Back in June it became very clear that the website needed more than just a simple update. So instead of making the old theme work with the new software version, I decided to go ahead with a new, clean design.
I naively thought it would take me a month to do, but there have been delays along the way – not to mention it is summer vacation here! So I’m aiming to be done in September. I hope to get this completed soon as I have many new projects I would like to get listed and shared with you all.
We all know that cats love to play with yarn. Anything that moves, it seems. But how about cuddle up to a ball of yarn? Here’s my photographic proof that cats love yarn, they really, really do. These are my 11 and 13 year old cats, cuddled up to some of my handspun on two different occasions:
Life would be so boring without pets! 🙂
A quick note and a quick closure. I’ll be road-trippin’ with my family but I’ll be back by Sunday (the 26th) at the very latest. Thanks for your continued support!
Le studio est fermé jusqu’au 26 Juillet. Merci de votre compréhension.
I was browsing Michael’s the other day and I was happy to see these jumbo knitting needles size 50(!). Since I had a coupon I decided to add them to my needles collection (along with the crochet hook to match).
I haven’t made anything with them yet, just playing around with some of my jumbo handspun. Other than a scarf I wonder what I could make with these. I’d happily take suggestions and advice! I love jumbo yarns and large needles, but I am definitely out of my element with these.
As far as the largest needles I have seen, here is one of my all-time fave extreme knitting videos:
The Giveaway for the July 2015 Newsletter is for the Flower Child necklace (since I found some more silver blanks!) and stitch markers. Your choice! Read all about it here…
I made this yarn out of…frustration? Boredom?
I was really dissatisfied with the original yarn. So I decided to go for broke, and see what would happen if I boucléd it around some commercial cotton. This crazy handmade yarn is the result.
The outcome is certainly interesting to say the least! So what to do with it? I now have a bulky, buckled spiral yarn made of wool, banana fibers and beads (now, cotton yarn added to that mix). What in the world to make with this hot mess & a half?
When in doubt with a funky bulky handspun, I always turn to the elongated knit stitch. There are many different variations but one that I love to do is really simple. Cast on the number of stitches you want, insert needle to knit one, but bring yarn around both needles before looping around the inserted needle like a regular knit stitch. This extra bit of wrapping will elongate that stitch nicely.
Here is a video by Ashley Martineau of Neauveau Fiber Arts demonstrating the stitch. I love Ashley’s videos and her spinning style! I probably learned this stitch from her originally, a video tute on a pillow cover comes to mind. 🙂
So back to this funky creation I made with this yarn-I-was-so-fed-up-with and a simple knit stitch. I was shocked by the result. I didn’t expect much from this so I didn’t keep any notes. But I cast on approx. 80 stitches on large circular needles (17 comes to mind, possibly bigger). Then it was elongated knit stitch until I had just enough to bind off. That was it. Total TV watching knitting.
My intention was to make a cowl or infinity scarf, but I guess you could call this what – like a shurg or a shawl too? And once I started to tug it out/form it it was screaming for this chain detail.
These are the things I love to make. Happy accidents. Throw all the rules out the window and just go! I get so caught up in perfecting technique sometimes it’s nice to forget it all; not have a plan and see what comes. This may still be a total hot mess, but I know one thing. I throw this on with a nice jacket, and I have a conversation piece. And that is true artistry to me.
The moral of this story is: don’t be shy to go there and totally own the result. 🙂
Not seeing what you are looking for? Interested in potentially carrying my products in your shop or business? Need a large (bulk) order for your event or organization? Fill out this form and I will get back to you with the possibilities. Wholesale is available to Canadian & US customers while consignment is available to Canadian businesses only.
coming soon
You can expect your item to be made & shipped in as little as 3 business days, although I strive to turn around orders within 24 hours whenever possible. You will be contacted of any delays past this point.
From the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia.
Currently bb3 exists as an online entity only, however if you are in the Canning/Wolfville/Centreville/Kentville/New Minas area, we can arrange for pickup or delivery of the items you have ordered. Delivery via local courier could be arranged for HRM as well.
