Tidbits from the Studio

Hi everyone! Need a last minute holiday gift for a favorite fiber fanatic? In addition to the large variety of spinning and felting fibers we sell, we offer Gift Certificates in any dollar amount you'd like.

Posted hours for tomorrow are 11-2, but if you need to come earlier or later just let me know (I'm only 10 minutes from the shop, so no problem).

Comcast sent a film crew to the shop a couple of weeks ago to shoot the shop for a Channel 1 (Comcast On-Demand) feature. It was so fun and the four guy crew was really getting into the fiber thing and felting. It may be about 4 weeks until it starts running and if you have Comcast you can find it on Channel 1 in "Get Local/Best of the City."

We'll have spinning group again on Sunday, January 4th, anytime between Noon and 4 PM, and we hope to see you!

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a most wonderful Holiday season and to thank you for your support over the past year. It's been crazy and I'm so looking forward to 2009 and what the New Year brings!

Wishing you and yours Peace, Love, Health and Happiness!

Pam

New Stuff

A quick note about new items that have come into the shop. The Gale's Art fibers have come in. We have lots of her Black Blue Face Leicester in rich, deep colorways and her wonderful Blue Face Leicester semi-solid colorways...very nice!

Our hand dyed bamboo fibers have been very popular and they're fun to spin, so silky and shiny. And, we've discovered they're a great alternative to the hand dyed silk top for making "paper" in wet felting.

We've also just gotten in natural color Superwash BFL (newly available product). And some natural Falkland Wool Top from the Falkland Islands. From what I understand there are no known parasites or insects detrimental to sheep found on the Islands, and so these sheep and their fiber has never been "dipped."

Holiday Sale with Kris and Jill Lynn

And here's the postcard for the Holiday Sale Kris and Jill Lynn are hosting with some friends next Saturday, November 22nd. Don't you love the Holidays?!

Great Sales by Local Artists in Our Area

My friends Leslie Granbeck (who also teaches at TFS) and Signe Albertson are teaming up with a couple other friends tomorrow (Sat 11/15) to host a Holiday Sale. I hope you have time to stop and shop!

The Weavers Guild of Minnesota is holding Fiber Fair 2008 at the Textile Center of Minnesota this week-end. You'll find great gift ideas...offerings range from hand knit/woven scarves, mittens, table cloths and runners to large rugs and fibers for spinning! It is a great event and all proceeds go to support local artists and the Weavers Guild. Please try to get over there and check it out, you'll be glad you did! Find the Fiber Fair at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave. S.E., Minneapolis (about 1/2 mi. East of 280 on University), phone: 612-436-0463. Hours are: Fri 11/14, 12-9; Sat 11/15, 10-5 and Sun 11/16, 12-4.

My friends Kris Post and Jill Lynn Olson (who both also teach at TFS) are having a sale next week-end (Sat 11/22). I'll post their card as soon as I am able.

The Latest

It's been awhile since I've had time to post, so let's get started!

Spinning Group is Sunday, November 2nd, 12:00-4:00 PM. Bring your wheels and spindles and c'mon over!

We've scheduled an additional Felted Beads & Baubles Class with Leslie for Tuesday, November 18th, 6:30-8:30 PM. We have a few spaces left, call us at 612.822.1600.

BUY MY BEADS, Clearance Sale! I've decided to close out my BEADS section. The beads at The Fiber Studio were stock from my previous shop and are at 2002 (or earlier) prices! Any of you bead buyers know how much bead prices have risen just in the past couple of years. I have a nice selection of beads for jewelry, embellishing, crazy quilting, surface design, art dolls, collage and anything else you can slap a bead onto! Delicas, flowers, lentils, leaves, stones, vintage, Swarovski crystals, Czech fire polished, seed beads and mixes.

So here's the deal:
40% off, good on cash sales only
30% off, with a credit card (Visa or Mastercard)
All Sales Final, Some Items May Be Exempt

NEW STUFF AT THE SHOP

Stephen Kundert Drop Spindles! These are such nice spindles, made in Wisconsin. All are between 1.0 and 1.4 oz. (mostly 1.2 oz.) in lovely woods such as Birdseye Maple w/Walnut, Purpleheart w/Maple, Zebrawood w/Maple, Butternut w/Walnut, Bubinga w/Maple, Wenge w/Maple.

