New toy!

This is the newest model of Spindolyn - the Tenor.

I had to buy a new base, as she's changed the design a bit for both models - the spindles are now shorter and won't work in the older base. I also bought an extra spindle so I can 2-ply a lot easier.

Wow does this puppy spin for a long time! I'm really overtwisting this alpaca because of that, but I'm enjoying this new model a lot. I like the sleeve on the brass rod too - it is much easier to wind on now. I already loved how you could use a Spindy almost anywhere - I can even spin with the Hound on my lap - and I see no reason that this new model would be any different (though the short base emphasizes my need for more leg exercises :-/). You're supposed to be able to spin thicker yarn with this, but my hands aren't moving fast enough for the whorl speed so I'm still getting kind of fine yarn. Practice will help though - and I've been practicing. :-D

And - I can use the bag I bought for the older model for this one - it doesn't stick out like the other one did (in fact, I have to dig for it!).

Speaking of bags... one of my sisters found this awesome bag for the older Spindy - it's PERFECT!

Love the colors, and the space! My older Spindy is in there, plus a huge wad of fiber, PLUS my hand combs and a clamp. And that tiny pocket at the top is perfect for my diz. :-D She could be a shopping professional. I don't know how she finds stuff, but she does!


A friend and I were talking about inkle weaving, and she wanted to see my small one. I have two inkles - one DH made which kind of large for me, and a Wee Winnie from Small Looms in Action by Elizabeth Jensen (out of print; sorry!) that I made back when I used to have some spare time:

I have no idea what I started on there - it was too long ago. But I've been wanting to do some inkling (and some cardweaving) so I'll take that warp off once I decide what I'm making. Actually I need another mp3 player pouch for my second mp3 player to hang around my neck when I'm walking at work - but I need it NOW so I'll probalby dig up a bit of fleece fabric and stitch a quickie bag, assuming I can find my fleece. :-/

DH & I made a heddle holder today, but it's not prettied up yet so no pics (plus I haven't tried it yet - hopefully tonight).


Your parting yard-and-garden shot:
Wow is that tomato doing well so far! I'm pretty pleased. So is my helper - he likes tomatoes. :-/

I've also discovered some nifty gardening tools. I've had a Black & Decker cordless weedwhacker for a few years, and while it works wonderfully (and runs out of a charge before I overdo the weedwhacking), my hands are not big enough to press the buttons on either side of the battery pack to get it off the unit. B&D now has a new version with a much-easier-to-deal-with battery - plus this battery fits in several other tools. I had DH stop at Home Depot and pick up the cultivator too - it works really well if your soil is aready somewhat loose, so maybe I will be able to keep up with the weeds somewhat this year (this is not a tiller, it will not turn over compacted soil). And, I should be able to work more amendments into the soil over the summer, instead of having to deal with gas and oil and the really unwieldly monster tiller we have (which I don't, so stuff doesn't get done). The added benefit - it may get me out in the garden more. Tonight while testing it out I discovered a black snake that had gotten caught and wrapped up in some bird netting that wasn't where it was supposed to be. Between DH & I we were able to cut the poor thing free and he should be fine (though he sure wasn't happy with us while we were cutting him free!). :-D

There is also a chainsaw and a pole pruner in the collection - the pole pruner is on it's way from Amazon as we speak. :-D I need to do some light tree-trimming at my parents' house and this will be perfect! Eventually I'll get the chainsaw too, as DH got rid of my electric chainsaw some time back and I miss it. If you are interested, check your local home improvement stores for Black & Decker 18V cordless items - there are maybe 8 or more garden tools, plus the same battery fits on one of their tool lines as well.

I forgot to mention yesterday...

that the rigid-heddle-weavers Yahoo group is going to be doing a weave-along soon. It will be an easy-enough-for-a-beginner pattern, and you get to choose what you make with your fabric.

There is a current poll ongoing as to the start date - so far it looks like it will start in early June. Sign up soon-ish if you're interested! :-)

I actually finished something!

Though I did finally get my first broken warp thread (sorry about the lousy picture).

Lucky for me the broken warp thread was at the very end of the warp, so I didn't have to fix it. :-)


This fringe isn't going to survive the wash, so I'll have to do twisted fringe


Here it is finished, though unwashed:


I like this a lot, and will keep this pattern with my favorites. :-) This is the Tweed So Fine scarf from Weaving Made Easy.

And that's about it for crafty stuff - I'm thinking of getting the Polonaise out and spinning a bit since it appears DH isn't going to take me to "Star Trek" today like he said. :-(


This year we're trying something new - the upside-down tomato-growing 'bag'.

I just planted this yesterday, so the jury is still out. It was a bit tricky getting the plant in there though because it was already a bit big for transplanting into the bag.

And your pic o'nature for today - the view from my computer room window:

The bridal wreath shrub is really going to town this year!