I also offer delivery in the Maritimes via Maritime Bus. Once your item is shipped via the bus, receive it same day/next day (weather permitting in winter). The bus runs 7 days a week and goes to many destinations in NS, NB & PEI. Pick up your order at the bus station near you.
Click here to see Maritime Bus locations
You can expect your item to be made & shipped (or ready for delivery/pick up) in as little as 3 business days, although I strive to turn around orders within 24 hours whenever possible. You will be contacted of any delays past this point. PLEASE READ BELOW FOR DELIVERY TIME AVERAGES. Note that these are averages and not guarantees.
PLEASE BE AVAILABLE FOR CONTACT AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS GIVEN IN YOUR ORDER. Most of the time, orders become delayed because information (such as engraving) is missing, or because I have a question about a request. If you have not received any order confirmation within 24 hours, please check the SPAM/JUNK folder of your email. When in doubt, always contact me. I have had situations where the customer entered an invalid email address (usually a typo) and the order never completed on my end.
Delivery times are based on Canada Post shipping standards & Customs. Please allow adequate time for your item to arrive on time if it is a gift. There can be delays due outside factors such as weather & customs or higher volume periods such as the holidays.
Here is more info on the different types of shipping rates available:
***CANADA***
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OF $45+ WITH CODE FREESHIP45
From time to time I offer free shipping without minimum purchase or certain or all items. The best place to find these codes is on my blog, facebook page or instagram.
ORDERS THAT QUALIFY FOR FREE SHIPPING WILL SHIP WITH THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD (WITH TRACKING)
I try my best to honor your prefered way of shipping, but at the end of the day the cost of shipping comes out of my pocket so I have to do what is most affordable for me. If there is a reason why you prefer one carrier over another please let me know in the comments box at checkout. I will accommodate you as best as possible.
REGULAR MAIL: Canada Post Standard Mail – delivery is not guaranteed by a certain date and the average to most Canadian destinations is 10 business days.
Expedited (Canada) – tracking number provided. Can take up to 7 business days depending on your location in Canada
Xpresspost (Canada) – tracking number provided. Get it in as little as 2-5 business days.
Purolator Ground – tracking number provided. Delivery time approx 1 – 6 business days. Rural areas may take more time.
Canpar Ground – tracking number provided. Delivery time approx 1 – 6 business days. Rural areas may take more time.
Maritime Bus – available for residence of NS, NB & PEI who live near a Maritime Bus stop. This economical shipping method is fast and convenient as the bus runs 7 days a week, and items are usually available for pickup the day after they are shipped. If you have a prefernce of bus stop please state so in your order, otherwise you will most likely be contacted via email or text to confirm your pick up location.
Click here to see Maritime Bus locations
***USA***
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OF $45+ WITH CODE FREESHIP45
From time to time I offer free shipping without minimum purchase or certain or all items. The best place to find these codes is on my blog, facebook page or instagram.
ORDERS THAT QUALIFY FOR FREE SHIPPING WILL SHIP WITH THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD (WITH TRACKING)
I try my best to honor your prefered way of shipping, but at the end of the day the cost of shipping comes out of my pocket so I have to do what is most affordable for me. If there is a reason why you prefer one carrier over another please let me know in the comments box at checkout. I will accommodate you as best as possible.
Delivery via Freight Forwarding to US Border (recommended)
How it works:
Once your order is completed, it is dropped off to a company who will drive your package over the Canada/US border for USPS or UPS to complete your delivery. Although it may seem like your order takes longer to ship (normally one day a week designated for this option) you will receive your package much faster than waiting for it to clear customs with Canada Post. This option also means you will always receive tracking on your package with USPS where the economical shipping with Canada Post does not. USPS Priority & UPS Ground also available through the same option.
Small Parcel USA – No delivery date guarantee and averages about 10-12 business days for delivery to most locations. This is the most common way I ship and it has proven to be very reliable. In 15 years selling online only one light packet USA went missing (it was returned to me – customer provided wrong mailing address to recipient).
