A FEAST OF BOOKS

This summer has been one of much too much introspection and escapism into books. As much as I do love the indie bookstores, I really love how Amazon fuels my need for instant gratification. Unfortunately most of the local libraries, including us, do not buy to my information needs and tastes so there I am pressing the order button and making the over-worked postal employee lug countless packages to my door.

This summer saw the publication of three new spinning books and while all had something to say and some interesting photos, only one had any real use and that was the Judith's Intentional Spinner. She breaks the basics down into manageable parts and also adds in many extras (I wish that I had studied the bit on bobble yarn before GGFI). This is definitely one every spinner should have in their ready reference library.

Spin, Dye and Stitch tries to cover too much and spincontrol is too narrowly focused but with that being said, both are worth taking a look at as they have some interesting examples and ideas. If you are not building a library as I am then try to get your local library to borrow these from some of the bigger ones so that you can check them out instead of purchasing.

A FO AND A MILESTONE

My finished scarf from the Golden Gate Fiber Institute--handspun warp and weft (Nancy Finn's merino silk) , mohair boucle and a handspun yarn beaded thread.

This Blog was started back in August 2005 to record my progess as a spinner, knitter and ??? Four years and three spinning wheels later I am still at it inspite of many moments of creative crisis. Unfortunately several of the items in those first posts are still UFO's or were frogged and the patterns bought at the FFF are still unsewn! But on a more positive note much of the fiber has been spun and lingers away in the stash.

GOLDEN GATE FIBER INSTITUTE

I just got home from one of those fabu life altering weeks at the Golden Gate Fiber Institute (Carolina Homespun's Morgaine Wilder and Judith the spinning goddess).

Of course I did not remember to take my camera out at all and have lifted these photos. The scenic shot is the one seen each morning on the way to class and of unknown origin. The Institute is held at a YMCA camp on the Marin headlands and lovely. This photo does not show the actuality of the weather though as it was cloudy and wet the
entire week--a lovely respite from the heat of the San Gabriel basin where the temperatures have been in the 100 degree range.

The second picture is me laying out wool for my felted vest project, my afternoon class and the third is the assembled work in progress. These photos I purloined from Lori Lawson's Capistrano Fiber Arts site--thanks Lori for taking pictures of my work. However this one is still a work in progress as it is still too large. I tried it on again when I got home and am not happy with the size but with felt that is not a
problem.

My other class was spinning for weaving and I spun the warp and weft threads for a project which is finished with the exception of the fringe. Hopefully there will be photos by the end of the week. This was a great experience--wonderful classes, wonderful people, lovely location. I'm putting it on my calendar and saving my pennies and vacation days for next year!