Well, long before I was sitting behind a spinning wheel I would spend hours at a piano. Once upon a time, long long ago I went to college to become a music teacher. Obviously that didn't happen and unfortunately I don't play my piano much anymore either. It's a shame since I started playing when I was ten years old. Honestly, I've always enjoyed playing when no one else is around and in my house full of bears, it's hard to find alone time. The other night I found myself home alone...and as I was looking through my sheet music, I came upon The Spinning Song written by Albert Ellmenreich. I remember playing that song for some performance or another when I was younger and always kept it handy because it was a fun tune and regardless the level of music you play or can read, it's always nice to go back to the basics. I picked it up and attempted to play the old tune and realized that I really need to play more. Anyways...every so often as I am spinning that song goes through my head and I thought I'd share that because anytime an addictive song is in my brain, I attempt to infect it into others. Your are welcome ;-)
It also makes me think about when people spin then take a break from spinning then start up again. I was talking to someone the other day who was super frustrated because she hadn't touched her wheel in ages and when she started to spin, everything just wasn't working right. Can one "get out of practice" with spinning? Should we return to some "basic" worsted weight yarn before attempting that fine fingering or lace weight? Art yarn? This week I have been attempting to label all of the yarn that I have spun since Christmas (that I haven't gifted, sold or knitted myself) in preparations for festival season coming up. (I took more photos on the Droid but I've been getting network errors since last night. Do I blame Picassa or Verizon? I bet it's Verizon...argh!) I have 26 new skeins that have sticky notes stuck in their folds until I can make nice labels. Not the most efficient method but at least they are labeled. I promised myself I wouldn't spin anymore until I got all of these labeled but...I already have a bunch of bobbins ready to be plied. Maybe if I play my Spinning Song a magical label fairy will come and get my yarn all ready to be sold...it's worth a try. Surprisingly, most of my yarns were shades of gray, purple and green. I guess it's time for some brighter colors to be dyed.
On the knitting front, I am finally knitting the heel of my second Walking on Sunshine sock and I am finally making some progress on the scarf that I'm weaving (and I wonder why I don't play the piano anymore). So...what fiber arts adventures have you had this week?
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Posts
I love your beautiful pile of yarn. :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I love that song. Shouldn't we all do the things we really enjoy more? Best of luck with the labeling. If I don't label everything as I finish it I don't ever get back around to it. Maybe I'll work on that aspect of my spinning next week. Have a Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post because ... I also played piano ... I also studied to be a music teacher (and I was one for 7 years)AND I used to love playing the Spinning Song too!! It sort of rolled off the fingers, didn't it? I have never used a spinning wheel but my mother-in-law has been spinning for years and I have a great appreciation for her clever spinning and dyeing, especially since I've started knitting again recently and now crocheting too. Looking forward to reading more of your blog!
ReplyDeleteYou're very talented, learning to play the piano is on my life list of things I want to do! You have an spun up an impressive amount of yarn, I hope you post pictures of it before you whisk it off to a sale!
ReplyDeleteHappy FAF - tgif!
ReplyDeleteHidden talents....and you picked on Jim for not playing his uke in front of you last year at MI Fiber Festival.
ReplyDelete26 skeins of unlabeled yarn. Yikes, my heart skipped a few beats. It's a good thing I was sitting down.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
I've always wanted to play the piano! You should definitely play more. Don't let your talent go to waste! I love love love your yarn. Do you sell it online?
ReplyDeleteOkay, me again. Duh, just saw your etsy! Hmm, I may have to make a purchase. Any chance you'll be selling any from this unlabeled pile online?
ReplyDeleteTami- I will be posting after my local sale next week....
ReplyDeleteLove that pile o' lovely hand-spun! Is it all worsted weight? You'll have to tell us how the local sale goes.
ReplyDeleteAnd you should definitely get the festival book! Worth it, worth it, worth it. :)
I had no idea there was a Spinning Song. How very sweet it is.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll feel better having everything labled, even if it's keeping you from spinning right now.
You should play more, and don't worry if the bears or grumpy are around. I have a feeling you can infect them with a love for playing the piano, just like you've infected them with a love for fiber. ;-)
Good luck at your sale next week.
They say learning to play an instrument is one of the important skills in life, or in a party at least. I hope you'll find more time to play piano, well besides your work, fiber arts, running a business, bears and grump and all that!
ReplyDeleteHi, Lovers of the Sea might like my mermaid creation, cheers Marie
ReplyDelete"Not the most efficient method but at least they are labeled"
ReplyDeleteYour process is 100 percent better than mine, which is to spin, ply, skein, and toss in a basket ... within a few days I've forgotten what it was!
Love your yarn pile, particularly the red at the bottom.
I just joined your Tour de Fleece team ... now I'm gonna grab your button ;-) for my blog!
ReplyDeleteI loved your post -- I've written about Spinning Song, too! It's always been one of my favorite pieces, so much so that my hands remember it even if I haven't played the piano in months. When I got out the lesson book it's in, I was amazed to see the picture of a woman spinning is from here in my (now) home state.
ReplyDeleteI do hope for your sake that there is a magical labeling fairy :-)
Beautiful yarn. Wish I could reach right through the screen and grab some! Your talents continue to amaze. I love the piano and am determined to learn how to play well one of these days. I try to bribe my nieces into giving me free lessons.
ReplyDelete