Yarn Studio

When we moved to Montana with 3 small children which I mostly homeschooled, life was full. Then number four showed up- life became even busier. As they grow up and move out to college, I have started the whole empty nest syndrome thing which is pretty terrifying and sad for parents, or at least for me, as my children were such a big part of my life.

On the side to earn a little extra income during the child rearing years I was a freelance maternity and baby photographer- however scheduling clients with my big family became tricky. It was tough making it all work.

 Then one day on the North shore of Kauai I sat on the beach and told my husband I wanted to spin and dye my own yarn....and there it was.

That's how it all started 10 years ago. Changed my life.

Since then I have worked from my upstairs studio and dyeing in the kitchen or outside weather permitting. Having more time on my hands I can now commit so much more time to this hobby/ part time work - so we built a studio where I could dream, create and be messy.

I've tried to think of as many things as possible to make this space ergonomic and useful. We have used inexpensive materials and reused as much material possible too. This is my counter and sink. To the left is the space for the stove that will hopefully arrive sometime this week. Shelving that has been built with repurposed wood to hold the dyes. All trim are from old jobs sites when Pierre worked as a carpenter.

It sits just right off the house so the commute is pretty short- even on blizzardy Montana wintry days.. I can still make it in to work! There is more to be done but I am so grateful and excited. I feel settled something that has taken me some time - dancing around my family, other peoples schedule and working in less then ideal areas. This is my space and that feels good.
More to come...

A new path

This spring I set out to explore

in much need of inspiration and creativity as I was feeling stagnate

 searching for a new path

I went  to university for a semester, studying psychology and fractal geometry (which was actually pretty tough)

Stepping outside my comfort zone really helped open my mind and heart

 but the shoe still didn't fit

 Early May I almost lost my horse Bella to colic- she had to go to the hospital for a week and lost over 200 lbs- which is pretty grave for a horse.

Nursing her back to health which included

medication and feeding her every 2 hours for the first 10 days,

talk about reliving mother hood all over again.

Bella is once again her happy horse self and gained all her weight back.

Panicked doesn't even describe what I went through.

Waves of gratitude washed over me that her life was saved.

 Amerced myself in a lovely summer here in Big Sky country- lots of swimming, sup boarding, floating on the rivers, fly-fishing and hiking with family and friends.

Summer is like an elixir

Hard when it abruptly comes to end.

Canadian geese fly over head reminding us the cooler weather is arriving 

and fall descend upon us once again in the mountains.

My oldest headed out to college in Missoula and our daughter started college locally

wasn't it just yesterday that they started first grade?

 During the summer we built a little studio in the back of our house.

No longer  allowed to dye yarn in the kitchen, my husband kicked me out! 

Wiping down splashed granite counter tops and mopping up color stained wood floors was probably not the best solution.

This will be my own little creative space

where I can be messy and dream up beautiful colorscapes for yarn again.

I'm back to photography and I'm back to blogging- oh how I have missed it!

Time is what I needed

 think thoughts through

clear my head

away from routine

open my mind and brighten my heart space.

the road leads me back again

all I needed was a few degrees of adjustment in order to find the right path

home again.

I hope you all are well  - wishing you peace and love.

 Until next time.

Spring Days

Springtime is the land awakening.

The March winds are the morning yawn.

~Lewis Grizzard

Spring is in the air

 This is one of my favorite seasons ...

More light is pouring in from morning to evening

Grass starts to spout a little all to be dumped on again by snowfall until June here on the 48 parallel

 little buds on the aspen and the pussy willow with their little fuzzies..it's all so beautiful.

 I think this might be why I chose lavender and yellow the colors of crocus I see around here. I bought yarn online for the first time in many years and was SO pleased with the quality and service. This yarn is not only yummy but it's squishy, soft and yummy.

 Craftsy.com has a really good selection

especially if you're on a budget

 

The lavender yarn is being knitted in the White Pine pattern

Found an old favorite my Green Mountain Spinnery knitting book from my book shelf 

 lovely pictures, patterns and they offer exquisite yarn

this time around I will use the yellow yarn and knit

"Moriah's wild flower cardigan"

 Heading out to Sherbrook Quebec to visit chefs family this spring break

  we are spending 2 days as per my request in Vermont.

Burlington and Stowe is on the itinerary.

The kids want to visit Ben and Jerry's...who doesn't?

 As I was looking through my book I noticed that Green Mountain Spinnery is located in Putney- unfortunately is just to far for this visit but I did see that Burlington is loaded with neat fiber shops this one in particular is on my list

NIDO

I can't wait to explore and travel it's been a year since we were in Taos and Santa Fe

Any plans for spring break friends?

Socks on the chopping block

Socks are done, they were knitted in the airport, in the car and outside when inside was to noisy from the power tools renovating the kitchen- a saving grace at times. I also bought "Big Sky Cooking" as a kitchen house warming gift to my self. Using seasonal local fare...I have every intention of cooking up a storm when the kitchen is done. I love reading cook books.

