In which I talk about whatever comes to mind.

I will start this post with something sad. Remember the great sock debate? I started this sock on two circulars using Briar Rose Grandma's Blessing. As you can see I've made good progress. Then yesterday i decided to try it on....too tight to get it over my wide foot. Maybe Brittney. She has cute slim feet. Too tight. Alright, Maggie. Again too tight.

Another one bites the dust.

So I decided that perhaps I should try the other sock I was working on with the Skacel Nickel double points. Too tight.

I'm not sure that socks are for me.
Brittney's back from her semester in London. Here she is teaching lame gang signs to her baby brother. What a good sister.
The UPS guy came on Friday.
2 Ladybugs and a Matchless thankyouverymuch! I also got a Sonata in clear finish. The collection was back to normal - 18 wheels on the floor - that is until Desiree came for a visit. I'm down to 1 Ladybug. Cindy will come on Monday for the other one. I'm hoping for a couple more Ladybugs in May. You can be sure I will be on the phone early Monday morning harassing the Schacht people for my next shipment.

Oh yeah, I was supposed to talk about my trip to the Schacht factory. It is a fabulous place. Fiber tools all around to touch and try and the quality and attention to detail is obvious. I kind of knew it by the way the wheels are packaged when i get a delivery but...every detail is looked at during the process.

I will tell you that I saw the loom room and looked and ooohed and aaahed but my main focus was the wheel area. I had a lot of questions about assembly on my end and how to address certain issues and they were all answered patiently - well, with the outward appearance of patience. My mother was not so patient.

The flyers are tested for balance. If they aren't balanced they don't go out. Each and every wheel is assembled and spun on by Jane Patrick before shipping to make sure it's all good.
When I was there there was a bobbin issue. There is a wide hole drilled halfway through the bobbin end where the bobbin core sits. Then there is a smaller hole drilled all the way through the bobbin end. Now this is where I was so impressed. There was a cart full of bobbin ends. Hundreds of them. Waiting to be donated to a children's program in the area. The one hole was offset by 8 hundredths of one inch. This was due to an equipment failure. These bobbins, if finished and sent out would cause a tiny wobble on the flyer. They were all dumped.
The majority of us would never have noticed the wobble. I touched it while it was spinning on a flyer and it was barely perceptible. But no.
These wheels are quality from beginning to end.

While we were there and I was asking questions the kids were at the Ladybug area helping to assemble a Ladybug. They loved it.

When our tour was through we went to the show room where they had a wheel set up for Maggie.



Isn't she cute? She also showed us her park and draft spindling technique on a Schacht Hi-Lo Spindle.



I think that's a great how to video right there for new spindlers. Tell your friends:-)
Shelly Lampshire was in the shop today teaching a needle felting class. I have 3 finished objects to show you. Above is LeeAnne's dog.
This is Vicky's cat.
And Gloria's bunny. There were more but I was lame with the camera.
K. off to work on the shopping cart cause May 1st is the target!