Back at it again

Well, the spinning wheel is fixed, the carder is running almost non-stop and I have 5 new handspuns listed in the shop this week! Oh, how I missed spinning... I really have no idea how I neglected it for so long.

Spinning Catastrophe!

So, I'm at home last night, spinning away at some fibers I've been dyeing, when the wheel breaks! The piece that holds the treadle onto the base just snapped in half, and now I can't use it until the replacement piece comes. I hate to say this, but maybe I shouldn't have bought the Babe Wheel just because it was inexpensive. I probably should have shelled out the extra hundred bucks or so to get a wheel made out of wood and then I wouldn't have this problem. Oh well... I have some awesome news too...

I got a drum carder! It came yesterday, and I'm still hiding it from my husband because he'll want to know how much it cost and where I got the money, blah, blah. I've only played with it a bit, but hopefully I'll have much to show you in the coming days.

Seems like such a long time ago

I really like this picture. It isn't one of the professional ones, I think Tim's mom might have taken it, but I think it really conveys our feelings at that exact moment. It's a combination of pride, happiness, and relief that the ceremony is over.

I'm still working on thank you notes; I'm about 1/4 of the way done and should hopefully be finished by the weekend. My favorite tip for writing lots of thank you notes: write the envelopes first, then write the cards and match the card with the envelope as you go. Seems to be much quicker this way than it is to write an envelope, then a card, then and evelope, and so on. If any of you have better ideas, I'd love to hear them. Maybe I'll write a post with readers top tips for mass mailings :)

New Yarns!

mintyfresh
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

head to the yarn shop www.llbsupplies.etsy.com to check them out.

Recently Listed in my shop:

crocheted with two yarns. The dark one is an acrylic deep purple, the boucle is hand-dyed wool blend. It is sooo soft and fun! The pictures really do not do it justice (I need to work on my photography skills). The two vintage buttons will fasten anywhere on the scarf, making it very versatile. See the listing for other ways to wear it. Head to my Etsy shop www.lindsayluu.etsy.com!

A Favorite Artist: Lorena Barrezueta

Photo taken from www.lorenabarrezueta.com. I hope she doesn't mind:)

I don't do this often enough, and I really should. There are so many fantastic independent artists in the world that I love, and I want to tell you all about them so that you can love them too, and so that the love can be passed along.

I've had her Etsy shop on my favorites list for quite a while now, and when I went to visit it today it was only stocked with seconds and samples. That's totally cool though, because I was prompted to visit her website, and was floored by all of the styles she's creating. What i really love is that all of her porcelain pieces are made to resemble dishes and packaging that we would normally use once and throw away. I don't know exactly where her head's at, but I assume that somewhere in there is a statement about our society and waste. Also there is maybe one about our society and it's "fast-food" mentality. Even if there isn't, that's what I get out of it, and I totally appreciate it.

So, head to her site and check out these awesome dishes. While you're at it, you can see her jewelry as well.

Is it really possible?

Sometimes all I wish for is the ability to make my jewelry and yarn, sell it, and make a decent living. I know that people do it, I've read about them and chatted with them online, and it makes me want to try. The problem is that in today's economy, who can afford to quit their job and try to make it on their own? Not me. So now what?

For now, I'm going to continue to make baby steps toward my goals. I create on the weekends and evenings. I blog during free time during the day. I look toward the future and am excited for the time when I'll have the ability to work for myself.

I'd love to hear from you if you've been through this process! Leave a comment!

A Tip about Rental Cars

broken rental car
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

Don't leave any evidence of a GPS in your car when you park it in public.

We learned this the hard way when visiting my cousin in Brooklyn. Someone smashed the window to try to the the GPS that wasn't even in the car. I did leave the box in the back seat, so that must have teased him. Anyways, nothing was stolen and we were able to get a new rental car once the NYPD came to give us a report for our insurance company. What a pain!

Do you think we'll ever get to the point where people have no need to vandalize and steal other peoples things? I doubt it, but it would be a much nicer world to live in.

New Yarn

It's been a little while since there have been new yarns in my shop. I really didn't have much time for it this past summer and I'm excited to be back at it again. These yarns are available in my supplies shop now!

Have you Made the Handmade Pledge?

I officially took the pledge last year, but if you didn't, it's not to late to visit the site and sign yourself up. Buying handmade is just plain better, and the sooner everyone realizes that the better.

This has been a public service announcement by Etsy sellers everywhere :)

I'm Home!

photo courtesy of nickel city studios ©

Hello Blog-readers! I'm back from the honeymoon and finally organized enough to write. I have lots to share but it will be coming in small pieces throughout the next few weeks.

The short story is that everything went off without a hitch. The wedding was beautiful, perfect, and fun, the honeymoon was a fantastic adventure, and it kind of sucks to have to be back to work this week :)

I hired the talented photographers from Nickel City Studios in Buffalo to photograph my wedding day and I'm quite pleased with how everything came out. Click HERE to see more of our pictures on their blog