Yay! Finally a new way to tell everyone what’s going on around here. Since this is new, I’m expecting new people so I should tell a little more about myself, ourselves, and what we do. It’s always hard to decide on the level of transparency with a blog. Silver Wheel Yarn is not really a business, it is the title of our life as Fiber Artists. Lots goes on in our lives that isn’t for sale; the good, the bad, the hope, and the frustration. However, if I don’t paint a perfect picture of us, people may not choose us to teach them the 
Way of Fiber. Not only is teaching our bread and butter (since we rarely offer our weavings or yarn for sale) but it is also what makes Silver Wheel Yarn the pavement on the road of my life. I love teaching, especially adults, and knowing that I’m saving a dying art and giving someone the ability to create. I reckon we’ll have to see what happens as we go along this path to see what I need to say.
First, about us. I’m Traci, more of an experimental anthropologist than a fiber artist. I’m the voice of Silver Wheel Yarn. We are not production artists, it doesn’t work for us. We have set on this quest, not to produce and sell as many items as possible, instead we find the best materials, maybe unusual materials, and use our best ability to make something; a one of a kind item. We use skills from every area of fiber arts to solve problems and make things the way they did when it mattered.
I am mostly self taught, driven by the need to always 
learn something new. Weaving, spinning, knitting, quilting, and some of the needle arts are only a few skills I use on a regular basis. CJ, husband and partner, does more of the higher weaving, artful spinning, Japanese braiding, and equipment maker. Greenbean, our feline furbaby, helps where she can.
Everything we make looks more old school and traditional than some of the modern pieces that carry popularity today. It reflects our personality and to make something that otherwise would be counterproductive. We do our best to live as close as we can to the Earth and the spirits that reside in it. Slowly we are ridding ourselves of the modern conveniences that bring negativity and encourage mindless laziness. I believe that worship is done best with labor and community service. That’s just us, and in no way do we look down on others for their choice of life. We all do our best to grow closer to God in what ever way we need to.
In the future we hope to have everything we make made from the wool of Kentucky farms, prepossessed with no electricity in our own studio, custom dyed, and made into traditional items by hand. This year we have acquired nearly 10 high quality local sheep fleeces and 13 local alpaca fleeces with natural color. I’m hoping this will be what we need to make all the yarn we could use for the year. Cotton we still buy, because it takes sooooo long to spin it (I’m show you how later), but we have our own way of dyeing it with Greener Shades.
We’re always coming up with new schemes, so be sure to check back often. Also, I would love to hear from you when ever you have a thought. Talk to you later, I’m be putting a fleece washing tutorial on later this week.
Just like with the rest of the world, things are wild around here. We’re trying to ride out the Mercury Retrograde with stoic determination and hope in the future. In these stressful times its hard to bring ourselves to make something; especially when all we can think about is how much its going to cost us. So today I present you the Netti Doll. Simple, beautiful, and all you need is scraps from your quilting, weaving, and/or your knitting projects. I would love to have some feedback and make you work for your supper (as we say around here) so if you want a tutorial to make her, your going to have to ask. ;-) 
