Returning to Normal Mode after Christmas!

Well really it won't be normal, because in a few days, the sorting, selling, and simplyfying will begin January 1st!!

So I thought I would share what has kept me busy and away from my blog.  All those handmade presents I was working on and couldn't share because of family checking this page out!!  Here is the project that was way out of my norm....but it is something I want to check out and see if I can add it to my craft bag of tricks.

These are/were my grand puppys Dylan and Daisy.  Daisy left us last summer and she will be dearly missed by all of us but especially her Mom & Dad, Shannon & Shawn and their little guy Brockers.  Here is photo...Daisy is the big girl, and this is when Dylan was just a pup.....beautiful dogs!

While Daisy was with us I had the kids collect the dogs hair from their groomer.  I had read that Great Pyr hair could be spun into a useable yarn for making things.  Well 3 huge bags of dog hair have set in my closet for a few years while I was trying to find someone to spin it for me!  Alas I gave up, so I made a drop spindle and tried my hand at spinning the yard.  NAH  to frigging much work.  So I ran across a pattern for a kick spindle that you could make.  It involved a bun foot, and being the cheapskate I am I waited for my footstool to meet the grim reaper and took all the feet off it! LOL I was looking for the bun feet, but this was easier!!  Hubby and I built the kick spindle in about 45 mintues once we got all the parts.

So first you have this pile of dog hair, being frugal I used two slicker brushes that we have for our Great Danes.  Carding brushes are like $80, until I know if I even want to do this again I am not spending that kind of money.  You have to brush the hair out so the hairs lined up and ready for spinning.  After a few U-Tube videos I got that figured out.

Then you start slowly feeding the hair onto a leader string, and kick the spindle to spin the yarn.  Also learned on U-Tube!! LOL

When you think your leg will fall off and you only have a few rows to go, your grandson comes and spins the spindle for you and all is much better!

Finally with a big old hook and some additional yarn to give the dog hair strength I began crocheting!  It turned out beautiful and from Shannon's tears, and a misty Shawn I think it was worth learning all the new stuff to make this special memory.  I addressed the present to Mom & Dad Binkley from Dylan and Daisy and when Shannon read the tag she said Mom....Daisy isn't here!  I said she is today and she knew what was in the package!

Here is Brock curled up on their sofa cuddled up with the very special afghan! The light stripes in the afghan are Daisy and Dylan who will be around for a long time!!!