Long time, no update.........

Basically because we've been dealing with a lot of cr*p at work, I have neither spun nor woven anything for over a week. Just haven't had the heart to create.

That's all changed now.

On Sunday, we took the car, went down to Bracklesham Bay and walked along the shoreline. It was wickedly windy, but we were well-wrapped against the cold.

I love the sea, in all seasons and in all weathers; I think it steals into my soul a little - the wildness and unpredictability of it. Kevin and I are like the pebbles on the beach - we are tossed and turned by the waves, but that only serves to polish us, burnish us and we are still here, albeit ground down a little more.

After Bracklesham, we drove to Uppark and spent the rest of the afternoon there. Unlike our fire, the National Trust's insurers obviously didn't argue about the pay-out and it took just six years to get the place open again in something like its past glory. Everywhere you look though, there are reminders of how devastating the fire was and how much could have been lost, had the fire brigade, family, volunteers and many other willing hands not set about rescuing irreplaceable treasures.
And despite inevitable loss, there was great gain - the lost art of lime plaster moulding was revived by necessity, in order to repair and replace the beautiful ceilings.

We left Uppark feeling strangely positive; what happens to us in the future may not be what we had planned, our direction may have to change, but we are still here.

Doing a happy dance..........

Because my weaving book arrived today and the lovely delivery man left it in the porch for me! I haven't had a real chance to get into it yet but I think it is going to be both inspirational AND educational!

I have finally taken a picture of my dotty pegs - I think they look quite pretty. Ah well, if they don't sell I'll simply keep them for myself LOL!

As for the spinning and weaving, the Jaeger Aqua Cotton is weaving up as a very open weave but I still adore the colour!

Paddy likes to sit with me when I'm spinning!

A closer look at the Jaeger Aqua

I'm currently spinning some caramel-brown Shetland and loving it! It really does spin out beautifully fine too, and there was me wondering if I'd ever be able to spin yarn without whopping great lumps in it!

I am in two minds over this single - I have some creamy white Shetland that I could spin and then ply with this one for a two-tone effect, or I could simply spin another bobbin of this colour and make caramel coloured yarn. Decisions, decisions.........................

Time for a cup of tea and a chance to look at my new book before bed, I think................

Banana Fibre is a bear!

No, seriously! I tried using this stuff for the weft with a Jaeger cotton for the warp, but really hated what was coming out on the loom. So I "unwove" it, rolled it back up into a ball and am probably going to knit a bag from it.

Instead, I have the Jaeger cotton on the loom, both warp and weft, and have even attempted a bit of Leno Lace. The yarn is a lovely Royal Purple colour, with a slight sheen. It is weaving up in a rather "open" pattern, so it will be interesting to see whether is closes up when it is washed.

I have finished the painted pegs and am really rather pleased with them - I think that, tied in bundles of ten with some pretty ribbon, they would sell quite well (hope so, anyway).

As for the spinning, well, I have found that the Traditional with Scotch Tension is good for spinning merino/silk tops (much easier than my double drive Traveller for some totally unknown reason), so I have Shetland on the Traveller at the moment.

Amazon have just informed me that the weaving book I've been lusting after has been despatched via City Link. Which is fine, except that he usually comes after I've left for work :0(
I'll keep popping back, to see whether I can catch him, LOL! I NEED that book (Jane Patrick's "The Weaver's Idea Book - creative cloth on a rigid heddle loom).

Will now go and card some more Shetland for the wheel!

Knitting and Kittens

Paddy went for his "Kitten Check" today - some kitten! He is just 6 months old and weighs in at 11lb already! He totally charmed the staff at the surgery, scarfed down a whole load of cat treats and was so incredibly relaxed and laid back about the whole visit that I wondered whether his mother had dropped him on his head when he was really little! I'm not sure he'll be so enthusiastic on his next visit (in about 4 months, when he goes for the snip-snip).

I had planned to warp up the loom with some purple Jaeger cotton tonight - the weft will be the banana yarn - but I left it a bit late and had a pile of ironing to do, so that will happen over the weekend. In the meantime, I have started a scarf from my cousin's 4ply Shetland wool (carded and spun for her by the Natural Fibre Company in Launceston). It is a traditional Old Shale pattern, which seems appropriate for the Shetland wool but needs a little bit of concentration. I'll post a photo when I have done a few more pattern repeats.

I am also painting dolly pegs and putting little white spots on them - hopefully these will be good enough for my cousin's Christmas Craft Fair. They do look rather pretty, even unvarnished (I'm using acrylic paint and they will need to be "waterproofed" in case folk decide to use them outside).

So many projects, so little time to do 'em in!