The Beginning of my Journey of Decluttering

This past March we had an architect, Donald Sherefkin, come out to the house to help us figure out ways to make an addition.  We were not ready to start the additions but we didn't want to be improving gardens in areas where we inevitably might expand.  We learned so much that day.  Good things, funny things, a-ha things.  If you live in Southern Vermont area I can not recommend Donald Sherefkin enough.

We will put an addition on someday - mainly because we don't have a bathroom on our sleeping level and as we age - this will become more important.  Here is what I think the funny part of the discussion unveiled -- I would like a garage and my husband wants a bigger kitchen.  This cracks me up as it is a stereotypical gender reversal.  To make it unfunny I can explain why.  I'm the one that gets bundled up and goes out to move the cars when the plow guy comes.  I'm not sure why my husband doesn't care about this - the more we do this the bigger our driveway is all winter long.  My husband wants a bigger kitchen as his family had restaurants as he was growing up.  He believes he would cook more if he had a bigger kitchen.  I personally love the size of our kitchen because everything is so close I can get things out and put things away so much faster.  But I'm also for him cooking more often.

So we are several years away from being ready for the addition.  I learned more things from Donald that day- my husband wanted a gaming room again and I need a weaving studio with better light.  One day shortly there after he was at a seminar up in Burlington for the day.  I took advantage of this day and took my Leclerc Nilas loom completely apart.  I then lined the parts up at the bottom of the stairs and hired my lovely young neighbor to bring the pieces up a couple of flights to our bedroom.  An hour later and she held some pieces together so I could begin the process of putting it back together.  I've mentioned this in an earlier blog post when I was doing the finishing touches with my niece.  I wasn't able to get everything set up the way I wanted to - but I did get the room completely emptied out - a clean slate for him.

Photo Credit to Jeannine Bakriges, part of her 2010 Summer Spin-Off article 

Late summer my seven foot triangle loom came back home to live with me again - I had loaned it out to a friend.  I use the looms more frequently so they stay but sadly the great wheel needs a new home.  I just placed an add on the Spinner's and Weaver's Housecleaning Pages for the wheel.  While I was at it I put my five pitch Indigo Hound English combs and my single pitch Louet mini combs up on the site.  I think this in conjunction with my brother-in-law turning me on to Unclutter and my already following the financial practices of Dave Ramsey and my journey is off.to a less cluttered existence was successfully catapulted.

More to follow on the next decluttering leap soon. . .

PS Leslie - I hear your voice in my head about you holding onto my English Combs - but really - this is what I want to do.  Thank you anyway for your generous offer.

It has arrived!

What has arrived?  

My copies of "Spinning Around - Spinning, Dyeing & Knitting Elizabeth Zimmermann's Classics,"
by Jeannine Bakriges

"Spinning Around - Spinning, Dyeing & Knitting Elizabeth Zimmermann's Classics," by Jeannine Bakriges

This book has been years in the making and I've been a happy traveler along that path as my dear friend Jenny has achieved her goal and along with School House Press has come out with a beautiful, informative book on dyeing, spinning, and knitting.  And of course who else would you expect Jenny to include in her credits - that is right - Bob Dylan.

Jenny - I'm writing this partly because I can't call you and also because I just want to share my excitement with the world!  Love and congratulations.

Five Wishes

Five Wishes

How Answering One Simple Question Can Make Your Dreams Come True

by Gay Hendricks (Author) A cocktail party conversation changed Gay Hendricks’ life forever. A man he’d never met asked him to imagine himself on his deathbed, pondering the question “Was my life a complete success?” And if it wasn’t, the stranger wondered, why? “What would be the things you’d wish had happened that would...

Daylily from my garden this summer. 

So far this is what I've come up with -
My life was a complete success because I

1. gave the time my loved ones and I deserved to have together
2. was present in nature whenever possible
3. focused time and energy on diet, exercise, overall health, and healing
4. continually committing time to my education and used the knowledge to better the lives of those in my community
5. earned financial freedom to live my life as I desired while working jobs that I loved
1. Appreciate what I had when I had it - didn't have to go out and get the newest things because I already had so much to work with what I had

My next step is to come up with actions that will help me achieve these goals.   I highly recommend this thought provoking book.  I have read other books that ask me to set goals and I usually get hung up there.  This was just the question I needed to be asked to help set the goals.   Now that the list is in writing it can be tweaked as necessary but will help me focus energy on my priorities.  I can also go back to the other books and pick up where I left off then I can pass them on to their next owners.

Great Ways to Have a Great Day!

