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| Handy Tool! |
| 09.29.04 (11:26 pm) [edit] |
Check out this great spinning tool I bought at the Fiber In. It surely beats wrapping the yarn around a stick to measure it. And it has a clip and a retractable "leash" so you can clip in on your blouse to keep nearby when spinning.
To change gears a bit, I am feeling wistful because I have to miss the Montpelier Fall Fiber Festival this year. Best of luck to Bess, who is entering some incredible hats and Amie who is entering her beautiful handspun and a postively adorable felted mail bag. Sending positive vibes for both of you to get plenty of ribbons and yarn prizes!! Also, wishing Jennifer plenty of sales at her fiber booth there. Check it out if you are in the area!
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| Spindle Yarn |
| 09.28.04 (3:16 pm) [edit] |
Am I feeling more comfortable spinning on a spindle these days? Well, probably.
Am I enjoying spindling? Definitely :D
Here is a picture of a couple of ounces or so of my spindle spun yarn for your viewing enjoyment. (It will probably end up being socks).
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| I'm Still Here |
| 09.28.04 (6:33 am) [edit] |
The wind from Jeanne did not blow us away. It got pretty brisk in the night/early morning of Monday. We lost a few more limbs, though not as many as we did with Frances. Actually, we really did not get as much rain as expected.
I have been busy playing catch-up at work from my early-in-the-month vacation, trying to get the house in a reasonable state of order and from being sick with the "ear thingy." I did manage to pull out my second Weaver's Wool sock and finish it last night. Also, I am still practicing on the spindle. Maybe pictures of my spindle yarn later on today, if I get off reasonably early.
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| Am I Happy? |
| 09.25.04 (1:03 pm) [edit] |
Sandra comments about how I haven't posted a picture of myself at the Fiber In. This is the best picture I have (borrowed from Elayne - thanks). After copying it and examining it, I cannot believe I look so grouchy. I really, really was having a good time, I promise.
Maybe I was just concentrating on the embellished flip flops. I know I was agonizing over whether I would have enough yarn to finish. An unfounded fear, as can been seen by the following:
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| Poncho and Things |
| 09.24.04 (9:45 am) [edit] |
I finished the poncho last night and gave it a light steaming this morning. I am going to love wearing this!
The shape is somewhat distorted from the hanger, but this shot shows the color off to the best advantage. I wish I could show you the softness and texture as well.
Here was what greeted us Saturday morning at the Fiber In:
Quite appropriate in the timing as it is EZ's famous quote, "Knit On, With Confidence and Hope, Through All Crises"
Thanks to lovelies Laura and Cindy for posing with the sign.
Everyone was quite surprised we were actually able to attend this event, given all the wretched weather.
Everyone did just as they pleased, including Elayne. While she was spindling, I was taking pictures and spinning on my wheel.
Here is a shot of Rhonda and Cindy demonstrating the rainbow dyeing. I am calling them the "Rainbow Girls."
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| Andean Plying |
| 09.22.04 (6:24 pm) [edit] |
Simplified Andean Plying Method for Amie and whoever else is interested:
Hold your right hand up, palm facing you.
Secure loose end of single (in a bracelet or something to hold it) , bring yarn up across palm and bring it up the right side of your middle finger.
Take yarn around back of middle finger only, then bring to front (on left side of middle finger).
Bring yarn across left side of palm and carry around the back of hand, including thumb.
Bring yarn to front of palm again and carry it up ther right side of middle finger; keep repeating process until all yarn is wound on hand.
Bring middle finger forward and slip yarn off that finger. Push yarn down onto wrist.
Tie the two ends together to start plying.
This method makes it a little harder to ply from the resulting yarn bracelet on wrist, but is much faster to do than regular Andean Plying.
In other news, I woke up this morning and my right ear was completely stopped up. This has continued all day and has just about worn me out. I suspect the culprit is an allergy to some ice cream I ate last night. Alas, it is my favorite flavor of Baskin and Robbins ice cream. Some things just aren't fair!
I am almost finished with my second poncho panel, then all I will have to do is sew up the seams and put on an edging. I have been practicing drop spindling all weekend and into this week. It is getting mighty addictive. (Now where have I heard that before?!?!?)
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| Florida Fiber In |
| 09.19.04 (6:03 pm) [edit] |
So, I am a little more rested now and feel like writing. Pictures will have to wait until later in the week, since I don't feel like messing with them tonight and I will be away from the home computer for a couple of days.
