my spindles in Australia!

Back in July, PR, a Knitty Coffeeshop member bought one of my spindles. She came back for a custom design. Since I knew a little of her tastes, I consulted her on a kind of crazy spindle (black w/pink filigree, which was inspired by a design on a tshirt which I then learned was the trademarked logo of a certain band) I made but wasn't sure I could sell. She bought the spindle before it ever hit the shop--proclaiming it perfect for her Australian friend who was coming for a visit and wanted to learn to spin.

Emma, the recipient of that spindle, really took to spinning (YAY, another one bites the dust!). Back home in Australia, Emma ordered another so she could teach her mother to spin. Then she joined a spinning and weaving guild, taking her spindles to meetings. Her guild members (apparently mostly wheel spinners) were fascinated. Recently, I shipped off an order for six Simple Oaks--purchased by members of Emma's spinning guild.

And I received the following email...

Hi Shannon,

My name is Marion and I am President of the Nambucca Valley Spinners & Weavers Group that received your spindles. I was wondering if you could email some back-ground info on yourself and your spindles. Photos would be great so that the girls know a little more about their spindles history.

After using heavy bottom weight spindles we are finding out that "drop spindle" is just what we are doing, but we will get it together. We also have 2 more names for spindles so when we have a few more we will order through Emma.

Thanks for giving us a renewed interest in an old craft.

Marion

Wow. This is the coolest thing ever. Really. Thank you so much, PR, Emma and Marion.

stay away, bad paint juju!

I'm really liking this one

here fishy, fishy, fishy

custom order

Hey, it's notched!

finally!

Some new stuff in the shop...

This was meant for the shop as well

the shaft end

(turned on the lathe by my son Alex)

but I love it so much

I couldn't bear to part with it

I'm sorry.

It has a lovely spin

(kid mohair)

I set up my photo shoot area but still need to work on quality...the backdrop is the same in each of these pics but all are different colors. Part of that is from my playing with editing software but they should all be the same if I did the same edits, right? Wugh.

New stuff coming

I worked on some new spindles (including a couple with hand-turned shafts!) today but ran out of heat before I was able to finish. I'll have a propane refill this weekend and should have some listed by Monday.

I've also been working on a light box set up so I have someplace other than my rumpled bed to take pictures. Hopefully, that will be functional in time for the new listings.

Valentine

2/13 Update: It's not a secret anymore...

go check out Copperpot's Blog!

I noticed she doesn't seem to have

a link to her shop on the blog--go drool

This was for a friend. She asked for a special Valentine design.

I'm not sure whether it was supposed to be a secret

so I won't mention who, or what it's for.

Custom Orders

Etsian brondesjen asked for a sunflower

and another based on the 12 star Flag of Europe

(with temperature changes, my paints weren't cooperating...I had to make this one twice)

Etsian knittycat81 really likes my stained flower spindle but prefers her spindles a little heavier. I was happy to make her a double flower whorl that topped out at 1.99 ounces

I don't usually like spindles much over an ounce

but this one has a great spin.

I even tested it as a bottom whorl

To use a top whorl as a bottom-- spiral the yarn up the shaft toward the shaft end, wrap the yarn once around your thumb (as always, click for big)

and slip over the tip of the spindle, like a backward loop cast on.

I'm very pleased with the spin and am now offering this as a special order.

I'm going to have to make one for myself.

Now that the holidays are over, the kids are back in school and I'm caught up on my custom orders, I really will be working on some new designs for the shop!

If you love Kai's alien spindle, look for a clone of it soon.