tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720641727790174812024-03-13T02:36:15.863-04:00LakeHouse Lady Julie's Creative ChaosRead my musings, experience my fiber art, listen to the music, and share my mothering of children with Autism and Tourette's Syndrome. In short, travel with me in a new life on my own.Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-20875320399261713032011-02-19T19:56:00.002-05:002011-02-19T20:15:39.774-05:00Handmade? Or Handmade Fashion? Or Just Fashion?I don't know. I'm trying to figure out where I belong with handmade clothing. In one <i>large</i> sense, this is fashion. But it is <i>not</i> trendy fashion, by a long shot. It's just the stuff I make and enjoy, and my plus-size ladies seem to like it. But this clothing is also handmade, and therefore, can it have a presence in the "handcrafted community"? The answer? <i> Sort of.</i><br /><br /><div>Without a doubt, the most telling evidence of whether my garments are "handmade" or "fashion" will be where and how they sell. In the past, I had reps sell my work, and it was therefore most definitely considered "fashion". However, I think it is actually becoming very "fashionable" to have your product be called "handmade"...so there's a twist on the whole thing!</div><div><br /></div><div>Personally, I really don't mind one way or the other. My only question is: where do I feature and show my work the most? A handmade forum, or a fashion one? I'm becoming increasingly convinced that I should go into both areas, and let it work itself out. I think there are a lot of plus-sized women who have never considered the handmade marketplaces as anywhere they could buy clothing for <i>them</i>. It's easy to see why; there just isn't much on eBay and ArtFire for plus-sized women. Sure, you'll find T-shirts up the wazoo, but interesting and unique clothing? Not so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bottom line for me is that I envision a garment, cut the fabric strategically, and sit at an industrial sewing machine and make it all come together. That is <i>certainly</i> "handmade", and it's wearable. A similar thing happens when I dye fiber, yarn, and fabric, and spin yarn. It's all "handmade"...but isn't it also destined to be "fashion"?</div><div><br /></div><div>I think so!</div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-42097666037507354192011-02-14T19:38:00.003-05:002011-02-14T21:23:38.100-05:00The End of Another V-DayI am a perennial hater of Valentine's Day. When I was young, in school, no one ever sent me those carnations that would get passed out by the popular girls. I never <i>really</i> had a boyfriend in high school. I just didn't seem to be the right "type" of girl, and I couldn't figure out why! I always assumed it was because I wasn't skinny, and of course, I hated myself and my body because of that. Even when I was a junior in high school, and I weighed 145 pounds and was almost 5'10" tall, I still could only see the "fat girl" inside me. <div><br /></div><div>College came...few dates to even speak of. Since I went to design school, most of the guys there were gay, and so that was <i>that</i>. I did meet a sweet man toward the end of school, and eventually got engaged. I broke it off, though. He was FAR too tied to his mother's apron strings. Talk about unappealing!</div><div><br /></div><div>While I was married, Valentine's Day was always the day before my husband got paid. That meant that anything for the holiday that was going to happen would happen for 50% off. I didn't mind. I suppose one of the mistakes we made was not celebrating these kinds of days, and living and breathing only for the children.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight I am here, alone, sipping a glass of wine, and looking back over all these past V-days. I'm not sad because I am "single". I am "taken" but not in the way I'd like to be. My heart's been given away, and now I sit and wait to see what will happen to it. It's not a position I would have wished for, but I know that time can determine things for us when we can't make up our minds. Maybe this will happen to <i>him.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Valentine's Day doesn't fail to inspire me, though. Red IS my favorite color, and it's everywhere right now, of course. Red colors passion, anger, and hot-headedness, but it also fuels ambition and success. I'll go on that!</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to my wine now...or is it...WHINE??</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-47108548606724695842011-02-12T20:52:00.007-05:002011-02-12T21:24:41.498-05:00Expanding on a Good Thing<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Yes, I am aware it's been four months. You should know what a terrible blogger I am by now, so I'll spare you!<div><br /></div><div>In the last couple months, I've realized that I really MISS creating fashion clothing for plus sized women. It was something I did very very well a few years ago. Life got in the way of the business, as usually happens. Autism entered my life, I left my husband, and found myself in not a very good spot. It's been five years, and I've been on so many creative "adventures" that I've lost count. But still, deep in my soul, there lives a desire to create clothing for the women I understand best: those that wear a size 16 and above.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a very tough decision to make; deciding to go back to the fashion business. But I know it's where I belong, and I'm excited to do it again! I got acquainted with my beloved "Bernie" again, and had him tuned up.</div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-57KbB3KSjcE/TVc7C_yN-VI/AAAAAAAAAK4/bR2lgbjQMNU/s320/IMG_2265.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572987986562120018" /><div>I have Bernie situated so I can see out the window, and have a speaker system for my music. I can't do anything without music. Many of my scissors are missing from the glory days of my business, but I located the company from where I ordered them , and will pick them up again. <a href="http://www.wolffind.com/">Wolff Industries</a> is simply the best place to get scissors.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of the hundreds of pounds of fabric I had I hung onto. I couldn't bear to let any of it go. My set-up isn't like I had before, so I can't have it all in here, but I have my rayons here and will be working through them. My cottons are in storage, but I can easily get to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next on the list of must-buys is a gravity feed iron. I've been through two of them, and it seems the price has come down on them. I'll head back to my trusty favorite site, All-Brands, for the iron. I got my machine from them, and have never been sorry.</div><div><br /></div><div>My cutting table has been with me since I was in high school, and sadly, it is so broken that it is nearly unusable. Tomorrow's job will be picking up a new one, then the agony of putting it together!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, you might be wondering: will I stop dyeing fiber and spinning and designing yarns? Heck no! While I have yet to figure out how I will operate two seemingly different product lines, I still intend to try it. So, hanging in my workroom, alongside the spinning wheel, there will be gorgeous clothing...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyCY5cLy3Pg/TVc-QXoZR3I/AAAAAAAAALA/BWk-Oeofckg/s320/IMG_2264.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572991514836551538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div>I'd love to say that I'll be offering one-of-a-kind knitwear for plus sizes, but the work involved would be too much. Patterns are the next best thing, and I am perfecting my pattern-writing skills to be able to offer them. It is no small task writing a pattern; so when you get one for free, please appreciate it!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I am now surrounded by wool AND fabric, plus gorgeous pieces of Japanese kimono silks, Bali batik art panels, and Indian saris too numerous to count. They will become jackets, tunics, pant sets, and dresses. My Etsy and ArtFire shops will get all the one-of-a-kind pieces, and a website will be in the works for pieces that will be made to order. Then there will be advertising and promoting. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sooo much to do! Stay tuned...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-32540471132511736952010-10-05T08:22:00.016-04:002010-10-05T16:06:37.735-04:00Doing it Doowicky's Way<div style="text-align: left;">I came across a post the other day from <a href="http://doowicky.blogspot.com/2010/09/rev.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">Doowicky</span></a>, another wool-lover like me. She had some new ideas for scouring fleece, which, in itself, is usually kind of a pain in the butt to do. We all fall in love with the sticky, greasy mass of fiber in those clear plastic bags at fiber shows. But once we get those bags home, our work areas start to smell like BARNS. Time to clean the gunk out of those fleeces!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>I got this gorgeous fleece from the Michigan Fiber Fest, and it was the first-place winner for colored wool. It was 6.2 pounds of wonderful-ness, from a sheep named "Lambchop", raised byAnnette Johnston of Ira, MI. Lambchop is 3/8 Rambouillet, 1/4 Suffolk, 1/4Lincoln, and 1/8 Romney. That's quite a mix! But what a fantastic fleece! The most beautiful I've ever had thus far. This sheep is amazing. He's over NINE years old, and still is producing a prize-winning fleece:</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1YtcuhVQ4XTO2pS5BPK4B7XhIuBA23ceoY5C6QDp0NYm7fr8yXFxebV2l538yuKNQgOiRWo-ExCJQOm6z8hgRULZgvVLiLfDdGOLCp5yjRvuFxjCamWxQum8B3gKCEWkL9_gjzxYjBxl/s320/S5030348.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524383193421298802" /></div><div>Lambchop is a mostly-grey fleece with beautiful locks. You could literally lay it out like a blanket, all lock structure intact.