Aradia's Hand - Blog

Expansively Innovating Inward

Tue, 28 May 2013 14:51:26 GMT

The new product page set up.

There's something to be said for implementing. Okay maybe a bit more than just something. Its absolutely necessary to real growth because accumulating a bunch of "helpful" knowledge that you don't use is a little useless.

Over the course of the last year I've been doing major edits and revamps to my business in all ways. From re-branding completely, solidifying some of my message (still working on this for clarity) to price re-structuring and just moving to a more professional and cleaner set up - an actual website versus just a storefront and simply made website.

For those of you that know me personally I am usually poring over information just to turn around and apply it the best I can soon after. Although I do fall into the trap of "wanting to know all I can" to the point that I have a little of overwhelm paralysis now and again.

During this month I've appeared a little slack, but only because I've been working my ass off behind the scenes. While pricing is just calculating a few numbers (and thank Goddess I keep pristine records of supply costs) I also make project sheets for everything I make with relevant and useful notes. This extra step makes my life significantly easier and doesn't take up too much extra time if I do it in the creative process when I mean to.

Now with a major segment of that done I knew I had another huge bear of a task to tackle....creating the on-site webstore. Truly I've been meaning to do this for months. I've also started it about half a dozen times and the project fell flat each time. When things like that happen, I try to trust that there is a reason and I found that reason as I got to the task finally and started majorly accomplishing headway on the task. Had I done it as planned, when planned I don't think the set up would have been quite as spiffy as it is now.

Top half of a listing page = sweetness

You can see how I modeled some of it after my favorite store set ups with a combination of my favorite aspects. I really liked the basic set up of Storenvy with the additional pictures below and pricing/buying info to the right. I put my signature quote under as a nice little eyecatcher, but left the bulk of the listing to a full page below reminiscent of Etsy.

Because the shop is on my website I really wanted the shop sidebar on the side so there wasn't a weird double up of 2 horizontal navigation bars (which I thought would look disruptive and busy to the eye.) Each page be it a product or collection page has this so you can get to anywhere you want without having to mess with the drop down menu (which is also an option for those visiting who know just where they want to go!)

Then of course is the nice little picture of me, name & location (more ideas from Storenvy), and below where you can't see are some social media icons and a newsletter subscribe form. (Are you on my list yet?)

The bottom of the product pages has an awesome new update too!

One of the most notable edits is the addition of a "You'll also love..." section. For me I think this is great because it's a nice tie in for a product you might love but may not be the best fit for the person you're giving it to. It's also wonderful when shopping for yourself because you can find things with the same energy that might appeal to you a bit more.

All in all I'm really excited about these updates as I'm sure you are too!

In the comments below, share with me your thoughts on this new update with the in-site store! Have you been eagerly awaiting this? Like it, love it, not digging it? Tell me why - I love to hear feedback! Anything you'd like to see in future updates?

If you're new to the blog make sure you follow me with Bloglovin' so you never miss a post, jump on my newsletter for those extra special monthly updates I don't share anywhere else, and connect with me on social media so we can keep in touch real time! <3

May Book Review: Twist and Loop by Annie Modesitt

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:51:33 GMT

With my recent revisiting of jewelry-making you had to know that I would come across this book as I was researching techniques.

While it's been on my shelf for awhile I felt compelled to pick it up and finally give it a closer look that I'll now share with you...

If I wasn't considering wire jewelry, after reading the inspiring introduction by the author I definitely would be! You can tell she has a real passion for knit and crochet jewelry which is wonderfully encouraging from one fiber artist to another.

Unlike most books it starts out with patterns in front. I would say the majority of patterns seem to be knit and there is a definitive style to the knitted jewelry that reflects the behavior of knitting. Another different thing is that her jewelry often combines both fiber and wire leaving another interesting affect.

After you've had a chance to browse the gorgeous designs and be inspired to make your own, Annie goes through some important basics of working with wire to make knit and crochet jewelry. She touches on types of wire, jewelry tools, and findings that would be incorporated in your finished jewelry piece. Going on she goes into more depth in how to knit and crochet with wire (there's more detail for knitting as it's more necessary). The book of course ends with finishing techniques and resources for wire, beads, and yarn as well as a glossary.

All in all I think the book is a great investment for someone who works with fiber and wants to venture out. Making practice pieces and just working with the wire as the author says is the best teacher and this book has loads of gorgeous projects to inspire you! I'd give it a 5 out of 5 for creativity, usability, and inspiration!