Superfine Merino from Fibre Fusion (Australia) in delightful colors, such as cumin, china blue, verdant, moss, rose quartz, peri peri, prussian blue, urban, smudge, sublime, aubergine, turkish red, terracotta.

Hand Dyed Bamboo Fibers! Beautiful bamboo in five colorways from Fiber Lady. We have Orange Fizz, Prairie Dusk, Raspberry, Bluebonnet and Misty Glen...lovely!

I've got an order coming next week that will include Falkland Top and Superwash BFL!

Gale's BFL Art Fibers are on re-order. Gale's on vacation and those won't be in for a couple of weeks.

Can't think of anything else right this minute. I'll try to shoot some photos tomorrow and get them posted for you.

We've got Aussie Fibers comin' our way!

I placed an order for Superfine Merino with a vendor in Australia today. It's supposed to be pretty wonderful and we may have it as early as the end of next week. Lovely colors, it felts really fast and it's especially nice for wearing next to your skin. We'll let you know when it comes in.

In the meantime, the new Comprehensive Beginning Spinning with Virginia Parent started tonight at The Studio. It's always so much fun to see the progress of the new spinners from week to week and they have such fun! And it's been such a lovely October day that we can even have the door open tonight!

Speaking of mice...There's a funny black cat that has taken to laying in wait for me in the morning and then, when I open the door he does everything he can to get into the shop with me. He meows, he scratches the door, he's just beside himself. I might let him in if I didn't bring my kitty "Pie" to the shop with me sometimes and I can't deal with that. Sooo, anyhoo, getting back to mice...I wasn't too surprised yesterday when I found a dead mouse lying on the back door mat. Oh great, I thought...an offering. What next!?

Hand Painted Scarves

Leslie and I have been dyeing silk chiffon scarves like a couple of madwomen. Leslie leaves for Brookings, SD tomorrow to teach felting workshops through the week-end. She needed scarves for her workshops and so did The Studio. We have a nice selection of hand painted 100% silk chiffon scarves that are great for nuno felting, 12" x 60" at $12.00 each. We were also able to find beautiful iridescent 100% silk scarves that are perfect for nuno felting, approx. 10-1/2" x 54" in six lovely colorways, $14.50 each. And, as always, we have raw-edge hand painted 100% china silk in 11" x 90" for $18.00 each. We have a Nuno Felted Scarf Class coming up on Saturday, October 18 from 2 to 6 PM. We have just a couple spaces left to fill in case you're interested.

Indigo Dyeing

Today is the Indigo Dyeing Class here at The Studio, taught by the wonderful Virginia Parent. What a fascinating process indigo dyeing is! I myself haven't had any experience with indigo until today. Get this: the fibers and yarns look yellow in the pot...and then, as they're lifted out of the dyepot and the air hits them they start turning a lovely organic blue! It's magical! The "girls" in the class decided to do a second dip for a more intense blue and I think one or two may even do a third dip. And it is a most beautiful Fall day for dyeing!

Virginia will be teaching again Saturday, November 1, when we'll be offering Natural Dyeing with Earthues. I'm looking forward to that class too, and there are still a couple of spaces left if any of you are interested.

Just another reminder that tomorrow is Spinning Group and we hope you can make it. Of course, it's supposed to rain tomorrow. It's gotten to be the joke that it's usually rainy on the day we have Spinning Group! Well, it'll make a good day to come inside...and spin and socialize with old (and new) friends!

Spinning Group Meets This Sunday!

Hey, spinners, don't forget that the Spinning Group will meet 12-4 PM at The Fiber Studio on Sunday, October 5.

And for those of you who don't spin but have a hankerin' to learn how, there are a couple of spots left in our Comprehensive Beginning Spinning Class with Virginia Parent that starts on Wednesday, October 8.

We're planning on doing some sort of Intermediate Spinning Class during the winter session. If you have any thoughts or suggestions let me know what they are.

A little fiber mischief in Brookings

The Fiber Studio is sending Leslie off to the South Dakota Art Musuem in Brookings, South Dakota! Leslie will be teaching three feltmaking classes October 10 and 11. For details visit the museum's website: http://www.southdakotaartmuseum.com/.

