Year's End

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

I fell way short on my goals for last year in blogging, but accomplished a lot in everyday life.
So my resolution for this year is not to make any resolutions and just do what I can get done!
Are you making resolutions?

To update;
1. in the spring we purchased a 4x9 slat walled utility trailer to use for craft shows. We took the slats off and built solid walls with back and side doors. With a hinged light-weight top it was useful for hauling and also camping for one at the shows (my son had the van or a tent to sleep in)
2. Having booked a fairly full schedule of craft shows, I also found my part-time winter job continuing into year-around!
3. This fall I purchased the supplies for making soy candles to add a new product to my shows. I also came into possesion on a smaller 4-harness floor loom which is waiting patiently for me to finish the warp that was on it so I can start a project of maybe place mats or dish towels which are still in the planning stage as I research books to find "the perfect" pattern and suitable warp and weft.
4. A custom order of dog hair to spin into yarn and then knit into scarves took more time than I had first thought, but it was an interesting project and I received the best thankyou note with the payment.
5. I'm still spinning and dyeing as well as preparing equipment to teach a nuno felting class next month.

What special projects have taken over your lives? Busy is good, right?

Welcome 2011

It's time to greet the New Year and apologize for my lack of consistency in blogging.
Happy New Year to all!

I didn't drop off the face of the earth, just got extremely busy with craft shows and gardening throughout the summer. This fall I started a "part-time" job which has developed into my working an average of 5 days a week:) I'm still keeping busy with spinning, my Etsy shop, and some inventory placed in a local craft store.

But it is time to make some goals to accomplish this year. How many have made resolutions for 2011? Mine aren't spectacular but I'm trying to keep them possible to do.

1. Blog at least once a month, hopefully more.
2. Spend at least an hour a day spinning (or other fiber related project) even after work.
3. Plan my craft show schedule for the year by the end of January.
4. Increase the number of listings in my Etsy store (to maintain at least 100 items)
5. Enjoy the year, keeping in better touch with friends and family.

Please add any of your goals that you'd like to share in the comments.

Alpaca and Mohair

I purchased some lovely alpaca roving from a shop on Etsy, a combination of brown, black and gray stripe. I spun two spools of 2 ounces each, then plied them together into the yarn that you see on my niddy-noddy. (Almost 250yds) Now to decide on a project, it's nice and soft with a slight halo.

My next box in the mail contained an assortment of black, grey, and silver curly locks of kid mohair. After a well needed bath, this is some of it drying. I know some will be saved for needle felting, the rest to be carded and spun.

Project Updates

Finally changed my camera batteries so I can show my finished(almost) projects. Remember the blue and natural color roving from a previous post? Here are the 5 skeins of yarn that I spun from that pound of roving. Sill have to wind the last one from the spool onto my niddy-noddy before I know the total yardage. I'm estimating close to 700 yards. Next I need to soak them in warm water and hang to dry to set the twist, then I can take more pictures and list one on my Etsy shop, labeling and packing the rest in my craft show totes.

This little pile of "stuff" is only a little of the vegetable matter that I pulled out as I spun. Not all roving is created equal in ease of spinning but the softness and color was worth the extra work.

These are a part of the shelving that I was shellacking. You can see in the picture above what a nice color change this finish gives to the wood. With a craft show in two weeks they aren't getting a second coat until later in the season, but I finished the six shelf unit and both two shelf units so I am happy with that.

Spin your scraps

Spin your scraps(http://www.ravelry.com/groups/spin-your-scraps-contest) is a contest starting as a group on Raverly. It sounds like a lot of fun. Now all I have to do is decide what bits to add to my saved fluff to create a one of a kind art yarn. Check it out.

Spinning Guild

About a year or so ago I was introduced to a group of ladies, most of them spinners. It was an experience to see all the different kinds of wheels, all whirling softly, twisting a variety of fibers into beautiful unique yarns as everyone chatted.

Today was another of our monthly meetings, now held in a snowmobile club house, since the number of members continues to grow. We share the results of our projects, knitting, felting, weaving etc. It's inspiring to see what everyone is working on. For this years group project we traded one ounce bundles of roving to combine and spin,weave,knit,felt or whatever into maybe vests? I haven't started spinning my 16 ounces yet since I'm still playing with the color and texture combinations in my mind, and searching for just the right pattern to knit and may add more of my stash to it.

So today I started spinning on this pound of lovely softness that I purchased from one of many vendors at the last Northern Michigan Lamb&Wool Festival.

Addicted Technically

When my computer was down for almost a week, I really realized how dependent I am to the technical addiction of being on line.
I can easily sit with my spinning wheel, in the woods ,in my craft tent for a weekend, camping out and enjoying food cooked over the camp fire. Why, then, did I find myself freaking out when my computer started making funny noises? I have an on-line shop! I have forums that I regularly post to or at least read! I get the occasional e-mail which I like to answer promptly! Yes all this was still happening but I was unable to access it!
My first call was to my daughter, who as my technical support person listened to the noises through the telephone, asked some questions and gave advice. She also agreed to monitor my shop for me, relaying any sale information and answering convos. Whew! one responsibility off my shoulders- not checking my shop was like not showing up for work without calling in!
Luckily her diagnosis was correct, and having the power supply box replaced was done locally.
Now I am happily back to my spinning wheel, having the ability again to check on the on-line world when the urge strikes! Tell me this is not an addiction??