I ventured out to Woolfest at Lake Metroparks’ Farmpark last weekend with my friend Linda.  I have been completely bitten by the spinning bug after looking at oodles of gorgeous fibers.  I tried a drop spindle a few years back and frustrated myself right out of that.  I should have known better!  I am just not coordinated enough to do several things at once.

I tried this already with glass blowing.  I really wanted to be a glass major at school.  In fact, I made my decision to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art based on that desire because of their reputation and that of the glass department.  Two weeks into the course I realized it requires 3 activities performed all at once.   Keep it moving, work fast enough to keep it hot and turn it into something all at the same time.  YEAH, Riigghht!  So I switched to enameling, which is applying ground glass to metal, and firing it in a kiln.  It’s a beautiful blend of glass that waits for me, and the focus that became my major, metals and jewelry design.

But now I want to try spinning again and with the help of Linda and our local spinners guild I am going to suck it up and try really hard!  I just love art yarns and tweeds and I have lots of fibers, including cashmere noils, that will make spectacular yarn.  Abby Franquemont has inspired me as well with her blog Making a Tweed Blend.  She gives wonderful directions with lots of photos for making batts and spinning tweed yarns.   

Handspun Tweed

In case you needed some inspiration of your own, check out the batts and awesome yarns that Linda has spun – FABULOUS!  Be sure to look her up on Etsy too for more eye candy.

Sunny Day

Batt with Cashmere Noils

Wild Skies

Let me tell you why I love Ravelry so – This morning I was looking at one of my favorite groups ‘Cowls’ because I am addicted to seeing what’s being done in project do-able time, since I currently have no time!  It’s like looking through Saks 5th Avenue, what would I buy if only I could, or for me, what would I knit if only I had the time…

And so one project led to another, which led to a link to a free pattern, which brought me to Robin Dodge’s website and finally to her new blog MetaPostModernKnitting.  In her MetaTrends she has outlined the fashion forecast for Spring 2009 complete with colors, textures and complementary clothing and accessories.  I immediately gravitated to a silk scarf that has been knit on big needles (read super fast knit-ability).

I  have several silk blouses that have some sort of acquired defect so they can’t be worn anymore but the quality of the silk was too nice to throw them out.  So they have been waiting patiently for a project to call them to life once again.  It was definitely an artist’s ah-hah moment when I saw this scarf!  After the Great Lakes Fiber Festival, I will be home, scissors in hand, making yarn out of my blouses, maybe dyeing some too to add visual interest, and then knitting happily once again. 

Ragsilk

New yarn for this fall season (from a well known yarn company) turns out to be the very same idea that I have!  Synchronicity strikes again! 

IT’S UNIQUE!!!

Here’s my first diz and WPI combo tool. I feel a series coming on because I’ve had great suggestions from Rebecca from my Phat Fiber group and there’s lots more to consider. This is my first attempt though and I’m really tickled with the way it has turned out.  The holes for the diz measure 1/2 inch, 5mm, 3mm and 1.5mm.

WPI Gauge and Diz Combo Proto-Type

To notch or not, that is the question…

I tried a design with notches to hold the yarn wraps in place, and after a couple tries with placement, I am happy with the result.  These will be available in my Etsy shop for $10

WPI Gauge and Diz Combo with Notches

I was completely addicted to designing on the computer yesterday.  I added a hole for hanging at the top of the sock blockers  I also have designed metric sock blocker pairs in each size to put everyone on the same page instead of having to cross reference any other measuring system outside of the US.  Now it’s all nice and easy!

I’m in the home stretch of putting the finishing touches on the heart shaped knitting needle gauge.  Lots of requests to make those available in my Etsy shop so I am going to try and have those up for sale by next weekend.  Stay tuned…

While listening to the radio on the way to work this morning, I heard about a tasty sounding recipe for chocolate brownies that are OK for dogs to eat.  It’s not real chocolate, it’s carob.  What a great idea to make something special for Kaylee.  I hope my vet is NOT reading this.  She’s on a diet… SSSHhhhh.

Putting good old Google to work, I found this recipe. It comes from a site called www.seefido.com.

I’ll post the recipe, but you might want to visit their site if you have a dog. Lots of little tidbits of helpful info.

Ingredients
1 and ½ cups of all purpose flour
3 tablespoons of carob powder
½ teaspoon of baking powder
½ cup of canola oil
½ cup of honey
2 eggs

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil an 8-inch baking pan with vegetable oil.

