Evil Eye

I don’t even know where to start. Yarn School was an amazing experience. I left with new knowledge, inspiration, fiber, and friends. I have been more excited than ever to sit at my spinning wheel and try out new techniques (I am really enjoying spinning silk from the fold, and just used up my sample. Need…more…silk…), and can hardly decide which fiber to try next. There is the stuff I dyed in the dying workshop, there are the copious samples we were given from different dyers and spinners when we arrived, plus the batts I made when trying out the drum carders. Plus, once I decide what to spin, I get to think about how I want to spin it! I’m the one who is spinning!

Nikol Lohr, the teachers, and helpers were amazing. I was feeling a little star-struck about getting to take classes from Adrian from Hello Yarn, and Sarah from Maisy Day Handspun. I’ve been admiring their yarn, and reading their blogs for some time now. Not only do they make fabulous yarn and dyed roving, they are really good teachers, which in my opinion is much harder than just being good at something. Yarn School takes place in an old rural high school, with the grade school serving as the dormitory. It’s a great setting, and we had so much space to work and play in. We had access to fiber, and tools all the time, room to just hang out and practice our new skills or just relax and knit. They also did not mess around when it came to meals, the food was great! Every morning started out with good coffee, and a pitcher full of fresh waffle batter next to a waffle iron! How fresh is that? I wish I had taken more pictures in the cafeteria, but I was sleepy and/or hungry upon arrival, and ready to go do the next thing after meals, so I didn’t think of it then.

Here is a small sample of the pictures I did take, plus a picture of me spinning, and the class picture, both taken by John Wise, and I will leave it at that for now. I wish was more articulate about how great a time I had, but too many thoughts are coming to me at once.

Hey kids, I am off for a few days to learn all about yarn at Yarn School!  I’ve been busy taking pictures of inventory for Evil Eye for a new and improved website, and spinning the last of the mystery roving I won at the Michigan Fiber Festival last year (woo-hoo!).  Not to mention the fun a couple of weeks ago at the Bobmas Eve parties.

I’ll be back with yarny knowledge and pictures, of course.

Nothing like a couple of bright, sunny days to get me moving again. I feel like I just woke from a long slumber. The short winter days always make me feel like I am moving in slow motion, and sap the motivation to do anything about it. But this weekend it was Spring! I planted more seedlings, re-potted a couple of houseplants, cleaned up my sewing table at long last, and actually got some sewing done for the first time in far too long. The sewing machine and table had been buried with clothing needing repair or alterations for so long, it was daunting. But once I cleaned it all up, and got to work, I didn’t want to stop! Pants are hemmed, a dress was turned into a skirt, tears were mended, and now I am thinking I want to get to some of the patterns I have laying around.

I love feeling motivated like I did this weekend. I started a new knitting project (yes, I know I have 2 blankets in the works, but I want to wear the “Blue Ribbon Scrap Wrap” from Knitalong at Yarn School) too. I am excited to be knitting it with yarn that I spun myself.

On Sunday we met Khurshid and Amy for dinner at Siam in Uptown for some yummy Thai food. We decided to head over early so we could walk around the neighborhood, and take in some sunshine.

Don’t forget to visit your local yarn store this Thursday, April 10, to celebrate Bobmas Eve!  We have a list of participating stores on our YarnCon Blog.

prices for vinyl fencing test

I have to make this eventually, I don’t see how I can’t.

http://www.missginsu.com/2008/03/bacon-cake-yay.html

I already enjoy the Vosges Bacon Bar, but feel it can use more bacon. This cake seems like the ticket. Plus, I get to make cake!

Inside:

Outside:

I have been wanting to knit non-stop, and I blame it on the yarn fumes at Lorna’s Laces. On Saturday the South Side Stitch ‘ Bitch took a field trip to Lorna’s Laces to get a look at where some of our favorite yarn comes from, and to devour buy some mill ends.

Although I said all I want to do is knit, I should add that the pull of the spinning wheel has been really strong, and that was what I sat down to play with when I got home. Well, after uploading the pictures, and taking pictures of my yarn (honest, I was just trying out my light box set up, which still needs some work), and then reading Karen’s blog. Once I read her lovely post, I was spinning away at my wheel, and knitting later that night after a very filling meal at Army and Lou’s. Yummy fried chicken!

I have other projects to tackle right now, which if I can get through quickly, I can go back to my yarn.