*wigglebounce*

Ok, so when I get excited my brain doesn’t function normally - I either think in LolCat, or in Binks (as in JarJar.)  In order for the entire scifi geek community to not kill me, you’re getting LolCat.

Also?  Please forgive the craptastic flash photography - I couldn’t hold back the tide of squee until morning light.  Now that the PSAs are done with, on with the show!

I got a spinning wheel!

Isn’t it gorgeous!?  (I just about typed “she”, but then I realized that it doesn’t so much seem like a “she” to me - it’s more of a “he”.  Maybe it’s the heft - 22lbs!!)

So, it’s a Mach 1 from Spinolution.  And that’s the lazy kate beside it, with four extra bobbins.  And these things are *massive*!  It can hold around ten ounces of fiber.  TEN OUNCES!!!  Most other wheels hold around four, and only some come with a jumbo flyer/bobbin accessory.  I don’t see myself having  space problems anytime soon.  It’s also got heel rests to keep the wheel from scooting away from me while I spin, foot breaks on either side, and true scotch tensioning.  It’s got an open orifice, pegs instead of hooks, and four ratios from 1:3 - 1:15.  It’s everything I wanted, and it looks awesome doing it!  I got the unfinished one, and I’m debating on how I want to finish it (I know I’m not going to just leave it.  I have a two year old…)  Originally, I had thought about a copper paint job, and hit the low points with dark stain to “age” it - Steampunk wheel ftw!  But now that I have it I’m not so sure.  I know the flyer assembly, treadles, and heel rests are getting a few coats of lacquer to help prevent staining (both from feet and from stray dye on fiber.) Other than that, maybe just a nice rub down with some Tung oil, though I do still want some sort of personalization.  Anyway!

I couldn’t wait to play with it, so I dug out the “caramel drizzled vanilla” fiber hunk I picked up at Taos S&W and spun it up.  It made about two ounces of a fluffy two-ply.  I’m going to wash and set it tomorrow, but I’m guessing it varies from DK to aran.  Isn’t it yummy????  I’m calling it “Caramel a la Mode.”