Where have I been, what have I been doing???

Aside from dealing with a school district, that has lost its ability to communicate with anyone including its own schools.... and then there was the stomach flu making life difficult for my youngest...

I've been working on scouring a fabulous Karakul fleece. I love supporting the rare breeds and I love the locks of the Karakul. When I look at fleece I really do try to think... application... etc... but you know... it is so beautiful, those colors, the locks, the luster... I can't help myself. So well, I saw it and I bought it. Even a few years in the bag and it is coming out loverly. If we don't love and use these ancient and rare fleeces will the breeds survive. Spin-Off did a wonderful project a few years ago on rare sheep breeds that included people making projects using the fleeces of these wonderful critters. Eventually, it went into a book from Interweave. It brought about an important and meaningful awareness of these breeds. We really are so incredibly fortunate to have had sheep in our human history (but that's another soapbox for another day). Sheep are as important as dogs. Yes, they are. ;)

I went and found a lovely little explanation and history of the Karakul from the Sheep 101 site and it says (directly quoted)(including photo):
http://www.sheep101.info/breedsJ-L.html


Karakul Ram from Black Pines Sheep
http://www.blackpinessheep.com/images/other.htm

(Astrakhan, Bukhara, Persian Lamb)

The Karakul may be the oldest breed of domesticated sheep. Archeological evidence indicates the existence of the Persian lambskin as early as 1400 B.C. and carvings of a distinct Karakul type have been found on ancient Babylonian temples. Native to the plains of Central Asia, Karakuls differ radically in conformation from most other American breeds. They are of the fat broad tailed type of sheep. In their large tail is stored fat, a source of nourishment, similar in function to the camel's hump. In Central Asia and South Africa , large flocks of Karakuls are still raised for pelt production from very young lambs. The skins of baby lambs with their tightly curled wool are used in the "Persian lamb" fur trade. Karakuls were introduced to the United States between 1908 and 1929. They are a specialty breed in the U.S. Their fleeces, long and colorful, are prized by hand spinners. Karakul wool is the wool upon which the art of felting evolved. The Karakul classified as a "rare" breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

Breed categories: double-coated, fat-tailed, rare
Distribution: USA, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia

END QUOTE ---

So I have been scouring, sorting, combing in preparation for spinning. Maybe tomorrow I will get some pictures taken before it all becomes yarn,,, but I have to say for a little fleece there is a whole lot of wool... scouring as I can with no big blocks of consecutive time is problematic at best and it tries my patience, cause I wants it done now! lol... oh well

Medieval Image of the Day

So since it has been a spinning kind of day the image of the day will reflect it.

This image is from 1237 ce from Baghdad. It is titled 'Al Makamat'. It pictures a mother and her son talking to a merchant or visitor.

This type of wheel still exists in other places such as India. Do not automatically suppose that the western great wheel evolved from this wheel. While we can postulate that this might have been part of evolutionary process of the western European wheel, it is equally as likely that this image and the wheels in use that it represented had nothing to do with our Western European wheels. These could equally have developed from the Silk reel as it entered into Spain and Italy. Of course we don't know, we can only guess. We can trace a path of where things occurred and the evidence of when the great wheel appeared in Europe, but the reality is that we do not know. It is all an educated guess. Just some food for thought. Enjoy the image.

Spinning my wheels...

Trying hard to be productive this week, by scouring a karakul fleece to spin and dye for a scarf for the Spin-Off International Year of the Natural Fiber Contest. (Photos due May 20). Here is just a little bit of fun with some Louet roving -- this series of rovings is so much fun to spin. I got a couple of different colorways. Underneath is an old distaff from Lithuania.

Medieval Image of the Day

This image is from the 15th c. ce

I love looking at the blooming cactus in the desert, but in honor of my encounter with the rattlesnake I submit three images that in their theme appears often during the middle ages, that of Adam and Eve toiling after their banishment from Eden after 'Their' encounter with a snake (and an apple tree). It is the depiction of Adam working the soil and Eve spinning. Note the use of a distaff with each Eve. I don't know if this is expressly the tradition or if it simply the constant use of distaves by women throughout the ages across many countries and traditions. It is in any case worthy of thought.


This image from Broughton Cambridgeshire Church.

