Woolly Weekend Retreat....

...announcing our first Woolly Weekend Retreat being held in a beautifully converted barn in the Brecon Beacons Nat. Park in Carmarthenshire on 9th - 11th March 2018.

This is going to be a weekend packed full of all things woolly, weave a rug on a peg loom, learn to crochet with giant 'Dreadlock Yarn', plant dye wool yarns and much, much more.

You will be using washed fleeces, Welsh hand spun yarns and wool to make your own, unique rug and storage basket and have lots of lovely naturally dyed yarns to take home with you too.
Learn how to crochet, learn to weave on a peg loom and to dye wool using foraged plants. Lots of tips and tricks to take away with you, tuition and workshops all day.

All meals and beautifully appointed accommodation, all workshops, equipment and materials are included in the price, starting at £325/person for a twin room sharing.

This weekend is about having fun whilst learning new crafts or enjoying skills you already have in a relaxed, comfortable place in the heart of beautiful countryside.
The converted barn is for our exclusive use all weekend from 3pm on Friday 9th until we say goodbye on 3pm on Sunday 11th March 2018.

Bookings are being taken now for this exclusive weekend...but hurry, as places are limited...Click on the link to secure your place now!
                                                         Booking form and more info

Spinning workshop this summer...

Spinning



My new workshop being held at Kate Humbles farm in Monmouthshire explores the world of hand spinning and plant dyeing.

An introduction to the techniques of hand spinning using 3 different types of spinning wheel, sorting fleece and carding.

Then onto dyeing using foraged plant matter and store cupboard ingredients learning how one can achieve great results dyeing spun yarn and prepared fleece with natural material.

Click on link for more info and booking

Workshop runs 10.00-16.00 in July 29th 2017

 

hand spinning...

...grey Romney fleece

 

I love wool spinning, it's my very favourite thing to do, especially when spinning a great fleece like this one.

happy days xxx

new courses...

...learn how to weave using a peg loom and learn how to crochet

courses are running in Carmarthen and Myddfai, for booking and further info please visit my website and click on courses and events

www.nellieandeve.co.uk

I will be at 'Hobbycraft' in Swansea on 6th July demonstrating peg loom weaving, pop along and say hi

You can also find me at the following events holding demos in wool spinning and peg loom weaving...

Hay Craft Festival, hay on wye, 24-25th May

Monmouth Show, monmouth, 21st Aug

Llandovery Sheep Festival, llandovery, 27-28th Sept

Xxx

...craft festival

...in Hay on Wye 

I will be at this super crafts and skills festival on 24-25th May

being held at Racquety Farm, Hay on Wye

The festival offers hands on workshops, demonstrations and more...

There is also camping all weekend at this lovely certified organic farm

Can't wait to bring all my lovely welsh wools and yarns along

...have a go at weaving, spinning and learn how to crochet

Chat about how wool can benefit you, your home and your garden

Learn how I use plants to dye wool naturally

Hope to see you there

wool spinning...

...keeping warm inside today by hand spinning Welsh Jacob wool

lots of snow fell again last night and it is very icy
the perfect excuse to not go out...
but to sit by Martha and spin
...bliss

naturally dyed...

...hand spun yarn, hand crocheted capelet

a little something I made.

am very happy with the colour of the yarn

the yarn was dyed using blackberries that I had squirrelled away in the freezer for this very project

i think this little capelet will look great over a strappy dress or a plain white tee

the wool used was Romney, a really light weight, airy wool and spins like a dream

i am writing up the crochet pattern for this, which will be available here soon

hope you like it, i welcome your comments

happy weekend folks

xxx

autumn days...

... are well and truly upon us

I Love Autumn

although i haven't got out to enjoy it so much lately

not even to berry pick

i am busy making, spinning and weaving gorgeous woolly wonders

for this years Llandovery Sheep Festival

which is just 6 days away

(no hint of panic in my voice...not much!)

I will be spinning wool and also showing the uses of a peg loom

and weaving too

there will be heaps to see and do

rare breed sheep sale, drovers

crafts and food stalls

and more 

see you there

come say hello

xxx

monmouth show...

... a great day

the sun shone

and the fabulous gun dogs of

usk valley 

showed us how amazingly well trained and clever they are

i do love black labs

... i was demonstrating wool spinning and peg loom weaving

i was in the country matters area

and as luck would have it

so were the usk valley gun dogs

gorgeous

along with these fine lovelies

a whole wonder of great sheep, cattle and horses

crafts, bodging, bee keeping and good food

could be found at the show

a really great day out

did i mention that the sun was shining all day?

made a great show even better

xxx

 www.monmouthshow.co.uk

spinning and weaving demos at ...

...erwood station crafts

i have been happy to take part in a special event

at the lovely erwood station crafts centre near builth wells, powys

they have been celebrating the 50th year since the last steam train

ran along the railway line

and sadly no longer

erwood is a restored railway station

...as the name suggests

with a steam loco on tracks

and a great crafts shop and tea rooms

i demonstrated how to use a peg loom

and how to spin wool on my trusty wheel...freya

...

last fri i also met up with a great green woodworker

gareth from penpont green woodwork

who turned wonderful bowls all day

 great fun to watch them taking shape

thanks to michael cunningham and his team for a great couple of days

xxx

spinning wheel...

...love

meet freya

she is my new spinning wheel

purchased from the lovely joan

at timbertops

whilst i was at the wonderwool show in april

already named and painted when i got her she is a little ashford kiwi

and i think she is so gorgeous

she also spins like a dream

as you can see...i have already spun my first skein on her

spinning wheel happiness

xxx

hand spun ...

...jacob yarn

i have been busy 

hand processing wool

ready to deliver to solva woollen mill in pembrokeshire

this is all jacob wool

from a local flock based in our village

i wash all the fleeces by hand

the fleece is then carded to give all the wool fibres

a uniform long smooth feel

which are then ready to

spin by hand

ply ed

then

hey presto

you have gorgeous natural wool

ready to knit, crochet or weave with

more hand spun yarn will be available to buy

from our own shop very soon

keep a check on our website

http://www.nellieandeve.co.uk/

weaving and spinning...

...as autumn approaches

(yes, i know its still july and the summer hols)

 but hand spinning enough wool for jumpers, rugs and cushions

takes an age

so every opportunity i get

i am hand spinning lovely new freshly shorn
sheeps fleece...

(the woolly miles involved in the making of my products
is less than one mile)

...it is a labour of love

it takes time to get a few skeins of wool

that are ready for knitting crochet or weaving

skeins hanging to dry

after first spinning plying washing then hanging

the wool is then ready to use

i have started weaving a rug on a lovely old upright loom

this loom took me and my wonderful spinning and weaving mentor Sylvia

5 hours to thread up ready for use

yes indeed...this is truly a slow process

but the most rewarding too

a unique fabulous rug will be made

all by hand

no machines used, no petrochemicals

just hand, foot and elbow grease

oh and heaps of love fun and a bit of patience

full of texture

the wool has been spun by me and the ladies at our spinning group

and will be raffled or auctioned

with all proceeds going to charity

(one which we are yet to decide)

any charity suggestions are very welcome

xxx