Sales were slow and my aunt who was there helping me was happily crocheting herself a scarf out of some of my handspun Alpaca. It was the last day of the show and getting late in the afternoon so I thought it was a good time to slip away and see what I could find.
Armed with a couple of ounces of my own Alpaca and wool, I buzzed through the barns with my head focused on wheels. I stopped to look at each one that caught my eye. I had it in mind what I wanted, but wasn't sure I would find it.
I had long coveted a castle wheel, but I didn't want an antique. This is unusual for me because I am an antiquey kind of girl. This time, however, I wanted new.
I stopped to look at a Country Spinner which was wonderful, but I already had a Cowichan wheel for the bulky, huge skeins.
Nope, I wanted a lovely upright wheel that took up a small amount of space. One that would fit into my décor, yet didn't make me feel like I had to walk on eggshells around. I already had one of those too.
I moved on. I stopped next at a tent with an Ashford Traveller. I had been eyeballing them online. So cute, so compact. The kind of wheel I could pick up and take with me whenever I wanted. It's an upright. Good. It has a small footprint. Good. It was hot out and the lady had a nice shady tent with a slight breeze. I sat down at the wheel and gave her a whirl. My excitement waned. It was a darling wheel but it just didn't fit me. Not like I wanted it to. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the uneven ground I was on. Maybe it was the chair. I don't know but it was very disappointing that a wheel that I liked so much and had thought about so much didn't fit me like I assumed it would.
I moved on. A little less enthusiastic by now. A little over heated. A little disappointed. A little discouraged that I would find what I needed. Wanted. Had to have.
I moved through a few more booths. Lots of lovely wheels. I looked at what other exhibitors were using. I stood and watched as they happily treadled their wheels with ease. I could see the relaxed looks on their faces, knowing that they had the wheel that fit them.
I was leaving the last barn and heading back to my booth, face red from heat, sweat pouring off of me, disappointed that I didn't find my wheel, knowing I had to wait.
This day was months in the making. Anticipating that day I would bring home the perfect wheel. But not today. It was not meant to be. It was time to go back to my booth and rethink how I would get the wheel I wanted. Buying online was now something that I didn't think was a good idea. Not now after I tried a few wheels that I liked but found they didn't quite fit me. How could I buy a wheel without trying it out now knowing what I knew.
As I moved down the last aisle of the last barn, I could see the bright hot sun shining from through the door. I got toward the end booth and the bright sun from outside shown in my eyes making them hurt. Something caught my eye.
It was a woman sitting in the middle of her booth like a spinning goddess, surrounded by braids of roving and skeins of yarn. There she sat as if she was on a stage, spinning on the loveliest wheel I had ever seen. But I had seen this wheel before. Online. I approached her, slowly, watching, trying to adjust my eyes and my head at what I was seeing.
"You want to give it try?" She asked.
"Really?" I asked.
"Sure!" she said as she got up from what seemed like a really tall director's chair.
I removed my shoes.
I sat down carefully, shyly, awkwardly. It was like sitting down next to the cute guy on the bus. I felt like I was blushing.
Carol, the spinning goddess that sat in that chair before me encouraged me to take the fiber that she had been spinning. "Go ahead", she said, "it won't break."
I reached for the wheel to get her started but the spinning goddess stopped me. "Just start treadling." she said with gentle kindness.
I took up the fiber in my trembling hands and started treadling. Smoothly, the wheel started turning and I struggled with my drafting. I started again at the gentle urging of the spinning goddess.
In seconds I was spinning without abandon. Elated, I felt myself smiling.
"Do you sell these?" I asked.
"I sure do." she answered.
"Do you mind if I try my own fiber?" I asked.
"Of course not!" she exclaimed. "take as much time as you need."
I pulled out my wool. Spun like a dream. I pulled out my Alpaca. Spun like a dream. The wheel fit me. I was sitting straight. Comfortable. Spinning with ease. Not only was she beautiful, she fit me!!
I paid the spinning goddess and filled out the necessary paperwork. She put my new wheel on a dolly and delivered it across the grounds to my truck.
My mom and aunt had already started packing up and loading the truck. I couldn't stop smiling.
The spinning goddess owns River's Edge Fiber Arts in Michigan. We said goodbye. I felt like I had just adopted a new puppy!
A few months later, I finally got the chance, to stain the parts of the unfinished version I chose, and took her to mom's for some detailing. She worked on it here and there but had limited time and some big orders to fill. She finished this week. So after a year and a half, my new wheel finally returned home.
Yesterday, I awoke sickly feeling so I decided I needed a day to relax. After chores, I spent some good quality time on my couch and in the afternoon, I broke out the tongue oil and went to work on my wheel. It was relaxing work. By 1 a.m. I had her put together. I stared in awe at her beauty. She was a little tacky yet, but I knew that hand rubbed tongue oil would cure in time for me to take her for a test drive this afternoon. Which I did. I love her. We still fit.
And here, I present to you with pride and joy....The Kromski Minstrel.....
I haven't had much time with her, but when I was spinning for the first time I caught a glimpse of little cartoon hearts floating above us. I think this is a true love connection!
I hope you have enjoyed my little story. A little corny, maybe, but how many of you have felt that same way when you found your perfect wheel?
Thanks for stopping by.
~Vickie
