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Photo shows a close up of a wet felted Wallhanging.
The Passage of Time

The Passage of Time

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I thought I’d show a few things I’ve been up to since my last post in December, starting with some pendants.
A while ago I did an online workshop with feltmaker Aniko Boros to make her beautiful wet felted Fuchsia pendant.  It wasn’t my intention to carry in making more fuchsias but rather to learn Anikos technique for making complex pendants so I could apply it to my own designs. And so the fuchsia led to this yellow/grey pendant which in turn has led to a recent request from Region 8 of the International Feltmakers Association to teach how to make it.

Yellow/grey necklace

I was concerned that some in the group I will be teaching may not be used to working with Superfine fibre on such a fiddly scale, so over the Christmas/New Year period I created three more sample pendants. Two of these involve some different techniques to Aniko’s, making them easier and quicker to create than my grey one, but they will produce a similar look. The third sample is made without resists and aimed more for absolute beginners, just in case we have any attend. The other obvious difference with these new samples is the addition of beading which can be optional. I’m looking forward to teaching this class on the 8th March.

Another project I’ve been working on recently is a planned IFA exhibition of Feltmaking titled Felt Connected: Bringing People and Fibre Together. It came about after we surveyed Region 8 members as to what they wanted from their Regional Coordinators and one of our members, Jo Cook, suggested we organise an exhibition of members work. Since then Jo and I have been working together to organise the event which will take place next month in Harding House Gallery in Lincoln. We have a total of 17 IFA members taking part with the aim of not only showcasing their talent but demonstrating the versatility of fibre and what can be done with it while at the same time promoting the IFA and hopefully attracting more members. If you are in the area we will be holding a Meet the Artists session from 1pm – 3pm on Saturday 14th March and it would be great to see you there.

Examples of our members work

Earlier this month I started work on The Passage of Time, my submission for the IFA 2026 online exhibition “Time” that launches during our AGM on March 28th. When I first read the theme title I have to admit that for a day or two I struggled to see anything other than clocks! Then I had a lightbulb moment, I’d make an Ouroboros, the mythical serpent that is often represented in Alchemy art depicted eating its own tail. It’s a symbol of the cyclical nature of time, the universe, and self-renewal and represents the concept of eternity and endless return. Image source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/20171204-the-ancient-symbol-that-spanned-millennia

I created my 3D mobius wet felted version using Merino fibre but when it came to photographing it, no matter what angle I took it from, it looked really dull and boring. So I abandoned that idea and instead I’ve taken inspiration from the beautiful sandstone slabs on Seahouses beach in Northumberland. Coastal erosion and fossils are both dramatic indicators of the passage of time so seemed a fitting replacement for the failed Ouroboros!

My inspiration for The Passage of Time
Experimental piece depicting fossils
Another fossil experiment
Work in progress
Adding free motion stitch

The base is a mix of Carded Corriedale and Bergschaf fibre with silk fabrics, wallpaper, Tyvek, free motion stitch and hand embroidery. I’ve included a piece of felt I made a few years ago which mimics fossils, it’s one of two experimental samples I made and didn’t get around to using until now. After auditioning both of them in the pre-made hole I went with the darker option, which doesn’t look as dark in the flesh as it does in the photo. I’ve submitted this piece for the online exhibition but I’ve since felted another slab to add to the first one. It will be embellished in a similar way, to create a larger piece of work for another exhibition that Jo and I are hoping to launch in July.  

I’ll leave you with a piece of work that was created by a lovely lady called Avie, also known as The Curly Sheep. Avie came to spend a day with me last month to learn how to wet felt a picture and how to do free motion stitch. Turns out she’s a natural at both as I’m sure you will agree!

 

2025 OVWSG Sale

2025 OVWSG Sale

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You have probably heard both myself and Ann, chat about the 2025 OVWSG Sale and Exhibition. We continue to have the Guild sale at the Glebe community centre, which started life as a church, changed congregations then became a community centre. It has had some renovations over the years, and this year, there is scaffolding surrounding part of the outside of the building. Other than the challenge of parking, it is a beautiful site.

 

As with every year, it was a busy time leading up to the sale. You may have noticed I posted for myself and covered for Ann to give her a bit of a break.  Ann is not only baking for a local Farmers Market, a Fabulous felter and felting teacher, Guild Librarian, but also the coordinator for the sale, so she is very busy leading up to the sale and then really tired afterwards, but all her hard work was both worth it and appreciated.

You have seen lots of shopping opportunities lately, so this time I would like to show you a bit of the “behind the scenes”, some of the photos from the sale, then in the next post, finish by showing you the Exhibition.

Although Ann and the Guild sales team have been working since shortly after the last sale ended, the largest part of the volunteer teams get to work the week before the sale. On the Monday before the sale, we had gathered all the boxes and display grids in the studio ready to head to the sale on Friday. At 6 pm, we have the set up team at the Glebe, busy marking booth spaces and placing tables in booth spaces.   The Team with Pickup trucks, loaded everything and met us at the sale around 6:30 pm.

a pile of boxes and equipment to go to the sale wating at one end of the studio.1.1) The pile of stuff is ready to go, with the black grids just visible behind the folding tables.

the main hall at the glebe comunity center showing the moving of tables and the large dome ceeling1.2) Busy setting up the team, the room and dome is beautiful, but possibly had a leak

As soon as the tables were up, the vendors started bringing in their wares, with the help of the “assist-the-vendors-bring-stuff-in” team.  The Guild Co-Op booth, Guild info booth, Make and Take table, the Exhibition and the demo teams were also setting up. We didn’t get to start as early on Friday as previous years (since the room was used as an after school daycare until 6 pm), so it was extra busy!

various guild members working to set up event1.3) the various guild teams bringing in the guilds and vendor stuff (the blur of activity is Ann)

booths are being set up in the hall1.4) The booths popping up look like magic! (but it’s actually a lot of work)

I took a few (126) photos Friday night, to both document the guild activity and to create images we could post Friday night to entice shoppers on Saturday morning. (The postings seem to have worked, since Saturday morning was very busy with shoppers!) If you were curious, I took 873 photos in total over the weekend.

one of the images used to entice shoppers saterday. shows felted landscape of birches trees dislayed on birchbark 2.1) Molly Underhill’s Birch Trees

By this point, it had already been a busy week, and I was extremely tired. As I stood looking at Molly’s lovely trees, I wondered what needle she had used to attach the felt to the birch bark….. (Yes, I needed more sleep!)

another image used to intice shopping, wet fekted bag with canada goose2.2) Molly’s Canada goose bag and Glasses cases

another image used to intice shoppers showing handwoven scarves and cowles. the weaving uses complex weave structures and ikat like colour changes2.3) Inge Dam’s Weaving

Besides felt, there were also booths of weaving, handspun yarn and commercially spun and hand died yarns.

