Just a quickie!

Such a long list of tasks to get done before we go. It's done. I'm going to bed and resting. No textiles, unless buying sandals for reluctant no. 1 son counts. I'll be offline for three weeks (Broome and the Kimberley), so I'm going to blog in hard copy... that is if I can be bothered...oh for the holidays.....

Only two more sleeps to go! Well one, really.

Last minute rush preparing to go on a wonderful three week holiday. I needed to complete all the work required to have my market stall ready. Seeing as I arrive back in Melbourne at 5am on the Sunday and need to set up between 8am and 10am on that day, everything had to be just right and in boxes and labelled. I'll probably sleep through most of the market!

I did manage to finish the front cables of my jumper. This just goes so fast. 5.5mm needles, I need to use those often! And I've started the sleeve.

Isn't photographing texture with an automatic camera when you want to take the photo inside just disappointing. The flash just flattens everything. I had to go outside, not a great drama as it is lovely and sunny, but I didn't really feel that I should have. I guess I should learn how to use the camera better, or get a better camera!

Packing for the holidays

I didn't actually do anything yesterday. I called in on the Spinning Certificate students to go over their last class and ensure they've organised their exhibition, which they had and is well under way now. They've finally got their act together.

I did, however, start to pack for our 3 week holiday by organising what I will take in the way of textiles. The first is two plastic tatting bobbins (pink and blue! who chose those colours?), which along with yarn and a book from the local library, I'm hoping to take on the plane. The HWSG had a demonstration morning, as they do on their meeting day, which gave us a taste of tatting. I enjoyed this and hope to be able to follow it up.

I'm also taking one of my favourite books: Creative Knitting by Mary Walker Phillips. I still think that there is nothing quite like it, despite the fact it was published in the seventies. She explores stitches and yarns all in the name of art. What's not to like. I'm hoping to create a piece responding to my holidays.

The yarns I'm taking are a linen, red mercerised cotton and a linen/cotton mix. I hope that this is enough. I'm not sure of the textile options in Broome and the Kimberley, which is where we're going. Leaving Tuesday. Looking forward to it!

I'm going to have to start doing most of my blogging in the morning, as I think I'm putting a dent in our download time, along with no 1. son when he accesses his myspace page, which apparently has music on it. Anyway, we'll do that and see if it makes any difference.

Slow day, good company

I felt a bit slow today, too much to do, it will get done tomorrow! Had morning tea, turned into lunch with a friend who was working on her textiles. I watched and commented, nicely I hope, and had another look at her beautiful botanical drawings book.

Botanical drawing keeps cropping up and I feel the need to follow it up. Classes, Durer, practice, all need consideration.

I did manage to find the energy tonight, while the two big boys are at football and the littlest is watching/playing his gameboy.

I'm quite pleased with them. I need to cover the back and add a hook. I haven't worked out the price yet, and it will be a test to see what the reaction is.

Warping a new loom with nylon wire

Today was the meeting of the viewing committee for 9"x5" market and what you hope for happened. Of the ten people who applied we had an absolute gem. A lovely Japanese ceramicist who created the most quirky, interesting and unique peaces. She had a love box, which had two interlinked people, when unlinked revealed a beautiful heart. No hint of cutesy or anything vaguely girly, just good humour and real cleverness. She bought along about a dozen peaces, I would have happily lived with any. She will be a most welcome addition to our market.

I've finished warping the loom and now have to tie-up. This is the part of a countermarche loom that is not welcome. I am going to devise a series of hooks and loops to hopefully streamline the operation. I'll see what they have at Darn Cheap, or else the local hardware.

Textile pictures here we come!

I've continued to work on these textile pictures, in between warping up the woven memories. These are turning out better than previously. Unfortunately, the picture isn't really good. I created three, each with a different coloured yarn as the base, as follows:


1. Machine knit fabric in the selected colours: tan rayon, hand-dyed wool and a commercial yarn.

2. Machine knit copper wire and yarn together.


These are the first two layers, which I staple gunned to the canvas frame. I then found some handspun that matched and I've wrapped it around. I still need another element which I'll work on tonight. I think I need to return to the original inspiration of the violin.



I'm up to denting but have discovered I put the whole beater on backwards. Change it around tomorrow. I am falling in love with this loom as it has been a breeze to warp on my own. Nylon wire is forgiving, however, I feel certain I can continue successfully warping on my own.

Heaps of washing to sort out. Still tired from all that driving in the last two days.

A Birthday skein

Last night I drove down to our holiday house at Phillip Island to sort out a new hot water service. I did manage, however, to finish the Experimental Spinning birthday skein. Last night I discovered the lolly bag that I'd forgotton about...thanks Tammie....So sitting there spinning and eating lollies! I finished it today when I got back home. It's a mix of fluffy wool and mohair. Then plyed with dark blue cotton. It's just a bit of fun, but I want to make something to remember the party by. It's only about 28gm, so I thought maybe, a little pouch. Need to wash the skein and think some.

I've also managed to paint the three, black and start warping my nylon. I need more space, it's an extremely slow process when you have to climb over things and you can't get in the right position. I need to disemble my borrowed loom and get my workshop back!