</div><div><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5045039984_280918ff99_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px; " /></div><div>So, I washed the second batch of the fleece using Doowicky's method. I thought I'd lay out the process here. First, into the sink full of hot water and detergent. My water heater is set for 130 degrees, so that gives you an idea of what temperature to shoot for. I use a lavender-scented soap with no dyes, and I use about the same as I would use for a load of dirty clothes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5044420687_65b7d5309b_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I <i>gently</i> pushed the fleece down into the hot water, and I didn't get too far with my hand. I used my trusty big spoon, and I very gently worked it down into the soap and water until it was completely submerged. I left it there for about half an hour, and used my spoon to carefully poke around a tiny bit to loosen dirt (NO swishing, swirling or agitation!):</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5045043540_320a07a534_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px; " /></span></span></div><div>This first wash water was DIRTY, as you can well imagine. It's absolute poop-water. There's no other way to describe it. Next up, I gently scooped up the fiber <i>en masse</i> (and this is important...do NOT separate the fibers here!) into the colander, and let the poop-water drain away.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5044418261_caa8199981_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Next, I pressed out the water, and I left it in the colander to do this. Doowicky says to place the fiber on the floor of the sink and press using a cutting board. I just used my hand or my big spoon to press. Notice I did not say "squeeze"...NO SQUEEZE! Just PRESS!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiI2J33tm5kJCzdXzSBd6iV3rMFyn73rcm23HU9kvkR9tjI_FSW8F_InMAgywU-VPDa0_EeAKhlwTci88mvdADww7y4ppCxeTjavEacL82EUGa3R4tRv8LZtCWUN7wBPu-oW4iAFhQQs-/s320/S5030367.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524391138770247250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Into the rinse the fiber goes. Do NOT let water run directly on fiber. Either remove it from the sink completely, or keep it away from running water:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc9-U314dxyxgPE5_4peiiwQSxHd8WH0UJEm4wG0aPoJepklHumjlvVaaexPkzZS2Hb4Gn23aJs8SPjwVgBchHZ7uahE055iJYglQJ3oiXVp6ode0D0jtQmPmWHWXzjbJFRMUDquZcMTO/s320/S5030368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524392115662642690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />Just let the fiber sit in the rinse water...I poke at mine a little bit with the spoon to help loosen things up a bit. But no agitation.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXDI0G8xjE-RU4TOPg86juDPzAbs3z5s6nQ3FMdd9FZbJlAo88FHD4AEblph_HGFTj6EUf48FSZGBRIHj8uc92e0pUeaP_eVJm2Nr2CmXGdvbC3ang5K924MmZ7cD0BqIhvp8KW_6kGnL/s320/S5030369.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524392524253868178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">You'll want to rinse the wool at least one more time, more likely two, the same way. If the wool is really dirty, repeat both the wash (with soap) and rinses. Once this is done, here's the most important part: take the fiber <i>en masse</i> once again, and put it into a bucket or dishpan and <i>let it cool completely.</i> Do not play with the fiber or tease it in any way. Just let it cool, all the way. Here's my first batch of fiber, sitting in the bucket to cool:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5044420339_2a06d7fe87_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, I know...it's a thing of pure beauty, right? : ) Anyway, just keep washing your fleece and adding it to the bucket to cool. Once it is COMPLETELY cool, you will spin it out in the washer. Make sure your washer does NOTHING but spin on it's spin cycle! Some washers will blow more water on your precious fleece, while spinning. You do NOT want that (unless you want to risk felting). ONLY spin:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5054260104_1b2f3dc32c_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 81px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">After it has spun, carefully remove from the washer and lay it out somehow to dry for a couple days. Gently spread it out; while it's wet, you don't want to be teasing and pulling apart locks. Save that business for carding. Best way to dry the wool is elevated on a screen, but since I don't have that, I lay mine out on a sheet on the floor. then I try hard to keep the cat out of it (sigh...the cat was NOT my idea). The lock structure is almost totally intact, and just a tiny bit of matting on the cut edges. Now that it's completely dry, I am impressed at how easily the fibers drift apart when I tease them. Carding is going to be a breeze:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVasM1GXbPbVtkSSLoI1tFmv9oeMGg-gLaSK0aBK0rP_x_tc_9kMWRfWTpnM9uC6Y7uIwMZ5IDah8EC_a_GfoqhgEDhd6IjoyjuZfxobGcz8WSHx9MTFQJ1dcJtxHREDBaaNmdKZzoqppo/s320/S5030381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524537938503316034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Lovely and gorgeous, yes? Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say. Here is what my daughter thinks about all this dirty-fleece-business (her expression caught right after taking a look at the first wash-water in the sink):</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5054216272_c74fc96709_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div>Oh child, if you only could understand!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Happy fleece-washing! I'll be following up with dyeing, carding, and color-blending of this very special, beautiful fleece for a <i>very</i> special, amazing project for an amazing man......!</span></span></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-71218291553392655452010-08-30T18:11:00.005-04:002010-08-30T21:17:35.312-04:00On Spindling...Every once in a great while, I will pull out my spindle. The reasons for doing so usually have to do with the mood I'm in, the fiber I am spinning, or the state of my spinning wheel. Right now, my wheel is still loaded up with the grey corriedale fleece that I had processed from two years ago. (Got that? Two YEARS ago. I'm kinda....TIRED of it!)<div><br /></div><div>So, when I picked up two gorgeous balls of swirled alpaca roving from Wooly Knob Fiber Mill, at the Michigan Fiber Festival, it was destined to be spun on my spindle for two reasons. Firstly, there's the problem of my wheel being occupied with grey corriedale. Secondly, I wanted to spin it extra-fine, which always is easier on the spindle, at least for me.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGz7P6HZ1yLlxSOtko0Zunmg5lWl-Clv8MRmLV96_3HVHxhWF1lnjmFR4anIsCTeppAZ61wX7NovlT1vfcIP876wrkiuRruTcOkY27xoEeU6fzCID-3izUPyAf9aLW2rnke4F-EgVh7eV/s1600/spindle2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGz7P6HZ1yLlxSOtko0Zunmg5lWl-Clv8MRmLV96_3HVHxhWF1lnjmFR4anIsCTeppAZ61wX7NovlT1vfcIP876wrkiuRruTcOkY27xoEeU6fzCID-3izUPyAf9aLW2rnke4F-EgVh7eV/s320/spindle2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511354634037093682" /></a></div><div>The roving is a beautiful swirl of green, blue and black, and it spins up into a lovely forest-marl.</div><div><br /></div><div>My spindles aren't fancy at all. I don't feel the compulsion toward owning a mitt-full of fancy ones, nor do I feel unfulfilled without a fan-tabulous Golding spindle. I own two very simple Ashford spindles; one for spinning, and one for plying. Total cost for them both was probably only $25, but it hardly matters. What matters is the simplicity of using them; the connection to centuries of spinning this way, before wheels existed, before anyone knew of any other way to create a simple thread. Of course, in some parts of the world, the spindle is <i>still</i> the only way to spin, although we know "better" here in the Western world.</div><div><br /></div><div>But in my case, is it really "better"? My wheel, as much as I love it, has only one ratio. It's a 5:1 wheel, which means that fine, thin yarns are a labor of love to create. On the spindle, this same fine, thin yarn is <i>much </i>thinner, and <i>much</i> finer, and much higher quality. Is it as fast as the wheel? Of course not! But that's only because I am no prize-spinner! Watch someone from the Andes spindle-spin, and you will see how fast and beautiful it can be. It's like watching poetry, really. </div><div><br /></div><div>I try not to think of how my arms ache when I spin on the spindle. I wonder how people through the ages spun so easily, quickly, and perfectly for hours and hours. I think of how <i>every</i> single thread of every piece of cloth was spun this way, and here I complain of my arm and shoulder aching after a short while! Perhaps it is just the western mind; always wanting things to be easier, quicker, and without effort. We no longer have the primitive society around us where there is no other way of doing the spinning task at hand. In our world, spinning yarn really isn't even a task any longer, unless we want it to be.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt32850wD660JgbIN4lrBuYRPnwmW2-Dy9_gPZpkn9Apttr58dFbIBGxrwDmobhr7tMNSAAVFGf4DF2GacgJtUpeFANdRHU6hXm24I9YDco1s7Gs4MzhO8qAoP1XwsLJZGPwfCe3AosD3D/s1600/spindle1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt32850wD660JgbIN4lrBuYRPnwmW2-Dy9_gPZpkn9Apttr58dFbIBGxrwDmobhr7tMNSAAVFGf4DF2GacgJtUpeFANdRHU6hXm24I9YDco1s7Gs4MzhO8qAoP1XwsLJZGPwfCe3AosD3D/s320/spindle1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511362973920611906" /></a>So, the grey corriedale will have to wait a bit longer to get finished. I'm almost through this 4-ounce ball of alpaca roving, and I have another to go. On the wheel, it would've already long been spun up. But it would not have been spun as fine. It would not have as much character, and I would not be as intimately familiar with every strand of fiber. Drafting out each short length, I enjoy releasing my fingers to let the twist enter the loose strands. Like a little flurry of energy, the alpaca fibers swirl around the air and mesh together. I marvel at the way the twist becomes the "glue" that holds everything together. Such a simple thing, but so magical! </div><div><br /></div><div>The whole process is a practice of patience, concentration, and timing, and yet it remains all the while absolutely relaxing. First, there is the slight pulling of the yarn to release some of the twist into the drafting zone. Next comes the first, gentle roll of the spindle against my thigh; not <i>too</i> much spin here, as there still isn't enough yarn made to hold onto. Draft and pull out with the new twist created, carefully holding the new yarn; catch the spindle again and roll it hard against my thigh. Higher and higher my arms go, keeping up with the twist, carefully pulling out the fiber as thin as I want it to be. Must keep watch on the spindle and make sure it doesn't stop spinning! Before I know it, a long length of fine, thin alpaca yarn is pulled out, and the spindle is nearly to the floor. Evening out the last bit of yarn I can reach to create, my right hand grabs up the spindle again, and the new yarn gets wrapped on the spindle shaft.