We went to the Somerset Guild's annual Fleece Fair at Hatch Beauchamp Somerset. It was a fantastic collection of wonderful fresh fleeces, the perfume (definately of sheep) was breathtaking and within just a couple of minutes you had enough lanolin on your hands to keep them soft for a year.
So what did I buy?
Well first on the list was a Black Blue Face Leicester (shearling ewe). This wasn't my initial choice as the one I wanted on display was sold. But the farmer went and got me this one from his van, and beautiful it is. There will be a need for some work, but hey that's what it' all about.
The next buy was 750g of Coloured Romney ( a beautiful dark grey to black). Very soft and open, with loads of lanolin.
Then I bought some taster of Kerry Hill about 300g, something I've always wanted to try. White and open when washed should spin quite easily.
Just around the corner I noticed some Shetland fleeces displayed by the Shetland Sheep Society. They were all in separate paper carrier bags ( good presentation) and the two reps could tell you anything you wanted about the fleeces. I picked up a bag of Moorit Shetland that had been rooed not shorn. It's beautifully clean and soft and the owner of the sheep Jean Curtis was there to tell me all about 'Princess' whose fleece it was.
We decided as a group Gill, Chris and me to buy a fleece for the group, and so I bought a 3kg Shropshire fleece to share. Nice and open and soft. Probably good to dye too.
We had tea and cake while we were there and who should suddenly appear but Anj, Shirley and Erin. Anj still suffering from her car crash, but still able to enjoy her hobby and shopping for fleece.
On our way back we stopped in Clevedon by the park and seafront for tea and cake again, but this time to chat about our purchases and get over the "Fleece Fever". It was sunny and warm and it wasn't until later that I realised that I had caught the sun ( or rather it had caught me ) on my head - not too bad, but it will be tender for a couple of days.
I get my car this week - yes I am excited, all I need is a long sticker saying "driven by the Babylon Whore"! as it is coloured Babylon Red......
Well that's all for now folks, will speak soon.
Byeeee
Keith
Wow, super fleece, well done:-)
ReplyDeleteWe couldn't make it this year, went to the Woodland Turnery that day instead, fab place! But next year I want to go and buy fleece too:-)