Freda ...

As this is a blog of my creative projects then by rights I should blog about Freda who has dominated my creative outpourings today.  Back from holiday and with the LAST WEEKEND of the Summer hols nearly upon us it was time to do 'something' about Freda.

Freda was an ill thought out and rashly made Ebay purchase some months ago.

The (slightly) impulsive side of our partnership  (i.e. Me) desperately wanted a caravan and the rational 'lets think about this' side of the partnership  (i.e. NOT me) was being a bit reluctant. Anyway long story short we placed a bid, won the auction on a caravan that in photos looked good but on picking up looked like a bit of a white melamine and Bostick covered bodge job 😧!!

(TOP TIP: DON'T buy things off Ebay without looking at them first...but then you probably know that....sigh)

So we payed someone who's 'Good with Wood' to make us a bed and after several weeks of head scratching I embarked on Operation Freda.  With a trip to the most fabulous of places Wiltshire Scrapstore and a masterclass in Wallpapering from my Dad I Hippied up my van...

We are Festival ready...just at the end of the season   😀

She's a work in progress but today was a start. She a sweet little thing really and I do hope we can learn to love her. She might even get her first outing this weekend....

Coming Up...(possibly?!)...more alpaca, a bit of crochet and the start of a new routine!

😊😊😊

x

Home Sweet Home

At last...the weather is agreeable enough to do some Ostentatious Carding on the towpath. We are back home in ALL senses having returned Mercy to our mooring in the beautiful Limpley Stoke Valley.

I've got a lovely big bag of raw alpaca fluff which I'm whizzing through the carder. I'm desperate to get the wheel out and see how it spins but will hold out a bit longer.  It's not a particularly creative job but it's repetitive and soothing so I'm practicing doing it mindfully.

Wool work outside is always a win-win situation...

Firstly (and possibly most importantly ) people don't get fluff in their tea or dinner...always helpful when trying to maintain good relations in a tight space...and secondly it's a good way to chat to people interested in what I'm doing...and I am quite (pleasantly) surprised at how many people ARE interested! It's an opportunity to present a friendly face from the boating community that can, at times, be judged quite harshly. 

I used to be a bit embarrassed by the attention towpath woolwork used to bring but after thinking it through I've decided to embrace it. Why not stop for a few moments to talk about both aspects of my life that I love and sustains me?

I'm doing lazy phone blogging as our internet connection isn't great...more interesting pics to follow...

💖

TTFN x

Summer Holiday Boredom

Today I am meant to be preparing for a few days away from the boat...our home...as she goes into dry dock for routine maintenance.

With excellent foresight I've packed my spinning wheel and laptop (I'm blogging from my mobile phone...how convenient is that!!!)

My only other distractions therefore are washing up (done), tidying (meh), packing  (an ongoing process) or....

CROCHET 😁

I picked up crochet (and became immediately hooked 😉) last summer. I kind of felt I wanted to learn something new....and after a few lost hours trawling the internet for pictures and tutorials I fell in love with the Sunburst Blanket and just had to make my own...

I am currently working on two crochet 'things' at the moment. Whilst they might not be as portable as knitting I really love how they evolve....bits fit together  (or don't!). It's quite a departure for me who as a knitter was used to following patterns and knowing how things should end up....

I have a vague idea what these projects may become and that's both exciting and challenging in equal measure.

I'm sorry I can't format the pics...I'm not sure how on my little phone...so here they are in one big splurge!

TTFN xx

Torture (update)

I'm not that mean.

Managed a bit of carding while the paint dried 😉

Torture!

I'm absolutely torturing myself today...

Lets roll back a bit for a bit of context...

Last weekend Woollycraft Wonders had a stall at the little fledgling Kennet and Avon Floating Market. I, and fellow boaters touted our creative talents with any number of handmade goods.

I was surprised but incredibly heartened by the interest in my handspun wool.

Now, in a matter of a few short months the Floating Market is back in Bradford on Avon hopefully under a sky of led twinkly lights and a definite Christmasy feel (many apologies for mentioning the 'C' word).  Which is obviously giving me a perfect, cast-iron, ready-made excuse to make more yarn....

I even have the resouces!!!

But, no,  what am I doing? Painting the youngest's cabin whilst she's visiting Big Sis!

Ooooo. ....I'm such a tease!!!

Eta...we have used up all our monthly internet allowance 😔 do this post is coming via my phone and an intermittent 3g signal...fingers crossed as I send it out into the ether 😀