Santa Fe Opera

July 19, 2016 By Lee Leave a Comment

Dog Days of Summer

From last week’s blog you know that we were in Seattle for a few days. Returning from Seattle, we found our senses of sight, taste, and smell had been tickled to “overload.” We’re bursting with new ideas for designs and colors. Prior to departure we took several “sewing” machines in for servicing. They were to supposed to be ready upon our return. Of course, they weren’t. Acceptable reasons but, still not ready. So no sewing …

Probably just as well, it’s hot! Outside and inside. Unusually hot for the high plains desert of New Mexico. Too hot for hiking. Too hot for gardening. Where are the monsoons that kicked off July with breezes that kept day time temperatures at the mid-80?? In July when the sun goes down behind the Sandias, it’s supposed to be chilly! Instead the evening air is still and hot and we gather all the fans we own.

If the sewing machines were here and the FeltLOOM were running it would be even hotter in the Fabric Design Center. This is probably a good time to do a little maintenance such as checking needle boards and cleaning fiber dust from inside the FeltLOOM. Inventory needs to be checked to determine what is going with us to the Western Design Conference in Jackson, WY, along with our new creations. That’s not as hot as running the equipment, and you can sit right in front of a fan.

Sandy has been putting off trying some new hat designs, favoring new scares and shawls that sell so well at Handwoven Originals during the Santa Fe Opera season. Now’s a good time because making hat molds while sitting in front of a fan is a lot cooler than running around the FeltLOOM and “banging” out — literally — scarves and shawls. Only trouble with sitting in front of the fan while shaping a hat mold is that the Styrofoam blows all over and you get hot sweeping it up.

Or, maybe we should just follow our dogs’ example? It is after all their days. They run at night and sleep all day in the coolest spots they can find (often the Loom Room.)

Phone just rang — sewing machines are ready to be picked up. Sandy is already out the door. Oh no, it’s about to get hotter.

Until next time ……. Lee

June 27, 2016 By Sandra Liggett Leave a Comment

An Ode to the Three Muses of Handwoven Originals

One of the best things that has happened to me personally and to our Whispirit alpaca felted garments is the invitation to sell our creations at Handwoven Originals in Santa Fe. This year Handwoven Originals is celebrating its 35th year at the Inn and Spa at Loretto and the shop is filled with a constantly changing selection of New Mexico made wearable art pieces.

The unique gallery is the creative enterprise of three like-minded weavers, JB Pena, Ceil Swanson and Louise Lechner. For 40 years (they had an earlier shop before moving to the Inn at Loretto in 1980), they shared shop duties and responsibilities for keeping the shop open and helping each other keep space to continue their weaving. In the recent Essential Guide to Santa Fe & Taos article about this anniversary, JB Pena talks about the grit and grace of their enterprise.

“We lost our beloved Louise Lechner in 2013. Her spirit still lives in the shop as Ceil and I navigate with a lot of help from our terrific artists and associates that work with us. We still love to design and weave, create and paint. We are ever grateful for our loyal collectors and friends who have supported us through the years.”

Their team works throughout the year to showcase and sell their participating artists’ works. Their well-placed ads are beautiful celebrations of color and design. They work with returning customers, remembering what they like and suggesting new pieces to add to their collections.

What doesn’t show up in the ads or other publicity about this shop is their incredible contribution to the designing artists showcased in the shop. JB, Ceil and Louise have been wonderful mentors, nurturing creatives and demonstrating the balance between artist sensitivity and the marketplace. Alas, we never got to meet Louise.

When I feel that inevitable insecurity of new designs, a visit to JB or Ceil and any of their associates is in order. JB is great about pinpointing the solution to my prototype versions of jackets, wraps, scarves: “Make it longer, women like to cover their butts. Red, black and white are favorite color combinations. Can you put a closure on this? Make the sleeves wider. I like the lining in the sleeves.” Their feedback fills me with the exuberance of knowing that I am onto something. I always leave the shop with ego reinflated and filled with new inspiration.

Everyone working in the shop is knowledgeable about each artists’ work and can tell their customers what goes into the labor intensive handmade creation. They know what makes each work special and worthy of collecting. Because of their passion for each artist’s work, their customers return every year to see the new creations. The shop is a happy, contented place filled with smiles, good will and celebration.

One of the busiest times for Handwoven Originals is the Santa Fe Opera season, which begins July 1st. Lee & I have been busy creating new wraps for Santa Fe’s chilly summer evenings, which we will deliver to the shop this Thursday. If you are in Santa Fe, be sure to stop by this very special shop. If you can’t make it this summer, take a look at their beautiful website and online store and plan a visit on your next Santa Fe trip.

Til next time. Sandy

July 20, 2015 By Lee Leave a Comment

Dog Days of Summer

Thank you. We are humbled and flattered by the increasing numbers reading our blog and appreciate those of you sending us questions. We are passionate about our alpaca, their fleece and our fabrics. So don’t hesitate sending your inquires, we love to answer them.

Last week several of you wanted to know if things are slow on the ranch during the dog days of summer. There is NEVER a dull moment around the ranch. Seems like there is always a “wheel” falling off or an exciting project (like our new website), looking for time.

Spring always means shearing. We’ve always sheared the herd, including all the dogs, in the middle of May. But, not the cats. Definitely NOT the cats.

WIN_20150720_121257 — Sandy at the skirting table

Our dark and lonely work really begins once the shearers and volunteers leave. “Bringing in the harvest” means long hours of skirting. This is the first step in processing the fiber and the only part of the milling process we do here on the ranch. Skirting is not the most enjoyable step in the process. You stand at a wire mesh table, lay out the raw fleece and go over each section removing vegetation, coarse or short fibers and “stuff.” It’s dirty, time consuming and boring. But, has to be done before sending the year’s harvest off to the mill.

It is truly a family affair as alpacas and llamas peek in, Atticus sits under the skirting table as sentry, and the cats – gosh our barn is full of cats – love to roll in fiber.

Our spring and early summer production switches from warmer coats, jackets, hats and vests to our summer-weight vests, shawls and scarves. Sandy loves this part of the production because she dyes all the fabric. Sandy loves dying the fabrics. Most summer days our kitchen is hot and steamy from the dye pot.

For those of you sitting in air-conditioned offices, or enjoying the summer breezes at the Santa Fe Opera or any of the multitude of festivals around New Mexico, you may enjoy the Spring Fling Vest. No summer ensemble should be considered complete without a silky alpaca wrap like our Endearing Shawl to catch that delightful breeze.

See what I mean about Sandy loving the dying?

Until next week……. keep enjoying your summer. Can you believe it is half gone?

Lee