And finally...

I think these are the last of the DIY paint blog posts. I think. I might get the urge to do some more, but for now, I'm all painted out.

This lamp base was green faux marble, thrifted with the intention of painting. At last it is done. All that remains is to buy a proper lampshade and add doilies (yes, why not?). Because this lamp is a bit of a granny chic lamp, I think. She needs doilies to finish her off and make her feel special. (Apologies again for Orla overload).

And this little beauty was calling for a spruce up... a drop spindle who has laid dormant and forgotten since the wheel has been put to use. But a lick of paint, some lipstick and eyeshadow and she's all ready to bat her eyelashes at me and call me over to the dark side of spindling once again. Who could resist the allure of a spruced up spindle?

Me and My Shadow

Always keen to get in on the action; whatever I'm doing it's not long before I get a little shadow keen to join in with his own version. I hope he always remembers these days, the way he worked along side me and joined in. Right now life is intense, but all I see when I look at my babes is the empty nest they are going to leave me with. And I hold on a little tighter.

It Runs in the Family

Spinning has taken over my life. It has definitely taken over my crafting life, but really, it has taken over the whole house, made it into my dreams, conned me out of some money and entrenched itself firmly in our daily routine. It is like it has never not been there. And now? It has infected my family.

Last week I sent my sister an Ashford drop spindle and some roving for her birthday. After a couple hours of spinning (still in her PJs... I know, even I don't have it that bad) she had a skein of 2-ply yarn.

Can we give my sister her props here, people. From zero to 60 in three seconds. From a none spinner into a yarn maker in a couple hours. Please.

And here it is.




I am truly impressed. And knowing how addictive yarn making is, I wonder how long it will be before she gets a wheel of her own?

Clever little sis.

You Got Me Spinning Right 'Round

Yes. Another spinning post. In my defense, however, it's not about my spinning.

I was finding that whenever I sat to spin the boys would naturally gravitate towards my side, asking to have a go. So, I purchased a few more drop spindles and set aside a basket of 'fluff' for them to dip into, and after a relatively short space of time they took to it.

'This is EASY mummy - when can I have a go of the wheel??'.... steady on there, young Skywalker. Keen as they are to get to the wheel (to pretend to using as a steering wheel, I have no doubt) I think we'll leave the spindles around for a while yet. It's an easy to pick up and put down craft, they don't need supervision and we can take it along when we leave the house.









Interest dips and wanes; we have moments of intense interest and activity and other times when I think Lego is winning out. What I do love about this spinning business it how we all seem to gather together when it happens. I sit in one chair, or on a stool with the wheel, the boys will sit with the spindles and we talk.

We've been finding a new groove before bedtimes too; we seem to gather in the sitting room, make a little yarn, listen to my husband tell tales of when he was a boy and we enjoy a little bit of mindful company. Hands and minds are kept purposeful, the creative juices are kept well oiled and we part before lights out with a bit more knitting fodder for the pile. Now all we need is an open fire and someone with a banjo and I think this wannabe pioneer woman could be very happy indeed.

Out of Town :: 3

I've been keeping the spinning up with a take-along drop spindle, quite apt in this sheep farming centre of the UK, with hidden gems like this to fuel the addiction.

I am getting to the end of my patience with the drop spindle; I feel an itch to get back to the easier, faster, wheel. Much less stress on the arm, much less time to wait for the wool to hit the sticks.

If you've been following either my twitter or flickr stream you'll have been noticing a steady stream of spindle pictures recently. Hopefully these will be replaced by a steady stream of wheel pictures. Soon.