My Big Bang Theory 2 Swap Buddy IS AWESOME!

Isn't this amazing? My buddy, Dasha from Prague, sent me so many goodies, it's just outrageous. She even sent a toy for my precious pup, Lyta -- a chew toy! Awww. 

Don't you just love the Enchanted Bunny she made me? He has a CARROT OF POWER! Can't wait to try the German sock wool ball -- it's shades of PURPLE. See the groovy stitch markers? And the 3 types of Fair Trade coffee? MMMMMMMMMMM. She even included some very tasty gummies, which I adore. The european ones are heaps better than Aussie or Yank ones.

Fibre Club SIOz 2010

Lyta wants to know - where is her Aussie Day lambchop? 

The Grrrrl was full of beans this am -- carrying on, wanting pats. I'm with her all the time, so have no idea what has gotten into her!

I've debated with myself and others for several months on whether I would do a fiber club for my business. I know it's all the rage these days, but I wasn't sure it was the right thing for me to do. And was it true to what I care about and believe for my work? The idea of my spinning encroaching on my business....

Anyway, after much debate and thinking, I've come up with a club that I think will make my customers and me happy. I'm working on the final touches, and will post the details on my SIOz blog this week. 

Alas, this week is a non-spinning week, as I'm under several deadlines and there's dyelots to go up as well. Yay!

bamboo spinning

So soft, so easy to spin. What will I do with this yarn? I really love the way the purple blended with the black. The gold makes it look really cool, like it's antique.  

Hmmmm. Must ponder on item to knit with it... Ieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I said I wouldn't but...

I like to test the spindles that I make -- they require gentle fiddling for balance and a good feel.  I promised myself I wouldn't play with this spindle too long, but it's now got some very fine Cormo, alpaca, silk carded fibre on it and damnit, it's just so nice to spin. A fine Cormo thread? What to do with it? Ieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Little lace spindle. (sigh) And no time to spin at present.  

Personal Blog, star date 1234. A very rude gentleman stood in my market stall and told me that I didn't paint fibre. I'm not sure what he was aiming at, but he, being a man, decided that it couldn't be done. Am I getting sexist in my old age (?), but damn, the old feminist in me saw a BIG RED FLAG waving around. I couldn't wait for him to leave.  And I wish I could have had a snappy retort, but it was the end of the long market day. I smiled and prayed he would go away. 

I really can't remember a woman standing in my shop and telling me what I cannot do.  To be fair, I'm sure it has happened, but I'm blanking at the moment. So apologies to all my male friends. Doofuses come in all shapes, sizes, and genders. 

I'm sure it is quite unoriginal of me to ponder on the spinning mania that seems to be around of late. Are we all stuck at home, finding ways to amuse ourselves? Craving nostalgia? I remember a few years ago, someone asked me if I wanted to learn to spin -- this was someone I worked with -- and I immediately said no! I had a fear that a new fibre-related activity would get swallowed in my work. And become something I was responsible for on the duties list.

Still trying to sequester my spinning fun from my knitting and yarn work. The thought of spinning, my new hobby, getting absorbed into my business makes me rather sad. 

So, why am I meeting new spinners lately? 

Still spinning...

In between design work, I've been playing with my drop spindle. Found a lone hank of Way Over the Rainbow that I didn't know existed. Joy of joys -- I am now wanting to make a larger project with the yarn I've already spun, so now, no excuses.

Ok, so what to knit with the WOtR yarn? I'm going to have to do some serious doodling to get that right. Hmmmmm.

Friend V has lost this hank:

The missing hank of green loveliness

V's fibre that became the green loveliness

I am hoping that by posting these photos, the yarn pixies who have stolen her hank will return it to the correct cupboard in her house. Good yarn karma... Don't fret V! If it doesn't turn up, I shall paint more for you. Now that I look at it again, it was a quite fetching batch...

Way Over the Rainbow Handspun

Way Over the Rainbow Handpun

Tah-rah! Finally plied some of these singles I had on the spindles. Wound the singles onto bobbins to even out the twist and then plied them on a new wooden spindle I picked up at Finger Lakes Fiber Fest. I'm totally happy with it so far. I like my handspun tightly plied and thin, so this was a challenge. The red matched up nicely tone on tone, but the green went a little feral on me and had a mind of its own. I like the result. Looking forward to plying the rest of the lot.

Now, to decide on what to make with it!

Finally -- the spindle gets used

Way Over the Rainbow Merino Spinning Fibre (carded)

From the Bendigo 2009 stash -- here's what I did with the 50gm of Australian wool fibre that was a showbag gift to my spinning customers at BSWS 2009.

I divided the fibre down the middle to spin a 2ply for a lace project. I wanted to spin to singles in the same manner to do a colour-segmented yarn. Used a very short draw and lots of twist.

Howlite Gemstone Spindle with laceweight single

I've had this on display at the Port Markets and have been getting lots of comments like, "wow, that yarn doesn't look like the fibre." Yup, the red is blending nicely with the blue to get a really nice dark burgundy and a lighter red (gold with red). The greens are dominated by the reds the way I've spun this section.

Next installment -- the first hank with detail on plying process.