Great Big World.

One of the things I liked most about this festival was the way it reminded me that my own little corner of the Internet is not the only little corner of the Internet.  I think that we bloggers can sometimes get into a little loop, a closed circuit where we read mostly the same people.  Perhaps it tends to happen that you know and recognize the people who were here before you and perhaps got you interested in blogging and then also the people who turned up at about the same time - your freshman classmates with whom you first felt bold enough to comment or correspond.

Once you have a blog - beloved time sink that it is - you no longer have the same amount of time to wander around following links and exploring side bars.  I try and keep roaming, I do, but it doesn't happen as much as I would like.  But the festivals bring it all out and shake it up, snow dome style.  It's been really good to wander the field and see other tales, other adventures, other moments.

Good to remember.

One of the things I tried this weekend was a Golding wheel.  I've never touched one before.  I was afraid I'd do something terrible to it and who can afford it, you know?  But I feel OK about my spinning these days, and I asked if I could take it for a test drive.

He asked me what ratio I preferred and I really didn't know how to answer.  I still am working on sorting out the mathematics of spinning in my head and while I understand the concept of ratio it isn't the terminology I think in.  But also I don't think of it as an all or nothing.  I am not particularly interested in fat yarn, so you can leave out anything like 4:1.  But other than that?  Depends on what I'm aiming for, I guess - what fiber, what weight - anything from laceweight to aran, Shetland to CVM.  One of the reasons I like the Suzie is that the range of ratio possibilities is very flexible.

The demonstration wheel was 21:1 and that felt like a pretty good one for my treadling speed and the fiber he had there - I don't know what it was other than lustrous, a bit coarse and longer stapled than I have tried before.  This wheel is really nice.  Really, really, really nice.  Perhaps because of the alloy wheel rim, the motion is particularly smooth and it was a pleasure to use one of these ornate, clever, beautiful machines.  I didn't run home and start a piggy bank for one right away....but I thought about it.

My phone rang while I was spinning so of course I couldn't answer it - I was with a new wheel and I could have stayed there all day, duh.  It turns out it was Cass and when I didn't answer she knew I was spinning. 

So she went to the Merlin Tree booth. 

And I wasn't there. 

And she was confused, very confused. 

Until Laurie called her back and told her what I was doing. 

And then it all became clear.   

When she joined me she asked if I wasn't afraid to spin on this Maybach of wheels, afraid I'd want only it, afraid the temptation would ruin me.  And the answer is - well, no.  I will happily try it again any time I get a chance - spinning on different wheels is joy and a pleasure, but for all the smooth beauty of it, the Golding isn't for me.  It was wonderful....but I didn't want to take it home for more than a fleeting instant (I want to take any wheel I meet home for at least an instant).   It didn't feel alive in my hands, it didn't feel right for me, it was too...refined, I guess.   I drive a jeep, not a luxury sedan, and I would even if I had the budget for a bimmer. 

There's a lid for every pot, you know?  And I found mine last October.

Which brings us back to The Merlin Tree.  This weekend I took delivery of my new baby and I cannot even tell you how much I love it.  The Canadian Production wheel is rustic, powerful and beautiful in a simpler, rougher way.  It's quirky, not precision.   But so am I and I adore spinning on it.  The single treadle is quick and powerful even with a fairly leisurely heel-toe pace.  It's size and scale suit my long legs and muscular strength.  I can already tell that I'll be able to spin for a long time without feeling like I'm pedaling, without feeling tedium, without tiring.

Every couple of hours this weekend I had to go back to Dave's booth and play with it.   If you wanted to find me, that was where I was.   And I can't quite bear to think about the sublime goofiness I was wearing on my face.  But you know, I'm basically happy to look foolish in such a good cause.

Unfortunately there was a slight...and I can hardly bear to write this...mishap on the way home.

   

There was some depression.  Maybe some outright crankiness.  No tears, because I have SOME perspective. 

I was very not happy.   

But I've talked to Dave and repairs will be underway ASAP. 

I'll keep you informed.

In the meantime:

 

Happy now?

Comments

[lisa Co. Springs]

Oh Juno....It. Is. Stunning. Lucky lucky you!

