Spring is here at last in all her glory - and so is the HAYFEVER

Hi Folks

Well what have I been up to since my last blog on May Day.
Spinning, spinning, spinning - well it's what I do!
I've been spinning up the yellow/green Spring is Sprung roving and I'm almost there. And of course we had our May meeting of SpinDyeWeavers. It was a lovely day plenty of sunshine, so it was windows open and away we go. I was spinning only, but Chris and Nina were going to use their natural dyes from Tintoria, that they bought at Wonderwool. They had done the wool mordanting at home so got off to a flying start. Why is it that the dyes always look so uninteresting when you first put them on. Brown, more brown and another nondescript colour went on - how could this possibly work. But boy oh boy the results are wonderful, it's definitely something to have a go at. Also the Landscape dyes from OZ are something we are going to have a bash at and I've ordered mine via Gill (Sassy Spinner), plus a bit of Merino DK yarn via Nina, we will see what we can create.

HAYFEVER : something I have never had before, has decided it's my turn to suffer, so it's nose spray and eye drops for me this year, unless of course it's just the tree pollen that is affecting me (we are right opposite some trees at our flat level) I can oly hope it is. I've been a gardener all my life and have inhaled all the pollen there is before, so why now??

Birthday's, it is my huzbear Andy's BIG 40 this weekend on the 23rd May. We are having a party at The Old Market Tavern on Saturday and sharing the party with Sylvia his workmate. It will be chocolate fudgecake all round and to hell withe diets.

Well that's about all folks, I expect the next blog will be after the 12th June as we are taking part in the Link Age's - The Art of you Life exhibition, which is a project that aim's to encourage and support people over 50 and the elderly to take part in Arts and Crafts and be part of the community. We at SpinDyeWeavers are putting on an exhibition of spinning, weaving, dyeing and felting. Encouraging people to watch and take part in these activities. There are also dancers, singers, films, paintings, and restored film of old Bristol.
Food from various cultures is also being displayed with a chance to taste too. So all in all a good day out.

That's all for now folks.
Speak soon

Keith

Wonderwool! oh wonderous Wonderwool!!!

CVM Romeldale
Manx Loaghtan
Jamaican Very Berry Coulis
Possum Fur
Citrus Zinger

Hi Folks

Did I mention I was going to Wonderwool??? Well I did go and what a great time I had. I could spend all day telling you all about it but I dare say quite a few of you went anyway.
So off I went in the company of the fab Anjie P, Shirley and Erin (Shani couldn't come because of work and we missed her loads). We had a lovely journey to Builth Wells - with a minor detour through Monmouth (such a lovely town), so nice we went there twice.
We stopped off for a fresh cup of tea and coffee in what was a former car showroom now a cafe. Lovely drinks but they really must do something about their fridge, which did a pretty good impression of a banshee, despite having had a good kicking earlier on. As ever, we made somewhere popular - other people came and spoilt the show. Time to move on.
We arrived at the show in good time, parked in the disabled car park (very close to the action) so at least I know I'm good for something. Everyone should take a crip when they go somewhere.
We got inside the show and went our separate ways. I thought I would see them quite often, but only caught up with them twice.
First off, I met Jon Dunn from Easy Knits and bought some handbalm Vanilla Latte well at least I smelt nice. No honestly it's very good. I did the rounds taking in all the stalls and then went round again doing a bit of shopping. I met Longdraw James @ Woodland Turnery while I discussed a faster whorl for my Timbertop wheel. In fact I met so many people old friends and new I would be here all day naming them. Suffice to say I had a good time. I didn't overdo the spending so I've got a bit left over for later.
What else has happened. I sent away for some CVM Romeldale from Lilac Ridge Farm WI USA which has arrived (see photo) it is lovely and soft and springy. Also I ordered some Manx Loaghton top from Dickies. It too is lovely and soft - so much nicer than the fleece I bought years ago and threw on the compost heap as it was sooo coarse. Since Wonderwool, I have done some dyeing with Kool Aid dyes bought while I was there (see photo's) Jamaican Very Berry Coulis and Citrus Zinger. So now I've caught up on the goss and will have to get down to some hard graft to spin my stash.
I hope everyone is ok and I'll speak again soon.

Hugz

Keith