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Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Santa Claus Came to Town (and he took pictures!)

At the beginning of December, while we were still trying to figure out what to give each other for Christmas, I saw a spinning wheel and pointed it out to GB. Turned out it needed some repairs, and lived in New Zealand, and so it was going to be a bit longer on delivery than your average Christmas gift.

But who cares?

Today, the most wonderful DHL man in the world (okay, I think it was a man... I was a bit fixated on the box) brought me this.

Of course, my fearless bomb-sniffing dog...

and fearless bomb-sniffing cat... had to inspect things to be sure it was safe.

While I went off searching for something to aid in breaking through the packaging, Trevor and Oscar worked their way around to the same section.



Eventually it was decided that two bomb-sniffing noses weren't needed.







After falling victim (again) to Trevor's mean left hook, Oscar decided he would guard me from explosives by sulking in his room. He went off to play with his pink teddy bear while Trevor continued assisting me.



At first crack I knew I love the woman who'd sold us this wheel.

I bet you love her too.





Wool... Raw New Zealand wool (I can't remember the breed she mentioned, I'll e-mail her and ask) ...
as a packing cushion.





Some in bags, some loose, requiring inspection from my little fiber snob, who doesn't care much about mail, but does like a good fleece now and then.






I really do have to find out what breed this is, because Aslan generally only cares for goat fibers (we know mohair is his very favorite) and corriedale, and I know it's not a corrie. She did tell me once what the breed is, and I didn't recognize it. Figures Aslan has not only expensive taste, but refined and rare tastes as well.


I set to unwrapping the dozens of small, well-wrapped parts and dealt with so much tape I had to take three gagging breaks.





An hour later I had this.

(I hope you appreciate that Trevor is pretending to be a wheel so you can imagine the full picture. He's doing a fine job in his impression, isn't he?)








And two hours after delivery, Fiona met her new sibling (please pardon the mess of packing and fiber).

The new child is made by Mecchia, a NZ company that no longer makes wheels, and now focusses on furniture and looms.




This wheel is 20 - 25 years old, sold because the owner was moving (to California, actually) and needed to down scale quite a bit. Better pictures of the new beauty are here, taken by the previous owner.

I'm trying to reserve gender assignment until I've spun a bit, but it does give off some feminine vibes to me. I am taking naming suggestions - I'd like something that combines some of my qualities with something that says New Zealand as well... so any AU or NZ readers may have some great insight. Are there New Zealand fairies or sprites?

29 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Oh my goodness! Oh. My. Goodness. She is beautiful. Who made her? I'm so happy for you!

10:08 PM  
Blogger dragon knitter said...

Maori. it's the natives in new zealand (i believe, lol). she's a maori

and i'm still redirecting people to tell you about their socks, lol. see, it's growing by leaps & bounds! (and i'm working on a sock myself!)

11:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I remember you mentioning a NZ wheel in an email and was wondering what had become of it. It's a gorgeous wheel! Worth the long wait! Makes me feel bad that I've reduced Lou to being a doorstop and poor 'Rora hasn't done much but collect dust since before Christmas.... Good luck with the naming!

11:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love your new wheel! I have long admired the Mecchia wheels - very good looking and really well made. I'm sure you will be very happy with it. I can't recall any elves or fairies in New Zealand folklore but perhaps the name "Hine-Moa" would suit. Here's the link to her story - http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/grey/grey17.htm#page_173 In Maori the vowells are pronounced a = ah, e as in wet, i = ee, o as in or and u = oo

Happy Spinning, KathyR

4:21 AM  
Blogger Spinningfishwife said...

Gorgeous wheel!

You could always call her Arwen...that`s the only elvish name with any sort of NZ connection I can think of. ;-)

4:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amazing. What a nice thing to receive in the mail. All I got was a credit card bill and two catalogs.

So, the big question, how does she/he/it spin?

5:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ames: Here is a New Zeland website with baby girl names :-)

http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/default.asp?sex=female&nameKeywd=&Page=1&categoryID=3&subcategoryID=24

Looks like fun!

