This morning it was so nice that I had to take my spinning wheel and fiber outside for a bit of spinning. On the wheel today is my Funky Carolina Merino Combed Top in the color Haunted. I love this fiber and it is spinning up like a dream! I’m on the down hill stretch of filling bobbins so I can start plying and hopefully start my Less is More cardigan.
Have a wonderful day and happy spinning!
Filed under On and Off the Wheel
I’ve been trying to catch up on my spinning so I can start my Less is More cardigan and I’m afraid my spinning partner in England is way ahead of me in this adventure. The bright side, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
So to keep me motivated with spinning, my friend Elseline sent me a package containing 8 oz of a gorgeous BFL blend (Blue Faced Leicster and Tussah Silk) by Adelaide Walker that she picked up when she went to Wonderwool 2013 in Wales. Oh goodness this fiber is soft!!!
Of course I too have to keep myself motivated to finish spinning so I can not only spin the fiber Elseline sent to me, but fiber I just bought from Mary Ann of Three Waters Farm. I love BFL, it’s so soft and yummy to spin, and this 8 oz in the colorway called Rags and Bones will be perfect for a shawl!
What have you been spinning lately?
Filed under All Knitting, spinning, Wool, Yarn & Fiber
Do you buy yarn just for the sake of buying? Or, when you stop into a yarn shop, feel compelled to buy a skein or two so you won’t hurt the owner’s feelings? Well, that’s me in a nutshell and has been for many years.
Last month I started going through my stash of yarn, believe me that was a task and not everything had been put onto Ravelry, so I really didn’t know quite what I had. I soon begin to realize that I simply was not in love with the majority of the yarn I owned and it was time to part with many single skeins that would never become socks or shawls, and skeins that I still don’t know why I bought but I had to have them. With that in mind, I decided if I wasn’t going to ever use it, then I really needed to loose it!
I slowly went through every bin and started putting aside the skeins of yarn I knew that I would never use for projects. After taking inventory of my yarn, I moved on to my fiber stash and set aside braids I knew deep down I would never spin. Next step in my destash project, photographing everything that I decided must go. Now that was a chore in itself, but it had to be done before I could list it to sell. After a couple of weeks of selling on eBay, everything I had listed was on its way to a new home and I had emptied out enough bins to be able to reorganize my yarn and have everything in one place. It really felt good to look around my craft room and not see piles of yarn and fiber everywhere.
This year and going forward, I have challenged myself to purchase enough skeins of yarn for a project in mind and not just buy to be buying. I have also challenged myself to whittle down the remainder of my yarn and fiber stash before adding more to it.
With that being said, I have since purchased a bit of fiber for a spinning project that I will be starting this weekend for a lovely handspun cardi. I’m super excited about this and can’t wait to get started on it. I have also started queuing projects in Ravelry to go with the yarn in my stash. I have already found a few additional skeins that might not work out, so now I must decide to either use it, or simply loose it.
I will be working on my challenges and will try with all my might to restrain myself from buying, but as all of you fiber folk know, that is a hard thing to do at times 
Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!
Filed under Stuff, Yarn & Fiber
Thank you all for participating in my recent giveaway featuring 1.25 oz of Heather’s new new Envirobatt. As a reminder to those who spin or are interested in Heather’s endeavors, you can find her online at OVFA blog or if you’d like to shop for a learn to spin kit, a spinning wheel or other fiber goodies, you can visit Heather’s online OVFA shop or her Etsy shop.
And the winner is entry #6, Lolly of LollyKnits!
Congratulations Lolly and I hope you enjoy your fiber
Filed under Fiber Friday, Giveaway, Wool
Today I would like to introduce you to Heather, owner and operator of Ottawa Valley Fiber Arts and the creator of Envirobatts, an eco friendly fiber that is ready to spin.
Ottawa Valley Fiber Arts (OVFA) is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Created in 2010 during a particularly difficult time in her day job, Heather found that building her passion in her spare time gave her more energy for everything else in her life. She started the Canadian Fiber Box project, which brings together different fiber producers and artists four times a year to subscribers across Canada. Canada has many fiber producers that range from sheep to llamas, alpacas to bison and even muskox. They also have many talented fiber artists who prepare and dye fiber for spinning. The Canadian Fiber Box lets folks “get to know Canadian fiber.”
