Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Dreadful Work Schedule has Ended

Look what I found out when I visited Amy's Flickr photostream of the fair. My Sonnet sweater won reserve grand champion in the handspun/handknit division. My work schedule didn't permit me to attend this year, but what a gift Flickr photostreams are to those on the receiving end. I told her that her wonderful pictures brought the experience home to me and made me cry. She apologised - no apology necessay.





I kicked off my two-week vacation yesterday by spending several hours at Mim's, processing stuff on her electric Patrick Green Supercard. This is a blend of hoggit Ramboullit, Alpaca and bunny. These two bats weight two ounces. I see a lace scarf it their future.
Laura brought us some sari silk loom waste from Woodland Wool-
works last Christmas. I found it yesterday morning getting stuff ready to take to Mim's so I grabbed it and what I thought was Coopworth/Salish locks but instead was Border Leicester - not what you'd think of when you think of blending silk. We cut 2" lengths of two colors of the silk and then ran them and the locks through the carder a couple of times to get this. Again, it's about two ounces of fluff. I left the sari silk with Mim - I'm not sure I could find it a second time.

This morning on my second day of vacation, I sat on the deck in the cool of the morning and spun this up quickly using long draw. It will probably get knitted into a bag. Warning - the sari silk loom waste is not color fast. Neighbor Tom was helping Ian set up a large hunting tent for our annual Gathering this weekend. He wanted to know if I get calluses from spinning. I showed him how the wheel does the work. Lots of coffee and visiting - it was a great second morning of vacation. I have read the snearing note assigned to "staycations" but I am so excited to get one - finally.

11 comments:

Purple Fuzzy Mittens said...

I'm just glad your "staycation" is my vacation! Glad you liked the pictures. I'll take more this weekend.

Valerie said...

Congratulations on the sweater awards!! It's lovely.

The spinning looks luscious. My wheels are calling to me as well. Probably the effect of days quickly getting shorter and cool evenings.

Enjoy your staycation

Marie said...

When I worked, staycations were my favorite! I find vacations exhausting.
The carded batts look so soft. I need to get back to my wheel but my usual spinning time is being eaten up by another project.
Oh, and congratualtions on the ribbon! Well done.

Mim said...

"snearing note assigned to "staycations" What does that mean? I love home it's "me" it's family, it's what I am and do. I believe people don't stay home enough.
I like the wool with the silk. Think it has more color then I thought it would. Did the little pieces of silk stay put or were they all over the place as you spun? Great project for over dyeing.

Kathy said...

You guys seem like a dangerous group to hang with - you're always up to something....something GOOD!!!
Congratulations on the win! You deserve it!

Leigh said...

Sharon, congratulations! That is super! Ours are always staycations. Comes with the territory when one is married to someone who drives for a living.

bspinner said...

Sweater's beautiful!!!! Congratulations!!
Your batts look yummy. Can't wait to see the spun yarn.

woolydaisy said...

wow! your sweater is truly awesome-congrats! that electric carder sounds fun-i hate carding!!!
how do you spin from a batt?

Robin said...

Congrats on your sweater!!! That's wonderful!!!!!!

Lee said...

Congratulations on the handspun/handknit award! What a wonderful thing!

Michelle said...

Happy, happy vacation, and congratulations on your well-deserved ribbon! Your "staycation" is a new word for me, and fits my preferences perfectly. Alas, DH needed a "vacate-tion"....