All The Pretty Fibers

I've had a steady stream of boxes coming into the studio.  It feels so good to rebuild my inventory.  Now that I have all of the fiber I need, I can start dyeing some of it.  Before I head down to the kitchen, I thought I'd share some of my favorites.  Not all of these are new to the shop, but a few are.  You can visit their listings to find out more about these interesting breeds and blends:  Yak, Wool/Flax Blend, Carbonized Bamboo, Manx Loaghtan, Baby Camel/Silk Blend, Honey Tussah Silk, Yak/Silk Blend and a very light Fawn Alpaca.

  

Beautiful Silk Blends!

 Since last week, I've been busy loading up my shop with all sorts of lovely fibers.  I seem to be particularly drawn to the silk blends.  They are just so soft and pretty and of course silky.  I love the quality silk adds to everything!

If you would like to take a look at all of the new fibers, here are their links.  I'm going to link you to the 2oz sizes, but if you visit the shop, you'll find other amounts available as well.  So here goes:  Black Alpaca/Cultivated Silk 80/20, Fawn Alpaca/Tussah Silk 70/30, Mixed Bluefaced Leicester, Cultivated Silk, Fawn Alpaca, and Baby Camel/Tussah Silk 50/50.  

Not all of these fibers are new to Wind Rose, but they are all newly replenished with plenty of gorgeous ounces waiting for good homes!

Two New Fibers!

 I managed to make a little progress today and as a result I have two new products to share with you.  I've added Polwarth Wool Top to my inventory this year.  Polwarth is a lovely breed of sheep that was developed from a stock of 75% Merino and 25% Lincoln sheep. The result is a fine, 23 micron wool with a longer staple length.

I'm also very excited to introduce Angora Rabbit Top.  I love Angora.  It's like spinning a cloud!  It's a superfine luxury top (11-13 Micron), with a staple of about 2.5 inches.  If you've never tried it, you can buy just 1oz to experience this gorgeous fiber.  

Restocking Wind Rose

This is the time of year when I like to rebuild my inventory at Wind Rose Fiber Studio.  It's no small amount of work, but it's fun.  I love to add a couple new fibers each year, and like other businesses, sometimes I let a couple go.  

Yesterday was grey here in the Valley of the Sun, so I wasn't able to photograph any of the new fibers.  I'm hoping I'll be able to get started with those today.  In the meantime, I began packaging and listing some favorites back into the shop.  

Silk Hankies are back.  Just before Christmas, the last of my silk was swept away in the holiday rush, so it's nice to have these beautiful, delicate Silk Hankies back in the shop.  I've also replenished my stock of Thick & Thin Highland Peruvian Wool Yarn.  This is by far the most popular yarn I carry.  It's perfect for making baby blankets or cocoons or any thick and quick project.  It's so soft and dyes beautifully.  I also replaced Deschutes Heavy Worsted Merino/Silk 60/40 yarn.  I have to admit, I pillaged my own inventory in this case.  I sent one skein to my mom along with a pretty snood pattern for her birthday.  She remarked on how much she liked the yarn.  I like it too and recently crocheted an entire lacey vest from just one skein.  There's a lot you can do with a 500 yard hank!

Well that's all for now.  I should be back tomorrow with more to share.  The sun is shining and beckoning me to take nice photos of fiber!

One More Resolution

I never used to make resolutions, not in earnest anyway.  At present however, I have many.  I thought I had recognized each one and paid it homage, but now I have one more.  This is the year I let my past creations out of the closet!

My studio closet is stuffed full of things I have made, some dating back more than 6 years.  They are scattered around the room too, like this fulled hat and scarf set nonchalantly adorning my mannequin.  This year I resolve to photograph and list everything into my shop.    

This feels awkward because some of the items are outdated.  I still have a few ponchos from when they made their comeback in the early 2000's.  I have things that no longer reflect my style or focus and therefore don't represent me in the present tense, but I'm going to put all this aside.  It's all just ego anyway.  I am going to list them and if they are a bit outdated, I'll just offer them at a great price.  

