If you ever happen to find yourself in the Peachtree community, just outside of Murphy, North Carolina, and you see a sign that has a humorous looking sheep (his name is Maurice in case you were curious) balancing precariously on an unraveling ball of yarn you should definitely pop in.  Even if you are not a fiber and color addict you will be offered a cup of tea and, hey, they might even be having an old-time music jam session.  You never know what they’re up to at Yarn Circle.

I should let know here and now that I am somewhat biased about how wonderful Yarn Circle is.  Truth be told, it’s a shop run by my parents and some friends of theirs.  I think it’s just great!

They have what they call “The wall of color” from which you can select from an incredible array of yarns.

It doesn’t stop with yarns, needles, looms, spinning wheels and felting supplies.  They also have awesome hand puppets and even a few of my handmade books.

My dear mother, Martha Owen, has been a professional knitter, spinner, natural dyer and sheep raiser for the past 30 years.  She purchased her first sheep the year I was born.  Her name was MawMaw (tee hee) and she lived until I was 17, a pretty long time for a sheep eh?

Here is some of Mom’s work:  (She teaches regularly at the John C. Campbell Folkschool if you want to learn how to do this yourself.)

And finally, a picture of herself wearing a hand-knit, Fair Isle sweater from her travels:

A couple of weeks ago I had 8 lovely book making enthusiasts take a Coptic Binding workshop from me in my home studio.  They were a unique group in that they were a gang of friends who had decided, over a year ago, that they would like to learn about making a book.  Amazingly, after much schedule finessing on their part, they gave me a call, we decided on dates and made it happen.  We had a great time.

They were incredibly fast learners.  My job was as easy as cherry pie.

And look how wonderfully their books turned out!

P.S. No need to be thrown off by the foot on the book thing you see above.  It’s just what a person has to do when there aren’t enough weights to go around.  It’s a creative way to keep your danged book in place so it doesn’t leap off the table while you pull on it in the process of making a twine closure.  One of the many sacrifices you make for the sake of bookarts right? Right!

Come to the Loire Valley (in France!!!) this July and make books and mini-prints with yours truly and Laurie Corral of Asheville Bookworks. This heavenly 9-day workshop will be given at the Chateau du Pin, a half hour drive from Anger, and includes everything from creative guidance, sleeping in a castle, lovely five course meals every evening and ample quiet time for contemplation and daily walks.  What more could you ask for!

(Laurie and I are soooo excited!! Thanks for having us Peg and David!)

PRINTMAKING AND BOOKARTS with Laurie Corral and Annie Fain Liden
July 23-31, 2010 | $2,500 9 day workshop (includes lodging, breakfast and dinner)

In this workshop, we’ll be explorers of Le Pin, using the gardens, woodlands, vineyards and castle as inspiration for miniature prints and hand made books. Students will climb through the centuries; photographing gargoyles, recording textures, sketching and abstracting ideas for images suitable for printing. Mini prints can be created as individual works and/or integrated into hand made books with a distinctive point of view. Studio investigations will also include stitching, working with collage and paint, antique french papers and fabrics and various book bindings. Come explore the extraordinary and exotic! All levels welcome. College credit available.

To register or for more information contact Peg Gignoux/David Summer at mjgignoux.