Translate

Friday, September 24, 2010

Group Therapy

Today was the first meeting of a new knit group at the Argos Public Library with five ladies attending, plus myself. I arrived just in time.

My Plymouth pal, Chris, had notified me of a spinning wheel at a shop in her town on sale for $67.50. Chances were that it was crap, but, hey, that small possibility of what chance is all about! I went on up, crunching the time. A lovely, antique wheel of aged oak, it had no flyer/spool, so totally unable to make yarn. The single treadle turned the wheel just fine, though, and the mother-of-all was intact. Oh, well.

As a result of looking at the wheel, though, I was just barely making it to the group on time. As I raced up the stairs, the tornado siren went off. "I arrive with sirens!" I declared as I raced in.

The ladies were at various stages of knitting from never having lifted a set of needles, to working on a baby sweater. Several crochet and quilt as well. We meet next Friday, so I hope that takes off okay.

Then, I got to have lunch with my hubby bubby! What a strange feeling to be just the two of us. Again. Yesterday we went out to breakfast. Someday, it will just be the two of us. But there's lots of painfully embarrassing times with our kids in public before then.

Speaking of which, two of the kids and I are off to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis tonight for a special event.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Crepes for Dinner

The fun thing about crepes for dinner is when one hits the floor, you know what to say.

The homeless shelter was fun yesterday. I got to adopt my first grandchild. This happened right after I taught her to knit. Really, she was a knitter already; she just didn't know how to use the needles. She took to it like a duck to crochet -- pumped out four or five rows before I left, and her tension had evened out. I fully expect that next week she'll have a sizable amount done on a scarf.

She even recruited me to be a part of a fashion show the GED lady is putting on! I'll find out more about it...

Wednesday, September 22, 2010



One down...

Finished tacking down the binding last night! And cast on Eli's sweater. The back is now done, and I'm thinking through the cardi front.

Today I will be volunteering down at the homeless shelter. It's been too long.

Monday, September 20, 2010



Another Day, Another Quilt

Yesterday I opened the "In Progress" box, and unearthed a finished baby quilt top. Can you believe I quilted it? Today I put on the binding, and have tacked down a quarter of it.

Yesterday, Chris and I repaired the conrod jointer of the borrowed Ashford. I spun a bit this morning as well. Not sure if the joint is long enough, but time will tell.

Lastly, I got my first jar a Vegemite from a dear friend! All I need is another shrimp on the barbie!

Good times!

Saturday, September 18, 2010


Back from the hunt... as yet, no kill

Michigan proved somewhat a bust -- in two ways.

I packed up the two little ones, well sedated with technology, and drove three hours to a garage sale. As we exited the highway, near the only civilization we would see for some time, I queried them as to bladder needs. "None, mother," they responded in perfect unison.

Apparently the bladder fills upon standing. We found the home, found their bathroom, went back outside and my kids proceeded to find everything else not nailed down. Somedays I feel like a sheepdog of humans.

The lady had a Baillie and Watts thirty year old Sleeping Beauty Serena. It is castle style and only had 2 bobbins. It ran nicely, but a little loose in the steering (i'm new at this!). But, I want to get a wheel that I want to keep -- not upsize or sell at a garage sale someday! So off we toddled to Friends of Wool shop in Holland, MI. Yesterday I went on their website. They sell Ashfords, and, I think another wheel. Turns out they don't stock them, though. If I wished to point to one in a book, they can order it for me. Yeah. First bust.

I did manage to purchase some lovely British (pure, new) wool there, though. Smells lovely, and it wants to be mitts.

Then we went down M40 to Allegan and ate at the Village Inn. Lovely grease. We washed our hands and headed over to fondle roving at Baker's Studio in downtown Allegan. The lady there stocked and sold Schachts and Kromskis. I listened to what she had to say and spun on three wheels twice.

I like double treadles. I like nice wood. The Schacht seemed more substantial, and so, that's what I came away with on my new, updated, improved and more expensive wish list.

Gulp. That's the second bust: on my wallet -- someday.

I didn't have the camera with me, so let's add at least one knitting pic. This is a picture of the Twined Sampler Hat I'm developing.

SPINNING MY WHEELS

I would love to start writing on this thing, so the way to do it, is to do it.

Today I go to Michigan to look for a spinning wheel. I take the two youngest with me, and the plan is to bring them back. No swapping them for the wheel.

My first stop is a GARAGE SALE that is only advertising WHEELS and YARN. Wow.

Next stop is a shop that deals Ashford and something else, and the third stop is a shop that has the Kromski Sonata, that I chose from the pile of puppies at the Michigan Fiber Fest. Beautiful wood, double treadle, spun nicely... I was so tired after being awoken by small child at 4, driving 2 1/2 hours and having an all day class, though, that I wasn't relishing being with the variety of wheels.

Now I am.