Reeling

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It all happened so fast.  That’s all I can say about the road trip that Rachel and I took to SOAR- what happened when we went, and how we got back.  It was like being hit by a fiber train.  When so much happens in a few days, I decided that photoessay was the only way to go.  I seem to have had a bit of a case of camnesia (forgetting to take pictures) but still..here’s what’s on my camera(s).

We started the trip with a pit stop at Lorna’s Laces in Chicago, and not only did they let us have a good poke around the dye studio, Beth let us have a little fun watching how they dye, and even let RachelH have stab at dying her own yarn. 

Amanda (yarnmanager extraordinaire) took a picture of me while I took a picture of her.   (If you squint in the background you can see the pizza and beer that they had. (The leftovers are thoughtfully documented on their blog.)   Pizza, beer, fun folks and yarn?  Pretty perfect afternoon.)

That smile says "Best buffet ever!" 

We left reluctantly and drove on to Wisconsin, and the resort was on a pretty, pretty lake that put on a fine sunrise complete with mist drifting across the water and ducks that thoughtfully arranged themselves for the shot.

The first morning I had a class with Margaret Stove.  I’m entirely in love with her, and she specializes in spinning fine, fine yarns.  We worked on spinning, she passed around some of here incredible work…

and I spun… by Margaret Stove standards…

A bulky weight yarn.  That’s a penny for scale. Compared to how Margaret spins I’m a total hack. She has you check your singles under a MICROSCOPE to see how you’re doing. I was pretty impressed with myself until that moment, but it’s still the best I’ve ever managed.  It’s under-plied, but considering that I could hardly see it while I was working I like it anyway. 

In the afternoon I took a class on spinning fine fibres with a takli spindle.  (It’s a supported spindle, hence the spoon. That’s what we were using for support, and it was brilliant.)  Takli’s are traditionally used for cotton, and that’s what the white on the spindle is.  (The blue is wool. Ignore it.) I’ve never managed anything that didn’t look like a hot mess with a supported spindle before -so I was totally thrilled.  I credit the success to the teacher, Stephenie Gaustad, who’s just about as cool as they come.  

That’s Stephenie, who’d crawled under the table chasing some students.  I love her – but don’t tell her.  It will only go to her head.

This here is just a random photo from hanging out in the evenings.  One of the loveliest parts of SOAR is the time spent with great spinning friends I only see once a year, and watching the informal spinner-to-spinner teaching that goes on.  This is Phreadde, who has a crazy way with wheels, seen here working her diagnostic magic.  This snap sums up Phreadde for me.

Oh, how I wish I’d gotten this knitters name- she was a brilliant test knitter for Margaret Stove, and that’s the test knit of a shawl from Margaret’s book. (I bought her book Wrapped in Lace: Knitted Heirloom Designs from Around the World while I was there. It’s absolutely fabulous and beyond inspiring, though  the thought of handspinning enough gossamer two ply to make this makes me feel awfully dizzy – that sample is knit from Margaret’s commercial yarn, but in the class she suggested with a straight face that it would be an absolutely normal undertaking to spin your own.  (I swear the world got black around the edges when she said it. There was a collective and involuntary gasp.)

Saturday I took a class from the rather incredible Deb Menz, whom I have long worshipped. (I can’t stress enough how much I tried to keep that a secret in the class so that we could have a shot at a somewhat normal relationship.)   The class was about using wool combs and a hackle for blending colour, and there was a lot of colour.  We chose a base colour we loved, then added six (out of more than a hundred choices) to cool it, intensify it, change it’s hue.. saturation…  Her book Color in Spinning has long been a favourite of mine- and it was pretty glorious to put all that I’d read (and so much more) into practice. 

Hackles and combs are the scariest fibre tools there are- to my way of thinking, so much so that when Deb asked "any questions?" All I asked was what how badly students had been injured in the past.   (Nothing more than a bandaid and a tetanus update, happily.  I was thrilled not to break her run.)

