creative chat: Emma of Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company

It's been awhile since my last Creative Chat interview, but I've got something really special to share with you all today. This past month I had the chance to talk with Emma from Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company. Emma is a photographer and fiber artist living in Northern Ireland where she works with natural woolly fibres in the form of knitting, spinning and natural dyeing. From the moment I discovered Emma on Instagram I knew her work was something special, and I'm so super excited to share this interview with you all today- especially because she is currently in the process of opening her shop, which will launch later this month. 

So grap a cuppa and join us for this inspiring chat: 

1. If we were having this conversation in person, in a cafe what would you be drinking? Are you a coffee or tea person?

I am most definitely a tea person- no coffee for me! I would probably be drinking black tea with milk, or Earl Grey. Or if I’m feeling summery I will have a fruit tea! My current favourite is peppermint and liquorice. 

2. Tell us a little bit about what you make/do. What got you started on this particular creative journey?

I am an architectural photographer by trade, and occasionally I have pockets of ‘bad weather’ time I like to fill up, where I can’t be photographing outside. I like to craft/ make in these in between moments. More specifically I love spinning on my wheel, dyeing with natural dyes and knitting socks. I got started on this creative journey when I was at art college in London- I was studying on the photography course at Camberwell College of Art and I met a lovely crafter/ illustrator lady by the name of Kim Smith (@kimsmithhappy/ @aushopuk). We became great friends and met up most weeks to catch up and craft together, sometimes meeting at her house, sometimes at her cousin’s pub down the road. 

I arrived at her house one night for some craic (as we say here) and a bit of craft and I noticed she had a spinning wheel. I was very excited and had to learn the skill myself- Kim is an awesome teacher! I purchased my own wheel on eBay, and went on the train to collect it. I began spinning on my own, playing around with different types of wools and techniques, and really enjoyed the process. Around the same time I created an art project where I visited several sites around London, picked various dye materials from the environment, and dyed with them. I then wove a small mat on a frame loom, which included all the dyed fibre from around London. 

From there I left university and started my photography business, and hadn’t been crafting as much as I’d have liked. I knew I wanted to make more with my hands, since most days I was sitting on a computer or behind a camera in the digital world. I then joined the Ulster Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers and that helped spark my interest and hone my skills. I learnt about different sheep breeds, qualities of different fleeces and different dyeing methods. They are a lovely group of ladies with so much knowledge to impart! 

In May 2017 I had a serious creative itch, and knew I had to do something about it. I was knitting a lot, and starting to dye again. I knew I wanted to experiment more with natural dyes in a bigger quantity but I couldn’t unless I had a suitable outlet. That’s when I came up with the idea of opening an online shop to sell my naturally dyed and handspun yarn. I placed an order with the wonderful Laxton’s Mill in Yorkshire for some of their lovely fibres- BFL, Masham, Wensleydale, Falkland Merino in different weights and I couldn’t wait to get started in dyeing them! During September 2017 I used a mixture of foraged and extract materials to dye with- a process I absolutely loved! I experimented with blackberries, elderberries, onion skins, logwood, madder amongst other things with some really nice results. I have also purchased some local alpaca fibre which I plan to spin up for the shop opening- it’s really exciting to work with local suppliers!

3. What does your daily routine/creative process look like? How do you structure your creative time? 

Every day for me is different- I wouldn’t enjoy doing the same thing all the time! I don’t really structure my creative time as such- I usually just have a list of things I have to complete that day and I try and get them done. I always find it helps if you have an end goal in mind- e.g. a shop opening, an exhibition planned, a collaboration etc as this provides some motivation to get things done! In general I try not to separate creative time/ other time too much, or to really think about it too much as I feel it stifles my creative process a little, especially when it comes to dyeing. “Think through making”- that’s what tutors used to tell us at art college. Sometimes with natural dyeing, you get unexpected results, and want to explore those options more, and end up making a batch of colours you hadn’t planned on. You should able to do this without making yourself feel guilty for enjoying it!  In general, if I’m having a ‘dye day’, I have everything set out the night before- dye baths soaking, pots at the ready, yarn soaking. This makes the process of getting started a lot easier! I then make my to-do list and get on with dyeing or collecting materials from my local area. Sometimes there are other bits and bobs that need done- Instagram posts, labelling, photographs which is all part of the creative process too. At the end of the day, about an hour before I want to finish, I start cleaning up work area (currently my kitchen!). 

