Simon and I are starting to get along a bit better, though I think the fault is still mine.... (Er, Simon is my Majacraft Suzie Alpaca spinning wheel...)

Did I ever share a picture of this roving:

This was purchased from Copperpot Woolies before I even had my wheel. --- Well, look at it! Could you pass that beauty up? Yeah, I didn't think so! *grin*

Anyway, I have actually turned that into this (click to read all my notes):

Ugh! I'm still getting too much twist. I've looked at a couple of YouTube videos and I think I see what I'm doing wrong... But I'll need to get another roving out of "mah bukkit" to be sure.

This "skein" is currently hanging in the kitchen, with a bottle hooked over the bottom, to "set the twist", if I'm doing things right. (Ha! Sure!) There's a towel on the floor under it to catch all the water dripping out of it. I knew the Arizona dryness would come in handy---maybe it won't take days to dry!

More pictures later, once it's dry.

At what point am I a spinner? Can I call myself a spinner now?

Or should I wait until I've resolved those funky little twists in my yarn? Can you see them in there? This is some Cotswold pin drafted roving I purchased from a lady on my spinning list. She put together a wonderful box of roving for me to play with!

I'm not spinning as much as I'd like right now---I'm lucky to get in 15 minutes each day! But, I'm getting pretty close to finishing the two pairs of slippers for my in-laws for Christmas (one pair's ready to felt and the second pair is half-finished). Then I've got a couple other projects I may or may not get to in time for Christmas--I really hope so, 'cause they'd be really neat. I can't say more here 'cause the...interested parties...read here occasionally.

I'm listening to a lot of audiobooks---unfortunately, the 4th book in the Saga of Seven Suns isn't out on Audible yet. *sigh* I've finished "Darwin's Radio" by Greg Bear, and am currently listening to the sequel, "Darwin's Children". I really need to find more books I'm in the mood for right now!

I guess I could spin a little more. I've got 4oz of that Cotswold and what's spun up isn't even half of it, I'm guessing! Which is good, 'cause I need the practice to get those twists out of my yarn!

I've linked the images to their location on flickr (I think I did it right), so you should be able to click through and see the notes I've put on the photos---apparently I can't get that part to show up here.

....sit down to spin when you're too excited to sit? *squee* My wheel arrived a whole day early!

Randy left this morning for work (*sigh* vacation over already) and as he passed the front of the house, noticed two boxes on the front step--one quite large. He knew I had things coming, so he stopped and brought them in. When he saw the from address on the large one, he knew: I've been talking almost non-stop about my wheel coming from Colorado and being checked over by my dealer, Tracy, of Woolly Designs.

Isn't he just the *best*? Yep. My wheel's a "he".... who knew? I thought for sure I was getting a girl. He's being a little quieter about his name though.

Before I disappear, never to be heard from again under all the fiber *grin*, I must extol the virtues of Tracy Eicheim. He knows his Majacraft. I emailed a number of "newbie" questions to him, as well as a couple other dealers of various brands of wheels. I wasn't just shopping for a wheel, but a place to purchase my wheel. I mean, we're talking over $700 when all was said and done (thanks to the wonderful people in the White House, for tanking the American dollar). I didn't want to purchase this wheel and end up with a boat anchor. I knew I'd need some help making the decision---which brand, and then, which wheel by that brand?

My favorite yarn dyer pointed me in the direction of Majacraft and once I saw their Suzie's, I never looked back. On my spinning list, there's been a lot of newbies (me included) asking about this wheel or that one. "Which is better?" I've not even begun to spin but I can tell you this: there is a wheel out there for just about everyone. Modern or traditional, portable or not. Single treadle. Double drive. And every combination of the two!

So, when I say Tracy was instrumental in helping me make my decision, I really mean it. He wasn't aimed at selling me a high-priced wheel. He quotes a price based on the current exchange rate and doesn't add a lot of "extras" to push the price up. He has responded with detailed explanations of the differences between the Rose and the Suzie, between the Suzie Pro and the Suzie Alpaca. He listened to me, as a total beginner having never sat at a wheel before (talk about a scary purchase!) and made me feel like I could do this.

I don't feel like I just have a Majacraft dealer in Tracy, I feel like I also have a friend. I feel like he'll want to see my spinning results, want to know my wheel's name.

