Sorry for the delay, I was rather distracted last night by the fact my defense date is now official.

I will be defending my doctoral research on Monday, November 23rd, at 10:00 in the morning. First I will present 6.5 years of work in one hour to anyone who wishes to come (and fits in the room). Then I will go upstairs and *defend* my dissertation to a committee of professors who will make me look like an idiot for between one and three hours. Then, I will either get “pass” or “pass with revisions,” most likely the latter. I will make some changes to my dissertation, and graduate with my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, focus in Biochemistry.

And before you say anything about smarts…

“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.” ~Louis Pasteur.

Anyway, the shop has been updated.

Two more undyed natural grey 2oz samplers.

And a 2oz Longwool sampler with Gotland, Border Leicester, Wensleydale, and Finn. Not my best photo.

Deepest grapes make a wine that goes straight to your head, infecting you with the god of pleasure’s celebratory spirit…

Baccanal – 2oz each – Gotland, Wensleydale, BL, Finn

An entirely new fiber for Gnomespun, targhee. Like… extra bouncy, elastic, merino with better memory. I’d like to get some of this as roving too.

The scorching air cools and the colors of sand and sky meet in the middle in a glorious wash of luminous reds yellows and oranges.

Desert Sunset – 4oz – Combed Targhee Top

And a fiber that’s only appeared in samplers, Tunis. Tunis is a mid-fairly soft breed, with slighly less loft than some of the other down breeds like Clun or Dorset, but with a finer handle softer feel and drape. Little to no notable luster. Tunis still retains the memory of other downs breeds.

The summer is warm and dry when the storm rolls in. The lightning strikes the dry ground and thunder rolls… soon, all that’s left is smoke and ash, leaving the way open for new growth and new life…

Smoke and Ash – 4oz – Combed Tunis Top

And then fibers you’ve seen before at least once…

Roots stretch and grow over the ancient stones, forming ruts and striations where the water flows down the cracks, widening them…

Wood and Stone – 4oz – Combed Gotland Top

An old favorite… Oaken browns swirl with dark rich leafy greens in this fiber, named after the book of the same name by Emma Bull.

War for the Oaks – 4oz – Combed Superwash Merino top

Another popular colorway… as you travel down the brown dirt road you reach soft glowing gold, stretching into the distance.

Gold Road – 4oz – Carded Border Leicester Roving

Inside the brown and grey stone shine brilliant crystals of blue and purple, waiting to be discovered…

Geode – 4oz – Carded Romney Roving

Soft shiny blues and greens, like a mallard drake. This fiber could be spun either as a tweed or a striping yarn.

Mallard – 4oz – Carded Romney Roving

Delicate colors show when wings unfurl to flit about the yard, shining in the sun…

Sparrow – 4oz – Carded Border Leicester Roving

Brilliant orange-red and deep burgundy bloom in the yard, spreading the joy of summer! This is the second softest Romney I have ever felt.

Calla – 4oz – Carded Romney Roving

Bright blue-green and luminous yellow, with a beautiful almost iridescent, featherlike luster. Again, softest cotswold ever.

Conure – 4oz – Carded Cotswold Roving

And I think that’s all for now. Will try to get more done this weekend. Also need to gear up for Rhinebeck.

Oh, right! I spun something. I’ve been working on the batts that Tsocktsarina gave me for my birthday (in may) and finished a bobbin the other day.

This will (hopefully) be my first handspun sock yarn. AND I’m doing it longdraw, so it’s a challenge.

For now, back to thesis. Wheeeeeeeeee the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train!

~The Gnome