Eclectic Sole

I saved up my energy this entire weekend so that I could go see my friend
Janel Laidman at the Glendale Library today for her booksigning.


The Eclectic Sole is her first book; she let the secret out today that she is well on her way writing her second, "The Painted Skein" about how to work with color in yarns. She gave a lovely talk, and it was nice to see a lot of old friends there as well as numerous people that I didn't know. It was even nicer to hear that the first run of her book on diverse Knitted Sock Patterns was sold out and she is currently in reprint.


I was one of the smart ones... I pre-ordered the book before it's release date and had already started a pair of her socks when Le Tour De Fleece came up. I put them aside for the tour, but it was wonderful to finish spinning this morning and pick them back up. And in such a timely manner! I was able to announce during the question/answer session that not only was I working on a pair of her socks right there and then, but that her patterns were clear, concise, and a joy to follow. I meant it too!


I had a chance to chat with a number of friends including Una Walker after the talk. An extrordinary fiber artist, she was filmed for HGTV's "That's Clever" Season 4, before I was filmed for Season 5. We shared the bad news that I had confirmed with Weller-Grossman, the production company, last Friday. HGTV cancelled the series before our respective segments ever hit the airwaves. Neither of us are making it onto TV with that particular show. Oh well. It was fun to film and an honor to have been chosen. And now that I know that there is no compelling reason to keep the pictures that I took during the process quiet, I'll post them in a few days.


Una, I think, was more disappointed than I. She is a professional artist, versus me who just dabbles in it. Being filmed for me was a lark, but for her it was a professional opportunity. Yet I do not see all as lost. Both of our segments have been edited and are "in the can." As I said to Una, I have a feeling that just about the time that we both forget about the adventure, the segments may pop up in some other show. I believe it, too.

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No, you did not misread. I did finish Le Tour De Fleece early this morning. According to Katherine who sponsored the Tour, I now carry the esteemed title (along with everyone else who completed their challenge) of Les Champs-Elysées Jaune 2008 and I get to display the yellow Championship Jersey on my blog. Of course, having turned all of the green roving into yarn, I now need to start spinning 20 ounces of the coordinating pink...

Last Leg of Le Tour De Fleece

As late as yesterday, I had given up all hope of completing my first Tour De Fleece. Desperately ill in more ways than I can explain, all I was capable of doing was laying in bed trying to get a gasping breath between trips to the bathroom. Assuming I could even do that since my Fibromyalgia had rendered it difficult to move.

I had 5 ounces of roving left to spin, then if I finished them, 8 ounces of singles to ply. And the tour is scheduled to complete on Sunday.

This morning I started on what I hope is a very short course of Prednisone. I am not going to elaborate on my very special issues with steroids at this point, but just let it be said that my system does not handle them as well as most people's would and while most could take a short course and then stop, my last short course turned into a complete disaster and an Endrochrinologist was added to my ever-growing list of doctors before I was rid of them after two years of weaning off. So keep your fingers crossed. But I digress.

I woke up this morning groggy from having purposely overdosing myself on pain and sleeping medicine last night to try and get a night's worth of sleep. Mission accomplished. Although I was up several times, I got what I think was a full six hours. That, as of late, is landmark territory for me. But through the morning haze I remembered... I needed to take my first dose of Prednisone.

A couple of hours later, I was somewhat alert - not my normal alert, but at least able to respond to stimuli - and also for the first time in about three weeks, I was able to fill my lungs over half way. And so I got up, did not put any make-up on (sorry Richard), but did get dressed. And proceeded to spin.

I am, as of right now, 1 ounce of roving away from finishing up the singles for the 1 pound of green merino-silk that I had committed to. I already plied the first 1/2 pound of yarn before starting the singles for the second half. It's only 4:30 pm. I have the rest of today and all the way through the end of tomorrow before the "race" is done. I think I'm going to make it.

