Delicious silk/camel blend from Kristine at A Verb For Keeping Warm (naturally dyed, beautiful things, made mindfully - a lovely store).  A little sample enclosed with my (amazingly pretty) Polwarth.

Small sample + new spindle: a Golding Ringspindle - 0.45 ounces - cherrywood - tsunami design.  A righteous little spinner.

Swatching the finished yarn; it knits up at 30 stitches/4" on a size 1 needle.  I am getting, I think, about 19 WPI with the yarn.  (Not exactly convinced that I'm measuring WPI right... I feel like I get a different result each time, which is why I was eager to swatch - I'm more confident getting information from needles and swatches, I guess.)  The fabric is nice - elastic, soft, and with a slight pretty halo.  While plying, I was a little sad that similar colors were meeting up so often (I thought I wanted a more barberpole look), but I really love the way that it stripes in the sample swatch.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to get all 4 oz. of fiber to turn out like that when plied, but if I happen to luck out, I might jump for joy!  Now to start the spinning in earnest.  I have a little more yarn from my sample skein in case I get a vibe about a stitch pattern and want to try it.

I do want to say a huge hello, and a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has welcomed me so warmly on Ravelry, commented here, sent me emails or Ravelry messages - it's just so nice I don't have the words... and that's rare for me.  I'm smiling a lot, I'm learning a lot, and I'm having a wonderful time diving in to work, and loving Ravelry more every day.  Thank you!!

Spinning fiber - stunning already. Organizing my stash on Ravelry is a daunting (but fun) task. Interesting to see, lined up next to each other in pictures, what I like.

When it comes to spinning, "what I like" seems to be natural fibers, undyed. I would have thought I'd be drawn to the funky, crazy stuff, but turns out that what I buy is lovely, undyed, natural beauty. Well, I do have my hands on some irresistible, ridiculously beautiful handpaints, true. 

Creamy handspun parfait; so incredibly soft.  I pray, meditate, and wish as I work on the handspun wedding shawl.  Now that I'm more confident that I'll be able to produce enough yarn on my drop spindle to make an actual wrap, I've begun to dream of lace motifs, shapes, edgings.  Sketches, I think, are just around the corner.

This takes such focus, such time.  I'm pleased with how consistent the yarn is, hank to hank.  Pleased that it is so soft and delicate.  Pleased, even, at the slubs, the proof that I'm still a beginner, that this is where I am in my life right now, that I don't have it 100% figured out.  Proof that it has all touched my fingers, that it is made by hand, that it takes effort.  This is, after all, for a shawl that I'll wear on my wedding day.  I don't pretend to be perfect, but I know that I am loved, and that I love in return.  I think it's fitting.

The other day, when I posted about my Big Handspun Wedding Shawl project, Marnie commented on my diligence and devotion to one spinning project at a time.  While that would, indeed, be admirable - I feel compelled to admit: