Hand Spindles

This painting, "The Novice" was done for the special 25th Anniversary category of the fine art competition at the MD Sheep and Wool Festival. The theme of the competition was to show what the festival "means to me". Well, to me it's an annual treasure chest of tools, fibers, supplies and ideas that's exciting enough to inspire anyone to take up fiber arts, even the crabbiest among us. Hey, nobody ever accused me of not having a sense of humor. Those of you with sharp eyes will note that I used one of my own polymer clay bead spindles as a model, as well as a pair of Indigo Hound's Viking wool combs and the actual 25th Anniversary fair booklet. It took 3rd place in the competition. 9" by 12", acrylic on masonite.

Posing in a nice big skein of Romney x Karakul, spun on my Schacht wheel, is are examples of high whorl spindles.  All are hand made of polymer clay, hand balanced and spin tested. No two are quite alike. I have drop tested quite a few of my spindles and have yet to manage to chip one. I no longer make this smooth, unsculpted style. See below for examples of more recent whorls

My public calls these Lizard Spindles and Face Spindles. I call them Tailchasers and Nosey Spinsters.  People often ask me how I balance my spindles. The simple answer is "Very carefully!" The Nosey Spinsters were particularly tricky to balance, which is why there are so few of them in existence. I have discontinued making them, but will continue making the Tailchasers in high, low and Nakha whorl positions . Nakha is a mid-whorl spindle style on a 12" shaft rather than the usual 9". It gets its name from the fact that it is larger and therefore not an Akha, and from the Yiddish word my mother in law taught me for small joys, "nakhes". To me it combines the best attributes of high and low whorl spinning.

 What follows are representative whorls in some currently available styles, scanned  before attaching shafts and hooks. Note: these thumbnails do not link to larger pictures.
 

Radiant Lady

Helping Hands (discontinued)

Sheep's Head aka Ramekin

Fat Cat

See more of my spindles at:

• The Indigo Hound booth at MD Sheep &Wool (Always the first full weekend in May)
• White Wolf and the Phoenix booth at various SCA and related events

• Or on the net at:
  
• The Bellwether
  
• The Woolery
• Aunt Julia's
• Apple Hollow (no pictures)

© 1998 All Rights Reserved: Helen "Halla" Fleischer The information contained in this web site may be printed for your personal use. No other use or reproduction may be made without the express written consent of Halla