On The Wings Of Change

April 2011 Phat Fiber Box Has Arrived!

On The Wings of Change — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:05:24 +0000

The theme for this month’s Phat Fiber box was Butterflies and Flutterbys and, as expected, the fibers are amazing and the colors are beautiful. I love everything in it but, once again, there are a few things that stand out. Here are my favorites this month:

Stitch Markers:

Shops from L to R: Gloria Patre, the next two butterflies from Turtle Dreams Soaps, Lampyridae, Wildcard Fiber Arts, and TwirlyCurlyBird.

Scarlet Peacock from Knittyandcolor. Merino, SW Fine Merino, Falkland, Corriedale & Silk Noil

Firefly from Distant Star Alpacas. Brown Alpaca and Firestar. I love this color combo!

Death’s Head Moth by Lampridae. Not only is the fiber pretty but look at the cute bee stitch marker she attached! Fiber is silk, bamboo, angelina, BFL, cashmere, alpaca,carbonized bamboo and merino.

Clouded Sulphur by Caliope’s Fibre . 1/4 oz of merino, soybean, and bamboo. Soybean??? I’ve never seen fiber made with this material before, but I sure do love the feel of it… and it’s pretty to boot.

Horned Dung Beatle by Desired Haven Farm . Banana silk, silk alpaca and wool.

Siproeta Stelenes by …into the whirled . 64′s merino combed top.

Flutterby Swing by Beesybee Fibers. This is 100% Peruvian Alpaca!! It is some of the softest fiber I’ve ever felt.

The only things I know about this next sample is that it’s beautiful, soft and from Wonderland Fiber. If anyone has any idea of what the fiber is, please let me know.

I also bought some full sized fibers and will try to post those tomorrow.

Spinnings on my Spindle

On The Wings of Change — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 02:31:00 +0000

I have had my wonderful spindle for about a month now and have had a blast teaching myself to use it. I’ve been making my way through the PhatFiber box I purchased last month and am finally happy with some of the outcomes I’ve produced.

I used the dye kits I received from Color Bug Yarns (although I used Kool-Aid packages I bought). The lighter, almost white, is actually a really light green. This was the first time I plyed, and really enjoyed the process.

This one was from Spinfusion. It’s Merino in color: Chocolate Covered Cherries. I love how thin I was able to get this.

And this is my latest (and my FAVORITE so far). It’s SW Merino Combed Top in “chocofetti” colorway from Play at Life Fiber Arts. I loved working with this material. It felt almost silky like and was a dream to draft.

Pretty Fiber

On The Wings of Change — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:03:21 +0000

I happened to be browsing around on Etsy one day and came across some of the most gorgeous fiber at the Fiber Fancy shop. It was calling to me; luring me in with its beauty and softness. I HAD to have it. But then I encountered having to decide between two lovely colors. I was stuck… lost in a sea of despair. I had no other choice! I knew there was no way I could go on with only one, so I bought both. I am not disappointed!

Green Apple Old Fashion Candy Stick: 2+ ounces hand dyed bamboo and 19 micron merino

Blueberry Old Fashion Candy Stick: 2+ ounces hand dyed bamboo and 19 micron merino

PhatFiber Boxes Came My Way Today! (Picture Heavy)

On The Wings of Change — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 02:56:37 +0000

I ordered 2 PhatFiber Sample Boxes this month, my first time receiving, and I am not disappointed. I ordered a Fiber Box:

and a mixed box full of fiber, yarn samples and other goodies:

Everything is wonderful and beautiful in their own right, but there were a few items that stood out for various reasons. So, I will share those items. If you see something in the pictures above and you’d like to see a bigger picture of it and/or would like to know where you can purchase something, let me know.

From Fleecemaker’s Fibers. Romney Lamb Locks: {these colors would work well individually or with a couple of select colors blended together, but I love the locks}

Chocofetti from Play at Life Fiber Arts: {I wouldn’t normally be attracted to this combo of colors, but this one grabs me for some reason}

Stitch Markers: Oreo Cookie- from Wine Makers Sister, Round/Orange- from Lampyridae, Ice Cream- from Craftydragon,Dum/Dum- from Pickin’ & Spinnin’ {I love the dum-dum lollipop}

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from A Dying Wish. .25 ounces. South African Fine Alpaca, Carbonized Bamboo {the grrens in this are enchanting}

Peanut Butter Swirl from North Star Alpacas. .4 ounces RoseGray and Light Brown Alpaca

Llady Llama Fiber Co.

