The Needlefelt Solution

I just pulled a yarn of my wheel the other day, it was perfect except for a few loose tailspin locks. I was probably distracted when spinning them in. They are holding, but not well enough for my liking, I don't want to pull them off, so I am going to needle felt them in place. 

Step One:

Find the lock.

Step Two:

Wrap it around the yarn as it would have been spun in.

Step Three:

Use a general purpose felting needle, very inexpensive, and some old foam. Move the sharp point off the needle up and down into the lock and the core of the yarn. Watch your fingers, felting needles hurt. Do not move the needle on an angle it may break.

Voila, all done! The yarn can now be washed and hung or set with steam. 

I use this especially for yarns I am not going to ply. It helps to strengthen and improve an otherwise perfect yarn. 

Happy Spinning, and needle felting should it be necessary.

Let Yourself Grow...

Don't Count Your Pennies, even if you have to keep track of them.

I can't say for sure that this is sound advice, however, it is advice that works for me. 

It is advice I try and give myself when I get that sick feeling in my stomach as if I have lost out in someway by tipping someone more then I meant to or when I have committed to buying something that is a few more dollars then expected. I don't know where this reaction comes from, but when it happens I remind myself not to count my pennies.

I am not trying to say I should not know where my money is going. In fact keeping track of money and what is being done with it is major component in the recipe for success in a business and financially healthy home. More on this another time.

What I mean by not counting your pennies is: be generous, be aware, but give where you can, don't focus on the cost alone, focus on value.

How is this advice useful to me in a business sense? I am growing a business for myself and my family because I love fibre and I want to share that love. Of course the bottom line matters, but it is not all that matters. To me, Don't count your pennies is a reminder that the bottom line is not the major driving force behind my business decisions. Ethics, fair transactions, sustainability, community. These are the major driving factors, pennies play a role, but they are not the first consideration. 

While I will be keeping track of my pennies, I will not be counting them. 

Don't Let the Fear of Failure Hold You Back

http://www.likeaboss.com/entertainment/16-creativity-inspiring-quotes-with-pictures/

How many times have I let my fear of failing hold me back? 

Too many to count, but NOT any more.

Google definition:

fail·ure

ˈfālyər/

noun

1. 1.

   lack of success.
2. 
   

Every FAILURE is actually a

 LEARNING experience and so not a failure at all. 

Failure has a negative connotation, but it is simply a word to describe an attempt at something that did not have the expected outcome.

This is not negative it is positive, this is how we learn and grow.

Babies are a prime example of this! How many times do they fail to roll over, to sit up, to crawl, to walk, to talk before they do it? Do you ever see it stop them from trying in the first place or again? NO. So get in touch with your inner paper and don't stop before you start!

I want to hear from you...Tell me... 

here or on facebook...

What would you try if failure was out of the equation? 

What have you always wanted to do, but fear of failure has stopped you from even starting?

New Traditions in the Making

Huckleberry Picking with my sister and my little one. It was beautiful to get out in the late afternoon sunshine and enjoy the mountain air. 

Fibre Fridays Tip of the Week

I recently, last week actually, started Fibre Fridays on my facebook page. I am also going to share my Fibre Fridays Tip of the Week here on my blog.

Here is last weeks tip:

When working with raw alpaca tumble it before washing. Use a small laundry basket with a cloth tied to the top and shake the fibres around, with enough force to dislodge dust and vegetation, but not so hard that you shake the fibre out the laundry basket slits. Since Alpacas do not have lanolin after the pre shake you may not even need to wash it before spinning or felting.

Here is yesterdays tip:

When spinning wear a cooking or baking apron to keep the hairs off your clothes. I love to do this because it works really well. I don't have to be constantly brushing or rolling fibres of my cloths and I can spin in anything. This also gives me another reason to add to my apron collection

If you have a tip idea for Fibre Friday just contact me and I will feature you and your tip of the week:)!

30% OFF Your First Purchase!!!

Spinning a Fabulous Textured Art Batt with Feathers from Nessaland on my Ashford E Spinner

I will be launching Sarah Elizabeth Fibre Works in September

and I need everyones help... as much of it as I can get

I need your opinions, information and general wants and needs
when it comes to locks, batts, roving, yarn...

Please Fill out One or More (If more then one are applies to you) of the Surveys Below

just click on the link to be taken to the survey page

Fibre Arts Enthusiast, Fibre Lover and Hobby Artist

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I will be publishing the summarized results, sans personal information, on my blog in August so that all can benefit from the information I gather.

If you feel that you fall under the category of competition, for example you make your living or a significant portion of your living selling your one of a kind fibre products. Then lets help each other. Fill out the survey, share it with your other fibre business friends and I will share the results of the following survey with you. 
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The State of the Fibre Art Business

Thank you for your support and help making my business a success!!!

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