You to my new spindle, The Avi!
Spindle made by Avi Wasserman via Matahari Spinnery
Whorl is Olivewood with ebony and silver inlay
Shaft is English Ash (I think)
Weight 2.5 ozs., Length nearly 14 inches, Diameter 3.75 inches
Though very large in size and weight, it spins like a dream. I am working on some merino on it right now and getting a light DK weight off it believe it or not. In the end, The Avi will be used more for plying but I sure having fun with it now.
A while ago, Kathleen and I had a conversation about spindles and our fear of all the spindle makers retiring in the near future. There are not many spindle makers our age, if any, and that concerns us. As a result, I am determined to get a spindle from every spindle maker that I can find! I started with Avi because he tends to be a bit more hard to find since he is in Isreal. I am not sure who will be next on the list yet. I am going to The Black Sheep Gathering so I am hoping to find a spindle or two there. Any suggestions on who I should get next?
I am having a bit of a scarf obsession right now. Maybe it's the weather, or the fact that my office is an icebox and I end up wearing a scarf of some sort to stay warm.
My latest and greatest project is Knitspot's That Little Scarf. I am really liking this one. The pattern's simple, but gives the fabric an interesting texture. I have not decided if I am going to block this one yet because it might lose some of the dimension.
The original pattern calls for 20 repeats, but the yarn I am using has more yardage so I am going to add a repeat or three to it. I love am loving the yarn lots. The color way is Chartreuse's Sister (fingerling 70% baby alpaca/30% silk blend). The colors change in different lighting from greens to grays, yellows to tans.
The indoor at night photos just don't do the color any justice. I promise I will get the finished piece out in the sunlight.
I also broke out the spinning wheel this week and started on a new to me breed of wool, Falkland. I purchased this form the Yarn Wench a month or so ago.
It's spinning up quite nicely and I think I might even manage to make a DK weight yarn with this one. Lately I've been spinning up lighter weight yarns, the usual "curse" as you get more experienced with spinning. I have gone back to the normal flyer on the lower ratio and am taking my time. So far the results are turing out the way I wanted. I am only half way through the roving so only time will tell if I can keep it up.
On the niddy noddy is some BFL in a lace to fingerling weight. It spun up like a dream, but I got bored plying it. A little too much of the solid color. Dyed rovings have spoiled me!
The flowers are out like crazy right now.
Our weekend walks with Ruby are filled with restrictions.
I liked the contrast between the white and blue of the building and the reds and pink of the flowers.
Velvety leaves opening to catch the sun.
A close-up of the rose petals.
An elephant made of tires. What a great way to recycle.
Have you ever had those days where none of your projects seem to be working right...dropped stitches, lost in the pattern, off by a stitch. I have found the perfect cure for days like these and it is call the Sunday Market Shawl. A few yarn overs at the start then plain old stockinette stitch until you run out of yarn...then a few dropped stitches and you're done!
Pattern: Sunday Market Shawl
Yarn: 2 skeins of Silky Merino by Malabrigo
Colorway: Machu Pichu
Needle Size: US 9
I really need to work on getting caught up on the whole blogging thing! I've been getting lazy about uploading my pictures and that leads to no blogging...must work on that.
Anyhoo, last weekend was Maker Faire. I was there both days, helping Kristine out with her booth in the Bizar Bazzar area. Kathleen and I had good fun both days helping people and writing up receipts. "It's like playing store!" we kept saying. At one point, I was wishing I had toy cash register to work with.
Kathleen during a break in traffic.
I was intrigued by people's responses to the fiber that was out. Sunday's phrase was "Baby LLama! Baby Camel!" We even had one lady ask us what we do to the baby camel in order to get its fur. We were kind of dumbstruck with that one since we personally don't do anything. Thankfully, Kristine was quick to answer with how the fur is removed and pointed out that it's beneficial for the baby to have itself shaved.
One of the many highlights of Saturday was the Yarn Harlot. She came to speak, sign books, and do a knit-a-long. I opted to miss out on the activities so that others who haven't seen her yet could go. Stephanie did make an appearance at the BB and she stopped by the booth.
Yep, that would be the shirt she bought from A Verb for Keeping Warm..alright, she actually picked the blue one, but I did write up her receipt and take her cash. :) Stephanie wore her new shirt in Salt Lake City the next day so that was pretty cool to see. Gotta love the spinning wheel shirt...must gets another one....
BB was a bit secluded from the rest of Maker Faire; in its own building with the door closed. We did have some chances to venture out and see all that was there. It's rather difficult to describe the faire to people that haven't been there so here's some pictures instead:
Diet Coke and Mentos set up.
This was a crazy set up and lots of people were wet and sticky when the display was done.
The coolest bike ever, Steampunk style. Me thinks Ted and I might look more into this steampunk business.
mmmmm...chocolate....mmmmmm
Look! He's knitting and drumming at the same time. Crazy!
Adrienne really really excited about the fire, and boy there was lots of it.
A firebird, I think?
Oh and here's my Yarn Harlot Kinnear shot. As Ted and I were waiting in line to get in Saturday morning, along came a car with her in it.
Thank you 12x zoom. :)
A week ago Saturday was Color: A Fiber Festival. A festival that I hosted along with friends and vendors A Verb for Keeping Warm, Girl on the Rocks, Pigeonroof Studios, and Tactile. It was a warm sunny day, just perfect for some fiber, knitting, spinning, and weaving fun.
The morning started bright and early with setting up our main room.
The show got underway at 10 am and we had people waiting to get it!
This is what Krista's roving looked like after 30 minutes! Trust me, there was a whole lot more there when she started. I think Kathleen was the lucky one to get the last of the roving.
Thankfully, Krista did have some sock yarn to sell for the rest of the day. :)
We held 8 different classes through out the day; 3 drop spindle, 3 fiber tastings, and 2 how-to weavettes.
Brooke and Kristine introduced 30 people to spinning. Yea!
A live action spindle shot.
Our new spinners!
The fiber tastings focused on rare wool breeds, exotic fibers, and cellulose fibers and blends.
Fibers...
+ spinning = way too much fun!
So many fibers, so little time!
Karrie brought along her weavette looms and shared a new addiction skill.
Many folks came just for the opportunity to knit and spin with others.
Ah, ladybugs! I wants one.
Socks!
Handspun scarf in progress
Say "Hi" to Mike.
Another wheel at work.
Kathleen's multi-colored spindle and some yummy roving.
All I can say is that I can not wait for out next Color!
