Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Why I’m a Spoiled Brat—#10

Shortly after I posted a blog about learning to spin (New Tricks, posted April 2, 2010), I got an email from a reader named Anne in Reading, Pennsylvania. Anne complemented me on my spinning and asked how I went about starting my blog—she’s considering starting one of her own. Of course I replied, but I had to be honest and say that it was all mumbo jumbo to me without the help of a couple of very smart (read that computer-savvy) friends. I could never have figured it out by myself and I was not at all clever enough to help someone else. In response, Anne thanked me for my sparse information. Then she sent me a box of fiber treats to encourage me to keep spinning—five different kinds of prepared fleece, a pile of silk hankies, a dyeing kit, some beads, and even a twisted glass pendant that Anne made herself!


What Anne doesn’t know is that last week I had to return the wheel and spindle that I had on loan during the 5-week spinning class. What she also doesn’t know is that my husband said quite clearly that he hoped I would not take up spinning because, from his perspective, I can’t keep up with everything else and something important like the laundry or cooking dinner would slip. And he’s got a point—there have been many times when both have suffered as I was absorbed in my knitting, writing, editing, or reading. We both know that I don’t have time to knit all the yarn that I already have (but that’s beside the point).

But, now that I have unspun fleece in the house—and a gift no less—I feel a moral obligation to spin it. I figure that through Anne, the universe is telling me not to give up on spinning. Thank you Anne! The Estes Park Wool Festival is in a couple of weeks and I’m sure that there will be a spindle with my name on it.

Ever since the box arrived, I’ve been humming a line from a song Julie Andrews sang in The Sound of Music—“somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.”


7 comments:

Sharon said...

Keep spinning Ann. Be it spindle or wheel. And you surely can't let unspun goodies languish! Laundry and dinner will work themselves out. Enjoy!

Amanda said...

Besides a spindle (I'd highly recommend a Bosworth) I'm sure you could get a loaner wheel from Shuttles. They may rent them...I can't remember for sure, otherwise you might just have to sign up for their Spinning 2 class, or Spinning Silk. And I'm sure that I (as well as others) could even be pursuaded to loan their personal wheels to you. I have a Majacraft - complete with a Woolee Winder - if you're interested.

J said...

Like the cooking and dinner wouldn't slip anyway. ;)

darthlaurie said...

I just spun my first skein a few weeks ago. It was so cool!
I went to a renaissance fair and a kind woman at the fiber arts tent showed me how to get started weaving on cardboard looms! It's all just an evolution and growing learning new fiber arts! Hehehehehe.

AnniesArtifacting said...

Ann,

You are a fantastic person, but I wish you would've told me you were gonna need a spindle.
Duh, you have to know I have a bunch of different spindles, lol.

Blessings to you!

Enjoy the fiber, and everything else.

Don't be surprised if a spindle makes it to your doorway-this time in the mail.

Anne

Deborah Robson said...

There are some exceptional spindlemakers at Estes Park. I don't know when I'll be there, but I will be, assuming there is no photo shoot scheduled for that weekend, and could probably arrange to meet up with you and show you some of my favorites. As if you'd need extra help {grin}. Truly, you don't need a wheel. You do need a spindle.

Virginia G said...

Gorgeous fiber! and of COURSE you have a moral obligation to spin it. :)