New Yarns! And some creative help is requested...

Ok, so most of the stuff I've spun lately won't see the light of day on Etsy (it's for a wholesale order). But I thought I'd throw out some photos of the things you will find on Etsy as well as some shots of the wholesale yarns...

Sherbet--look for this on Etsy
(roving from FatCatKnits)
(named by the Big Man--he's been trying to name a yarn Sherbet since I began spinning, and finally succeeded!)

Woodlands FunkYarn - it'll be on Etsy

(batt from Hobbledehoy)

Jungle Juice FunkYarn - you'll find this on Etsy

(batt from Hobbledehoy)

wholesale yarn - the customer will name it
(roving from FatCatKnits)

wholesale yarn - the customer will name it
(roving from FatCatKnits)

I took part in a swap on Ravelry. It was in the Novelty Yarn Spinners group, and we each sent 5 different types of items, 3 words, and a photo to the recipient (who was not the same person who sent things to us). This is the assortment I received from my partner in Singapore. She was inspired by watching documentaries on Charles Manson and counter-culture. I am completely blanking on any ideas of how to incorporate that concept into these elements (and some fiber to spin it with), and especially would love any thoughts on how to use the pig! It's a resin figurine--the softer resin, not the shatterable stuff. In other words, if I need to cut it up, I can...

Best. Customer Service. EVER.

photo from Sweet & Sara

Don't they look AMAZING?!? They're vegan marshmallows and s'mores from Sweet & Sara, and they are amazing. They come in vanilla, toasted coconut, and I think Mexican chocolate, and the s'mores come in regular and peanut butter.
(Why vegan marshmallows? Regular marshmallows are made with gelatin, a decidedly non-vegetarian/vegan friendly product.)

I bought some during my trip home (why oh why did the independent natural foods market that *was* near my apartment only get really amazing after we moved?), and the vanilla weren't quite up to standard. I e-mailed Sara to give her a heads up, and she graciously offered to send me a replacement batch. Pretty awesome right there, yeah?

Well, the box came today. It contained the vanilla marshmallows. AND coconut marshmallows. AND a s'more! I am the luckiest girl I know today! In case you're wondering, the s'more and several marshmallows are already gone. I blame the cat.

Time keeps on slippin'...

I'm guessing you all feel like me--there's not enough time in the day. Well, I agree. I spent tonight looking up evidence and solid information to present to my company to try to convince them we should switch to a four day work week (10 hrs/day). I don't know if it'll work, but it can't hurt to ask! I'd love to hear any information or feedback you have on this type of work week, so comment away.

I did manage to get some spinning done last night for a wholesale order--three singles that will be plied with thread this weekend. I'm going to head out and squeeze in one more single before bed.

For those of you who aren't my wholesale buyer, I also spun three wonderful yarns over the weekend. One is a thinner two ply from some of Ginny's rovings, and two are from Liz's wonderful crazy batts. Because I'm now walking partway to work, I can't drag my big white backdrop, the yarn, and the camera in to take pics on my lunch break. I promise to take pics this weekend, and post the new yarns next week. I'm going to try to get back on my schedule of washing all finished yarns on Fri night to take pics and write listings over the weekend (as well as spin some more for the next week!). For now, you'll have to content yourself with these lovely photos of the batts I spun from:

pictures taken by Liz
both yarns were spun in my FunkYarn style, and plied with silver thread

Guess who's "famous"...

The fabulous Susan Gibbs of Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm has posted on her blog my guest entry about my visit to MV. I feel special :). Go check it out!

Not feeling it...

You ever have those times when you don't feel like working on your chosen craft? When you spend all week just blobbed on the couch watching movies and falling asleep? Well, I've been having one of those for some reason, and I intend to change it today. I'm going to pick up a little in here (my craft/computer/guest bedroom) and spin my butt off. Well, at least a couple of skeins, anyway. I think some bamboo needs to be spun, and some yarns for a custom order, and perhaps a Hobbledehoy batt (I've got a couple of good ones stashed!).

