She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
[Proverbs 31:19]
In some cultures, January 6th marks the end of Christmas celebrations so January 7th was, historically, the day to return to work. This was an occasion for a party and sometimes pranks. For many women, work included spinning yarn so they brought their distaffs and flax to the party. Some spinning guilds still meet on January 7th for a party and a day of spinning.
My father made this black walnut drop spindle for me fifty years ago (I was in high school at the time). I have spun on it but never learned to use the spinning wheel. My daughter, Ellen, is the spinner in the family. She also weaves on a loom that Daddy built.
In a world that sometimes seems to spin out of order, I find comfort in touching the honeysuckle of my shuttle basket and caressing the old wood. I don’t yearn for times past, but I do enjoy meditating upon the ingenuity of our creative ancestors.
Knitting, writing and other joys 
Don’t forget cousin Marilyn! 🙂 xxx She is a spinner as well! And probablly more accomplished that I am! 🙂 xxx
Love ya!
Your first born
Thank you for your keeping spirit. There was a spinning wheel in the spare room of my grandmother’s house. When I was a little girl, my grandmother would take me there to show me the spinning wheel and other “old things” which I loved to touch and hear stories about. She and my mother taught me the song “There’s An Old Spinning Wheel in the Parlor”. The house burned when I was a young woman, but I have vivid memory pictures of touching the spinning wheel and imagining using it. http://deegold.homestead.com/spinningwheel.html
beautifully crafted post, short, simple and thought provoking.
How wonderful, your dad making these beautiful tools!