NOT POLITICAL!! This beastie was out on the back deck this morning. Last year he/she was lounging on top of the shed by the boat dock (at least I think it’s the same one). Perhaps a little thinner, but clearly perky and with bright, inquisitive eyes. Unlike the squirrels and birds, this guy will not be fed. As much as I like visits, I don’t want him to move in.
Meanwhile, the deck garden is doing well, with lots of fresh herbs, and the one tomato plant is loaded with green globes waiting for a few more days of sun. Today’s harvest of herbs, sorrel and rainbow chard has been paired with pattypan squash, fresh corn and tomato/parmesan focaccia for dinner. SUMMER!
Special People, Special Places – IV
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had the good fortune to get to spend some time with Ashley Flagg; spinner, weaver, and sometimes knitter and crocheter. One of her great assets is her unending curiosity — an advantage that often keeps her from giving up in disgust when fiber gets out of control. Instead she wonders “why?” Having made most of the mistakes suffered by novice spinners, she is able to talk many of her students off the ledge, providing them with alternatives that not only improve their work, but give them joy. I’ve benefitted from a number of those suggestions. The drop-spindle class I took from her was punctuated by, “Pinch!” “Pinch harder!” “That looks great!” and “Breathe!” At the end of the class my pinching fingers were stiff, but I had a mini-skein of yarn. It also was much more yarn-like than my first spinning class on the wheel that resulted in thick and thin over-spun rope. That success gave me the confidence to go back to the wheel with a greater understanding of fiber…just another of the many steps on the spinning journey.
Ashley crocheted her way through college, and then a friend put a spindle in her hands about 15 years ago. For some reason, that spindle already seemed to know what to do. She said that the spindle felt like it was a natural extension of her — as though she’d been born with spinning in her genes. The first time she stumbled on an antique wheel she put 2 and 2 together.
This plaster maquette has always been in her family home. She is a descendent of John and Priscilla Alden (English colonists who arrived in Massachusetts in 1620 on the Mayflower), and the antique wheel she had discovered was the same type as she had seen every day growing up. That wheel is part of her expansive collection of wheels and spindles, each with its own story; each able to produce a specific kind of yarn if you are able to unlock its secrets.
In addition to teaching (these days on her back deck under the trees and with a mask) Ashley has become known for her custom work. Two big projects right now are a variety of yarns for a tapestry, and the fleece of a llama blended with lambs wool for knitting yarn. That second one has a lovely story attached to it. The llama fleece came from a shepherdess who passed away, and the yarn will be used by her sisters to knit shawls in her remembrance.
It’s also time for the annual Tour de Fleece. While the bicycle race has been postponed, spinners often plan for this two-week spin-along well in advance, so the spinning is going ahead without the bikers. The goal is to spin each day of the tour, resting on the official “rest days,” and see what you can do. Unlike the bike tour, there is no “winner.” Some spinners go for the maximum output; others work on their technique, or use the opportunity to sample new fibers. To the left are a few of Ashley’s projects on supported spindles for the Tour.
Many of the spindle spinners I’ve met are spindle collectors, and Ashley is no exception. I spent a morning trying out many styles from her collection — sleek phangs, Tibetans that seemed to spin forever, dainty tahklis, and more. A particularly beautiful spindle is this one by Stephen Willette. Stephen is a wood turner who makes a variety of spinning and weaving tools. This spindle features a glass seascape bead tip from the glass artist Aaron Slater. I had to hold my breath when I spun with it — fearful I would lose control and it would dance right off my lap and onto the floor!
Pete Seeger, Stern Grove, San Francisco CA 8/6/78. © Brian McMillen www.brianmcmillenphotography.com
Another amazing and special spindle came from Jonathan and Sheila Bosworth. When the sloop Clearwater was restored, some of the white oak ribs that needed to be replaced found their way to the Bosworth studio to be repurposed as spindles and weaving shuttles. The Clearwater had belonged to activist/folk-singer Pete Seeger who sailed the Hudson River to bring attention to the importance of the river, its wetlands and waterways. The Clearwater Foundation helped raise funding for that effort, and established the Great Hudson River Revival (an annual music and environmental festival — held virtually this year in June).
I truly appreciate those teachers who are willing to share their “mistakes” with their students, along with the process of finding a creative way out of the dilemma. This shawl is an ode to gauge. This is what happens when you change to a larger needle size, run out of yarn (twice) and end up with a very large shawl rather than a neckerchief.
The result is stunning, and a lucky save. This is one that might very well have ended up in a heap at the back of the closet instead of looking like it was planned.
Like so many of us, Ashley finds herself needing to do some retooling in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Her explorations, no doubt, will continue to include spinning commissions and production of luxury hand spun yarns. She also will continue to maintain a strong link to her students — a link that we all treasure.
To the left is a skein of wool cashmere blend for an awesome sweater.
You can find Ashley at http://artemisiaink.com and on Ravelry at Artemis42
The page for Knit (Spin) Sweden! Has been updated. Anticipated publication in October for “Virtual Rhinebeck”
https://aknitwizard.com/knit-sweden/