SparkleShan

Some of you probably aren't aware but there is a company, Phat Fiber , that puts together boxes of samples from indie fiber artists and then they sell the boxes with about 20 or more samples from all these different businesses. I heard about this on Ravelry and decided that I would like to contribute and it would be a great way to get my business out to more people. So for the past two weeks I have been spinning up samples like crazy and making stitch markers as well. I have already posted some photos of the yarn. But here is a better snapshot of what I have sent in. The theme for March's Box is Celtic so I tired to do some green and Celtic inspired yarns and stitch markers. Here are some examples of the stitch markers I made using Swarvoski Crystals and Celtic Trinity Knot Charms. Here is a close up of a yarn sample for the Phat Fiber Box, that I spun from a Shunklies Roving of 70% Merino and 30% Tussah Silk. And I just found out that the deadline to have samples in is March ...

"Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling. "I am not of value," is wrong, Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought-so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can do anything. It is usually said that you are your own master."

The past two two weeks I was spinning up smaller samples of yarn to send to Phat Fiber as a contribution for the March Box. The theme is Celtic so I tired to do a few green Irish inspired yarns. Here are a few samples that I plan to spin into larger skeins and offer in my Etsy store. The first I got some off white colored Correidale and spun it with some gold and green firestar. Then I plied it with white crochet cotton to make a bubbly yarn. This is Pot O' Gold it is also correidale with green and gold firestar, but I didn't ply it. This next yarn I call Jelly Belly, its spun from a Batt of White Punta Wool and Shredded Sari silk from Appalachian Voodoo Fibers . I love how if came out. >

"Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet in whatever circumstances is a brother or sister."

I have a desk calendar that has a new quote from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for every day, I should have started this January 1st but didn't think about it. Reading over these quotes the last few days I find them to inspire me in my Buddhist Practice every day and for life in general. SO every day starting today I am going to post the quote of the Day on my blog. "What science finds to be nonexistent, we must accept as nonexistent, but what science merely does not find is a completely different matter. ...It is quite clear that there are many, many, mysterious things."

I have been spinning and making stitch markers like crazy for the past week. One of the girls on Ravelry told us about this company that takes samples from indie fiber and yarn / knitting related companies, combines them in a box and sells about 150 boxes. This is a great way for customers to sample your products and get your name out there. So I decided to make samples of my stitch markers and handspun yarn and send them in for the March box. The company is called Phat Fiber and they sell the boxes on Etsy , the boxes literally sell out in a day and it is best to get your name on an email list to be notified when they will be put up for sale. The awesome part is, if you donate at least 45 samples you get a box from that month for free! A Few Samples of yarn that I am including for the March Phat Fiber Box. This is a yarn in my yarn line (SparkleShan Yarns) Spun from Shunklies Kettle Dyed Roving, it is 50% Angora and 50% Tussah Silk. It is the Softest thing I have ever felt and its for...

There are 4 AVCRADs in the National Guard, the one I belong to, the 1109th AVCRAD in Connecticut is the best one of all. Each of the have been rotating in and out of the war since it started in 2003. And yes the CT AVCRAD were the first one's here, we set up the Theater Aviation Maintenance Program here in Kuwait and now the unit is back for there second rotation. This is my first one here though, I was pregnant when they had a 3 days notice back in 2003, so I didn't go. Well the last two units that were here right before this rotation started a thing of painting a barrier to represent their unit. Well I must say that like our unit being the best AVCRAD our Barrier is also the best. The other two look very similar but ours is completely unique and original. This is our barrier which was designed and painted by SSG Langley. And Below are the Barriers done by the Mississippi AVCRAD and the ADMRU

I opened a new store for my jewelry business on Etsy, Princess Emma's . But instead of offering just jewelry and hair accessories, I am now going to be offering stitch markers, hand spun yarn and knitted and crocheted items. Right now the inventory is low because of my limited time with deployment, but when I get home and have the summer off in a few months, it will be booming. I decided to start my own yarn line called SparkleShan Yarns. Because of my love for knitting I also decided to start making stitch markers, its just like making jewelry! Please check out my store and let me know what you think. And as always I am going to continue to do Bridal and Bridal party jewelry commissions.

A few days ago we had a sand/dust storm for two days. You couldn't see a thing. The roads were red, and no one was allowed to drive off post. Even the sun looked like a white ball (yes I thought it was the moon at first). My hair was full of sand and it took two washings to get it all out. My Chief said sandstorms mean its almost time for us to go. It can't come soon enough, I've had my fill of this place. I am eager to get home and relax for the summer, go to the beach whenever I want, and best of all not go to work! This will be my first summer off since I was 16! The morning started out a little foggy and the sun looked like a little white glowing ball. By Mid afternoon it looked like this and stayed this way for two days.

I made a Calorimetry for my daughter in November when I was home on leave out of some Patons SWS Wool. She loves it but said it was to itchy. She has very sensitive skin and she asked if I could make one out of soft yarn. How can I say no to someone that says they LOVE everything I knit because it is made with my love in it?!? I had some extra Bernat Bamboo yarn lying around, in pink of course so I made her another. Here is a picture of her wearing it.

I have been wanting to make this flower headband pattern I found on Ravelry for a while and I finally did it yesterday. It is crochet so it didn't take me long at all. It came out really cute, although I might make another and modify the pattern to make a smaller flower, because I have a small head!

I finally used my own hand spun yarn in a knitting project. This is the second yarn that I spun on a drop spindle. I decided to make a hate for Emma out of it.

I've been interested in "Novelty" yarns for about a year now since seeing them on Ravelry. I love the idea of combining different materials to make art yarns. I am still fairly new to spinning so I decided to concentrate on just spinning regular yarn for the first two months, but now I am ready to venture into making art yarns. I have seen this type of 2-ply bubbly looking yarn and I wanted that to be my first try at novelty yarn. I spun up a single of a multi colored fine merino top from Shunklies and plied it with a navy blue crochet cotton to get this bubbly yarn. It took me a while to figure out how to get the effect but I think I did pretty well for my first attempt. I love spinning! A close up of the yarn. Here is a picture of the wonderful Fine Merino Top Roving from Shunklies before I spun it up.

I took my first ride in a Black Hawk last week over Kuwait. It was fun and a lot less scary then riding in an airplane. Our Shadow in the Sand Me freezing my butt off, it was actually cold that day and I forgot my fleece! Mr. Bowdy laughing at me, Shouldn't you be watching where you are going!! My home for the past 7 months from the Air The coast of Kuwait and the Persian Guld areial shot