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before too long, the spindle begins to get too heavy with yarn; the fiber drafts unevenly, and PLUNK! My spindle drops to the floor. The yarn, broken now, has to be pieced together again, which is no problem. It's only fiber, and twist will mesh it and "glue" it again. Magic!</div><div><br /></div><div>Over and over again, these same movements, same artful <i>port de bras</i> of my arms, like a dance of elegance that <i>creates</i> something. No wonder spindle-spinning still remains with us. No matter the fancy wheels we have, the machines, the industrial equipment. Without the spindle, we simply cannot dance in quite the same way with our fiber. The spindle <i>is</i> the dance, and the fiber is it's partner. A perfect match.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-40231974631977727732010-08-14T19:50:00.007-04:002010-08-14T20:16:06.479-04:00Summer!Yes, summer is on it's way out, and here I am just now writing about it! You all know me. I'm a slow blogger. One of these fine days I will write with some sort of regularity. (Dream on, suckers!)<br /><br />My summer began in....Barcelona! Yes, I went to Spain with my George, my sweet professor, and it was the best week of my life. I did tell him so; he said that was "cool!", and of course, his ambiguity amazes me. No matter; I had an incredible time, and I wish I could do it all over again. The Mediterranean sea was magical for me. Just to touch those waters where so much history has happened, so much myth and magic; it was nothing short of a dream come true for me. I thought of the legends of Mary Magdalene drifting across those waters to the shores of the south of France, just over the mountains from where I lay on the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4-imdcevFXGzY6k_3BnfnpjgU4TJT4MwgeBrO_6USaYo8lLxEqaCFpiVapTB8jd0DjEtl5MPdC_6Y1L55MjUjJUy86bZyfynPDN4xsYhhzLABHMc_7EdNDqdQG_AWrOKCMiUVXPMv_-x/s1600/beachjulie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4-imdcevFXGzY6k_3BnfnpjgU4TJT4MwgeBrO_6USaYo8lLxEqaCFpiVapTB8jd0DjEtl5MPdC_6Y1L55MjUjJUy86bZyfynPDN4xsYhhzLABHMc_7EdNDqdQG_AWrOKCMiUVXPMv_-x/s320/beachjulie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505419615255619906" /></a><br />My favorite place in the city was the Barcelona Cathedral. I was able to see it twice; once during a walking tour we took, and again on my own, while George was working. I've never seen anything so beautiful! It was so peaceful and serene, and of course, I thought of all the history there, and tried to imagine the people through the centuries who had visited there. I thought of the intent of the clergy to astound people with the power of God through this amazing architecture. <div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4yK5RpFlgqej7Udf4YSa3IR55YTJs6o6f0dwvVHx7WvUqvSfnxOGTz_x8r1f2afihVhF6q4LZOcdNCEimbdKqS6el6m-ISLn1dU3S5UgOiFiw5GW7COlVYEe9IG-bZbB7qzTWL0_2mam/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4yK5RpFlgqej7Udf4YSa3IR55YTJs6o6f0dwvVHx7WvUqvSfnxOGTz_x8r1f2afihVhF6q4LZOcdNCEimbdKqS6el6m-ISLn1dU3S5UgOiFiw5GW7COlVYEe9IG-bZbB7qzTWL0_2mam/s320/IMG_1231.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505421476793759266" /></a>The beaches were amazing, of course:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ3FsH4qndChodQW4M6qkHAy5em4Csm9WVUiJl86eEtKm7aqrGzNcfhyNLelPdzeNkK3mE3HhGGlcyrP8Ggh4aF_UD8J4est0shZ8dJZJ2AfaYz0DXSvKDEYj84vD6fwi53GEUjFb8Ccs/s1600/100_0083.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ3FsH4qndChodQW4M6qkHAy5em4Csm9WVUiJl86eEtKm7aqrGzNcfhyNLelPdzeNkK3mE3HhGGlcyrP8Ggh4aF_UD8J4est0shZ8dJZJ2AfaYz0DXSvKDEYj84vD6fwi53GEUjFb8Ccs/s320/100_0083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505421982759533650" /></a>And they were also topless! George said he fully intended on "going topless"...what a goof! But I did...and it was a very liberating thing. In Europe, these things just aren't a big deal. Why we Americans have to be so uptight is beyond me. George and I took a dip after our bike tour:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtWocpFm79jVdrmHEq2cJO89-K9U5MWiL2z6I9JvQAx49Jc0EJUj5IVmNkl2MgTFK19-u2k2bRCT_TJ-XO-c9v0axgwF3Z68yAPvRa8JpJNAvfeV7KFqK7NvX8ZyROJ9NydOvjCeLIYTO/s1600/100_0086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtWocpFm79jVdrmHEq2cJO89-K9U5MWiL2z6I9JvQAx49Jc0EJUj5IVmNkl2MgTFK19-u2k2bRCT_TJ-XO-c9v0axgwF3Z68yAPvRa8JpJNAvfeV7KFqK7NvX8ZyROJ9NydOvjCeLIYTO/s320/100_0086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505422580413594514" /></a>Now that we are home, I find myself going back to Barcelona in my mind. I loved the city, the food, and everything about it. I don't think I could live there, but I could most certainly enjoy living in Europe. I have George to thank for showing me so many new things in my life, and Europe is a gift I never thought I would ever see...<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWtR1ZccDkGAXb4trEgIJ4lCLQdOv3sfGLJUZbOw8nHHVgxEnhLFSMroWxADMoRWecBmGKQ-TX3Z-6_7Co9aSf89rWbeH1a99K3dUUqJFQiqTHy9KePr2hDLNGtyqCjdlQLd1FnIDXzia/s1600/100_0046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWtR1ZccDkGAXb4trEgIJ4lCLQdOv3sfGLJUZbOw8nHHVgxEnhLFSMroWxADMoRWecBmGKQ-TX3Z-6_7Co9aSf89rWbeH1a99K3dUUqJFQiqTHy9KePr2hDLNGtyqCjdlQLd1FnIDXzia/s320/100_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505423660000330290" /></a><br /></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-60501580108893053742010-02-10T20:38:00.004-05:002010-02-11T01:19:15.370-05:00Kitchener is a Bitchener...Well, happily I knitted along on my sock. And the inevitable loomed in front of it all: KITCHENER stitch. So named after the smart-ass British general who decided that his soldiers needed a smoother finish on the toes of their socks. Well, excuse me, but it wasn't <i>him</i> knitting those socks. Thanks for the "great idea" dude.<div><br /></div><div>I just can't do it. Period. At least <i>tonight </i>I can't do it. Children coming down into the room and throwing stupid questions and petty arguments at me didn't help a bit. After reading numerous tutorials on how to do this technique, not one of them missed the important point of <i>not being interrupted</i> while attempting! So, with that in mind, I decided to wait until the kids were in bed. Because if I don't, they're going to <i>die</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first tutorial I used had the yarn coming off the wrong end compared to where mine was located. That made things quite confusing. I also was using one of those tapestry needles with the bend in the end. Whose idea was this? Every single time I've used these needles, it's been annoying! I don't know what that bend is good for, other then to aim in the <i>opposite</i> direction than where I am headed. Stupid. </div><div><br /></div><div>So now I'm chugging a Minute Maid Lite Lemonade, waiting for the kids to go "poof" into the night. Then I'll attempt this <strike>bitchener</strike> Kitchener stitch again. Don't worry, my attitude will be stellar. Promise.</div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-90300948632203525342010-02-06T20:52:00.007-05:002010-02-07T11:15:00.288-05:00On Knitting Socks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP5VFU8clKHr1urbt2f_j9x3xfb46j8pFMgwpApuCPd66noaRINgsCQn3VZWky1hAxEOtDbx5HxI06VQTiDeaEserZAWQEf2_BNhXkygbjEQZKol9HinARuDy5dP7pd-32fkz6LXDkXDc/s1600-h/basicsock.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435533977692859602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP5VFU8clKHr1urbt2f_j9x3xfb46j8pFMgwpApuCPd66noaRINgsCQn3VZWky1hAxEOtDbx5HxI06VQTiDeaEserZAWQEf2_BNhXkygbjEQZKol9HinARuDy5dP7pd-32fkz6LXDkXDc/s320/basicsock.jpg" /></a>Yes, I am finally knitting socks. It's been said that any knitter worth her salt simply <em>must</em> be able to knit socks. I am not sure if I agree, but hey, they will say anything to drive you to do something before which you'd normally have to smoke a joint to get the gumption to do!<br /><br />I tried to knit socks over a year ago, and ended up casting on a total of three times, getting the stitches twisted on my DPN's <em>every</em> single time. I gave up. Of course, I should mention that I was sitting in a smelly Blazer in the middle of winter, trying like anything not to inhale as much exhaust as I knew I was. But that's beside the point.<br /><br />I put that ball of sock yarn away, thinking that "another time will be better". Since then, I've taken a gander at sock patterns here and there, got the concept of sock shaping down in my brain, and still didn't think enough of it to pull that ball of sock yarn out again and give it another go. I don't know what prompted me to do so this time, but I had success!<br /><br />Knitting a sock is a whole lot like building a house, I've decided. Shaping as you go, decreasing, short rows, changes in stich patterns for different areas of the sock; well, it all makes me feel very intelligent. When I turned my first heel and saw the little pocket it made, I was floored that I had done such a <em>cool</em> thing.<br /><br />The teeny tiny size 1 needles should have put me off, at least a <em>little.</em> But I was actually excited. They feel delicate in my hands. This tiny yarn, when knit with these <em>tiny</em> needles, is actually dense and lush. There will be no other sock quite like this one...with the exception of the <em>second</em> sock, which in a perfect world should match it, in some way, shape, or form (but I'm not holding my breath).