The guild booth had the door prizes. When you filled out a questionnaire (it was short), you got a sticker and were entered for the door prize. For those of us whose phones are luddites and don’t recognise QR codes, they had a tablet to fill out the questions.

2 photos both showing 2 wimon working at the guild table the top offering tablet to fill out servay. 3.1) info table with survey and QR Code (QR removed since the draw is over!)

Door prizes for filling out the servay, a green hand spun hand kit shall, hand woven through, red, Felted bird ornaments, a hand spun and knit hat3.2) The Door prizes

anyone who filled out the questionair got a sticker this shows some of the stickers they could pick from.3.3) Even if you don’t win a door prize, you still get to pick a sticker!

Once you have filled out the survey (this gives us info on where our shoppers are coming from, and a bit of what they were looking for) and picked your sticker, we can take a quick peek at the Guild Demo area.

a wide shot of the demo areia. Ann helping a new spinner with her drop spindle. also visiable in the back ground is a large tapestry /meral that is in the rental space.4.1) Ann helping a new spinner in the demo area

2 photos, one demoing on a table loom, one demoing spinning with the batt makeing station in the background 4.2) Weaving and spinning Demos

2 photos. felting into a canves bag, close up of felting into a canvis bag.4.3) Felting Demo (I am looking forward to seeing how this progresses)

The guild also had a “Make and Take” table, which had various small weaving, felting, and sometimes spinning projects to do and take home. This has been fun to see, with lots of younger new people, but also quite a few adults trying their hands too.

2 photos, Make and take table both show people around the table making small projects 3 photos, Make and take table 2 show people of various ages, around the table making small projects the last picure has the signeage from the end of the table explaining the table.4.4-4.5) Make and take table, the team was busy most of the weekend!

Let’s look at the booth, time for some virtual shopping!!

this was posted in the hall showing a map of the booths and a list of the vendors in the booths. the information will be listed in the blog further on5.1) The Vendors list and Map, in case you get lost, we will meet at the end near the exhibition

Booths: 

Booth 1 is the Guild Co-Op booth, which gives members the opportunity to sell their work when they don’t have enough to have a whole booth.

a blanket stand, 2 hand woven blankets, and signs on the end explaining that these are hand woven on the 100" loom by 2 weavers at a time. on is a Queen and the other a large single blanket. unfortunatly there was no price listed 5.2) These are blankets woven on the Guild’s 100-inch loom. The proceeds will help fund the guild.

a groop of photos showing some of the itums for sale in the co op booth, mostly hand weaving i displaced. but yarn fiber felting needles and other tools were also for sale.5.3) A few of the items in the co-op booth

Booth 2 is Wendo Van Essen. She is a Needle Felter and has needle felted brooches, vegan taxidermy, needle felting kits, and pin cushions.

2 photos showing the felting and kits by Wendo5.4) Booth 2, Wendo’s Booth

2 photos showing Hand died fibr in combed top braids and colourful batts as well as died yarn. also of shoppers looking at the displayed fiber5.5) Booth 3, This is October Knits,  a NEW vendor, with hand dyed yarn and fibre.

You may have spotted His colourful braided fibre at a few other events.

3 photos, Mitten patterns, Fiber for sale and weaving tools5.6)  Booth 4, Judy Kavanagh and Don Haines

Spindles, heddles, shuttles, tapestry looms, fibre

3 photos, Handweaving from 3 excelent weavers, close up of some of the shalls 5.7) Booth 5, Studio Three Fibre Arts and Unwoven

Booth 5 is a group of weavers, Studio Three Fibre Arts and Unwoven (Jean Down, Roberta Murrant and Deb Templeton), handwoven clothing, accessories, table linens, and fibre art.

Photos showing spindles, support spindles, and chirstmas ornaments, 5.8) Booth 6, Top of the Whorl

Spindles, spindle bowls, spindle totes and fibre in a variety of formats.

3 photos, 2 of yarn one of kits5.9) Booth 7, Wööl, emporium de laine

Hand dyed yarns, books, and notions.

2 photos of wood working, there was also weaving but i didnt have a good shot of that.6.1) Booth 8, Luna

Wood yarn bowls, crochet sets and art yarn.

3 photos, Hand spun and died yarn woven and knit, hand spun yarn. shot of part of the booth with people shopping6.2) Booth 9, Fab Fibre Two (Jean Sharp and Bernadette Quade)

Handspun yarn, fibre, hand knitted and handwoven items

2 photos, CLose ups of hand weaving and sewn top.6.3) Booth 10, Handweaving by Janet Whittam

Handwoven garments and accessories, baskets, household linens, rugs

Inkle woven straps, key fobs, felted acorns, woven and sewn bags6.4) Booth 11, Strapped for Cash

Handwoven straps and bands, including guitar straps, bag straps, hat bands, key fobs, lanyards, and bracelets.

3 photos, Mohair blends and locks. one photo shows hand feeling a mohair and coriadale blended batt (it was extreemly soft)6.5) Booth 12, WindWeft (NEW this year)

Mohair locks and yarns in natural and hand-dyed colours, mohair/wool blends, handspun and mill-spun yarns, rovings, batts, and handmade wool dolls.

Complex weave patterns, in scarves and couls as well as 3 photos of handwoven jakets.6.6) Booth 13, Inge Dam’s Handwoven Textiles

Handwoven scarves and shawls

3 photos, Hand died useing natural dies Yarn and mitten knit ewith natural died yarn6.7) Booth 14, Wayside Weeds and Wool (Amanda Carrigan)          Handspun yarn, natural-dyed yarn, handknits, kits and patterns

3 photos, wet felted and needle felted play mats and vesels with little figures and fleted camp fire6.8) Booth 15, Farmer Brown’s

Felted and wool based children’s play materials. Adventure Playmats, Woodland Gnomes and Fairy Houses.

6.9) Booth 16, Weave Me Be

Woven landscape tapestries.

7.1) Booth 17 & 20, Mapi Creations

Hand dyed fibre, Natural Fibre, Felted DIY kit, Felted Fabric, Art Yarn, Interactive Art Batt station

7.2) Booth 18, Maple Weaves

Handwoven wall tapestries and finished handwoven scarves

7.3) Booth 19, Felt by Molly

Felted goods

7.4) Booth 21, Carmen Deschênes, Lise Susin-Horth, Elisabeth Davy

Roving, locks, felted objects, handwovens

7.5) Booth 22, Makeloo Studio

Yarn certified 100% Canadian wool and hand dyed, also certified fibres

Oh my, that was a lot of show in not that big a hall! Maybe we should wander up to Bank Street and pop into a restaurant for lunch? We can meet back here afterwards and look at the Exhibition. If you are not parked in the city lot a block away, don’t forget to move your car when you drop off your purchases; it’s 3-hour street parking in most of the Glebe!

PS Sorry!!! i must not have saved properly, some of the photos were missing they loaded but did not attach, i must not have pushed save correctly!!! i hope this works now!!

