A Christmas Story

So, a couple of weeks back, my friend Nancie McCraw, of Badfaerie Designs, posted pictures of painted spindles and a painted spinning wheel and a painted weaving loom. Nancie's mother painted the pieces, and her work was breathtaking. Literally. I gasped when I saw this picture:

It's a large Schacht, hand painted. I immediately reposted the picture on my Facebook wall to help Nancie publicize her mother's amazing work.

I thought about the spindle for maybe 10 minutes or so, and then I contacted Nancie about prices, and about buying that spindle. She mournfully told me (and I could tell it was mournful even in a Facebook message) that the spindle had already been sold. I marveled at the speed of the sale, but understood- the spindle was gorgeous. Of course someone bought it right away.

So this spindle was not to be mine. But I could order another, which I did, delivery slated for sometime in January. I didn't care how it was painted- every example I'd seen was gorgeous, and I was perfectly happy to be surprised.

Fast forward to Christmas day, when my granddaughter, smiling hugely, handed me a bag. This was in it.

Look familiar????

My wonderful daughter-in-law Cassy just happened to be on Facebook when I posted the picture of that spindle. And she just happened to contact Nancie moments before I did. Cassy and Matt bought this spindle for me!

I usually spin with my wheel, but I love hand spindles and use them when the mood arises, and I definitely collect them as works of art, which this one is.

And the mood arose immediately. I spun up the little gray sample that came with the spindle.

It was nearly an ounce, and that is a lot to Andean ply, but I managed it (though my finger and thumb were a little low on blood by the time I got done winding) because I really wanted to ply this single to itself.

 It's a large spindle, and it spins forever. It's also very good for plying.

My handspun is never very fine, and my spindle spun yarn is not as uniform as anything I make on the wheel, but it's nice and squooshy (a technical term- you can look it up).

Just enough to wind on my mini-niddy noddy.

There was an even smaller amount of blue roving in the box, and some white (which I have not spun yet).

All washed and soft. When I finish the white, I think there will be enough for a hat. In the meantime, I bought some special roving just for the new spindle.

4 ozs of Merino/Bamboo from Flickertail Fibers, in a colorway called Tequila Sunrise. I may just put on some Eagles and get to work.

Thursday Tab- Little Nurse

I know absolutely nothing about this little doll- whether it was a book, or part of another set. She looks to be from the 40's.

Semi-Wordless Christmas Eve

I hope you're all warm and snuggly and enjoying the day!

Wordless December 22, Below Zero Walk... alternative title: It's chilly out there

The Getty- Paintings

We visited The Getty in LA last month. I was mesmerized by the paintings. Photography is allowed, but no flash, so some of these aren't as sharp as I'd like (plus you have to snap very quickly in the rare moments when no one is standing directly in front of a painting), but man... it was amazing.

 Well, some photography wasn't allowed. It wasn't allowed in the Canterbury Psalter traveling exhibit- something I didn't know until after I snapped this one.

 Louis XIV

Still Life

Tapestry closeup

Perseus

shoot, I can't remember the title or artist of this one

Degas ballerina

Van Gogh- weaver

 I can't find a link for this one. Added later: Good grief, how could I forget... Renoir

 Van Gogh Irises

Rabbit from early 1500s

Studio of DaVinci

This guy has a meme

Monet Cathedral

Monet

Rembrandt- I stood and gazed at this one for as long as my family allowed me to. It spoke to me in a way no other painting has. The light in his sad eyes, the brushwork on the metal mantle, the sparkle of the hat band, the softness of the feather, the fine stubble hairs. This man actually existed, he lived. And he still lives in this painting.