New address!

It seems I need a change of scenery... so, I have decided to move my blog to my BRAND NEW WEBSITE!!! Please come and follow me as I go on new and exciting Adventures with Spinderella... I think it will surpass your expectations!

Win a flock of sheep!!!

Two contest coming up! One for me, one for you!!! If you would like to be entered to win a prize (may or may not be yarn related) just go to this page and ask me a question I could possibly use in my "win a flock of sheep" contest. Everybody's happy!

Oh, what am I talking about? I am entering a contest to win a small flock of sheep from Juniper Moon Farm!!! Isn't that exciting?!?!?!?! Anyway, enter my contest and win something too!

Leslie & Spinning Spinderella

2010 in Etsy Treasury

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Just to reiterate...

I have started a Facebook page for Spinning Spinderella. On it I am offering chances to win yarn or art batts for spinning or felting AND coupons to the shop! If you have a Facebook page please stop by and "like" my page. I would love to have you in on the goodies!

LC and Spinning Spinderella

much to do...

Yes, I know I have much to do to update this blog with all the fantastic things that have happened this year... this week... I swear!!!

LC and Spinning Spinderella

ps. In the meantime you might check me out on Facebook. I have a contest going on now too! Here is the link.

"Little Boy Blue"... another treasury!!!

Curator frogandpenguin Nov 8, 2010
little boy things that are blue!, or supplies that can be used to make little boy things that are blue. ;)

I am gonna be in a craft fair!

“Share the Harvest” Fall Gift Market will be on October 16 at the fabulous Jacob's Reward Farm. I will give you more information as I get it. But for now... check this out... Cindy wrote a little blog about me and the shop.

CAMP PLUCKYFLUFF!!!

So, a couple of weeks ago I got to Camp Pluckyfluff in Asheville, NC with Lexi Boeger!!! Can you believe it? I didn't know how I was gonna make it through the class... I was sooooooo nervous. But, come to find out, Lexi is not only a yarn artist, author, spinning wheel designer, my yarn idol, etc., she is an amazing teacher! And my friend, Esther of JazzTurtle, was there to help out too!

Check this out! It is Spinderella's big sister! The prototype of my wheel (whom Lexi co-designed) the Majacraft Aura. I was a little starstruck...
Here I am doing some "crazy" carding on Lexi's Louet Classic Drum Carder. "Crazy" carding has now become one of my very favorite things to do!



Here Lexi is spinning her "crazy" carded batt into some delicious yarn!

Here is a picture of the whole group. We all had bunches of fun and laughed a lot.

Here are a few of the funky yarns I spun...


And then... Lexi signed my wheel!!!!!!!!!!!! I told you I was starstruck!
I have no idea if she wrote her name or Pluckyfluff but I still LOVE it!
So, that was my trip in a tiny little nut shell. I say that because most of what we did is super secret and you have to go to Camp Pluckyfluff to find out. And you can... Come with me to Camp at Lexi's Pad! November 6th and 7th, 2010 I will be attending my second workshop with Lexi at her home on the family vineyard. It will prove to be divine!

Fibery hugs to all!
Leslie & Spinderella & Hover Bunny -->

ps. to learn more about the bunny and see the crazy cat videos from my trip check out my other blog!

You know that show Snapped...

... where a perfectly normal person snaps for no apparent reason? Well, I HAVE A REASON!!! I had my beautiful new wheel for LESS than two weeks when the drive band begins to break and eventually snaps!!! If I hadn't been so saddened by this I really might have snapped!
a little closer...

But, because of the workshop I am leaving for on July 8th I had to spring into action. And Steph of WCMercantile jumped right in to help me AGAIN! She had an email with an answer back to me in two hours. She contacted Majacraft in New Zealand and ordered me two new bands (one to keep on hand in case of emergency). Then the next day she emailed me with tips on what to do direct from Glynis Poad! If I "could either tie it or stitch it and that would fix it". At least until my new bands came in the mail... from New Zealand... So, I had my dad tie a knot as close to the end as possible and still hold. He made a VERY good knot but then the drive band wasn't long enough to fit around the most important, most innovative, reason I bought this wheel part! The modified double drive system with the tension adjust knob!!! I had to completely bypass it!

And you know there is a next... Next the drive band was too loose! So I adjusted the orifice height to the very highest. It was just pulling in too fast. I was trying to thread ply some yarn that I spun before the snap. I think I finally have it adjusted to where I can make a nice single. I will try again tonight.

