theShizzKnit
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Saturday, March 24, 2007
I got word from Sherry Healy that US Master Spinner Certificate Level I Olds College Extension Program is a go! I had priced out my airfare about a month ago and it was going to take about 42000 airmiles. One month later, the cost had gone to 50000 airmiles which just about cleans me out as far as miles. But I am going to NC! And I don't have to pay for airfare! Whoohooo! This course provides an introduction to the basic principles of spinning wool, the nature and characteristics of wool, its selection and processing, and natural dyeing of wool. Students will: Identify the quality and characteristics of a fleece, identify the various breeds of sheep; identify and explain the various pieces of equipment used in fibre preparation and spinning; demonstrate introductory spinning techniques for wool and wool/silk blended fibres; demonstrate introductory fibre preparation techniques; demonstrate dyeing techniques using natural dyes. The Master Spinner Program consists of six progressive levels of classroom and independent study involving skill development, research studies and project assignments in the area of hand spinning of all major types of fibers, yarns and the end use of the spun yarns. At all levels, students are evaluated on the basis of written assignments, practical projects, oral presentations and skill development. For each level, there is a course fee, a studio (supplies fee) and a workbook evaluation fee.
Those individuals who successfully complete the assignments in all six levels will receive a Master Spinner Certificate from Olds College. This is the Course Outline and these are the Supplies list. I have to get on putting together the items on this list asap. I want my Louet Victoria to easily find herself to me in pristine condition and full working order in time to bring her on this trip. It is officially the end of March. Louet, please ship out the Victoria's! We have been waiting for them since last year!
Current mood:  relieved Current music: Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy
Friday, March 23, 2007
I put in my preorder for "Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter" by Alison Hansel and ordered "Yarnplay" by Lisa Shobhana Mason and "Fitted Knits: 25 Designs for the Fashionable Knitter" by Stefanie Japel. I like Stefanie's patterns and the book came recommended by Delica.
I want to make DH a Weasley sweater. I think he would dig it.
Alison Hansel is a smart cookie, making designs geared towards the HP Fans. Witchcraft and Knitting go hand in hand in my book.
Harry Potter always makes me think of October and Samhain. This year during that season I want to be sure to make Full Moon Punch.
Current mood: hopeful
Knitting up the Lotus Blossom Tank is starting to wear on me. The pattern is slow going plus it't not popping like it should yet since I had forgotten to pack a size two needle. Sitting on the hour long train ride downtown with out knitting was something I couldn't do so I had continued past row nine with the size three needle on hand knitting tightly. We'll see how that works out.
Current mood:  bored Current music: Jailza by Bau
 Last evening's SSGLI meeting was a lot of fun. Maria Hughes and Gretchen Jahnke presented a workshop "from fleece to skein." We were each provided with some washed fiber to card and spin. Part of the presentation included instruction on creating a Twist Angle Card. I've blogged previously on the use of this card but had never made one. It was a good opportunity to finally do that since Maria had brought clear plastic protractors, markers and index cards.
The fleece was well washed and felt wonderful. I didn't catch what type it was. Perhaps, BFL? I had brought my Schact curved handcarders and went to work. I really like these handcarders. My first set was the flat Ashford handcarders. Didn't like those much. The design seemed to encourage hand fatigue for me. Carding with the Schact handcarders is a totally different- and more comfortable- experience.
 The fleece had two tiny bits of VM in it, lovely to work with. Anyone who had every worked with VM filled fleece knows the delightful feeling of working with VM free fleece. Just wonderful.
Live and Learn: I received my fleece earlier this month from Wooly Barn processing.
I had purchased three fleece sight unseen from Mary Barnes at Eagles Find. Her advertisement did mention there was some VM in the fleece: Speaking of VM....I have some raw fleeces I've decided to sell for really low prices. I have decided I need to pare down as I don't have the time this year to pick through them.
It's my bad for having not had a sample sent. Even after multiple cardings, the roving was insanely full of vm. Now I get why the three fleeces were so reasonably priced. I'll have to take a picture. The amount of VM will boggle you. Never, never again with I purchase a fleece without a sample. It's like making a gauge swatch. A must do.
 This is the Twist Angle card I made. You may be able to see that the twist angle isn't quite right for wool spun and allowed to twist back on itsef. I would have had to have made an S twist angle card instead of a Z angle card as in the example we were given.
I wound my spun sample my nostepinne and plan to spin in up later and check on the twist. That way isn't so conducive to checking your work as one is going along spinning, so it looks like I'll be making a S twist angle card sometime soon.
Thanks to Maria and Gretchen for a beneficial workshop.
Update on the Louet Victoria:
I am patiently waiting for her to arrive. Louet will be shipping them out to distributers in the last week of March, who will be turning around to ship them out
after that. Yay!