In 2013, OVFA is working to start-up a new product line called Envirobatts. Envirobatts are spinning fiber that are 
handcrafted from perfectly good textile waste that would otherwise be thrown out. Large textile mills don’t have an incentive to reprocess this perfectly good fiber, but it is perfect for a small, artisan business like Ottawa Valley Fiber Arts. The mill ends are mostly wool, but also include alpaca, cashmere, silk, soy, bamboo, and nylon. A lot of mill ends are natural colored wool, so Heather dyes these with eco-friendly dyes by Greener Shades before carding them into envirobatts. Because Heather is on well water, it is very important to her that she doesn’t use dyes with heavy metals in them.
Right now Heather is running an Indiegogo campaign to raise the funds to purchase a large, motorised drum carder, and to date, over 49 people have contributed to funding the project. If you want to support the Envirobatts campaign, you can choose from a variety of perks including your own Envirobatts or handspun yarn! The campaign runs until March 11. You can read more here at the Indiegogo site.
Stay up to date with Ottawa Valley Fiber Arts and Heather’s sheepy escapades at the OVFA blog or if you’d like to shop for a learn to spin kit, a spinning wheel or other fiber goodies, you can visit Heather’s online OVFA shop or her Etsy shop.
About: Heather is a mother of three, loves statistics and lives in a log house. She is crazy about sheep, her two cats and, of course, her husband. Owner of Ottawa Valley Fiber Arts and creator of Envirobatts, fibers arts are her passion. When she’s not playing with fiber, she’s baking bread, cookies, and making her own yogurt and sauerkraut.
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Heather was kind enough to send me 1.25 oz of her new Envirobatt for review and for giving away to one lucky blog reader. I can honestly say this sample of fiber is a beautiful blend of colors that includes, purple, blue and green, and is super squishy soft. While this sample is mostly wool, it may also contain Alpaca, silk, milk fiber, soy fiber, bamboo, nylon and other fibers.
To enter this giveaway, all you need to do is simply leave a comment on why you would be interested in spinning environmentally friendly fiber.
This giveaway is open now through Monday, February 25th and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, February 26th. This giveaway includes all US and Canadian residents.
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Thank you for entering, this giveaway is now closed!
Filed under Fiber Friday, Giveaway, Wool
I’m so pleased to have finished such a lovely bit braid of gorgeous fiber and even though I didn’t achieve the yardage I hoped for, I love the soft squishiness of the yarn I created! I’m thinking this might be nice for Stacked, a design by EmilyMade. Even thought Emily’s pattern calls for 200 yards of worsted weight handspun, I feel this might work.
Courtesy of EmilyMade
Fiber: 4 oz River’s Edge Fiber Arts Mountain Mist (60% Merino, 30% Bamboo, 10% Nylon)
Colorway: Black Ice
Yardage: 196
Weight: Sport in 2 ply
River’s Edge Mountain Mist – Black Ice
196 Yards of 2 ply Sport Weight
I did one thing different when it came to plying. After my fiber rested over night, I wound it into a center pull ball. This allowed me to ply every ounce of fiber without any waste and, I didn’t have two bobbins to ply from. I learned this technique from Christina Long, a.k.a. The Treasure Goddess, in an article she wrote for Ennea Collective. I love it and will continue to try this when it comes to plying!
Plying with this technique is perfect for the beginning spinner. There is no need for working with a lazy kate, you only need the one bobbin for spinning singles and plying the yarn. The only additional equipment required is a ball winder, which you could probably borrow from a knitter friend should you not have your own. I also find that as I gain more experience with spinning, plying from both ends of a center pull ball is still my very favorite method. I find nothing is more relaxing than watching the colors change and meld into new combinations as my mind wonders and my hands ply without effort. ~ Christine Long
Here’s her YouTube video showing this technique:
Filed under On and Off the Wheel, spinning
Today is a bit of reflection and a bit of getting ready for the good changes that are coming. I want to thank you all for such a wonderful year, your support and encouragement and most of all, your friendship. I feel that I have found many kindred spirits here in the fiber world and I’m so grateful to have all of you talented people in my life. Every day I’m in awe at the talent, the creativity, the support and the pure enjoyment that each of you share with each other. ~ December 31, 2011
As I sit here writing this post today, I can’t believe I said that just a year ago and I have to say, it still rings true today. I’m so blessed to have found so many kindred spirits in the crafting world and I’m so very grateful to have been able to get to know quite a few of you on a personal level. In case you don’t know, you all ROCK!