Am I losing my marbles?

Am I losing my marbles?

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Do you feel like the days, weeks and months just keep getting away from you? No matter how hard you work, paddling faster and faster, the to-do list never gets any shorter? It has been 6 weeks since Felters Convergence, I was hoping for a quiet spell before the Christmas rush but it feels like it has been another insanely busy period. When I stop and think, “What have I done / achieved?” I’m at a loss…. I can’t remember!

Thank heavens for the camera roll in our mobile phones!

Early October saw my first ever pit firing with the Manurewa Potters, it was a lot of fun, with a shared lunch but, for me, the results were a little disappointing. I love colour and contrast and this style of firing produces more muted, subtle tones. It’s probably not a branch of pottery for me but I’m glad I got to try it.

These were my pots, the red / orange rings around the top were from underglazes I painted on before firing, the browns, greys and blacks were from the materials added to the fire. I have started waxing the one on the right, which has intensified some of the colours and it’s growing on me but the one on the left I think will be re-fired with some more traditional glazes.

In mid October I hosted my first Open Studio event in New Zealand, as part of the Franklin Arts Trail (which gets unflatteringly abbreviated to FAT). It was a huge success, I met so many fascinating people, introduced some of them to felt-making and even sold a few of my finished pieces, so now I have space to make more!

This photo was taken during the reorganising / scurryfunging, I’m sorry to say I forgot to take any photos during the event. Can you spot the ever-helpful cat (Aoife)?

A few felty friends and I had a play date just before Halloween where we made felted eyeballs using a variety of different techniques (felting around glass marbles, polystyrene balls and making solid wool balls).

Halloween weekend was spent with the lovely Waikato Creative Fibre group at a wonderful 3-day fibre retreat. I even managed to get some spinning done in between teaching a couple of short felting classes and taking a mosaic crochet class.

Fingers crossed I now have enough yarn to finish making a sleeveless top with a tulip hem:

Auckland is starting to feel much more summery and the weeds in my veg patch agree, they were definitely winning…

But after 6 days of hard graft and 1 broken garden fork later I was delighted to find half a dozen leeks, some potatoes and a couple of onions ready to harvest and I no longer cringe at the state of this part of the garden:

I contacted Spear and Jackson about the fork because it had a “10 year warranty” sticker not really holding out much hope that they would replace it but amazingly the replacement has just arrived, all the way from the UK, less than 2 weeks after I emailed them! Now that’s good service 🙂

A few months ago Auckland Felters applied to hold a group exhibition at Nathan Homestead, an historic building that has just completed a year-long renovation, and we were successful – YAY!

The exhibition doesn’t open until next March but deadline for the marketing materials was last week so there has been a lot of frantic activity as we formulated a plan for a felting workshop and market day. The date of our workshop falls on 25th April, ANZAC day (the antipodean equivalent of Remembrance day) so we thought a field of felted poppies would be a fitting project.

With only a few hours before the deadline I found myself hastily felting a sample for the brochure. The result is ok but not my best work. If I can find a spare 30 min I would like to fix the central flower with some needle-felting and add some more highlights and shading.

My local craft / gift shop, Clevedon Creatives + Co, have started stocking some of my work so there has been quite of lot of trips back and forth to get it set up. Now my studio looks even more empty than it did after FAT but I am pleased to have a wider audience for my work.

The Christmas season has already started here with my first artisan craft fair last weekend. This market, at the Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe, was a very successful start to the season, fingers crossed this is a good omen for the next few weeks after 2025 started with a bit of an economic whimper.

The felted soaps are eternally popular at my local craft markets so I have been furiously making these most evenings for the last few weeks:

There has been quite a lot of dyeing going on too, mostly silk hankies and silk top as I try to keep up with demand. These plaits will be added to my Etsy shop over the next few days.

Finally a bit of felting fun, a new journal cover. When I started laying out the wool for this I was planning to cover it with yarn in a grid pattern but just as I was about to start laying out the yarns it screamed, “WATER!”. So I rummaged in my bag of prefelt scraps and found some space-dyed orange and yellow pieces. Perfect for fish! A couple of white silk hankies to emulate splashing water / surf et voila!

I’m so glad I ditched the yarn, the jumping, playful fish are much more fun! I can’t help but smile when I see them 🙂

Phew! No wonder the last few weeks have felt busy 🙂 Why couldn’t I remember any of that without my phone…?

Getting things ready for the Sale and Exhibition and class.

Getting things ready for the Sale and Exhibition and class.

Comments 11 comments

First, there are still a couple of days to sign up for the 3D multi-part resist workshop. It starts on the 17th, so hurry if you want to join us. https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/classes/3d-multi-part-resist/

 

On November 1 and 2 is our guild’s Annual Sale and Exhibition. https://www.ovwsg.com/sale/ Or her on Facebook FB Event The guild runs a booth for people who don’t have enough things to have their own booth. I have been getting my things ready for the booth.

I have a few needle books from several years ago. I had to check the tags, replacing some and adding price stickers. They have 4 needle pages, 2 pouches, 2 pins, 1 needle, on thread storage card, and one needle threader.

I also have some scissors cases with scissors. These are great little scissors, I like the big handles so you’re not tight to get your fingers in or out of.

And there are the sheep keychains. I told you about them here. https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/09/13/this-and-that-5/

I had to iron their ears as they needed flattening. I thought I might need hairspray, but I didn’t.

 

I stamped the back of their cards

I put them into their plastic. I need to finish that. I think I need to get some double-sided tape to keep them centred in the bags. And for some, I may resize their bags.

 

I may put the other things in plastic, too. Do you think it would look more professional?

 

I still have to make felted soap. That is on the to-do list. But now I am out of time for today.

 

 

2025 Spencerville Fiber Festival

2025 Spencerville Fiber Festival

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Yes, I think it’s spring, or at least a good attempt at spring.  We have had thunderstorms, loss of hydro overnight, more rain, the daffodils have joined the crocus, scilla and lungwort and now the trees are budding! Even the portable forest has started its spring migration! (it’s sneaking a pot or two across the driveway, finally arriving in its summer location.)

In the yearly calendar of fibre festivals near Ottawa, we have had in February, the Chesterville spin in, which is a fun, small event to help get us through the remains of winter and top up our fibre hoards, if they have started to dwindle. In April, the Peterborough Weavers Guild holds a large fibre festival that is about a 3-hour drive away from Ottawa, but is worth the trip. This year, I was out of commission for both of these and was very disappointed not seeing fibre friends or topping up the fibre hoard.

Poster for "the Forcast Calls for Yarn and Fiber" the Spencerville fiber fest 20251 poster for the Spencerville fibre festival 2025 (they have a Facebook page if you want to contact the organisers)

The third fibre festival this year was in Spencerville, a small town well south of Ottawa, almost to Highway 401. It’s in the Drummond building, so we will meet you there.

