The Season of Change

We are almost past pumpkin season and well into the season of change.  The deciduous trees have exposed their true colours and dropped their leaves.  Seed heads have taken the place of flowers.  Mushrooms have popped up in the grass. Yellows, oranges and warm browns dominate the landscape.  The sky is darker blue with more grey than we like to see.

clasped weave scarf

 It is difficult not to start playing with yarns and fibres that mimic the colour of nature at this time of year.  Every vista presents a possible colour scheme for a new project.
Fuzzy, warm yarns and fibres also have a strong attraction as the days are cooler.  Now we have visions of afghans and shawls, blankets and sweaters, scarves and mitts that are waiting impatiently for our attention.

triangle shawl

If the inspiring environment (or rain) isn't enough motivation to get back to the studio then our guild show and sale should be.  This year our sale will be held over two days, Friday November 25 and Saturday November 26.  (See "Elegant Threads" for more information)

For the next month the focus of the guild will be on getting ready for the sale.  Spinning wheels and looms are busy now.  Knitting needles can be heard clacking at meetings.

We have completed the guild tea towel projects from the summer.  Some of those tea towels will go into the silent auction at our show.  The silent auction is always popular with bargain hunters and the proceeds from the auction support guild activities.

Napkins inspired by cloth

Expect to see some inspired colour combinations in the sale items this year.  The colour study group have been working on the relationship between colour and weave structure.

colour study with weave structure

The use of colour in a design can be a challenge for fibre artists as there are many factors to consider including how colours blend when fibre is spun, how colours interact in weaving and how different fibres reflect or absorb light.  Those autumn leaves may look beautiful on the maple tree but recreating that look is a lot more complicated than it appears.