[vanessa]

whoohoo, i was standing close by you at rhinebeck when you were discussing the wheel and wood with dave. how exciting to see your dream come to life :-)

[Katherine]

Oh yeah, Merlin Tree--I have a Hitchhiker that I bought 3rd hand--it's a leftie (one of 5 ever made) and the wheel had gone way off kilter so I took to David on Sunday and he fixed it right up!

Then he looked in his book and there it was, left-handed Hitchhiker, owned by Katherine C_____, Greenbelt, MD! Very wierd! I must have emailed him and let him know when I bought it.

[Judy]

I am so sorry to hear of your misadventure. Sh*t happens and all will be well again. A match like this is meant to be ;).

[Linda]

You and your new wheel make such a beautiful couple. I have never seen anyone so content and happy spinning as I did while wathing you spin in MD.

Enjoy!!

[melanie]

Isn't she lovely!! The purple heart is gorgeous - I haven't seen it before and now I KNOW.

Ditto on what Julia and Kellee said.

[Alex]

Oh, that's a gorgeous wheel. Hope it's up and spinning again soon. I'm a relatively new reader (and a new spinner) and hadn't seen your October post, and I love your description of how you feel about spinning. I feel much the same, but you put it so well.

[julia fc]

True about the freshman class, and I even have a hard time keeping up with you all.
Love the wheel: prettier than my imaginings. I'll be spending time with Dave this weekend (it's still not too late to come...)

[Dorothy B]

That is a beautiful wheel.

[Rachel H]

I heard about the mishap last night. It pained me. Truly. Good to know there's a repair plan in action.

[Cadi]

Yea for Canadian Production Wheels!!

My spinning buddy just lent me her antique one; the beast comes up to my chest and needs a wrench to adjust the tension.

That said, I'm having an awful hard time with the concept of giving it back.

Enjoy!

[The Purloined Letter]

How beautiful! Keep us posted!

[Laurie]

Ouch. The need for emergency surgery is sweeping blogland! Dave is a magician. I didn't appreciate that til this festival.

It is a beautiful, beautiful creature. (I knew the noises you were making at the Golding wheel were only appreciation rather than lust.)

[Norah]

It's beautiful! Hope it gets repaired soon...

[Imbrium]

Congratulations on finally growing your third and fourth arms! You're a real Hindu goddess now! ;)

Your new wheel is beautiful...just beautiful.

[--Deb]

Oh, that wheel is BEAUTIFUL! Absolutely gorgeous. I hope its recovery is FAST!

[Beth S.]

I don't know enough about wheels to tell what's wrong with yours (except that maybe that hookish part should be attached to some other part?...) but I'm sorry it was wounded, and glad to hear that it can be repaired.

[Kellee]

Stunning. Just....stunning. And look how the purple heart and the glorious new wall color go so well together. I have no idea how I missed this when we talked about 'the new wheel', but I didn't realize that he was customing one of THE 50. Yeah, you said it, but somehow it didn't sink in. So lovely.

[Martha]

So gorgeous! Fingers crossed for a quick repair.

[Diane]

Very nice acquisition! Does your kitty snatch the drive band off the wheel while it's running? We have one that does that when he's particularly interested in spinning.

[June]

Glad you are so happy with your wheel. I tried the Golding, too, that was probably the wheel I sat with the longest that weekend. Nice feel and engineering, but his handcarving aesthetic and mine just don't jive.

Dave is *great* - really like him and his work, plus he is generous with his knowledge.

[lanea]

Holy hell, what happened to your wheel? Eeeek! I hope the repairs are quick and that she's spinning right again, and soon. It was really cool to spin on your new wheel, and it was really interesting for me to spin on a wheel that is so clearly made for someone taller than I. I mean, most people are taller than I am, but it seems like a lot of wheels assume we're all 5'6" or something. Yay customization! Yay handmade tools! Yay gogeous iron treadle!

[Cheryl]

Yes, now I am happy.

Not happy about the mishap, but happy about the pictures.

[mamacate]

Oh wow. Wow. Wow.

This one was a total suspense story. I'm glad Dave has a plan but man alive--bummer.

Sure is purty though. And I'm glad you have that meant to be feeling about it. Grin.

[Cassie]

You cranky doesn't hold a candle to mine, dude. You were admirable in your composure. Now can you please fix the baby so I can spin on it?