A Woman's Life In Color

Oh My!

2011-09-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Rather than relate the excuses of not posting since spring..... the list is long. I will tell you all the things that are coming up this fall.

Sept 10th Festival of Colors in Wilmington NY 10-5pm
Sept 17th and 18th Adirondack Musuem with workshop on the 18th.
Sept 24 & 25th Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival
Oct 28th -30th Adirondack Rug Hooking Retreat, Whiteface Chalet hosts.
Nov12th-20th Green Mountain Rug Hooking Show

Visit Libertyfibers.com for updates and new projects.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Hooking Away

2011-03-01T15:53:00.000-08:00

It is already March! Where did the time go? I know I have spent a lot of time over the past two months rug hooking. I have been working on some new designs and teaching at the Arts Center in Plattsburgh.

I just finished this bird in a heart with a hit or miss background. I used some left over wool from the lastest Tom Geoghan rug that I completed. Tom's palette is very bright which I like but don't ususally go to first when picking colors for a project. I like that I had this wool right at hand and went with it. I didn't over think the colors or go to my comfort zone.

Bird in Heart

I have started a second bird in heart with some wool that I was using to demonstrate with in the rug hooking class. I will add to blog shortly. This is a small project just 8x11'' and hooks up quickly.

It can be finished for a small wall hanging, a hot mat or table mat or made into a small pillow. I am not sure how I will finish. Maybe a wall hanging. My sewing machine is in need of repair, so a pillow is out of the question at the moment. It doesn't stop when I release the gas! Time for a trip to the repair shop.

If you would like to hook this project, just email at libertyfibers@aol.com and I can make up the canvas or a kit for you. Happy Hooking!

Jude

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

A New Sock Knitter - Are You Next?

2011-02-16T04:26:00.000-08:00

I have talked about socks several times in this blog. I learned to knit to make socks. I learned to spin to make my own handspun handknit socks. I am always excited to teach a sock knitting class and even more excited when a student makes more than one pair.

The picture above is of not the first pair Kim knit, but the second and third pairs! Kim not only knit three pairs of socks but has adapted the pattern to make special socks for her family. The off-white pair is for her mother. They needed to be shorter and looser around the ankle. Kim has reinforced the heel on the brown pair on the needles by holding a second strand of contrasting yarn with the main color yarn.

It is very exciting for me not only as a knitter but as a teacher when a student likes making socks as much as I do! Kim told me her husband couldn't wait to wear the first pair she knit. He was already wearing them as soon as they came off the needles. Her husband missed the socks his Canadian grandmother knit for Christmas gifts every year.

It seems that knitting can bring us full circle. For those who were given handknit gifts by grandmothers and aunts and mothers, we can now give to the next generation. Yes! Knitting is not a lost art! And socks rock!

Visit the Liberty Fibers website for a complete list of classes.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Owls - In Style Again

2011-02-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that the owl is back in style? If you weren't around in the 70's I can tell you that owls were everywhere. Jewelry, fabrics, figures of owls, owls were big in the 1970's and they're back!

Owl Pillow Top

I am feeling nostalgic about the come back of the owl. My cousin Karen had an owl collection. I remember visiting her condo several years ago and there were owls everywhere. Karen's collection is back in style. I will have to see if she still has this collection and is she adding new owls.

In my travels I have picked up a few owls too. I found a nice carved owl at my thrift store and for Christmas I received an owl necklace.

With the renewed owl imagery and my nostalgic memory on dial back - I wanted to make a hooked owl. I began sketching a few months ago and working on an image.

Next came the wool to hook the owl. I have been experimenting with ways to build up color for the hand dyed wools that I create. I used just three pieces of hand dyed wool to hook the owl. The two pieces on the top of the right picture were originally one piece. The two pieces from the left picture were from the same dye pot and the lightest piece cam from the dye pot of the right top wools. I like to be able to use one piece of wool many ways and this process lets me do this.

I have lots of wools in my studio available for your next project. Give me a call to set up an appointment. 518-524-9860 - 1.5 hours from Burlington VT, 2 hours from Lake George NY, 45 minutes from Plattsburgh NY.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

A New Tom Geoghan Hooked Rug

2011-01-24T09:26:00.000-08:00

A New Tom Geoghan Design in Rug Hooking

I started this entry with Snow Snow Snow - but now just a day later I have to amend that to Cold Cold Cold. Upstate New York is in a deep freeze .

Original Painting by Tom Geoghan

What have I been doing since the start of the new year? Rug hooking has been a large part of my focus recently. In my last post, I shared a hooked rug based on the artwork of Adirondack painter, Tom Geoghan. I have now completed a second rug. This rug features peacocks.

In the past year I have become more interested in peococks. There is a local garden center that has four or five in an enclosed area. I did not realize peacocks can also be white. The group of peacocks at the garden center are very interesting. They started with two white ones and now the flock has a muddy white, a turquoise, and a few other mutations of white and turquoise. It is totally fascinating to see the colors. This is why I chose Tom's peacock painting to hook next.

I started by dyeing the wool for the project. This was fun. The color palatte for this rug is bright. I especially like the pink in the feather band at the top. It is hot!

All of the wool for this project was hand dyed. I especially love the pink in the feather band around the top peocock. It is sooo hot!

Recreating a painting or any other medium to rug hooking has challenges. The first challenge is to have the artists permission. Please do not copy another artists work without permission. Not cool!

The second challenge was to hook a rug that resembles Tom's painting and shows well in rug hooking. I had to make some adjustments. In the mid-section of grass around the bottom peacock, I initially hooked this horizontally but decided it would look much better hooked vertically continuing down from the flowers. I think the vertical flow of the grass works well,enhancing the rug hooking design and representing Tom's painting too.

I will be adding rug hooking canvases to my online shop. If you are interested in hooking either of the designs I have completed, please contact me for the pattern.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

New Adventures - It's A New Year!

