I am excited to be a part of the first round of emerging artists and innovators to be held in the VMFA gift shop! This project is an amazing opportunity and my work along with that of my fellow artists, while being unveiled this weekend, will be around for the following 6 months. I hope you get a chance to stop by and check it out!

I am enthralled about this new summertime lookbook featuring the handmade duster in Earth Tones and Black Magic. Find the listings here and here <3

Whether passionate about writing, cooking, or anything else in the magical realm of making, we all find ourselves wondering what to do with little leftover pieces. Annie from @knittedhome posted a lovely tutorial today on crocheted bracelets made from scraps of yarn inspired by a photo of my scrap jar! Find it here.

Has anyone read this book? I was drawn to it by its cover and lovely introduction but find its contents confusing! I thought it would be great inspiration as a knitting anthology but find the various authors mention that they either don't know how to knit, dislike, or flat out hate the process. As one of the featured writers, Samantha Chang, gifts her mother a handmade sweater, and appreciates her  mother's "pride in the fact that I would go through such hell for her".

Sometimes the author's distaste for knitting appears through thinly-veiled sexist comments, as found in the third story in the collection, by Andre Dubus III, as the narrator describes watching his girlfriend knit, "She looked like some young wife and mother from a hundred years ago; she looked to me like a woman who relied on her man to take care of everything". Now now...

Does anyone have any backstory or explanation that would help me appreciate this book I thought was for those who appreciate knitting? Help!

As promised, these quilting books have inspired a simple piecing tutorial! The pattern below for a fun DIY wall hanging can be personalized in so many ways, with different fabric combinations, sizes, and number of diamonds 

(or other shapes)! 

Piecing is a quilting technique that involves joining cut shapes of fabric, and can create really beautiful designs. Until the pieced fabric is sandwiched on top of batting, a bottom layer of fabric, and finished, it is not yet a quilt.

Begin by ironing the fabric you intend to use: 

fabric for the tops and bottoms of the diamonds, and a larger background.

I've chosen to use the wrong and right side of the same fabric for my diamonds.

Cut 5, 5"x 5" squares.

Cut all 5 squares diagonally.

Place the sides of the triangles you want to be visible in your 

finished piece together and sew along their longest side.

Open diamonds and iron flat.

Arrange diamonds on the background fabric, secure them 

with pins and, for the last step, sew them down!

A wooden dowel can be used to hang the fabric by hemming the sides of the background fabric with room left for the dowel to slide through. I've used white sewing thread to hang the dowel on a nail.

I will be making potted spider plants/airplane plants (seen here!) available at events. I love my spider plant, a flowering perennial herb, and it shoots out long stems that flower and become a handful of new spider plants, their roots extended but still drawing nourishment from the umbilical stem. It's a mama plant! 

Since it inspires me and I look at it and water it every day, with it resting near my knitting perch, it only makes sense to have them available for sale with my knitted garments and goods. Take a bit of inspiration home with you!

I am excited to announce my involvement in the Virginia Museum of Fine Art 2015 group of Emerging Artists & Innovators, which will be hitting the VMFA gift shop Fall 2015! These custom hand-knitted shawls are inspired by Monet's The Highway Bridge Viewed from the Port (Le Pont d'Argenteuil) in the way that the sky meets the tressling and railing of the bridge below. I can't express my gratitude any other way than to keep knitting!

Catch me at the VCU Earth Day Bazaar this Wednesday selling selected shawls and bags. You don't want to miss all the local talent!

I had a great time at yesterday's Curio Market, held at Hardywood Craft Park Brewery for the release of their Bourbon Cru and to kick off Twin Peaks! I am always impressed and encouraged by Richmond's support for the small biz community!

Curio Market is a locally curated exchange specializing in handmade and hand-selected items run by the wonderful Stephanie Saavedra and Steven Yates.

Another exciting event! Richmond locals, this one's for you. Come out to the Curio Market, April 18th from 2-7 at Hardywood Brewery in their tasting room. It's the 2015 Spring release of their delicious Bourbon Cru! Steady State will be there alongside other local vendors and of course, local brews!

Be sure to check out all the thought-provoking and well-crafted textile work (including a certain handmade Pink Handmade Tunic!) in the current MIST Gallery online exhibition!

Ever wondered how to dress a floor loom?

The new black magic kaftan is available now (check the color options) and will also make an appearance at the 2015 Earth Day Bazaar held in the heart of the VCU campus on April 20th. Be sure to stop by if you are in the area and appreciate well-considered handmade goods and gifts made by hard-working souls!

Looks like there are some new mini tapestry necklaces on the block! This baby (along with many more to come) has hit the Etsy page running. Only $10 each

New weaving techniques get me giddy! On just a simple lap loom I get to play with color, texture, pattern and endless warp/weft combinations. Yet still but a small fraction of the beauty of yarn. -- Want to see more pictures like these for your own crafting inspiration? Follow me on Instagram @steadystatefibers

Ah, editing images and working on the new site has it's perks : )

Much is happening! Check out my NEW SITE, created to adapt to my practice which no longer consists only of handmade bags, but handmade bags and clothing! This blog will remain my main news feed through the site change.

Also, I am pleased to announce that I will be attending ACC Baltimore 2015 Craft Show! Representing the VCU Craft/Material Studies major, my Handcrafted Entrepreneurship class will be both running and featured in a 10x10 booth. Keep your eye out! Many pictures and posts on this experience ahead.

Informed by what I've been learning in a Pattern Weaving class, my love for weaving is back with a vengeance! Above are some that I have been experimenting with (shown chronologically.) I have come to realize that I appreciate an ugly weaving. Sometimes you just need to get a non-matching yarn combination out of your system! On the other hand, this can be a great way to pay homage to a yarn that is just too beautiful to knit a seasonal item with, one that you have kept in your yarn basket for months just so you can look at it every time you elbow through it. Why not weave it into a wall hanging?!

I will be happy to make a tutorial post about how to create and string a frame loom to weave with at home if requested!

To all the knitters, weavers, embroiderers and crocheters out there - my friends and I have finally put together a college-age Richmond stitch and bitch! Inspiration, enthusiasm, and all skill levels welcome. Shoot me a note by clicking here for details if you live in the area and are interested in becoming a part of our fun fiber community where nothing is given, only received.

Kick of this semester with a little hand-crocheted cutie like this one! A perfect pop of color to go with a dark winter wardrobe. Here is the Etsy listing and thanks for your interest! Stay warm out there.

Happy New Years everybody!! I hope you celebrated (and recovered) well. This black and blue cropped three-quarter-sleeved handmade cardigan of original design is perfect for wrapping up both you and the holiday season. It is light enough for cozying up indoors and warm enough to throw on on a January day. :)