That's Sam, inspecting my standard whorl, which I ordered with the wheel.
The ferrets aren't quite sure what to make of this new "contraption" I've brought home---they just love the packing peanuts! (Unfortunately for them, I don't love cleaning up the packing peanuts.)

I'd love to stay and chat, but I have all the papers which Tracy included, the manual and so forth to read. Plus, I have to finish my Christmas knitting (help....), and then I have to learn to spin.

I've been spending a lot of time over at Ravelry. Really! *grin* I've been watching the spinner's and weavers equipment group, hoping for the exact wheel I want to come in....but you know how rarely Majacraft owners sell their wheels? Exactly.

Then, in the Majacraft group, I learned that some people were waiting a long time for their orders....and I started to worry. Would I finally raise the funds and then have to wait even longer? So I contacted my Majacraft dealer and asked for current prices and times. And then I learned that Majacraft closes shop from 21 December to 21 January! Eeek!

So, the trusty American Express (thanks to PayPal) rescued the day. I've raised over half the money I need for my wheel and the rest---well, y'all aren't exactly rushing to buy my yarn, beads (1, 2), jewelry books, or cross-stitch now are ya? *grin* Hey, I understand. It's Christmas time and not everyone wants yarn or knitted things under the tree. Still, theres' plenty left for all y'all to come grab.

Did I ever say what wheel I ordered? Yes! *squee* I ordered the Alpaca!!!!

Anyway....Majacraft has confirmed the order with my dealer and it shipped last week. (Don't get me started on which day 'cause it's one day there and a day earlier here.....). My dealer should have it no later than Monday next week and then he'll give it a good going-over and repackage it and send it on to me! *squee*

Pictures to follow as soon as my baby arrives. Oh! I need a name for it---is it a boy or a girl?

I meant to post last night, but we had to kick some Zergling butt for a while.... *grin*

I found a solution to my yarn dilemma: buy more yarn. ::snickers:: Yeah, I know. Totally original. However, I justified it by the low cost of the yarn. I selected Wool of the Andes by Knitpicks. The beauty of it is, there's so many freaking colors, Nick was sure to find one he wanted. And, he did: Sapphire Heather. Oooo.... Aaaahhh....

And to further the insanity, I thought Randy might like a matching sweater (in his own color of course). So, I offered to knit him one for Christmas! Instead of being nice and helpful and picking out the color he wants, he said.... "Surprise me." Oh, no pressure or anything. *sigh* Since he reads here on occasion, I can't actually *name* the color, but I can tell you this: 6th row, 2nd one. Uh-huh. (Hey, Randy, if you peek, fine. I'll probably knit it in front of you anyway! ::grins widely::)

I got a call from my FIL today---wow. I haven't talked to him in ages! Randy usually calls home and talks to them. He's really excited about my knitting and wanting to get into spinning. He mentioned Alpacas and how cute they are---ah, no wonder I like the man: he has taste!

I was talking about felting and how cool it is---for some reason I've had the image of really huge unfelted slippers in my head for a while now. So I mentioned them as an example. He said, "I'm a size 12." Squee! Don't you wish all Christmas planning was that easy? I prompted for MIL's size and he said she's a 10, so there's two more projects in my Ravelry queue.

What am I doing talking to you guys? I've got knitting to do!

Argh! I was over at SariSafari.com, reading about how to wrap a sari and then went browsing their saris.... *sigh* Look:

Isn't that beautiful? I was all set to buy my first sari...and I made the mistake of asking my hubby (aka my conscience) if I should do it. Of course, he said, "No. You're saving for your spinning wheel."

But... But.... ::pout::

*sigh* It better be there later....

In other news, apparently I've been living under a rock and hadn't heard this before but Ohio ferret breeder Doug McKay has closed down his ferretry. Some accounts call it a "700+ ferret rescue", while others say that it was not a "rescue" but a closing. I avoid the politics and just love the babies! My breeder, Kathy of Carolina Ferrets has sold breeding stock to Mr. McKay in the past, so some of those guys are related to my guys!

The area shelters who've taken on the task of adopting out these lovely ferrets are working overtime to find homes for the fuzzies---some have never been "pets" and need special socialization attention. If you or someone you know wants a(nother?) ferret, check out Ohio Ferret Rescue to find out which shelter(s) near you to contact. I'm waiting to find out if I'll be allowed to adopt, since I already have eleven fuzzies!

I'll keep you posted on the probability of a(nother!) ferret! ::wink::