ThreeRavens.net

I’m a terrible blogger, la la la…

The honest truth is that my provider has been unstable for a while, and it’s made me unwilling to fight with it to post updates.
The solution? MOVE!

So… if you check in here and see things looking weird for the next few days, that’s why. The URL will stay the same, but the home will be different. Wish me luck!

I know I’ve been a slacker when it comes to updating here. But I can make up for it!

How, you ask? Well, what about offering FREE SHIPPING on all YARN from 11/26 to 12/1/2009? All you have to do is go to my Etsy shop and pick out the yarn you like: I’ve arranged it so no shipping will be charged to you! *waits while you do a happy dance*

Look for some other interesting and fun updates coming up this week - I have things planned, muahahaaaa…..

Biohazard Horse

My friend and also-member of local Etsy street team Hornet’s Nest Charlotte, Acorngirl, is an amazing and imaginative artisan. She specializes in Waldorf-style toys and whimsical flights of fancy, and this little Biohazard Horse is NO exception. She designed the pattern AND sewed it by hand, and let me tell you - her workmanship is exquisite!

Best part of all, at least for me? She used some of my hand spun yarn for this little horse’s mane and tail! I love what it became and agree with her that it was a perfect match for the adorable little bio-equine!

You’ll definitely want to see what else she has in her shop: acorngirl.etsy.com!

Some of these are available NOW and some will show their pretty little colours later on today… which means, of course, that you will have to keep an eye out for them!
I have even more impending goodness, in photo form, at my Flickr account, if you’d like to see what’s to come. I do it for you, m’beauties!

Oh! Did I mention that I have another Beginner’s SPINNING CLASS coming up, once again at Close Knit Knittery and Press? It will be on June 13th, and once again a seat is available for $35. I’m excited - the last class was a BLAST and I know this one will be even more fun!

Can I just tell you how much I *love* teaching people how to spin? Oh my!

My students were amazing: quick to pick up the basics and really eager to learn everything I could teach them. They mastered making usable singles very quickly indeed, and loved spinning… until we started plying, ha! The universal declaration was that “plying sucks and I want to spin singles forever… can I do that?” Of course you can, my beginner fiberistas, but I promise that eventually you’ll find that plying isn’t nearly as difficult.

In other Close Knit related news, you can now purchase my yarns there! Sheri is kindly stocking a variety of my unique spins for people to add to projects or create lovely things from. If you shop there currently and would like to see a certain kind/style of yarn there, please let me know!

If you live in the Charlotte Metro area and have some time between 1 and 4 pm, please do join me for a beginning spinner’s class at Close Knit Knittery and Press in Gastonia!

The class is $35 and includes a top whorl drop spindle and materials to start your own yarn during the class, as well as a set of crib notes from me! If you haven’t been to Close Knit before, I have to tell you that it is my most favourite LYS around… and not just because they’re letting me teach there, either. The owner and staff are fabulous, friendly, and fantastic. The location is very easy to find - it is in the heart of Gastonia, in a welcoming white house!

Please call ahead to let them know you are coming: 704-833-0088
The address:
208 S Oakland St
Gastonia, NC 28052

Hope to see you there!

More info about Close Knit: http://www.knitmap.com/locations/close-knit-knittery-and-press

Sometimes I’m a leader.
Sometimes, I’m a follower.
This week, I’m a joiner!

First thing: Grrl + Dog is challenging us - ALL of the fiber fondlers out there, of any fibery-arts persuasion, to engage in some Guerilla Knitting/Crochet/Weaving/Fiber-thinger… a bit of random and senseless beauty to be found by unsuspecting and possibly uncomprehending passers-by.

Want to learn more, and perhaps take the challenge yourself? Check out her post here: Global Guerilla Knit Up Challenge and see if you’d like to get your public art out there before February 23rd!

And um.. yeah. I joined Facebook. Heh. *sheepish grin*

Wanna add me?

http://profile.to/xiane/

Want to become a Facebook fan of Threeravens.net?

http://companies.to/threeravens/

There we are. My joining festival for the day! Will you join me in the joining?

Although I generally wear all black, colours really speak to me, and I’m attracted to bright and energetic combinations of unexpected tones, especially in my yarns. I called this colourway “FreakParty” and I had a blast combining multicoloured Wensleydale locks into the base yarn of red/orange/wine/yellow Falkland wool.
This skein ended up being 158 yards of badass fun, and has already left my hands! I knew it wouldn’t stick around long, the art yarns never do.

In other spinning news, I should start listing some plied yarns in the next few days! Up until now, I’ve only listed singles [single ply] yarns, in worsted weights or in art yarn styles. I’m excited to have something new and different-to-me up!
Keep an eye out here or in my shop for the updates - I’ll definitely post some photos as soon as I have ‘em!

Here’s my feet with my knitting bag nearby - because tonight is KNITTING CIRCLE and I’m so excited!

I’d missed the last two - one from being busy and one from being sick - and I have to say, it is amazing how quickly a new activity can be missed! I had just started attending the Tuesday circle at Close Knit Knittery & Press, and the atmosphere and company are so very lovely! I haven’t felt so immediately welcome and comfortable in a group perhaps since I met the Hornet’s Nest Etsy Team… and that’s pretty fantastic.

Wanna see a quick glimpse of what I’m working on? Of course you do! This is a kitty-eared hat in progress:

100 crafters/artisans, music, food, and a craffle raffle - how can you go wrong? Check out Threeravens & Coffin Color, along with Snitches Get Stitches and Happy Trees in Asheville NC at The Big Crafty on Sunday December 7th!