Yarn Along via Small Things.

Follow the Yarn Alon via Small Things blog.

Fellow fiber enthusiasts share their current photos on flicker or directly on Small Things blog.

You can view my share on here via SwansNest:
http://swansnest.etpgames.com/?p=394

Peace, love, and welcome the new Winter season. May we start our journey happily back to light.

SwansNest

Creatively and Compassionately Handmade is the motto for my etsy and...my new website! SwansNest: http://swansnest.etpgames.com/
A gift from my wonderful husband, the website will be a vehicle for my knitted goods for sale on etsy and a space for me to share more about my knitting life and inspirations.
On my site I clue you into who I am and what I do.
Over time I hope to show more of me in my knits and posts.
When you visit my site you will find a sweet post about these short sleeves made from orange vintage kite string.

Love to my Woollies!

Custom knits can be made to order via personal message through my etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/swansnest

SwansNest is finally up and running!

Hello Woolly Friends,
I finally got my etsy page up and running. Please stop by and see my items.



If you are interested in custom pieces I would be more than happy to work with you.
Enjoy,
Nico
etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/people/swansnest
facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002887003564

DIY Civil Ceremony 4/12/11

We needed it to be quick, sweet and short. So there was no other option but doing it ourselves, with the help of family, friends, and my Woolly Mamas.

DIY is just our way of life. Growing up in the strange land between city and rural you learn to care for yourself in many different ways including making your wedding happen in just a weeks time.

OK, technically it was 10 days from the engagement to the ceremony but it all came together and I am now a part of the "wives club". Where do we wives meet again? ;)



For starters, I traded my craniosacral therapy (or osteopath) session time for our ceremony. My cranio therapist is ordained, and we were meeting anyways, how about marrying my partner and I instead?!




I wore clothes I already owned and my baby Sister Mimi did my hair (with blessed botanicals, fruitstoroots.com - local beauty products for multi-racial lovelies). Mimi helped me into my regalia: otter furs with peyote stitching, giant clam shell heart hair pieces and giant clam shell beaded necklace, brain tan elk hide moccasins, and my beautiful eagle wing fan (for smudging).
Mmmm, that felt good! My sis and I haven't done the regalia routine since we were kids.

If you're a dancer or performer of some kind you know the feeling. Old diggs don't die, they just mingle somewhere in the back of the mind.



My Treetrunk made the beeswax candle at the Eugene Waldorf School Winter Light Fair which we used for our family lighting ceremony.
Treetrunk wore a felted flower pin from one of my besties whom just got back into town from her 3month ramble around South America. He picked out some new shoes from our local board shop in EUG, Boardsports: http://www.myboardsports.com/
We got the best service I've ever had anywhere, hands down!

A new friend, who gave our Woolly Mama Lara a ride into town, made Treetrunk a daisy chain crown, thanks dude! I had a dream that he would wear a daisy crown, it was meant to be.
Lara took these beautiful photos and donated an Iris Faerie (found on her etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mountainhearth) to my bouquet of fresh flowers (a gift from Mimi) and I added a pin wheel (life just keeps on moving).

I made my partner a temporary ring from the same yarn I made his fave wool hat with. I also made my Treetrunk a ring from light blue cotton yarn.



We were running late so (as therapy which double as a gift) I had time to rip up a white sheet which turned into white scarves for our guests. Om shanti!

We said our vows after our self scripted ceremony. I chocked up, cried through them and was so nervous that I couldn't even read my notes. I don't even remember what I said. At least it wasn't, "Dude, I really like you...let's do this thing!"



We kissed, signed the wedding license, and saw our friends off before our family hike.



Before the hike I gifted our ordained friend with DIY gifts.
A washcloth, hand knitted and soaked in lavender oil water.



A dish towel/hot-pad, hand knitted with a rescued dish towel backing.



On the Family Hike tender Salmon berry shoots were all over, dog's tooth (native pink) lilies happily greeted the rare sunny day, and my Treetrunk and new husband gathered walking sticks.
We ended our special day by eating crepes near Treetrunk's school so we could shuttle him off to finish out his day with his mates (Waldorf Schools are in full force with Play Season - he couldn't miss his ques).

The ceremony was built around our life: school, work, appointments, and our daily "to-dos". If that isn't the essence of or foundation of DIY, I don't know what is?
Love to all!
~The Swan Pacheco Family

Bub's Booties

One of my long time friends is pregnant with her third child and this time...It's A Girl!

Happiness is just a small bit of what I feel for her and her family. They are such amazing people and have been through many life times of hardship only to come out with deeper more loving connections with each other and the people that surround them.

Her and her sweetheart of 10 years were married this past Summer and will be expecting a baby girl this coming Summer.

For them I made these plush baby booties. Since the babe will be born at the height of Summer I made them for 12 months so that she can wear them during the cold season with socks.