I have heard that there are bobbin issues with the three free bobbins that come with the wheel; horror stories that they break apart if they but fall once to the ground. Yikes! I'm sure there is a skilled woodworker out there that can fashion a sturdier bobbin and I hope that Louet fixes this issue if it is a real one. I'm sure to find out first hand in any case, when my wheel arrives.
Current mood:  creative Current music: Jailza by Bau
 I arrived at F.I.T. around 5:30pm, surprised to see half the seats empty. After reading all the blogs and posts on the boards online, it seemed like hoards of knitters were going to be there. Hoards, like Rhinebeck sized hoards. I guess people had already made other plans. I had been tempted to attend the guild meeting with my other Spinning Guild, the Palisaides Guild of Spinners and Weavers. Elisa was planning to knit a bracelet, something I have always wanted to do. I will have to remember to drop her a line and see if she doesn't still have a kit or two for that project.
The remainder of the auditorium has filled by 6pm and the first speaker walked out on stage at 6:10pm to introduce The Yarn Harlot.
 I was seated in the front row sections reserved for NYC Sit n'Knit knitters with some other gals also in red shirts like I was, a clue for how to find each other amongst the throng of knitters. Thank you Anne Marie for organizing! Can you believe that grrrl? She just gave birth to a beautiful baby girls last Friday and she is still putting together events for the knitting group.
Among that group, someone was taking down names to start up a Sit n'Knit UWS and asked me to sign up. I certainly did and also invited her and those around me to stop over at the 225th St Starbucks for Stitch n'Bitch Bronx.
 Stephanie Pearl McFee was warm, witty and gracious this evening. Her stories touched home for many of us. There is a certain specialness about knitters that she seems to understand so well. Her explaination about group mobilization and the idea of putting one small thing with another to create a massive movement resonanted with us all and you could hear the loud murmurs of assent in agreement with what Stephanie was saying. "Knitters understand how to make one small action and add it to another." She said she put that skill together with the Doctors Without Borders effort to raise an obcenley amazing amount of money for the cause.
 All the while the auditorium of 750 knitters listened to her speak, we were knitting away at squares to be collected at the end of the event towards blankets to be pieced together for Warm Up America.
A "goodie bag" with patterns for blanket squares and a skein of soysilk wool was on every seat in the auditorium as well as size 8 aluminum needles to knit with. The skein I had was a pretty robins egg blue but the color variations were more subtle in comparison with the richly dyed skeins of multiple colors. Pretty! The publicist explained that by starting a 9inch square during the event, we would have a finished square to hand in at the close of the talk.
 The soy silk had the most a delightful hand and was wonderful to knit up. The aluminum needles were awfully unforgiving for someone who has carpal tunnel like me and it too me a bit under two hours to finished my square. I was glad to be done with the needles.
Jayme, the wonder publicist was kind enough to take my square to add to the collection she had in hand. She looked so pleased with how many she had in hand after only two hours. Jayme had collected a square from almost every person in the auditorium when she was done. With so many hands outstretched towards her will squares, I thought the grin was going to crack her face in half. In a nice way.
 TYT's funny stories and serious harrangues all intermingled with our laughter. After she spoke, Stephanie took questions and listened to the stories from her readers. Many people had come from far off places like France, England and all over the United States. It was amazing. It was interesting to hear peoples comments and the hall was filled with a feeling of cameraderie.
The last person at the microphone for questions was Heather Dixon who brought her own book, Not Your Mama's Knitting, as a gift for Stephanie.
On my way out, I almost stepped on a large bag of yarn on the floor. Lisa Grossman the TsockTsarina of wool dyeing and Jennifer Vancalcar of Vancalcar Acres Wool were there selling their skeins of Art For Your Feet sock yarn. Whooot! Sock Yarn! The skeins with multiple colors and patterning were mostly gone, although I was able to find three skeins left in a pink/peach colorway. Each skein was $4 and I picked out four more in solid colors of lavender, cornflower, raspberry and lime. Jennifer charged me a straight $25 and gave two yarns gratis to the woman standing beside me coveting yarn, who had stated buying some was not in her budget. Kudos to you Jennifer, you made her day!
Current mood:  energetic Current music: Sitar Beat! Indian Style Heavy Funk Vol. 1
Thursday, March 22, 2007
SSGLI has a VHS tape lending library. Isn't that fab! I thought so. There were a few tapes that I had been wanting to purchase for a while and found them in the lending library. Hooray!
The first tape I am borrowing is HANDSPINNING WOOL-Advanced Techniques. I've heard only good things about the quality of Victorian Videos, that their production is clear, crisp and professional. The camera zooms right is so you can see exactly what you're trying to accomplish, is what SPIN-OFF MAGAZINE has to say on that.
