Today, I picked up my new Ashford Joy spinning wheel. It's a double treadle, portable wheel, and I am in love. She's small, she's quiet, and (perhaps best of all at the moment) she's babyproof, thanks to her traveling case.
Sadly, this means I'll be parting with my dear Kromski Minstrel. I haven't found a buyer, yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to - the Kromski is a wonderful wheel, just not babyproof enough for my home. I'll miss Magda, but I'm thrilled to welcome Joy.
My inaugural spin is an Abby Franquemont batt in Shiraz, a deep purpley burgundy, merino/tencel mix. It's delightful to spin, as any Abby batt always proves to be, and I'm easily managing an even long-draw on Joy's smallest ratio. Joy's a fast one (probably faster than Magda, as I don't have the lace flyer for the Kromski) and is proving to be just what the doctor ordered.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Why so many question marks, eh?
Dear Person on a forum I read,
Why so many question marks and exclamation points? We understand your point with just one of each. Why end each question with three??? Or even four???? And omg four exclamation points!!!! Adding so many detracts from the points you're attempting to make. I won't even touch on the point of your poor spelling or very odd emoticon faces. What the heck does "=S" mean, anyway? It's not a smiley. It's not a frown. I am befuddled.
Learn how to type.
No love,
A former editor
Why so many question marks and exclamation points? We understand your point with just one of each. Why end each question with three??? Or even four???? And omg four exclamation points!!!! Adding so many detracts from the points you're attempting to make. I won't even touch on the point of your poor spelling or very odd emoticon faces. What the heck does "=S" mean, anyway? It's not a smiley. It's not a frown. I am befuddled.
Learn how to type.
No love,
A former editor
Friday, January 7, 2011
2010 In Review
2010 was pretty good to me. A significant improvement over 2009, which can still bite me in the rear.
2010 FAVORITES IN REVIEW:
BOOK: This is going to embarrass me beyond belief, but Abigail Renold's "The Last Man on Earth." It's a Jane Austen sequel. I'm a tad obsessed with them at the moment. I happened to finish the whole book in one day.
PLACE VISITED: Asheville, NC with my hubby and son
MEAL COOKED: It might be silly, but I made one kickass meatloaf this year! I've been trying to improve my cooking. Meatloaf is easy, but GOOD meatloaf can be difficult.
MEAL EATEN: At Bamian in Arlington, VA. Hubby and I used to live there, and went back to our favorite restaurants when we were up for a meeting. I really, really like this restaurant.
MOVIE: Harry Potter 7a.
INFORMATION LEARNED: Babies fart. A LOT.
ITEM BOUGHT: BFL/silk from Maryland Sheep and Wool. OMG soft. I also succeeded in my first spinningwheel laceweight using it.
MOMENT: My son's birth. Yes, it's cheesy. It's still true.
2010 FAVORITES IN REVIEW:
BOOK: This is going to embarrass me beyond belief, but Abigail Renold's "The Last Man on Earth." It's a Jane Austen sequel. I'm a tad obsessed with them at the moment. I happened to finish the whole book in one day.
PLACE VISITED: Asheville, NC with my hubby and son
MEAL COOKED: It might be silly, but I made one kickass meatloaf this year! I've been trying to improve my cooking. Meatloaf is easy, but GOOD meatloaf can be difficult.
MEAL EATEN: At Bamian in Arlington, VA. Hubby and I used to live there, and went back to our favorite restaurants when we were up for a meeting. I really, really like this restaurant.
MOVIE: Harry Potter 7a.
INFORMATION LEARNED: Babies fart. A LOT.
ITEM BOUGHT: BFL/silk from Maryland Sheep and Wool. OMG soft. I also succeeded in my first spinningwheel laceweight using it.
MOMENT: My son's birth. Yes, it's cheesy. It's still true.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Out of thread
How does it always seem to happen that I run out of something just as I'm about to finish? Fate, I suppose. This time, it's thread. Plain boring brown thread. I thought my house was stocked to the gills with brown thread. But no. Three seams from finishing my Mother in Law's Christmas gift, the spool ran dry.
And there are no more spools.
Thankfully, I pressed myself to try to finish ahead of time, so I have several days to make a run to pick up some more - but I really wanted to be done tonight! Oh well. Off to video games, instead.
And there are no more spools.
Thankfully, I pressed myself to try to finish ahead of time, so I have several days to make a run to pick up some more - but I really wanted to be done tonight! Oh well. Off to video games, instead.
Monday, December 13, 2010
NaNoSpinMo results
I didn't make my goal. Ended up spinning about 10 oz. of fiber out of the 16 oz I hoped for. I got distracted by getting my patterns up and running, but that's fine with me. I ended up with some gorgeous yarn, and I can't wait to knit with it.
The pink is the Miss Babs, the brown multi is Susan's Spinning Bunny, and the orange is fiber fest fiber which is sadly missing its tag. Overall: success!
The pink is the Miss Babs, the brown multi is Susan's Spinning Bunny, and the orange is fiber fest fiber which is sadly missing its tag. Overall: success!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Hillsborough Hat and Mitts
It's been a bit quiet here, but I've been working on something big.
This:
A little hat and mitt set. In Knit Picks Stroll Tonal...
Or in Three Waters Farm Silk Merino fingering.
The patterns are available for sale at Knit Picks or locally at Yarns, Etc.
This:
A little hat and mitt set. In Knit Picks Stroll Tonal...
Or in Three Waters Farm Silk Merino fingering.
The patterns are available for sale at Knit Picks or locally at Yarns, Etc.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Finished - finally!
I finished my first serious lace project this evening.
Just off the needles...
That is to say, the first serious lace project that I cast on, in May of 2009. The poor shawl languished in the WIP pile for months until I finally rescued it earlier this summer. There are dozens of mistakes, but it doesn't matter - it's done. I can't wait to see how it looks all blocked up!
Just off the needles...
That is to say, the first serious lace project that I cast on, in May of 2009. The poor shawl languished in the WIP pile for months until I finally rescued it earlier this summer. There are dozens of mistakes, but it doesn't matter - it's done. I can't wait to see how it looks all blocked up!
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