Fair Week…

Ok…Getting ready for the Fair, which starts Friday Aug 1, 2008…yet for me, moi, and moiself, um, yeah it starts on Tuesday.

I’ve got the building cleaned, and most of the furniture is rearranged. Can you tell me why they think we need more “historic” furnature? Read “junk” for “historic”, just because something is old doesn’t make it prescious…or appropriate for a venue…and well, every year we open the building and there is ONE MORE PIECE…it’s a tiny little cabin, with about 12 feet of wiggle room…SIGH….I could use two of those pieces to go bye bye….If I had not had hubby with me, I would have NEVER gotten the furniture rearranged, since the newest piece which is cool, and not ugly and NOT one of the things I want to go away, is an old sewing machine probably from the 1930’s or 40’s. There is NO WAY I could have moved that by myself, without causing myself injury.

But, luckily I did have hubby there to help me, and we got a lovely cedar latice up on the portch to keep the public from sitting on the porch next to our wheels and wool with their cotton candy and ice cream, cause well…cotton candy and fiber don’t mix for either party.

If you are in the Stanwood Camano Area and are a spinner or handworker and want to demonstrate come out on Tueday July 29, or Wed July 30 and see me we’ll talk, and I’ll get you a ticket for your time and trouble

Come on down and see us, we’d love to have you, and we’re so much fun!!!

I don’t have the normal amount of entries done that I usually do, since I was injured most of the year. But I have managed to pump out a few crocheted items (smalllllllL!!!!!) and about four skeins. I hope to have a few completed by Wednesday, and if they don’t go in as entries, I’ll at least have more yarn to mail off for the back orders of yarn

Update on a friend

Our friend has been moved from ICU to the Critical Care ward last I talked to her husband. She’s making progress…a few small set backs, but still moving forward. She has a very long road to healing, and we don’t know what that other side looks like…but she did recognize her husband, and well, that’s something, isn’t it?!

Thank you for all the postive thoughts, energy and prayers…please think of them when you can, and keep up the good work…

As for crochet? Hmmmm….working on it…. My harddrive on my PC died, and I’m dealing with that, the laptop is fine, and that’s backed up, so that’s a good thing

I’m working over time to get the Crochet Liberation Front’s book finished. and preparing for the Stanwood Camano Fair August 1-3, 2008.

If you get a chance to stop by PLEASE do! Ask for Laurie, I’ll be there, with bells on…well maybe not bells, and I’ll probably look bedraggled but hey we have a brilliant time

Very Sad News…

I had one of the toughest conversations of my life last night. As Superindendant of the Fleece and Handspinning dept. at the Stawood Camano Fair, this time of year I am calling up demonstrators and participants finding out how I can help them be at the fair.

The thing is, we’re a small group, a family of sorts. All of us very different from one another, all of us with our quirks, different views to life, but we all love fiber and that is enough to bond us like sisters and brothers. We over look our differences, and help each other through the trials and tribulations of life. One year it was the death of a husband, another year a divorce, we weathered illnesses, and childrearing issues together…and this year is no exception.

As I was checking with a wonderful couple who bring out a fabulous carding and drop spindling display (I should say experience! Since they work with many many kids over the three days of the fair), I played phone tag with them for a few days. When he called last night, it was with sad news…I had to listen to a man who desperately loves his wife, choke up on the phone and tell me that she had been in a horrible car accident, and has been in the Trauma Hospital’s ICU for over a week.

There are positive signs for his wife, she didn’t break her neck or spinal cord, there are body responses, but her skull is cracked horribly…she’s stil in dire straights, but hasn’t declined.

This is a wonderful couple, their love is palpable, we look forward to them coming every year (and they come from quite a distance, as they are not from our local area)…Listening to him tell me the details, his voice quavering, listening to him trying to hold it together, hearing his heart bleed with every detail was beyond the description of hard.

I’m not giving their names to protect their privacy…but I do ask you to think of this couple and think positive and healing thoughts for them, if you pray, please pray for them.

When a member of the group is down we rally together, and pull for them in a way that is beyond normal friendship…Well, we have a member down, fighting for her life right now…and one who’s heart is rending because of his love for her…We’re gonna do what we can for him, and hold her in our minds and hearts…

I put this out because I think it is important to let people know that our craft groups aren’t just little hobby clubs. We are community, we are tied together, we spend years together creating side by side…sharing our lives with others, and each other…

This year the fair will be for the couple who’s love is tangible…we’ll make sure we have things that we know they would like…

Why? Because amidst one of the hardest moments of this man’s life, he said to me, “I made a bunch of CD drop spindles for the kids, and I want to get them to you…’

“Oh you don’t have to…” I said trying not to cry.

“Laurie, I have to do something, and this is something positive…I don’t have a lot of that right now…”

I waited until I got off the phone with him before I cried. Then I called the rest of the group.

Me taking a break at the wheel

P1010657

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

My daughter wanted a picture…so she got one…This is me. Yup, me…Sitting at my wheel, taking a break. I still can’t spin for long moments in time, but I can for fits and spurts…

But, I don’t show myself often, so here I am.

I got to meet Prudence Mapstone!

Ok I’m like over the moon! I got to meet Prudence Mapstone and that was way cool…She is an amazing lady, and someone I would love to hang out with and have fun just sitting and creating! She’s a fabulous person on top of being UBERLY talented!

I had heard lovely things about her, and wow…they were all true! If you get the chance to take a class with her go for it!

Crochet Liberation Front Free Form Style

From Goats to Coats at Cama Beach State Park

A not thrilled Hera

Another gorgeous sunset at Cama Beach

Show and tell table

Tonight Bec Thomas and I, gave our demonstration about Angora goats and handspinning at Cama Beach State Park.

We had many adoring fans, well…ok…Hera, the goat, had many adoring fans. I missed the best picture by being too slow to catch a cute towheaded toddler kissing Hera…

Many of the people staying at Cama Beach, live in the city, so for most of the kids getting up close and personal with a “REAL LIVE GOAT” (as several little girls exclaimed) was a new and very exciting experience!

Hera wasn’t very sure about all of the people, but she held on like a real trooper!

 

Laurie Wheeler with interested spinning enthusiasts

We had a great time (I wish my daughter could take a picture of me that is more flattering, but hey you get what you pay for!) These little girls were very interested in handspinning, and they even got to hold on to the yarn as I spun! Very exhilerating for them as the squealed, “I feel it twisting!”  Cute as bugs all of them!