springtime's a comin'!

I've been winding down my chunky monkey yarns for the season with the passing of my last winter trunk show (*sigh*). Although I prefer warmer weather for my own balmy comfort, I am in love with knitting for colder weather! I adore my big honkin' knitting needles (my favorites are a size 35, no joke) and super soft bulky merino blends that knit out at a few inches per minute. So this transition is always a little painful for me...

...but now I'm getting all excited about spring apparel!!!

In the words of the immortal Hobbledehoy: [fists of confetti]

I'm envisioning drapey, elegant wraps, shawls and ponchos -- shimmery twists of bamboo, silk, tencel, rayon, and other flowy fibers. I've also been experimenting with shawl pins, which are my latest fave - finally I can get that wrap in the exact position I wanted and make it STAY there!

Watch my store for new pieces that will make you feel like a fairy princess this spring! :o)

SPECIAL SALE!!

**NO CHANCES LEFT** - Thanks to my lucky three customers who purchased from my shop (http://mollymillerbyappt.etsy.com/) and used the code "SPECSALE" in the message to seller to get 35% off the most expensive item in their order!

Check back soon for similar deals!!!

The shrug trend

Anyone else like to have their shoulders protected from the wind without feeling like the Pillsbury Doughman? I've been playing around with some shrug patterns to accomplish just that - a bit of warmth where you need it without all the puffiness. They're especially fun with a shawl pin, which can serve as an accent piece or help keep the shrug in place if you're especially small in stature. Here are a couple photos of this experiment - feedback is welcomed!!

Felted baubles!

Okay, so my new favorite way to use up little scraps of wool, which I save in gallon-sized plastic bags and then obsessively sort by color, is to draft them out a bit and then roll them into little balls. I pop them in a zippered pillowcase, toss 'em in a hot-water load of towels for some agitation, and *poof*!! I have myself a bunch of cute little felted bauble babies! Some of them get a little deformed in the process and look like wee lil' snowmen, which makes me laugh. They're each unique and fun to spin onto yarn. One of my favorite spinner friends, Abby from Folktale (http://folktale.etsy.com/), showed me how to thread them onto a slice of roving with a tapestry needle, and then spin them onto the roving you're working with. Of course, you have to have a bulky flyer for this to work. They spice up any handspun yarn!

February sale

What better Valentine's Day gift than a soft, squooshy fiber present? For the month of February, anything in my Etsy store with the color red or pink in it is 10% off! Check out many lovely possibilities at http://mollymillerbyappt.etsy.com/.

come on down!

don't miss the last molly miller by appointment home show of the season!! on saturday, february 16, molly miller by appointment pieces will be on sale at end-of-season prices. hors d'oeuvres and champagne will be served. this is your chance to scoop up some fun, squooshy accessories to battle these windy days! the show will be at molly's studio at 1414 s. barton street, #465, arlington, va.

Welcome to the brand spankin' new blog for molly miller by appointment! I am an avid fiber artist and I *love* to share my artwork with others.

Watch for frequent updates on my grand fibery adventures!!