How Exciting!

Just last night I reached one of my goals! A while back I was talking about putting my" items sold number goals" on my vision board. Well at the time I thought it would take forever to reach it but just last night I hit 265 sales! (Actually 266, which rocks!) I have now placed a new goal up there, it's kind of a fun one for me and my love (issue) with the number 3. "Total items sold on Etsy 333!" Woo hoo! As much fun as it was for me to hit and surpass my 265 goal, I am kind of hoping I hit this one straight on.

A Year of Realizations...

This year has been quite and experience. So much has happened for me personally. I have always held on to some sort of creative outlet. In New Orleans I had the job at Mardi Gras World painting and designing floats. That led me in a sort of backwards way to wire sculpture, which led me to jewelry. I enjoyed creating wild pendants out of thick sterling silver wire. I remember how exciting it was when the contemporary art gallery asked me if I would sell them there. That phase ended after several years and I got back into crochet. I made hats just last Christmas for some friends. I considered selling them on Etsy but before I even had time to entertain the idea, a friend mentioned "Lets dye some wool yarn! We can do it with Kool-Aid!" That was around February.

If you asked me last year if I had ever considered spinning yarn, I probably would've cocked my head to the side and said "Like with a spinning wheel?!?" I used to be able to bust out a wire pendant in just a few minutes. It was fun to sit down with a hunk of silver and an hour later have 5-10 pendants to show for it. This spinning yarn thing though, it is so different. I have always been one to find the most efficient way to do things. Working with wool has taught me to be patient. From the very first opening of the bag of fluffy wool, to the needles or a photo shoot for my Etsy shop, it's a journey.

There are so many steps involved in creating yarn. The dyeing process has taught me to let go of my "plan" that I usually have for everything. Some wools take dye differently, some dyes don't end up like I expected, some days the city water has been treated and I end up with pastel mania. Once they are hung to dry in the Texas sun, they often surprise me. I can't even explain how exciting it is to have a fresh batch of dyed roving drying. This is where the patience comes in. I will admit, some rovings peek my curiosity so much I have spun them while they are still the slightest bit damp. For most of them though, I must wait until they dry. Very few have ended up like I actually picture them. It is amazing the transformation that takes place as the colors twist and blend together in the spinning process. There is absolutely no way that any machine could ever produce the effect of handspun yarn.

The options that you have when you start to spin are practically endless. From super thin to super bulky and everything in between. Some fibers pretty much tell you how they want to be spun. You can go into it thinking, I will spin this into a bulky yarn, then the fiber says no. Some want to be thick and thin. You never really know until you get going. I like to experiment. Actually, not having been taught how to spin in the first place, this whole venture was an experiment!

My handspun yarn was the first handspun I had ever worked with. I received my wheel in pieces in the mail in March of this year and still remember the excitement as I was putting it together. I felt like I was about to conquer something I knew little about. I had a box full of wool and I just went for it! There were so many variables: tension, fiber, distance, speed, technique (of which I had none!) I don't remember a definitive moment when it clicked, it was a gradual process. I do remember the first time I realized the thing I had just created could pass for yarn! It was still a few weeks before I decided to use some of my handspun to crochet with. It was a purple and pink blend and I had just enough of it to make a coffee cup sleeve. This was before I had learned to knit. Well I had attempted knitting but it was still dangerous to be in the vicinity when I had two pointy sticks and so much frustration from not really knowing what I was doing! The experience to create something out of a supply that I created from a pile of fluff was nothing short of amazing.

I still enjoy experimenting. In fact almost every skein I spin still teaches me a little something. I see other fiber artists work and I think "I can do that." I have gone from spinning uncontrollable thick and thin yarns to all sorts of (now I can actually call them this) techniques. Consistently spun, super thin, super thick, slubs, art yarn (which was a challenge for me and my symmetrical self), coils and others.

My very favorite part about spinning though...sharing it with others. Every skein I send off is exciting. I mean who really ever knows what it will become? There are so many possibilities when you create a "supply." I create so others can create, gotta love it!

Now my knitting skills have improved. I am happy to say it is no longer dangerous to be in my presence with two pointy sticks. In fact, this year, I knit a bunch of my family's gifts. I was a joy to do and I can't wait to gift them!

Have a happy holiday everyone and I hope your hearts will be full of joy. Each and every one of us has so much to be thankful for.

Easily Amused!

So my parents came to pick up kiddo and take him shopping for hubby and me for Christmas. A secret shopping trip that they have been wanting to do since last year, just waiting until he was a bit older. He loves hanging out with them and was so excited from the moment I told him. There aren't many things he likes to do without me, but an outing with Grammy and Grandpa was absolutely up his alley! He was dressed and ready to go about two hours before they were even supposed to arrive and for a 4 year old, that is EARLY! I planned on shopping solo for a shirt for our annual family photos (which we decided we would all wear blue and I didn't have a pretty blue top) and have a minute to try some things on. I stroll into a shop in the mall..... there they are! Of course, out of all the gin joints right? I had a quick success and headed out so they could carry on with top secret shopping.