Glenn grabbed the book he was reading, and we headed off.  It usually feels like not that long a drive, but this year the seat belt and one of my incisions were arguing loudly by about 20 minutes out and just got more livid with each other the farther I drove. I also think they moved the town further down the highway, it seemed so much longer a drive than I remember. (Good thing I didn’t try to go to Peterborough)

front of the drummon building2 Front of the Drummond building in Spencerville, where the fibre festival takes place.

We arrived early and found that there were already a few cars with people waiting to go in. As Glenn pulled out my walker and camera, everyone else got out of their cars, and we all headed in to line up inside.  (I was more interested in the washroom.) This is not a big hall, but the sale had a good selection of finished goods, equipment, Yarn and fibre. There were also demo tables from the Kingston Weavers Guild and the Knitters Guild. Most of the aisles accommodated stopping and chatting with friends you haven’t seen in months, but still not blocking getting into the booths.

3 Let’s pay our $5.00 entrance fee and head in to see what the vendors have brought for us this year.

4.1- As we entered the hall

4.2 Luna Spinning has woodworking, spun yarn, fibre and crochet tools

4.3 Janet Whittam does weaving and basketry, you may remember her work from other shows too!

4.4 This was Krys Dallaire’s first time selling and had a very nice booth. She was selling Ile de France cross North Country Cheviot (close up showing crimp), Bluefaced Leicester cross North Country Cheviot (the bag being purchased), Fin (the dark fleece that came home with me) and North Country Cheviot (bags on the shelves). She was also selling maple syrup!!

4.5 Yvieknits Yarn had lots of yarn and a bit of fibre; she also had these lovely examples of knitting with her yarn.

4.6  You have seen Top of the Whorl spindle at a few past festivals too. They had some new spindles, spindle cases and lazy Kates for spindles. This is also where I found Naalbinding needles.

5 at the Top of the Whorl, a drop spindle lesson was happening.

There was a vendor selling punch tools,  including a couple of images set up as a “Try Me” sample. Ann, Carlene and I all tried it, I wonder if either will add a new fibre art to all they do?

6.1-6.3 Ann and Carlene try the sample. The loops are created on the back of the side you are working on. The different punch tools make different-sized loops. It was a bit like needle felting but with less need for band-aids.

7 Ann was interested in the rug hooking techniques, which gave a lot of textural elements depending on what was used with the rug hook.

Let’s keep looking around, ooh, do you see this hiding on the floor in the next booth?  It is mostly yarn but has some wool wash, wool pellets for the garden and plastic project bags, but hidden beside the table was a lovely fleece.

8 It’s labelled as a fleece of Gotland Finn Cross, it was so soft to touch, I was very tempted.

Let’s keep going (before I buy it without seeing all the show)

9.1- I missed the name of this booth, but it had a mix of tools and supplies for weaving, felting, and knitting. Ann seemed very interested in the knitting pattern cards. I wonder if we could do that for felting? Maybe shapes of resists or book resists for the wet felters?

9.2 Pretty String Yarn Co., lots of colours to entice you into knitting

9.3 Sheeps Ahoy. They have the most beautiful patterns that remind me of Philosophers wool who closed many years ago. I wish I could knit

9.4 Crazy about yarn, they use themes to create their Colour ways.  I think the purple was one of the galaxies, and the ones behind her are part of the planets series.

9.5 Studio De laine Cactus Yarn Studio, did you see the support chicken kits? She always has such interesting packaging.

10 We spotted Carlene and compared loot. We also saw a few others who showed off their finds.

There was a nice mix of things for sale, it was nice to see the new vendor with 3 different breeds of sheep. I had been hoping for the Lady who had the 3-D printed spindles at the Almonte fibre festival, but no luck on those. They’re not as pretty as the ones from the top of the whorl, but I would not want to leave one of their pretty ones in the back of the car for emergency spinning, but the 3-D printed one would work perfectly for that. Each spindle has its purpose, or just because it’s pretty and you really like it! That’s a good reason to get another spindle, too.

By early afternoon, I was wiped, and it was time to head home. Last year, we had seen the mill by the river, and I wanted to stop and take a few shots before the long drive home. I was captivated by the reflection in the river and the architecture when something large swooped past my camera.

11 Reflection of the barn in the river water

We drove around the mill building to see what it was.

12.1 Great Blue Heron waiting for lunch to come over the dam and be delivered to him or her.

12.2 Heron, waiting to select the entrée to dinner.

12.3 Spencerville Mill, the Heron is in front of the trees on the other side of the river, just left of the concrete at the far end of the dam.

We stopped in Kempville to have a very late lunch, and so I could take my meds. We finally got home and brought in my bags of loot! 5 paper bags and one big plastic bag. Yes, someone else bought the grey Gotland/fine,  but one of the black fin fleeces followed me home, it was just too nice and soft not to buy it! She said she will be shearing soon, in case you desperately need one too!

13.1 My purchases that followed me home.

13.2-13.3 It was definitely a fibre-focused shopping day, and there seems to be some similarities in colours too. I was trying to push out of my comfort blue, but seem to have only shifted over one to mainly green with a bit of red/orange and of course blue.

So what did or would you have gotten today? I probably overdid it, I am extra achy and about to face plant the keyboard, but it was so much fun to see everyone and add more fibre options to my hoard. But now it’s time to crawl back into bed in hopes I will be able to make it to the guild meeting on Monday. If you are in the area next year, you might want to add the Spencerville fibre festival (The Forecast Calls for Yarn and Fiber)  to your places to visit. I will hope to see you there!

PS Monday, I made it into the guild and opened the library, I even got some work done, but didn’t last all the way to the meeting. I am wiped and quite sore. I am heading to bed now. I hope you have enjoyed this shopping trip! If you saw anything that you really want to track down, check with the event organiser. I fear I may have missed a booth, but I really am too tired to figure that out, so before I do face plant the keyboard, it is off to bed. Have fun and keep felting… maybe a heron?

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum is located in the former Rosamond Woolen Co. in Almonte, ON. Constructed in 1867
2024, Set up for 75th Anaversery exhibition at the ALmonteTextile Museum

2024, Set up for 75th Anaversery exhibition at the ALmonteTextile Museum

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Was it last week, that I showed you the Mer’s and their pets, wanting to go off to the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum? Friday I had a quick medical procedure with a different anaesthetic (that worked better for after-affects!) and then the car needed a trip to her Doctor on Monday, for new back brakes but the timing was great since I was not really feeling up to driving. By Thursday, both the car and I were feeling much better. I also found out that the showpieces were going to Almonte that afternoon and volunteered to go up and take pictures to document the guild show set-up and then the Vernissage on Saturday.  (as you probably have found out, it is easier to have someone else document the work and not have to stop and take pictures while you work!)