I've been holding on to things for a long time because I like them - thought this might make a good place to archive the lists so that I might be able to share and declutter.

View from my office

"Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Be surprised, like you were born yesterday.

Tell the truth, and you don't have to remember anything.

Live like it's heaven on earth."

Source: Unknown - I read it in a newsletter and their source was Hope Heart Institute

Tour de Fleece finished project stats

How much fiber was used (weight of fiber in ounces)? 8 oz

How many yards were spun? 82 yards of 2 ply

How you spun it -- wheel/spindle/charka/ etc.? Louet Wheel and Golding drop spindle

Are you a Rookie?  Spinning 7 years - first tdf

What type of yarn -- sock, bulky, lace,? 46 yards of bulky 6 wpi 2 ply and 36 yards of 30 wpi 2 ply with remaining spindle spun singles.  The goal was to ply a thin colorful spindle spun yarn around a bulky natural brown fiber.  

Is this an entry for the most out of 1oz? nope

Is it a new Technique you tried? nope

What Phattie is the fiber from? Spincerely for the dyed - it was plied against natural from my own animals.

What is the Fiber content?  100% llama

Happiness factor?  Love it!

Three of the skeins in this picture are described above.  The light brown/tan is cotton to be described in another entry.

How much fiber was used (weight of fiber in ounces)? 4.5 oz

How many yards were spun? 275 yards of singles

How you spun it -- wheel/spindle/charka/ etc.? Louet Wheel

Are you a Rookie?  Spinning 7 years - first tdf

What type of yarn -- sock, bulky, lace,? 16 wpi

Is this an entry for the most out of 1oz? nope

Is it a new Technique you tried? nope

What Phattie is the fiber from? Spincerely 

What is the Fiber content?  Merino/Bamboo/Nylon roving

Happiness factor?  Love it!  have about 15 more oz!  Can't wait to spin it.  Will do some 2 ply for warp and remaining yarn will be just like this skein for weft.

Spincerely said I could help her name it - it just makes me think of grapes -  but she already has a grape goddess.  

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How much fiber was used (weight of fiber in ounces)? 9 oz

How many yards were spun? 280 yards of 2 ply

How you spun it -- wheel/spindle/charka/ etc.? Louet Wheel

Are you a Rookie?  Spinning 7 years - first tdf

What type of yarn -- sock, bulky, lace,? 12 wpi

Is this an entry for the most out of 1oz? nope

Is it a new Technique you tried? nope

What Phattie is the fiber from? Spincerely dyed fiber

What is the Fiber content?  Llama

Happiness factor?  Pretty pleased but I felt awful during a lot of the spinning.  I think it was reflected in the yarn - but I tend to like yarn that doesn't look perfect.  It will be a good candidate for some serious whacking. 

The colors are much warmer than this - see this post for better idea.

How much fiber was used (weight of fiber in ounces)? 5.5 oz

How many yards were spun? 160 yards of 3 ply

How you spun it -- wheel/spindle/charka/ etc.? Louet Wheel

Are you a Rookie?  Spinning 7 years - first tdf

What type of yarn -- sock, bulky, lace,? 14 wpi

Is this an entry for the most out of 1oz? nope

Is it a new Technique you tried? nope

What Phattie is the fiber from? Spincerely dyed fiber

What is the Fiber content?  Llama

Happiness factor?  Very very happy!  Nice twist and very balanced.

Here it is plied but still on the bobbin.  Lighting is not good enough to take a new shot on my iPhone to capture it.

How much fiber was used (weight of fiber in ounces)? 5 oz

How many yards were spun? 94 yards of 3 ply

How you spun it -- wheel/spindle/charka/ etc.? Louet Wheel

Are you a Rookie?  Spinning 7 years - first tdf

What type of yarn -- sock, bulky, lace,? 10 wpi

Is this an entry for the most out of 1oz? nope

Is it a new Technique you tried? nope

What Phattie is the fiber from? Spincerely 

What is the Fiber content?  BFL

Happiness factor?  I have to say out of all the yarn I think I like the color of this one best.   

In all it's niddy glory!

How much fiber was used (weight of fiber in ounces)? 5.5 oz

How many yards were spun? 178 yards of 3 ply

How you spun it -- wheel/spindle/charka/ etc.? Louet Wheel

Are you a Rookie?  Spinning 7 years - first tdf

What type of yarn -- sock, bulky, lace,? 14 wpi

Is this an entry for the most out of 1oz? nope

Is it a new Technique you tried? nope

What Phattie is the fiber from? Natchwoolie

What is the Fiber content?  Silk, Milk, and Bamboo

Happiness factor?  Love the hand and the smell - colors are beautiful!