We blended on the combs, then the hackle, then used a diz to pull the fibre off of the hackle into top that’s so lovely it takes my breath away. It’s exactly me, and the incredible thing was that I was profoundly skeptical the whole time.  The colours she had me combine were so crazy pants that I only went along because she’s sort of firm, and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. 
When we’d pulled what we could off the combs/hackles, Deb had us toss our "waste" (what was left in the combs) into a drum carder and make a batt… 

and I’m pretty much in love whith that too – which (may I re-iterate) is also crazypants. There’s any number of unlikely colours in there- red, purple, a revolting neon gree
n.. Deb’s brain is an odd, brilliant and brightly coloured place to spend and afternoon, and I loved it.

I wish I had more pictures.  Pictures that would show you the feelings that there are at SOAR, that wonderful feeling you get when everyone thinks that these things are normal and interesting. The feeling you get when everyone wants desperately to have a conversation about the crimp in your fleece – when everyone is toting a wheel or has roving stuck to their arse – but I don’t, and I’m not sure you can take a picture of that anyway.  I can’t wait until next year.

Denny, RachelH and I made our way home yesterday in a rather epic drive from Wisconsin to Toronto – and I was home just before midnight, and just in time to wish Joe a Happy Birthday.

Today my charming husband is 42 years young, and I love him more with every day he’s here.  Our family has had a difficult and challenging year,  and while I’ve always seen his many charms, watching him rise to every occasion with kindness, humour, grace and patience has only driven my opinion of him to the highest possible place.  Also…

He’s pretty cute.  Happy Birthday Joe. You’re a wonderful husband, friend and father.  I love you.

155 thoughts on “Reeling”

  2. Sounds like you had a wonderful time and good, no grea,t husbands are a true find.
    Happy Birthday to yours!

  3. Happy birthday, Joe. Thank you so much for letting us spend so much time with your lovely wife and family.

  4. Happy Birthday Joe. I wish you had an older brother just like you for me. You are amazing.

  5. Thanks for a wonderful report. I wish someday I’ll be able to make it SOAR. And Happy Birthday to the amazing Mr Harlot 🙂

  6. Thank you for sharing what looks to have been an amazing time. The colors alone would have put me into sensory overload. Happy Birthday to Joe and many mooore…

  10. Thank you for the wonderful pics of SOAR. Thank you for being at SOAR the very first time I was at SOAR and letting me kinnear you and talk about lactation with you at the fashion show. (I won’t try to explain that one.) Thank you for being inspiring and being inspired by others. Thank you for the hunky pictures of your hunky Joe. Thank you!

  11. I don’t even spin, and it sounds like a fabulous weekend. I think your photo essay captured the feelings perfectly. And Happy Birthday to Joe. Thanks for sharing it with us.

  12. Wish Mr. Harlot a Happy Birthday from me.
    First of all any man who willingly lives with a woman who knits is one hell of a good man. Not all men would tolerate a linen closet full of yarn, among other places stashed with yarn…
    I am also married to one of the good ones, and I am grateful I have him everyday.

  13. What an awesome looking retreat! If only I were a spinner (some day, I’m sure, but just beginning to learn some of the many, many things I want to know about knitting.) I could hop, skip, and jump from Minnesota, and then go hide in the family hidey hole in Wisconsin to continue fiber love. And if I didn’t freak you out with MY admiration of YOU, you guys would be more than welcome! 🙂
    And happy birthday to your husband!!

  16. Happy Birthday Joe!
    Just the thought of knitting a gossamer lace shawl gives me the heebie jeebies, let alone spinning a lace that fine. It’s stunning!

