"Tracy Eichheim" Hand Spindles......... Compliments

Introduction . Fancy spindles . Production spindles . Sneak Peek . Whorls . Compliments

Top whorl, Angora Goats 1.8 ounce Rim style with 12 inch stem, Feb. 4, ' 08

Tracy,
WOW.  Wow.  WOW.

Needs brakes, or I need longer arms, or as my mom suggested, I need to try spinning from a balcony or the top of the stairs ;-)

 I've put over an ounce of purchased superwash on it already, and I can't wait to try my Black Welsh Mt fleece on it (the sheep are still wearing it, it's still cold here!)

Thanks a bunch, I'll be back for more!
Used with permission from Andrea         www.arare-breed.net

1.0 ounce "Hearts" TW  April 14, '07

Wow

 My very highest compliments to you and for your craftsmanship; you make me look like I'm an expert.  Absolutely the best spindle I've ever tried.

I'll be back for more of your expertise -

Used with permission from Janet in Alabama

"Hearts" TW spindle, Mar.8, '07

PS. I am spinning some hand-dyed corriedale on my hearts production spindle and I just had to say again how much I *love* your spindles. They spin so well and so long that I actually have to *stop* them from spinning , sometimes before they stop on their own.

Used with the permission of Catharine Decker

Nhewyt's Dragon spindle March 1, '07

Hi Tracy,

I received my 1.7 oz. Nhewyt's Dragon spindle a few days ago, and finally had the time to give it a good spin yesterday. It's AMAZING!!! It spins true and it spins forever -- every time I checked to see if it was still going, it was still spinning, far longer than any other spindle I've used. I actually had to stop it a couple times because my yarn was getting so long that the spindle was going to touch the floor. And it spun a really fine yarn, too, almost as fine as my 1/2 oz. hummingbird spindle. I absolutely love the dragon design and the fact that the spindle is hollow. I've shown the Nhewyt's Dragon spindle to several fiber friends and the repeated comment is "wow!" Thank you soooo much for creating these works of art that spin so incredibly well.

-- fiber.nut.gal--
P.S. Feel free to use my comments -- I know I gushed, but it's the truth!

0.5 ounce Top whorl Hummingbird spindle. Jan. 5, '07

Dear Tracy,

I bought a top whorl hummingbird spindle from you (#41, signed, dated 2005, weighing 1/2 ounce) at the Wool Market in Estes Park, CO. I never thought I would actually be skilled enough to use it, but I loved the hummingbird design and had never seen such a light spindle before. Well, I just finished spinning some of the finest alpaca yarn and I am so pleased at how the spindle you created performed for me. The balance was wonderful and it just spun and spun, forever it seemed. This is such a fine spindle that I am very protective of it. It is a joy to use a tool that is both totally functional and totally beautiful. I look forward to purchasing other spindle designs you have created.

Thank you.

Used with permission from "Deirdre"

1.6 ounce top whorl "Hearts" spindle Nov. 11, '06

Tracy,
The spindle arrived today and all I can say is "Wow!"

It is a beautiful little tool but not only is it beautiful, it spins like nothing else I have ever experienced!! For the longest time I simply thought that spindle spinning was supposed to be "hard" and that I would never "get" it. But after I got your spindle out of the box, I leaned against the wall and spun and spun, and spun until my cat came and tried to pounce on the spindle. I cannot believe how easily it spun, and how fast!!!

Thank you so much for making such a wonderful spindle- I travel a lot and I now know that my long waits at the airport will be made way, way, way, more joyful thanks to this spindle. I am so happy that I can now travel and take my spinning along.

Thanks!
Angela

Used with permission from Angela Tarango

0.8 ounce bottom whorl Hummingbirds spindle Oct. 28, '06

Tracy the compliments are not flattery....I speaka the truth...have spindles from different makers and yours is hands down the best I have ever used. You can tell that you love what you do, it shows in your work!!!

Used with the permission of Syd

  Nhewyt's Dragon spindle June 27, '06

  PS  My daughter is really enjoying her dragon spindle she bought from you   (well, actually from Jean) at the Wool Market.  She was spinning standing on the couch because it just keeps going.  Excellent.

  Used with permission from Mary

StarLite Comets (May 27, '06)
"I haven't found another spindle that can touch it in terms of performance."

Ted
(The 'Knitterguy' blog is here: http://knitterguy.typepad.com   )

April 5, '06 -- Moon and Stars
Dear Tracy,       My name is Kristi Sturgeon and I recently bought one of your incredible drop spindles.  It was being sold on consignment, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it.  I already have another drop spindle and a wheel, but this was just so unique.  I used it for the first time today and it is the best thing that I have ever spun with!  It spins absolutely straight (no wobbling at all), and it spins forever leaving plenty of time for the draw. The one I bought is one of the hollow whorls--moon and stars design.  I just adore it and cannot wait to use it more. <snip>   Again, thank you for your amazing artistry.   Sincerely,   Kristi Sturgeon

March 23, '06 ----Hummingbirds rim style ----

I received my spindle yesterday and I just had to write. Not only is she beautiful but she spins and spins. I have to stop her because my arms can't go any higher. I am so pleased with her. Thank you for the excellent craftsmanship and hard work you put into it. It really shows. It was money well spent on my part and I would not hesitate to order again. The spindle was worth the wait. I'd rather wait for a great spindle then get a so so one quickly        Maureen

March 29, '05  Hearts spindle... 1.5 ounce...The spindles came today. They are great! I can spin a long, long arm's length of thread without re-starting or backspinning. I didn't know it was possible to do that with a spindle, but other people had recommended your work, and I'm so glad they did.    <snip>    Thank you so much. You make a superb spindle, and I am quite sure I'll be ordering from you again when I need a new spindle. I'm pretty intrigued with the StarLite ones, now that I've seen how much more pleasant spindle spinning can be with a good spindle. I know this is sounding kind of like some infomercial testimonial, which is a little embarrassing, but honestly, I'm blown away by how much easier it is to spin on the spindle you made.

