Twisting at the CNCH

silk hankies

We were at CNCH, here are some comments from friends of Sunshine: Its funny how we all run in the same crowds. I saw so many familiar faces...the same faces that I see at every fiber event. I love, love, love listening to everyone's stories and adventures. We met Dana, who unfortunately lost everything in a house fire...she caught our attention when she said she lost both of her spinning wheels! She happened to run across an estate sale in the paper....fiber & wheels!! She got 2 wheels and pounds of roving and only spent $112 dollars! My friends and I have a blast at CNCH, spinning, knitting, eating and shopping. If you are coming tomorrow, stop by our booth or our food table. We have tons of yummy snacks. Booth 513, next to Carolina homespun. I love seeing our fellow fiber artists. Love color and yummy fiber. Hope see you at our next show. I had a ton of fun at cnch at Twisted Sunshine booth I think she has a very great eye in color combination. Got inspire with all the colors and fibers and trying to figure out my next new project. The most interesting person was a woman with a very unique outfit that she must have made for herself, as I am sure it could not be purchased anywhere. For lack of a better description we call her the pirate. The outfit made the woman look like she was Captain Jack Sparrow's grandma. She is on my video but I don't know if I can post here. There was a large upright velvet hat, and a highly embellished skirt and jacket. Her husband's outfit was not as embellished but more colorful.

Speaking of color, check out the dyed silk hankies, perfect for spinning, felting embellishment, you can even knit or crochet directly from the hankie.

rovings

core spun yarns

 batts for spinning and felting

                   
                             plenty of sparkle

Show time is coming

This coming Friday is the opening of the 3 day Conference for Northern California Handweavers (CNCH).  It will be held this year at the Oakland Convention Center at the Oakland Marriott at Broadway.  Just take BART to the 12 Street station and you are right there.  Twisted Sunshine will be there at booth 513, with our signature 50/50 merino silk rovings, textured batts and many different fibers for your spinning fantasies!  Come visit, say hello and meet up with like minded fiber enthusiasts!
Follow this link for details and a discount coupon http://www.cnch.org/conferences/2012-oakland/day-visits/
Dyeing is finished, now to finish braiding. labeling and batt making.  Pictures will be posted shortly.

Here we go again...

Well, I got frustrated that I could not add photos to the blog from my iPad while I was in Spain so I just stopped writing, easily frustrated I am.  The trip was great but the yarn was a big let down.  In Madrid I went to the el gato negro which was a yarn shop that was recommended.  all the yarns were acrylic and mostly novelty type yarns.  The way yarns are shopped for is quite different than in the states, they have samples hanging and then you have to wait for a sales person to help you and get out the yarn you want.  You are not allowed to touch anything on your own.  Usually you would tell the sales person what you want to make and they will pick out, or help you pick out the yarn and the pattern.  There was an old guy there  who was like a watchdog.  He wouldn't take his eyes off me and my sister, it appeared that he thought we were going to steal something.  You got it, I would just grab a handful of lovely acrylic yarn and run down the street .... like that would ever happen!  It was an interesting experience but needless to say I didn't buy anything there.  But Madrid was wonderful and I had a great time there.  Not my favorite place in Spain.  I really loved Sevilla and Ronda, and our visits to each of these towns has it's own special story..... More to follow, time to start up the blog again...

Bienvenidos a Madrd!

Saturday to Sunday What a long day it has been. Leaving  for SFO at 6 am, the fight to JFK was absolutely packed, as was the flight to Madrid.  Shari had no problem finding me at JFK. We upgraded our seats to economy plus, a great move. They reclined nicely and had a lot of leg room. Made for a nice relaxing trip. I was able to sleep most of the trip. We should be in Madrid in 1/2 hour. I am looking forward to wash up and change my underwear........ Made it to Madrid and our Hotel, the Hotel Preciados near Plaza Calleo. We had full day. After freshening up we hit the streets. First we got used the local ATM for some cash and starte walking to find the El Raestro flea market, not knowing quite where we were going. tried to ask directions on the streed but no one could understand us, so with help of our map we meandered and finally found ourselves Plaza Mayor, went to the TI office for some tourist info and to find our way to El Raestro. Just a few blocks out of the gates of the Plaza we found the market. The streets were packed, the sight and the sounds of the crowd were amazing, it had an energy all it's own.

Looking  Forward. As I clean up my outside dye kitchen for the  winter my thoughts are turning to my wild adventure I am about to embark on with one of  my sisters.  We are going to Spain and I hope to blog about my trip here.  Let's see how it goes....
Keep on spinning in the free world!

Now that the weather is cold and rainy, I thought it would be a good time for a quick pictoral review of summer

Boston-->

spinning at the farm

Tour de Fleece-->

BATT MAKING AND CRAZY YARNS

Trip to the Yarnival and Camp Pluckyfluff

Looking back.....summer was great, plenty of bbq's,  time with friends, spinning, swimming, dyeing and shows.  Now fall has really set in and winter is around the corner.  Many of us have experienced the first snow of the season so I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at the fiber photos of summer.  From Spinning at the Farm, the Oakland Fiber Fest, the Yarnival, Lambtown and plenty of fun in between.

Yarn at Pluckyfluff studio

How much stuff can we fit in a car?  Answer - 4 people, 5 wheels, 5 fleeces, a drumcarder, 4 overnight bags, a cooler and more!

Judy and I were at the last show of the season yesterday, the Yolo Mill In.  We decided to put the Twisted Sunshine booth outside because it promised to be a nice day (regrets to our friends on the East Coast who had their first snow storm of the year!).  We didn't bargain for the wind, which started blowing strong mid day.  I really thought Judy was going to blow away with the tent!  She didn't and we rearranged the booth to make it a little more wind resistant. After a couple of hours the wind died down.

It was a fun day and I got a little sunburnt.  There were sheep shearing demonstrations, hands on projects and a tour of the mill.  I strongly recommend that, if you are local, you attend next years event.  It is always the last weekend in October and is a great family event.  There is a BBQ and the best tamales in all the land!  The tamale I brought home for my DH barely came thru the door and he finished it.

I especially like the story behind the mill, the explanations on how the fleeces are scoured and them made into batts, roving, yarn, etc.  Of course there were the beautiful fibers of Twisted Sunshine for purchase as well as those from many other vendors.  Bad me - no photos.

Our good friend Kristina with her dh Saketh and daughter Geetha joined us for a fun day in the sun.  Judy knit 3 hats and I continued my crazy lock spinning - photos to follow.

I will be going with one of my sisters for a two week trip to Spain in November.  I hope to blog the trip here as well as my exploring of some yarn shops.  Does anyone know of great yarn shops or fiber farms in Madrid, Andalusia or the Barcelona area?  Please message me with your suggestions.  Adios for now!