In the comments below I'd love to hear about your experience with this book or if you have any other suggestions for those wanting to work with wire and jewelry! Did you feel this review was helpful? Are you planning on checking out this book after reading? Have you ever made crochet or knit jewelry before? And as always if you're new to the blog make sure you give me a follow with Bloglovin', check me out on social media and Join the newsletter for special updates you'll only get through email!

"Regularly Scheduled" Postings...

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:38:40 GMT

I just wanted to drop a quick note to you about a change I'll be making on the blog from now on. I don't plan on going back to my archives and changing it (but that doesn't mean I won't change my mind on that point later...) This ought to make a little more sense in the flow of the blog's featured posts.

Prior to this post I set up a regularly schedule posting schedule each month. The whole point of this is to keep the blog active regardless of what else I may or may not be doing. While I try to innovate and include new products in an ongoing fashion sometimes I get in a groove and focus on one medium for awhile or I may not release a new type of product so there will be a lull in "product release" posts.

1 - Kalends post
5 - Pattern/Tutorial
10 - Artform/Craft
15 - Product/Service Review
20 - Featured Artist/Crafter/Supplier
25 - Book Review

Can you spot the weird disconnect? I'm going to be switching Day 10 and 5, as well as Day 20 and 25, so I can keep a theme and build up. A note though, some months there will be a little incongruity of postings as if I've gone through an artform I won't go through it again just to link a relevant tutorial in the same month. Also, and you may have noticed this from time to time, sometimes I don't have a feature sourced for a particular month. When this happens I essentially put the post on hold and I will back fill my features. They get the same amount of press as an on-time post does.

And as always, if you have suggestions or things you like to see featured, people who would love to be interviewed (yourself or others) by all means drop me a line via email!

So share with me in the comments below! Are you a blogger (feel free to leave a link to your blog and I'll check you out!)? Do you keep a schedule with your blog at all? If not, have you tried to keep one? What kinds of things do you post on your blog? If you're new to the blog make sure you give me a follow with Bloglovin' and join me on social media. And for those extra special updates jump on my newsletter!

Good-bye Beauty...

Mon, 06 May 2013 02:35:34 GMT

It comes as a little bit of a sighing matter to me when I think about it. Four years ago I opened my little shop under FTHWRKS (Faith Works) on Etsy and nearly all of my product was bath and beauty related. I had a bit of a limited stock that first month, mostly bath salts samples, some perfumes, bath vinegars, and room mists.

Now that I have expanded, re-branded and I'm fostering a lot of growth I find that area of the business isn't ready to move forward quite yet...

Now my first point is that I want to assure you that I'm not fully discontinuing any bath and beauty products. But they will be temporarily unavailable in the shop while I am doing a re-brand of them.

The great news is that when I bring them back they'll be better than ever and more in line with my vision. And they'll be joined with even more awesome products. So in the meantime they'll "leave the shelf". So give a last look and a good-bye to my current "Beauty" collection. When the new launch is ready you'll be the first to know! So stay tuned!!!

So in the comments below, let me know what you think! Are you excited for the new product roll out when it comes? Are you glad or sad to see some things go? What would you want to see with the re-launch? If you're new to the blog make sure you subscribe via Bloglovin' so you never miss a post, connect with me on social media, and join the newsletter for extra special updates! <3

Kalends of May!

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:31:56 GMT

Water Lily at Maymont in Richmond, Va ~ Aradia's Eye

So... this post is going up just in the nic of time! But trust me, waiting all day for it it's going to be that much juicier because I have some last minute additions that just plain rock & roll!

Hint - I'm diving into the use of video so that should be an interesting little adventure!

So first off, kudos to me for a fantastic picture of a water lily at a local park I love to visit when I can! I admittedly took the picture a few years ago at this point and in reality it was June, but that's close to May right?! So let's dive right in ~ first off Merry Beltaine (BEY-al-TIN-ah ~ do pardon my incorrect pronunciation in the video below, I was working with a bit of misinformation!) to my lovelies who celebrate it with me! To everyone who may not (ugh attack of the puns!) Happy May Day & Merry Kalends (the first of the month)!

