Poppies in My Garden

Alaska in Summer.   Eighteen plus hours of sunlight manifests itself in heavy flower blossoms rich in color and saturated hues.  Flower heads so large and weighted that even the mightiest of stalk bend helplessly toward the earth in eager anticipation of Falls’ delivery of frost to relieve them from, yet again, another season of untold labor.

While outside these colors peak then fade, indoors weavers and spinners immortalize these images in fanciful handspun yarns and handwoven cloth.

Perhaps you, too, are considering your winters’ haven and how best to spend your short days and long nights under the far north constellations.  If spinning and/or weaving are of interest to you, then consider taking a class and extending your summer’s palette into winters’wonderland.

Fall/Winter Spinning Class Offerings:

Spinning Wheel Basics: $100/all materials/handouts provided

Session I: Thursday Evenings 7 – 9 p.m., September 9, 16, 23, 30

Session II: Thursday Evenings 7 – 9 p.m., October 7,14, 21, 28

Beautiful, one-of-a-kind yarns are all that’s between you and a spinning wheel. Learn the basics of spinning on a spinning wheel from fiber processing, twist, single yarn construction and plying methods. We will spin a variety of natural fibers and create unique, one-of-a-kind yarns. By class end, you will have a working understanding of yarn construction, from fleece to finish. Missed the date?  No worries,  you can join in at any time.

All you need to bring is you and some enthusiasm. Advance registration is required. Contact me at 279-0332 or via email at farnorthfibers@alaska.com

Spindle Spinning: $40/ all materials/handouts provided

Sessions Ongoing Every Friday: 10 a.m. – 1 .p.m.

Learn to spin on a spindle and make wonderful, unique yarns. In a matter of a few hours you will learn how to make a single and two-ply yarn from a variety of natural fibers in batt, roving or top form. Come and learn how humankind began cloth production on the simplest of tools.  Advance registration is required. Contact me at 279-0332 or via email at

farnorthfibers@alaska.com.

Fall/Winter Weaving Class Offerings:

Rigid Heddle Weaving $150.00/ all materials/handouts provided                                                          Session I:  Saturday, September 18, 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m;  Session II:  Saturday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.;  Session III:  Saturday, November 20, 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.;  Session IV:  Saturday, December 4, 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Weave a scarf and wear it in one day!  Using a rigid heddle loom, students will learn the basics of warping and weaving on this simple, portable loom.  Enjoy an all day retreat with a finished product at the end.  Contact me at 279-0332 or farnorthfibers@alaska.com.

Beginning Multi-Shaft  Weaving $200.00/ all materials/handouts provided/ 8 classes per session

Handwoven cloth is the most beautiful cloth imaginable.  Learn to warp a loom, read a weaving draft and design a one-of-a-kind scarf or table runner.  Small groups and/or one-on-one studio classes are available. Contact me at 279-0332 or farnorthfibers@ alaska.com.

Blue Year 2010

Blue Moon, Blue Sky, Blue Earth.

Welcome 2010!  No reason for feeling blue even though the world around you is.  Come in from the cold and treat yourself to a tactile experience sure to wake up any hibernating senses.

New Year Spinning Classes are set to begin the first full week of January.  Learn how to create beautiful single and two ply yarns using a spinning wheel or a spindle.  All materials provided.   Contact me to reserve your place  in the spinning circle and to learn of more spinning opportunities.

Weaving Classes

Ever considered learning how to weave one-of-a-kind cloth?  Consider taking a studio class and learn the basics of weaving on a multi-shaft floor loom.   Spruce up your wardrobe or add an interesting art weaving to your decor.  Experience one of our oldest forms of personal expression - cloth making.

Earth Tone Twills

Here’s wishing you a New Year filled with intention and significance.

Warmly,

Pamela

Greetings!

So much progress has been made in such a short time.  I am pleased to find that all my weaving yarns and equipment have their respective place in my new studio. With new shelves by Nowka Cabinet Company, the cotton, wool, silk and linen yarns are easily accessible to touch and evaluate for size and color decisions.  My new cone winder makes winding off even the smallest yardage a breeze!

The spinning room is fully stocked with Merino top in over 50 colors and exotic fibers in blends that tease even the coldest of Winters’ fingers. A new shipment of Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks will be arriving for a color feast sure to please sans calories. And for all Schacht Matchless and Ladybug spinners, the new Bulky Flyer has arrived!  With a generous sized orifice and bobbin, spinning large yarns bursting with personality has never been easier.   Give me a call if you’d like to come over and take a sample spin.

Finally, look for Far North Fibers Handwovens and Hand-Dyed Yarns at the upcoming Arts & Crafts Emporium, November 21-22, at the Dena’ina Center in downtown Anchorage.  I will have a new showing of handwoven scarves, table runners, linens and yarns.

Kind regards for a peaceful and joyful winter season,

Arts & Crafts Emporium Booth, 2008

Thrums #1 October 1, 2009

Despite a few boxes, a basket here and there, and pounds of cone yarns waiting for their respective places on the new shelving, I am up and running in my new studio. Once a mother-in-law apartment, I am committed to resurrecting this older space into a working, fiber arts studio. The bright space is warm, inviting and offers more opportunity than my previous studio. Equipped with a small kitchen, even my dye-pots will be tempted to brew year long and provide a hot pot of tea while spinning and weaving. My spinning area is completely ready for a whole lot of twisting and to kick off the Fall/Winter season, here are some dates for a beginning spinning wheel class:

Fall/Winter Spinning Class Offerings:

Spinning Wheel Basics: $85/all materials/handouts provided

Session I: Saturdays, 2 – 4 p.m., October 10, 17, 24, 31

Session II: Thursday Evenings 7 – 9 p.m., October 8,15, 22, 29

Beautiful, one-of-a-kind yarns are all that’s between you and a spinning wheel. Learn the basics of spinning on a spinning wheel from fiber processing, twist, single yarn construction and plying methods. We will spin a variety of natural fibers and create unique, one-of-a-kind yarns. By class end, you will have a working understanding of yarn construction, from fleece to finish. Missed the date?  No worries,  you can join in at any time.

All you need to bring is you and some enthusiasm. Advance registration is required. Contact me at 279-0332 or via email at farnorthfibers@alaska.com

Spindle Spinning: $40/ all materials/handouts provided

Session I: Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 1 .p.m.

Learn to spin on a spindle and make wonderful, unique yarns. In a matter of a few hours you will learn how to make a single and two-ply yarn from a variety of natural fibers in batt, roving or top form. Come and learn how humankind began cloth production on the simplest of tools.

Advance registration is required. Contact me at 279-0332 or via email at farnorthfibers@alaska.com

Winter Weaving

Group weaving classes will be offered after the holidays. Until then, I will continue offering my one-on-one open studio classes. Contact me for more information.

We are currently under construction but will be posting soon. Then you can read all about upcooming events, wonderful new fibers, spinning wheels, classes and much much more!