  18. Happy Birthday to Joe!
    I see what you mean about the collective gasp for spinning all the yarn in that amazing shawl. There was a collective gasp at my desk just now thinking of only KNITTING said shawl.
    Thanks for sharing your adventures! Always a treat to stop by your blog. 🙂

  19. Happy birthday to the lucky fellow. Glad you got home in time. He looks very happy.
    Sounds like SOAR was glorious. Makes me want to learn to spin just so I can go… on the other hand, there are so many knitting events I haven’t been to yet. Probably shouldn’t make the list any longer.
    But all that color…

  20. Thank you for allowing me to relive my SOAR 2008 experiences, complete with Phreadde teaching me to spindle spin cotton and Dan to swig swill! I’m on a mission to convince Amy to have SOAR in North Carolina again and am going on a recon mission this week to ensure that the vegetarian fare has improved since the last time it was held there.
    As soon as I saw that roving, I knew it’d be perfect for you. 70s appliance colors!!! :o)

  23. The spinner/knitter for Margaret Stove is Sue Cathey from Idaho, which is my neck of the woods. We love having her in our neighborhood as she is a fount of lace wisdom and teaches classes too! She also snags all the Grand Prize ribbons at the fair, darn it.
    Stephenie G. also taught me to spin on a takli spindle at SOAR and I love her for it. It was a definite Ah Ha moment!

  24. Wow, what a trip. The class descriptions didn’t sound that terrific to me but hearing your experiences make me wish I’d gone. I love the color study. That sounds wonderful.
    Love the lace spinning. Such a challenge but so worth it!

  26. While I can’t comment on the rest of it because I’ve never met him, I’ll have to agree with you on the pretty cute part. Great smile. Happy Birthday Joe.

  27. Happy birthday, Joe! Here’s hoping next year is as good as this one wasn’t. (I’m currently still at work but you can rest assured that after quitting time, a beer shall be raised and drunk in your honor. Stephanie writes so glowingly of you that I may have two. Or six.)

  30. Happy birthday, Joe!
    Steph, don’t lure me into spinning. There aren’t enough hours in a week for knitting, as is. If I were to start making my own yarn, when would I knit? When would I bake? When would I tend my garden? Especially now, when I’m looking at starting a (non-knitting-related) business?

  32. Wait. There isn’t a single photo of Rams. She was there, right? Or should I be 1/3 less jealous?
    (And happiest of birthdays to you, Joe! I’m still doing my best to get that sweater happening for you.)

  33. The thing I’m always most worried about with those combs is dropping it on my toes! They’re awkwardly heavy.

  35. Oh, Margaret’s fantastic! Years ago she was doing an art degree at uni, and some of the art students started a knitting group, and I went along. She was always there, and always so patient and lovely – and of course, always knitting some stunning baby shawl at a tiny gauge while the rest of us were doing our beginner knits!

  37. Stephanie, What an incredible weekend, start to finish. Lucky, lucky woman! (Does Joe have – much – older brother?)

  38. So jealous of your trip in general, but most especially of the trip to Lorna’s as I live mere blocks from there and have been DYING to get on a tour. Keep missing my chance through various knitting groups, but I’ll get there soon. Looks like you had a GREAT time.

  39. Happy Birthday to Joe! I don’t spin, but it sounds like a great event anyway. The lace shawl is to die for. Your dyed fibre is, um, interesting. Can’t envision turning it into yarn and doesn’t seem to be your pallet at all. It will be interesting to see what you do with it eventually. In any case, glad you had a wonderful time and made it home to celebrate with your dear husband.
    P.S. The new sock yarn you started with the other day was tres grand and I was devastated to see it was a rare gem. Darn! I think the end product will be magnificent.

  41. The yarn and fiber look fabulous and the birthday boy looks happy — what more could one ask for?

  45. Next year I really just have to take the vacation days, save my money, and go to SOAR…
    Say happy birthday to Joe from all of us in the knitosphere!
    – Heather

  46. Steph it was a blast to see you again. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who could not see their yarn while spinning in Margaret’s class. I really wasn’t trying to kill anyone with the cordials! Happy belated Birthday to Joe 😀

  49. Happy Birthday, Joe, and many more. May you live long and prosper (I’m not really a Trekkie but it sounds right).

  52. Hey, it’s my mom’s birthday too! I took my kids all the way here to celebrate (600 miles). She’s 65 years young…Happy Birthday Joe!!

