Eye Candy. Sweet sweet Suzie Professional Special edition wheel

Today starts out really nice. Although it’s a short vacation I was up late yesterday reading, for some reason I could not sleep and I didn’t spin as I did not want to wake up dear hubby; my spinning wheels are as quiet as a mouse but hubby is a light sleeper, anything will wake him up even the drop of a pin! This morning I started skeining the Mongolian Lambswool Muga Silk blend that I had purchased from Japan. It’s still soaking so I’ll post photos later. Then I went to my studio and worked on some wheels; meaning clean them up, pet them ha ha! give them good wood food and of course warm their feet; um, treadles. Spin spin spin! I have not touched the Louet S90 in a long long time. It is one of my set of first wheels, yeah no kidding set of first wheels; people usually say my first, but this one is my first set! Anyway the S90 is a single treadle but I have loved the wheel for a very long time, and don’t get me wrong I still do. I am a double treadle girl now but for some reason I still hang on to some of my single treadle wheels. I do not know if it’s sentiment or what.

Louet S90 Ultimate Collector’s wheel

Last Xmas, when dear hubby got word we’re going overseas for a job posting, he said we had to let go of some stuff in the house. Between our collection of Jade elephant sculptures and dragons there was a debate about wheels because they do take up space, no kidding the debate was a long one. Of course being a reasonable gal, I relented and said sure we can let go of some wheels, while some went into storage and the others don our present spaces. First to go was the beautiful Rick Reeves Frame wheel, a single treadle, a wedding present! Good grief, my closest friends asked why! in the world would you do that?! it went on eBay and went to a great home, dear Martha is the new owner and we could not feel happier; she is in great hands.

Rick Reeves Frame Collector’s wheel

Second went the Pipy Saxony, a gorgeous fine Rimu wheel that also went to a very nice lady who promised she’ll be in a great home

Pipy Saxony Collector’s wheel

and her sister the Pipy Wendy an upright gorgeous wheel, uniquely engineered,

Pipy Wendy Collector’s wheel

they’re all collectors’ wheels and yes the Pipys are both single treadles as well.

We had a couple more to let go but didn’t have the time to list them with all that’s been going on in our lives, work, family, holidays, work again, babies the list is endless. The single treadle wheels sit in our present spaces handsomely looking as heirloom fine furniture. Martha did ask me if I was going to put them up for sale, I said yes, eventually but eventually never came. Today I gave them the routine maintenance in my studio where they have been lovingly cared for and adored. The S90 I mentioned before and the other one is the 30″ Rick Reeves. Both single treadles.

I am hanging onto the wheels like a leech but I know eventually they’ll have to go, a promise I made to dear hubby on a de-stashing deal, his precious hobby in the garage and my beautiful wheelies. I need some motivation but it’s not coming, not even close. My love for double treadles (my Jensen, Van Eaton, Drudik, Majacraft wheels) have indeed brought out my love for single treadle wheels. When I first graduated to double treadles, my reaction was that double treadles are da-bomb. That is true because I feel that they make for a much pleasurable treadling experience and consequently spinning experience. But in retrospect that is not quite so true because there are single treadle wheels out there that are immensely a joy to spin on! The S90 is one of them and Rick Reeves wheels of course. I miss the Reeves Frame Wheel but I know it went to a good woman. And I feel happy to have enabled her joys in life. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to keep the Saxony nor the Louet S90 but I am hoping if they ever got sold in the near future, that another awesome owner/s will love and cherish them as much as we did. By then I will only be left in the company of double treadles that will remind me of wonderful single treadles first love.