I have now switched fully over to the NEW Jazzturtle.com site. This will be your one stop for all Jazzturtle info.. workshops, festivals, events, press and links to shopping- as well as my bloggy ramblings (which I promise will be MUCH more frequent). I will keep my etsy shop stocked with textile couture, handspun art yarns, felted soaps and fibers, but will also be rolling out a new bigcartel shop as well with more yarn, fiber and other goodies.
LOTS is in store for JazzTurtle this fall.... lots of festivals, teaching and even a spot in an upcoming MUCH anticipated book (more on that later...)
From now on, please go to www.jazzturtle.com for all your updates and information! This blog will be used only for archival purposes from now on.
Thanks so much!! See you on the .com!
xo
Esther!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Coming Full Circle... Stitches South, Maryland Sheep and Wool, and Carolina Fiber Fest
Wow.. I can't believe it's been a year since the first big fiber festival I ever vended.. Carolina Fiber Fest 2010. SO MUCH has happened in the last year.. and I'm still trying to process it all.. I'm still trying to figure how how i'm going to DO IT all.. but it's all a work in progress.. balancing all the travel and inventory.. and MAKING all the inventory.. it's mindboggling, still to ME!!
Carolina fiber fest is a wonderful festival.. close to home with great friends.. but I had NO idea what I was in store for when it came to Stitches South. Sure.. a big show I was told.. I expected it with the expo setting... I spun what I thought was 'enough' yarn.. I bought some new fixtures and I was ready to go.. so I thought.. We got to Atlanta and started setting up our booth.. and realized that what I thought was a 'professional' booth had NOTHING on some of these folks.. they used gridwalls like I'd never seen before. But I was happy with my booth.. and I'm thrilled with how it continues to manifest in new festivals.. but here's the Stitches South set up..
What a wonderful show!! NEW friends.. new contacts, new new NEW!! It was just fantastic and I look forward to a long relationship with Stitches Events!!
Then less than a month later it was onto Maryland Sheep and Wool festival! I was honored to be a featured artist in the Cloverhill Yarn Shop booth! This is one of the longest running booths in festival history, and one of the most visited! It was PACKED in the booth all weekend and my yarns and fibers were very well received.
I spent the weekend bouncing between the Cloverhill booth and spending time helping my friend Lexi Boeger (Pluckyfluff) at her educational booth. We had the new Majacraft Aura spinning wheel available for trying out, as well as a Louet Classic carder out for carding. There were LOTS of yummy fibers to try for carding and spinning!
It was a wonderful booth full of things to touch and play with!! It was a blast to teach all weekend!
We had kids, adults.. men.. women!! Every shape and size person sat down at a wheel or took their try at carding..
Oh.. I didn't mention that Owen and Glynis Poad, the makers of the amazing Majacraft spinning wheels, were there as well? Oh. .well they were! They are wonderful folks, and I can't wait to get them to NC for SAFF (thinking 2012... I'm going to make it happen!!) We all had a wonderful time spinning and hanging out...
OH.. and fleeces.. DUH!! I came home with THIRTEEN fleeces.. amazing all of them.. curls and crimp.. crosses and ribbon winners! I have SO many fun fleeces to play with this summer and fall!! I can't wait to get started!!
Oh.. and speaking of ribbon winners...
I entered some yarn into the skein and garment competition and I WON.. AND I entered a couple of my triangle shawls that I wove on my loom.. and I WON!!
So after a wonderful weekend that Maryland was (we'll talk more about the goodies I came home with in another post- as well as the FANTASTIC nuno class I taught on Friday.. that also deserves it's own post) Only 10 days later was Carolina Fiber Fest 2011.. full circle.
It was a wonderful weekend.. again full of friends and local fun! I taught some wonderful classes and we were in a large new building, that brought in lots of new people!!
SO.. there was my crazy busy spring... and now I've started working on the summer and fall!! Next on the schedule is the Asheville Summer Retreat in July.. vending and teaching there.. THEN Stitches Midwest, last weekend in Aug, in Schamburg IL.. THEN a week with Lexi at her hometown workshop.. THEN home to get ready for SAFF in Oct!!
I have a few posts in the works.. had some wonderful workshops I can't wait to tell you about.. but until then.. hope your dyepots are colorful and the yarn on your wheel sparkly!! The Tour de Fleece is around the corner.. I hope you have dusted off your wheel. I'll have a big update before so you can stock up.. with a discount code taboot. watch for the announcement tonight!!
Carolina fiber fest is a wonderful festival.. close to home with great friends.. but I had NO idea what I was in store for when it came to Stitches South. Sure.. a big show I was told.. I expected it with the expo setting... I spun what I thought was 'enough' yarn.. I bought some new fixtures and I was ready to go.. so I thought.. We got to Atlanta and started setting up our booth.. and realized that what I thought was a 'professional' booth had NOTHING on some of these folks.. they used gridwalls like I'd never seen before. But I was happy with my booth.. and I'm thrilled with how it continues to manifest in new festivals.. but here's the Stitches South set up..