I think this will be a good thing.  Not only will it potentially free up space, but hopefully my mind as well.  In with the new!

New Top Whorl Drop Spindle Kits

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope the first week of 2013 is treating you well.  It's been a busy one here at Wind Rose.  I've been wearing my accountant hat and summarizing my numbers for 2012 while at the same time gearing up, or should I say fibering up, for 2013.  I have a big shipment of beautiful fibers trucking their way to my shop including a couple new additions.  I'll be sharing those with you as soon as they arrive.  In the meantime, I had to take a little break from the numbers today, so I made up a few new Top Whorl Drop Spindle Kits.  Did anyone resolve to learn to spin this year?

One Last Post for 2012

Leicester Longwool Locks

I couldn't let the year come to a close without one last post.  My blogging has waned over the last 12 months, but certainly not my devotion to fiber.  The irony is, that after putting off starting a Facebook page, I now find myself going there more often than not.  I can't help but feel that my blog asks a bit more of me when I write each new post.  I feel I should have something interesting to offer whereas Facebook doesn't seem to mind if I just check in and say hello.  It's silly isn't it?

Now, on the precipice of a new year, my mind seems to be devoted to resolutions.  It's quite out of my control.  I'm on autopilot and personal pledges appear like clouds drifting through my brain.  One such cloud is circling, promising to linger until I devote myself once again the my Wind Rose Fiber Studio blog.  I'm determined to do so, but I want to make a special space for Facebook as well.  I'm setting a goal to blog once a week, more of course if the muse strikes.  Facebook will take over as a more daily exchange of thoughts and ideas.  I would love to have your company there as it seems a more interactive and intimate place.  I like to share my works in progress and, not to be a tease, but it is also the place where I am more likely to give away a new pattern or post a special offer at the shop.  

Speaking of the shop, I just listed some lovely Leicester Longwool locks.  This fleece was my last splurge of the year.  It was rather greasy, so it has taken some preparation, but I am pleased with the results.  It's so bright and pretty with a long staple and gorgeous curl.  I have more to make ready, so for now I have just 4oz listed. I can't wait to spin up a few ounces myself.  I'm trying to decide what sort of yarn these locks would like to become.  

Before I close, I want to thank everyone for a wonderful 2012, for the community you provide and the positive energy I feel flowing.  Creativity is a sustaining force in my life and your company is a big part of that.  I only hope that I also provide a good and useful spirit.  It is my sincere wish that 2013 will bring you joy and prosperity.  Happy New Year!        

Spinnin' & Chillin'

I decided to do a little spinning yesterday.  It was too hot to sit outside and I didn't feel like being in my studio, so I started to look around my living room for a good spot.  My living room is far from traditional.  It's the cool room in our house.  There's a pool table, flat screen, old school record player; it's more of hangout than a "living room".  Our leather couch sits a little too high for treadling which left our club chairs as the only choice.  The club chairs are modern, swiveling on pedestals and semicircle in shape.  I don't typically spin in chairs with armrests, so I wasn't certain this would work out.

I selected a song and hit the genius button on my laptop and then plopped down.  In addition to my spinning accoutrements, I had a green spray bottle of water next to me.  Spinning out in the open means attracting the attention of our two cats, Costello and Elvis.  They are trained well enough that the mere presence of the water bottle is enough to keep them at a respectable distance.  

I usually use an antique wooden chair when I spin.  I sit with my back straight and my hands fairly centered.  I feel I can spin longer without tiring when I'm balanced.  That's why yesterday was such a departure for me.  I leaned back into the club chair which is actually a very comf seat.  I pushed my wheel a little farther away than usual and stretched my legs out.  I let my elbows rest on the arms of the chair.  When I began to spin, I found myself drafting in a sideways motion.  It was surprisingly pleasant.  I always find spinning relaxing, but I've never felt quite this laid-back.  It felt revolutionary.

