Rapunzel at Peet's

Rapunzel at Peet's, originally uploaded by confections.

Rapunzel is my portable maple spinning wheel made by Gord Lendrum in Canada. She has been my faithful companion for close to fifteen years. I acquired her in a trade with a fellow fiber artist.

Since she folds and is easily portable (not that I fold her most times--she just rides in the back seat buckled up for safety), she likes to go to cafes for spinning sessions.

This Saturday, a friend of mine and my sister and I had a retreat-style day: high tea, yarn & book store romp, artisan bread sandwiches, and lattes and spinning at Peet's in my neighborhood.

Rapunzel was joined by her cousin, my friend's Lendrum named Penelope. I also had my Mother Marion kick spindle in tow--her name is Hepzibah.

We always create a stir when we spin in public. Men are fascinated by the mechanics and physics of the wheel, and women of the fibery persuasion recognize the magical madness of wool fluff turning into yarn. Kids are always curious about the spinning wheel.

If you haven't already tried it, take your fiber arts to the cafe next time you go.

Handspun Yarn on the Lendrum Bobbin

Handspun Yarn on the Lendrum Bobbin, originally uploaded by confections.

I had two small batts (1.75 oz. total) from terrabellaspun in my stash that were begging to be spun. Here is the result.

The skein will be plied with a thread to become a balanced two-ply yarn. I'm not sure yet if I will knit it up, but I'm considering a small amulet bag.

My Very First Skein of Wheel-Spun Wool

My Very First Skein of Wheel-Spun Wool, originally uploaded by confections.

This skein was spun on a Louet S-10 spinning wheel at a class at the Black Sheep in Encinitas, California, circa 1989. For a number of years I had been spinning with a hand spindle. In 1995 I traded a Bond Knitting Frame for a Lendrum spinning wheel, my faithful Rapunzel.

At about the same time, I took up quilting in earnest, so Rapunzel languished near the fireplace for many moons. Eventually I joined local guilds and enrolled in a series of spinning and weaving classes and haven't stopped spinning since. It's a constant joy in my life.

Rapunzel, My Lendrum Spinning Wheel (two)

Rapunzel, My Lendrum Spinning Wheel (two), originally uploaded by confections.

Here is a Warholized collage of my Lendrum spinning wheel, Rapunzel. I've had this faithful versatile wheel for thirteen years. I traded with a local weaver who was interested in a Bond knitting frame; she was planning to knit mohair yarn to make teddy bears. I've lost touch with the original owner, but may try to find her to see where her fiber journey has taken her over the last decade and a half.

Rapunzel came into my life around the same time I became enamored of quilting, so she languished for a while before I really focused on spinning. But since I started treadling, I have rarely stopped.

I will close with some words by Gandhi on the subject:

♥The call of the spinning wheel is the noblest of all. Because it is the call of love.

♥I believe that the yarn we spin is capable of mending the broken warp and woof of our life.

♥The music of the spinning wheel will be as balm to your soul.

♥My heart is drawn backwards and forwards between spinning wheel and books.

Lendrum Spinning Wheel with Handpainted Handspun Targhee Wool

Lendrum Spinning Wheel with Handpainted Handspun Targhee Wool, originally uploaded by confections.

This lovely Lendrum Canadian maple spinning wheel of mine (named Rapunzel) will be my constant companion for the next three days as I participate in a spinning workshop with Celia Quinn of Homer, Alaska. Last October I took a two-day workshop in wool color-blending with her and had a great time. On Friday (yes, later on today) we'll be exploring good, solid basics of spinning. On Saturday, we'll be spinning to specification for a particular project, and on Sunday, we'll be experimenting with creating novelty yarns. This is going to be spinning nirvana!