I can stop anytime I want to

After finding Belle, and bringing her to Mutton & Mead, we've been planning on my bringing her down to the fall Connecticut Ren Faire to do some demos.  They've given us a bit of extra space, so I can set something up.  In the meantime, I've been looking for good pictures depicting the history of spinning, as well as reading up on some of the high points.  My plan has been to bring some raw wool, washed wool, my hand cards, and Belle.  I've also always wanted a more period-friendly flyer wheel, as my Spinolution and HeavenlyHandspinning wheels are too modern for a faire, and it would be nice to show the progression to the more modern wheel technology.

I watch Ravelry, and Craigslist, and even Ebay.  Most days checking in, to see if there's anything good.  Imagine my delight when someone on Rav posted she had been fostering Homeless Puppy #1 and was looking for a home.  For free.  And she's only about an hour and a half away from me!

So, meet Hermione.

We're not sure where/when she's from, but best guess puts her at about 200 years old.  She has a maker's mark, "C.C", but no luck yet in finding to whom it belongs.

She looks similar to a Nova Scotian wheel someone else posted on their blog.  That one had a different mark, made by someone named McDonald, but in the same time frame.  So right now, my guess is that she could be from Nova Scotia, about 200 years ago.  But no real idea yet.

I've got her up and spinning happily.  I've managed a good two or three ounces of art batt this weekend.  You'll notice the flyer bearing has been replaced.  After throwing the driveband repeatedly, I swapped out the suede lace for some braided raffia.  It's stiffer, so holds the flyer at a better angle.  She's repeated the band-throwing a couple of times, and increasing the tension has helped.  Once the cotton band reaches its maximum stretch, it should be good and stable for a while.

So she's coming to the CT Faire with me this weekend.  Stop by and say hi if you're there!