Tracked Packet USA – tracking number provided and delivery average is 7 business days to most US locations
Expedited USA – delivery average 4 days to most locations in the USA
Purolator Ground USA – tracking provided. Arrives on average within 7 business days.
***INTERNATIONAL***
I AM NOT SHIPPING INTERNATIONALLY AT THIS TIME.
Between rising shipping costs and confusion regarding GDPR compliance I am forced to not sell internationally for the time being. If you are outside Canada & The US and would like to purchase something, please email me directly for a direct quote. Thanks for your understanding!
If you are in or can travel to the Centreville/Kentville/New Minas or Canning/Wolfville area we can arrange to meet up for pickup of your order and I am happy to deliver your order if you live in this area. I can also arrange delivery via local courier service to HRM, and to other locations in the Maritimes via Maritime Bus (see info under Canada shipping options).
USA/CANADA:
Regular mail – If you do not receive your order within 30 days please contact me for replacement/refund.
With Tracking – if your package has not arrived within a week of the date stated for arrival by the carrier, please contact me to trigger a search for your package. Canada Post will require to speak to you before issuing a refund. Normally, lost packages turn up and in my experience a totally lost package within Canada & The US is rare. I am happy to refund shipping for any late packages (as stated by tracking with the carrier. Does not apply to standard mail). Completely lost packages will be refunded in full of course, after Canada Post speaks with you on the matter.
You can rest assured that I want your experience to be a pleasant one, and to gain your trust. Should you have any issues with shipping I will work to rectify it with the shipping service in a timely manner, and will refund you out of pocket if need be.
CUSTOM ORDERS SUCH AS NAME OR MONOGRAM ENGRAVING ARE NON-REFUNDABLE (generic engraving is certainly refundable – see below) & CLEARANCE ITEMS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
Due to the nature of custom work, & due to the low price of my Clearance items, these orders are considered FINAL SALE with the exception of: error made by me, the artist, in size/specifications made by the customer, or defect of craftsmanship. If there is any problem, you must contact me within 7 DAYS of receiving the product. Defect or error will be remedied by replacement of the item or refund. Whenever possible, I will replace the item. Refund will only be issued if a replacement cannot be made.
ALL OTHER RETURNS MUST BE INDICATED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF RECEIPT AND RETURN SHIPPING WILL BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CUSTOMER.
This would include artisan jewelry, and non-specific engraving (one letter, a (generic) word or symbol).
You must contact me directly to advise me of the return. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY GOODS LOST IN TRANSIT, it would be wise to purchase insurance/tracking whenever possible.
ALL RETURNS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE SAME CONDITION AS THEY ARRIVED AND IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
EXCHANGES
If you wish to exchange your non-custom/engraved item for an item of equal value, you are free to do so at your expense if you inform me within 7 DAYS of receipt of the original item of your intention. Return shipping & the cost of shipping of exchanged item is the responsibility of the client. Original item must be returned in original packaging in its original state. I am not responsible for the original item if lost in transit. Exchanges for customized/engraved product please email me leilani@heavenlyflower.com to discuss as these are normally final sale items.
Above all, I want my you to be happy. If you are left unsatisfied by your experience/purchase I want to know. The intent is to share my talents/expressions. I would hate to think someone was left with a less than satisfactory experience with their purchase. I am happy to hear your feedback and offer solutions so that you are left feeling confident in your purchase.
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
Paypal
INTERAC EMAIL TRANSFER: At checkout you will see this option as well as a space to enter your challenge question answer. I will await your money transfer before the order can be processed. Please note that once you enter the challenge answer and hit “make payment” you will NOT have another chance to review your order. Please review your order before submitting your challenge question answer.
Cheque/Money Order (must clear before order ships)
Barter/Trade (Please contact to work out an agreement prior to purchasing).
Back engraving options are available on individual product listings. Choose the style of back engraving you want in the drop down, and don’t forget to specify your engraving in the “personalization” box before adding to cart. There is an additional fee for back engraving.
