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03/03/2014

Colours of Grace



I am highly interested in the lives and backgrounds of people creating art and craft as they all have a fascinating story to tell through the works they create. I am especially drawn to those who create as a form of therapy or emancipation as it adds an emotional connection to the sensory experience.

Melani, the force behind the sumptuous Colours of Grace  hand dyed aran weight cotton is no exception. Deeply religious, she turned to prayer when gripped in the fog of depression. The answer to her prayers was to turn her hand to a craft that has been around for thousands of years. Spinning. As a medical technologist by profession, Melani had no background in spinning. She located not only two spinning wheels within a week, but also found a master spinner to teach her. Soon she was transforming raw fiber into spun yarn, telling stories through colour (she hand dyes the cotton) and texture. 

Colours of Grace became Melani's living memory. Two days before the launch of the (then differently named) yarn, she changed the name to Colours of Grace after a revelation, honouring the biblical women Hannah (DK) and Magdalene (aran) who both received grace in answer to prayer. All of the yarn is produced by Melani, Elsabe (her mother in law) and Silent (an assistant originally from Zimbabwe).  


The yarn is locally (South Africa) available via the Colours of Grace Facebook page, as well as from independent distributors. I bought 34 x 50gr balls from another person with a big heart, Beatrix Snyman (Blog Btrix Dsigns and also available via her Facebook Page).  I forwarded Beatrix my mood boards and she put together the yarn choices for me.  Beatrix has an excellent understanding of colour and I love connecting with her since we share similar outlooks on life, having both lived global lives for extended periods. 

Below is the latest Colours of Grace colour chart - I bought a selection of colours from the current as well as previous colour range.  The yarn is a perfect match to my mood-boards and my own ideas of romantic Istanbul and Paris.  I absolutely love the slightly mottled effect and am struggling to keep my hands off the yarn (it is going into the container destined for Qatar!)

Correction - I sneaked the yarn into my son's suitcase and when Simply Crochet magazine approached me for a design/article to be published in Issue 23, my fingers naturally reached for this amazing yarn and I had the time of my life making the Milla Magic throw.

PS For international orders: Hilda Steyn via Yarn in a Barn  

 


I will be back soon to tell you about my 6 balls of cowgirlsblues merino wool, 5 balls of Pierrot French linen, 21 balls of a newly launched Imagine hand dyed bamboo/cotton mix, 27 balls of Vinnis Bambi and 6 balls of African Expressions Soul purchases.
Fiber artists in South Africa are at long last spoilt for choice!


22 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post Magda x as a South African living in the UK all I want to do is get my hands on this gorgeous yarn x thank you so much for telling us Melani's story x

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    1. Penny there are some great indie producers at the moment - the choices are quite lovely. This is a great yarn and the aran weight makes it stand out from other similar cottons. I definitely recommend you try and get hold of this. They a;so do an ombre from time to time which is just beautiful.

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  2. Gorgeous yarn... Can't wait to see what you will make with those lovelies...

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    1. Thank you Gaia - my head is spinning as I want to change direction and start to make quirky toys and jewelry in order to learn new skills and use less yarn at a time!

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  3. What a lovely story and gorgeous yarn. Thank you for sharing.
    Sheila
    http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2014/02/cath-kidstongreengate-inspired-bakeware.html

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    1. Thank you! How gorgeous is that Cath Kidston inspired blanket you made!!!!

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  4. I love the story and i LOVE the yarn!

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    1. My fingers will be restless until I use that yarn!

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  5. Beautiful yarn. I like the brown and grey/blue colors. I can't remember I have seen such nice natural brown colors.

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    1. The browns and greys are stunning and you are right, I NEVER buy brown as it is almost never to my taste.

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  6. Whaaa!!! Ek loove hoe jy Melani se storie oordra!!! Baie dankie jy!! Ag, ons harte klop sooo simular, dit maak my sommer weer opnuut opgewonde!
    Ek gaan jou blogpost share as jy nie omgee nie, ek wil he almal moet dit lees!
    xxxxx

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    1. Sy het 'n sooo 'n mooi hart, daar is soveel mooi mense in die wereld, dit laat mens lekker voel. Jy kan enige tyd deel, hoe meer mense van Melani weet, hoe langer gaan sy aanhou om sulke mooi katoen te maak!

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  7. That yarn looks so scrumptious and soft... There is such a great yarn vibe going on in South Africa. Something for you to initiate in Qatar too! ;-) And you moodboards are amazing ~ as per usual!
    I'm terribly excited that you've got Pierrot linen. Such beautiful products! (I really want to use the linen I got in Sweden last year.)

    Looking forward to your other finds! All best, Haafner

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    1. Haafner I can't believe that I will be missing out on the Yarn Indaba planned for later this year. Oh my goodness, I haven't even shopped One of a Kind yarns yet, I will do so next month. The ladies behind these cottons and bamboo are behind the Indaba. They are also organising the most amazing yarnbomb in a very special place - the world will be bowled over. I can't wait to try out the Pierrot Linen - the bloody cat had a bit of fun with one ball, but I rescued it just in time. I am thinking of doing Sophie Digard inspired jewelry . . . Enjoy your travels, you are taking me through a great memory trip through your postings.

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  8. Wow! I'm amazed! How beautiful yarn and colors!

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  9. Wat leuk dat je mijn blogje hebt gevonden. Gezellig! Jij hebt er nu ook een volger bij ;-). Liefs Chantal

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  10. The yarn looks amazing and I can bet the feel would be a fantastic experience!
    Thank you for sharing this with us!

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  11. This is a beautiful post to read and to look at. All the yarn is so gorgeous! Hope you will enjoy working with your selection!
    Thanks for sharing:)

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  12. What a gorgeous yarn! The colors are beautiful. BTW, love the new look of your blog.

    PS: I'm back. :-)

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  13. Ow wow! I love the colours and how it looks!

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  14. These yarns are beautiful! An amazing story about your friend and turning her hand to these :)

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  15. 'n Pragtige blog inskrywing! Inspirerend wat die wol en ander fotos aanbetref! Ek is ook 'n Mediese Tegnoloog - dus het daardie stukkie detail my hart spesiaal geraak x

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