Brookings is just across the Minnesota border, less than four hours by car from the Twin Cities. If you live out Brookings way (or know someone who does), don't miss this great opportunity to learn the art of wet feltmaking with Leslie.

New Hand Painted Fibers (BFL) Hot Off the UPS Truck

Leslie went over to Illinois this summer to the Midwest Fiber & Folk Festival. Besides having a little vacation her mission was to scope out new fiber sources for the shop. She didn't find as much as we had expected...BUT, she met Gale Evans from Gale's Art in Atlanta, GA. What a find! Gale hand paints lovely Blue Face Leicester, Black Blue Face Leicester and Nylon Firestar, and we received our first shipment from her today! Leslie has used Gale's hand painted Black BFL in her wet felting and it makes absolutely beautiful felt! Way to go Leslie!!

We have some lovely semi-solid and multi-colorways which have been hand painted over white BFL, and hand painted multi-colors over Black BFL in 4 oz put-ups. We also ordered Gale's hand painted Nylon Firestar which is perfect for carding and blending, and adding a little shimmer to your projects!

AND JUST A REMINDER:

Don't forget that we are kicking off our 1st Anniversary tomorrow evening! Jack and Barbara Maloney will be reading from and signing their book, THE WEE MAD ROAD (a best-seller at Garrison Keillor's book store!). We'll be at Anodyne Coffeehouse, 4301 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis and it all starts at 7:00 PM. We truly hope you'll be able to join us!

Just a P.S.

Don't forget about our special event reading and book signing with Jack and Barbara Maloney, authors of THE WEE MAD ROAD, next Wednesday evening. We'll be at Anodyne Coffeehouse, 4301 Nicollet Ave in Minneapolis from 7 to 8:30 PM!

You can see more about it in my September 6th post (below) and at Jack and Barbara's website (which I forgot to include with that post!): http://www.theweemadroad.com/.

Leslie and I are looking forward to seeing you!!

Vintage Jewelry at The Studio

The weather is starting to turn and I really like these cooler days and nights...don't know about you, but it puts me IN THE MOOD FOR SPINNING AND FELTING!!

I'm working on filling up the glass case with vintage jewelry...brooches, earrings (including a pair of bakelite dangles), necklaces, and other sparkly things. I'll post a picture when I have time.

Upcoming Events...

My friend Theresa at Anodyne Coffeehouse is graciously letting us hold our book signing and reading with Jack and Barbara Maloney at her coffeehouse. I'm very excited because Anodyne is the BEST coffeehouse and eatery anywhere! Click on the link above to check out her website for Anodyne News, Menu, Events and more. I hope you'll make time to stop by Anodyne soon! And thank you so much, Theresa!!

Just a Couple Things

Hi there! Well, the postcards have gone out and we're starting to get registrations for our Fall Classes. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but if there's something you want to take you should sign up now. You may be used to getting the class schedule on the postcard but we are offering so many classes this Fall (17 of them are new) we couldn't get them all on a postcard! So you just need to go to our website, http://www.thefiberstudio.com/ and click on CLASSES to access the class list and a link from which you can download a printer-friendly class schedule.

The much awaited annual issue of FELT Magazine from Interweave Press has come in. Since last year's issue sold out all over the country in a matter of weeks I increased our order and we have a good supply of them right now.

Next post I'll tell you more about what we have planned for our 1st Anniversary.

Fall 2008 Class Schedule is Online Now

We are offering a lot of terrific classes this Fall and you can see the schedule online. Just go to the CLASSES page on our website, http://www.thefiberstudio.com/. If you'd like to print it out simply click on the link for a printer-friendly version. Remember, our classes are very popular and they fill quickly. So if there's something you want to take...

Don't think I've mentioned this yet. Wednesday, August 27 (tomorrow evening) from 5-8 PM, the 13 businesses here on 48th & Nicollet are hosting a "Spotlight on 48th Street" event. You'll find food sampling, demonstrations and information about the various businesses here in our little hub. It should be a lot of fun...hope you can join us!

We are re-stocked with fibers...over 150 lbs. of fiber came into the shop today and thanks to Leslie's help it's all out and ready to go!

