The Overshare: Spindle Support, Dreamy Quilt Patterns, and a Willow Update.
A weekly round-up of things I like and think you might like, too!
Happy Monday, Friends!
Not gonna lie — this puppy thing is hard. Willow’s now 4 months old, and we’re firmly in the eye of the storm. She’s 99.9% trained to “do her thing” outside (small wins!), but the biting, jumping, tantrums, and barking? Yeah... it’s a lot. If you’ve ever had a puppy, I’m sure you can relate. From what I’ve read, we’re in for a few more months of this chaos. So… good times ahead. 😬
Our saving graces so far? Lick pads, frozen Kongs, and the holy grail: bully sticks. Giving one of these to Willow is basically like handing an iPad to a screaming toddler — a moment of silence, a chance to get something done, and maybe even sip lukewarm coffee while we teach her some basic puppy manners.
And before the comments roll in — yes, we know Willow is just a baby, and yes, this phase is temporary. We do know it’ll all be worth it… eventually. 😅
When she’s not acting like a tiny Tasmanian Devil, she’s sleeping. And when she sleeps, I’ve been sneaking in some spinning time on my drop spindles and working on a few behind-the-scenes projects. So, here are a few bits and bobs I’ve been enjoying lately and thought I’d share with you... 💖
PS: This series is free for everyone, but I post a few extra behind-the-scenes, deep-dives, and bonus content for paid subscribers during the week, like this:
Over the weekend I shared a little behind-the-scenes video sharing progress of the secret craft project I’ve been working on. 🤫
If you're already a paid subscriber, thank you — it definitely helps me to keep making and sharing stuff like this. 🖤🤗
Spindle Madness continues!
I've been learning all I can about drop spindles ever since I picked it back up — and this past week, it was all about supported spindles. There are a bunch of styles, including Russian, Phang, and Tibetan. Spoiler alert: I treated myself to a Tibetan spindle from Straddle Creek Spins on Etsy. They have some really beautiful hand-turned supported spindles — some ready to ship, others made to order. Mine hasn’t arrived yet but they look so worth the wait!
If you’re curious about supported spindles and how they work, here are some great YouTube videos that break it down nicely:
Of course, our Lady and Spinning Savior, Jillian Eve has a fantastic video on Supported Spindles.
Brookwillow made this beautiful video about how she uses a supported spindle and also shares favorite spindle makers, fibers, and resources.
Sweet Georgia to the rescue! If you’re new to supported drop spindling, this is a great video that walks through the different types of spindles and which ones are ideal for beginners. It’s not a step-by-step tutorial, but it’s definitely inspiring to see all the beautiful supported spindles out there.
Quilting Bug Comeback
Friends, I feel it in my bones. Quilting is coming back into my life! I was browsing the web and here are a few patterns that caught my eye:
Propeller Quilt by Art East Quilting Co.
So much opportunity to play with color — and I just love the illusion of curves in this design! There's also a two-color version if you're in more of a minimalist mood.
Turquoise Trail Quilt by Becca Plymale Creative
This pattern is a scrappy project just waiting to happen!
Golden Days Quilt Booklet / Templates Jen Kingwell Designs
Dare I finally try my hand at appliqué? Because this pattern is seriously tempting me. It’s also giving major Dear Jane quilt vibes — and I’m kind of into it.
Lily Quilt by Alderwood Studio
This quilt reminds me of Moroccan tiles. I could see making one into a wall hanging.
Stars Upon Stars EPP
I’ve been hoarding these templates from Laundry Basket Quilts to make their Stars Upon Stars English Paper Pieced quilt. It definitely looks like a massive undertaking, but the idea of just making one block feels really appealing — kind of like the Millefiore quilt rosettes I made a while back. I may just dive in at some point this week. We shall see! 😆
And that’s all I’ve got for you, today! If you’ve got anything inspiring you lately — a pattern, podcast, or show you’re loving — feel free to hit reply. I’d love to hear what’s fueling your creativity!
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