Jan 29
Removing a new Batt from my Fancy Kitty Drum Carder this week. I use a shelf Liner to make it come off nice and neatly.
There, now isn't that a pretty batt? I call it, "Will you be mine?" and it will be up in my Etsy shop today hopefully.
And yes, that’s me in those photos. At nearly 24 weeks pregnant, I am not the most photogenic, but I tried. 
Jan 27
…at least in term of my fibery schedule. I HAVE been productive though, and crafty too. Just not Fibery.
This weekend, I bought myself a netbook. you know, those cute little miniature laptops? We really were getting to a point where we needed to have 2 computers in the house again (after we replaced the old laptop last summer and the old desktop died a week later, we have just been sharing one), But we did not really need another suped up computer. The big Desktop we have is quite nice, complete with photoshop, and fast with a big screen to boot. But I had to stop using my cell phone as my regular browsing tool when DH was home.
So, when a little extra money appeared suddenly (really, a little, not much, lol) I did all sorts of research, and I found that in general, a good netbook was less expensive than a full sized laptop that would perform about the same… and the netbooks have a far longer battery life. Mine has up to 11 hours battery life, depending how I use it. Wowza! I got an Asus Eee 1005PED. In RED. Pretty.
So, of course, with a new computer, and a small one at that, I needed a case of some sort for it. Only, I absolutely hated the cases at the store, and no way did I want to spend $20 additional bucks on one, especially after spending all that money on the computer. I knew I could do better than that. plus, have you seen the cases they sell for these little guys? they are slipcovers, nothing more. and no place for accessories, like mouse, thumb drive, etc.
So Monday morning, I started thinking. I looked through my fabric drawer, and found the PERFECT fabric. It was origianlly meant to be used for a diaper bag, back when I was making those for sale, and when I destashed fabrics, I just could not bear to give it up. But it was much better suited for this. That afternoon, while the kids were sleeping, instead of spinning yarn, I pulled out the one sewing machine I kept when I destashed my others, and I spent the afternoon designing and creating a custom fit netbook case. (Incidently, this, I MIGHT be convinced to make for sale at some point… I realized that of the netbooks out there, the Asus is one of the bigger ones, because of its battery, so that means that any other netbook up to a 10.2″ screen should easily fit in it too. Or maybe I should just write up the pattern and sell that?)
My netbook case has a pocket on the front for accessories, and in future, I might put a seam in the center to divide to 2 pockets, but all in all, it is really very nice. it closes with a flap closure and a single poly resin snap.
yes, I will show pictures soon. Be patient.
So yesterday, I was still in a sewing mood. I have 2 purses I have been meaning to make. One for me, and one for my mom. (It will be her mothers day gift, but its not a surprise) I decided that the Fabric from the netbook case (of which I still had quite a bit… remember, it was originally to be a diaper bag) would make the absolute perfect purse for me. (I think I love purses, lol. DH says I have too many… I only have 3?)
The Purse, I made from the Run Mama Run Pattern by Ditty Pop. Unfortunately, their store is inactive for now, so you can’t run out and buy the pattern when you see this. I made only one modification… I added 2 additional pockets, one on the outside of the bag, and one on the inside, with a seam up the center of the inside pocket to divide further.
Now, would you like to see my creations? I know you would.
Both bags together... Don't you love the fabric?
The netbook Case fits right inside of the RMR bag! Coolness!
And the inside without the netbook case...
You know the best part of all this? My knitting project also fits right in the purse. (yup, the big baby blanket… This is a big purse)
Yes, I still need to make myself a new wallet. The one in there actually goes to my old purse. I still use that one sometimes too… it matches my baby carrier. but this purse is more grown up… and pretty. And it needs a matching wallet. maybe a glasses case, in case I ever get to ordering a pair of sunglasses…
Now… I am off to try and do something else productive… I still have a while before the kids will wake up. And later, I will get to show off my newest purse some more, when I bring it to my knitting night. So hey! Its a good day!
Jan 22
Friday again, so here are some new Photos for your viewing pleasure… :)
Progress on the Blanket I am making for the newest little Beeba, coming in may.
a new set of stitch markers, coming to the Etsy in the next week.
Evergreen Mountain, 3.7 ounces of merino and bamboo... so pretty... on Etsy now.
Another new set of stitch markers, also coming to the Etsy in the next week or so...
Maybe next week I will actually remember to take a picture of me… you know… a belly shot? It would be the first of this pregnancy if I Do remember.
