10.26.07

Random Fiber Thoughts

Posted in CTS/RSI, Rhinebeck, Sewing at 5:53 pm by delipics

I’ve been reading the blogs about Rhinebeck. It looks like it was the best one ever. At the last minute, I couldn’t go. Very bummed out about that. I won’t even go into it, it will take too long. I like to console myself by saying things like, I shouldn’t buy any more yarn or fiber. I mean my knitting and crocheting has been severely cut back since the initial CTS/RSI injury in the spring, it’s not like I’ve got a lot of projects planned for which I need more yarn. I mean really, I’ve got PLENTY of yarn. PLENTY. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m bummed I didn’t go.

BUT, I saw a new doctor about my CTS/RSI and started a new round of physical therapy with immediate improvement! This new doctor explained that while the previous doctor did a good job treating my symptoms, he thinks he’s identified the root cause, which is my neck/shoulder/upper back area. He said that part of the body is very complicated and if one thing goes wrong in the system, it effects everything - breaking into song here - wrist bone connected to the ulna, ulna’s connected to the humerus . . . Actually, it’s more of a nerve issue than a bone issue. The doctor did mention my pronator nerve. Back on topic - right away I could feel less pain. It’s not completely gone, but I can tell I’m feeling significantly better. This is a huge relief for me. Honestly, I think I was slightly depressed about the whole injury this summer (along with some other stuff but again, it will take too long to go into). I had this fear that if I went to a new doctor, he or she was going to tell me I needed to have an operation, long recovery, life-long hand problems - lots of personal drama going on in my head, but now I feel more optimistic about my healing.

This weekend I need to take photos to show off my new fabric (from here) that I bought at a steal. I keep meaning to snap the pics in daylight but when I wake up it’s dark and when I come home from work it’s dark, so gotta wait for Saturday. I may use one of the fabrics for the floor pillows - one side crochet and the other side fabric. I’d also like to start a new sewing project from my latest book purchase. Yes, it has mostly sewing projects, but it also includes fiber-related ideas such as recycled sweater hats and lots of felted projects like the felted silk scarves (I tried this once), a wool knit shibori scarf and an inlaid wool knit scarf.

Time to go and do the stretches my physical therapist told me to do . . .

09.17.07

Where Did The Summer Go?

Posted in CTS/RSI, Rhinebeck, Travel at 6:49 pm by delipics

Today I went to WordPress to see when I last posted . . . August 28th . . . what?!?!?!

I did a quick review in my head of what I have been doing since the end of August. OK, let’s see . . . oh right, there was the Labor Day weekend. The highlight of that weekend was hanging out at the Brooklyn Bridge Park and enjoying the gorgeous weather. The school year started which means general running around at work. I’m never prepared for the beginning of the semester. What else did I do? Ummm, the next weekend I left work early to travel to the Washington D.C. area for a big family event. Then I did something really crazy after returning home - three days later I took off for the West coast because I got a great price on a ticket on Jet Blue. Hey, if I’m going to get four days off work for the Jewish holidays AND I can find a decent priced airplane ticket then I am out of here. That’s where all the time went - phew! And geez, who scheduled the Fall weather to start while I was out in L.A.? Could I please be consulted on the date next year because I was totally unprepared when I walked outside of JFK, midnight flight arrival no less, and started to shiver.

With Fall officially off to a good start, I’m feeling very mixed fiber-wise. First, my CTS/RSI has greatly improved but frankly, I’m scared to start knitting or crocheting again. Even though the injury to my wrists was caused by computer work, I am irrationally afraid that to knit or to crochet will send me into pain spasms. While I was in L.A., I saw two of my cousins and we started to talk about CTS/RSI. I learned they both had operations on their wrists because of the pain and it has helped. Hopeful and scary at the same time because I can’t help to think, “What if?”

I have had two urges to start again - I found my Teva Durham crochet book under a pile of magazines and was inspired, and then tonight when Alex showed me the progress on her new sock - fun pattern, soft soft yarn in great fall colors.