2. Use a large bowl and mix the flour, carob powder and baking powder together, then set the mixture on the side. Then in a small bowl beat the oil and the honey, and then add the eggs one at a time by beating them as you incorporate them into the mixture. Next, mix the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir well until you have obtained a homogenized mixture.

3. Spread the batter into the pan and smoothen the top out with a spatula. Put it in the oven and bake for 20 t 25 minutes or until you notice that the brownies start to pull away from the sides of the baking pan.

4. Once they are ready, allow them to cool before serving them out.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for no more than 4 days, or wrap well in freezer wrap and store in the freezer for no more than 2 months.

My Corgi, Kaylee, needs to lose a ‘little bit’ of winter padding so she is on a diet. This is an utterly lunatic idea from her point of view, but she really needs to drop a few pounds.

To help reward her, I thought I might make some of these when she gets down to her swimsuit weight.

Here is a quick 53 sec. Video I found at 3jomark on YouTube.

Follow along with the narrator as he describes what the knitter is demonstrating.

Good for a grin.

Here is the design I made for Chris’ saucer.

Check out my latest vinyl creation.  Can I tell you how much I love Corel Draw and the vinyl cutter?  Just wait til you see the one I did for Chris… pics to follow, but it’s in his car and it’s below zero and I am not going outside… nosireee!

Ready to Ride

Sometimes called Invisible Cast on.

Here is a simple technique for a smooth and stretchy finish for hems and cuffs.

This informative is video from The Knitting Daily show and on YouTube at Interweave Videos.

Do you need knitting supplies? Or, how about a few gift ideas for the knitters you know?
These are all available at www.sevenyaks.etsy.com

Circular needles at Etsy.

Double Pointed Bamboo Knitting Needles.

Sock blocker:

Natural White Bulky Yarn.

More knitting supplies, kits, patterns, and accessories at www.sevenyaks.etsy.com

Need a knitting project for the long winter months? How about knitting yourself a new car? This is what a young art student, Loren Porter, did for her degree show. Take a look at her video on YouTube. (from itnsource)

More videos on the 7yaks favorites.

If you want to knit yourself a parking lot full of cars, you are going to need about 12 MILES of yarn per car! I will be happy to set up a custom order for you at my etsy shop.

And you will need some extra knitting needles..

Also,
Time is running out on our October Special, get your gift before it is to late.

And if you’re serious about knitting your self a huge car, you might want to check out the blog entry about cramped hands.

Here is a quick “How To” showing a simple method to wire-wrap links for making your own jewelry.

Looking for some unique beads for your jewelry making projects? Click Here.

Here is a decent video on Felt Making.

It is Japanese, but you don’t have to know Japanese to see how it is done.

BTW… Lots of roving for felting available HERE. Good price too.

From 1/2 oz. to 40z.

Cute video showing how to use a drop spindle. The drama with her mother makes it more exciting!

BTW: Roving is available at www.sevenyaks.etsy.com and it is cheaper than at the craft store.

When you start knitting, you will eventually buy a “pretzel” shaped supply of yarn called a skein. (See the picture of one available at etsy below.) It isn’t in a nice ball like you see in all the cartoons and movies. It is twisted in this pretty pretzel-like shape and your next chore is to unravel it all without it getting into the mother of all knots.

It is easy when you learn a trick or two. Here are two videos from “Twenty Pound Tabby” that will help you out.

After you have watched the videos, take a look at some beautiful skeins available at the etsy online store. (And Yes, I’m selling them.)

Untwisting a Skein of Yarn

Winding a Ball from a Skein.

Here is a beautiful example of a blended skein of wool.

Available at www.sevenyaks.etsy.com

The description at the etsy site is…

A burst of color with yellow, purple and touches of green & blue.

This skein is:
115 yards in length (approx.) and is a bulky knit yarn combination

So have fun with your new skein of yarn.

ps. If you “Twitter” you can follow my updates at www.twitter.com/7yaks

Or you can click the twit button on the upper right of this entry.

I started a Clearance Section to my etsy store. www.sevenyaks.etsy.com

To go straight to the clearance section CLICK HERE.

These are a few things that are cosmetically flawed or at the end of their life span on the etsy site.

Prototype Sock Blocker

This pair of sock blockers has a cosmetic imperfection only and will give you a lifetime of use at a bargain rate!