Mabel Ross is the host of this VHS and says that when we first learn to spin, we take what we get, and try to do something with it. In this video, Mabel will change all that for you as she teaches how to spin yarn to a predetermined size that will fit the needs of your current project. Learn how to prepare and spin different lengths of fibers to make worsted and woolen yarns for weaving or knitting, using shortdraw and traditional longdraw techniques. Learn how to make a plied yarn of any exact thickness with just the right amount of twist, for various purposes, & how to repeat it exactly, at any time. Learn to spin yarns of average thickness, very thick yarn, soft knitting yarn, and extremely fine gossamer yarn for knitting lace.
Doesn't that all sound grand?
A lot of people warned me off on this tape since Mabel Ross is something of a stickler. I was totally excited to hear that since, stickler is what I am looking for. I want to learn how to do things exactly the right way. If I will follow the instructions to the letter is another matter entirely, but it is always good to learn the right way, right?
The second VHS I borrowed is FIBER PREPARATION & Multi-color Blending Techniques with Deb Menz. This video includes many wonderful ways to prepare fiber for spinning, using both drum carder and combs. The focus is on how to use fibers that have already been dyed to create multicolored yarns. It starts with drum carding "101" - how to effectively choose and use a drum carder. Then it's on to blending colors to create new colors. You'll learn how to get predictable results, how to blend luxury fibers, & how to create multicolored drum carded batts so the colors stay clear and bright. Multicolored yarns can also be created using combs. By using already combed and dyed solid wool top, the multi-colors will be created by using a multistep process of arrangement of colors on wide combs or hackles. Designing plied yarns with color effects in mind concludes this video workshop. Now that I have my own drum carder, and lots of Wilton cake dye, I can't wait to start working on dyeing and blending.
Lending libraries are so awesome. Instead of purchasing two tapes for $40 each, I saved the $80. I happened to have some cash on me for Ellen Sullivan in case there was room in Robin Russo's Goat or the Fiber Prep classes. I'm first on the waitlist for both, so I'm pretty hopeful about getting into the Fiber Prep class. My coven is celebrating Ostara in Brooklyn this weekend at the same time Nelda Davis' Fiber Prep class is being held at Woolbearers, so I'm pleased to hopefully get into Robin's course.
I'll have to wait for someone to drop out from the Goat class to get into that day class. Since I didn't have to pay Ellen upfront, I had the $ in pocket and dontcha know Gretchen was there with her wares, enticing those with ready cash like myself. I picked up 8 oz of delicious cashmere blended with tussah silk. Gorgeous. I had to have them. I almost picked up two quart bags of silk blended with merino but controlled myself. I believe those two called out to Martha Fee and she brought them home.
As an interesting aside, I have been Yelping up a storm on Yelp and happened to get into a discussion about Shopsin's in the West Village. This is a famed brunch spot that I have passed all too many times on my way back and forth from The Point. I never got around to actually having a meal there.
Martha and I were chatting about my recent nuptials and she was describing a knockout of of an event that her neice had when she married. Just so happens Mr. Shopsin is the neices father, Martha's brother. Small world.
Current mood: chipper Current music: Sitar Beat! Indian Style Heavy Funk Vol. 1
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
I have been dreaming like mad. Sometimes I can remember the dreams, oftentimes not.
I've used sleeping on a problem as an avenue to problem solution before and found this useful bit of information from Tony D. Clark that I am planning to try this weekend.
A lot has been written about the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Evidence suggests that sleeping on a problem can help generate new insight into a solution. I discovered a trick about 12 years ago that has served me well - and I’ve recommended it many times, to clients, friends, and family. I can’t remember where I first learned about it, but it’s one of my favorite techniques for using the power of sleep to work out problems. And all you need are a pen, paper, and a glass of water.
First, just before going to sleep - state your problem and drink half of a glass of water (I prefer a small glass - I don’t want to have to get up for a bathroom break in the middle of the night).
Next, upon awakening, and before you do anything else, drink the other half of the water. Then lie back down and see what develops. You may get some snippets of dreams, some inner voice clues, a gut feeling, or nothing at all. Just see what happens. Anything that you feel is relevant to the issue you’re working on, write down.
Then get up and go about your day. You may get insights throughout the day, so be sure to have something to jot down any thoughts or ideas as they come up.
If nothing happens, do the same thing again the next night. Usually after 3 nights, I’ve got my solution. Granted, my brain may have worked it out by then anyway, but the trigger of the water before bed helps to keep it focused on coming up with a solution.
I have often wondered if this method works similarly to a placebo - I expect it to work, so it does. But any trick that delivers results is useful, in my book.
A footnote about dream recall - I’ve found that this technique works even if you can’t remember the specific dreams you’ve had. Jonathan Steele (and I’m sure others as well) wrote about a similar technique for dream recall. Honestly I never really cared about remembering the dreams themselves (though often I do). I’m more interested in the “eureka” moment that comes regarding the problem.
