Time is not long enough....

...to do all the things we want to do. Seems to take forever even to knit a shawl but I finished it for the market at Nagambie. The poncho is past the halfway point, taking me longer than a jumper.
I am going to look forward to using the knitting machine on some handspun in the near future, as well as some of our North East Yarns.
Off to Melbourne airport today to stay overnight to see Rebecca off early tomorrow for her 3 year working stint overseas, (I think it will probably be more as she likes travelling). My other 2 girls and 2 granddaughters are coming as well, so we should have a nice catchup session as a family.
Next weekend I will be spinning at the Echuca Steam Rally on the Saturday, and then doing the Girgarre Market on Sunday.
In the meantime I have some thick and thin in the dyepot.
I had a great time at the Knitting Machine Seminar last weekend, coming home with a Machine Embellisher from Kate's Sewing Centre, (had looked at this previously at Bendigo show) and a bulky knit machine. (Can't take me anywhere without buying something new).

Here it is...

...the piece of machine knitting I have taken off the machine. Will decide what to do after the weekend, whether to pull it and redo or continue on.

Some felt scarves, and some yarn I recently spun from a blend of natural and hand dyed fleece.

This weekend....

... I am away at a Knitting Machine seminar from Friday through Sunday, so am looking forward to some inspiration in that field.
Kylie Gussett is a speaker after the Friday night dinner, so looking forward to meeting her.
I have been working on a piece that I have patterned by using the hand tools, and it is nearly ready to slip off the needles, which I will take with me to the seminar. Not sure whether it is the right size for the vest I envisage but I'll soon find out. Will post a picture when off the needles for a better look. It is simply a rectangular shape.

Hand knitting happening..

...with a rectangular poncho almost half way completed. I am using our North East Yarns Warby Tweed, and knitting in stocking stitch with Moss stitch borders and as a pattern down the centre of front and back. The photo unfortunately doesn't due the yarn any justice. 

          And a triangular shawl using stocking stitch with an eyelt pattern . The yarn has been handspun from a pinky orange fibre top originally from EGMTK

I have been working on the knitting machine yesterday and today and am halfway up the front of a front of a vest or jumper (I will decide later). It will take sometime to do as I am handtooling the eyelet pattern that I have decided to do. It is a lovely green colour, just a little lighter than khaki.

Cold weather...

..... 

Natural coloured wool thick beanie

is now upon us so I hope there are lots of knitters out there wanting some lovely handspun wool to knit something scrumptious and warm, or handmade beanies to keep our heads warm.

 



Purple Sky Thick and thin

Mooroopna Farmers Market is this Sunday. Look for me there.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers this weekend...

...and it looks like the rain is going to hold off until Sunday afternoon.
Since I have two Markets on this weekend I am eternally grateful.
Saturday is Nagambie's Market, with Girgarre Market being on Mother's Day.
The car is packed bar the spinning wheel, wool to spin and other essentials.

First days of retirement...

...was spending the weekend on my own, so started washing a fleece, as well as carding other fleeces. Winding off some 8ply white for dyeing for a customer, winding off 100gm lots of white tops ready for spinning thick and thin and then dyeing.
Trying to tidy bits of papers and magazines, that seem to accumulate. I generally flip through first and then get back to reading them later. Needless to say the pile grows.

Here are photos of some natural coloured batts and some thick and thin hand dyed yarn.

Today was a big day. Back to work to share morning tea with staff and residents, and speeches and a gift of flowers and a voucher, almost made me cry. Always sad to change one's life before going on with another.

Then a phone call out of the blue. The Cobram Spinners group were in town before going to Mandie's (EGMTK) shop in Tongala, could they stop by (we are talking a busload). They would call when leaving Tongala. They turned and viewed my little studio, and shopped. Not bad for not being prepared. Next time if advance notice, I will have a big display of fleeces out as well.

Such a fun day!!