Made out of a sturdy acrylic, by me with a really awesome laser, these sock blockers will not warp! These do not absorb moisture and will never mildew or leave splinters in your socks. Great for those of you who frequently wash and block your socks. Also included in the design is a knitting needle gauge sizes 0 to 17. How cool is that! Get out your sock patterns and start sock knitting.

Large works with women’s sizes 9 – 10 and men’s sizes 8 – 9 (10.25 inches from toe to heel)

Grab them at half price!

________________________________________________________

Personal Journal

Original price was $8.00 – Now $6.00

The cover design is a collage of handcast paper embellished with embossing & stamps. The inside pages are natural unbleached paper.

This beautiful journal is suitable for anything: – lyrics, recipes, addresses and recording dreams. Great for travel or just jotting down your thoughts.

6 x 8¼” stitched, hardbound and filled with 60 pages which are lined (ruled) on the inside..

Only one of these. Grab it up now while it is still there. Two others with different covers.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Stitch'n bitch Nation

My Original price was $10.00 – Now $7.50

Publisher’s Comments

Written by author Debbie Stoller, Stitch ‘n Bitch Nation features 50 hip, new, even funkier and more fabulous patterns by Stitch ‘n Bitch designers, who come from San Francisco to Brooklyn, Chicago to Cambridge to St. Paul, Minnesota. The Om Yoga Mat Bag. Felted Monster Slippers. The London Calling Union Jack Sweater, because even punks get cold in winter. A Double-Duty Shrug. Polka Dot Tankini. That ’70s Poncho. The Boob Tube. Spiderweb Capelet, Cabled Newsboy Cap, Chunky Baby Booties and Baby Bunny Hat. And the most ingenius project, a Knit-Your-Own Rock Star doll — more info…

Here’s the clearance page again. Stop on by.

A little teaser today. I just finished these cute little booties for a baby shower gift.

handmade baby shower gift

I’m going to put up my knitting pattern for these at my etsy site in the next couple days.  It’s an easy mostly garter stitch pattern that knits up super fast.  Look for them soon.

I am so excited to announce I have some Louise Little glass beads available at my online store. These are beautiful designs inspired by the Southwest.

I have a small selection and they won’t last long. Stop by the shop to see more of her wonderful work.

Not long ago, the only way for a small craft person or artist to sell their crafts online was eBay. This was cheap, but the design was poor and you had to go through all that bidding. Only the big arts and crafts organizations or someone with deep pockets could afford to sell their art and crafts online.

NO MORE!

You can have a great site selling your art and crafts for as little as 20 cents!

You can have a beautifully designed site that is easy to navigate, be part of a large community, and allows you to showcase each item with big color pictures and a full description of each item.

How much has changed? A lot.

If you wanted to set up your own web site selling your items you needed to:

• Find a reliable Web Developer for consultation. $$$

• Decide what Domain name you will use. $$

• Find an ISP to host your Web site. $$

• Choose a merchant account that will accept MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order transactions) $$$

• Have a photographer do special pictures of each one of your items.$$$

• Register your site with major search engines/directories.

PLUS all the TIME to research, plan, and design your site.

Now all you need:

A digital camera and computer, or a friend who has these.

Take a look at this site of mine that cost me less than $10.

All I do is take a picture of something I want to sell, upload it to my etsy site, write a description, set a price and method of shipping. Presto. I’ve had people looking at my items before I’ve prepared a cup of tea to celebrate all my “hard work.”

It is unbelievable easy and inexpensive.

If you go to my site you can also click over to Etsy’s home page and start selling your art and crafts right away.

There are a couple of other sites doing a similar thing, see my report for my business class. But in my mind the Etsy site is by far the best.

To add a little more sales punch and learn how to get more traffic to your own site, I can recommend these resources.

The Complete Guide to Starting and Running Your Home Craft Business.

Easy Craft Project Ideas.

Go Make Art

Also, email me from my Etsy site and ask about my preferred customer program.

Good luck and happy selling!

Hi,

I’m just starting this blog and it is very much a beginning work in progress. My web guru said I had to put something here to get started and to check out my new header.

I thought I would start out by writting a blog about the various projects I’m getting ready for a fiber show in May.

Hopefully, readers will get some good tips on doing their own projects.

My first blog project is going to be showing an easy way to make some felted cat toys.

I’m also adding products to my site on Etsy.

You are welcome to visit my store by clicking the Etsy link to the right. Or Here.

I’m going to be taking the pictures for the cat toys in the next couple days, so check back!