I asked kiddo what he got for us, knowing he had been prompted to say "You have to wait until Christmas!" and that is what he said. Then later we were hanging out on the sofa and a Zales commercial came on. He was quiet and then he says "I got you the most beautiful earrings!" I pretended not to hear because instantly he realized he wasn't supposed to say anything. I am willing to bet they are not from Zales, but based on the earrings he "won" for me out of a vending machine, I imagine they are quite sparkly. He digs the sparkly stuff. I dig him.

This afternoon was about mid to high 70s. The sky looked all mysterious like it wasn't sure what it was supposed to do. Windy gusts and fast moving clouds rolled in in the evening hours. The temperature was steadily dropping. I heard there was a chance for snow but this is Texas, I mean come on now. It doesn't snow here.

First it was sleet, then it turned to the fluffy white goodness!

My list just gets longer and longer every day!

Today is Thanksgiving!

I will tell you what, it has been quite a year since the last one. It seems like my list just get longer and longer everyday, the things I am thankful for. My family and friends, my goofy son, my great neighbors, the people I meet in passing and the inspiration and hope that I receive from all of them. My "just the right size" house on my cute little street, the wacky Texas weather, the small town I live in that has ever expanding resources and the beautiful openness and rolling hills that surrounds it. I could go on and on and on...

I take a moment every day to appreciate the beautiful life I get to live. Today on Thanksgiving, it seems so amplified. Maybe because so many people who normally may not take that moment every day, well... they are today. It fills the air with a sense of hope and wonder. We are all very lucky to have the opportunities and experiences that we do. Sometimes, in the midst of everything, it doesn't seem so lucky for some folks. I can tell you this though, whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever has been placed or thrown in front of you, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. There is good in everything. Sometimes we have to dig a bit deeper, sometimes we realize it later, sometimes the things we have hoped and planned for manifest...but there are things to be thankful for no matter what.

So may your list get longer and longer! Happy Thanksgiving!

Black Friday Sale and Hello!

Hello everybody! I just wanted to pop in and let y'all know I will be having a big sale this weekend in my Etsy shop! Looking forward to answering questions and packing up orders! If anyone would like to receive my Newsletter, just email me at simplytwistedyarn@gmail.com and I will sign you up!

Two Seasons, Bunnies and Cabernet

Living here in Texas, it's almost like we just have two seasons. Summer and Winter. Seems like each one of them is just long enough to forget how the other is. We had a cold front blow through and stick around for a few days. I like the cold weather, the cozy clothes and the snuggle up and stay in factor of it. The leaves are blowing off of the trees. The deer are running around wildly. I can smell my neighbor's fireplace. All in all a good start to the holiday season!

Currently I am spinning some German Angora bunny fur. It came to me in fluffery bits so I am having to hand card it. There is something kind of Zen about the repetitive motion. I do wish I had a larger pair, but these work just fine. I was surprised how well and even it is coming out for being hand carded.

The last Angora I worked with was wild and unruly. In the beginning I tried to make it consistent but about 3 yards in and I declared "May the fluffers stay fluffy!" and spun it like it wanted to be spun. It ended up looking really neat with big, soft, thick......blobs? here and there. I have just a bit of gorgeous cashmere left. It is more of a creamy white and the angora is pure white. I was thinking of plying the two together for the softest most buttery fabulousness ever.

Did you know bunny fur is 8 times as warm as wool? Interesting huh...

Here is a photo of the Angora in progress ~

Pretty isn't it?

Tonight is chilly and I have to stay up to get the last bit of laundry done. I had a major decision earlier between hot tea and some Cabernet. The Cabernet won. Seems like a cozy thing to have on a blustery night. So cheers!

OH! I recently celebrated my 200th sale on Etsy! When I first started and wasn't sure how I was going to do, I set a goal first of 45 sales. I put a note on my vision board. This was back in February. I hit that goal and when I noticed my little note on the board, I was already at 52 sales. I took it down and made a new one for 65. Between spinning, kiddo and life, I hadn't glanced up there for a while. Once I did, I was right at 100 sales. I started to get a new slip of paper to write my goal on, then I had a better idea. So I grabbed my pen and drew a "1" in front of the 65! So obviously with my 200th sale just passed, I needed a new goal. I made a "2" out of the "1" and have been working hard to keep my shop stocked! I am looking forward to folks holiday shopping on Etsy. This will be my first holiday season actually selling.

Alright, laundry, bunny fur and another glass of wine!

Brrrrrrr.......

Oh my goodness.

It is very, very cold here.

That is all for now..... until the coffee takes effect and my hands thaw.

Enjoy this woolen treat below, feel free to make me some mittens!