And one more:

This image from the Fecamp Psalter

Hiking Adventures

I did say that I had adventures last week in Palm Springs. I was remiss in not posting yet, but it has been a very involved week. Happily I am re-organizing a temporary loom space, which includes a handy 'by the loom' mini-bookcase... ok, I digress...

So my knight in shining armor and I went hiking leaving the un-cooperative, unenthused teenagers at home. We were on the Cahuilla,Agua Caliente Lands just on the very edge of Palm Springs. It was truly lovely there. Spring in the desert is beautiful. Coming from the mid-west & east coast I have gained an appreciation for the very different kind of landscape, the intensity of a different kind of green, the sculptural hand of rock, and for a subtlety that is not definable.



There is some incredible and varied hiking in this area. I did my reading and we went on a trail where Big Horn sheep are known to sometimes make an appearance.
What can I say ...I'm a fiber geek. I like sheep. Actually, I adore them. I love their history, their fabulous faces, oh yes, and their FLEECE... Of course I know as well as you that the Big Horn Sheep are not known for their fleece, but they are sheep, they are fabulous children of the rock and If I'm somewhere where a fiber critter might be, I'd like to see them. Ok, we didn't find a sheep. I'm just telling you now, so you don't get too excited and anxious waiting for me to show you the picture of the sheep we didn't see. We did find this:



But sadly, when we later identified it... It was a mule deer track -- NOT -- a big Horn sheep.

So we took this trail into Murray Canyon:



This is one of my favorite flowering bushes right now, The desert mallow.



Creosote and Desert Lavendar were two others that we loved (and of which they were plentiful. Creosote being the desert medicine cabinet for those that know how). We did see the bush that ephedrine comes from(remember phen phen), but we more or less left it alone. And lichen is here too! Living, but it is unclear whether the people who lived here once used this as a dye. The tribal ranger I talked too did not know.




This one however, is an Indigo Plant (although I don't know which sub-species). The Tribal ranger told us (on the Tahquwitz Canyon hike) that they put the leaves in hot simmering water to produce brown dye! I have to follow this one up. I have many questions.



There were lots of folks out hiking that morning (go figure... hiking in the desert ... morning might be the best time). There were the local residents of Palm Springs and enviorns. There were folks on horseback (lots of the trails are horse friendly) and families ... more or less prepared... The less prepared were out for fun in the desert with little water and flip flops... Darwin at work. Seriously, no water in the desert makes little Jack or Jill dehydrate and flip flops???? Let me tell you why flip flops are NOT a good idea for hiking (ok, I'm not talking about twisting an ankle and breaking a leg on rocky uneven ground) Nooooo, there are other hikers on the trail, who are not happy for our company.


This little guy (above) pretended he was a nubby rock. I loved his colors. Doesn't he say 'Tapestry' to you?!


This Brown gentleman, really didn't care who was on the trail as long as we didn't interrupt his sunbath.


So when we are hiking, generally my Knight in Shining Armor is in the rear, because I am the slowest. Most of the time hikers move to one side or the other to let someone pass, but of course one has to see them... or hear them. so there I was walking down the trail and I was taking in everything, looking for what might not be seen and listening to what is true quiet, when I heard a small sound. I stopped and looked down. There was my new friend... Not at all happy to be sharing the rocky trail with me.



All I could think of was, be still and move back. So I did one and then the other. I have never seen a rattlesnake that was alive. I have seen many dead ones, taxidermified rattle snakes, but never a live one. I kept thinking, 'Do we have a snakebite kit with us?'. Well, good sense not to poke the snake and a listening ear and neither of us got to know the feeling of a snake pumping venom. My husband did tell me to remember to take some pictures.



These gave me new appreciation for the size of snake and I think I counted 8 plus a small rattle ... is that 8 1/2 or 9?






It is very very well posted that this is wilderness and to beware of rattlesnakes and mountain lions (the latter of which I didn't see). One other hiker, who lived in town came up as my friend was slithering away and told us, he lived here and had never seen one before. I have to tell you all the other hikers were jealous that we got to see the snake and they didn't. One teenage boy was up on the rocks poking around looking for one. Actually, I feel honored by the snake. It was cranky, but very kind to meet me on the trail (and of course not bite me). It was a superbly lovely and well fed snake. The designs on its back reminded me of cardweaving I had done. The scales were pretty incredible. It is quite the mosaic. Inspiration is everywhere if we are open to it. So I didn't get to see a Big Horned Sheep, but I did get to meet a rattlesnake.