2011-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

Heron painting by
Tom Geoghan
Copyright

Is it really 2011? Where did the time go? I know since leaving my job at the radio station I have been getting to do a lot of the things that I could only day dream about before. As I sat in the basement office with a small window that gave me a hint of the sun, rain, or snow that was the weather of the day, I dreamed of colors to dye, rugs to hook, fiber to spin and definitely lots of things to knit.

Now several months later I am pleased that I have completed some of the things that I was dreaming of for so long. The gallery on the Liberty Fibers website represents some of the work that has been completed so far.

The most recently completed project is a hooked rug. The rug is from a painting by Tom Geoghan. Several years ago I began purchasing prints of Tom's work at a local gallery. When I was hosting Artists in the Blueline, a weekly radio show featuring artists in the Adirondack region, I interviewed Tom.

Interviewing Tom was a highpoint. I had always wanted to know the stories behind his work. He paints Adirondack scenes, wildlife, and the people and places of his travels. Since our first meeting Tom and I have been collaborating on a few projects. Currently I am adapting some of his paintings on rug hooking canvases. It has been rewarding to see the painting come to life on the rug hooking canvas.

Tom and I also work jointly on "Art Aid Project." This project directly benefits the American Red Cross Chapter in upstate New York through the proceeds of the sale of Tom's prints. If you now of an organization that would like to host a display of Tom's work, please contact me at HERE

Please check back to see more of Tom's paintings represented in rug hooking. It's 2011 - I am making a list to make sure I get those colors, rugs, and more out of my mind!

Jude

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Peter's Life in Retirement

2010-12-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

A Cat's Life

Peter is still involved in the business

If you visited Liberty Fibers when the shop was located in the small northern town of Madrid, New York you probably met Peter. Peter my very large black and white cat has a lot of personality and was always ready to greet shop customers.

I have never had a cat like Peter before and I am embarrassed to admit that when my daughter picked him out at the local human society I really wanted the calico kitten in the next cage. Peter was all legs and he was a male. We already had a female and I wanted another one to be compatible. I caved and home came Peter.

From his first few days with us, Peter won all of our hearts. There was something about him. He quickly became a part of the family and entertained us. We lost him one day in the house. We couldn't find him anywhere and by the time my husband came home I was distraught. We searched again to find him hidden in a remote place in a attic closet. Relief.

Peter and Hannah

Peter had an appetite that wouldn't stop either. He grew so quickly - we could see the daily growth spurts.

Peter still loves to eat but now we try to limit him. Sometimes this is difficult as the dog sneaks Peters food. Who ate the food? Peter or the dog - so he gets just a little more!

catfood thief

Here is Joey the catfood thief. We are trying to control her food too. I see a theme here as I am trying to control my own diet.

I still meet up with knitters who got to know Peter and ask about him. He is well and living the good life in the ADKS. He gets along with everyone and even tollerates the new boy in the house Bob. I give him credit - Bob is a handful.

Best and Happy Holidays

Jude
Liberty Fibers

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Was Your Black Friday Stress Free?

2010-12-03T05:18:00.000-08:00

Handspun Yarn for a Shrug

I am knitting away! Knitting, knitting and more knitting to make some holiday gifts. Lets see - so far six small toddler hats, an adult hat, and now a shrug is on the needles for my daugher Hannah.

Coffe Mug from Brandon VT Artist Guild

Did you shop on black friday? My husband and I headed out for a casual shopping exerience. That entailed heading over to Vermont to the Brandon Artist's Guild to purchase a coffee mug to replace a broken mug. Then we headed over to Bristol to a shop that makes beeswax candles from vintage molds. They had a nice selection of Christmas candles. (Honeylite Candles)

Then - drum roll - Best Buy in the Burlington area. By then it was close to 4pm and the doorbuster deals were over. It was competitive to find a parking spot but once inside it was pretty calm and there were lots of staff on hand to answer questions.

We had decided that our Christmas present would be a new tv. No more big bulky tv, now we have a sleek flat screen tv. The store also says it will use 30% less energy than older tvs. I hope this is so and I see a lower electric bill.

New TV!

We completed our shopping experience a visit to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Essex Junction next to the Essex Junction Fair Grounds. So my black Friday was productive but not stressful. I hope you had a positive black Friday too, whether you headed out very early to get those great deals, shopped online, or stayed home!

If you are making gifts - keep knitting - you can do it!

Jude

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store.

Are You Overwhelmed Too?

2010-11-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

Adirondack Scene by Jude O'Toole

Ok, Thanksgiving is here! Why do I feel overwhelmed before black friday has even hit? I keep thinking of all the things I would like to knit for family and friends for the holidays. Umm, this list grows as I look through my stash of yarn. I have a nice selection of knitting magazines filled with projects that are within my scope of knitting.

Hats for a friend's son who loves green.

Today I bought a dry erase board. I wrote the things that I want to accomplish over the next few weeks. It is a small one - great buy for $3. I have taken classes and read a few books over they years on how to be successful both personally and professionally. Each presenter or author stated that writing goals down is important. I think it's the same as Weight Watchers and the 8 glasses of water that we are supposed to drink everyday.

My horoscope said recently that I must " focus like an expensive camera." I really liked that one. I get easily distracted. I went to the doctor recently and explained that I think I am attention deficit. She told me to drink more water.

Are you attention deficit? Do you make lists and write down your goals? The new year is coming soon and if you have some good advice for getting things done, I sure would like to know.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Adirondack Rug Hooking Retreat at the Whiteface Chalet

2010-11-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

Adirondack Rug Hooking Retreat 2010
Whiteface Chalet Wilmington NY

I have started to loose track of how many rug hooking classes that I have taught throughout the North Country. This had to be one of my all time favorites though. ( I am second from the right holding up a new Maud Lewis I started).

