etsy shop

I have finally set up and started to stock the etsy shop.  I had a hard time deciding on whether to start on etsy, artfire or both.  Etsy won out!  I also have the artfire shop set up but it is not yet stocked.   For now I am going with the etsy store and will be working on getting it fully stocked.  Please check it out at www.twistedsun.etsy.com and let me know what you think.  My biggest challenge is the photography, getting a good clear photo with true colors has been difficult.  I am hoping for sun tomorrow so I can take photos in natural light.

I was so excited when I received my first etsy sale.  The first item to be sold was the cool jewel roving, definitely one of my favorites. 

Here are some photos from the etsy shop:

more Stitches photos

more goodies! 

Thank you to everyone who helped set up, worked at and shopped at the Twisted Sunshine booth at Stitches West, a great time was had by all.  This was our first big show and we shared a booth with Slipped Stitches Studio.  The booth was chock full of fiber, yarns, crazy spinning batts, sheep and spinning earrings, counting bracelets and project bags.  Everyone loved the beautiful Kundert spindles we carried and we had the opportunity to teach several people how to drop spindle.  To those who bought spindles and those buy a spindle in the future, my offer to teach you, or follow up on the spindling lessons given at Stitches still is open.  Spinning is fun and relaxing, add in the beatuiful dyed rovings and batts of Twisted Sunshine and you have the makings of a great project.

Here are some of our yarns and crazy batts

Busy getting ready for Stitches.  Wonderful friends helping me over the weekend.  The house is a complete disaster and I am wondering how everything will get done.  Here are some photos taken by Alison the master skeinwinder, on Sunday.

getting ready

I have been busy getting ready for Stitches West.  Dying up a storm, making batts, spinning kits, felting kits, getting yarns ready.  This is the last weekend to put the finishing touches on everything.  I haven't gotten a chance to take photos, will do that this weekend and post them. 

The beautiful weather earlier this week was perfect for hanging out the rovings and yarn so they were able to dry.  The weather was clear and warm, went up to 69 degrees.  That is the wonderful California weather I remember.  This winter has been mostly rain, and a lot of it, so it was nice to enjoy the sun and some early spring fever.  Well the clouds are back for the weekend, so the last of the dying will be drying in the house.

The stormy weather inspired a lot of the colorways I was working on.  I dye in small batches so most of the pieces are unique with only a few of each color but always with coordinating colors.  The natural dyes all go well with each other and it is fun to mix and match.  I have taken strips from several different rovings and alternated them when spinning to create beautiful yarns.  I will have some samples with me.

I want to thank all my knitting friends for their help and support.  The Monday night Walnut Creek Knitters and the Thursday night East Bay knitters.  You guys really rock.

Busy weekend - hope to update photos by Sunday.  I have held off on stocking the etsy store until after Stitches, I want to have my stock on hand for this event and then will post on etsy.

Please come and see me and Slipped Stitches in booth 843 at Stitches West - See you there!

January!

Made it through the holidays! Family visits, holiday meals - all were drama free.  My younger daughter has gone back to school and the house is quiet again, except for the hum of the new spinning wheel.  My dream wheel finally made it to me thanks to Kristine and Adrienne of A Verb for Keeping Warm (AVFKW).  My dream of a Schact Reeves 30 inch cherry wheel has come true.  I had been thinking and yearning for a year now.  It is beautiful.  I have to think of a name for it before the christening party with WonderMike of Fiber Beat.  He became the proud owner of a Schacht Matchless about a week before the stork brought my Schacht Reeves.
The only problem I have is that the wheel spins better than I do!  I am spinning up some polworth from AVFKW to finish my daughter's cowl.  The wheel spins a lot faster than my Lendrum, it's big brother.  Now that the kids moved out I am starting a family of spinning wheels!

I am busily getting ready for Stitches West and will be sharing a booth with Slipped Stitches.  Come check out my dyed fiber, batts and yarn and Laura's bags.  This is my first BIG show and I am so excited and nervous.

I will post pictures of the wheel and fiber soon.

Holiday Sale at Knit One One

Today Judy and I participated in the holiday craft sale at Knit One One in Berkeley.  It was a great day, with a positive response to our fibers and Judy's stitch markers.  I was able to finish up my triangle scarf and Judy almost completed her hat.  We demonstrated how to turn our beautiful fibers into yarn using a drop spindle. 
Alison brought us wonderful fried chicken sandwiches and cookies from Bakesale Betty's to fortify us for an afternoon of selling our fiber goods and knitting accessories.
Afterwards we went to A Verb for Keeping Warm to check out the holiday party and show.  Tomorrow Judy and I will be will be selling our fiber creations here.  If you are in the area please stop by to say hello and to try your hand at making a crazy batt.