Last day of 2011..

As it is the last day of the year, I thought I should post something.
Today one of my sheep died. It was not unexpected as it has been unhappy for more than a week. I could not detect any flystrike and assumed it was an internal issue. He would drink and chew a little grass, so I let nature take it's course. He did not look like he was suffering, just unhappy. It was sad as it was my first actual sheep death since I started in 2007, so I consider I was lucky. This fellow was born here in 2008.
At present I have several projects on the go including some handspinning that I am going to give to a friend for her 60th birthday next week. It is a natural grey which I will then dye in her favourite colour. (So her daughter says.)
More skeins of the white alpaca have been completed, and I am balling them up for the client as I know how extra busy she is as a busy GP.
Wishing all my followers and visitors a Happy and Safe New Year and we hope 2012 will be a better one.

It's Christmas...

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe Christmas. Thank you for visiting my blog and website over the is last year. I hope you continue to visit.
Here in Victoria, Australia the temperatures are rising and we will will be having a traditional hot lunch tomorrow. The important thing is it will be with family. There will be about 25 of us including little ones, and that is not all of them as other family members had to make other plans for their own families.
I will miss my middle daughter Rebecca this year, who is unable to come home from Port Moresby for Christmas. Last contact was she is still working so hope she has a good day tomorrow.

 Here are some dyed grey fleeces in 100gm lots that I will be putting on the website. They have a little bit of VM but should flick out.

 This a grey cardigan I have been working on the knitting machine, it has eyelets around the raglan sleeves and lace patterning up to the armhole edge on the cardigan fronts. It is hip length and will fit 40 inch chest (X large). The neckband and front bands still to be completed. This will be up for sale as well. The wool was processed for the North East Yarns and is a fine 3ply (fingering or laceweight?) Natural colour grey.

Dyeing wool....

I have started dyeing some of my lighter grey fleeces, and since I have several full fleeces weighing between 3 and 5 kgms, this may take some time in the kitchen, in between meals. I am not scientific about dyeing, and just add colours and wait for the surprise. These will be in 100gm lots, easily carded for spinning or felting projects.

The vegie garden is starting to look much better with tomatoes, zucchinis, silver beet, beetroot, potatoes, and pumpkins showing some growth. A little more rain followed by warmer days should bring on good growth.

The calf is weaned and will have to be taken to the larger paddock to ingratiate itself amongst the other cows and calves.

The sheep have been getting extra grain and hay now the grass is drying off.

Winding down for Christmas...

I am winding down the markets with only one to go at Girgarre before Christmas.
We are having a surprise party for my father's 80th birthday the week before Christmas, so will be able to catch up with family that we haven't seen in awhile.
Fleeces have been baled up in the North East for value adding.
The remainder of the fleeces will be taken over to Riverina wool company in Moama, and some will remain for wool dyeing and spinning. I am hoping to have 100gm lots of hand dyed Corriedale fleeces for sale on the website and at the markets, next year.
A gentleman has approached me asking if I could use his Saxon merino fleeces. As these are very fine fleeces, I have offered to trial washing and dyeing and making small rolags with the handcarders as I don't think they will be suitable through the motorized carder. Could be very interesting. I will be getting these samples sometime after Christmas. The possible outcome may be suitable for felters.
The Vat room has almost been cleaned out of fleeces in preparation for the dairy revamp. Hard finding a new home for fleeces.
In the garden, tomato lants are growing, beetroot, zucchini, and bean seeds have sprouted. Have to keep up the watering with a lack of rain.
I am now ready to do the bands on the grey cardigan. I am happy with the lacework, and my compatriots love it, so I might get this in the Beechworth Old Schoolhouse Gallery for display.


 I am having a serious look at my natural fleeces and am working at spinning these for most of the summer, as well as my spinning commission.

Just another scarf that has been knitted on the machine.

Getting organised...

Although I seem to be very quiet here, I am working at crafting. The garden is still getting a makeover, and we are waiting on quotes for revamping the dairy. If quotes too high it may not be viable.
Baling day for the North East Yarns will be at the end of the month, so will look forward to catching up there at Wangaratta.
In the meantime I have lambs fleeces and bellies and pieces to go over to Riverina Wool in Moama, just have to find a day.
Another cotton poncho has been completed, and a little wool jumper needs to be sewn up before doing the neckband. I have a Natural Grey 3 ply wool on the machine which is going to be a cardigan.
And of course I am spinning some natural coloured grey yarn as well as the white Alpaca for a client.

Diamond pattern Cotton Capelet/Poncho

Who said there is not enough hours in the day!!!

Party Coaster Set

We had only 19mm rain last night but that will freshen everything up.
Saturday is busy with catching up at Mandie's, spinning (EGMTK) and then to Echuca for a Linen party at my daughter's unit.
The Girgarre Market is on this Sunday morning as well.

Sheep...

...have been shorn. Luckily just before this hot weather, which is going to follow up with rain, so will have to watch for flystrike. Very bad last spring and summer. I now have to decide where to send the lamb's fleeces as they are only 1 - 2 inches long. The full fleeces I will spin myself or sell privately or send away, and the remaining will go in the shared Baling Day in the North East after we decide what to do.
I have now started carding (prior to spinning) a white Alpaca fleece for a customer. I also am organising some gifts of natural coloured wool batts for some acquaintances who I met at the spinning workshop in August.

I will be at Riverside Plaza Market in Shepparton this Saturday from 9am to 2pm.


Making himself comfortable.

 I am minding the farm while Leigh is away visiting his son overseas, so a bit quiet here, with only the cats, the sheep and cattle to talk to. speaking of cats, another has popped in and if it hangs around that will make 4, and they don't even belong to us. My daughter's cat of course is settling in really well since he came to us in June, much better life in the outdoors than in a city apartment.

I cannot believe I have....

....not written anything for a month. Some catching up to do.
Tomorrow is shearing day for my black coloured sheep who are starting to look decidedly bedraggled and daggy. Praying no flystrike, after a couple of humid days.
Sunday off to the Mooroopna Farmer's Market from 8.00am to 1 pm.
Although I haven't blogged I have not been idle.
The two granddaughters have turned 3 and 2 respectively in September and October, and birthdays can be busy.
I have completed the Alpaca for a customer and am about to start another for another client. In the meantime I have to catch up and get some of my own fleeces done.


Granddaughters helping feed the calf.




Machine knit Lace Capelet/Poncho




Handspun Natural Mid grey

 I have added some new items to the website so go and take a look to see what's there.
Work is ongoing on the farm with repairs to fencing. Calving is finished with 23 calves. We lost one cow whose calf we are now feeding and one calf whose mother was too young. Some of these Lowline heifers seem to matue much sooner and therefore while the bull is in with the mothers accidents can happen but you don't know until much later.
We are currently looking at the possibility of getting the dairy up and running again, so that the farm can make an income. Oh well early mornings. Maybe I can make some cheeses again, nothing like my own Camembert, fetta or haloumi.