Where The Heck Does The Time Go?

Hi...long time! I have been super-busy the past couple weeks but I'm planning on getting back to keeping the blog updated. This will be short and sweet, more details will follow.

Leslie and I have been working on the upcoming Fall 2008 Class Schedule (whew!), and have we put together some great classes for you!! We will be offering 17 new classes (can you believe it?), along with our tried-and-true favorites. We're going to have a whole lot of fun here this Fall! A lot of the new schedule is on the website so be sure to click on over there and check it out at http://thefiberstudio.com/classes.html. We'll be loading new photos and putting the finishing touches on the CLASSES page as we are able and we'll be getting the post card out to our mailing list next week sometime.

And, can you believe it...we'll be celebrating our 1st ANNIVERSARY in business next month!! We are planning a SALE and along with some special events to celebrate the date. Here's a little teaser: We are going to kick off that week-end with a book reading & signing of a "sheepy sort"...more on that in a later post.

Don't forget...I'll be doing a shift as a spinning demonstrator (Weavers Guild of MN) at the Minnesota State Fair on Monday, August 25th from 5 to 9 PM. If you find yourself out at the Fair during that time I hope you'll stop by the Creative Activities Building to see me! It'll be fun!

I've got our Etsy Store up and going and I'm adding things whenever I have a chance. Check it out at http://www.thefiberstudio.etsy.com/. I'll be working on a second Etsy Store for non-fiber stuff which will be at http://www.chartreusegirl.etsy.com/.

Okay, that's going to be it for this time...I'll be back soon!

Photography 101 with Jeff Barber

I know I have to learn to take better photos! So I was very excited when I saw this month's meeting of the Upper Midwest Bead Society (UMBS) would feature Minnesota's own internationally renowned lampworker Jeff Barber, and he would be talking about shooting great photos! Well, I'll tell ya, I was writing down everything (scribble scribble scribble) because I knew basically nothing about my little digital camera. Jeff explained camera settings, lighting issues, and shared many of his personal tips & tricks to shooting great photos. Lucky us! I came away with lots of ideas that I plan to start playing with, and I'd just like to thank Jeff because I really learned a lot last night! (And of course, now I want a more expensive camera!)

BTW, you can see Jeff's awesome lampwork (and photography) at Lakeside Art Glass. And if you ever have a chance to see his work in person, you must!

Reminder: Spinning Group Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of the month and the Spinning Group will meet 12 to 4 pm. It's a lot of fun...and we have such a nice group of spinners that get together! Why not join us? The address is 4810 Nicollet Avenue, phone number 612.822.1600.

Vintage Trinkets Cabinet

I've been re-stocking the trinkets cabinet with vintage goodies...old trinkets, broken vintage costume jewelry, oddities, and even some pairs of sparkly, vintage earrings with rhinestones that's there's nothing wrong with! If you've been into the shop, you know the trinkets cabinet is a big old Coats & Clark's thread cabinet (that I got from my friends Leslie and her husband Larry). It measures 26-1/2" wide by 23" deep and has 5 sliding drawers that are loaded with this stuff, all fun for collage, atc's, mixed media, assemblage, found object art, jewelry...

Lovely New Fibers from River's Edge

We have a lovely selection of new 50 Merino/50 Silk hand dyed braids from River's Edge...each colorway was handpicked by Leslie especially for you! (She brought them back from the Midwest Fiber & Folk Festival.) Each braid is 3 oz., $24. Good job, Leslie!

Thought of the Day

When you follow your bliss...

doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors;

and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else.

Joseph Campbell

(1904-1987)

As a BTW, do you know we sell vintage ephemera and game pieces at The Fiber Studio? I love collage and altered art projects and have collected this stuff for years. And that's how a place that sells fibers came to offer collage classes! We've got some great stuff for collage, altered books, scrapbooking, atc's, jewelry, art dolls or anything you want to use it for! Stop in sometime and do a little rummaging!

We're Opening an Etsy Store

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm setting up an Etsy store, and our seller name is thefiberstudio. I hope to get some product up for sale over the coming week, so if there is something you'd like to see for sale on Etsy, please e-mail me at pamangier@comcast.net.