I engrave manually and not via a computer, so I am limited on the size/number of characters that will fit. I usually give the maximum of what can be engraved as an option already. If you see another engraving style elsewhere on the site and you would prefer it, send me a message via the “Product Inquiry” option on the product description page.
Here is a blog post I wrote on the subject: http://creativityinspired.ca/engraving-much-text-can-really/
I generally provide this information on each individual listing. Most pieces are made out of sterling silver (necklaces), as well as 14KT gold-filled. All other engraving pieces are made of a silver or gold plate over steel or brass (keychains, stitch markers, bookmarks). I’ve spent hours and hours researching and finding items that are suitable for engraving but also fit the price point of the majority of my customers. **PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE** and are based on current silver/gold prices, as well as the ever fluctuating Canadian dollar.
I’ve tried to add the sizes XS, S, M, L, & XL to the chain sizes to help give a rough idea of the length of each. Here is a blog post I wrote on the subject, that may help you: http://creativityinspired.ca/necklace-lengths-personalized-gifts/
I do not offer engraving on your personal items. I engrave manually; therefore I do not feel comfortable engraving on anything that cannot easily be replaced, just in case error occurs.
Yes! I would be happy to discuss supplying your event or business with my products at a wholesale or bulk discount. I’ve supplied jewelry for wedding parties, keychains/bookmarks for wedding favors, keychains for events such as breastfeeding and babywearing fundraisers, and I’d love to discuss having my items in your store either wholesale or consignment. Please fill out the special order form for more info. I look forward to hearing from you!
I’m happy to discuss bulk/custom orders for yarn as well as the possibility of a bulk discount on pre-made yarn. Please note there is no markup on handspun yarn; it is impossible to recoup all the time involved in developing and making yarn but I am happy to give some kind of discount on a bulk order. I will also need several weeks to develop a bulk order from sratch. Please fill out the special order form for more info. I look forward to hearing from you!
You can view my current sale items here. As far as sales for percentage off for promotion or a holiday I rarely have them. I don’t have a lot of wiggle room with my pricing. Most items on clearance are at or below cost. I make the items by hand and absorb a lot of the cost/time that goes into these pieces. I would much rather sell at an honest price than one with 3 or 4+ times markup like you’ll find in a retail store or an MLM business. I am not from money, and I feel it is important for my work to stay affordable to all walks of life.
I answer email, direct or via my facebook page promptly, usually in less than 24 hours. If you do not receive a response from me in 24 hours, check your spam/junk folder. If still nothing feel free to send another message. It is very rare that I do not respond to messages right away, so don’t hesitate to send another message. It is possible I never received the first one.
“Fiber work is my way of coping with daily stress and anxiety; whereas jewelry making is my way of releasing it.” ~ Leilani
BB3: Leilani Handmade (formally known as heavenly flower/fleur de paradis) is a fiber & jewelry studio owned & operated by Leilani Cleveland Deveau. Inspired by her family, the name of the studio is derived from her daughters (AKA 3 gems/3 bébés), fiber interests (baa baa black sheep, 3 ply wool) & the overall superstition that things (good or bad) come in 3’s.
Born and bred in Nova Scotia, her home studio is currently located in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. The studio is currently not open to the public, but meetup for delivery of your order in the Centreville/Kentville/New Minas or Canning/Wolfville area is available.
Leilani started making/selling jewelry over 17 years ago, a pursuit started as an outlet for expression and healing from a stressful job situation. Now as a mom the jewelry has evolved into wearable keepsakes. The progression into working with fiber started in 2011 when the family began attending Wool Shows and Fiber festivals throughout New England. Turning raw, unprocessed fleece into beautifully dyed fibers for felting and spinning into yarn has become a daily ritual, and yarn for sale is listed at the wholesale price for all to purchase.