Then less than a month later it was onto Maryland Sheep and Wool festival! I was honored to be a featured artist in the Cloverhill Yarn Shop booth! This is one of the longest running booths in festival history, and one of the most visited! It was PACKED in the booth all weekend and my yarns and fibers were very well received.
It was a wonderful booth full of things to touch and play with!! It was a blast to teach all weekend!
We had kids, adults.. men.. women!! Every shape and size person sat down at a wheel or took their try at carding..
Oh.. I didn't mention that Owen and Glynis Poad, the makers of the amazing Majacraft spinning wheels, were there as well? Oh. .well they were! They are wonderful folks, and I can't wait to get them to NC for SAFF (thinking 2012... I'm going to make it happen!!) We all had a wonderful time spinning and hanging out...
I entered some yarn into the skein and garment competition and I WON.. AND I entered a couple of my triangle shawls that I wove on my loom.. and I WON!!
It was a wonderful weekend.. again full of friends and local fun! I taught some wonderful classes and we were in a large new building, that brought in lots of new people!!
SO.. there was my crazy busy spring... and now I've started working on the summer and fall!! Next on the schedule is the Asheville Summer Retreat in July.. vending and teaching there.. THEN Stitches Midwest, last weekend in Aug, in Schamburg IL.. THEN a week with Lexi at her hometown workshop.. THEN home to get ready for SAFF in Oct!!
I have a few posts in the works.. had some wonderful workshops I can't wait to tell you about.. but until then.. hope your dyepots are colorful and the yarn on your wheel sparkly!! The Tour de Fleece is around the corner.. I hope you have dusted off your wheel. I'll have a big update before so you can stock up.. with a discount code taboot. watch for the announcement tonight!!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Pre Maryland Fiber Party is a GO with Funky Nunofelting!
This has really been quite an exciting week!! I'm thrilled because the 'PreMaryland Sheep and Wool Party" is happening at Seminole Sampler which is a wonderful quilt shop right next door to CloverHill Yarn Shop (In Cantonsville MD- about 25 min away from the festival) I can't wait to see the fabric and thrums that are available! I might have to bring my pocketbook so I can buy something special to embellish my felting with!
We'll be doing an extended Funky Nuno Felting workshop- giving ample time for everyone to card their own batts on the workshop carders (Louet Classic, Strauch Mad Batt'r, Louet Elite and Fancy Kitty) I will bring a large bin of fibers, novelty yarns and other goodies for you to use, as well as the needed bubble wrap, silk fabric and squirt bottle. I ask that you bring 2 towels and a pair of nylons or kneesocks you aren't going to use anymore. Also, if you have any handspun or novelty yarn scraps or textured fabric you'd like to use/bring, we'll have a large table available for 'sharing' as well.
The workshop will begin after lunch at 12:30pm and run until 4:30pm- giving us enough time to clean up before the shop closes at 5. Registration button is on the workshops page. The cost is $50 for the workshop and all included materials. (cost is slightly discounted from normal workshop price to celebrate coming together for Maryland- more money for you to spend with the vendors at the show!)
Please RSVP on the Facebook Page if you belong to FB so we can see who's joining in the fun!
I can't wait to see everyone in Maryland! I'm down for a reservation at Clyde's in Columbia for crabcakes after the workshop too, if anyone wants to join me!
We'll be doing an extended Funky Nuno Felting workshop- giving ample time for everyone to card their own batts on the workshop carders (Louet Classic, Strauch Mad Batt'r, Louet Elite and Fancy Kitty) I will bring a large bin of fibers, novelty yarns and other goodies for you to use, as well as the needed bubble wrap, silk fabric and squirt bottle. I ask that you bring 2 towels and a pair of nylons or kneesocks you aren't going to use anymore. Also, if you have any handspun or novelty yarn scraps or textured fabric you'd like to use/bring, we'll have a large table available for 'sharing' as well.
The workshop will begin after lunch at 12:30pm and run until 4:30pm- giving us enough time to clean up before the shop closes at 5. Registration button is on the workshops page. The cost is $50 for the workshop and all included materials. (cost is slightly discounted from normal workshop price to celebrate coming together for Maryland- more money for you to spend with the vendors at the show!)
Please RSVP on the Facebook Page if you belong to FB so we can see who's joining in the fun!
I can't wait to see everyone in Maryland! I'm down for a reservation at Clyde's in Columbia for crabcakes after the workshop too, if anyone wants to join me!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Going to MARYLAND SHEEP and WOOL FESTIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe it myself! I've been floating on a cloud since I found out!! Jolene, from the wonderful Cloverhill Yarn Shop in Cantonsville, MD asked me yesterday if I would like to be one of the Independent Artists that her booth showcases at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival!