I’ve been really thinking about my goals for this year and I have decided that I want to incorporate a few more things into my year than just knitting or spinning. I want to branch out a bit and go back to doing a few things I once loved doing before I was bitten by the knitting bug. I think being well rounded in crafting is a good thing and the more you know, the more you grow and the ore creative you become.
Like last year, I plan to revisit my goals and resolutions every quarter and see what I’ve managed to finish. This should be fun, as well as very challenging.
So, here I go …..
Resolutions:
Goals: Last year I vowed to stash bust, I did not do a very good job at that so this year is the year of stashing busting!
Sigh…. that looks like a lot and it might be more than I can handle for the year but you never know, I do love a challenge!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Another fresh new year is here . . . Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest . . . To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs! – William Arthur Ward
Filed under All Knitting, Embroidery, spinning
While many are out fighting the crowds this Friday to
take advantage of all the early bird specials and sales, I will be busy at work but plan to sneak in a few “online” purchases.
I thought it would be fun to have a third year of online shops that are giving really great deals, so while I’m busy working, I hope you all have fun checking out the websites that are offering great Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials for all you fiber lovers! This is also a wonderful way for you to support small business owners!
Visit the Etsy Shops Group on Raverly
Visit the Needlework On the Net Group on Ravelry
Visit the Phat Fiber Sampler Box Group on Raverly
From 11/23-11/26, Craftsy is running its Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale and all classes are being offered at $19.99 or less!
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Here’s a list of who’s having great deals, starting with me!
I’m offering 50% off all patterns my Ravelry store . Be sure to enter coupon code: BLKFRI at checkout. This offer is good at the start of day on Thanksgiving to the end of day, Monday November 26th!
After five years, Amanda of Sunflower Yarns is closing her shop to focus more on her family. With that being said, this is your chance to get some awesome deals on yarn (including minis). She also listed all remaining blank stock of undyed yarn as well as dyes. There is a lot on sale! Click here to go to the site and find those awesome deals! Shipping is immediate upon receipt of payment.
Springtree Road Yarns - Tis the season for buying on sale! This year, the sale will be on from Thanksgiving morning (bright & early!) through Cyber Monday (way late!). The coupon code is GOBBLEGOBBLE and that will give you 15% off your purchase of anything in the shop.
IndieWay Yarns is offering a 7% discount on yarn purchases, NOW 11/21/12 thru Sat. 11/24. Coupon Code: save7
Sweet Georgia Yarns – We have much to be thankful for this year and much to celebrate. These yarns and designs are starting to get us in the holiday mood! And just because we’re feeling all tingly about the start of the holidays, you can get FREE SHIPPING until Monday, November 26 by entering “FREESHIPCAN” for Canadian destinations or “FREESHIPUS” for US destinations online at checkout.
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Hedgehog Fibres is having a Black Friday sale with 20% off all stock in the store (except clubs).There is a code for yarn -
Note: if you order both you can just use both codes at checkout.
This year at Black Trillium Fibres, Melanie is giving 20% off your entire purchase! Be sure to use “BF2012” in the coupon code section at check out and remember, the sale is Friday only.
Chelsea Yarns by offering 25% off EVERYTHING on our website from 8pm Eastern/Standard time on November 22nd through 11:59 PM Cyber Monday, November 26th ~ No promo code needed for the sale. As an added bonus, all ruffle yarn by Fil Katia and Knitting Fever will be 50% off original price. Sale price will be reflected in cart at checkout.
Wandering Wool is having Thanksgiving Weekend sale! Everything in the shop (except yarn clubs) will be 20% off from November 23-26, no coupon necessary.
Alecia of madbird – is offering a great sale in her shop! Please use the following discount codes to kick off your Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping!
* These coupon codes are valid on in-stock items only ~ not valid on past purchases.
Knit Lab – Automatic 20% discount on purchases of two or more items from the website and Ravelry store.
