Inspiration and Spinning Unite!

A very exciting project is on the horizon for me and several of my indie artist friends. In June we plan to debut a monthly spinning treat for the peeps we serve. It's called Inspineration!

What is Inspineration? It's spinning. It's inspiration. It's a treat for the senses! Each month we will be uniting to explore a common theme through the creation of fabulous art batts and fibers. We will then package a variety of those fibers into a unique package and make the whole thing available to discerning spinners! Inspineration!

Who are the uber cool artists who are providing delicious themed fibers? First we have the always classy, ultra chic Melissa of Banana Migraine. Melissa's fibers are hip and edgy with a focus on raw color and emotion. Next we have the oh so sophisticated, ever elegant Dawn of Dawning Dreams. Dawn provides fibers with heart and texture. Her fibers ooze taste and refinement without overlooking fun and a touch of your inner child. Then, we have the zany, creative and vivacious Sue of The Critter Ranch. Sue brings the farm to you with farm fresh fibers. Always fun with a twist, Sue's fibers will delight, amaze and uplift you. Finally, I round out the team with penache and a Desert Garden Flair.

Each box will contain a one ounce offering from each of these super shops. The first month's theme will focus on an 80's Flashback! Other eras will follow. Stay tuned and watch our groups, shops and tweets for more information to come. Inspineration is on the way!

Paper Pterodactyl Sculpture

Many of you know that I teach an art class to some primary aged kids twice a month. Today was one of those classes. We made Paper Pterodactyl Sculptures. The one pictured above was done by my four year old daughter who went to the class with me. I got the idea for this project at the Creativity Portal website and only made a few changes to the plan. We glued our projects to a base of tagboard and used some white wrapping tissue in place of the newspaper. We had fun and the kids added lots of different embellishments including eggs, babies and one boy even added a person that his Pterodactyl had carried up to the nest!

The Recycled Bead Caper

My darling, charming and funny friend, Miss Julep (of Yarn Juleps on the Veranda) has appointed herself the "Collector of Mardi Gras Beads". Last night was the first parade of the season and Miss Julep has gathered together a small group of Bead Minions and together they are collecting as many beads as they can to ship to us here in Idaho so that we, in turn, can recycle them and throw them out at the Fiddlers Festival Parade in June. Check out her blog for great pics and progress reports on the giant pile of beads getting ready to make it's way accross country. So far, they have collected 16 pounds of beads!

The Proposal Master Painter KAL!

This is so incredibly exciting! We are spilling the beans, here folks! I get to work with an amazing designer and hand paint merino yarn for you all! What am I talking about? I am teaming up with the super talented Dani of Danido Crafty to put together a Master Painter themed KAL package based upon this painting, The Proposal by William-Adolphe Bougureau.

This package will include a never to be repeated hand painted, merino yarn dyed by me and a pattern for a darling beret written by Dani--both inspired by the painting. You can be among the first to own this pattern before it is released to the world and to have the companion yarn designed specifically to go with it. Come on over to our Ravelry group to see all the chatter and get in on more details!

Hank

This is Hank. He is my constant companion, my loyal little buddy. He is a terrier mutt of unknown origin that we got at the pound about two years ago. Hank is wierd. He is a picky eater (only dog I've ever met who doesn't like hotdogs!) and he lays along the back of the couch, behind my head, while I'm knitting or watching tv. He follows me wherever I go throughout the day and takes up residence on the sofa in my studio while I am working. He sleeps on my feet at night.

Hank is named for the "Hank the Cowdog" series of books by John R. Erickson. They are a favorite of kids and adults alike in this house. Like his namesake, my Hank truly believes that he is the Head of Ranch Security on this farm and there is little that goes on without his knowledge and say so. He has been known to chase a chicken, or two, and to get himself into totally undeserved trouble now and then and he is always on some mission or other, for the good of the farm.

January's theme for Phat Fiber is "For the Love of Books". So, in honor of that theme and in appreciation for Good Buddies everywhere, I created these batts.

"Hank, the Cowdog" 4 ounces total. Hemp, bamboo, and silk. A lovely coppery, rosey, brown-tan and heaven to touch. Available in our shop now.