I feel confident to say that everyone who attended the Adirondack Rug Hooking Retreat this past weekend had a great time. The spacious Whiteface Chalet in Wilmington was inviting, comfortable, and provided excellent work space for our hooking needs.

Hookers - yes Hookers! Hookerpalooza, Happy Hookers, Hooking School - there are lots of great jokes that come with practicing the craft of rug hooking. We laughed a lot.

Everyone arrived safely by plane and car with good weather. We began our retreat fireside with appetizers and wine.

Saturday we headed for the classroom to start our class. I brought lots of wool and supplies for the retreat.

Dee's Snowman just needed a few loops to finish.

Dee brought a hooked piece that needed just a few loops finished and look its complete!

Here is Andrea - a multi-tasking hooker!

Looking for that perfect piece of wool! We had a great time getting to know each other and learning more about the craft of hooking. Everyone had a different subject matter to hook and shared their interest for their interest in hooking.

I had a wonderful time at the Whiteface Chalet. Rona provided us with yummy home cooked food. Her pizza was to "dye" for! That is a hooking joke.

If you weren't able to make this hooking retreat but would like to take part next time or learn to rug hook now, please email me at Libertyfibers@aol.com. Thank you again to Rona, John and Kelsey at the Whiteface Chalet and the ladies who traveled to attend.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

New Sock Knitting Patterns for Liberty Fibers

2010-11-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

It is amazing what can be accomplished when you work full-time for yourself. In March I left my "day job." My day job consisted of working in a basement with five men. No, I am not joking! Radio baby - it might seem glamorous but in most cases, small town radio is a few people working really hard seven days a week.

Previously, while working for a non-profit organization, I was told I had a "good voice." I knew that I could fool people into thinking that I was an answering machine when they called. My non-profit job was short term and in my quest for employment and a career I began working in radio.

I sold radio advertising - this involved selling the ads, writing the ads, voicing the ads, producing the ads and all from a basement with one small window to see a small portion of the sky. Have you ever worked in a basement with five men? If you are a guy its probably not a big deal. The lack of a real window and a fan in the bathroom really bothered me. The lack of making minimum wage really bothered me too. I sold a lot of advertising. I do have a few good stories from the experience.

Colorway DWAL

After leaving the radio station it was right to my studio. I am there and working everyday for me and ultimately for you. This summer I began offering a selection of 2010 colorways for Liberty Fibers. I have designed two patterns that will be offered shortly. These will be free patterns for you to use with your Liberty Fibers hand dyed yarns.

So working for myself - I am able to focus my attention and time to what I love - hand dyeing and fiber. I have many windows to look out. I can go for a walk. I can design new sock patterns. There is only one man to drive me crazy and that is Mr. O'Toole. Life is good.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

2010-10-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

Fiber Dreams Laura Patterson with Liberty Fibers

I am very pleased to share with you that Laura Patterson, of Fiber Dreams, has completed her most recent pattern with a Liberty Fibers fall colorway "Lemon Grass." The yarn is a fingering weight merino superwash.

"I loved working with it. The subtle coloration is beautiful, and the yarn itself was a dream to knit with -- it never split or misbehaved, no matter how many times I ripped it out and re-knit it. The green was just perfect for Anjou," Laura Patterson.

Fall 2010 Lemon Grass in Merino Superwash

Lemon Grass

Laura Patterson was taught as a child to knit by her Grandmother and has continued to knit throughout adulthood.

A few years ago she began designing knitting patterns with the encouragment of her husband. Laura was always making design changes to the patterns she knit so it was a natural progression to start designing her own patterns.

When you visit the Fiber Dreams site you see the not only the skill of Laura's deisgns but the creativity. I contacted Laura after reading one of her blog entries with a picture of a plant leaf that was inspiring her to create a knit design. I found her inspiration inspiring to create a colorway show the lines of leaf.

I spent spring and summer creating a fall collection. It was a challenge to myself to create colorways that were more tonal. When I began dyeing several years ago, I wanted to make stripes and pools of color in my colorway. Now, I want to see texture and stitches. Laura's new pattern "Anjou" does just that with Lemon Grass. Click here to purchase "Anjou" from Fiber Dreams. (Judy)

To shop for Lemon Grass and other colorways in the Liberty Fibers Fall 2010 Collection Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store.

Adirondack Rug Hooking Retreat November 5-7th

2010-10-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Adirondack Rug Hooking Retreat November 5-7th

Adirondack Scene in Rug Hooking

It's coming! The first Adirondack Rug Hooking retreat in Wilmington, New York. Over the summer many of you have asked if I taught rug hooking. I have taught several classes and multiple session rug hooking workshops throughout upstate New York since 2004. I am glad that so many people have shown interest in an old craft that has become a modern art form.

Hand Dyed Rug Hooking Wools

November 5-7th I will be holding a rug hooking retreat at the Whiteface Chalet in Wilmington.

This retreat will teach new rug hookers how to make a rug from start to finish. For more advanced students I will be available for consultation as needed. The Liberty Fibers rug hooking shop swill be on site for all kinds of materials and supplies. Relax at the Whiteface Chalet less than two miles from Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, New York.

The Chalet offers comfortable Adirondack themed rooms, spacious common areas, home cooked meals for your stay, and easy access to Lake Placid. There is also access to a BYO pub with refrigerator for your convenience. Here is a view from the Chalet.

Your weekend retreat includes -lodging for two nights, 5 meals plus snacks, and two days of rug hooking instruction along with access to the Liberty Fibers Rug Hooking Shop. The retreat is $239 based on double occupancy, and $338 for single occupancy. (tax not included)

Along with her role as Chalet manager, Rona Mansfield is a weaver, knitter, and rug hooker.

Learn the Craft of Rug Hooking.