Current mood:  contemplative
Comes to no surprise that I am nursing another cold. I am achey, I am congested, my eustachean tubes are swollen, my eyes are near shut from all the inflammation in my head. I have been wedding planning like a mad fool instead of sleeping. I went straight from my wedding and traveled to a work conference instead of relaxing and honeymooning. Yes, my choice to go to the conference and it was a good one, but not restful. Work stress is amped. The powers that be love stress and ensure there is a constant supply. I spent the one day I felt good, drinking irish whisky and beer. I must get well. I must go snowboarding before the season is over.
Everyone else is sick. Coworkers. Other knitters. Other spinners. Other bloggers.
I went back to bed after getting up to get ready for work and caught an actual 8 hour total of sleep. I really needed a mental health day. Got my nails done and had sushi for lunch. Would have loved to see the chiropractor but not enough time.
Take care of yourselves out there! I found out one of my team members has walking pneumonia. I knew something wasn't kosher, so did she. She was planning to have a work up done but then life got too busy. I feel badly that she would come into work so sick, since gfb you call in sick if you are sick where I work. You'd think that being in a medical center the powers that be wouldn't want you present with your fulminating cooties. Now we know her diagnosis it's no wonder she was dragging a** so much. And now I feel justified for calling out sick today to get 8 hours of sleep.
Current mood:  cranky
My fave mapmaker, Greg Brail, has updated his NYC Subway system map to include Googlemaps. You just click the spot where you start and where you want to go and it spits out the fastest subway route including walking time factored in.
I'm heading to FIT straight from work tomorrow. I thinking driving would be a pita, so I'm going to take the train. Drections for the directionally challenged, great stuff!
Walk for 9 minutes, 14 seconds to the Kingsbridge Rd station
Board the Four.
Fordham Rd (6 minutes, 4 seconds)
183 Street (1 minutes, 19 seconds)
Burnside Ave (1 minutes, 31 seconds)
E 176 St (1 minutes, 34 seconds)
Mt Eden Ave (1 minutes, 24 seconds)
E 170 St (1 minutes, 22 seconds)
E 167 St (1 minutes, 28 seconds)
E 161 St - Yankee Stadium (1 minutes, 46 seconds)
E 149 St - Grand Concourse (1 minutes, 54 seconds)
Transfer at E 149 St - Grand Concourse to the Two.
E 135 St (11 minutes, 1 seconds)
E 125 St (1 minutes, 39 seconds)
E 116 St (1 minutes, 34 seconds)
E 110 St - Central Park North (1 minutes, 12 seconds)
W 96 St (2 minutes, 30 seconds)
W 72 St (2 minutes, 34 seconds)
W 42 St - Times Square (3 minutes, 9 seconds)
W 34 St - Penn Station (1 minutes, 31 seconds)
Transfer at W 34 St - Penn Station to the One.
W 28 St (7 minutes, 16 seconds)
Get off at W 28 St.
Walk for 6 seconds to your destination.
Estimated time: 1 hours, 0 minutes, 8 seconds
Map data ©2007 TeleAtlas - Terms of Use
Current mood:  enthralled
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Amanda at Interweave Knits dropped me a line that she added my blog to the Soar Spinning Blogger Links.
How kewl is that!
On the local front, Rosane, webmistress of the Spinning Study Group of Long Island also contacted me about adding my blog to their member blogs blog roll.
I'm riding a tide of bloggerfic joy.
Current mood: touched
Today, March 20 is the vernal equinox. At precisely 8:07 P.M. EDT (March 21, 00:07 Universal Time), the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. For those curious for more on the specifics, the US Naval Observatory has an amazing webpage that summarizes the Systems of Time. The traditional time of new beginnings, this is the day that I make a Buzz Meyers Treasure Map.
This morning, when I was thinking of what images to use for my collage, I started bumming that I threw out all those Bridal and Wedding Planning magazines yesterday.
I could have used those, doh. Now I realize that using those magazines is exactly that, yesterday. There is a reason I tossed them. That part is over. Done. Whew.
The whole point of the Treasure map is to use the visual potency of imaging for your goals and aspirations for the coming year. Not what you already did.
Ok, so it took me a little while to make that connection.
I have a cold and I need more sleep. Basically I am sick and tired.
I started feeling sick the second day of the Systems Redesign Conference last Wednesday. Doing all that drinking on St.Patricks Day probably didn't help matters. By Monday morning, I had a cold. DH blew off going to his office, slept late and stayed in. I got up early and was still late for work, from attempting to chip my car out of the ice. I had a relatively chill day at work, but got the dates mixed up for Sn'B and powered into a second wind so I could drag a** to Starbucks. An hour and a half later, I headed home, checked my pc and saw the date is next Monday.
Once in my second wind, I couldn't sleep. I took this time to recheck the gauge of my second attempt at the Lotus Blossom Tank. I had done one pattern repeat but it didn't look like any real pattern jumping out at me. I hadn't changed to smaller needles after row nine. sigh. Pulled it all out and started again. Got to row nine around 1:30am and finally ready for bed.
