Waiting for Godot

Well, actually, I’m waiting for Openwave and Ofoto (now Kodak EasyShare Gallery). Openwave is going to make me an offer, but it’s still wending its way through the approval process, so I haven’t heard anything back yet. Ofoto finished interviewing its three candidates on Thursday, so I imagine I’d hear back on Monday or Tuesday.

Which would I prefer? Dunno. There are a lot of factors involved, so I think it works out almost equal between the two. I won’t be unhappy if I wind up at either place, so I’m not stressing.

Meanwhile, I wait, and occupy myself pleasantly with other things.

One of those other things is a Fricke Petite drum carder that I just got off eBay…a nice, as-new Petite WITH the brush attachment for only $225! I have been in fiber-blending heaven. I’m currently doing samples for the next shawl–just finished two kid mohair/silk/angora/wool batts, and three different silk/angora/wool batts. I’m carefully recording everything about the blends:

• samples of original fiber
• sample of carded batt
• sample of spun yarn
• knitted swatch if it got that far
• proportion and weights of fibers used

I’m putting all this into my new spinner’s/knitter’s notebook, which will let me keep track of my sampling, design work, etc. I’m ecstatic about the idea of being able to keep track of all this stuff, instead of having to reinvent the wheel every time I want to do something. I won’t have to re-transcribe patterns eight times. I can do an experimental swatch and write down all my thoughts and observations while I’m doing it. I can do thought-experiments and keep them there for posterity. Oh, joy, joy, joy!!

I tried this before using a spiral notebook, but the pages weren’t strong enough–they tore out with use, especially with swatches stapled in. Now I’m using medium-heavy cardstock pages, and printing a graph-paper grid on it using a freeware printing program. I stick those in a three-ring binder. Works pretty well so far.

I’ve been playing with the gray yarn I spun up for the shawl. I don’t like it quite enough to use on its own–it’s a rather boring gray, and I want more visual texture in my shawl–so I’m working on a white yarn to use as a companion. Square shawl, knit in the round, a few rounds of white, a few rounds of gray, a few rounds of white, etc.–so, nested white and gray squares. I have some idea what kind of design I want, but still playing with it. It may all change again tomorrow. That’s the fun part of futzing around.

Anyway, I did three angora-silk-merino blends: one with white angora, one with 1/3 black satin angora and 2/3 white angora, and one with a softer “conventional” black angora, which really comes out very pale gray. I’m going to try spinning those up, and staple them into my notebook.

Meanwhile, I am enjoying the sunny days. My physical therapist finally turned me loose on Wednesday (!!!!!!!!) so I’m getting out and doing stuff again. I also finally have some money to spend, so I’ve been going about and enjoying myself. It’s not that I’m spending huge amounts of money, it’s just that I’m not worried about money at the moment, for the first time in years.

Oh, and depending on where I wind up, I may very well make it to Costa Rica. If I start up at Openwave, I’m definitely taking a two-week vacation there before starting. If I start up at Ofoto, well, we’ll see. 😉

Tien