Winter Work and Play

Hi All. It's a cold, wet rainy da in December here in Vermont. The Bunnies are in the hutch where I've installed a heated water bowl, and a heat lamp in the enclosed area of the hutch. Except to get food and water, they seem content to stay warm even if it is red in the area due to the lamp. (Colored heat bulb). I've been putting my time into getting the new house settled, especially my new studio. Its a large rectangular room with a wood stove centered along one of the long walls. The armoire where I do my beading and wire work are across from the stove. If you stand in the opening into the room (no door), across from you is my fiber work station. I clean, card, comb, draw roving, etc. there. In the opposite corner (along the long wall opposite the stove, is my spinning center. My SpinOlutions MachI and Bee are there, along with huge bags of rovings (gray, cream, dk expresso brown/black, and cream sock yarn) from Zeilingers. I'm spinning some of the gray on my Mach I and the roving flows through my hands like silk.

Some day, there will be a braided oval rug on the floor, possibly made of wool, possibly made of fleece remnants. We'll have to see what I can get. I'd prefer the wool, because I think it may last longer. Perhaps t-shirts could be cut up??? Not sure yet, since this will be my very first project. For now, I'm content to use a commercial rug to keep the chill at bay. I have 2 comfortable chairs in front of the stove. A warm cozy place to knit, read, write, think, draw... you get the idea. I found a wonderful square table (the top is inlaid with stretched andembossed leather) for a whopping $6 at a used furnature store. I'm fixing a leg that came loose and it will go between the two chairs. A table lamp completes the picture.

Shelving will go from the floor to the ceiling in 3 of the 4 corners of the room to hold books, tools, journals and binders with patterns and samples of dying... as well as the non-artisan books, such as gardening and orcharding. I can't wait for it to be done so I can show you so here's a sneak peek.