All of the canyons in that area have a great water source (that's why The Cahuilla settled there) and it really like the stereotypical oasis. Palm Trees and the spring. There are also Sycamores growing and lots of other life abounds in the area because of the water and the springs. The Palms are fan tailed palms and are native to the region, although later in the 1800's or 1900's (you know give or take a hundred years)lol, date palms were imported and planted as an additional food source.




This is Tahquwitz Falls in Tahquwitz canyon. It is a great hike and right in town. Just drive south and take a right. Kind of blows the mind how 'right there' the wilderness is.



I think it is a good way to live (except of course for when the fires burn). (You know, California, land of natural disasters, earthquakes, mudslides, and forest fires). This is what a Palm that survives a fire looks like years later; scarred, but live.




And yet there is a reason we don't move. It is an inspired place to live both in the wide and varying landscapes (desert, mountain, and coast) as well as the feeling of relaxed openess around me.

Medieval Image of the Day: The Noble Pastorale / The Work of Wool

It is over, but since I missed posting during the week, here is the Medieval Image of the Weekend in Honor of the Angora Goats that cannot come live at my house.

This image is attributed to both Flanders or Northern France (depending on one's source) around 1500 ce.

Note the box loom the woman on the left is using with a rigid heddle for narrow ware work. (Ck out the Spanish Peacock for a reproduction of this loom and a stunning wooden rigid heddle). Note the little reel the sheperd is using and all the cool tools on the figure's belts. This is a great resource image.

Don't you want to take these home?!

I found these in 'Grandpa's Barn' on the Spinning and Weaving Housecleaning pages.
Aren't they fabulous?! I'd love to have them, but like chickens ... we aren't zoned for them. Angora Goats... and such lovely color and lucious fiber, but I would love them just for themselves not only for their color.

Much of it Weft something to be desired...

So the sample did make it off the table loom and I'm contemplating which part will make it to fabric. Strangely it seems that the last bit I did using a black for the weft is probably going to be my preference. It was not my plan initially to even use the black, but it was the last little bit of warp left to squeeze something in so I thought, why not for fun. The thing is that the warp is made up of a lovely set of yarns of various colors and the other wefts sort of swallowed it and the subtlety of the yarns were lost.

I did three different warp colorways, two different threadings, and 7 1/2 weft colors. Sometimes I have trouble narrowing things down.

The stark contrast of the black really worked for me, plus I love black. Black being a conglomeration of all colors and color being seductive...it works.

I did try white(which was ok, but not my aesthetic) and the green solid weft worked well so the choices are really the green solid or the black for weft. er... maybe the blue???

As to the two differently threaded drafts... I think the larger because depending on which way one looks at it, there are two patterns... somewhat Escher-like.

At any rate, the more I look at it ... I might have to stop looking for awhile.

Looming on the horizon...

I think I have to back up a little while.... I have been looking for some time for an 8 harness loom. I was undecided about an 8 harness floor or a table loom, but everyone I talked to said... floor loom, that even with a custom table or the ability to tie up to treadles that the floor loom was THE way to go. Even so no loom appeared on my horizon and I was leaning towards a Jane Louet (yes, but an oh so lovely table loom). What I really really had been looking for was a well priced used 8 harness... My cup overfloweth and I found, adopted, and brought home a lovely 16 harness Macomber loom, (about 45 inch weaving width).

This is MORE loom than I ever thought would come into my life. It might be too much! A loom with 16 harnesses is intimidating! However, it is lovely and I do love it. It is amazing and came with lots and lots of extra heddles,(although good people are telling me to go with texsolve), 5 reeds, lease sticks, a bench, a lovely double boat shuttle. I am the third owner since it was made (a long time ago by the looks of it - it was made in Mass and Macomber is now in Maine). I'll be calling them this week, one nice person told me he called and they gave him the entire sales history. Everyone seems to love their Mac's. I have been extrodinarily lucky and came by a copy of Bonnie Inouye's book, Multishaft design (now out of print), which will help me immensely. I know that undulating twill is in my future...

I have to name her. She has never been named. I have to also get her at least temporarily situated so we can have some bonding time.

Back from the Wilds of Palm Springs..