  55. Sounds like you had a great time–I’m so jealous. Puppy is now a year old, but he’s still too hyper for me to have much of any time to play with fiber. Some day….
    And happy birthday to Joe, Husband Extraordinare (we know that because Steph tells us so– repeatedly, of course)!

  56. happy birthday joe!!
    stephanie you are always super fun to play with! stop by any time. you know i am always good for a beer.

  58. one of these days i will be able to go to SOAR…sigh
    it sounds absolutely fantastic, in all senses of the word

  60. What makes me gasp at Joe’s birthday is knowing that he is 1 year younger than my husband, you have three mostly grown daughters and we have yet to even get started having a family. You guys did it the right way – young. You get to have a whole other life without kids.

  61. Happy Birthday Joe! I am with Presbytera routing for that sweater. Stephanie looks like you had a fun!

  62. Happy birthday Joe! I love the pictures. I believe that “crazy pants” sums up your colour choices brilliantly but I would love to see it knit up. I bet it will be amazing!

  64. Happy Birthday, Joe!
    And you have curly hair just like Stephanie. So who started that? Did Stephanie’s hair rub off onto you or did you give it to her?
    Stephanie, I am glad you had as great a time at SOAR as I did. It did go rather fast, didn’t it?

  66. Glad to see you had an awsome time at SOAR! Happy Birthday to your charming Joe, and many happy returns! ^_^

  68. SOAR sounds fabulous! Thank you for sharing some of what you learned.
    Happy Birthday Joe!

  69. SOAR! Oh, I am so envious. Sounds like wonderful classes and experiences. Oh, where is it next year? When is my next sabbatical? I’ll take it in the fall. Happy Birthday, Joe!

  70. Happy birthday Joe. I am so glad your significant other got there to wish it to you. YH it is so neat to see you so enthralled with the people you were with at SOAR. That is how we feel about you. You are our inspiration and our driving force. I appreciate all your writing and I am thrilled to have you explain to other people how our brains function. But it was neat seeing you the same way with the people you are with. Bless you for your ability.

  71. when i got to the end of the post, i just had to scroll back to stare and stare at that lace baby bonnet. then scroll down again to see the heritage lace shawl that made me gasp deeply the first time! wow…
    is it ever too late to learn spinning? and where does one do such a thing if one lives neither in the city nor on a farm???

  72. it’s nice to hear you geeking out. it’s that vintage stephanie tone that makes it seem like you’re just another regular knitter like me.
    did i mention i’m jealous?

  73. Oh my – what a trip! And you are right, he’s a pretty cute guy 🙂
    Of course, he’d look a lot better in that gansey.

  75. That’s pretty precious to have such a high and nice opinion of your Man!!
    It’s reflected in his looking at youl

  76. The last bit’s the best, words and picture. Nice spinning, but Joe’s the real prize. Happy birthday to a much loved man. You’re a lucky Harlot.

  78. Happy Birthday, Joe!
    So glad you got there in time to start the celebration!
    (Isn’t it amazing that the longer you are together, the more love you feel? There’s no maxing out. You are blessed.)
    Glad you didn’t get blown away while you were here in Michigan! Loved yesterday’s sky picture.

  79. Happy Birthday Joe, Thank you, ever so much for the time with your lovely wife 😀
    Soar sounds like a blast, wish I could have gone, maybe someday I will be able to. 🙂

  80. My birthday wishes for Joe, too!
    I got to go to SOAR in 92, and it was more fun than I’d ever had with or without my adored hubby, and I really felt guilty about that! (And totally enjoyed myself in spite of it! 🙂
    The memories still give me a warm feeling!

  83. SOAR looks awesome; I hope to go someday!
    Also, I love the way you love your family. It is an attitude to admire and emulate. Happy birthday to Joe!

  84. Happy birthday, Joe!!!!! He shares a birthday with my wonderful husband who just got finished sitting through his birthday dinner as I talked about you calling knitting a sport in your “…Casts Off” book, and he nodded so thoughtfully and seemed to agree in every way. ^_^

  85. Happy Birthday Joe! May the coming year be full of fun, happiness, joy, and whatever put that devilish glint in your eye when the photo was taken!

