Spindipity.etsy.com

Spindipity! is officially open for business as of 15Jul09. I am pleased to report that my first sale was 4oz of superfine merino top, appropriately named, Scots-Irish.

I find it interesting to learn how people decide what to name their creations. I automatically assume that each name is derived from the artists personal experience. Most of time, I wait until the product is finished before I bestow a title that I feel describes some event or thing that I've experienced within my lifetime. Other people see their creations as people, food, holidays, or even ideas. Interesting. My creations, once complete, always remind me of some thing or some place that holds meaning for me. My first sale, Scots-Irish is appropriate for many reasons. Mike and I are Scots-Irish and we predictably love blue and green. Every little accessory or gadget that we purchase is always blue for me; green for Mike. Hopefully, the first sale and the meaning of the Scots-Irish colorway will be a good omen for all things Spindipity.

As I was packing fiber orders for shipping, I have to admit that I felt as if I were selling off a beloved family member. Each braid of fiber has it's own story to tell. Where it came from, how the colors were selected, how it was prepped, method of dyeing and drying. And finally, how it was braided and photographed. As I looked at each braid of fiber, (and said goodbye), I found myself thinking back to it's metamorphosis. I can remember the time of day, how I felt, and what was going on within the house as I set out to create a unique piece of art.

As stated on my etsy site, a lot of thought and preparation goes into each item. Before I dye fiber, I tend to putter around the house thinking about color combinations and how I want the finished product to appear. How it should spin. I've spent a lot of time with each batch of hand dyed fiber and can't help but feel that I'm not only selling fiber, I'm selling a little piece of me. Each braid of fiber represents a snapshot of time from my life. I can't help but feel a little nervous when I ship an order. It's not just fiber, it's a part of me going to points unknown.

DyePot Temptations...

Another day, a little progress. Actually, I managed to get the store banner done (upper left-hand corner). Thought I'd take a minute and post a few teasers to whet your appetite for fibery-goodness.

Ahhhh... Merino... nothing quite like it. It's the favorite blanket you had when you were a baby. It's your Mom's perfume floating on a summer breeze. Merino just makes you feel good. It's a spinner's delight. Easy to work with and very versatile. It's your best friend that's always there to make you laugh no matter what kind of day you've had. Add a little Caribbean Punch to the Mix and forget about the intolerable summer heat.

Awwww... Michael says it looks like a basket of Easter Eggs. I agree, but everyone has a colorway named "Easter Eggs" or something to that effect. My creativity spiked with Spring Has Sprung. Ingenious, I know. Who would have thought? I dunno. The colors are Easter-esqe and Easter is symbolic of rebirth... renewal. That's what these colors remind me of... awakening after a long winter's nap... and easter eggs. Spring Has Sprung is a dreamy mix of merino and bamboo. If you've never played with a bamboo mix or are afraid to go 100% bamboo, this is the mix for you. As a plant fiber, bamboo won't take up traditional acid dyes. The result is a marled appearance that gives no hint as to how soft this fiber is to run through your fingers. Think of it as training wheels for 100% bamboo which is an indescribable spin.

Slow & Steady...

It's almost time for me to officially launch Spindipity! - The Store. Need to make a banner, come up with a caption, dye more fiber, make more stuff. Just little stuff. I did manage to dye a pound of wool yesterday and I'm really pleased with the results. I'm at that point where I've done the fun stuff. Now I need to switch gears and do stuff that... well... stuff that scares me. Use colors that I'm normally not comfortable with. But it needs to be unique... cool... buyable. I haven't quite made up my mind, but I can tell you that brown will be a common theme. And, considering my love for color, there will be a mix of mundane and gregarious colors. I just hope it works out. Neh... if not, I'll just put it on sale. Take a look to the left of the screen. Big picture of purple and green Top... that is Monkey Town. Isn't it great?! Monkey River is located in southern Belize, near Punta Gorda. A few of the locals refer to the area as Monkey Town. The rich, bright colors remind me of that area. Lush tropical vegetation abounds. Love the area, love the colors. Stroll over to my Etsy shop... Spindipity.etsy.com. If inclined, feel free to purchase something. I won't mind a bit.

