July 1st is just around the corner and it’s time for a new Artist of the Month! In July we have the pleasure to have Liz from Femme Fatale Fibers. We were very lucky to be able to work with Liz both as our July Artist of the Month and as our dyer/designer for the June Not-So-Sock Club. We chose her Mata Hari Sock which is a merino/nylon blend. With its nylon content this yarn will be perfect for socks but its softness makes it also totally appropriate for shawls, and baby items. The colorways are mostly variegated but with some semi-solids and would look great in all those projects. You can for now have a peek at the colorways on Flickr but tonight at midnight EST the yarns will be available right here at yarn4socks.
1. What is your name, company name and which city and state are you from?
Liz Abinante, Femme Fatale Fibers, Davis, California
2. How long have you been dying yarn?
About a year professionally, longer for personal use and for close friends.
3. How did you get started?
I wanted a creative outlet that I could interact with more often than knitting. While I adore knitting, I simply don’t have enough hands to work with all of the colors I love on a regular basis. Dyeing was an outlet for my love of color, so I seized the opportunity to test the waters with my friend, Didi Bottini, and her fledging dye company, Little Red Bicycle as well. Dyeing got to be incredibly addicting!
Mad as a Hatter
4. What motivates you?
I am a big, huge nerd. I love school, and I love to read. I spend my time reading science fiction and fantasy novels, and I absolutely love historical literature. When I’m reading I form elaborate pictures of people, places, and events in my mind – which translate to motivation to bring these images to life. Since I was never particularly gifted with illustration, I found ways to make things work with color. Most of my colors are inspired by things that I enjoy, or they’re funny names. Pity for Pluto is one of my favorite funny names, while The Scarlet Letter is my favorite literary color. Carmilla holds a special place in my heart not only because it’s purple, but because it is named after a vampire.
Pity for Pluto
5. What is the favorite product you’ve ever made?
I think my favorite thing I’ve ever made is my Saroyan [Ravelry link]. I wear it a lot, and it’s a versatile color. I like that I can wear it in tons of different ways, and I am always happy to design something with my own yarn.
6. Do you have any advice for other fiber artists?
If you’re going to do fiber arts, put your whole heart in it. Don’t skip steps, don’t half ass it. Do it. You don’t have to be amazing at it, but if you are really trying and really putting all of your effort into it, that will show. It’s more important to be passionate and committed to your product than it is to be perfect. Almost all yarn bleeds or runs a little, and every once in awhile mills produce knots.
Down the Rabbit Hole
7. Are there any designers, fiber artists or any other artist you consider your role model?
I am absolutely in awe of Sarah Dimond, The Plucky Knitter (http://thepluckyknitter.com/). Not only is she an amazingly gifted dyer, but she’s a warm hearted person with kindness that you can feel in every skein. Many dyers can take a page out of her book – not just in terms of dyeing: she carries herself so gracefully, so beautifully. She’s a truly wonderful person. Kristen Hanley Cardozo is one of my favorite designers. I had the privilege of meeting her at Stitches West this year and she’s so chipper! Her designs are elegant without becoming complicated or over done, and she has a very special way about her that brings something new to her designs.
Let them eat Cake
8. Please share with us a zany or interesting thing about you. It does not have to be fiber related.
I wrote my Master’s thesis on vampires. Not Dracula, but the absolutely terrible vampires of Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse, and the realm of paranormal chick lit. I spent over a year of my life pouring over those books and I still love the topic. You know what’s worse? I think I’m going back for another Master’s degree – and I’ll probably write about vampires again.
Thank you Liz!
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