Spent Saturday with my parents, put in some veggies, relaxed. Always a good time. Didn’t do any fiber things.

I think I’m going to try retting some nettle, and some hyssop this summer, just because. I’m curious.

Also managed to check in on my horribly neglected garden at my parents’ place. The wisteria tree I grew from seed was in bloom. It’s large enough that there’s a cave underneath you can stand up in. Very fragrant. The wooden thing is my trellis with a Niobe and Autumn Clematis, which is falling over.

The toughest azalea ever (eaten to the ground two years in a row by the goat, eaten many years after, including this one, by deer) was blooming as well.

It was a good day. Got to talk to my parents about life and plans and such. As much as I could with so much still in the air, at least.

Sunday was fiber day again.

Here’s the skein I posted earlier, reskeined, set, whacked, and measured.

A Heady Brew – 250yds – 4oz – Polwarth

I’m keeping this one, since it’s the first off Strider. Debating whether to use it for a cabled hat, or for weaving. I like it. It’s very soft, with a lovely hand, and a soft shine. Mmm. I dyed this one, and love the color.

I got the other yarn I was doing on the wheel finished and plied, but it’s not dry yet, so photos forthcoming. The weight difference between superwash and nonsuperwash never ceases to amaze me.

And I got this guy plied and set. Little skein, but it’s the first full skein I’ve done on the spindle. And it’s small ’cause that’s what I had of the sparkly fiber. The alpaca is undyed, and the blue was hand blended just for me by Heather, yay!

Moon on the Water – 100yds – 0.95oz – 50% Alpaca – 50% Wool (Merino I think) + Angelina

Then I got my butt sat down and worked on a commissioned set of stitch markers (I’ve still got another set waiting, plus a request, whee!). I will note these are some of my poorest photos of stitch markers.

Aventurine – Sodalite – Amethyst
Master: Pewter – Sodalite – Amethyst

And a set of binary stitch markers 1-8, or technically 0-7 I guess.

Lapis and Blue Aventurine

And a set of markers that can be used for crochet…

Lapis – Copper – Malachite

And while I was at it, I figured I should make some for the store as well.

Lapis and White Howlite

And another set…

Rhodonite and Poppy (Brecciated) Jasper

As is the usual case these days, I also spent some time weaving. I’m loving it. So very much. I want a floor loom with treadles!

Noting that these are truly awful photos because I never take them other than at 11:00 at night, I think they’re coming out well.

Here’s the bottom end of a spindle bag…

And here are two spindle “holsters” that I’m working on. I’m not sure if the idea will work, but I hope to test one or more of them out this weekend. The second one isn’t done yet.

I’m going to be at MA Sheep and Wool this weekend. Exactly when and for how long will depend a lot on how my thesis meeting goes on Friday. If the weather is good and I’m in a good mood from the meeting, I’m hoping to bring Strider to meet people, and I’ll stay long to celebrate. If not… well then it’s hard to say.

Incidentally, it will be two days after my birthday, and the one year anniversary of my enablement by the wonderful Tsock Tsarina and Jennifer of Holiday Yarns.

In other news, I will be doing dyeing/spinning/etc. this week. I have to to keep sane. However, I don’t know how often, or if, I will be updating. I just got comments back on my paper draft, and I have a lot of work to do, and I have to make a presentation for the committee meeting, and finish and edit my thesis outline for my committee. So, yeah… hectic week.

Hope to see people at MASW if I don’t post more here before then.

~The Gnome