...and then there are those who care less about knitting and reading cookbooks. As long as there is a shady spot with some soft grass to rest her little body- Lilly's a happy camper.

What are you knitting?

Joining Ginny today

 

Surprise shawl

I love surprises!
and this was one

 Tucked away this "almost done" shawl was found with some yarn while cleaning out my studio.

 All I had to do to finish it was cast off a few stitches and sew up the ends

Boom 

I had a new shawl!

 "Bohemian Rhapsody" 80/20 merino/nylon 2 ply from Mountain Girl yarns

 La La simple shawl pattern

  my go to pattern so easy and shows off the yarn so nicely.

This was a great surprise!

maybe a I should clean more often..ehem

Joining Ginny 

 

Knitting & an interview with Sally Mac

This is a soft and rustic Columbia/Targhee  yarn

 that  will be offered in the shop soon.

What a coincidence.... the cardi I wanted to knit

 was suggesting the a similar worsted yarn :)

Tilda

 a little travel knitting 

 simple but effective

 knitting the time away waiting in the airports

Mountain Girl Yarns

 Today you can find me 

HERE

Sally Mac has an uplifting and refreshing website:

Tables of content

"a lifestyle website without the pressure to buy more, eat less, be better or look different. 

It’s about being YOU, 

and celebrating every little tiny part of your existence"

and asked me so kindly if I would do a little interview

Wishing you a beautiful day

wherever your travels may lead you...

 

..this little kitchen of ours

 We love scaffolding- its become a sculpture in our living room

(notice Lillys doggy bone?)

 living in this house with 4 kids over 10 years has taken its toll on the floors, the kitchen and me.

 and with our big family- we need more space!

 Here's the heart of our home the kitchen

the wall between the kitchen and the dining room is knocked down to let more natural light in

  2 solar tubes in the ceiling being installed
letting more natural light
 and it s wonderful!
 

  this BEAUTIFUL Star Trek mother board island
is being removed for a rectangular one.

 the stove and the fridge are our saving grace as we
 live "camping" style

 It's hard with all the construction workers in and out,
on the roof,
in the kitchen

 noise and dust everywhere.

Especially for a homebody like me.

 I know once finished I will be able to Disco Dance on my granite countertops in sheer joy!

  a new knitting project to keep my mind off the noise in the kitchen and cope with the stress.

 

 In the mean time I hide upstairs in my studio and drink Tea in the only mug I could find

- everything is in boxes

 

So I "speak the truth"...remodeling is stressful

 

but it has to be done

 because in our families case

 

 the kitchen is where the heart is

 

Changes and a Mountain girl yarn update

Passion Fruit

 ST. Tropez

Sierra Madre

Kintla

 Mountain Wild

 Butterfly Kisses

 

 Floribunda

 

 

It's impossible said pride

 it's risky said experience

 it's pointless said reason

 

...give it a try whispered the heart

 

 

Mountain Girl Yarns will have a few changes this spring/summer season

 This will be the last update of new yarns for a while

once the yarns are sold

 

 being away for a bit open my mind and I have put much thought into it 

 decided to change location online for my shop-

working on moving from ETSY to my own spot.

 

 Adding plant dyed yarns

 after popular demand here and on instagram
 folks have been requesting

 

New yarns will also be introduced this season

 some that are local here to the Rocky Mountain range

beautiful rustic, soft and dreamy

 they have that special feel to it

when you stick your nose in it and smell it like wool should smell

 

 this will be offered in fingering weight and DK

 Natural crème colored and natural greys too

 

 I asked myself what would I like to purchase and see offered in a shop?

therefor branching out and offering something special and unique

in addition to my one of a kind hand dyed yarns

 the exact time  when this will come about is still unknown
 we are in the middle of a huge kitchen renno so things are a little upside down
shooting for May/June time frame
 

 I am currently selling Mountain Girl yarns at Shops at ST. 8

 and will be at the new farmers market here locally this summer

 

 so if you're ever in town stop by and say hi!

 

 

I want to thank you all so very much for supporting and cheering me on with Mountain Girl Yarns

your heartfelt comments ha means the world to me.

 

 I am having too much fun

xo

 

Santa Fe Sweater

 

 

 A mad dash to finish up this one.

Leaving for Santa Fe New Mexico and thought this would be fun to bring along

 and I made it- whew!

 

The pattern is a simple top down, I did the ribbing in different colors

and crochet the button band.

 

 Used my own naturally plant dyed yarn

 dyed with

 Madder, Indigo, Weld (my favorite) Walnut Hull, Cutch, Himalayan Rhubarb and Lac

 its quite the process

but worth it.

 

Quirky and colorful

 it fits my personality

 

What are you knitting?
 

Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams