wool museum...

...took a day trip to the national wool museum in the lovely small town of dre-fach felindre having once been in the heart of the wool industry of south west wales

on display were beautiful woven cloth
all weaved on traditional machinery circa 1880-1935
and all still in perfect working order

this is a finishing machine, filled with teasels to brush the nap of  wool cloth to make a fluffy soft feel, used for blankets 

a traditional spinning wheel needing one person to produce one ball of wool...

...to a spinning wheel that produced 400 balls of wool per 3 people to operate

we learned how the industrial revolution changed the lives of the community who had come to rely on the 24 mills in the town for their livelihoods

 and how the need for cheaper production lead to the decline of the industry altogether in the mid 20th century.

happily the mill is in business again as melin teifi and they produce wonderful traditional style wool cloth once again

all be it on a much smaller scale

i had a fabulous day gathering lots of info

and inspriration about the amazing natural fibre

that is

wool

xxx

look for wool products that are produced in UK and help our wool industry

join the campaign for wool

jessy wins...

first prizes at village show

our gorgeous jessy wins

1st prize for best puppy

and

for best dog in our parish

not only did she win lovely rosettes

but she won a little silver cup too

 am chuffed to bits

we had a fabulous sunny day

really good fun

and as you can see

jessy

is very happy with herself too

xxx

wedding day...

...arrives for my lovely friends

laura and gareth

she looked fabulous 

as she walked in the church

to ' you are so beautiful to me'

i tried hard not to shed happy tears

he was a little nervous but showed how much he loved her

by saying 'i do'

before the vicar could say a word!

and we laughed and clapped and cheered

our way through a fabulous celebration

i wish them much happiness joy and love

as they step into the world together as

mr & mrs

wedding gift

vintage fabric lavender filled pillow to help ease their stresses

champagne and vintage saucer glasses to toast their good health

a crochet tea light holder to help light their path in life together 

a wedding anniversary book as a reminder

and a lavender filled vintage lace heart to share their love

xxx

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