FABRIC STORE KEEPS CLIENTS IN STITCHES.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer They consider themselves fiber artists. They spin, weave and knit their own creations from delicate strands of mohair mohair, hair of the Angora goat or a large group of fabrics made from it, either wholly or in combination with wool, silk, or cotton. The Angora goat, native of Asia Minor for 2,000 years, is bred in other lands, e.g., the SW United States and South Africa. , wool, silk and other natural materials. ``We cater to what we like to call the fiber artist or fiber fanatic,'' said Sandy Gunther, one of four women who recently opened a fabric supply shop in Canyon Country. ``We consider the things we make as wearable art Wearable art, also known as Artwear, describes the making of individually designed pieces of usually hand-made clothing as artistic expressions. Pieces may be sold and/or exhibited .'' Last month the women opened The Weavers' Cottage, a small shop on West Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling which offers hand-crafted clothing, rugs and afghans as well as knitting, spinning and weaving supplies. The women use spinning wheels spinning wheel Early machine for turning textile fibre into thread or yarn, which was then woven into cloth on a loom. The spinning wheel was probably invented in India, though its origins are unclear. It reached Europe via the Middle East in the Middle Ages. , looms and their own hands to create their wearable art: jackets, shawls, blankets and rugs that can fetch hundreds of dollars. Hand-dyed, hand-woven shawls can run between $75 to $150 while jackets are pricier: $500 to $1,500. Blankets and large throw rugs go for $150. Besides handmade items, the shop features everything from classes and workshops in dying and weaving techniques to study groups and project-finishing parties. The women even plan a garden featuring tomatoes, grapes, pomegranates and other plants used as natural dyes natural dye n. A dye obtained from animals or plants. . ``We want to bring it to the level of the fiber artist rather than arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. ,'' said Anne Seth, a 67-year-old Glendale resident who also helps run the shop. The women, who hail from the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, and San Gabriel valleys The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and to the west of the Inland Empire. , met five or six years ago in a weaving study group. They decided to open the shop when their favorite supply store closed two years ago. Since the shop opened, its mailing list An automated e-mail system on the Internet, which is maintained by subject matter. There are thousands of such lists that reach millions of individuals and businesses. New users generally subscribe by sending an e-mail with the word "subscribe" in it and subsequently receive all new has grown to about 300 customers. Most buy specialty and hand-dyed yarns and equipment such as ball winders. ``It's attracting a lot of people in this area,'' Seth said. The women hope to provide more than just supplies. They want to create a colony of artists who use spinning wheels and looms as their tools and thread as their medium. ``Anyone can be an artist,'' Seth said. ``It's a person who has a desire to do their own thing.'' ``I've always been an artist,'' said Gunther, a 53-year-old Acton resident who sews, embroiders and paints with water colors. Before weaving, the women learned how to sew, knit, crochet and spin. Weaving, they said, adds another dimension to the creation of a handmade article. ``I've always been interested in the fibers and knitting and crocheting,'' said Linda Gue, 42, of Acton. ``When it got to weaving, I thought this is absolutely start to finish.'' Virginia Williams, a 72-year-old retired medical transcriber, started weaving as a natural progression of her interest in spinning, which involves making thread. ``I needed something to do,'' the Canyon Country resident said. ``I had more yarn than I knew what to do with, so weaving was the next step.'' The women said they enjoy planning intricate patterns and colors of their creations. ``I like designing and planning the project,'' Gunther said. ``I'd rather get on to another project'' than finish the first. Creating even a simple item, such as a vest, can take months. Seth often uses pictures as inspirations for her outfits. One vest made of mohair and novelty yarn started with a photo of a raspberry-color Lady Slipper flower slipper flower n. See calceolaria. . She used mauve, gray, lavender, pink and purple threads to make the vest. The women enjoy the sense of accomplishment when they complete a months-long project. Williams compares it to ironing clothes. ``It's like ironing,'' she said. ``You have something nice to look at when you're done. Except with weaving, it looks nicer a little bit longer.'' |
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