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!

Due to a mysterious illness...

... currently undiagnosed... I have been out of commission for the past five weeks or so. Still waiting on some test results and an appointment with a Gastroenterologist. Hopefully some results this week. But my knitting has slowed and my spinning isn't possible at this time. I am in great distress... the pain and the loss of my passion.

Please pray for me if you are the praying type. I would like to get back to my life!

Leslie Cooper

In the beginning...

... well, not quite the beginning but as close as it gets at this point... there was fiber! Beautiful, fluffy, colorful, yum yum yummy fiber!!!

This deliciousness came from the fabulous Roo at Moonwood Farm! And, as you can see in the first picture, some fun extras! (You will find the most generous people in the world of fiber!) I came to know Roo at Moonwood Farm through the Phat Fiber Box samples. I had three top favorites and perused each shop for the perfect purchase. Roo just happened to have the fiber that was MADE for my first sweater, the February Lady Sweater. She dyed and carded this very fiber JUST FOR ME! How fun is that?
So anyway, I just wanted to give you a glimpse of my fibery life. I am currently working on opening my Etsy Shop, a pair of socks, a washcloth, scarf, and some cuffs... oh, and spinning everything I can get my hands on! I am loving every minute of it!
Squish to all!
LC

Yarn!

As promised I spun up some red, white and blue fiber on Memorial Day! It turned out pretty nice (if I do say so myself). This little beauty is my first 2 ply yarn too! One thing I learned was that when you spin (or ply) the two yarns together you spin it the opposite way than you spun the original yarns. Crazy isn't it? I don't know but I don't think that would have ever crossed my mind.
Memorial Day Yarn

Most of the spinning I have done since the introduction of Spinderella has been scrap yarn or practice yarn. I have done a LOT of practice treadling too just to get the speed under control. It is really easy to get excited and start running on that thing! Just recently I have learned how to set the spin in hand spun yarn. Here is one of my first (and favorite) yarns I have spun and set.
Electric Slide
When you finish spinning the yarn you wind it off the bobbin onto a niddy noddy (or the back of a chair if that is all you have). I WILL do a video of this SOON. This is a way to keep the yarn from tangling and a way to measure the yardage.
Spring Fling

Now after you wind the yarn and tie it... it is time to "set the spin". The first step in this is to run some really hot water into a sink or bucket. You place the yarn in the hot water and let it sit until the water is cool. I suggest doing this with only one colorway at a time in case bleeding occurs. After the water has cooled you remove the yarn and place it on a towel. Fold the towel over the yarn and press the water out so that you do not agitate the fiber. Then hang the yarn over a hanger or door knob or something. If the yarn spins back on itself use a couple of hangers as weights at the bottom of yarn. When it dries... you have ready to knit YARN!
Pretty Pink

All of the fiber used to make these yarns was from the Phat Fiber Sample Box. Last month I got the "Just Fluff" box. Boy was that fun! I opened up the box and took out some fiber... when I looked back at the box it was full again! It was like Mary Poppins bag! Never ending fluff!!! Well, sad thing is... it did end. But I will have another chance at a Phat Fiber Box this month! Hope everyone is having a great week! Happy hump day!

LC

Making yarn...

My boyfriend says that making yarn is like making paint before you paint a picture. I kinda liked that.

LC

Trinity Ridge Alpaca's Open Farm Day/Spin In

Saturday, Trinity Ridge Alpaca's had an Open Farm Day/ Spin In. My boyfriend and I took the afternoon and visited the farm. What a wonderful day! Steve and Janet Hancock were delightful hosts! Steve took us for a tour of the farm and introduced us to the animals.

We met a few funny characters...
... the two-headed alpaca...

... the "happy" alpaca...

... and the alpaca hand puppet....

These animals are too funny! We learned tons of stuff about alpaca's. About their eating and breeding habits and so on. They are very interesting animals.
This was my personal favorite. Her name is Showtime. I got to walk her on a halter. It took me back to the days of showing Santa Gertrudis Cattle. Only this girl was a bit easier to handle. And soft as a bunny!

Over all these guys are pretty laid back. I like their style!

And to top it all off... I took home some (favorite ever) fiber! I want to figure out a way to be able to wrap my body in this! Oooh! I guess I can spin it and knit it up! How about that?