I won't trouble you too much longer because I want you to go ahead and peep this interesting and super spazzy video I did as my "Day 1" for a "30 Day Video Challenge", then after you've had a chance to watch it I'll pick up where it leaves off and give you the rest of the deets as to what's shakin' hereabouts! :D Enjoy! <3

So back to business my lovelies... Like I touched on April was fill with a lot of unplanned happenings and a few setbacks. For the most part it centered around me battling the onset of those lovely seasonal Spring allergies so many of us have. For me it culminated with a horrendous burning of my eyes which made a lot of my work just near impossible to do (talk about a lesson in how much I use my eyes!) Then I had my wee one deal with a bit of illness too so my productivity was took out to pasture a bit.

However, April wasn't a total flop - I have been able to keep on my new listing schedule about 50% of the time (which given the tendency of my walking monkey wrench to throw off my day - is saying a lot!). As a trial run I found out some kinks here and what works and doesn't work and so I should be able to mitigate some of these issues this month for you guys for one! ~ yay! Aside from that is the news that we are moving come the end of May! It was bound to happen but nothing was solidified so that made a big difference right there.

So what's to keep coming for May...?

* Continue moving the remainder of older blogposts to this platform (I didn't get to this at all in April but I mean to get a lot done this month!!!)
* Keep up with this month's blogging & features
* Back post a few features I have on my queue
* Plan out features for the next 6 months (If you'd like to help with this, I'd love your submission ideas!)
* List new items 3 times a week, I'm shooting for Monday, Wednesday, & Friday to start
* Finish all copywriting
* Work on my secret launch for the end of May...

With my illness issues I wasn't able to get to too many new products in April, but I can say that Saturdays are my jewelry-making days as I found myself (when I could) sitting and doing a lot of creating in that medium on that day. Something else I want to add that isn't in my lil list up there is that I'm working on a seasonal product schedule. This means I'll have more seasonally relevant goodies for you at appropriate times in both use, style, and color.

Again you see I'm ambitious...but I'd be boring if I wasn't, really. Now it's time for me to skip off my dearies, I have some other fun change overs to get to that I'd love taken care of before the end of today. Since it's the first of the month it's also newsletter day, then as it's sabbat I change out my featured images for the front of the store too and I want to do a little shop wide/business audit too! <3 to you till next post!

So let me know in the comments below...How was your April? Have you been battling allergies to? Do you have any fun or ambitious goings on for May? And what do you think of this new video element I'm adding in? If you're new to the blog make sure you follow me on Bloglovin', join the newsletter, and connect with me on social media too!

April Book Review: The Encyclopedia of Calligraphy Techniques by Diana Hardy Wilson

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:56:15 GMT

Click Image for Source Credit

You can easily imagine what made me pick up this book. To be honest I believe I found it in a bargain section of a non-bookstore, and as a bit of a frugal Fanny I had to have it. While I pride myself on being able to "pick them" (books that is) I didn't happen to know a lot about the art before I picked this one up. Given all of the re-branding, re-vamps and just stepping up a notch with my work I opted to read this book (finally).

As with any good book, it starts off exploring the basics of the art. It explores the differing utensils with which to render calligraphy (eg. brushes, felt tip pens, calligraphy pens) as well as topics beyond just lettering such as color and borders. Along with the basics of calligraphy, including technical information about the art of penmanship itself are actual letter styles complete with directions for forming letters.

As the first part of the book explores the basics with both information and how to, the second part of the book moves on deeper into the subject. Here the author explores more decorative uses of the art showing samples from many calligraphers. The book ends with a list of useful tools for calligraphy.

While picking up this book may suit you more to focus on the first part with it's instructions it is certainly interesting to see the various uses and applications of the art (if nothing more than to "oo" and "ah" and glean inspiration) in the second part of the book.

My only critique is that I would have wanted to see more scripts outlined, however I cannot fault the author because she gives a very good working understanding of the art and various details beyond just forming letters. Thusly I give it a 5 of 5 and recommend this book to anyone wanting to start out in calligraphy.

So I wanna know, are you familiar with calligraphy? Have you ever used it? Would you want to try it? And if you have been stalling about doing so why? Let me know in the comments below! And just a reminder go ahead over and join my newsletter if you want to get even more super secret squirrel updates of utter awesomeness! Also check me out on social media so we can connect there too!