Hmmm I just said I like the way it smells - and it is indigo - should I be worried.  Actually it is the silk smell I'm drawn to.

How much fiber was used (weight of fiber in ounces)?1.2 oz

How many yards were spun? 36.6 yards of 2 ply

How you spun it -- wheel/spindle/charka/ etc.? Great wheel/Louet Wheel/Tahkli 

Are you a Rookie?  Spinning 7 years - first tdf

What type of yarn -- sock, bulky, lace,? 22 wpi and 32 wpi (Tahkli)

Is this an entry for the most out of 1oz? nope

Is it a new Technique you tried? nope but I was going for speed - and I don't think I really spun that much 

What Phattie is the fiber from? Natchwoolie

What is the Fiber content?  Cotton

Happiness factor?  Very happy - looking forward to spinning the rest of it.

Here is the Tahkli spun

Tour de Fleece Day 23

Day 23
July 25
4.5 hours
Husband's birthday
End of Tour de Fleece/France

This morning I finished plying my Natchwoolie Blue Hawaii!



Then my husband let me know he wanted to go out so I so I grabbed my cotton and my takhli from last night and was off in the truck spinning on bumpy dirt roads and eventually we made it to smooth ground.  He was fine that ever minute or so my hand was streched out in front of his face - but every now and then I changed hands so that I wasn't constantly blocking his view of the roads.

I didn't make too much progress - but I filled the spindle on the way there and then I prepared to Andean ply and walked around a few stores with a funny little cotton bracelet.  I plied it on the way back which didn't take very much time at all.  Then I got very sleepy and I fell asleep.  I got home and I was still sleepy - and I took a three hour nap (might be why I'm awake right now!)



When I woke up I went to ply the orange Spincerely dyed llama and the balls were too big to fit under my terra cotta plying pots.  So I decided I should fix my ball winder.  Two seconds later I was taking my balls and making nice little flat center pull balls that fit perfectly under my pots.







I made a center pull ball for the green Spincerely dyed llama.

I plied the two singles of the orange yarn and ended up again with two very full bobbins.


Then I navajo plied the green yarn.


Then I navajo plied the [Spincerely](/people/Spincerely) BFL - yummmmm




All the yarn I officially wanted to ply for the competition is done.  I've not had a chance to calculate the measurements yet but I suspect I'll be able to get to that tomorrow.

I'm thinking next year I will just have to ply as I go so I can post things to the finished projects regularly.  Although technically I've not finished any projects since I've not yet washed the yarn.

It has been an honor to spin with you all!  Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 22

Day 22
July 24
4.5 hours spinning
3 hours clearing bobbins and preparing for plying
10 hours lack of internet and phone!

This is all the yarn I had spun up to Day 22 all waiting to be plied with the exception of the cotton that I plied yesterday.


So I've never used a nostepinne before today.  My guild's Fearless Leader, Alison, showed us a few weeks ago at guild social and with Youtube I somehow got caught up in it.  Do I own one - no.  But I was sitting there winding balls by hand when I knew I really wanted a center pull ball.  I have a ball winder but on the day Lance fell three times it went south on me.

So I was sitting there looking at a beautiful Tudor family made beeswax candle and I thought, "Hmmm, I bet that will work."  Sure enough it did.  Thanks Alison for showing us.  So that took a while and I guess it was what I needed to learn at the moment.  What I also know is that I know how to fix my ball winder when it acts up.  I've spent considerable time on the phone with the maker, Otto, a few years ago since I have an earlier version of the Strauch Jumbo ball winder.  Otto has been great - he has sent me parts to upgrade it when necessary and has walked me through all the tweaks.  I love tinkering and fixing things.  But today, I wanted a new skill.  I'm inspired by Galia (TDF teammate) and her homemade solutions.  Sure enough on Youtube there are several videos.  The second one I found was using a wooden spoon.  I like the candle very much and it may just end up in my fiber tool box.



Yesterday, I plied the thin spindle spun Spincerely dyed llama against some bulky natural colored llama and I love how it came out.  Very fun.  I had extra of the spindle spun so I andean plied the remainder.



Then I started to Navajo ply the Natchwoolie Blue Hawaii.  I would have finished but my husband's birthday is today and well I don't eat most cake.  He had several friends over yesterday so I got a brain storm to run out and buy him an icecream cake that he could share and it was such a hot day.