The items for sale on this site were designed to be affordable to everyone, despite income bracket or circumstance. The goal is to share the creativity, to have an outlet for expression, and not to monitor profit margins. Handmade work is a labour of love and it would be impossible to recoup all costs involved in bringing these products into fruition. Most items here are available to giveaway for grassroots fundraisers and payment is accepted in many forms including barter (trade). Simply contact for more info.
Please check out the RECOMMENDED POSTS section of the blog to learn more about the products I develop, and my handmade philosophy.
Leilani loves to hear from others in the handmade/art community & as well as those looking for items for consignment, wholesale or group events. Whatever the reason, never hesitate to drop her a line.
bb3 exists online only, but if you have suggestions as to where you would like to see these products, don’t hesitate to pass it along.
Studio bb3
Leilani Handmade
Leilani Cleveland Deveau
Mailing address:
156-9049 Commercial St.,
New Minas, NS B4N 5A4
Canada
902.996.1234 (text)
1.866.665.6776
Follow my studio life via Instagram
lcd@bb3.ca
(Please note: email or text is the quickest way to contact). (Also note: Leilani frequents Hants, Kings & Annapolis Co.: pickup or delivery is possible in these areas).
Testimonials
Copyright
All items featured on this website are the copyright of Leilani Cleveland Deveau and heavenlyflower.com.
Images may not be reused without the prior permission of the artist.
All items may be resold only at the credit of the artist, Leilani Cleveland Deveau.
Copyright heavenly flower/fleur de paradis/bb3: 2002-2018
Artisan creative custom keepsake jewelry/gifts and yarn with a handmade twist.
Kings Co., Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia Canada leilani@heavenlyflower.com
design by: Leilani Cleveland Deveau; architecture by: Deveau Developments, Inc.
What necklace length is appropriate for a gift? If you google necklace lengths there are many good diagrams to give you a visual idea of the different lengths available. Here’s my advice for some of the common chain lengths that I offer with my personalized engraved and artisan jewelry.
First and foremost, who are you buying for? What body type do they have? What length of necklaces have you seen them wear before? As with most things, all necks are not created equally. When I first started making jewelry, I was barely out of my teen years & far more petite than I am now. I really liked chokers, thus I made a lot of choker style necklaces. So I naively made all my necklaces in the 14- adjustable-to-the-16 inch range, believing this would fit my target clientele just fine. Until a 6 foot plus co-worker tried a necklace and she could barely get it around her neck. My bracelets, in that 7.5 – 8 inch size would not fit her either, and let’s not even go there with anklets. It made me re-examine the “average” size stereotype, and why it’s more important to know who you are buying for rather than relying on the S, M, L, XL size categories.
Here is my general guideline for picking necklace lengths, but again think of who you are buying for:
14 inch – this is my general child size, or choker size for a petite person.
16 inch – Another length on the smaller size, great for children, teens or petite/slender build people
18 inch – I consider this the “when in doubt” size. It is a decent average length without being too long or short.
24 inch – for those who prefer longer chain or are more bigger boned or curvy/full figured.
30+ inch – this is a nice long chain that I find great for layering with shorter necklaces.
I will emphasize that this has simply been my experience & observation selling jewelry for 15 years. It is definitely not true of all people. I hope it helps with your decision making if you are unsure which length to go with.
June 2015’s bb3 project newsletter is available! This month there is a chance to win an engraved butterfly necklace. Just click on the image above to read and find out more…
This is a revamped product that I used to offer. The original engraved butterfly teardrop necklace is now available with your choice of eight different bead colors: light blue, grey blue, smoke blue, light pink, citrine yellow, clear, ruby red & gold.
Available in these silver or gold plated brass teardrop pendants. They have a fabulous weight to them & wear very well.
I love these glass beads and use them often. They are weighted and thus have a sparkle similar to crystal. My photos don’t really capture just how pretty they truly are.
