A wonderful weekend!

Glenn and I headed to Riverton, CT with our friends, Mickey and Mary Goshen, for a weekend of fun and fly fishing on the Farmington River. The weather was off and on, which made fishing even tougher than usual. It was still a wonderful weekend!

We did make one "fiber-related" stop to The Wool Connection in Avon, CT. The ladies who worked there were just lovely and helped us make great choices, including some fiber for spinning from Ashford!

Received My Wheelbag!

When I got home tonight, I havd a pleasant surprise waiting for me...my wheel bag from The Bag Lady! She did a lovely job and I am very happy with my decision to go with denim, rather than a tapestry. It is very much my style. The bag is completely padded and fits the bag in its upright position. I will definitely feel much better when I travel with my wheel now that it will be protected.

The Rose Comes to the Office

Well, yesterday was a special Stitch and Bitch at work. Our "bitch emeritus" came for a visit, and I promised her I would bring in Miss Rose. I haven't received my bag yet, but I was very careful transporting her by wrapping her in a fleece blanket and strapping her into the front seat.

Everyone just loved it and I had so much fun showing her off! As I improve on how to spin, I can TOTALLY see myself doing demonstrations. Such fun!

Shameless Promotion

I am pleased to announce that a new book is out called Hooked: A Crocheter's Stash of Wit and Wisdom. The reason I am telling you all about this is because I have an essay published in this book. I am very excited about this! It tells the story of how I started crocheting and it is really in honor and memory of my gradmother. If you happen to pick it up and read my essay, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Today's Lesson

So today I had my first formal lesson on my Rose from my instructor, Susan Dunne-Lederhaas of North Country Spinners. She spent quite a bit of time going over all the different options on the wheel and how best to utilize them. There are certainly a lot of different ways to use this wheel! We also talked about how to use hand carders properly and how to ply. I am just amazed how many ways you can use this wheel. This is certainly a wonderful piece of equipment I will be able to grow with for a long time to come.

My next investment will be in a pair of hand carders and a ball winder. Yay! More toys to buy!

My First Skein

Well, I finally finished my first skein in my new Majacraft Rose! I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out. My big worry was setting the twist. I followed the directions exactly from Spin It: Making Yarn From Scratch and I didn't felt it!

The big question I am getting from everyone is "what are you going to make with it?" I was telling everyone that it hadn't told me yet! But, last night I started thinking about a keyhole scarf. I have a few projects to make first and then I'll get started on a project for this special yarn!

Taking time to never forget

As I got ready for work this morning, as usual, I made coffee and turned on Fox News. I immediately became transfixed as they replayed parts of the broadcast from five years ago. I evenaully had to pull myself away 15 minutes before I was due to arrive at work. I hadn't seen the telecast live that morning, but it was as if it was a live broadcast today.

I was already on my way to work the morning the world changed. I didn't see the news live, but listened to the radio at the office to the news reports. It made me think an odd though, wondering if this is what Americans did as the events of World War I and II took place? I left the office and headed to an elementary school to check on my friend's mother, as her husband worked for the Secret Service at the time at the World Trade Center. She eventually heard from him that day; he was safe.

I grew up in North Jersey and there is a spot in Belleville, where you have a beautiful view of the NYC skyline. After that day, I couldn't go look from that spot for a long time. Even when I had to drive by that area, I drove as if I was in a tunnel, not wanting to look. I remember that smell of the fire and the smoke that came across the Hudson River.

I just wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts on this day and hope to remind everyone to never forget on the day the world changed. May God Bless The United States Of America.

When all else fails...RTFM

Success! I have something that actually looks like yarn!

I started out again tonight attempting to spin on my new toy, my Majacraft Rose. I predrafted some fiber and began to treadle, the fiber began to spin and once again, I couldn't get it to go onto the bobbin. I finally pulled out the manual and began to read. What a concept! I found the "troubleshooting" section and saw that there was a section about just this issue. I made a minor adjustment to the spring tension and WHAM...in it goes! My heart skipped a beat! It felt like the first time I was able to double-haul on my flyrod. I proceed to continue to spin a half a batt of fiber for just about two hours when my husband finally said it was time to settle down for the night. Settle down?? But I HAVE it! I knew it was time, but I was finally getting it. I playing iwth spinning thick and think, putting bumps in the yarn and just generally play.

So it just goes to show you, when all else fails, RTFM. ;-)

Using fiber for the first time

Well, there she is. The Majacraft Rose in my new little spinning corner of the living room. I have been practicing just treadling for the last few days and I just couldn't wait anymore...I added fiber to the mix. I pulled out some batts from Linda Diak at Grafton Fibers and took a deep breath. I started out working the fiber, attempting to mimic what Betty demonstrated to me when I made my purchase. Well, I have successfully made...rope! I seem to be able to spin it OK, but I can't get it to feed onto the spool. My husband Glenn has been very supportive, reminding me that it just takes practice, like everything else and it will come in time. Like most of my "analog" interests (crochet, fly fishing, fly tying and now spinning), the skill came in time.

Stay tuned...

My first post!

Well, after many people telling me I should start a blog, I finally did! As the summer ends I am embarking on a new fiber journey...spinning on a wheel! I have been playing with spindles for a while now and decided to make the jump to a wheel. I have been doing a LOT of research and finally settled on The Rose from Majacraft. It is just beautiful! I made an appointment at The Spinnery in Frenchtown with owner Betty and spent two hours in her shop yesterday getting to know the wheel. Well, I fell absolutely in love! It also has a special meaning to me because my grandmother's name was Rose. Now I will always think of her as I am spinning or crocheting.

Well, that's it for now. I hope you will check back often on my fiberous journey!