The Right Tool: Tapestry Bobbins

So how silly is it
​to spend a chunk of the morning
​wandering around the garden, 
looking for the perfect place to pose
(excuse me, to STYLE)
my suddenly expanded collection 
of hand turned tapestry bobbins?

Rosewood extra slim bobbins by Alexandra Iosub

Or maybe silly isn't the word -- 
it's more that I find it interesting to notice
that my desire to do this
​ has become something to notice.
​If you know what I mean.

Skinny Minnie bobbins, with and without brass tips, by Milissa Dewey

Not that I don't relish the warm feelings I get
from visually satisfying images.
It's just that after a time one begins to have some judgement.
This photo will do.
That one will not.

And since Photography is not my gig,
I'm a little bit annoyed
that I might consider avoiding an idea for a blog post
because I don't have good enough photos.

bobbin: Dewey/ Iosub/ Dewey

So I don't.
Avoid it, that is.
Indeed, as most of you know
I usually do show my work
(and tools, and face)
in  less than perfect conditions:
sprawled across an old piece of cardboard,
​in active use,
 neither well lit nor artfully arranged
so probably you're not even here for photographic eye candy.

Indeed, you're probably not surprised 
that I was so excited to use  these
custom, extra slim rosewood beauties  
by Alexandra Iosub,
that I neglected to take more than
a couple of unwrapping snaps for Instagram.
(don't you love how she stitched them into that scrap of fabric?)

Or that though I meant to take more pics once I began to warp,
the process sucked me in,
​and photos were not taken.
Having the perfect tool for a job is so distracting.

Four Selvedge Auxiliary Warp # 1

And who could pause for a moment
when a second package arrived:
a collection of Skinny Minnies
​(with and without brass tips)
made by Milissa Dewey of Bobbin Boy?
​Not me. 
Those too were put right to work.

Four Selvedge Tapestry; spindle spun wool warp, linen and wool weft; indigo; 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

But this morning
​ ​I really wanted to try to show them off
in all their luscious, hand turned,
hardwood glory--

Iosub/ Dewey

even if that meant getting my feet wet
and taking photos
​in a place where they will ​rarely, if ever, be used. 

Iosub/ Dewey

But so what?
A small attempt at bobbin porn never hurt anyone.
​Least of all me.
And vicarious pleasure is most definitely a thing.

Then again,
given a choice between styling exquisite tools
and actually using them, 
I usually choose the latter.

Which I guess is one of the many ways
you can tell 
that I am a weaver
and not a photographer. 
For which I am a little bit sorry --
but not all that much.
Because weaving is the BEST,
​don't you think?