Fiber Arts Friday ~ and the Tour de Fleece ends

It seems really strange now the race is over.  I got so involved with spinning and posting in Ravelry I feel I'm being a little bit lazy.

I did manage to get a few pictures of our meet up at Lady Peddler on challenge day before the batteries died in my camera.  Don't you hate when that happens!



Just look at that smile on Ms. Wonder Why's face.  I would have a happy face too if I had that much finished yarn! 

For my challenge, I worked on spinning a white/beige blended art yarn.  I had several types of commercial yarn I was planning on using as well as silk rods.  As it turned out, after getting every one's opinion,  I decided to use just the white mohair boucle yarn.  So I cut varying lengths maybe 3 to 5 inches and core spun them on my single.

I really enjoyed using beads in my spinning during the Tour, so I decided when I plied I would add in beads.  I strung beads of varying sizes and very subtle shading on a separate strand of commercial bamboo yarn.  While plying, I placed  3 to 4 beads between the areas of core spinning.

I must admit I have not spun this week, so I haven't gotten vary far with my plying, but I think it's turning out very interesting.  I'm really liking the mono chromaticness (not sure that is really a word)and I'm loving all the texture.  Isn't it exciting when what you had in mind actually works out in the end?

This week instead of spinning, I've been working on getting some art batts carded.  My focus now needs to be on getting ready for Michigan Fiber Festival.  This 3.8oz batt is a blend of different colored wools, suri alpaca and bling bling. 

I also carded up a 2 oz batt of gray Corridale.  This is the first time I've ever started with raw sheep fleece. It sure handles differently than Suri  but I wanted to try my hand at making a batt completely from raw.  I plan on using this gray to blend with my suri and of course some bling bling.

That pretty much sums up my week in the fiber arts realm....now it's off to see what everyone else has been doing.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!!