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum is located in the former Rosamond Woolen Co. in Almonte, ON. Constructed in 1867. stone building with large wooden front door with Textile Museum in stained glass on the transum window1.1) The museum, which was the old mill office and attached stone building

the other old stone mill building has been turned into expensive condos1.2) the other old stone mill building has been turned into expensive condos.

I have told you about the wonderful textile Museum, (3 Rosamond St E, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0). It is open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4pm, in case you are dropping by.  Almonte was a Mill town, the Mississippi River runs through it with useful drops in height, which makes it perfect for the proliferation of mills. This was a textile complex, (there is an old flower mill on another part of the river). In the picture above, you can see the Old mill building on the Left.  It has been turned into expensive condos, with either a fabulous view of the river or the parking lot and the old mill office, which is now the museum.

Our original exhibition organizer had a sudden change in workload, now expected to do 3 people’s work, for the pay of 1 and had to back out of his Guild work. Liane took over late in the process and quickly pulled together a small team to help with the remaining prep work and the installation. Unfortunately, one of her installation team had a major family health problem and was unavailable.   So I went from Photographer to part of the installation team, and photographer. I hope you will find I still took enough photos to document the show!

There were 3 components to the show, the history section was the 75th-anniversary slide show I had made for our anniversary party (921 jpegs) running in a loop.  Work from guild members and some of our members who were pushing the boundaries in their fibre arts. There are examples of Weaving, Spinning, Felting and Basketry, all of which needed to be transported to the museum, and then grouped together for display.

the sign for our exhibition “Remembering/Reimagining: Celebrating 75 Years of the Ottawa Valley Weavers' and Spinners' Guild”1.3) the sign for our exhibition “Remembering/Reimagining: Celebrating 75 Years of the Ottawa Valley Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild”

 

On Thursday afternoon, set up day 1;

Pieces were brought to the museum and unpacked. At that point, Liane organised what was going were and we started to hang the show. We had an amazing assistant from the Museum helping pull display equipment and assisting us. I have a background in picture framing and installation and have also helped with art shows at University, so this was not totally new to me.  Unfortunately, Lug and Hall are not my best abilities, so I switched back to Photo documentation while the work came in.

the back hall where the work was coming in, before being moved to the exhibition space.2.1) the back hall where the work was coming in, before being moved to the exhibition space.

Kieran carries in a well wrapped piece to the display space.2.2) Kieran carries in a well wrapped piece to the display space.

Liane unwrapping pieces and making notes2.3) Liane unwrapping pieces and making notes

the Guild Tapestry project has arrived!2.4) the Guild Tapestry project has arrived!

this is not really a “Vanna White” moment, it is to document the packaging of each piece.2.5) this is not really a “Vanna White” moment, it is to document the packaging of each piece.

To make sure everything got back into the correct packaging, I tried to get a shot of each item, as it was unpacked.

The next was organizing the exhibition into groupings for the panels. As things emerged from their packing Liane told us where they were going. Thus the show started to take shape. We kept sending our fabulous museum worker, Maybe (whose name I misheard and kept referring to as Mavie, Sorry!!!) off to find plinths, easels, hanging bars……

While the others were grouping pieces and draping display manikins, I got to work with a needle and some fishing line and prepared the Mers for their big day.

grouping pieces to hang together2.6) grouping pieces to hang together.

Ann’s Helmet is having trouble staying on its stand. After years of going out to Demos, the hole in the foam heads’ “neck” has increased in size and now self-decapitates at unexpected moments. I asked Ann for repair suggestions and she calmly said to “just add a nail or two”. We added 2 nails to the base and no more headless stump problems!!! You will see the fixed version in a few pictures.  The Styrofoam head also was losing some of its grey finish so I added 2 pairs of black knee-high nylons over it and it fixed the uneven colour perfectly.

Maybe and Lane take a moments brake (I brought chocolate cookies and rice crackers)2.7) Maybe and Liane take a moment’s break (I brought chocolate cookies and rice crackers)

While the others were grouping pieces and draping display manikins, I got to work with a needle and some fishing line and prepared the Mers for their big day.

the Mer's are ready to go for a swim around the museum.2.8) the Mer’s are ready to go for a swim around the museum.

While Mr Mer is perfectly capable of holding his quatrefoil, (triad with one more sharp part added) but it might be better if he didn’t go hunting Museum visitors so I switched to his tennis ball and racket. Maybe he can get Mrs. Mer to play with him.

oh no the museum will be closing shortly, so we will be back tomorrow to continue working.2.91) oh no the museum will be closing shortly, so we will be back tomorrow to continue working.

Oh no, the museum will be closing shortly and we will have to continue on day 2.

End of Day 1 and time to head back to Ottawa, I hope the traffic will be better! Let’s enjoy the fall colour before we head home.

Fall colours by the Museum2.92) Fall colours by the Museum

When I got home on Thursday night I did a quick bit of layout to give Liane signage for the Group Guild tapestry project, which I showed you in an earlier blog post(https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2024/07/04/ovwsg-75th-anniversary-party-and-tapestry-project/). I got all the info to fit on a legal size page! It’s interesting to see what we each started with as an image and then how we interpreted it.

the list of artists, there image, square number and the technique they used.3.1) the list of artists, their image, square number and the technique they used.

the Guild Tapestry project. Liane has added the cool brass plack3.2) the Guild Tapestry project. Liane has added the cool brass plaque

 

Friday, Day 2,

ok, I know it’s the Thanksgiving long weekend but this is the second day of horrible traffic and really bad driving, is there a problem with the moon I don’t know about?  Yesterday a little odd lady in a small car crept onto the highway and got up to the frightening fast speed of 60 kilometers per hour in a 100 zone. Today it was cars weaving and random unsignaled lane changes and sudden decelerations for no apparent reason.  (Alright, I’ve ranted and feel better, let’s get back to the show!)

This is the back door to the Mill office/ Museum, it has a ramp which is easier than the front steps, if you have a walker.4.1) This is the back door to the Mill office/ Museum, it has a ramp which is easier than the front steps if you have a walker.

Maybe and I started work on hanging things including the Mer’s. I switched out Mr. Mer’s Quodradent (it could impale someone) for his tennis racket and a tiny dry-felted tennis ball.

getting this panel of scarves hung required more ladder work and the big level.  4.2) getting this panel of scarves hung required more ladder work and the big level.

The Mer family and pets are having fun swimming around above the show.4.3) The Mer family and pets are having fun swimming around above the show.

We added more blankets to the coverlet stand and slowly worked our way around the space putting things up. while Maybe was called away I tried to use the short ladder to hang one of the panels. I heard about that as a bad idea later that evening while I tried to fall asleep. (Sorry, no shot of me up the ladder!) I do have good ladder shots of both Maybe and Liane though.