This is THE biggest sheep and wool festival in the country! I'm so excited that I have a chance to get a feel what it's like to work in a booth before I have to manage my own. Maryland is SAFF on steroids.. and so getting an idea of what I'm in for before I get my own booth is going to be a huge asset! By being featured in the CloverHill booth I'll get my foot into the door of the festival.. which is known for being one of the most difficult to acquire a booth!
I'm also excited to get to be a 'shopper' in a wool market this large!! I'm really hoping to score some yummy spring fleeces, while meeting people and just general fiber mahyem! I did promise Lexi that I would help her out in her educational booth for a couple hours one day.. so I'm looking forward to quite a weekend!!
My husband also just reminded me that Columbia MD (where my hotel is) is where Merriweather Post Pavillion is- where we saw Phish on our second wedding anniversary. We also ate that day at the MOST AMAZING restaurant- Clyde's in Columbia So not only do I get to go to Sheep and Wool, I get to eat the BEST CRABCAKES in the same weekend!!
Happy Happy me!!
There also may be a 'pre festival fiber party" in the way of a couple workshops the Friday before the festival!! The word on the street is the Funky Nuno Felting workshop paired with the WildCarding... I'll post more info as details solidify!!
YAY Maryland is going to get JAZZY this year!!
This is THE biggest sheep and wool festival in the country! I'm so excited that I have a chance to get a feel what it's like to work in a booth before I have to manage my own. Maryland is SAFF on steroids.. and so getting an idea of what I'm in for before I get my own booth is going to be a huge asset! By being featured in the CloverHill booth I'll get my foot into the door of the festival.. which is known for being one of the most difficult to acquire a booth!
I'm also excited to get to be a 'shopper' in a wool market this large!! I'm really hoping to score some yummy spring fleeces, while meeting people and just general fiber mahyem! I did promise Lexi that I would help her out in her educational booth for a couple hours one day.. so I'm looking forward to quite a weekend!!
My husband also just reminded me that Columbia MD (where my hotel is) is where Merriweather Post Pavillion is- where we saw Phish on our second wedding anniversary. We also ate that day at the MOST AMAZING restaurant- Clyde's in Columbia So not only do I get to go to Sheep and Wool, I get to eat the BEST CRABCAKES in the same weekend!!
Happy Happy me!!
There also may be a 'pre festival fiber party" in the way of a couple workshops the Friday before the festival!! The word on the street is the Funky Nuno Felting workshop paired with the WildCarding... I'll post more info as details solidify!!
YAY Maryland is going to get JAZZY this year!!
Launch Party for Knitscene Winter/Spring Issue
How LUCKY am I that Lisa Shroyer (editor of Knitscene) and Michelle Riggs (owner of Downtown Knits
in Apex, NC) wanted to host the launch party at the wonderful space Downtown Knits offers!! Walls of colorful yarn, inspiring knit sweaters and MY YARN and wearables!! I got to have a mini trunk show along with the issue release. It was a wonderful time.. we had a full house of knitters sharing ideas and playing with yarn. It was a great night by all!!
in Apex, NC) wanted to host the launch party at the wonderful space Downtown Knits offers!! Walls of colorful yarn, inspiring knit sweaters and MY YARN and wearables!! I got to have a mini trunk show along with the issue release. It was a wonderful time.. we had a full house of knitters sharing ideas and playing with yarn. It was a great night by all!!
Monday, March 7, 2011
JazzTurtle Creations featured in KnitScene Magazine and Knitting Daily!!
I'm so excited!! This has been such a big deal for me and sharing it with you has been even more exhilarating! I've had 2 of my most amazing art yarns featured in KnitScene Magazine (Winter/Spring 2011) I had a wonderful shop mention (and my mother is most excited that they also mentioned my name!! Amy also gives mention to my spinning style (corespinning). The photo is just beautiful, and I have to admit I'm a bit extra geeked mine are in the middle!!
This article also had a mention in the 1/31 Knitting Daily newsletter! Knitting Daily included a mention of the shop and a link.. which brought over 400 new views to the shop that day!!
Amy posted a follow up article on the KnittingDaily blog last week-
Knitting Daily- Art Yarn Spinning
Not only did I get a shop mention, but Amy posted one of my YouTube video demo's!!
It's the beginning of March, and I've already had a great year of press!! Thanks to all of you who keep asking for new demo's. I'll be posting some soon!!
Photo by Joe Coca. Copyright Knitscene Magazine. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted
.Amy posted a follow up article on the KnittingDaily blog last week-
Knitting Daily- Art Yarn Spinning
Not only did I get a shop mention, but Amy posted one of my YouTube video demo's!!
It's the beginning of March, and I've already had a great year of press!! Thanks to all of you who keep asking for new demo's. I'll be posting some soon!!
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