Race is over 🥲

Ahh, just like that—TOUR DE FRANCE and Tour de Fleece is over!!  

There is still fiber to be spun and plied so we’ll keep

Treadling along. 

 

It’s Time To Ply

Been treadling hard every day!  Pedal to metal for sure!  Working to keep up with TDF guys!  

There should be a vast abundance of finished product visible; alas, there isn’t!

It’s time to ply yarns—need the bobbins free to continue on the journey.  Don’t you love my “lazy Kate”?  It works—my fingers provide the tension on the threads as they ply. 

You know you have a good ply when the yarn is relaxed, it doesn’t kink up!  

Looking okay on the bobbin—this is green cotton, natural grown. 

This plied brown cotton resting before it is wound into warp

Patient bobbins waiting their place in line before they head to the ball winder.  Three are green cotton, two are already plied; one is single ply white cotton.  Another bobbin will need to be spun before this one can meet its partner.  Always feel accomplished when bobbins are empty!!

 

Unity!

Texas, our state, has faced a huge challenge—so many lives lost in the rivers of doom!  We prayed for rain during our drought—this not what we prayed for though! 

In my sorrow, I turned to working on this block

Given on Lisa Bongean’s website—it is giving me quiet time as the pieces are stitched together.

There is so much to process in my mind and heart. 

It takes times to trim the pieces and it washes away some tears as I think of the little ones and families gone. 

Together provides some unity

Just keep sewing many parts together

Found fabric that would unify small blocks into one larger block. 

It’s called UNITY!

Many have come to show their love in supplies.  Many to search the disaster.  Many came to prepare meals for volunteers. 

Many came together to use their talents to raise funds.

Yes! We are suffering this disaster and loss. 

But. We are providing UNITY!!

 

Bummer!!

 It was a super fast day for riders and me!  The wheel had my feet pedaling faster and faster!  I was in my element!!

And then……….

It happened! 

The band on my wheel BROKE!  Flop flop it fell apart!

Bummer!  

Really?!! 

Even though equipment was checked out before the race—alas, there was malfunction!  

Since it’s plastic band, it’s an easy fix

I wanted to continue spinning so switched to E-spinner, but couldn’t extension cord—another bummer

I was loosing time spinning

Repairing the band needs two people and hubby was volunteering.  

As soon as he entered the house, I begged him to help with the band. 

First, get the band around the wheel grooves, I’ll hold the bands together and he’ll apply the heat to melt the ends.  Stuck! Let cool, trim the nylon bits, and we’re off again!!

Think I’ll hook up E-spinner to be ready as back-up

Didn’t achieve my goal for the day 😪😪😪

 

So It Goes!!

Yes! I am spinning for Tour de Fleece.  In between spinning, I hurry to studio and finish up some UFOs.  In comes another month's clues for 2025 Shetland lace by Toni Lozeno--must finish this clue by 15th

 as July clue for Elizabeth Zimmerman 2025 Estonian lace pattern arrives.  

Another block from June finally finished!!  Waiting on July's BOM to drop!

Put the finishing touches on this top--so glad to have it quilted and ready to give alway!

I used my hand dyed, silk screened fabrics for the backings--did quilt as you go to  do this one.

While working on my quilting or spinning, I’m listening to books about Paris—

“A Bakery in Paris”  by Alimie Runyon

“The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris”

You can tell where my brain and heart draw to in Paris!

Now, back to spinning!!

 

And We're Off....................................

 Today is the THE DAY!   I'm ready--well, sort of.  I can't decide what wheel to begin with and what fiber should be the first to be spun.  I know! I know!  these decisions should have been decided weeks or any days ago--but, I have a "Squirrel" mentality==look over here; NO, look over here!  To much distraction these days. 

I have my little Espinner--after all, it took quite awhile to receive this jewel.  The first one was lost from the mailbox (can you imagine their surprise when they opened that box! ) The jokes on them!  Sure it was nothing they could use!  I had to wait awhile to reorder--after my first one was refunded.  Maybe, I should use this first!

Again, my spindles have been calling my name

so many treasures

I even have a couple of  Danish Krone coins to use as drop spindles as well

I LOVE my spindles!!

Such lovelies just waiting to crank out the yarn

Come to me my prettys!

Do I use my Ashford wheel?  I'm thinking I'll spin on one wheel one day, then a spindle the next day and so on and so on--decided on that

NOW

what fiber to spin first??

..

This fiber has aged well--say 15 years; maybe, it's time to pull it through my fingers

Look how lovely!

Maybe I need to ply this silk to empty the bobbins?

Awww, this is such wonderful stuff to spin!  Maybe, this should b first?

Then, there is is gorgeous silk to spin up for a scarf to knit

Plus, I have bags of natural colored cotton waiting to be center stage.

Decisions! Really hard to decide.............................

POP! Goes the Weasel!!

Every spinner has their supply of favorite equipment!  As a spinner, we keep our craft going  just with the purchases of handy dandy “stuff” that we feel is required to make a beautiful yarn!  One of those so called necessaries essential for my spinning is a weasel! 

 The tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" likely originated in the 1700s as part of an English country dance, with the earliest surviving sheet music from that era. 

