Nalbinding Calendar Phone Wallpaper + Projects

It's been a busy (in a very good way) couple of weeks!

An idea popped into my head that nalbinding should have a monthly wallpaper calendar. We'll see if I can keep up with the calendar part, or if I just end up doing wallpapers with nalbinding. But I think it will be a fun project to help promote nalbinding. (I often get asked what nalbinding is. If it's in an image on my phone background I can quickly point to it.)

Link to full size Sunday start version

Link to full size Monday start version

New colorways in the Nordic series: Reindeer and Blue Hour (on 4 ply Classic Fox worsted and Arctic Fox bulky singles) are available in the shop.



Had a blast making some custom orders for some amazing ladies. The calendar wallpaper has two of the needles (redheart and spalted ash). Here's a few more in acrylic. Custom orders for February are open.


Finally got to the more brainless work on my sweater now that I have arm holes! YAY!


And finally I've been catching up on the spinning challenge for the Facebook group "A Spinner's Study". The breed study for January was merino. And since I was dyeing I tossed the wool into the pot for the kettle dye challenge too. (Happened to be on "Blue Hour" dye day.)  I'm late with the spinning, but I did get it done.  Spinning fever over took me and I spun 8 oz of polwarth I'd dyed a while back as a sample to spin in "The Gloaming" colorway. Here's the dry skein. I was spinning pretty bulky so I can nalbind something thick and quick.


I'll leave you with a few questions. :)

What all have you been working on? I'd love to see!

Do you prefer a calendar or regular phone wallpaper?

Shop Update - but WHOOSH they're gone....

I'd intended to share news that needles were posted in the shop today. (And they were!) As fast as I could list them, they disappeared. I was completely flabbergasted! This has never happened before. Yes, all my needles sell - but usually with in a couple weeks. (I'm still in shock...)

So I'll share the pretty picture of the needles all going to a new home.
 

But never fear! Hubby and I have been working hard and we have more cut - they just need finishing. I'll be working on shaping more as I can. But I won't likely have listings until after the new year. If anyone is interested in reserving a needle let me know. I have another of most of the ones above (minus the antler and blue). But we'll have other styles to post then too.

On the dumb side of things (feel free to laugh at my stupidity), I knew I should get some hand protection one of these days. (When one pokes oneself often while quickly sanding a needle - one would think one would be smart enough to get kevlar gloves, right?) Well, lets just say I got smart enough after drawing blood a few days ago. (No stitches, lots of disinfectant and I'm up to date on my tetanus shot!) Note the offending needle isn't the one pictured. It was a brass one - those are so hard to sand!


But my spiffy new kevlar gloves arrived today, so I can continue working on metal needles.


So no dye updates. It's been needles, needles, needles. After Christmas there will be time for more dye adventures.

I'm frantically trying to finish a few ornaments for gifts. Are you all finishing anything before the holidays?

Needle Geekery

Hubby and I wanted to work on needles for the shop last night. I must admit, we got a bit side tracked by the idea of new materials for needles.  We looked at acrylics and drooled over the pretty colors.  Of course, we got sucked in to ordering a few blanks to try for fun.  They won't be traditional or good for re-enactment.  Sometimes though, it's just fun to make and use something different and pretty.  I can't wait to try the cappuccino one with the brown and white swirls!  It may be a while before they arrive, but we'll post when we get needles made from them.

Then we tinkered with the idea of using circuit boards.  I was quite worried about the little metal wires and widgets on the sides of board catching on yarn.  After quite a bit of sanding, we were able to get it really smooth on the sides.  It tested quite well.  I'll use this one for a while longer to make sure nothing comes off with wear.

History and geekery can now be one in nalbinding.

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Update: There was a bit here on ROHS compliance.  Hubby remembered it's not about human safety.  So we'll be investigating.

Ending the Year with Fun: Spinning and Needle Making

Happy New Year to you all!  I hope that 2012 was a good year for you and that you made many wonderful projects!

Spinning and needle making were the two projects that I did as the year came to a close.

I finished the spinning for fractally spinning the scrumptious Frabjous Fibers Polwarth Top in the #250 Trapesze colorway, then plied it.

Yesterday I finished spinning this older batt from Moonrover.  It was a bit loud for me.  (And that's saying something, since I usually like bright and bold.)

I found I had some coordinating chocolate brown alpaca.  When the two were plied together the effect was much more subtle and pleasing.

Hubby put some lovely nalbinding needles in my Christmas stocking.  (Since I'm always losing mine or they are with another project.)

And these pretties will be appearing in my shop soon.  (The bamboo one (bottom) is listed now.)  Working with my hubby, side by side on these is such a joy.  (I wish we didn't have to get the new interior doors done too.  I'd rather help him with these.   But the doors are needed and were a gift of love from my father in law!)

My focus is changing this year.  I'm honing in more on what's important to me and my family.  We were stretched far to thin this year.  I've already informed one of the groups that I volunteer for that I'll be stepping down.  While I love to volunteer in my kids' activities, I can't do everything and keep every thing functioning that they like to do.  This last month has been a big soul searching month.  (And I LOATHE saying "no" and stepping down from things.)  But on the good side of this - I was told I'll be able to teach for the group here in town that leads First Lego League.  One of the other incredibly cool things that happened was that my youngest said she would like to learn to spin.  You bet I'll be there teaching her really soon!

In my craft focus, I want to teach more and to push my skills in nalbinding.  I've been teaching a few classes and love it.  Cross your fingers for me as I wait to hear back from Shepherd's Harvest about my nalbinding class.  They will let us know soon if our class proposals were accepted.  

What will you be focusing on this year?

Here's to an even better 2013 and to much blissful crafting!!!

Having Fun Making Nalbinding Needles

Hubby and I have been having a blast working together to make nalbinding needles.  (Hubby does most of the work, I help with sanding and polishing and quality assurance.)  We really enjoy working together on this.  It's the first hobby that we've had in common in a while.

These were from the first order of dymondwood for our test.  We just ordered more (and a new band saw blade) and can't wait to get started on the new wood!

I've been working with a few others (below) in my nalbinding projects from this batch and I love how smooth they are and how they feel in my hands.  

We also have been making sure the eye is long - so I can stack many layers of thick yarn for my work.  

While I'd love to keep every single one of them, we plan on taking them up to North Country Fiber Fair to see if anyone would like some pretty needles.

(And hubby just handed me an even shinier one...I can't keep up with him, help him AND take pictures! *wink*)