The One About Inori

My heart, that is.

It’s sold to a handsome, dashing, new age, sleek, scrumptious………………….

…………..

………….

………….

…………

……………

………..

………..

……………….

………………

SPINNING WHEEL.

I went to a knitting/spinning gathering today and Jo from The Bird And The Fish brought her Majacraft Suzie.

Oh my gosh. I fell in love. I fell soooo deeply in love with the design and how it works and everything!!!!! ( I sound like a high school girly girl!!! OooOOooo!!!)

Here’s a picture from Jo of me and her wheel which I couldn’t stop molesting.

(Copyright of Jo )

I mean, I still love my old girl Sasha (Yes, Sasha, I named my Ashford Traddie after you!!! Because you were the first one to show me how to spin!!!)

I would probably never give Sasha up because she’s already a 2nd hand wheel (I’m probably her 3rd or 4th or even 5th owner!). She’s as old as I am and she was my first wheel ever. I do love her and she’s so good to me. I learned so much on her. So no. I will not give her up for as long as I can!

But I do want to take my spinning up another level. For one, my plying would probably be better if I could play with ratios and although Sasha spins really fine plies, I would love to take lace knitting up another level. (Think near-cobweb singles, navajo plied into sock yarn!)

And the sound the wheel makes….. it’s like….. it’s……… it’s………. DIFFERENT…

Like sci-fi; ‘whoosh whoosh shhhhcccttt sccchhhhtttt’ sounds instead of ‘ratatatatatatatatatatatatat squeak squeak squeak’ that Sasha makes. (Ha ha ha… I’m thinking of the person Sasha making these noises now instead of the wheel… Oh dear.. I must be high on wheel fumes.)

And I love how I didn’t have to push the wheel with my hand to get it going where I want it to go. Although many times I reach out to turn the wheel and felt rather silly. *Blush*

I’m thinking of getting either a Majacraft Rose or a Serenity.

The Majacraft Rose comes with both normal and fast (lace) whorls with delta and fine orifices (I’m guessing respectively but I may be wrong since I’ve never seen the Rose in person!)

I’m very intrigued by the delta orifices and cannot seem to wrap my mind around how it actually works!!!!!

The Serenity would only be out next month and I would probably wait a bit to see if it’s really worth purchasing. I mean, up till now, it’s mostly hush-hush and although tested by quite a number of spinners, I want to know if it really is a true all-rounder instead of just being exclusive to art-yarns.

I’m not interested in spinning feathers or funky stuff so the Rose seems like a really suitable wheel for me at this point in time. However, if Serenity proves herself to be a Rose and more, then I might just go with Serenity!

Poor Nad… he would be hearing about wheels no end from me for a long long time. Until I finally save enough to get one.

I know these things cost a great deal but they do last a lifetime! Look at Sasha! She’s still such a beaut!

If you happen to be a spinner and have spun with these wheels, do shout out and give some advice! Any advice is much appreciated!

But yes. My heart is sold.

Not me. My internet connection!

Somehow, when I feel the urge to blog, my ISP has to have problems. Statewide problems, no less.
Just doing a drive by post to show you guys what I received in the mail a few days ago!

There was something interesting in the mail and I ripped it open to find this:

Sooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the past few days, I’ve lost plenty of brain cells trying to remember what this kind of art is called. (Alongside with my maths assignment.. I think I may have lost half of my brain).

Finally today I asked my dearest ‘brother’, Martin, WHAT it is called.

ANDY WARHOL!

Brainz, you haz the smartz, Martin. Nom nom nomz.

Anyway, back on topic. This lovely piece of wall hanging (tea towel? decorative cloth?) was sent to me by a Raveler named Therese.

She was visiting New Zealand and went to the Majacraft spinning camp featuring the very talented Lexi (Pluckyfluff).

I read that she was visiting our state after her exciting camp is over and we initially wanted to meet for some tea and chat (and I was hoping to wiggle out some info on the new Majacraft spinning wheel out from her or maybe, you know, she could smuggle one out for me… hehehe, *ahem*).
Her schedule must have been packed but she said she’d send ‘something sheepy’ to me from NZ.

That’s the ‘something sheepy’!!!!!!! Cute Andy Warhol sheep!!!!

There’s also a NZ cloth badge in the same package but Sunshine pinched it and I still CAN’T find it! Grrr…

But seriously, what a generous lady Therese is! Here I am, barely knowing her and she’s soooo thoughtful! I’m so touched.

Thank you, Therese. I will probably make it into a bag since I don’t know what else to do with it. Might as well put it into full use around! I love it!

We’re recovered from our bout of flu now. Thank you to all well wishers and your emails.

I tried to take a photo of Chubbs with him posing like the baby in my Yarnandkisses logo. No luck, though.

(Note the mismatched socks?)

Much dyeing to be done very soon! And then probably a huge update in the store!

Okay. Off to finish up my Science assignments. Have to hand it in at prac class tomorrow. Cyas!

I haven’t updated in a looooong time and here’s hoping that this is the post that would start the ball rolling again after having gathered dust under that old sofa eh? (Yes, there are a few balls that have rolled under my sofa which the kids can’t reach and I couldn’t be bothered getting them out because barely 5 minutes after, they will roll back under so they are best left ignored and err.. ok.. I digressed… where are we before the metaphorical ball-under-sofa?)

Ah yes.

I’m nursing a cold now, having caught it from dearest Sunshine. But my cold was 10 times worse than hers. She had a runny nose a few days ago and I came down with a strep throat the day after.