<br /><br />So, I've come to see the vast appeal of sock knitting. I am understanding the incredible addiction that knitters feel for this nifty little project, and I am determined not to succomb to the obsession. A pair of socks here and there is fine. But carrying a pair-in-progress with me everywhere I go is a bit over the top. Or is it? They <em>are</em> the perfect portable project, if you don't mind showing off what it's like to knit with porcupine-like needles sticking out in every direction. Or if you don't mind odd looks and stares from people who actually realize that, yes, you ARE knitting a SOCK. I can read their minds. "Is this chick crazy? Why doesn't she just go to Wal-Mart and BUY her socks? She's crazier than a bag of hammers...."<br /><br />Fact is, what do these people think we did before Hanes and Fruit of the Loom? I doubt they'd ever stopped to think about it. Knitting socks seems to be yet another way a person can link up to the past. Just like spinning, weaving, and a myriad of other seemingly dying arts (thankfully not so much anymore), knitting a sock takes me to a place in the past where a husband would wait patiently for his new pair of socks that his wife was knitting by the fireside. And that first time he pulled them on, he smiled. Because there was nothing like the feel of a new hand-knitted sock on his hairy 'ole pioneer foot. And there still isn't anything like that feeling. In this age of moisture-wicking socks and high-tech fabrics, we've lost that simple, heavenly feeling of the hand-knit sock. Such a shame.<br /><br />My socks are a blend of wool, bamboo, and nylon. Still a far cry from the simple, scratchy wool that our fore-mothers knit with, but hey, that was a long time ago, and advances have to be made, right? But if you really <em>want</em> that simple, scratchy wool, you can still have it. You'd better have the 'ole pioneer foot to go with it, though.<br /><br />So, here's to the humble, hand-knit sock. I'm going to love these. And I'm sure I'm going to join the ranks of all the other sock-knitters who have an obsession for these little architechtural wonders. I needed another hobby like a hole in the head. Thank goodness that it's still just.....knitting!Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-8458118105300482692010-01-28T08:54:00.004-05:002010-01-28T09:53:43.264-05:00On My Lack of Blogging...and George<div>I know it's been months. I KNOW. What have I been doing? </div><br /><div>Well, I've taken a detour. In September, I decided it was time to "date" again. Not that I needed to, really. I just decided that it would be fun, and I <em>wanted</em> to. To make a very long story short, I am now seeing an interesting man who I think is just marvelous. Trouble is, he's extremely guarded, and I don't believe for one second that he should be dating at all. My work is cut out for me...I need to escape from my feelings for him before I get really hurt badly. And that's not an easy thing for me to do. </div><br /><div>I firmly believe that as emotionally guarded and detatched as he is, he needs someone just as much the exact <em>opposite</em> as him to love him. I am not sure if he would agree, but these kinds of people never see what they really need. They can only see what they don't want. </div><br /><div>I care about him <em>deeply</em>. The loss would definetely be his if I walked away, but I am the only one that would feel the pain. Just to be fair, I will say that he has been straightforward and upfront with me from the very beginning. He wanted to "have fun", and of course, so did I. It's a known fact that men can "have fun" WAY longer than women can, and so here I am, wondering where the "fun" is going to backfire on my heart.</div><br /><div>Why am I so wrapped up in this man? Many reasons. He's got my respect, for one HUGE thing. He's a PhD associate professor, an expert in his field in the USA and Europe, a musician, and a writer. He plays piano with the notes flowing from his fingers, and singing with him at the piano is nothing short of magic for me. I keep thinking it's the music most of all, but it's more. I love watching him <em>think</em>...watching the process, his face, his eyes. He is a brilliant man, and I love his smile, his laugh, and his quirkiness. He <em>is</em> the "fuddy professor", and I adore it.</div><br /><div>So, the quagmire of emotions that he isn't able to feel is all over me. Because I <em>can</em> feel them all, no problem. And it's very dangerous. </div><br /><div>I've decided to throw myself back into my work. Every indication has told me to do this all along, and I've trudged my way through, agreeing completely, but not being able to separate my thoughts from George in order to buckle down and get things done. This isn't healthy for me, and I have to knock it off. I am suffering, my resources are suffering, and why? It's ridiculous.</div><br /><div>Working is good for me; it always has been. But in the back of my mind is this:<br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431803547986364226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQhx6IZM_uy56skVhzrmZwGjSal4AiCOMrsYmmo_bnH-md6lBTunMA3Ygfb__lLIOAnsawS605is8j3rmzOMc1EouYoqTrEaFL_JrMpeNEPakXc8kmpMrkyBRsCeM8XnCaHrTx8hMN_6e/s320/juliegeorge.jpg" /><br /><div></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-47196561674020150952009-09-06T00:36:00.003-04:002009-09-06T00:54:30.258-04:00Counting Down the Days...I simply cannot believe the summer is almost at the end. It seems like it never really came, come to think about it. The weather only got hot a handful of days, and a majority of those days, I was in the hospital, so I missed it all. Sheesh.<br /><br />The kids will all be back in school next week. I can hardly get over it. I am a bit nervous as to how transportation will go; three kids in three different schools. I can get Rehanna and Conner to school, but Alex will have to be dragged along, only to come home and have a 45-minute-wait until his bus picks him up. I really hate dragging him out of bed for all that, but, as a single mom, this is what has to be done. Last year I had the wonderful blessing of respite care coming for an hour in the morning to stay with Alex, but she ended up getting herself fired after I found nude pictures of her on one of our computers. (sigh). I didn't mind her using the computer, but this was the <em>kids'</em> computer, and apparently those chats she was having online must've been pretty heated! I tried not to imagine what Conner would have said had he accidentally opened that folder of photos, which sat proudly <em>on the desktop, bearing her name!!</em>! What am I, a magnet for these people? I swear...<br /><br />So anyway, I lost my "morning helper". Pfft. Yeeeaaah.<br /><br />So, what have I been up to? Well, besides getting ready for the back to school rush, I have been working more hours at work, and there will be more to come. I have piles and piles of $150 jeans to hem. And after this weekend, there will be even more.<br /><br />I've also be itching to knit something...anything! Every since my last shawl had to get dropped because I (gulp) ran out of yarn, I've not wanted to start anything else. All I have to do is just order another ball of the stupid yarn. Not hard. But I can't being myself to just order <em>one</em> ball of yarn from KnitPicks. It's just not <em>done.</em> KnitPicks orders always must be at least $50. It's an unwritten law. Now of course, there's like $300 I could spend there. But it just isn't the right time for that.<br /><br />However, I came across this pattern today on Rav:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://images4cf.ravelry.com/uploads/druding/12971197/moplus-mitershawl-back1_medium.jpg" />Now, I have like over 1000 yards of new handspun that I recently finished up. It is <em>screaming</em> to be this shawl. I swore I didn't want to make another shawl. I really wanted to do a sweater, even the one I've been designing. But nooooo. This pattern had to come along and change all that. Maybe if I at least get that last ball of yarn ordered for my other shawl, I will feel better about starting this one. Good logic? Maybe! <p>That's all for now...I know, terribly exciting, no?<br /></p>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-17854313485887460042009-08-23T20:38:00.004-04:002009-08-23T21:04:03.480-04:00Never Give Away Your Fat Pants...I don't care how big they are. You <em>will</em> need them again, trust me.<br /><br />I have two main pairs of fat pants. The biggest are black (of course) and made out of stretch terry knit (of course!). The second are some too-big blue jeans. Last Thursday I was very grateful for both pairs.<br /><br />I hadn't been feeling good, and thought for sure that if I could just go to the bathroom, all would be well. You know how <em>that</em> story goes. Well, the bathroom was not my friend. I went to Wal-mart, school shopping for the kids with my mother, and thought to hit the pharmacy area to find some sort of medicine. I knew I had laxatives at home. So, I bought some anti-diarrheal. Figured I'd approach the problem from both sides, right? By now, the entire front of my torso was either stabbing in pain, or was so sore from being in pain that I could neither stand up straight or walk very fast. Walking, in fact, was a feat.<br /><br />So I vowed that if it wasn't better by thursday morning, I would go to emergency. Well, it wasn't any better after a long sleepless night, and I went in. How I drove there, I have no idea. All I can recall about <em>getting</em> there was that someone saw me outside my car and brought me a wheelchair. I was standing there, clutching the car door, wondering how the hell I was gonna get from "A" to "B". But hey, if I keeled over in the parking lot of the emergency room I couldn't possibly be in a better place, right?<br /><br />Long story short, I <em>really </em>had this thing all figured out before I went to the hospital. This was a kidney stone. HAD to be. I had all the right symptoms. I felt very positive that the doc would give me some pain meds, nicely tell me that I had to wait it out, pass the stone, and life would go on. Follow up with your doctor, miss. So I thought.