  86. Happy Birthday, Joe!
    What a great weekend you had and, you’re right, the feeling we get from spending time with our friends & fiber is priceless and totally hard to describe to someone else!

  92. Happy Birthday, Mr Harlot. Hope you find out the answer to “Life, the universe and Everything” this year. (Hint: it has somthing to do with Knitting…)

  93. A very happy birthday to Joe from the Netherlands as well! Thank you for the pictures from SOAR. I was just given a spinning wheel from the seventies and am gearing up to bury my house not only in bought wool, but also self-spun fiber! Bring it on 🙂

  94. Holy cow, I *love* that fiber you made (mixed? combed? why can I never figure out the right terminology?) I might have to go to the next SOAR just for that one class. (Not that I need any more hobbies, but…)
    And happy birthday to Joe indeed! I’m so glad you’ve got someone to help you through all the crazy that the world (and, I’m sure, in no small part this blog) throws at you.

  95. Happy Birthday Joe. Thanks for the pictures from SOAR, I wish I do not live so far away but maybe someday I will go too.

  96. Oooh, you had a class with Margaret Stove? She goes to the same knitting group that I do. We have been missing her on Thursdays & wondering how she was getting on in USA, so send her back this way, won’t you?
    I haven’t seen her new book in its finished state yet, but did get to have a look through the mock-up before it was published. She has some lovely patterns & amazing spinning. She is always so helpful when people come to the group with knitting problems. She looked at some merino I hesitantly showed her & said well done, but yeah it was pretty bulky by her standards!!

  97. It sounds as if you had a wonderful trip. That Shetland shawl made me gasp with envy – I love it! And I wish I could spin. And you have a super husband who is yarn-tolerant, too – mine is, but then , I tolerate all the plastic model aircraft! I think we have two in a million, between us. Happy Birthday, Joe!

  98. Happy Birthday Joe! Birthdays are so much fun and I’m always truly grateful for everyone I have! I don’t understand why so many people have such a hard time appreciating their birthdays because having another birthday definitely beats the alternative!!!
    I’m so glad you had a great time at the SOAR retreat. I wish I had been able to go again. Alas, this year I just couldn’t swing the money to be able to go. Bummer because SOAR is so much fun and it’s so neat to be around so many talented fiber junkies. I too have a serious fiber hero thing for Deb Menz. She’s so knowledgeable and talented. I also have a fiber hero thing for Judith too, but then again who doesn’t LOL! Well, maybe next year or the year after I can make it. I can’t wait to see Margaret Stoves new book. Lace knitting and I don’t get along all that well but I love spinning fine yarn. I’ve never checked it out under a microscope though. I’m glad you had such a good time. Happy spinning!

  99. i am a beginner knitter – i’ve been knitting for a few years, but am usually very scared to do anything more complex than a scarf (things are slowly changing now). anyway, it was with some amusement when i read that you, the woman i admire and am totally in awe of, can be in awe of someone else’s skill!
    happy birthday to joe!!
    l
    x

  100. Happy Birthday to the big fella! For a minute there, I thought that final shot was Joe modelling the you-know-what…
    Glad you made it to SOAR this time Stephanie, even though I’m not a spinner, I’m jealous!

  101. Happy birthday to Joe!
    And could you please, like, commercially produce that green fiber batt in relevant quantities? That is SO my colour (too).
    The lace scarf is amazing. I think I would be afraid to wear it though, it looks so incredibly delicate.

  102. I’m eagerly awaiting the day we will see your beautiful top and batt turn into yarn.
    I just received Deb Menz’s book in the mail and haven’t even gotten past the photos (much) – it’s amazing and overwhelming what she does. I hadn’t ever really thought about depth and complexity of color in yarn and fabric. [Mainly I was looking for advice on how to spin up my already-dyed top, and I’m not sure I’ve solved that problem yet.]
    So I’m doubly intrigued to find out what your final product looks like – one day!

