Spinning Saturday

Where did the last week go?  It's been a busy week here at chez Close to my Heart.  I've been busy with adding users to the Kauni KAL Blog, among other things this week.  And our niece graduated on Thursday as well.  Next thing you know, it's Saturday again.  Long Weekend Here in Canada, so I now have a chance to recoup. 

It's been a good couple mail days.  I received a new Spindle before running out to the Grad Ceremony on Thursday, and finally had a chance to try it out last night and today.  LOVE it!  Behold it's prettiness:


It's a very light weight spindle and it spins like a dream.  I like it better than my Louet spindle.  I wasn't sure how it would be without the notch in the whorl, since Priscilla Gibson-Roberts in her book Spinning in the Old Way says that the notch is a very helpful feature to have in a spindle.  I figured I could always add the notch if I wanted.  I must say though, I think I prefer it without.

I highly recommend Etsy Seller Spinsanity for pretty, inexpensive, and functional spindles.  I will likely buy another from her at some point.

In case you were wondering, on the Spindle is Superwash from Hummingbird Fibre Arts, purchased at the Victoria  Knit Out recently.  I'm really enjoying this fibre too, and am finding it the easiest roving to spin that I've tried yet.  Good thing I have lots!

I also picked up another Etsy package from the postal outlet today.  How annoying though, Customs charged me $1 something for GST (for Americans reading here, that is a very annoying federal tax that was implemented temporarily(?) almost 20 years ago) and FIVE DOLLARS for a handling fee!   Unfortunately, there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when we are dinged on parcels coming from the States.  But I digress.  Inside the parcel was some fibery goodness from Etsy Seller Copperpot:

On the left is a merino/tencel blend (90/10), on the right is 100% merino.  I haven't tried spinning this yet, but will soon, as soon as I clear off one of my spindles.  This is why I think it would be nice to have several spindles!

For now, I'm off to play with my pretty flower spindle.  Happy Canada Day tomorrow to my fellow Canadians.

Comments

[Andrea]

Lovely spindle!!!

I don't complain at the $5 the post office occasionally charges... it's *way* better than the $30-$50 shipping companies *always* charge in "brokerage fees"! Technically we're suppsosed to pay GST (never meant to be temporary from what I understand, it replaced a related hidden tax) on all purchases, but the post office only bothers to charge it occasionally. Frankly, I'm not complaining that it frequently doesn't! (And if they accidentally charge it on a gift, you can apply to get your money back by filling out the back of the form.)

[Vera]

Your spindle and roving are so beautiful. When will you start your Kauni?

[Raven]

What an amazing spindel and roving. I bet it spins like a dream.

I'll never quite figure out how Canada Post figures it's surprise fees, but then again, I'll never figure out Canada Post.

Have a happy weekend.

[Brenda]

As far as GST goes....it was brought in during the 80s by the awful Mulroney Government, and it WAS to be temporary, although I don't think anyone believed it for a minute.

And yeah, $5 is better than the $35 UPS dings us for brokerage fees, but what gets me is that the actual GST was so much less AND the inconsistency of when they actually apply these charges.

[Shannon/Spinsanity]

I'm so glad my flower found a loving home! :-)

That roving from CopperPot looks very familiar too. Mine will become a hoodie for our very first grandson. If only I can find time to actually spin and knit again...LOL

[Uli]

Hi Brenda, love the spindle and the roving and I'm super glad you like the stuff you bought from humming bird. I might look them up and see if I can stop in to get some of the superwash when we come up to the Island!!! I'll have to go check out those vendors now, too.

Talk to you soon. Happy Canada Day.
Uli

[Felicia]

Love your new fluffy flower spindle! Congratulations to your niece :)