Today was the highly entertaining and informative Alden Amos & Stephenie Gaustad production spinning class. I learned a bit more about long draw (still have a long way to go before I'm good at it) and we had fun playing with making rope. Alden and Stephenie are quite entertaining, and everyone had fun giving Marcy a hard time.
Speaking of Marcy, you may have heard her complaining about her lack of linkability. In other words, she regularly appears in long lists of people all of whom have blue underlining under their names, but, being blogless, she remains in sedate black & white. A sad state of affairs, but one that is about to be remedied. I give you, the linked Marcy. Feel free to link to her photo here if you are blogging her. I do reserve the right to caption at will. Suggestions accepted. (BTW, if you think I'm giving Marcy a hard time, you should have seen Alden giving her grief.)
Anyway, yarn was spun, yarns were told, rope was created, off-color jokes were made, and a nice respite from the recovery couch was had. I also finally got to meet Claudia and Rosemary, saw Dharia, Judy, and Helen, among others, again, and generallly had a fibery day. Stephenie took a group picture; I hope to see it at some point.
Oh yes, I got to see the unpronounceable Icelandic Shawl book in living color. Claudia was coaching Marcy on how she should sell it on ebay. Can't wait to get my own copy. Juno tells me that the folks at Schoolhouse Press were laughing on Friday when the blogo-whatever got wind of the book's availability. Hopefully they won't have to send another boat from Iceland to keep us all happy.
I'm hoping to get started before the slow boat arrives, however. I've got about 350 yards of laceweight icelandic lambswool from a lamb fleece purchased from Barbara at Jager Farm at Cummington. It is itching to become a shawl.
Someone asked about WPI. I only measured the singles (and I'm always a little skeptical about WPI measurements) but the singles came out to 64, so that would make the 2-ply 32 WPI. If I listened to Alden & Stephenie today, I should be talking grist, but I haven't done any weighing so I don't know. Anyway, my diamond shawl pattern hasn't found its way back to me yet, so there may be a little casting on in my future.
I need to go help my lovely partner wrangle the kids to dinner, but there was a request for a photo of the snuggly spinning. I will note that this does NOT work with a kid who is not completely zoned out in front of the TV. I normally do not spin when the kids are up either. But our little recovery period has been a good time for snuggle spinning. Note the "armie" going on there with my drafting arm.
Snuggle spinning: now that's a way to spend an evening.
What a cute picture :)
Posted by: Stacie | June 12, 2005 at 07:45 PM
It made me smile to read your last posts-- I'm glad my son is not the only arm-picker out there in the toddler universe.
Posted by: Bethany | June 12, 2005 at 07:54 PM
Thank god I saw the pic. In addition to being the cutest thing ever, I am glad to see that he's twirling arm hair, and not arm pit hair. tee-hee.
Posted by: The Feminist Mafia | June 12, 2005 at 09:52 PM
Sounds like a great day! I want details, please! The unpronouncable book? Tips on long-draw spinning?? And yes, the snuggling there at the end seems about perfect. (grin)
Posted by: Deb | June 12, 2005 at 10:25 PM
Very cute.
Glad you learned a lot at the spinning workshop, as I'll be asking you for lessons very soon. ;)
Posted by: Katy | June 12, 2005 at 11:12 PM
I have pictures of Marcy too... she really needs a page or something.
Posted by: Cassie | June 13, 2005 at 06:58 AM
Caption for Marcy -- "I don't need no stinkin' blog."
Posted by: claudia | June 13, 2005 at 07:54 AM
What I want to know is why you set Marcy up with a photo rather than a guest blog?! Or was I just a sucker?
Posted by: Jo in Ottawa | June 13, 2005 at 08:45 AM
Thank you, Cate. :D I'm clickable!! YaaY! But I think that may be enough for me(for now, anyway). So Claudia's caption is pretty right on. BTW, the furry guy is my Maremma Oley. Isn't he handsome?
Posted by: Marcy | June 14, 2005 at 07:39 AM
Guilty of not reading the knitting stuff but wanted to say love the photo cuddling with the kids.
So big already! Great to "see" everyone.
G
Posted by: Gina | June 14, 2005 at 09:33 AM
Marcy got a haircut!!
thanks for sharing the picture of you and the kids - you all look happy and snuggly! (I laughed when I saw the bear in the picture - he's a good bear.)
The yarn you're spinning is amazing - I have a new found appreciation for such a stunning creation now that I am spindling. (the post above this had me audibly gasp; I can't imagine spinning/knitting with it yet, but know that when I'm ready I can look back here for advice on how to. it's beautiful!)
Posted by: Kristen | June 14, 2005 at 11:01 AM