Saturday's progress


In the evening when watching the end of the second season of *True Blood* I did some cotton spinning on my Tahkli.  I don't normally ply and do anything else so I can focus on my counting and not get distracted.  Plus I normally let my singles relax for months if not years (see future posts soon as I have boxes of singles to ply . . . )  so I knew that it would need my full attention.

Then, hmph, no internet to post.

Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 21

Day 21
July 23
4.5 hours

I achieved my goals for today - all Natchwoolie Blue Hawaii


and Spincerely dyed dehaired llama singles are spun.


I andean plyed the cotton

From my great wheel - on my hand


From the Louet on my lovely andean plying tool handmade and gifted by my dear friend Leslie and her husband John.


I thought it was interesting to see the difference in the two staple lengths from the Blue Hawaii and the cotton.


I'm psyched up for all the plying tomorrow!  Even spent some time tonight emptying bobbins.  I'm just hoping I'll be able to spin some of my June Phat Fiber box before the tour is over.

Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 19 and 20

Day 19
July 21
Day of rest
1.5 hours spinning

I knew it was a day of rest - my interpretation - relax and spin - no photos, no posting.


I went with my co-workers kayaking yesterday afternoon and then to the local pub.  I had a feeling I'd have a chance to spin - so I continued to work on my Golding spindle of llama fiber at the pub.  Then I went home - did my library work :) and then watched an episode of *True Blood* to make my hubby happy.  I continued to spin the milk, silk, bamboo.

Day 20
July 22
3.5 hours spinning

Challenge day!

So today was the day to spin my Natchwoolie natural color cotton on the great wheel.  There were two issues with this challenge.  First - it was really hot in that room and second it wasn't that challenging.  Fibers were slipping beautifully.



So after about 10 minutes I decided to adapt my challenge.  I moved down to the cool basement and spun the cotton on my Louet - doable but more challenging than the great wheel.  I wasn't quite done with the fiber that I'm spinning on my high speed bobbin so I emptied one of my regular bobbins.  Perhaps that would have been a better use of my time on a rest day - clear the bobbins!  I attached the short fibers to my leader and laced up my flyer and I was off!  New goal to spin as long as I could drafting with my left hand (like I would have with the great wheel) making a consistent yarn that will make a nice two ply.  Even with all that time - my bobbin is only about 1/4 full.



But I'm happy with the yarn and I was able to watch 4 episodes of *Bones* while I spun.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to finish the milk, silk, bamboo and the Golding drop spindle.  Then the rest of the tour is dedicated to plying!

To all of you still working on your challenge - you can do it!

Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 18

Day 18
July 20
5.5 hours

I swapped my volunteer day this week with the Tour so I'll work on the library website tomorrow during the day of rest :)

Spincerely and I spun together via Skype tonight!



What fun! Nearly all our families were involved.  Even her cat Snickerdoodle got into it!  Of course Agent J is helping. Sure is lonely around here without (insert whimper) Agent J.



I'm not quite done with my Natchwoolie Blue Hawaii (Yum)



And I'm sure that Paco had nothing to do with it taking so long . . .



I watched a replay of the last 40 or so km of the race today.  Lance was soooooo close to winning this stage.  I liked the way when he realized he wasn't going to take it he let his teammate come in before him.  I was a little sad to find out I am older than Lance though.

Oh and I've been promising exciting fiber news - I'll be attending The Northeast Handspinner's Association's Gathering in November and I got my first choice (and only choice) class!  1.5 days with Deb Menz!  I can't wait - this is going to be amazing :)

Tomorrow July 21 is a day of rest!

Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 17

Day 17
July 19
1.5 hours


What a wonderful day!  Very productive at work and I got to see some of my favorite people after work!  A group of my friends - we call ourselves the Lunar Ladies as we used to meet once a month and it happened around the full moon.  Now we still try to meet once a month but anywhere in the lunar cycle is is fine.  It is hard juggling 5 hectic schedules and we make a point not to meet on guild nights as that group is very important to us all to.  


We celebrated two birthdays--one belated May birthday and a very recent July birthday (note the lovely birthday crown)  In the picture below we are oohing and aahing over June's PhatFiber box!  This is very exciting to me as all the people that needed to see the box intact now have.  I can and will start spinning it very very soon!  





Spincerely was represented there - Jenny bought Leslie yarn for her birthday from my sister.  Now, I saw my Spincerely just yesterday and it must have been killing her not to tell me about what she did for and with my friends!  Of course, Spincerely did what she does best and put extra goodies in the package :)

My Olympus is still not quite functional but Leslie was good enough to take some shots with my iPhone.  She had fun taking pictures so I had a lot to choose from.  I selected this one of me spinning as I think it captures the way I feel around my friends - very very happy :)  This picture also embodies just how difficult it was for me to not smile for an entire week!



