Thursday, July 22, 2010

Intereview with Melissa Yoder Ricks of Wild Hare Fiber and Giveaway!


Melissa of Wild Hare fiber was inspired to create a wonderful batt this month for a giveaway- it goes along so well with our "Seaweed Ships and Scallywags" theme! This 'Moby Dick' batt has lots of different fibers including ecospun which is recycled plastic from things like soda bottles.

Melissa is a very inspiring woman and she was gracious enough to sit down for a few and answer some short questions I had for her. I miss doing interviews on the blog, so I hope to bring them back more often. Here is what she had to say:

Where do you draw inspiration for your work?

The beauty of the natural world inspires many of the colors that I choose, although I'm also inspired at times to create colors based on certain moods or feelings. I also loosely follow color trends to keep everything fresh and relevant.

What is your favorite fiber to work with?
I love wool! It is so versatile, and there is such variety between breeds.

Do you have a least favorite?
I love most natural fibers, and tend to steer clear of synthetics.
There is one fiber that I like but which I find difficult to work with because it makes me sneeze, and that is angora (it's ironic, since often people seeing my logo assume that I'm selling angora)

What is it like to be a full-time fiber artist?
Amazing! I feel really blessed to be able to focus on doing what I love to do! This has been my dream since I was young. Having a flexible schedule so that I can adjust to my children's needs is a huge bonus too.

Tell us more about your favorite products you offer.
All the products I carry were chosen because they are my 'favorite' in some way! I search out fibers that I love to spin myself, and create handspun yarns that I would want to use. I recently added hand-dyed yarns, and search high and low to find the best mill spun yarn that I could find as my base. I also carry Spinolution, Louet and Nancy's Knit Knacks fiber tools and equipment - the same brands I use for my own work.

What is your favorite way to use yarn?
To hold it and squeeze it ...? Gosh, each and every skein of yarn is so full of possibilities that it can be challenging to commit it to just one project. I knit, crochet and do some simple weaving, and usually look to the yarn and let it tell me what to do with it. I do more knitting than anything else because it's so portable.

If you were to do a self-portrait in fiber, what would it look like? What
materials would you use etc?

My 'self portrait in fiber' would have to be a mixed-media piece that combines lots of different fiber and techniques -- so it would have perhaps a woven or wet-felted base with knitted appliques, some free-form crochet, and needle-felted and embroidered details. All in a range of rich natural colors (hey, this sounds like a fun project!)

We're giving away "moby dick" today- visit Wild Hare, find something you love, and come back here to write about it in the comments section. We award other social networking pings with extra entries, just let us know you did it!

52 comments:

marianne said...

so many pretties! my favorite is the Tiger Lily roving. Coopworth Copper is also right up there. and Green-Eyed Tabby.

thanks for this giveaway!

Turtle said...

creamed spinach!! such on a dish, yum in fiber!

Stephanie said...

I am in love with BFL wool seacell top spinning roving CORAL SEA 4 oz.

Sooooooooo pretty.

nephnie

Tara A said...

I like the Sylvan roving, it would be neat to see something knit up with the gradual color change

InJuneau said...

I LOVE the Tidewater fiber, esp. since I have friends who had a band with that name. All her blue and green fibers and yarns are just gorgeous. And the Tiger Eye too.

Carlin said...

I'm going to have to go with the Grateful Dyed fiber. It would be so much fun!

Pam ~ CraftyQsplace said...

Destiny Rainbow Tweed love the little pops of color

Kristin said...

OK, I LOVE the Moby Dick batt. On Melissa's etsy store I so want some of that Grateful Dyed rainbow superwash wool! I MUST find a way to support my fiber habbit!

Kristin

Yarnmagic on Ravelry said...

Please just send me one of everything! Or at least the handmade Batt for spinning art yarn called JONQUIL.

Kristin said...

Also left comment on Twitter:

AboutToDye

MicheleStitches said...

Do I HAVE to choose?? There are so many pretties! The progression dyed AUTUMN is lovely. The Bermuda Triangle top is so cheerful and the Raspberry Gourmet BFL is delicious. And that is just through page 2!

T. L. Howl said...

I think I may have to spin Sylvan, Tidewater, and Lucky Penny top together. SO gorgeous.

Unknown said...

Her colors are so pretty. I love the wisteria and Lapis silks, and the seaweed roving. Lovely!

Kristen said...

I love the hand dyed fingering sock yarn superwash merino nylon CABIN IN THE WOODS 460 yards. So fresh looking!

burnt rain said...

The BFL in the Irish Eyes colourway is SO wonderful.