For more information about the retreat contact myself, Judy O'Toole at libertyfibers@aol.com or to make a reservation for the retreat contact Rona Mansfield at 518-946-2207. Space is limited.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Fall is in the Air

2010-09-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

It was 90 degrees on Wednesday and now in the 60's on Saturday at the Saranac Lake Farmer's Market. Wow - I am really enjoying the breeze and the cooler weather! Socks, Sock, Socks! Cool nights and warm toes with lots of hand knit socks.

If you have checked in at the Liberty Fibers website - it is down at the moment. I plan to have back up shortly. I am making a few changes that will make finding my hand dyed yarns much easier.

Please visit me next Saturday in Saranac Lake at the Farmer's Market.

Judy

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Summer is Feeling Like Fall!

2010-08-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

It has been a beautiful summer in the Adirondacks. There have been lots of cool nights that are great for sleeping and warm days to go to the beach. Now that we are in late August those leaves are beginning to change.

This summer has been very full with lots of days at the farmer's markets and time spent thinking about fall and the changing leaves. I have been working on a new line of colors for sock yarn. Here is a peak at just a few of the new colorways in the merino/nylon superwash fingering weight.

The new colorways are rich and wonderful for working with texture and design elements in your knitting.

New Fall Colorways 2010 Suede Series

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

A Summer at the Farmer's Market

2010-07-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Great weather this week!!! Yes, it feels like summer and everyone seems happy to see the sun. Farmer's markets I think are wonderful because you see so many people both locals and visitors to the area. It is nice to see so many families enjoying a vacation together with kids, grandparents, and aunts and uncles.

This week I was asked to sell one of my samples, a hand spun and knit hat, that is one of my favorite colorways, Forest Walk. This color way has a blue, burgundy, and green colorway with each of the colors blending into each other creating deep bronze, a sunlight green and some hot hot blue tones. Can you tell that I like this colorway? I dye this colorway on yarn and fiber. For the hat that I had spun, I spun in a sequence to be a story of traveling through the forest moving upward with blues at the top for sky.

It was purchased as a gift for another artist. What a compliment! It is on its way to Poland.

I invite knitters to join me at my tent each week to knit, spin, rug hook or another fiber craft of choice. The market is 9-2pm. There is lots of fresh pastry, coffee, veggie burgers for lunch and of course fresh produce. Last week I bought some awesome beets. I went early as they sold out quickly.

Please join me soon at the Saranac Lake farmer's market! Enter up for the free yarn drawing. Next week 7/10 will be the first drawing for a skein of sock yarn.

Judy

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Summer in the Adirondacks

2010-06-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

It seems that summer has arrived in the Adirondack mountains. This is something to truly enjoy and not take for granted. The sun is shining and my garden looks like it is actually July with lots of blooming flowers.

This summer I will be attending several events throughout the Adirondacks with hand dyed yarns, fibers and rug hooking wools. Saturday June 5th kicked off the Farmer's Market in Saranac Lake.

Please visit me and see what is new this season. I have a new selection of sock yarn, worsted wool, alpaca with a neat glitzy shine.

I am still working on the new website. I love color - websites not so much.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

The Olympics

2010-02-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

If you have ever been to Lake Placid, New York, you know that it was home to the Olympics not once but twice. This year at the winter Olympics in Canada there are 12 athletes from the tri-lakes region competing. Not only does this bring nostalgia for the games of 1932 and 1980 in Lake Placid but pride that the region is home to some many athletes now.

How does this relate to hand dyeing yarn and fibers? The picture in the opening for the blog is part of my inspiration for living in the high peaks of the Adirondacks. The colors always changing from bright to muted smokey colors are framed in spectacular views like the one you see here.

This one of my recent colorways that captures the mist of an early morning by the Olympic ski jump. The color has movement as it is knit and combines nicely with other colors for both dramatic and subtle color changes.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

I love Snow Days

2010-01-28T04:38:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the Adirondack Mountains. I have good news for everyone who loves to ski - we have snow!

I knit all year long. It is my mainstay of interests. There is a knitting bag in my car - just in case. There are several knitting bags in my "studio" with projects to pick up and continue.

As I watch the weather forecast this morning I hope for a really big snow storm. I love a snow day. A snow day is an unexpected opportunity to do something you really enjoy. For me this is a day of knitting and watching Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. Oh yah - love the Colin.

What is coming up for Liberty Fibers in 2010? I will be attending several fiber festivals in the northeast. I am excited to share new products and colorways in 2010. Here are a few new sock yarns.

This colorway is muted reds and tawny golds - great neutral colorway for both men and women.

I love the intensity of these colors together. It reminds me of 1970's textiles -with bright bold flashes of color.

I am enjoying winter. I hope you are too.

Judy

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Choosing Color - One Step at a Time

2009-10-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

Choosing color for a new knitting project is a vital part of the project. Visiting a well stocked yarn shop can be overwhelming. There are so many colorways to choose from in many tempting fiber combinations. Listen here for a tip on choosing color.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Choosing Color to Please and Last

2009-10-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Choosing color for a knitting project can be overwhelming. Even with a great pattern and good intentions, a well stocked knit shop can present barriers to choosing a color for your next knitting project. Click here to listen to the tip of the day for choosing color

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Catching Up - Summer 2009

2009-09-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

Catching Up – Summer 2009

I have been remiss in keeping up with my posting this summer. It has been a whirlwind in many good ways.

I traveled to Harrisville, New Hampshire not once but twice; Bohus Knitting in June and Dyeing and Spinning with Lynne Vogel in August. In between these two visits I worked full-time and dyed to keep up with fiber festivals and local summer events. Wow –

Let’s catch up starting with Bohus Knitting with Susanna Hansson. Learning about the Bohus history by immersion was gratifying. I learned several nuances about knitting during this workshop. The combination of using color and texture to enhance a pattern specifically the purl stitch in the pattern made me contemplate how I look at patterns in knitting.

