Sponsor Giveaway: Magnolia Handspun

Today I welcome a woman who is sweet and fun, deep and inspiring…just like the amazing yarn she dyes and spins. Camilla semi recently opened up her shop Magnolia Handspun and since the days the doors opened her yarn has been flying off the shelves like hot cakes! Looking at all of her amazing talent combined in the pictures above has me drooling. With names like Jelly Beans, Persimmon, and Rose Petal, who wouldn’t think they were scrumptious?! Her yarns are wonderful to look at, touch, and create with. Camilla currently writes and shares fun patterns and creations on the Magnolia Handspun blog, and can also be found sharing more fiber goodness on ravelry. Welcome Camilla! I am thrilled to have you here with me!

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How did you first learn to spin and dye your own yarns?

Camilla: I grew up in Norway, my mother and grandmother taught me how to knit at age 6.. All thru out school I would sit and knit in class, with my eyes focused on the teacher and hiding my knitting underneath my desk.

They all knew- as long as I kept my eyes on them, they didn’t say anything.
During the summers I lived with my grandparents in Sweden in the country. My grandfather taught me a lot about plants, I discovered at an early age I could make natural dye with blueberries and birch leaves….so now I was really on fire!

I could dye my yarn.

6 years ago I discovered a woman Kristen Thomas in New York that had a farm and was spinning…I had never seen anything like it, textured, thick and thin and simply divine….an operatic moment for me! That Christmas Santa bought me a spinning wheel….and the rest is history.

Can you tell us a little bit about the materials you use to dye your yarns?

Camilla: I use whatever I can get my hands on, mostly the reg. wool dye found online- I have been known to use Kool- aid too, I won’t let my kids touch it….it’s amazing how that stuff dyes!

{Malula Dolls}

What inspired you recently to jump right in and open your own yarn shop?

Camilla: I had been selling hats made from the yarn for a few years in 2 exclusive shops in town, when someone asked if I sold the yarn. I thought it would be worth a try. I knew about ETSY and gave a shot. It’s been nonstop since October.

I sell my yarns all over the world to the Netherlands, Italy, Australia. Not everybody uses it to knit or crochet. I have many customers using the yarn for Waldorf inspired doll hair (like the Malula Dolls pictured above) because of its whimsical and textural nature. I am also pretty busy doing custom orders that people request.

Your yarns are very unique and true works of art. Can you tell us a bit about what inspires you to create yarn like this?

Camilla: I love texture and color. I was an art major in school and then continued furthering my education as an Interior Designer. I have learned so much about color theory, design using that knowledge with my endless need for creativity…it just sort of happens.

I don’t think about it.

I love painters like Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe and their color theory the simplicity and their life is very inspiring to me. Fabric, flowers, nature, food inspires me…

I know things seem to be “snowballing” (in a very good way) for you creativity wise over there in Montana. Do you have any new and exciting projects that you are working on?

Camilla: Currently I am working on 2 new exciting ideas with my hand spun yarn, some thoughts on a new line in Magnolia as well.- I just bought another spinning wheel where I can spin entirely different- so we’ll see what I come up with?!

And of course always my knitting- I have a few new knit designs for the local shops I sell and also maybe for ETSY.

I always enjoy the inspirational quotes you come up with. Do you have a personal favorite?

Camilla: My 2 faves are:

“What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail”?

“I dwell in possibilities”

They are so true, so uncomplicated and simple. The first one encourages me to expand and throw myself out there.

The second one defines me- There is no absolute. I love seeing possibilities in all circumstances and opening “new doors”.

Having an outlet for my creativity, using my education and opening up a business is extremely rewarding. It allows me to home school the kids, yet earn an income. The interaction I have with my customers and the appreciation they have for my art yarn is beyond anything I could have wished for.

I am truly blessed.

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This weekend Camilla is generously giving away one skein (valued at $26.00 or less) of her amazing yarn. To enter, hop on over to Magnolia Handspun, take a look around, and come back to tell us what your favorite skein is over there. Trust me, it will be hard to pick just one.

**For an additional entry your can share this post (facebook, twitter, on your blog, email some friends, call your mom, etc.) and leave another comment letting us know.**

This giveaway will close Monday morning 8am EST. The winner will be chosen via random number generator and announced in this post shortly after. Thanks so much everyone! Good Luck! And thank you so VERY much Camilla for taking the time for sharing a bit of your spinning goodness with us. You have such amazing and wonderful talent!

And the winner is: megan armstrong, “what a great site you have!
camilla’s art is beautiful – i love cinnamon rose and mountain maple.” Congrats megan I will email you shortly!