This post is to document that my Thanksgiving cactus is still blooming in April.
Texas is starting to warm up, which means the window this cactus leans against will warm up, and quit inducing buds. I’ll get to enjoy them for a little longer.
I made this spindle whorl awhile back using a laser cutter. The dragonfly design is my own.
I had an empty shaft and decided to give the whorl a whirl while I was spinning my Black Welsh Mountain fiber.
I should have sanded down the shaft some, the top hook did not stick up far enough which made it difficult to wind yarn on and off. The single layer whorl also didn’t feel substantial, and although the size was large enough to keep momentum, I struggled with it bumping into me. It is slightly better than using a CD as a whorl, but only because it has dragonflies. Back to the design board.
In May of 2013 I was experimenting with circuits and epoxy resin. I made a set of earrings with components striped from a cell phone, epoxy, and sterling silver wire.
This project did not stand the test of time. The epoxy yellowed and the silver tarnished. I thought I used “non-yellowing” epoxy, but I don’t have a record of the brand or type. I’ve drifted away from epoxy except as an adhesive for this reason.
I have to say that I’m not entirely displeased with the aging of these earrings. The yellow and oxide have a more steampunk look than the newly made earrings. The epoxy is still solid, not cracked or degrading or sticky. I still wear the earrings.
The Rose Top fiber sample was nice to spin, and working up the swatch projects was satisfying. Even though this fiber is produced in a similar way to Tencel, only using rose stems and leaves rather than wood pulp, I found this easier to handle.
I spun this Egyptian cotton sample on an Ashford Traveller spinning wheel fitted with a high speed whorl. Egyptian cotton has a longer staple length so is less inclined to form pills. It was nice to spin and worked up into the swatches well.
I enjoy spinning cotton, but is definitely a sitting activity, either on a wheel, or with a tahkli spindle. I also avoid wearing black, as the small fibers accumulate everywhere.
Critters and Craft 