I just thought that I should add some fiber photos. These are the three bobbins full of wool that I spun on the Reeves.
And here is a close-up of the two batches of wool that were dyed together. The lighter one was put into the dye pot dry and the other was pre-soaked.
Well, it wound up costing me more than a really expensive spinning wheel and more than two mortgage notes, but the painting is done at the old house. I made sure they pressure cleaned the whole house and caulked everything before they started painting. I hope my real estate agent can get it listed very soon.
One of my neighbors wanted to talk to me about why I working so hard to get it fixed up for sale…well, duh. I know that I lot of people would do it as cheap as possible, sell it and let it be someone else’s problem…but that would keep me up at night. LOL
I need to get to work on birthday presents for a group of friends. I managed to fall behind already in this project. As if that were a surprise! Time to get back to working on them, I have a couple almost ready, but not quite.
This is my first Halloween in this neighborhood and I was warned by a neighbor that we would get hoards of children, so I really stocked up on candy. I know that Halloween is not until Monday, but they said on the news that the Mayor of Jackson designated Saturday night as the official night for trick-or-treat. Ironically the rest of Hinds County will be doing it on the regular night. Maybe the kids are rebelling and they will come by on Monday.
The painters got to work on my Ridgeland house today. They pressure washed it on Thursday and got the first coat of almond on the siding, white on the trim and green on the doors (to match the new shutters). They should be able to finish it tomorrow! I am so ready to get it sold.
I am still looking for a good used spinning wheel, a more portable one than the Reeves, but since I just got the expensive wheel, I am looking for a bargain. Speaking of which, I have almost three bobbins full of spun wool! It is very exciting, but I still want to be prepared for meetings and demonstrations. I have looked into a few portable wheels that interest me…but if I don’t happen upon a used gem…I am seriously considering a Babe. Karin, a fellow guild member has one, so I have seen one up close and personal.
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Update: A load of kids on a hayride finally came by the house, then another couple of groups on foot. There were plenty of kids, but not nearly as many as I expected and most of them were not in costume. I did hand out four bags of candy and several glow necklaces.
I drank about six cups of tea, most of them Peppermint Cold Remedy variety. I also watched Spinning and Weaving The Ashford Way and Spinning Wool – Basics & Beyond: Wheel, Fiber Preparation & Spinning Techniques. Both videos were borrowed from my guild. I also borrowed Paula Simmons’ Spinning & Weaving with Wool. I have them checked-out from our library until the next meeting.
I did spin for a while on the Reeves, but the truth is, my left thumb hurts. LOL
I am feeling better…thanks to those of you who sent me well wishes.
I am home today, yet another sick day. I tried to fight this thing off, I even drank peppermint tea last night. Alas, it did not work. LOL My coworker was sick too, we have a tendency to pass germs back and forth in our office.
I am starting to feel better as the day wears on and I have tried to get a few things accomplished. I did take a photo of the wool I Kool Aid dyed last week. I used a slew of flavors and combinations and did not record a single thing. Well, I did use the hot pour method, a large Pyrex dish and microwave instead of my dye pot. It was strictly an walk on the intuitive side! The orange/yellow one was a combination of Mango, Orange & Lemonade.
And I also took a photo of the merino blend on the Reeves right now. It came out much softer in tone and color than the top I pre-soaked and dyed in the same pot. Yes it over-twisted…as if that were a surprise.
Since some of you asked me the details of the Reeves wheel, I asked the owner. She said she bought it in 1998 directly from Rick Reeves at Convergence in Atlanta. It was her production wheel when she spun for sale and now that she has changed her focus to sewing, she thought she should sell it.
I have spun on it for at least an hour nearly every night since I got it.
I did get through the increases on my sock toe last night a Knit Night, but that was as far as I got. I need to close the toe to make it look more visually pleasing. But right now, I am procrastinating. Actually, I have just been in a reading mood.
I finished The Mermaid Chair today and started The Secret Life of Bees. I know I did that out of order, but apparently I am the only woman alive who missed her first book. It took me two tries checking out the Mermaid Chair before I actually got around to reading it. Things have just been so crazy. I go through phases where I read everything I can get my hands on. I come by it naturally, both of my parents are also voracious readers.