<br /><br />But my fave emergency room doc, Dr. Zuckerman (yes, just like the famous pig), sat down and informed me that "Ms. Benac, well...your a <em>mess</em>..." That was not a cool thing to hear. Turns out that something was possibly wrong with my gall bladder, I had an acute case of diverticulitis, and on top of everything, an ovarian cyst the size of a golf ball. When he told me they were going to keep me for "a couple days" I simply looked at him and said "WHAT???"<br /><br />You see, this was NOT part of the whole kidney stone diagnosis I had done on myself. Damn.<br /><br />So, in I went, and I was not happy. The Michigan Fiber Fest was in two days. I'd never be able to go. All of my saving and planning, down the tubes. What a total <em>bummer</em>.<br /><br />It was a confusing time, to say the least. I waited to hear from doctors what on earth was happening with my body. Friday evening, I got up yet again to go pee, fed up with the damned IV and all the fluid it pumped through me. Of course, I had no complaints about the pain meds and antibiotics it also delivered! But sheesh, I was peeing like every half an hour. It was getting old. I had just gone, and the nurses arrived with a sheepish smile on their faces. "Do you think you could pee in a cup for us?" I wanted to snarl. But I was kind. It was only a matter of time before I could go again, anyway. The nurse said "well, it's just standard pre-op procedure, you know, they have to have a urine samp-...."<br /><br />"Excuse me??" I said. "Back up a minute...did you say PRE-OP????" WHAT OPERATION?<br /><br />The nurses got wide-eyed and looked at each other. "You mean, no one told you?" they asked. "Well, oh...we can't say anything else! The doctor hasn't been here?"<br /><br />Noooo, no doc had come. No one except a charge nurse who had informed me that I couldn't eat anything because I might be having more "tests" that evening. Right as my dinner was being placed in front of me, it was wisked away. Buggers. But somehow the "test" had become surgery. and I had no idea for what. Well, soon I found out that they wanted to remove the ovarian cyst, and I was fine with that. Just wish I would've known. That would have been nice. I was in the hospital for a total of five days. I couldn't read, had no internet other than on my phone, and could do nothing but just lay there. It was <em>worse</em> than prison.<br /><br />So, I now have two neat little incisions. One in my belly button, and one about three inches below it, each about one inch long. They are healing up very well. they glued them shut. Just amazing.<br /><br />My fat pants have a place of honor in my life. When my tummy swelled up and hurt after surgery, my fat pants were there, in all their non-binding love for me. I'm doing fine now, and all my buddies and customers online were sending all the well-wishes they could muster. I felt them, guys! I really did! Thank you soooooo much!! You all made the pain and bitterness of missing the Fiber Fest a little easier to handle. Now it's back to life as I know it...Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-16058208283196209492009-07-31T10:49:00.008-04:002009-07-31T11:29:07.483-04:00On Spiders and Tourette's Ticks...Yes, such is the scourge of living by the lake. Shoreline spiders are just part of life. I have decided, though, that I actually prefer the bigger spiders over the hundreds of teeny, tiny ones that I turn my head and see all the time. Drives me nuts. The bigger ones you SEE, they startle you, you reach for the swatter, and BAM, they are dead. The little ones you squint and see, much to your alarm, that there are webs all over the place where, twenty minutes ago, there were none. Little freakin' buggers. Not to mention the outside of my house, which looks like a blender full of spider-crud barfed everywhere.<br /><br /><div>On another note, I finally found a bag for this enormous new computer I have. I have not been able to find anything that would fit a 17" laptop PC. I wanted something cool. Something different. I ran across this company called Isis Dei. Now, not only was the name cool...named after my favorite Goddess...but their products are awesome. This is the one I got:<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364637903608410338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kMhFP700m8s/SnMFwBEs8OI/AAAAAAAAAGI/yKva1K85PLk/s320/punk21.jpg" />Doncha just love the Isis statues all over it??! And this was not expensive either...amazing! I really wanted to make one, out of some cool Amy Butler fabric or something like that, but I couldn't find the high-density foam that would provide the protection I wanted. So, I figured I would have to spend $60 to $80 for a nice bag. But...not so! this one was less than thirty bucks!<br /><br />Conner's been tick, tick, ticking away lately, like a time bomb. I always worry when I see him go off on a flinching, wincing, jerking, outburst-ing spree. Makes me wonder if he is worried about something, thinking about something in particular that is making him stressed. I know that his hormones are RULING his body right now, and probably that has a lot to do with it. But I worry. Being autistic is hard enough...add to that a bunch of uncontrolled jerking and loud vocalizing, and you have a recipe for a kid who just doesn't fit in. It makes me sad, but it also makes him so special. I love him so darned much.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364643213373167266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIbtxb1CC0sEI6AknbfNvNie3LKQrNLaoVk0C45mpJwS9Gd_Cn2dUftAWgoFqPHxhZstvMglzeS06Cu0LDBJe0F3TWDgvb1gCtbLPDjXC9lNEXVUi910Irb8oI2QVGDM3rzn3YXfFsWpt/s320/connerbear.jpg" />On another note...I am gearing up for the <a href="http://www.michiganfiberfestival.info/">Michigan fiber Fest</a>! I am SO excited! I've got my new bags ready for storing the fleeces I get, and I have two payments put down on my drum carder. Eight more to go! I don't think I will have a ton of money to spend there, but I don't usually. I have two more dyeing opportunities to raise money for my little trip to Allegan, MI. However, I am getting my new 33-qt canner today from UPS! This means I can steam 12 packets at a time, which means I can put more up in my shop when I update. Yay!<br /><br />Well, I am off. I have to work today, blech. But staying up late is taking it's toll. I wanna go back to bed. Instead, I should get on the bike and spin for a while. Like that's gonna happen??!!<br /><div></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-89434800709476098192009-07-26T10:47:00.008-04:002009-07-26T11:33:54.640-04:00Gearing Up...What have I been doing? Well, lots of work...and I am loving it! With the launching of my ArtFire shop, I've gotten some wonderful orders, and they've kept me really, really busy. I've been encouraging my ladies to look through my "sold items" on Etsy, too...just about anything there can be dyed again. Where would I be without my recipes, eh?!<br /><div><br />Upon discovering <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/">Colourlovers.com </a>a couple months ago, I am finally getting into it. For anyone who puts colors together, for any reason, this site is worth it's weight in gold! (If you are typing it in manually instead of following the link, please note the British spelling of the word "colour"). Dyeing up new colorways is always exciting for me. Will they come out like I saw them in my head? Will the colors all run together and make MUD?? Or something beautiful?? These are a bunch of new colorways, going to the Etsy shop tonight:<br /></div><p><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362784216848733474" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE1Yw4Ys9VrM6NlUDEs7ATteEAiBZBUEA7YpMmpUXmWkNWgl9bs87fDHd60hr5Nzs-ebiG2O-5oUzcaaRAfylQSYVhiQthMQN8hOouuZjArKF45hq5lkfN4X_qECSKFlx7bfNU3aLDzoY/s320/DSCF1800.jpg" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362783778572401250" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYOWZBEeC2pyE0rSWcsiKwx35MGiwBS33hIJLpi1Quz3M71bOGJuBYbsVMFAqDL55KBjYX-ruQdHifYxcuoRBuZBNBIOmRR3bRHY_UIiJsXZb3GyWXVlJttZmhi0nIiJyOA0cB2f0yGmP/s320/DSCF1799.jpg" border="0" /></p><div>Sometime I HATE what the rovings look like when I take them out of the steaming pots. It puts me in a really foul mood. Just ask my daughter! But somehow, as they dry overnight, they take on a new life, and almost a new appearance to my eye. </div><br /><div></div><div>One thing I know for sure...with all these orders, I desperately need another 33-qt canning pot with rack. I'm just gonna have to spring for one. I can't find one on freecycle or Craigslist. Seems like everyone is hanging onto their mom's big pot! I thought for sure I'd be able to find one, but maybe more and more people are discoving the appeal of canning and preserving. Not a bad thing in this day and age...</div><br /><div></div>And now that I've finished spinning Jackie-the Alpacie, I've been throwing all sorts of wool onto the wheel! i just finished spinning up the first of three bundles of roving that I got from the <a href="http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Red-Barn-Farm-Spin-Weave-Knit__W0QQ_armrsZ1">Red Barn Farm from eBay</a>. What LOVELY wool! And the price was amazing! It came out to be like $1.87 per ounce! Here's the original combed top, called "Emerald Purple":<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 399px; display: block; height: 337px;" alt="" src="http://i20.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/c2/dc/53c1_1.JPG" border="0" /><div></div>And here is the spun yarn...380 yards from 4 oz. After soaking and finishing, it should come up to be a heavy fingering or DK weight:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbUaS3BHVV5Sxbvpv5wOJGfvFX-U2n7XEOZ_Ed7B8I4ha9aZ498jIRDt3_nVWuOL7pFgpRkQLd9O7PJYvEv_sLzqkRNC1yIusP1wap0UZuC4dllZLmzjXgqhilB66hmSeD3E_BCvLNBlj/s1600-h/DSCF1801.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbUaS3BHVV5Sxbvpv5wOJGfvFX-U2n7XEOZ_Ed7B8I4ha9aZ498jIRDt3_nVWuOL7pFgpRkQLd9O7PJYvEv_sLzqkRNC1yIusP1wap0UZuC4dllZLmzjXgqhilB66hmSeD3E_BCvLNBlj/s320/DSCF1801.