I Heart Drop Spindles!

Spent some time on break today teaching (the other) Nikki to spin on a Drop Spindle - and being the incredibly fast learner that she is, it was a total breeze.

I'm happy to report that she likes it :)

I'm also happy because I got a chance to try out the Kromski Drop Spindle and I really love it!

It's reasonably priced, has a lovely weight and a solid balanced spin - I also really love the rich Mahogany colour that it comes in as well :)

I'm such a sucker for colour ... 

And I finally got a chance to spin up some lovely local fleece on it as well.

Some super soft Shetland (the scrumptious roving!) and a local cross breed Grand Champion fleece that was purchased from our annual Fall Fair here in town (the delicious locks!)

I really like how they are blending together ... and it's one of the reasons that I am still so very fond of Drop Spindles. 

Not only were they the first spinning device that I ever used (or could afford) but they offer fantastic portability for me (try as I might spinning on a spinning wheel in the car is a no-go) and I can play with textures, colours, and spinning styles with ease prior to committing to a full project on my spinning wheel. It's great for sampling fibres while you are out and about to see how they spin up and it really is a treat to use!

Basically I love Drop Spindles!

Is it obvious? 

And after purchasing a few in different weights and sizes I can spin up any size and any style of yarn that I can think of without breaking the bank :)

I think my latest acquisition might be this mahogany Kromski one ...

Have a fabulous weekend everyone and happy Drop Spindling!!

xo nikki

The Black Wensleydale Locks are Here!!

And I am SOOOOO excited! 

They are GORGEOUS!

And so SOFT!

Oh! The possibilities!

Hope your day is filled with exciting possibilities as well :)

xo nikki

Yarn Bowl Crochet Done!

It's finally done ... phew! 

Shameful to admit but this was one of those glossy five photos projects that sucked me in ... lol!

And I kept making yarn and then crocheting and ... 

... running out of yarn. 

Over and over ...

and over ... 

I even had to make some new yarn by hand on my first coffee break -

And then I ran out during my lunch break! Grrr ...

Made some more and then by last coffee break (and with my very sore fingers crossed) ...

I was done!!

Hooray!

Onto the next project ... Mwa-ha-ha!

xo nikki

Clay and Cotton and Cups of Tea!

What are the elements of a fabulous weekend?

How about clay, cotton and cups of tea?

I know, weird and a tad confusing right? I have a tendency to come across that way ... 

... a lot!

But this weekend I was fortunate enough to take a marvellous clay button making class with Gail Woodhouse (who is amazing!) with an equally fabulous group of ladies!

... and came up with a board full of these, all ready for their first firing through the kiln.

Some of these will be pendants, some buttons and others will be my latest knitted owls button eyes! 

Then I finally found some time to try making some cotton yarn for the crochet basket idea from theredthreadblog.com which I was so eager to try!

... and  which also may be the basket that holds my finished buttons once they are done :)

But the best part was the cups of tea and a long overdue visit with my favourite cousin whom I love with all my heart!

We got to catch up and reminisce and just settle in to enjoying one another's company - she is so dear to me - and we spent a wonderful afternoon together :)

So it makes sense now right? Clay, cotton and cups of tea ... and a weekend to really count my blessings  

... because I truly have a lot of them :)

Here's hoping your weekend was filled with all sorts of wonderful things as well!

xo nikki

Monday morning coffee break crochet ... 

In Five Easy Steps ...

Ok, I'm the first to admit - I am hideously guilty of this - seeing a project on some social media platform with three or four glossy photos and I think ... 

"That looks super fast and easy to do!"

And ... it's not.

Turns out making your own homemade roasted beet pasta is NOT something you can accomplish in an hour or so in the kitchen while your hungry kiddies look on ...

... or handwash a dirty sheep's fleece in the evening before bedtime ... (my poor Mr.)

... regardless of the 3 to 5 pretty pictures that show you step by step how fast and easy it is.

Don't get me wrong, it's always worth the effort in the end but I am constantly getting bamboozled by the pictures - even though my Mr. keeps warning me it may take more time that I actually have ... 

... I like the product at the end -

and I'm a slow learner apparently :)

So, with all that in mind I wanted to show you the making of the bunny yarn that will soon be knitted up - hopefully before Easter! (cross fingers)

But be warned - this took a LOT longer than it looks!

Trust me!

Happy Spinning!

xo nikki

Making Fabric Yarn!

xo nikki

Owls and Monsters and Whales ... oh my!

Thanks to the lovely creations of Nan-C of www.nancdesigns.ca (I love her bunnies and playscapes!) ...

I was distracted, I mean inspired! again ...

this time with Needle Felting - it's rather addictive and super fun (though at times also pretty ouchy!)

  

These are my critter creations from last night ... ran out of time before midnight so the wee sheep isn't quite finished yet ... 

Want to play some more tonight!

Better get some more band-aids on the way home :)

xo nikki