A Few Things.

PORT CAMPBELL'S FIRST FOOD SWAP

What a great idea. Only four turned up but it was still a frenzy. I came home with a variety of stuff which I was very pleased with. Hopefully the idea will catch on and more people will turn up next Sunday for the second swap.

THE HOUSE IS GETTING PAINTED

This is soooo exciting. We have been living in our house for 18 years and it has never been painted until now! This is only the undercoat which is a vast improvement already. Even my half done garden looks better with it's new backdrop.

Finally my house is going to look like what I had always imagined it should look like, instead of like a dairy shed.

NEW ACQUISITION

And even more excitement. After pondering for a couple of years I have purchased a new spinning wheel - a Majacraft Susie Pro - from Wendy at Tarnwarncoort. I love it and I love spinning. I suppose I can't call myself a beginner anymore but I am still climbing the learning curve. So right now spinning has become what I want to do most.

 

With my new spinning wheel came a complimentary Polwarth fleece from Tarnwarncoort which I am experimenting with. I have started to attend a spinner's group that meets once a month at Tarnwarncoort - a grand old blue stone mansion.

I washed a small amount of the fleece as part of the experiment. Next I will spin some 'in the grease' and some of the washed fleece and then compare. The photo shows the washed next to the unwashed. It is so white and fluffy and feels gorgeous.

What’s happening?

What I have made recently…

Lime cordial – a thirst quencher with soda water. Goes well with vodka and gin also. We have a lime tree and every lime produced is appreciated and used in some way.

Spun baby suri alpaca fleece – so very soft. I’m slowly getting better at spinning, not that I am worried about my skill levels as I still think it is gorgeous yarn with all it’s lumps and bumps.

What is happening in the back yard…

Water lilies in the duck pond.

Plentiful supply of yabbies.

Learning to card fleece

Another day with Rocky – I have now learnt to use a carder. I have spent the last week spinning whenever I have had time. Mainly a relaxing activity, but interspersed with the f?*! word on occasion. It can be very frustrating during this learning stage. I rediscovered my bad temper a number of times – not attractive. Using carded fleece cut down on the ugly bits.

This is my first hank of yarn, washed and dried. I am feeling quite satisfied and proud and wanting to keep doing more.

While I carded away in the sunshine, Rocky worked on her tapestry which she is also studying through TAFE.

Her current assignment involves weaving curves. Southwest TAFE are renowned for the tapestry weaving course they offer and have been doing it for many years. It is also one of the courses they offer off campus.

Learning to spin

I really needed to learn a new craft like I need a hole in the head. But Rocky, a spinner from way back, came to my place today and began the process of teaching me how to spin. And of course I love it. Now the aim is to get the raw fibre, spin and ply it, dye it and then weave, knit or crochet into a finished piece.

To complete the whole process I will have to seriously look at growing my own fibre. Might start researching goats that produce cashmere. Murray will be thrilled.

 

My initial efforts with corriedale fleece from a roving. Next I am trying alpaca fleece from one of Rocky and Paul’s alpacas.

We were hoping to spin in the sunshine but the sun was uncooperative. We have another day planned for next week.