April Featured Artist/Crafter: Danielle of Squshies

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 06:29:49 GMT

The Dynamic Duo Behind Squshies! Danielle & Jason

Danielle's Bio:

Squshies are made by me and my husband. We are a team of artistic weirdos who love animation and character design. We started making things for sale due to the difficulty of finding "real" work, and are finding it quite addictive. We've combined our love for cartoons and animals to create the Squshies, felt animal characters who each come with their own crazy background stories. Our goal is to keep expanding our menagerie of felt critters and finding new and fun ways for them to be enjoyed.

1. How long have you been sewing & making Squshies?
I've been making Squshies for about a year and a half now.

2. What inspires you the most?
Animals, colors, cartoons and stories.

3. What are your favorite materials?
I love felt! It comes it so many fun bright colors and it is easy to work with. I also love to get new yarn and fabric with fun prints for myself.

4. Do you have a favorite tool?
Definitely! My spring action micro tip scissors are a life saver. I can cut small and intricate shapes with them and they are easy on my hands. Cutting Squshie pieces got so much more enjoyable and easier when I upgraded to fancy scissors.

5. What is your work space like?
We've got a room that is a bit crowded with supplies and the computers. When inside I do most of my work on a small portable folding table. When the weather is nice I love to work outside so we recently set up a nice patio set.

6. When do you find the most time to work?
Squshies is my full time job currently so I have lots of time to work. I do most of my work in the afternoon. I also do a lot of work in the evenings with Jason after he gets home from work. We spend a lot of nights working on Squshies together while listening to audio books.

7. How does your work fit into the rest of your life?
It kind of fills in all the time not taken up by anything else. We're constantly thinking about new projects, new critters, new ways to do things.

8. How often a week do you get to work?
I have a tendency to be a workaholic so usually every day. I'm trying to be better about taking days off because I work more effectively when I have a day off now and again.

9. Do you sell your work? Directly? Indirectly?
We sell our work online but we're looking in do doing our first show this year.

10. Do you have a business (on or offline)? Consign?
We have 2 online shops currently. One on Etsy and one on Storenvy.

11. Do you have a website? Blog? Facebook profile or fan page? Myspace? Twitter? Pinterest?
Yup! Pretty much everything but Myspace.

12. Where do you feel your work fits in your market?
We design our critters to be reproducible so we can make multiples, but we don't shy away from time consuming complicated designs. As everything is made carefully by hand we have pretty low volume and probably tend toward the more expensive.

13. What is your favorite part?
I don't think I have a favorite. I love meeting new critters when they come to life. I love hearing people's excitement when they meet a new Squshie or get their own. I love making custom Squshies. It would be easier to pick a least favorite part. That would be tedious computer tasks like updating listings, editing photos, tasks that take time away from making.

14. How did you get into designing?
I wanted to be an animator since I was 10 so I've always been interested in art and drawing. I got into sewing felt animals as something fun to do to in between job searching. It quickly replaced job searching.

15. Favorite deceased artist? Why?
Disney's 9 Old Men. The thing that has inspired me the most over the years is animation. Their technical ability to draw something from so many different view and angles was impressive on its own but their ability to bring such life and emotion into drawings it was really blows my mind. I'd love to be able to draw even a fraction as well as they could!

16. Favorite live artist? Why?
Glen Keane for the same reasons as Disney's 9 Old Men. His work is amazing.

Squshies Official Website

Shop with Squshies on Etsy

Shop with Squshies on Storenvy

Follow Squshies on Tumblr

Follow Squshies on Twitter

Like Squshies on Facebook

Add Squshies to your Circles on Google+

Follow Squshies on Pinterest

Check out Squshies on Deviantart

Follow Squshies on Instragram

Thanks for tuning in for my Featured Artist/Crafter of the Month! I 'll see you back in May with my next feature!

In the comments below tell me if you've ordered from Squshies before and how your experience was! What's your favorite product? And do you plan on ordering in the future?

Also if you're interested in being featured or know someone who would be drop me a line about it via email! And don't forget to drop by my social media profiles and sign up for my newsletter for more updates on posts like this & more!

Get Interviewed!

The Great Craft Escapade: From Plastic to Plarn - Part 3

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:40:04 GMT

Last week's post prepared you for your official venture into plarn-making. I covered some helpful tips and laid out what materials and tools you would need.

This week I'm getting to the down & dirty, nitty gritty. A full photo tutorial of how to make your first ball of plarn!

