On New Year’s Day I was lucky enough to have the company of two great people, Kris and Naomi. They both grew up here in Hawaii and they’re visiting their respective families over the holidays but they managed to escape long enough for a mini spin-in.
naomi and kris
Kris and I particularly wanted Naomi to teach us the way of the thick yarn since the both of us tend to spin on the thin side.
Here’s Naomi going at it on my Suzie.
naomi, the spinnin' wizard!
I think some of what she did permeated through my thick head, because I’m spinning some thickish yarn on the Lendrum right now. We shall see what it looks like when I get it off the wheel. :)
I had a really good time with them while they were here. It’s too bad they both live so far away and that airfare is so costly. I could totally do this once a week. :D
There wasn’t much time for me to be blue over the fact that they live so far away as I got to go to a bead show on Saturday. I wandered around for over two hours and managed to snag some pretties.
I couldn’t resist these pearls. They have such an unusual shape and the colors are so vibrant!
funky pearls
I also managed to snag some glass briolettes for my earring obsession.
glass briolettes
The faux Opalite is one of my favorites.
faux opalite and faux smoky quartz
I couldn’t resist treating myself to some special semi-precious briolettes. I got a strand of Tourmalated Quartz and Smoky Quartz.
tourmalated quartz and smoky quartz
There are a few other small purchases I made, but since I want to show you a couple more things I don’t want to break anyone’s computer with more images. :P
With all these beads in the house, I had to do some beading. So I made up a couple of earrings. I’m a little ambivalent about these, but here they are anyway.
black trumpet flower cascade
I really love the bead caps on the second pair.
purple trumpet flower cascade
I think it’s time to go play with my new beads and my wheel. Happy Monday. I hope I haven’t innundated you all with too many pictures! :)
January 5th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I’m glad you had such a good time with your friends. Hopefully it won’t be too long before they visit again.
Your beading is gorgeous as usual! You picked some beautiful beads. Of course you know the smoky quartz is my favorite. ;)
January 5th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Ooooh I love smokey quartz, it’s one of my faves.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Lovely purchases! I particularly like the pearls, so pretty!
I like the black/white in the first pair of earrings; they’d look great with a black dress. :)
January 5th, 2009 at 11:26 am
You can never have too many pictures!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Have I said how much I like your new blog design? I do. Much. Also it is good to see faces to match up with Rav names. I KNOW Naomi has to be KnottyNaomi, who has the cutest ravatar ever. Chris I’m not so sure about, but I bet if she spins, she’s on Rav, too.
So are you spinning thick now????? Naomi shows off some awesome thick yarns on various spinning threads, and I have lusted after those yarns.
And your beads! Woo! The tourmalated quartz is my favorite…or is it the pearls? Hmmm, hard choice.
Get busy, and don’t forget to kiss the cats.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Love!
January 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
You did get some pretty beads!
I also spin very thin, but with a drop spindle. I don’t have a wheel. I’ve never been able to spin thick yarn.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
What a great way to bring in the new year! Friends and pretty beads, that is good living.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Opal, you must stop this immediately. I have to clean off my keyboard every time I see your breathtaking jewelry. Not fair.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Three great spinners in the same room? I think my head would have exploded. :) Lovely jewelry.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
nice bead stash! it’s a nice way to spend some time with special friends – creating!
January 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Can’t wait to see the thickish yarn! I went to the bead show on Sunday. You really got some nice goodies!
January 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Very pretty earrings – and can’t wait to see your thickish yarn!
January 5th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I love the ear wire shape on the black earrings.
And those pearls? Love the iridescent ones. They are gorgeous.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
That sounds like such a fun time.
Learning is always wonderful.
I’ll take this kind of beautiful inundation any day.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I would totally do this once a week too!!! :) It was so great that we were able to get together and thanks again for the use of your wonderful wheels!
January 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
You are amazing at making jewelry!!! I look forward to seeing your thicker yarn, too, as I need to work on that for some of my rovings.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Good times, indeed.
There was a time when I could not spin anything but thin. Now, it seems to be the opposite. Not sure why.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Never enough pics! ;) Beautiful purchases. And there must be a “Learn to spin thick” thing going around. I was experimenting with that myself recently!
January 9th, 2009 at 10:17 am
What gems! (Friends and the gemological type, too!)
(((hugs)))
January 10th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I love the purple cascade earings.
January 11th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Wow, you guys look like you have so much fun. You can feel the wind off that wheel. Those gems are beautiful. I love the pearls.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
How fun! Your jewelry is gorgeous.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Hooray for friends!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Yes, I know what you mean….this year, the only club I’m joining is my Personal Sock Club (and Personal Lace Club) knitting from my stash.
:)
But those are pretty…if not our colors…
(((hugs)))
January 16th, 2009 at 7:47 am
i’m so pokey…catching up late! thank you for hosting us…i had a really nice time spinning and talking story! felt too short! was good to see you again and to finally meet kris. hopefully see you next time i come home!!
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I want it!!! It’s all pink and green!!!!! You could send it for my birthday…..
Okay, I’m only mostly kidding. It’s pretty. Hannah likes it too.