Hit the snooze when I woke up. I never used to be a snooze person. I always disliked those snooze people. Doesn't it make more sense to set the alarm for later in the morning than earlier and having to hit the snooze? Now that I am a snoozer, I get that the plan is to actually get up at that earlier time but the sensation of near death encourages you to get that snooze on. I understand now that I have reached the point of sleep deprivation that snooze is required. It all makes sense. It took a while for me to work up to this snoozing behavior. It is all related to switching my work schedule.
Some of us are early morning people, Larks. Some of us are late night people, Owls.
I am an Owl.
Current mood: contemplative
Viki from Tribe.net has this to say about this week's eclipse
The upcoming solar eclipse will be on March 18, 2007 at 28 Pisces 07. This is conjunct the "Aries Point," (0 Aries) and the "shadow of the eclipse" will extend for three days afterward to encompass the Aries Ingress (Sun's entry into Aries, or the Spring Equinox).
I see this solar eclipse as the opportunity to really connect with universal principles and the Source (as it is a New Moon at a late degree of Pisces, the universal sign) and that we can carry this connection into the "energetic new year" when the Sun enters Aries. There are two Grand Fire Trines in the Aries Ingress chart, which means we will have a very active year, globally speaking, and this late Pisces eclipse allows us to make a new beginning with our personal and collective unconscious.
What are your thoughts and ideas? Is it aspecting any points or planets in your chart? (I would use a 2 degree orb maximum.)
Current mood: contemplative
Monday, March 19, 2007
Once I got control of the madness going on in the Fiber Vault™, I started up once again on the Lotus Blossom tank. This pretty number is from IW Summer 2006 issue. I had started it with a silk blend on the Amtrak to Old Sayebrook with one of the cones from the Silk City booty.
I thought the gauge was adequate. Wrong. Once cannot be too sure when it comes to gauge. To make things worse, I had gotten the work twisted on the circulars so that the bodice was being knit in a mobeius fashion. I have never done this before and I'm telling you, it was not good. When I pulled out the circs, it was all too evident that this item was twice the width as I am. So I pulled the whole thing out and retired the yarn for something else. The cone was labeled silk/wool, but from the way the yarn acted it seems like it is mixed in with a lot of cotton or something similarly stretchy that grows.
I'm going to join the LGT KAL. I figure there are a few useful pointers out there that it would help to know about. Since this gauge debacle, I have chosen another cone. This one is in a lovely taupe, a linen/wool blend. I am using size 3 needles instead of size 5. So far so good. I'll bring it to Sn'B tonight. It's fab not to be wedding planning anymore. Now I have more time to knit and spin!
Current mood: contemplative
In January I started up a Stitch and Bitch group along with a few other neato gals, to meet in the Riverdale/Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. We had our first meeting at the 225th St Starbucks in February and then met for a second time later that month at the Subversive Knitting art installation. I missed the earlier meeting this month, having gotten married the day before and I was hoping that my iced in car can be successfully dug out so I can attend this evening. Then I realized the meeting is next Monday not this one. But not before I actually headed over to Starbuck. Doh!
The Bronx & Westchester Meetup Group, Yarn Therapy, will also be present this eve
making bears for the Mother Bear Project. Combining the two groups is such a great idea. Thanks, Heather!
SSGLI, Spinning Study Group of Long Island, is meeting this Wednesday evening, yay! I am in charge of hospitality this month. I need to stop by the Stew Leonards and pick up so milk and snacks for the trip.
If anyone wants to head over to the Spinning Guild with me, drop me a line! I'll be driving over late Wednesday afternoon. 6:30-7:30 is Spinning Instruction and Social Hour. 7:30pm starts the General Meeting and Program.
Maria Hughes is going to be showing us how to get skeins ready for competition using a niddy noddy and tying off tips and tricks. Bring your spinning wheel, nostepinne, niddy noddy and hand cards. Also check out the latest edition of Spin Off about skeining for competition.
I'm looking forward to The Yarn Harlot's Shock the Muggles night at F.I.T. this Thursday. The Auditorium at the C building is pretty big, but I know knitters, there is no way that it is going to be big enough to house everyone that wants to attend. I'm working out where to grab a bite before/after with Delica, Alex and the F.I.T. crew but getting concerned about the size of the group descending up the hall. People are flying in to NYC for this event. Wowser.
Some of the Knitty gals from out of town who are heading in for the Yarlot have been asking which shops to hit up for a Yarn Crawl. I suggested they visit The Yarn Tree and Brooklyn General. Both are definitely worth a stop if you are from out of town and already in lower Manhattan. Erica B suggested starting at The Point, then to Purl, Downtown Yarns and ending at KnitNY this coming Sunday.
I'm tempted to join for the comeraderie rather than the yarn. I've spent so much time ( and $) at all of the Downtown shops on the the crawl list that unless I need something specific, there isn't much other reason to visit them.
