Fancy Spindle!

Today I sucked up any pride I thought I had and went to the DFCS to ask for some assistance during my unemployment. (Which is by far longer then I expected but even that's hard to say because I don't know what I expected...) Since we have to drive our son to school my husband dropped me off and picked me up when I was through. Graciously (and in an effort to have something to do) he went by our PO box to check the mail. Guess what!

I got a new fancy spindle!


Someone of Ravelry was destashing and I yanked up this Graftons Fibership. It's my first fancy spindle, my others being an Ashford Student top whorl, a Louet bottom whorl and a half dozen hand assembled toy wheel spindles. I'm quite pleased and believe this will only encourage me to spindle more. It is especially good for laceweight so I can practice my patience as well. Completely made my day when he handed me the box as I got in the car. I love that man, he is totally awesome!

Ruminations...

Today is a really good day. I didn't have to go to work. The husband and I get to spend a weekend to celebrate our 4 year anniversary (which was May 1st.) And finally, TheBoy is over at his grandparents for the weekend. I'm a little sad though. Last week my husband told me how he was going to miss TheBoy. I told him that he was right to miss him, but we had to have this weekend to ourselves. We deserve that much. Of course he agreed. So there we were today about to leave him with the grandparents when he starts being difficult. "I don't want to spend two days!" All we could do was reassure him that it would be okay. (He has severe abandonment issues from his birth mom.) As I was headed to the car I heard him give one more scream. I looked up at his dad and said "you'd think they were beating him." That's when he said it. "He's crying." What! How... are you sure... *sigh* And that was it. I couldn't take it. I just wanted to cry myself cause I didn't want to leave him there all unhappy. I know that he is safe. I know he is just overreacting. But I felt like such a bad parent! I feel so guilty for leaving him there. AHHHHH!!! The humanity!

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Ok, so on to more fibery pursuits. I pulled out one of my handmade spindles and started playing with some of the fiber from the Sheep Shed Studio. I am currently spinning it naturally with the hopes of plying it and dying it. It's terribly tiny. Also, it reminds me of how really really tedious I found spinning on a spindle to be. Funny thing is, I find that I spin much finer yarn on the spindle then I can on the wheel. While it could be a number of things. I believe part of it is the equipment. My wheel is a Babe Double Treadle Production. Since purchasing it I have had a chance to spend on several different wheels via my spinning group. Now, I am less in love with it then I should be. My dream wheel is the Kromski Sonata and my hopes are that the stimulus money is good to me. Probably won't be from the reports but every little bit counts. In the mean time, I am making the best of every situation.
I have been talking about doing new things with the spindle selection in my Etsy Store. I totally want to buy a lathe! That's probably a dream a long time in the making but its come up once or twice before in brainstorming sessions with my husband. (I call these talking sessions, cause most of the time I'm just talking in all kinds of directions and my husband is thinking about other things. ) Until then, I think I will keep trucking. I have a "refurbished" felted scarf that I am working on and I've already reserved a spot for making fiber wearables on Etsy. My mind is just going with these ideas and I am so trying to keep up! But really, I am having so much fun doing it. Happy Fiber Friday all!

Spindling....

I admit I haven't done much spindling in a while. In fact, I was asked (while in Etsy Chat, yes a bit of an addict) if I did most of my spinning by spindle. Well..... of course not! I'm kinda impatient. Even still, I know a worthwhile product when I see one.
Check out these "Don't Drop Spindles" at Glass Pens. These spindles are made with borosilicate glass while the hook is made from Sterling Silver wire. I particularly like the Honey Brown Caramel (pictured left.) Plus the hooks are made one of a kind so once its been sold, you can't get a hook that's exactly like it.
For those non-spinning folks, Glass Pens also carries Crochet Hooks and Knitting Needles. (This is why its such a treat to pick up Interweave's Spin Off.)

Of Yarn and Spindles (oh, and turkey!)

I have been working on a few things the last couple of days. I am hoping to do some updates on the shop in the next couple of days. Here is a yarn that I am particularly proud of.



This is 49 yards of thick/thin yarn. It was made with purple merino and black corriedale that was carded together with lots of purple glitz. Then it was plied with a black thread.

Then this is a spindle that I had been working on in my spare time. It was all good until I got to the polyurethane coat. Turns out the slight tinge is very noticeable on the white paint. It's never shown up before because I have always used colored paints. I guess it will probably sit around the house until I decide what to do with it.


I don't know if it is terribly visible in this shot but most of the yellowing is in the area near the center. Its a little like the sealer pooled towards the middle or something. I liked the idea and hate that its no good now. I should rephrase that. It is good and capable of spinning, its a cosmetic defect that bothers me.

Lastly, here are a few spindles I am working on. One of the red top whorls and the lavender bottom whorl is for a custom request.

One last thought: Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US. It's a day with lots of meaning and lots of food. As I have gotten older, the Thanksgiving traditions have been slowly changing. First, it was because I moved out of the house (and out of town.) Then it was because I was married and had a family. (Coordinating with two families who never want to leave their own town is a pain.) I'm seriously thinking starting my own Thanksgiving Dinner. I mean, I hope to be in my own house and not an apartment next year. If that's the case, it will probably be a "to hell with the rest of you, this years Thanksgiving is at my house. Come if you want, reserve a week in advance." Well, I would probably be cursed at and eating with just my own family. One can hope though can't they. There is so much to work on and so much that I need to accomplish next year. It's a long and tiring list so I wont go into it. Also, if I don't actually list the items no one has to know if I failed. =P
Finally, Remember to give thanks for the things that you have, love, cherish, adore EVERY day. Being appreciative for the things in your life shouldn't be limited to one day a year. Especially not a day that is steeped in the history and symbolism of this country.