Getting the Art On

TWO big things are happening in my creative world. 

And

TWO big things are happening in my sports-watching world. 

ART-I-NESS

THING ONE--Traci Bunkers, a fiber dyer and creator of some note has invited folks of similar mindedness to join her in July for "30 Days of Get Your Art On."  The idea is to spend at least 30 minutes a day for the next 30 days on art of some kind and to blog, or not, about what you've done.  I'm including spinning and weaving in my definition of art (you should too) and playing along.  Actually, my spinning will involve working with Traci -dyed fibers.

THING TWO--Tour de Fleece is an event on Ravelry that runs coincident with the Tour de France.  The idea is that spinners of yarn actually spin on every day during the Tour de France.  Folks join ridiculously-named teams and post photos of what they've done.  There are contests and prizes--fun for all!!!

And, that brings me to . . .  

 SPORT-I-NESS

THING ONE -- Tour de France, Tour de France, Tour de France, Tour de France, Tour de France.  Need I say more?  This year includes my FAVORITE event: the Team Time Trial which is essentially ballet on bicycles--beautiful!! You can (and should) watch it on Sunday 7-3 at 7:30 am. 

THING TWO-- Womens World Cup is being played during the month of July.  If you know me you know that the choice of watching a World Cup match live or watching a Tour stage live is not one I'll easily make.  Kelly says this places me firmly on the sports lunatic fringe.  

a new DO

I'm caught up in the annual makeover occurring in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet.

 I have a fever

to 

DO SOMETHING

Some years the DO SOMETHING I do is buying a bunch of fabric for clothes I won't get around to making; or buying plants I'll plant, but not water regularly; or drawing plans for raised garden beds I won't ever build (and wouldn't water the plants I'd plant anyway); . . . or . . . . or . . . . or. . . 

But, this year just maybe the DO would be DONE ! ( or ?)

What should it be?  

There, in the middle of the family room I found this year's Spring DO.  My spinning wheel is my go-to gal when I need (need?) something to do.  I recently acquired some new parts whose wood needed to be stained. (A sliding hook flyer & 3 bobbins if you must know).  And, she has some disturbing rain spots on her that need to be treated.  

So, last Sunday night I took the old gal apart and fine-sanded her multiple curvy surfaces, wiped off the dust, and massaged in some stain.  Monday before work she got more stain ,and Tuesday after work (and after beer-knitting) she got a healthy dose of polyurethane coating, then a good sand before a second dose on Wednesday before work.

By Wednesday night . . . 

THE DO WAS DONE

That is, my friends, some kind of personal record from conception to execution and completion.  I can now rest on my laurels.  Or . . . maybe something else needs to be stained . . .  Or, maybe I could find some plans and build a really cool little stool to use whilst spinning . . . or . . . or . . . or.  

I'm a Little Sheepish

And, of course that means I've acquired some raw fleece and have been up to my elbows in wet wool.  

The raw fleece is not just any ol' wool.  It is corriedale from the friendly frisky fence-climbing yearling ram--Bruiser from Ewephoria Farm in Lawrence, Kansas.  I didn't get a photo of Bruiser, so you don't get that treat here.  But ohhhhhh, I did get a little over 2 pounds of his gorgeous wool.  

 Here's a closer shot of the fiber--see how crimpy and fine it is?  He was coated most of the year, so there is very little nasty in it, but corriedales have LOTS of grease (lanolin) in their wool, so it has to be washed in very hot water with lots of soap.  The advantage is that by the time I'm done working with the wool, my hands will be baby-butt soft. 

It's great to buy fleece from a spinner's flock because in addition to getting wool from clean well-cared for and loved  sheep.  You get advice about how to clean the fleece to the best advantage.  Tina, the artistic shepherdess of the flock explained her method, which is basically what I found here and what I am doing in the kitchen sink.  

For those so inclined to wash fleece in the kitchen sink, I've found the way clear after fixing the man of the house a big breakfast of bacon, eggs, and 5-grain pancakes.  There's almost nothing  considered unacceptable after that. 

Unhappy State of Camera(s)

My camera life has gone to hell.  

Since my beloved Pentax DSLR broke by means of pitching itself off a picnic table and since I HATE the dumb look-like-a-dork and hold-it-at-arms-length one (which is fine for phone cameras but not for REAL photos), I decided I'd just shoot B&W film.  As a result, I have a number of rolls I intended to develop this morning.

Unfortunately, while unloading my 1979 vintage SLR, the crank broke leaving me no way to get at the film without breaking the camera.  I consider that to be a tragedy even though I bought it at auction about 7 years ago for $16, including the lens.  To be fair I should add that I have at least 5 other film SLR cameras, most of which have at least 2 lenses and most of which are of far better quality than the broken one, and I have another identical version of the one I just broke.  (People who have gone digital tend to give me their old film equipment for which I am grateful).  So, I'm not actually camera-less but I really LOVE the one that just broke.  

Come to think of it, the only reason I can express for loving the clunky camera is that it was so inexpensive I don't have to baby it along and because it would be no big deal if someone were dumb enough to steal it or if it got broken.   As it turns out that wasn't true at all.  Right now the broken camera seems to be a big deal . . .  but really not THAT big of deal.  

Ok, so try this . . . many men and women sacrificed much for this country, as a result of their  unselfishness, I can safely obsess about my stupid little camera.  That IS a big deal.  

Thanks  Veterans.  

Take THAT Ponce de Leon

Ole Ponce de Leon (early Spanish explorer of the New World) did not find the fountain of youth primarily because he was casting around Florida looking for it around the early 1500s when, in fact, said fountain of youth did not come into being until around 1839.  Undoubtedly, you have one in your garage.  The fountain of youth of which I speak is, of course (of course!), the bicycle.

When, as today, I approach my bike after having been neglectful of her for some time (months) I wonder if it will happen again as it has so many times before.  And, I am never disappointed.  Every single time on that first stroke I am transported  back decades to roughly the care-free age of 10.  While the wind no longer whistles through my long blond hair because it is not long nor blond and I wear a helmet, the sense of delight and freedom is the same.  Even the bastard in the black SUV who was unsuccessful in his fiendish scheme to kill me couldn't squelch my joy in the ride. 

For whatever you think ails the world, I propose a bike ride in October as the solution.  Hear this politicians--I'll vote for whomever delivers a bike in every garage.     

Where Were You . . .

on a swelteringly hot Saturday in July 28 years ago today???  I know EXACTLY where I was, what I was wearing and who I was with.  (I am pretty sure whom is correct there, but it looked dumb).

  Happy Anniversary 

 nice glasses dude and hold the comments about the goofy hat.

To be . . . .

The Tours de France and de Fleece are off to an exciting start.  Lance is ahead of Contador, Cadel Evans lost teammates in a wreck and Tyler Farrar got caught up in a crash which ruined his chance at a sprint stage win . . . things have been less somewhat less exciting on the spinning front as I haven't fallen off my stool, but have been productive none-the-less.  

My spinning from the TdF prologue will eventually become a pair of socks.  The more red-ish bit will be the toes and heels.   

The spinning from Stage 1 (day 2)  will eventually be knit into the Eiffel Tower Shawl you see peeking out from under the other photos.  

So, I seem to be getting stuff done without actually accomplishing anything because one project (spinning) begets another (knitting), and so it goes.