The butterfly is a symbol or transformation. These necklaces would be lovely for anyone who has made a major positive change in their life and need to signify it in a tangible way. Or maybe, you just like butterflies… 😉
I made this yarn this past winter & it occurred to me that this upcycled handspun yarn is vegan friendly. Most of the yarns I spin are with animal fibers, but this was made using sari silk remnants (banana fibers that are similar to rayon – so not exactly “natural” as the name would suggest). I can’t always get these from the company in Vermont but when I see them I nab them. They are colorful and silky & usually I add them to my batts. This is my first time making a complete yarn out of them. I love the idea of up-cycling a discarded product.
After thinking it over, I decided the best way to showcase these fibers as well as keep it an even diameter was to core wrap spin it. Core wrapping is a technique where you wrap fibers – usually from a batt – around a finished yarn, the core. Many people use commercial yarns for the core. The banana fibers come in a bag in one big mass, so I found it easy to tease out a bit at a time and let it wrap around the core. I used this dacron yarn (polyester) as the core. I found this huge cone of it at a second-hand store for only $3.50! Score!
To add a little more glitz, I added a commercial sequined thread at the same time I was wrapping the fibers. Another bargain find from the clearance section of the craft store. I am a bit of a magpie (or squirrel? Mouse?) when it comes to shiny and cheap things. 🙂
I made a really cool scarf with this yarn, I really wish the pictures would capture the texture better. It’s very organic in feel yet glitzy all at the same time, and naturally 100% unique. I love rocking this!
This is a continuous scarf knitted in the round using an elongated stitch. I made it really long (it’s approximately 36″ from top to bottom) because I wanted to be able to fold it over more than once for different looks.
I used size 11 circular needles. As I harp and preach about handspun yarn: go big or go home! 😉 Always go with a larger needle to allow the fibers to open up and have room for any larger sections.
I love elongated stitches and use several methods when knitting my handspun. I love that airy, webby effect and I think it showcases the handspun so well. Not to mention it’s super simple and works up fast. I’ll have instructions for this stitch at the bottom of this post…
Because of the ease with these kind of stitches, I threw this project in my bag and worked on it when I had a passing minute while out on errands. You never have to remember where you left off because it’s all the same until binding off.
Elongated Stitch for continuous scarf
CO desired number of stitches (I CO 110 with size 11 circular needles)
Be sure all stitches are facing the same way, and are not twisted then:
K1;
Insert your left needle into the front of the ST you just created and make a stitch within this stitch: just like a continental purl stitch only using your left needle instead of your right.
Continue until scarf is desired length & CO. It doesn’t get more easy than that!
We had yet another wonderful Mother’s Day weekend attending the 2015 New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. The show has become a yearly family tradition of ours. One of our favorite stops is the Alpaca barn which was showcasing many babies & adolescents this year. I swear I dropped an ovary or two looking at these cuties! Special shout out to Skyeview Alpacas. Always a pleasure stopping by their booth.
I didn’t take near enough pictures, of course. How could I when there was always a bag of something in my hands?? I took a pic of this year’s take in the back of our Jeep but the camera setting was bumped to monochrome & I didn’t realize it. I guess it doesn’t matter too much since the theme this year was definitely white. Besides the angora rabbit fur and white alpaca fleece from Skyeview, I also came away with 2 bags of merino wool from Joe & Judy Miller to process; 1 lb. of to DIE for (or should I say, to DYE for – har har) white BFL top – I just couldn’t say no; and 3 4oz balls of coopworth top. The only thing of color was 3 hand-dyed 4oz balls of a wool/silk blend to play around with. I normally don’t buy roving anymore. But sometimes it just calls my name. I look forward to doing some experimental dyeing this season. I definitely had some restraint this year, but my studio is over flowing. I really could use a bigger space for processing fleece. I would probably get through it faster if I did. Someday…
The May 2015 monthly newsletter was unleashed earlier this week with the 3 winners from last month’s giveaway announced, new products, my latest blog challenge and of course, this month’s giveaway – for an “apple of my eye” necklace! Click here to read.
Don’t forget to sign up in order to enter the giveaways.
I recently found these sweet epoxy apple charms. I love the pop of red color and they were just begging to be made into a necklace. I present you: The Apple of My Eye Keepsake Necklace – or Teacher’s Gift.