Someone named Wynn on Ravelry very kindly posted a home remedy for strep throats. I took a glance and noted that I would have to get lemons to make that concoction. After getting the lemons, I was too sick to turn on the computer so I made this:

- one whole lemon’s juice

- equal part of Apple Cider Vinegar (which was the part that almost killed me)

- one teaspoon of honey

- room temperature water

And needless to say, I almost fainted from the mere smell of this. BUT BOY! It WORKED!!! The liquid glided down my throat and the pain was lessened somewhat.

After slinking off to bed, feeling terribly sorry for myself, I woke up and logged on. Only to find out that although I got all the ingredients right, the RATIO WAS NOT.

It should have been:

- HALF a lemon’s juice

- a DESSERTSPOONful of Apple Cider Vinegar

- a teaspoon of honey (to sweeten the deal a little)

- WARM water.

DUH.

I made another concoction this time with the right amount and it tasted MUCH better. Also helped with the strep throat.

Sunshine LOVED this mixture and kept wanting more. But, you know, she’s the weird one who eats lemons with the rind and all. *Shrugs*

I gave Chubbs a teaspoonful and he refused to ‘talk’ to me after.

Anyway I also bought some lozenges from the pharmacy. I was there in my jammies and URGHHH… the pharmacy assistant was Ky-uuuu—-ttteeee!!!

So I asked him for something to help with a strep throat, right? And he went on to ask if I was getting it for myself (yes), any headaches (no, but feverish), any allergies (no -oh would you please please please get the medicine for me already…. I look horrible in my jammies and you’re sooo cute!- )…………

So he got a packet of lozenges and then I HAD to tell him that I’m still breastfeeding- would it be okay to take this medicine ? Sigh…

Does it mean I have no chance with this cute guy?

I told Nad to keep coming back to this pharmacy because the guy is cute and my most wonderful hubby said okay. :p

Lets stop talking about uninteresting stuff and go on to… erm.. more uninteresting stuff….

I’ve been busy with SCHOOLWORK.

Well I’ve managed to stay on top of the workload thus far, always sending in my assignments way before their due dates. BUT those teachers keep sending new stuff back!!!!!!!!! *Grabs hair*

I did my first Chemistry test and scored very well on it so that’s a relief because I’ve glanced through my next unit and it’s not something I’ve done before (redox) so I’m quite screwed, I think.

I struggled through Biology as I’ve NEVER done Bio in my entire life before. I may have to drop this subject if it gets too tough.

English is rather fun I’d say. I love writing but I wish the workload was lesser.

I’ve not done my Physical science and Math homework yet.

Then as if that isn’t enough to reduce me into a pile of messy tears, I’m waiting for a new shipment of yarn to arrive. NEW base yarn to dye up!!! I’m so excited as this yarn is rather unique!

Malabrigo is STILL being dyed up in Uruguay and I’m hoping they will be ready soon! Loads of customers are waiting!!!

I’ve also made a decision to put soap making on hold. I have big plans for this soap business and will probably take half a year to plan everything out. Meanwhile, I will soap on my free time (whatever is left of it anyway) and leave them to cure. In half a years’ time, I would have a ready stock of soap ready for sale!

Check out my newest creation:

This smells LOVELY. Vanilla, Orange and Cocoa!!! Yum yum yum. It’s still curing now and I cannot wait to try it out!

I’ve been knitting more often nowadays. More pictures of the knitting maybe later. It’s getting colder and we’re all wearing sweaters, long pants and socks around in the house now. Good weather to knit in!

The kids are growing and growing. And growing.

Sunshine is beginning to write now. She’s 2 and a half and can write a few letters already. She’s also reading sentences and can carry on conversations with us. It’s a fun age!

Chubbs is almost a year old now. He can stand on his own, has 4 front teeth and crawls at supersonic pace. He is a boobaholic. I wouldn’t have dreamed of breastfeeding a baby for so long. We initially wanted to stop at 8 months but I can’t bear to do it! What if he’s the last baby we’ll ever have? He’s too cute to stop breastfeeding!

He is, however, also on solids now. So lesser time spent being mummy’s appendage.

Okay………. I probably should start on my homework. Oh, maybe not. It’s 1.15am now. I better go hit the sack then.

See you!

Just posting a bigger picture of these 4 colourways that I love.

Sasha’s Green:

A blend of bright green, turquoise and teal. I usually don’t dig greens but this one is just gorgeous! Don’t ya think? Named after a very good friend of mine, Sasha! We used to live just 5 minutes from each other and she was Sunshine’s one and only nanny (thus far). Now we live so far away from each other! Would have to just content with the emails and reading her blog.

This green will knit up to very lovely socks and even shawls / scarves.

Glacier:

Inspired by pictures of glaciers. I LOVE BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This would knit up to very nice socks, I think.

Me Time:

I feel that this colourway needs more exposure and perhaps, an explanation!

It’s named “Me time” because this is the colour I see when I look out of the window at night, when the kids and the hubby are asleep. My ‘me-time’.

I love this colourway so much I think I’ll knit a shawl with it someday.

It has mostly black, teal and a little turquoise thrown in. I should have taken a picture of the yarn before it was reskeined.

But seriously, this is a beautiful colourway for those who prefer darker shades.

Aurora Borealis:

This is the colourway that took me the longest to plan and dye up.

If you follow this link to Paulo Coelho’s blog, you’ll see the picture I based this colourway on.

Colours go from very dark blue (navy), to lighter blue and then the bright green and purples. I think this colourway would make a nice shawl or scarf. Maybe socks too!

Click on this link to see these yarns and other colourways in store! Thank you!

Sunshine: “Daddy, wear your pants. SO OBSCENE!“

Edited to add: Nad had just taken a shower and was wearing boxers. NOT that we walk around nekkid!