Drop spindling...

After a bit of youtube watching yesterday, I picked the beautiful drop spindle and went at it again. if at first you don't succeed, try try again! It definitely flowed better this time. I started off by "parking" the spindle and then built up a rhythm. One of the youtubes gave the helpful hint of untwisting the fiber as you draft. That helped. I still dropped it and got tangled up a few times, but I can see how this will (in time) eventually just flow.... Which will work out perfectly for my evil plans to spin at work on the overnights.
I finished the shawl for Mom's Mother's Day present. It is blocking now and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with how my first official hand-spun project came out. Pictures to come, I don't want to spoil the surprise!
And this...

will be this...

WIP pictureless post

Trying to get back to a bit of crafting around here...
Some girls at work have expressed interest in beginning a weekly/monthly craft night. I think that our first project will be Valentine's cards. Maybe this idea from Martha
Adopted a new spinning ritual... Spinning until I get the "safe at home" text from our babysitter. Turns out a good 30-45 minute spin from 11:30-12:15 every work night. Just finished spinning some Mountain Colors roving. It will be a gift for a great friend whose heart needs a hug (I think in the form of a handspun scarf)
As far as WIPs go... My strategy: finish as many unfinished projects before the start of the knitting Olympics. (will be working on gawain out of my Ireland stash.)
Working on my entangled gloves that have been sitting since the birth of Einin. It's been a year, time to kick it in gear.
Also working on my first semi-serious handspun project, a v-neck vest for me, no pictures yet... almost finished though.
I'll aslo try sneaking in my February Lady Sweater. I'm so close to being finished - only 1.5 sleeves to go....
Sending my love and prayers to all of you.

My New Baby

Yes, she's a Lendrum. And, yes, I do lay awake at night thinking, "I could be spinning right now!"
Now for all the specifics!

Have to think of a name for her... Any ideas?

I purchased her through our local spinning lady (LSL) who is also a licensed Lendrum dealer. I got her (the wheel) at a great price; since the LSL doesn't need to keep up a retail store, she pretty much sells them at cost plus tax.

Yes, I did go to Rhinebeck - I came home with a Romney lamb fleece at it's 6 month clip. It looks like shiny black silk and I put my hand in it every chance I get.
After talking with the LSL about what to do with it, I am not going to have it sent out to be processed, I am going to do everything by hand - wash, pick, comb and spin it. I am so very excited.

What the heck have we been doing?

I think that I have gone into survival mode. Just getting through everything to make it work. I am pretty sure I have been enjoying myself at the same time.
What we have been doing...
Growing

Spinning

Sewing

Knitting


Farmer's Marketing



Getting inspired
I think I will do this kind of green bag next

Inconclusive evidence Ultrasound #2

We had our 2nd ultrasound. Authorities cannot either conform or deny if it is a boy or a girl. The ultrasound tech fished around for a while scanning from the bum, up, but it was inconclusive. She was funny with how she worded it, "The parts that should be there for a male don't look like they are. It is really easy to tell when they are, but not so easy when they are not." So.... We think that it is a girl. The ultrasound was about an hour long. We got to see the heart, kidneys, stomach, spine, head, face, hands, feet - so cool!

Thursday I had another spinning session. Peggy was great and just let me use her wheel while she taught weaving. I spun up some 2-ply out of teal, pink, green roving I had. It came out looking greyish. Peggy suggested plying it with the color I would like to bring out. I stopped at my LYS and we'll see what happens plying with pink!

I finished the Aran Pullover and now just need to find 4 cute little buttons. I decided that I love tweed.

I cast on for the Yellow Harvest mittens. One whole cuff is done and a little more. We will see how much I can get done at work.

Spinning and more press for Delaney

I had my first spinning lesson today! How awesome! And yes, I think that I have found my new addiction. Peggy is a super teacher. So patient and knew exactly when I needed a break. She showed me all of the cool tools that spinners use to prepare the wool like viking combs and carders. She started me on a single treadle Ashford and then I got to graduate to a double treadle Lendrum. I was surprised to discover that thinner yarn is easier to spin that thicker, bulky yarn. My goal is to try as many different wheels as possible to figure out which to get. Mom and I may take a Monday morning someday soon to go up to the mecca Webs and try out all their wheels.

In other news, Delaney made the paper twice in one week!

The first is at a concert on the green in Glastonbury and the second is her enjoying some fruit at our hospital's ribbon cutting for our green energy system.

We also had her first gymnastics class. She had a great time. Both teachers were like, "Um, she has a lot of energy, doesn't she?" Yeah, why do you think I am here letting her run around your place?