squeeze out the water. Then I will lay it out in a large cooking pot on the stove.

 This skein is huge with over 100 yards of wild, crazy lock spun yarn! I love the little curly tendrils sticking out everywhere and they are super soft!

Here it is i the dye pot on the stove. I add enough water to barely cover the yarn, and get it hot, but not boiling. Then I add my dyes, and let it 'cook' for about a half an hour or so. It is done when the water is clear. That means all of the dye has been absorbed into the yarn. I used a green and Cornflower blue, and one of my deep, dark blue custom blends. Gorgeous!

Right out of the dye pot! Awesome color combination! I am always amazed at the color shades and how they blended together to create more colors! 

I very carefully tip the pan with the dyed yarn into the sink and let it cool a little before rinsing it in cool water which removes any excess dye. The yarn in the photo is wet. The colors will darken some as the yarn dries. Now I will hang it out in the sunshine to dry! 

Remember, it is wool and will felt, so please be gentle when handling it, and no wringing or twisting. 

My second dyed yarn is ready so must go. Have some fun with colors!

Fiber art 'The Journey' by fiber artist, Paula Greene-Bowron

Another week has come and gone so quickly! Here it is Friday already! I have been creating this week trying out some new ideas with different types of mediums. I have graduated quite a while ago from using acrylic yarns to making my own art yarns from the raw wool fleece, to dyeing to spinning! I especially enjoy wet felting, but dyeing is my favorite. I have been having so much fun experimenting with different colors and I have had some real funky colors, but they are definitely different.

This morning I am soaking a raw, Angora Mohair fleece, making fabric beads and flowers and I think I will do some dyeing and felting this afternoon. And of course, spinning art yarn tonight while I watch a movie with my hubby.

I am presently working on two new fiber art pieces. They will be wall hangings on canvas.

I will be adding this piece called 'The Journey' to contests and juried shows this year. It was inspired by the never ending, wonderful, fabrics, jewelry pieces & wool bits that would have ended up in the bin. It is my journey from the time when I was 4 years old and my mother placed a crochet hook and some yarn in my hands, and taught me to make granny squares, to today, where I am always finding new things to learn and expand my knowledge and to teach others. It is my passion. I live my passion. I am blessed.

'The Journey'
a mixed media work in fibers and metal on canvas by fiber artist, Paula Greene-Bowron.
16" x 24" - $450.00

This piece includes gorgeous pieces of silk, cottons, wool, art yarn, hand dyed wool and wool locks from hand processed fleeces, knit, hand felted sweater bits, designer tag, metal pieces from vintage/retro jewelry, confetti fabric and more. With decorative stitching. Vibrant colors.