Christmas approaches and a hot summer follows...

And so I have had my last market for the year. It was raining at the start, so waited a
while for that to settle. Thought it was going to be a bit quiet but made a few sales of my poncho/shawlettes, which are so ideal for any season. and had to pack up quickly at 11.30am as the heavens came down with thunder and lightning in the midst. so now drying out gazebos and the van awning.
so time to slow down and reassess what new items I can add to my stock. Plus restock beanies and mitts for adults and kids.
Handspun yarns I just keep adding, trying different colours.
I have purchased local fleece for yarn processing. This is a shared project, but my share is 75kg minus the loss in processing. This is white Corriedale and it is a very soft yarn and I will have fun dyeing it.

Well the 3 days at Seymour..

..is over. Thought it was  bit slow with sales, but Sunday proved better. Friday compared with last year, Saturday was down, and Sunday way improved. It is an event that you never can tell. Probably go again next year to compare. Because it is the end of summer and most times it is extremely hot, but luckily this year we had 2 cooler days and Sunday warmed up.
so now, back to work to replace sold garments and think of new ones. Keep dyeing yarns and tops and I always am spinning.
Next market will be Nagambie Community Lake market on Saturday March 5th, followed by Castlemaine Artists Market on Sunday March 6th.

OK here goes...

It, by no means has been quiet here. In fact , quite busy but have been neglecting this blog quite badly.

The new Studio and shed complex is up and running.
I have been to France for the Coloured Sheep Congress and post-congress tour.
Attended the Echuca Steam Rally.
Prepared for and attended the Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
And kept going with my regular 3 markets per month.

So will pop a few pics on and see how it loos for me.
I think I need a reminder to tell me when to post!!!

I remember...

...when I started this blog that I would keep up to date. But life, including family, new grandchildren and issues surrounding them did get in the way. Hopefully some of these issues will settle down so I can get back to what I should be doing.
The sheep have been shorn, with some fleeces with barley grass through them, some of which I can process myself, and the better ones may go to Baling Day for ongoing commercial processing into tops, or yarn.

Handspun, from Hand dyed wool tops

Handspun natural camel coloured wool

Handspun from hand dyed fleece

Machine knit from Natural 3ply yarn

Machine Jacket from Bendigo Wool 3ply

Hand dyed 4ply Pure wool

So I will add a few photos for you to peruse so you know I have not slacked off on the craft side of things.

How does one keep up...

..with life changes.
I have been adding some yarn to the website, but more yarn and wool tops still to be added. My machine knitting is progressing, but I still need to do handknitting projects.
Felting, what can I say, this has been very slow and need to get some more items done.
Farm projects: the dairy is finally ready and leigh has been improving fencing for the milkers. some beef heifers will be going to the market tomorrow, there is definitely no room for them here, now.

My oldest daughter who is 6 and 1/2 months pregnant had the biggest scare of her life, when her partner picked up their daughter from daycare to go for a drive, and was involved in a serious car accident. Amelia was extremely lucky with no injuries, and her car seat strapped into the middle of the back seat of the car. Shane received multiple facial bone and jaw fractures and was transferred to the Alfred hospital where reconstructed the smashed bones, etc. The wonders of modern surgery and they are bringing him home today. Will save on travel, and much nicer to be at home. Just will have to go back for specialist appointments.

Harrietville...

...here I come.
Whilst I was working shift work, I was not able to attend any workshops over the years, so for the first time this year I am going to the Harrietville weekend retreat workshop that is put on every year by the Handspinners and Weavers Guild (Vic). So am busily preparing the the requirements for the workshops on hand.
Art yarns, wool embroidery, Historical dyeing, wool blending with combs, and ideas for the knitters loom.
The best about it will be the new comrades I will meet and some I already know and the casual way the workshops work.
Will have some posting to do when I come back.

Working at Crafting...

...is the focus of these days before Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.
I have spun and dyed some more thick and thin wool skeins. Will I have enough???
I also have been dyeing some wool tops to create extra interest.
In progress... knitted jacket on the bulky machine, hand dyed natural 8ply wool yarn; fine machine knitted boucle scarf/shawl which I felting with the machine embellisher; 50 gm packs of natural wool batts for onselling; and have started spinning an alpaca fleece for a customer.
I won't have a lot of time to do photos for adding to the website as most of the stock I hope will sell at Bendigo.
Please introduce yourself while I am there. I would love to meet anyone who reads my blog.
Tomorrow is also the regular market at Girgarre.

Work...

My colleagues were away during last week and this week so I was working extra days and longer hours.

In the meantime I developesd a chest infection, but I still went to work came home, let Leigh cook for me while I sat at the spinning wheel. A girl's got to get her priorities right. My left ear has also bothered me with no let up with ringing day in day out for the last couple of months. Ear candling has been slow to relieve as I had oedema in the ear canal, but another trip to the doctor next week and I hope will end my problems.

This is the white corriedale fleece I recently dyed, it is a little lighter than I thought but should blend well.

Hmmm....

My recent dyeing activity was more than a couple of weeks ago so thought I would post photos



here



I have a market at Girgarre tomorrow, but as it is Christmas and summer, will probably just be entertaining with the Spinning Wheel.
I have felted some soaps to see if they will be attractive and a couple of totes just to be finished off.

Dyeing, then relaxing before a 21st tonight..

Wasn't quite sure what was going to happen today..temperature going to be in high 30's.
First up definitely feed the sheep who already didn't like the heat (8.30am), then get some hoses going to water as much as possible. Thank God for poly-pipe, mine have holes drilled at regular intervals, but the earwigs usually end up at the end section making it very hard for that last little tree. Then some hand watering for non poly area.
Inside at 10.30am, having a drink and reading the current Wheel magazine. An article about overdying. Decision made - I have some light brown yarn from the Mohair farm, so into the dyepot it goes. Will take photo later.
I have 5 skeins of white handspun so after lunch they are in the pot.
Tonight heading off to Echuca for my niece's 21st.