I've been busy with my new button maker. Yay!  I've also been making buttons to give to people who 'donate' some $$ into my tip jar when I'm doing street performing. Pretty cool, eh?

Peter Pan sets:





Dumbo sets:



My own design- Snail parade!

This is what has been consuming my time for the last week and a half. I don't know why I suddenly have the urge to draw, but I do, and since I can't draw more than doodles, I decided to doodle with a Sharpie pen and color it in with colored pencils afterward. There is a huge labyrinth, and several mini-labyrinths in there as well. Hope y'all enjoy!

So I found this cool handmade hat at goodwill, but I don't recognize it as being either knitted or crocheted...so how is it made? It's reversible, and each side is differently colored:



Here are some pics of me flipping up the hat brim to show both sides together:



And here are some close-ups:




I know it's kind of old-school, but I really like how it feels and looks. It is definitely run-of-the-mill acrylic, but I'd like to make some in other colors and textures. The other thing that's cool is that the pom pom is on both sides. I think half of it shows through on either side. Also, the hat seems to be constructed as a tube that is cinched around the pompom on top. Is this made with one of those knifty knitters? Thanks for any help, fiber gurus!

I got this beadalon expandable beading loom, and I was trying to figure out how to attach the warp threads to it. It doesn't have any screws or anything on the wooden rollers, but it does have holes. How in the world do I attach the warps to it? Thanks for any help. Here's a pic of the loom:

Is there a kind of bead that one could put on a ball chain that would act like a stopper? I have some handmade beads that I want to put on a ball chain (1/necklace), but I'd like to prevent the bead from moving on the chain. Is there such a thing? Maybe like something you would squeeze around the chain like a big crimp bead or something?
p.s. I hope this makes sense...

1) Anyone have the 411 on HG kilns (made by Sundance)? In particular, the HG6B6? Link: http://www.artglass1.com/hg6b6.htm

2) How would one make marbles that are flat on one side (like the kind people make "marble magnets" with? There are also used in aquariums or vases, I think. You might consider them to be a bead without a hole...

I am down with basic bead making, and I've seen some molds that look like half circles... If someone could point me to a tutorial or a website with the appropriate tool, that'd be AWESOME!

http://www.softspotyarns.com/pics/derlindenbaum/dlscaletn.jpg

http://www.softspotyarns.com/pics/cadbury/cadscaletn.jpg

http://www.softspotyarns.com/pics/the%20other%20side/tosscaletn.jpg

http://www.softspotyarns.com/pics/orangestudy/osscaletn.jpg

http://www.softspotyarns.com/pics/potpourri/potpscaletn.jpg

http://www.softspotyarns.com/pics/custom%20orders/grace/3grace1tn.jpg

http://www.softspotyarns.com/pics/custom%20orders/katy/katy1tn.jpg
Feedback???

Are there any spinners out here in Eugene that want to get together sometime to spin. I've never spun with others, and it sounds fun.

Would anyone with an online store like to exchange links? I would really like to network with other spinners.
Here's my button:



-or, code (cut and paste)-

<a href="http://www.softspotyarns.com" target="_blank">
<img src="http://www.softspotyarns.com/linkbutton.gif" alt="Soft Spot Yarns">
</a>

Let's trade! If you want to, e-mail me at alosik (at) gmail (dot) com, so I can know to link you back! Thanks!

I think I would like to set up a website for a yarn spinning business.  Anyways, I'm terrible at naming things, my puppy was even nameless for the first 2 weeks! Anyways, here's what I have so far:

fleecy treats
fleece dreams
peace fleece
peaceful pastures
y.a.k. (yarns and knits)
sparkley yarns
soft meadows

If anyone can think of something that I use, I'll send you a skein of yarn (peach fuzz skein). SWEET!
If you can't think of anything, tell me which you like the best. Thanks SO MUCH!