Showing off

Nothing much to say... just check out my work on my new wheel :) Yes, I am a show off!

Cool Site of the Week - January 12th, 2009

Happy Monday folks! Today's cool site of the week is actually one of my favorite Knitting, Spinning, Crochet, Fiber Arts communities... none other that Ravelry!

http://www.ravelry.com/

If you're a fiber arts person you MUST join Ravelry.com. Joining takes a few minutes but you may need to wait a day or too for your invite after you register. What are you waiting for? Get over there and join up! You'll find me waiting for you (beingv on Ravelry)...

Have a fibery week!

Meet "Woman"

I've gone and done it. I've gotten a new wheel. Do I dislike my other wheel? No way! My Kromski Mazurka has and will always be my 1st and most memorable wheel. Its the wheel I cut my spinning teeth on and its strikingly handsome. However, my spinning skills have progressed at such a rapid pace that my Kromski just can't seem to keep up. The "Polish Princess" is perfect for quiet meditative spinning, but when I need spin up several bobbins of laceweight in a pinch for a project, I need something more powerful and flexible that's geared towards production spinning. Enter Majacraft's Suzie Alpaca wheel and a fabulous Woolee Winder.

I purchased a complete spinning bundle from a sweet woman on Ravelry. Ann had purchased the Alpaca wheel, Woolee Winder with extra bobbins, Skein Winder, Tensioned Kate and a custom carrying bag for the wheel - all in an attempt to take up a new spinning hobby. Unfortunately for Ann, the hobby didn't click with her. Fortunately for me, I was in the right thread on Rav at the right time and was able to grab the entire bundle for a good price.

I'm amazed at how much better I am at spinning fine yarn with this new wheel. I believe its a combination of the fast whorl (purchased separately) and the Woolee Winder (which allows me to just keep on drafting and spinning without changing hooks) at the root of my immediate success at creating laceweight yarn.

I've decided to name my new wheel "Woman". To me she embodies many of the great attributes of a strong and productive female.

- Strength. She's solid as a rock, yet easily bruised, but not broken.
- Dependability. She stands at the ready and is responsive to the touch.
- Hard Working. She's a workhorse who produces a fine yarn with little effort.
- Beauty. She's gorgeous to look at and wonderfully made. Born of Rimu wood from the heart of New Zealand, scultpured with fine lines, every curve and angle a testament to her greatness.

My spinning wheel collection now totalling 2, where old world charm meets modern day technology, is now complete. I've found what to me, is the best of both worlds.

Fiber frenzy!

Fiber, fiber, fiber! It's becoming an addiction. No matter how much I have I still find myself eyeing more. From rovings and hand dyed and painted to raw fleece (wensleydale, shetland and alpaca so far), I just can't get enough!

Here's my latest purchase, two pounds of superfine Alpaca. (maybe cria Alpaca???) Just purchased this from a woman on Ravelry. Its lovely!




To top things off, I've also got a 1 pound 4 oz beautiful moorit Shetland fleece soaking in my bathtub right now (also courtesy of that evil Ravelry). Oh, pray for my strength come spring which is typically shearing season!

Cool Site of the Week - January 5th, 2009

Ah, its a new year and hopefully a new YOU. Not that there's anything wrong with the old one, but sometimes its just a good idea to shed some skin. Its 8PM and I'm way late on posting the site of the week, but I haven't missed it - its still Monday :)

Tonight I'm cheating a bit and posting my pic for site of the week: Times Websites of the Year 2008! Hey, its a website! Enjoy.