Here are some of the actual Bohus sweaters. I also have a new found respect for knitting for hire. The standards for the sweaters were absolute; no imperfections allowed. The sweaters are a testament to the stringent rules and skilled knitters who made them.

My new appreciation of the purl stitch is its ability to lift the color in the pattern to the surface of the design. The design becomes three dimensional. Sussana Hansson is devoted countless hours and a true passion for the “bohus sweaters.” She has assembled a large collection of the sweaters chronicling the thirty plus years the sweaters were produced. How can we say awesome in knitting? Bohus!

During the two day workshop the students began knitting wristers with yarn from the current company that sells kits for bohus sweaters. The project was a perfect way to try one of the many bohus patterns.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Summer Passes To Quickly

2009-09-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Summer passes to quickly when you only have 13 weeks of it to enjoy. I love where I live, surrounded by mountains lush with green foliage! It has been several weeks since I have posted and I apologize. I have been trying to make the most of the short summer season.

I definetely intend to share with you my summer's events. Besides rain, endless weeks of rain in the Adirondacks I have had the opportunity to attend to classes in Harrisville, New Hamphire.

Here are a few views that I have enjoyed over the summer.

Here is some of the results of the class in Harrisville. More to come .....

Please visit again to see more of what has happened over the summer.

Judy

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Color Isn't Just for Fiber

2009-07-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

I see a trend in my creative palatte. I recenlty completed this bead embroidery bracelet. I love turquoise - all types, all colors, I am enamored with turquoise.

I started adding to my etsy online shop and noticed that everything I was adding was blue/turquoise!

I add a yarn that I call "labradorite" it has blues that I see in the ledges here in the Adirondacks and the sky as well.

I added some merino/silk roving that is so cool in color, I get a chill everytime I look at it. I start to think about Rockwell Kents glacial paintings in Alaska.

My last added item to etsy is this bracelet, a labor of love. I very much like working with beads. I am still assembling beading skills. I love this technique because I feel like I am painting with beads.

Please visit the online shop link below to see more pics of this bracelet.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Isn't Nature Full of Surprises

2009-06-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

As I live in the middle of "no where," I have a several minutes of travel where ever I go. I recently saw this funky nature sculpture during my travels. The creator makes rustic furniture. I have yet to meet this person but I have seen the sign for his furniture.

This spiderish sculpture looks like it is ready to walk right off! It seems to be alive and has a lot of personality for a piece of wood. What do you think? Post your comment.

This funky roadside find isn't colorful but I admire the person who saw this"creature" in the tree!

Judy

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Isn't She Pretty?

2009-05-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

I make myself laugh a lot. I am usually laughing at myself. I think we all do this.

Working with color is challenging. This isn't supposed to be funny it is just a fact for me. As I try new things, mix a little more of this and a little less of that, I find the fiber becomes it own being in sense with it's own sense of humor.

This fiber has found its humor in its form. As I was taking photos to add to the online shop, I found this fiber had personality. To me this fiber is standing up like a snake ready to strike. How cool is that? I can only imagine what it will do when being spun up.

I tend to work with deep intense color. I was challenging myself to go softer more muted but still some splashes of deep blue have worked its way into the colorway.

I really love fiber. How else can I explain creating soft sculpture with roving and have to explain why?

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Color Is Important in All Parts of Our Lives - Meet MY Color Goddess

2009-04-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a hair stylist who was exceptional? It took me many years to find Kelly at Park Avenue Salon in Brockville Ontario but I am so glad I did.

After moving to upstate New York, and I mean upstate. I visited many salons. The result did not meet my hopes to have my hair and me leaving the salon feeling my best and definetely looking my best.

In my quest for great hair I called St. Lawrence University in Brockville and spoke with the person in charge of the cosmotology program. She gave me three names of stylists to try. I picked Kelly. It was one of the best choices I have ever made. I have been trying to remember how old my girls were when I started going to Kelly or the year. My memory isn't great but I estimate eight years.

Kelly is a professional. She is dedicated to her profession and very good at what she does. She is my Hair Goddess! Check out Kelly's hair color - how perfect for a hair goddess.

Now why am I writing about my hairdresser in a blog about my life in color? If you have ever tried to color your hair at home or put yourself in the hands of a stylist for color, you know some get it right but not many. Kelly gets it right everytime and I leave feeling like a million. We have discussions about skin tone,my natural color, the season - everything that involves the final result of a hair coloring.

If you are ever in upstate New York visit Kelly at Park Ave Salon in Brockville Ontario. You won't be disappointed. The entire staff will make you feel welcome.You will leave feeling like a million and looking like a million too.

Here is my daughter Belle, another satisfied, feeling great customer.

Dana at Park Ave Salon.

If you have a personal Hair Goddess or God be sure to let them know and share with your friends. We all deserve to look our best.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Experiencing Nature from a Contained Eco-System

2009-04-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

I recently visited MASS MOCA in North Adams Massachuesetts. If you have not been to this contemporaty art museum it is a must. The museum is in an old turn of the century industrial museum in North Adams. Not only is this a wonderful use of old mills that will never operate the way they were intended, but this mill offers big open spaces and two story walls to place moder art installations.

The opening picuture is me! One of the exhibits is a room of hanging plexiglass containers with plants and openings to walk underneath and pop your head inside. This was a real wow factor - the scent of the ferns, and wet damp earth is actually pretty nice.

I spent about 2-3 hours touring the museum and did not get a chance to see everything. MASS MOCA is definetely on my repeat list.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

March is all Celtic

2009-04-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

This Months Phat Fiber Selection

This month I sent more samples of my fiber and yarn the Phatfiber.com for the monthly sampler box of yarns, fibers, and related fiber goodies. The theme for the month of March was Celtic. With the last name of O’Toole, you know I had to perform well on this one. Was is it difficult thinking a way to show Celtic in fiber or yarn? No! I had to stop thinking and get to the dye pot.