I couldn’t decide which way to go with this when I first set out to do the engraving. I ended up liking both ideas so much I just kept it that way. I love the script letter paired with the apple. I also thought an engraved “TEACH” along with a heart was a nice touch.
These would make wonderful, affordable teacher’s gifts as well as a sweet message to a loved one: “You are the apple of my eye”.
I currently have a limited number of charms as at the time my supplier only had a few available. I’ll see how popular this item is before ordering more (in order to get the best possible price I need to order several hundred dollars worth of goods from my supplier. So I don’t like to do that too many times in the run of a year).
If you are like me, you like to comb the internet for inspiration. I consider myself a spinner, but not so much a knitter or crocheter. My knowledge of knitting and crochet is actually pretty basic. People tend to be quite surprised by this because the assumption is one starts spinning after mastering the needles.
I taught myself to spin just few months into teaching myself to knit and crochet (the beginning stages, anyway). The story as to how I got started would suit a post on its own, but the fact that I learned about making a textile from the ground up made me appreciate the basics of knit and crochet. Handspun yarn literally has a life of its own. Rather than you making it into what you want it to be, it tells you what it will be. Thus, you gain a respect and appreciation for handspun that you realize is best left to speak for itself.
Because of this, we are often left scratching our heads as to what to do with gorgeous artful textured handspun. I say “we” because I know I am not alone in this. Many of us have that stash of pretty yarns. Because of its unusualness (or its mind-blowing prettiness) it becomes a permanent fixture in the yarn bin like the wall-flower never picked to dance (and we know it really should be the belle of the ball!). Whether it is handspun or an artful commercial yarn, I know many knitters know exactly what I mean. When I started spinning the goal was to make the most even, symmetrical yarn possible. But soon I really wanted to push the boundaries of what yarn is. The problem was I wondered what I could make with such unusual and small amounts of it. I have a growing collection of yarn that I spun that I feel is “too pretty” to use.
So even as a spinner, I find myself taking to the internet to find inspiration. Not patterns. Patterns are no good with such a unique medium. More of a reassurance that others truly are making items out of handspun and it’s not just a pretty yarn to be hung in the studio. I also have this bad habit of over critiquing my yarns and again, a post for another day… I found this wonderful article on craftsy that really sums up what to make with handspun yarn.
Since it is recommended to use larger needles with handspun and to keep the stitches simple, I believe handspun is a great textile for the novice knitter or crocheter, or, if you are like me – those who do not possess the time or patience for a long term project. I want to get back to the wheel, afterall. 😉 It may look intimidating at first. It can be comprised of many bumps, thick and thin sections and even over twisted sections, but when you realize a basic knit or crochet stitch will give you a stunning one of a kind scarf for example, one quickly realizes how how satisfying it is to use. The projects are not only simple, but since they are worked up with large needles, they make the perfect afternoon project.
Don’t be afraid to mix your handspun with commercial yarns. I love to make the ribbing of my hats with commercial yarn and then let the handspun be the personality of the rest of the hat. What about a scarf in elogated knit stitch switching back and forth between handspun and commercial? The possibilities can truly be endless, and it is freeing to not have to follow a pattern. Free form crochet is your friend with the leftovers! I’ll be starting a series here on the blog showcasing what I have knit with my handspun. Some will be hits, and some will be misses I am sure. Many of the examples posted here are from my spun seconds pile. I really need to have the courage to tackle that pretty yarn stash. My goal is to share the journey with you so that we can grow together. The yarn is piling up here and I need a butt kick to come up with some projects with it. I do not feel comfortable selling my handspun when I myself do not know what to do with it! With that, I am off to play with that jumbo rainbow yarn pictured above.