From the Dye Pot...

It certainly has been an eventful week. I underwent surgery last Wednesday to remove a disk (or two?) from my neck and have a couple of vertebrae fused. After 20+ years of chronic neck pain, I am glad to report that all is well and the pain seems to have gone on holiday. My throat is sore and I have a little trouble eating, but that's fine by me.
Prior to having my throat cut for repairs, I was manic with the dye. I initially thought I would get much more done, but lethargy and pain kept getting in the way. I'm on the mend now and have a few teasers of what to expect once Spindipity.etsy.com is launched. Shall we...?

This is what happens when Joann's has a sale and I don't feel like driving to WC Mercantile to get wool. This is Lion Brand Wool Ease, worsted weight and all. You know I felt bad when I decided to waste $14 on seven skeins of this crap. I'm not joking when I say that I can not give this stuff away. I chose these particular colors based on a colorway that KnitPicks used to sell. Their colors were more rich and I'm sure their yarn is much nicer than this tripe.
But wait... it gets worse...

Yup... I mixed 'em all together on a couple of skeins. Prior to surgery, I thought that they didn't look too bad. Here is proof that Pain + Pain Medication = Horrible Judgement. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, remember this... if it sounds like a good idea to try something new... it's not.

ETA: Ooops... somebody just claimed it! All of it! Sssssshhh...

I'll post more of the real stuff later. Right now... I have to run to the Post Office to mail off my tripe (see above).

My Name is Spindipity and I am a fiberaholic...

I've recently had a series of "a-ha" moments and Spindipity is the result. After years of wanting to learn how to knit, I paid a lady to teach me. I was a little overwhelmed by the prospect because the ladies in my class required help on every row. And they had been knitting for weeks! I'm happy to report that knitting is one of my numerous hobbies that I took to like a duck to water. At first it was all about "the yarn". Love the colors. Love the variety of styles. Love the creation. I haven't been back to a knitting class in three years.

When I started a new job, I just didn't have the time to knit. At one point, I was afraid that I had forgotten how to cast-on! A quick dash to the yarn closet and I realized that casting on a few stitches is like breathing. Once you get the hang of it... well, it just happens. However, a strange thing did occur. Things that I wouldn't or couldn't knit were a cake walk. I started slamming out hats, socks, tops, ruffly things. You get the idea. As a teacher, I was curious about my so-called exponential learning while not knitting. It was kind of like being in a coma for a year and then waking up with the ability to speak a new language that you had only heard of. Or... not being able to pass a basic algebra test and then suddenly you're solving all sorts of trigonometry problems. Whatever the reason, I'm glad for it.

Like everything else, I quickly became bored with doing the same old thing. On a weekend trip to Wimberley, TX, I visited Old Oaks Ranch and fell in love with the idea of taking raw wool and making yarn. Drop spindle and merino top in hand I proceeded to teach myself to spin yarn by reading books. There is a big difference between reading about it and actually doing it. I found WC Mercantile in Navasota, TX and took a quick drop spindle spinning class. I had enough knowledge under my belt, I just needed a shove in the technique direction. Mastered basic drop spindle spinning and proceeded to the wheel. Once again, slight learning curve, but well worth it.

Dyeing my own wool was the next phase of my fiber addiction. Stephanie at WC Mercantile became my mentor for all things fibery and colorful. The next step? Combing and Carding. But, I'll save that for another post.

So... as of today, I am a knitter, spinner, and all around fiber artist. I love bold, rich colors and lots of 'em. All of my inspiration comes from people on Ravelry. Talking to them about fiber and color. Looking at the art they create... it's stunning. Some people produce fiber and/or yarn that truly makes you appreciate art. And that's what dyeing and spinning is all about. Creating art through animal and plant fiber.