This month’s selection is called “tartan,” loosely based on the “O’Toole” tartan that I found online. I have dyed loose fiber and carded for hand carded batts, dyed on BFL roving, and merino/nylon sock yarn. Each type of fiber expresses the colorway a differently.

The merino/nylon superwash sock yarn has a brilliant chartreuse pop of color with black to subdue and balance. The hand dyed loose fiber is blended with mohair and silk that pops to the top. The roving is lush in a whole other way credited to the luster of the blueface roving. All in all, I am very pleased with all three results for the colorway “tartan.” Visit the online shop to get some tartan to spin or knit up.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Spring in Shades of Blue

2009-03-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

Spring has arrived but not the warm weather that is associated with this time of year. I have been enjoying the changing light and the blue light that has bathed the mountain offering enhanced views of the mountains.

A new opening picture to celebrate the arrival of spring in the Adirondacks.

This steer seemed perfectly happy to be outside on a cold spring morning.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Love Forever

2009-03-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

The new photo in the blog opening is a bronze by Nina Winkle made before her death to be placed as a memorial to her husband after their deaths. This sculpture is in the Adirondacks.

The Adirondacks has attracted artists for many decades to the region. As much as I am inspired by the landscape of the Adirondack Mountains, I am also inspired and intrigued by the work of these artists.

If you would like to see more of Nina Winkle's work, there are many of her pieces at Plattsburgh State College, in Plattsburgh New York. I am including some information below from the Plattsburgh State Colleg website.

The artist was born in Germany in 1905 and died in 1990. Nina was in Paris when it fell to the Nazis and fled to the United States with her husband in 1942, living first in New York City. Unable to speak English in the beginning, she worked as a cleaning woman in the Clay Club, where she later produced her earliest terra cotta pieces in this country. She was the first woman in N.Y.C. to get a welder's liscense, and in 1959 she moved from working in clay to creating welded copper sculptures. Only about five feet tall, Nina eventually had to switch to an acetylene torch because she lacked the strength to handle the heavier welding equipment. The artist has works and commissions in many cities in this country and in Europe, and has shown in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in N.Y.C. Her works reflect her life experiences . . . World War II . . . her interest in the Bible and in mythology . . . her sense of humor.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Natural Attractions

2009-02-22T23:17:00.000-08:00

Last winter I discovered this natural attraction when traveling with a friend to a spinning gathering. We were enjoying the views of farm houses, fields and then oh baby this frozen blue phallic appeared.

According to my friend this phenomenon is the result of a spring that freezes each winter resulting in a free-form ice sculptor. The frozen ice flow is over 10 feet tall.

On Sunday it was time to visit the geyser and there it is bigger than last year. I find this ice phallic so interesting that I have to share with others. Maybe you have a similar growing ice formation where you live.

How does this tie into dyeing and color. I have been admiring the color of ice and the colors it takes on depending on its location. The ice palace in Saranac Lake has taken on a lovely blue glow since it melted during a few days of a warm up. It is very common to see frozen ice on rock overhangs in the mountains. Sometimes the ice is blue or colored from the minerals in the rocks that will create a variety of colors. As I find all color stimulating, I have been thinking about the depth of color and how the color changes with melting and cooling again. Thougths for the dye pot.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Pirate Booty - It's All Good

2009-02-18T04:22:00.000-08:00

I was truly inspired by the Pirate theme for Saranac Lake's Winter Carnival. Reports from friends and co-workers is that it was one of the best parades in Winter Carnival history. My favorite pirate has a name! Aggie Pellitier. Well Aggie, you were great.

Fresh from the dye pot, here are some new colorways that I have been working on this week.

The fiber is blueface leicester hand dyed with several red values, browns and deep smoky purples.

The yarn is a superwash merino is deep reds and black.

I hope you are inspired to create with Pirate Booty! If so, visit online shop to get yours.
Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Rasberry Chocolate Truffle with Wasabi Cream - Its all Phat

2009-02-16T10:56:00.000-08:00

Did you get one? Today February 16th was the second sale date of the Phat Fiber Sampler Box. This month's theme is "Chocolate and romance." If you are not familiar with Phat Fiber, check out phatfiber.com to learn how to purchase a sample box filled with hand dyed rovings, fibers, yarns, stitch markers and more related fiber products.

Indie dyers supply samples to fill the sample boxes. It is a great way for fiber loves to learn about indie dyers and dyers to market their work.

This months theme was fun. Romance and chocolate was a fun choice. Here is my interpretation of this theme. I have now listed more of the fiber that I have supplied in the sample boxes.

Visit Liberty Fibers online shop.Online Store

Phat Fiber For February

2009-02-15T12:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a little teaser of what is going to be in the Phat Fiber Sample Box from Liberty Fibers this month.

Look tomorrow for a more pictures and check out Libertyfibers.etsy.com if you were not lucky enough to get a sample box. I will have listed some of the special "romance and chocolate" on my site.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Winter Carnival Saranac Lake 09

2009-02-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you live in a place where winter lasts seven to eight months a year? Celebrate! Every year Saranac Lake hosts Winter Carnival complete with an ice palace, two weeks dedicated events and parties, but the best part – the parade. Each year the Winter Carnival has a theme and this year it is Pirates!

If you have not had the pleasure of visiting Saranac Lake and gotten to know the community, Winter Carnival is a great time to do so. What does this have to do with color and the dye pot? I am as much inspired by the community of Saranac Lake as I am the mountain views that I pass each day.

The top picture is my favorite of the over 100 that I took at the parade. I am not sure who this woman is but she is my favorite paradae pirate. She was so in the moment, it was awesome!

I came away from the parade energized, happy, and thinking about all the people who brought a colorful side to the event. The floats were great and well constructed. Businesses, local colleges, non-profits, school groups all participated in the parade as well as a few performing groups from Canada.

