Happy New Year..

..and new yarns on etsy. Some yarn coming soon. and some socks.

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.

New items for the market...

There is never enough time to post everything,

..so here goes.
As well as family commitments I have been working hard.
Machine knit jumpers. Trying to get enough beanies and mitts for the markets, as well as handspinning yarns.

Big weekend with the Rushworth Easter Saturday Festival Market, followed by the regular Mooroopna Farmer's and Craft Market on Sunday.
the following Saturday April 22nd, is our annual Wangaratta Wool day at Milawa. so have started dyeing more wool tops. Not sure how much time to wind off and dye more yarn.

Busy times ahead..

I have started back at the markets. Played with a new cardigan design, simply styled with tapered sides, and a diagonal front.

 

I have all my regular products, and another cardigan in Charcoal. And I have been learning more about the DesignaKnit program from a group on Facebook.

I have lots of new handspun yarns and handdyed wool tops.

Girgarre market is on Sunday and then next Friday is the Seymour Alternative Farm Expo.



 

 



 

 

Castlemaine Artist Market tomorrow.

I haven't attended a December before, so could be interesting. a customer from last month asked if I was coming back, which is why I will attend. If the heat keeps sales down or non-existent I will rethink this next year. I have found the market to be well organised and friendly, and I have had great sales over the past year including on a 38 degree day in early March.
I will have all my machine knitted items of course, along with my handspun and handdyed yarns. These would be a great gift to a knitter who always has wool in her/his hands.
Scarves and beanies would be great to send overseas to family members.
Today, at Nagambie Lakes Community Market was poorly attended so sales were poor for all stallholders.
Girgarre market next Sunday, and Mooroopna the following Sunday and then a break from markets in January. Of course lots of spinning, dyeing and knitting to do.

Washing Fleeces..

..I thought it was about time I started getting more fleeces prepared. I am currently carding one, so taking one bag at a time I have started washing another fleece bit by bit so the work does not feel so monotonous.
This week I have one of my poncho/wraps to replace, I am still spinning a soft merino in pastel colours that I blended. And I have been spinning white Corriedale tops at the markets, so will finish and dye another 2 this week.
Need to dye more wool tops as well, and start winding off the 8ply yarn for dyeing.
and after that will see what I can do extra.
Only one market next weekend.
Mooroopna Accredited Farmer's and Craft Market next Sunday.

Markets this weekend are...

Saturday at Nagambie Lakes Community Market, and
Sunday at Castlemaine Artists Market.

And it is going to be hot. High 30's. Not going to be good for selling wool yarn and products.
But I will be there.

New garment and Van updates..

A machine knit project I have been thinking about..

 

 

And a couple of cheap shelving units added to the van

 Sheets and tablecloths hold the items in when on the road. Then all gets tidied up at the markets.

Getting ready for the weekend markets and Pop up shop..

..and so far have summer scarves, light short sleeve lace cardigans, working on yarn.

 

Extra market at Nagambie Lakes..

..tomorrow starting at 10am to 3pm.
Follow on Sunday with Mooroopna Farmers and Craft Market.
It has been busy with days out but hopefully I till have a good compliment of yarns, garments and accessories.

This week is busy but..

...not with crafting.
Tired after 2 markets, with the Sunday being a very long day starting at 4am and getting home at 6pm.
I have been spinning, and have started a beret combining commercial and handspun yarns.
In the meantime, I have 2 trips to Shepparton for Leigh's eye appointments to laser seal the detaching retina which was separating in 6 places. Nasty!
Also, a trip to Echuca to take some dyes to a customer, get a little shopping for my daughter whose youngest child who has been very ill with a chest infection this past week. Then visit my parents and see how my father is faring after his bout with pneumonia.
Whew! I look forward to next week with a trip to see Miss Fisher's fashion garments at Ripponlea on Wednesday, and my birthday on Tuesday.
Girgarre market is on this Sunday so hopefully get a few more items ready over the next couple of days.

Nagambie Market and Castlemaine Artits Market ....

This will be a big weekend for me, with 2 markets.
Saturday is my regular Market at Nagambie Lakes in my usual spot.
Castlemaine Artists Market on Sunday at the Castlemaine Primary School, cnr Uruqhart and Mostyn sts is a new one for me.
I will feel like a beginner, so worried about the amount of stock I have. Have been working on rebuilding stock levels, but all my projects do take time.
Attended a Fashion Parade and dinner put on by the Machine Knitter's Association on Wednesday night, so have some new inspirations to think about.

So, in a couple of weeks..

..I will be at Nagambie Lakes Community Market on the Saturday, Sep 5th, and a new, for me, Castlemaine Artists Market on the Sunday, Sept 6th.
So I have been busy spinning, and working on the knitting machine, and the knitter's loom.
Need to get more cardigans and jumpers done as well as beanies and scarves.
Sunday is Father's Day, so good for those last minute handmade gifts. Below is a selection of items ready to go. More on the way.

Girgarre Farmers and Craft Market..

..is on again tomorrow from 8.30am to 12.00pm or a little later.
Shopping for your special yarn in the Yarn Van makes it easier, while handmade items are displayed outside under the awning.
North East Yarns jumpers, ponchos, yarn, tops and felt batts are also available.
Along with my own hand dyed yarns, you will find hand dyed tops, scarves, beanies, and an assortment of other items, all made from the Natural Fibre Wool

Nagambie Lakes Community Market..

..is on again this Saturday. It will all be held in the park in front of the Lake beside the motel.
I have some new yarns which at present are listed on my etsy shop
www.etsy.com/shop/CraftbyColleen

and don't forget to check out the website at
www.colleenscraftsstore.com

But come and touch the yarns in person.
Following a very successful Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show I have limited stock but will be working hard to bring up the levels. Finishing off a new Adult machine knit jumper at the moment.