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362788385952158146" border="0" /></a>And here's some other spinning, too. the beige one is a free fiber sample from Carol at Sheep Shed. The delicious green is from a pound of alpaca/wool roving that I got in Davisburg at the Alpaca Show in May, and the large skein is my very own colorway "Little Traverse Bay"...a gorgeous merino that spun up like a dreeeaam:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG-cYdp6kHQGb4gt-Z8Gxq22VAfKE3oA_HKOEk6_LfodAj6C_dCgHhVxJB7vRfd6LjDx-e_gmas1ltL773BNyr6_K3rKRAF8GEPCF19RGbZSFCItn1oL_4_4ysm1-DMKlMFLRPwLR8STc/s1600-h/DSCF1794.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG-cYdp6kHQGb4gt-Z8Gxq22VAfKE3oA_HKOEk6_LfodAj6C_dCgHhVxJB7vRfd6LjDx-e_gmas1ltL773BNyr6_K3rKRAF8GEPCF19RGbZSFCItn1oL_4_4ysm1-DMKlMFLRPwLR8STc/s320/DSCF1794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362789159783603634" border="0" /></a>Little Traverse has some really interesting colors that seems to flow out of it as I spun...colors that I intend on dyeing up into beautiful colorway. Where the dark red and teal blended, a beautiful plum color came up, and mixed with the touches of toffee, it was just beautiful. I don't know if I can sell this one. Just don't know!<br /><br />Coming in just a couple weeks is the Michigan Fiber Fest! This will be my first time going, and I can't wait to see so many of my Michigan buddies from Rav. Plus, this will be my first time buying fresh fleeces that I intend to take home and process completely myself. I bought two fleeces in Maine, but left them there with a processor, as I don't think that my fellow airplane passengers would have appreciated the smell of a sheep barnyard on the flight! The fleeces wouldn't have fit in the luggage compartment anyway...although I think I could have stuffed them up there. That's a sure-fire way to get a compartment all to yourself, huh??!! "Oh, sorry about yout suitcase, sir...no biggie, that's just a little bit of sheep poop. What's you're problem??"<br /><br />And by September, I should have my drum carder!! I have put one in layway, and I'm so excited! I can't wait to be able to blend fibers and colors into beautiful, subtle creations. Here's the one I am getting:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kMhFP700m8s/Smx1yFbhi1I/AAAAAAAAAF4/sXFKKd79Rmc/s1600-h/AshDrumCarder2spd_LRG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kMhFP700m8s/Smx1yFbhi1I/AAAAAAAAAF4/sXFKKd79Rmc/s320/AshDrumCarder2spd_LRG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362790759602948946" border="0" /></a>It's not just about having another product to sell. It's about seeing how my colors mix and interact, and adjusting accordingly. It's about being one step closer to the process of spinning, and/or felting. Applying color to fiber is simple enough. But those colors blend visually as you spin, and unexpected things can happen. This drum carder is going to be SUCH an asset to me!<br /><div><br /></div>Okay, I'm off! The daughter wants to go to the state park (Sterling) for me to take nice photos of her for her MySpace. There might even be a nice pic or two of the both of us!<br /><p></p>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-4555343099446742842009-06-24T13:56:00.003-04:002009-06-24T14:07:43.368-04:00Some Beefs on my Way Out the Door...Okay, so everyone has to just GRIPE sometimes, right? And yes, I know...if these are my biggest problems of my week, I'll be doing GREAT. I know. I know....<br /><br />1. On the way to the post office my A/C fan dies. AGAIN. Just had it fixed last week. How hot is it today? 90 degrees. Yuppers. And now I have to dash off to the eye doctor. There's gonna be some sweaty eyes for her to look at...<br /><br />2. Shipping charges. Now I have a REALY BIG beef here. I ordered yarn from a company. They pull the cones off the shelf, throw them in a box, and slap a label on. 4 Lbs. OVER TEN DOLLARS for UPS shipping. Second scenario: I order 13 Lbs of wool that has to be pulled out, WEIGHED, packaged in plastic, and put in a box to ship. And this is for EACH TYPE of wool ordered. Package is about 14 pounds total...cost? About $14. Now you tell me...WHY does the 4 pounds thrown into a box cost over TEN BUCKS? And the distance for shipping, by the way, is about the SAME. Next scenario: A piece of software from Jo-Ann.com. Literally, a CD case. $9.95 for shipping. Are you <em>kidding</em>?? Shipping is always a bone of contention. I know, as a seller, that I have to cover way more than just the cost of shipping itself. There are the boxes and bags to cover, and other stuff. But come on, get REAL.<br /><br />3. You know my spinning stool that I endured immense stupidity to get? I hate it. HATE IT. I'm going to Ikea to get one. What am I gonna do with this? I dunno. Put it in the closet for extra dinner seating. For all the dinners I don't cook. Yeah.<br /><br />4. That's all!Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-58645988270135279212009-06-20T09:55:00.002-04:002009-06-20T10:08:48.467-04:00ArtFire is Divine!<a target="_blank" href="http://artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=15274"><img src="http://artfire.com/images/banners/h.gif" alt="ArtFire - Buy Handmade - Sell Handmade" title="ArtFire - Buy Handmade - Sell Handmade"/></a><br /><br />Well, I finally got my ArtFire shop up and running! A few months ago, I jumped on the charter member offer that they had, not really knowing how I would proceed with it. I already was building a presence on Etsy, but knew that ArtFire looked REALLY cool. So, I decided. ArtFire is where I am offering custom-dyed fiber, where you can order up to two pounds of any colorway you would like. This is great for anyone who knows about how much fiber they will need for a project...someone who might not want to just play around with four ounces of fiber, but wants to spin for a sweater or other project. Of course, four-ounce sizes are offered, so if you wanna play around with these wonderful colorways, well, go right ahead! I posted some of my favorites, and those that my customers have favored. I am looking forward to see how it does!<br /><br />With this idea in place, I can concentrate on developing new colorways, and offering them on Etsy. When they do well, and I know they are dependable recipes that will repeat well, I will offer them on ArtFire, for anyone to purchase whatever quantity they need, larger or small!<br /><br />Check out the shop...plus I am going to see about adding it to Blogger here, where you can purchase right from Blogger! (How cool is that??)<br /><br /><div id="dmi"><a href="http://lakehouseloft.artfire.com/">Visit LakeHouseLoft's ArtFire Shop</a></div><br /><br /><!-- END ARTFIRE MINI VIEWER-->Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-34280695516714371252009-06-16T22:08:00.004-04:002009-06-16T22:14:06.228-04:00Is It Any Wonder??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0TcMVS-WgEF9j2Oyus4GI3iTZ6-i37ZNhAjF7_jN9vlKrRm6vs7lSp5Qr76Siwb4Hz9YlfIGFtK-wvwIRsqIlu2dcHqLgG6KhQxMWQ8r8b78AFzUiLrP9QDGthzUsZ2Rje6T1SyKRUo5/s1600-h/bagsboysweb.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 317px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348112916136995394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0TcMVS-WgEF9j2Oyus4GI3iTZ6-i37ZNhAjF7_jN9vlKrRm6vs7lSp5Qr76Siwb4Hz9YlfIGFtK-wvwIRsqIlu2dcHqLgG6KhQxMWQ8r8b78AFzUiLrP9QDGthzUsZ2Rje6T1SyKRUo5/s320/bagsboysweb.jpg" /></a> ...that I need therapy?? These are my two dear boys, Conner and Alex. This particular fashion statement happened to be Alex's idea. I just stood and stared. Really. What else could I do? After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I took this photo.<br /><br />This all came about because I warned Alex to absolutely NOT under ANY circumstances put a bag over his head.<br /><br />Ahem...Okay. Well, he had to put the bag over <em>something</em>. So he aimed for the other end. Good Boy!Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-11311972112693218812009-06-15T10:55:00.007-04:002010-02-10T21:35:38.795-05:00Where Have I Been??Well, I'll tell you! I've been busy, frustrated, and busy some more!<br /><br />My computer decided to not make spaces between words. Well, it would...with MUCH effort and pounding on the space bar. The whole machine was running a bit hot, and things were just so sluggish. I was planning my trip to Maine, saving up my money, and the thought of saving up for a new computer made me a little sick to my stomach.<br /><br />Now, my computer was built on March 15, 2002. that's pretty danged <em>old</em>. In fact, it's REALLY old. And you know, it's still a nice machine. It's a Pentium 4, 2.6Ghz, and I had a 160 GB harddrive in it. It had a Gig of RAM, and it really ran quite fast, all things considered. The display was dark, though, making my photo editing difficult. And the keyboard; well, we won't go there.<br /><br />So!! I figured out a way to get a new puter for six months free interest!! I am so delighted. This is a GORGEOUS machine:<br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347570266063368114" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kMhFP700m8s/SjZi0wgl77I/AAAAAAAAAE4/wkzyxIOkd9Y/s320/bronzegoddess.jpg" />Of course, one laptop looks like any other. But this thing is HUGE...it's got a 17" screen that I love. And the entire thing is <em>bronze</em>. I am delighted!</p><p>Now, for my trip to Maine. It was wonderful! The Maine Fiber Frolic was great! I picked up two fleeces...really nice ones, and left them in Maine for processing. I decided that until I have a drumcarder, I am not going to try to attempt to process anything myself. I also got 8 ounces of some lovely dyed roving, and three bars of handmade soap. And I found a Spinner's Control Card, and a jug of Eucalon.</p><p>Upon arriving home, I had over 50 pairs of jeans waiting for me at The Buckle. Ann Arbor lost their tailor, so I picked them up. Ugh...three days in a row of sewing, sewing, sewing! I have today off, then it's back to work tomorrow. Ah well, the money will be nice.</p><p>After all, the Michigan Fiber Fest is coming up...<br /></p>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-52423369233725924312009-05-18T13:08:00.004-04:002009-05-18T13:21:02.796-04:00The Saga of my Spinning Stool...Some people, I swear, need to wear Jeff Foxworthy's "sign"...STUPID. On their foreheads. Or somewhere else quite visible. People, yes...but you wouldn't expect that, nor <em>want that</em> with an online seller.