Tracy Santagate of Books and Baskets brought out some of her amazing basketsfor her float. If you are in Saranac Lake be sure to drop in at Books and Baskets Book store.

Here is a little "Local Color" from the Waterhole, a downtown watering hole. I felt a little guilty as the sun moved away from me, after all I was fully dressed!

Local Color from behind!

Now one would think that the school would double check the spelling? Oops.

I have lots more pictures but I think I will share more another day. It was a great day in Saranac Lake for the Winter Carnival parade. If you missed it, put it on the calendar for next year.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Subtle Color All Around

2009-02-12T04:31:00.000-08:00

Color, even the most subtle, is inspriration for the dye pot. One of the views on my way to work is the olympic ski jump. I am alway fascinated by distant views of mountains. This view captures the ski jump on an early overcast morning.

Here is a colorway that is inspired by the Adirondack landscape.

This is a bulky weight yarn with a mix of slate blues and grays. It is a very pleasurable yarn to work up.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Knitters - Even At Luge Championships

2009-02-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

I have had a goal not to discuss knitting at my day job. I work with several men who are very polite but do not have any interest in knitting. I am obsessed. Yes, I can find a way to work the topic of knitting into every conversation. It can be about a pattern, yarn color, type of fiber, all of these are good.

This weekend for my day job I was at the Luge Championship in Lake Placid. Before I left the house, I seriously considered taking knitting along with me. I stopped myself though. I decided that I should be in the moment, not in the moment knitting. Have you ever been to a luge event?

It is a very fast moving sport. If you take your eye off the run for a split second, you have missed the luger flying by a 70 plus miles per hour.

Today I was attending to promote the radio station I work for 93.3 in Lake Placid. I was lucky to be in a heated tent. I was also lucky to spot a knitter across the tent. I was off – off to find out what she was knitting. Not only was she a knitter but a spinner as well.

Cynthia was attending the world chanpionships with her daughter. She was working on an oversized sock for her daughter Sara. Here you can see her working on the sock. And you can see our Adirondack bear taking a liking to the sock as well. I guess even bears in the Adirondacks need warm winter socks.

We can not forget why I was at the luge championships! To see luge!

Totally Amazing!

It was a great day! I met people from all over the world. I even met many 93.3 listeners who are fans listening on stream from all over the country.

I think this could be an ongoing discovery of knitters! Next time I will have some knitting tucked into my bag.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

2009-01-30T18:37:00.000-08:00

As you can see I am continuing to knit a new pair of socks to replace my aging pair of polworth socks. The polworth socks are beginning to show wear. I have loved them, worn them and now I am beginning to morn their loss. To soften the blow, I am working on this new pair, made of Romney.

I am not following a pattern but rather going with the flow, making it up as I go, and in the end ripping back when I have gone wrong, a sock of trial and error.

I knit the first sock with the ribbed cuff that extends to the foot. After I knit the sock I wasn’t very happy with how the color looks on the cuff. The ribbing takes away from the subtle color change of the hand dyed yarn.

I started the second sock with just an inch of ribbing. I like the look of the second sock better. This sock I had to rip back as I was knitting late into the night at a friend’s home and for got to turn the heel. I knit to the toe and looked at the sock. What could I do? It is funny to knit along and forget an important part of the sock. I thought at first I would just leave it. I could do it. I would ignore the fact that it wasn’t perfect. I can’t do it. I want my new socks to look as uniform as the pair they replace.

I am now a little closer to a new pair of socks.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Fresh From the Dye Pot

2009-01-27T16:55:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I took a little time to play in the dye pot. I dyed three new colorways.

All three skeins of merino superwash sock yarn are now listed on etsy.com.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Building An Ice Castle

2009-01-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

Today I am going to share something really special about where I live. Wilmington
NY is part of the high peaks region of the Adirondack Mountains. I am lucky to live in a place that people flock to at all times of the year except April to recreate. So I want to share with you a long standing tradition of Saranac Lake. The Village of Saranac Lake builds an ice castle to celebrate Winter Carnival. Winter Carnival is a two week event full of fun of activities unique to a winter community.A Woman's frying pan toss is just one example. As I go about my day job, more about that later, I have had the pleasure of watching the ice castle being built in Saranac Lake. The process takes several days, many men and women, moving equipment and ice cut fresh from Lake Flower.

This year the Carnival theme is "Pirates." I will keep you posted and post a completed picture of the ice castle.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Phat Fiber Sampler Box

2009-01-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

Wow! It is almost the end of January. Have I been snow shoeing? Cross county skiing? For a good long walk? No, no, and no again. So where has the time gone? A lot of my leisure time has gone right into the dye pot this month. It has been a busy month getting ready to send samples off for the “Phat Fiber Sampler Box” that will be available on February 15th.

If you have not heard about this project, let me tell you about it. Lots of indie dyers send hand dyed fiber, yarn, and knitting accessories to be collected and distributed once a month. Phat Fiber Samplers may be purchased at Phatfiber.etsy.com. There is also a website phatfiber.com that has all the information about the indie dyers and what you may expect to find in a sampler box.

This month Valentines is the theme. I have put together a decadent fiber treat will add a spark to the fiber lovers Valentines Day for sure. It has been a lot of fun. I am already for the Month of March as well – Celtic!

Maud Lewis Three Kitties

I would also like to bring all the rug hookers up to date about the supplies that are available through Liberty Fibers. Since leaving St. Lawrence County I have continued to carry all the rug hooking supplies that I had in the shop. I have both recycled and new wools for rug hooking. I have continued to dye wool as well. If you need wool for a project, I am happy to work with you.

Stay warm in the next few weeks as we continue to brave the winter and all it brings.

