New Project in the Works

For a couple of months, I've been slowly working on a new project: a new blog that focuses on the making/using of "art yarn". I've got a lot of pieces in place including this sporty logo:












I've got a lot of ideas, notes, etc. scattered around and now time for me to really focus on getting this launched. It's exciting and scary (a lot of times those two seem to go together, right?) and I'm curious to see where it will lead me. Of course, a lot of the time, it crosses my mind that it might be an utter flop...but, so what? What would a flop be in this case? No one reads it but myself, SO and a few friends that will read it because they're good friends. And, the good part is, that would be enough to keep me going.

Spin Artiste is going to tell the stories about the artists making the beautiful yarns that I am completely in love with and hopefully there will be some good patterns and great "yarn porn".

I've got my work cut out for me over the next month as one of the most amazing fiber festivals in the country is at the beginning of May and happens to be in my own backyard. I'd like to be up and running with a post or two by then and a small readership thanks to my fiber-facebook buddies. It's highly doable...I know I will get it done.

This is the heavy lifting stage though so forgive me if I am not able to keep up with my twice weekly posts here!

Grand Opening!

It was a bit of work, but I managed to get my Etsy shop opened!

Paste this address into your browser: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BelladonnaYarns?ref=pr_shop

Tell me what you think!

Finished Object Alert: Chocolate Mint Scarf!!!

I wish you could see this in person and feel how yummy and soft this is!




This is made with my own handspun yarn and in person the colors remind me of chocolate chip Mint ice cream. The yarn is really squishy and soft because I plyed the wool single with mohair for that fuzzy, halo effect.

It's going into the present stash and it's already spoken for!

Tuli Gets a Hair Cut!!!

My dear little sheep, Tuli, had to endure the indignity of being sheared on Sunday.

I actually recorded it with my flip camera and got it saved on my computer and as of now, cannot get it to upload. So, I will need to spend some more time on figuring that out.

Luckily, I was able to snatch out a few pics from the video --


In the beginning, Emily, the shearer, props Tuli up in her butt. For whatever reason, the sheep (including rams) are incredibly docile.









Now, we are almost halfway done. I saw "we", but I'm sure Tuli felt very alone at this moment!











It's all over and you can see what a beautiful fleece I will be getting soon!











From here, Tuli received a shot and got a dose of worm medicine orally and then was cast back into the pen. The funny part is that after the shearing, the other sheep don't recognize their former pen-mate and treat the "newcomer" to a lot of aggressive behavior. But, they all end up getting their turn to that treatment as the shearing progresses.

Finished Object Alert: Namaste Farms Poncho!!!

Ah, the thrill of a finished object! Finally, finally, finally, the Namaste Farms Poncho is finished and hanging in my closet.



The fiber is all from angora goats -- the shepardess does everything to produce the fiber: raises the animal, shears it, then washes, dyes and spins the mohair into a very lightweight and strong yarn.

It was a little tricky to work with at first, but after starting and ripping it out several times, I got into the groove.

I'm so excited that I have it ready to wear for spring!

Now, we need spring.

My New Baby: Belladonna Yarns

So...the yarn line is out! And, I've sold some yarn already which was a great feeling.

And, now I have to get back to the wheel!!!




Here's something I did from last weekend that hasn't been tagged for sale yet:







It's very busy at work right now so I've been coming home very tired at night and have not had it in my to make more yarn. But, over the next few days, I should be able to get something done as we approach the weekend.

Today it's going to rain all day and it would be a perfect day to spin and watch old movies on TCM, BUT, I have a J-O-B to do.

In the meantime, I have a lot of wool that is going out to be cleaned and in about a month, I will be a dyeing fool. I did the math and it really pays for me to dye the wool myself. In the meantime, I'm at the mercy of others.

Ethel Cotton Needs No Introduction

Do you want to have more wit, poise and charm in your communications???? You do, don't you? Well, here's your answer:


Behold! The Ethel Cotton Conversation Course! published in 1950 (Purchased at a yard sale last weekend for 50 cents).












You probably can't tell from the picture, but according to the marketing materials, "Ethel Cotton needs no introduction!"










According to Ethel, "Never say, even to yourself, that you have a poor memory!" -- I'm taking that advice right now!!






Lesson 8 -- Colorful Description: "Hampstead Heath! What a romantic name! It made me think of privet hedges, climbing roses, and thatched cottages." I can't wait to work that into a conversation.






Alas, my twelve lesson set is missing two lessons: 4. Too Tired to Talk and 7. Discussing Books and Plays. I shall avoid those two scenarios!

I predict my career shall skyrocket as a result of these materials.

Lambing Time

The farm where I adopted the sheep has several expectant mothers right now and a few new borns so we went out to see them on Sunday.

This is a "bottle" baby that does not have a momma to feed him:




Many times farmers do not want bottle babies because of the cost to feed them, but this little guy will have a good fleece, so an exception is being made.









It's hard to get sheep to sit still while you take pictures, but this is Maggie with her new twins -- one is toward the back, nursing:













And, at last, my sheep, Tuli -- she is the one in the middle enjoying the afternoon sun:


Tuli will not have a baby this year. She is too young. But, she will be sheared in two weeks and the fleece will be coming my way.






Yay! More fleece...I have about 25 pounds right now and just arranged to have a processor come pick it up and wash it for me. I had every intention of doing it myself but now, I have too much really to contend with. If all I have to wash is Tuli's, I can handle that.