They'll stretch as she grows so they can be used as babe's first inside shoes, maybe?

The yarn was a holiday gift from my youngest.

Peace, love, and baby booties!

Oboster's Baby "Hoot"

Inspired by my youngest chalk pastel drawing of two baby owls hanging out on a tree limb.

He presented the drawing to his dad as "Hoot and Hoot" with a huge smile on his face and glowing brown eyes.

It is these precious moments that us parents try to hold on to. These memories that in the moment you want to physically grasp and place into your heart forever.

The other part to this owl's story is while I was in the free ravelry.com patterns, I came across a very cute idea of cylindrical Easter bunnies. They are long and skinny. I instantly thought of transferring the idea to an owl.

Oboster's love of animals transcends most love for humans. He especially loves baby animals. He melts when his birth mom gets him a new pet and when he watches the chickadees from his older brother's window.

We aren't big into Holidays but we love celebrating the changing of seasons. At Equinoxes and Soltices we celebrate big and our community is a part of that celebration.

So here he is, Mr. Raggedy Patchwork Face Owl. (Name yet determined)
Welcome to the community!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Another postcard

My felt class went on a field trip to learn Nuno felting from a local artist named Tylar Merrill. It was great and I learned oodles. She shows her work in downtown Eugene at Eco-Sleep Solutions, and is worth stopping by to check out. This workshop was one of the many highlights of my school term. We decided to flood her mail box with felt thank you's. Mine is pictured here with crocheted flowers and leaves which I needle felted into the hardened felt card. I needled on some yarn to look vine-like and stitched on Thai paper with my message, and as address labels. I hope that the postal workers enjoyed it as much as the final recipient.

Crafting With Nature

As Spring marches in, I've been trying to bring a little of its magic indoors, to remind myself that Winter is truly drawing to a close, and things will soon be green and busting out. Oregon Winters are just so long. Sigh...

I gathered some pussy willow twigs along a road this past weekend and started sprucing things up for the new season. I was pleased to find that the base for the giant wreath we made at our Waldorf school's Winter Light Faire was made of willows, so I bound some pussy willows to that with floral wire, and gave my front porch a whole new feel.

Then I went around the house creating little altars and nature spaces reflecting the changes outside. I've been doing this for a long time, and I feel like it really tunes us all into the wheel of the year. This little leaf dish from my wedding made a great spot for a favorite little birds nest, some fimo clay eggs I made with  my kids a couple years back, and teeny tiny pussy willow twigs.

I was inspired by a vase of forced buds at a friend's house recently, so I put a bunch of long willow branches in a vase of water to let them root and grow indoors for awhile. I set up more of my birds nests in honor of our feathered friends returning to the fields. Who knows, maybe I can plant some little willow trees later in the Spring.

My next big plans are to build a fairy house village in the garden around the house. I've got one house started, and I'm inspired to keep going with it. The pups ate our fairy village this last year, so I am starting anew in our recently fenced  dog-free front yard. I think the faeries will be pleased to live in peace from now on, not to mention the garden and blueberry bushes.

Happy Spring Crafting!

Magic Mushroom

A mushroom of the land of gnomes and all things magical. Wet felted over a 3D form of a bowl, filled with loosed wool, needle felted in, attached to a wet felted stem weighted with an rock buried into the base, it nearly stands (needs some work in the balance department) on my nature table, conjuring wonder.
A

A little birdhouse for my soul song

I equate my singing voice with my soul. When my soul is feeling compromised, my singing becomes stifled. Sometimes when I create space to sing in this state, healing occurs. I have a bit of an obsession with birds right now, so along these lines, I created a birdhouse for my soul. Lightly felted with pine needles and hemp cord, around the 3d form of a wooden birdhouse, then stitched to natural twig supports, it stands, soft, light, and delicate. A place of protection and warmth to bring my song when it is having trouble emerging. The needle felted bird sits on a needle felted perch, and can emerge with my soul song on her silk ribbon when she is feeling brave and social.

"My Kombucha Wears a Sweater"

by Nicolette Swan.
inspired by my oldest son who calls himself Treetrunk.

My Kombucha wears a sweater because of this nasty weather.
My Mama put the "Mother" on the living room shelf, inside a box, all wrapped up in Dad's old green sweater.

She, the Mother, was all cozy and warm and growing but then the ants came. Dad found them marching around the box. A couple even tried to get in but Dad said "No!" and Mom said, "No way!"
Things looked rather grimm for the Mother. So Dad and Mom took care of her and now she lives in the kitchen cupboard. We had to move all the pie pans out so we could move her in.

I sure do hope my kombucha will grow in that dark cold cupboard.
At least my kombucha wears a sweater.