Karen(ravelry's faeryl) said...

I got a sample of BFL/Seacell in the colorwy Seaweed this month and it's beautiful and soft. I'd love to pick up more of this fiber in the Deepwater colorway to go with it - love the subtle blue shading. :)

SJS said...

This shop is full of woolen eye candy! My favorites are the progession dyed superwash in Up From the Deep, as well as Dear Old Dad.

petitevache said...

the progression died superwash wool in "Autumn" is to die for.

Magan said...

Garden Party silk is fantastic. And I love the Moby Dick batts!

Galia Lael said...

I love Wild Hare! Everything she does is wonderful. And I love the progression dyed rovings, especially CHROMA!

Heather said...

Melissa is so clever!

I love her progression-dyed braids... AUTUMN, SYLVAN... yum!

Sploops said...

I think the sparkling Coopworth BLF blend LAURELITA is beautiful!
re-tweeted as @sploops

Anne-Line said...

I think the northern light local wool roving looks really nice !

TuttleDB said...

I really like the mulberry silk top roving spinning fiber ENGLISH ROSE.

@TuttleDB

FB

Karen said...

This is one of my favorite etsy shops ever! I'm a fan of pink, so I love the wool/seacell roving in Coral Sea, and the BFL in Strawberry Sundae.

Crane Farms said...

I love all the colors of her fiber!!

Jennifer said...

Ohhh. I really like Bermuda Triangle.

Jennifer said...

I also twittered about Wildhare.

Anonymous said...

I love the Deep Water BFL/Seacell top!

Jess

Zombie Queen said...

Everything is so gorgeous, but I really love the BFL wool Seacell top spinning fiber roving DEEPWATER. I have never spun seacell.

Jessie said...

I love the golden yellow mulberry silk. :)

Heather J said...

O my goodness! I want everything.

rumplestiltskin82 said...

I love love love the Mulberry silk top!!!! Yummy!

mugginskate said...

I love the progression dyed superwash wool. But all of her stuff is amazing!!!

Cheshire Bunny Crafts said...

I honestly love EVERY single thing in this shop! It's in my favs and I told my fiance and my mom that if they don't know what to get me for xmas or my bday, to just go to this shop and pick anything! lol

facebook
tweet
blog

helenlam said...

I'm really liking the BFL wool Seacell top spinning fiber roving DEEPWATER

Jan L said...

Lovely work, all of it. I really like the dyed mulberry silk GARDEN PARTY. How fun it would be to blend that with some merino.

Jags said...

The

BFL spinning fiber hand dyed MILK AND HONEY 4 oz.
has been on my favorites list for quite some time! I hope i get to buy some soon!

EVA SB said...

Wow I love everything but especially

handspun BFL in WINECELLAR
wool top in MERLOT
mulberry silk top in WISTERIA
hand dyed sock yarn in EGGPLANT

I tweeted
https://twitter.com/EVA_n_essence/status/19331528431

Tera said...

progression dyed superwash wool top spinning fiber roving SYLVAN 7.5 oz. is so pretty!

Rachael said...

Love the RASPBERRY GOURMET roving!

Kat said...

I have got to have that Heavy Duty Yarn Ball Winder. That thing looks amazing. Those Spinolutions Spindles are another thing that I am coveting. You have many great things to offer here. ;p

Dawn said...

The Emerald Isle art batt is lovely!

Rudy's Mom said...

I love the Copper Penny BFL. Not usually my colors, but that piece is beautiful

All For Love Of Yarn! said...

I love cabin in the woods sock yarn, such a beautiful blend of greens! I have her traveling niddy noddy and absolutely love it because it can make so many different size skeins, it's awesome for samples! ~ Angela

KILLDxM said...

The "Sylvan" colorway is so lush looking.

Unknown said...

The progression top is just gorgeous. I can't decide whether I like the Sylvan or Autumn colorway better, but it's not like I'd go wrong with either one.

KelleBelle said...

I love that the Moby Dick roving has recycled fibres in it, very cool! And at the Wild Hare site I am in looooove with her Citron coloured roving, the colour just jumps at me! Twitter ID: @KelleBelleCa

Linda said...

The Natural Beauty fiber batt is beautiful.

fynnoderee said...

Im so in love with the local wool roving sparkling Coopworth BLF blend LAURELITA 3 oz, its just stunning!!!

Unknown said...

I had to go with "BECAUSE" superbulky handspun yarn 72 yards. That is just too cool of a name and I love super bulky!

ashley0607 said...

SYLVAN SW progression dyed. Wow! Love the colors.