My blog is crying, because it feels ignored. I've had many adventures this past week. REALLY! Loom adventures, shopping, and yes wilds in Palm Springs... surprisingly almost within city limits some amazing hiking on the Cahuilla Indian Reservation. Very good people maintaining and preserving some pristine wilderness as well as their cultural traditions. More on this later. I've sent the son off to build and program robots (really) and now I'm off to visit a soccer field as a maternal representative of an involved party, yep soccer mom, back from vacation...
film at eleven --- or more for the blog later. ;)

Medieval Image of the Day

This image is from the Eadwine Psalter in Christchurch England. It features what may be an interpretation of the 3 fates... Those ladies with scissors scare me... too close to just spun yarn and a woven work! However, It may just be a scene with implements of fiber production by an artist who was not a fiber person. Whatever it is... we like it! (Loom picture in honor of my sample coming off the loom). :)

Have a great weekend folks!

Off the loom!

The sample is off the loom and for the last little bit I did an unplanned black weft and a second little bit of a lovely deep not royal blue... ;p
It needs to be washed and pressed before photographing and doing my little window for draft and color selection. That will be around Monday, because this weekend I am so busy running in a million directions that I'll be lucky to be standing at the end of the day.

I might be getting a new (used) loom. ;) TBD... details later so I don't jinx it.

Medieval Image of the Day: A Spin-In

I have always been primarily a spinner, but I also completely love textile history, history of sheep, ethnic textiles, textile methods and traditions, and the like. I have been collecting textile images for years for a variety of purposes. I thought I would share one every once in a while. I'll stick to the older images since I know Marcy has been sharing postcard images for years on her website, Habetrot. I love visiting that site.

This image is an illumination from 1475, The City of God. Imagine, it was a medieval Spin-in

Project Sample... Almost done

(my favorite part is really cutting off the warp, but I also love seeing the end coming on that turn towards the end).

I'm about to put a movie all by myself and take a half hour and finish up my sample warp. 3 different threadings, 4 different colorways, and 4 different wefts. Then I get to decide and finish the pattern for the garment. But it feels fantastic to be at the finishing point of one step!

Pix aren't the best, because I am using my husbands pocket waterproof camping camera, which works great with scouts, but has not judgement about exposure for indoors things. I wanted to get a picture before it is off the loom.

A special Treeeeeet for lovers of sheep!

Irons in the pot

When I get a bit of time to download I will be able to catch up with photos at least. Here's to say that I have just a few irons in the pot.

I've got two mini-tapestry studies going with some fair to middlin' sketches for the future.

I have a purely white piece off the loom that is small and was a giant warp end not used and forgotton... it will have a new life as a shibori dye experiment probably for the Fiber Retreat in May unless I do it at home first (I can be sooo impatient).

I took a great class with Sharon Alderman at ASCH at the beginning of March and I am almost done with the samples for the cloth I designed. I am very excited to get it off the little loom.

I have done a fair amount of spinning from the truly fun Louet pencil rovings. I have two bobbins left to ply of one. I bought about 3 or 4 colorways of the stuff... color seduces, what can I say.

I have to get some spinning done for the dyepots at the Griffin Dyeworks fiber retreat in May. I'm teaching there, but I get some time for my own dye samples (yea!). It will be a wonderful time. I can't wait.

I have a class at an elementary school coming up in April to prep for. I'll be teaching their Gifted and Talented kids -- natural dyes, spinning, and some basic weaving.

I have also really worked very hard at my tablet weaving, which I can now say is respectable (at long last). I have two inkle looms with work ongoing, one twinkle loom (fun little loom), and one box loom on order from the Spanish Peacock. I can't wait for that one. I did see that Glimakra has a GREAT band loom for sale now - and it comes incredibly close to re-creating the early middle ages band looms. Very very cool!

Oh, and there is knitting.... yes well, it travels pretty well. I expanded my horizons and am trying some more complicated socks. Mitts-are-me this year. Sadly, the dog got to one of my daughter's mitts -- she was so sad, but if I cut it down to just under half, I should be able to rescue it. (I really will have to tell the tale of this dog and hand knit items!) Makes me cry almost.

I am committed to doing better at the blog work. It is truly worthwhile.

It's been a while...

