1970's Bicheno style

As I was saying, the theme of the handspinner, dyers and weaver guild weekend away this year was the 1970's and here is just a little of all the fun we had.

bicheno escape

I have just been away for three days up the east coast to a wonderful little town called Bicheno. It was the HWSD Guild annual weekend away. For those of you remember last year it was all about socks, and sock blanks. This year it was all about the 1970's nut more about that in a later post.

I had the best time going for a pre breakfast walk along the coast. There are lovely beaches and fasinating rock scenery. Even though I kept my eyes peeled I did not come across a whale.

swallow tail shawl

This is my recently finished swallowtail shawl, you can find the patern on Ravelry. It was such an easy knit and I really like the finished shawl. I would have liked it to be a little larger as it is for a gift, but I like the pattern and even started to like nupps a little after doing so many of them.

Handweavers, spinners and dyers guild of tasmania birthday

Life member gather to cut the cake for the Guilds birthday.

Maureen with one of her lovely indigo dyed scarves, and a basket full of her wonderful dyed handspun.

Our vice president Di whipping up a bit of weaving.

following the art trail

there has been a three day art trail here in the channel. So I have spent two days heading up small country roads in search of art studios. It was a great chance to explore roads I would never have driven up before and an even better chance to see artists at work in their studios. I love to listen to artists talk about their work and what inspires them, and to droole over their wonderful studios. One of the stops was for the quilting exhibitions which just happened to be across the road from this wonderful shop.

Nearby we visited a wonderful gentleman, Joe Ottevanger. He is printmaker, using lino cuts. What an inspiration to talk to and listen to his wealth of knowledge.

Then on Saturday we headed out as a family and started off at Simon Pankhurst's studio.. He has a truely amazing blacksmiths forge. My boys though this was really exciting and #2 child was already coming up with ideas and sharing them with Simon. Simon was a delight to listen to and so generously shared his ideas and thoughts with us. Some of his work is below. He had wonderful seats, benches, bookshelves and even a spectacular wood basket. What a treat for the senses, and the ears when he fired up the metal. And I have to mention the beautiful gardens.

Never Not Knitting Theme Song

tour de fleece days 1 to 4

As the bike race started in France, so did the tour de fleece. The spinners version of peddling like crazy for the same number of days as th professionals do. This yaers challenge for me was to make my way through some of my merino cross (milo) who has a lovely black/brown fleece and blend it with some Yak down I have bought. The Yak down is so light and soft but incredibly short so not the easiest fiber to spin.I tried carding them together on the drum carder, but that did not work as the Yak just got stuck on the licker. Then I tried hand carding, then I tried making tight punis , as if I was spinning cotton. This seems to be the most successful so far but I am still struggling to get the two fubers to blend evenly. But I am up for the challenge so I will let you know how I get on.