When I came home my husband and I watched the second show of the second season of *True Blood* and I continued to spin my Natchwoolie Blue Hawaii.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish it tomorrow or not - I hope so - it is my volunteer night and I have much to do for updates on Brooks Memorial Library's website that I maintain.  I will get some spinning in and I'm enjoying it soooooo much!  I'm spinning this milk/bamboo blend from the fold and it is coming out soooooo very smooth.



I love reading about my teammates projects - you ladies are such inspiration.

Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 16

Day 16
July 18
3 hours


What a great day - my spinning started on the river with Spincerely.  I had some short llama fibers left from when I was color blending with my english combs and diz on the Spincerely dyed dehaired llama.   Since I was on the river I thought it was best not to use my Golding spindle project and I brought my louet drop spindle and worked on my Navajo ply on the fly spinning.  I'm still not much faster but it will take time to get used to this technique.  Especially since I don't normally spin "live" singles to boot.

So my waterproof (not water resistant) camera did not fair well as the day progressed.  Lots of really great shots lost and can't show my improvement on my Blue Hawaii right now - I'm enjoying this Natchwoolie blend quite a bit.  I imagine I'll be done with the singles by Monday evening.  Despite my frustration I will try again in the morning.

Here is one image that you will have to use your imagination with a bit to see around the fog.



Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 15

Day 15
July 17
4.5 hours spinning

What a productive day!

This morning my niece assisted me in putting my loom back together.  A few months ago I totally dissembled it to move it from one floor to another.  The braking system came to me rusted and I really wanted to tackle that before putting it entirely back together.  So armed with steel wool and bands we went to work on the breaking system.


Before


After

Then we worked on aligning the harnesses and treadles - I can tweak it some more when the warp is on it but I'm ready to weave again - well as soon as the TDF is over anyways.



We went kayaking and saw:

• 2 geese
• 2 ducks
• Lots of fish, dragonflies, damselflies, red winged blackbirds
• 1 swan
• 1 turtle
• 1 great blue heron that startled us both and we both jumped in our kayaks when if dropped out of a tree right in front of us and made its hideous call has it flew away from us.  In all fairness we probably startled it as much as it startled us.

We even found time to garden.

I spun while we were watching episodes of her new favorite show, Bones - second only to NCIS.

I finished the singles of the dehaired llama :)



 I'm now spinning Natchwoolie's Blue Hawaii Indigo dyed milk/bamboo blend!  I'm so happy :)

Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 14

Day 14
July 16
2 hours

Still working on the Spincerely dyed dehaired llama fibers.  Was a little careless in my spinning yesterday so it will be interesting to see how this bobbin comes out.  I feel icky (why I didn't post yesterday) and it was most definitely reflected.



On the bright side the basket is almost empty - which will mean I can move on to my new Natchwoolie Indigo dyed milk blend - I'm so excited.  I should feel better by the time I get to that :)



Although I spun yesterday I took the pictures today and am keeping this brief as I'm taking my niece kayaking and I want to make it back early enough to spin :)

Oh - but wait - I wanted to share one more thing.  The high school I work at actually teaches fiber arts and the Fiber Arts Teacher brought over a piece of work from one of the summer programs students - Melissa, the instructor, plied copper wire and the student wove the piece of fabric below.  It is going to be made into a book bag.  The picture was taken yesterday on my iPhone and it doesn't even come close to capturing the beauty of the piece.



Go Team Phat!

Tour de Fleece Day 13

Day 13
July 15
2 hours

Did more work on the Spincerely dyed!  Bobbin is getting much closer to full.

at the River Spinners Guild Social tonight.  It was hosted by my very good friend Jenna of Dye Flower Farm in her dye barn.  It was too late to take pictures of her beautiful gardens which are especially amazing given that she spends all her time tending to other peoples gardens.

Oh and I had soooo much fun sharing my Phat Fiber box!  I think it was new to everyone.  Two more people to show how pretty it is and then I can start playing with it.

Here is one of my very dear friends, Leslie, having a good time looking at all the pretty samples. Thanks again Tamara and Phatfiberlady



My niece did some spinning too - gosh my hands were so buy spinning for the tour I should have stopped and photographed that too.  Darn.

Oh and I got some really good fiber news today - can't wait to share!  I'm just bursting!