While reading my posts, I hope you’ll find:

 Inspiration.

I’m all about knitting, crocheting, spinning yarn, dyeing yarn and wool and other such fibery goodness. One of the pleasures of the art is looking through others’ projects and patterns and color selections and ideas. I share my insights here. 
If I find something I think you’ll enjoy, I post it.

Encouragement.

I don’t just talk about yarn. I went through a divorce in 2010 and started life afresh. It was scary being alone and took a great deal of faith to stitch my life back together. It took courage. And faith. Hope. Daily positivity. I’m thrilled to say I’m now married to my dreamboat and we work side by side everyday creating new and exciting ideas for Expression Fiber Arts®. It’s a dream come true.

 My Projects.

This is a given. I’ll tell you all the details about my yarn projects.

• Crocheting

I’ve crocheted since I was 9 and find it quick, easy to do, easy to teach and great if you like instant gratification. I like this when I’m wanting to whip out a project quickly.

• Knitting  

I’ve knitted since I was 27. I like the fabrics I can produce with knitting and its many options. I create knitting projects when I’m wanting a little more of a mental or time challenge or want to feel “smart.” Knitting makes me feel quite clever indeed. This craft escaped me for years. I tried and failed. Tried and failed. Until one day I set my mind to learning. I scoured YouTube, books and Ravelry.com until I learned how to knit. It can be done!

• Spinning.

I have a gorgeous Lendrum Saxony 28″ spinning wheel. Glorious!! She’s my baby. I toted her all the way across the US and Canada in the middle of winter, through 40 BELOW zero weather much of the way, taking her into the hotel rooms each night, piece by piece so the cold didn’t warp her. (Didn’t want to risk it!). Once moved to Alaska, I spent months staining, sanding, oiling and waxing her. And she’s beautiful. I learned to spin a few years ago (after learning to knit) and I find it incredibly meditative and relaxing. Almost hypnotic. You don’t have to count. You don’t have to think. You just… lose yourself in time.

A question I get asked a lot is: “Don’t you know they sell yarn at Wal-Mart?” My response is always: “Not THIS yarn.”  Nobody else in the world has the yarn I create on my wheel. It’s mine. It’s a finished project all in itself and is truly an amazing creative experience. I highly recommend it. If you wish to spin but are unsure of how to start, you can always buy spindles relatively cheaply and start that way.

• Dyeing.

I dye yarn and roving for my business and for pleasure. I’ve been doing that for years and it’s one of my favorite things ever. Instant gratification and I get to play with color. Need I say more?

• Weaving

I’ve recently discovered weaving and I have to say, it’s a blast. Projects work up so quickly and so beautifully. I highly recommend you give weaving a try! I own a 15” Cricket Loom and a 25” Schacht Flip.

Store Announcements.

I offer my wares on my shopping site. So I’ll post my yarn shop news on this blog as appropriate.  If you’d like to stay in touch, sign up for all my juicy news and I’ll keep you in the loop: