Disjointed

I have a huge amount to talk about. Days go by and I keep collecting things to write and then days go by....
So here's Ryan riding the zamboni at the Michigan game on Saturday night. I wasn't there cause I was having a fantastic time with the spinninguru instead.
He wasn't even afraid! So cute.
But here's what I did on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That's PatsyZ with Cindy. I forget what they're talking about but I'm sure it was highly informative and spinning life changing because that's what the weekend was for me.
Here's a really dark picture of some enthralled students. (Michelle, Tanya, and Amanda). I think we all looked like that a lot of the time. Isn't Amanda's wheel cute in green?
We did all sorts of yarns and talked and talked about sampling and the importance of it to the outcome of a project.
This is Patsy modeling her beautiful crocheted jacket/shawl/poncho/veil. It's handspun from pygora.
Here we are hard at work.... Look at that wall of beautiful color!
A little Camel beard anyone?
And here they are on Sunday morning before the ride to the airport. Fun with blocks.
My best Navajo Plying EVER!!!!!!!!
These are Maggie's samples from the second half of Saturday's class. It still had a couple of spots left and I told Maggie she could come and Patsy was kind enough to allow it. From left to right she's got yak, cashmere, buffalo, camel blended with pink wool, and two colors of angora that she carded herself. I am so proud of her.

Overall it was fantastic and tiring and gave me lots and lots of new stuff to mull and think and study about. I don't have a photo of my samples other than the Navajo one but if you're interested I'll post them in the next couple of days.
In other news...the Tabachek spindles and tools are in. They are fab and I want them all for myself. In the above picture the spindles in the back are Tibetan style and spin forever. They are beautiful and I want that purpleheart one.
The ones in the front are the Russian ones. So well balanced and lovely. Not at all polished so you can get a hold of it and give it a good flick. They also spin fast and long. I'm working on getting everything to work together. At the moment I have the steps broken down and I draft and spin separately.
Just two of the high whorl spindles. Again, all are well balanced and the wood is beautiful. I didn't keep one because my favorite went out the door the first day:-( Better for the shop budget though.)
Orifice hooks and WPI gauges.
Sample Niddies. I also got some of the 5 foot niddies in the bags. I may have to have one of those, too:-)
Ann Grout support spindles also showed up last week. Six turnips and six acorns. I own an acorn and love the thing. It's very light and can spin the finest of froghairs. The Turnips are still witing for me to choose one. I don't know. The red one is beautiful but there were a couple I liked better for the spin but the color wasn't my favorite and now I'm down by two of them anyway. I'd better place another order immediately.
Beauty shot of the turnips.
And the acorns.
And Valentine's day came and I got the traditional large Godiva heart. This ear it is made of suede and silk ribon and satin. Beautiful. I get this every year for the last 5 or 6 years. I keep the hearts and get them all out a t Valentine's day to put stuff in.
I can make one of these babies last for up to 6 weeks and I think for the next little while we will have a picture of the chocolate of the day.

I didn't eat one today and yesterday was the first one I had so there is only one missing - white chocolate ganache. I won't have one today because tomorrow is my birthday and tonight we went to Gauchos to celebrate and I ate way too much plus had the chocolate lava cake. mmmm

So tomorrow night is my birthday party at the shop so if you are nearby please stop in and have some cake and tea and chocolate.
See you tomorrow.