I’m finishing up one of the stranger packing-for-a-trip jobs I’ve ever done.

My suitcase is literally more than half full of spindles and fiber. Usually, I’d only take a few, but this trip is different. I’m heading to Colorado for a week working on step-by-step photography for my book, forthcoming from Interweave Press this fall.

I’ve already sent a slew of spindles off for photography, but clearly, not enough. Big spindles, little spindles, fancy spindles, rustic spindles, antique spindles, new spindles, materials for spindles… it’s sheer madness, I tell you. Looking at the whole thing, I don’t know what I was thinking.

I realized immediately I was going to need the big suitcase, the hard-sided one. This is not my favourite suitcase to travel with. I mean, it’s fine. But really, I’d rather be taking the lightweight small one that I could carry on or gate check. Except of course, I can’t go that route because I always take small sharp tools. So it’s just as well, because I really did need the space to cram full of spindles and fiber and hope I’m not forgetting anything.

I’m simultaneously nervous and excited about this trip. Nervous, because it’s an intensive photo shoot where I’m going to perform perhaps every single spindle trick I know, in a studio, on command, being photographed — and because it’s, you know, for a BOOK. Writing a book has been a totally fascinating process so far, and it’s definitely not over. It’s almost nothing like I expected, except for where it’s exactly like I thought it would be. It’s definitely consumed the vast majority of my coherent writing deal-o-trons for the past… when did I start this? Last summer. So since last summer. So I’m eager to be done and have the gumption to blog regularly again. But yeah, so I’m partly nervous — because this is another whole big step in the book-writing process, and this one, I just have no clue at all what it’ll be like. What I do have is lots of faith in the great team of folks at Interweave Press who are working on this project with me.

And yes, I’m excited — because it’s also a great trip to a major hotbed of fiber activity in Colorado. I’ll get to spend a little time with a few of my favourite folks in the fiber world, and visit some fabulous fiber places, like Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins, and Schacht. (Note to self: don’t forget good camera.)

And then too, I’m also nervous — because hey, this is a step closer to being done with this book, a step closer to it becoming a reality, and that’s both exciting and intimidating. Plus exciting! It’s going to be great to have this book, a truly spindle-focused book, out there. And I’m loving the fact that it’ll be my hands — just like in all of Interweave’s present lineups, the author’s hands are the ones doing the demonstrating. I find that so tremendously valuable as a book reader. And that’s another thing — I’m simultaneously a little hard on my hands because I use them so much, and totally overprotective of them. I’ve been being a major weenie around the house for the past few weeks actually saying things like “No, my hands have to LOOK GOOD for my photo shoot!” and cursing every ragged cuticle that crops up in winter weather. So what did I just do, packing? Bent back my index fingernail on my left hand latching my suitcase full of carefully-packed spindles and fiber and oh yeah, a few pieces of clothes (some of those are even “wardrobe”). It better not leave a bruise.

My editor has said to me several times, “Hey, you’re the one who’s always telling me how much you like seeing real, working hands!” And she’s right, I do. So I’m just going to go triplecheck my lists, make sure I’ve got everything, and get this show on the road. Wish me luck!