I started dyeing wool yarn in the summer of 2005. My first attempt involved a skein of Lion Brand Fisherman’s wool and six packages of Kool-Aid. At the end of that day, high on vinegar and Kool Aid fumes, I had 3 skeins of rainbow colored yarn and everything changed.

I lived in Lewistown, MT for 8 months in 2006 and while I was there I learned how to spin using a drop spindle and two weeks later acquired my first wheel, an Ashford Traditional. I spent many nights sitting up late and learning how to spin based on the lessons I had been given via drop spindle and one session with the lady that sold me my wheel.

In February 2006, encouraged by my best friend Jen, I opened my Etsy store and continued to dye wool yarn using Kool Aid and Wilton’s food coloring and Paas Easter egg dyes. I bought dyed roving from sellers on Etsy and Ebay to spin, afraid to dye my own.

In the summer of 2006 I finally mustered up the courage to try my hand at dyeing roving and purchased a small starter kit of acid dyes. The first time I was successful I never looked back. I moved back to Billings, MT in the Fall of 2006 and for a time I didn’t have my own kitchen so my sister and her roommate let me use their kitchen on the weekends to dye roving so I could keep spinning yarns to list on Etsy.

In January 2007 I had my own place again and I was able to set up a small studio/workspace in the family room downstairs. I started buying roving and acid dyes in larger quantities and began focusing on adding the tools I needed to continue making yarn, which was now evolving into a second source of income in addition to being a hobby I loved. I found an Ashford Coarse Cloth drum carder on Craigslist and started making the yarns that became what I now call my Bedlam line.

In 2008 I saved money from yarn sales for a couple months and purchased a Babe Bulky electric spinning wheel and was able to up my production for larger orders. In 2010 I bought a Lil Dynamo wool picker on Etsy so I could pick and fluff out locks that I bought and dyed or purchased dyed.

In 2011 I acquired an Ashford Country Spinner, pretty much my holy grail of spinning wheels. I use the CS for just about everything but I will remain forever loyal to my Ashford Traditional (her name is Ferdie).

2012 rolled around with some major changes in my life. I moved to Wyoming and eventually settled in Sheridan. Once moved in, I was able to devote an entire bedroom in the house to my studio. I bought a Fancy Kitty blending board and taught myself how to make rolags. Because I travel a lot for my day job, it has come in very handy for making bundles of rolags to pack with my Golding drop spindle when I am on the road.

Finally, in the Spring of 2014, my beloved Ashford Coarse Cloth drumcarder gave up the ghost. I suspect it was a lot older than I had originally anticipated, but it served me well in the years I used it. I still have it in the hopes it can be repaired. In the meantime, I purchased an Ashford Wild Carder to fill the gap in production and have so far been very pleased with it. My ultimate goal in regard to carders is to get a wider carder that is also motorized.

While my equipment came to me slowly, I’m glad that it did as I learned how to do what I wanted to do without it and once I had it I appreciated it that much more. I find myself using it all depending on the project I am taking on but I am still attached to my first wheel, it has served me extremely well and it my primary/go-to wheel for just about everything.

Fabulosity Yarn became an official business in 2011, I feel fortunate to have come this far and look forward to what the future will bring me in the amazing yarn filled journey! Thanks for reading! xoxox, Joy