Hanging on a long woven tapestry of Iceland required the much taller ladder 4.4) Hanging on a long woven tapestry of Iceland required a much taller ladder

hanging the elephant weaving4.5) Liane hanging the elephant weaving

Elephants  copper  and parliament with the edge of one of the coverlets on the right. There are cookies4.6) Elephants, copper and parliament with the edge of one of the coverlets on the right. There are cookies

Oh no the Museum is closing, but we can stay a bit longer!4.7) Oh no the Museum is closing, but we can stay a bit longer!

just a bit more to do but its looking good!4.8) just a bit more to do but it’s looking good!

OH no is already time to leave? No, today there is work going on downstairs on the other exhibition, so we will be locked in but can stay until about 6 pm. We had most of the exhibition placed. A couple more to put up then signage and the slide show but that will be for tomorrow before the Vernissage starts!

 

Saturday, Day 3!

More slow traffic today, you would think it’s a long weekend, oh yes it is a long weekend! The big day is finally here, the last pieces must go up, so let’s get back to work (then we can party!!) Liane and Maybe have been busy and have more up by the time we got through the oddly heavy traffic!

almost ready, that blanket needs a bit of straitening but this end of the exhibit is looking good!5.1)almost ready, that blanket needs a bit of straitening but this end of the exhibit is looking good!

the nuno felted shawl just got straitened we have to get the ladder away and put that pile of packing stuff away for latter. 5.2) the nuno felted shawl just got straitened we have to get the ladder away and put that pile of packing stuff away for later.

Maybe got the Slide show going5.3)Maybe got the Slide show going

There is still the signage to add to the wall but Liane will be focusing on that, while I try to do the documentary photography. Liane moved the packing material out and Glenn gave the space a final sweep and we were ready for people!!

getting ready to put up the signage for the pieces.5.4)  getting ready to put up the signage for the pieces.

We do not have a T-square or sharp exacto so all the info is going by the Exhibit sign and it will be a bit more interactive.

the signs are up and were just have to clear the table away5.5) the signs are up and we just have to clear the table away

Glenn gives the exhibit a quick sweep5.6) Glenn gives the exhibit a quick sweep

 The folding table is about to disappear and we will be ready for the show to start! You have seen the set-up.  So, please remember to get a glass of Red or white wine and a few nibblies and join me next week where I will give you a privet tour, and show you the pieces, particularly the felting. Then finally, I will show you a few shots of the Vinasage.

Have fun and keep Felting!

Eleanor Shadow vending booth at Tangled Galashiels 2024. There's a table in the middle with fibre and yarns in wire cubes, plus one yarn rack on either side and a large basket on the ground
Becoming an in-person vendor again after 7 years

Becoming an in-person vendor again after 7 years

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For those who read this blog but aren’t familiar with what I do, I sell fibre and hand dyed yarns under the brand Eleanor Shadow. For a while, I was happy simply doing my thing of selling online only, until I moved to Edinburgh and started receiving emails via my site from people asking to come to my shop and buy in person.

I can’t allow customers to come into my studio for contractual and insurance reasons and so had to turn people down, which made me really sad. I hate disappointing fellow fibre lovers! This turned out to be a great thing because it lit a fire in me to start vending again in person. Enter Tangled Galashiels, a new fibre festival that two lovely ladies named Naomi and Samira decided to create near the Scottish Borders.

I had been to Tangled last year for their debut and had a lovely time, accidentally buying two fleeces in the process. When I found out they were taking applications for this year, I decided to apply.

 

Instagram post by Tangled Galashiels where I am seen with three friends at the door, just having bought two fleeces and smiling broadly
From left to right: my friends Si, Liz, me and Lisa. Just look at our smiles!

 

Having not done any in-person vending in years, I was slightly apprehensive about the whole endeavour. My friend Liz was super supportive and offered to help me out in any way possible, which included the most important step in this whole thing: transportation. I can’t sell if I can’t get there with my wares, right?

Well, my application was unsuccessful! I was obviously sad, but also very relieved; this meant I wouldn’t have to do any prep and overthink things. I was off the hook for potentially feeling stressed for 6 months as I got ready for the occasion! Life went on.

Six weeks before the event, I receive an email from Samira – one of the vendors had to cancel, would I like to take their place? Panic. Mode. ON! What to do? If I was already convinced I’d be stressed having to get ready 6 months ahead of time, how would I feel with having only 6 weeks? They gave me a few days to decide, so obviously I agonised over it, asking my friends what they thought, asked Liz if the offer of help still stood, asked my husband if he was willing to put up with a frazzled wife and fibre in the flat everywhere (ok, more than usual)… Everyone was super supportive, so I had no excuse to say no.

After replying positively to Samira and questioning my sanity, I got to work. I ordered more yarn and fibre, planned my dyeing schedule and colourways, prepped my marketing and watched videos on festival vending for booth ideas. If this sounds like a well organised me, trust me, this was done with a lot of sighing, swearing and wanting to dig a hole and disappear.

After six weeks, I was ready! Things just slotted into place: the stuff I had just about fit Liz’s car, my husband was my trusty sidekick, my ideas for the booth worked out almost exactly as I had envisioned, and I still had time to do last-minute adjustments on the first day.

Eleanor Shadow vendor booth at Tangled Galashiels 2024. Leonor is standing in front of it, smiling, waiting for the festival to start

Luckily I didn’t have time to feel nervous, I just went into meeting-and-greeting mode, talked to people and was grateful when they bought something from me. Some of the things I thought would fly off the shelves weren’t too popular, and some I didn’t think would garner much attention sold out!

Most of all though, I was so happy to hear people say nice things about my fibre. Being a one-woman band hidden in my studio means I don’t often get feedback on my work, so having fibre-loving strangers telling me they loved my sense of colour or my yarn bases was just soul-lifting.

The event was only two days, perfect for me to get my feet wet and not get too overstimulated. By the end I was exhausted but oh so happy! I loved the whole experience and couldn’t have asked for lovelier people to have met, talked, or sold to.

Now I’m looking into refresher driving lessons (I’ve never driven in the UK and am unaccustomed to driving on the left) and car rentals. I might just start applying left, right and centre to all the fibre festivals!

Tell me all about your experience at yarn festivals, be it as a vendor or buyer – I’d love to hear it! Thanks for reading.

OVWSG 2023 Sale and exhibition (part 1)

OVWSG 2023 Sale and exhibition (part 1)

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Vacarious Shopping!!

In November, The local weavers and spinners guild in Ottawa Canada have there annual sale and exhibition (briefly interrupted by the pandemic but running again this year!) The sale is held int the Glebe Community Center, which started out its life as St. James Methodist Church, begun in 1914 and finished in 1924. In the 1970’s it was converted to its present function of community center and rental hall. We take over the hall on Friday after noon to mark out the booths, set up tables then the venders arrive to set up there booths.

we have booths with local guild members and other fiber artists selling there finished items or various sorts of supplies and equipment. We also have a guild coop booth, make and take tables, a demo area and the guild info booth.

