"Every night, just when the dark was softest and sleep was deepest, there came a loud noise from the end of the great room. It came from the place where the loom and spindle stood, where by day the grandmother spun and the mother wove."

from "The Spindle Imp" by Alida Sims Malkus

Wednesday 27 August 2008

Fairies at the bottom of my garden!


I feel blessed!....
A gift from my over-the-road neighbour! I was admiring her beautiful roses, many months ago, when they were all in bloom. I mentioned to her that when I was a small child we had a particularly beautiful miniature rose growing in our front garden; a Cecil Brunner rose.

I believed fairies lived in that rose bush. And when I was little I'd pick the tiny, perfect, delicate, pink flowers and put them in one of my Mum's tiny crystal vases; and they'd sit in the sunshine atop the huge chest of drawers in my bedroom.

I have those crystal vases of Mum's in my cupboard, and now I shall have fairies in my garden again!



This is the climbing version of the small bush that gave a small child so much joy.



Thank you Norma my friend....I am blessed to have you as my neighbour!

Sunday 24 August 2008

From sock yarn to sock scarf


First project using my brand spanking new 12.5 dpi reed. I really do think I'll have to knit some matching socks......hope I can replicate the colours. Back to the dyepot!

Tuesday 19 August 2008

Sniffly Sneezie Weekend

I have a cold.....I had the cold on the weekend.....was a bit cross with myself because I had to pull out of a Saturday lunch with some local fibre-arty people! So instead, while I was sniffling, snuffling and sneezing all over the place I dyed some sock yarn for my next weaving project.

My new heddle reeds; extra shuttles and pick-up stick arrived at the end of last week.... and I'm dying (and dyeing) to use them. Some quality mulberry silk and angelina fibre also came with my order - they will be fun to play with!... Another scarf....this one I'll keep for myself.

I love these colours. Will dye some Cashmere Sock yarn to match.....well what girl wouldn't be seen matching her handknitted socks with her handwoven scarf? giggle



I also dyed some fine Merino Tops (22 micron). Some of my friends at The Craft Shoppe are knitting and felting some gorgeous baby and toddler items for sale. It was suggested I might like to spin some feltable yarn for them in vibrant colours. Well who can resist that sort of request?



Navajo plied...helps keep the colours separate and vibrant......
not work, FUN!!

Tuesday 12 August 2008

Didn't do it

Well I was hoping to get it done. The Scarf that is, but didn't. It needed to be completed by 11/08/08. I ran out of time, but I will still weave this scarf.....its so pretty. Spent five days at the the Beach House getting quotes from plumbers for replacing the roof. This perhaps was a little more important than weaving a scarf.....well while the roof continues to leak. Cats had a ball......cats always have a ball at the beach house!

Friday 1 August 2008

On spinning alpaca!

This weekend I'll be back to spinning. I think I'm entering a hand spun challenge. I say "I think" because I'm not sure I'll have enough time, the deadline is 11th August and I'm not sure my weaving is as yet good enough. The challenge is to weaving this "Spaced Out Felted Scarf" from handspun yarn. I have some handspun alpaca that I did a while ago from a lovely girl from the Almaray Alpaca Stud, which I'm hoping will be suitable.


But I'll need to spin another yarn to team it with. I have some gorgeous alpaca from a big boy called "Kineki" of the Malakai Alpaca Stud which I think will probably go very nicely. Its a fave colour of mine.....a very pinky roan. Soft and delicious.....it reminds me of marshmallows and is a dream to spin.


Roll on yummy weekend!