I hope that this tutorial was clear. In case those you prefer a more static set of images however I've put the above tutorial in the form of a PDF below for you to download and keep. You are free to use it and disperse it so long as it remains in it's original form unaltered.

Click to Download "Plarn Making Tutorial" PDF

Next week I'll be going into further detail about making your plarn hand spun, how to measure it, and the various forms you can finish it off in!

In the comments below, let me know your thoughts! How did you enjoy the tutorial? Was it clear? Will you be stopping your journey here or continuing on? Why or why not? And if you're just tuning in make sure you join my newsletter - I send out special updates and offers only to my list subscribers, stop by social media to connect with me there, and follow me on Bloglovin'!

April Product/Service Review: Drop Spindles by The Dancing Goats

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:40:13 GMT

My lovelies from The Dancing Goats on Etsy ~ Click to see more!

It's that time again...time to chatter away about one of my favorite tools and get the quick & dirty, knitty gritty on the subject.

This month (as you've noticed) is all about spinning, so naturally this post is all about the drop spindle.

So first off, I keep mentioning spinning and drop spindles, you've heard me talk about plying, drafting and honestly if you're not in the know you're likely thoroughly lost by now. If you haven't gotten a chance go back and read my post that is all about Spinning. It will introduce you to the terminology and all that other need to know info along with some cool other tidbits.

Suffice it to say there are two tools you can use to spin, the drop spindle or the spinning wheel. I love the drop spindle because it's got the ultimate portability. They come in two main styles top whorl and bottom whorl. Robin of The Dancing Goats makes both kinds, but the ones I have and that interest me most are the top whorl.

While I hunted about the internet for spindles and even *gasp* made my own (warning - not the prettiest thing I've ever made!) when I buy tools I have to love them. Honestly a good tool is worth good money and while I searched and found plenty of different spindles across the net for a wide range of prices (from $12.00 to nearly $100.00) I was instantly in love with these when I first laid my eyes on them...

Aren't they just gorgeous?!

Each spindle is made from reclaimed wood, which gives each one a unique flavor to it you just cannot produce with a mass manufactured tool. They're all perfectly balanced so there's no worry of wibble-wobble which can be a problem if you make your own too. What's more is that each and every one has a character and personality to it that is just utterly alluring (at least to me).

What I absolutely cannot get over though is the fact that they are so incredibly beautiful with fantastic prices at the same time! In my shopping I found many a spindle but with very few exceptions they all rather resembled one another. Given the fact that it's a rather simple tool it still was a little disheartening and honestly it's what kept me from buying one to begin with. Why would I pay good money for something I can easily have made functionally and not even at a quarter of the price?

All bets were off when I saw these though. I was sold and there was no turning back and they were in fact a bit of a birthday present to myself. All of that aside the hands down selling point for me even considering all of this wonderful information was the range of weights. As I mention in my earlier post the spindle weight determines how thick (and how much) a yarn you can spin. Heavier ones are good for bulky weights and plying. They're also handy if you're spinning a large amount of fiber at once as well.

This baby weighed in a whopping 4.9 oz, perfect for heavier yarns & plying.

So now you know - The Dancing Goats is my go-to for spindles and if you're looking for a one of a kind spindle (or spinning accessory) made with heart and passion you must visit this shop! I give my full recommendation on Robin's work and I can't wait till I can add a bottom whorl & distaff to my collection!

So share with me in the comments below - Was this review helpful? What did you think of Robin's work? Will you consider shopping at The Dancing Goats for your next spinning tool purchase? If you are new to the blog be sure to connect with me via social media and hop on the newsletter for my extra special updates!

April Craft/Art Form: Spinning

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:24:37 GMT

Lady at the Spinning Wheel - Pastel Portrait 1885

I've been talking and thinking about spinning a lot so far this month. I've even taken it upon myself to offer up tidbits about learning to spin yourself and a few months back how to make your own top whorl drop spindle. It only seemed fitting that this month's craft/art form feature be about spinning as well!

So what is spinning anyway, come on and follow along my little journey through history...

Spinning is the processing of raw fiber into yarn or thread. Ultimately it is part of the textile industry (which makes me giggle a bit since I have such issues with textiles & sewing!) Seeing it done, you can see why it would be called spinning. Before the age of industrialization spinning was largely done by hand using drop spindles (these date back to the Neolithic times). Both this tool and the spinning wheel operate on the same principle: fibers are drawn out and twisted, or spun, to afix them in strand form.