There was a large team organizing the event and publicity was mostly on line this year. Ann is the best one to speak to that part of the sale if you are very curious. I was only busy with a few parts of preparations. My jobs are more during the sale, the main one is photo document the sale and to take shots that hopefully will be useful in next years publicity as well as to entice anyone on our guild face book group to come shopping at the show. (I spend a couple hours posting photos to the group on Saturday night after the first day of the sale, I only took 343 photos, but didn’t inflict all of them on the group I promises!

Lets take a look around the sale, We had two booths with felting and a few with fiber that may be of interest. lest start at the guild table, which has the door prize for the surveys, stickers while they last, the Canadian moose skein winder bags, and extras magazines surplus to our collection (2.00 each). (there are also name tags with silly  or odd sheep for those who are working at the sale. you may spot them in various pictures.)

floor plan of booths at the sale1) Font of flyer

doors into the sale and poster with shuttle and spindle2) the doors into the sale, let’s take a look inside

As you went through the doors the Guild info booth was to your Left, we tried to ask everyone to fill out a Survey to enter for the door prizes.

  3) Guild table; Sheep name tags, survey slips, stickers for filling out the survey.

Door Prizes, white and blue handwoven shawl and felted lattern4) The door prizes for filling out the survey, which were drawn at the November guild meeting.

We were wanting to know how people found out about the sale (check our focus for advertising was working) and the aria that shoppers came from by asking for their postal code. This will let us check where most shoppers come from and see if there is a change from year to year. (Ann let me have fun with both the data enters and data analysis last time)

We also had a display of the Moose project bags,

OVWSG Anniversary Moose project bag5 )the 75th anniversary moose bags

And the Magazines that were extra to the guilds collection.

Magazines for sale6) Magazines for sale

in front of the guild tables are the Demo area to the left,

Spinning and weaving demo area7) Spinning and Weaving demo

Pine needle Basket making demo8) Pine needle basket demo

starting needle felting on the canvis moose bag. Felted Bat on a stick is sitting beside the moose bag 9) Felting demo

 The make take tables are on the right.  This was a fun spot that let people try spinning (on a Mayonnaise lid spindle), weaving (on a small frame or on a tapestry loom) and wet felting (acorns).

teaching spinning on a mayonnaise lid drop spindle 10) a spinning lesson with Mayonnaise lid spindles

2 girls weaving on popsical stick frame looms11) weaving on little frames

the Exhibition is in between Make and take table and the Demo area.  The theme was “Safire” this year, which leads into our “Diamond” anniversary theme next year.

2 veiws of the OVWSG Exhibition, the theam is Safires12) the exhibition

Molly's Entery in the exhibit was a wet felted vessel with inclustions of blue beads and rocks  13) Molly’s Wet felted Vessel

I suspect you will be interested in this one which was made by Molly Underhill. I think she said it was inspired by geologic core samples.

The guild had 3 wheels for sale which were displayed near the exhibition. the Louet S60 sold extremely quickly.  Which left the CPW (a fast spinning wheel used for production spinning and  the beautiful little Tyrol Spinning wheel . another wheel was dropped off but after more inspection it has a few repairs needed. It may need to have a spa day with Deborah, the OVWSG rental coordinator. (There are advantages to in person guilds but the commute to our blog or an on line guild is so much faster!)

a CPW and Tyrol wheel14)The wheels

 Canadian Production Wheel (CPW), a double drive wheel with tilt tension and a cast mettle footman.

Tiny Tyrol Spinning wheel, screw tension, peg for flyer,  Slow ratio, large mettle insert for orifice. There is a larger but very similar wheel in the Museum collection of Canadian Museum of history (previously M. of Civilization)

the two wheels sitting beside eachother showing how much smaller the Tyrol wheel is when comparied to a CPW15) Size comparison of CPW and Tyrol wheels

We had a small exhibit on the theme Safire this year, which leads into our Diamond anniversary theme next year.

Lets have a quick tour around the booths, starting with the co op booth. This allows guild members who have only a few things to sell or those with jobs at the sale who cant have a booth participate in the sale.

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16) Co-op booth

I hope this give you a suggestion of the diversity of the guild members work.

Since we are already on page 24 I think I should save the rest of the booths for the next post! Are you already shopping vicariously? (Save a bit of your Vicarious shopping money for the booths from the next post!!)

banner tied between two flag poles says for the love of fiber
more shopping for the Mer’s, again looking for Hair

more shopping for the Mer’s, again looking for Hair

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As is the way with my life, I have had another change of plans.

My goal was to find hair for two more of the Mer family. My plan was to look for long locks at the fibre festival “For the love of Fibre”, in Spencerville and if that didn’t work out I would look at the Peterborough Weavers Guild fibre fest on the following weekend. We had also discovered that because of the Coronation Upper Canada Village would have free admission the same Saturday as the event in Spencerville (much closer to UCV than Ottawa.)

So part one of my plan was on May 6th to head to Spencerville. Then if I felt up to it, on to the Historical 1860s village at Upper Canada Village. I had a couple of friends who were working there last summer and have wanted to see it for quite a while. Let me show you how the first part of the plan went.

Last year “For the Love of Fibre” was the first post pandemic fiber festival that I got to attend. It was held in Johnstown, just a bit further south than this year. I am pretty sure I showed you that exciting.

May 6th arrived looking like it might be a sunny day with big puffy clouds to add to the photographic opportunities. We got up extra early to gather the couple of things we would need to bring. I had planned to bring Mrs Mer as well as her son Shark Boy to look for long locks for their hair. I discovered she was…. ummmm, busy canoodling (aggressive cuddling, enthusiastic hugging?) with her husband, so I just turned their project bag around and went to find her son. I picked up my camera and Shark Boy’s1q project bag and headed to the car.

It was a nice drive down. The trees are in the budding to early leaf stage and I was suspecting we might see the first trillium as we headed south. We got there early, arriving just before Ann. She took a picture of us getting Shark Boy settled and us ready for shopping (Glenn brought a book). You can see how excited Sharkboy looks! It must be the thought of getting his hair. I think he has decided on a Mohawk with long hair down his back, sort of an extra-long mullet. I think the Mohawk is to complement his front Dorsal fin.

1) Sharkboy standing in his project beg attached to Jan’s black walker with her husband (and the back of my Grey Kea Soul, I am sure you were expecting I possessed a black soul!).1) Sharkboy standing in his project beg attached to Jan’s black walker with her husband (and the back of my Grey Kea Soul, I am sure you were expecting I possessed a black soul!).

There were 3 outside vendors, with the rest inside.

2) Stone Spindle Farm Booth; with alpaca yarn, fiber and hats. The vender is hanging up suit cages full of low-grade alpaca to provide the birds as nesting material.2) Stone Spindle Farm Booth; with alpaca yarn, fibre and hats. The vendor is hanging up suit cages full of low-grade alpaca to provide the birds as nesting material.