XXOO
Nancita

8:04 AM  
Blogger CatonsvilleCats said...

Wow that's neat looking, and I love that .. is it a lazy kate or just bobbin storage?... under the flyer table!

8:23 AM  
Blogger Kim said...

Ooooh!!! Pretty!!! To me, she looks like a Galadriel. :-) Delicate, but powerful and capable of producing great beauty.

8:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The picture of Trevor reminds me of a Hans Christian Anderson story about three dogs, one with eyes as big as coppers, one with eyes as big as dinner plates, and one with eyes as big as spinning wheels? He did an excellent job.
That is the first wheel I've really liked the looks of. The vortex is creeping ever dlower...

8:56 AM  
Blogger Jackie said...

Hi Amie!

I just found you 2000 sock project via The Harlot and thought I would report another finished pair for your total. I have two other pairs on the needles and will let you know when they are complete!

11:46 AM  
Blogger Anisa said...

I, too, found you via The Harlot and I thought I'd report the socks that I finished on January 6.

Link: http://anisaknits.blogspot.com/2006/01/rainbow-socks.html

My Knitting Olympics project is another pair of socks, so watch out!

12:21 PM  
Blogger Carol said...

Lovely wheel, Amie, and such good helpers you have. I hope Oscar didn't sulk too long. And -- for your 2000 socks challenge -- I finished a pair of baby booties this week.

12:32 PM  
Blogger Marfa's Mewsings said...

Sweets,
It is bee-ute-tee-full & gorgeen - i.e. beautiful & gorgeous - all at once.
Look forward to making her/his acquaintance in person.
Thanks for sharing the news about the newest wheel - look out, Ms. Shelia, Amie's on the move ^..^
XOXO

1:27 PM  
Blogger Janelle said...

Add two more socks to the counter - I finished a pair last week.

1:42 PM  
Blogger KT said...

I don't know anything about spinning wheels, but it's pretty! I love your guard-animals - too cute!

3:12 PM  
Blogger erica said...

What a beautiful wheel. Congratulations. I'm sure you'll have fun with her. Matilda sends her love to Fiona and her new friend.

Such a great thing that you have bomb sniffing dog and cats. And you have a fiber inspector as well. I see they try to have all corners covered.

4:33 PM  
Blogger Carolyn said...

Definitely worth the wait, IMHO!! It is just gorgeous.

4:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is stunning wheel, Congratulations!

And I can report one violently rainbow-striped sock finished today.

5:13 PM  
Blogger Bess said...

YUM! Congratulations on your new baby. She's a beauty.

5:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Such great helpers, congratulations on the new addition! You can add two pair of socks to the count.

7:20 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Congratulations! Have fun.

7:22 PM  
Blogger aija said...

Beautiful! And what rad packaging!!

:)

(PS! Add 2 more socks to the counter!)

12:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amie,
Congratulations on the new addition and also to report that I have finished a pair of socks today. They took me about 10 days of on and off knitting. I don't know how all of you get them knitted up so fast.
Have fun finding a name for your new wheel. Good luck and keep healthy.

12:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps Ariel ???!!??

GB

12:27 AM  
Blogger Carla said...

Gorgeous wheel! Congrats on the new addition. Also, you can add my just finished pair of socks to the total (came over via yarn Harlot). Thanks!

9:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Add another pair of socks (a variation on Gentleman's Plain Socks from Nancy Bush's Vintage Socks...I ran ribbing all the way down to foot) finished this morning.

12:38 PM  
Blogger Knittinreed said...

Beautiful!!! And your guard animals are taking good care of you - checking out the goods first!
Looking forward to the lovely yarn you will be spinning and the projects that follow~

7:21 PM  
Blogger ~k said...

HI! I have made 2 socks this year...will be checking in again soon!

I love Two Thousand Socks!

(and am jealous of your wheel and fiber...)

11:11 PM  

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