January 3, 2009

Happy New Year- Meet Mrs. Ashford


Happy New Year! So I'd like you to meet the newest member of the family- Mrs. Ashford! Just kidding, its just my spinning wheel. I've had her for about 2 months now and we are still getting to know each other. It takes a while to really get to know a spinning wheel... like the other day I realised maybe I should oil the thing, and it ran much better!!! I bought the spinning wheel off a woman at the weaver's guild. It was her first wheel back in the 70's... she had bought in australia and did all the finishing (staining and varnishing) herself. It has been kept very well and is in great shape. I also got 2 different attachments, one for spinning thick yarn (shown in pic), and one for spinning thinner yarns. I feel very lucky to have gotten such a great spinning wheel.


I've been experimenting lots, and will be posting lots of new great creations on my etsy site... I just finished some fingerless gloves made out of some beautiful, pure, white merino that I plied with an irridescent thread. The quality of handspun wool is so high- its so lovely! I also ventured out to a wool shop today with some friends and got my hands on some really cool fiber- like merino, "sea cell" and kid mohair. I was tempted by the bamboo, but thought I better not get in over my head yet!!! The shop also carried wool from the Custom Woolen Mills I mentioned below; I think its really important to use local products as much as possible. I think I have spent most of the christmas money I have gotten on fiber!!!

1 comment:

SunShine said...

What a beautiful history Mrs. Ashford has. My mom and I are loving that you love making your own wool. She thought it was a 'dying' talent and I'm glad I get to buy your hand made locally produced treasures