I can never quite get used to the fact that a lot of fiber people post pictures and talk about their "goodies". I believe the reason is three-fold: 1) Fiber people are mostly warm, generous, out-going folks that like to see other fiber people happy 2) They like to showcase the artists that pour themselves into their work and make very little monetarily 3) Fiber people are the worst kind of enablers there are, "Don't you want 10 of everything?". I'd love to hear what other people think. Like I said, I can't quite get used to it because there is that part of me that feels like it's a little of "look what I have" and that is just strange territory to me. However, I'm going to try to forget the latter feeling and share with you some amazing work. All of the goodies posted here are by some amazing artists. They love their work and it shows. Now, I get to love it and create.
One of my most favorite designers is Lisa/Dicentra Designs. I first learned of her when I was trying to find Sammy a Hanukkah present and I stumbled on a lovely color that she called "ballerina" - perfect for Sam. The colors were amazing and I was thrilled to spin up the luscious stuff. Here's one of my
blogs about it. Lisa does have an
Etsy shop, but she is so busy going to fiber shows that she doesn't update her shop often. If you were interested in grabbing some goodies from her, the best thing to do is email her and let her know what you're looking for. Here are some more of her lovelies that I have in my stash. I'm hoping to spin them up soon. Coincidentally, it was Lisa that first suggest I try to go to Black Sheep Gathering and I'm so glad I got to meet her, see her work first-hand and (thanks to a friend's suggestion!) we helped her pack up her booth.
Below: Victorian colorway,
BFL - I have approx. 12 oz.
Below: Bitter Green colorway, BFL - I have 12oz., this was a birthday gift for Sam that I need to spin up. By the time I get to it, she may be spinning it up herself. Just kidding!
Below: Barataria Bay (a bay of the Gulf of Mexico) colorway, 75% BFL and 25% Tussah Silk - approx. 8oz.
Below: Chandaleur Sound (located just north of the Mississippi River) colorway, 100% Tussah Silk - under 6 oz.
Below: Breeze colorway, 100% Tussah Silk - 2.4oz
I just love the colors and I can't wait to spin them all up! You may have noticed in the last picture a spindle... I have acquired three more spindles. They somehow multiply...
My first love is a
Ken Ledbetter spindle. Ken lives in Tucson, Arizona (although, I bought the spindle at Black Sheep Gathering) and
TYF will soon be carrying his spindles locally. I'm a sucker for supporting a fellow Arizonan and turquoise (see previous
blog post), so this baby shouted my name. The
finial is bloodwood as is the shaft. The whorl is made of walnut and includes and inlaid carved shell with turquoise. It weighs 1.3oz.
Next, a couple of
Spindlewood Spindles. Connie & Steve (the owners) are good friends with one of my fiber friends, Barbara. Barbara definitely did a good job in enabling a couple of us to go home with not one, but two Spindlewood spindles. Spindlewood was recently featured in
Spin-Off Magazine (Summer 2010) so the booth was hopping at Black Sheep Gathering. Their spindles really are special. I was thrilled that two new loves got to go home with me!
Below: A round mini, this is uncommon since they typically do square spindles. The whorl is made out of Amboyna Burl and is 2 3/8" in diameter. The shaft is Ebony (it is so stunning) and is 8" long. It weighs .7 oz.
Below: A square mini, which is more common for a Spindlewood spindle. The whorl is made out of Honduran Rosewood and is 2 1/8". The shaft is made of flamewood and is 8 1/8" It weighs .8oz. I really didn't think I was going to like square spindles, but now I am convinced otherwise. They don't roll around on flat surfaces and they spin just as well as circular spindles.
I really feel honored to be able to utilize such lovely tools in my work. The above items were created lovingly and I hope to do them justice.
