Spinners Sunday

Well this week I managed to find time to get the wheel out, first time since February. I even learn't some new techniques, including some Navajo plying. In my recent efforts i also came across a website that i found very helpful - The Joy of Handspinning it has some great information and videos. .... now Hubby thinks I should spin the possum fur he pucked for some gloves for him

(I quickly put the wheel away ;)

So heres the 100g Vintage Purls Perendale combed silver i spun into 2 singles then plied together - there are some amazing colours in it which i didn't even notice while i was spinning at night - Morag @ Vintage Purls is certainly able to get some amazing results with her dye jobs!

I finally found a pattern - Misti Chunky Ribs & Ruffles Scarf that clicked with the yarn and it only took 3 evenings amongst the chores of a mother to complete.

No doubt it will get a lot of use before winter is out!

Link to Project Page on Ravelry

Mail Call: full of surprises

Yip more mail for me today (one of the bonuses of swaps ;) )

This was an amazing wee package and I truly did not know what to expect - as there are quite a few crafty pass times i have so it may have been full of supplies for my stash or crafted items.

But the bag was full of both! ....

A wee reversible? bag that will be for knitting WIP's (funny as I've been thinking of a design like this lately!) Its very cool to close it the long strap goes through the short one - and the fabric is very cool!

And a pile of stash bits and tool

- Divine Kiwiana fabric

- Ashford WPI tool for spinning

- some cute wee Charms

- Mini Board Book Kit

- Handmade Foam Flowers

- Little Birthday Embellishments

- Textured blue cards & envelopes

- Clear alphabet stamps - have been looking for something like this for ages so now i need a clear block for them they are super funky!

Now to be a super sluth and find out just where it came from -- thats if i can stop checking it all out again and imagining uses i can find for it ;)

Thanks Swappee

My 1st Fibre Swap!

I know another Swap from December that i failed to blog about >>>

Its from Kathy R and she has done a perfect job - i was hoping for lots of fibre samples (being new to spinning and all)

She’s included: Merino silver, Alpaca/Silk/Merino blend, Border Leicester fleece, Corridale fleece, Hampshire down with Mohair, Lama fibre, Combed mohair, Angora fibre, English Leicester fleece, Recycled Sari Silk and some silk throwseters … man i’m going to have a ball!!!!

I’m loving the patterns for felted clogs and Animal friends felted booties (felting is still on the to learn list just been bumped) some sweeties, soap and lovely wee stichmarkers.

Thank you soooooo much Kathy its great! … and i have to say your stalking was very good ;)

now to try ant tear myself away from it and finish the dishes (postie came in the middle of them ;) )

But then i got a wee envelope in the mail with an extra in it that 'disappeared' when the box was sent ... it was an ashford WPI tool and some lovely Merino from 'Shrek'
And here's the parcel i sent:

Sewsable is whom i had to make up a swap for in the latest NZ Fibre Swap of Favourites

So i decided to base it all around her favourite colours - Burgundy, Teal, Peacock and Purple

Included was:

Gifts

• Teal Knitting Needles
• Block of Purple Cadbury
• Two sets of Teal Stitch markers
• Purple Soap Roses
• A diz my Hubby Made
• A cut of lovely Teal / Flower fabric

I also included one of my Favourites - a taste of a bottle of Beyond Paradise by Estee Launder

Fibre

• 100g Polworth Natural roving
• A Silk Cap/hankie - hand dyed tealy purple
• Romney Staple dyed teal (and some was combed - but i felt it looked more affective gifted as staple)

Enjoy Sable!!!

My Blendy Box is here!!

My box from Blendy

Loving the samples i got:
20g ‘Luna’ Superwash Merino sock yarn from Grrrl Shaped Yarns
20g Hand dyed Fibre from Vintage Purls
30g ‘694’ 8ply Merino from Touch Yarns
25g Recycled Sari Silk from Yarn Traders
6g handdyed 80% Alpaca/20% Wool from Southern Alpacas Stud
3g ‘Hidden Gems’ 80% SW Merino 20% Bamboo from Moose In Socks

Fab Fibres Sample Pack
2 Stitch Markers from Deena Knits
Pattern, Soles and 2 crochet stitch markers from Marshmellowmagic Designs
No Snag Knitters handcream sample
’I’ve Got Knits’ badge from R.W. Scissors
Gift Tags from Songbird Designs
Little Felt Squares from Fibre Passion
Comvita Skincare Samples
Tea Towel
Sock Pattern from Blendy that looks great

What i missed out on:

Auzula
Needle Food
Inspire Fibres
Curiouser & Curiouser
The Loop Knittery
Spinning a Yarn
Nut & Bee
Vintage Purls Sock Yarn

Feel its a tad light on the Yarn/Fibre side of things but look forward to having a play with the samples i have :)

Would i purchase it again? .... um no, not unless there were more yarn samples or it was cheaper

Its actually made me think a bit more about the process and weather it is an affective advertising method - as i know the only sites I've looked at are those which where in my box as i can now relate to them so thumbs up. BUT i haven't checked the other suppiers sites - i guess as its a reminded of what i didn't get thumbs down.

I'm Back!

yes I know, I've been neglecting this blog for far to long - i guess with a combination of the festive season and feeling low lately my blog hasn't been on the for-front of my mind.

But i have alot to update over the next wee while:
- My Blendy Sampler Box just arrived
- i have got some lovely gifties from my lovely friend Kate
- My Favoutite Book swap
- Christmas!
- My new spinning wheel and accessories
- Whats happeing in the garden
- The Kids
- The Brag book Tutorial

and so on .... so i'll get started with my Blendy box in a minute :)

Sale - Swift Sacks

Okay so here's a much needed quick update!