Okay, Cynthia and I were talking about the socks and she mentioned that it is easier to adjust for unknown amounts of yarn with a toe up sock. I have always knitted them cuff down…but she is right, I really don’t know how far my homepsun will go…so I frogged all my work. hehehehe
I also finished my first full bobbin of Merino on the Reeves and moved it over to the Lazy Kate. I then put on a fresh bobbin and started some soft wool blend.
My husband and I ran some errands this weekend. We took my station wagon up to Sam’s Club to for gas and decided to do a little shopping. We picked up two oversized camp chairs from Mossy Oak for the back yard.
He also took me to the book store and bought me three interesting new books. I usually grab a bunch of books, sit down in a comfortable chair and eliminate most of them. But yesterday was different. First on deck is the third installment of The Knitting Experience by Sally Melville, Color! I also got the new Nicky Epstein book, Knitting on the Edge: Ribs, Ruffles, Fringes, Flora, Points & Picots. I loved her Embellishments book, so I could not resist this one. Then the last one was Felted Crochet by Jane Davis. I think I own every felting book, but this one had some really cute projects. I need to dye some purple wool for the grapes in the grape pincushion. Of course, then I need to find some time to be able to make it! LOL
The most amazing part of the weekend so far is that I finally got my painted bedroom furniture into the bedroom! Of course, it did not go smoothly, but it is done. I have most of the hardware back on and despite needing so touch up painting, today I should be able to get my clothes out of the bags and baskets and into my dressers. Woo hoo! I also got most of my prints and paintings put up and the walls. It is finally starting to feel like home.
Okay, it isn’t craft related, but on Thursday they let me know that the book I reserved before it even arrived was available. I have been a big Jennifer Weiner fan since Good in Bed piqued my curiosity several years ago. I really see a lot of myself in her work. Maybe because I am zoftig, maybe because I am Jewish, maybe because I am a frustrated writer.
When I took all those playwriting classes, my mother used to say “you could be the next Wendy Wasserstein.” Oh, please, as if. But how funny that she chose her and not August Wilson, Sam Sheppard or David Mamet…my three favorite contemporary playwrights. I was so sad to learn that August Wilson passed away….Fences moved me in a way I can not explain…especially with James Earl Jones.
Oh and back to the reason for this post! I finished Goodnight Nobody and it was a great read. I really enjoyed it.
I also managed to see Cynthia after work today!
Okay, as a spinner and knitter (but not a big sock maker) I have to give The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook by Lynne Vogel….a great big thumbs up! I learned a name for my style of dyeing, it is called Dyeing in an Intuitive Manner. The book covers dyeing (Lanaset/Sabraset & Kool Aid), spinning (including color ideas) and customizing your socks. It also has a lot of great tips along the way, especially for color combinations in dyeing. My copy is dog-earred and full of sticky notes.
I really enjoyed Color in Spinning by Deb Menz, but a lot of it went over my head. The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook was a good read and I really enjoyed it. In fact, one of the coolest things about this book was that it inspired me to actually “want” to knit a pair of socks, something I have not done in years. Goodness knows I have the needles for it! I have lots of Brittany DPNs and several small sets of vintage circular needles.
Okay, I have to say. I am enjoying the spinning wheel more and more. I sent the seller an e-mail telling her that I am ready to buy it and make arrangements to pay her for it. Let’s face it, this thing is really pretty and sometimes I just have to admire it’s beauty.
Oscar has been nosing around the new wheel for the last two days. I took a picture of him with the wheel and of the merino I am currently spinning. I managed to get about an hour of spinning in last night, despite working on the house.
I picked up my car this afternoon after work. They charged me $135 to *diagnose* the problem then over $350 to replace the alternator. If the stupid thing is actually fixed, it will be worth it, but I won’t hold my breath. The problem is this has been going on for nearly a year and no one seems to be able to solve the problem for very long. It just surprises me periodically by completely discharging the battery in just a few minutes, then refusing to start or hold a charge. I have been through three batteries and yet I end up stuck somewhere (Hattiesburg, the driveway at my other house, Lisa’s driveway, the grocery store, etc…) and having to call a tow truck.
Next I really need to replace the windshield, then the tires. Ah, the joys of everyday living.
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