Springerle Molds

I've actually been busy but don't have any pictures of what I've been working on so I thought I would try to take pictures of my spinning spingerle mold collection. I first came across these in William Woys Weaver's book Pennsylvania Dutch Country Cooking.

I purchased them all from House On The Hill well over ten years ago.

All of mine are labeled "Made In Switzerland Hand Made" but I've noticed on House On The Hill's website they are now being made in the United States.

They varied in price and the price I can remember is the first one I bought which was $59.00. I still can't believe I paid that much for a cookie mold.

This one is the smallest of my collection. No, I have never used them to make cookies or paper.

I'd like to recommend any of William Woys Weaver's cookbook. Each one is well written and all have a sense of history. My favorite is The Christmas cook : three centuries of American Yuletide Sweets. It took me a long time to track a copy of this book down. I ended up calling Mr Weaver and he told me of only two new copy he knew of. I was lucky enough to get the last new copy and that was many years ago. I know for sure it's been out of print but if anyone interested your local library might have a copy.

HATS

Last week one of my dearest friends came over and showed me the book she wrote on making soap. Basic Soap Making by Patsy Buck is written for the beginner and has loads of hints, recipes and ideas for any soap maker. Patsy has a well earned reputation for making excellent soaps and creams. She's also a great knitter, gardener and quilter.

Nope its not a hat but a lace moebius knit with alpaca. I've read somewhere and I can't find where, that this pattern is not a true moebius. After the stitches are cast on and before the yarn is joined you purposely twist the last stitch and join. So is this a true moebius or not is something I could care less about. I like the shape and the airy pattern and if I like it that's all that matters to me.

Next two picture are defiantly hats. In my last posting I talked about making guy hats. I bought two balls of yarn at JoAnn's and got these two hats and still have some yarn left for another project.

Finished hat from my last posting. I'm in the process of warping a loom with some brown scarves. Hope to have some pictures of that project next week. That's going kind of slow since I'm back doing another round of PT but I'm bound and determined to sit at my loom and get some weaving done.

KNITTING

Just a few things I've been knitting lately. A guy hat knit in camo wool. I don't know why but I don't do many guy things and at the last New York Sheep And Wool Festival several men asked about hand knit hats. I found some very nice wool yarn at JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago at a good price.

I took an order for a Christmas Sock. I'm usually do not take orders but for some stupid reason did. First I had to find some yarn and did like anything I had for it so decided to dye some of my own white hand spun. My first dye batch got more purple than red not at all appreciate for a "Red Christmas Sock". Second try worked out much better and I'm actually happy with the way the sock turned out. Now I just have to get it mailed and hope the gal that ordered it likes it.

Our foundling has made himself at home. Very happy to plop himself down where ever he pleases. I'm quite sure he's happy with his new family and so far we're very happy with him. We haven't named him yet. I think we're both afraid if we do something bad will happen to him.

It's Veteran's Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada and I would like to honor my Great Uncle Lawrence Lessard. Uncle Lawrence was my Grandmother's brother and was killed in World War II. I so lucky to have a lot of my families history on both sides and even have a copy of the last letter Uncle Lawrence sent to my Grandma along with the letter the Army sent informing my family of his death. It's very sad but then I suppose almost every family has lost a family member defending their country and on Veteran's Day and Remembrance Day it's important we remember all of our heroes.

This is a picture of my Great Uncle Lawrence with his twin sister Great Aunt Loretta. I love and treasure all the old pictures of my family and have my sister Annie to thank for most of them.

PLAN B

On an earlier blog posting I showed pictures of the yarn display Bill and I made but were not entirely happy with so onto Plan B. The problem was the uprights were not steady. Yesterday we tackled the problem and came up with this. We were lucky enough to save all the pipe and only needed to go out and buy new T's and one elbow.

So far so good. We were concerned with the taller of the two uprights and if we have any problems with them will cut them down a little. The yarn can be seen from both sides of the display but in my shop I have the display up against one of the walls and that works good too.

My only fiber purchase at Rhinebeck was some wool roving. I can't remember who I bought it from because I didn't save their business card. I spun it in singles then plied it.

The colors are didn't come very well. It's actually rust and gold but looks more gold and burgundy in my pictures. I'm very happy with it. Nice feel and lovely autumn colors.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Our last knitten, Pesty, was killed by a big black tom when he was about eight weeks old. We vowed then to never take in another cat. Well never say never. Durning the week we noticed this cat hanging around. At first we thought it was one of the neighborhood cats until it finally got enough nerve to come closer to the house and was crying. We didn't have any cat food but I opened a can of turken spam, yes there is spam made with turkey. The poor cat was starved. Bill went to town and bought some cat food and he ate what ever we gave him. Since we only feed him a little at a time it took a while to fill him up. Next morning he's still hanging around and came to us like we knew him forever. I picked him and first thing I noticed was that he was de-clawed. Either someone let the cat out or it got out and is lost. He's made himself quite at home walking around like he's been here a his life. I've asked everyone I know in on our road if they've lost a cat but so far no one's come forward to claim him so for the time being we have a cat.

FINISHED PAINTING

Before we started our clean up and paint project I could not see the surface of this table. Why because I have so much stuff. I love my family and friends but asked them please never give me anything I don't specifically ask for. I have boxes of cute little spinning wheels, sheep and related items which were all given to me. All were given I'm sure with love but honestly just how many cute little nick knacks does one person need? The things I have out are the ones I fell in love with and bought myself.

Ok, so there is one person I love getting gifts from. Isn't this marionette cool? Jane thought it would brighten up my day and when she gave it to me it sure did. Thanks Jane!!!




View as you walk in the door. If you notice I've cleaned out my yarn stash. I had so many cones of yarn either I bought or was given to me years ago that needed to go. Trust me if I thought what I through in the trash would have been any good I would have given it to some one else.

After Rhinebeck my shelves are looking a little bare. I'm working on filling them up again but it takes some time.

Right now I only one of my looms warped and hope to remedy that this week.

Next clean out project is going to be books, magazines and folders. Migth save that for the winter.

VISTOR, WEAVING AND STUDIO

A recent visitor. We haven't seen praying mantis for ages. I'm not afraid of these insects but no matter how helpful they are you've got to admit they are ugly. It stayed on the retaining wall for two days and to be truthfull I don't care where it is as long as I don't find it in bed with me.

I've been wanting to weaving some towels to match my Polish Pottery. I came across Jean Lilly in A Handweaver's Pattern Book a couple of weeks ago and decided to give it a try. It's hard to tell by this picture but the weft is dark green and I have plans for a variety of different colors. Both the warp and weft are 10 x 2 cotton.

The metal yarn display we've had for years has finally given out. This morning we went to the local hardware store for some 2 inch PVC pipe to make a new one. Since we want it to travel well the base is glued together and so are the two support posts. All together we will only have five sections to pack and won't take up to much room and doesn't weigh to much.

The only problem is it's a bit wobbly just like the medal one we had. What to do? We're not going anywhere soon so we we're trying to work out that problem and for now it's doing fine in my shop. I also need more 3 inch rings so until I purchase more not all my yarn is on display.