Perhaps a Half Day Off?

I am feeling a bit tired today. I thought about taking a day off, but really, I enjoy what I do for 'work' so what exactly would that entail? I guess I could spend the day playing games on the computer. But I would enjoy doing other things more. In the application of 'a change is as good as a rest' perhaps I should make today about house organization (I have some yarn to sort out) or getting a load of dishes run (I can load the dishwasher from my kitchen stool). Perhaps roasting some chicken breasts and adding the meat and broth to some pasta and broccoli rabe we made on Saturday, and putting it up in Oscar lunches would be good. (Do others still use the phrase 'putting up' to mean storing for later? When I was a kid and I helped mom can fruit and veggies, we were 'putting up' the tomatoes, for example, for winter.
All that sounds like work, but I like ending the day knowing I accomplished something. 
I am far from bored, but a little tired yet restless.
I think a true day off would include spinning or dying yarn. or both. Perhaps to celebrate a big thing, like completing a pattern. I will get out roving and my tools and spin for hours.
I really long to spin. I have a ©Sling-Blade Handspinner created and hand crafted by my friend Dreamspinner. The beauty of it is i can predraft the fiber, and spin all from a reclining position while still having the hands-on experience of rythmically adding twist to yarn. Someday I might get an electric spinner, but I adore my ©Sling-blade
Watch this video to see how fun it is! And look how small a motion she needs to make to create the spin. (the image above is some beautiful yarn I made with my blade)

Vegetables and the Fiber Arts

Thanks to KPKate of Ravelry, for this link:

Come On and Twist, Yeah Baby Twist

Here is what I started with. This roving was sold to me as-is, and I bought it knowing it was slightly matted and a little felted.. planning to use it as doll hair and art collage. But when my ©Sling-Blade Handspinner arrived, I thought "Ah! All the better to practice drafting and splicing with..." This is what it looked like after time spent finger drafting, splicing, and playing until it became silky soft... yummmmmmy.....
And here, after loads of fun and a remarkably short time, it became yarn on the blade!!! For the next batch, I will ask Oscar to take a video of me using it. It's too cool!!!

It was really easy to wind the yarn off the blade and onto my laptop (each wind = 2 feet); much easier than when I did it the old fashioned way off my drop spindle a few days ago.And here the yarn is, having been soaked a bit in water, hanging with a little weight to 'set the twist'. (Please ignore blurs in background, it was easier than painting the kitchen before taking the photo LOL)

Isn't it pretty????
And I MADE it! (with a great deal of help from the sheep)
"We're gonna twisty twisty twisty
'Til we turn the house down"
(lyrics from The Twist, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, 1959)

It Spins Me Right Round Baby Right Round

A long time ago, I learned spinning on a drop spindle formed from an apple stuck on the end of a pencil. I was living at Rancho Paso in Woodland, California; caring for critters in exchange for part of the rent, and learned a lot of things that year.
I loved spinning. I remember feeling as though I had done it many times before, and that I just needed to help my fingers remember to regain old skills.
Years passed, and I had another opportunity to re-learn drop spindling at Brushwood in upstate New York. Again, it was more like remembering than learning, and again, I loved the feeling of peace it brought. I still have the drop spindle, and even though I am all about lightening the load of un-needed stuff in the house, I could never bring myself to get rid of it, just moving it from one place to another. When my messed up tummy made it difficult to sit upright for long, and my messed up ankle made treadling improbable I had pretty much given up on ever spinning again.Yes, there are electric spinning wheels, and I was open to getting one of them but 1. They are really expensive, and 2. I really love the magic of having my hands part of the creation process.
Enter The DreamSpinner, laughing with joy. I found a Youtube Video showing a tool she invented called the ©Sling-Blade Handspinner. Even if you are not interested in textiles, give it a gander, it is fascinating to watch. The coolness of it is the twist in the yarn is created by very slight hand motion, translating to the blade and thus to the held fiber. I contacted her to ask about the use while reclining, and a few other things, and we've become friends in the course of a few days. (Love the internet I tell you, I love it.)
And it CAN be easily used while reclining with my feet up, without damage to any part of my body. The cats might need an adjustment period, though.
Yesterday I got out my old drop spindle, with the very small portion of roving that accompanied it in New York. In short sessions (sitting up until the body protested) I spent much of the day creating maybe 15 yards of yarn. I am proud if it, even though it is a lumpy bumpy 'artistic' yarn even after setting the twist. I will be using it to make a distaff, I think.
I loved spinning, every minute of it, but spindle hand and tummy still feel the effect this morning. I wanted to re-acquaint myself with the basics because today or tomorrow, my very own ©Sling-Blade Handspinner arrives!!!
I will be certain to tell you more.

Spinning Giddy

I haven't spun much in my life, but the little I did, I loved. I have used a drop spindle, but was too afraid to try a spinning wheel. I guess I thought it would go too quickly for me or something. Anyway, when I became disabled, and sitting up for too long became harmful if done on a regular basis, I put thoughts of spinning aside, but never got rid of my drop spindle.
Now, through someone I met on Ravelry, I have learned that spinning while reclining is possible! A little slower, but doable. Still, I put off trying, as the only roving I have is too matted to use for yarn. After winning Rockpool Candy's contest, she sent me some wonderfully gorgeous handspun yarn, vibrant with energy. I will share photos of my lovely yarn another time, as I am not up to setting up a photo shoot today, and the yarn deserves my best efforts. As I played and petted my new yarn that old longing to spin came back stronger than ever. And I happened to know Rockpool Candy was having a major sale on her roving this month... so I flat-out indulged myself and bought two batts. When they arrive, I will practice spinning again. If I do well, and space allows and money allows, I may try a spinning wheel next. I love a new challenge!
(below, images taken by Rockpool Candy of batts similar to the two I will be getting soon!)