Thanks again. -------------------------------

---- Lambs Rim style, Hummingbirds Overlay and Kokopelli Rim style ---

July 26, 2000 --Dear Tracy, I want you to know how much I'm enjoying the spindles you made for me. I took my first spinning lesson Saturday at a local yarn (knitting) shop. I used a spindle which they provided during the class and I have been spinning with your spindles at home. Besides being beautiful, your spindles spin. The spindle I used in class gave me a lot of trouble - it didn't spin very long and then reversed. The hardest thing for me right now is drafting and my Woolly Design spindles spin til they touch the ground giving me the time I need to learn to draft. Has anyone ever had a contest for the longest spinning spindle?

When the package arrived, my husband watched as I opened it. He doesn't know the technical aspects of making a spindle and he kept picking them up and looking at them. Usually (I can set my watch to it) he says, "I can make that." He didn't. I caught him looking at them one too many times and had to put them away. I wouldn't be very happy if he dropped one. You may think I'm crazy but when I spin outside, I put a blanket in front of me in case I drop it. I love my spindles..thank you for making them for me.    Dianne

Nov. 24, '05 -- Hello Tracey Found your web site by accident and was very pleased to see you are busy making spindles again! I bought one about 5 years ago in Estes Park when visiting and it is one of my treasured possessions which is much envied by my fellow spinners!

Good Luck for the future, Eira ***** from a very cold, damp and miserable England!

Mar. 15, '04 -- Hi, Tracy -- The Spiders Spindle just arrived. What a thing of beauty it is! It's the prettiest spindle I've ever seen -- no exaggeration. I won't be able to spin with it until I get it home this evening, but you know exactly what I'll be doing as soon as I walk in my door. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again for an object of such elegance, whimsical humor (spiders, after all -- and black widows at that!), and graceful lines.

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So after dinner, while we were still at the table, I pulled out the Spiders, pre-drafted a few yards of wool, gave her a flick -- and was in awe. It was like I'd been driving Volkswagon Beetles until then and suddenly I was driving a Rolls Royce. Don't get me wrong, I love VW Bugs and learned to drive stick on one, but a Rolls -- well, you understand.

Then my husband, who knows much more than I about such things as wood craft, looked at the spindle and let out a low whistle. "This is beautiful," he said, "and extremely well made. And it's not easy to do." Then my 4-year-old son reached for the spindle; my husband handed it to him slowly and said, "Be careful -- this is a work of art."

So, Master Artist, many thanks once more for this extraordinary gem. --Robin

Hi Tracy & Jean  (April 26, '04)

  I have been admiring your spindles! They are fabulous.... Sorry I am trying to downsize at this time but you never know. Spinners NEVER have enough fiber, wheels, or spindles. I was wondering if you could PRETTY PLEASE, settle an discussion several of us are having. I say your make your spindles (cut out patterns and ornaments) using a scroll saw but...... 8-).... another person said they are done on a CNC! A huge machine...... so IF you don't mind telling a total stranger 'we' would sure appreciate it...  Your web site is great! Lots of information... Louise

Hi ,

You are correct, **they** are wrong! <very big grin

http://www.woollydesigns.com/7

I cut the images for the ornaments and the drop spindles by hand, on a scroll saw, very slowly, using a very fine blade, working under a circular fluorescent lit magnifying lens.

If I screw up and slip with the blade..... I throw it away and lose however much time has been put into that particular cut.

We regularly hear comments as people pass our wool festival booth, "Laser cut" and those people are stunned to learn the truth. Lasers always leave a burn blackened edge from the cut, a scroll saw (as you probably know) cuts away the wood leaving smooth fresh wood.

Please feel free to let those 'others' know my answer ....... and you have my permission to GLOAT! <wide smile>

March 2001

Just for your interest, I was teaching my 70+ mother to spin yesterday.  I tried using the beginning spindle that I learned on, but she just was so frustrated with the yarn breaking, and her arm was very tired.  As a last effort I got out the starlite comet and she immediately improved and seemed to enjoy the experience more.  She is now in possession of the comet so I need another one.

June 2000

Oooooh, Sir Spindle, you have done it again! I got my Starlight Comet on Thursday and have already spun quite a bit of Cormo on it.  Actually it came some time while were away at our cabin.

I have NEVER used a spindle that spun so long.  It is still spinning when I have to stop it to wind on the yarn.  The balance is sooo perfect I can't believe it!  Thank you so much for making this little wonder.

May 13, '04 -- ..... The ancient BC whorl was indeed a high-whorl. At that time and in the Eastern Mediteranean area almost all spindles were high-whorl spindles. And, yes, they did indeed have hooks. Very similar to the ones you use for the spindles you create. --- Which are the most productive modern spindles I’ve yet to see. Your whorls sustain a spin, which is the most important function of the whorl. I’ve often wished you could travel or teach the techniques you have discovered so that everyone who spins on a spindle can work with such ease.--- Ken