Our Handspun Yarn in Norway!

We decided to get involved in Pluckyfluff's upcoming museum show, Handspun Revolution, in Lilihammer, Norway.  Lexi Boeger will be featuring an enormous skein of handspun yarn, full of yarns from all over the world!

Each of us took turns spinning yarn on our spinning wheel.  We used bits and pieces of fibers leftover from other projects and added in tinsel, angelina fiber (sparkle), and yarn scraps.  When we had a nice length of yarn, we wrapped the yarn on a niddy noddy, then rinsed it and set the twist. 

According to the rules, we also had to write something about spinning on a piece of paper.  All of the written submissions are going to fill the walls near the exhibit.  Joey wrote an acrostic poem about spinning.

We love our unique yarn.  Pictures of the museum exhibit in May, to come. Wish we could go to Norway in person!  If you are interested in Lexi's books or camps, see her website: http://www.pluckyfluff.com/.  Joey and Mommy went to the camp 4 years ago and loved it! 

Just for Me

It seems like I am forever crafting for others...the kids, the home, customers, friends. It's been so long since I've made something just for myself....

Back in 2006, I was fortunate to be able to attend SOAR (Spin-Off Autumn Retreat) in Lake Tahoe. I purchased some lovely Polwarth/silk fiber from a booth that said that they raised the sheep themselves up in Canada. I spun up the yarn on my spinning wheel, and then the yarn sat in a knitting bag...and sat...and sat....


I always knew that I wanted to make something special with the yarn, but who knew that it would take another two years before I did anything with it? The yarn was soft, warm and beautiful, but not enough for a scarf or larger project. Finally, I decided to Tunisian crochet a rectangle with a slightly ruffled edge, using a knit stitch. Then, the project sat...and sat...and sat....

Finally, this past week, I pulled the rectangular piece out of my "UFO" (unfinished objects) box and decided that it was time to make something just for me! Not to sell or give as a gift...just something special that I could enjoy and use. I debated on what type of button to add, and finally decided to put every button that I liked on it!

I wore it for the first time today while going on a walk with the family. Guess what? The neckwarmer was warm, and soft, and best of all -- it made me smile. I think that I need to remember to stop and make myself something now and then. Hopefully next time it won't take 3 years to finish! --Jennifer

Please Vote for Ricky's Handspun Yarn!

Ricky's handspun yarn got nominated by Etsy for "Which Yarn Gets You In A Knitty Mood?". Yay! The yarn is called "Candy" and our shop is tlwoldc. Please come vote! Each registered Etsy person can vote for one. Thanks, in advance! Here is the link to take you to the voting:

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=68

Summer Projects

Some of our Summer projects...

Handspun Yarns

Ricky's "Nitrogen" Yarn

Joey's "Lavender Fields" Yarn

Joey's watercolor -- an Autumn tree.

Ricky's rune cards in progress (more on this project to come).



Wilson's Hungry Caterpillar out of a paper towel tube.

Spinning Yarn

Pastel Rainbow Fairy Handspun Yarn

Cashmere Merino

Junkyard Fairy Yarn

Spindles, spinning wheels, drum carders, hand carders...all of these can be found around our home. Carding fiber batts and then spinning them up is a tactile, artistic experience, and a nice family project, too!

Spinning on our Majacraft Little Gem II

We learned how to spin and card years ago. We started off with a spindle/carding lesson, then Joey and Mommy attended Camp Plucky Fluff to learn more about making novelty yarns. We've done demonstrations and lessons. Mommy attended SOAR a few years back. We love collecting unusual and pretty spindles.

Camp Plucky Fluff Yarn

Some of our batts

One of our spindles

Sometimes, we participate in fiber swaps. We mail in various fibers (wool, alpaca, angelina, eco-spun, cotton, yak, angora, buffalo, tencel, bamboo, silk, soysilk...) to one person who then mixes everything up and sends us back a batch of fiber. The swap participants come from all over the world! Here is a yarn that Joey and Mommy spun up from a fiber swap. We then crocheted it into a funky hat!


Joey and Ricky have been selling their batts and yarns for a few years, now. The money that they earn goes into their college fund. Wilson just started making some batts of his own!

Joey likes to name her yarns after fairies.

Heathered Mist Fairy, Boysenberry Fairy, and Tree Fairy

Ricky names his yarns after the periodic table of elements.

Bromine Yarn, Iridium Yarn, and Neon Yarn