Hi guys.

I’m almost done. For realz this time. Just a few signatures left. I was hoping to get one last update to the shop up before xmas, but that is not going to happen. At this rate I’ll be lucky to get everything I have to get done, done in time.

I’ve got boss’ signature on my dissertation and then all the printing and official paperwork left. Then I’m done with that, and all that’s left is getting car insurance and health insurance signed up for/redirected/etc.

In the meantime, here’s a project I finished ages ago, but couldn’t tell you about at the time, and then things got insane.

This was what I did for the Fiber to Scarf Exchange 2009. Basically, you send out fiber, and it goes to someone (you don’t know who until after) and they spin it up and knit (or crochet or weave) a scarf or cowl out of it and send it back. You’ll remember a ways back when I posted the lovely alpaca scarf I got from my fiber.

What I got was some lovely purple/blue corriedale/romney from BlackBunny Fibers. I spun it up on both my ashford and my (at the time) new SR30.

2-ply, spun more-or-less with a point of twist sort-of-short draw.

(Photo by Joe)

I decided to knit without a pattern, because I like torturing myself, or something. Also, I’m really poor at following patterns.

So I designed this pattern, though I’m fairly certain it’s been done before by others. It’s essentially just a 3×3 diagonal rib (not a cabled diagonal like koolhaus or the like). I liked the effect, and think it came out pretty well. It scrunches nicely.

(Photo by Joe)

Here it is on me before I sent it out…

Then I sent it to the awesome QueerJoe (who’s fiber it was, and who took the better photos you’ve seen here)

And he loved it. Thank goodness. I’m always worried when crafting for other people.

Ok, back to forms.

~The Gnome

One of the reasons I’ve been on such radio silence, getting ready and then recovering from this massive thing!

Well. I brought 80+ pieces to Rhinebeck. Which is nothing for “real” vendors, but for me, it was massive, especially since I’ve been working on my dissertation at the same time.

I was a TINY bit less poleaxed than last year.

I thought enough in advance to get a photo of the booth when it was just set up…

and even more importantly, since I FAILED last year of me, Tsockstsarina and Jennifer who run the booth with the additional help of Patrick (who I don’t seem to have a photo of, bugger).

Getting a photo of these people is insane.

I did manage to get one photo of Thegeorg unlike last year. Though I admit it’s not a very good photo.

Had a delicious dinner with excellent people at a diner place.

In the morning, they let people in FIFTY minutes early. Which made for… a rush. Just before they hit, I got some photos of my stuff up, though only the first batch. Obviously with 80 things, I couldn’t have it all out at once.

The fiber and some yarn

the rest of the yarn

and my stitch markers

Then came…

the seething hoards!

I failed, again, to see everything (apparently the genuine AFLAC duck was there, who knew?) but I did wander around more than last year.

I met a bunch of people for a group shot (not my camera)

And yes, I was wearing my kilt and a double layer wool “ranger” jacket. It was lovely, comfy, and I wasn’t cold at all.

Lots of good people there. My good friends ZaftigWendy (of Yarnivore) and HoneyChild (of HotterFasterBetter art)

Honeychild and I wandered around quite a bit (mostly having horribly inappropriate conversations, which was excellent). We met these adorable little goats.

And the Serta Sheep

And a wensleydale that just begged for love

At the end of the day, for going to dinner and such, I needed to change. Luckily, it’s easy in a kilt. So I changed in the middle of the booth.

Then it was back to the diner for dinner with a different set of friends!

The second day, I aspinnerated the two Cyds, Cyd-Squared?

Don’t they look happy? “OMG, I’m making yarnz!”

Hrm… that’s about it. Oh, we took down the booth and I drove back home (2.5 hours, not bad, yay GPS!) in an ice storm (icky).

Oh, right, phat lootz. I didn’t buy much, I was very restrained. I got a couple pounds of dorset for dyeing, two abbybatts from Carolina Homespun where I was also viciously and mercilessly ASSAULTED by this evil thing.