In a sense, I feel like a laggard because of commitments made by other participants of the tour which have been kept. Much more agressive commitments than mine. But then I remember that we were only supposed to take on what would be a reasonable challenge for ourselves, given our own lifestyle and circumstances.

Under my circumstances, I think that maybe I did ok.

Le Tour De Fleece: Update

I finally finished spinning the singles from the second four ounces of top. That means that a couple of hours plying & winding off, and I'll be on the home stretch. 8 ounces to go.

This Tour has been more challenging than I had expected. Dealing with illness and fatigue has made it so. Even so, it feels good to have made some sort of commitment and to have made every attempt to follow through. I have 12 days left of the Tour... if I am diligent on each of the days that I am capable of doing a little work and also set a mini-goal of spinning no less than one ounce per day, I should be done just about on time.

Of course, I've decided that the pink Top with the green blended through that matches the green with the pink blended through that I'm spinning right now would make a lovely handwoven Log Cabin Pattern shawl. A big one... like 3 feet wide and 6 to 7 feet long. So when (not if, but when) I get the green done, my work is not completed.

In a sense, I feel like all life should come to a halt right now because of the passing of Mary, but in fact, I've spoken to Sandy & Christiane and they are just pushing on. If they can do it, I can do it too.

I may feel lousy but I am not gone yet. I plan to leave a small legacy behind, and a life - however long or short it might be - dedicated to creative endeavours of one sort or another would be a good one. I'd like to be known for pursuing my passion to the end.

Viva Le Tour de Fleece!

Le Tour De Fleece: Update

I am spinning. And not just because I am dizzy. I finished the first 4 ounces of singles that I had committed to for Le Tour De Fleece today. Loosened the fibers of the 2nd 4 ounces... they're ready to go.

My spinning wheel's bobbins hold 8 oz of fiber with room to spare, the way I spin. So I need to spin up the 2nd 4 ounces, then ply.

I still don't have a camera although my new cell phone has one and if I get a chance this weekend, I'll read the part of the instruction booklet that tells me how to send a picture inside the camera to my e-mail address, then take a few for the Tour.

Meanwhile, while I still know that getting the entire pound spun by the 27th of July is a reasonable expectation, I'm nervous about it. If I have another week like this past one when I was deathly ill by virtue of medication for days on end and not able to get out of bed before 2 PM or so, I may fall irretrievably behind.

I must push on. I think I may take my wheel to the Concert In the Park on Sunday.

Le Tour De Fleece

After learning about Le Tour De Fleece through the blog of The Yarn Harlot, it didn't take much of a leap for me to subscribe. My energy, especially my creative energy which while on the face of it seems an essential in my life but compared to things like eating and wearing clean clothing takes a back seat - is low. I've tried beading and weaving and even knitting, but I don't seem to have the fortitude to get it done right now. So it's back to basics. Spinning yarn.

Spinning is a good activity for somebody who either is or wants to be brain dead. I remember the last time I was on mega doses of steroids. Spinning at a furious rate in 3 in the morning for a couple of hours because I could not sleep and was too aggitated to even watch TV. Fortunately, I am not in that high state of anxiety at this point, but the ongoing treatments leave me weak and lethargic. Spinning at a lower intensity is a good - and productive - way of filling in time.

Which brings me back to Le Tour De Fleece. It runs simutaneously with The Tour De France bicycle race. Spinners from around the world are welcome to set their own challenges for the time frame - July 5 through July - I think - 29th, and if we complete the challenge, we receive a button to be posted in our blog. This year's Tour's only requirement is that we have to use fiber that we already have in our stash. That's not a problem. I have a lot of fiber.

I settled on some green merino (wool for the uninitiated) and silk top, having started spinning it around a year ago and then getting waylaid in other projects. I had completed about 12 ounces before abandoning it... I have around a pound left to go. Although getting it done in the time frame may be challenging for somebody in my state of health, it is do-able, and I am going to do it.

I'm planning to do something about my camera next month (next month starting on July 8th when my check arrives). I will be supplying photo documentaries as soon as I have one.

In the meantime, happy spinning.