I am really looking forward to when my new bands get here so I can continue to get to know my wheel the right way. I sure hope they make it before the workshop. It would be embarrassing to show up with my wheel rigged this way. :(

LC and my gimpy Princess Spinderella

Bye bye baby Spinderella... Hello Princess Spinderella!

So, it seems I have been neglecting my blog... again... But, I have a (kind of) good explanation for that. I have been wheeless! And let me tell you, it wasn't a pleasant time! So the story goes... I found out about the Aura, Majacraft! It is "The Best Wheel EVER", co-designed by the lovely Poad's of Majacraft and Lexi Boeger (who just happens to be the author of my two favorite yarn books!!!) Now, in order to make this purchase I had to take a risk and sell my precious first wheel, the Louet Victoria, on Ebay. It was a really tough decision. She was my first after all! So, it turns out that the demand for this wheel was great! I contacted the fabulous Steph at WCMercantile in late April. (The wheel didn't even become available until May 1st! And, Steph already had these suckers on back order. Well, she shipped on June 10th New Zealand time. And to my amazement she arrived on Monday the 14th!!! Can you believe my luck! I was so happy! And here are a few pictures from our first day together! I guess in the rush to get here she got a little ruffled!When I opened the box though, she was pristine!
I was tickled to find out that my wheel was signed by Rob Poad (son of Glynis and Owen). Plus he is cute!
Then I realized the extent of the assembly process. Good thing I am good at putting things together. And, yes, I do follow directions, most of the time.
So, here she is... Princess Spinderella, she is all grown up and super fancy! And she glows like she is in love! Or... maybe that's me...
Another sweet treat is that each wheel is assembled and tested by one of the Poad's. I assume mine was tested by Rob and this is the yarn that he made. The first yarn made on my wheel was made by Rob Poad! I don't know why but it makes me feel special!
So that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! I have also had some random weird stuff has been going on, but this is the most exciting! I am really getting to know her and starting to make some beautiful yarn! AND... BONUS... I AM GOING TO CAMP PLUCKYFLUFF IN JULY... IN ASHEVILLE... HOSTED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE FIBERISTAS... ESTHER of JAZZTURTLE!!! It is going to be ONE AWESOME WEEKEND! And I get to stay with my bbff (best boy friend forever) in Asheville, NC! I am really excited!

Hope everyone is doing great!

Talk to you soon!

LC and Princess Spinderella

1st Treasury!!!

The Etsy Treasury is a collection of collections picked by individuals who buy or sell on Etsy. The idea is to showcase favorite items or items within a theme. The treasury can then be used as a shopping guide for others! The lovely Barefoot Beadz on Etsy thought my "just peachy" yarn would fit right in with these finds.

I was SUPER excited!!! (as you can imagine...)

Have a fabulous day!

Leslie, Spinderella and Drummond

I'm back!

I wanted to take a moment to "show off" some of the new yarns I have made... and will be listing in the shop in the next couple of days.
I have been really loving to thread ply these super soft painted rovings!


And (in my opinion) you just can't beat a good chunky, textured, core spun yarn!


Alas... we have the old stand-by... the ever versatile single...

And, yes, I realize I was avoiding the elephant in the room by not explaining where I've been the past several months... but to be honest I don't even know. I did have some MORE health problems over Christmas. All is well now. And, I did lose the cord that connected my camera to the computer so I couldn't upload any pics. But, other than that I have no excuse. I didn't even realize it had been that long! Hopefully things will return to the semi-normal state they were in last fall. I have a couple of workshops to attend this year and really want to grow my business! Glad to have you along for the ride!

Leslie, Spinderella and Drummond!

Sorry for the delay! (we have been busy!)

Introducing... Drummond!

I was so excited to get him...

I forgot to take any pictures until he was all dirty! You know how boys are...

So, as soon as I get it together I will have pictures of our first batts and yarns!

LC

ps. wool washing stories and pics to arrive soon!

get ready to welcome Drummond...

... the Drum Carder to the family...

He arrives tomorrow!!! I can't wait to introduce you!

Leslie & Spinderella

My first Trade Show!

Earlier this month I got a note on my front door... my apartment complex was planning a Trade Show for it's residents. Well, now that I am a budding entrepreneur I got a little excited. I could use some practice for future shows, right? So, I went ahead and signed up. I continued to make and list yarn on my Etsy shop. And... I started labeling and packing up the yarn for the show. Here is a picture of me preparing for the show...