I ended up spending most of the day, just spinnin' & chillin' with good music and the company of my teenage son.  He hung out playing video games and we talked about our favorite tunes and stuff.  I was enjoying myself so much that after finishing 150 yards of 2ply, I started in on a thick and thin just because.  For all of you spinners who are way ahead of me and have been hangin' out in this style for ages, all I can say is, "You rule."  If you haven't tried a more laid back posture, I highly recommend it!

Baby Girl Christmas Hat

My cousin is about to have her first baby this December and I couldn't be happier for her and her husband. This is turning out to be a year of babies for my friends and family which means I am revisiting some of my favorite old baby designs.  

I first made this hat about 7 or 8 years ago for a friend and neighbor back when I lived in Virginia.  She has a little boy and was trying to describe a hat shape that she liked.  On a piece of paper she sketched what was basically a square and explained how the points would stick up when the hat was sitting on someone's head.  It sounded like a cute idea, so after taking a few measurements, I set out to make my own version of this hat.

Well, I've been making these little hats ever since.  They are just so cute and whimsical.  For girls I scallop the brim and make loopy flowers at the points.  for boys I make the brim straight and make loopy pom-poms instead of flowers.  This one is a holiday version as you can see.  I also like to make them with red and white stripes.  I think this is a sweet first Christmas design.

This hat looks great in everything from pastels to primary colors.  I've chosen a bouclé for this project, but other textures look great too.  From furry to flat, the possibilities abound.  I had to work this hat up my my own, ancient, chicken scratch.  I was old school back then, walking around scribbling ideas in a journal.  It's time I preserve this design with a proper pattern! 

Spinning My Milk Sheep Fiber

It was a nice lazy weekend around my house.  My hands needed a break from crocheting, so my thoughts turned to spinning.  I went into my studio and dug a huge bag of German milk sheep fiber out of a corner cupboard.  It's coarse wool, good for rug making, and I need a new rug right now.  The small rug I keep on the back porch is beginning to crumble and it will be nice to replace it with something homemade.  

After spending a large part of the afternoon filling this spool, I have to say that I don't know how people attend long spinning events.  My backside gets so tired of my spinning chair and my neck and upper back ache from being in one aspect for so long.  I guess I don't spin often enough to build up stamina.  This fact is in direct conflict with my determination to spin though my mountain of wool.  Today my chair will receive the addition of a pillow and I'll have to stop and stretch more often.  

What I'd like to do is to spin all of this fiber into a nice heavy 2ply.  Then divide it into around 200 yard hanks to be dyed in a variety of colors.  This would be a nice project to weave on my rigid heddle, but I don't know if I can get myself back into weaving.  Crochet is just so quick and easy for me.  I guess I'll have plenty of time to contemplate this while I'm spinning. 

Crocheted Necklaces ~ More Styles

Here are a few more samples of the necklaces I've been making lately.  I really love working with linen these days.  It feels sturdy and strong and yet as you wear it, it becomes softer and softer.  My favorite place to shop for linen lace is Yarn Mountain.  There are so many gorgeous colorways.

Another favorite lace weight of mine is Shoppel Wolle Zauberball.  I love the long striping effect and it looks great in projects like these.  I first bought Shoppel Wolle in Germany, but it's readily available here in the states. 

    

Linen and Lace Necklace ~ A New Pattern!

I'm feeling more than a little sheepish for having been away so long.  Is if possible to develop attention deficit issues in midlife?  I find myself spending more time on Wind Rose Fiber Studio's Facebook page than here and I think it's because it's so quick and easy.  If you want to see what I've been working on lately, I would welcome your visit.  

My latest design is the Linen and Lace Necklace and last week I even managed to write up the pattern. It's available for sale in my Etsy shop, but until Sept 15th, the pattern is available for free to people who follow my Facebook page.  You'll find the simple details here.  

Now that I've flexed my fingers, I hope to rekindle my attention span and return to more regular blogging.  I've missed you and I know I have a handful of questions waiting for answers here as well. Please forgive my time away and I'll be getting to you with answers very soon.