The sometimes random ramblings of a crocheter, knitter, spinner, and spindle maker trying to record the creative process. Visit my shop at www.SpindlesandMore.com
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Remake?
Preface
Along with my gratitude attitude this year, I have taken a more serious look at Spindles and More as a long-term project. This is sometimes difficult because I am not a trained business person. I began Spindles and More as a creative outlet for myself, and while it remains so, it is also a creative access point for others and I need to honor that as well. There is a need for regular communication, so a blogging schedule has been set up (roughly every other week) and I am committed to following it.
In General
I am thankful for many things. In a couple months we will celebrate another lung-iversary with my younger brother. I will continue Year 19 as a SpEducator. We just celebrated 14 years as a married couple this month. My family's health, although augmented by medical procedures, has been good. We are blessed to have knowledgable medical staff to assist us, and the means to purchase those procedures.
I am thankful too, for the people who come to the wool shows/festivals and talk with us, who sit and take a spinning lesson out curiosity, and purchase the items we sell. Making these items brings me joy and teaching others to spin (whether they purchase a spindle or not) is gratifying. I see the creative spark light up, each time the spindle spins, even if the yarn isn't "perfect" (whatever that means).
Spindles and More
Our online shop is at SpindlesandMore.com
We are currently scheduled for two shows in 2019.
Powhatan's Festival of Fiber on April 27, 2019, in Powhatan, VA
Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival, Sept 28, 29, at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville, VA
In the works
Felt Yourself Slippers are in process. The demo pair has been made. The felting went perfectly, except I had to experiment with boiling the slipper first "just to see what would happen" and I ended up fading my gorgeous yarn. I'll make another slipper and this time, I'll felt in correctly so you'll be able to see how lovely the color remains. Needless to say, playing with the felting process wasn't the only thing I did... The pattern was a flat knit with seaming (I hate seaming), so I rewrote it to be in the round until it had to split to do the three-needle bind off on the bottom. My demo pair also allowed me to figure out yardage and color changes so the gorgeous yarn stays in view, instead of hiding under the slipper. Since I don't think I'll have enough time between now and Powhatan, I plan to offer the Felt Yourself Slippers at Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival (SVFF).
Also in the works, a shawl knit in Blue Heron Yarns Metallic Rayon, in the Deep Space color way. I designed the pattern, and then redesigned, and then redesigned, and then redesigned it. You didn't misread, I had to knit a full pattern set five times before it looked the way I wanted it. I'm now happily knitting along and remembering why I love the metallic rayon, even if I can't wear it. The light strikes the deep blue/black of the yarn and sparks the sliver metallic strands, the yarn's movement as I knit can be mesmerizing. My nephew visited yesterday (small family get together) and came over to my knitting place several times, just to hold the yarn and look at it sparkling in the light.
Until Next Time
Look for another blog on or around December 9th. Christmas is coming, I hope your Christmas knitting/spinning/crocheting/crafting is well underway.
Along with my gratitude attitude this year, I have taken a more serious look at Spindles and More as a long-term project. This is sometimes difficult because I am not a trained business person. I began Spindles and More as a creative outlet for myself, and while it remains so, it is also a creative access point for others and I need to honor that as well. There is a need for regular communication, so a blogging schedule has been set up (roughly every other week) and I am committed to following it.
In General
I am thankful for many things. In a couple months we will celebrate another lung-iversary with my younger brother. I will continue Year 19 as a SpEducator. We just celebrated 14 years as a married couple this month. My family's health, although augmented by medical procedures, has been good. We are blessed to have knowledgable medical staff to assist us, and the means to purchase those procedures.
I am thankful too, for the people who come to the wool shows/festivals and talk with us, who sit and take a spinning lesson out curiosity, and purchase the items we sell. Making these items brings me joy and teaching others to spin (whether they purchase a spindle or not) is gratifying. I see the creative spark light up, each time the spindle spins, even if the yarn isn't "perfect" (whatever that means).
Spindles and More
Our online shop is at SpindlesandMore.com
We are currently scheduled for two shows in 2019.
Powhatan's Festival of Fiber on April 27, 2019, in Powhatan, VA
Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival, Sept 28, 29, at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville, VA
In the works
Felt Yourself Slippers are in process. The demo pair has been made. The felting went perfectly, except I had to experiment with boiling the slipper first "just to see what would happen" and I ended up fading my gorgeous yarn. I'll make another slipper and this time, I'll felt in correctly so you'll be able to see how lovely the color remains. Needless to say, playing with the felting process wasn't the only thing I did... The pattern was a flat knit with seaming (I hate seaming), so I rewrote it to be in the round until it had to split to do the three-needle bind off on the bottom. My demo pair also allowed me to figure out yardage and color changes so the gorgeous yarn stays in view, instead of hiding under the slipper. Since I don't think I'll have enough time between now and Powhatan, I plan to offer the Felt Yourself Slippers at Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival (SVFF).
Also in the works, a shawl knit in Blue Heron Yarns Metallic Rayon, in the Deep Space color way. I designed the pattern, and then redesigned, and then redesigned, and then redesigned it. You didn't misread, I had to knit a full pattern set five times before it looked the way I wanted it. I'm now happily knitting along and remembering why I love the metallic rayon, even if I can't wear it. The light strikes the deep blue/black of the yarn and sparks the sliver metallic strands, the yarn's movement as I knit can be mesmerizing. My nephew visited yesterday (small family get together) and came over to my knitting place several times, just to hold the yarn and look at it sparkling in the light.
Until Next Time
Look for another blog on or around December 9th. Christmas is coming, I hope your Christmas knitting/spinning/crocheting/crafting is well underway.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
When you look at the calendar...
... And realize years have gone by since your last post. I'm still here, Spindles and More is still here. Keeping up with everything takes a lot of energy. I've made more spindles, which are on the website. I've been working on finishing another grouping of market bags. They take about two days each, if I work on them exclusively. I'm also working on doing an inventory of my yarn so I know what I have to work with. I've finished a few shawls and have discovered that I love working on them, but I don't wear them after they are finished. So it occurred to me that I could offer them for sale at shows as well as online. My biggest struggle with this ides is that there is no way to "make money" from them. There is no profit to be had if I actually want to pay myself even minimum wage for the time it takes to knit the shawls and other pieces. Handcrafters understand this, but the general public (whom I picture purchasing these items) may not have an understanding of it. So do I charge a "fair" price and risk not selling any of them or do I devalue my work to the point that I might be able to cover the cost of the yarn, but not the time or knowledge required to create the piece I'm trying to sell?
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