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

 

Humble

By nature...

Had a super weekend at The Big Day Out, which is Humble by Natures 2nd year of festival fun....a festival on a farm that is small enough to be personal yet big enough to loose yourself for a while in all the activities and workshops, music, cookery and so much more, without bumping into everyone else there.

Super grounds for camping, facilities second to none, very, very well organised.

I held weaving workshops all weekend, peg loom weaving with Welsh wool making seat mats and hand held loom weaving to create wall hangings.

Everyone that took part created something unique and wonderful.

Great fun and learning had by all.

Hammock fun...

...lovely way to enjoy one of my rugs.

I was asked to make this peg loom rug by a customer for this very purpose.

Think it looks great and I know from experience that it will be very hard to leave the super cosy comfort of pure Welsh wool.

Happy hammock lounging

Xxx

Busy bee...

...getting stock ready for Wonderwool Wales. A fabulous event of all things wool related at the end of April at Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, mid Wales.

I always think I have planned well ahead, am on track with making stock, dyeing wool, hand spinning yarn, weaving rugs and carding fleece ready for kits....and then it's April and I feel a lump in my gut as I try hard not to PANIC as time ticks on by, far to quickly!.....

I can only do what I can do I have consoled myself....nothing I sell is bought in, nothing commercial, just me, a tin bath for washing fleeces, spinning wheel to spin yarn, drum carder for combing wool and a simple loom for weaving. All dyeing is done on the Rayburn in small batches and plant stuff harvested by hand seasonally. It's the way I like to be, perhaps not the greatest business model, but I can't produce my products any other way. I have a passion to keep things as natural and honest as possible.

....soooo here I am running about the place, washing fleeces, and packing up beautiful, natural coloured wool....loving it....but needing a bit more time.....

What will be will be......

Washed some lovely old hessian sacks today ready to be filled with carded wool for loom kits....

Am happy....in a slightly anxious way...not stressed as such, not yet!

Xxx

More plant dyeing...

...with last years blackberries

I had squirrelled away some blackberries in the bottom of the freezer last Autumn and felt the need for a new colour to add to my collection of plant dyed wool.

I was happily surprised with the super lilac the dye pot gave and am embarking on another round tonight with the exhaust.

A lovely gift from last years harvest.

Xxx

 

Wool washing...

..In the spring sunshine.

Always good to take advantage of any sun that happens to come my way here on a hill in south west Wales.

This winter has been wet, wet, wet, not at all good for washing and drying fleeces, but here is the sun, apparently with us for at least a week, so I am happily doing all the prep that my hand spinning and weaving yarn requires before it gets anywhere near a wheel or loom.

I wash my fleeces in a tin bath using collected rain water and let it sit and soak for a good few hours before rinsing a few times and then pick over the wool for vegetation!

It is then set out to dry in the sun on wooden racks that my hubby has made for me. They work really well.

My chief 'egg'pert hen keeps a check on my progress whilst the others sunbathe or follow me around hoping for treats, they are very funny little hens...

Happy days

Plant dyeing...

...kind of a day

Red onion skins, last years Rosebay Willowherb make super colours, yellow, green, grey/mauve.

Results to follow when the dye pots are cold. X

Crochet and Peg Loom

Workshops...

Busy weekend of workshops...crochet, followed by peg loom weaving in Carmarthen on Saturday and then more crochet in Hay on Wye on Sunday morning.

I love teaching and inspiring others to make and create, it's super rewarding and a joy.

Xxx

Llandovery Sheep...

...festival

Great weekend at my local sheep festival...doesn't every town have one?

The sun shone, the spinners spun, weavers wove, burgers sizzled, wool sacks raced, a town crier (a real one, not a little 'un having a tantrum!) choirs sung, Wales won the rugby and the sheep on stage were well behaved...well almost....

I am looking forward to next year already 

Me and my little helper Deri Bevan...she demonstrates peg loom weaving exceptionally well

Sheep on stage...why of course...

My fav...the proud Jacob ram

More lovely sheep...

My stand, already to go...not sure about the hazard type though...weaving is not That dangerous!

(Funny what you miss until you see it back in an image)

Great weekend, met fabulous people, had lots of fun, talked the hind legs off a donkey...

Now to prepare for the next one...west Wales Wool Show in Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, 10th October

Xxx

Plant dyed wool...

...super results from my plant dyeing adventures.

Himalayan Balsam flowers make a lime green....

and Rosebay Willow herb flowers give a gorgeous smokey mauve tone to Blue Faced Leicester wool that's been blended with Merino...making an extra super soft wool

Plant dyeing is such fun and if you are careful...weighing ingredients and logging the results...you can get the same colours time after time.

Always boil up flowers first and leave to steep overnight...use the liquid from your plant 'tea' to dye your wool.

A top tip to get a better colour take up....* always pre mordant your fibre for at least an hour before dyeing, I use alum and cream of tartar*

Drain your fibre and add to your dye bath (a large saucepan that will not be used for food) making sure it's covered with the dye liquid.

Add alum, copper or iron by the teaspoon, depending on what colour result you would like to achieve.

....there's lots of great books out there about using minerals as mordants.....

Generally, I find that copper gives a bright green, iron, either a red or green depending on what the dye bath contains. 

Alum is the most neural of these minerals and will usually give a 'true' colour

**** this is only a very rough guide, I suggest having fun and try them all. Use the same quantity of dye stuff in 3 different pans, same fibre choice and enjoy the different results from each***

Well, there you are, a little bit about the joys of plant dyeing

It does feel great getting out there and gathering berries, leaves, nettles or widely grown weeds!

Just a little word of caution...always leave enough plant for the wildlife and for its own recreation. Wear gloves, as some may be an irritant to the skin. Always have permission from the land owner. Use containers that will not be used for food use.

Then have some fun

xxx

Himalayan Balsam with copper

Rosebay Willow herb with iron

Using the dye bath a 2nd time achieves paler results...the greenhouse works as a great place to dry wool on a showery day...

HRH Prince Charles...

...came to a private viewing of 'Cambrian Wool' and the amazing items that had been made from this super, first class, top quality wool by designer/makers

I have been lucky enough to have my iPad cover design chosen to proudly display the 'Cambrian Wool' label.

This means that my item has been made from wool farmed in the region and also made in the area too. Hopefully this will become a way for the public to recognise the provenance of items sold under the branding and ask for 'Cambrian Wool'

The initiative was set up to help promote wool production in this one region of Wales and HRH Prince Charles is the patron.

It was a great honour to meet the Prince and talk to him about my design.

A great day was had by all.

 

 

Peg Loom Weaving | Humble by Nature, Wye Valley, Wales

Peg Loom Weaving | Humble by Nature, Wye Valley, Wales



New venue for my peg loom weaving workshop

...bookings being taken now for 2nd October



Humble By Nature is a beautiful working farm in the Monmouthshire countryside.

BigDayOut | Humble by Nature, Wye Valley, Wales

BigDayOut | Humble by Nature, Wye Valley, Wales



I will be at this super event this Saturday holding peg loom weaving taster sessions....come along if you can and say hi....

Lots going on...music, food demos and welly wanging to boot!!

Should be lots of fun

Xxx

wonderwool love

...another Wonderwool Wales this last weekend

And what a fabulous event once again

Thank you to everyone who came and said hello. 

I am always amazed at such creativity, every stand offering something unique and new...all heralding the qualities of wool in all its guises.

Great weekend

Xxx