Calling All Angels

Dec. 29, 2014

I did it!  I finished my very first hand spun art yarn for Module One’s Journey to the Golden Fleece.    Art yarn is a one of a kind hand spun yarn textured thick and thin with uniquely chosen materials added. Materials can be anything that inspires the artist, beads, jewels, lace, locks, feathers etc.


In this Module, we were asked to reflect on “The Call to Adventure.”  The concept was to recognize the point in my life when I was given notice that everything was going to change.  I wasn’t sure where to begin with this thought process.  Did it mean the recent or the distant changes of the past?  Did this mean when I discovered my love for the fiber arts or did this mean when I started my artistic journey? 


I decided that my questions would be answered throughout this process and it was time to move onto my first weaving adventure. We were asked to gather our supplies and identify techniques to complete the spinning task.  This was very difficult for me.  I have never spun my own yarn before and I chose to begin with a drop spindle. This was a challenge! I just could not get the drop spindle I was using to work for me.  I watched every YouTube video available and studied so many tutorials and how-to’s I lost count.  They all made it look so easy and relaxing.  So far on this fiber journey I have set out on I have taught myself many weaving techniques plus I have even set up my four harness Purrington Loom using YouTube videos.  All of it seemed quite easy but this spinning thing just wasn’t working.  I was beginning to hate the drop spindle and even tossed it across the room once.  Accidently of course!!!


Now, usually when I work in my studio I feel that I have a special assistant.  Actually that’s not true; I have come to realize that, I am the assistant and I just do what my intuition tells me.   For example, when sewing, my favorite mantra is “sing to me, Baby!” and the fabric will do what it is supposed to do. So yesterday

while in my studio holding the drop spindle in my hands, shaking it and asking “what is wrong with you?”  a song started playing on my IPhone.  It was Calling All Angels, sung by Katie Lang and Jane Siberry.   At that moment I realized that I was not trusting my guides to help me with this difficult task.  I had been looking at my chosen fibers and additives of crystals, angels, and mythical charms for weeks.  Then, hearing this song and thinking of what my Grandmother used to say to me “Kate, just wing it”, I starting humming along and spinning the spindle and all of a sudden my hands and fingers were just working together and the yarn started to form.

 I’ve chosen to leave the roving white because I am a so called virgin in the world of spinning. The materials I added are sparkling crystals that represent the spirits around me that guide me each day. I have also attached hand wrapped angel beads.   So you guessed it the name of this yarn is “Calling All Angels”.  I have a long way to go to learn this form of art but at least I took the first step.  So we shall see where this journey will take me.


Module Two….. “The Road of Trials”

-Kate