handmade wool picker

A few weeks ago I received The Woolery’s newsletter and it told me I needed a wool picker. I agreed. Not because I had been wanting one for so long and now was my chance, but because The Woolery brought it to my attention that I did not have one. It’s one of those things where you may have been needing it all along and you didn’t even know it! Or I just like gadgets and it’s been a while since I got a new one.

Even though The Woolery brought this deficit to my attention, they did not get any money from me. Instead, I bought plans for a box picker from Minnetonka Works. It cost $5.95 and the materials ended up at $27.50, which is much less than buying one already made. And I have an awesomely handy husband, who is just sitting around waiting for me to give him things to do (not really).

Poplar wool picker

We got the whole thing done in two days. I won’t say it was easy and maybe not altogether fun, but it ended up beautiful! And I helped — drilled holes, sanded, hammered nails, applied linseed oil, measured pieces. As for the functionality of it, I think it works. Honestly, I am not terribly familiar with these things. When the paddle goes back and forth, the fiber gets pulled between the teeth and fluffs it up. So, I guess that’s a success. The plans were pretty easy to use, although the measurements for the sides didn’t fit within the actual piece of wood. And there aren’t really an instructions on how to use it.

Did I mention Rich and I make a good team?

sunday confessions 06/03

So yeah, it has been about a month since I did one of these. May was busy — it has been ever since I was in high school. Don’t ask me to do anything in May! Frankly, don’t ask me to do anything during the summer. Or maybe ever. I am busy.

Sitting down to do these confessions is the most relaxing thing I’ve done today. It’s been one of those weekends where you are constantly running around doing stuff. Yesterday Rich and I went shopping for a new printer and then bought supplies for a woodworking project. Then we went to my parents’ house to work on the project. And we continued it today. Plus everything else that happens.

I get annoyed when I feel like people aren’t paying attention to me — in person or online. If I am telling you a story, that means you should listen!

I threw away a fudge pop this week. It breaks my heart to say it! But it had been in the freezer a while. I even tried to eat it, despite the gooey/melted/gross outside (that I rinsed off first). It was so grainy, and being a person who has issues with food textures, I couldn’t make myself eat it.

I work better when I am in a time crunch. Knowing that I have all day to finish a project prevents me from finishing it. But if I have to be somewhere by 3 pm and I want to clean the bathroom, I am more motivated and I work faster to get it done. Perhaps I should just walk around with a giant timer around my neck.

Something will be changing here at the blog soon. You’ll just have to come back and see, won’t you?

friday’s question

Several years ago, when I was in college, I was given an older Fricke drumcarder. It was being discarded by the university art department since they no longer had a fiber program. Someone rescued it for me and ever since it has haunted me. They usually cost$500-700 new, so to get one for free is amazing. However, I was intimated by it for a long time. I used it a bit at first, just making batts of a single color. Then I tried a bit of blending, but nothing too exciting. Seeing how popular art batts are right now, I wanted to try to make them, but I had no idea how to get there. Until I came across a video on YouTube posted by Ashley Martineau of Neauveau Fiber Arts. It talked about making a “sandwich” with the fibers and then sending it through the carder. Of course, mine aren’t nearly as thrilling as the ones she makes, but generally I’m excited to be making these and more importantly, using my drumcarder!

Question: Is there anything you have been intimated to try? How did you overcome your “fear” of it? Have you worked on anything new this week? What encourages you to try new things?

home from wooster

Taking a break from the accounting side of the business today to share a couple photos from the Great Lakes Fiber Show this weekend. I didn’t get out too much to get a lot of fun pictures, so it’s just shots of my booth.

I had a really good time this year. Attendance and sales were up, so I can’t complain. Also, I met a lot of interesting people. Some were returning customers and others had seen my ads on Ravelry! While I was there I picked up two lovely Shetland fleeces from the same fellow I bought from last year. Sadly I have no pictures of them because I immediately dropped them off to get processed. And I got an alpaca fleece that belongs to an alpaca named Gwen. How could I resist?

I had fun! Hope you did too.

friday’s question

Still talking about buttons. Someone told me a while ago that only crazy people have button collections. And then I thought about two groups I am a part of: the Society for Creative Anachronism and fiber artists. Both have button collections. Both could be considered crazy. To be honest, I have a set on Flickr dedicated to buttons. It isn’t overflowing with photos, but still, it’s there.

Some buttons I have had.

I don’t really know what is so appealing about buttons. I’m also aware that I have far more buttons than I could ever use in my life. But it’s nice to have a large selection from which to choose. Plus they are an interesting link to the past.

Question: How do you deal with buttons? Do you buy them for a specific project? Do you keep a collection around? Have you ever selected a project to showcase a button? How do you like to buy your buttons? A large random assortment or individually?

squares reincarnated

Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote up that desperate plea for test knitters? Well, the ship has sailed on that — the pattern has been rewritten. This morning I finally sat down and took another look at it, making a few adjustments of my own and incorporating the testers’ notes. I’m hoping that in the future I will be better equipped for this endeavor. But feel free to let me know if you find any mistakes.

Special thanks to April and Haizle who were so helpful!

Check out version 2 of the pattern:
Squares Sophisti-cuff

I am laughing to myself because now I am on Ravelry as a “designer” with one pattern. Woo! Link up, friends.

Great Lakes Fiber Show!

Yes, friends. It is that time again if you can believe it. We are on the brink of Memorial Day weekend and that means GLFS! Be sure to head over to their website and read up on their classes, competitions, and vendors for this year.

Wander the marketplace on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. It looks like it’s going to be a hot one, so be sure to bring something to drink and take your time! You will find me in the same spot as last year: building 39, space 22.

For the remainder of this week, I’ve got a few things to finish up.

• Bagging buttons
• Updating & printing pattern for Squares Sophisti-cuff
• Labeling new Romney roving
• Labeling new yarn
• Making a few signs
• Pricing stitch markers
• Unloading the car (went camping last weekend)
• Loading the car for the show

Bagging buttons.

Freshly dyed Romney roving waiting to be labeled.