Well Folks, its been exactly one week since I made myself a schedule for the kids naptimes… and how have I done with that?
After all, it’s Wednesday, and I am writing for the blog, and that is progress, right?
Aside from that, I spent Thursday’s nap time looking around for jewelry wire… apparently, i ran out at some point, horror of horrors, and so instead of making some awesome new stitch markers (I even have cool ladybug beads now, too), I moved on and spent some time with the drum carder. I keep saying I will get to the store for more wire… but you know… I haven’t made it yet.
Friday was supposed to be a photo day… and yes, I DID take AND edit some photos. Without further ado, I’d love to show them to you.
California Red - 3.2 ounces
Cheviot - 2.6 Ounces
Rose Petals - SW Merino, bamboo, nylon yarn
"Surprise Me" - a mix of random leftover bits from drum carding on a base of Falklands wool
You might notice, if you clicked on any of the pictures, that all but one of those items are already listed, too. That is because I have also been working at keeping up my other goal, of listing at least one item every day in my shop.
On Monday, I was supposed to spin. And I did… but not as much as I would like to say that I had. I spun for a little while and then realized that my back was hurting me and my wheel was giving me issues. (not the wheel’s fault… apparently my kids must have unscrewed one of the feet on the front of the wheel, and it is now missing… the wheel was wobbly. I am getting a replacement foot.) Ok, so I am pregnant, so sue me, sometimes it will mean taking a break.
While I was resting my back, I sat in the couch and worked on my “Instant Grat Hat”. That is, the project designed to meet 2 needs.. first, to give me a break from the larger and more complicated baby blanket I am working on (for the beeba 3), and second, to make a hat for me that will not fall off my head when I am wearing a ponytail (since I am nearly always wearing a ponytail).
Excuse the terrible picture of me… I hate pictures of me…
The Instant Grat Hat- actually a modified beret
Now, Yesterday, I did something I have not done in a long while. I DYED FIBER! yes, I know, I am running a fiber and yarn business, I need to be dyeing fiber. But, you see, the dyes are not really the most healthy to be working with while pregnant, and so during the pregnancy, I have cut down on the dyeing I do. It’s why most of my actual new listings in my shop for the last and next few months are an will be either carded batts or spun yarn rather than dyed top or dyed yarns… I am trying to be safe for my baby. But really, I DO still have to do some dyeing, and so using the proper safety precautions, I spent a while dyeing yesterday.
Sorry, that does not mean that you are likely to see any dyed tops in my shop anytime soon. I dyed solid lengths of top to use in the drum carder. This type of dyeing takes less time in actual contact with the dyes, and leads to more variety, since I can take a bit of this color and a bit of that to create several different batts. I did only a little over a pound, and so I will likely have to do more dyeing next week again, but it gives me a start, to add to the other fibers I have waiting for me.
Speaking of fiber, guess what arrived at my house yesterday? MORE FIBER. Yup. More merino, which after this dyeing session I needed, as the dyeing session completely depleted what I had, and bamboo! Yum, I love bamboo. Some of it I will be adding as is to batts, and some will be dyed and sold as tops… and I can’t wait to play.
I guess, in my long winded way, all this is to say that I am On Track, at least so far. and don’t worry, i won’t tell you day by day my every move on every wednesday… I promise.
*****
On to my second topic of the day.
I added a new page to my website. This page is for all those beginning spinners out there who may not have tried every different form of fiber prep. It is by no means complete, and in fact, may never be, since it is a list of tips and hints (with some useful information added in) on how to spin from the different forms. I hope that readers will chime in with any tips and hints you may have for spinning from any form of prep… if you submit a tip and it is not already on the page, I will put it up with a credit to you. You may submit tips and hints either by responding to this post or by using the contact form either here or on the site (it is actually the same contact form).
Here is a link to the page if you would like to check it out: Crystal City Fibers: Spinning Tips and Hints.
Yes, I know, most if not all of the tips and hints I have listed are already available somewhere else… But not, from what I can tell, in an organized and comprehensive form… So, while I know I have probably missed many great hints and tips, I sat down and wrote down all that I could think of or had played with personally… and this is the list I came up with. I know that my readers and viewers of the site will be able to add more to the list.
Jan 15
Don’t know if I’ll keep it up, but why not try it?
My current spinning project: merino wool spun VERY fine with long draw method
Ignore the mess behind her, isn't SHE cute?
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