Official

That's it.  It's official.  I am a Master Spinner.  I can now proudly wear that hat.  It's kind of amazing actually.

Receiving my certificate from Zach Webster.

Jan, Vanessa and I proudly showing off our fancy new certificates!
(You'll see that Jan's is way fancier, but that's because she's a keener-thats a good thing!- and had her book in before the official Olds College graduation cut off.  Mine and Vanessa's books were in by the Master Spinner program cut off that doesn't line up with the Colleges. We get the fancy diplomas during the next round of graduations) 

Legit! Too legit to quit!

Because the Olds College campus is gorgeous, and these poppies were so lovely that day in the sun.

 The beauty of being official is I now get to teach the course, and I was introduced to that step this year, by co-assisting Mary Lessman.  Mary is a wonderful woman, a font of spinning knowledge, and she has the biggest heart.  I felt blessed to be under her wing.

Level 4 class!  it was a delight assisting Mary Lessman in teaching this class. 

An evening of relaxing after a full day of assisting in Level 4

 As I may or may not have mentioned over the years of heading to Olds, I always stop in at The Fat Ewe Farm.  Eileen Wosnak has many beautiful sheep, a llama, duck and chicken and geese, and bunnies!  I picked up a gorgeous black Romney fleece and brought a friend a bunny!

I promised myself no more fleeces... but this one called to me... I actually dreamt about it... I had to go back.

Not my bunny. But he sure is cute! 

If you haven't started to follow me on Facebook, I encourage you to go over there and do that.  I've been posting live videos, and intend on continuing that practice.  The next one is going to be quite a bit longer than the first ones, as it will go over how to spin if you're broke.  No need for fancy wheels, just a stick and some wool!

Happily Spinning,
~Kara

Carding up a storm!

ThaI've been creating batts like a mad woman lately, so I decided to time just how long it takes to make one batt. 27 minutes, 13 seconds later, I had one batt.  Mind you these batts are more complex then some of the other ones, as they get a preliminary blend and a second pass to  add the pops of color. But the time is worth it for the effect I get! 

A follower on Facebook mentioned they look like Sulley from Monsters inc. I dare say they do!

I've got 2 more of those ones to blend, and one more, simpler color way to do up.  But this pile if fibre makes me happy 

That's over 20 oz of Fibery fun!!! Wewt! 

But all this fun will come to an end in February, when it's buckle down and do your homework time. I'm going to try to be done for the end of March, so I can be back to this fun stuff sooner rather then later!

~Kara

Grand Opening Sale!!

Yeah, baby!  It's time for a grand opening sale at the Etsy Shop!! Technically it started yesterday, so I'm a day late posting about it here.....  But!! That doesn't mean you can't take advantage of the next 29 days of sale!! :D  Dec 15, 2013- Jan15 2013 save 10% with the coupon code SpinGrand0 (<-that's a zero, not an 'O')

click to make bigger! ;)

Also, every purchase counts as an entry for a drawing at the end of the sale.  There are options!! One lucky person will have a choice of a yarny package that consists of yarn and stitch makers, or a spinners prize package of Batts and an oriface hook!  Prize valued at approximately 50$ :D

Oh! and the winner of the pre grand opening sale give away was Sharon Stacey!! Congrats Sharon!! 

Okay, now go buy some stuff ;)

~Kara

Ravellenic games update

If you've been following my tweeting, you'll already know just how awesome I'm doing in my Ravellenic personal challenges.  But because there are a lot of folks out there, not on Twitter, I'll show you my amazing progress here too.

I'm pretty impressed that I've been able to start a sock from the toe up, but it took me 4 HOURS to do one toe... which is insane.

And I've gotten just a bit more of the foot done too... I kind of wonder if I'm actually going to get both of them done by the 12th.  I'll try, but that's the best I can do.  And if I do get them done, well then all the better!


I've also gotten into spinning my Jacob fleece that I was going to spin for the Tour de Fleece (along with the crazy lace weight, which also didn't happen... stoopid injury which is now healed enough that I can do some things! yay!)  This project is nearly done.  At least the spinning part anyway.  One jumbo bobbin of chain plied, lanolin in, Jacob yearling yarn.  I hope I have enough for a decent sized scarf!

And that's pretty much it, and it's only Wednesday!  I sure wish I was this productive all the time.  Imagine the things I could do, if I just did all the things!  Who needs sleep anyway?

~Kara

Spun Summer - A Shrug

Once upon a story, I was given a bag full of beautiful little pipe cleaner bumblebees. The instant I saw those bees I knew they needed to be in yarn. In yarn that had flowers and grass. Because where else would bees fly about? You've seen the yarn once already, but you need to see it again. Because it's gorgeous. So here it is.

I knew I really wanted to show this yarn off. But how? A hat? No, not quite my forte in the knit wears department. A scarf? no, there was just to much to make a scarf out of. I could have made 3! but I'm selfish and wanted it all to myself. So a shrug it was. Here it is in all it's glory.
And just because I'm showing it off right now, here are the lovely little needle felted details and the one little bee that made it into the final shrug. Happy with all his flowers.



I've entered it over on Craftster.org in this months challenge, Inspired by nature!

~Kara

I AM in love!

It's here! It's here! Okay, so It's been here for nearly 3 weeks. I keep getting distracted with life (mostly the kidlettes right now) But I definitely want to post my review of Flannelberry Fibre. The shipping was very reasonable, the fiber inexpensive and gorgeous. This is what I bought:

There's the Canadian fiber sampler, which is 6 types of different fiber. And 8oz of hemp fiber, which I'll probably wait to spin, since the project I need it for isn't something I need through the winter. And 8oz of each of the blue, purple and maroon wool, which is actually for the International day of Felt! I've started felting a few things in this years colors, but am no where near finished, and hope to make something to wear to.

I was so very happy with Flannelberry Fibre, and will be placing another order when I can justify more wool!

~Kara

I think I'm in love....

Remember that story about meeting some fab folks in a trailer(camper) at Fibre Week?  One of them was Frazzlehead and one was Flannelberry.  I just stumbled (ish, I was grooving over at the  Olds Master Spinner group on Rav) upon Flannelberry's website.  Oh. My.  Fibre!  Great prices!  And and and!!! The most exciting part!  Discounts for Rural people!! Discounts!! OhMyGosh.  Okay so the reason this is exciting is because I'm rural.  Oh so much more rural then most.  Literally, the highway ends all of 1 mile north of my house. (or maybe 2, but what's the dif when we are talking about highways ending?)  Anyway, inexpensive fibre, bonus discounts to peeps who live where most wouldn't dare, and heck, she's a really nice lady to boot.

Guess who's spending her [husbands]  money on stuff she really doesn't need right now?


Update.  I did it.  I bought fibre I don't need.  But I'll use it, I swear!   I'll let you know how beautiful it is when it gets here!