Does anyone spin and card the yarn they use from natural fibers?

I'm presented my unit lesson plan today on fiber art so I thought I'd ask.

My sister and best friend do. I almost bought a spinning wheel but the cost/space plus I plan to move in 20 months made me rethink it.

I had a friend who, as a school project, helped shear a sheep, carded & spun the wool, dyed it with natural dyes, wove it, and made a coat out of it. I envy her to no end!

We had a spinning wheel in our building that flooded last year. Even though I offered to dry it out and shellac it or do whatever it took to save it, my brother told the salgavers to dump it. He almost went out with the ruined items! It was in our family for over 150 years.

On another note, I was at two different craft stores last weekend and couldn't find one stinking embroidery hoop! I'm trying a third tomorrow, but after that, I'll have to order one online. I remember when we had dozens of them. I never realized this, but my mother has squirreled away a sampler I've done every 5-6 years. This could make an interesting display or pillow set!

Try a fabric chain store ie JoAnn's/Hancocks for embroidery hoops. Anywhere that sells the DMC floss should be carrying the hoops.

Wal-Mart should have embroidery hoops and you can sometimes find them in the dollar stores if you look hard enough.

Wal-Mart doesn't carry cross-stitching supplies anymore. I went in there a few months ago looking for cross-stitch things and the woman at the craft counter said that corporate had decided not to carry that part of the craft section anymore.

I was up by my old LYS today. They used to carry cross stitch patterns and supplies, but they stopped a few years ago. I saw a sign in the window that said they had cross stitch stuff, so I figured they'd started again, parked and went in. Sadly... no. They still carry needlepoint, knitting patterns, and yarn (so... much... yarn...) but no cross stitch. :( I could have picked up some really nice yarns, but I'm on a self-imposed yarn diet. My stash is so big that one of the bedrooms in my house is known as the "yarn room". :p

Michael's carries cross stitch supplies, including kits, patterns, DMC floss, aida cloth, and embroidery hoops. HC, if there's a Michael's near you, check there. Unfortunately, they have yet to emerge into the 21st century - they do have a web site, but you cannot order online.

I was at the my state's art teacher conference and I had a chance to try felting with a needle. I loved it so much. I bought set of needles and wool.:D

Ohhh where's VandalSquirrel? We're all about knitting, except she's really good at it and I'm kind of a n00b. I'm almost done with a cable-knit scarf for my sister who moved to DC. It's getting chilly there, and it's almost her b-day!

I like to do crafty stuff cause I'm not artistic. Puff paint and googly eyes and mod podge, oh my!

What's felting? I'd love to try something new!

There are two ways to felt. One way is wet felting. I don't know how to do that because the class was sold out.

The other way needle felting is when you take roving, wool that has been washed and or dyed, and use the small barbs of the felting needle shaft to catch and lock the fibers together when the needle is stabbed in. You go at it in a straight up and down motion. There is a felting board made out of some kind of foam that you put underneath the item you want to felt. It can be done on felted canvas or batting, anything that's knitted, denim, pillows, and roving itself.

I know this isn't exactly fancy crafting, but my sister and I got really excited about making felt blankets today. You know, when you get two pieces and tie little strips together around the border? JoAnn's had a TON of different felt fabrics. Maybe 49ers blanket with tan on the other side? Hehe!