When I forgot to bring my spindle on my trip, I also left behind my fiber, which gave me an excuse to visit a local weaving shop and get more fiber. I was pleasantly surprised that the Woven Art Yarn Shop in East Lansing had some natural colored roving options, and picked a bag of Romney combed top from Dorie the sheep, who is apparently “an independent soul”, according to the label.
Photo description: Bag of Romney combed top fiber from Cross Wind Farms with a single spun on a stick with the bark still on and a cup hook screwed to the top
I love Romney wool, it spins up easily and is soft. Since I spun with a finger twirled stick, I made a thicker single because it needs less twist to hold together.
In February 2025 I made a turned wood pen holder for my Dad. A month later my first child was born. What is the correlation? When I saw the pen holder at my folk’s house I didn’t remember it. At all.
Photo description: cylindrical wood pen holder with turned bead accents at the top and bottom, filled with several mechanical pencilsPhoto description: bottom of the holder with a glued on non-slip ring (maybe leather?), and hand written “CJH 2005 #1”
I used the information on the bottom to find the original picture, that is how I figured out that it was a month before my first child was born.
Photo description: original picture of the turned wood pen holder taken on a kitchen countertop
There are small indents on the bottom of the cylinder which are likely marks left by the lathe. The two beads carved at the bottom and one at the top also would have been done on a lathe, because the precision is very difficult to achieve without a lathe. The wood grain looks like white oak, which is a common hardwood and one that I had access to at the time. I can’t remember how I hollowed it out, but since the piece is marked #1 and there are no others in the following month, I imagine it was difficult. I know it is difficult to hollow out a form even with a lathe. Getting the wood secured and balanced is tricky, and the angles are awkward for a beginner, which is what I was in 2005. The finish is likely to be a store bought urethane, because that is also what I was using at the time. I didn’t discover tung oil until later.
I do think it is interesting what my brain retains and what it jettisons. This is why I take pictures and mark my work.
I did forget to bring a spindle when I went on my trip north. Horrifying, I know. I rallied by finding a smooth stick and screwed in a cup hook at the end.
Photo description: smooth stick with a metal hook on the end
Using a stick with a hook is actually my preferred method to teach people spinning. It slows down the twist, making it easier to see and control.
Shockingly I have started a new project. I wanted something small and modular to travel with, and found a crochet book about making lace squares. Granny Square Flair by Shelley Husband includes patterns for 50 different crocheted squares, and if you use the same hook and yarn, she designed them all to block to the same size. My plan is to make them all. Not only will I learn about how lace squares are constructed, I will use gifted alpaca yarn to make myself… something. It depends on how many squares I can make with the amount of yarn I have.
It is an exciting project, but not a great one for travel or distraction. The patterns are given both in text and chart form, which I love, but I have to pay close attention to each round, which is not conducive to chatting or watching scenery. I was only able to make four on my week long trip.
Photo description: square crocheted from light teal fingering weight alpaca yarn using a pattern from Granny Square FlairPhoto description: square crocheted from dark teal fingering weight alpaca yarn using a pattern from Granny Square FlairPhoto description: square crocheted from olive green fingering weight alpaca yarn using a pattern from Granny Square FlairPhoto description: square crocheted from light teal fingering weight alpaca yarn using a pattern from Granny Square Flair
The photos of these squares are all taken fresh off the hook, before blocking, so they aren’t yet square. Also, teal is a difficult color to photograph, so none of the photos are true to actual color. Hm.
We have a couple of raccoon buddies hanging out in the woods. Rather than the opossums, who arrive individually and leave separately, the raccoons show up and head out together.
Photo description: night vision view of two raccoons climbing the stairs on the back porch of the coopPhoto description: same two raccoons coming back down the stairs
Critters and Craft 