My knitting usually takes place at night, in front of the fire in our front living room- not during the day!

4. I'd love to chat a little more in depth about your tools/workspace. Do you have a designated work area, or any special tools/favourite fibers to work with? 

I do have a designated work area for crafting, but somehow it infiltrates the rest of the house! I usually tend to craft wherever feels good that day. Generally it’s not my actual workspace because it’s so messy and unkempt- it’s not even slightly pretty! When I’m dyeing I’m in the kitchen a lot so I end up staying there to check on the temperatures etc. When I’m doing admin I go to my office and sit at my computer and turn it off when I’m finished. That where all my photography equipment, books and architecture journals are kept. 

My Frank Herring spinning wheel is quite unique- it is made in Dorchester, England and has a definite 70’s vibe to it- it is made of bent plywood. It’s quite a petite wheel, easy to throw over your shoulder to take to a demonstration. I’ve never met anyone else who has this wheel. 

I also have a noddy-noddy handmade by a local wood worker, which I love, and a ball winder given to me by my Great Aunt, which is invaluable! 

 As for fibres, I love single breed, non-super wash wool, and my current favourites for spinning are Swaledale, Gotland and BFL. All of the yarns in my shop will be non- superwash (read more about the process here http://woolful.com/fiber-conscious-superwash-wool/) and fully woolly! 

5. I'm also curious about how place affects your creative process. Can you tell us a little bit about where you live and how/if this affects your work?  

I live near the North Coast of Ireland in an old Georgian terrace house (which we are renovating) in a medium-sized farming town. Every room has a different feel, particularly at different seasons of the year, so it’s lovely to have the choice of where to work on a particular day. The weather here is temperamental, and we often see the four seasons in one day. It’s often raining. This forces a lot of indoor time, so the fire gets stoked and the dye pots get going. In saying that, I like cycling and walking and the mountains- so I am sure that this has an influence on me too. 

Although I lived in London for three years while completing my degree, the heritage and traditions of coming from a farming background in rural Northern Ireland affects my work more than anything else. It makes you aware that nature and the landscape are not always picturesque and gentle, as well as teaching you to look after what you have and to make things rather than always buying them. My great Granny used to make all sorts of concoctions and potions out of things she foraged from the hedges and country lanes, as well as having amazing crochet skills- her lace work was beautiful. I suppose all of these things have influenced me- I love colours derived from our landscape, small cottage industries, living a simple (as possible) life and working with my hands. 

6. What are you currently up to? Anything new and exciting coming up?

I am currently preparing to open my online shop Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company on October 31st! I have been busy dyeing and spinning wool, as well as getting the website ready. You could say it’s a mammoth undertaking! You will be able to find the yarn shop at woollymammothfibrecompany.com from October 31st and you can find me at @woollymammothfibres on Instagram. 

Thanks so much Emma for taking time to chat with me and share more about your work. If you enjoyed this interview, make sure you visit Emma over on Instagram to say hi and mark your calendars for her shop opening on Oct 31! 

note: all photos provided by Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company

Raincloud and Sage yarn

so big news to drop today: I am starting a yarn label.

For the past several months, I've been working quietly but diligently behind the scenes on my newest creative venture- r&s yarn. I'm very excited and completely scared out of my mind to finally officially announce it with you all today. 

Honestly, the idea for this yarn came about quite organically- I wasn't exactly looking for this opportunity. But once we did dream it up, I just couldn't stop thinking about it. It's scary because I don't exactly know what I'm doing and I'm having to learn a TON each step of the way. It's exciting because, well honestly? It feels like the perfect place for me to end up in this season of my life and fiber journey. 

So what will r&s yarn look like, you ask? We hope to offer *very* small batch farm yarns 100% grown, spun & dyed within 50km of where I live in central Germany. This year there will be two bases of woolen spun yarn available, in two different undyed colorways as well as limited edition, one of a kind, naturally dyed skeins. R&S yarn will be run by myself and my good friend Marty, with a focus on partnerships with other creatives and fiber folk.

