Welcome to Spencer Hill! I’m Barb Kish, and Spencer Hill is not only my company, but my beautiful almost-in-the-country neighborhood in Corning, NY.
I knit. I spin. I weave, embroider, and sew. I was lucky to grow up in a family that not only enjoys handwork, but has a deep respect for the time and effort that goes into it. I was taught that the end product is only as good as what you put into it-from your own effort to the materials you choose. I can still picture my grandma turning my work over to see if the “wrong” side was as tidy as the right.
I first experienced natural dyeing in particular while observing a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina (you should check it out if you like traditional craftwork). It was an indigo vat, and it was magic. I had to know how to do it myself, so I bought a kit for beginners, and never looked back. That was almost ten years ago, and once the amount of experimentation reached critical mass (i.e., I can’t knit as fast as I dye), I opened my shop.
You won’t find high-volume dyeing in my shop; this is partly because I’m also a full-time 4th and 5th grade band director! But it’s also in my post title: “never the same skein twice.” Part of what fascinates me about natural dyeing is that even if I use the same material, on the same yarn, on a different day, I’ll get something different. Heck, I’ve gotten something different from the bottom of the pot to the top! If you’re looking for something truly unique to give your handmade creations that something special, I hope you’ll visit my Big Cartel shop and see what else I have to offer. I’m in the middle of a big dyeing blitz (it’s summer break!), so watch this space for updates. I’m excited to be here on Indie Untangled! Thanks!