The path from my studio to the back door is short. The light is on in the kitchen, but I can’t see the back door in the darkness. I know where it is though, mostly. The basket with my laptop, iPhone, sketch pad, and empty teacup is secure on my arm. I kick my foot in front of me when I think I’ve gotten to the step up to the door. When I feel it I step up then reach out for the doorknob.
I know that Fate’s right behind me. Not because I can see her, but it’s where she always is this time of night.
If it were the summer I’d still be in my studio. But it’s 5 pm on the day before the Winter Solstice, so it’s dark out and getting cold in my studio.
Inside the house, the woodstoves have a thick bed of glowing coals that have been keeping the house warm all day. I want to be sitting at the dining room table, a cup of wine next to my laptop as I blog.
Once there, I plug in my iPhone and download the day’s photos. There are so many more than I’ll post. I look through them editing out the ones I won’t be using, uploading the ones that might.
Sometimes I choose a photo knowing what I want to say about it. Other times I let it tell me its story.
What I just wrote is the story the still life of the spool, thimble, needles, and note wanted me to tell. Not a story about them, but about how they got onto my blog.
Okay,I’ll bite. Why the nails or screws in the top of the spool. Also, I notice the thimble. Does it have a story? I have a collection of thimbles. Some are utility thimbles, some quilting thimbles, some beautiful silver thimbles. Some came from family, some from travels and some just for pretty because you couldn’t practically use them.
Why are there nails or screws in the spool? That’s an interesting thimble. Does it have a history?
Barbara, They’re little nails for doing spool knitting or as my mother called it Horse Reins. She’s the person who taught me how to do it. Here’s a link with some pictures….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spool_knitting
And I’m not really sure where I got the thimble…
Thank you. I have a collection of thimbles. Some utilitarian, some quilting, some inherited, some bought on travels and some just pretty but totally unusable.
Wow Barbara what a lovley colletion to have!
ah, maria, you brought back memories of spool knitting that my grandmother taught me. my spool was in a kit , though, not like yours made from an empty spool with nails. it was quite fun and sparked my interest in embroidery, crochet, needlepoint and knitting and sewing which has continued to this day. very productive and peaceful to do handwork . your photo is a nice composition of “stuff!” btw, do you remember the woman who made pincushions that you exhibited for sale when you had the Bedlam Farm Open Houses? they were whimsical and very well done. i’d like to perhaps purchase . thanks. Merry Christmas and happy 2022!
I love that Jan, I’m not sure I’d remember how to actually spool knit anymore. But it might just come back to me if I tried. And I’m sure I could find directions online. And the wonderful pin cushions are made by Jane McMillen. Here’s a link to her Etsy page. https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleHouseHomeArts
I have four of her pincushions that I use all the time. I love them. Just looking at them in her etsy shop made me want to buy another. And just so you know they last a long time. I’ve have worn two out over the more than ten years I’ve been sewing full time. But the ones I have now are at least six years old or more. Happy Christmas to you too!