How The West Was Spun

New Blog Home Site

Dear long-term readers: 

Will you be kind enough to update your blog reader feeds with a new site address for this blog? 

http://woolywonkafiber.com/how-the-west-was-spun-blog/

In the hopes of consolidating some log-ins and multiple hosting sites, I'm going to shift my personal blog over to Squarespace - which lets me host multiple blogs/pages at one location (which sadly Typepad does not really).  This version will remain active for about a month and then I'll pull the plug over here - all new personal tidbits will live over at the new site beginning today (07/29/2013) and going forward.

Thanks! :)

Friday Fun

Not really a funny fun thing, but sweet, and definitely brought a smile to my face today!

  

All for now.....

Ten on Tuesday: Ten Favorite Things to do When Alone

I think Carole must have picked this week's 10 on Tuesday with me in mind.  I am a crazy-level introvert, so I'm alone A LOT.

1.  Knit.  Yeah, I know.  Obvious, but there it is.
2.  Spin.  Ditto.
3.  Sew.  Also ditto (hm....see a theme here?).
4.  Running:  I know a lot of folks like the social aspect of "going for a jog" with friends.  Me.. I like the solitary time.
5.  Read.
6.  Listen to music. D doesn't like background noise particularly. He doesn't normally have the radio on in the car, or have it playing in the background, but I do, so if he's not around, I've probably got something playing.
7.  Indulge in PBS/Masterpiece Theater period pieces.  I do love me some historical series!
8.  Cook things D normally won't touch.  Carbs mostly - lots of pasta, the occasional scone.
9.  Nap.  I rarely ever nap, but there is something about a crash on the couch with the cat for 20 minutes that's luxurious feeling!

All for now....

TdF 2013 - Days 1-4

I'm taking a break from some of the other crazy knitting schedule things in July and participating in the Tour de Fleece.  I had done up four Tour-themed colorways for the shop, and I am planning on spinning all of those (Provence, Lyon, Mont Ventoux and Paris), and as I have time in between, I'm randomly grabbing things from stash to spin as well.  I still have some knitting that has to get done, but it's a nice mental break for me as well to do something other than knit.

So here is day 1 & 2.  This is Wooly Wonka colorway "Provence" on Polwarth.  I've split the braid into distinct green and distinct purple sections, and spun each of those up into two small skeins.  These are 2-ply fingering weight.  The green has about 212 yards and the purple is 134 yards. (I had some fiber loss since I was trying to keep the colors as separate as possible, so I had to pull some strands out that had both mixed in there).

Day 3 and 4, I went to stash and grabbed a braid of Funky Carolina wool/silk 75/25 from the Harry Potter colorways Carrie had done - Diagon Alley.  I spun this into a 3-ply heavy worsted/bulky weight with 126 yards in the skein.

That's where I stand so far.  I dyed up a braid of the Lyon colorway last night, which I think I'm going to put on the wheel tonight if I get a chance.  It feels good to be spinning again!

All for now...

Ten on Tuesday: Ten Burger Toppings

• Lettuce - something not iceburg.
• Ketchup - no mustard.  Sorry... I know it's against a lot of folks' strongly-held beliefs you need both.  I have mustard issues. 
• Tomato - thinly sliced. 
• Onion - one or two thinly sliced rings of something like a Vidalia or other super sweet onion. 
• Cheese - I'm not super fussy about the kind, but gotta have something.  Blue cheese is a favorite.

Those are the must-haves.  These are my optional choices, but I'll definitely take them if you have them!

• Avacado or guacamole.
• Bacon.  
• Sauteed mushrooms.
• BBQ sauce.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July if you are here in the US!

All for now....