Judy

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Socks - All in a Day’s Work

2009-01-18T10:56:00.000-08:00

My Romey fiber to socks continue from January 5th. I learned to knit so I could make socks. Everyone in the spinning group I belong to makes socks. As a newbie to the group, I was just a “hooker.” (rug hooker) One of the members at that time was a very proficient rug hooker, spinner, knitter and the list goes on. Marilyn is also one of the best story tellers I have ever met. Marilyn invited me to attend the group so I could learn to hook.

As time progressed, so did my interest knitting and spinning. I can’t remember if I learned to spin or knit first. I can remember the first pair of socks I knit out of a Paton’s yarn. The socks were oversized and sloppy but I still have them.

I have knit many pairs of socks since my first attempt. I am still amazed when someone asks “why would you do that? Do people really knit socks?” If you are reading this blog, I am sure you understand and I do not have to spend three paragraphs explaining the enjoyment of knitting and all the benefits and perks that go along with the craft.

So – this latest pair of socks is my interest to duplicate a very simple pair that I made out of polworth several years ago. I have been working on them over that past few days. They are progressing nicely. I can’t wait to complete and give a first washing to full up a bit. I have added a grey band of 100% bunny fiber. The fiber is from my now past bunny Oona. She was a Jersey wooly who was so sweet and litter trained. My original polworth socks have a small amount of Oona knit in as well. I am continuing the tradition.

The gray band on the cuff is the Oona fiber. It will felt as the socks are washed to make a soft fluffy band. I can't wait!

And the days work continues – knitting socks

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

Guests For Lunch

2009-01-17T13:37:00.000-08:00

Since fall I have had a family of deer spending time in my field. A mother and her twins began showing up daily between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. As the fall progressed I began to look for them each day.

If you live some place rural, you will immediately know why I became concerned. Hunting season had arrived.

What also arrived this past fall was the roofing crew to replace my aging roof before winter. In a get to know you, Butch, told me how he loves to hunt. Oh no I thought, Butch has got a gun! RUN deer RUN! It all worked out. I guess natural instinct and noise of 4 men on a roof kept the family of deer away during the roof work.

The deer soon re-established their pattern of showing up in the afternoon. They must have become familiar with our routine as well. Over time they worked their way closer to the house.

As you can see from the pictures the family is very comfortable under my bird feeder. Deer snacks. I throw the seed mix on the ground to keep my large flock of blue jays happy.

Now how does a deer family connect with dyeing and spinning? As the deer were under the feeder, I began to admire their dense winter coats and the color combinations depending on the direction their coat was viewed from. At the back looking forward, a lot of rich dark hair could be seen. From the side, the dark colors were less obvious and the fawn tones were prominent. Nature manipulated the deer’s color to best protect the deer. I am fascinated by nature’s color sense!

I have been dyeing wool for rug hooking, raw fiber and yarn for several years now. I am still learning ways to manipulate color when working all fiber mediums. Nature is always teaching me new things about color. It is a great reason to talk a walk.

Pictured is a colorway now listed on www.etsy.com. It is a palette of soft browns, slate blue, sage green and just a touch of glitz.

I have spun a small sample. The brown works well with the blue.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

A Relationship with Fiber

2009-01-05T14:36:00.000-08:00

I have been admiring some raw fiber that I dyed a few months back. I love that the locks are still in place and that the color has deposited itself with a concentration of the color at the tip of the lock.

The fleece is Romney one of my favorites. Romney offers a variety of natural colors and crimp. My first fleece that I ever washed, carded by hand and spun was a Romney. When you work with a fleece from start to finish, you develop a relationship. It reminds me of my dog Joey who is a boxer. I brought Joey home at a tender 9 weeks old and so began our relationship that is now 5 ½ years old. In a sense when I work from raw fleece I am raising that fiber to grow up into a nice yarn and in the process I get to know it well.

This particular fiber has retained some of the lanolin and feels wonderful to touch. It is springy and has a lot of crimp. When carding I separated the colors out so that I had groups of light and dark greens, a very light blue and a mauve.

As I began spinning, a pleasurable memory returned of spinning some polworth that I made into my favorite pair of socks. The socks are now about 4 years old and show signs of wear. I have been holding back from wearing as often as I would like to keep them as long as possible. Now though, I might have a replacement so that I will not be left without this favored pair of socks.

I have a few more ounces of fiber to spin and then the knitting begins.

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

New Year's Resolution 2009

2009-01-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! As I listened to the Today Show’s overview of 2008 for the nation and the world, I began to review my own thoughts of 2008. I have to admit that it was a challenging year for many reasons both personally and professionally.

I tend to put myself “out there” and try new things. Generally I find success and general pleasure that I have learned something new, experienced career growth or just come out even no worse for wear. In 2008 I found that I did not listen to my inner voice that has guided me in the past. I also did not learn to polka which was a New Year’s resolution for 2008.

For New Years Eve 2008 I had the pleasure of attending “First Night” in Saranac Lake, New York. As I watched children and parents dance to the music of Inisheer I felt a sense of community and enjoyment that I intend to take with me into 2009. If I listen to the inner voice that has guided me in the past and remember a community coming together in subzero temperatures to celebrate life, a year past, and a year just beginning, I think it will be a better year in 2009. I am also putting learning to Polka back on the top of the list.

What does this mean for “One Woman’s Life in Color?” It means that no matter what is going on with family, friends, or work, I will continue to explore my creative thought processes through color. I invite you to join me this year as I share my conversations with my dye pot, (mirror, mirror on the wall or dye pot, dye pot on the stove).

Happy New Year

Judy

Visit Liberty Fibers' Online Store

2008-11-05T10:58:00.001-08:00

Please bookmark this blog. I will be sharing news from the dye pot, upcoming fiber events and projects as they become ready.

'Visit Liberty Fibers at http://www.libertyfibers.com/.

Tuesday

2008-11-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome! It is a bright sunny day in the mountains. The leaves have all come down and our early snow fall had melted.