Spin Artiste (SA): What led you to specifically becoming a fiber artist?

Esther Rodgers (ER): I’ve always been really good with color. I made patchwork clothes and sold them in the Parking Lot at Dead and Phish shows (and on ebay) back in my younger hippie days. It helped pay for my massage school. I loved the hunt in the fabric and thrift stores- finding prints and colors that worked together.

Then fiber happened!! It started when my now husband proposed. I wanted to knit scarves for all my bridesmaids. When I went to find the yarn, none of it ‘spoke’ to me as I felt they should. I had another challenge because my best friend (and maid of honor) is allergic to wool, so I had to find a pretty non wool substitute.

When I discovered handspun, I knew THIS is what I had been looking for, but the amount I needed was WAY outside of my budget, so I figured I had to make my own. So that’s why I learned to spin and knit. Once I sat down at the wheel I knew that I was a goner. I was instantly hooked. I found spinning to be another way to play with color and glitter (I also have history playing with color and glitter through quilting, scrapbooking, decoupage. I have always been a crafty beaver but nothing ever spoke to my soul like fiber) Then, fast forward 19 months when my husband got laid off. The spinning that had become my hobby and creative outlet then became a sustainable business. I’m really blessed that what I love can support my family. I’m not saying it’s not work- it’s an insane amount of work- but I can’t say I don’t love what I do each day.

SA: How long have you been spinning and who taught you?

ER: I have been spinning since June 2007. I took a beginning spinning class at a LYS. It was 2 lessons with a spindle, then 2 lessons on a wheel. I bought my first wheel (an Ashford Joy) 2 weeks later. 9 months later I sold the Joy and bought my Lendrum & then an AURA. Other than those beginning lessons, I’m all self taught. Just experimentation and playing around at my wheel. I have found MUCH inspiration from all 3 of Lexi Boegers’s books. When I bought “Interwined”, I was so thrilled to see what I had been doing in my experiments were ‘real’ published techniques!

A lot of what I do is trial and error — making things work, per say. I got some validation seeing what I was doing, others were doing as well. I’ve attended, in the last few years, a number of Lexi’s workshops (including her week long studio grand opening celebration, dubbed “Yarnival”) and always find something new and inspirational just hanging out with like minded creative spinners.

SA: What do you feel distinguishes you as a fiber artist?

ER: My fearless use of color and texture. Just as I have a very diverse music taste, I do with fiber as well. I can spin a fine chain ply yarn, but then add curly locks as I ply or stack the fiber while I’m chaining. I’m always inspired to constantly be pushing what I can do with my artwork. I like to play with techniques: combining them, tweaking them to create new textures. I am always ‘searching’ when I’m out for yarn add in’s that lend sparkle or texture! I am always open to inspiration as I come to it in my life through music, nature, television. I try to spin my life experiences into my yarn and my life is full of texture!

SA: Your use of color is so fantastic. What is your philosophy or approach regarding color?

ER: Use it with reckless abandon? LOL!! When I am going to have a carding session, I pull all of my colors out and surround myself with them so I can see everything. I have 2 ways of choosing color for carding actually. Sometimes, I plan colorway: I bring together a set of colors in advance, and then I just pull textures and sparkle from my bins as I go. These batts often have color combinations that I record so I can encore for a customer if they’d like
Then, I card off the cuff– just grabbing color and texture without thinking of how they will look in the end. This is my favorite way of carding: totally crazed and exciting. I try to do a bit of both in each carding session to keep my creative self fluid.

My dyepots are the same. I will plan colorways: making and keeping sketched colorways and color recipies. I also just “sling” dye into the pot — giving myself a total surprise when everything is done. I really love doing things both ways

SA:Tell us about your studio/workspace.

ER:I have a small “batt cave”– which is my carding studio. It’s just 11×10, but I have A LOT of stuff!

I use ALL of the wall space with shelving units and cubbies and bookshelves. I use over the door shoe holders for plying cones and locks. I also use the space under tables for clean fleeces in pop up hampers. I have 3 carders out on the carding table for active use, then 1 more that gets rotated in.
For me, it’s important that I have all my carding add in’s within arm’s reach. Sparkles are in a drawer right above the station! LOVE SPARKLE