|
February 2008 |
|
Greetings | On–line Newsletter | New Products | Silkster's Gallery | You Asked | Fleeces | Specials | Fibre Fanatic → Click here for the printer friendly version (in pdf format) of this newsletter and back issues.
|
|
Greetings from Salt Spring IslandWe wish everyone a prosperous and healthy year for 2008. I look at the number 8 and think it will most definitely be a good year. The energy of that number just keeps going round. That is our wish for all of you, energy that just keeps moving you in the directions you want and need to go. We know this will include beautiful fibre work. Clay/Straw House Update
It has been a busy fall and winter. We continue to work on our clay/straw house which now has a roof, windows and plumbing pipes laid out. We will have another fun work party this summer, plastering the walls. Let us know if you are in the neighbourhood and we will give you a pair of gloves and trowel and feed you well! Journey to India
Shortly after we attended the Houston Quilt Festival, we set off to India. Our mission was to acquire more photographs and data about the wild silk being raised and used in India. Most of this is done rurally, so the road trips were long. None were under five hours and were often eight hours each way. These were not boring North American drives on an interstate highway. We decided we could make our million by turning a typical five hour drive on an Indian highway into a hot video game. The aim would be to make it from point A to point B in a designated time while swerving, braking and screeching to manoeuvre around cows, goats, 3 wheeled auto rickshaws, bullock carts hauling the rice harvest, bicycles, people, camel carts hauling bales of cotton, great huge pot holes, bicycle rickshaws and enormous goods carrier trucks. 
With lights blinking on and off and horns honking constantly, all these travellers squeeze onto a two lane road turning it into a pandemonium of three lanes. Overloaded and noisy goods carriers request you honk so they know to move over by way of a sign on the back of truck Horn Please. It appeared total chaos to us but seemed to flow in Indian style as gracefully as a woman walking in her sari. 
Silk research includes meeting officials and drinking chai (sweet, milky tea) in government offices in every area we visited. We enter these offices with a smile and our story and each one has always been fruitful in information and an overwhelming willingness to help us achieve what we have set out to do. The field work of looking at the different stages of the silkworms in the jungles and meeting the families that care for them was always exciting and humbling. The families that make the thread out of the silk cocoons, dye it and weave it into cloth adds to our awe of what is attained by caterpillars and the patience of artisans. We are very pleased with what we accomplished. It is a huge addition to the silk book I am working towards. 
India has a Ministry of Textiles and within it is the Central Silk Board (CSB) which is made up of a team of scientists who have worked hard to understand the caterpillars. They are rightly proud of their role in the commercial wild silk. Taking care of the wild silk has always been the job of the tribal people. When disease hits the silkworms, it is always just days before they start spinning their cocoons. Consequently, the 30 days of work using sling shots and bows and arrows to protect the silk worms from crows, snakes, rodents and other predators as well as carefully transferring them to fresh trees with more leaves has been for no financial gain. The CSB can now provide the rearers with disease free layings (DFL) silkworm eggs so they realize a much better financial gain for their work. 
WWe have been travelling to India for over 20 years and were happy to connect with great old friends and make many new ones during this journey. We also booked in some time for relaxation in two national parks. In Kaziranga Park,in the state of Assam, we rode into the park by elephant in the early morning to look for the Asian one horned rhino. We were well rewarded when we sighted several rhinos and babies as well as birds, deer and buffalo. 
In Bandhavgargh Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh we went out by jeep in search of the Bengal tiger. Just as the tigers morning hunting time came to a close, a tiger was spotted. We exchanged the jeeps for elephants to get into the hilly jungle and found the tiger sleeping. She was done hunting for the day and needed to rest before the late afternoon and evening hunt. On the back of the elephant, we walked around her while she showed minor annoyance at being disturbed during nap time. It was a thrill to see her in her natural habitat. India seems other worldly because it is so different from our surroundings here but it is so wonderful and alive. We had a grand time with a most remarkable people and our lives have been enriched. In our next newsletter, the Asian Journal will bring you the last segment on Vietnam. After that we will start the stories with the marvellous eri, muga and tussah wild silkworms in India. |
NewsOur On–line NewsletterOur last issue of Silk Tidings (September 2007) was our first on–line only newsletter. The Pink printed copies rest nicely in our history file boxes. From this point on, we will be publishing our newsletter three times a year in Jan/Feb, May/June and Sept/Oct. We will still have your favourite chapters: The Asian Journal, Specials, New Products and others. They will not be in every issue but they will continue to appear on a rotating basis. We have some back–issues posted on-line for your perusal. As we began writing the newsletter in 1987, there are a number of the older issues that we do not have in a digital file. We still have some of those oldies in that history file box. They are $3 per back-issue. Back IssuesFind them at Print NewsletterIf you would like to receive a print copy of Silk Tidings, please let us know and we will mail you a printed copy for $10/year. NoteIf you would like to receive our emails letting you know about our newsletters and web specials you can register here: on–line registration We so enjoy being in touch with all of you. Please remember to let us know when you change your email address. Update your info here: update on–line. You Asked for It
|
New Productssilky play pack | a1 carrier rods | salt spring island series Silky Play Pack
Artists of all types from mixed media to spinners will have fun experimenting with this spectrum of whimsical silk fibres in this experimental pack. Each pack contains at least 20g of colourful hand–dyed silk fibres: At Treenway, we cut and manipulate the cocoons to make earrings, flowers, tassels and create shapes in silk fusion. The quirky structure of the rods, degummed throwsters and cocoon strippings add form and texture to all art work. 
