Fledgling Spinner

No, not our baby…yet.  We got a very special package delivered the other day from my mom. We are now the proud parents of a Vamplet!

Meet Burton Creepson Jr.! He arrived with a note of congratulations and an endless bottle of blood to feed his unholy appetites. (You can click to make the picture of the certificate larger) These wee vampire babies are so well thought out, and creative – no detail was overlooked. I first heard of these little creepy cuties through a Rav swap with a vampire theme. Such a fun collection.

So I have been really lazy lately. Lethargic. No real new spinning or knitting since Christmas. I have been very active though. Passively. We found out around Christmastime that we are expecting our first munchkin and are now embarking on BellyWatch 2010. We got to hear the heartbeat for the first time this week and hubby was able to catch some of it on his phone. There are definite heartbeats at the beginning and the end, interrupted by my non-stop giggling that jiggled the doppler. For now, this is the best impression of what the belly bean is up to:

It seems like a month or two can just fly by….all while bags of fluff sit idle. I can’t believe it has already been around 18 months since I got a wheel. My output hasn’t been bad, but it sure has stagnated lately. I promise forthcoming images of some predrafted fluffy silk blends.

On the other side of my crafting world, I have a new fabric in my Etsy shop – Decor Noir – that is the start of a new series for me.

I am pleased to introduce Count Baacula, the latest fabric and hopefully the first in a series of darker sheep themes. I will also have some matching stitch markers coming soon!

Several weeks ago, I had opportunity and means to participate in the December Phat Fiber box, and today the video of the samples hit the airwaves.

PhatFiber December09 Part 2

My samples are roughly at 4:20 and Jessie (the fiber lady herself) had so many nice things to say about the packaging and stitch marker that I was all butterflies and giddyness for about half and hour after. It will still be so exciting to see what comes from the experience. I would love to get more exposure because even though I know plenty of people can make stitch markers and create an etsy store, I am still pretty darn proud of mine.

Another thing I am proud of will shortly be cut, stitched, and placed in the store. This came today:

In physical, quilting cotton form, my brilliant designer has made me my own fabric! I can’t wait to sew up some of my bags for the shop but I am so reluctant to cut it! I think I will just admire it for a few days…

There is a quiz for everything now:

34 As a 1930s wife, I am Poor Take the test!

I think I scored poorly based purely on my politics and lack of cooking skills.

At least I can knit like it’s 1930 but with all the fun colors of the 2000s as well as internet patterns. I can’t remember what it was like when I couldn’t find instructions for spinning a certain way or a fiddly pattern or video for long tail cast on in a matter of minutes. I think that may have been why so many women had stitching circles or knitting clubs – > access to materials and inspiration.

Ahead of the holidays, I always want to get my rear in gear to finish a few things and maybe make some warm or fuzzy presents. This year isn’t shaping up to be as productive as I imagined. I did do some felting of veins on the dumpling eye bag just to see, pictures forthcoming. I am also motoring along on a pair of tall socks for a friend, pictures too boring,  will model when complete.

Other than that, I am looking forward with no small amount of delight to the December Phat Fiber box since I did send in a few of my Caution: Live Yarn stitch markers. I had the greatest support for small sample boxes and was over the moon with how they turned out. I am happy to get the chance to be a “phattie” and hope that people like my little clay monsters as much as I enjoy making them. I have another surprise coming soon in the mail that I can’t wait to show but in the spirit of the holidays, I will keep it quiet ’til I have it in hand and then readers will get to see a treat. Until then, I should go draft some more of that Tuscany – one more braid to go!