SweethavenArts.com

Uh, no, my husband, I’m not doing any swaps…………

Hush Hush Handspun Hootenanny Questionaire

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself?
I have been spinning since I was twelve, which is almost twenty years. I guess I would consider myself intermediate. I don’t know a lot of the ‘science’ of things- I just like to do it.
2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)?
My bread and butter is two ply. I can do singles or three ply. And I’ve recently been doing a lot of art yarn.
3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)?
I can do both but I wheel spin right now to save time. And keep the kids out of my yarn. Though, really, they try to play with the spinning wheel a lot too…..

4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don’t like?

I must admit I do like wool a lot. I’ve been on a silk fling lately. I don’t think I’ve ever met a fiber I didn’t like.

5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)?
I’ve been doing a lot of crack creation myself lately. Buy bits and peices where ever I can get my hands on them and make crack. I also get my crack from crackster itself. (craftster.org)

6. What kind of fiber do you want to try?
Want to try in general? *blinks* I’ve tried most of it…

7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn?
pondering this one.

8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn?
Oh I love to dye.

9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber?
I has a drum carder(which I LOVE and use a TON) and combs (though they don’t get much use with the tiny people) and hand cards. Though prepared is fine too. I just like fiber.

10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed?
For a while most of my handspun was going to my mom who knit. I’ve done some weaving and would LOVE to do more (But I need a smaller loom….). I’ve recently done some mobius scarves which were great fun. I’m doing a scarf for the husband. I just found a knit corset and dragon pattern I want to try with handspun.

11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)?
If there is a child proof threading hook out there I’d love to get my hands on it. ha ha ha.

12. What colors “fall into your shopping basket”? Any colors you just can’t stand?
A silk brick fell into my hands recently. It was blue and purple and, hey, look below and you can see it. I don’t like red or orange. I love purple and black. Blues and greens (and browns) make me happy.

13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now?

I am working on the other half of a 2 ply for said dragon pattern on one wheel and some twilight inspired yarn on the other wheel.
14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have?
Mostly fibery things. I sew. And knit. I would like to weave more.

15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about?
Natural child raising- everything from home birth to breastfeeding to cloth diapers to gentle disipline to home schooling.

16. Do you have an online wishlist?
hmm, not any more….

17. Is there anything that you collect?
Oh no. I mean books maybe. Kitchen appliances. I don’t like to collect things that collect dust. I like useful things.

18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have?
I would love to get some nice circs in 4 and below. I’m slowly working on that. I know there was a book I had an eye on… come back and check, I may update this…

19. When is your birthday?
Feb 25

20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality?
I asked my husband about this and he said ‘we need to research this.’

21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)?
It’s summer. It gets hot. Don’t let that stop you from sending me chocolate. I am at home so I usually catch packages.

22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself!
I have some purple hair.
Favorites
favorite painting/picture(link):
The one my husband did that’s hanging in the living room.

Candy:
chocolate. with stuff in it. Though I haven’t found any organic fair trade chocolate with a lot of stuff in it.

Food:
I’m a big fan of Indian/middle eastern/ nepalese food. My husband will tell me the differences with all of those but I just think it’s all good.

Drink:
Root beer.

Movie(s):
The princess Bride for ever and always.

TV Show(s):

The new Doctor Who. Though the new American Gladiator has been my guilty pleasure.

Book(s):
I’ve been enjoying the Twilight series lately. I’ve been trying to find a good fantasy series for a while but can’t find anything….

Guilty Pleasure(s):

Ahem. From above. American Gladiator. Twilight.  Josh Groban.

I’m sure I will add more as I think of it…..

Yup Yup, I went to the wool market again. It was QUITE the adventure this year with TWO little people. Thanks to Nicole who helped me with the kiddos. And did some fiber enabling. I wish I got the picture of our set up. My hefty 9 mo old was in a hiking backpack (which makes me take up a lot of room) and T in the Stroller or walking (depending on her mood.)And yes, the stroller takes up room too. SO I did get some scowls in the vendors area. But the kids are so cute, a couple of smiles and they usually win over folks.
What did I get?

TWO bags of shiny. Because I have discovered the JOY of shiny. And it was supa cheap.

A 10 needle needle felting tool. Bacause it’s time to get back into needle felting. And it’s COMFY.

A silk brick from Bonkers. Oh so lovley. I fell in love with the colorway the second I saw it but it was a little expensive so I wasn’t sure. A walk through the animals, some encouragement, and I got it. I figured if it was still there I would get it, and it was, so I did. I think it’s going to be a shawl. Perhaps this one. Because it’s called Lamina.

I also got (but did not photo) the patterns from Ellens Wooly Wonders. Yes I got them (remember them from last year?) I got the dragon and the egg pattern. And already have great yarn plans. SHINY HANDSPUN!!!!

My husband informed me that it’s been a month since my last blog post. Well, when you are chasing little people (and one is learning to crawl) you loose tack of time and only have one hand to type- not always condusive to blog posting.

It started simply as Star Trek inspired yarn. It’s getting out of hand.

Star Trek: Enterprise. 280 yards(?) aprox 4 oz. Mostly wool and some firestar plied with sewing thread (which is my favorite way to rock the art yarns now.)

Twilight: Edward and Bella. Wool, ecospun, sari silk, blue jean shreds 178 yards 4 oz

Twilight: Jacob and Bella. Alpaca, Wool, Blue Jean shreds, Sari silk. 171 yrds, 4 oz.

With probably 4 more Twilight inspired batts to go. And a few Dr. Who ones. It’s silly, but BIG FUN.

Estes park wool market this weekend! WHOO!