"Spinning Around Like a Fool"

The title of the post is a line from a favorite song of mine by Bobby Caldwell.  Stuck on You 
Now this is a great song, but it's not really about spinning.  
Years ago my daughter worked for a radio station that played 'smooth jazz'.  She met Bobby when he came to the station.  Very nice.  Then she got tickets to the Russian River Jazz Festival and we went.  Bobby was performing. Again very nice.  We were way in the back. Not so nice.  But I could see him because he was wearing a yellow suit. Sooooooooooo nice.  Any way back to spinning.

The second weekend in October I was spinning for 3 days at Coloma Gold Rush Live.  This is a video of some of the festivities.  You might see me briefly at my wheel.   There was just so much to see and do there, the videographer couldn't keep focusing on me. HeeHee.

The weather was so nice on those days, though it did get pretty warm Sunday afternoon. Wearing long sleeves and long skirts, stockings and boots can certainly add to the discomfort.  But in the mornings I was quite comfortable in my 1850's dress.

Now that October is in it's third week, I am less busy and enjoying some of my hobbies. Spinning for example.  So some photos.

This is actually prettier in person. More blue-purple not so grey. This is 2 ply

Maybe this is a bit better.

This may be the same roving, but in a single before playing, but I really don't know.  I'm going to keep better tract of what I'm spinning.

This was is also a single and called Morning Fenceline.  It's BFL wool and silk.   I need more,

This is some handspun, plied and wound into a ball.

That's all for this post.  May God bless you and keep you well.  No flu!!

Gold Rush Live in Coloma

Current and Proposed Projects

Howdy

I will, I will, I will finish the duffles.  There were actually 4 to do and one is done. One is half done, another is cut out and waiting,  I can't remember about #4.

One on the right is not finished, No lining.

See.

But the one on the left is complete.





I had trouble with the piping on the ends of the bags. Perhaps practice is what I need.  Piping does add a certain je ne sais pas to the duffles. Also to other things.

I think when the lining is added to the bag on left. it will help smooth out the wrinkly piping.




I found the pattern as a tutorial from SewCanDo by way of Sew She Can.  I changed the pattern a bit.
#1  I found that lining the straps with the same fleece as the bag made them too difficult to turn right side out.  I left the fleece out of the straps.  A lighter interfacing though might make them less floppy.
#2 I had to change the way I added the zipper because when I did it like the photo, it didn't work.  So I looked at the photo taken after the zip was sewn in and worked backwards.
Otherwise I think they are cute.  So hoping to finish all by Thanksgiving.

I have some spinning to do.  Well, actually, plying.  The spinning's complete.  Oops, what I should have said is, 'some' spinning is done.

This one is plied.  It's called Salsa Caliente.  



The one I need to ply is below. However, I have forgotten it's name.

It's all ready, I just need to do it.



Weaving.   Finally got the new warp tied on to the old warp.  New experience for me.  It worked!

It's tied on but not beamed.  I have no photo of that.  

What I have is a picture of the start of a new set of towels.

This was meant to be a  more sagey green that this or maybe just a deeper hue.  It's a Finnish twill pattern.

There are soooooooooooooooo many more projects in my world to be completed. These have been 5 of them.

May God make His Face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Spinning

Hey there

I have certainly been lazy lately including blogging.  However, as I was spinning yesterday I thought I could do a short one featuring fiber and the wheel.

The wheel 

(the dog and the TV)

A stormy fit of fiber on my knee

Some single ply yarn it has become.

Fiber, fiber everywhere but not a bit of pink

(okay that was silly)

The bright one is called 'Saddle Blanket'.

Working on this one for CNCH, which is Conference of Northern California Handweavers. The gathering is in April and I must have 360 yards of 2 ply yarn for my class.

Recently I took a one on one class on Saori style weaving. Here is my sampler.  It needs some further attention, but I like it.

Now when you look at this remember I am a beginner.

That's all folks.

Checking in

I am still here.  So I'm checking in in case I'm missed.   Since I have finished my Finnish towels, but haven't a photo to share I'll skip that.

Did I tell you I bought a new loom? And while I was there I bought a spinning wheel as well. Both used.

My loom is a Gilmore 40" 4 harness  which I bought at the Gilmore Loom Company in Stockton, CA. When they get one of their looms back in trade, they clean and repair them and sell them with all the equipment that they sell with a new loom.

The owners had just received several items in from someone who was getting rid of them. Some looms and a couple of spinning wheels.  So crazy me, I bought a wheel that looks old fashioned to use at the Gold Discovery Park where I am a docent.  My other wheel, the Schacht Sidekick is just too modern.

You see what I mean?













All these photos are from the internet.

Well, I am off now. I'm cutting out several patterns so I can sew without having to cut out for a while.

       Another beautiful gift from God right out my back door. I happily share it with you.

Still March and I Am Finishing

That pullover is problematic.  I have now misplaced this pattern and so I'm waiting for a new one to arrive.  Meanwhile I've knitted a hat for chemo patients, started socks. Oh, wait I mentioned them already.

This is the same photo I posted, but I'm a bit further along.

And I mentioned weaving 

And spinning.

Here is what I have finished. 

Another scarf using a Noro Kuryeon weft.

A first skein of handspun and pied Falkland wool yarn.

Did I forget to mention sewing?  Shame on me.  I bought a magazine called "Stitch" and wasted no time making something from it.  

Strangely shaped pillows. Good for decoration and for a nap.

I think I'll take a nap right now.

Sweet dreams.

What's Happening

Here's what's happening around here in March so far.

I took Alex's suggestion and bought some trading card sleeves for my "Photo a Day" project.  I put the photos in and then slipped in an explanation and date for each on the back.

The photos

The descriptions of said photos.

Thank you for the great idea, it's working well.

Here's what's happening in my knitting world.

The pullover.  It is possible this is the last sweater I will knit. Unless perhaps a baby one.

I have started another pair of socks in self patterning yarn. They will look something like these.

I did not knit these, but  this is the yarn I'm using. These are from Stephanie Pearl-McFee.


Weaving is coming along very slowly.

Spinning is fun.  Here is a photo of my wheel which doesn't look anything like the more familiar wheels like the one I use at Coloma. 

It's a Schact Sidekick. It's easy to carry, but too modern for the Gold Discovery Park in Coloma.











Here is some fiber I purchased on ETSY from Three Waters Farm.  I've almost turned it all into yarn.

Muted Conversation is the color.

Stitches West was lots of fun  I love riding the train even though it's a bit of a long walk to the convention center after you arrive.  Stitches South is in a few weeks in Nashville, TN.  All about Stitches events here.  I went with guild friends to SW for the market place.  I bought three things. Stitch markers, yarn and fiber. Believe me I was being restrained.  The stitch markers are gorgeous so before I close for today, here they are.

Ciao amici.