The Fiber In was really a lot of fun. They had 7 demonstrations set up on Saturday: Knitting with Beads, Old Fashioned Knitting Board, Rainbow Dyeing, Navajo Plying, Spinning on a Spindle, Warping a Loom and Introduction to Weaving. Also, on Friday night, they had a getting to know you event - dessert and a mini workshop on making embellished flip flops. Oh what fun! In addition, they had about 7 vendors, all with quality materials. I came away with some alpaca top, a yarn bracelet (for knitting while standing or walking) and a "yarn control card" which tells you wraps per inch of your yarn without have to actually wrap the yarn.
I met so many nice and interesting people and also had the chance to meet up with some other fiber friends I see only occasionally. Hi Cindy and Kathy
The ladies who taught the bead knitting, navajo plying and rainbow dyeing were exceptionally talented artisans and so willing to share from their vast knowledge. I learned at least 2 new techniques for dyeing which I am dying to try now. I also learned a new method of Andean plying which is much simpler to keep track of and also easier on the hands. I saw a book charka demonstrated (I want one, and Christmas is coming). Everyone seemed happy to be there and happier still to have come through the rash of hurricanes in one piece.
I loved that this event was informal enough for everyone to circulate and share - a little "controlled" pandemonium is a great thing!
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| Whew! |
| 09.19.04 (1:36 pm) [edit] |
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Home, but tired, with mind buzzing with memories and inspiration. More later.
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| Let the Games Begin! |
| 09.16.04 (5:38 pm) [edit] |
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Ah! Leaving in the morning for the Florida Fiber In ! I expect to have a great time and meet a whole lot more knitters and spinners. What could be more perfect?
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| Sigh..... |
| 09.14.04 (4:06 pm) [edit] |
Who says a man has to be young and handsome to win someone's heart? So why am I waxing lyrical over this man?
(Sorry, but I don't know anything about the lady. Mainly, because he had a different, much younger lady assisting him.)
Well, could it be because he is the Williamsburg Weaver? And could it be because he had myriads of spinning wheels, yarn winders, etc? And could it be because he was very interesting to talk to? See, he even made spinning interesting to my Bill.
I couldn't get a better picture of the environs, because about the time I wanted to take a picture, a huge group of students from UGA trooped in. But, I did get a shot of these scrumptious naturally dyed yarns:
Something else notable about this trip. Max was working on weaving a shaggy coverlet that will be displayed from each November to March at Mount Vernon on George Washington's bed. Everyone was invited to knot a bit of yarn into the coverlet and sign a ledger that will be also on display at Mount Vernon. Yes, you guessed it! I just had to make my own contribution, as did Bill and Phillip. So, if you ever see George Washington's "winter" coverlet, know that "I helped!" :lol:
Changing gears... I must be severely computer challenged or something for the past 24 hours. First, I answered Amie's tags and typed in her name instead of mine in the reply, then, tonight I sent an email to a complete stranger, since I typed in a wrong address. Warning - dizzy computer girl is on the loose! :roll:
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| Ho Hum |
| 09.13.04 (6:15 am) [edit] |
Since I have flexible work hours (I basically set them myself), sometimes it is hard to get going in the mornings. Last night I watched Cold Mountain on pay per view. I had been looking forward to seeing it for a long time. Unfortunately, I did not think the reality lived up to the anticipation. I thought the story line very predictable and the movie entirely depressing. Anyhow, back to the subject. I tend to fool around more in the mornings when I have to call on a difficult account. Some people seem to generate the same problems over and over and add new ones as well.
So, on a brighter note, I am holding onto the hope that the St. Augustine Fiber-In is still on for this weekend. So far, it is. I am so looking forward to a nice, relaxing fiber retreat.
My Manos/Handspun poncho is now half complete. I am holding my breath that I will have enough of the handspun to finish it. If not, I will have to buy some more of the fiber and make some more.
Well, off to face the grindstone.
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| Born to Spin? |
| 09.12.04 (6:12 am) [edit] |
What do you think? In the spinning lore book I bought, Spin Span Spun is this jewel of a tidbit:
St. Catherine is considered to be the patron saint of spinners.
St. Catherine's day was celebrated in Europe with a day off for spinners and a festival.
St. Catherine's day is on November 25.
My birthday is November 25.
Do the math! Now I have 2 things to celebrate 8)
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| Mess!! |
| 09.11.04 (12:21 pm) [edit] |
We are not quite (thankfully) in the hurricane spotlight, but here is what we have been dealing with in the aftermath of Frances (which was a tropical storm when it came this way). Sitcks, stems, branches large and small with acorns attached, etc. are littering our whole yard. Live oaks drop limbs if you look at them cross-eyed, so you can imagine what wind did.