Plus I lost my nut at Silk City the weekend I got married and brought home two black garbage bags full of cones, roughly about four and a half file boxes full. If come home with any more yarn, my DH is going to, he's going to, he's probably not going to do a dang thing, but I would feel guilty. I have absolutely achieved S.A.B.L.E. many times over. I spent much of yesterday afternoon organizing my fiber in the Fiber Vault™ . Good thing to since I have more coming! I need to get on spinning up some of it before it starts to take over the apartment.
The Essex County Spinners are meeting next on Sunday, April 1. Jackie, a member who works at at the Meadowlands Museum in Rutherford, has arranged for us to spin there from 2pm-5pm.
For those that asked, I did not make it to the last meeting as planned. This April will be my first meeting with this group. I got lost following heinous Yahoo Maps directions and ended up looping around for an hour. I did manage to find the Michael's store in Clifton. I was able to get the heart shaped wedding rice and organza bags, the Unity Candle Set and Candle holder, tent tags for the seating, as well as a bunch of other wedding and crafty items. Man, am I glad that wedding planning is over. Just one of the many benefits of actually being married.
Btw, Robin Russo is going to be in town in April. I hope that I can attend one or both of the courses she will be holding. I know there is a waitlist right now. Fingers crossed.
Current mood: happy
October 7-14
Shanty Creek Resort
Bellaire Michigan
Are you planning to go to SOAR?
Check out the list of mentors.
Don't you want these lovely ladies to share their know how with you?
I do.
Kathryn Alexander
Rudy Amann
Maggie Casey
Sharon Costello
Sara Lamb
Janel Laidman
Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Andrea Mielke
Carol Rhoades
Robin Russo
Joan Sheridan Hoover
Margaret Stove
See M save her pennies since she wants to go take two classes over a three day weekend in on Goat Fiber and Fiber Prep, a week of Spinning classes at MDSW and a week of classes in North Carolina for the Master Spinner Certification. Save, Save, Save, M, Save.
This Registration Timeline is from SOAR Blog.
Registration materials for SOAR 2007 are not yet finalized.
Visit www.interweavesoar.com in the next couple of weeks.
Read the full class list in the Spring issue of Spin-Off as well as online.
Registration will begin April 18, 2007.
Registrations can be postmarked, faxed, or submitted online up to and including April 24, 2007 to be included in the first-choice workshop selection. If we have more registrations for a workshop than available spaces, a lottery drawing for that session will be held from registrations received by April 24.
Registrations that are postmarked, faxed, or submitted online after April 24, 2007, will be confirmed on a space-available basis until September 26, 2007.
Confirmation of registrations will not begin until June 7, 2007. Confirmation of registration, detailed information about required equipment and supplies, lodging, any fees due, and other important information will be sent.
This year in conjunction with the Spinners' Market will be a Spinners' Clinic. It’s a place for manufacturers to share and demonstrate their equipment, for you to ask questions if you’re experiencing problems, some one-on-one time, and get hands-on with tools and other processes.
As always the market, as well as the clinic and gallery, are open and free to the public. So, even if you can't attend as a participant in a workshop or the retreat sessions, please feel free to stop by, shop, and enjoy the spinnerly frenzy.
Market Hours:
Thursday, October 11, 2007, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (note: the market will be open for participants only at 9, then open to the public at 10)
Friday, October 12, 2007, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 13, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Current mood: hopeful
Sunday, March 18, 2007
This exerpt on Wedding Day and Health is by nationally-known health journalist and founder of Hormonology, the hormone horoscope, Gabrielle Lichterman. I first met Gabrielle at a Turkish restaurant a couple of years ago. She had been invited to discuss her book, "28 Days: What Your Cycle Reveals about Your Love Life, Moods, and Potential" (Adams Media, May 2005). If you haven't read it, do. Doesn't matter if you are an XX or XY, you will learn something about behavioral patterns.
Brides-to-be usually consider a lot of factors when picking the perfect date for their wedding such as the season, reception hall availability and when their family can make it into town. "But there's an even more important factor women should consider when scheduling their nuptials - figuring out on which day of their menstrual cycle their wedding will fall," says Gabrielle "That's because a woman's hormones have a profound effect on everything that impacts her wedding - her mood, energy, confidence and even how in love she feels with her betrothed," says Lichterman. "When women know how their hormones make them feel every day, they know the best day of their cycle to pick for their big day."
Here's what Lichterman says are the perfect, and not so perfect, days of a woman's cycle to pick for her wedding:
Day 1 (first day of menstruation) to Day 4: Bottomed out days. If having to deal with cramps and discomfort from menstruation doesn't automatically rule out these days, then low estrogen and testosterone on these days might. That's because when these
hormones bottom out, so does coordination, memory and verbal ability, which could make the walk down the aisle and remembering vows so much trickier.
Day 5 to Day 13: The perfect days for a wedding. Rising estrogen and testosterone on these days make women energetic, confident, upbeat, graceful, eloquent and extroverted. Nothing can ruin their day. Even better? These hormones are also pumping up how ga-ga gals feel over their guy. No second thoughts or runaway brides on these days.