Our yarn will launch in October. Until then you can stay updated by following us on Instagram (we're @raincloudandsage over there...) or signing up for our newsletter via the link on our website: raincloudandsage.com. Over the next few weeks we'll be sharing more of our origin story, as well as behind the scenes peeks at our process AND of course, any updates on when our shop will be opening. 

I'm so excited about this venture and I hope you'll come along with us for the journey. Thanks as always for stopping by this little space of mine. I'm glad you're here. 

Market Bag Make Along

Today I'm so happy to share with you a little project that's got me super excited. Together with my friend Simone (@inkandsoil) I am going to be hosting my very first ever knit-along (well, make-along really since it includes crafts other than knitting). 
We got to talking about how we both wanted to make a bag thought it might be fun to open it up to all you amazing fiber artists who might be interested in doing somethings similar along with us! 

Here are the details:

Start date: July 1st
End date: August 15th

Who: This MAL is open to knitters, crocheters, sewers, weavers and fiber artists who would like to make themselves some sort of market bag. Whether you're in the Northern Hemisphere and (like us) are looking for a lighter weight project for these warmer months, or you're in the Southern Hemisphere and would like to make yourself a bag to USE during the coming warmer months, you are welcome. You can make something in a craft you're already confident in or use this as an opportunity to grow your skills and try something new! I've got a ton of different ideas swirling around in my brain on what kind of bag to make (granny squares! macrame! naturally dyed totes!) and can't wait to get started.

How: This Make-along is going to be taking place almost entirely over on Instagram. We've created the hashtag #marketbagmakealong for you to share your in progress photos, so please do so. Feel free to tag us (@ruthwerwai & @inkandsoil) if you'd like so we're sure to see everyone's projects. Photos of finished objects will need to be posted under the thread #marketbagmakealong by the deadline in order to be eligible for prizes!

Prizes: There will of course be some very lovely and amazing prizes which we'll be sharing about over the weeks to come!


And last but not least, here's a round up of some pattern suggestions if you're looking for inspiration:


Knit: 
Artichoke // Dejeuner // Pomelo // Eyelet Market Tote // Purl Bee Knit Tote

Crochet: 
Honeycomb Bag // Sturdy Market Tote // Rich Textures Tote // Crochet Mesh Bag // Linen Market Bag

a little book called WOODS

(photo courtesy of WOODS)

Today I want to share with you all something very special that I've had the privilege to be involved with. 

You may have seen something about WOODS already floating around on Instagram, your favorite knitting podcast, or elsewhere on the internet. WOODS is an incredibly exciting new knitting book put together by the Making Stories team- Hannah Lisa and Verena. These ladies have a passion for European wool and are putting together the book to showcase just that- natural, breed specific wool, local to us here in Europe. 

It's been interesting to watch the trend over the last few years as more and more knitters start thinking about where their yarn is coming from and how they can be a little more intentional in their purchasing. There are a ton of really wonderful yarn companies based in North America (like Quince & Co and Brooklyn Tweed) that are doing such amazing work. But I think it's important for those of us living here in Europe to be aware of some of the wonderful yarn companies doing just as valuable work over here. 

And that is one of the things WOODS is going to highlight. 

The book includes 11 designs, all using natural, breed specific yarn from around Europe as well as long form tutorials, articles and interviews with creative giants in this fiber art community. Just reading through the crowdfunding page and seeing everything it's going to include has me itching to get my hands on it and look through the pages. If you ask me, this is going to be one of those books that sticks around- it's so much more than a collection of patterns.

I am so so excited and incredibly honored, that I get to be a small part of this project.

My design- the Puzzlewood Mitts (shown in progress above) was selected as one of the patterns for the book. My mittens have been paired with the incredible Black Isle Yarns Gotland and Zwarbles/Mohair blends in two shades of grey. I love love LOVE this yarn. 