Between all the rain, working and Bill's back bothering him, we haven't made as much headway with this as we would like. Which begs the question - should we just wait until Ivan is gone?
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| Voila! |
| 09.10.04 (11:04 am) [edit] |
Here's the finished shawl. It is raining outside, so the picture is not much lighter than it would have been last night.
This shawl was knitted in a mohair blend and took between 350 and 400 yards of yarn. The pattern can be found on Elayne's Blog, since it was designed by her. This is the "Purly Girly Shawl.
Here is another shot of the back of the shawl. I elected not to add fringe. This shawl is very long in the back already.
Also, for your amusement, here is a bit of the loot I picked up in North Carolina and Virginia:
A Nancy's Knitknack Sack and some suede soles for slipper socks, both from the Woolery. (And might I add, very good prices on both!)
Also, I bought 2 small books about spinning - one is a spinning handbook and the other is a booklet of spinning lore.
For good measure, Bill bought me this portable spinning stool:
to go with my portable, folding Little Gem Spinning Wheel
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| Poncho Yarn and Swatch |
| 09.09.04 (9:19 pm) [edit] |
Here is what I am working on, as promised. I got this Manos de Uruguay yarn at Knitting Sisters in Williamsburg. Yes, I succumbed to temptation, as you probably expected. However, I only bought 4 skeins - at $14 a pop, I just couldn't bring myself to buy more. The poncho takes 8 skeins.
Soooo, I had the idea to carry a strand of handspun along when knitting the poncho. Actually, each skein complements the other, the finished swatch being much prettier than either by itself.
I don't think the colors are adjusted just right, but take my word - it is a knockout combination!
Picture of the finished Mohair Shawl tomorrow when the light is better.
Also, remember this?
Well, I bought another pound and a half at The Woolery
Yes! Now I will have enough to have a sweater.
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| Finished Object! |
| 09.09.04 (6:17 am) [edit] |
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I finally have a FO other than socks! I finished my red mohair shawl finally last night, after several "false starts" and froggings! Now I can start (and have started, indeed) on my new poncho!! I will wait to tell you about the yarns until I get the pictures up, but I WILL tell you that I am getting to use some of my handspun and am mixing it with a commercial yarn. (Nothing like being in suspense, huh?) Wonder of wonders, this is bringing out the best qualities of each! To be continued, when pictures become available.
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| Fiber Demo |
| 09.08.04 (5:08 pm) [edit] |
On Saturday, for the Labor Day weekend, they were having a re-creation of a military encampment in Williamsburg. I got to see "George Washington" leave the courthouse in a carriage - but that's a story for another day. There were tents everywhere with enactments going on - cooking, sewing, etc. Out around the back of the Governor's Palace was this:
A spinning and dyeing demonstration. The spinning picture will have to wait. Photobucket's acting crazy again. Anyhow, these dyes you see are: marigold on the far left (see the flowers soaking in the pot?) and in the right bottom is logwood and cochineal for purples and reds. I would have liked to have lingered longer at this post, but it was very crowded, thus the less than optimal picture from the rear.
In other thoughts, I'm glad to hear Catherine is home safely and her house is intact. I have yet to hear from Elayne and am hoping it is just that her power is not back on yet or that she is just not back home yet. She lives fairly close to Daytona and Crescent City, so I will be relieved to hear from her.
Well, now to go outdoors and start picking up limbs.
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| Discoveries, Etc. |
| 09.07.04 (4:16 pm) [edit] |
Hmph. I just found out that it is much easier to upload photos if I use the Explorer browser rather than the Safari. Nice thing to know, since I have so many pictures to add.
I would like to thank everyone for your positive response to the moving of my blog and also for your kind words about my new look. I truly am enjoying blogging much better with this interface. Notice the little sparklies around the cursor? With this blog host, you earn "fun money" simply by posting - 5 t Bucks per post. When you save up enough, you get to add little gizmos. Cool, huh?
It's always nice to have strong men around to draw water and fight off enemies, so here is a picture of Phillip in a suit of armor at the Jamestown Settlement and my Bill at a well in Williamsburg.
I'm not sure how he managed to look so happy in this picture. The heat index that day must have been 130!
I'm sure the employees of Williamsburg enjoyed having people try out the well. They were actually using this for gardening purposes.