This is my “weasel” or skein winder.  A dear friend built this and it reminds me of him every time I use it. 

It is two yards around the spokes.  You can count the yardage by using this method.  When it makes a round, the weasel makes a popping sound!  

It’s not necessary to have this piece of equipment in your spinning accommodations, does come in handy.  You could use a hand held skein winder. 

The lyrics themselves appeared later, around 1854, and are thought to have emerged from street musicians who frequently played the tune. The phrase "pop goes the weasel" may have its roots in spinning yarn, where a "weasel" was a device that would "pop" when a certain amount of yarn was detailed breakdown:

• Here’s some info:

  The Melody:

  .Opens in new tab

  The tune is a variation of "The Haymakers," which dates back to the 1700s and was included in a Scottish dance music repository. 
Early Sheet Music:
.Opens in new tab
In the early 1850s, sheet music for "Pop Goes the Weasel for Fun and Frolic" was published by Miller and Beacham of Baltimore, marking the oldest known evidence of the tune being associated with that title. 
Dance Popularity:
.Opens in new tab
By the mid-19th century, "Pop Goes the Weasel" was a popular social dance in England, even making its way into theaters and dance halls. 
Lyrics Emergence:
.Opens in new tab
The lyrics likely emerged later, possibly from street musicians who played the tune and added their own verses. 
Possible Yarn Connection:
.Opens in new tab
Some theories suggest the phrase "pop goes the weasel" might relate to a spinning device called a "weasel," which would make a popping sound when a specific amount of yarn was spun. 
Darker Interpretations:
.Opens in new tab
Some analyses suggest the lyrics might allude to themes of poverty, pawnbroking, and even the Eagle Tavern in London's City Road, according to a BBC article. 
And now, we’re off to learn how tales of old, play a big part in our lives!

It's That Time Again!

 Yelp!  It came quickly; or so it seems!  There it was--right in front of my face--Tour de Fleece! beginning July 5-- Someone posted, teams were being formed, instructions given—oil those wheels, prepare your fibers, join a team or not, create a challenge for yourself; think of any obstacles that you might face as you begin this journey of spinning your way into history!

;

I have my handy dandy little traveling bag for fiber and of course, my lovable spindle included.  I opened the bag (as if I hadn't seen inside for months), there was the silky smooth luxury fiber that was spun some time ago--balled straight from the shaft.

The lovely colors of the silk fiber doesn't come through with a camera lenses--

you can barely seen my adorable spindle.  I must have 100 spindles (I kid you not) but this one is my favorite!

trust me, this is a bright color

Here is my handy dandy bag that contains two hanks of bombyx hand dyed silk--no, I didn't dye it.  

We did dye silk roving many moons ago--but that story is for another time==back to the bag--I received from my not so loved sister-in-law.  I thought to myself, what am I going to do with this!!

wonders never seem to amaze me--my brain kicked in and low and behold--a solution to carry my precious spindle and silk fibers.

And if you are working with silk, be sure include hand lotion--you think your hands are smooth as 'silk'--ha ha--those little rough nicks of skin catch in silk!

And here we are again!

 We've been on the road--traveling to visit with second daughter in Colorado.  How nice to see her and enjoy some cool weather..  Afraid we ate all the wrong foods, enjoyed rich comfortable leisure---making it double hard to come back to 'normal' life.  Since we did a road trip by car, we could stop along the way to see unusual sights--there is a road that bends when you reach New Mexico and from that bend in the road you see the whole Colorado front range--what a sight!  Snow capped mountains!  Cue the music--Ah, Rocky Mountain High!

Now, here we are--trying to settle back into a routine. not fun!  I want to continue in vacation mode; alas, there is unpacking to do, laundry, check out the mail, friends calling (that's nice, they missed us!) 

Visiting our Daughter's house, renews my mind of the quilts she treasures as they adorn the walls.

I forget about the ones that were gifted; always happy my handwork is enjoyed.

At Christmas time, when the family has gathered, I lay out the quilts made in the past year or two and offer them to whom ever wants to give them a home.  

This quilt was made through 'The Quilt Show"--remember that it was a monster to tackle, but so worth the challenge; especially when I see it displayed in her foyer!

In her guest bath she has my hand spun, handwoven hand towels--made from natural cottons.

I love drying my hands with this luxury!

Gives me pleasure to see and touch them!

As I sit in a hotel room, I work on my hat knitting--couldn't find the stitch marker but did see this piece of plastic; worked great for a marker.  Finished the hat too!  

Playing Catch-up!

 After I found the quilt patterns and fabric cut for BH ( Bonnie Hunter) quilt, I set to work to tackle one. 

This one is 2018!  Good Fortune from her China trip!

Since I’m behind doing these blocks, I’ll use BH 18 as leader-Enders. 

Block 4-5 are to be Christmas fabrics and Block 15 is using my hand dyed fabrics—here we go—trying to play catch up!!

One down!  I wasn’t too sure my choice of color placement would work—looks ok to me though

Sew With Me is my Christmas quilt—

Another Christmas block

One of 25 blocks used in BH’s 2018 mystery quilt 

Block #2 is here —excited to

Combine them for the quilt top!