  103. SOAR is impossible to describe. You did a good job. Love that shot of Phreadde. Happy birthday to Joe. You are lucky to have a good one.

  105. Dam, that’s one fine-looking fella! You are so lucky (& blessed) to have him as your partner on this long strange trip. I like it that the universe works out that way, you know? So a vary Happy Belated Birthday to Joe the Wonder Hubby! Nice fiber, pretty pictures, would you stop tempting me into spinning please? My tiny house would burst at the seams if I tried to move in a wheel & unspun fiber stash. I’d likely have to give up knitting — nah, that can’t happen!

  108. Lucky you–lucky Joe!! You two are quite a pair. Imagaine the Destiny that brought you to each other!! Happy, happy birthday Joe!!

  109. it has been said before in the comments, but: Awwwww! How sweet are the last sentences of your post! Happy Birthday to Joe!

  112. I got to hear Maggie Casey’s re-telling of SOAR last night and had many sighs during the vicarious living. Sounds like a great time! Happy birthday to Joe ….

  113. I could be jealous, but I’m not . . . I have a Joe too–born on All Saints Day–and he’s also my saint. Happy Birthday to Big Daddy (GrandpaTutu) and to Joe! I am jealous, though, about SOAR. It’s on my bucket list for sure–you make me want to go even more with your great description. xoxo

  116. Dude, you got great classes! That is awesome! Re Deb Menz, I have that book too, and I love the color blends in it. Working my way up to color blending and all, but I think I’d prefer to do it in a drum carder instead of the hackles.
    Coolness about Joe’s birthday. Nice guy!

  117. I have no idea what you just said. A hackle? A diz? A supported spindles? Ah well, as I say to my husband when he goes all engineery on me….”Yes dear”.
    Happy birthday Joe!

  118. OMG that lace shawl is phenominal!!! I don’t own anything I could wear it with, but if I spin it (HA HA) and knit it I would find the right clothes. I am so happy to know there are at least two wonderful husbands in this world. Mine is just fantastic and each day just gets better.I have to make it to SOAR when it is closer to New England. If I don’t have to pay for a flight I can spend more on fiber and classes.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!

  119. The Happiest of Birthdays to Joe!!!
    Cheers to a wonderful husband and father!!!
    Glad you are back home Stephanie…I was beginning to pout without you.
    on another note…so that’s what a ‘hackle’ looks like!!! Golly!!!!

  120. Happy Birthday to Joe! Thanks for giving me a head’s up on what I can expect in the workshop I’m going to at The Gathering this weekend. I’m taking Deb’s workshop, too, and will be meeting her for the first time. Still trying to find my combs, but I know they’re here somewhere!

  121. Love those batts as well. Do keep us posted on how they come out when you spin them. Love the neon especially!!
    Happy Birthday Joe!!

  122. Happy birthday, Joe!
    As soon as I finish writing this comment I am going on the corporate HR site to put in for vacation during next year’s SOAR.

  125. Am I the only one that said “what the hell is a hackle?” 🙂 NOW I know. A big arse comb thing that’s mounted to the table. Very, very cool. Thanks for the inspiration to go cruising about the innernets looking for new ways to combine fiber!
    Happy Birthday Joe!

  127. Love Lorna’s Laces! I recently visited the studio during the Art Walk and picked up some “mill ends”. Beautiful yarn.

  128. Today is Nov 1st. What was the outcome of furnace wars? I have looked over the last ten entries of your blog but don’t see any sign that someone caved.

  130. OMG… you were at Lorna’s? That’s like BLOCKS from my apartment! Next year you can stay with me… 🙂 I was at their mill ends sale during the neighborhood art walk and made the most awesome-est hat with Zombie BBQ! I’ve never been more in love with a color way… it’s SO pretty!

  131. SOAR looks super great. Maybe next year….. Happy Birthday Joe. We all like him too as we’ve gotten to hear about his escapades through your stories. Sounds like your year is evening out which is what we all hope for as life goes on…..

