Dancing the Mazurka

The Mazurka is a Polish type dance where the dancers whirl very quickly, similar to the Hungarian Csardas. It's because of this that the Polish makers of my spinning wheel named it that... the Mazurka, because the wheel spins fast and is supposed to look like dancers. I don't know about that but it does go fast.

I have a spinning wheel, the Kromski Mazurka. I've wanted one for a little while having been mesmerized by the wheels of my fellow knitters. I did my research, I found the wheel that I wanted and went about looking for the right one. I considered buying new, looked online and planned on trying them out at the Fiber Fest in August. I wanted a wheel that not only was the right size, had a single treadle and had the look and feel of an old wheel... something that an ancestor might have used in the old country.

It happened so quickly. The ad was posted on Ravelry, it came with all the accessories and more and I could tell that it was well taken care of and loved and besides... it was at a great price. That morning the wheel became mine. It came in from Boston this week and it's previous owner Dave, had it so well wrapped and labeled, you'd a thought it was Christmas. Well it really was for me. I can't wait to actually start spinning... My friend Trish (Bams on Ravelry) will start to give me lessons next week, but in the meantime, I'm practicing my treadling and getting a feel for how it works.

Many people name their wheels, much like naming their cars or boats, determining whether it's female or male.. I'm not sure I will, but there have been fleeting moments when speaking about it when I refer to it as her.

Here she is..........

Yarnoire

Most crafters, whether a scrapper, knitter, quilter or whatever, always keep an ample load of supplies on hand... in case of a worldwide shortage, of course. That hording is not usually the problem, it's the storage of the paper, yarn, fabric, wood, beads, or glass. My scrapbooking studio may not be the neatest.... HA, far from it, but most everything has a place on a rack or shelf or plastic drawer.. it's there and I can find it. Of course I have a whole room to store this stuff. My yarn on the other hand doesn't have a room, just a dresser in a corner, some boxes and bags and so unworthy of the Malabrigo or alpaca.

With some redecorating lately, the sitting room got it's turn this week with new paint, furniture, rug and the addition of an empty armoire that was taking up floor space in the basement. It was moved upstairs and now proudly holds my yarn and knitting miscellaneous. I love my yarnoire.

2 months already???

Boy, have I let things slide. That can happen when you're sick and not spending time at the computer, or if you're just not into writing, or if you've really got nothing artistic to add... or maybe a combination of all three.

Yes, I have not been well (doing much better now, Thank You), yes, I really wasn't interested in keeping my blogs going and also yes, while I have been knitting and doing some scrapbooking, it just didn't cross my mind to do anything with them.. MY Bad.

I did finish my Dragonfly socks... done in a lace pattern using Malabrigo sock yarn in a soft burgundy and gold color. Of course it gets done in time for sandal weather... now will have to wait until the temps get cooler, but by then I'll have a few more pair of socks to wear. Friends are already putting in their orders for their pair.
I had been working on my cardigan, and it's now done... all the pieces are complete and are waiting to be blocked and put together. My blocking boards as well as all my other knitting paraphernalia are boxed and stored away until the sitting/music/knitting room gets painted. I am working on DH's socks.. he wanted them over the calf which is taking much longer to knit up especially since I'm already tired of them and I'm not even done with the first sock.

Here's my Dragonfly socks....



In my absence, Father's Day came and went and while these cards were not made for my DH, they were made for The Shaker Box, a scrapbooking community that named me guest designer for May with the duty of designing several cards for men.




As far as scrapbooking, I'm still working, albeit slowly on the Panama cruise, so here's what I can add. I should scan more.... maybe this week.