In related news, I got myself an Ashford Country Spinner


which I haven't even unpacked because I don't want to be tempted to use it without finishing it first. I just know that if I put it together and use it without finishing it, I will never want to take it apart to apply stains/waxes/oils/whatever I decide to use. Did I mention that though it only has a ratio of 4:1, the bobbin (which I have unpacked) can hold 2.2 POUNDS OF YARN?!?!?!?!?! Did I mention that? How insane is that? Just to give you an idea of size--

• the center portion of the bobbin reminds me of a slightly thinner rolling pin
• the entire bobbin is about 9.5" long and weighs 1lb, 9oz with no yarn on it
  
• I'm pretty sure I could knock you out cold with it, should I care to do so

It's a *massive* bobbin. The wheel itself is about the size of my Sonata, but the bobbin is something to be reckoned with! I'm excited to finally get to use it. I'm emailing back and forth with Lee Valley Tools to choose a simple non-toxic finish that's also easy to use. I guess I better go order something so I can use my wheel by next weekend, eh?

My Exhausting Vacation

Want to hear more about this part of my trip? Well, look for my guest post on http://mvfiberfarm.blogspot.com!

What I will talk about over here is the wedding and how awesome it was :). Ok, mostly I'll show pictures. To be immodest, I and my mom and other family members worked our asses off and got the hall and supplies ready (as well as the bouquets, dresses, flowers, and cupcakes), and I think it turned out pretty darn well.

This is a book of the RSVP cards I made. Each card had a different word on it related to their relationship, the wedding, or things in their lives.

All the tables had brown kraft paper on top, and the food/gift/bar tables had big fabric skirts in the same sorts of patterns and colors as the runners.


This was the bride and groom's table. The cool letters were made by http://kristinemays.etsy.com.

We used 12" runners of quilting cotton between the places for color. What this photo doesn't show are the *awesome* sunflowers we ordered to put in the mason jars in between each runner.

My dress was made by the wonderful http://petapledger.etsy.com, and my stepsister (on the far left) made the other two dresses. Oh, and my jewelry that you can't see is from http://thumble.etsy.com.

Here she comes...

The Seester and her husband--I don't think I've ever seen her look lovelier, or him look happier (despite this photo!). What you can't see in this photo are the pimp saddle shoes he's got on, or the fact that her dress is tea length and gorgeous.

All in all, it went wonderfully, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Now we're almost out of weddings within the family, so we'll have to find something new to do for fun!

One last laugh--yes, I cried a little, and Big Man was kind enough to capture this stunning photo of me doing so...

I need a vacation from my vacation!

It was wonderful--the trip, the farm visit, the wedding, everything. But man oh man am I beat! I'll get some pictures and more interesting stories a little later in the week. For now, I'm off to bed...

My dear sweet darling leetle Seester

(that's her on the left...not the bird, the human)

She's getting married in a week. Not surprisingly, I'll be going home for the big event, and all the running around, panicking, and decorating that happens before such an occasion. I'll see if I can post while I'm gone (not least because I want to share the real-life visit I'll be making to Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm--live yarn!). If I can't, then you'll just have to wait till the middle of the month to see and hear about all the fun that was had!

(eta: it feels very weird not packing any wool to take with me, even though the spinning wheel is staying home!)

"Normal"

I just graduated with my second bachelor's degree in May. Before that, I worked a marketing job that took me on the road very frequently, sometimes just every weekend, and sometimes for weeks and weeks at a time. Since I started school this time around, Big Man and I have been waiting for me to graduate so life can get back to "normal". Now that I have graduated, there was the futzing around with my job to see if they were going to take me on full time (they did), my sister's wedding to plan (more on that later), and summer is Big Man's busy travel season at work (he just came home from two weeks on the road). So things still aren't "normal".

I wonder when they will be, and how we'll know it. I wonder if they ever will be. I wonder if it matters :)