Odd

So I'm not sure why this came over me. But it did. I was wishing the silk in my llama silk blend was closer to the colour of the llama. So I looked at my coffee pot and thought "I bet coffee would be just the right color". So I poured myself one last cup of liquid life, gluged a bit of vinegar in the pot and tossed the already wet from setting the twist skein in the pot. Lucky me, the coffee maker has heat setting so I cranked it down and let the skien sit in there for 30 minutes. I love the results! The llama was a fawn brown to begin with and the tussah was bleached, but not to stark white, more of a creamy white. I kind of really want to make a lot more of this... It's 50 50, spun from carded rolags. Lovely drape, lovely shine. And it still smells a bit of coffee. Yum yum

~Kara

Spinners block?

Or mental block? Either way, this is ridiculous. I've got that tiny bit left to spin on that bobbin. I've had absolutely nothing to do all afternoon since 12:30, and I only have to be out of the house around 3:10. That's 2hrs and 40mins of time I've wasted, doing nothing but opening the cupboards, cruising the webs, tweeting about my dilemma, and now blogging it, and general 'screwing of the pooch' as it were. All the while it would have taken me maybe 30mins to finish spinning that. What is wrong with me? It's something I love to do, it's not like its hard or something. I just can't get to the point where I can ply. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that that is supposed to be my final project for level 2? Maybe it's a fear of completion? Fear of failure? Fear of success even? Or a fear of completion leading to success which will make failure feel even worse? Or maybe I'm just lazy today. Or all of that. I don't know but I'm kicking my own butt right now for not finishing it. Oh well. There's always tonight, right?

~Kara

By The Fibreside, a blog and podcast.

Recently, a classmate of mine in the Master Spinner program started a blog and podcast, which is entitled By The Fibreside. So far she's got 3 episodes up, and the fourth is scheduled for 2 weeks from now. I'm honestly not sure I can wait. My 5 year old might not want to wait either, he loves listening as well, and has given the show the 5 year old approval by saying 'Its awesome'. I've really been enjoying hearing her adventures, her struggles, and her revelations about spinning, and the program and how it all relates to life. There are so many things I can relate to, and I'm sure that many other spinners or knitters can relate to. She's also got a wonderful voice, and is great to listen to. Anyways, I thought I'd share with you all, so you can also enjoy listening.
There is of course, a blog to go along side the podcast. check that out too!

~Kara

Fun new tool!

In early January, I learned that Ron at Fancy Kitty had come up with a smaller, more portable, but no less functional picker.  It's the Mini Picker, and despite my level 1 Master Spinners teachers adamance about pickers being evil implements of torture (My words, not hers! but that's the jist of it!)  I bought one.  It's a bench style picker, and though I've only used it once, I give it an A+. This thing is brilliant.
It came in yesterday, and before I took it to some fibre, I stained it!  Royal Mahogany MinWax. It's purple lovelyness now!





Isn't it pretty?

This is the Shetland fleece I put through it in maybe 15 minutes.  There is about 7oz here
Before



After the first picking



After the second run through



This is a really fun new tool! I know it's going to up my productivity. Less time spent picking locks =more time carding and spinning!
~Kara