oh how I've missed you

My cheapo (but expensive) metal umbrella swift had been terminal for some time- when it was finally relegated to the rubbish bin I was very sad.  I don't know about you, but I find ye olde swifte, along with the ball winder to be just about THE indispensable items in my fibre toolbox.  My Valentine's day present turned out to be a LOVELY Ashford wooden umbrella swift, and I already LOVE IT.  I loved my horrible metal one, with all the snaggy bits and the wire that used to perforate my finger every. time. I. used. it.  So imagine how much I love this smooth, non-biting beauty?

When I got my old swift and ballwinder, 2 Christmases ago, I ran around, winding everything in the house into those sexy, flat-bottomed balls (boy is THAT phrase going to confuse googlers).  I can't resist a bit of the same this time:

Isn't it pretty? :-)