I'll be working at the shop tomorrow (Monday) from about 11 am to 4 pm and the shop will be open while I'm here. If you need anything, feel free to stop by!

More Tidbits

The COLLAGE: PAPER DOLLS CLASS with KATHY COULTER Thursday evening was a lot of fun! My first paper doll is on the left and the Frieda doll is one Kathy made that I keep on display at the shop. It was great fun to see everyone's paper dolls come together. It was quite a meditative process, really. We made new friends...and we all agreed that it was a great way to spend a summer evening! Thank you so much Kathy...you're the best!

The latest issue of WILD FIBERS is in, and as usual, it is packed with interesting articles and beautiful photos!

Tidbits

Speaking of it being quiet around here...Judy, Kris and Jill are at the Midwest Felting Symposium in Madison, Wisconsin through Sunday. They registered for some great workshops and they're going to come back with lots of ideas! I can't wait to hear all about it. I know some of you are going to the MFS, but for those of you sticking around town, The Fiber Studio will be open all week and week-end! (hint,hint) Why not stop by?!

There's room in the COLLAGE: PAPER DOLLS CLASS with KATHY COULTER Thursday evening if anyone is interested. It goes from 6-9 pm and $35 includes all supplies. See for yourself what altered art is about!

There are a couple spots left in the FELTED TOTE BAG WORKSHOP with KRIS POST on Saturday, August 9. It goes from 10 am to 4:30 pm, $65 + supplies. This is a wonderful workshop and the participants are always thrilled with their finished tote bags!

I had a quick chance to look at the new QUILTING ARTS magazine last night while the Beginning Spinning class was going. It's dubbed their "Go Green" issue and it's full of interesting items, such as "rusting fabric," mixed media wall hangings incorporating found and recycled objects, quilted pet portraits, digital designing, dyeing with indigo and more.

Here's a head's up...I've been rustled into taking a shift demo-ing spinning at the State Fair. I'll be there from 5-9 pm on Monday, August 25. I don't have all the details yet, but it's with the Weavers Guild of MN and we'll be in the Creative Activities Building.

Hot Off The Presses...

The new FIBERARTS and QUILTING ARTS magazines came in today. I haven't had a chance to look at them yet but plan to do so this evening while the Beginning Spinning class is going on. I'll tell you about them tomorrow.

All of the small custom blended batts I brought into the shop sold and I'll be blending more, as time permits. I do them at home on my electric carder...but I don't seem to be home much lately! I brought about 2 oz. of a color I'm calling "Seamist" in today. It's a blend of merino with a little tencel and some glitz. I'll post a picture when I can.

It's been quiet around here since Leslie took off on vacation last week. She's been lazing (and feltmaking, of course) along the shores of Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. And last week-end she took in the Midwest Fiber & Folk Festival in Illinois. She hooked up with Carol and Debb from River's Edge Weaving Studio (from Michigan), and she'll be bringing their new 50 Merino/50 Silk hand dyed braids back for the shop. We met Carol and Debb at Shepherd's Harvest Festival in May and have been selling their lovely hand dyed fibers. (We have their BFL, 80 Merino/20 Silk and some 50 Merino/50 Tencel.)

I have to scoot...the Beginning Spinning class is on tonight and I need to start getting set up for them. BTW, I had no idea this blogging thing would be so much fun!

Budding Artist Visits The Fiber Studio

The other day, my friend Molly stopped by the shop with her children, Vivian (4 yrs) and Gus (18 mos). Just about as soon as they got here, Viv whipped out an unfinished drawing she had brought along and a red crayon. Draw, draw, draw, scribble, scribble. Once satisfied with her work, she gave it to me. I've taped her "artwork" on the wall and already the city's art lovers are noticing! I can't wait to see her little face when she sees it. By the way, Molly is a talented artist and graphic designer herself, with a lovely line of stationery and gift bags. See for yourself at http://www.apiarydesign.com/.

Our New Blog!

Hi everyone,

You've found us in the midst of a new adventure...blogging! Today's post will be short and sweet, as we just wanted to say "hello" to you all. We'll be posting again soon, so be sure to check back.

Until then, may you have many happy adventures in fiber mischief!