Happy St. Patrick's Day

I didn't get a chance to do a post at all last week, so now I have alot of catching up to do. Let's see first of all I finished my spinning for both spin alongs.

Then I went on a bit of a spending spree on a Etsy as some of my favorite shops did awesome updates. I purchased three rovings from http://www.extremespinning.etsy.com/ , I just couldn't resist her Celtic themed rovings for March. Irish Bilberry is corriedale and Lucky Leprechaun and Cymbeline are organic wool. These rovings are also dyed using organic dyes.

I bought NightShade superwash merino from http://www.squoosh.etsy.com/

and Rainforest, South African Fine from www.moonlightbaker.etsy.com

and another super wash merino roving from http://www.allspunup.etsy.com/

But the most exciting news of all I ordered my spinning wheel this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I decided on a Kromski Sonata and ordered it this morning from the CopperMoose. Bill said it should arrive by Monday!

Oh and I almost forgot I crocheted a scarf from my handspun Strawberry Shortcake yarn. It's listed for sale in my Etsy shop.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22106077

Went to the Zoo

The weather was lovely here in PA over the weekend, so Saturday I took a break from crocheting and spinning and went to the zoo. My family and I visited Zoo America at Hershey Park. I was able to get some really nice photos of some of the animals enjoying the sunny day. The zoo features all North American animals, my personal favorites are the wolves. In particular the black wolf they've named Dakota. I always end up taking dozens of photos of him, one of these days I'd like to try painting him

.

The other photos show one of the mountain lions, a redtail hawk and two of their three bobcat kittens.

March Spin Alongs

Several of the Ravelry groups I belong to have spin alongs, so this month I've decided to participate.

The Spindlers group has a theme for their spin along each month, this month's theme is Romance. So I thought I would spin the batt I received in my Phat Fiber box from Silver Sun Alpacas. Its called Wine & Chocolate (two things that might be included in a romantic evening) and is a blend of alpaca, wool and mohair fibers. Here is a link to the shop http://www.silversunalpacas.etsy.com/

The All Spun Up group is for fans of Kristin's shop on etsy http://www.allspunup.etsy.com/ In order to participate in this spin along everyone purchases a Spin Along Mystery Fiber from the shop. This month's is BFL top, but the color isn't revealed until you get it in the mail. I just got mine yesterday, it's beautiful blue and brown. Of course I couldn't resist purchasing some merino/silk from her shop too.

But before I can start anything for the spin alongs, I have to finish the Falkland roving I'm spinning. It's the Neapolitan I purchase from cloudlover69 and it's turning out beautiful.

Spring Flowers

Well sort of , without intending it all of the fibers in this post are named after flowers :0) My latest purchase from Natural Obsessions was 8 oz of Wensleydale in Iris and 8 0z of merino in Daffydills. The wensleydale has a totally different feel than the superwash merino, it will be interesting to see how it spins. I'm really having fun working with the different fibers, the way

each one has its own texture makes it exciting.

I just finished spinning the sample of merino/tencel I received in my Phat Fiber box from Natural Obsessions. It's called Scarlet Roses, this fiber has a much more slippery feel to it. The yarn is very shiny and silky looking. It turned out about worsted weight.

I have begun shopping for a spinning wheel. The hubby and I agreed if he can get a new power tool with some of our income tax refund, I can use some of it to get a spinning wheel. The only thing I have decided on for sure is that it has to be fairly compact due to space issuses. Since I don't have the money in hand yet there is still plenty of time to window shop.

Because hubbies need projects too.

My hubby has decided to quit smoking, Yay! To fill his extra time and keep himself distracted he's started some woodworking projects. I agreed to add some of the finished items to my Etsy shop. So here is a sneak peek at the first of his woodworking projects. Its a sewing thread rack with two tilting shelves. This first one has been claimed by my mom who sews. Future thread racks will also feature hand painted detailing by me. The sample was made with poplar, but Ron also plans to make them in pine and red oak.

I also finished spinning 4 oz of my strawberry shortcakes fiber. The yarn turned out about worsted weight this time. I'm finding right now I don't seem to have much control over the weight my yarns turn out. It seems to be more controlled by the way the fiber drafts this is something I'm going to have to work on. I received my most recent order of two more rovings from Andrea at Natural Obsessions and I'll post some pics of those soon.

I signed up to participate in a spin along with All Spun Up fiber. Here is a link to the shop http://www.allspunup.etsy.com/ For the spin along I'll receive a mystery colored BFL roving I can't wait to see what color it is going to be. Of course I couldn't resist buying another roving while I was there to purchase my spin along fiber. Pics will be posted as soon as it arrives, it won't be shipped until March 2 when the spin along fiber is ready.

Romance and Chocolate....

was the theme for February's Phat Fiber Box. I was lucky enough to snag one of these awesome fiber sampler boxes, the first round of listings sold out in three minutes. I'm really glad I decided to try for one. Mine includes some awesome fiber samples: alpaca, merino/tencel, BFL and more. As well as stitch markers (I was a little worried about these as I crochet not knit, but they're the clip kind so I can use them), a project bag, shawl pin, chocolate covered spoon, yarn samples and lots of coupons. Next months theme is celtic, so I'll probably try for one again next month too. The pics show just a few of the goodies, I'll blog more about some of the shops in future posts. I'm planning several purchases already :)

I also received my purchase from http://www.cloudlover69.esty.com/ Some beautiful falkland wool in Neopolitan. Unlike the superwash merino I've been spinning the yarn from this wool will felt, so I might have a felting project in my future.

For A Good Cause

I will be updating with more fiber goodies tomorrow. Right now I wanted to take a minute to blog about this etsy shop. http://www.ozbushfireappeal.etsy.com/ was set up by members of Etsy's DUST team. The proceeds of all sales from this shop are being donated to the Australian Red Cross to aid those affected by the bushfires. This is a great way to shop etsy and help those in need at the same time. Please stop by and check it out, they are also accepting item donations.