Before I began to make items for sale and had a “real” job, I had no idea the length of time it takes to create the things that we use in everyday life.  If I needed something I could just go to the shops and buy whatever I needed, and I could buy it for very little money. And I still can. But I don’t want to. I don’t want to go and buy something that has been mass produced and then sold for less than $20. I imagine many many hands have touched that item, and how can it have been produced for so little and a profit still be made? It doesnt make sense that it could have been; not without corners being cut, and somebody not receiving adequate payment for their work.

So I try to buy handmade items where I can, or items that have been produced ethically, and I particularly enjoy buying work that has been made locally.

All my work is produced slowly. I buy my supplies in as close to a raw state as I can manage. Everything I sell began it’s life in an undyed, neutral state.  It takes time for it to become the finished item that I sell. Sometimes a very long time, depending on what it is.

I kind of like that about it. Everything I make is crafted individually, or very close to individually.

It’s nice to work this way. I get to enjoy whatever I create while I create it. I shape it, and it shapes me.

I’ll slowly be adding the time it takes for an item to be made to my store descriptions. I think it’s nice to know how something was made, and be given the opportunity to be mindful of its humble beginnings.

This weekend I will be at Bend and Snap Market at 1000 £ Bend on Sunday. I’ve got some new goodies in the shape of merino gloves to unveil, dyed with Indigo, Madder and Cochineal. They’re pretty spesh, and super warm.

I’ll also have a few merino scarves dyed with Madder and Cochineal as well as a bunch of yarn of differing bases, as well as my Indigo. Busy busy! I’ve got the yarn mordanting on the stove as I write this post in fact!

If you’ve been nosing around the shop lately you’ll see that I have a few silk scarves on sale. These will be available at the sale prices at the market, as well as a few others that haven’t been listed in the shop yet, and some eco prints. Ooh! And I also have some home wares that are yet to make a website appearance! Gees I really should get cracking and put all this stuff in the shop!

I also did a little interview a few months back with the organisers of Bend and Snap. Click here to have a read of it. 

I started dyeing yarn because I wanted great coloured yarn for all the knits I make for my son. He wears a lot of vests, and he looks cute as a button in them!

Anyway, with my conquering of the Indigo vat I decided to start sticking yarn into it, and then also thought about other natural dyes that I’ve been itching to try. With the help of a fantastic customer who basically said to me “have at it, I’m sure it will be great!” I have, in the past week also tried my hand at dyeing with Madder and Cochineal.

Ah yarn. Yarn love! Such glorious colours from such wonderful natural dye sources. I also dyed some yarn with Eucalyptus, continuing my experiments with that as a dye source.

I’m pleased to announce that you can now purchase yarn via the shop, dyed to order.

On another note, if you’re not a follower of my facebook page, (then why not??) but you will have missed that Bend and Snap has been cancelled for this Sunday the 30th of June. I will now be at Bend and Snap market on July 28th 2013. So if you were thinking to yourself “I’m going to go and buy some shibori from Vic this weekend” then you’ll have to do it via the website!