Hankies are a ten inch square of fibre held together by a "selvedge." They can be used in silk fusion, needle felting, stitched onto fabric, spun into thread and more. Don't miss this special while supplies last! The price is $17.25.
→ learn more about silk fusion 
A1 Carrier Silk RodsCarrier rods are a by–product of reeling silk yarn. As the silk filament is unravelled from the cocoon into skein form, some of the filaments escape and get wound around the machinery. This very high quality silk, with the sericin still in it, is then slit and removed from the machinery. These specially picked rods are at least 5" long. 
We also have Standard Carrier Rods that may have some short pieces and partially wound cocoons in the mix. Both types are wonderfully textural for stitching, silk fusion, needle felting and any application needing depth. They can also be pressed flat, pulled apart to reveal the interesting criss-cross of the fibers or pulled and shaped into "flowers" and other forms. Rods have a lot of personality and attitude which you can use to advantage in your work. 
Both type of rods are available in: A1 Carrier Rods Standard Carrier Rods → learn more about silk fusion
Salt Spring Island SeriesWe have added three new colourways to our popular hand painted tussah sliver, the Salt Spring Island Series. Our community and landscape are very dear to all of our hearts. One might describe our feeling for this place on the planet as a love affair. We draw on its beauty for the inspiration for the colourful fibre. We imagine ourselves dancing to the colours at these special spots on the island. Treenway and our dyers, Cheryl, Mary and Charlene, are excited to bring you: 
• Channel Ridge Charleston 
• Long Harbour Limbo 
• Ruckle Park Rhumba The Salt Spring Island Series is packaged in two sizes: 25g (approx. 0.9oz) – $9.70 each or $9.20 each for three or more 50g (approx. 1.8oz) – $18.00 each The Salt Spring Series is also available in a 75g Variety Pack. → learn more about spinning with silk Specialsrigid heddle scarf kit | bombyx silk caps | natural silk in sericin | web specials 
Rigid Heddle Scarf KitA variety of natural colour silk yarns of different weights and qualities acquaint you with the different feel of each yarn. The weave is a balanced plain weave. The weft is 20/6 spun Bombyx silk and the warp is a random threading of five different silk yarns. Each scarf is approx 5" wide, 83" long and uses a 12.5 dpi reed. Each kit contains enough yarn for one scarf as well as complete warping and weaving instructions. This is a perfect project for someone who wants to have a good start working with exotic yarns on a Rigid Heddle loom. 
The kit is presented in a beautiful hand made box produced by a family cottage industry in India. Regular Price: $53.00 Discounted over 30%. → see all our silk scarf kits Bombyx Silk Caps
Caps are made from degummed cocoons that have been stretched into a cap shape over an arched bamboo slat. Ten cocoons are pulled over the frame to make one cap. Caps generally weigh 14-20 grams. To spin with caps you need to work with a very thin layer of these long, strong silk fibres, otherwise they will be impossible to draft. Even with a thin layer, the edges of the cap are strong and dense, and must be snapped apart to facilitate drafting. 
Celia Quinn, our spinning consultant, has given us her suggestions for the best spinning methods using caps. Read her insights here: spinning with silk We are discontinuing our 100g (3.5oz) packages of caps but will continue to offer caps in Bells (approx 500g or 1lb) for $71.00/Bell. Regular Price: $13.50 / 100g (approx 3.5 oz) package Discounted 40%. → see all our natural silk fibres Natural Silk in Sericin
This is another by-product of unravelling the silk cocoon to make yarn. In the throwing mill, occasionally fibres tangle around the machine or are otherwise unable to be used for finished yarn. These silk fibres are high quality with long fibres and include a variety of long curly strands, kinky strands and others in between. Natural Silk in Sericin adds great texture and interest to silk fusion and other mixed media. It is in sericin, so it is stiff. In our effort to change our packaging to smaller sizes, we are offering the 100g package at at 20% discount. Regular Price: $9.75 / 100g (approx 3.5 oz) package Discounted 20%. Sale Price: $7.80 / 100g package → see all our silk fibres Note about Specials:1. Prices do not include shipping. 2. Specials end April 30th, 2008. 3. Regular 10% Discount: Remember! |
|
home|
what's new!|
specials!|
silk yarns & ribbons|
silk fibres|
needle arts|
learn more about silk|
galleries|
on the road|
info |
order
home | treenway artwork | specials! | silk yarns & ribbons | silk fibres | embroidery & needle arts
learn more about silk | galleries | on the road | info | newsletter | pricelist | order
Treenway Silks
501 Musgrave Road, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada, V8K 1V5
P: 1.888.383.7455 • F: 250.653.2347 • E: silk@treenwaysilks.com
All rights reserved © 2005 Treenway Silks