look. Look! LOOK!

OK.  Sorry about that.  I'm just a little bit excited.  I hope everyone is doing well and having a wonderful week.  Mine has been FAB!!  This fabulousness started last week.  I know some of you know that I've been wanting to learn how to spin for a while, but classes are usually while I'm at work or during times when I have prior family obligations...and then there is the cost of the wheels - Yikes!  A dear sweet lady (Hello Alice! *Waving *) suggested that I contact my local spinning guild and I'm so glad I listened to her!

I started snooping around on the internet last week and found the contact for my local spinning guild. Lo and behold, she lives in my little town!!  Kismet! I say this, because my town is this little dot between two much larger cities and most people involved in this type of thing live in the cities.  Anyway, I picked up the phone and gave her a call.  I spoke to her very nice husband who was kind enough to relay a message and I spoke to her last Thursday.

Everything has been moving very quickly since then.  Natalie invited me to the Guild meeting on Sunday where I met some very talented ladies. They all made spinning look so incredibly easy as they sat there chatting, drinking their tea and spinning away on their wheels.  I also watched a woman use a spindle and it was so very mesmerizing.

After attending this meeting, I was more enthusiastic than ever. Natalie invited me over to her house last night, sat me down at a wheel and the lessons began. I have to tell you, when you are doing this for the first time, it's a bit tricky.  If you hold on to the fibers too long, it will twist too much and break.  If you don't hold onto it long enough, it's really lumpy and uneven.  I like to call this mess "artisan yarn." Also, when you are sitting in someone's studio (more on that in a minute) that you've just met, you have a tendency to be on your best behavior.  Ask anyone who knows me and they'll be the first to tell you, when I get frustrated, I have quite the potty mouth.  Some people call it "colorful" language.  It doesn't matter what you call it, it's not something that makes a very good impression.  On top of that, it's a little nerve racking to try something new with an audience right there.  Natalie generously let me borrow the wheel in the picture, just to see if I want to pursue this any further. She also gave me some lovely green and blue roving to practice with.  She sent me home with both and I produced.....

Ta Da!! It is far from perfect.  It's too twisted in some areas and not twisted enough in others.  This artisan yarn of mine is actually a mess, but I did it and I can't tell you how pleased I am!  Given time, I think I might actually get the hang of this! There is something very soothing and meditative about the process and I can see why so many people enjoy doing it...not to mention the satisfaction.

Now, about Natalie's studio....OH EM GEE!  I think I'm in love!  It's this lovely, large room with plenty of widows.  The walls, floors and cabinets are all white, but there is plenty of color.  She has three or four looms, several spinning wheels and a wall FULL of yarn and roving. It was like she had her on personal little yarn store right there at the end of the hallway.  I hope I didn't gawk too much.  She had these lovely little blue and white rugs on the floor that she wove from old blue jeans. And then there was Rosco.  I will admit that I am the worst with dog breeds, so I won't even try, but I have to say he had the sweetest temperament and biggest brown eyes ever - Just a love.

All in all, it has been a really successful week. Hope your week is as well!