It’s a Spindlewood, top whorl, laceweight spindle. I don’t know what wood it’s from, as the label had fallen off. I’m told it’s something from the Rosewood family. I also know that it’s a little under 0.5oz. Which for some would be ideal, but it’s totally not the sport of spindle I buy. I really love my 0.8-1.2 range spindles.

But… well… it hummed. Those who know what I mean will understand, and to the rest, lets just say it didn’t give me much choice in the matter. It was sitting next to a *gorgeous* piece made of amboyna burl and birds eye, and yet this one was clearly the one. And I’m loving it. It’s currently working on one of the abbybatts (Merino, Silk, Cashmere).

People often ask if the square whorls cause a problem. The answer is no. It’s basically like having 4 notches, and rim weighting. It spins amazingly long for such a tiny spindle. I love it.

So that’s Rhinebeck.

I’m currently working on reopening and updating the shop. It’ll be a bit. I’ll post when that’s done.

~The Gnome

A few weekends ago I flew down to visit my friends in Maryland and go to the Ren Fest with them. A blast was had. I’m not gonna show all the photos, but here are a few.

There was drinking (mmm MEAD and mixed wine), good food, a ton of laughter, axe throwing, totally failed dunk-the-wench, and generally good friendship. Oh, and I did a reasonable amount of spinning.

Interestingly, you can see behind me there were people watching (we were waiting for someone in the bathroom at the time). I didn’t know they were there. I also didn’t realize it’s apparently so Zen I only have one expression.

I’m spinning Polwarth on my Bosworth Mini, after it had been glued together after an unfortunate meeting with the tarmac. (It was a very rough weekend for my spindles).

Photos courtesy of Spencer (the dark haird shorter one in the last photo).

Here’s the great guys I was with, Adam, Spencer, and Mike

Oh right, I also forgot to mention…

With axe throwing there were funny hats.

A very very good time! And then it was back to prepping for Rhinebeck and working on my thesis.

~The Gnome

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

I have dyeing to put up, I have a surprise I want to put up, I have… stuff. But paper, thesis, etc. are swamping, so they come first.

So, a final report from Special Operative Gnome:

Goals met:
I did my mile, an even mile of singles and about a third of a mile plied 3-ply.
I spun my mile entirely in long draw, which I’d never done more than a few feet of before.
I spun every day, despite a trip, the paper, airplane flights, and no focus/energy.
I finished the polwarth silk bobbin
I got the hang of drafting tussah silk from the tip (on a spindle)
I managed a full 2oz spindle cop, twice the weight of the spindle, and larger around than the spindle.
I spun at 30-thousand feet
I spun on a boat
I spun walking around a Scottish festival.
I learned long draw well enough to (while still terrified I’ll fuck it up) actually start an important project with it.

I’m claiming this event a success for sucking less (the purpose of Team Suck Less). Especially considering what I had going on in the background.

Totals:
482yds 3-ply long draw BFL + 300+ yds longdraw BFL singles ~1 lb
1157 yds short backwards draw polwarth silk at 3700 ypp =5oz
Tussah Silk Spindle spun less than 1oz
BFL laceweight spindle spun less than 1oz
Cormo/Alpaca/Angora spindle spun =2oz
Tsock Batt longdraw less than 1oz

So somewhere over 2 miles. About a pound and a half of fiber. I actually dyed one of the skeins from my mile. It fluffs up beautifully but I didn’t take a photo before it got mailed out, so I may not have a photo of the dyed skein in time.

I’ve done a little more on the BFL (at the bottom) but I left it at my parents, so no photo. Doh.

On the last day, I got together with Marcy and Lynn for an excellent day of spinning and laughing and fiber… (image ganked from Lynn)

I’ll have more new content soon, I promise. Just have to get this paper out, get my dissertation started, clean the house, get the fruit fly infestation taken care of, and start applying for jobs. No problem.

::grins::

~The Gnome