Episode 3: Intent to Spin (featuring Judith Mackenzie McCuin)
Media Link: Intent to Spin (32:21)

There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin.

If you are a spinner, weaver or fleece lover, you will very likely recognize (and revere) the name Judith Mackenzie McCuin. She's the author of two books on different aspects of spinning: an introductory book, Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning and the more recent and holistic The Intentional Spinner. A familiar face at Spin-Off Annual Retreat (SOAR) and and co-founder of the Golden Gate Fiber Institute, she remains one of the most sought after instructors and speakers and is one of spinning's most tireless advocates.

This episode I talked with Judith after her presentation on sheep and human co-development at the Spindles & Flyers guild meeting in El Cerrito, California.

The following people, places and things were mentioned:

• Royal British Columbia Museum
• Tasha Tudor & Family
• Bauhaus design movement credo of "form follows function"
• excerpt of Thomas Gray's poem: Elegy Written In Country Church-Yard
• Cecil & Ron Miskin of Buffalo Gold
• Morgaine Wilder of Carolina Homespun
• Maggie Casey's Intro to Spinning DVD
• Judith's Spinning Exotic Fibers and Novelty Yarns DVD

The WINNER of our second Fiber Beat CONTEST is Katrina and she receives Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott. We also did another Twitter promotional contest for the podcast. Our winner for the that contest is Maryjo and she receives a skein of Curious Creek's Wasonga sock yarn in the exclusive "Happiness Is..." colorway. Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations to our two winners!

Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 3

I have 1 oz of delicious Bison fiber from Judith's company, Buffalo Gals. All you need to do is tell us who your favorite instructor was (can be any discipline/level/school) and what they taught you.

To enter, please leave your comment on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. The winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS DECEMBER 21, 2009.

A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who downloaded and listened to the first four episodes (audio/video) of Fiber Beat. Let me know what you think and leave a review on iTunes!

A very special thanks to our "potential" student actors: Chris and Barbara!

We used snippets of the songs below in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):

• "Holiday for Strings" performed by Walter Schumann from The Voices of Walter Schumann (RCA, 1958)
• "Spinning World" performed by The Heartbeats from Spinning World (Green Linnet, 2006)
• "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" performed by They Might Be Giants from Istanbul (Not Constantinople) EP (Elektra, 1990)
• "I've Got Beginner's Luck" performed by Chris Connor from Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song (Atlantic, 1960)
• "Pavana (Mylius, 1622)" performed by Paul O'Dette from Dowland: Complete Lute Works, Vol. 1 (Harmonia Mundi, 1995)
• "Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard" written by Thomas Gray, read by John Green from Epic Poems (Blue Dot, 2007)
• "Soar" performed by Christina Aguilera from Stripped (RCA, 2002)
• "Shear the Golden Fleece" performed by Ted Egan from The Shearers (Musicadium, 2000)
• "Spinning Wheel" performed by Blood, Sweat and Tears from Blood, Sweat and Tears (Columbia, 1968)
• "Teach Me Tonight" performed by Blossom Dearie from Once Upon a Summertime (Capitol, 1958)
• "Rubab Solo" performed by Omar Mohamed Ustad from Music of Afghanistan (Folkways, 1961)
• "Buffalo Gals" performed by Pete Seeger from American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 1 (Smithsonian Folkways, 1961)
• "Buffalo Gals" performed by The Great American String Band from 200 Years of American Heritage in Song (CMH, 2000)
• "Buffalo Gals" performed by Malcolm McLaren and the World Famous Supreme Team from Duck Rock (Island, 1983)

My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat!!

Video Supplement, Episode 2: Speed Swatch Media Link: Video Supplement 2: Speed Swatch (09:32)

ETA: You can now watch it at Vimeo or with the inline player below.

Fiber Beat Video Supplement 2: Speed Swatch from WonderMike on Vimeo.

There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin.

Welcome listeners and viewers to our second Video Supplement to Fiber Beat. Once again we pushed the limits of our video editing software and hardware. It really does take an inordinate amount of time to create the simplest and shortest of pieces. It makes me respect that much more the seamless work of Lucy, Meg, Jacey and Cat & Eric.

The following books were mentioned in the Video Supplement:

• Sensational Knitting Socks by Charlene Schurch.
• More Sensational Knitted Socks also by Charlene Schurch.

Don't forget about the second Fiber Beat CONTEST

I have the Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott. All you need to do is tell us what advice you'd like to help face your sock challenges?

To enter, please leave a comment on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. The winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS NOVEMBER 30, 2009. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say!

A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who downloaded and listened to the first three episodes of Fiber Beat. Now that you've had a chance to watch the Fiber Beat Video Supplements, let me know what you think and leave a review on iTunes!

We used snippets of the following songs in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artist (links provided for your convenience):

• "Fiber Beat Theme" performed by Anthony Bonet (Exclusive to Fiber Beat, 2009)
• "The Impending Danger Suite Part 3" performed by Trevor Duncan from Murder - Mystery & Suspense (Cavendish Music, 2009)

My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat.