about

“Accomplish the great task by a series of small acts.” — Lao Tzu

Welcome to wool and stars. I’m interested in gardening, eating locally, alternative transportation, and creative re-use. On occasion, I may blog about knitting, bookbinding, and letterpress printing. Thanks for visiting. Sharon E. Helms

What’s with the name?

One day, several years ago, I googled “gathering wool” to see what would come up. I’d always loved the phrase, and since I was a daydreamer starting a knitting blog, I thought there might be some way to make use of it. (I should point out that I’ve never been a successful knit-blogger. I don’t knit fast enough.)

At some point in the search I came upon the online text of the novel “The Freelands” which contains the phrase “gathering wool and stars” and knew that was the name for me. Of course, it’s a pretty long phrase for a URL, so I shortened it to “wool and stars” instead.

I’ve copied the passage from “The Freelands” below: I must admit I haven’t read the whole book.

The Freelands by John Galsworthy
CHAPTER X

While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her
little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the
Spaniard’s Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the
Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness. The stars were his
companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper
of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
What was he doing — had been the burden of her cry — falling in love
just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their
time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings? It was
foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could
be no use. Hotly he had answered: What business was it of hers?
As if one fell in love when one wished! She didn’t know — her blood
didn’t run fast enough! Sheila had retorted, “I’ve more blood in
my big toe than Nedda in all her body! A lot of use you’ll be,
with your heart mooning up in London!” And crouched together on
the end of her bed, gazing fixedly up at him through her hair, she
had chanted mockingly: “Here we go gathering wool and stars — wool
and stars — wool and stars!”

From Project Gutenberg, the first producer of free electronic books