Back from a visit to my parents celebrating my Dad's 70th birthday, a lovely relaxing time really, meal out with family. Unfortunately I don't sleep well there (uncomfortable bed, etc) so my back and hip were sore yesterday but after rest and wheat bags all is well today.
So I have finally got around to that carding I keep starting and never get very far, working on the photo album for Dad took a lot of my time up - fun though going through old family photos. Great fun.
Zwartble on the drum carder
Here is the Zwartble that was washed the other week, lovely wool - great colour and staple length for spinning. Zwartble is usually quite a bit darker wool but this is very sun bleached from a local farm here in Hampshire. The farmers say when they are shorn the new wool coming through is a lot darker - will see that for ourselves soon as they are going to phone us when they are lambing so Imogen can see the little lambs springing and bouncing in the fields.
Zwartble batt
Some carded up on the drum carder (oh this is going to save me loads of time with all this wool!) and some parcelled ready to send to new spinners who blog here and here. Hope you enjoy the wool, I've popped in some carded and some uncarded for you both to have a go yourselves - it cards and spins lovely.
Imogen continues in her passions of drawing and writing and this morning whilst eating breakfast before going to school drew this lovely picture and wrote about this being her purple bicycle (she is colouring it in later) just like her bike. I thought this was a lovely picture so thought I'd share it.
Imogen's purple bicycle "ting a ling"
She's done some more short stories too including one at the weekend for her Grandad for his birthday.
And just for fun, this is what my back door looks like ...
... more sorting to do. But I promise no more wool, well not until shearing time anyway!
Hi Dawn,
ReplyDeleteHow I love to see fleece. That wool looks gorgeous! Sigh, a drum carder. I wish I could find a used one to buy. It is something I would just so love. They are so expensive! I am loving my spinning. I don't seem to post much about spinning on my blog but often at it. Maybe I should start a Spinning Sundays where spinners new and old can share how they are getting along. What do you think? Bring us together somehow.
Best wishes
Kelly
Hi Kelly - I need to get on with more spinning too so love your idea although I am rarely online at weekends to blog but could always join in on another day in lieu of Sundays :). I'll keep an eye out if you do start something.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving using the drum carder but sadly it is not mine (I wish!) - I have it on a long-term loan from our Guild who owns it but no-one really borrows it very often. I do look out for 2nd hand ones but they hold their price well and a bit too pricey for me.
Dawn, I am not online much on the weekends either and many others aren't either. Pity its the weekend days that start with letter 'S' - so maybe Wooly Wednesdays!! I'll try get around to organising a blog spinning together sometime. You are lucky to have the opportunity to use the Guild's drum carder. You are right that they hold their prices well. I still use two dog brushes to card with!!! Not ideal although I get by!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Kelly
Wooly Wednesday sounds great, will definitely join in x
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a lovely time at your parents, well, apart from the sleeping bit. Happy birthday to your dad, I'm sure he loved his story which Imogen wrote for him. Looks like you're getting to grips with all that wool. It won't be long now until lambing starts so Imogen won't have to wait long to visit the farm.
ReplyDeleteI was so excited to see the drum carder, Dawn, and thought your dream had come true. Almost i guess - long term loan seems ok for now - certainly much cheapere anyway. The i was excited again to see that you are carding wool for me! I would love to do Wooly Wednesday party. I will be going to the woolcraft group on Saturday, so really looking forward to that too. Hope the hip is better. You must sleep in the same position as me, because my hip always suffers from an uncomfortable bed. xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Jacqui, hope the parcel is with you soon, Claire got hers today so maybe tomorrow! Hope you have a good time on Saturday, and pick up tips from the other spinners - things you can only pick up by watching others I think.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely join in on the Woolly Wednesday, a day we can all feel like we are spinning together, a cyber spinning group ;)