Fiber Musings

or a hot and humid one.

After checking Air New Zealand’s website and the weather forecast, I’ve decided to not take any knitting with me on this trip. Nope. Nada. I’m not even going to try any of the other fiber activities, such as crochet, naalbinding, tatting, etc. I’m just going to read and sleep on the plane (and whatever the on-board entertainment is provided). (I might take along a drop spindle for sitting at the airport. It depends on the carry on luggage situation.)

I picked up the new-to-me Gem II today in Stockton. I drove immediately over to see Judy and Bob to pick up any “missing” pieces: additional reeds, change to textsolv tie up, wedge, etc. Bob greeted me as I drove up and immediately took the loom out and said he wanted to give it a once over. (Totally did not expect this.) He tweaked it a bit here, added a washer there to tighten things up a bit, changed out the brakes because he has a better system now, added new reed tighteners, added a hand crank, and generally tuned it all up. Wow! What service!

While Bob had the loom, I had a great visit with Judy and the dogs. She gave me a tour of her new studio, office, and yarn storage room.

I’m very glad that I made the appointment to stop by. It was a very productive visit.

If you are even thinking about getting a Gilmore Loom, I just want to say that the service is wonderful. They are truly nice people.

See you in 2 or 3 weeks!

Comments Off

I have nothing really to say about my fibery pursuits except the following:

• Heard on Sticks & Strings that Australia doesn’t allow knitting needles on planes. This will make the return trip from Australia (to San Francisco) and really long one. Still trying to figure out what to do about that. (Kindle is loaded up with books.  iPod will also be loaded up with some new books from Audible.com.)
• 80+F and 90+% humidity doesn’t really make for great knitting weather anyway (in the Solomon Islands).
• I’m off to pick up a new used loom! Another Gilmore Gem II, just like the one I already have. This way, I’ll have one in California and one in Washington. Same so I don’t have to remember what I’m supposed to do with this little here stick.

There always seem to be a million and one things out there that needs to be done and kept track of when you are heading off for a trip. Well, actually, any old day. When I feel overwhelmed, I make little lists. When I have multiple stops I need to make during a day, I make a list for each of the stops. The problem arises when I have all these little slips of paper, I tend to lose them, or have so many all over the place that I look like someone juggle a handful of cards at a rummy game and losing badly.

Over a year ago, I came across PocketMod. Well, actually, I just used the folding technique of turning a single sheet of 8.5″x11″ sheet of paper into a little notebook. I tend to use it as a one-a-day type of thing. Put the date in front, and keep quick lists of project tasks, one-per-page. They fit in the clip on the iPhone case, in the small pocket of my purse, in the hip pocket of my jeans, or just any old pockets. Along with a pen, it makes a great portable field notebook. Need to pick something up at the grocery store? Just jot it down during a meeting and you can refer back to it on your way home from work/the meeting. At the end of each day, I’d take a look at the list? All done? Toss it in the recycle bin. Stuff still undone? Copy it to a new list (or keep the list if you really didn’t get anything done that day). Frame it if you’ve created a gorgeous doodle spanning all the pages. <grin>

Yesterday, I took another look at the new applet, and found that I really like some of the new templates. I used the applet and personalized the booklet for me and printed off a bunch of sheets. What’s on my PocketMod Pages?

1. (Front Cover) Blank — I put the “name” of the notebook on this: to-do list date, or project name (e.g., “Solomon Is. Pack List August 2008″)
2. (Back Cover) 2008 Calendar — it’s always handy to have a small calendar to do a quick look up without fumbling with pulling out the phone to look up the calendar program.
3. Rest of the pages are all grid pages. This can be used for making lists or for scribbling down a quick knitting chart idea!

Slightly smaller than 3×5 cards, and since they are all connected, no clips required. 6 pages to scribble in, excluding the front & back cover. Darn handy to have around. A you get a little mini origami session in each day too!

Okay. Off to Stockton!

P.S. Yes, I’m seriously thinking about leaving all knitting, spindle, naalbinding, tatting projects behind. I have just over 24 hours to decide.

Comments Off

Have you ever been flashed by a peacock?

Grace asked for a copy of the peacock photo that I took while in Italy. I found this in my folders. Somehow, I don’t think this is the one she’s talking about…

Comments Off

I’m home just long enough to unpack, do a bit of shopping and repack.  I’m off to Brisbane, Australia before heading to the Solomon Islands for 12 days.  I’m getting my SCUBA certification and spending the days diving.  I can’t wait.

So, for now, here are some selected photos from my last 2.5 weeks.

Comments Off

Look what Karen helped me find!

Can you guess what it is? Here’s another clue.

Know what it is yet? Okay, another clue…

How about now?

Yup! It’s the ever elusive Louet S40, or more commonly known as Louet Hatbox spinning wheel.

I’ve been wanting one of these since I first saw a photo of it on the web waaaay back when (2003?). It was already discontinued then. I looked periodically on eBay, the Housecleaning pages, and Spinning For-Sale groups for one, but they are always snapped up before I find the listings. Two weeks ago, I get a voice mail message from Karen to say that she found this in the Whidbey Island papers and was I interested? Boy! I was all over it. I left messages on her home and cell phones and kept calling until I reached her. I even tried to call a couple of the other people on the island trying to find her…

Needless to say, this sweet little thing was waiting for me when I got to the island later that same week. The o-ring is a bit brittle and cracked, but otherwise in perfect working order. I have yet to spin on it, because I have been hosting my little niece. (Grace, I wasn’t up to teaching her how to spin on a wheel that’s not functioning at 100% — not the best way to teach an impatient little girl how to spin.) Now that she’s gone, I can try and see if I can get this little darling working while I locate a source for replacement o-rings. If you know where I might be able to find one, please leave a comment.

Update: The o-ring is too old to be grabby, so it’s a no-go until I locate or fashion a new one.

Comments Off