I’ve got nothing of my own to show off but I do have the work from a new spinner. Check this out:

She broke the rules by not doing much for drafting but I can’t expect that much out of a 2 year old. She is obsessed with the wheels and spindles. She likes to carry around a spindle and doesn’t want to hit anything with it, generally she wants to wrap it up with fiber or just hold it. The wheels, she pulls up a stool and treadles. She’s really good about getting it going in the correct direction (when she remembers which one that is).

She’s been begging for weeks to make yarn so I pulled out some pencil roving and sat next to her as she fed the wheel. I was amazed at how well she did. Now she has the bug. All the time it’s “Where’s MY wheel” and “I want to make yarn”. Already this morning she’s been at the wheel:

When I can’t sit with her to make yarn (I need to keep making sure the wheel is going in the right direction as she likes to stop often and feel the wool) she sits and treadles.

She settled in and got really comfy treadling Saturday night:

Gotta love that sloth spinning technique she’s working on.

Finally finished her over the weekend.

I took another Nupp-a-licious shot because I could:

Swallowtail shawl from IK 2006 Fall issue
Yarn was spindle spun from batts made by Enchanted Knoll.
The Yarn is a 2 ply fingering weight and worked out beautifully in this application. I gave the shawl to my Mom (they’re her colors) and she’s thrilled with it. I’m thrilled to have it of my needles so I can start something else. I’ve not settled on what that something else is but I have a good idea what it might be…

I found out from 3 suppliers that prices will be raised August 1st. As new stock comes in the prices will be raised on all natural fibers as well as Louet and Fricke products. That’s the bummer news.

The good news is that I’m adding in new fibers. I have a ton more fiber in the shop than you ever see on the website. So I’m spending time in between dye batches today and tomorrow adding in new luxury fibers and more. Soon I will be carrying the colored Louet Merino Silk in stock.

In my down time, what little there is of it, I managed to finishe spinning and plying my Shetland for a project:

It’s 2 ounces of each of the 4 colors of shetland natural - Navajo plied.

And I got the Bison Bliss dyed with Cochineal:

I’m totally in love with that little skein. I just need to find the right lace scarf and I’ll have a new scarf for this winter.

I finished my skein at 400 yards of 2 ply from 2 ounces.

It still needs to be washed, dyed and thwacked. I did all my playing late last night when it was cool so I didn’t feel like firing up the dye pots. Though there won’t be much fire because I’m going to do some natural dyeing with this. Bamboo doesn’t dye with regular Acid dyes. On fiber that cam produce a nice effect, on a yarn, I’m afraid it will look flawed. I’m going to break out the Cochineal and Osage for this skein. I think it will make a lovely big lacy scarf.

I promise to take better photos once it’s done with it’s dye bath. The Bison blend is divine. I have 20 more bags on the way for the shop. It’s a delight to spin and so crazy. It has the tougher core with the bamboo and a lovely fluffy halo from the Cashmere and Bison. Oh and the shine. Is there anything this fiber doesn’t have?

It’s not really illegal but it was on my top 10 most wanted list.

50% Bamboo, 30% Merino, 10% Bison and 10% Cashmere

I’m pushing all other fiber aside and this is what I’m going to sleep with from now on….um, spin with. Right, spin with it. After I sleep with it a few nights….