And now- for the most exciting part of all. You too can be a part of this project. Hanna Lisa and Verena are currently running a crowdfunding campaign (which you can view here). They've got a ton of reward options that you can choose from, including of course copies of the book, but also goodies such as bonus patterns, tote bags and swag, knitting webinars and even a wooly day with the two of them in Berlin! Make sure you check it out! 

To stay up to date on all things WOODS (and to find out about who else is involved in this project) make sure you follow the Making Stories Instagram account as well! 

creative chat: Andrea of Create Share Love Blog

So as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I have been thinking a lot lately about memory keeping. For this reason (among others) I am very excited to share the next installment in my creative chat series! Today I'm talking with Andrea from Create Share Love Blog about blogging, goal setting and of course- memory keeping! 

I've been following along with Andrea both on Instagram and her blog for about a year and a half now and I am always so inspired by not only her projects but also her entire approach to blogging and documenting. Her scrapbooking spreads and mini books are absolutely stunning and have me seriously debating starting up scrapbooking myself. I was so excited when Andrea agreed to chat a little more with me and share about her work and creative process.

You can connect more with Andrea over on Instagram and check out her blog here. But for now, grab a cuppa and come join us for this inspiring chat! 

1. If we were having this conversation in person, in a cafe what would you be drinking? are you a coffee or tea person?

I usually start with a good cup of black tea or green tea (preferably with loose tea) and then drink either an espresso or cappuccino. What I love about tea is that it takes longer to drink it and therefore you don't have to order something new so fast. I still like my tea when it's cold, but I don't like cold coffee.

2. Tell us a little about what you make/do. What got you started on this creative journey?

I have always been a crafty person. When I was younger I loved to draw and paint. My grandfather is a fantastic watercolor artist and I always wanted to paint like he does. My favorite subjects in school were the ones that involved painting, drawing, knitting, sewing and playing with wood. But then, as a young adult (around 20) I lost my interest in crafts and also had no time because I was working (almost full time) and studying at the same time. But then, after a few years I needed a hobby again. There was this feeling that I just had to create. I started with painting, then picked up sewing and knitting again. In 2012 I got introduced to memory keeping (Project Life®) and started to make mini books and traditional scrapbook pages. Today I can say that I simply love to make and also am really interested to try new things. I recently started my first embroidery project and it is so much fun.

3. On your website you say "There is always something going on in our life and we forget all those little moments that make our life valuable too fast. Life is not all the big events, life is small everyday stories. And I want to collect them." This really resonates with me! Can you talk a little bit more about how both blogging and scrapbooking play a role in this?

With scrapbooking (making traditional scrapbook layouts, mini books, Project Life®, ...) I tell stories of our life. Stories that most people think aren't worth documenting because they are too "everyday life". But I LOVE to take photos of what we are eating, what I'm wearing, who we are inviting over, how we spend our Sundays, what we watch on television. There are so many small things in our life that make our life our life. That describe who we are and what we value. What we love and what we don't like. These small moments are the ones I want to document. Yes, there are also bigger moments like a wedding, a birthday or a vacation where I take photos and have a story to tell. But most parts of my life are small moments. With scrapbooking I am telling all those big and small stories.

The main reason why I started a blog is to have a place for all my projects. There I can collect everything I make. It's so much fun to look back through my archives and see how much I am doing. Crafting is a big part of my life and I would easily forget all those projects if I hadn't documented them on my blog. But the blog is also a space where I don't share everything. Projects that aren't that awesome won't make the cut and you will never see them there. Or there are projects I finished, and I shared them on my Instagram account but never had the time to write a proper blog post for it. In the end I'd say, the blog has the purpose to collect my crafty projects that were a success.

4. How does goal setting fit into what you do?

In 2014 and 2015 I had a Birthday project called 27 handmade items. The goal was to complete 27 new crafty projects in the year I was 27. It was a time where everyone had a Birthday project going on. Although I didn't reach the goal, it helped me to try new mediums and learn new techniques. 

At the beginning of this year I set myself two crafty goals: to make 6 mini albums and to sew/knit 10 garments. I set these goals not because I am not doing enough already but because I want to take more time to do projects I really love. And I love making mini albums, sewing and knitting. But with all the other projects I am doing, I didn't do much of these three things. I picked sewing and knitting because I want to improve my skills and making mini albums because I love to hold them in my hands and look through the pages.

