Busy, busy, busy....

If the Pistachio Ice cream really had been ice cream it would have well and truely melted by now :0(

Luckily it's not!! (yea!)

It spins up a dream and beautifully fine, but for now its very much on the back burner.  I've got some big events coming up and that require rather a lot of planning and preparation...things I'm very good at but only when the moon is in a certain position (touch wood that is were it appears to be right now!).

On Thursday we're off for our yearly trip to The Larmer Tree Festival  where we shall be doing a big weaving on this loom I made from hazel and dishcloth yarn.  After much trial, error and snapping (myself and the thread) this was the best stuff to use ...

 I think it looks rather good in my garden....I might have to make another one to keep.

Then two days after we get back from there I'm doing an African Day at the local school. This involves trips to the scrapstore, pound shops and rummaging in school resource cupboards.  All of which I do enjoy but it does require a certain amount mental discipline and focus.  I'm easily distracted by resources, its what drew me into teaching, that and stapling things on walls ;0)

But even with all that lot going on I couldn't resist casting on my lovely Aquamarine wool...

I'm making another Lady Kina. It's lovely to knit with, which is what I'm off to do now. Hopefully in a weeks time I shall have some photo's of how the loom filled up :0)

TTFN x x x

How to make Pistachio Icecream

Ingredients

100g of Pistachio Merino
1 bag of Pure Mulberry silk (white)
1 bag of raw Alpaca (white)

Method

First wash some white alpaca fleece and leave to dry.  The drying process can be aided by gentle teasing and fluffing especially during times of irritability, stress or absent-mindedness.

Next, on a drum carder, add a layer pistachio merino wool, followed by a layer of pure mulberry silk and finally the teased and fluffed alpaca.  Don't scrimp now, we want generous portions especially of the silk.  When you think you've added enough.....add a little more.
 
And finally, blend to a smooth consistency, about three times through the carder should do it.

Leave somewhere cool until ready to serve....

...with a glass of chilled white wine and a good dollop of sunshine.....Enjoy :0)

Yummy!

 

I'm also rather pleased to be able to add a picture of something finished and blocked.

Annis 

I'm quite pleased with it but the point is off-centre so it is a little botched but I still like it.  I'm pleased with the fine spinning and I love the colour.

 

 

It looks rather like the beginnings of a Cheshire Cat blocking on my living room wall. I may just have to leave it there.

Happy crafting ... X x X

Dual purpose spinning.....

There has been a dual purpose to my yarn making these days.

As I go about the mundane business of filling in forms, writing letters, tidying up, preparing food etc etc just spying a bag of beautiful and luxurious fibres inspires me to keep going....delayed gratification....10 mins spinning is my reward for my dedication to job hunting and housewifely duties.

The trouble is as soon as I sit down at the wheel and start drawing out the fibres the ideas start coming!

Things I must mention in my application forms and letters, craft ideas for the PTA's Africa Day, lesson ideas and workshop plans.  So as soon as I start I have to stop....find a pen...make a note....add a word or two to the latest letter or personal statement.

Nevermind though, I managed to create this....

I want to call this Aquamarine as that's the youngest favourite film and it's the same colour as the mermaids hair.

Next to go through the carder will be some newly washed and wonderfully soft white alpaca, Pistachio Merino from Wingham Wool and more silk....yummy!  I can barely wait.  I do sometimes wonder just how I coped with life before I could spin :0)

I must find some knitters soon as I am soon going to have more yarn than I'll know what to do with! 

TTFN x x x

Getting me through the Job Hunting Blues...

This whole job hunting thing is really getting me down.

If it was a platform game I can't even get past Level 1 :0(

Luckily I have a soothing craft to aid me during this frustrating time.......

Layers of Wingham Wool Merino in Jade, Petrol and Peacock and Mulberry silk are put through the carder once

...

...twice...

and three times for luck

...

to make

...

Something Very Beautiful...

Ahhhhhh......thats better :0)

Waiting... waiting... what to do when waiting

So life's not that fantastic at the moment. The job hunting is time consuming and often demoralising.  My health is not too great either.  Nothing major but the odd little niggly thing that tells me I'm not at my best.  I'm even falling out with my Girls :0(


So when the youngest headed off to town with Dad, probably to give poor beleaugered Mum (that's me!) a bit of Alone Time, I decided to get on with carding up the last bit of Shetland I've been blending for the Brown Man Jumper I'm knitting as a commission.


Whilst listening to some soothing music with ipod set on shuffle and feeding fibres into my trusty Drum Carder I had a lightbulb moment.  

I haven't been making enough Yarn!!

If that's not the cause of my recent malaise, then it will certainly help the symptoms, especially when considering the bag of lushious Mullberry Silk I got for christmas, patiently waiting for the return of the creative juices.  It seems so obvious now.  Instead of fretting about not getting a job RIGHT NOW.....I shall start visualing blends of jade, petrol and peacock blue with ripples of silk running through.   I have placed an order with Wingham Wool Works which will make the postman even more eagerly anticipated when he comes!

Hopefully some lovely pics to follow :0)

TTFN x x