<br /><br />Okay, so I find this cute little stool that I think would be perfect for spinning. I'm tired of using a dis-placed dining room chair. I wanted something small, with a padded seat. I found it. It's perfect:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213041119393634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kMhFP700m8s/ShGW-66A92I/AAAAAAAAAEw/dL2R2cr4fGk/s320/188661527_o.jpg" border="0" /> So anyway, I find the listing, and it says it's for a purple stool. I wanted this burgundy one. The ad said "please contact us for other colors shown!" Okay, so I write to the guy (or girl, whoever....you can pick him/her out by the "STUPID" sign on their forehead) and I say "I'd love to have this in burgundy". Seller says "okay, just write a note in Paypal comment box and let us know." <p>Great!! No prob! So that's what I did, AND I sent off another note through eBay to remind them that although I bid onthe PURPLE stool auction, I wanted a BURGUNDY stool.</p><p>Next note I get: "I am not sure if I have the burgundy in stock."</p><p>Okaaaaay. So I send a note back. "Pink would be fine."</p><p>Next note: "We are out of the PURPLE. Is PINK okay?"</p><p>OMG. I am in disbelief as to the absolute idiocy of this dialogue. Now, here's something ELSE to keep in mind thru all this. My eCheck cleared back on May SEVENTH. I still don't have this stool. Not in burgundy, not in purple (which I never wanted), and not even in pink. Heck, at this point, I'll TAKE IT in neon green polka dots!</p><p>So...I have NO idea what these people are going to write next. And was the burgundy <em>really </em>out of stock?? The world may never know.</p><p>And gee, guys, I'm <em>so</em> sorry. Didn't see yer SIGN.</p><p></p>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-58971335265948580342009-05-18T09:03:00.008-04:002009-05-18T09:37:25.658-04:00Rehanna, My Young Lady<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLKw-9YT3E9cDPl2s-2XZckfX01q8j2wi8HsdU864bislBWTprTv0ovpi9B6T5QR580ClC-EbuqFyUlfdHty436y5MmKOzAvIO1QiRz5MCLmMP5uZumnsd18n5aahtvQtfDueOTFcpjlm/s1600-h/darkkk7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337152527498521970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLKw-9YT3E9cDPl2s-2XZckfX01q8j2wi8HsdU864bislBWTprTv0ovpi9B6T5QR580ClC-EbuqFyUlfdHty436y5MmKOzAvIO1QiRz5MCLmMP5uZumnsd18n5aahtvQtfDueOTFcpjlm/s320/darkkk7.jpg" border="0" /></a> On Friday, my daughter, Rehanna turned 15 years old. While I can still hardly believe it, I am learning the nuances of being a mother and seeing the time slip by so quickly. Soon, I know she will be gone, and I will still be, in my heart, out at the curb waiting for a school bus to bring her home.<br /><div>I remember her very first day of kindergarten...when we waited for her to return home, and she didn't...not until past 5:00pm. The bus driver had gotten lost, and we were absolutely BESIDE ourselves with worry. But soon, we saw her bus, and there Rehanna was, at five years old, telling the bus driver how to get her home. That's my girl.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337153332123053026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg155BzJ0Ed8j3GJTA4_3kRGGCJ6yLyldp-3kIlBrxmSuiOO0YZP2DnVcX1JTtC9gzbtXLU4x47V_hLvWkjvPVOb5v0cPKOkZMuJtyuhyF390-_n8u7bGV4Zv-DMa16vghN4Us-q_-xRXra/s400/waitingforbus.jpg" border="0" /> As she grew up, she took it upon herself to become a little mother hen to her autistic brothers, much as I tried hard to let her "just be a kid"...it just wasn't in her. I endured harsh criticism from certain ones of my family, that I "let this happen", but I assure you, I did not! Some children, in situations with disabled siblings, just follow that path all on their own. Or maybe Rehanna sensed that I needed help. In that case, perhaps I was a bit of a failure, I don't know. All I know is that Rehanna developed a <em>fierce</em> sense of loyalty...and it spills over to every other relationship in her life.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337156913475390066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwk96KYTury6c32xfIjrhhOtrqaSMdbB7NHFTq0dteoc8UqBEl3gZy2LNNJCg7ncQv6CqsFia4WkQTSrpjJlLC6FZ7zlvfZlgsDqy6mjID-v5CO_KHbB1iLxVvMxu5VX9MqP5hSOIBKfq/s320/ALEX&REHANNA.jpg" border="0" />As she has gotten older, Rehanna's been plagued with hard choices, some of which she has chosen wrongly. But I love her no matter what. She is still amazing to me, still a HUGE winner, and smarter than any other kid I know her age. There isn't much that gets past her.<br /><br /><div>So...15 years ago, I had my first child. A single mom, living with my own mother, but I wasn't exactly young and stupid. I was 25 years old and had a good job. I only wished I could have spent more time with her as a baby. I used to come home from work, and pick up her sleeping little body out of her crib and just hold her. I couldn't stop kissing her sweet little cheeks. She was a <em>darling</em> baby.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337155715338137090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0B_mytf9r4G5l0GAf2FpkKLAOU-XN4ZlOyeoJt-0eCfg6vqUFpOH90zuA6E7c-dCbdzfzb2sqsPCKIhEsfZmmMBF4tHr2Mo_f5lD3hER2sSv9_NLzcYlPmqFhDzqd-Jt81jKdjLtUHHc/s320/rehannajumber.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>And now, she's a young woman, and I am stunned that the time has passed. I've been so wrapped up in my own life, my own mistakes...I worry I wasn't there for her like I should have been.</div><br /><div>My beautiful Rehanna, I love you <em>so</em> much. And I want you to know that I'll <em>always</em> be here for you. There is no exit sign at the door when you turn eighteen. There is no time limit to my love, and there's no gun to your head to be anything you don't want to be.</div><br /><div>I love you, honey.</div></div></div></div></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-77832804121669531872009-05-08T09:32:00.002-04:002009-05-08T09:45:20.832-04:00My Domain Works! LakeHouseLoft.Com!Stupid me! Here's I've had a domain since December of last year. I started my Etsy shop around that time, and figured "oh, I'll get around to building a site for my domain name sometime or other...."<br /><br />Well, once you have an Etsy shop, and a job, and KIDS, you are <em>lucky</em> if the Etsy shop gets updated on time. So, the domain just sat there. For quite a while. I had even sort of forgotten about it. But HEY!! I got a tip today...one I should have <em>known</em> without having to be told. Look what happens when you click on my domain: (er...please <em>click</em> on it, okay?)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lakehouseloft.com/">LakeHouseLoft.com</a><br /><br />Is that nifty or WHAT?<br /><br />So, yeah...DUH on me, I can hear you all saying. I'm just not as savvy as I once was.<br /><br />But, the shop is updated, and here's a little taste:<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 500px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3510499019_6c4b926e45.jpg" border="0" />And I put a notice in my shop announcement, too, that if there's anything you see in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop_sold.php?user_id=5539054">SOLD items</a>, just let me know! I keep concise records, and recipes of almost everything I dye. I can re-create almost anything I've done. Some, but <em>very</em> few of my pieces are ones that I've "flownby the seat of my pants", either to use up leftover dyes or what-have-you, but 99% of everything is measured and created just for that piece.<br /><br />So...if you go into <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop_sold.php?user_id=5539054">my SOLD items</a>, it's a whole other store to shop! Just drop me a line, and give me a couple days or so to get it dyed up for you.<br /><p>Well, it's off to the "real job" today. Bleh!</p>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-71269563821805328322009-05-07T08:37:00.003-04:002009-05-07T08:53:22.774-04:00Being a 240-Pound Mushroom is Hard Work...Yes, you guessed it, my bike is out of the shop, and this morning it was under my butt! It was a bit crushing. Two YEARS of not riding was a horrible thing to exit out of. The <em>pavement</em> itself felt like it was some sort of wall I had to get over. And I noticed inclines that I never knew were there! Everything seemed uphill. After only 1/2 mile from my house, I started to think that maybe I was just too fat and too old to try to do this again.<br /><br />And then I remembered in my "good" riding days I had a "2-mile" block...when I went out to ride and hit 2 miles, I ALWAYS wanted to just turn around and go back. And this was four years ago when I would easily ride 10 to 12 miles a day, and do 25-mile scenic rides on the weekends. So, I know that 1/2 mile seems a little soon to be wanting to keel over, but here I am, a GOOD 30 pounds heavier than I was back then. Wanting to DIE at 1/2-mile seems reasonable!<br /><br />And I know that soon, I won't want to <em>die</em> until 3/4 mile, and then 1 mile, and so on. I just can't <em>quit</em>. Because right now, as I sit and type this, the endophins are doing their "thing", and it feels totally AWESOME. There's no drug you can take that feels like this.<br /><br />So...yeah, the bike gear is fitting snugly this year, where it used to be kinda roomy. It's okay. Don't care. All I want is to be healthy and not have my back leaving me totally unable to move every single goddamned morning. I'm tired of having to clench my teeth in pain just getting the boys dressed. I'm tired of being in agonizing pain just going pee in the morning. Heck, I'm tired of just being <em>tired</em>.<br /><br />So...I have to begin somewhere, and so I did. I didn't fail, I didn't quit, and heck, I didn't even clip into my pedals, so I didn't FALL!! (Don't ask). I can't complain. I won't complain!Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-25241150516869391162009-05-03T21:21:00.007-04:002009-05-03T21:38:13.306-04:00The Alpaca Show!Well, I am now the owner of two alpaca fleeces; one of them a blue-ribbon winner at the show!