  133. Happy birthday plus one, Joe!
    We’ve missed you, Rams….and Presbytera, do you hear that faint chant from afar? (gansey, gansey, gansey, gansey, gansey, gansey, gansey)
    Vintage Stephanie; great as always. Thanks!

  135. Sorry we missed seeing you at SOAR. Adrienne and I (and friend) did an in and out Thursday session of spindle spinning with Maggie Casey. Her mentioning that she wasn’t getting much sleep because she and her roommate (Judith!!!) were talking into the wee hours was incredible!
    I went on Wednesday night and got to see all of the Workshop show and tell. It was awesome!
    The best part of SOAR? They didn’t look at me funny when I walked up to Deb Menz’s group and asked what a hackle was. There were people in the class that didn’t know before they got there. Everyone is super supportive and helpful!

  136. It sounds wonderful! One of these days I hope to go to knitting group again, let alone something like this.
    Also, my 11 month old baby just saw the pic of Joe. She grinned and said,”Dad!” She thinks every man with a beard and glasses is her dad. LOL

  138. Thanks for the great update and what a great time you had at SOAR. I hope I get to go someday. That would be such a thrill. I love the pictures of what all you did and the beautiful shawl. Please tell you hubby Happy Birthday from me as well as all the hundreds that have already!! Take Care and enjoy your blog.

  139. Behind every great woman is an equally great man. Happy Birthday Joe.
    Mine is 52, I think, not sure ’cause I keep changing the math to make us both younger.
    SOAR (please tell me what it means) looks like great fun, and I find it beneficial to go “away” to workshops. I really get so much more out of them when I’m not thinking about household chores.

  140. I love how Chicago is “on the way” to Wisconsin! I love how you honor your family members by recognizing how they bless your life/lives. It is not to be underestimated.

  141. First off, Happy Birthday Joe! I hope it was a great one.
    I took Deb’s class last year and not only did I get a great lesson in being fearless with color but also lessons on using the different tools for blending. It’s a great way of dealing with all of those samples you get when you go to fiber events that you have absolutely no idea what to do with them because they’re too small to make anything useful.
    Very envious of your taking Margaret Stove’s class. Did she have you spinning on just wool or with a blend? I can see making thread out of silk but with wool — sheesh!

  142. Thanks for an awesome report and the charming pic of Joe. He’s a doll.
    I dream of attending SOAR next year and will plan ahead.

  145. That’s my friend Sue Cathey! Isn’t she wonderful? Fabulous knitter and friend. :>)

  146. What an amazing time you had – thank you for sharing it all.
    Happy (belated) Birthday, Joe.

  147. Happy Belated Birthday, Joe! You ARE pretty cute, and you’re an amazing, wonderful man.

  148. Great trip, Stephanie, but how even more wonderful to come home to Joe. He reminds me of a teddy bear-meant in the nicest possible way!

  149. Happy belated Birthday, Joe! I know so many people with Nov. 2 birthdays — my mom, my ex-mother-in-law (a charming woman, even if I’m no longer related to her), my friends Sarah and Jonquil, and several others. It’s obviously a great day to be born!

  151. Happy Belated Birthday Joe. May you both have a wonderful and fruitful year starting today.
    Joal

  153. Camnesia!
    You’ve invented another new word!
    Just want to get on TV and into the dictionary, don’t you?
    By the way, I never thought of using a teaspoon as a spinning bowl for a tiny support spindle, but it’s BRILLIANT!

  154. Your weekend looks amazing… what fun! Recently someone asked me if I wanted a spinning wheel that had been taking up space in their storage closet… “Heck yeah!” was my response. So now I am the proud owner of a spinning wheel with absolutely no idea of what to do or even where to go to learn what to do… did that make sense?
    Anyway… any help pointing me in the right direction would be great. I don’t have a lot of extra money to invest in classes right now so “on the cheap” would be great. Thanks and happy birthday to your hubby!

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