I am pleased to welcome The Spun Monkey Fiber Shoppe as today's Featured Sponsor! In Shannon's words:
"The Spun Monkey is a love affair with process, with creative collaboration, with a patch of grass. Wool from small family farms is lovingly crafted into artful supplies for knitting, weaving and crochet or wet-felted into joyful adornments to keep you cozy."
You can follow The Spun Monkey blog here, and soon, she'll be launching a side project exploring organic forms with wool thread and linen. Look for Crewel and Unusual on Etsy soon!
SouleMama: What inspired you to start your business?
The Spun Monkey: I hadn't intended to turn my passion for fiber into a business, but was encouraged by friends to apply as a vendor at our local farmer's market in southern Vermont. In 2007 and 2008 I was a regular vendor there, and it was a wonderful experience to be part of the market community. I have since moved back to the west coast and am now focusing on my Etsy shop as well as a few brick-and-mortar stores where I consign or wholesale.
The Spun Monkey: There is inspiration everywhere! Changing seasons create major color shifts in my work throughout the year, but little things can sometimes spark an ongoing project...right now we're reading the Little House on the Prairie series at bedtime and all the colors dance around in my head as my husband reads aloud...the wheat, the grasshoppers, Laura's pink ribbons and brown hair, Mary's golden curls and blue dress...I feel a series of yarns coming on and can't wait to fire up the dyepots!
The Spun Monkey: Teaching is a HUGE motivator. Last year I began teaching felting and spinning workshops and whenever I am in a creative slump, teaching or taking a class gives me a lift that I can ride for a long time after. I come home with new ideas and a heart full of gratitude that I have skills to share and such wonderful students to share them with. Experimentation is also key to keeping me going. One week I might try some natural dyes from local, seasonal plants or use a different technique in my spinning, mixing it up just enough to keep things interesting. The biggest motivator of all, though, is when a customer sends me pictures of a finished project using my yarns. I love to see the results of our collaboration!
The Spun Monkey: Motherhood created the work that I do. When my son was an infant, I taught myself to spin wool on a spindle. While he slept, it was my meditation. When he was awake, it was something that calmed us both. He liked to watch my hands work and to touch the wool. I began to see the limitless creative potential and soon became obsessed. Now, nearly five years later, I'm selling my yarn and my son wants a spinning wheel for his birthday.
For today's giveaway, The Spun Monkey is offering to ONE winner:
- Cloud Bunny (last photograph above) is 100% merino handspun yarn, with subtly shifting pastel colors. There are 226 soft-as-a-cloud yards for something special you'll want to wear next to your (or your little one's) skin! 2-ply, worsted weight, slightly thick-and-thin.
In addition, Soulemama readers can enjoy a 15% discount on items from The Spun Monkey through March 31st (discount does not apply to shipping). Just mention you are a Soulemama reader in the comments section of your order.
Thank you, The Spun Monkey!
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To enter today's giveaway, simply leave a comment in this post. (One entry per person, please!) I'll close comments and announce the winners by 8am EST on Sunday. Good luck!
Comments closed! The winner is:
that yarn looks SO soft, and would be perfect for a little one we are soon to meet :)
Posted by: AG Ambroult
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