I've been busy on the production line for some snazzy swift sacks and the first lot are ready for sale at a super start out price!

So first in first grabs - they are just Fab for keeping all your swift bits on one place and keeping little fingers out ;)


If you wondering a swift makes wool hanking and winding easier (its a Knitter/spinner thing ;) ) -- Here's some Just One W.I.P: Handmade Wooden Swifts


please note that one or two have a touch of wonky sewing due to a wee helper :oops:

I've been surfing!

I've found some more lovely yarny site thanks to Blendy and her Sampler boxes!

Firstly Touch Yarns - A lovely NZ made products for non prickly knitting (always a +) I'd love to get hold of some fibre from Kelly to process from fibre to knit myself using the different techniques i have recently learnt at spinning class - or if you haven't been taken by the spinning bug she has some lovely soft yarns of varying ply and type - well worth a click!

and then there is Fab Fibres ... who even sell dolls hair! or beautiful Treasure packs like this one:

Or Woolpaper ... yes read that again! Wool paper How amazing is that!! their own creation that i can't wait to find the time and money to get some to have a good look at! The colours it is available in are just spectacular as well

I think my art yarn spinning will start here!

Sebs Looking Glass Longies

They're done - and i love them! - can't wait to cast some on for Beca for next winter (need to finish her summer dress first - only sewing to do on it :)

Ravelry Link

My first attempt at Longies for a Xmas Pressie for my nephew :) - I used the Looking Glass longies Pattern which is a really Great pattern Kelly xx

I Crocheted cord – a few woopsies but thats all learning and my adjustemt could have been better - i’ve added button holes and buttons so they can be buttoned up as shorties - but my positioning isn’t perfect - will note for next time not to put a button hole at the start of the row but 1/4 the way round then 3/4 the way round (K2TOG YO)

I love this idea though as it would make the pants grow with Seb as well - just by moving the button position :) - we put them on him last night for button adjustment - and they look great!

Modeled here on my just over 2 1/2 yr old - cheeky girl! ((please excuse her Freddo frog tattoo)

Have you signed up yarn lovers?

At last we are lucky enough to have a yarn sampler box in NZ! - due out in January if you love yarn you need to get in line for one of these!

Thanks Blendy for putting these together for us ... i for one can't wait to get my yarny goodness (+ eatable treat) box in the mail!

Heres the links:

• Blendy's Blog
  
• Blendy's Ravlery Group
• Blendy's Website
• Blendy's Felt Shop
• Blendy's Estay Shop

Here's Blendy's Blurb on them (from her website):

Blendy's NZ Yarn Sampler Boxes are like a mini craft fair - you get a little bit of everything that knitters would enjoy, such as yarn, fibre, stitch markers, buttons, embellishments, gift cards, delicious treats - all made by fantastic (mostly) NZ creatives. I want to share my love of supporting the amazing crafts New Zealanders make with the rest of the world. There will also be a few amazing international samples, because we love them too.

What's in the Box?

Each box will have around 15 different amazing samples for you to try - including an exciting array of New Zealand yarn, and some international yarn (because we love specialty yarns from all over the world), and some beautiful knitting-related embellishments and treats from local NZ crafters. Not all boxes will be the same - it's a surprise!

Here are the current suppliers - please check back regularly as the list seems to be growing almost daily! Check out their websites to see their full range of enticing goodies. I encourage you to support their specialty businesses.

Deena Kirk Handcrafted Jewellery & Stitchmarkers

Can you wait to get yours?

Spinning Art

Yes - i've been playing with art yarns after watching some of the lovely stuff on the blogs i'm tracking lately ... now its an odds and ends ball to just see what would happen ... but here it is (and Emma loves it!)

S is for Sunday ...

and Sewing, Swaps, Scrap booking, Sunshine and Spinning!

And that's how i have filled my day!

Now the Sewing i can't share as it is for another Yarn Swap I'm doing on TNN - and this time i promised to be a secret squirl! but i do have to say its not bad considering how long it has been since I've sewen more than just long straight lines on the edges of blankets :)

The Scrap booking is in the last post, and the Spinning well! ... Here you go Kate ;)


Now The top one was the result of a quick blending play Kate had on the Drum Carder that i have spun into a thick and thin yarn and the Warm Yellow/brown/orange and red one is the fleece i dyed and hand Carded (1st try at hand carding) then spun and plyed with some brown/grey - it hasn't come out to badly if i do say so myself :)

Lastly the sunshine - what a lovely day! made our sea view even more enjoyable when i had a moment to stop and enjoy it today which was also a big day for Beca as she tackled a bit of banana (she was soo over Mash) :)

todays fun ...

Firstly heres my spinning that i've done lately - slowly getting better :)



What a long day - but between a child that wouldn't sleep and has just had an alround shitty day and her big sister who really drives me nuts at times look what we did!

This hank is actually 50% acylic / 50% wool - dyed with Cake gels and powdered food colouring



and heres some fleece that i have dyed ready to play with some hand carders with

Spinning addiction

yip I'm starting to be consumed by the bug!

These are my recent purchases to 'play' with - watch this space for whats created - i can't promise anything apart from a lot of fun in the process!

I also learnt about fleece last night at spinning and have a few available for playing with as well - pitty there aren't more hours in the day!

I'm getting better

look at this bobbin - getting a lot better I'm thinking ;)

(yes its the weekend and the most exciting thing i have to do is spin hehe)