It's been some time since I visited here, but I did some re-modeling and I have some serious catching up to do. The year or so I spent on live-journal really helped me remain focused on project continuation and completion. This year I'd like to re-focus on the completion aspect as well as the contemplation of new work... not just this or that, but work that better expresses me. Work that is harder, but will be more worthwhile and will feed my soul.

So I have been exploring a bit and remodeling the blog to be a primary blog (did you know I have about three incomplete blogs)... too much. And I have been visiting many many places online and elsewhere (see my list of favorite blogs). There is a lot of creativity out there and it strengthens the heart to know it.

I visited the Oregon College of Art and Craft. They have an interesting manifesto.

"Craft. It's who we are, it's who we've always been. When others are turning their back on craft, it is our time to embrace it. To own it. To lead. Without Craft there is no art.

Craft is making. Making is fundamental. Fundamentals are essential to give context and provide a framework. Rules must be learned before they can be broken. (And we are certain to break them)."

"Craft is making. Making is fundamental. Fundamentals are essential. Craft is essential. Through Craft we make things no one's ever seen: Make waves, Make a statement, Make things better, Make them different. Make. Make Art."


I think this is a good place to start. And then there is Sarah Swett's idea of Palouse to consider as well.

Small Things Exchange

I belong to a wonderful list filled with fiber folk who have been talking online for simply years. This year I got brave (cause I really can finish the odd thing) ;), and I signed up for the 'Small Things Exchange'. At the time it was January so I made a small pair of mitts with bright colors to encourage spring to peek out and arrive. (So many of our members live on mountaintops, cold areas of this and other countries. Spring is a visitor they wait for and welcome). The first photo is 'in progress'. The second and third are finished, YEA!!! I am waiting to see what might come my way, when we are finally mailed our exchange items. (I should say that, YES, I did do two mitts, not just the one in the picture. The other hand held the camera!).

A small Things Exchange is not as daunting as say 'lace shawl' or other crazy intense item exchange. It is just right for me or anyone else wanting to participate, but overwhelmed by the idea of a giant item to be made. It is a good way to participate in a creativity exchange. Always a good thing to try out.

Saying merely "Yarn" is not enough

The idea of blogging has intrigued me for some time.  At first I thought... too much time.  I should take that time and use it to make things, but I have this little problem with >finishing things<, if I have a nemesis that one would be high on my list.  Eventually, I got a bit curious and started reading blogs here and there, noticing what people did with their blogs, and actually asking one or two... why do you do that.  My initial thought was to use my blog as therapy for my own grieving process and to not forget after my father died.  Then I added to that the idea of Keeping track of projects and recording finished items.  It really does help.

But then As I read more and more I discovered that people are eloquent.  People are out there making a difference.  People are inspiring others to act, to create, to participate in the conversation that is life.

I have much to learn on the technical side, but I have decided that these things are all important to me.

I think one of the most inspiring people whose blog I visit regularly... just to hang out, because she doesn't live anywhere close to getting together for coffee or lunch; is Abby.  Her blog is 'Abby's Yarns'.  She makes yarns and she tells yarns.  But saying merely 'Yarn' is not enough.  Here is one of my favorites or her yarns.  It tells much about her, where she comes from, and why what she does gifts all of us in some fashion.

'A first Look at Something Huge':  http://www.abbysyarns.com/wordpress/?p=177  

So to say that the Yarns she tells are merely yarns by the fire is lyrical, but does not give them the warmth and eloquence they deserve.  She engages and brings us all into the circle.  She helps us all join the dance.  Abby spins out to us flowing as the Andean Women dance and spin in the same moment.  I missed spending time with her at SOAR and I won't do that again. 

Now I did not speak about the physical manifestations of Abby's yarn.  Again to say merely 'yarn' is a misnomer.  I was so inspired by some of her posts that I had to visit her so I went and bought some of her yarn.  Well, it hasn't arrived yet since I bought it yesterday online, but her colors are brilliant.  Color is seductive and one has to know how to use it.  Abby doesn't need lessons.  She has color and she uses it.  The combination of her spun-a-licious yarn and her seductive use of color can be too much even for the experienced spinner-knitter-weaver.  It was too much, I was overcome and well, I a little less cash, but I am rich rich RICH... for I have more than merely yarn coming soon to a mailbox near me.

Of course except for the orange bit... I don't have anything close to a plan to use it.  

