This project is difficult to get a photo I don't have a space large enough to spread it out, or a circular table to use. This shawl/tablecloth/thing is 56" across.

This is a pattern by Herbert Neibling called Lyra. I used ~2,500 yards of Lacis Shetland Cobweb. It was frighteningly thin in places but it held up to a pretty firm blocking. I had to block half the shawl at a time because I didn't have enough pins and finished somewhere around 2 in the morning!  

blocking on a busy area rug (1st half!)



Some detail shots:







And an action shot.

Hi there! I wanted to introduce myself and show you my latest piece. My name is Amanda, and this guy is based off the Tiki god Kanaloa.



Kanaloa is symbolized by the squid or by the octopus, and is considered to be the god of the Underworld and a teacher of magic. (source:wikipedia) He is often depicted as tall and pale skinned.

On my facebook page I ask people to challenge me to make something they want to see. I put the suggestions in a bowl and draw out a random suggestion each month. In February, the Tiki Mug was the winner.

The first step is the sketch:



Then the creation. It took me a few days to throw a satisfactory hourglass shape. I am still learning  .



After I trimmed the bottom, I put on the decorative base and the handle. These parts hopefully invoke the idea of a squid.



I had to put the mug away at this point and returned to it a few days later. The first feature to appear was the nose, followed by the eyes, mouth, headpiece and "chin". I ran out of time to finish the final details:



But then after about 4 days had gone by I found myself in the studio again, and Kanaloa received his teeth and the carving.



I chose not to take a picture of him in bisque form, but here he is (again) glazed. I brushed on copper carbonate, sponged off the excess, and dipped the mug in plain matte and then a thin glaze called floating blue. All my glazes are supplied by the studio where I am a student.



When I sell this piece in the near future, part of the proceeds will be going to charity.

I did a quick search and didn't find a lot of posts mentioning support spindles.

Tibetan or Russian spindles are my favorite way to spin fiber. My favorite maker is Neal Brand.https://www.etsy.com/shop/nealbrand His spindles sell so quickly I'm lucky to have any.

I started learning how to spin on drop spindles but I'm always trying to get the longest length before I wind on. I find that with a support spindle I allow myself to spin shorter lengths before winding on, which saves me the shoulder aches and actually goes faster since I'm not fighting my spindle. I spin in my lap or off the table.

Does anyone else prefer a support spindle?