Everything was going smashingly! Until... the hour before the show... I was gathering all the goodies together when I decided I just wasn't going to go! I really freaked out! I mean who wants yarn? Won't people look at me like I am crazy? Then I remembered, I want yarn! I am crazy! So we packed up the truck and drove over to the gym where the show would be held. I was still totally freaked out! I set up my table and Spinderella (my wheel), of course. Here is a pic of the table with the yarn, fiber and candy all set up.

Now, the show was about to begin... I sat down and started spinning. Guess what? I felt completely relaxed! Just like always! And then a beautiful thing began happening... people came into the gym and walked directly to me! Oooh's and aaah's abounded! It was super fun! I didn't even care if I sold any yarn. It was just so fun to watch everyone get so excited about yarn! In the end I did sell a yarn to a lovely lady. She was purchasing for her daughter-in-law... a future fiberista! All in all, it was a great day! Can't wait for my next show!

Fiber hugs!
Leslie & Spinderella

October has become one of my favorite months!

I have always preferred the spring... until this year. So much fun stuff has happened this October I can't help but call it my favorite month of this year!

My new work schedule started this month... I got to spend a week at the beach spinning and knitting... I am having the GRAND OPENING of my shop this month... I sold yarn to France... this weekend will be my first "trade show" (more about that later)... I got a great deal on a drum carder this month (much more about that later)...

So many fabulous things are going on this month! Now, I want to share some of my fabulousness with you! If you follow my blog this month you will be entered to win a (obviously) fabulous prize!

And, don't forget to drop in my shop. I am offering FREE SHIPPING for the entire month of October!

Have a fluffy day!
Leslie and Spinderella

I sold yarn to France!

I have spent the past week in Laguna Beach, Florida knitting and spinning and playing on the beach. What a great week it has been! One of the most exciting moments for me was when we came in from the beach and I saw that I had sold a yarn! It was a yarn I had spun the day before while enjoying the view of the ocean out the window. What a life! And to top it off... I sold the yarn to a lady in France! France of all places... isn't that like the world fashion capitol? Well, I was excited! Here are some pictures of the yarn I sold... to France!


I did also make some other yarns that France hasn't gotten a hold of yet so... check out my shop!

Leslie Cooper and Spinning Spinderella

ps. I am having a GRAND OPENING SALE in my shop... FREE SHIPPING ON EVERY ITEM!!! So, load up!

MY SHOP IS OPEN!!!

My goal was to have my shop open by the end of the day Sunday, September 20, 2009. Guess what? I made it! I even sold my first yarn within 5 hours!!! Can you believe it! Just a few months ago I didn't even know people could actually still make yarn! I feel like I found my niche! Finally!!!

Other news... as of this week I work only 4 days at my "real" job and I have the rest of the week to work on my fiber arts! How cool is that? So, that means I have to really get on the ball and get a schedule going for my at home time. And, that also means I will have more time to share with you on my blog. I have quite a bit to catch up with you on!

Now, while you are here... take a look to the right... and you will see a preview of my shop! (Super cool!) Or, you can just click on this link... Spinning Spinderella. Or, you can copy and paste this... www.spinningspinderella.etsy.com ! So, there you go! No excuses! Let me know how you like it!

Squish squish!
Leslie Cooper and Spinning Spinderella

latest yarns...

Core spun (spun around a core lace weight yarn)...
Two plied yarn with white alpaca.
Both of these fibers came from JazzTurtle... a lovely lady named Esther! She just might be my all time favorite fiberista!

Hope you are all having a squishy time! Happy fibery fun!

Leslie & Spinderella

on the road again...

... just can't wait to get on the road again!

The past week has been full of answers and I... have been back to my knitting and spinning!!!

It turns out I have NO CANCER OR CANCEROUS tissue! I do have GERD which is basically Acid Refulx, IBS (you don't want to know) and a few other feminine problems. All of which are being taken care of by dietary changes, medication, and some holistic therapies. I also am on route to an exercise program since my blood pressure is ALMOST under control now.

So, I am getting back on track. I have been back to knitting every day and working on getting back to spinning. I really missed it! My boyfriend is excited about it too. He really missed the stress release that happens when I work with fiber!

Thanks for the support and friendship during this whole process... I couldn't have done it without you!

Now... I am still not 100% but... I am sure I am on my way!

Thanks again!

Leslie Cooper and Spinning Spinderella!

PS. The Fabulous Amber Mabe has been working tirelessly on my logo and other promotional items for me. If you need a logo or letterhead or anything of the sort... CONTACT AMBER MABE!!! Trust me... she is worth it!