On top of it all, I am going to miss Spin Out because I am traveling to a bridal shower that day (for a very good friend so it’s not a horrible thing to have to miss it) and I am still going to Rhinebeck (even though I don’t need to buy any fiber or yarn which seems kind of crazy to go if I’m not planning to buy) because my hon will finally be able to go with me and I’m also going to meet up with a different good friend up there.

It’s a quandary. It’s a fiber dilemma. It’s a yarn predicament. It’s a wooly situation!

10.22.06

Yet Another Blogger Writes About Rhinebeck S&W

Posted in Fibers, Photos, Rhinebeck, Spinning, Travel at 2:14 pm by delipics

What makes mine different from all other posts about Rhinebeck?

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I went with Miss April of the Knitty 2007 calendar and her super-great boyfriend who drove, took photos and learned about spinning yarn. It was her first time to Rhinebeck, my third. Here we are reading the directions but a distracting conversation on Beethoven (?!) caused caused a missed exit.

It’s okay, we had snacks to keep us occupied.

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We got there around 1-ish and the parking lot was packed! We found a spot at what seemed to be the end of the grassy field. Once inside, we thought about eating lunch first but the lines for the food were crazy long. So we separated for our own wanderings through the vendor barns and met again after an hour. I staked out a claim on the line for the lamb burgers - one of the best food deals at the festival. Ya can’t beat $2.50 for a burger with optional peppers, onions or cheese. It was tasty and yummy, until half way through I realized they didn’t cook my burger all the way! I thought about going back but not wanting to deal with the whole thing I assuaged my hunger with lamb stew from the 4H booth. I always like going to the 4H booth - the teenagers who man the counters are so polite - a refreshing change from some of the city teens I’ve dealt with.

You can’t help but run into friends while there (and I forgot to take photos of everyone, like Elizabeth and her cutie son, Caroline and her pals) -

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Maria scored at the fleece sale! She is such an awesome fiber chick. I caught her in the act of weighing her purchases. I admire her fiber expertise - she knows a lot. Hey M - did you find the nostepinde?

Here’s a group of us flashing our purchases -

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That’s Tania standing next to me - also her first time to the R&SW and her friend (sorry I forgot your name!). They were staying for the whole weekend. One of these days I’m going to do that. I know I can’t see it all in one day. I can’t help but think I am possibly missing the most fabulous yarn or fabulous sale or something! The ideal Rhinebeck trip would be go up Friday night, stay at a charming B&B, go to the festival for a couple of hours, spend the rest of the day wandering through the town of Rhinebeck, go back the next day and leisurely check out whatever vendors I didn’t catch the first time.

Next up, obligatory photos of animals - decided to go with the goats this time instead of the ubiquitous sheep.

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But wait, what did I buy at the festival? Fibers for spinning -

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The photos do not do the colors justice. On the left is a half pound of merino/tussah blend from The Sheep Shed at Mountain View Farm. I was immediately drawn to this colorway. The label has no name but it makes me think of vanilla ice cream with a blueberry stripe. On the right is 4 oz of a merino/wool blend called Autumn Maine Wood from Persimmon Tree Farm. I couldn’t resist the glittery angelica that sparkles amidst the gorgeous coppers and greens.

A practical nostepinde from The Fiber Kingdom -

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Love at first sight -

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My new Sweetheart Golding Ring Spindle. The whorl is two inches and the weight is 0.9 oz. I bought this size because I want to spin laceweight yarn. There were so many beautiful spindles on display. I had a tough time deciding on the style and the color of wood. I tested it on a wisp of my Sheep Shed fiber - the spindle kept spinning and spinning and spinning - amazing!

I bought this spindle near the end of the day, which coincided nicely with the end of my money. I set a budget for this trip (I’m still recovering from Hawaii!), and I’m very proud of myself of staying within budget. What’s strange was I did not buy any yarn on this trip. I really just want to spin right now, hence only fibers. I had planned on buying hand carders - that will have to wait. I looked at spinning wheels, but that’s just so beyond my budget right now.

Now that Rhinebeck has come and gone, whatever will we do next?

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Well, we’re going to buy more yarn! We have to use our coupon at The Point before October ends.