Show and tell

It was so cold this week . It was cheering to see all these beautiful things.

Alexis brought along some dyed plaits , some of which had been especially requested. She explained how she got the colours.

Alexis shared a pink silk felted jacket which she had purchased at the craft fair at Port Noarlunga. It was a made by a lady called Jill from Victor Harbour. It is silk on the outside , hot pink on the inside and really very attractive.

Alexis also brought along an emerald green cape she had made from wool which had silk through it because we had been talking about how to use silk last week. The buttons on it she had purchased .

Pam shared a pair of pink mittens made from commercial wool which actually had the look at feel of homespun wool.

So much colour therapy this week.

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Creating a reef

The left of the room was into recreating an ocean reef  for us with its colours. Alexis had all the stunning colours of coral next to her electronic spinner and as she spun them she was changing the seascape. Rich corals, sunlit corals and dark corals. It was extraordinary how the colours changed as she spun.

 

Karin had her wool minder, which we were sure was going to start walking and talking to us , and had the bright, brilliant colours of tropical fish in her  crochet blanket.

Janette was was busy spinning the seashore …the sand, the rocks, the cliff face. Her spun wool reflected the colours you see as you walk along the shore and seafront. Janette is very good at recreating yarn which makes you think of places in nature.

Colour is everything. It brings out memories, ideas, moods. The psychological properties of colours are well documented. We are lucky to do colour therapy every week.

Equipment Day

We talked all the way there on the mini bus and all the way back. We even had the quiet bus driver talking.

Then we walked and talked our way around Equipment Day  at Littlehampton and at The Felting Ewe at Lenswood.  We had had to bring the sunshine with us because it was a cold , wet wintery day even though it had been hot and humid earlier in the week. We cheerfully shared ideas, inspiration, comments, finds, enthusiasm, tips, tricks, advice, delight, appreciation. We shared everything and it was a very productive, relaxing and energising day. There was so much fleece and equipment in the Institute Hall. The Adelaide Hills Spinners and Weavers Guild has an annual equipment day. They are a very friendly, welcoming group with a lot of skills and knowledge. It was great to look, browse, discuss, get help and information and then make our purchases. The Hills group provided tea and coffee served in dainty cups and saucers and a very tasty home cooked lunch which was so healthy and enjoyable. Given the weather was so cold a number of people were wearing their homespun and felted garments and accessories , so yesterday was also a chance to see the quality of work from people who love fibre and love to spin. Those  new to the group were excited to be able to buy the famous Susie Horn’s bags of dyed bits. She grew up on a sheep farm in New South Wales. She runs a farm at Meadows and she knows everything about sheep but is quick to tell you that wool and spinning are all about learning all the time. You never stop learning. It was nice to have such a cheery welcome from Brenda at The Felting Ewe on the way home. She has a feast of dyed wool and fibre and is very knowledgeable about felting. Any conversation with her is productive and encouraging. Her enthusiasm and experience allow everyone to thrive. We ought to have arrived home all talked out but Monday will be living proof that we love to talk and we’ll be confidently up and running at the group again full of ideas and input without any trouble.

Our knitting

We had a lot to share with our knitting this week. Maria was knitting a beautiful beanie with her homespun wool which has such an usual colour. She had also made some tiny teddies for Sonya’s daughter for her buddy bear programme. The faces are well thought out and different. Margaret had got firsts for her garter stitch beret, her neck scarf and her crocheted bag in the Clare Show.  The scarf matches the beret and is made from those lovely Susie Horn colours which Margaret knows how to make the most of as she spins. Jan shared the beautiful spun wool she had created with Alexis’ help. They had been plotting and planning how to get a very special blue colour. Jan had asked for a denim colour and then a different blue colour so she could ply them. With Alexis skill and Jan’s vision the skein of wool just looks incredible. Creativity has to have a basis in knowledge and expertise for ideas to be realised. Then there was Alexis’ beret and that was a bit of a show stopper. We were all gasping and in wonder at how neat and even every single stitch was. Like it had been machine knitted and we assured Alexis we were not being rude. We were just in awe at the stitch regularity and perfection. Guess Alexis is a bit of a knitting machine. The beret is a lovely green and commercial wool.