Fibre Share – Part 2

New friends & new yarn?  Sounds like fun, right?  I had my doubts about taking part in Fibre Share after  I had signed up but it was one great big win, in the end!

I talked a bit about taking part in Fibre Share HERE so I thought I would let you know what I sent and what I received.

When I first found out who my partner was, we chatted back and forth on Instagram and got to know each other.  Brittany lives in the states so I wanted to send her some goodies from the East Coast of Canada.  When I think about Canadian things, I knew I had to include some Maple products and something related to the ocean.  So, I swung into Earltown General store and bought up some fun things for her – LURE Caramels, East Coasters, and some Maple Candy….I figured that was a little safer to ship than syrup!  I also wanted to include something related to weaving that wasn’t actually fibre so I had Matt of The Spoonery Woodenware & Needful Things make a fork and needle for her….and since I was ordering one set, I got one for myself, too!  I also packed up some authentic Nova Scotia driftwood because driftwood makes a great rod for a weaving!

When it came time to buy wool and other fun fibres for B, I hit up a few of my favourite wool shops.  First stop was Lismore Sheep Farm just outside of River John.  There I bought some fun colours of wool in mini skeins because she loves colour, too!  My next stop was Water Street Studios for some yummy Cobweb Woolies fibre! I could’ve spent a small fortune on wool – some for her, some for me…..you know how it is!  I also sent her some for my own stash, too, it’s fun to share!

I wanted to tuck some other fun things in the package for her, too, so I made her a bracelet out of a belt and an old spoon, because that’s just what I do!  It’s a nod to Makers Gonna Make but it said ‘Weavers Gonna Weave’!  Fitting, right?

I sent her this sneak peek of it – in B&W so she wouldn’t be able to tell the colours!!  Aren’t I cruel??

I had saved a shoe box to pack everything in but it was too small!!  So, I searched for a bigger box and packed it to the gills and sent it off!  And finally it found its way to her!  It’s hard to wait and follow the tracking, knowing they’re waiting on the other end, too!  When it arrived, I got a message, well, three in a row, bing, bang, boom…’Sooo I just opened my package and I am floored’ followed by ‘I love it all!!!’ and finished up with “Thank you so much for putting so much thought and effort! I can’t wait to play!’

I’m thrilled she loved it all, but I’m especially thrilled to have made a new friend who loves to weave, too!

And then one day I came home from work and found a box on my doorstep!  It was like Christmas!!  The packaging, the thoughtful treasures tucked into that box from my new friend, Cindy.  And I have to say, I think she has changed the direction that my weavings are going to go….I’ll explain in a minute, but first, here’s a look at all the goodies!

Can you tell what my favourite colour might be??  I love all the turquoise!  She did such a fabulous job of collecting goodies for me.  And here’s what I especially love, she totally stalked me and tuned into my love of thrifting and my farm life, too.  And the hand written notes she included on each thoughtfully wrapped package along with a long letter was so special!  I love that she included some of her favourite weaving Instagram accounts, too, so I could follow along and get inspired, too!  Wooden sheep, a pink pig, vintage cloth measuring tape, a pom pom, a hoop so I can do a round weaving, so many ‘lisious fibres – it was like Christmas!!!

One of the bundles she sent was filled with goodies she bought at a local craft store that sells thrifted supplies.  This really struck a chord with me.  I love upcycling.  And I know our local Value Village has a craft supply section so why not upcycle some of that??  I think living a second life in a weaving is a good way to spend it, don’t you?  So, now I can’t wait to shop for some fibres to upcycle into a weaving.  And denim, too, because why not – and some t-shirt yarn from favourite old shirts that probably have paint splatters on them….so many options!

I did a weaving with just fibres from the treasure box.  I especially wanted to see what I could do with that silky stuff.  It was a mystery to us both what that may have been for.  And it was all tied off by colour gradient…I will say it wasn’t the easiest thing to work with, but it sure is pretty and makes for a pretty fringe!  It was fun working a bunch of different yarns, camel hair, red vintage bias tape and even some of the string she used to tie up my packages into one weaving as an ode to Fibre Share.  I still have a ton of goodies to work into future weavings, and I just warped a branch to do my next weaving on….so many ideas, so little time!  And this little beauty is being shipped off to its new happy home in the next couple days where it will be loved and appreciated.  It’s fun to be able to spread the love via random Instagram conversations, eh, Peady?? 😉

I certainly hope that down the road, if you have the chance to take part in a swap like Fibre Share, you put yourself out there and go for it.  I have no regrets!  Well, only that I probably won’t even get the chance to meet both my wonderful partners in person!

Happy weaving, folks!

To be continued,

Lori