Ha! I got married within this time span. I won't tell you what day in my cycle; that qualifies as too much information.
Day 14 (ovulation in a typical cycle) to Day 22: Low energy days. Rising progesterone on these days can make women tired and sleepy. So they may not have the pep they need to make it through the long day of preparation, ceremony, photos, reception and cake feeding.
Right on the money. One Day 14, I was tired and feeling a little bummed. No way could it be wedding withdrawal since I was delighted to make room in our place by tossing out all the Bridal and Wedding planning magazines. Plus it was awesome to eat real food and not be worrying about every single morsel going in my mouth. I'm still eating a salad for lunch while at work. Great for keeping insulin levels stable.
By Day 15, I was looking for chocolate. I've read that this craving has to do with the B vitamin levels present in one's body and that the desire for chocolate can be regulated with exercise, the kind that gets rivulets of sweat rolling down you.
Day 23 to the end of your cycle: Bridezilla alert. Descending hormones make even little snafus seem like major disasters. Gals may want to spare themselves, and their groom, and skip these days altogether.
Current mood: contemplative Current music: Dust My Broom by Boozoo Bajou
I had way too many Irish Car Bombs and to help soak them all up, had a bit more Spaghettini Marinara. Just as I was bemoaning my full belly, I stumbled upon a fab receipe.
Steve M says Carbonara is a major aphrodisiac. I would have to agree that Italian food made well, is definitely the way to pave a road to a ladies, uh, heart.
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Here's the way he does it:
For two appetizer servings or one entree serving:
1/3 LB Spaghettini
2 TBS Butter
1/3 LB Pancetta or Guanciale cut into "matchsticks"
3 Egg Yolks
1/2 can Chicken Stock
1/3 LB grated Romano or Parmesan or a combo of the two
1 medium onion, sliced lengthwise not crosswise
Salt
Pepper
Saute onions and pork in butter 'til onions are translucent. Add ground pepper to taste. Pour stock into mixture, let it reduce by about 1/2. Start cooking spaghettini in abundantly salted water. Mix yolks, and cheese in a bowl. Add more pepper if desired. When spag is less than al dente, add into pork/onion/broth reduction. Mix until spag is al dente. Dump load into bowl of egg cheese mixture and stir/toss until eggs & cheese form a creamy sauce with the eggs well cooked by the hot pasta. Divide into bowls and serve. Dress with chopped flat leaf Italian parsley if desired.
Current music: Dust My Broom by Boozoo Bajou
Saturday, March 17, 2007
This email was the first to greet me this morning. Ok, DH was the first to greet me, but this was my first email of the day. Anyone who knows me knows how my PC and I are inseparable and that I absolutely must check my email regularly or it will spiral out of control.
"customercare@joann.com" to me 1:18 am (7 hours ago)
Greetings from Joann.com! You recently saw a product that interested you but was out of stock at Joann.com. Singer® 150 Adjustable Dressform - Small/Medium will not be restocked at Joann.com for some time, or it has been discontinued.
To find a Jo-Ann store near you, check the Store Locator:
http://www.joann.com/store_locator/locator_main.jhtml
If there is anything else we can help you with, please e-mail us at customercare @joann.com or call us at 800-525-4951 Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm EST.
Thank you and have a creative day!
Customer Care
customercare@joann.com
http://www.joann.com
Rats! I must have this form! 
Of course, I still want an Adjustable Dressform. What sewer would want a time-saving tool, allowing you to easily fit and hem garments, alter ready-to-wear garments and make pattern adjustments before cutting, set necklines, sleeves and collars easily.
Perfect for linings, hems or total construction - the adjustable body contours for a perfect fit.
Allows pattern adjusting before cutting 12 dials for adjusting body contours
Adjustable neck, bust, waist, hip Stand has handy hem gauge
Foambacked for easy pinning Durable, lightweight construction
Nothing like being told you can't have it to make you want it. The search was on.
 A little creative googleing and I found the Sew EZ model.
Exact Same as Singer Dress Form at lower cost
Affordable professional results
Perfect for dressmaking, tailoring, fashion design
Adjustments for precise measurements including
neck, bust, waist, hips and torso height
Adjustments can be made in precise increments
Adjustable working height
Extended shoulders for supporting and setting sleeves
Foam-backed for easy pinning
Rust resistant
Durable construction
Lightweight
Yeah, baby
Ebay to the rescue
Ebay is the Devil
I alternate between these two sentiments
Ha! My dressform is on its way to me
I should have it in a week.
I should mention that the Tailor sewing machine I purchased over the summer cr*pped out on me. I took it out to sew the lining into the bag I knit for Julie's birthday and the dang thing only ate up the fabric. $$$ for this hunk of junk. Argh.