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| Williamsburg Sheep |
| 09.07.04 (6:40 am) [edit] |
Below is a picture of one of the sheep raised at Colonial Williamsburg. This is a Leicester Sheep and is considered to be an endangered breed. Williamsburg is raising this breed as a the "probable" breed that was in colonial Virginia. This is a longwool sheep, and its fleece is not very soft. In colonial times, England did not allow colonists to raise sheep for clothing - this was a meat sheep. Fine fabrics, and dyestuffs, for that matter, had to be imported from England. Of course, during the revolutionary war, colonists had to make do with what they could raise and produce, so all of the spinning and weaving demonstrations focused on this one type of wool.
Here is the shepherdess, who is really a sheep keeper and is not "just playing the part." We met her outside of a pasture, where she gave a lengthy and informative lecture about the Leicester sheep. The 2 sheep in the picture are both rams.
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| Weather Girl |
| 09.06.04 (2:31 pm) [edit] |
I generally like Weather Pixie, but am tempted to slap her in the face today. Partly cloudy with a little sun showing. No Way! We have some limbs down and have been having intervals of hard, driving rain and gusty winds all day long. I guess Pixie feels she has to be cheerful all the time. :roll:
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| Five Star Fiber Trip! |
| 09.06.04 (7:31 am) [edit] |
Well, hello again. I am still in the process of packing up from my previous home and shifting a few things around, but welcome :P Come and take a look around and seat yourself on my comfy sofa while I spin some yarns about my trip!
For a family vacation, this was truly a nice trip for a fiber-o-phile such as I. Fiber highlights of my journey were:
1. Having a "play day" in Colonial Williamsburg with Bess.
2. Visiting The Woolery and Knitting Sisters
3. There were several fiber related demonstrations going on in Colonial Williamsburg, such as "At Her Wheel" ( a lady in the Geddy house demonstrating spinning on a replica of an antique wheel from England), "Leicester, the New Breed" (a conversation and demonstration by a delightful shepherdess and her two Leicester sheep), and "Max, the Weaver" (who was to be found behind the Wythe house in a totally tempting studio, complete with several wheels, a large loom and lots of beautiful naturally dyed yarn).
All this, and more will be covered over the next few days (complete with pictures, I promise - I took 75 pictures on this trip!)
First, I want to start telling about my day with Bess. She has given a wonderful account of our day on her blog. Please take some time to read this delightful narrative, should you have a chance. Since she covered the actual events, I am going to comment on impressions from that day. First, the anticipation of getting to spend some actual time with a dear lady whom I visit "virtually" every day. (Yes, we had met several times previous at Fiber Festivals, but in a group setting where everyone is chatting with everyone about all sorts of things at once.) This anticipation started building when we e-mailed each other about a possible meeting and plans for such, increased with a phone call from Bess on Friday of the previous week confirming such. By the time Monday came around, I was truly aswim with enthusiasm. Upon her arrival, hugs and excited squeals from both of us! We decided it would serve our purposes best to settle in on a bench in Merchant's Square for talking, drop spindling and people watching. Talking won the day with drop spindling a second. I don't remember doing much people watching. Bess brought show and tell: pictures from the Knitter's Review Picnic at the Maryland Sheep and Wool, her luxurious and beautiful merino/cormo hand dyed, handspun hat, a ball of Jennifer's fabulous hand dyed mohair and her Bosworth mini Spindle. Both meaningful talk and chatter continued to past 3:30 with a small break in between for lunch at the fabulous Trellis. (Thanks Bess! I took my family back there, and it has quickly become one of our favorites). We were happy and did not mind the rain, nor an umbrella that was slightly crippled. Alas, time passed way too quickly on this glorious visit. Bess mentions in her post she drove off leaving a bit of her heart, but then again, she took a portion of mine back with her. Again, thanks for a wonderful day, Bess.
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| Back from Virginia |
| 09.05.04 (8:16 pm) [edit] |
Here I am back at home again from a wonderful trip. It is storming here tonight from Hurricane (now Tropical Storm) Frances. We have had a few wind gusts and are under a tornado watch. Still, my silly Weather Pixie shows only that it is cloudy. What must it have to do outside for it to register as rain, I wonder?
I am mostly tired tonight and do not want to keep the computer on long in the storm.
Tomorrow is the planned day for me to announce my blog changeover from The Plump Ewe to this page, so I won't duplicate the entry I've already posted there. I am really excited about this - I have been wanting a 3 column template for a long time and the capacity to easily change things on my page.
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