Last post, we were chatting about the Peterborough Fibre Festival and my quest to find the new Lendrum wheel company (lendrumwheels.ca). I found out that a lovely young couple had taken over the company from Gord Lendrum and had moved it to Carlton Place (so much closer to Ottawa than Odessa). He would also be very happy to meet my Rook (a castle wheel) and my folding upright with the heavy drinking problem. We arranged to chat and set an appointment next week.

We had plans to drive back and forth to the cottage several times that week, it’s still a bit chilly to stay overnight. The trip takes us through Carlton Place each time, so we didn’t have any trouble arranging a time to meet James at his workshop.

The address is in an industrial part of the north end of the City. With a bit of guessing, we found the right door. One of the big machines was running, so it took a moment to have the door answered. What an amazing space full of exciting woodcutting and turning equipment!

2.1) machine is making the maidens and mother of all

2.2) My Rook (a lovely castle wheel by Lendrum)on the left, and on the right, my folding upright with the heavy drinking problem, both went to Carlton Place for a spa stay.

 The rook has a problem with the drive wheel turning if nudged. The upright has a pin underneath that has either broken or had the glue let go.  We will find out shortly!

James was excited to see both of them. He said he thinks he may have seen a wheel that looked like the rook on a shelf at Gord’s shop. He also said that the upright was an early single treadle and was not exactly the same specs as the modern double treadle versions. He checked bobbins on both wheels against the modern version.

It was an amazing place full of spinning wheel parts, impressive looking machines and photography options! Let’s take a look around.

2.3) Drive wheels waiting to be added to new spinning wheels

2.4) Drying bobbins

2.5) lathe and a finished bobbin showing where a new bobbin would be positioned

2.6-2.8) making the pieces of the mother of all, and the maidens

2.9) balancing the flyer

3.) I didn’t know that Gord had made a spindle attachment for the upright wheel.

I hope you will be as amazed and impressed as I was. It was kind of James to let me take photos to show you some of the parts, before the pieces become lovely Canadian Spinning Wheels!

After a chat about the wheels and a tour of the workshop, we eventually let him get back to work.  I wished my wheels a happy spa time and got back into the car to drive to the cottage. We got there and over the day saw a few of the new neighbours.

4.1) Canada goose

4.2) Bufflehead ducks

4.3) Small turtle swimming past the dock

I don’t have a dedicated studio yet, but I am taking over some of the space with fibre-related activities. We moved furniture to create workspaces for spinning and felting.

I have 2 of my castle wheels moved to the living room and the screened porch.

5.1)Wheel #1, a small flax wheel of unknown maker

5.2) Castle wheel #2, a more decorative drive wheel, but needs a new drive band before I can get her running again.

5.3) The table on the porch has moved to the west window so I can work and watch the creek.

6.1) a close-up shot of the bay

6.2) The rocky slope uphill from the cottage and deck

 6.3) sunset across the creek

Out the windows, I can see the creek, the swampy bay and the moss-covered rocks. I am sure such views will inspire lots of felting!