Terri Kruse of Through the Back Loops is having a pattern sale! Stop by her Ravelry shop: Ninja8tofu Designs between now and the end of day Monday (Central Standard Time) and receive 25% off all patterns (excluding ebook). There is no coupon code needed.
Lara Spinner of Rainbow Twist Shop has a sale code, THANKS15, for 15% off in her Etsy shop through the weekend. She will donate 50% of her profits from these sales to “Habitat For Humanity”, a volunteer organization providing safe, affordable housing worldwide.
WC Mercantile is having a Thankful Sale! Use code Thankful15 to save 15% on yarns and fibers, in the shop, on the phone or online only at wcmercantile.com. Fiber Equipment purchases made in store or at wcmercantile.com will get 10% in store credit to use on future fiber purchases. Good through midnight Wednesday 11/28/2012.
Sivia Harding is have a pattern sale! As a special thank-you to her followers, Sivia is offering a Holiday Pattern Sale in her Ravelry store, starting today and running for one week. In this sale, with a minimum purchase of 2 patterns from the list below, you get $3.00 off in your shopping cart. You must have both patterns in the shopping cart at the same time for this to work.
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Eat Sleep Knit: Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S. and those of you celebrating abroad! Continuing the tradition, our Black Friday Surprise Sale is back this year. Shop with Eat.Sleep.Knit on Friday, November 23rd, (that’s tomorrow!) and you’ll get a surprise discount between 10 and 100% off (yes, 100%) of your entire order.
*Orders must be made on website using the discount code. No Call-Ins please. Offer starts at 12:01am on the start date and ends at 11:59pm on the end date. Continental USA only – excludes back order items. Choose Flat Rate Shipping option at check out. Excludes LeClerc table & floor looms and Snap Dragon Frames. **Excludes Gift Certificates & Kits.
Disclaimer: This information has been provided by the online shop owners and/or has been listed on emails or in Raverly groups.
Filed under All Knitting, Yarn & Fiber
A few of you know that I recently purchased a Kiwi 2 to add to my growing collection of Ashford wheels. This past week I finally finished staining my Kiwi a warm rich color called English Chestnut. After much thought, I decided to go with a Celtic theme for this wheel and was very happy that I could find stencils for what I had in mind. So, the wheel was painted black and the stencils were applied using a metallic blue and a pearl cream. My wonderful husband put her all together for my and I have to say, I love the end result!
Now every wheel must have a name but I have n0 idea what to name my new wheel, so I thought it would be fun to have a naming contest for the best Celtic or Gaelic name.
The Rules: Just leave a comment with what name you think would be perfect for my new Kiwi 2, either in Celtic or Gaelic, and the meaning of the name. The Deadline to enter is Friday, November 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Arizona Time and the winner will be announced on Saturday, November 24th. The winner of the best name will receive one 4 oz braid of Pagewood Farms BFL fiber in the colorway Prism.
This giveaway is open to all, including international!
100% BFL (Blue Face Leicester) Wool Fiber
4 oz in Prism
I can’t wait to see what names you enter!!!!
Thank you so much ~ This giveaway is now closed!
I’m still spinning away on my British Breeds fiber sampler pack from Hilltop Cloud and truly having fun.
It seems the more I spin, the better I’m becoming and I’m even getting better yardage. This past week, I finished up the Black Shetland (27 yards) and the Brown Moorit (32 yards). I’m still doing a 3-ply and really love the results.
So, here’s an update photo that I thought would be fun to share -
From left to right and 3- ply each:
On a very fun note, this past Sunday my hubby and I decided to stop into one of our favorite antiques shops to see what was new. I found a small treasure, a Namaste clutch that was once part of the Cali line of products. The one I found and bought is in a lovely turquoise, which is perfect.
So, this clutch originally retailed for $50 and I picked it up for $20. Yep, that’s a bargain in my book! I found a great write-up on Plantet Purl and you can click here to read all about it. I don’t believe that Namaste makes this particular product any more but I don’t care, it’s perfect for my knitting bag
Front of the clutch
Opened up, you can store needles !
Lots of room inside for small projects and notions!
Until next time, happy knitting, spinning and crafting!
Filed under All Knitting, spinning
I love knitting, crocheting, spinning and all things pertaining to the fiber arts, including needlework and embroidery.
