I Haven't Forgotten You #bloggingneglect

I've been neglecting you again, haven't I? Not deliberately, I swear. I spent the month of November attempting to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge. I did not win this year, but I do have a good start on a book that is a bit different for me. I think. I won't tell you much about it for now though. 

And yes, that does mean I now have THREE books in progress. *sigh* I know, I know. I need to get at least ONE completed for you folks soon. I'm working on it, I promise.

I've been busy in other areas as well. I've been reading, and you'll see some reviews coming out of that soon here on the blog.

I even finished my Christmas shopping early, which takes much of the stress of the Christmas season - NOT one of my favorite times of the year - off my shoulders.

Lap blanket I crocheted

And I've continued with my weekly Fibre Craft group, where I've crocheted a lap blanket for a local nursing home resident (a stranger to me) as a Christmas present. I like the bright colors. They remind me of spring.

I also accomplished something that makes me very happy.



 
 I've learned to spin wool on a drop spindle!

My frist spun wool and spindle.

I tried to learn on a spinning wheel a few years ago, but for some reason it made me anxious and frustrated so I put it aside and decided I'd wait and someday try again. I thought maybe it would be easier for me to learn on a drop spindle, so a year or so ago I purchased one and it's been sitting here in my craft stash untouched ever since.


One of my friends from the Fibre Craft group brought in her drop spindle one day and she made it look really easy - of course most of the group are very experienced spinners and they make it ALL look really easy - but we decided we'd have a drop spindle day the next week. I dug mine out of my stash and brought it to the meeting and before I knew it I was spinning. Not very well. Very thick and uneven, but still, I was spinning!






Taking wool and turning it into yarn. How cool is that? Okay, maybe some of you think it is dorky, but I'm telling you I think it totally rocks. 

My third spinning

My second attempt was a little better, and my third better yet. It's still thick and thin, but getting more consistent. It's pink and white merino, and I plied it with a beautiful commercial mulberry alpaca yarn.

4th attempt at spinning

Now on my fourth attempt, you can see it is getting much thinner and more consistent yet. My friends tell me now I've gotten the hang of spinning thinly I won't be able to spin thick and thin anymore even when I want to.





So this is what has been up with me. Now tell me, what has been up with you? I've missed you.