musindigo

Obviously there are more spinners out there than I might know. I only know of one other woman around here (within a few miles), in smalltown-land Ontario, who spins and I knew there must be others, but given the circumstances, I thought I had a good chance at something I had no idea I wanted last night.

MrBear and I decided to check out an auction in town. We were looking for bits of furniture for the little monster’s room since he’s finally sleeping relatively well in a bed (”relatively well’ meaning he doesn’t think he can fly any more and I feel comfortable enough to get him a bed which I think he will understand he could fall out of and which he doesn’t think of as a trampoline).

I should have taken my camera to get pics, but, even in smalltown-land where folks tend to bid on farm tools more highly than other items, I didn’t want to draw attention. I mean, this is the kind of auction where you watch Limoges boxes go for $1…

I came across an antique saxony wheel. The auctioneer pointed out (after many many hours of waiting for it to come up) it seemed to have everything with it, still, even though it had belonged to the grandmother of the man who’s estate was being auctioned. (Um, yeah… even the little tiny orifice hook was still there tucked into its little spot under the flyer). My husband guessed the wheel and the three bobbins, which had brass cores, were cherry wood. It wasn’t even listed in the auction listing so I hoped for the possibility no one else really had interest in it. The fact it wasn’t listed in the auction also told me the auctioneers really didn’t think it would draw interest, either.

So I waited, waited, waited for about 5 hours through gratingly slow bids on items which were extremely uninteresting to me; the only folks who even had any sort of overt interest in the wheel while the auction was happening were the ‘dealers’ (meaning folks who buy at auctions for resale in a shop who become apparent after a while). I waited long enough to become hypoglycemic and finally I asked the auctioneer quietly if we could sell ‘the wheel’ so I didn’t drop over and have him call 911 - there were about 10 lots left to be sold.

Bids started at $25 (I know, a crime). They rose in $5 (albeit quick) increments - ha! To the amazement of myself and, it seemed, everyone remaining (very few at this point, it was getting pretty late), there was another in the crowd who was out to get it. The ‘dealers’ stopped bidding around $60. Still a crime, at any rate. The eyes of the auction staff grew wider as the bidding rose (I’m sure they thought they’d made their butter for the evening… this must have been a bit of icing on the cake).

Sigh… I hope she spins. I hope she loves it and isn’t going to try to flip it for a profit. I’m quite certain it will spin for at least another 100 years.

I couldn’t have my kids eating KD next week.

But, I was shocked how much I wanted it. I don’t have too much ‘relax time’ available, and before I knew of this wheel, I was in the midst of finishing up taxes and then I heard about an extended deadline for filing… I’d decided it was an opportunity to spend the evening spinning and relaxing (for once). But, then, my husband thought I should come check out the preview with him in case he would miss something on his own. I did get to knit at the auction but it was not relaxing knitting lol. I gave up a rare chance to park myself on the couch. Ah well.

I do want to mention what a great time I had at the DKC Frolic last weekend! So many folks stopped to say hi and it was so nice to put faces together with those of you I’ve met online. :) Thank you. :) Despite having my camera with me I have absolutely no photos from Toronto - I guess it was nice to just live ‘in the moment’.

I will have the new yarns from the show up in the shop next week (I hope) - some merino lace, merino-seacell and new BFL fingering, along with a few new patterns.

There is another auction tonight…

I’m staying home. ;)