**In the spirit of Wool and Community, my oldest son and I came up with this story. It was shortly after a Woolly Mamas Eugene Coven Meeting that we found the ants "marching around the box."
I thought it was cute and wanted to share our creation. I'll post more crafting creations soon.
Here comes Spring Break, craft it up!!!

Sunshine and Magnetism

When I was a baby my father called me the “sunshine on his shoulder”. He taught me diligence, determination, and a priority of providing for my family. He encouraged me to shine my light around the world. It is in his honor that I continue his legacy, pursuing my degree to teach children with learning challenges, work with families and helping them flourish. This wool and silk, Nuno felt art piece is an expression of my purpose to share and spread light through my life’s work.

The piece was inspired by this photo of a sunspot in space. It is a place on the sun where magnetism causes hot gasses to stay out of one particular area, but bubble around it. I think it is beautiful and it reminds me of a sunflower. The concept of being able to draw heat or repel heat through magnetism is a powerful concept for me. I can do this for myself, attracting what I desire to have in my life, and repelling who or what I want nothing to do with.

Dad, if you see this blog post, look what you are going to get in the mail for your birthday in May- sneak preview. Elliot and Tenar helped me a ton, because I made this with a broken elbow, and my arm in a cast. I started planning this project when you were in the hospital sick. I want you to know how much you mean to me and influence me in life. I need you to see me succeed. I guess I'll save the rest for the card that I mail with the gift on your birthday.

Winter Inspirations, Spring Time Dedications!

Hello Woollies! My name is Nico (Batta-Bicco Coco) Swan. Really my fam and friends call me either Nikki or Nico. And a select group calls me by my birth name Nicolette.
(Inner dialogue: Moving on!)

I've tried writing for The Woolly Mamas blog several times now but I just seem to be caught up in my daily to-dos. Which is funny because what seems to be the driving force for The Woolly Mamas coven: busy Mamas for busy Mamas who're pro wool!

Besides my three (oh, wait) now f0ur volunteer jobs I have around town and my loving blended family I also enjoy knitting things for those I love.

Here are some of my creations that I conjured up this grey looming winter here in Eugene, OR.


I made these armlets for my youngest (we call him Oboster) that have a nifty thumb whole and cover the palm of the hand. They are made from a mercerized cotton in orange and a cotton blend in "rainbow" (his favourite colour).


These bonnet-esk beauties were made for my two favourite cowgrrrls:
Calamity Daisy and Calamity May!
They are made from rescued yarn that I purchased at MECCA (http://www.materials-exchange.org/). They are a cotton blend.



And my piece de resistance was this bright and whimsical hat made for my sweet Cassandra and her new babe Mr. Miles. I combined and frankensteined two patterns from ravelry.com (me: http://www.ravelry.com/people/NicoSwan). The truck button is hand painted that I scored from my friend's vintage shop: Oak Street Vintage, EUG.
I love that place! I would live there if Cora would let me.

That's it for now! It's Sunday and my partner and I will be taking a walk to Goodwill soon to go treasure hunting.
Love, Life, and Lanolin!

Introduction by Felt

A statement about my juxtaposition in life during this school term, assigned by my fiber arts teacher. It is a postcard made of wool, to be sent through the USPS. Postal art is a concept that I am fond of. I am glad to have an opportunity to justify spending many hours on something like this. Yes, MANY hours! There is no way that anyone could possibly know how much detail and time went into this little 4 1/4 x 6 inch piece of wool. I started with plain wool- hand carded it, and layered it in one direction, then another, etc., and put a piece of blue, indigo dyed cheesecloth in the center, to cast a bluish tint through the whole piece. I lightly wet-felted, making a lofty and loose piece of pre-felt. I then began needle felting my image on the non-adressed side. Using hand-spun, rough yarn, I made a knotty tree with roots. A cardinal was cut from commercially felted wool that I kool-aid dyed red, a while back. I needle felted detail onto her, as well as some colorful fall leaves on the tree and ground. I needle felted all of the words that you see. Then I wet felted with a rolling method, being extremely careful to turn frequently, and measure for postal dimensions. I felted the heck out of it, and was frustrated by the fact that it wanted to stop sooner than the needed shrinkage. I shocked it in cold water, then hot, felting more, and then put it in a zip lock with hot, soapy water and threw it on my cement basement floor over and over. When I took it out, I saw sadly that it had lost tons of detail and the words were no longer readable. I sharpied over the letters and then needle felted in white around the letters to make them stand out. This took a long time. Finally, I began to needle felt on the other side, to create seagulls. I put the address with permanent marker on silk, and then used hand-spun wool yarn to felt right through the silk and pin it down. I liked the design element that the hand spun borders made on the silk edges, like wood on the ocean beach piers. I added some feathers on the surface, which had spilled out of my down comforter. There are more details than this, but I am so done with this project (5 days and at least and well over 15 hours!)