Ewww...

This is a partial churro fleece that has been marinating in my stash for a couple of years.  I wanted to wash all of it by the lock, but that was way too time-consuming because it was so dirty/greasy/gross.  So I decided to try something different. 

I put it in a bucket of water outside for almost 3 (sunny) days:

The water was so disgusting the first time that I poured it out and replaced it with fresh right away.  This afternoon when I poured the dirty water off it had the most awful smell to it. ::gag::

The fleece is now soaking in what was clean water with a bit of Dawn detergent. 

 I was going to rinse it after a few hours, but it started raining so I'll do that tomorrow.  That will give me more time to find a couple screens to put it in-between (otherwise it will disappear!).

I did wash some better-smelling stuff:

The wine-colored yarn on the right is the merino/yak from the Tour de Fleece that I finished plying this morning; the green on the left is the camel/silk from TdF.  The green in the middle is merino/silk and I don't know what the gold/yellow is.

I plyed this today too:

It is some unmarked wool in my stash that I decided to experiment with lace-spinning on the Mazurka.  It went surprisingly fast - both spinning and plying.  It will be interesting to see how it feels after washing as I spun it pretty tight.

I also got a 'new' sewing machine this week - a gift from DH's boss' family:

Yep, it's another FashionMate 237!  I love my first one, and this one also runs like a champ.  It needed a thorough cleaning and a bit of oil, but is in great shape.  I'll probably be taking this to my mom's for when the sewing bug bites. :-D

No playing on the lathe this weekend - I ran out of time.  Maybe I can get to it this week. ::fingers crossed::  I did get an order of exotic wood to play with this week, so that will be fun!

Hahaha!

He's not always photogenic! :-D

More spindles!

Besides making supported spindles, I've also purchased a few from Bristlecone .  He is quite the artist, and he and his wife are lovely people. :-D  Here are my two Glindles:

He makes the glass 'marbles' for the tips himself - aren't they awesome? 

My Twindle:

Awesomely SPARKLY!!!  I've yet to find time to actually spin on them, except for a few mintues, because I've been making spindles as well. 

I made one for my sister out of zebrawood:

I was pretty pleased with how this one turned out. :-)  I made some more as some Spin Clubbers were interested:

The two on the right were snapped right up, and the one farthest left has been spoken for as well to use in the French spindle manner since it's very lightweight.  I'm going to try a 'bona fide' French style, but didn't get to it this weekend. 

I also turned this spindle for a friend:

I was very surprised (and pleased!) how well this turned out.  Practice helps, but I really think it wanted to be this shape.  I think it's Maccassar ebony (it was marked 'ebony') as it's not black, and it spins wonderfully and feels awesome in the hand.  She loves it! :-D

Today I turned another phang, as I've been wanting to for awhile.  Surprisingly, it takes as long or longer for me to turn a phang as it does a Russian even though they look like they would be simpler!

This is lignum vitae, which has a scent.  I also used the small leftover bit to make a little 'dish' - I'm not sure how well the button-dish will work since it's only about an inch across and about an inch tall, but will find out after the Danish oil dries. :-D 

I've even been spinning - well, plying.  I started plying the merino/yak on the Polonaise.  I've not plyed on the Pol before, and I think I like plying on the Babe better, but only because it's faster to set up.  Oh and spinning on the Tiny Tibetan. :-)


For my sister: