Retreat City

Just returned from the Madrona Fiber Arts yearly retreat where I volunteered - and a spinning retreat right after.

Trying to adjust to the fact that even with much poundage gone, I look older.....lots older.

Met the lovely Linda Cortright who started Wildfibers Magazine and also started Keep the Fleece - a 501(c)(3) charity to help the smaller producers of fiber all over the world. Also spent some very enjoyable time with Sivia Harding and some of her talented friends from Portland.

Met a charming Chinchilla named Harvey while at Madrona. The hotel is pet-friendly and his mom Donna brought him along. A Chinchilla face resembles a hamster more than a rabbit, and his fur feels like mink! I had to go and get some of the fiber she was selling through Village Spinning and Weaving out of Solvang, CA. She mixes it with Cormo and silk. Drooool.

Right before Madrona I helped Ryan celebrate the big Five-O birthday.

Then on from Madrona to a week at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island for the annual February retreat with Judith MacKenzie. Few things compare with having a whole week with Judith.

Many of the local spinning homies were there too...

And of course, new friends were made.

Every year I buy more Pygora from Marcelle - I think I finally have to say I have plenty and have actually do something with it. I'd like to blend it with silk or something fun. Even spun tightly worsted it blooms incredibly.

Mary P and I lusted after Barbara's Jensen Ashley. I'm pretty much a dyed-in-the-wool castle wheel girl, but the beauty of this wheel is something. Fortunately, when I sat and spin at it with Barbara's permission, it just didn't fit or feel right with my body. I say fortunately because...

After almost being able to buy a Reeves' 19" frame wheel in red oak from a friend - she changed her mind. I've been vulturing over her in (I hope) a subtle way for over a year, hoping she'd change it again - and she has! In a couple weeks I will be its new home. I don't have a picture for you but if you go to this link, it's almost exactly like the one I'm getting. It's a double drive with optional Scotch tension and comes with seven bobbins! Also, the wonderful WooLee Winder people make a WW for it already!!! They had a fire that wiped them out unfortunately, so when they are back up and running I will hopefully have saved up the money to buy one.

Some of us took a small guided tour through the salmon rescue aquarium and tide pools that are housed on the Camp property. That salmon colored piece in the middle is a Sea Star that has only his or her middle and one arm left - trying it's best to regenerate...

I finished the orangey "red scarf" but I made it over-wide, so now I believe it needs to be a stole. I've sold off most of my zillion skeins of Koigu but have a few left in spots around the house. The site that sponsors red scarf project says that you should submit no more than 5, so I still have a head start on getting them done. I was so good at Madrona - bought one skein of red Manos so I could blend it with a variegated skein with reds for the project. And, er......oh I guess I DID buy a couple patterns, and the Chinchilla roving. I have to say volunteering is a great way to keep yourself out of the market!

While I was gone the EZ's Green Sweater class started without me at Village Yarn and Teas. Mine will be in the same yarn as these socks. Didn't realize when I bought it that it was superwash (I know I know - I was a new knitter and not so good at reading labels), so no spit splicing possible. Not as big a fan of superwash as I was in the early knitting days.

Found another pal - Nancy H at Judith's retreat - to make the Selbu Modern tam for from the last of the Koigu - doubled in brown and light aqua. That's the Martha sweater she's wearing from the Rowan Studio booklets. Bought the yarn for it. May get to it in my lifetime!