Link below to my store in the handmade marketplace. 2% of sale profits are donated to children’s charities. I'm Carol...retired special education school teacher (K-6), former professional ice skater-coach and life long self taught arts & crafts hobbyist! I have enjoyed many different handcrafts over the years including sewing, quilting, embroidery, needlepoint, and crochet. I also have
a passion for surface pattern design and have created dozens of patterns using Adobe Illustrator. I inherited my passion for designing from my wonderful mother Peggy! She taught me how to sew doll clothes and my own clothes as a young girl. I also watched her engage in painting and drawing, silk flower arranging, needlework, holiday decorating, entertaining, and interior design. She was my "partner in design" and I miss her so much! I'm so proud to follow in her creative footsteps in honor of her memory! I especially enjoy weaving because of the interplay of light with the colors and tactile textures of the various yarns that I use. It is a handcraft that allows me to create spontaneously and expressively without having to follow a complicated pattern. For me, weaving is exciting but also soothing. I love to weave in my rocking chair on my balcony while enjoying nature...the sunlight, blue sky, breeze in the trees, and the singing birds! My Design Process: I love playing with color so I always start a new weaving project with color inspiration. I mix and match colors from my yarn stash until I find a combination of colors and textures that excites me. Next, I draft a new bracelet or wall hanging pattern in Adobe Illustrator. The weaving design or pattern is often determined by the color relationships I want to highlight. I love to mix muted tones and rich dark shades with saturated hues. I arrange the colors so each color dynamically contrasts or harmoniously blends with neighboring colors. My Weaving Process: I use a hand held Mirrix Chloe Pocket Loom for small weaving projects. It is made of aluminum and copper rather than wood. It is 5 inches wide and is adjustable up to 8.25 inches in length. I use a strong cotton warp thread and DMC 100% wool tapestry yarn. I also use cotton, bamboo rayon and metallic yarns. I enjoy weaving while sitting outside on my balcony, listening to the news or visiting with family and friends. "The mindful pace and beauty of watching your own fabric grow row by row is grounding, fascinating and very welcoming of your own creative eye and inspiration." --Liberty Station, San Diego CA