I subscribe to the Story Kit™ and Story Stamp™ from Ali Edwards. The goal I set there is to always watch the video in the classroom and to make at least two scrapbook pages every month with the contents from the kit. The main reason behind this goal is also "taking time for me". Taking time for me and my projects.

5. I'm so inspired by the way you share and document your creative projects. How do you find that balance between creating and sharing- finding time to make and also time to document what you're up to?

Good question! I guess that taking photos during and right after I completed a project is second nature by now. Whenever I finish something I grab my camera and take a few photos. This doesn't mean I'm sharing it right away, but at least I already have the photos. Taking photos is like the last step of finishing a project.

When I started blogging I shared three posts per week, then I switched to two posts per week and now I have one blog post up every Monday. I had to learn that although I don't work on Fridays, I don't want to spend all my time on this day working on my blog. With one blog post per week I spend 1 to 2 hours on a Friday for the upcoming blog post. This includes editing the photos of the project I already finished and photographed, writing my text and uploading the photos. 

For Instagram I like to share photos of a project in progress. This doesn't take long. I just put down my project while working on it, arrange it a bit and snap a photo. Then I edit it on my phone and share it with my followers. This whole thing takes about 5 minutes, which is nothing.

6. Where do you most like to create/make? 

In our house I have a craft room just for myself. I recently made a few changes and I really like the vibe of it now. I have a table where I can stand and work on paper projects and I have a table where I can sit and work on my sewing projects. I spend most of the time there when I work on paper and sewing projects. When it comes to knitting I prefer our living room, sitting on the couch. Or during the warmer days I like to bring my knitting outside. That's the great thing with knitting, you can do it anywhere. But when I work on paper projects it's easier to stay inside in my craft room.

7. What are you currently up to? Any exciting plans or projects to finish out this year?

Right now I'm working on several paper projects. There is my main Project Life® album, where I tell the story of our everyday life. I also keep a personal Project Life® album, where I document all the things about me and my projects. Then I have a few mini albums from past vacations I want to finish this year. From time to time I work on a few scrapbook layouts with the Story Kit™. Then I also have this ongoing project called One Little Word® where you pick a word in January and focus on it throughout the year. I picked the word 'LIGHT' and document my progress and what I'm learning or changing. 

In December I participate in my favorite memory keeping project called December Daily®. This project is all about documenting our December with words and photos and then putting it all together to create a December album.

Fall and Winter is usually the time where I knit and sew more than during the Summer. I am looking forward to knitting a few hats, another sweater or pullover and I also want to try some new sewing patterns. I am in the beginning stages of creating a handmade wardrobe and now is the time where I'm making plans about what to make.

thanks so much Andrea for taking time to chat with me here! As mentioned above- to see more of Andrea's work and to follow along with what she's up to, make sure to stop by her blog and visit her over on Instagram.

note: all photos courtesy of Andrea. (in the top photo, she's wearing the Lucinda sweater, which she knit herself!)

This interview is part of my Creative Chat series, where I sit down for a virtual coffee or tea date with makers and creatives to talk about their creative processes, journeys and the inspiration behind their work. You can read other posts in the series here.

exciting news!

just wanted to stop in quickly today and share something exciting with you all. For months now, I've been wanting to use the proceeds from my little online shop to do some good. Now that my Fall line has officially launched, I've decided to go ahead and donate 25% 100% of all proceeds made (online & through stock lists) this season to Open Hands Charity. The photos above were taken at the first of (hopefully) many events that I'll be selling at over the next few months. Together with a friend of mine, we hope to sell a variety of handmade goods raising money and awareness for Open Hands, as well as encouraging people to buy handmade and support artists in their community. 

Open Hands works alongside families and children struggling with poverty and racism in Romania. I am really excited to be able to support them in this small way. If you want to find out more, please stop by their website (gibt's auch auf Deutsch) or Facebook Page, where you can also view more photos from the event (and find out how you can purchase the items!)