Ok, so people following along with the life part of this delicious blog breakfast… ok that sounded funnier in my head…

Anyway, people who read the ah… human interest part of this blog (i.e. my life) will remember that I graduated from my Ph.D. program on the last day of December 2009 with my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with a focus in Biochemistry.

As I did not immediately have a job, I moved in with my parents, temporarily, while job hunting. Romantic, I know. “Look ma, I’m a grownup! I got me a Ph.D.! I’m movin’ in!” ::laughs:: But there were limited options, and luckily my parents’ house has decent extra storage space and we all get along very well.

Anyway, fast forward 5 months of searching, with a LOT of wonderful wonderful people in a lot of fields (including the ever amazing Ravelry) helping me rewrite my resume in seven formats… ok, three, but each one was rewritten at least twice, and the final “Federal” form probably more than that. After this five months, I finally get a nibble. An invite to a hiring event, for a job that actually has to do with my field. I panicked, contacted a ton of friends about interviewing and clothes and generally freaking out. Luckily, as always, I have some great friends who helped a lot with advice. Again, the Ravelers helped me a lot with things like tie choices, also my good friend Art who I’ve sadly since lost touch with.

So, I took the train down to DC, stayed with my awesome friend, Liz. I went out for the interview, which involved much personal drama. I managed to leave my belt in MA when I repacked, so I had to buy an emergency belt (holy CRAP they’re expensive when not on sale) and found out within the first block my shoes didn’t actually fit anymore. Much fun. But, long story short, they loved me and offered me a position.

The one caveat being that, like many jobs these days, it requires things like background checks and such. Did you know FedEx line workers (the guys who pull packages off the conveyors) need a drug test? That’s not my new job, but I didn’t even know they required one. Everyone has to pee in a cup these days.

So, while all that’s going on, I’ll continue to be here doing what I’m doing. Time for that process is indeterminate, but could be six months. But eventually, assuming everything goes well I’ll be moving and starting a new job! I’m very very excited about it. I’ll be down in VA, a few hours outside of DC, thinking about science, processing science, analyzing science, but not fighting with the lab work like I’ve done for 12 years. Pretty much exactly what I was hoping for. And if I like the work and the location… there’s actually semi-affordable farmland around the area. Maybe I could have a dog… or… ::gasp:: a sheep or two.

We’ll see, that’s all far out. Right now I’m in a holding pattern, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve found a job in a market not suited to job finding, even with my specialized degree. So I’m very very happy, even if getting from here to there won’t be quite as fast or easy as one could wish… but then, really, when is it?

So, that’s the story of the job hunt. I have one, at some point.

That’s all for now, back to the dye pots! Polwarth, BFL/Silk, and… something else!

~The Gnome

Shetland fiber, a bit of Cheviot, and Phouka yarn!

As always the shop is here

More blogging soon. Things are a bit hectic here as suppliers and such are changing.

~The Gnome

So I’ve had this for a while now (as evidenced by the fact it was filmed at my old apartment).

I keep thinking that I’ll do an addendum to it, or add something or what have you. But I don’t. So… I’ll post it as is. If it needs a new version, or an addendum, then you – dear readers – can tell me what you’d like to see.

So, here’s a small video I made about bottom whorls. Specifically it was meant to address two of the big myths I’ve seen spread about.

1) Bottom whorl spindles are heavy

2) You can’t spin fine on a bottom whorl

There’s also some basic explanation of how to use a bottom whorl, if you’re interested. Personally, I love my bottom whorls. I want to get another at some point, since my big one tends to be full of plying projects as it’s my longest shafted spindle (see earlier post with 4.2oz of icelandic plied onto it).

So, without further ado, here it is. Bottom/low whorl spindles.

Let me know if you have questions, comments, etc!

P.S. Thanks here to Tom, for filming this for me.

That’s all for now…

~The Gnome

I was a terrible photographer this year at the spring festivals. Terrible.

But here’s what I did manage…

NH Sheep and Wool! First fest of the year for me. I joined the fabulous Holiday Yarns booth again! It was POURING rain and freezing the first day. And even colder, but not pouring the second day.

My main corner (had some stuff in another corner too)

The other corner (back mostly out of sight from this angle) and the incomparable Georg

I utterly failed to get one of me, Jennifer, and Tsocks. Argh. Fail.

I did get a photo of these guys…

And I saw and hugged a LOT of people. It was awesome. Also this was the first public introduction of the new yarns of Gnomespun.

I only fell down once. I was very good. I bought this one fleece. It is gorgeous and springy and soft. I think I’m going to prep it entirely myself with teh goal of eventually making a sweater, quite possibly the Brigade pattern.

Montadale/Corriedale cross

After that weekend, I took a train down to DC on Monday for an interview. There was a week of goodness. And a job. I’ll make a post on that later. For now, festivals.

The weekend after I got back, was Cummington, which is one of my favorite festivals, and also the anniversary of both Strider and my original enablement into Gnomespun.

I totally failed to take photos there. I have no photos of the booth. No photos of most of the people. No photos (yet) of my one purchase. Oy. Fail.

Luckily, Lynn did take some photos.

And I *did* finally get to see my very first finished object in Gnomespun in person!

This is me, the lovely Gala, and her awesome hand spun, hand knit shawl in the Amethyst and Gold colorway in Ramboulliet fiber.

Finally, last weekend I had spinning guild, with the Nutmeg Spinners down in CT. Lovely group of people, always fun. I actually vended there for the first time this meeting (and quite possibly the last since I’ll be moving).

This was my first time vending alone. I forgot half of what little I had for setting up a table, but it was ok. After a bit, and with the help of Marcy, I figured out a few ways to make it a little less… flat, but I didn’t take more photos.

So there’s a whirlwind tour of the spring festival and vending season. More photos of things, more details on the DC trip, and all that as things continue. Now back to the dye pot.

~The Gnome

Another update to the shop!

Knitting and crochet stitch markers, and one pair of sock/lace markers! The crochet stitch markers are made on surgical steel kidney earring clasps, so they are perfectly functional as actual earrings. If people are interested in sterling silver hooks, I can also make earrings with those. I haven’t because there’s lots of people who make them, but if people want, I can.

That’s all for now. More blogging blog updates to come.

~The Gnome