I am originally from Jamaica, and have lived in the Greater Toronto Area for over a decade with N, young T, and our cat, Melvin. In the first stressful winter, I taught myself how to knit. Since starting this blog in 2009, I have learned how to spin, dye and weave. Fibre arts have become the focus as I left professional life. I spin using a range of spindles (drop, supported, hand-held), and my lovely herd of spinning wheels (in order of coming to live with me; none ever leave!):
- Wee Peggy, a New Zealand kit wheel made by John Rappard in 1982;
- Spinolution Mach II – we call him Earl;
- Canadian Production Wheel, Zoë, made by Philias Cadorette circa 1920;
- Martha, custom made by James Watson in butternut from a Burlington, Ontario tree in 1988;
- an antique painted saxony flax wheel in the Eastern European style with partial distaff;
- Marked antique saxony flax wheel by William McDonald of New Glasgow, Nova Scota circa 1820; and
- Unmarked compact antique saxony flax wheel, presumed Canadian.
The last two wheels were wheels number 13 & 15 in the Ramer spinning wheel collection. All are loved, and used. I weave with an 8-shaft Schacht Mighty Wolf loom, and am interested in backstrap weaving.
You can find me elsewhere on the web:
e: irieknit at gmail dot com
March 17, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Hi KnixKnox playing with words and strings. Loving your sense of humour. Purple’s mine too and just today got agreement to use it at Puerto Plata, which I hope you’ll see soon tho it’s not Sussex. Guessing that LYS is a local yarn shop?? Pardon my ignorance. Love the seafoam scarf.
March 18, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Thanks, Auntie G! I’m still working on my purple permissions here, so will love to see what you do! Yes, LYS is local yarn shop – I have 2 in our area. Am happy to take a seafoam order:) Best of luck with Puerto Plata!