Today is my birthday! To celebrate I have an extra special giveaway with 3 chances to win. April’s giveaway via the newsletter is a game of sorts. You enter telling me your first and second choice of prize from bb3.ca. I’ll draw the first name at random, and they will win their top choice. The second name will get either their first or second choice, whichever one is not already taken. Same with name #3: however, if both of #3’s choices have been taken, I’ll draw for another winner. Clear as mud? Check out the entry form for a more concise explanation. Hey, it’s my birthday, my mind is definitely not on blogging…blah blah blah… 😉
I’m taking entries until April 30th, 2015 11:59EDT. The only thing I ask is that you are a subscriber to the newsletter. You can sign up here and unsubscribe at any time, no problem! The newsletter is a once a month emailed publication, and I do a giveaway every month, so why not? The newsletter helps me share my creative ideas and also keeps me on point, per se. It’s my monthly butt kick to keep the creative juices flowing. 🙂
The April 2015 newsletter from bb3.ca is hot off the press. April is my birthday month so we are doing an extra special giveaway with 3 chances to win. The draw is always open to newsletter subscribers so make sure you sign up before you enter. 🙂
I always try to offer my products in both silver and gold, as I know they are both very popular. With the exception of my sterling silver products, due to the price of gold I find even gold filled can get quite pricey. I know we all are on a budget these days, which is why I do my best to make quality, affordable products that would be suitable for gifts or personal keepsakes.
Most of the engraving blanks I use are silver or gold plated. But they have a marvelous weight and wear very well. I would simply advise against getting them wet or wearing them 24/7 to keep them looking shiny & new. That said, I tend to wear mine constantly, even in the shower. They can take quite a beating until I officially have to retire them.
These following engraving necklaces were available in silver only. I am happy to say I was able to acquire gold charms thus am able to offer a gold option as well:
Gold option is now available in each listing.
This is not a new product – but a revamping of a product I used to offer. I love the pairing if the teardrop pendant and the lotus flower, it feels so fluid & calm. I especially love to wear this necklace with a long chain. I have the silver version on a 30″ chain in my personal collection.
Available in either silver or gold, you also have a choice of either a fuschia or opal Swarovski crystal.
The lotus will symbolize different things to different people. Personally, I love any kind of flower symbolism. I am a heavenly flower/garland, afterall. 🙂 When an object such as a flower – which I think of as delicate – blooms & thrives out of murky, muddy water, this for me speaks a lot to where I have been, and what I have become. The lotus also has several stacked petals, holding an intricacy all its own: just like my own individualism.
The Buddhist & Hindu religions use the lotus in their symbolism & beliefs, and although I am not of either persuasion, I have the utmost respect for the teachings of both.
I have been combing and carding a lot of fleece this month. I’m actually squirreling away my pulled top. It’s the “premium” stuff so I am not sure whether I will make yarn with it, or sell them in batches eventually so others can spin/felt with it. I’ve actually been been enjoying spinning the “waste” product from pulling top – the lumpy bumpy stuff. Such interesting yarns! That’s a textured yarn addict for you. 😉 But that is a post for another day…
I realized I never blogged about my tabletop fleece picker I acquired last fall. I have written before how I like to hand pick fleece, but I finally conceded that I needed something that would get the job done quicker. I did not have the funds for what I’d really like (a triple picker!) nor the time/inclination to build my own so I found this inexpensive one. Above you can see the difference in fleece before and after it is picked with said picker. Note: the wool on the right is not the same color as the wool on the left. It is from the same batch, however.
The picker has heavy sharp teeth on the bottom as well as the top piece, that slides back and forth, teasing the fleece apart; opening up those fibers so that they are easier to comb or card. I really like that this one locks in place when not in use particularly since there are many curious little hands in my house. You could even add a pad locks to it, if you wanted to.
How well does it work? You ask. It is adequate. For the price I had really low expectations so I was pleasantly surprised at how well it works. It still requires a bit of elbow grease and it’s no triple picker, but it certainly aids me into getting fleece picked faster than I could do it by hand. But someday, triple picker – you will be mine! 🙂
March 2015 Newsletter and Giveaway has been sent – you can read it above by clicking on the image as well as find out how to enter the giveaway (open to newsletter subscribers only – but you can unsubscribe at any time).