Wound Upon a Rock

When my daughter had just turned 2 I was given a sudanese drop spindle, mighty heavy, but it had a hook and I bought fiber to play with and I spun, and spun, and spun, a n d s p u n.... until at last I had no more fiber, but a big GIANT cone of yellow singles on a stick. So I wound it onto something and got some more fiber from somewhere. Spinning with no direction, I just kept doing it, and not plying.
One of my closest Bosom buddies widened my world in a single fell swoop. She noticed my second spun yarn at an arts display (before she really knew me). I had spun it, but I didn't even know how to ply so I wound it on a rock to show what I had been up too. A lovely little bit of roving (a very little bit) spun and wound upon a nice rock I found. At this point I had no more fiber, but I REALLY wanted to spin. She took me under her wing, loaned me a wheel, never once in these 13 years denigrated my yarn on a rock, and then one day she suggested we pop up to SOAR and room together. What in the world is SOAR?

So we packed up and off we went and WOW. I thought I died and gone to heaven. Guess what!? There were other fiber geeky (except we are all now really fiber fiends) people. Other people who liked sheep and didn't think I was wierd. People who were MUUUCH farther gone than I. At that point I ah, didn't have a fiber stash to speak of. Anyway, my Bosom Bud sheperded me around told me cool things to do like volunteer to help. And I volunteered to man the welcome desk on Thursday (during market time. (don't be worried friends, I managed to buy enough to fill an additional suitcase. ;) ) I welcomed everyone ever so enthusiastically including Linda Ligon, who took this newbie's jubilence with a smile. I was just overwhelmed with SOAR. I took notes and cried at Karen Selk's presentation. (At that time I was raising my own silkworms and had almost no one to share it with... that is who understood that form of my insanity). I did EVERYTHING I could and by the last workshop session, I could no longer spin on my wheel and could hardly form a question with my mouth. This little sponge was fairly dripping with the week and could no longer absorb anything more than, 'I'm a warm body in the room'.

Quite frankly that week in uncountable ways changed the very fiber of my being. (Yes, there is a pun there, but the allusion is unresistable) (please stop throwing tomatoes now). I was changed. I taken some toddler steps into the big giant world.

Did I mention the marketplace? Well, the marketplace has to be experienced to be truly appreciated. Fiber vendors of every ilk, from all corners of the globe, descend to display their wares. Uh, not only display... but to let us touch, fondle, and of course buy... Karen Selk's husband just laughed at me with my arms full of ... incredible toys, there were books from Yarn Barn, Wooden fiber implements from Woody at Woodchuck's, Sheila and Jonathon Bosworth and their toys, and of course Francine's 'Rovings'.

As I said I was virginal in my visit to the marketplace and I could not understand why all these people were lined up the length of the marketplace to get into her booth. So being ever curious I grabbed a big garbage bag from her booth like everyone else and got into line. (You see my sheperd and Bosom Buddy could not protect me from the seduction of THE MARKETPLACE and although she was equally overcome, she had experience, wisdom, and restraint on her side. She also recognized there was nothing that could be done for me once I walked through those doors). At any rate eventually, I arrived in the booth to pay for my very large lawn size garbage bag of what turned out to be space dyed Polworth roving. Absolutely, amazing stuff. The thing is every year I am compelled by the spirits of the Polworth sheep to buy more roving (my own weakness has absolutely NOTHING whatsoever to do with it). But I noticed,,, or you know, my husband noticed that I was accumulating fleeces dyed, undyed, just shorn; that well (if the truth be told), I wasn't getting spun up, used up, given away... in short whereas once I had no stash... now I did. So this past year I restrained myself and did NOT buy a garbage bag of roving or fleece. I resolved to spin up at least one of my bags from Francine (but don't worry, I did buy polworth, silk and polworth cashmere blends of YARN, because Yarn isn't fleece or a bag of roving.

So here a a few photos (above) of what's left of my bag of roving. I would say I have an eighth of a bag left (which gives you an idea of what I've spun up already). I must think of a project for it. One of my friends said she volunteered to be a recipient and I could give it to her if I couldn't think of a use. It's good to have friends. :)

I would not now have so much fun or be who I am, were it not for the gift of a drop spindle, my rock, and my bosom buddy suggesting we pop off to spend a week at SOAR. Fiber is such an intrinsic part of my being that who knows what would have become of me... I still have my yarn wound on a rock.