<br /><br />This was truely a show for alpaca breeders, and less of a fiber event. However, if you looked and asked around, you could get almost any fleece you might want. The alpacas competed in the show in full fleece, and then went straight to the shearing booth! It was great fun to watch, especially watching "Jackie" win the blue ribbon, and then watching her get her very first shearing. And since it was her first, her fleece was as soft and fine as a cloud. Just gorgeous. I want to roll around in this stuff! Here's Jackie before the show:<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331773943793025890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ1cgHmsgEMzPRBejOUyyWm_RNCKWE3O3oYqxkCtU676zffLwj8rbwQ47Qs4Z_muozAJTrW5-EO-6tRaLftDy1iJnX8rGTaHJyobiPTq5U8r23kHdern3Cpp0j2rY6A8NOEq8Pqb3QXN0/s400/fleeceonjackieweb.jpg" border="0" />Jackie was very young, only seven months old, so she was nervous and skittish. But I managed to sink my fingers into her fleece several times, and I knew that I was going to love it!</p><div>The show took place in Davisburg, and there were so many lovely animals there. I wanted ALL the fleeces, of course! I chose Jackie for her toffee-brown color, and then I picked up another white fleece, too. The white had been sheared earlier today....so I literally got these fleeces right off the backs of the animals.</div><div><br />Watching Jackie was so much fun. Here she is, as a winner! This is Lee, Jackie's proud owner.</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331774806445479026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUh-DyfSCYzwXZ5A0mOsGN1pCwEs0UyXA-56ildpqqRgVJIiwtD8YBCSd58jgLAEg9nmPZ8-Mg4Rj19ZrNGkXRO1sdoSF25G4N7GdE6ARo1l7jnhc2_FKfVD4uzetgAu4h3YtmAeuKOqZ/s400/blueribbonweb.jpg" border="0" />Then it was on to the shearing booth. Jackie is peeking around the corner here...really <em>not digging </em>what she is seeing:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331775240202200866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSZDnI0dKlTDDaO1KF1huJA42JGMpAAksw3P59icSyo_5Y5aM7yoEjUN6icMmnuk9bv2wcHUGwTrRJf-KRwoFOBfYwch28MX9Hc3EDr4KZc99e2HkF4wDGjxEm3VGOJ1tjsb3sc2LRhMa/s400/peekingweb.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>She enters the booth, and takes a good look:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331775829600552098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa7ETbzwKr-bUhDLt3XI4CqeaAULnHhJQMst9Jl9ZNO8-aF9LCoiPZ3s_XwZDfuhlN0V6Rh9jQLMdIvub64aM9LO_eVRUwjUq1mF-RuLWwr4MEqer_P6Tp_keg6Mvr_4X3r2rKDImiBP8/s400/noway.jpg" border="0" />Let's just say that she gave them a bit of a fuss! Not too bad though. I got it on video, but just have to get it converted so I can post it here.<br />So, I'm pooped. What a fun day! Now I have to get the fleeces skirted and sent off to be processed into roving. There is <em>nothing</em> like alpaca....Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-69448360070028665172009-05-01T09:37:00.002-04:002009-05-01T09:38:17.400-04:00Happy Beltaine Everyone!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kMhFP700m8s/Sfr7OehL02I/AAAAAAAAADY/JpLjcrdzFec/s1600-h/maypole.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330849335075394402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kMhFP700m8s/Sfr7OehL02I/AAAAAAAAADY/JpLjcrdzFec/s400/maypole.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Have a Happy May Day!</div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-41294221859890273472009-04-25T09:48:00.004-04:002009-04-25T10:27:19.810-04:00The Amazing Paul Potts...Click The Link!!<a href="http://www.paulpottsofficial.com/images/photos/cache/7_-_Id_use_this_for_back_cover_I_think_medium-451x300.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 451px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.paulpottsofficial.com/images/photos/cache/7_-_Id_use_this_for_back_cover_I_think_medium-451x300.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In the light of Susan Boyle's incredible debut, I love to take a backward (and forward!) glance at Paul Potts, another of <em>Britain's Got Talent's </em>discoveries. I am just so excited for both of them. Of course, Paul has had his CD out for a couple years now, and it is FABULOUS. His new CD comes out on May 5th, and of course, I have it pre-ordered.<br /><br />And here's a word for all Paul's critics: just go F**K OFF. Paul's voice may not be perfectly trained or technically "perfect". But <em>that</em> is precisely what makes it so warm and inviting. <em>THIS</em> is what sends the tingles up our spines when we listen. Paul <em>realness</em> is what moves us to tears. He is not out there to tell the world how classical music should be sung. He is out there because he simply loves to sing. And people love to listen. His shows are <em>sold out.</em><br /><br />Let's also look at another facet of his fame: where else would a slightly "white trash" American commoner <em>ever</em> hear anything remotely classical?? Would you find this person at a Domingo concert? Most likely <em>never</em>. But you might find him listening to Paul Potts. Because Paul was at one time not so far from this...but he did have a dream. Hell, that's more than we can say about most Americans sitting on their asses every night watching reality shows. Paul is going to be a self-made legend. And I bet Susan Boyle is, too. They are the living results of simply having a dream and not being too chicken-shit to pursue it. </div><br /><div>So: here's a taste of his new album. Hold on to your seat, and bring on the box of tissues. Most of all...enjoy. Embedding was not allowed on this vid, so please click the link.</div><br /><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVYf51d8ymU">Paul Potts La Prima Volta</a></div><div></div>Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372064172779017481.post-18626253463366782502009-04-25T08:59:00.004-04:002009-04-25T09:45:28.427-04:00Nifty Creative Books And My On-Going Creative Attemps...<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IiAD4894L._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IiAD4894L._SL500_AA240_.jpg" border="0" /></a> What a marvelous book! I picked up a couple over the past weeks. Since I've only been to a couple fiber shows, I really wanted to see this book, which is an overview of the largest shows in the country. I was delighted to see the Michigan Fiber Festival included! I do NOT plan to miss this one this year. Come hell or high water, I will be there! I loved the photos and descriptions of the fleece shows...the huge tables filled with prize-winning fleeces, and the spinners lined up to buy them. There's instructions in here about how to wash a fleece (something I have no IDEA how to do), how to skirt a fleece, and even how to help out at a shearing day.<br /><br />One thing I love about Fiber and Wool Shows is that they seem to follow the "old ways"....sheep are shorn in the Spring, and most of these shows are in early May. So, those fleeces are shorn, and then go right off the sheep's back to the show.<br /><br />In the book, there's also a tidbit of info on how to hand-paint yarn, some gorgeous kitting projects, how to make your own spindle, and loads of other stuff. Had this been a book full of just pretty pictures and overviews of the shows, I would have returned it. Turns out that this wonderful book is a real keeper. Lots of REALLY useful info that I am glad to have!<br /><br /><p><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SMJJ3bEkL._AA260_.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SMJJ3bEkL._AA260_.jpg" border="0" /></a> And the next book that I treated myself with is "The Intentional Spinner" by veteran spinning diva Judith McKenzie-McCuin. Ohhh, I eagerly awaited this book! I was a bit apprehensive, though. I tend to be pretty rigid about my spinning, and I didn't want a book to start telling me how I should do things, and so on. But this book does NOT do that at all! I was delighted! With an <em>incredible </em>overview of all the different fiber types, the book would have been worth it right there. But of course, this is a book about spinning, and it delves in deep. Judith's way of writing is so laid back and easy, she makes you feel like you can do anything, and doesn't criticize if you just want to read and follow along in your mind!<br /><br />Judith goes over all the basics of spinning worsted and woolen, plus she gives awesome advice about plying do's and don'ts. Again, you can always do things your way, but she's a veteran, so why not just listen to what she has to say!<br /><br />The chapter on Yarn Design is just amazing. There's a spinning flow chart...all about cause and effect and how to get the yarn you want. There's finishing advice here, too, as well as <em>priceless</em> advice on how to store your items safely to keep the pests away. The projects in this book are yummy, too. I can't wait to make that shawl!</p><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31TKpoWRQgL._SL500_AA180_.jpg"></a><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31TKpoWRQgL._SL500_AA180_.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31TKpoWRQgL._SL500_AA180_.jpg" border="0" /></a>And this one is on the way. I should have it Monday. Now, why would I buy a book about hand-dyeing yarn? Well, because you can simply never stop learning. That's they way I see it. Plus, I've always wanted to write my own book about my dyeing methods, and I always like to see how other books compare to the book that lives in my mind. Most books I've found just aren't detailed enough. As I go through the instructions of other books I've purchased, I find so many holes in the process given. TWO books I have on dyeing wool and yarn <em>never once</em> tell the reader to cover the pot while the wool is on the stove! Okay, so call this petty. But for a beginner, this is vital info! So, let's hope this book isn't another "creative" book about "winging it" and "throwing thing in the dyepot" for your "own creative touch". I'd love to see some <em>controlled</em> stuff here. I'd love to see some honest-to-goodness <em>repeatable, dependable</em> information. Because when you know a scientific approach, your "creative touches" are based on <em>knowledge</em> about the process. And gee, I bet your results might just <em>look </em>good, too!<br /><br /><br />So...there ya have it. There are other books, too, that I am thinking of. Right now, though, I am more interested in some new music that is coming out....!Julie the LakeHouse Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03210569834747524637noreply@blogger.com0