As with many other arts and crafts, spinning has a number of terms that when understood make learning the art easier. If you're encountering spinning you'll likely come across these terms:

Turkish Drop Spindle

Drop Spindle

A tool for handspinning, traditionally made from wood. It may be weighted at the top, bottom, or middle with a whorl (typically, but not always, circular). It may be supported or unsupported. There are many types of spindles including Takli, Navajo, French, Turkish, and Orenburg.

Close up of the cop on a spindle

Cop

The term for the yarn spun on a drop spindle. It may be below the whorl in the case of a top or center whorl spindle, or above the whorl in the case of a bottom whorl spindle.

Distaffs by The Dancing Goats of Etsy

Distaff

A rod which loose fiber is wrapped around to control while spinning. it may be held on the wrist or set upright on a flat surface.

Niddy Noddy

A tool used in the spinning of yarn to measure and wrap hanks. Wrapping is done in a V pattern achieved by the specific construction of this tool. Depending on the size of the niddy noddy it will produce a wrap of a certain length. To figure the length you merely multiply the number of wraps by a single wrap's length.

Lazy Kate

A tool used in both hand and wheel spinning that allows for the easy removal of yarn from the spindle. The spindle spins in a fixed position unrolling the yarn from the spindle for plying or hanking. They may be tensioned or untensioned. The construction may differ slightly for one made for drop spindles versus wheel spindles but the concept the same.

Spinning Wheel

A tool to spin yarn in a mechanized fashion. Its arrival greatly red

Fiber

Fiber can be defined as any raw materials to be turned into yarn. Most often this material is animal or plant based, however the term can be used to refer to any material in many cases.

Merino Top

Top

Fiber that's been combed to provide spinning fiber in which all the fibers are parallel. This preparation of fiber is best suited to worsted or semi worsted spinning.

"Cory" Icelandic Wool Roving

Roving

Commercially carded fiber (usually) made into a long continuous cord that is about 2"-3" thick. The fibers are going in multiple directions (but generally more aligned than a rolag or batt). This preparation of fiber is best suited to woolen spinning.

Blue is carded sliver.

Sliver

A much thinner version of roving.

Rolag

Hand carded fiber that's been pulled from the cards it forms a fluffy roll of fiber.

Batt

Fiber that has been drum carded, then pulled from the drum carder, forming a blanket of fiber.

Carding

The process by which a fiber is cleaned and intermingled to allow it to be further processed into yarn. It can be done by hand or machine.

Photo: Sosae Caetano

Drafting

The pulling apart of a raw fiber from either roving or a bat to make a more slender strand. Done apart from spinning it is called pre-drafting, however it may be done while spinning as well. Its purpose is to generally spin a more evenly size yarn.

Spinning

The art of turning raw fibers into thread, yarn, or rope by use of a spindle, spinning wheel, or some other mechanized form of twisting or spinning the fibers.

S & Z Twist

As illustrated in the picture it denotes the direction of the twist of yarn. If you spin counterclockwise you have an S twist, clockwise produces a Z twist. With plying you must use the opposite twist to not unravel the yarn.

Example of plied yarn

Plying

The spinning of 2 or more single strands of yarn to make a stronger and more durable yarn. This may also be used to balance a yarn.

Suppliers:

There are a number of suppliers of spinning tools and accessories, nearly any yarn company will also have some spinning tools for sale. Some personal favorites of mine are:

*The Dancing Goats - includes various spinning tools such as drop spindles and distaffs.
*Wolverton Mountain - various spinning tools and fiber.
*Moonsong Ranch - various spinning tools and fiber.
*Knit Picks - various spinning tools, fiber, books, and dvds.
*Paradise Fiber Company - various spinning tools, fiber, books, and dvds.

Learning Resources:

*The Art of Megan on YouTube - this is how I learned to spin. She's very clear and has all of the essential parts of spinning on a drop spindle covered.
*Respect the Spindle - this comes in both book and dvd form. I haven't expressly used this before but it looks like a good investment.

I hope you enjoyed this informative post (they really are my favorite to write because I get to learn too!) If you did, please show me some love and leave a comment below! Learn something? Do you think I left something out? Have a suggestion for a future art or craft you'd like to know more about? And if you're new to the blog make sure you hit the button below and follow along, never missing a post again, subscribe for super special updates, and join me on social media!