Key Lime Pie from Stone and String {This yarn has a great feel to it}

Gobstoppers from Wooliebullie. Handpainted Supreme Silk {I love touching this stuff… wish I had tons of it in blues and greens}

Chocolate Cupcake from Funhouse Fibers- ” A chocolate bfl “cupcake”, covered in yummy icing comprised of bfl, bamboo, and Angelina glimmer fiber. Of course, what would a cupcake be without Sprinkles?? We include 12 glass bead “sprinkles” hand threaded onto matching fiber, for you to spin in as you like. YUM!” {I’ve never worked with beads in the form of spinning or knitting… this looks like fun!}

Piece of Cake from Desert Garden Farms. Romney Lamb, Faux Cashmere, Sparkle, Tencel Nepps {the packaging for this genious!}

I received 2 do-it-yourself fiber dyeing kits from Color Bug Yarns. {I can’t wait to try this out}

There are just a few of my favorite things. I can’t wait until next month. My fingers are crossed that I am fortunate enough to snag another box (or maybe 2).

Got my new drop spindles today!!!

On The Wings of Change — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:55:32 +0000

I have seen do many beautiful yarns online that people has spun themselves and make me think that it was something I would like to try. At first, I thought of getting a wheel, but couldn’t justify spending that much money on something I didn’t know if I would enjoy or not. After some research, I decided that it might be best for me to try useing a drop spindle. I looked at many different shops online and found Maine Woods Yarn and Fiber. They offer individual spindles as well as a kit containing a top whorl, a bottom whorl, 4 ounces of 100% handpainted wool and 1 ounce of undyed fiber. I couldn’t pass it up! And… it arrived in the mail today!!

{Beautiful top and bottom whirl spindles}

{4 oz 100% Wool: Sunflower}

{1 oz undyed fiber: looks buttery to me}

And kitty gets the box…

I can’t wait to watch some tutorials online and get started spinning me some yarny deliciousness!!!

Received an MYB in the Mail

On The Wings of Change — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:46:23 +0000

I received my first ever MYB in the mail a few days back from a woman who belongs to the same swap group (KYS) as I do on Ravelry. I was so excited. Just take a look at everything tucked inside:

I Haz a Hat

On The Wings of Change — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:15:18 +0000

I finally finished {R}’s Tanner Hat (found on Ravelry). It shouldn’t have taken so long, but I couldn’t complete a row without coughing and sneezing uncontrollably. I should have knitted it about an inch longer since he likes to flip the edge up a little. I think it looks good and love how the decreases shape the hat. I used Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool in Oak Tweed.

Slow Progress

On The Wings of Change — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:01:37 +0000

I am not making much progress on The Tanner Hat. I think I’ve only added a couple of inches since my last post. I’m attributing the lack of progress to it being winter break where we live and the kids are home from school. I’ve really got to give myself a kick in the rear and get back in the knitting groove.

Cuteness

On The Wings of Change — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 03:26:55 +0000

Thank you Mother Nature for this lovely gift of a cold you have bestowed upon me. How can I ever repay you for the continued coughing, sneezing, sniffling and inability to sleep? Perhaps I could knit you something and maybe I would, that is, if i didn’t have to use my hands to continually wipe my nose!! So, instead, I will rummage through my saved pictures and post one of my adorable Miss Lucy Lou. The cuteness always makes me feel better.

New Knitting Project

On The Wings of Change — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:27:32 +0000

I am still sick, yet I managed to start a new project in between coughs, sneezes, cold chills and naps. As per usual, I found the pattern on Ravelry. It’s called The Tanner Hat and was designed by Gina Johnson. I thought it was a good masculine type hat that would fit my husband and his personality. I’ll post the details of the yarn I used and any modifications after I’m completed or you can click HERE to go to my Ravelry page for project details now.