I brought it over to the sewing machine repair angel near F.I.T. -$50 and a day later, I had it back.
I can't wait to try out this dressform and machine together.
Current mood: creative Current music: Pretty Little Head by Nellie McKay
Friday, March 16, 2007
 DH and I were blessed with a bright and shiny wedding day! We are so very fortunate. It was so sunny, I was wishing for my sunglasses! The weather leading up to and afterwards was/is pretty heinous. Snow, rain, sleet, frogs, locusts, you name it falling out of the sky. Temperatures in the negatives. Ground so frozen that the rain didn't soak in causing massive floods.
The day of the wedding? Clear skies. Calm waters. Moderate March winds. Beauoootiful.
I love the city skyline behind the big sloping bridge. The venue was super close by so we had just enough time to get these outdoor shots before heading over for the pre-game rehersal.
The ceremony followed by the cocktail hour was up on the penthouse, with soaring views of the city.
DH and I had a few moments to have pictures taken during sunset at the penthouse pavillion just after the ceremony. Really looking forward to seeing those. The photographer liked them. Such a bonus to have digital film. You already know the shots will come out with no surprises.
 We were married by a Rabbi, a Priest and a Wiccan Minister. Sounds like the beginning of a politically incorrect joke, right? Heh. It took months for me to script a Filipino, Catholic, Jewish, Wiccan wedding ceremony. Our celebrants wove this seamlessly together with beauty. I lost count on how many compliments we received for our spiritual and unique ritual.
Our Chuppah was such a lovely reflective representation of us. Constructed of flowing organza, nature's greenery spilling down from ontop and springing up from the base of each post with Elemental Quarter Candles for the Cardinal Directions: Yellow for East, Element of Air; Red for South, Element of Fire; Blue for West, Element of Water; Green for the North, Element of Earth. The Wiccan gal priestessing/conducting the Handfasting is covenmate of mine, as well as an Interfaith Minister. Rabbi and Priest rounded out the celebrants. Lovely!
DH eyes were welling during vows as were mine. Our Best Man handed us the rings at the right moment and the Rabbi and Priest shared speaking the Seven Blessings. DH trod upon the glass at ceremony's end with a smash. Mazel Tov!
Kudos to Rob Kuhar who ensured the astrological timing perfection by synching his watch with the atomic world clock for me.
 The party was a resounding success; the band, phenomenal. We booked Charles St.Paul, a 10 piece band with brass horn section. Worth every penny.
Dancing with my Father was delightfully perfect moment, forever etched in my mind. He is the BEST dancer. Dad had a great time twirling me about. You can see from the picture how much I resemble him and how much we were enjoying dancing together.
He chose the syrupy sweet standard, "Daddy's Litte Girl" for us to dance to. I thought I was going to lose it and cry my eyes out, but was having so much fun cutting the rug, I found myself all smiles instead.
 Everyone was up on their feet for the Hora. The Filipino relatives were hand in hand with the Jewish relatives, hand in hand with my covenmates, hand in hand with old college buddies, hand in hand with shore house/club kid crew from back in the day, as well as assorted spouses and significant others. So festive and fun.
I recommend dancing the Hora even if no one in your wedding is Jewish!
I had never actually done this dance before and thought it woud be difficult. It was not. Actually, it was a total blast!
In case you are curious, there is a correct way to dance the Hora. My best advice is try not to get too dizzy during the dancing.
STEP 1: Stand in a circle holding the hands of the people on either side of you.
STEP 2: When the music starts, follow the circle as it rotates.
STEP 3: Step to the side, passing your left foot behind your right.
STEP 4: Move the right foot beside the left foot.
STEP 5: Step to the side again, passing your left foot in front of your right this time.
STEP 6: Continue as the circle keeps spinning, adding a little hop to your steps as you go faster.
STEP 7: Move toward the center of the circle and throw your hands, still holding those of the people beside you, in the air.
STEP 8: Lower your hands and move backward.
STEP 9: Repeat several times.
STEP 10: Resume spinning around the circle.
 Big ups to both Mom and Dad for holding onto the chairs so bravely and tossing their hands to whoop it up while the guy guests held them aloft. Good thing they don't weigh very much!
After a 15 months of planning, it was a proud moment to be able to see everyone enjoying themselves so much and letting us know how wonderful they thought everything was. I think one of the major reasons for a couple getting married is to see if they can pass this first test of spending the downpayment to a two million dollar home on a party instead, and to make that party the most gorgeous, spiritual and memorable one they know of. I'm happy DH and I were able to throw the quintessential NYC wedding celebration both our families are proud of.
I can't wait to get the professional pictures back from the entire day. The quick snapshots from friends and family came out wonderfully and I'm tickled to have them to post right now.
You can see twilight only just coming upon us at the party by the time we all got to dancing. It was glorious to see the twinkling lights of the city blink into brightness as the sun began setting.
Current mood: thankful Current music: Chakra Suite by Steven Halpern
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