Sunday, November 9, 2008

and now for something a little bit softer

closeup rovings

Working with wire was fabulous fun, and I certainly intend to do a lot more of it... but just for the moment, my fingers need a little break.

So I was tempted by this basket of fluffy softness... merino tops...

basket of rovings

I'm such a novice when it comes to spinning. But I'm keen to immerse myself in it!

My wheel had been playing up. There seemed absolutely no reason why she wouldn't operate correctly, and yet the wool was being pulled in and onto the bobbin before it even had a chance to be twisted. I actually got so frustrated with the whole thing that I had to walk away and ignore her for about six weeks. I was at the point where I was ready to use her for kindling...

Then the other day, I decided to give her some love. It was a glorious afternoon. Sunny, warm, bright, and only the slightest breeze. I took her outside and started out with a thorough dusting. I then oiled all her moving parts. And named her! Apparently one should always name one's spinning wheel... I had been very negligent. So I have now christened her Molly.

And guess what??? She works!

I suspect is was probably more a result of the oiling, than the dusting and the naming... but woo hoo! She works!

When it all goes smoothly, spinning is wonderfully relaxing. It's rhythmic and soothing and mesmerising. You can only spin if you are in a state of calm composition. If you're antsy, or cranky, or worked up about something... it all goes to pot. So, I like to consider it therapy...

first bobbin
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18 comments:

  1. annemarieNovember 9, 2008 at 9:54 AM

    This is so fascinating - your talents never cease to amaze me. All of your wire jewelry is beautiful.

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  2. TessNovember 9, 2008 at 11:19 AM

    When I was little our next door neighbour taught me to spin, and her name was Molly, so you've chosen an entirely appropriate name (at least IMHO).

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  3. KarenNovember 9, 2008 at 12:25 PM

    A week ago Friday I 'chanced' on a Louet S 10 spinning wheel at a church sale. I was not at all looking for a spinning wheel - my few attempts with a drop spindle had seemed enough. Yes, I will name it - not sure yet if it is a he or a she - thanks for this detail... And I will learn to spin once the two parts arrive that are needed. You are a - timely! - encouragement. A new store (Knotty by Nature) has just opened here in town (further serendipity) and Stephanie spins 'things' into her wool (unusual fibre pieces, bits of felt, etc.) This interests me greatly; all the clippings of threads and wool and fabric from past projects which have been saved for future projects come to mind....
    Keep us posted on your spinning, please. Am certainly glad the oil worked!

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  4. LauriaNovember 9, 2008 at 4:17 PM

    Yum. Just looking at it is very soothing. I'd love to watch a spinner work, me thinks, just for the calm.

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  5. laughing purple goldfishNovember 9, 2008 at 11:50 PM

    annemarie - thanks :) I just want to try everything!

    tess - I didn't know you knew how to spin!

    karen - that's exactly why I want to get into the spinning... so I can experiment with incorporating a whole variety of other materials into the wool... there are boundless possibilities (not all of them practical, of course)

    lauria - it is fascinating to watch :)

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  6. SamNovember 10, 2008 at 12:23 AM

    I'd love to have a go at spinning, but unless you can tuck a spinning wheel under a bed...?

    Is spinning with a drop spindle similar / easy?

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  7. KarenNovember 10, 2008 at 1:42 AM

    In response to Sam's queries - I have seen spinning wheels that fold up and would likely slide under a bed. And a drop spindle will certainly spin but not in the same manner as a wheel. However it is worth a try - I was taught on a spindle made by poking a chopstick into a potato!

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  8. SamNovember 10, 2008 at 2:44 AM

    Karen - I wish you hadn't told me about the spinning wheel. My christmas list is already bottomless, lol.
    Chopstick and potato sounds promising. :-)

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  9. chlopzmazurNovember 10, 2008 at 4:54 AM

    You are doing really great stuff. Best wishes to you!

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  10. ahmedaminNovember 10, 2008 at 7:02 AM

    good blog

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  11. AnonymousNovember 10, 2008 at 10:08 AM

    Talk about softer!!! That carded fleece looks so delishiously soft in your basket I just want to dive in :-)
    Glad your wheel is up and running or should I say spinning so well.

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  12. laughing purple goldfishNovember 10, 2008 at 5:47 PM

    sam - a spinning wheel which fits under a bed??? lol... see what happens when you ask? I have used a drop spindle for plying some of my reclaimed cottons together... but I found it a very slow and tedious process... if I had no other option, I would use a drop spindle, but it really doesn't compare with using a spinning wheel... it's not diffucult, just slow

    karen - thanks for helping sam out... much appreciated... I must be really getting to know you now... because it didn't surprise me at all to hear you were taught to spin using a potato and a chopstick!!!

    chlopzmazur - and it's fun, too!

    ahmedamin - thanks :)

    jacqui - I know EXACTLY what you mean about wanting to dive in! me too

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  13. James BakerNovember 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM

    Making things from their rawest components is so amazing.

    Hello =)

    My name is J.R. Baker and I am a student (and a teacher) currently working on my PhD in Australia. I'm doing research on blogging and social networking, and was wondering if you could use your blog to alert people to my research? I've done previous research in the area which can be seen on my blogspot page. I'm trying to get a number of bloggers with varied interests and content on their pages to participate in the research.

    I need a fair number of participants for the study, and so far I haven't had an easy time getting participants. My final thesis length should be around 400 pages so I'm desperate to get participants now so I don't have to cram writing up the thesis into the last few months of the degree.

    I would really appreciate it if you could share my research with your readers, or even better participate in it yourself. I found your blog because it is one of the noteworthy blogs at the minute which is most excellent.

    The link to the study for bloggers is http://onlinesocialresearch.com/ and the survey takes 15-20 minutes to fill out.

    Don't worry if you don't want to pass it on or participate, but thanks very much if you do!

    Cheers,

    J.R.

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  14. laughing purple goldfishNovember 12, 2008 at 12:57 AM

    james - I have completed your survey... if anyone else reading this has 20 mins to spare... just answering some simple questions... follow the link and help james out with his study :) thanks

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  15. KarenNovember 12, 2008 at 2:35 PM

    I've tried to link to the site for the research about blogs but all I get to appear are the blogs on which the request has been made......????

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  16. laughing purple goldfishNovember 12, 2008 at 10:39 PM

    karen - hmmm... maybe try this link... http://jamesbakerpsychologist.blogspot.com/

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  17. AnonymousNovember 17, 2008 at 11:18 PM

    Thanks heaps for your help. I really appreciate it!

    James

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  18. laughing purple goldfishNovember 19, 2008 at 9:14 PM

    james - happy to help :)

    ReplyDelete