 I was admiring some indigo-dyed alpaca but wanted to wait until I found out if there were any locks inside. (OH the not-buying remorse I felt later!!! I do know who bought it and that it will be well enjoyed.)

3) baskets strewn artistically under a pule trees with an E-Bike near the front with panions baskets.3) baskets are strewn artistically under a few trees with an E-Bike near the front with pannier baskets.

Did you notice the cool bike baskets, some have lids.

Inside we found a few of our guild members had booths! I did a fast wheel around the venue looking for long locks but to no avail. Sorry, Sharkboy! We will have to try plan 2, next weekend. Even with not having the long locks I was looking for there was a good selection of vendors having Yarn, fibre, baskets, bags, and fibre tools. I didn’t get every booth but here are some of the highlights.

4) A quick over view of part of the venders.4) A quick overview of part of the vendors.

5) digging for colours in balls of hand died Super wash Marino fiber.5) digging for colours in balls of hand died Superwash Marino fibre.

6) More fiber from the Black Lamb booth.6) More fibre from the Black Lamb booth.

7) Beautiful project bags and peruses7) Beautiful project bags and purses

8) Moose hill woodworks had lots of fiber tools, all beautifully made. (Yes, I got another spindle of a type I didn’t have.)8) Moose Hill Woodworks had lots of fibre tools, all beautifully made. (Yes, I got another spindle of a type I didn’t have.)

9) Odd new spindle, I was trying it with some of the new extremely soft Finn wool I also purchased. The back of the tag says Yellow Birch, 1.3oz/39g9) Odd new spindle, I was trying it with some of the new extremely soft Finn wool I also purchased. The back of the tag says Yellow Birch, 1.3oz/39g

10) Beaux Arbres booth had basketry10) Beaux Arbres booth had basketry

11) This booth had fiber samples you could feel (the bags of them are behind the table.)11) This booth had fibre samples you could feel (the bags of them are behind the table.)

12) This is the side table of the same booth with the fiber. Check out her fine ponies!12) This is the side table of the same booth with the fibre. Check out her fine ponies!

 13) Fin roving it is actually semi-worsted the vender has her own mill!!! I have never felt such a soft finn sheep.13) Fin roving is actually semi-worsted the vendor has her own mill!!! I have never felt such a soft Finn sheep.

Ann investigated further and found out it was from a lamb. I only bot 2oz I should have bout more! Ann also got some to make her trees with.

14) This was an ingenious support spindle case.14) This was an ingenious support spindle case.

15) The booth the support spindle bag came from had more spindles and lots of rolages. 15) The booth the support spindle bag came from had more spindles and lots of rolags.

16) A couple booths had yarn for weaving and knitting.16) A couple of booths had yarn for weaving and knitting.

17) This Was Susan Allen’s Booth with weaving yarns, I think this was a Cotton or a Cottolin that Ann was looking at.17) This Was Susan Allen’s Booth with weaving yarns, I think this was a Cotton or a Cottolin that Ann was looking at.

18-19) Janet's Basketry, hand made basket with handwoven fabric presented in rolls18-19) Janet's Basketry, handwoven baskets one with antler in it.18-19) Janet’s Basketry

20) Janet’s booth, she is just finishing setup as the first customers arrive20) Janet’s booth, she is just finishing setup as the first customers arrive

 I wandered into Janet Whittam’s booth, she has a combination of weaving and basketry, and she also has beautiful woven jackets and wraps.

21) sharkboy standing in his project bag, attached to my walker.21) Shark Boy standing in his project bag, attached to my walker.

Even though he didn’t have any luck finding hair I think Shark Boy enjoyed his outing. It was still a worthwhile shopping trip with new fibre and spindle.

I was still feeling pretty good so we decided to head on to UCV, maybe it would cheer up Shark Boy! There is a mill, the blacksmith shop, the weaving house (with spinning) and the dressmaker’s house. We packed up the car and headed a bit further south and east arriving at a very busy Upper Canada village parking lot. We found a good parking spot in the mostly empty handicapped section (I was very glad for that parking permit by the time we made it back to the car!)

22) Sharkboy checks out the special parking for Mer-people (and those with walkers) as we arrive at UCV.22) Shark Boy checks out the special parking for Mer-people (and those with walkers) as we arrive at UCV.

Unfortunately, that change of plans thing I mentioned at the beginning happened Tuesday morning and is preventing me from telling you about the rest of my visit. As soon as I can I will tell you all about the fun we had visiting the village, and a bit of its background.

23) The entrance buildings of Upper Canada village.23) The entrance buildings of Upper Canada village.

A new spindle

A new spindle

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Both Jan and Bernadette have told you about our guild sale and exhibition. Now it’s my turn. I didn’t have my own booth this year so I got to wander around and fill in and help out wherever I was needed. It was really nice to not be assigned anywhere and just enjoy the show and chat with everyone after not seeing so many in person for a couple of years.

I am not a big spender at these things. I look for new fibres and add-ons and how people are combining things. Then I  go looking for the ingredients to make my own.

The one thing I do buy is spindles. I bought a new spindle from Judy Kavanaugh. https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/JudyKavanagh  She makes all kinds of tools and patterns.  This one is a bedouin-style spindle.  It has 4 arms and is a top whorl spindle instead of a bottom whorl spindle I usually use.  The wood is beautiful.

 

Bedouin Spindle

People kept asking if it was a Turkish spindle but you can’t take the arms off this one and you don’t wrap your yarn around them. this is the other way up so you can see the wool cob on it. The angle makes it look small.

close up of the wool yarn on spindle

I am enjoying spinning on it. and that brings up to the other things I bought. I bought 2 batts from Bernadette. I like to buy them from Bernadette because she isn’t recarding wool tops. She is using wool she processed herself and it is really nice to spin.

blue wool batts for spinning. a bedouin spindle

The Darker blue is what I am spinning on my new spindle and it’s marked as mixed fibre. It’s soft and a little shiny.

The brighter blue I am spinning on another spindle.

bright blue wool batt and drop spindle close up of yarn of a drop spindle

The wool is much spongier and I have lost the label but I am betting it’s Coopworth. It’s very nice to spin too.

This post is a bit backward because I bought the wool first and the spindle second. The new spindle is more exciting to chat about so it got top billing. It really went like this. I started to spin the bright blue batt first. Then I decided that a blue spindle that Judy had for sale really was calling my name. When I went to get it, someone had already bought it. You snooze you lose. then standing there chatting with Judy I saw her spinning on a Bedouin spindle and gave it a try and decided it was just as well the other one was sold. I picked out the lovely one at the top. So then I abandoned this lovely fibre and started spinning on my new spindle with the other batt.

All in all, I think I was very restrained in my buying. There were so many pretty things I could have bought.

Here is a picture of me spinning at the show. And yes I really did chop my hair off. It was time for a change and it will grow again.

28 Ann took her new spindle for a spin!